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It's not over yet! John Cena and Nikki Bella are giving their love another shot one month after calling off their engagement. A rep for Nikki tells E! News in a statement, "Nikki Bella and John Cena are working on their relationship and taking it day by day. They appreciate all of their fans and their continued support." Soon after the WWE stars announced the end of their 6-year relationship, they were spotted in San Diego together (where they share a home) and several outlets even reported John and Nikki had officially reconciled. It doesn't appear as if wedding planning is underway once more, but distance has certainly helped their hearts grow fonder. On a recent episode of E! 's Total Bellas, cameras were rolling as Nikki called off her fairytale wedding to John.<doc-sep>Can we talk about Nikki Bella and John Cena for a minute? Because I am just so confused about their relationship status, and it's seriously stressing me out. One minute the pro wrestling couple is calling off their engagement, and the next, reports are swirling that they are actually back together. I totally ship this pair and really, really want them to get their crap together. But apparently Nikki Bella and John Cena's relationship is still not official, and the reason why is actually pretty sad. See, Cena is getting ready to leave the country to work on a new movie called The Janson Detective, with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Whether or not our heads will explode from the sight of these two chiseled male specimens on the screen together remains to be seen — as does whether or not Bella and Cena's romance can survive the long distance. "One of the reasons that they can't seem to work things out is because he's getting ready to leave the country for four months," a source told Entertainment Tonight, adding that the two have tried the whole "U can't see me" thing before, and it "wasn’t great" for their relationship." Elite Daily reached out to both Bella and Cena's camps for comment on the report, but did not hear back by the time of publication. "They're not the kind of couple where it's 'absence makes the heart grow fonder,'" the source said. "They're more 'out of sight, out of mind,' so this distance isn't going to be good for them. They work best when they're working together and can be together all the time." Such a bummer, right? I mean, after calling off their engagement just weeks before their May 2018 wedding, these two really seemed like they were trying to make things work. But timing is everything, and it looks like Cena's movie couldn't come during a worse stretch of time. "They want to be together and be happy, but their priority is very much on their careers right now," the source continued. "And they're both on the same page with that." And then there's the fact that, according to People, Bella and Cena are still having some trust issues following the whole Cena-doesn't-want-kids-but-then-he-suddenly-does-want-kids thing, and Bella is just trying to figure out what’s best for her right now. "Nikki doesn’t know if she trusts John still," a source said. "Is he really saying he wants to be a dad just for her or does he truly want to have children? The more attention this is getting, the more pressure Nikki feels." Elite Daily reached out to Bella and Cena's teams for comment on reports that they're experiencing trust issues, but did not hear back by the time of publication. Anyway, I really hope these two work it out. Remember that fairytale proposal, the one where Cena asked Bella to marry him in April 2017 from the middle of the ring during an appearance at Wrestlemania 33? So epic. The whole thing was just so amazing. But sadly, the engagement lasted only around a year, with the relationship coming to an end shortly after Bella finished up her nine-day bachelorette celebration in France. Yup, her bachelorette party lasted nine days. And it was in France. And I am so not jealous or anything. Not one tiny, little bit. The couple officially announced their split on April 15. Bella took to Instagram to share their official statement: And Cena turned up on Twitter to share his thoughts the next day: "Hardship, loss, and humility are extremely difficult waters to navigate," he wrote. "But perseverance thru them builds a strength to withstand anything life throws your way." Here's to hoping that perseverance helps these two find their way back to each other once and for all.<doc-sep>Celeb obsessed? Get a daily dose of showbiz gossip direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Nikki Bella and John Cena looked miserable and glum as they went on a dinner date - just weeks after Nikki called off their engagement a few days before their wedding. The couple were together for six years, getting engaged in front of an audience of millions when John dropped down on bended knee and proposed to his girl on stage at Wrestlemania 2017. But she broke things off in April this year, ahead of their planned wedding day on May 5, amid speculation that she wanted children and he didn't. Since then, there's been talk of them reconciling after John made it clear to her he'd be happy to start a family if it meant keeping her in his life. (Image: Splash News) "I had my heart broken out of nowhere - or for me, it was out of nowhere," John said on the Today show on May 14. "For anyone out there speculating on what I am doing with my life now, I still love Nicole. I still would love to marry Nicole. I still would love to have a family with Nicole. "There was an unfortunate set of circumstances where our relationship ended." And Nikki reacted in shock when she heard John's comments, telling Extra she was "speechless". (Image: E!) "I have hope… I'm at a point in my life where I feel like I kind of lost me and I want to find me and work on me," she went on. "I just want John and I both to live happily ever after whether it's together or separate and I just don't want us to go down the road in life and have regrets of like 'I did this for you' or 'you did this for me', so I think it's OK in relationships to take that moment." The couple had only shared the same bed 30 nights in the previous six months thanks to their busy schedules, and Nikki admitted to her twin sister Brie on an episode of their reality show Total Divas that she was "lonely" in their relationship. (Image: E!) (Image: E!) Later in May, Nikki and John were seen strolling side by side together on a romantic walk in the Mission Hills neighborhood of San Diego - trying to walk separately when they saw they were being observed. "They're working on it," sister Brie told E! News afterwards, as she denied they were back together . "They need time. They really need time to think about their futures and about what they want. It's been really hard on them both." She also revealed that John's recent change of heart on starting a family was a lot for Nikki to take in. (Image: Rex Features) (Image: Getty) "To hear the man you love say that, it makes you be like, 'Ugh, finally,'" she added. "But also it's taken six years to want that and six years of hearing 'no, no, no.'" Now they've been seen on a night out in a restaurant in San Diego near Nikki's home - but neither of them looked particularly happy, no doubt rehashing the same conversations that led to them splitting. Nikki seemed downcast as she rested her chin on her hand and gazed down at the table, which had a bottle of red wine, two glasses and some bottled water on it. John, wearing a smart white shirt, kep his hands under the table and seemed to be looking at her with his jaw firmly set. According to TMZ , which has the picture, John and Nikki were at the Cowboy Star Restaurant on Tuesday night. It claims the pair are working on their relationship - but are still nowhere near announcing a reconciliation.<doc-sep>

On Saturday, four weeks after announcing their breakup, the exes took a walk side-by-side after getting coffee in San Diego, California, where they bought a house months before walking down the aisle John Cena and Nikki Bella Step Out Together for First Time in 4 Weeks After Calling Off Wedding On Saturday, four weeks after announcing their breakup, Cena, 41, and Bella, 34, took a walk side-by-side after getting coffee in San Diego, California, where they bought a house months before walking down the aisle. In a photo of the pair, obtained by TMZ, the Blockers actor can be seen wearing a red shirt and black shorts while the Total Bellas star wore a color-coordinated red beanie with grey sweater and sweatpants. Earlier this month, Bella informed fans that she was living with twin sister Brie Bella in San Diego due to the “tough time” with the split. john-cena Cena and Bella’s outing comes a day after she spoke with PEOPLE Now about the possibilities of rekindling their romance of six years. Bella admitted that she and Cena are on the path to reconciliation, explaining that she’s been in “communication” with the fellow WWE star and that they are taking steps to get back together. “I told him to make a list and I have to make a list about what makes us so happy for the rest of our lives and what are the things we want,” she said. “I don’t want him to ever live in regret. It’s not a decision you can make super quick. You really got to take time by yourself.” Want to keep up on the latest from PEOPLE? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our best stories of the day delivered straight to your inbox. Though Bella called off her engagement in April — three weeks before they were meant to walk down the aisle — due to their differing stances on marriage and having kids, she now “100 percent” believes Cena has changed his stance on one day starting a family. john-cena John Cena and Nikki Bella | Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty “I truly think that he wants to be a father,” she said. “I think John’s going to make an incredible dad. You see everything he does with [the charity] Make a Wish — that’s why I always knew! He’s meant to be a dad. I just need time, I need time to digest.” Their wedding would’ve occurred over a year after Cena proposed to Bella on live TV during WrestleMania 33 in April 2017. And there was even a TV special planned about their wedding set to air in July.

BLUES VS. AVALANCHE About the Avalanche • Since a win Dec. 19 over Montreal, the Avalanche have gone 4-13-5 to tumble out of playoff position. Only Anaheim has a worse record over that span, a stretch in which Stan Kroenke’s club has allowed league-high totals of 82 goals and 19 power-play goals. The team has the NHL’s worst home penalty-killing rate (69.8 percent) and is one of only five teams with a losing record at home (10-11-5).<doc-sep>The Colorado Avalanche seemed firmly entrenched in a free-fall to kick off Februry, losing eight straight games and falling out of playoff contention altogether. They finally started to turn things around with a dominant performance against the Winnipeg Jets, who dropped a 4-1 decision at the MTS Centre to stop Colorado’s losing skid. Now, the Avalanche will need to take home another win to show it wasn’t just a fluke — although if there was a team they didn’t want to face to pull off the win, it’s the one they’ll face tonight. St. Louis started off the year looking like they were firmly in the Jack Hughes sweepstakes, but the call up of goaltender Jordan Binnington and a little bit of resurgent shooting luck have them now sitting pretty in the playoff race. They’ve won their last eight straight, a near perfect mirror image of what Colorado looked like prior to their win against Winnipeg on Thursday, and their last game — a decisive win over the Arizona Coyotes — didn’t challenge them much. They’re well-rested, flying high, and could pose a legitimate challenge for the Avalanche in a tough matinee game. THE AVALANCHE Mikko Rantanen has been ice-cold for the majority of the last few weeks, with just one assist in the Winnipeg win and one goal in his last nine games. Every good player goes through brief slumps, but this one is particularly concerning — especially since the Avalanche have yet to prove their offense isn’t largely top-heavy. The team lives and dies by the performance of their top line, and seeing its star winger in a cold stretch hurts tremendously. THE BLUES On the other side of the spectrum, rumors were heating up about Vladimir Tarasenko earlier in the season when he just couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. In a reassuring example of how Rantanen will likely heat back up again, Tarasenko is no longer having any issues with that — but it’s also bad news for Colorado that he’s heating up right now. Two goals against Arizona and a five-goal, eight-point performance in his last three games alone are downright terrifying for Colorado to face down. STARTING GOALIES Neither team has officially announced their starting goaltender for the game just yet, but there’s little reason to believe that the Avalanche won’t give Semyon Varlamov another go after his strong performance on Thursday. He stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced, book-ending his miserable performance against Toronto by allowing just one goal in regulation again following the Boston overtime loss in the game prior. For St. Louis, the projected starter is Jake Allen, but it’s really anyone’s guess who gets the nod. Jordan Binnington has been the heartbeat of the team through their resurgence, and he’s proven both anecdotally and statistically that he gives the team their best chance to win. Allen stopped 40 shots against Nashville in his last game, though, and the Blues may see the Avalanche as an easy team to face and throw him a softball start. At some point, they’ll have to rest Binnington and try to get Allen’s stats back up to snuff; his current .898 save percentage in all situations just won’t cut it.<doc-sep>Tendencies played out Saturday at the Pepsi Center, where the St. Louis Blues extended their winning streak to nine games and the Avalanche lost their sixth consecutive contest at home. So much for Colorado’s building-block victory at division-leading Winnipeg on Thursday. The surging Blues scored twice early in the third period to blow open what was a scoreless tie between the Central Division rivals. Vladimir Tarasenko struck at 4:01, and Zach Sanford doubled the lead 57 seconds later as St. Louis went on to win 3-0 and improve to 3-0 against the Avs this season. The circle-to-circle pass from former Avs forward Ryan O’Reilly was the game-winning assist, and Colorado was shut out for the third time this season, and second at home. “If we had the answer, we would change it,” said Avs forward Carl Soderberg, who had two glorious scoring opportunities denied from the goalmouth in the third period. “It seems the confidence is not there to finish it off. Today was a tight game. But then they got the first goal, and that made it hard. We played a really good team, and they’re used to winning right now. They found and way, and we didn’t.” Colorado goalie Semyon Varlamov stopped 30-of-32 shots and played well enough to get the win, but St. Louis’ Jake Allen was flawless with 32 saves. The Avs have scored just nine goals in their six-game losing streak at home (1.5 per game). “It was the defense, and now it’s the offense,” said Avs winger Mikko Rantanen, who was limited to one shot. “You get one thing right, and the other thing is a little bit tougher. But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves now. We knew this was an important game, but now we just have to forget it.” Colorado, 1-9 in its last 10 games, failed to score on the power play for the eighth straight game (0-for-23). “Obviously, we’re playing better on the road than we are at home,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “The offense at home hasn’t been great. I can’t just point to our power play and say, ‘Hey, our power play is dried up, and that’s why we’re not (winning).’ It’s a factor for in it, for sure, but their power play didn’t score tonight either, right?” The Blues also were 0-of-3 with the man-advantage. Footnotes. Avalanche scratches were forwards Sheldon Dries and Gabriel Bourque and defenseman Mark Barberio. Defensemen Ian Cole (orbital bone) and Conor Timmins (head) remain on injured reserve along with forward Colin Wilson (undisclosed). … Colorado’s homestand continues Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights, and it concludes Wednesday versus the Winnipeg Jets.<doc-sep>

The Colorado Avalanche cannot find any kind of consistency on their home ice this season. After snapping an eight-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, the Avalanche were unable to keep the momentum going on Saturday. The St. Louis Blues came into the Pepsi Center and left with a 3-0 victory, extending their winning streak to nine games. The home loss is the sixth in a row for Colorado and extends St. Louis’ lead in the season series to 3-0. The Avalanche will have one final opportunity to defeat the Blues when Colorado travels to St. Louis during the final week of the regular season. In another addition of the “Division Rival Night”, Saturday’s afternoon contest lived up to a playoff atmosphere. Both teams battled for 60 minutes and heading into the third period, the game was up for grabs as neither team had found the back of the net at that point. The Blues were ultimately able to break the stalemate with two quick goals in the opening minutes of the third period. Vladimir Tarasenko got things started with a wrist shot that beat Semyon Varlamov high and Zach Sanford followed it up with a tip-in goal shortly after. With time winding down in the game, Jaden Schwartz tallied an empty net goal to cap off the Blues victory. “It’s tough, but it comes with being a professional hockey player,” Mikko Rantanen said. “You have downsides in your season. It’s 82-games, so it can’t be all good luck and stuff, so we just have to keep working and try to learn from this game” Despite the final result, Varlamov finished the game with 30 saves and was a major reason the Avs were in the game for the first two periods. “I thought that he was really good,” Head coach Jared Bednar said, “He came up with a couple of big saves on a few different sequences tonight to keep the game 0-0, as did (Jake) Allen. Both of the goalies were very good.” Although the Avalanche came into the game with a new sense of confidence, Colorado once again struggled on the power play. The Avs were unable to do much on any of their three power play opportunities and it was a big reason Colorado failed to create any momentum on offense. “I think that the support that we need from each other is not there,” Rantanen said, “I think that we try to create open shots and we try to just shoot the puck. We have talked about it, and that we need to move the puck quicker but I honestly just don’t think it is right there when it used to be. “We can’t get outworked on the powerplay,” Rantanen continued.” We have that man advantage, so we have that one extra man everywhere. We have to get over that and work through it.” The Avalanche will continue the homestand against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.

Today, people around the world paid tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin—including the Welsh Guards (yes, those men in the red uniforms and tall bearskin hats) at Buckingham Palace. Usually, the changing of the guard—the ceremony in which the guard regiments are swapped out in front of the palace—is a formal, highly choreographed affair. But today, the soldiers decided to switch things up. Instead of the military band playing a traditional tune, it launched into a brass rendition of Franklin’s famous 1967 anthem “Respect.” It’s not the first time the band has gotten creative with its set list—just last month, it performed “Dancing Queen” as a nod to Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and in 2014, it played the Game of Thrones theme song. However, those were more whimsical undertakings, sure to entertain the tourist crowds gathered to watch outside the gates. While today’s choice was just as much of a delightful surprise, it was also a poignant reminder of Franklin’s legacy and the great reach her music achieved. Usually, the guards stand in service to England’s ruling monarch. But today, they honored another queen. Read More Culture Stories:<doc-sep>THIS is the amazing moment the Queen's own guards paid tribute to the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin in the grounds of Buckingham Palace today. The band of Welsh Guards performed an impromptu rendition of the superstar's megahit Respect at the Changing of the Guard. 14 14 The Army later tweeted: "Respect for others underpins all we do in the British Army so it was no surprise that the Welsh Guards Band paid tribute to musical icon and inspiration to Aretha Franklin @RoyalFamily #ArethaFranklinFuneral #RESPECT" The unexpected performance came as the star's gold-plated casket arrived for the start of her seven-hour star-studded funeral service in Detroit. The Queen of Soul was transported to her final farewell in Rosa Parks' hearse from New Bethel Baptist Church to the Greater Grace Temple where her family, friends and fans gathered. Bishop Charles Ellis III, the pastor at Greater Grace Temple, was waiting for the superstar's arrival. 14 The star will be buried in 24-karat gold plated Promethean casket made of solid bronze Credit: Getty Images - Getty 14 The music icon started singing in her Baptist church as a little girl Credit: Reuters Aretha's final farewell, what we know: 14 Dozens of musicians and dignitaries are scheduled to either speak or perform at the singer's funeral Credit: AFP or licensors 14 The superstar's all-white funeral cortege had its own police escort Credit: Getty Images - Getty 14 Legendary boxer Tommy 'The Hitman' Hearns (R) was among the first guest to arrive Credit: Reuters 14 Jennifer Hudson is to play her musical heroine in an upcoming biopic Credit: Getty - Contributor 14 The singer's body was transported to the service in Rosa Parks' white hearse Credit: Getty Images - Getty “This day is absolutely historic,” Ellis said. "I think each and every one of us make our mark in life, whether brief or small or significant. "Only once in a while do you have someone like Aretha Franklin that makes a mark, an indelible person, as she has.” Earlier we told how Jennifer Hudson will pay a moving tribute to Aretha Franklin when she sings 'Amazing Grace' at the legend's funeral today. The Grammy winner - who will play Aretha in an upcoming bipoic - will join a string of music legends as the Queen of Soul is given a final farewell fit for royalty. Today's send-off will "mark the elements, emotions and grand entrances" that were hallmarks of the six decade career which only ended when she died of pancreatic cancer aged 76 on August 16. 14 Flowers from the family of singer Otis Redding are delivered to the church Credit: AFP or licensors 14 Ariana Grande will reportedly be performing 'Natural Woman' at today's service Credit: Instagram 14 Soul legend Smokey Robinson promised to make his words 'personal' Credit: Corbis - Getty 14 Aretha's close friend Stevie Wonder is also due to perform at her funeral service Credit: AP:Associated Press 14 The Renaissance Center in Detroit displays RESPECT to celebrate the life of songstress Aretha Credit: Getty Images - Getty Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' (Original Version, 1967) And it boasts a lineup of speakers and singers that would rival any of the hottest entertainment revues, past or present. Among those offering words will be former President Bill Clinton, the Reverend Jesse Jackson and singer Smokey Robinson. Robinson has promised to make his words "personal" since he remained close with the legendary star until the very end. Most read in news 'GOBSMACKED' Queen 'gave Harry OK for Oprah series after misleading pitch about soldiers' ROD LIDDLE Ousting right-on National Trust boss is a victory against wokery DRUMMER DEAD School Of Rock star dies at 32 after being hit by car as Jack Black mourns HOUSE ABOUT IT You won't believe what this ordinary London home looks like on the inside Exclusive TOM'S LEGACY Captain Tom Moore — who raised £39m for charity — left family £73k in will JABS HOPE Scientists 'crack cause of blood clots linked to Covid jabs & know how to fix it' He revealed they "talked all the time," the last just a couple weeks before she became too ill to speak. "We saw all of our other close friends go," Robinson said. "We used to talk about that - we saw a lot of soldiers go." Songs will be also be performed by Stevie Wonder, Ariana Grande, Fantasia, Faith Hill, Shirley Caesar, Chaka Khan and more. Selected highlights of Aretha Franklin's epic funeral service Loca Detroit time ( minus five hours) 8:30 - 9:50 a.m.— Viewing — Recorded Songs by Aretha 9:30-9:50 a.m. — Musical Prelude — Aretha Franklin Orchestra 10:40-10:45 a.m.— Musical Tribute — Faith Hill 10:45 a.m. — Mike Duggan — Mayor, City of Detroit 10:55 a.m. — Governor Rick Snyder, State of Michigan 11-11:05 a.m. — Musical Tribute — Ariana Grande 11:05-11:10 a.m. — Musical Tribute — The Clark Sisters 11:40-11:45 a.m. — Family Musical Tribute — Edward Franklin 11:45-11:50 a.m. — Obituary— Sabrina Owens 12:05 p.m. — Former President, William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton 12:31 p.m. — Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder, National Action Network 12:36-12:41 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Chaka Khan 12:41-12:51 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Ron Isley 12:51 p.m. — Reverend Jesse Jackson 1:10- 1:15 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Fantasia Barrino-Taylor 1:15 p.m. — Tyler Perry 1:17 p.m. — Cicely Tyson, Actress 1:25 p.m. — Smokey Robinson, Recording Artist 1:38 p.m. — Isaiah Thomas Former NBA Player, Detroit Pistons 1:42 p.m. — Ron Moten, Personal Friend, Franchise Owner, McDonald’s Restaurants 1:53- 2 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Bishop Marvin Sapp and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir 2-2:05 p.m. — Sermonic Selection — Jennifer Hudson 2:35-2:45 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Stevie Wonder joined by National Artists 2:45-3 p.m. — Committal and Recessional — Jennifer Holliday and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours. Aretha<doc-sep>The Queen’s Guards paid tribute to the Queen of Soul on Friday morning as Aretha Franklin’s 1967 hit was played outside of Buckingham Palace. The Grammy Award-winning tune was played by the Band of the Welsh Guards outside of Her Majesty’s London residence during the Changing of the Guard ceremony. At Changing of Guard at Buckingham Palace this morning, Respect paid to Aretha Franklin. pic.twitter.com/UEKa0ekmf5 — Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) August 31, 2018 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Taking to Twitter, a British Army spokesperson said: “Respect for others underpins all we do in the British Army so it was no surprise that the Welsh Guards Band paid tribute to musical icon and inspiration Aretha Franklin at Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace today.” The Buckingham Palace tribute came on the day of the star’s funeral which is taking place in Detroit, Michigan. Respect for others underpins all we do in the @BritishArmy so it was no surprise that the @WelshGuardsBand paid tribute to musical icon and inspiration #ArethaFranklin at Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace today. @RoyalFamily #ArethaFranklinFuneral #RESPECT pic.twitter.com/ho7fvjEuMh — The Army in London (@ArmyInLondon) August 31, 2018 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js A whole host of global stars are expected to perform and give speeches at the funeral, including Ariana Grande, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson and more. The singer died at her home in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 76 after suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer. Her former husband Glynn Turman, who was at her bedside when she died, said that she was “a strong woman to the very end.” Her career spanned decades and she performed for presidents, royals, and the biggest names around the world. Aretha’s ex-husband, Mr Turman, appeared on Good Morning Britain after her death and told the hosts about the time Sammy Davis Jr. introduced her to royalty. “It meant a lot to her and all of us,” Turman said. “The great [singer] Sammy Davis Jr. introduced her to the Queen Mother in a way that was spectacular, and I never forgot it. “As gracious as the Queen Mother was, you know, Princess Diana was there and Prince Charles, Sammy suddenly said, ‘But we also have royalty in America.’ “[He said] ‘We have the Duke of Ellington, the Count of Bassey, and ladies and gentlemen I bring you the Queen of Soul.’” Aretha performed for Queen Elizabeth at a show at Royal Albert Hall in 1980 and appeared on a special compilation album that included the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Queen, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston and was released in 1997 to raise funds for the Princess Diana Memorial Fund. Her contribution was a popular hymn called “I’ll Fly Away.” Additional reporting by Jess Ilse<doc-sep>

Visitors to Buckingham Palace who came out to see the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony were given a surprise on Friday. Queen Elizabeth II gave a tip of the crown to the Queen of Soul by having her honour guard play Aretha Franklin's song "Respect." The Band of the Welsh Guards, dressed in bright scarlet tunics and tall bearskin hats, belted out an upbeat, brassy rendition of Franklin's 1967 hit in the courtyard of the palace, before the usual August throng of tourists. Incongruous? Hardly. It was a noble gesture. READ MORE: * Aretha Franklin's funeral fills church with prayers and stars * Fans mourn Aretha at gospel-infused public viewing * The Queen Of Soul died aged 76 at her home in Detroit. * Aretha Franklin: A timeline of major events in the life of the Queen of Soul AMY SANCETTA/AP The song Respect was "a declaration from a strong confident woman who knows that she has everything". In a statement, the British Army explained, "The Band of the Welsh Guards are world famous for their musical versatility and professional performance and this morning paid tribute to another musical icon and one that has been of huge influence and inspiration to our musicians - Aretha Franklin, whose funeral was being held in Detroit 3,748 miles away, at the same time of the Queen's Guard Change." Franklin, 76, died of pancreatic cancer on August 16. The military spokesperson called the song "a declaration from a strong confident woman who knows that she has everything". The Daily Mail reported, "Buckingham Palace has on many occasions used the Changing of the Guard as an opportunity to acknowledge world events. For example, the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City and the capital, America's National Anthem was played during the ceremony."

The police transit chief, Edward Delatorre, said there was just one crime for every million riders that pass through the system each day. It was the first recorded murder on the subway in just over six months. Fights are common on the subway, but the video captured a rare instance of deadly violence. When the train doors opened, passengers in the car where the men fought fled to other cars, prompting Mr. Bista, 47, to step out of the car in front of them. He started recording on his phone. Mr. Bista said the victim and his assailants were fighting for control of the gun, and the men trying to break it up were asking a city transit worker to help. But Mr. Bista said the worker refused to step in. “He probably could get that gun in his hand and that person would not have lost his life,” he said. Mr. Bista said he struggled to understand how the gunman escaped because police officers are usually camped out on the street below the station and they arrived quickly after the shooting. The police said investigators were looking for two assailants, but the video appears to show a fourth man wearing a bandanna over his nose and mouth while tugging the victim. An older woman carrying a small rolling suitcase helps peel him from the fight and one of the men breaking it up pushes him against the train. On the platform after the shooting, a man with a guitar slung over his shoulder appears alone and stunned, repeating aloud, “Oh my god!” The train station was closed after the shooting, sending riders scrambling to adjust their plans before it reopened in the evening.<doc-sep>A suspect arrested in connection with a weekend fatal New York City subway shooting that was caught on video "is a member" of the notorious MS-13 gang, police said Monday. The 26-year-old man who was arrested Sunday, and whose identity has yet to be released, "was already known to police," Dermot Shea, the New York Police Department’s chief of detectives, said at a press conference. “He’s in our criminal-group database as an MS-13 member. He has been arrested before in New York City,” Shea said. The victim, a 20-year-old man named Abel Mosso, was affiliated with the 18th Street gang, according to Shea. The video caught the shooting, which happened after a confrontation involving a group of men on a subway train spilled over onto a train platform in Queens at about 12:45 p.m. Sunday. Three men can be seen in the video fighting on the ground of the elevated platform as the train is stopped with doors open, according to the NBC-owned station NBC New York. About six shots can be heard in the video, NBC New York reported. Neither a gun nor shell casings were found on the platform, Shea said Monday. A motive behind the fight and the subsequent shooting was not given at the news conference, though Shea said investigators had reports that the words "MS-13" were shouted during the incident. Police are looking for a third person seen in the video near the fight. MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is a street gang tied to Central America that took root in Los Angeles in either the late 1970s or early 1980s. The Department of Justice estimated in 2017 that MS-13 had more than 10,000 members nationally and another 30,000 around the world. The "13" represents the 13th letter of the alphabet — M — or allegiance to the Mexican Mafia, a criminal organization. As part of his push for tougher immigration policies, President Donald Trump has taken particular interest in MS-13, calling the group an "infestation." MS-13 members accounted for 796 of the 181,000 arrests in 2017 by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.<doc-sep>"One incident is a problem. We have had a number of incidents involving MS-13 in recent months,” Shea said. “When we have violent incidents, or certainly an incident as horrific [as] this, on a crowded train, in the middle of the day, with hard-working people trying to go about their lives, we will bring the full brunt...The fast way to get the NYPD's attention is an incident like this."<doc-sep>JACKSON HEIGHTS, Queens (WABC) -- ICE has confirmed the alleged gunman, a known MS-13 gang member, in a deadly shooting at a subway station in Queens on Sunday is also in the country illegally.ICE was one of the law enforcement agencies involved in 26-year-old Ramiro Gutierrez's burglary arrest in December but then did not confirm that he was undocumented so he was freed on bail.Only after his arrest earlier this week for the fatal shooting did ICE determine "he entered without inspection" at an unknown prior date.ICE has now placed a detainer on Gutierrez for possible deportation.The subway shooting happened around 12:45 p.m. on Sunday at the 90th Street Station at Roosevelt Avenue and Elmhurst Avenue in Jackson Heights.Investigators say the incident stemmed from a confrontation that started on a Manhattan-bound 7 train involving at least three individuals and the victim. "At some point, this confrontation turns physical, and as the train approached the 90th Street Station, the dispute spills onto the platform," NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said. "There (on the platform) is what you see in the widely circulated viral video. A gun appears, and we have an individual shot. We believe approximately five or six shots are fired during this incident, striking the victim multiple times in the face. "The video showed the men wrestling with the victim on the ground. Punches were thrown until the man in the gray jacket stood up and pulled out a gun.Eyewitness News has frozen the video there, because, in the next few seconds, the gunman fired the weapon six times, killing the victim.Subway riders ran from the terrifying scene.The victim, 20-year-old Abel Mosso, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he had also been arrested previously as a gang member, although it was not MS-13.Police arrested Gutierrez Monday morning. Shea said that Gutierrez is known to police as an MS-13 gang member.The determination was not made until Tuesday, officials said, even though ICE was one of the law enforcement agencies involved in Gutierrez's burglary arrest in December. "He has been arrested before in New York City and he has been part of a criminal group gang case before in New York City," Shea said.He is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree gang assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted, Gutierrez faces up to 25 years to life in prison.Gutierrez was arraigned Tuesday night in Queens Criminal Court.President Trump mentioned the incident in Tuesday night's State of the Union address. "The savage gang MS -13 now operates in at least 20 different American states and they almost all come through our southern border," said the president. "Just yesterday, an MS-13 gang member was taken into custody for a fatal shooting on a subway platform in New York city. We are removing these gang members by the thousands, but until we secure our border, they are going to keep streaming right back in. "Meantime, two other suspects remain on the run, and police released images of those wanted for questioning in the case.Shea said they have seen a number of gang-related incidents in parts of Queens recently. "It's not the first time we saw MS-13, but we have seen them in a few troubling incidents or they are suspected in a few troubling incidents throughout Queens in the last year or two," he said.Crimes have ranged from burglaries to drug dealing, he said.Shea also added that crimes in general and on subways remain at record lows. "The subways are safe," he said.When asked about a possible uptick in MS-13 activity in New York City, Shea said, "In terms of an uptick in MS-13, there have been a number of incidents in the last six to 12 months, but in terms of 'uptick' we do not see a lot of MS-13 traditionally in NYC. You have one incident like this, and obviously one is one too many. Think about a month ago at the terrible incident in the Rockaways, where an individual was lured to a park and killed. That was then connected to another incident across the border in Nassau County. But by and large, we put a lot of emphases and focus on our precision policing on gangs, the violence they drive in NYC, and when you rank the gangs we see and we target, MS-13, obviously, an incident like this will catch our attention. but I wouldn't put them at the top of the pecking order that we see day in and day out." ----------<doc-sep>

A suspect reportedly has been taken into custody Monday following the murder of a man on a New York City subway platform a day earlier in what is being investigated by police as a "gang-related" attack, possibly involving an MS-13 member. The identity of the suspect is unclear, but a police source that spoke to the New York Post said the individual is currently being questioned by police at a precinct house. “We have a person in custody,” the source told the newspaper. “Motive is gang-related.” Law enforcement sources told NY1 earlier today that the shooter belongs to MS-13 and the victim was a member of the 18th Street gang, one of MS-13's rivals. An interactive map created by the New York Daily News shows both gangs have been active in the area where the killing happened. Police have been looking for two persons of interest seen in a graphic video of the shooting that has been circulating on social media. Police also have released an image of one of the persons of interest -- the suspected shooter -- fleeing the 90th Street-Elmhurst Avenue subway station in the Queens borough. It was not immediately clear Monday if that person is the one in custody. Police say the incident happened around noon Sunday when the victim and two men started arguing on a train and the dispute spilled out onto the platform. It's uncertain what the disagreement was about – but the video first shows the men wrestling with the victim on the ground amid the cries of terrified passengers. The shooter then breaks free, pulls out a small handgun and is heard firing at least six shots at the victim, sending those on the platform running for their lives. The footage ends with the shooter escaping down the steps of the now-empty platform as the victim lays motionless nearby. “This incident is beyond horrifying," MTA spokesman Max Young said. "While our system and the city are safer than ever before, we have zero tolerance for any violence on our subways and buses, and the safety of our customers and employees will always be our number one priority.” GET THE FOX NEWS APP The victim died at the scene and the New York Times reported it was the first killing on the New York City Subway system in more than a year.

The Cleveland Browns had three of the first 35 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. As expected, they also have three of the most highly ranked rookies in EA Sports' Madden NFL 19. Daniel Williams broke down some of the most noteworthy choices. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was the No. 1 overall selection and he was also rated as the top rookie quarterback in the game with an 81. "We spoke a bit about Mayfield in the Top 5 Rookies article, so this shouldn’t be a surprise. Outside of his base ratings that we broke down, his 87 Throw Under Pressure rating is the highest of the rookie signal callers by a wide margin. He’s also the only rookie QB with an 80+ rating for Short, Mid, and Deep ranges. He’s one of the more versatile QBs in this bunch," Williams wrote. Surprisingly enough, the second most highly ranked quarterback is Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and not Sam Darnold of the New York Jets, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills or Josh Rosen of the Arizona Cardinals. Former Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward was the first defensive player taken in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was tied as the second highest graded rookie defensive player in the game with an 80 rating. "Ward provides shutdown corner potential to a talented Browns’ defensive front. With an outstanding pair of scores in a 95 Speed and 95 Agility, Ward will be able to keep up with just about any receiver. His Catch rating isn’t high, but a 92 Jump adds to his User Lurk potential." Ward checked in just behind Chicago Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith and tied Denver Broncos defensive end Bradley Chubb and Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James. Finally, former Georgia running back Nick Chubb was the fourth running back taken in the 2018 NFL Draft. It would stand to reason that he is one of the top five running backs in the video game and he is with a rating of 76. "Chubb is a counterbalance to a roster that seems to have speed at every position. While not slow by any means with an 88 Speed, Chubb fits the mold of a traditional power back and rounds out this top five. His 85 Strength is the best of the rookie RB class, and his 87 Truck is second only to Guice. His 83 Agility limits his shiftiness, meaning he’s right at home grinding away tough yards between the tackles rather than sweeps toward the outside," Williams finished. The running back rankings were not cut and dry in order though. New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley was the top dog and, in order, he should have been followed by Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny, New England Patriots running back Sony Michel, Chubb and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones II. Instead, the order of Madden NFL 19 ratings was Barkley, Washington Redskins running back Derrius Guice, Jones, Michel and Chubb. ESPN NFL Draft analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. have also said that former Florida and current Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway is arguably the best wide receiver talent in the 2018 NFL Draft but he was not graded as such by EA Sports. The top five wide receiver grades have been revealed and Callaway was not included.<doc-sep>The Ravens have lacked a true ‘star’ since their victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, when Ray Lewis rode off into the sunset with the Lombardi Trophy in tow. Yes, they have good-to-great players but nobody the NFL or ESPN fawn over with commercials or segments from talking heads. But, with the final pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the franchise landed a popularity victory, winning over gamers of the football series, Madden. EA Sports released their Top 5 Rookies QBs post earlier this week and Lamar Jackson landed in second, only behind the first overall pick of the draft, Baker Mayfield. 2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens 79 OVR Lamar Jackson could be the most interesting QB to play as in Madden 19. If you sim a lot of games in Franchise, he’s likely not the best pick at the moment. But holy hell, his base ratings make him fun. The stud athlete clocks a 91 Speed, making him not only the fastest QB in the game, but the only one who breaks 90 in that category. He also sports a 93 Ball Carrier Vision, an 86 Spin, 89 Juke, and 94 Throw Power. His accuracy scores (83 Short, 80 Mid, 74 Deep) can lead to some wild throws, but his running scores can also lead to several easy first downs after escaping the pocket. Watch out for this one. This will certainly be something to explore for fans of Madden; from fantasy drafts to those trading Joe Flacco for the sole purpose of wanting Lamar in the driver seat from Day 1, it will be an enjoyable ride. For me, personally, I haven’t touched a copy of the series after Madden 13, but that’s mainly due to my bank account. Also, it’s nice to own the year of the game where Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and many of my childhood favorites still are in the game. I do my best to trade for Randy Moss every time. The excitement of Jackson has me intrigued though, and a 91 speed rating will be fun to utilize alongside a full arsenal of Michael Crabtree, Alex Collins, John Brown and Willie Snead. As the title states, this could bring more fans flocking to the Ravens, as I know many who started following a team specifically for their ranking in a video game. Some became Rams fans due to Kurt Warner and the Greatest Show on Turf, while I’ve also met Ravens fans who started their life loving the Purple & Black from Ray Lewis and his glorious Madden commercial back in 2005. Either way, Baltimore may receive new, younger fans, all due to the former Louisville Cardinal turned Baltimore Raven.<doc-sep>Madden the game is synonymous with the NFL. In fact, between the yearly release, the player rankings and team rankings, it is quite the NFL spectacle. One thing that is always important to many is the rookie rankings. Josh Rosen is really the only rookie that much can be expected of right now in terms of ranking and he came in pretty good, with a 78 Madden 19 rating. However, he was the third ranked rookie quarterback, behind first overall pick Baker Mayfield (81) and favorite of many (and by many I mean me) Lamar Jackson (79). He is in front of Sam Darnold (75) and Josh Allen (74), both of who were drafted in front of Rosen. Top 5 rookie QB’s in Madden NFL 19 Baker Mayfield (81) Lamar Jackson (79) Josh Rosen (78) Sam Darnold (75) Josh Allen (74) pic.twitter.com/XEtr19hZ19 — Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) July 3, 2018 Rosen at 78 is pretty impressive actually, as we know players like Eli Manning (76) and Joe Flacco (77) come in lower than the rookie signal caller. What do you think of the initial ranking for Josh Rosen? Did they get it right?<doc-sep>

Football season is around the corner, which means “Madden NFL 19” is, too. In an effort to hype up the latest installment of the video game, the folks over at EA Sports have released the ratings for the 2018 rookie class. Appearing in the game for the first time, Jets quarterback Sam Darnold will begin with a rating of 75 overall. Surprisingly, that ranks fourth among all the rookie quarterbacks. Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick, was the highest-rated rookie signal caller at 81, followed by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson at 79. Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen scored a 78, while the Bills’ Josh Allen placed fifth with a mark of 74. So, how did Madden determine Darnold’s rating? Here’s the breakdown from EA Sports: Darnold was earning some Andrew Luck comparisons early in the Draft/Combine scouting process. For Madden purposes, he’s a balanced QB that’s adequate at most tasks you can throw at him. His 90 Throw Power isn’t the strongest obviously, but his 86 Short and 82 Mid Accuracy scores allow for some reliability – but don’t throw it deep. His 73 Deep rating means connecting on huge passes will be rare, at best. But, his 85 Throw on the Run is second only to Mayfield’s 88. Quarterbacks were not the only rookies to see their Madden ratings determined. Colts guard Quenton Nelson was the top-rated rookie at 83 overall. Giants running back Saquan Barkley received the best grade of any rookie running back with an 82 overall. Bears middle linebacker Roquan Smith, meanwhile, was the top defensive player with an 81 mark. As for wide receivers, Carolina’s D.J. Moore and Atlanta’s Calvin Ridley tied at 77. Madden NFL 19 is set to be released on Aug. 10, meaning fans won’t have to wait long to play with their team’s newest stars.

Take a look at the lifestyles of Lebron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Floyd Mayweather and Roger Federer. Take a look at the lifestyles of Lebron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Floyd Mayweather and Roger Federer.... You don’t earn nicknames like “White Lightning” and “The Boogie Man” for nothing. High school athlete Matthew Boling may be the rarest of over-hyped raw talents that actually justifies the extraordinary attention he is beginning to receive from around the world after he ran the fastest 100m dash ever recorded by a high school athlete on the weekend. The 18-year-old, completing his final year of high school at Strake Jesuit College in Houston, Texas, is simply a freak — and now the whole world knows it. On Saturday Boling ran his 100m final in a time of 9.98 seconds — and it was later recorded as a 9.97 run — the fastest time run by an American under the age of 20 across all conditions. Boling’s 100m run is the fastest in any condition in high school history, but the record won’t stand because it was recorded with a tail wind assist of +4.2. The run would have almost certainly still beat the 10.22 time run by Edward Nketia, who won the men’s 100m final at the Australian Track and Field Championships in Sydney earlier in April. New PR and 100m high school record all conditions, 9.98 #AMDG pic.twitter.com/bLAekQnx0z — Matthew Boling (@matthew_boling1) April 28, 2019 His record for the fastest ever 100m run by a high school athlete in any conditions still very much stands. So does the fact that he is the first American teenager to beat the 10-second mark since Trayvon Bromell finished in 9.99 (assisted by a tailwind) in 2013. It might not have even been his best performance of the meet. He also led his Strake 4x100m relay team to another win where his ability to chase down an extraordinary lead in his anchor leg left commentators stunned as his team finished with a time of 40.72 seconds. He may still be in high school, but that isn’t going to stop you from watching him at next year’s Olympics in Tokyo, according to some eager commentators, who believe he can earn a spot on the American track team. After all, Boling only technically began competing in the 100m again this year. The freak had previously focused on running the 200m and 400m, while also breaking age group state records in the high jump and long jump. The weekend’s Texas State Regional Track Championships at Challenger Stadium were the first time Boling has focused on competing in the 100m since he was in primary school. It makes his 9.98 mark, just the start of his promising future. He is far from a finished product. A specimen of seemingly limitless potential and power. Now the fun begins. Now he says he is going to start paying attention to the 100m and 200m sprints. “It definitely felt good,” Boling said, according to The Houston Chronicle. “My block start was pretty good and right out of the gate I knew it was going to be fast, so I decided to turn it up a little bit and ran my best. I was really happy with the time.” That doesn’t mean he is about to give up on the 400m, long jump or high jump. After all, he also won the long jump at the regional meeting with a jump of more than 26 feet. Boling is no overnight success story. Even before his heroics at the regional meet, US Athletics had its eye on the Texas product, naming him in the The All-USA Pre-season Boys Track and Field Team for the 2018-19 season. The kid is the real deal — and it’s not hard to see why so many athletics commentators were left salivating at his performance on Saturday. You’d be a very brave person to think you won’t be hearing more about Broling in the lead up to next year’s Olympics. Just insane what Houston's Strake Jesuit star Matthew Boling has been doing this offseason on the track. He has the US No. 1 time in the 100m, 200m, long jump and is Top 8 in both the 4x100m relay and 400m. We are going to be hearing his name for a long time. — Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) April 10, 2019 In his 1st year running the open 100m, Matthew Boling now owns the fastest open 100m time (9.98) in all conditions in HS history. Congrats & keep it rolling!#FutureDawgs #FindYourGreatness pic.twitter.com/H0dsciHwiB — Georgia Track&Field (@UGATrack) April 29, 2019 It's been a while since I've seen a kid bring the #TexasRelays fans to their feet the way that Matthew Boling of Houston Strake Jesuit has this weekend. The lightning-quick Georgia signee has had fans getting to their feet whenever he's touched a baton or starting block. #HookEm — Danny Davis (@aasdanny) March 30, 2019 I’m this kids biggest fan! Sub-10 seconds IN HIGH SCHOOL!!! 😳 #wow https://t.co/zgQdlgVPV8 — Marcellus Wiley (@marcelluswiley) April 29, 2019<doc-sep>Matthew Boling led Strake Jesuit (Houston, Texas) broke the national 100-meter time all conditions time on Saturday, finishing the run in 9.98 seconds. He’s the first high school runner to beat the 10-second mark since Trayvon Bromell finished in 9.99 — also with wind aid — in 2013, according to MileSplit. Boling’s time was wind-aided at 4.2 miles per hour so it won’t count as an official record. PRESEASON: ALL-USA Preseason Track Team The national record for a 100-meter race without wind aid is 10.00 seconds, according to MileSplit. It was last run by Trentavis Friday in 2014 However, Boling’s 100-meter run is the fastest in any condition in high school history. Here’s a video of his record-breaking run: Boling, named to the ALL-USA Preseason Track and Field Team, has been on a tear this season. On Saturday, he ran the 100-meter dash, anchored the victorious 1,600-meter relay and won the long jump at 25 feet, 2 inches, according to the Houston Chronicle. In doing so, he led Strake Jesuit to a Class 6A Region III track and field meet victory. According to the Houston Chronicle, it is his first year running the open 100 and already leads the nation in that race and the 200.<doc-sep>To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video They call him White Lightning for a reason. Matthew Boling, 18, has just run the fastest 100-metre dash time of any American under the age of 20 – 0.4 seconds slower than Usain Bolt. Boling, a student at Strake Jesuit College Prep, ran the distance in 9.98 seconds, comfortably pulling away from his rivals on Saturday. Despite it being his personal best, there was a 4.2mph tailwind so it will not count. The official record belongs to Trentavis Friday who did the run in 10 seconds precisely. Boling said: ‘It definitely felt good. My block start was pretty good and right out of the gate I knew it was going to be fast, so I decided to turn it up a little bit and ran my best. I was really happy with the time.’ Matthew Boling, 18, beat his personal best (Picture: Rex Shutterstock) Unfortunately his run won’t be an official record because there was a tailwind (Picture: Rex Shutterstock) He said he knew he had put in a good run from the beginning (Picture: Rex Shutterstock) Boling hopes to make it to the U.S. Olympic team for the 2020 Toyko Olympics and will go to the University of Georgia in September. Speaking about his nickname, he said: ‘Some people call me the bogeyman. I heard some people calling me the horseman. I’ve heard different stuff.’ He will take part in the state finals in two weeks. Boling pictured breaking away from the rest of the runners in the 100-metre dash (Picture: Rex Shutterstock)<doc-sep>

An 18-year-old American student won a 100m sprint race with a time that is only 0.4 seconds slower than Usain Bolt's world record. Loading… Matthew Boling ran the incredible race in 9.98 seconds, easily outsprinting everyone else in the race at a meet in Houston, Texas. Unfortunately for the Strake Jesuit College Prep student, his time won't be classed as an official record because of the 4.2mph tailwind behind him, but his time is still the fastest time that any American under the age of 20 has ever achieved. Advert 10 Not bad going. Boling has the nickname 'White Lightning' and with this kind of speed at his disposal, you can see why. He intends to try to qualify for his country at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and if he keeps his progress going the way that it is, few would back against him achieving that goal. On the starting line. Credit: NFHS Network Advert 10 However, the official record for Americans under 20 in the 100m dash still belongs to Trentavis Friday, who ran the distance in 10 seconds flat back in 2014. After his exploits on the track, Boling told the Houston Chronicle: "It definitely felt good. My block start was pretty good and right out of the gate I knew it was going to be fast, so I decided to turn it up a little bit and ran my best. I was really happy with the time. "I just have to get ready for that four seconds where I'm nervous and then, like, after that, it's just smooth." That's fair enough. He has every right to be pleased with that time, even if it was slightly wind assisted. Advert 10 So, what next for the young man? Well, as well as his Olympic dream, Boling plans to attend the University of Georgia in September and will presumably become a fixture immediately on their NCAA sprinting team. See you later, guys. Credit: NFHS Network He's also got two weeks to prepare for the Texas state finals meet. You'd imagine his rivals are feeling somewhat nervous about facing him. Of his nickname, Boling added: "Some people call me the bogeyman. I heard some people calling me the horseman. I've heard different stuff." Advert 10 I think I'd prefer being known as 'White Lightning' to being called 'bogeyman' or 'horseman'. Just a matter of personal preference, I guess. Naturally, his dad is pretty damn proud of him. Mark Boling told reporters that his son's speed and athleticism is definitely not genetic, telling them: "He just has a work ethic that is beyond anything I've ever seen from anybody." Usain Bolt set the record back in 2009. Credit: PA

Republicans chanted “USA!” in the House gallery as President Donald Trump said the country was “strong” during his State of the Union address Tuesday night. WATCH: Trump said, “After 24 months of rapid progress, our economy is the envy of the world, our military is the most powerful on earth, and America is winning each and every day. Members of Congress: the State of our Union is strong.” The chants then broke out in response. He continued, “That sounds so good. Our country is vibrant and our economy is thriving like never before.” Pres Trump: “Members of Congress: the state of our union is strong” Republicans chant “USA! USA!” Most democrats stay seated.#SOTU — Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 6, 2019 REPUBLICANS CHANTED “USA, USA” WHILE IN THE USA DURING THE STATE OF USA’S UNION. #SOTU⁠ ⁠ — Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) February 6, 2019 Follow Mike on Twitter<doc-sep>Republicans clapped and rose to their feet in a standing ovation as they chanted “USA,” while Democrats sat quiet when President Donald Trump called the state of America “strong” during Tuesday’s State of the Union address. “Tonight, I ask you to choose greatness,” the president said before listing the ways in which the administration “has moved with urgency and historic speed to confront problems neglected by leaders of both parties over many decades.” After recounting a host of positive economic indicators for America, President Trump said, “Members of Congress: the State of our Union is strong. Our country is vibrant and our economy is thriving like never before.” The statement prompted a standing ovation from Vice President Mike Pence and Republicans, who then began chanting “USA.” Many Democrats, however, could be seen sitting without even clapping. The president cited a booming economy with 5.3 million new jobs, 600,000 of these being manufacturing jobs, and fast-rising wages including wages for blue-collar workers. “Nearly five million Americans have been lifted off food stamps. The United States economy is growing almost twice as fast today as when I took office, and we are considered far and away the hottest economy anywhere in the world,” said Trump. “Unemployment has reached the lowest rate in half a century,” he said, specifically noting the historic lows in African-American, Hispanic, and Asian unemployment. He pointed to the passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which doubled the child tax credit, “virtually ended the estate, or death tax on small businesses, ranches, and family farms,” and ended the Obamacare individual mandate penalty. Right to try was also passed for terminally ill individuals. President Trump lauded his administration’s massive cut in the number of regulations. He added that the United States is now not only the “number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world,” but is a net energy exporter for the first time in 65 years. “After 24 months of rapid progress, our economy is the envy of the world, our military is the most powerful on earth, and America is winning each and every day,” said the president. He cited Friday jobs numbers that showed 304,000 new jobs added in January: “An economic miracle is taking place in the United States — and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics, or ridiculous partisan investigations.” “If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way!” said Trump. “We must be united at home to defeat our adversaries abroad.” Michelle Moons is a White House Correspondent for Breitbart News — follow on Twitter @MichelleDiana and Facebook<doc-sep>WASHINGTON — Apparently, there is something both parties can agree on. Democratic congresswomen, wearing white as a tribute to the suffragette movement, sat stoically through much of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night. But his comments about women in the work force led to a striking moment of unity. "No one has benefited more from our thriving economy than women, who have filled 58 percent of the new jobs created in the last year," Trump said, ultimately drawing cheers and applause from the congresswomen. >> Read more trending news "You weren't supposed to do that," he quipped, adding: "Don’t sit yet. You're going to like this. And exactly one century after Congress passed the Constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote, we also have more women serving in Congress than at any time before." The Democratic congresswomen again cheered, with many standing and shouting, "USA!" Female lawmakers celebrate with high fives and chants of "USA", as Donald Trump acknowledges the record number of women in Congress in his State of the Union speech [Tap to expand] https://t.co/0AZZAlAXi1 #SOTU pic.twitter.com/jQhYcazf0O — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 6, 2019 Cox Media Group<doc-sep>× Expand YouTube Wearing suffragette white in solidarity, Democratic women of the 116th Congress listen to the State of the Union Address, February 5, 2019. In his remarks the President stated, "we have more women in the workforce than ever before." According to the Labor Department, women's labor force participation was higher in 2012, and peaked in 2000. You knew Donald Trump wasn’t going to pull off the message of “unity” he claimed would be the theme of his State of the Union address. Having lost the government shutdown staredown with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and then coming humbly into the House of Representatives a week late, after the Democratic Speaker refused to let him deliver the address on schedule while 800,000 federal employees were locked out, Trump was facing his worst enemy: his own fragile ego. The unity stuff lasted for barely three minutes of a nearly hour-and-a-half-long address. The rambling, combative, defensive speech, which began with a call to Americans to “choose greatness,” veered into a McCarthyite attack on the scourge of domestic socialism (cut to long camera shots of grumpy Senator Bernie Sanders and radiant Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez); a ghoulish section on babies being “ripped from the womb” and “executed” at birth, (cue standing ovation from anti-abortion fanatic Vice President Mike Pence); a surprise announcement that Trump is withdrawing us from the medium-range missile treaty with Russia (cut to Joint Chiefs sitting, stony-faced, under a single thought bubble, “What? ?”); and, of course, the line that made Pelosi, seated decorously on the dias behind Trump, openly laugh: “If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation.” Toward the end, Trump’s speech devolved into a series of random platitudes so disjointed it seemed like the product of frantic, last-minute plagiarism of other State of the Union speeches. The “USA!” chants lent Republicans in Congress the appearance of frat boys in a ritual dominance display. The highlight of the night was seeing so many female members of Congress dressed in suffragist white. When Trump took credit for the record number of women in Congress, those women, elected on a wave of resistance to Trump, sat incredulously for a moment, then rose to their feet to high-five each other, applaud and, turning away from the President, lift their hands to “raise the roof.” When the women got too rowdy, a chorus of white Republican men stood up and began shouting “USA! USA!” They did it again several times during Trump’s speech, including when he said “We are born free, and we will stay free. Tonight, we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country.” The “USA!” chants, lending Republicans in Congress the appearance of a bunch of frat boys engaged in a ritual dominance display, did not elevate the tone of Trump’s speech. Trump withdrew us from the Iran nuclear deal, he explained, because “it’s a radical regime. They do bad, bad things.” USA! USA! There were several moments when members of both parties seemed unsure how to react. When Trump promised to go after the drug companies and lower prescription drug prices, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sat on his hands looking angry, and many other Republicans hesitated to clap. As expected, Trump doubled down on his warnings of a “crisis” on the border, painting undocumented immigrants as dangerous criminals terrorizing U.S. cities by committing violent crimes. He showcased family members of victims of a violent crime allegedly committed by an undocumented immigrant, fueling the dangerous and counterfactual idea that undocumented workers, who prop up U.S. industries, including Trump’s own hotels, are more likely to commit rapes and murders than U.S. citizens. Trump pivoted from his poisonous screed on immigrants to unselfconsciously display Holocaust survivors who sought refuge in the United States after World War II. As if their stories had nothing in common with the Syrian and Central American refugees his administration has treated so callously. Like his attack on socialism, Trump’s purpose in feeding paranoid, racist fantasies about immigrants was clear: He does not seek to “unify” Americans but to divide us. “No issue better illustrates the divide between America’s working class and America’s political class than illegal immigration,” he declared. In other words, Trump calculates that stoking fear of immigrants is a good political wedge. Like his conversion from Planned Parenthood supporter to champion of babies-ripped-from-wombs, his stand on the border wall, and his willingness to throw federal employees out of work during a pointless shutdown and create chaos and panic on the border, is pure political stunt. For all his ominous words about domestic socialism, Trump, more than any of the young Medicare-for-all, free-college advocates in Congress, holds himself out as a class warrior. Directing working-class anger downward, scapegoating other working people instead of challenging grotesque wealth for the few, is a hallmark of rightwing populism. “Wealthy politicians and donors push for open borders while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards,” he declared. Meanwhile, “working-class Americans are left to pay the price for mass illegal migration--reduced jobs, lower wages, overburdened schools, hospitals so crowded you can’t get in, increased crime, and a depleted social safety net.” Directing working-class anger downward, scapegoating other working people instead of challenging the structural inequalities that create scarcity for many and grotesque wealth for the few, is a hallmark of rightwing populism. That strategy got Trump elected, and it’s one he is clearly depending on to keep him afloat. But Trump’s fears of proliferating investigations and his sense that he is on the ropes, and that an increasingly active and organized female, black and brown, outspokenly progressive—and yes, socialist—movement is rising up against him is clearly making him worry that the joke is on him. “USA! USA!” chants can drown out the majority only for so long. As Stacey Abrams put it in her smart, cogent, and energetic Democratic response to the State of the Union: YouTube Stacey Abrams delivered the Democratic response. “In Georgia and around the country, people are striving for a middle class where a salary truly equals economic security.<doc-sep>

During Donald Trump's State of the Union address, a chant of "USA" rang out across the chamber as a large group of attendees jumped to their feet. Surprisingly, they were mostly Democratic congresswomen. In Tuesday night's address, the highest energy moment came when Trump brought up the record amount of women in the workforce, saying women "filled 58 percent of the new jobs created in the last year." That elicited an unexpected celebration from the large group of Democratic women sitting front and center in the chamber. SEE ALSO: NYT honors record number of women in Congress with stunning special section "All Americans can be proud that we have more women in the workforce than ever before — don't sit yet, you are going to like this," he said. He went on to highlight the record number of women (131) who are part of the 116th Congress, many of whom are recently elected. "And exactly one century after Congress passed the Constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote, we also have more women serving in Congress than ever before," said Trump. At this, many of the legislators including Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and others, encouraged by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, stood up and applauded again. Then, before the president could continue, the women started chanting "USA" loudly in the House of Representatives. It wasn't the only time "USA" rang out across the chamber that night, but honestly, it was the best. "USA!" chant erupts in House chamber as President Trump highlights the record-number of women serving in Congress. #SOTU https://t.co/F1nJRmGHi5 pic.twitter.com/A39wlqvSrI — NBC News (@NBCNews) February 6, 2019 Seriously, it was a big moment. Look, there's Rep. Ocasio-Cortez in her goddamn cape. The moment looked even more powerful because many of the Democratic women were wearing white in solidarity with the women's suffrage movement and support the campaign for gender equality. The Democratic Women in the House are standing strong in #suffragette white - fighting #ForThePeople & the economic security of women & families! #SOTU pic.twitter.com/fHNmEQdzvK — DWWG (@HouseDemWomen) February 5, 2019 We’re ready for #SOTU! Standing strong in suffragette white. 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/B80148cMTW — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) February 6, 2019 After the speech, House Speaker Pelosi said she "liked" Trump's pointing out of the number of women in Congress in his speech, but that it needed clarification. "I liked when he acknowledged it was the largest number of women, he forgot to acknowledge there were only 15 Republicans and 91 Democratic women in the Congress of the United States ... in the House of Representatives," she said. "I love the way the women just rose to the occasion." Pelosi says she liked President Trump acknowledging the women in Congress BUT that he forgot to mention they were mostly Democrats pic.twitter.com/Z9FG9hvtNz — Bo Erickson (@BoKnowsNews) February 6, 2019 Look, Trump's very brief mention of record-breaking numbers around women in the workplace, including Congress, likely came from his daughter and senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump, Politco's White House reporter Gabby Orr noted. But thanks to a group of badass female lawmakers, it led to one of the most inspiring moments of a very strange SOTU, and we'll take what we can get. UPDATE: Feb. 6, 2019, 4:10 p.m. AEDT Added Nancy Pelosi's response to Trump's SOTU.

Michelle Wolf got real with her viewers on Sunday, using the latest episode of Netflix’s The Break to weigh in on the recent high-profile deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. The comedienne shared that she was a big fan of both celebrities — both of whom committed suicide in June — before revealing that Bourdain was the only celebrity she ever asked to meet while working as a writer on Late Night With Seth Meyers. She then argued that “depression is a disease,” and “if we’re going to have any chance of destigmatizing depression, we have to get rid of the pressure to pretend we’re happy, even when we’re not. “How can we expect to have an honest conversation about anything if we’re always supposed to seem flawless?” Wolf asked. “Looking at social media, you’d think our lives are just sun-kissed beaches and calorie-free avocado toast, when most of the time it’s piles of dirty laundry on top of piles of clean laundry.” She then suggested that “all of our selfies are lies,” and “if you want proof at how ingrained the idea of pretending to be happy is in our society, even our poop emoji is smiling… We’re all walking around like we’re happy little soldiers, yet one of the most beloved movies of all time is” It’s a Wonderful Life, a film about “a guy deciding whether he should kill himself. That’s one of our favorite Christmas movies.” Popular on TVLine In conclusion, Wolf said, “It’s OK to admit that life is terrifying and we never know what’s going to happen… Let’s make it OK to admit you’re not doing great, and let’s listen to other people when they admit they’re not either.” She then suggested a new hashtag for imperfect selfies — #IFeelALittleBad — and shared the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. What did you think of Wolf’s segment on depression? Press PLAY above to see the full piece, then drop a comment below with your reaction.<doc-sep>Even since designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain took their own lives within a matter of days, a rousing discussion of depression, related mental health issues and their collective shunning by popular culture has flourished. Comedian Michelle Wolf entered the fray on Sunday with the latest episode of her Netflix show The Break. “Depression is a disease and I’m not an expert on mental health by any means,” she said. “Let’s make it okay to admit you’re not doing great, and really listen to people when they admit they aren’t either.” Jokes abound throughout the nearly six-minute clip, but Wolf uses them to bolster her central argument about de-stigmatizing depression instead of making light of Spade and Bourdain’s circumstances. To accomplish this, she turns to Martha Stewart’s social media feed, which recently featured what the home design icon dubbed her “first good selfie,” and the appearance of celebrity happiness. “In the spirit of our one true god, Martha Stewart, I propose we start with our selfies. Next time you post a selfie,” Wolf explains, “use the hashtag #IFeelALittleBad.” “In the spirit of being honest, post the number of times you tried taking the photo,” she jokes. “If we can admit that we’re not always happy and our lives may not be as perfect as they appear, maybe it’ll pave the way for us to talk more openly about things like depression.”<doc-sep>Michelle Wolf wants you to stop pretending you're happy: 'Even our poo emoji is smiling!' Michelle Wolf took some time on Sunday to discuss the recent suicides of designer Kate Spade and chef Anthony Bourdain — and why people need to be honest about their mental health. The host of The Break with Michelle Wolf opened a segment of her Netflix show Sunday revealing how big of a fan she was of both Spade (she used to buy “Kate Splade” purse knockoffs before she could afford the real things) and Bourdain (“He was so sexy, like a f—able pirate”). But then the host began sharing her feelings about the stigmatization of depression and other mental health issues. “We have to get rid of the pressure to pretend we’re happy even when we’re not… I’m not perfect. I just farted,” she said on her show. She observed that society encourages everyone to say they’re “good” even when they’re not. “Even our poo emoji is smiling!” she exclaimed. RELATED VIDEO: Remembering Anthony Bourdain’s Life and Career “It’s alright to admit that life is terrifying and we never know what is going to happen next,” she continued, citing the unknown terrors of the ocean (goblin sharks are a real thing?!) and space (it’s infinite!) as just a couple of the things worth being worked up about. Wolf said she was thrilled to see Martha Stewart post a selfie that the domestic goddess admitted she thought was a bit unflattering and the TV host encouraged her viewers to admit when they are trying to put forth a glossier image of themselves than is real. RELATED VIDEO: Kate Spade, 55, Found Dead in N.Y.C. Apartment from Apparent Suicide In fact, Wolf wants to start a social media campaign where everyone captions their photo with the hashtag #IFeelALittleBad when they’re not at their best (and to include the number of times they took a selfie before posting it at the end of the hashtag). Wolf ended her segment by shoulder dancing it out before sharing the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.<doc-sep>

"We have to get rid of the pressure of pretending we're happy, even when we're not." We missed you too. Sign up to our newsletter , and follow us on Instagram and Twitter , so you always know where to find us. This article discusses suicide. — It’s always a dicey proposition for a comedy show to tackle something as inherently un-funny as suicide and mental health — but nevertheless, The Break With Michelle Wolf gave it a shot, and what followed was actually a pretty important discussion, with some good jokes to balance it out. Wolf begins the video by talking about the two celebrity suicides which have shocked and saddened the world recently — Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade. She was a fan of Bourdain, having met him while working on Seth Meyer’s show. “He was so sexy, like a fuckable pirate,” she says, before cutting into a discussion about mental health and suicide. Her point is basically that we need to de-stigmatise discussions around depression, and stop pretending that we’re always fine. “We have to get rid of the pressure of pretending we’re happy, even when we’re not.” Wolf flags that she’s not really qualified to lecture on this sort of thing, but what she’s proposing is actually pretty simple. “Depression is a disease and I’m not an expert on mental health by any means, I’m barely qualified to talk about hosting a TV show,” she said. “Let’s make it okay to admit you’re not doing great, and really listen to people when they admit they aren’t either.” There’s plenty of good, running gags throughout the video, such as a recurring existential dread about the dreadful expanse of space and some fart jokes. Gotta keep the discussion about crushing depression relatively light! She points out that considering life is so unknowable, we should be more honest about not doing well. “It’s ok to admit that life is terrifying and we never know what’s going to happen next. We only know 5 percentage of what’s in the ocean, and most of the earth is ocean. That’s terrifying.’ The Break With Michelle Wolf is currently streaming on Netflix.

Prince William slams BBC after report on methods used to secure Diana interview The wait is over, you can finally see this adorable panda cub Viral 'Charlie bit my finger' video to be taken down. Here's why See the highlights from the 2021 Billboard Music Awards (CNN) — On October 26, 1942, the USS Hornet was mortally wounded in a Japanese onslaught during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. It carried 2,200 crew, 140 of whom were lost that day. When the warship slipped beneath the waves early the next morning, it was the last time a human eye had gazed upon the Hornet’s gray hull. Until now. Late last month a research vessel called the R/V Petrel found the World War II aircraft carrier’s wreckage more than 17,000 feet below the surface of the South Pacific, near the Solomon Islands. It had lain dormant on the murky ocean floor – some three miles beneath the surface – for more than 76 years. Paul Allen's Vulcan, Inc. This image taken from a undersea robotic vehicle shows a gun on the newly discovered USS Hornet. The ship’s discovery was announced Tuesday by Vulcan Inc., the company founded by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, which owns the Petrel. To find the Hornet, the expedition team aboard the Petrel used data from the archives of nine other US warships that sighted the carrier in the days before its demise. They plotted out a search grid focused on the warship’s last known location. The Petrel carries two onboard robotic vehicles which it deploys to plumb nautical depths as much as three miles below the surface. The researchers sent down one of the robots, which found the Hornet on its first dive mission. RV Petrel The R/V Petrel deploys its autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The robot can probe the ocean floor at depths more than 3.5 miles below the surface. It was yet another success for the Petrel, which over the past few years has uncovered numerous World War II-era shipwrecks, representing vessels from the US, British, Italian, and Japanese navies. Last March, it discovered a different American aircraft carrier, the USS Lexington. Robert Kraft, who heads subsea operations for Vulcan, said the Hornet was on their list as a key shipwreck of interest due to its “place in history as an aircraft carrier that saw many pivotal moments in naval battles.” The Hornet was famed for launching the Doolittle Raid against Tokyo and other Japanese sites in April 1942, showing just four months after the Pearl Harbor attack that the Japanese mainland was vulnerable to American air assaults. Two months later it played a pivotal role in the Battle of Midway, in which it helped sink four Japanese carriers. That decisive victory turned the tide of the war in the Pacific. Although the Hornet was highly decorated, its time at sea was brief. After service in Guadalcanal, the warship was bombarded by Japanese dive bombers and torpedo planes in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. The Hornet sank, and the Japanese won the battle. But it came at great cost to Japanese forces. “About half the Japanese aircraft engaged were shot down by greatly improved U.S. Navy anti-aircraft defenses,” retired Rear Adm. Samuel Cox told CNN. “As a result, the Japanese carriers did not engage again in battle for almost another two years.” US Naval History and Heritage Command The USS Hornet (CV-8) was commissioned in 1941 and saw about a year of valiant service before sinking. Cox told CNN the Navy’s general rule is to keep shipwrecks untouched. He called the Hornet’s wreckage “hallowed ground,” with 140 sailors finding their final resting place there. “This is like Arlington (National Cemetery) for us,” he said.<doc-sep>Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated the year the Hornet was sunk. For 76 years, the aircraft carrier lay on the ocean floor, a quiet tomb for 140 sailors who died the day it sank. Now, for the first time since then, humans have laid eyes on the USS Hornet, which was sunk in October 1942 during World War II's Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. A research vessel discovered wreckage of the aircraft carrier in late January 2019, nearly 17,500 feet below the surface, resting on the floor of the South Pacific Ocean. “We had the Hornet on our list of WWII warships that we wanted to locate because of its place in history ... that saw many pivotal moments in naval battles,” said Robert Kraft, director of subsea operations for Vulcan, the company that discovered the World War II warship. Vulcan was founded by the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, and has found many other shipwrecks of that era. Start the day smarter:Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox The Hornet was involved in many key events of the war, including launching the famed Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. It was also a major part of the Battle of Midway. Though 140 sailors died when the Hornet sank, over 2,000 were able to safely escape.<doc-sep>The little ship called R/V Petrel is on a roll. Just last week, the team behind this research vessel said it had found the wreck of the Japanese battleship Hiei, the first one U.S. force sunk during World War II. Now the ship, which is part of an expedition launched by late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, has found an even more famous World War II wreck on the bottom of the sea: the USS Hornet. A WWII Legend The Hornet was an American aircraft carrier involved in the famous air raid on Tokyo early in the war before being scuttled during the Solomon Islands campaign. The ship was found more than three miles under the surface of the Pacific Ocean. R/V Petrel shared imagery of the sunken carrier, including pictures of the ship's five-inch guns (see above). Hornet under construction at Newport News, 1940. Keystone-France Getty Images The USS Hornet was one of the most famous carriers of World War II, but had one of the shortest careers. The ship was ordered 80 years ago, in March 1939, from the Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Virginia and commissioned into the U.S. Navy just two months before Pearl Harbor. A Yorktown-class carrier, she displaced 25,000 tons fully loaded and was 824 feet long. Hornet typically carried a mixed air group consisting of up to 72 aircraft, including Wildcat fighters, SBD Dauntless dive bombers, and TBD Devastator torpedo bombers. In April 1942, the carrier departed Naval Air Station Alameda, California, with a new, secret air group: 16 U.S. Army Air Corps B-25 Mitchell bombers . Hornet and her task force steamed to within 650 miles of Japan when, sighted by a Japanese fishing vessel, she abandoned plans to move closer and launched her bombers. The B-25s flew west and struck targets across a wide arc of Japan, bombing Tokyo, Yokosuka, Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagoya. The attack, just five months after Pearl Harbor, destroyed the myth of Japan’s invulnerability and boosted morale in the United States. A B-25 bomber launches from Hornet in April 1942, destination Japan. Historical Getty Images Later that year, during the October 1942 Battle of Santa Cruz, aircraft from Hornet damaged a Japanese carrier and cruiser, but the ship itself was heavily damaged by enemy fire. The Navy gave the order to abandon Hornet and attempted without success to scuttle her. Advancing Japanese forces finally sank the ship with torpedoes. Long Lost The Hornet was discovered in 5,330 meters of water, the equivalent of 17,486 feet, "on the bottom of the South Pacific Ocean." The Paul Allen website describes the discovery: "The 10-person expedition team on the 250-foot R/V Petrel were able to locate the Hornet’s position by piecing together data from national and naval archives that included official deck logs and action reports from other ships engaged in the battle. Positions and sightings from nine other U.S. warships in the area were plotted on a chart to generate the starting point for the search grid. In the case of the Hornet, she was discovered on the first dive mission of the Petrel’s autonomous underwater vehicle and confirmed by video footage from the remotely operated vehicle, both pieces of equipment rated to dive down to 6,000 meters." Damage to Hornet’s hull. R/V Petrel Images on the website detail damage to the carrier’s hull, which may have been from the guns of the destroyers Mustin and Anderson. Together, they pumped a total of 400 five-inch shells into the carrier in an attempt to sink the boat before Japan could reach her. Another image shows an International Harvester tractor still upright in the aircraft hangar. Hornet isn’t the first U.S. carrier the R/V Petrel has rediscovered. In 2018, the ship discovered the USS Lexington , a carrier sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Here’s dive footage of the discovery of the carrier known as “Lady Lex”: This content is imported from YouTube. 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. The Petrel team has been a little cagey about Hornet's precise location, and for good reason. Over the years, a number of Pacific war wrecks have been looted or disappeared completely, the victim of black-market scrappers. Although it is in international waters, the Hornet's remains are subject to the U.S. Sunken Military Craft Act . The act states that “the U.S. Navy's sunken military craft remain property of the U.S. regardless of their location or the passage of time and may not be disturbed without the permission from the U.S. Navy.” 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>(CNN) — The first Japanese battleship sunk by US forces during World War II has been found off Guadalcanal, the largest of the Solomon Islands and the location of fierce battles during the Pacific War. The battleship Hiei was discovered at a depth of 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in January by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s expedition team aboard research ship R/V Petrel. For decades, Allen committed himself to locating famous shipwrecks, leveraging sonar scanning technology and underwater cameras to confirm their visuals and condition. Until this year, the Hiei’s exact whereabouts and final moments had remained a mystery. But RV Petrel used autonomous underwater vehicles to detect the battleship, which was found upside down. “This is a really important moment in naval history,” Kazushige Todaka, the director of the Kure Maritime Museum in Hiroshima, told CNN. “The discovery revealed where exactly Hiei sank and how an on-board explosion potentially split her in two.” Photos: Sunken WWII battleship found PHOTO: Paul G. Allen's Vulcan Inc Late Microsoft co-founder's expedition team found the Hiei in January 2019. Photos: Sunken WWII battleship found PHOTO: Paul G. Allen's Vulcan Inc It is believed that an explosion on board split the Hiei in two. Photos: Sunken WWII battleship found PHOTO: Paul G. Allen's Vulcan Inc The Hiei's whereabouts had remained a mystery for over 70 years. Prev Next Pearl Harbor attack escort ship Hiei was built in 1914 at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal near Tokyo. It was part of a fleet of 11 Japanese battleships active during World War II, according to Takeshi Kubo, a curator at the Kure Maritime Museum. Modeled using British technology, the 222-meter-long (728 feet) warship was equipped with eight 14-inch guns. Courtesy Yamato Museum The 31,000-ton Hiei was half the size of the largest Japanese battleships, Musashi and Yamato. Hiei patrolled off the Chinese coast during Word War I and was retrofitted twice – once in 1929 and a second time in 1936. At 31,000 tons, the Hiei was half the size of Imperial Japanese Navy battleships Musashi and Yamato – which boasted the largest naval guns ever fitted on a warship at 18 inches in diameter. Hiei formed part of the escort force for the aircraft carriers that launched the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, bringing the US into World War II. It sank on November 14, 1942 – a day after suffering severe damage after engaging American cruisers and destroyers alongside sister ship Kirishima in the Battle of Guadalcanal. With damage to its steering and power generators leaving it open to the attacks of US dive and torpedo bombers, the crew abandoned ship. Todaka said that of the 1,500 crew members on board, 188 perished during the battle. Remembering the past Hiei’s discovery comes after similar finds from Allen expeditions. On March 2, 2015, Allen’s expedition crew announced that it had located the Musashi at a depth of about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in Philippine waters. The US Navy sank the Musashi during the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the central Philippines. “When these battleships are found they provide a moment for us to reinforce the importance of commemorating past events and maintaining peace,” Todaka said.<doc-sep>

USS Hornet, the legendary aircraft carrier that fought at Midway and launched the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, was sunk in 1942. Now, after 77 years, her wreckage has been found three miles deep on the bottom of the South Pacific. The Hornet was last seen in October 1942, sinking after being fatally struck by Japanese torpedo and dive bombers in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, part of the Guadalcanal campaign. Most of her 2,200-strong crew managed to abandon ship, but 140 were lost. Now, thanks to the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the Hornet can be viewed again after a concentrated effort by the research vessel R/V Petrel to pinpoint exactly the location of the carrier's watery grave. Before her untimely demise, the Yorktown-class carrierhad already attained immortality in military history books as the staging platform for the Doolittle Raid. The daring April 1942 operation saw 16 US Army B-25 bombers take off from the carrier to bomb Tokyo in revenge for the Japanese attack on the US fleet at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. It was the first US air raid on Japan’s Home Islands, with the bombers led by Colonel 'Jimmy' Doolittle suffering heavy losses. The Hornet also played a major part in the US victory in the Battle of Midway in June 1942, considered the turning point in the Pacific War against Imperial Japan. Allen, who was a naval history enthusiast, was the founder of Vulcan Capital, the organization that owns the Petrel, and set out on a number of missions to locate famous wrecks of WWII-era warships from the US, UK, Japanese and Italian navies. In 2017, the Petrel shot to fame after discovering the wreckage of the USS Indianapolis. The 1945 sinking of the Indianapolis was one of the worst naval disaster in US history, with around 900 of the heavy cruiser's crew perished at sea, many eaten by sharks. The Petrel's most recent discovery was in March 2018, when it discovered another US carrier, the Lexington, sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Back on the high seas in January, the Petrel's mission to find the Hornet had started in the archives looking at both national and naval records to locate the last known location of the ship. The team also looked at the records of the Imperial Japanese Navy as well as the log books of nine US warships who fought alongside the Hornet on that fateful day in October 1942. That information was then charted on a map to form a search grid, and an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) was then deployed to search below. Using sonar technology and a video footage fed from the underwater drone, the team came across and confirmed the wreckage 17,000 feet (5.1 kilometers) deep in the South Pacific, near the Solomon Islands. "We had Hornet on our list of WWII warships that we wanted to locate because of its place in history as an aircraft carrier that saw many pivotal moments in naval battles," Robert Kraft, Vulcan's director of subsea operations, said in a statement announcing the find. Kraft added that the find was an "honor" to the memory of Allen, who lost his battle with cancer in October 2018. Witnessing the discovery in real time with CBS News was 95-year old veteran Richard Nowatzki, who at 18 served as one of the Hornet's gunners on the day the carrier sank. "The actual fact that you can find these ships is mind boggling to me," he added. "I want to thank you for honoring me this way." Calling himself "very fortunate" to witness the discovery after such a long time, he joked, "If you go down to my locker, there's 40 bucks in it, you can have it!" Like this story? Share it with a friend!

Rumors have been swirling ahead of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 launch about a wireless charging pad known as the Duo, and now Amazon has all but confirmed this unreleased product. As the name should imply, the Samsung Wireless Charger Duo is capable of charging two devices simultaneously , whether that’s the upcoming Note 9 and Galaxy Watch , or a pair of older mobile devices like the wireless charging-capable Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S9 . In a press preview event attended by Gizmodo , Amazon put a device on display that looks identical to the current leaked image of the Duo, although it was labelled here as the Samsung Qi Pad (2018) and its associated QR code linked to Samsung’s standard single charging pad . From the rear, you can see the Duo's USB-C connection. [Image by Sam Rutherford, Gizmodo] (Image credit: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)) What appears to be the Samsung Duo has a single USB-C connection and twin indicator lights to show each device’s charging status. One half of the unit retains the same angular disc design of the original Samsung Qi Pad, which presumably was intended to be displayed here instead of the Duo. Gizmodo found the device to have an input rating of 12V and 2.1A but, apart from that, there were few details on show. If you’re keen to check out more images, head over to Sam Rutherford’s article on Gizmodo. We expect all will be revealed when the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is revealed on August 9, so stay tuned for all the juicy Galaxy news.<doc-sep>Just this weekend, we saw renders of two unreleased Samsung Wireless Fast Charge docks. One is a redesigned Fast Charger that would be updated to support the Galaxy Note9’s supposed faster wireless charging (EP-P3100), and the other one was the Samsung Wireless Charger Duo (EP-N6100), which has two wireless charging areas: one upright and the other flat. Today, a new report from MobilTelefon.ru brings live images to support the renders. In fact, the Samsung Wireless Charger Duo is already available in a Samsung retail store in Russia for a retail price of RUB 6,990 (~USD 112). Source: MobilTelefon.ru The contents of the box include the Wireless Charging Duo station, one Samsung Adaptive Fast Charge Wall Adapter – which appears to be of the micro-USB variety, and a Quick Start Guide. This charger is useful for anyone who wants to use it to charge more than one Samsung Galaxy Smartphone. An interesting tidbit, however, is that the back of the leaked retail packaging explicitly lists compatibility with the yet-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy Watch. We still don’t know when Samsung may announce the Galaxy Watch, but considering this product is already available at a retail level and mentions the Galaxy Watch, it could be at Samsung’s Unpacked event in New York. Samsung really isn’t trying to keep anything under wraps anymore, so the element of surprise is completely gone for anyone who’s actively following the leaks and rumors. We’re less than two weeks away from Samsung’s Unpacked event so stick around when August 9 comes around! Source<doc-sep>(Pocket-lint) - You know that Apple AirPower mat that's been talked about for what feels like years? Now Samsung looks like it will pip Apple at the post. The leaked Samsung Wireless Charger Duo will charge Qi-enabled smartphones as well as an unidentified watch that will probably be the imminent Galaxy Watch. If you don't have the watch, you can charge two phones at the same time instead making it ideal for you and your partner, or for your work phone and personal phone. Apple first talked about its AirPower mat at its September 2017 event, but so far we've heard nothing with rumours suggesting that the company is struggling to get the technology to work with the different wireless devices that it offers - the Apple Watch, the iPhone, and perhaps a new set of AirPods. We are, however, expecting the mat to launch this September alongside the Apple Watch 4 and the iPhone XI. There will also be a new AirPods case (or perhaps completely new AirPods) which will also charge on the mat. In some ways it feels like we've come a long way since the original Powermat - it's clear Powermat feels the same way as it joined the Qi consortium in January. Best smartphones 2021 rated: The top mobile phones available to buy today By Chris Hall · 27 May 2021 Liked this? Check out wireless charging explained Writing by Dan Grabham.<doc-sep>

Samsung is holding an event next week to announce the Galaxy Note 9 and some accessories to go along with it. But last night, Amazon seems to have put one of those accessories on display for everyone to see — not on its website, but at a physical location in New York where the company was holding a holiday preview event for the media. Gizmodo spotted Samsung’s unannounced but heavily rumored dual wireless charger on display at the event. The device has two charging spots, one propped up for displaying the screen of a phone, and a flat one, which would be a better fit for something like a smartwatch. This charger isn’t the first of its kind — Samsung already sells a wireless charger with two charging pads — but it stands out by including a single propped-up charging pad, rather than two flat ones. It’ll likely support fast charging for any current device The charger is powered by USB-C, and it looks like it’ll be capable of delivering more than enough output to support any current fast charging standard. Based on the label Gizmodo photographed, it could be capable of delivering 12W from both chargers; that’d be plenty, since Samsung’s existing fast charging speed — already the highest out there — caps out at 9W. Samsung’s new charger has leaked out extensively — though never quite this clearly — over the past week. It actually went up for sale early in Russia, where someone photographed it being sold for about $110 USD. The packaging showed that the product was called the Wireless Charger Duo. Presumably, we’ll get the full details alongside the Note 9 announcement on August 9th.

The Yankees shored up two areas of need over the past 48 hours, acquiring closer Zach Britton from the Orioles for their already formidable bullpen on Tuesday and finalizing a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays for starting pitcher J. A. Happ Thursday afternoon. Britton was acquired in exchange for minor-league pitchers Dillon Tate, Cody Carroll and Josh Rogers. The Yankees then sent the third baseman Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney, an outfielder who had been playing for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, to Toronto for Happ. “We feel like with the additions we’ve made here we’re in a much better place as a club,” Manager Aaron Boone said before a 7-2 win over the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. “Hopefully these will be two additions that really help us going forward.” With just a few days remaining until the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, General Manager Brian Cashman indicated that the Yankees might not be done dealing yet.<doc-sep>On Tuesday, the New York Yankees acquired Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles. Not to be outdone, the Boston Red Sox added Nathan Eovaldi on Wednesday from the Tampa Bay Rays. You might be wondering how the deals have impacted each club, as well as their chances of winning the American League East. Luckily for you (and everyone else), Stephen Oh's SportsLine projections are here to answer those questions. Yankees get minor boost with Britton Let's begin by looking at what the forecast says concerning the Yankees, who have slid in the standings. Prior to adding Britton, New York was expected to win 104 games. Their division odds were around 26 percent, with their overall playoff odds at 99.8 percent. With Britton in tow, the Yankees have added 0.4 wins, as well as about five percentage points of divisional odds: Split Wins Division% Playoff% Pre-trade 103.9 25.9% 99.8% Post-trade 104.3 30.7% 99.9% Net 0.4 4.8% 0.1% Eovaldi addition hurts Red Sox? As for the Red Sox, the Eovaldi addition actually hurts their chances -- albeit in part because he's not deemed an upgrade over Eduardo Rodriguez and Drew Pomeranz. Eovaldi also gets dinged due to his home-run rate and his expected opponents the rest of the way -- homer-heavy teams like the Yankees, Astros, and Indians. Before the deal, the Red Sox were expected to win about 0.6 games more. Nonetheless, Boston still has a 69.3 percent shot at winning the AL East and a 99.9 percent chance at reaching the postseason. Split Wins Division% Playoff% Pre-trade 107.7 74.1% 99.9% Post-trade 107.1 69.3% 99.9% Net -0.6 -4.8% 0.00% Of course, this is but a snapshot in time. Both clubs could well make at least one more move before Tuesday's deadline. Even if they don't, clearly the Yankees and Red Sox are well positioned to make it to October.<doc-sep>During the 2016 season, future Hall of Famer David Ortiz of the Red Sox grabbed then-Orioles reliever Zach Britton for a chat up in Boston. “The year that he was retiring, he pulled me aside one time in Fenway and he kind of just described, ‘Your ball starts here and then it’s gone,’ ” Britton, with his hand outstretched simulating Ortiz’s description, said Thursday. “That was probably the best compliment I’ve gotten from a guy like him.” Most of the other comments about Britton’s power sinker cannot be printed. But that is part of the repertoire the Yankees hope they have added at the cost of three pitching prospects, including Dillon Tate, to make the deepest bullpen on the planet even deeper. Britton already showed his value by pitching a scoreless eighth inning in the Yankees’ 7-2 win over the Royals at the Stadium on Thursday, needing just 10 pitches to retire the side in order. Britton at one point in his career converted 60 straight save chances, the second-longest streak in major league history, trailing only Eric Gagne’s 84. Now he joins a team with almost as many closers as championship trophies. Britton, whose appeal includes AL East familiarity, said he told manager Aaron Boone to put him on the mound, regardless of the inning. “I’m ready for whatever situation he wants to use me in,” said Britton, who was 1-0 with four saves and a 3.45 ERA for Baltimore since returning from injury this season. “I understand what [Aroldis] Chapman’s done in this game and I respect it. So I just want to be used anyway I can to help.” Britton, 30, has 139 saves since 2011 and was an All-Star in 2015 and 2016. He suffered a ruptured Achilles during an offseason workout in December and was out until June 12. Walking into the Yankees’ clubhouse was “like the first day of school,” he said. “I feel good,” said Britton, whose mother is Dominican (“I know I don’t look it,” he said with a shrug). “The more innings I get, the better I’ve been feeling. … The strength was an issue coming back. I lost a lot of weight after the surgery, a lot of strength. “As I’ve put on that weight, a lot of the strength has come back, the velocity’s coming back and I’m starting to feel more like myself. I’ve seen signs the last month, [so] just go out and just pitch the way I’m capable of pitching.” Which could make a nasty Yankees bullpen downright obscene. “The evolution of this pen and how it looks now is a lot deeper and stronger than it’s ever been,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “I do wonder what it’s gonna look like in a few years, because you can’t maintain something to this level. … This is a pretty impressive crew we have had to deploy over the last couple years. It is obviously a major strength and we see how managers have deployed assets out of the pen much earlier in games and playoff competition. We hope to put ourselves in position to at least have that choice.” One thing the Yankees have is choice. Chapman to close. Dellin Betances to set up. David Robertson. Chad Green. Now Britton. “Makes the game shorter. At the same time it gives Boone a chance to give us days off when we need,” Betances said, uttering the understatement of the day. “We’re pretty deep.” Middle of the Pacific Ocean deep. “Adding a guy like that, a tremendous pitcher, a great arm, great abilities just makes the bullpen so much better,” Chapman said through an interpreter while praising Britton’s sinker. “An excellent pitch. He’s been able to do the job for years using that pitch.”<doc-sep>One of the most revealing games in modern baseball history was the third game of the 2016 American League Championship Series in Toronto. The Cleveland Indians were forced to remove their starter, Trevor Bauer, in the first inning when Bauer’s finger — injured while he repaired a drone — would not stop bleeding on the mound. This was not disastrous but fortuitous. Six Indians relievers combined to collect the next 25 outs of a 4-2 victory. No Blue Jays hitter faced the same pitcher twice. By changing looks all game long — helped by a day off beforehand — the Indians flummoxed a powerful lineup and introduced a new way to win. “We could set up each one of those pitchers to face the hitters they should face,” said Mets Manager Mickey Callaway, then the Indians’ pitching coach, recalling that game earlier this season. “We huddled up, and we were like, ‘Hey, this guy’s going to be good through this part of the order, and then we can go to this guy because he matches up well here.’ We just kept on doing that, and before you knew it, we had an effective game.” The essence of baseball’s analytics age is the freedom to challenge traditional strategies. The Yankees saw the effects this week at Tropicana Field as they lost two of three games to the Rays, who made six pitching changes in each of their victories. Bullpen is a verb for Tampa Bay, but the Yankees have used it, too — and the bet here is they will do it again.<doc-sep>

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Until injuries affected the past two seasons, Zach Britton was among the elite closers in baseball. A darting, 98 mph fastball from the lefty dominated hitters from each side of the plate and turned him into an All-Star in 2015 and 2016. Beginning Thursday night in The Bronx, Britton will no longer be used exclusively in the closer’s role after being dealt from the lowly Orioles to the Yankees late Tuesday evening for minor league pitchers Dillon Tate, Cody Carroll and Josh Rogers. Aroldis Chapman, who has converted 26 of 27 save chances, remains manager Aaron Boone’s top choice to close games, with Britton available to work in multiple roles. “Chappy is our closer,” Boone said of the gas-throwing lefty, who has been dealing with a left knee issue that kept him from participating in the All-Star Game. “I am sure there will be opportunities [for Britton] on a day maybe we stay away from Chappy or it is three [days] in a row for Chappy.” Britton, 30, joins a pen that was considered the best in baseball before the deal thanks to talent and depth. With 120 saves from 2014 to 2016, he has faced right-handed and left-handed hitters late in games, so matchups won’t play as big a part in whom he faces and in what inning. Most important, Boone won’t have to overwork Dellin Betances, David Robertson, Chad Green and Chapman with Britton lurking in the bullpen. see also Breaking down why the Yankees acquired Zach Britton In the offseason, when their avenue to the starting pitcher... “We feel having so many quality guys, that allows us to really preserve and protect the best we can, but Chappy is our closer,” said Boone, who talked to Britton late Tuesday night and will welcome him to the club Thursday. Britton, who has appeared in eight games with four saves after coming back from an offseason Achilles injury, will be a free agent following the season, and with Chapman having three years and $51.6 million remaining on his contract, it’s not likely Britton would want to sign with the Yankees with no opportunity to close. As for what he will do out of the pen, that will be discussed Thursday. “We will sit down when he gets in and have a conversation about roles,” Boone said. “And try to get him acclimated and comfortable in a new situation.” General manager Brian Cashman, who talked to O’s GM Dan Duquette about Manny Machado before he was dealt to the Dodgers, said he didn’t acquire Britton because he was concerned about Chapman’s knee. “It has been something he has been dealing with and pitching with. We had the one episode before the All-Star break. He has been dealing with the issue and been successful despite the issue. It’s a maintenance thing,’’ Cashman said of Chapman, whose only appearance since the All-Star Game was Saturday against the Mets when he faced five batters and walked three, hit one and gave up a single. “That didn’t factor into any acquisition, whether it was a closer from another club or if we imported a setup man or reinforced long man. None of that had anything to do with the decision-making.” Naturally, the Yankees don’t want Britton to try to be anything he isn’t. “We are not asking Zach Britton to come here and be anything more than he already is,” said Cashman, who continues to hunt for a starter before Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline. Considering who Britton’s pen pals will be, that should be more than enough.

An internal inquiry has been set up by Air India Express after their Dubai-bound flight from Trichy, with 136 passengers on board, hit the Air Traffic Control (ATC) compound wall on Thursday at the Trichy Airport. Trichy: An internal inquiry has been set up by Air India Express after their Dubai-bound flight from Trichy, with 136 passengers on board, hit the Air Traffic Control (ATC) compound wall on Thursday at the Trichy Airport, and was subsequently diverted to Mumbai. After the incident, an internal inquiry has been set up. The pilot and co-pilot have been de-rostered till completion of the investigation. Furthermore, Air India Express has informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the matter. An Air India Express official said, "All passengers were landed safely at Mumbai airport and another aircraft from Mumbai to Dubai was arranged." Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister Vellamandi N Natarajan who assessed the spot said, "The flight with its passengers has reached Mumbai safely. The airport authorities are assessing the situation here. All necessary action to bring back normalcy will be taken."<doc-sep>Air India flight Dubai Tamil Nadu airport Mumbai Trichy The damaged airport wall Miraculous escape for 136 passengers as Air India Express flight from Trichy-Dubai makes Emergency landing in Mumbai 01:11 The take-off wheel that hit the airport boundary wall AnExpresstofrom’s Tiruchirappalli, carrying 136 passengers, had a miraculous escape during take-off early Friday morning. The flight’s take-off wheel allegedly hit the compound wall soon after take-off. The 130 passengers and 6 crew members are safe and the IX 611 flight made an emergency landing at’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.The flight Took off fromat 1.30 am and made an emergency landing at Mumbaiat 5.39 am. An alternate flight was arranged to take the passengers to Dubai.The pilot in command reported that aircraft systems were operating normally, however, diverting the flight to Mumbai was a precautionary measure. The pilot in command D Ganesh Babu has a flying experience of 3.600 hours on the B 737 aircraft, including 500 hours as a commander. The flight’s first officer Anurag has an experience of 3,000 hours on the B 737 aircraft. Both pilots have been derostered pending investigation.The incident has reported to DGCA and investigation is underway.Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister Vellamandi N Natrajan, who assessed the spot, said, “The flight which was to go to Dubai during take-off had its take-off wheel hitting on the compound wall and the air traffic level. The flight, with its passengers, has reached Mumbai safely. The airport authorities are assessing the situation here. All necessary action to bring back normalcy will be taken.”(This is a developing story)<doc-sep>More than 130 passengers and crew on board an Air India flight to Dubai had a miraculous escape on Friday when the plane brushed against a 50-feet-high perimeter wall during takeoff from Trichy in Tamil Nadu and flew in a damaged condition for four hours, turning around finally to land in Mumbai. The underside of the aircraft suffered severe damage when it hit the wall, after one of its tyres first struck equipment used to guide a pilot to land a flight. An expert aware of the extent of the damage said a catastrophe may have resulted had the plane flown on any longer. The entire duration of the flight, including the detour to Mumbai, was four hours. The Boeing 737 had 130 passengers and six crew members on board. Passengers inside the aircraft were jolted and panicked as the aircraft shook and tossed about, PTI reported from Trichy. The passengers were quietened by assurances by crew that there was nothing to worry about, and the flight proceeded, it said. “After flight IX611 from Trichy to Dubai took off, it was reported by local airport officials that the aircraft might have come in contact with the perimeter wall. The matter was conveyed to the pilot in command, who reported that aircraft systems were operating normally,” said a spokesperson for Air India Express, the flight’s operator, a subsidiary of national carrier Air India. The aircraft was then diverted to Mumbai. A Boeing 737 takes off at a speed of 250-290 kilometers per hour, depending on its passenger and fuel load, serving as an indication of the velocity it was travelling at when it brushed against the perimeter wall at Tiruchirappalli International Airport. According to information from flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the plane had reached its cruising altitude of 36,000 feet and had completed more than half the crossing of the Arabian Sea when it turned around towards Mumbai. The plane was flying at roughly 826 kmph – the typical cruising speed for commercial airliners. “More parts of the aircraft could have come off had it continued to cruise for a bit longer, endangering the lives of passengers,” said VK Kukar, a former Air India Pilot. The pilot and the co-pilot have been taken off duty till an investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the aviation regulator, is completed. Kukar said pilots in such a situation may not necessarily feel the impact or receive a warning from the instrumentation of the plane brushing against or hitting an object. The alertness of airport workers becomes crucial in such cases. Trichy airport workers found that a part of the perimeter wall had collapsed and antennas for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) broken. The ILS is a crucial system of sensors and transmitters that are installed in aircraft and at runways which helps planes line up and land, easily the most challenging part of a flight. Once the ground damage was spotted, air traffic control passed on the message to counterparts in Mumbai as flight IX611 had by then entered the Mumbai airspace. It was then that a message to turn around was relayed to the crew. “The aircraft was in constant touch with us when it was in our airspace. The pilot was asked to make an emergency landing as a precautionary measure,” a Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC) official said. Kukar said the damage could have been limited to the outer layer. “The pilots would otherwise have gotten warnings if there was any problem in closing the landing gear and putting it back. There have been some incidents globally where planes have flown with a damaged underbelly,” he said. The risk of fire was low because fuel is stored in the wings, he explained. Friday’s incident comes exactly three weeks after 30 people on a Jet Airways flight were left with injuries following a sudden drop in cabin pressure. The incident apparently took place because the pilots forgot to activate key systems needed to pressurise the cabin. A member of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said the manufacturer, Boeing, will be called for an investigation into Friday’s incident and, since it is the first of its kind in India, appropriate safety instructions will be issued once the inquiry is completed. Civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu said that he had spoken to senior officials and directed them to conduct a high-level inquiry. “In a recent review on airline safety, I have ordered to put in place a third-party professional organisation to look into various safety aspects. In order to have continuous attention towards air safety, I have also ordered officials to put in place a regular “safety compliance report” of all airlines”, he said in a series of tweets. “Safety of passengers is of paramount importance for us. We will take all that’s required to put safety on top of aviation agenda. Growth can’t be at the expense of safety,” he added. (With inputs from HTC in Mumbai)<doc-sep>1 / 4 Air India Express plane hits Trichy airport compound wall, lands safely in Mumbai Previous Next Show Captions An Air India Express plane with 130 passengers onboard hit the compound wall of the Trichy international airport The Air India Express plane landed safely at Mumbai airport around 5.35 am ILS (instrument landing system) antenna and a small portion of the westside wall were damaged The incident happened while the Air India Express plane was taking off from here around 1.20 am on Friday Air India flight with 136 onboard, hits wall at Trichy Airport TRICHY/MUMBAI: The tyres of a Dubai-bound Air India Express plane with 130 passengers onboard hit the compound wall of the Trichy international airport while the aircraft was taking off from here around 1.20 am on Friday, damaging an ILS (instrument landing system) antenna and a small portion of the west side wall.However, the Boeing B737-800 aircraft landed safely at Mumbai airport around 5.35 am, after abandoning its journey to Dubai The aircraft sustained major damage to its underbelly and undercarriage but the pilots, unaware of the damage, continued with the flight instead of returning to land in Trichy. Enroute when pilots realised the aircraft had a problem, they carried out an emergency landing in Mumbai at about 5.35am.An Air India Express spokesperson said: "After flight IX 611 from Trichy to Dubai had taken off from Trichy at about 1.30 am today, it was reported by local Airport officials at Trichy that they have observed that Aircraft might have come in contact with the airport perimeter wall. The matter was conveyed to the pilot in command. The pilot in command reported that the aircraft systems were operating normally".It was decided to divert the aircraft to Mumbai as a precautionary measure, said the spokesperson. "The flight diverted to Mumbai and landed safely at about 5.35am in Mumbai and taxied on its own power to the parking stand. All 130 passengers and 6 crew members on board the aircraft alighted safely. No one suffered any injuries," the official statement said. "The passengers were provided with appropriate refreshments at Mumbai and a relief aircraft was arranged to continue the flight from Mumbai to Dubai with fresh set of crew," said AIX. "The two pilots have been derostered pending investigation. The matter has been duly reported to the DGCA and the airline is fully cooperating with the investigation" the spokesperson said.<doc-sep>

Air India Express Trichy-Dubai flight hits compound wall, diverted to Mumbai The aircraft, with 136 on board, hit the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and the compound wall while it was taking off. news Accident An Air India Express flight from Trichy to Dubai with 136 passengers on board hit the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and the compound wall while it was taking off. The incident took place at 1:20 am on Friday. The flight was diverted to Mumbai and landed safely at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. All the passengers are safe. According to reports in news agency ANI, the aircraft suffered damages on its belly in the incident. However, after an inspection at the Mumbai airport, it was given it a go-ahead for operations. An internal inquiry has been set up to investigate the incident and the pilot and co-pilot have been suspended till the probe is completed. Pictures taken at the site show that a part of the compound wall of the airport has been broken due to the impact. This indicates that the flight was just taking off when it grazed the compound wall of the ATC which led to it crumbling down due to the speed of the aircraft. Speaking to media persons outside the damaged compound wall in Trichy airport, Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister Vellamandi Natarajan said that he would be looking into the matter. “Officials at the airport are now investigating the matter. Since this is my Assembly constituency, I have come here directly to oversee the investigation and inform the officials of the next course of action,” the official said. The major reason for the accident is suspected to be the lack of a sufficient runway length at the Trichy airport. The only airport to have the shortest runway of 8,136 feet is Tiruchirapalli International airport. Plans to expand the runway in the airport have been in the offing for a decade now, but cannot be completed due to want of more land. "In a recent review on airline safety, I have ordered to put in place a third party professional organisation to look into various safety aspects at @airindiain. In order to have continuous attention towards air safety, I have also ordered concerned officials to put in place a regular "safety compliance report" of all airlines.Safety of the passengers is of paramount importance for us. We will take all that’s required to put safety on top of aviation agenda. Growth can’t be at the expense of safety," Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu Tweeted on Friday In a recent review on airline safety, I have ordered to put in place a third party professional organisation to look into various safety aspects at @airindiain — Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) October 12, 2018 Safety of the passengers is of paramount importance for us. We will take all that’s required to put safety on top of aviation agenda. Growth can’t be at the expense of safety. — Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) October 12, 2018 The Civil Aviation Minister also said that he had spoken to other senior officials in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and that a high level enquiry into the incident will be conducted.

WHETHER we're swooning over Meghan Markle's latest outfit choice or obsessing over how adorable Princess Charlotte is, it's safe to say we all have our own favourite members of the Royal Family. But it turns out that one Royal's "cheekiness" has proved a hit with Palace staff... and no we're not talking about Prince George. 6 A cast member of The Crown uncovered the palace staff's favourite Royal during their research Credit: Getty - Contributor According to actor Matt Smith, who plays Prince Philip in Netflix's The Crown, the Duke of Edinburgh is the secret favourite within the Royal household. During a recent interview with Variety, Matt revealed: "In the royal house he's the most popular of all of them." Ahead of his role in The Crown, Matt explained how "all the research I did found him to be brilliantly funny, very clever, very popular." But not only is the 97-year-old "loved" by Royal staff, Matt even goes as far to describe the Queen's husband as "man of the people" who doesn't always adhere to Royal protocol. 6 Prince Philip is loved by Palace staff, according to actor Matt Smith Credit: Getty - Pool 6 Matt Smith starred as Prince Philip in the Netflix series The Crown Credit: Kobal Collection - Shutterstock Reflecting on Prince Philip's character, Matt said: "There's a sort of rebellion in him and a naughtiness and a cheekiness." "I think he's quite affable and open by all accounts with the staff. They all love him." Talk about high praise. Of course, fans of the show will already be familiar with how Philip has struggled with restrictive Royals rules. 6 Prince Philip, 97, retired from public engagements last year Credit: Getty - Contributor 6 The Royal staff apparently 'love' the Duke of Edinburgh for his 'open' nature Credit: Getty - Contributor Royal biographer Gyles Brandreth reports that Prince Philip referred to himself as "the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children" when Mountbatten was considered an inappropriate surname for the Royal family. However since Prince Philip retired from public life in 2017, the Duke of Edinburgh still hasn't found the time to catch up on the first two seasons of The Crown. During a recent dinner party with one of Matt's fellow actor friends, Prince Philip apparently said "don't be ridiculous' to the suggestion that he catch up on the Royal drama. A response Matt "thought was very good" and in keeping with the Duke's cheeky sense of humour. 6 While Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle may be our favourite Royal fashionistas, Prince Philip has won his way into the hearts of palace staff Credit: AFP or licensors But all is not lost as the Queen has "apparently" tuned in to the hit series and is believed to be a fan. Unsurprising really. And if Prince Philip is anything like Matt Smith in The Crown, we're not in the least surprised he's a Palace favourite tbh. MOST READ IN FABULOUS ROYAL RAGE Meg dramatically FIRED Archie's nanny after mystery 'incident' in the night MYSTIC MEG May 27: Believe in yourself and people around you will take note Comment MERCY MUROKI Fake tan is not racist. But Meghan Markle, skin bleaching is Exclusive BELLE'S HELL I self-harmed at 13 after being called an ‘ugly s**g’, says Belle Hassan TAT'S IT I’m a mum-of-three with my body & face COVERED in tattoos - even my lips DROP THE MIC Popstars who quit fame for normal jobs - as a farmer, head teacher & builder In even more Royal Family news, this is why the Queen has such a close relationship with Meghan Markle. And this is the reason why Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie never wear tiaras. Plus Kate Middleton has a massive scar on her head and this is how she got it.<doc-sep>Get our daily royal round-up direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Meghan Markle might be the centre of attention in the Royal Family at the moment but behind closed doors at the palace there's another favourite among staff. Employees are said to love his "cheekiness" - but it's not Harry or Wills , nor is it young George . Matt Smith, who plays Prince Philip in Netflix drama The Crown - which chronicles the life of The Queen - has lifted the lid in a new interview. And he's revealed how much the 97-year-old Duke of ­Edinburgh is adored by staff - and is the secret favourite. "In the royal house he’s the most popular of all of them," Smith told Variety . (Image: Daily Mirror) (Image: PA) "All the research I did found him to be brilliantly funny, very clever, very popular. "If you’ve talked to any of the staff, Philip’s the one they all love really. I think more than a lot of them, he’s a bit more of a man of the people." Smith , 35, also described how it is Philip's "naughtiness and cheekiness" that makes him so well liked. Meanwhile, Philip reportedly scoffed at the 'ridiculous' suggestion he watches The Crown, Smith added. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now (Image: Daily Mirror) (Image: Netflix) Philip is said to have made the remark during dinner with one of the actor’s pals and said: “Don’t be ridiculous”. Netflix has confirmed the series will be back in 2019. Olivia Colman will take over from Claire Foy in the role as Queen Elizabeth, while Tobias Menzies will star as Philip. Earlier this month Philip joined the Queen at a church service in Balmoral just months after he had a hip replacement. He surprised his wife and other family members with the rare public appearance at Crathie Kirk church. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now (Image: PA) (Image: PA) It was his first public outing with the Queen, 92, since June. Prince Philip was snapped in the back of the Queen's royal Bentley for the short journey from their residence to the historic church in the large estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.<doc-sep>When it comes to the royal family, we all play favorites. And when I say "we all," I mean those of us who are weirdly obsessed with a group of fancy British folk who live in another country and are forced to wear pantyhose all day. 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. Obviously, my personal favorite member of the royal family is Princess Eugenie based solely on hats, but apparently the royal staff also have their faves. And shockingly, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton are very much not it. According to The Crown's very own Matt Smith (he should know, I guess! ), Prince Philip is far and away the favorite of people who spend their lives doting on the royal family. "In the royal house he’s the most popular of all of them. If you've talked to any of the staff, Philip's the one they all love really," he recently said. "I think more than a lot of them, he's a bit more of a man of the people." WPA Pool Giphy Matt also maintained that "The royal protocol hasn’t dogged him in quite the same way his whole life and there’s a sort of rebellion in him and a naughtiness and a cheekiness. I think he’s quite affable and open by all accounts with the staff. They all love him." Welp, soz Meghan and Harry! Giphy Mehera Bonner Contributor 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>

Crowd give three cheers for Prince Philip's last royal engagement Matt Smith, who played the Duke of Edinburgh in the first two series of the hit programme from 2016-2017, made the admission in an interview with US entertainment magazine and website Variety. He said that after speaking to a number of Palace staff in preparation for the role, there is actually some “misconception” about the Queen’s husband. In fact the actor, who also played Doctor Who between 2009 and 2013, found Prince Philip to be “brilliantly funny, very clever, very popular”. Matt Smith told Variety: “One of the interesting challenges for me was that I felt there was a sort of a misconception and a preconception about him, which reduced him a bit. “And actually all the research I did found him to be brilliantly funny, very clever, very popular. “In the Royal house he’s the most popular of all of them. If you’ve talked to any of the staff, Philip’s the one they all love really. “I think more than a lot of them, he’s a bit more of a man of the people. The Royal protocol hasn’t dogged him in quite the same way his whole life and there’s a sort of rebellion in him and a naughtiness and a cheekiness. “I think he’s quite affable and open by all accounts with the staff. They all love him.” It comes after Prince Philip reportedly snapped at a dinner party when asked if he had watched The Crown. Prince Philip is the most popular Royal with Palace staff, according to actor Matt Smith Matt Smith said the Duke of Edinburgh was quick to dismiss any rumours he is a fan of the hit Netflix series. He told Variety: apparently there was a dinner party and a friend of mine asked him if he’d watched “The Crown,” and he turned around and said, “Don’t be ridiculous.” “Which I thought was very good. But apparently the Queen has, we are told, but we don’t know. “We’ll never know. But I think I’m pretty sure some of them have.” It has previously been reported the Queen is a fan of the online show, with another member of the cast claiming Her Majesty watches the series. It has previously been reported that the Queen is a fan of The Crown Vanessa Kirby, who has previously played Princess Margaret, said a friend had overheard Princess Eugenie saying her grandmother enjoyed watching the show. In an interview with the June issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, she said: “A friend of mine was at a party and didn’t know anyone, so he sidled up to this group who were talking about The Crown. One girl said, ‘Well, my granny watches it and really likes it’. “It slowly dawned on him that the girl was Eugenie and her granny was the Queen.” A Royal source has previously told Express.co.uk Prince Edward and his wife, the Countess of Wessex, also watch the series. Prince Edward and his wife the Countess of Wessex reportedly also watch the series

How will the Bills use their picks in the 2019 NFL draft? We're breaking down every selection. The Buffalo Bills finished the 2018 season 6–10, taking a step back after making their first playoff appearance in 18 years in 2017. Nathan Peterman started the season in disastrous fashion, and while rookie first-rounder Josh Allen made plays with his legs, he had the second-lowest passing grade among rookie quarterbacks. The Bills turned to free agency to provide Allen with some help at wide receiver, and the team will likely use the draft as an opportunity to tie up some loose ends. In the 2018 draft, the Bills selected Allen with the seventh-overall pick. How will they use their picks in this year's NFL draft? We’re breaking down every selection below, including grades from The MMQB's Andy Benoit. (Check out draft needs for all 32 teams.) Here's the full list of picks the Bills hold in the 2019 draft, which will be updated as each selection is made. Round 1, Pick 9 (No. 9 overall): Ed Oliver, DT, Houston Andy Benoit's grade: C Most likely, the Bills saw this as a value pick. And after signing Star Lotulelei for big money in free agency last year, to pair with 2018 third-rounder Harrison Phillips and gifted (though mercurial) ex-Dolphin Jordan Phillips, they didn’t have a glaring need at defensive tackle. But outside, they badly need an edge rusher, as 2016 first-rounder Shaq Lawson is not that guy and Jerry Hughes could be in his last year with the club. That said, you can make room for a dynamic gap penetrator. Oliver relies on quickness and elusiveness within confined areas, which is a unique style of play. But considering his having had an up-and-down 2018 season and Buffalo not badly needing a defensive tackle, overall this is a high-risk, high-reward pick for a team looking to add talent in multiple places. Round 2, Pick 6 (No. 38 overall): Cody Ford, G, Oklahoma Andy Benoit's grade: B+ Longtime Redskin Ty Nsekhe was a nice free-agent signing, but few believed that the career-long swing tackle would assume a new starting job at age 33. Now, Nsekhe provides O-line depth. With Ford, a classic pile-driver whom some see as a guard but the Bills surely see as a right tackle, Buffalo’s offensive line—the AFC’s worst in 2018—has four new members joining incumbent left tackle Dion Dawkins: center Mitch Morse, guards Spencer Long and Quinton Spain and now the rookie from Oklahoma. Round 3, Pick 10 (No. 74 overall): Devin Singletary, RB, FAU Andy Benoit's grade: B+ Picking Singletary suggests the Bills will not retain LeSean McCoy when his deal expires after this season. Like McCoy, Singletary has a renowned jump cut, which can be a valuable trait in the NFL, where so much of the running game comes down to creating your own space within confined areas. Round 3, Pick 33 (No. 96 overall): Dawson Knox, TE, Ole Miss Andy Benoit's grade: A- The Bills are not deep at wide receiver and they need to simplify their system for young QB Josh Allen. A great solution is to go with multiple tight ends, which puts the defense in more predictable looks and gives you more dimension in the running game. Round 5, Pick 9 (No. 147 overall): Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida Round 6, Pick 8 (No. 181 overall): Jaquan Johnson, S, Miami Round 7, Pick 11 (No. 225 overall): Darryl Johnson Jr., OLB, North Carolina A&T Round 7, Pick 14 (No. 228 overall): Tommy Sweeney, TE, Boston College See every NFL team's 2019 picks by clicking the links below. Arizona Cardinals | Atlanta Falcons | Baltimore Ravens | Buffalo Bills | Carolina Panthers | Chicago Bears | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns | Dallas Cowboys | Denver Broncos | Detroit Lions | Green Bay Packers | Houston Texans | Indianapolis Colts | Jacksonville Jaguars | Kansas City Chiefs | Los Angeles Chargers | Los Angeles Rams | Miami Dolphins | Minnesota Vikings | New England Patriots | New Orleans Saints | New York Giants | New York Jets | Oakland Raiders | Philadelphia Eagles | Pittsburgh Steelers | San Francisco 49ers | Seattle Seahawks | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tennessee Titans | Washington Redskins<doc-sep>The Buffalo Bills came into the 2019 NFL Draft with ten total draft picks and following the fortuitous selection of defensive tackle Ed Oliver, the team held nine more coming into Friday night. But with with a run on offensive tackles early and a player they clearly valued still on the board, Brandon Beane chose to move up two spots to pick 38 and take offensive lineman Cody Ford from Oklahoma. The trade with the Oakland Raiders cost the Bills their latter fifth round pick (No. 158). Later on Day 2, the Bills saw a cliff coming at tight end and packaged their two fourth-round picks to move back up into the third round and take Dawson Knox from Oklahoma. Picks 112 and 131 are now gone, leaving Buffalo with no picks in the first round of Saturday’s selection meeting. The Bills currently have one pick in the fifth, one pick in the sixth round, and two picks in the seventh round. Below is the complete list of 2019 draft picks as it currently stand:<doc-sep>The Buffalo Bills traded away their fourth-round selections in the 2019 NFL Draft and won’t pick until the fifth round on Saturday afternoon. With each selection taking a maximum of five minutes, that means we’re all in for a long wait. Saturday’s coverage kicks off at 12 noon, EST, and the Bills don’t pick until 147. Last year, pick 147 went off the board at 2:17 PM Eastern. Another round and more than an hour and a half later, pick 181 didn’t get called until 3:48 PM Eastern. At just before 6:00 PM, the 225th and 228th picks came off the board. Their former fourth-round pick at 112 was selected at 12:38 PM a year ago. This, of course, assumes Buffalo won’t swing a trade. They only have six picks in the 2020 NFL Draft following the trade for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Corey Coleman, so Buffalo could look to move a pick from 2019 to 2020 to even it out.<doc-sep>The Buffalo Bills currently have two picks on Day 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft. If they want to move around a bit, they have extra draft capital on Day 3 to use toward trades in the second and third rounds. With two fourth-round picks, two fifth-round picks, a sixth-round pick, and two seventh-round picks, the Bills can move up and get a third player they want on Day 2 to fill an instant need. Here are all the trade scenarios for tonight. We always give you the values using the old Jimmy Johnson trade value chart and the new, more modern trade value chart. Trading down from 40 The Bills have seven Day 3 picks in 2019. The only way I would trade down in the second round is if it included a 2020 second-round pick as part of the deal. Move down into the late second round and pick up a top-60 pick in 2020 is great value in terms of a trade. Trading up from 40 If Buffalo covets a player still on the board, they can still move up from the eighth pick in the second round. Using their first pick in the fourth round should be enough to move up to pick 34, according to both the old and more modern draft charts. If they had to throw in another late-round pick to get to 33, who cares? They have tons of Day 3 picks to play with. Pairing the late fourth rounder at number 131 with pick 40 would move them to pick 36. It would only cost the first fifth rounder to move to 37 and the second fifth rounder to move to 38. Buffalo could want to keep their capital to move back up into the second round, though. Trading up from 74 If Buffalo keeps all their draft capital and waits for who falls at 40, they could immediately begin working the phones to get back into the second round. With all those Day 3 picks, they could be valuable to a team that is close to the salary cap or given up a lot of picks in recent trades. Another thing to consider is frequency. The Houston Texans have back-to-back picks at 54 and 55 and the Philadelphia Eagles have picks 53 and 57. Packaging a glut of picks, the Bills could move all the way up to 50 or 51 by giving up the third-round pick plus all four picks in the fourth and fifth rounds. It might not be realistic, but the draft value charts work it out that way. More realistically, the trade package of the third-round pick plus both fourths gets them to the 57th overall selection, according to the old chart, and all the way up to 52 in the modern chart. That seems like it could be a sweet spot without giving up too much on the back end to snag their third immediate starter or heavy rotational player in the draft. If Buffalo only wants to give up one fourth rounder, they are looking at the tail end of the second round or the beginning of the third. Trading up from 112 If Buffalo stands pat at 40 and 74, they will have a chance to trade back up into the third round for some talent, as well. Pie in the sky, all four fourth-round and fifth-round picks get them up to pick 84 according to the old value chart and way up to slot 71 on the modern chart. (That’s ahead of their current third-round selection.) It’s also probably not going to happen. Packaging the two fourth rounders together only gets Buffalo to 97 using the old chart and 89 using the modern chart. Adding a fifth moves them up another six or seven spots. Opinion I think the best chance for a trade up is at pick 57. It’s the Eagles’ second pick of the round, and they have no picks between 57 and 138 at the end of the fourth round. They also have no picks in the sixth and seventh rounds. It would cost Buffalo’s third-round selection and both fourth-round picks, but they would have their third starting-caliber player of the draft and could address two of the perceived holes at tight end, wide receiver, and on the offensive line in the second round. Philadelphia gets the depth picks they currently lack.<doc-sep>

The 2019 NFL Draft is underway in Nashville, and FTW’s lead NFL writer Steven Ruiz is grading picks and offering analysis on how each player will fit with his new team. No 9: Ed Oliver, DT Houston Analysis: The Bills decided not to trade up for Quinnen Williams and their patience paid off. Ed Oliver is unblockable and would have gone in the top-five if he hadn’t played out of position at Houston. Oliver is a 3-technique through and through but was forced to play nose tackle because of the Cougars’ personnel limitations. He’s rocket fast off the line and has strong, active hands. He’s not quite Aaron Donald — who is? — but he’ll make a similar impact at times. GRADE: A 38. Bills (from OAK): Cody Ford, OT Oklahoma Analysis: Man, I love what the Bills are doing. That’s a sentence I didn’t expect to be typing this weekend, but here we are. After landing a top-five value in Ed Oliver on Thursday night, they go and get a first-round talent on the second day. Cody Ford is a nasty run-blocker who has no issues in pass protection. Buffalo drafted him as a tackle, but he can kick inside to guard depending on their needs. GRADE: A Buffalo trades: Pick 40, pick 158. Oakland trades: Pick 38. — Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 26, 2019 74. Bills: Devin Singletary, RB FAU Analysis: Devin Singletary is the most electric runner in this class. He may not be a bell cow back — though he played that role for FAU — but he’s a threat to score every time he touches the ball. GRADE: B+ 96. Bills: Dawson Knox, TE Ole Miss Analysis: Dawson Knox could very well be a good tight end. But he never got the targets to prove it playing with three NFL receivers. He is quick and he catches the football efficiently. That’s a good start. GRADE: B

[ >>Bad cold or the flu? How to tell the difference ] A southwest Warren County fourth-grader died Wednesday of cardiac arrest stemming from strep throat and flu. Mason City Schools spokeswoman Tracey Carson relayed word about Western Row Elementary School student Sable Gibson in a written message to parents Wednesday. Everyone in the school district is encouraged to wear pink to school Thursday (today) in Gibson's memory, Carson said in the message. >> Highland County 3-year-old state's first flu-associated pediatric death of season Western Row will also bring in additional counselors to help the child’s friends and classmates deal with the news of her death. Here’s the text of the message shared with Mason families:<doc-sep>“It’s not too late to get a flu shot,” Bailer said. Overall, it has been the mildest flu season of the last three years in Butler County, she said. But she stressed her department and others in Ohio’s 88 counties only receive reports from local hospitals of flu victims who are hospitalized and not any information on those residents who suffer through the illness without going to the hospital. Earlier this month, a 3-year-old died in Highland County, becoming the first reported death from the flu this winter, according to the Ohio Department of Health. During the 2017-18 flu season, Ohio reported six flu-associated pediatric deaths. MORE: Flu season has been light so far for Butler County The top health official in Warren County said the death of the Western Row student is not indicative of a trend. “This case is an outlier,” Warren County Health Commissioner Duane Stansbury said. “The flu rates this year are much lower as are the hospitalizations for the flu.” His department is waiting for a fully detailed report from the local hospital that treated Gibson. Stansbury said neither Mason schools, nor any other school in the county, have requested help from health officials this winter in combating outbreaks of the flu or any other illnesses. According to Sietske de Fijter, state epidemiologist and chief of the Ohio Department of Health’s Bureau of Infectious Diseases, “it’s not too late to get a flu shot.” “Getting the flu vaccine is the safest and most effective way to prevent the flu for everyone 6 months and older,” said de Fijter. “If you are sick with the flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading it to others.” Symptoms of flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Flu vaccination is available at most healthcare providers’ offices, local health departments and retail pharmacies. There are no flu vaccine shortages across Ohio at this time, said state health officials. Other effective ways to avoid getting or spreading the flu include: washing hands frequently or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer; covering coughs and sneezes with tissues or coughing or sneezing into elbows; avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth; and staying home when sick.<doc-sep>In a tragic story that's making headlines across the country: A fourth-grade girl from Ohio died just one day after being diagnosed with strep throat and influenza. According to a Facebook post from Mason City Schools, Sable Gibson was diagnosed Tuesday morning, went into cardiac arrest Tuesday afternoon and died Wednesday evening. Please join us in keeping the Gibson family in our daily thoughts and prayers as they navigate these very difficult... Posted by Mason City Schools on Thursday, February 21, 2019 Also this week, reports came in of a New Jersey toddler who died from the flu earlier this month. While this year's flu season has been milder overall than last year's, to date 41 children have died across the country from flu-related causes. The number of flu-related deaths varies widely from year to year, but even during a relatively mild flu season the illness claims thousands of lives. The CDC reports that over a three-decade period starting in the mid-1970s, the number of flu deaths in the U.S. ranged from a low of about 3,000 a year to as many as 49,000 in a bad year. Last year's flu season was particularly deadly, claiming the lives of more than 80,000 Americans, including a record 185 children. While most people will recover from a bout with the flu, complications can arise, some of which can be severe or fatal. The illness can turn deadly for anyone, but it is most dangerous for adults over the age of 65 and children under the age of 5. How can the flu lead to death? The influenza virus itself can lead to death if it leads to serious breathing problems and severe dehydration. However, the more common scenario is a complication from the infection, explains Dr. Claire Bocchini, an infectious disease specialist at Texas Children's Hospital. She says bacterial pneumonia is the most common complication from the flu that leads to death. "This happens because the flu virus injures the lungs and causes inflammation that then makes it easier for bacteria to invade the lungs and cause a very serious infection," Bocchini told CBS News. "The bacterial infection can make it hard for children to breathe, and their lungs struggle to get enough oxygen for their body." Another complication that can lead to death is sepsis. This occurs when the body overreacts to an infection. Sepsis can affect multiple organ systems, sometimes causing organ failure and resulting in death. Other rare complications from the flu that can be fatal include infection of the heart (or myocarditis), which can cause sudden death or heart failure, and infection of the brain (or encephalitis), which can lead to seizures and dangerous swelling of the brain. Young children and older adults are most at risk for these complications, as well as pregnant women and anyone with chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, and neurologic conditions. When to seek emergency medical attention If the flu becomes severe, it's important to seek medical attention right away to prevent further complications. According to the CDC, emergency warning signs in children include: Fast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish skin color Not drinking enough fluids Not waking up or not interacting Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough Fever with a rash In teenagers and adults, warning signs can include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, confusion, dizziness, and severe or persistent vomiting. If you or your child have these symptoms, it is important to get medical treatment right away. How to protect your family The best defense against the flu is to get the flu vaccine. The CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older get a flu shot each year. If you or your child have not received the flu vaccine yet this year, experts say it is not too late. Flu season peaks in winter but can linger into the spring. While the flu vaccine doesn't guarantee that you won't get sick, doctors say it does reduce the chances, and if you do get sick it may be less severe. If you have a young child who develops flu-like symptoms, such as fever, body aches and fatigue, it is important to see your pediatrician to see if an antiviral medication such as Tamiflu (also available as generic oseltamivir), Relenza or Rapivab is needed. Other steps the CDC recommends to prevent flu include:<doc-sep>

CINCINNATI — An elementary school girl in Ohio died the same day she was told she had the flu and strep throat, her school and family says. Sable Gibson, a fourth-grader at Mason City Schools, was diagnosed with strep throat and influenza on Tuesday morning, her school and family wrote. She suffered cardiac arrest Tuesday afternoon. "She was airlifted to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital but it was too late," a GoFundMe account to benefit the family reads. "Our hearts are completely broken. ... We can't imagine our lives without our baby girl." Sable's school district sent a letter, obtained by WXIX-TV, to parents saying the girl was "a great friend with a big heart who loved the color pink." The district encouraged community members to wear pink on Thursday. In a statement on its Facebook page, the school wrote that additional counselors were available at Western Row Elementary. "It's moments like these that we come together as a community to walk alongside one another and care for each other," the district wrote. A Facebook account created on behalf of the family also provides options for providing support, including a meal train and contributing to funeral expenses. Sable's funeral is set for Saturday. If you're worried about flu symptoms, "it's best to be seen and be seen early," Angela Campbell, physician and media officer in the influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told USA TODAY during last year's flu season. Children younger than 5, senior citizens and pregnant women are among the most at risk for serious flu-related complications, the CDC says. More:How to know when symptoms are serious More:Flu is widespread in US with 7.3 million people sick, but experts see a milder season More:You've probably never heard about this flu symptom

List has never won on the PGA Tour or the European Tour Scottish Open first-round leaderboard -7: List (US); -6: Westwood (Eng), Fowler (US), Dantorp (Swe), Fernandez (Spa), Rock (Eng); -5: Whiteford (Sco), Southgate (Eng), Hatton (Eng), Reed (US), Karlsson (Swe), Gurrier (Fra), Sterne (SA), Frittelli (SA) Selected others: -4: Willet (Eng), Poulter (Eng), Ramsay (Sco), Knox (Sco); -3: Rose (Eng); Level: Mickelson (US) American Luke List equalled the Gullane course record to lead from a group of players including England's Lee Westwood at the Scottish Open. List's nine birdies led to a seven-under 63 in what was his first round in the UK "in over a dozen years". Westwood is joined a shot off the pace by England's Robert Rock, American Rickie Fowler, Sweden's Jens Dantorp and Spain's Scott Fernandez. Scotland's Peter Whiteford, ranked 1215 in the world, is five under. His mark of 65 is shared by eight players including English duo Matthew Southgate and Tyrrell Hatton, and Masters champion Patrick Reed. Ian Poulter and Danny Willett - who has dropped to world-number 337 since winning the Masters in 2016 - join Scotland's Richie Ramsay and Russell Knox on four under. Fowler tuning for Carnoustie Rickie Fowler won the Scottish Open when it was last staged at Gullane Golf Club Timid conditions on the east-coast course helped 96 of the 156-strong field shoot under par, though five-time major champion Phil Mickelson ended the day with a level-par 70. Many in attendance hope to find touch before next week's Open Championship at Carnoustie, while three players can qualify for the major with a top-10 finish. Fowler, winner of the Scottish Open at Gullane in 2015, said he was intent on "taking advantage" of conditions and followed three early birdies with an eagle on the sixth to set a blistering pace. "It would have been nice to keep it clean after the bogey and maybe get a couple more coming in, but the back nine is definitely playing tougher," said Fowler, who dropped one shot on the 13th. "Carnoustie is probably a bit firmer and faster than here right now, but this place could dry out over the weekend. "It's great to be over here playing on similar ground, feeling how much the wind affects the ball, and just getting acclimatised. "I think this is probably the best preparation you can get." 'I'm trying to not to get excited' Westwood has not won on the European Tour since 2014 Westwood's bogey-free round puts him in the early mix for a first European Tour title since 2014. The former world number one has dropped to number 110 in the rankings and is no longer automatically eligible for some tournaments. "I'm 45 now so I can't play as much as I used to, I'm certainly fresh," said Westwood, who will be one of Thomas Bjorn's vice-captains when Europe attempt to regain the Ryder Cup in Paris in September. "But I'm still willing to go out there and practice and work hard on the range and if you're willing to do that your hunger levels are high. "I'm gradually able to take the form on the range on to the golf course and I played lovely today. I didn't put myself in any trouble and gave myself a lot of chances. "I'm trying not to get excited at all, I'm just trying to control what I can and if it happens, it happens. I've never got too far in front of myself and that's why I have been a prolific winner throughout my career." Oosthuizen out as Rock eyes Open chance South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, Open Champion in 2010, withdrew from the Gullane event before Thursday's start due to a neck injury but expects to be on the tee at Carnoustie. In contrast, Rock, 41, is one of those hoping to secure a place in the Open as he chases a first European Tour win since 2012. "It's the last chance and it's always disappointing to not play the Open," said Rock after his bogey-free 64. "I'm going as a coach anyway (he coaches fellow Englishman Matt Wallace) so I'll be there. But I'd like to be playing."<doc-sep>An 11-hour sleep and a hearty Scottish breakfast sparked the latest impressive round in Russell Knox’s glorious summer of golf, putting him in contention to seal back-to-back wins on the European Tour at the Scottish Open on Saturday. Knox mastered the windiest conditions of the week over the Gullane links to shoot a four-under 66 in the third round, leaving him two strokes off surprise leader Jens Dantorb (68) and one behind a six-way tie for second place in the event used as a tune-up for next week’s British Open. The Scotsman doesn’t want this summer to end. After placing 12th at the U.S. Open last month for his best finish at a major, Knox was runner-up at the French Open and then won the Irish Open last week thanks to consecutive 40-foot birdie putts on the 72nd hole and first playoff hole. Now, he’s got a great chance to win his home championship, a week before heading to the British Open also in Scotland. There’s also potentially the not-so-small matter of a first appearance at the Ryder Cup in September. Advertisement “I’m loving the way I’m swinging and the putts are going in,” Knox said. “I’m just playing with a smile on my face.” The 49th-ranked Knox said his energy levels were low on Friday following his big weeks in France and Ireland, but he “slept like a king” and enjoyed a “huge breakfast” including his favorite Scottish bread. It clearly did the trick. On a day when Robert Rock — the overnight leader by two shots on 13 under — plunged down the field after a 76, Knox found himself tied for eighth place and among the lead groups teeing off late on Sunday because of TV scheduling. That means he will miss the entire football World Cup final. Knox doesn’t mind. “Being in contention is more fun,” he said. “It’s a bit of a bummer but I’m here to play golf.” Rock’s implosion — he shot the worst round of the day, which included a triple-bogey seven on No. 11 — saw more than half the remaining field race past him. Dantorp, an unheralded Swede with just one top-10 finish in 61 starts on the European Tour, birdied his final three holes to take the sole lead on 13 under. Behind him, Matt Fitzpatrick (64), Ryan Fox (63), Marcel Siem (65) and Scott Hend (63) were all among the earlier starters, playing before the wind picked up, to reach 12 under. They were joined by Alexander Bjork (67) and Rickie Fowler (66), who drove 458 yards on the 471-yard par-4 10th hole. Advertisement Fowler won the Scottish Open when it was last held at Gullane, in 2015. Twenty-six players were within four shots of the lead. Among them is 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman, who shot 68 and was on 10 under. The 38-year-old South African hasn’t had a top-25 finish since January 2014 and has plummeted to No. 1,380 in the rankings. “I was a lot meaner in my prime,” Immelman said, “and I don’t know if I’ve still got that anymore.” Advertisement Kim takes 5-shot lead at John Deere Classic Michael Kim took a five-shot lead Saturday at the John Deere Classic in a third round delayed twice for a total of roughly four hours because of bad weather and concerns over lightning. Kim, who has just one top-10 finish in 84 career PGA Tour starts, shot a seven-under 64 — closing with four straight birdies — for a three-day total of 22-under 191. Bronson Burgoon (66) is 17 under and Australian Matt Jones (66) is 16 under. Advertisement Harold Varner III (66) is alone in fourth place at 15 under. Andres Romero of Argentina is 14 under after shooting 64, as is Sam Ryder (67). Tyler Duncan had the day’s best round with a 63. Henderson has one-shot lead at Marathon Classic Brooke Henderson birdied the 17th hole after a so-so back nine, finishing with a two-under 69 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead at the Marathon Classic. The late birdie moved the 20-year-old Canadian out of a tie for the lead as she seeks her second win this season. Henderson is at 11-under 202 after three rounds at Highland Meadows. Advertisement Angela Stanford and Brittany Lincicome are one stroke behind. Stanford vaulted into contention with a 6-under 65, which tied for the low round of the day. Lincicome had a 4-under 67, including birdies on two of the final three holes. This is the fifth time in Henderson’s career she has held the 54-hole lead. She went on to win on three of the four prior occasions. Jacqui Concolino is two strokes back while 11 players are three back, including defending champion I.K. Kim and NCAA champion Jennifer Kupcho. The Wake Forest player is in the field on a sponsor’s exemption. McCarron, Maggert, Bryant tied for lead at Senior Players Defending champion Scott McCarron and Bart Bryant shot matching 65s on Saturday to move into a share of the lead with Jeff Maggert at the Constellation Senior Players Championship. Advertisement McCarron birdied two of the final four holes at Exmoor Country Club for a three-round total of 16-under 200 in the fourth of five majors on the PGA Tour Champions schedule. Last year, he rallied to win the event at Caves Valley near Baltimore. Maggert, who led most of the day, shot 66. Vijay Singh (66) was one shot back. Three-time champion Bernhard Langer (67) and Illinois golf coach Mike Small (66) were another shot behind, and Scott Parel (70) was in a group at 13 under.<doc-sep>

The PGA Tour might still be stateside, but the attention of the golf world has already largely turned toward Scotland. Next week's Open Championship at Carnoustie is the main event of course, but this week's Scottish Open appetizer at Gullane Golf Links is a pretty tasty warmup. Luke List leads after a 7-under 63, but Rickie Fowler is tied for second at the event alongside Robert Rock, Jens Dantrop, Scott Fernandez and Lee Westwood. The Oklahoma State product and four-time PGA Tour winner was also the champion of this tournament last time it was at Gullane in 2015 when he birdied the final hole to defeat Matt Kuchar and Raphaël Jacquelin by one. It's clear Fowler loves links golf given not only his success at events like these, but also his proclivity to play random rounds at some of the coolest courses in the area. He was filmed at North Berwick -- one of the oldest clubs on the planet -- pushing a cart in the lead up to the Scottish Open. On Thursday, Fowler went out in a tizzy and shot 30 on the front nine that included an eagle on the par-4 6th hole after driving the green, but cooled off a bit on the back with a 34 on that side for the 6-under 64. He was 6 under through 12 holes and flirting with a 59 watch before a bogey at No. 13 and five pars to close out the first day. "For me, I feel like it's right in front of you," Fowler said of Gullane. "Yeah, there's blind tee shots as far as you can't see the ball land. I feel like here at Gullane, they do a good job of the bunkers or something that you can see that helps frame the hole. So you always have some sort of reference. It's not like you're hitting over a hill and completely blind, not that I'm ever against that. "I love playing links golf and being able to use your imagination and hit different shots. I feel like this golf course, you go around and you hit pretty much every club in your bag. You hit driver quite a bit. It's just fun. Especially once the wind starts to blow a bit." Fowler has joined Patrick Reed (-5), Justin Rose (-3), Matt Kuchar (-2) and Phil Mickelson (E) as some of the bigger stars in the field using this week's tournament as pre-Open prep work. Reed actually went out one better than Fowler with a front nine of 29 (!) on Thursday. He shot 36 on the back, though, and sits T7. "Feel like I hit some quality iron shots in there," Reed said. "Just didn't quite make any putts on the back. But at the same time, it's going to happen. You have a tougher back nine. If I could have made two, maybe three birdies on the back nine it would have been a really good day, but all in all, 5 under after the first round ... a couple back ... we're in good position." For Fowler, there has been at least a little correlation between this tournament and The Open Championship that follows. In 2014, he finished T8 at this tournament and T2 at The Open. In 2015, he won the Scottish and finished T30 at The Open. Then last year, he finished T9 here and T22 at Royal Birkdale. "I think it's probably the best prep that you can get, playing competitive golf leading into a major, especially similar style of golf," Fowler said. "I think Carnoustie is probably maybe a little firmer or faster than here right now, but this place could dry out over the weekend. "I think it's great prep just to be over here, playing on similar ground, feeling how much the wind does affect the ball, whether it's crosswinds, into the wind, downwind, and just getting acclimated and relaxed over here." Fowler certainly looked relaxed en route to that 64 on Thursday, and if he backs it up on Friday, he could head to the weekend looking for his second Scottish Open trophy in his last three tries and second in a row at Gullane. "After the win in 2015, having a bar named after me in the clubhouse there, it's cool," Fowler said. "It's definitely a place that we feel very welcome and it's a great golfing area, and Gullane has obviously been great to me."

In a powerful moment Wednesday night, more than 140 survivors took the stage at the 2018 ESPYS to accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award on behalf of all those who were sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Olympian Aly Raisman was among the women to accept the award in person, a group of "sister survivors" that stretched across the stage. Sarah Klein, who identified herself as Nassar's first victim roughly 30 years ago, called it "a portrait of survival." "Speaking up and speaking out is not easy," Klein said. "Telling our stories of abuse over and over and over again, in graphic detail, is not easy. We're sacrificing privacy. We're being judged and scrutinized, and it's grueling, and it's painful — but it is time." Nassar, who also worked at Michigan State, abused hundreds of women under the guise of medical treatment over the course of multiple decades. He was arrested after The Indianapolis Star, which is part of the USA TODAY Network, uncovered a pattern of sexual abuse issues at USA Gymnastics in 2016. The 54-year-old Nassar was sentenced to serve 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges, as well as 40 to 175 years on sexual abuse charges in separate Michigan counties. MORE: All the winners from the 2018 ESPYS MORE: Aaron Rodgers joins Danica Patrick in 'I, Tonya' parody at ESPYS In their remarks Wednesday, the group of survivors thanked Michigan police and prosecutors for helping bring Nassar to justice. They also publicly thanked judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who allowed hundreds of women to testify at Nassar's sentencing and was in the audience Wednesday night. "To all the survivors out there: Don't let anyone rewrite your story," Raisman said. "Your truth does matter. You matter. And you are not alone." Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.<doc-sep>Seven months after Judge Rosemarie Aquilina sentenced former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar to 175 years in prison, his victims took the stage at the ESPYs to accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. It was the first time that survivors of Nassar’s systemic abuse as an athletic doctor, including Olympians Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman, had gathered en masse since they testified in front of Nassar one by one in January this year. The 141 women who were in attendance, with many others in absentia, received a standing ovation from the crowd. The televised victims’ impact statements from the more than 125 women delivered at Nassar’s sentencing in January was one of the most harrowing and moving events that catalyzed the ongoing #MeToo movement, though the women who spoke up about Nassar’s behavior began doing so long before the national outcry. Former gymnast Jamie Dantzscher, who was present onstage, first shared her story to officials in 2016. Earlier in the day, she told Vanity Fair that back then, “Almost nobody believed me—so fast-forward to this year, it’s pretty incredible what’s happened. It’s actually hard to take in, but it’s amazing that people are being so supportive.” Jennifer Garner presented the award to the women assembled. Instead of trophies, they were given diamond cuffs—something “they could keep with them, and also what we could send to everyone,” according to ESPY executive producer Maura Mandt. Danica Patrick hosted the awards show, the first woman to do so in its 26 years. Raisman, Sarah Klein, and Tiffany Thomas Lopez spoke while accepting the Arthur Ashe Courage Award after a video introduction. “The abuse of Larry Nassar began 30 years ago with me,” said Klein. “For 30 years, people at the United States Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, and Michigan State University all placed money and medals above the safety of child athletes. Thirty years, until the work of Detective Lieutenant Andrea Munford of the Michigan State Police Department and Angela Povilaitis, the assistant attorney general who prosecuted the case, finally putting our abuser away for life.” Lopez said that “there are a lot of conversations in our society that we tiptoe around as if they’re something to avoid. I know in my life, people have looked that way at two issues extremely personal to me: race and sexual abuse. Sexual abuse claims victims in every race, showing no discrimination. Just like Arthur Ashe, I stand so very proud representing not only minorities but all of us as humans, the human race.” Raisman began by listing the years since 1997 that victims had been reporting Nassar to officials to no avail, spanning the nearly two decades that Nassar was able to continue to work for USA Gymnastics and the Michigan State University. “The ripple effect of our actions, or inactions, can be enormous, spanning generations. Perhaps the greatest tragedy of this nightmare is that it could have been avoided,” said Raisman, whose blistering victim’s statement delivered directly to Nassar went viral. “Whether you act or do nothing, you are shaping the world that we live in, impacting others. All we needed was one adult to have the integrity [to] stand between us and Larry Nassar.” She also thanked Judge Aquilina, who was sitting in the audience: “Thank you, Judge Aquilina, for honoring our voices. For too long, we were ignored, and you helped us to rediscover the power we each possess,” Raisman said. “You may never meet the hundreds of children you saved, but know they exist.” In closing, she spoke directly to victims: “We may suffer alone, but we survive together.”<doc-sep>(CNN) — Larry Nassar, the former team doctor for USA Gymnastics, and former USA Gymnastics trainer Deborah Van Horn were indicted in Texas Friday on charges of sexual assault of a child at the Karolyi Ranch, where for decades numerous Olympians have trained. Actress Jennifer Garner introduced the women as “an army that has come here tonight to be heard” as they walked toward the stage to a standing ovation, a process that took nearly two minutes. Phil McCarten/Invision/Phil McCarten/Invision/AP Former gymnast Sarah Klein, former Michigan State softball player Tiffany Thomas Lopez and gymnast Aly Raisman, from left in front, and others who suffered sexual abuse, accept the award. Some of the nation’s biggest sports stars wiped away tears as they applauded the women at the event that recognizes athletic achievements. Before the award was presented, the survivors detailed their accounts of the abuse they suffered at the hands of Nassar, the former team doctor for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University sentenced to up to 175 years in prison. A total of 141 survivors appeared on stage, said Keri Potts, a spokeswoman for ESPN. Crisis counselors and therapy dogs were on hand to support them as they spoke about the trauma they experienced. 2/4 First, we have the wonderful, dedicated crisis counselors from @PeaceOvrViolnce with us for the duration. They provide comprehensive services in LA for victims of sexual andninterpersonal violence. We are grateful to them for helping us. pic.twitter.com/ECqGSkrvzo — Keri Potts (@MsPotts_ATL) July 18, 2018 3/4 Second, we have the most adorable and snuggly therapy dogs from @BARKreadingdogs to provide comfort and support. Meet Charlie and Teddy Bear. pic.twitter.com/lRNHv96Rss — Keri Potts (@MsPotts_ATL) July 18, 2018 Sarah Klein identified herself as the first to be abused by Nassar, and said she represented the hundreds of “sister survivors” who could not attend the event. “Make no mistake, we are here on this stage to present an image for the world to see, a portrait of survival. A new vision of courage,” said Klein, one of three women who accepted the award. Her voice quivering, Klein thanked the detective and assistant attorney general who helped put Nassar behind bars, and said it’s time to start caring about children’s safety more than adult’s reputations. She described how important it is to speak out – even when no one listens. “Speaking up and speaking out is not easy. Telling our stories of abuse over and over and over again in graphic detail is not easy,” she said. “We’re sacrificing privacy. We’re being judged and scrutinized, and it’s grueling and it’s painful, but it is time.” The annual award is given to those who mirror the spirit of tennis legend and human rights advocate Arthur Ashe. Tiffany Thomas Lopez accepted the award along with Klein, and encouraged those suffering to stand tall when sharing their stories. “We may suffer alone, but we survive together.” Aly Raisman, Olympic gold medal gymnast. “I’m here to tell you, you cannot silence the strong together,” she said. Aly Raisman started her speech by listing the years they suffered. “1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. These were the years we spoke up about Larry Nassar’s abuse,” said Raisman, an Olympic gold medal gymnast. “All those years we were told ‘You are wrong. You misunderstood. He’s a doctor. It’s OK. Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered. Be careful. There are risks involved.’ The intention: to silence us in favor of money, medals and reputation.” She urged those who are suffering to speak out. “We may suffer alone, but we survive together,” she said. Nassar is serving 40 to 175 years in Michigan for sexually abusing women and girls under the guise of performing medical treatment. More than 150 women and girls said in court that he sexually abused them over the past two decades. He was also indicted in Texas last month on charges of sexual assault of a child at the Karolyi Ranch, where numerous Olympians have trained for decades. CNN’s Emily Smith contributed to this report<doc-sep>The award recipients were introduced by actress Jennifer Garner, who said: “Even if the story we are about to tell you is going to be hard to hear, we all have to hear it. We have to hear it, for one, to make sure that what happened at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics never happens again.<doc-sep>

A total of 141 women accepted the ESPYs’ Arthur Ashe Courage Award on Wednesday night for the hundreds of Larry Nassar survivors, according to ESPN. “1997. 1998. 1999. 2000. 2004. 2011. 2013. 2014. 2015. 2016,” Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman said on stage. “These were the years we spoke up about Larry Nassar’s abuse. All those years, we were told, you are wrong. You misunderstood. He’s a doctor. It’s OK. Don’t worry. We’ve got it covered. Be careful. There are risks involved. The intention? To silence us. In favor of money, medals and reputation. “But we persisted, and finally, someone listened and believed us. This past January, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina showed a profound level of understanding by giving us each the opportunity to face our abuser, to speak our truth and feel heard. Thank you, Judge Aquilina [in attendance], for honoring our voices. “For too long, we were ignored, and you helped us rediscover the power we each possess. You may never meet the hundreds of children you saved, but know they exist. The ripple effect of our actions, or inactions, can be enormous, spanning generations. “Perhaps the greatest tragedy of this nightmare is that it could have been avoided. Predators thrive in silence. It is all too common for people to choose to not get involved. Whether you act or do nothing, you are shaping the world that we live in, impacting others. “All we needed was one adult to have the integrity to stand between us and Larry Nassar. If just one adult had listened, believed and acted, the people standing before you on this stage would have never met him. Too often, abusers and enablers perpetuate suffering by making survivors feel their truth doesn’t matter. To all the survivors out there, don’t let anyone rewrite your story. Your truth does matter, you matter and you are not alone. “We all face hardships. If we choose to listen, and we choose to act with empathy, we can draw strength from each other. We may suffer alone, but we survive together.” The Ashe award, named after the Grand Slam tennis champion and human rights advocate, goes to those with “strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost.” Previous Olympian recipients include Muhammad Ali, Cathy Freeman, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Pat Summitt and Caitlyn Jenner. OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us! MORE: Aly Raisman, Chloe Kim appear in Maroon 5 music video

Isaiah Joel Peoples, 34, is accused of hitting eight pedestrians in Sunnyvale, Calif. on April 23, 2019. @SunnyvaleDPS/Twitter #NOW: @SunnyvaleDPS serving search warrant on an apartment residence associated with the vehicle involved in last night’s crash on El Camino Real. #Sunnyvale #BayArea #ABC7Now pic.twitter.com/oskA8JxrNq — Chris Nguyen (@ChrisNguyenABC7) April 24, 2019 SUNNYVALE, Calif. (KGO) -- A driver who authorities say appeared to deliberately plow into a group of people in Sunnyvale Tuesday night, including a 13-year-old girl, has been identified. The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety tweeted a photo of 34-year-old Isaiah Joel Peoples on Wednesday.Police say that there is no indication that this incident was related to terrorism. However, the suspect did not offer any statements of remorse and police are still working to determine a motive.A witness to a California crash that injured eight people said Wednesday he was waiting for a traffic light to turn green when a Toyota Corolla plowed through the intersection at a high speed, sending pedestrians flying into the air in the Silicon Valley city of Sunnyvale.Don Draper, 72, said he was so enraged that he marched over to the car that had stopped after slamming into a tree. He found the driver slumped over the steering wheel as the car hissed steam. The door was open. "He wasn't hurt apparently, and he was mumbling over and over again, 'thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus' again and again," Draper said. "And at this point I realized I had to call 911. "Sunnyvale authorities say they reached out to the FBI as a "precautionary measure" and they will remain the lead investigators. "(To) intentionally run over eight pedestrians is just unheard of. It's a shock. So, if this leads to anything beyond our scope here in Sunnyvale, we wanted to make sure that we were ready," explains Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Captain Jim Choi, as to why they reached out to the FBI.An official with the FBI says "should it be determined that a federal crime was committed, we will become more involved. "A search warrant is being served at an apartment residence associated with the crash.The driver deliberately drove into the group of people, Sunnyvale police said. The crash happened at El Camino Real and Sunnyvale Saratoga Road. Eight victims were taken to the hospital, some with serious injuries. The driver was arrested.Around 6:40 pm, a man in a dark sedan was seen by witnesses, speeding through the busy intersection before plowing through the group of people.Sunnyvale DPS says the group was possibly targeted by the driver. A man who they believe purposely turned into the group while driving full speed.The youngest victim is a 13-year-old girl, the rest are believed to be adults. DPS says some victims suffered serious injuries.Witnesses say the driver made no effort to stop. "We do have witness statements that show that vehicle did not attempt to slow down or brake," Choi added. "And the scene itself doesn't show any evidence of braking. "The crime scene extends about a half a block down El Camino Real. Those who live in the area say it's a busy intersection surrounded by homes and businesses.Shanelle Fioretti told ABC7 News, "People are just walking to get to these restaurants and food places and grocery stores, rather than getting in their car and driving there. "Anand Sherkhane was shopping at a nearby plaza and rushed out to see what was happening. "When we came here, we saw a bunch of bikes upside down and the car was crashed up against the tree," says Sherkhane. "I first thought of the London incident and the Paris incident. But that's unlikely here. "It's unclear whether the driver knew any of the victims. Investigators are looking into a possible motive, and whether alcohol or drugs played a role.Peoples has been booked into Santa Clara County Jail.<doc-sep>SUNNYVALE — A 13-year-old girl is in a coma after being hit by a driver who police say intentionally smashed his car into a group of pedestrians in Sunnyvale on Tuesday, and doctors have called her condition “life-threatening.” The girl, a seventh-grader at Sunnyvale Middle School, was the most seriously hurt of the eight people injured in the crash, with bleeding and swelling of the brain. The left side of her skull was removed to relieve pressure, according to an investigative summary submitted to the court. It was not clear from the summary if the coma was induced by physicians to aid in her treatment or was a result of being hit by the car. The summary said the girl, identified only by her first name, Dhriti, also had a fractured pelvis. The girl’s father and 9-year-old brother, Prakhar, also were hurt when the car hurtled into the busy intersection at El Camino Real and Sunnyvale Avenue, but the boy was not hit by the car. Both had minor injuries and they were not hospitalized, according to police. It was not clear which of the adults identified in the summary as victims of the crash was Dhriti’s and Prakhar’s father. The driver of the Toyota Corolla, Isaiah Joel Peoples, was charged Thursday with eight counts of attempted murder and is being held without bail at the Santa Clara County Main Jail. His arraignment is scheduled for Friday. Alia Wilson, a spokeswoman for the Sunnyvale School District, said, “Our focus right now is on maintaining privacy for the family and hoping for a full recovery for the student and to see them back as soon as possible.” She added, “We are sending healing thoughts to the student and will continue to offer our heartfelt support to their family, friends and loved ones.” Wilson said that the school had counselors, a psychologist and a full-time social worker “on campus every day to support students regularly as needed.” Prakhar, the 9 year-old, was already back at school, according to the district, although they did not identify the boy by name or give his relationship to the 13-year-old girl. The detectives’ summary identified the other victims injured in the crash as Marina Reimler, 32; Soeren Reimler, 33; Ping Lu, 51; Rajesh Narayan, 45; Eric Nava, 24; and Miguel, 15, who was identified only by his first name. Investigators are still trying to piece together Peoples’ movements on Tuesday before the melee. Sometime before the crash, he was delivering food to his Bible study group. But police did not release any other information about where Peoples might have gone or what he might have done Tuesday, except to say that he had an unassembled shotgun in his car. Nor can authorities pinpoint any clear motive for why Peoples, 34, an Army veteran and government defense auditor from Sunnyvale, might have run his car into the crosswalk and then onto the sidewalk, sending people flying. What Sunnyvale Director of Public Safety Phan Ngo did say, though, was that he showed no remorse when he was interviewed by investigators. He reiterated that while the FBI was alerted after the crash, there are so far no indications that the attack was an act of terrorism or that Peoples had any terrorist ties. Police think the crash was a deliberate act based on witness statements and the lack of physical evidence, such as skid and tire marks, that would indicate Peoples tried to stop or slow down. Witnesses said they heard Peoples accelerating his car, both before and after he hit a tree. A defense auditor who worked in Sunnyvale, Peoples served more than five years in the Army, from March 2004 to July 2009, including 11 months in Iraq, from June 2005 to May 2006, rising to the rank of sergeant and working as a civil affairs specialist, according to Army records. His LinkedIn page described his military duties as presenting reports that verified vehicle inspections, planning details of daily missions with the commander and helping to coordinate 30 to 40 projects for water, schools, roads and medical needs for local civilians. Before working in civil affairs, he served as a gunner and provided security, according to his brother. His awards included an Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Peoples was honorably discharged, Ngo said Thursday. After returning home, Peoples remained in the service a few more years and in 2012 earned an accounting degree from Sacramento State University. He worked as a pricing specialist for a company in Rocklin before starting his current job as a military contract auditor in Sunnyvale for the Defense Contract Audit Agency in August 2017. On its website, the agency says that it “provides audit and financial advisory services to Department of Defense and other federal entities responsible for acquisition and contract administration.” Multiple witness accounts described Peoples as saying, “I love you, Jesus,” “Thank you Jesus,” and “Praise Jesus,” or words to that effect after the crash, language that continued as he was being taken from the scene in handcuffs. Peoples’ father was a nondenominational pastor. According to the DMV, Peoples has a clean driving record and a valid driver’s license and car registration. A search of court records found no indication of a criminal history in Santa Clara County. Police searched the suspect’s apartment Wednesday and carried away several evidence bags from the site. His older brother, Joshua Peoples, said their mother had indicated that Isaiah had shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from Iraq and had at one point been hospitalized for psychiatric issues. The brother said that their mother had spoken to Isaiah the day before the attack and said he seemed about to have “another one of those episodes.” Their mother was not available for comment. Ngo said Peoples’ only previous contact with police was in February 2018 when he reported a theft, adding that investigators will be examining a computer seized from Peoples’ apartment in the coming days and weeks, but that the suspect’s social-media accounts — which included two Facebook profiles — showed nothing that might have forecast Tuesday’s mayhem. Ngo said investigators are exploring whether traumatic stress from the war factored into the crash. It was not clear whether the suspect had been formally diagnosed with the disorder. Staff writer Joseph Geha contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Sunnyvale, Calif. — A 34-year-old man was charged in connection with a horrific crash in Sunnyvale, California. Isaiah Peoples was arrested Tuesday night, after police say he drove his speeding car into a crowd of pedestrians. His car plowed into a crowded, popular street, then slammed into a tree, leaving eight people injured, including a 13-year-old, who is listed in critical condition. Late Wednesday afternoon, Sunnyvale police charged Peoples. They said he did it deliberately, but are not saying why. Isaiah Peoples Sunnyvale DPS Police said the incident appeared to be an "intentional act." The FBI has confirmed it's assisting the investigation, but at this point, there are no signs of domestic terror. Authorities said Peoples will face eight counts of attempted murder, one for each person hit. Authorities are looking into whether he served in Afghanistan. His family said he suffered from PTSD. Sunnyvale DPS Captain Jim Choi said the youngest person struck was 13 years old.<doc-sep>

The Army veteran who appears to have intentionally plowed his car through a crowded Sunnyvale intersection to strike seven pedestrians and bicyclists had just picked up food on his way to a Bible study group, authorities said Thursday morning. After the incident, Isaiah Joseph Peoples, 34, crawled from his wrecked Toyota Corolla and repeatedly moaned, “Thank you, Jesus,” a witness told The Chronicle. Authorities suspect Peoples — charged Thursday with eight counts of attempted murder — made no effort to avoid the pedestrians, and so far he “has not shown any remorse,” said Phan Ngo, chief of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. At a press conference Thursday, Ngo said investigators are still looking into reports that Peoples suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and mental illness. So far nothing has suggested the suspect was behaving unusually after the incident. “He did not behave in any manner that would be considered bizarre,” Ngo said. The chief declined to answer questions about whether Peoples, a Sunnyvale resident, acknowledged careening his vehicle into the crowd and whether he admitted it was an intentional act. “I’m not ready to reveal what he said,” Ngo said. The chief did say Peoples had a shotgun in his car, but he said it was disassembled and inoperative. Sunnyvale police arrested Peoples on Tuesday night at the corner of El Camino Real and Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, where he allegedly struck seven pedestrians and bicyclists around 6:40 p.m., sending several of them flying through the air. Among the victims was a father who managed to push his 9-year-old son out of the way, police said. However, the boy was still injured in the incident, and officials said Peoples intended to hit him, which accounts for the eighth charge of attempted murder. Ngo confirmed that Peoples served in the U.S. Army from 2004 to 2006 and received an honorable discharge before joining the Army Reserve from 2006 to 2008. Army officials said he was a civil affairs specialist who attained the rank of sergeant and was deployed to Iraq from June 2005 to May 2006. When he returned from the Middle East, Peoples suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was in a psychiatric hospital for a year in 2015, according to his brother, 38-year-old Joshua Peoples. He said his brother was taking medication “to keep his mood right,” but he didn’t know what kind. Investigators are still waiting on the results of toxicology tests, Ngo said. Isaiah Peoples worked as an accountant and grew up in Union City, where he went to high school, his brother said. “He’s always just trying to do good for himself,” Joshua Peoples said. “I really believe him going to the Army ... messed up his mental health.” Police believe his actions were intentional but not connected to any terrorist group, Ngo said. Victims of the crash include three children, two from the same family, authorities said. A day after the incident, a 13-year-old Sunnyvale girl remained in critical condition; a 32-year-old woman, 33-year-old man and 52-year-old man were in stable condition with major injuries; the 9-year-old boy and 45-year-old father were treated and released from a hospital with minor injuries; and a 15-year-old boy and 24-year-old man were treated by paramedics at the scene, police said. The FBI is assisting with the investigation, and Sunnyvale public safety officials admit they are still puzzled over what led to the incident. “We still do not know what his motives were, ” Ngo said. Tatiana Sanchez and Michael Cabanatuan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com, mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez, @ctuan

Woods will look to capture his ninth win at Firestone and his 80th career victory on tour this week alongside Jason Day, whose game hasn't been as sharp since his second victory of the season in May at the Wells Fargo. Still, he's managed to finish T-17 or better in three of his five starts since, but will need to improve if he wants to contend for his second major win in the PGA Championship at Bellerive next week. He and Woods tee off on Thursday at 10:20 a.m.<doc-sep>CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational has resumed being The Tiger Woods Invitational -- and not a moment too soon. Woods and 72 others in the elite field are competing for the final time in the WGC-Bridgestone at Firestone Country Club in Akron. Woods won eight of the previous 19 editions. The event moves to Memphis, Tenn., next year; the Senior Players Championship comes to Akron in a deal that runs through 2022. WGC-BRIDGESTONE TEE TIMES WGC-BRIDGESTONE LEADERBOARD Woods will be navigating the famous South Course for the first time since withdrawing in the final round in 2014 because of injury. An ailing back put his career in jeopardy in subsequent years, but Woods has recovered enough this season to be a factor on the leaderboard late. Round 1 is Thursday, Aug. 2. Here are DMan's five players to watch. (They are not necessarily Las Vegas' favorites to win.) 1. Tiger Woods, United States To list Tiger anywhere but first would be uncivilized. The stars appear to be aligning for him to win in a WGC-Bridgestone "walk-off.'' He needed a strong showing at the British Open two weeks ago in order to qualify, and he delivered a T-6 that pushed him into the top 50 (precisely No. 50) in the Official World Golf Ranking. Three weeks earlier, Tiger, 42, finished T-4 at Quicken Loans National. He is going to win again -- why not now? Fans at Firestone, always supportive, will be off-the-hook amped knowing they are watching Tiger, competitive again, in the final WGC-Bridgestone. Mark it down: He will not disappoint. He will feed off the "home'' crowd, put on a show and be in contention on Sunday afternoon. A victory would set the all-time PGA Tour record for most in one venue and give Tiger 80 PGA Tour titles, the latter trailing only Sam Snead's 82. 2. Francesco Molinari, Italy All Molinari did in July was win the Quicken Loans National, tie for second at the John Deere Classic and win the British Open. In prevailing at Carnoustie Golf Links, he became the first Italian with a golf major championship. Beyond the skills, Molinari, 35, is fun to watch because he genuinely appears to enjoy what he is doing. 3. Phil Mickelson, United States Phil is not going to win, likely won't contend, but he will entertain for four days because the tournament is no-cut. Phil is a fascinating figure, even deep into his career at age 48, because he always seems to be in the middle of something. Note to Phans of Phil: If he double-hits or picks up the ball in the rough and places it in the fairway, feel free to tell him that he has committed a rules infraction. (Just kidding, Phil. We kid because we care.) In all seriousness: Phil ranks ninth in PGA Tour history with 43 titles, including five majors. That all-time greats Tiger and Phil are in the field at Firestone one more time is a special occasion that should be celebrated. 4. Dustin Johnson, United States Johnson is golf's version of Cleveland Indians righty Corey Kluber in that he robotically carves courses and the competition. Problem is, Johnbot doesn't have quite the same ring to it as Klubot. Last week, Johnson, 34, won the RBC Canadian Open -- his third victory of the season and 19th career. He has earned $6.7 million this season. His mammoth drives and irons can go a long way toward taming a difficult track such as Firestone. He won WGC-Bridgestone 2016 and should have no trouble at least contending again. 5. Xander Schauffele, United States I enjoy watching Schauffele, 24, calmly and methodically work through a tournament even while he doesn't dazzle statistically. Last season, he won the Greenbrier Classic and the Tour Championship and finished tied for 13th at WGC-Bridgestone en route to PGA Tour rookie of the year. He has followed it with five Top-10's and $3.1 million in 21 starts this season. He finished T-6 at the U.S. Open and T-2 at the British. FAST FACTS Event: WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Site: Firestone Country Club (South Course), Akron, Ohio. Par/Yardage: 35-35=70/7,400. Architect: Bert Way (1929), Robert Trent Jones (1960). Course history: Firestone Country Club, celebrating 65 years of pro golf, is the only club to have hosted three nationally televised professional events in one year (1974). In addition to the WGC-Bridgestone, Firestone has hosted three PGA Championships. The first tournament hosted at Firestone was The Rubber City Open in 1954, won by Tommy Bolt. The PGA Championship came to Firestone for the first time in 1960, then returned in 1966 and 1975 with champions Jay Hebert, Al Geiberger and Jack Nicklaus. Past champions are a list of present and future Hall of Famers, including Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Lanny Wadkins, Nick Price, Greg Norman, Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Rory McIlroy and Woods. Format: Four-day, 72-hole stroke-play competition; no cut. Purse: $10 million (U.S.); $1.7 million to the winner. Prize money will be considered official on each player's home Tour. Scope: The WGC-Bridgestone is one of four World Golf Championships sanctioned and organized by the operational committee of the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and Southern Africa Tour. The other World Golf Championships are the Mexico Championship, Dell Technologies Match Play and HSBC Champions. Eligibility: * Playing members of the 2017 U.S. and International Presidents Cup teams. * The top-50 players, including any tied for 50th place, from the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday, July 23, 2018 (i.e. through completion of The Open Championship/Barbasol Championship) and Monday, July 30, 2018 (i.e. through completion of the RBC Canadian Open). * Tournament winners, whose victories are considered official, of tournaments from the Federation Tours since the prior year's Bridgestone Invitational (with an Official World Golf Ranking Strength of Field Rating of 115 points or more). * The winner of the following tournaments from each of the following Tours: -Japan Golf Tour: Japan Golf Tour Championship (2018) and Bridgestone Open (2017) -Australian PGA Championship (2017) -Southern Africa Tour: TBD -Asian Tour: Indonesian Masters (2017) TV schedule: The WGC-Bridgestone is broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 227 countries and territories in 32 languages. Thursday and Friday: Golf Channel, 1:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: Golf Channel, noon-1:45 p.m.; CBS Sports, 2-6 p.m. Trophy: Gary Player Cup Website: www.worldgolfchampionships.com Tickets: www.worldgolfchampionships.com or call 1-844-868-7465. Fans 18 and under are admitted free to the tournament when accompanied by a ticketed adult. The 18-under admittance provides grounds access only. The policy does not apply to the tournament's hospitality venues, where everyone needs an upgraded ticket to gain admittance. There is no limit to the number of 18-under who can attend with a ticketed adult. If applicable, a family of five can attend the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational but only pay for the two ticketed adults, or, a youth soccer team can attend with its coach and only pay for the coach's ticket. Mobile devices: Fans are permitted to bring their mobile devices into the tournament as part of the PGA Tour's mobile device policy. The free PGA Tour app for smart phones is available. The app offers a map of the course; amenities; live play-by-play; and player scorecards. There are conditions for cell-phone usage on the grounds. Please adhere to the following: Phones must be in silent mode at all times. Phone calls can be made or received in designated areas throughout the golf course (shown on course map. Designated areas also include merchandise tents and inside all private and shared hospitality venues). Fans will be allowed to receive and send messages, check data and access pgatour.com and PGA Tour app on the course away from play. No video recording is permitted at any time during the week. No photography will be permitted during official competition rounds. Tournament winners: Year Winner Score Site 1999 Tiger Woods 270 (-10) Firestone Country Club 2000 Tiger Woods 259 (-21) Firestone Country Club 2001 Tiger Woods 268 (-12) Firestone Country Club 2002 Craig Parry 268 (-16) Sahalee Country Club 2003 Darren Clarke 268 (-12) Firestone Country Club 2004 Stewart Cink 269 (-11) Firestone Country Club 2005 Tiger Woods 274 (-6) Firestone Country Club 2006 Tiger Woods 270 (-10) Firestone Country Club 2007 Tiger Woods 272 (-8) Firestone Country Club 2008 Vijay Singh 270 (-10) Firestone Country Club 2009 Tiger Woods 268 (-12) Firestone Country Club 2010 Hunter Mahan 268 (-12) Firestone Country Club 2011 Adam Scott 263 (-17) Firestone Country Club 2012 Keegan Bradley 267 (-13) Firestone Country Club 2013 Tiger Woods 265 (-15) Firestone Country Club 2014 Rory McIlroy 265 (-15) Firestone Country Club 2015 Shane Lowry 269 (-11) Firestone Country Club 2016 Dustin Johnson 274 (-6) Firestone Country Club 2017 Hideki Matsuyama 264 (-16) Firestone Country Club Social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/BridgestoneInvitational Twitter: @WGC_Bridgestone Instagram: @wgc_bridgestone King George: George Sweda Jr., former golf writer of distinction for The Plain Dealer, will receive the Journalism Award. Sweda will be recognized during the Ambassador of Golf Ceremony on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. inside the Firestone Country Club clubhouse. Gentleman Jim: Renowned broadcaster Jim Nantz, named the 2018 recipient of the Ambassador of Golf Award, will be honored during a presentation in the main dining room at Firestone Country Club on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. The Ambassador of Golf Award is presented annually by Northern Ohio Golf Charities to a person who "has fostered the ideals of the game on an international level and whose concern for others extends beyond the golf course.'' Nantz joins three former CBS colleagues, his longtime producer, Frank Chirkinian (1989), Ken Venturi (1998), his former lead analyst and Nick Faldo (2012), his current TV partner on CBS Sports, as recipients of the Ambassador of Golf Award. Ambassador of Golf Award presentation and dinner tickets are available for $250 each; proceeds benefit Northern Ohio Golf Charities. Contact Allie Grilliot at 330-245-2307 or alexandriagrilliot@pgatourhq.com. Notable: The WGC-Bridgestone annually donates approximately $1 million to charities throughout Northeast Ohio. Organizers estimate that professional golf at Firestone Country Club has donated more than $26 million to such worthy causes in Northeast Ohio. Sources: WGC-Bridgestone, PGA Tour.<doc-sep>

Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Webb Simpson, Alex Noren, Matt Kuchar and Patrick Reed will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday's Fantasy Insider. There may not be a fairer test than Firestone Country Club. Because of its predictability, it's both the kind of track on which a returning participant can rely on finding his game as well as how it stacks up in real time against the best in the world. With no cut, the mindset is simplified to perform over 72 holes. The stock par 70 tilts at 7,400 yards for the 12th consecutive edition. Large bentgrass greens will run as fast as 12-and-a-half feet on the Stimpmeter, although if the forecast for early-week rainfall holds true, surfaces could be a touch slower. Primary rough is allowed to grow to three inches. Last year's field of 76 averaged 70.497 on the scorecard, which just about hits the historical bull's-eye. Hideki Matsuyama equaled the course record of 61 in the final round for a come-from-behind, five-stroke runaway. There's a perception that Firestone is long even by today's standards. However, the par-5 16th that tips at a TOUR-long 667 yards boosts the overall yardage disproportionately. The 10 par 4s average just shy of 449 yards. Furthermore, accuracy off the tee is more important than distance, but neither of those two components are as important as hitting the greens in regulation and putting. Nine of the 12 who finished inside the top 10 here last year ranked inside the top 15 in GIR for the week. Seven slotted inside the top 15 in strokes gained: putting. Comparatively, only three who finished inside the top 15 in distance of all drives and just four inside the top 15 in fairways hit were among the top 10 on the leaderboard. This isn't to say that length is irrelevant; rather, Firestone is a second-shot track where length is bonus at times. Matsuyama finished outside the top 20 in both distance of all drives and accuracy off the tee, but he co-led in greens hit, ranked T2 in proximity and paced the field in strokes gained: tee-to-green (surprise, surprise). The pursuit for the Gary Player Cup will occur in warm and humid conditions. Daytime highs will rise into the upper 80s on the weekend. There is a reasonable chance for rain and storms on Friday. Wind is likely to be a non-factor. Once the last stroke is made, it'll signify the end of an era for Firestone in its recurring role as host of a PGA TOUR stop. In April, it was announced that the tournament will be relocated to TPC Southwind in 2019. However, as part of a four-year agreement with the PGA TOUR Champions, Firestone will transition into host of the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship next year. Just in case you were wondering, Woods becomes eligible for the 50-and-older circuit in 2026. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton reviews and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings (WGC-Bridgestone) TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (Barracuda), Sleepers (WGC-Bridgestone), Facebook Live, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done (WGC-Bridgestone), One & Done (Barracuda) THURSDAY: Champions One & Done * - Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

LEFT: GettyImages-956884566 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to AFP journalists in Ottawa, Ontario, on May 9, 2018. (Photo by Lars Hagberg / AFP) (Photo credit should read LARS HAGBERG/AFP/Getty Images) CENTER: GettyImages-969072890 French President Emmanuel Macron holds a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Parliament on June 7, 2018 in Ottawa. - French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed support for "strong multilateralism" in Ottawa on June 7, 2018 before the G7 summit, where US President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policies are sure to raise hackles. (Photo by ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP/Getty Images) RIGHT: GettyImages-969250878 WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 07: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Rose Garden at the White House on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The two leaders met to discuss next week's summit with North Korea. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Trump: Russia should be in the G7 summit Trump: I'll know in the first minute Trudeau: Canadians will not be pushed around G7/Trump/Quebec/Canada/Pool Path 2 HOST TV has agreed to continue sending us their signal from the G7 despite Trump's early departure. We will monitor for editorial in case any of the other G7 leaders react to Trump's remarks regarding Russia rejoining the G7/8, using national security as a justification for tariffs, and the level of relationship between the president and our allies. • 4pm: The Chair's (Canada/Trudeau) Press Conference • 4:30pm: Italy Press Conference • 5pm: United Kingdom Press Conference • 5:30pm: France Press Conference Rx 762 Source HOST TV (treat as POOL, no need to font) QUEBEC CITY, QC - JUNE 09: US President Donald Trump speaks to the media after holding a press conference ahead of his early departure from the G7 Summit on June 9, 2018 in Quebec City, Canada. Canada are hosting the leaders of the UK, Italy, the US, France, Germany and Japan for the two day summit, in the town of La Malbaie. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) White House economic adviser Peter Navarro (C) walks through a hotel lobby as he heads to the Diaoyutai State Guest House to meet Chinese officials for ongoing trade talks in Beijing on May 4, 2018. - Top US and Chinese officials kicked off crucial trade talks on May 3 in Beijing but both sides sought to dampen expectations for a quick resolution to a heated dispute between the world's two largest economies. (Photo credit should read NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images) G7/Trump/Quebec/Canada/Pool Path 2 HOST TV has agreed to continue sending us their signal from the G7 despite Trump's early departure. We will monitor for editorial in case any of the other G7 leaders react to Trump's remarks regarding Russia rejoining the G7/8, using national security as a justification for tariffs, and the level of relationship between the president and our allies. • 4pm: The Chair's (Canada/Trudeau) Press Conference • 4:30pm: Italy Press Conference • 5pm: United Kingdom Press Conference • 5:30pm: France Press Conference Rx 762 Source HOST TV (treat as POOL, no need to font) QUEBEC CITY, QC - JUNE 08: Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau (R) speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump during the G7 official welcome at Le Manoir Richelieu on day one of the G7 meeting on June 8, 2018 in Quebec City, Canada. Canada will host the leaders of the UK, Italy, the US, France, Germany and Japan for the two day summit, in the town of La Malbaie. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Trump: Having Russia in G7 would be an asset (CNN) — President Donald Trump didn’t spend much time at the G7 meeting in Quebec over the last 48 hours, but he managed to make plenty of news. As he was leaving for the conference, Trump told reporters he’d support re-adding Russia into the group. (Russia was removed from the group after it annexed Crimea in 2014.) Once at the G7, Trump arrived late Saturday morning for a breakfast meeting attended by the various world leaders – and then held a somewhat impromptu news conference before heading to Singapore for his much-discussed summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12. The press conference was, um, a humdinger. I went through the official White House transcript and pulled out some of the more memorable lines. They’re below. 1. “We’ve concluded a really tremendously successful G7.” Ahem. Twitter/Steffen Seibert/German Federal Press Office 2. “And you know the gentlemen up are the legendary Larry Kudlow and the legendary John Bolton.” [nods head knowingly] Oh yeah. (Randy “Macho Man” Savage voice) 3. “I made a lot of statements having to do with clarity.” Yes, yes. This clears things up nicely. 4. “I congratulate the leaders of other countries for so crazily being able to make these trade deals that were so good for their country and so bad for the United States.” A hearty congratulations on your craziness! Well done, sirs and madams! 5. “I’ll be on a mission of peace, and we will carry in, really – in my heart, we’re going to be carrying the hearts of millions of people, people from all over the world.” That’s a lot of hearts. 6. “We really think that North Korea will be a tremendous place in a very short period of time.” This, like many Trump statements, is impossible to fact check. So, in a short period of time North Korea is going to be “tremendous”? How? Why? 7. “Well, there’s always everything.” Wise words. Wise. Words. 8. “He won’t have that opportunity again. It’s never going to be there again.” Trump making very clear to Kim that this is his one big chance. And that if he misses his chance, there won’t be another. (It’s not entirely clear whether Trump would stick to such a tough line in the sand or not.) 9. “He can take that nation, with those great people, and truly make it great.” If you follow Trump’s logic here, the way Kim will make North Korea “great” is to get rid of his nuclear weapons. I’m not sure Kim would agree with that view. 10. “And we will watch over, and we’ll protect, and we’ll do a lot of things.” A lot of things. Believe me. 11. “I have not spoken to Vladimir Putin in quite a while.” “Indeed, Donald Trump and I have, firstly, met more than once at various international venues. And secondly, we regularly talk over the phone.” – Vladimir Putin, earlier this week. 12. “Some people like the idea of bringing Russia back in.” “Some people” = Donald Trump 13. “And something happened a while ago, where Russia is no longer in.” Yes, Russia invaded a sovereign nation and annexed a region of it. 14. “We pay nothing. We don’t want to pay anything. Why should we pay?” Me, at Starbucks, every damn day. 15. “So you go tariff-free, you go barrier-free, you go subsidy-free.” You go gluten free. 16. “That’s the way you learned at the Wharton School of Finance.” So, wait, Trump went to Wharton? I did not know that! You would think he would mention that more often! 17. “I guess, they got to go back to the drawing and check it out, right?” So….. 18. “It’s going to change, 100%.” One hundred percent is the most change. The biggest. There’s no more change than that. 19. “We’re like the piggy bank that everybody is robbing.” Ronald Reagan on America: A shining city on a hill. George H.W. Bush on America: A thousand points of light. Donald Trump on America: The piggy bank that everybody is robbing. 20. “And so we are talking to many countries. We’re talking to all countries.” So are we talking to many countries? Or all the countries? I need some clarity! 21. “So when we try and bring our piece up a little bit so that it’s not so bad, and then they go up – right – the difference is they do so much more business with us than we do with them that we can’t lose that.” Man, this reads just like an economics textbook. 22. “The numbers are so astronomically against them in terms of anything, as per your question.” Go on…. 23. “You’ve studied this very well. Congratulations.” [pats self on back] 24. “Hispanic doing the best.” He’s talking about Hispanic unemployment numbers here. But it’s sort of an odd way to say it… 25. “Fake News CNN. The worst. But I could tell by the question.” The question in question, by CNN’s Kevin Liptak who was serving as the pool reporter at the event, was this: “As you were heading into these G7 talks, there was a sense that America’s closest allies were frustrated with you and angry with you, and that you were angry with them and that you were leaving here early to go meet for more friendlier talks with Kim Jong Un in Singapore. And I’m wondering if you view it the same way. And do you view the US alliance system shifting under your presidency?” Seems like a pretty relevant question to me. 26. “I would say that the level of relationship is a 10.” This all checks out. Twitter/Steffen Seibert/German Federal Press Office 27. “I will blame them if they don’t act smart and do what they have to do – because they have no choice. I’ll be honest with you, they have no choice.” To sum up: a) Trump doesn’t blame leaders of other countries for taking advantage of the US b) They won’t be able to take advantage of us anymore c) They have no choice d) Again no choice 28. “So you can tell that to your fake friends at CNN.” Just a reminder: Donald Trump is the President of the United States. Go tell your real friends that. 29. “The relationship that I’ve had with the people, the leaders of these countries, has been – I would really, rate it on a scale of 0 to 10, I would rate it a 10.” Twitter/Steffen Seibert/German Federal Press Office 30. “You know, it’s like the gig is up. It’s like the gig is up. They’re not trying to – there’s nothing they can say.” Trump is casting the world as having collectively – and purposely – bilked the US for decades. And now, they have been caught red-handed and they know it. Again, color me skeptical that this is how France, Canada and the rest of the G7 see the situation. 31. “But a lot of these countries actually smile at me when I’m talking. And the smile is – we couldn’t believe we got away with it.” So, that’s what he thinks the smile is about. 32. “I think that he’s going to surprise, on the upside, very much on the upside.” [NBA draft expert voice] “Kim Jong Un, this is a guy with tremendous upside. Not much known about him going into this summit but his upside is limitless.” 33. “Because, you know, as a deal person, I’ve done very well with deals.” Deal people do well with deals. It is known. 34. “I think within the first minute I’ll know. Just my touch, my feel. That’s what I do.” My favorite quote – by a lot – in the press conference. So, Trump will know whether a deal can get done with Kim within the first minute of meeting him because of his “touch” and “feel.” Got it. 35. “Everyone said – you know, the haters, they say, ‘Oh, you’re giving him a meeting.’ Give me a break, OK?” “The haters. ” – The President of the United States 36. “Because the US press is very dishonest, much of it.” On foreign soil – and en route to an international summit over nuclear weapons – the President attacks “much” of the media as dishonest. In case you were wondering whether this is normal, it’s not. Not at all. 37. “There are many people in the press that are unbelievably dishonest. They don’t cover stories the way they’re supposed to be.”<doc-sep>"If there are to be any conversations about Russia's future in relation to this particular group, they have to change their ways, they have to change the route that they are taking and the sort of activity they are involved in," Mrs May said.<doc-sep>

QINGDAO, China (Reuters) - Russia did not choose to leave the G7 and would be happy to host its members in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday when asked about U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Russia should have been at its latest meeting. Trump said on Friday that Russia should have attended a Group of Seven summit in Canada over the weekend, an idea that even Moscow seemed to reject saying it was focused on other formats. Russia was pushed out of the then G8 due to its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea four years ago. “We did not (choose to) leave it, our colleagues refused to come to Russia due to known reasons at some point. Please, we will be glad to see everyone here in Moscow,” Putin told reporters at a briefing in China’s city of Qingdao. He, however, added that the combined purchasing power of the Russia and China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a meeting of which he was attending in China, outstripped the G7. The latter currently includes the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain, Italy, France and Germany. The G7 ended in discord on Saturday when Trump clashed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and said he might hit the auto industry with tariffs. Trump said in March that he and Putin would meet soon, but since then already poor ties between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated further over the conflict in Syria and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. The Kremlin has complained that efforts to organize the meeting seem frozen. Putin said on Sunday he thought it was important that the two men meet and said he shared Trump’s concerns about the risks of an arms race developing between Russia and the United States, something he said officials from the two countries needed to discuss. He said a meeting could take place as soon as the United States was ready and that many European countries had offered their help in making it happen. Putin, who has previously told Europe he had warned them about the trade threat Washington posed to them, also said that if Trump imposed new tariffs on imports of foreign cars it would have serious consequences for the global economy and especially for Europe. Trump was due to arrive in Singapore on Sunday ahead of a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

CHICAGO (AP) - A California misdemeanor complaint against Jussie Smollett shows the actor was accused of identifying himself as his younger brother in 2007 when a Los Angeles police officer pulled him over on suspicion of driving under the influence. The misdemeanor complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2007 says that Smollett gave the name of his brother, Jake Smollett, when he was asked by an officer. He also signed a false name on the promise to appear in court. Smollett also was later charged with false impersonation, driving under the influence and driving without a valid license. Court records show Smollett pleaded no contest to the reduced charge of giving false information, in addition to driving under the influence and driving without a valid license counts. The records show he later completed an alcohol education and treatment program and completed the terms of his sentence in May 2008. The details of the complaint were first reported by NBC News.<doc-sep>Jussie Smollett is facing prison time and the implosion of his career if it turns out he lied about being the target of a hate crime, legal and public relations experts say. “The best thing that Jussie can do is pray and pray a lot,” said Ronn Torossian, founder of 5W Public Relations. “If he made it up, he has big problems in both the court of law and the court of public opinion.” The “Empire” star claimed he was beaten up on Jan. 29 by two men who used racial and homophobic slurs. Smollett’s co-stars and colleagues on “Empire,” celebrities such as Ellen Page and Zendaya, and public figures such as Sen. Kamala Harris rallied behind the actor, releasing statements of support. However, Smollett’s account is now being challenged, with police investigating whether or not he paid two acquaintances, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, to stage the attack. Chicago police confirmed on Tuesday that they received a tip from someone claiming to have seen the three men together in an elevator of Smollett’s apartment building on the evening of the attack. However, later in the day, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted that the tip was unfounded. If Smollett falsified a police report, the charge is a Class 4 felony in Illinois, and carries a potential sentence of one to three years in prison. Smollett could also be ordered to pay restitution to compensate for the cost of the Chicago Police Department investigation. “It’s a very, very, very serious situation,” said Phil Turner, a former federal prosecutor who now works in criminal defense in Chicago. “He’s got some very significant exposure.” Smollett told police that two men attacked him at 2 a.m., poured bleach on him, and put a noose around his neck. He also claimed they told him that it was “MAGA country,” a reference to Donald Trump’s campaign slogan. Chicago investigators are now seeking to speak with Smollett. Federal investigators are also probing a threatening letter that was sent to the “Empire” set. The letter included homophobic language and contained a white powder, which was later determined to be a crushed painkiller tablet. Should that letter turn out to be fake, federal prosecutors could also pursue a mail fraud charge, legal experts say. Andrew Weisberg, a former prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, said Smollett could get probation, assuming that he has a clean record. Update: NBC News reported Tuesday, and Variety confirmed, that Smollett pleaded no contest in 2007 to three misdemeanor counts stemming from a DUI incident in Los Angeles, including one count of giving false information to the police. According to the criminal complaint filed by the L.A. City Attorney’s office, Smollett gave a false name, pretending to be his brother Jake. He was sentenced to three years of probation. Weisberg also said prosecutors may face pressure not to be lenient. “It’s a very high-profile case,” he said. “Prosecutors tend to be tougher because everybody’s watching. … I think they may come down hard, in terms of not reducing it to a misdemeanor.” Steve Greenberg, a Chicago defense attorney, said prosecutors could also file a charge of obstruction of justice. He said it was likely, though, that Smollett would be allowed to plead to a misdemeanor, and not serve jail time. “They’re not going to ruin a guy’s life over this,” Greenberg said. “People make false reports all the time to the police. They get in a DUI, they call police and say, ‘My car was stolen.’ Ninety percent of the time, even if they’re charged with a felony, those people end up pleading to a misdemeanor.” Smollett has retained two criminal defense attorneys, Victor Henderson and Todd Pugh. They have denied that Smollett staged the attack, and said he will continue to cooperate. “His lawyers may be having a psychiatrist examine the guy so they could prepare some kind of psychiatric defense,” Turner said. Smollett, like celebrity fabulists such as Lance Armstrong and Ryan Lochte, may see endorsement opportunities and roles dry up if he is found to have been untruthful. Public relations experts say he will need to demonstrate that he’s learned a lesson. “If he made this up, he broke the trust of a lot of his fans,” said Ray Drasnin, founder of Purple Penguin PR. “Say you lied and you’re sorry for that lie. Apologize to the people who have supported you, promise to make it up, and find a cause that’s near and dear to your heart and devote yourself to it.” Richard Levick, chairman and CEO of LEVICK, said people shouldn’t rush to judgment regarding Smollet and cautioned that there are still, in the words of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, “too many unknown unknowns.” Yet if Smollett did fabricate the attack, Levick says he needs to be more proactive. “He needs to get ahead of this as much as he can,” he said. “He needs to go see the police. He needs to apologize. He needs to make the announcement about what happened instead of letting the facts leak out. If he lied, there’s no excuse, but there may be some explanation.”<doc-sep>A Chicago judge set Jussie Smollett's bond at $100,000 on Thursday and ordered him to surrender his passport, hours after a remarkable Chicago Police Department press conference in which Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson blasted the 'Empire' star, saying that Smollett's alleged staging of a hoax attack was a "publicity stunt...to promote his career." The weeks-long investigation into the alleged hate crime attack –- an alarming account that sizzled with a spectrum of hot button issues ranging from race, sexuality and politics to crime and celebrity -- riveted and distressed a deeply-divided nation. Standing before Cook County Circuit Court Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke, Jr., Smollett appeared to remain steadfast in his refutation of the felony charge against him. He has repeatedly insisted that the attack was real and that he was merely a victim, not a perpetrator. If convicted of felony disorderly conduct for filing a false report, the actor faces up to three years in prison. When first assistant state attorney Risa Lanier told Lyke that the actor had picked up two brothers who authorities say carried out the staged attack on him at his direction and showed them the location of where he wanted to be attacked, Smollett shook his head in disagreement. When Lyke told Smollett that the allegations, if true, are "utterly outrageous," the actor nodded his head in agreement -- doing so again when Lyke said the noose detail would be the most despicable part of the alleged scheme. The judge also ordered pre-trial monitoring of the actor, and ordered him to stay away from the two brothers he allegedly conspired with to stage the hoax attack, according to police. Smollett's next court appearance is scheduled for March 14. The tense courtroom appearance followed on the heels of a morning press conference at which a visibly angry Johnson castigated the actor for betraying his race and his city with such an incendiary false claim. "Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career," a visibly angry Johnson said. “I am left hanging my head asking ‘why?’. Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations? ... How can an individual who's been embraced by the city of Chicago turn around and slap everyone in the city in the face with these false claims?" Johnson charged that Smollett, an actor on the hit show 'Empire' who has consistently denied any role in staging the alleged attack, orchestrated it because he was "dissatisfied with his salary." In addition to staging the attack, officials said, Smollett also sent himself a hate-filled letter to the Fox studio where the hit show is filmed. Smollett turned himself in at 5:15 a.m. local time and made a statement to police before being taken into custody. His lawyers, Todd Pugh and Victor Henderson, were not present at the time but they released a statement the night before. "Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence, particularly when there has been an investigation like this one where information, both true and false, has been repeatedly leaked. Given these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and to mount an aggressive defense." Thursday evening, the attorneys released a statement criticizing law enforcement's handling of the case. "Today we witnessed an organized law enforcement spectacle that has no place in the American legal system. The presumption of innocence, a bedrock in the search for justice, was trampled upon at the expense of Mr. Smollett and notably, on the eve of a Mayoral election," the statement read. "Mr. Smollett is a young man of impeccable character and integrity who fiercely and solemnly maintains his innocence and feels betrayed by a system that apparently wants to skip due process and proceed directly to sentencing." Backlash Police add that Smollett gave no statement to police after turning himself in and that his lawyers had reached out to them Wednesday night to discuss his surrender. Smollett wanted to turn himself in near midnight, but authorities suggested he come in at 5 a.m. instead, to avoid spending the night in jail. Smollett arrived early Thursday morning accompanied by a female lawyer and an entourage of five or six people. Smollett was silent as he went through the motions of being booked and processed. By late morning on Thursday, the backlash against the actor began at the top, with an angry tweet from the President of the United States. ". @JussieSmollett - what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA" President Donald Trump wrote in a tweet after the press conference. In an earlier interview with ABC News, Smollett was asked why he thought he was targeted and he replied that he is a strident critic of the Trump administration. “I come really really hard against 45," he said. referring to Trump, the 45th U.S. president. "I come really really hard against his administration, and I don’t hold my tongue.” 'I'm offended' During a press briefing later Thursday morning, Chicago law enforcement officials said that Chicago police detectives interviewed more than 100 people and reviewed dozens of police cameras trying to get to the bottom of Smollett's claims. How can an individual who's been embraced by the city of Chicago turn around and slap everyone in the city in the face with these false claims? Johnson, a well-regarded and popular big city police chief and Chicago native, appeared genuinely aggrieved as he described how, he said, Smollett took advantage of the pain of racism to advance his career. "Why would anyone use the symbol of a noose" to further his "own public profile," Johnson wondered aloud. "I'm offended by what happened and I'm angry," Johnson continued. "This publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn’t own and certainly didn’t deserve." Johnson, who oversees one of the nation's largest police departments in one of its most violent cities, seemed disheartened by all the attention paid to the Smollett affair. “The accusation within this phony attack received national attention for weeks,” Johnson told reporters during a press conference. “Celebrities, news commentators and even presidential candidates weighed in on something that was choreographed by an actor." "When you get the opportunity," he said with a mixture of derision and frustration, "the shooting victims and their families? Give them the same amount of attention." After the press briefing, 20th Century Fox, the station that airs "Empire," released a statement which read, "We understand the seriousness of this matter and we respect the legal process. We are evaluating the situation and we are considering our options." 'Self-inflicted' wounds Smollett told police he was attacked by two masked men near his apartment in Chicago. The two men, Smollett initially said, shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him as a rope was wrapped around his neck and a chemical compound was poured on him. The alleged assailants yelled "MAGA country," a reference to President Donald Trump's "Make American Great Again" slogan, police were told. Chicago trusted this young man. We loved 'Empire,' and we took this very seriously that something this hateful could happen in our city. In an interview with "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts, Smollett said he was heartbroken when he found out that people questioned his story. Asked why he would leave the rope draped around his neck until police arrived because he "wanted them to see." "I was looking at myself, just like checking myself out," he told Roberts. "I saw the bruise on my neck, you know, like the little -- the rope burn around my neck. So when the police came I kept the clothes on, I kept the rope on me. ... I mean, it wasn't, like, wrapped around. But, yeah, it was around because I wanted them to see." Asked why he wait until the second interview to tell police that the assailants yelled “MAGA country” at him during the attack, Smollett seemed to take offense at the insinuation. "For me, the main thing was the idea that I somehow switched up my story, you know?<doc-sep>

The actor suspected of faking a hate crime against himself has a criminal record — for providing false information to authorities. NBC News reported Tuesday that “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett pleaded no contest to several charges in 2007 in Los Angeles, one of which was providing false information to authorities. Citing a Los Angeles City Attorney spokesman, NBC reported that Mr. Smollett was sentenced to two years probation in the case, which also included a DUI count and a charge of driving without a license. The city attorney’s office first confirmed the convictions to NBC News and later other media outlets confirmed the story. Citing “multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation,” NBC News reported that the Chicago Police Department has requested the details from their counterparts in Los Angeles. According to the Associated Press, when Mr. Smollett was pulled over on suspicion of DUI, he identified himself as his brother Jake and also signed a false name on the standard “promise to appear in court” paperwork. He was initially charged with the more serious crime of impersonation but pleaded no contest to a lesser count of giving false information to police. Chicago authorities are now investigating the purported attack on Mr. Smollett — who said he was beaten up by men who shouted racist and anti-gay slurs and told him Chicago was “MAGA Country” — as a hoax and not as an assault. Two brothers who were initially declared “persons of interest” in the “attack” are cooperating with authorities and have reportedly told Chicago police that Mr. Smollett hired them to help stage the whole thing. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

New Delhi [India], Sep 18 (ANI): An First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Manoj Tiwari for breaking the lock of a sealed house in Delhi's Gukulpur area. On September 16, Tiwari broke the lock in an unauthorised colony while protesting against ongoing sealing drive. The FIR has been registered under Sections 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 461 and 465 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act. Speaking to ANI over the case filed against him, Tiwari said, "Till now Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) used to allege that we were getting sealing done. Now when we are opposing sealing then they are supporting the same and claiming that we are breaking the law. I challenge (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal to visit the colonies and answer the public in Delhi. They won 67 seats out of 70 because they have promised that unauthorised colonies will be regularised and roads will be notified but nothing as such has happened." Tiwari, who plans to file a counter FIR, said: "We will oppose sealing if it is done in an illegal way. If an action needs to be taken against any unlawful construction then why do they indulge in pick and choose? I am also going to file an FIR. The property has been sealed by claiming it to be a dairy whereas it is a very small place for any such activity." The drive to seal commercial establishments flouting provisions of the 2021 Master Plan began on January 7 in Khan Market, on the orders of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. (ANI)<doc-sep>Police on Tuesday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Manoj Tiwari for illegally breaking the lock of a sealed house. A police spokesperson confirmed that the case had been registered against the lawmaker on a complaint from the municipal corporation’s deputy director (veterinary) Shahdara, north zone. “The matter is being looked into,” the officer said. A video clip of Tiwari breaking a sealed lock of a house in an unauthorised colony during a Sunday visit to Gokulpuri went viral on social media. Tiwari had said on Sunday that with his action, he has started a movement against the ‘pick-and-choose’ sealing in the national capital. “I have broken the seal of a house in Gokulpuri and I will not stop here. I will go to every locality where illegal sealing is being done. I have taken a pledge; I will not tolerate any ‘pick and choose’ action. This (sealing) is facilitating corruption. Municipal officials are indulging in corruption in the name of sealing by the monitoring committee,” Tiwari said. The Supreme Court appointed monitoring committee has submitted the report in apex court on Tuesday in the case of Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari breaking the seal of a house in Gokulpur on Sunday. The action was taken after the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) had filed a report with the committee on Monday. KJ Rao, monitoring committee member said the committee had sought a report on Monday as soon as the issue was highlighted. “We have forwarded the report to the Supreme Court on Tuesday,” he said. “Although sealing was not carried on our direction but breaking seal is an unlawful act,” he said further. A senior official from EDMC veterinary department, who was involved in the preliminary investigation, said that the house was sealed on Friday for running an illegal dairy. “But on Sunday, seal was broken and thus we lodged a complaint at Gokulpur police station attaching report and video. On Tuesday we sealed three other properties running illegal dairies and action is taken on the basis of complaints received by veterinary department.”<doc-sep>NEW DELHI: The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has completed its investigation into the case of BJP state president Manoj Tiwari breaking the seal of a house in Gokulpur on Sunday. A complaint was filed with police based on the probe report.A senior official, who was involved in the preliminary investigation, said that the house was recently sealed for running an illegal dairy by the veterinary department of EDMC. “It is not a case of sealing carried out by the SC-appointed monitoring committee. Nevertheless, breaking a seal is an unlawful act. The department lodged a complaint at the Gokulpur police station attaching all the press reports and video,” he added.A copy of the report has also been submitted to the monitoring committee too, the official said. “In many cases properties are rented out and we seal it for such violations. If the owner of the building breaks the seal then he is held accountable,” he said. “From our point of view both the owner as well as the person breaking the seal should be held responsible. It is also the duty of the house owner to protect the seal,” he added.In videos that went viral on Sunday, Tiwari was seen breaking the seal lock of a house, saying he was protesting against municipal officials’ ‘pick-and-choose’ policy of acting against properties allegedly flouting building rules. “Only one house in the lane, which I visited on Sunday, was sealed by the authorities. Why were others spared?” Tiwari said. “I will not stop here. I will go to every locality where illegal sealing is being done. I have taken a pledge; I will not tolerate any ‘pick and choose’ action. This (sealing) is facilitating corruption. Municipal officials are indulging in corruption in the name of sealing by the monitoring committee,” Tiwari told mediapersons.<doc-sep>'I broke the seal against pick and choose policy by the corporation. The locals claimed all the houses were illegally constructed but a particular house was singled out for action by the corporation,' Tiwari said. (Photo: Screengrab | ANI) New Delhi: A controversy erupted on Sunday after a video purportedly showing Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Manoj Tiwari breaking lock of a sealed house surfaced. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, while reacting sharply to the video, linked it with the ongoing sealing drive by the BJP-ruled municipal corporations in the city. AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that after demonetisation and the GST, the sealing now by the BJP has "destroyed" Delhi. "They conduct sealing in the morning and break the lock in the evening. Do they feel people are fools," Kejriwal tweeted. Manoj Tiwari told PTI that he was on a visit to Gokalpur where he was informed by locals that only one house among the 1,000 was sealed by the municipal corporation. "I broke the seal against pick and choose policy by the corporation. The locals claimed all the houses were illegally constructed but a particular house was singled out for action by the corporation," he said. #WATCH: Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari break sealed lock of a house in Gokalpur area of Delhi. He says 'If there are 1000 houses there then why was only one sealed? I oppose this pick and choose system so I broke the sealed lock.' (16.09.2018) pic.twitter.com/hMn6YlP3aG — ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2018 Tiwari said he "wanted to appeal" to the Supreme Court and its monitoring committee to ensure that no such "pick and choose" action was taken in the name of the sealing drive. "I will not even spare municipal corporations, even though the BJP rules them, in such matters," he asserted. He also attacked the Congress and the AAP, saying the problem of sealing was a result of their "failure" to address the issue of unauthorised colonies in the national capital. Hitting back, Tiwari said the Congress and the AAP never made any sincere efforts to address the issue of unauthorised colonies when they were at the helm of affairs in Delhi. The Delhi Congress, which is running 'Nyay Yudh' campaign' against "illegal" sealing of household industries in the city, demanded resignation of BJP MPs in Delhi, including Manoj Tiwari, for "failing" to protect the people hit by the sealing drive. Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma referred to Manoj Tiwari's action as "drama". Sharma said the Congress will intensify its campaign against sealing in the coming days.<doc-sep>

New Delhi: Police have registered a case against Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari for allegedly breaking the lock of a sealed house in the Gokalpuri area here, a senior officer said Tuesday. The property in northeast Delhi was sealed as it was being used as a "dairy facility" and allegedly being run in violation of the Delhi Master Plan, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) said. Based on a complaint from the civic body, the case against Tiwari was registered under the Indian Penal Code's Section 188 and relevant provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, the officer said. The complaint was lodged by the EDMC on Monday, a day after Tiwari allegedly broke the lock. The section pertains to disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant and punishment under it can be for a maximum term of six months in prison and a fine. On Sunday, Tiwari, during his visit to Gokalpuri, was informed by locals that only one house among several was sealed by the municipal corporation. "I broke the seal of the corporation's pick and choose policy. The locals claimed all the houses were illegally constructed but a particular house was singled out for action by the corporation," the Delhi BJP chief said. Tiwari said he "wanted to appeal" to the Supreme Court and its monitoring committee to ensure that no such "pick and choose" action is taken in the name of the sealing drive. "Even though the BJP rules them, I will not even spare municipal corporations in such matters," he had said.

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 The 48-year-old movie star of The Hangover and Due Date has been found dead in Los Angeles and the police are reportedly investigating the cause of death as an apparent suicide, according to The Blast. The star was found just before 1pm yesterday and investigators are still believed to be at the scene. According to the publication’s sources, the LAPD were dispatched to the scene and audio was obtained from the emergency dispatchers suggesting it was an apparent suicide. The comedian, who played a police officer in The Hangover, was a regular on the Los Angeles comedy scene, with performances at clubs in the city. A statement from Brody’s representatives told the publication: “Brody was an inspiring voice who was a friend to many in the comedy community. "He pushed creative boundaries and his passion for his work and his love of baseball were contagious. "He was beloved by many and will be greatly missed. We respectfully ask for privacy at this time.” Tributes have been pouring in on Twitter for him with fans and celebrities alike sending their condolences. Comedian Sarah Silverman tweeted: “The comedy clubs will have 'Make God Laugh' on their marquees 2nite like they always do when one of us… I’m not sure God will GET Brody but his local references will be epic. Ugh. So sad.”(sic) Actor-comedian Nick Kroll said, "He was so funny and weird and vulnerable and wild and kind.<doc-sep>Comedian and Hangover actor Brody Stevens has died. He was 48. Stevens, who was born Steven James Brody, died in Los Angeles on Friday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His cause of death was reported as an apparent suicide, according to The Blast, who obtained a 911 call to his home. Get push notifications with news, features and more. A rep for Stevens did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. Stevens appeared as Officer Foltz in the 2009 comedy The Hangover. He was also in The Hangover Part II as Kingsley Guy, which was his last feature-length film. The actor has also been on TV shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, and as a regular panelist on Chelsea Lately. In 2015, he appeared in the short films Near Fall and Alone Together. Several comedians shared their condolences on social media, including Patton Oswald, who tweeted, “If you are depressed or feeling suicidal please please please please please reach out to ANYONE.” “I never get to see Brody Stevens again I can’t stand this. #RIPBrodyStevens #818ForLife,” he added. Sarah Silverman wrote that her fellow comedian had previously used medication but they “but felt like a heavy blanket.” “Beautiful @brodyismefriend left us today. He was the funniest. He felt things intensely. High highs and low lows. Meds worked but felt like a heavy blanket. Squelched. Life itself was a struggle for him. I wish he stayed. I wish he called someone- anyone. Brody you are so loved<doc-sep>THE Hangover actor Brody Stevens has died aged 48, it has been confirmed. The comedian was found dead in his Los Angeles home yesterday following an "apparent suicide", TMZ reported, citing police sources. 4 Brody Stevens played the role of Officer Foltz in the 2009 film The Hangover Credit: Warner Bros 4 In this scene Foltz is giving school children a tour of the police station Credit: Warner Bros A spokesperson told the news site: "Brody was an inspiring voice who was a friend to many in the comedy community. "He pushed creative boundaries and his passion for his work and his love of baseball were contagious. He was beloved by many and will be greatly missed." Stevens had long battled with mental health issues. In 2011, the actor was taken to hospital following a bipolar episode. Just two days ago, Stevens made an upbeat post on his Twitter account. He told his thousands of followers: "I'm ready to get back on the festival circuit." Brody is known for playing Officer Foltz in the Hangover, but he has also headlined a 2013 Comedy Central series, and performed warm-up acts for LA shows including Chelsea Lately and '@midnight'. Stevens has since performed in a large number of comedy clubs and became famous for his slots at the Comedy Store comedy club. 'JUST AWFUL' Dozens of actors, filmmakers and comedians have expressed their shock after learning of his death. Actor Adam Scott tweeted: "Brody Stevens was such a kind, hilarious, f***ing weird dude. "So, so funny. What a shame. Just awful." Shortly after learning of Brody's death, fellow comedian Patton Oswalt urged others who are suffering from depression to "reach out to anyone". He said on Twitter: "If you are depressed or feeling suicidal please please please please please reach out to ANYONE. I never get to see Brody Stevens again I can’t stand this." Comedian Marc Maron said: "Another singular force of nature gone. RIP Brody Stevens." Radio host and comedian Nikki Glaser tweeted: "RIP to truly one of the best stand-ups, Steven Brody Stevens. "You might not know of Brody, but he likely had an influence on your favourite comic." MOST READ WORLD NEWS Exclusive OUT OF THIS WORLD Negative from film said to depict Roswell alien autopsy on sale for £710k BETRAYAL OF TRUST Woman, 22, 'lured off street by paramedic and gang raped in ambulance' Latest FERRY DISASTER More than 150 feared dead after overloaded ferry 'breaks in two' and sinks CLINGING TO LIFE Hotel owner left critical after catching deadly from Aussie mouse plague CRYPTO KILLER Bondage-obsessed Bitcoin trader ‘went crazy’ & strangled lover to death BLACK DEATH CHAOS Bubonic plague leaves victims vomiting BLOOD as 11 killed in outbreak SLIPPERY CHARACTER Massive deadly snake lurks in Aussie back garden... can YOU spot it? LIVES DESTROYED 3 women die and pal loses baby in crash while celebrating end of lockdown WHAT WAS THAT? Mystery as anchor-shaped UFO leaves trail of smoke before crashing into sea DANGER MICE Aussie mouse army ‘marches on Sydney’ & gnaws horrified people in their beds LA comedy club The Comedy Store tweeted: "Thank you Brody for sharing your Comedy and positive energy with us for so many years. "You made late nights so much fun, pushing boundaries, being different, and never doing the same show twice. Joke writing, crowd work, drums, baseball. "We love you forever Brody." US talk show host Bob Saget tweeted: "Brody Stevens ~ Such a funny man. Such a good man. "We need you and your comedy. My heart goes out to his family and friends. Loved Brody. Rest In Peace kind soul." 4 Comedian Brody Stevens, 48, has reportedly died of a possible suicide in Los Angeles Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 Brody's last post on Twitter If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123<doc-sep>A ctor Brody Stevens, who appeared in The Hangover films, has died aged 48. The stand-up comedian is thought to have taken his own life, and was found at his Los Angeles home on Friday. He was a big name on the comedy circuit, and had also appeared on TV show Chelsea Lately, as well as creating a documentary series based on his life with friend Zach Galifianakis. The series, Enjoy It!, offered an insight into Stevens’ experiences with bipolar disorder. Brody Stevens attends the "Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!" Premiere Party at Smogshoppe on November 21, 2013 / Getty Images for Comedy Central In a statement, his representative said: "Brody was an inspiring voice who was a friend to many in the comedy community. "He pushed creative boundaries and his passion for his work and his love of baseball were contagious. “He was beloved by many and will be greatly missed. We respectfully ask for privacy at this time." Fellow comics flocked to social media to pay their respects, with Sarah Silverman calling his death “so sad.” She said: “The comedy clubs will have “Make God Laugh” on their marquees 2nite like they always do when one of us ... I’m not sure God will GET Brody but his local references will be epic. Ugh. So sad. #818 #EnjoyIt #RIPBrodyStevens Ps Brody would be so psyched about TMZ covering it.” Patton Oswalt added: “If you are depressed or feeling suicidal please please please please please reach out to ANYONE. I never get to see Brody Stevens again I can’t stand this. #RIPBrodyStevens #818ForLife”<doc-sep>

Movie star and comedian Brody Stevens has been found dead in Los Angeles. The 48-year-old star of The Hangover and Due Date apparently committed suicide on Friday, with The Blast reporting that Los Angeles police are investigating the cause of death as being 'suicide by hanging'. Brody was found just before 1pm PST and it is has been reported by US media that LAPD are still at the scene and investigators are speaking with his family. The comedian - who played a police officer in The Hangover - was a regular on the Los Angeles comedy scene, with regular performances at clubs in the city. (Image: mirror.co.uk) A statement from Brody's reps said: “Brody was an inspiring voice who was a friend to many in the comedy community. "He pushed creative boundaries and his passion for his work and his love of baseball were contagious. "He was beloved by many and will be greatly missed. We respectfully ask for privacy at this time.” He had opened up previously about suffering from depression and mental health issues, and he and Zach Galifianakis produced a Comedy Central show about his battle with biopolar disorder. Brody Stevens: Enjoy It! first aired on HBO in 2012 before it was picked up by Comedy Central the following year. He was arrested and hsopitalized in 2011 after tweeting that he'd put a gun to his mouth and stopped taking his anti-anxiety medication. (Image: mirror.co.uk) (Image: mirror.co.uk) He last tweeted on Thursday, telling fans he was looking forward to taking his standup on the froad. "I'm ready to get back on the festival circuit," he said. Tributes to Brody are being shared on social media, with comedian Sarah Silverman tweeting, "The comedy clubs will have 'Make God Laugh' on their marquees 2nite like they always do when one of us… I’m not sure God will GET Brody but his local references will be epic. Ugh. So sad." Emmy award winning director Peter Atencio described Brody as, "one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met and someone who was always incredibly kind." Actor-comedian Nick Kroll said, "He was so funny and weird and vulnerable and wild and kind. "Every time he was onstage it was an adventure." The Comedy Store also shared their thoughts on Brody's passing, tweeting: "Thank you Brody for sharing your Comedy and positive energy with us for so many years. You made late nights so much fun, pushing boundaries, being different, and never doing the same show twice. Joke writing, crowd work, drums, baseball. We love you forever Brody." If you need to speak to someone, Samaritans are available 24/7 by calling 116 123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org

Fremantle’s superstar skipper Nat Fyfe could be in doubt for next week’s western derby after a sickening head clash with St Kilda defender Josh Battle. Battle was attempting to wrap Fyfe up in a front-on tackle when the pair clashed heads at half-back in the third term of today’s clash at Optus Stadium. Fyfe, who was subsequently slammed into the turf, lay motionless on the ground as players called urgently towards the bench for assistance. Camera Icon Fyfe feels the effects of the hit. The superstar midfielder looked visibly dazed and unbalanced as he was helped from the ground by two medical staff. It was a move that upset some social media users, who questioned whether Fyfe should have been placed on a stretcher. Fyfe, who underwent concussion testing, didn't emerge from the rooms after three quarter time and was quickly ruled out by the Dockers for the remainder of the game. Fremantle has just a six-day break leading into Saturday night’s derby clash with West Coast.<doc-sep>Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe is facing a race against time to be fit for Saturday night's western derby after copping the worst concussion of his glittering AFL career. Out of action: Fremantle caption Nat Fyfe is escorted off the ground after a clash of heads, and didn't return to the game. Credit:AAP Fyfe was knocked unconscious after clashing heads with Josh Battle in Fremantle's five-point victory over St Kilda on Sunday. The Brownlow medal winner couldn't even stand up by himself when he tried to get up off the ground, with his legs like jelly as the trainers carried him off. The six-day break between games reduces Fyfe's chances of proving his fitness for the crucial match against West Coast.<doc-sep>Fremantle superstar Nat Fyfe has been knocked out in Sunday’s game against St Kilda at Optus Stadium. The Brownlow medallist clashed heads with St Kilda defender Josh Battle midway through the third quarter while hunting a ball, before being tackled to the ground in the same contest. Fyfe was assisted off the ground in the arms of the trainers and struggled to walk. Live stream the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on KAYO SPORTS. Every match of every round. Live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > Nat Fyfe is helped off Optus Stadium. Source: FOX SPORTS The Dockers’ skipper had been closely tagged by Saints midfielder Jack Steele up until that point. Despite the tight checking, Fyfe still had 23 disposals, six clearances and six tackles up to that point of the game. The 27-year-old has experienced an interrupted start to 2019, undergoing elbow surgery on the eve of the season before the concussion ended his third game of the season prematurely. MORE TO COME<doc-sep>Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe has been helped from the field after a sickening head clash with St Kilda’s Josh Battle. Fyfe and Battle were heading towards a 50/50 ball when both players collided in a worrying clash. Battle emerged fine, but Fyfe was knocked unconscious and remained on the turf as teammates and medical staff rushed to help the superstar. Nat Fyfe was knocked out after a clash with Josh Battle. (@AFL/Getty Images) “He’s in a lot of trouble,” one commentator said. Two trainers had to effectively carry Fyfe from the field given how wobbly he was on his feet. The heavy hit puts Fyfe’s availability for next Saturday’s western derby in doubt. Dockers hold on The Dockers overcame a late scare to beat St Kilda by five points in their AFL clash at Optus Stadium. The Dockers ended up holding off the visitors for a 11.5 (71) to 9.12 (66) victory on Sunday. Fremantle initially looked set for an easy victory after opening up a 31-point lead early in the second quarter. But the Saints clawed their way back into the contest, and scored two late goals to close to within five points with just eight seconds remaining. Adam Cerra of the Dockers looks to handball during the round three AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the St Kilda Saints at Optus Stadium on April 07, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) St Kilda tried to flout the 6-6-6 law by throwing an extra player forward at the final bounce, but the umpires were aware of the ploy and called the Saints player back to his right spot. Fremantle won the ensuing centre bounce to the seal victory. Fremantle forward Jesse Hogan could come under scrutiny for a head-high bump on Nathan Brown in the second quarter. The pair were running side by side chasing a loose ball when Hogan delivered a hip-and-shoulder that caught Brown a tad high. Brown went to the rooms for assessment, but was able to return in the third quarter. Michael Walters starred for Fremantle with 27 disposals, eight clearances and two goals, while Luke Ryan (32 disposals) was a rock in defence. Jack Billings notched 32 touches and two goals for the Saints, with Jade Gresham (20 disposals, two goals) also important. The first term was a scrappy affair littered with ugly errors from both sides. Story continues Fremantle won the inside 50m count 20-6, but their helter-skelter entries made it tough for the forwards. The class of Walters in tight helped clear some of the congestion, with the Dockers edging to a 13-point lead at quarter time. Goals to Rory Lobb, Ethan Hughes, and Matt Taberner looked set to blow the game wide open as the lead ballooned to 31 points. But St Kilda launched a strong comeback, booting the last four goals of the half to reduce the margin to five points. The Saints trailed by six points following a third-quarter arm wrestle, but two early goals to Matera in the final quarter gave Fremantle the winning edge they needed. Matera finished with three goals, but Hogan was scoreless from his 16 disposals. With AAP<doc-sep>

Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe was knocked out in a sickening head clash with St Kilda's Josh Battle at Optus Stadium on Sunday evening. Midway through the third term, Fyfe and Battle competed for a ground ball, with the Dockers captain coming off second best before appearing to hit his head on the turf on the way down. The 27-year-old lay motionless on the ground before being helped and up and virtually carried off the field by trainers. MORE: Chad Wingard enjoys dream Hawthorn debut in win over North Melbourne Take a look at the incident below. Nat Fyfe has been helped from the ground after this head clash with Josh Battle.#AFLFreoSaints pic.twitter.com/LxHujnFi6p — AFL (@AFL) April 7, 2019 Fyfe had been enjoying a typically prolific match up to that point, collecting 23 touches, six clearances and six tackles. He was taken into the rooms for a concussion test but his day was well and truly over. Fremantle led 50-40 at the time. Fyfe had started the season on fire, recording matches of 32 and 31 disposals as the Dockers came into round three with a 1-1 record. While Fremantle's immediate concern would be beating the Saints, next week's derby looms on the horizon and Fyfe is a man they can ill afford to be without against a West Coast side already hitting their straps. Fortunately for Ross Lyon's side, they were able to hang on in a thriller, running out 71-66 winners, Michael Walters starring with 27 touches and two goals.

Earlier tonight, the Yankees traded Tyler Austin and Luis Rijo to the Minnesota Twins for RHP Lance Lynn. Yes, the very same Lance Lynn that the Yankees could have signed in the offseason. Things have changed since then, and the Yankees have a need for pitching depth. Okay, things haven’t changed that much since then. Just work with me here. I have seen Lynn pitch in person more than most Pinstripe Alley writers, due to the fact that I live in Minneapolis and go to a lot of Twins games. Watching Lynn pitch is a plodding experience. Yes, that is the best adjective I can use to describe it. Twinkie Town writer Randball Stu provides some of the best Lance Lynn analysis available for Yankee fans. Given that the Yankees just traded Adam Warren to the Mariners for that sweet international spending pool bonus coin, Lynn could provide some better protection if they need a spot starter here and there. Considering that rain has been their mortal enemy all year long, this is not that far-fetched of an idea. Keep in mind though, it’s still Lynn. To provide the best context from the other side of this trade, I will provide the word-for-word reaction to this trade from a Twins fan: “Oh my god!” - Greg “What?” -Myjah “The Yankees just acquired Lance Lynn!” -Greg “BWAHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” -Myjah, who laughed for a good 3-5 minutes after the initial laughter The good thing about this trade is that Lynn does not close the door on other potential moves the Yankees can make. Justus Sheffield could still be called up. Brian Cashman could make another classic Ninja Cash move for a starting pitcher. If he doesn’t, the good news is that Lynn has shown improvement recently. If #Yankees get good work out of Lance Lynn, they have #mntwins PC Garvin Alston to thank. Mount Vernon’s own. https://t.co/4NhRYMcLtc — Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) July 30, 2018 He just recently pitched well against the Red Sox, going toe to toe with Chris Sale. Lance Lynn vs Red Sox This Season: 2 starts 11 IP 1.64 ERA .220 Opp BA https://t.co/AIIyqEr4MI — Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) July 30, 2018 It’s admittedly hard getting excited about a trade for Lynn. I mean, even the Yankees official Twitter account picked the most perfect facial expression to describe this move. Another arm. Welcome, Lance Lynn. pic.twitter.com/QQpDT36oXN — New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 30, 2018 Either way, here we are. Welcome to the Yankees, Lynn. Please continue pitching well against the Red Sox.<doc-sep>In a puzzling move, the Yankees trade for right-handed starter Lance Lynn. While the MLB season has been one full of surprises, the Yankees pulled off one of the most shocking moves on Monday. Perhaps there is a method to the madness, but the Yankees left the baseball world scratching its heads after a trade one day before the deadline. In a surprising move, the Yankees acquired RHP Lance Lynn from the Twins. They sent 1B/OF Tyler Austin to Minnesota in return. Lynn, although previously an All-Star, has struggled immensely this season. In addition, the Yankees recently traded for J.A. Happ and look to have a strong rotation. So, that begs the question, why trade for a struggling 31-year-old? That may be an answer only the Yankees know. While this trade looks like a massive steal on the surface for the Twins, it leaves Yankees fans confused as it’s the second questionable trade of the day. Earlier in the afternoon, New York sent reliever Adam Warren to the Mariners for international pool money. Now, they trade for Lynn. If someone didn’t know any better, it’d almost look like the Yankees are trying to sell. However, they may have a few tricks up their sleeves. At the end of the day, the Yankees have little to lose in this deal though. New York only sent Tyler Austin and a few other assets to Minnesota, so the trade is seemingly low risk, high reward for the boys in pinstripes. Here is what Monday’s trade looked like in full: Yankees Get Lance Lynn, cash Twins Get Tyler Austin, Luis Rijo New York Yankees After trading for J.A. Happ over the past week, it’s hard to understand why New York would want Lynn. Happ seems to complete a solid rotation consisting of Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and Sonny Gray. So, why trade for Lynn? Bullpen. Just hours before adding Lynn, the Yankees shipped off stud reliever Adam Warren, thus freeing up a spot in the bullpen. Moving starters to the pen is a risky move, but the payoff can be tremendous. Lynn is struggling this season as he’s posted a 5.10 ERA until this point. For this reason, a change of scenery and a move to the pen may be best for the 31-year-old. At his best, Lynn is a former All-Star, and he can contribute in many ways to this team who is searching for another solid long reliever. Bullpen seems to be the focus for the Yankees before the deadline as they scramble to keep up with the likes of Houston and Boston. Laugh all you want about this deal, but in the end, the Yankees aren’t taking much of a gamble here. Once one takes a step back and considers the assets each team received, it’s not as bad as it seems. Is the Lynn-Warren trade-off really worth it, though? Grade: C+ Minnesota Twins From the get-go, Lynn has struggled massively with the Twins. After signing the veteran to a one-year, $12 million deal, Lynn gave up five runs (in the first inning) and six walks through four innings in his debut. Minnesota fans have been hoping and praying things would get better for the 31-year-old, but they didn’t. Lynn continued to struggle, as did the team. After enduring months of pain and suffering at Lynn’s expense, the Yankees freed Twins faithful from their misery. Was he really that bad? Well, yeah. What looked to be a promising offseason signing quickly turned into a nightmare. But, now the Twins can forget their little mistake and move on. The Twins got a few things in return, most notably, 1B/OF Tyler Austin. Austin received multiple chances in the big leagues but never established himself as a true major league player. He’s a career .230 hitter, but he can play multiple different places in the field, which is always nice. Austin may get another chance in the majors in Minnesota, maybe a change of scenery will do him good. It’s not that he isn’t good, he just isn’t great. With a loaded roster to compete with, Austin never stood much of a chance. Minnesota also received Class A RHP Luis Rijo, a talented 19-year-old making his way up the ranks of the Yankees minor league system. Overall, the Twins benefited most by getting rid of Lynn. Realizing they’re virtually down and out of the AL pennant race, the best thing to do is start putting together a young squad for the future. Grade: B<doc-sep>The New York Yankees are working hard to strengthen their biggest weakness at the trade deadline. On Monday, the team picked up another starting pitcher, acquiring Lance Lynn in a deal with the Minnesota Twins. In exchange for Lynn, the Yankees will send first baseman Tyler Austin and pitcher Luis Rijo to the Twins. Yankees acquire Lance Lynn in deal with Twins The 31-year-old Lynn has a 5.10 ERA over 110 1/3 innings. He’s shown the ability to post strong numbers, but hasn’t had the consistency this season. Lynn has posted ERAs over 6.00 in April and July. Between that, he’s put up a 3.27 ERA over 10 starts in May and June. While his season ERA is high, he can still be a valuable piece for the Yankees in the second half. The Yankees rotation is the team’s biggest weak spot With the move, the Yankees have now picked up two starters prior to the trade deadline. Both Lynn and J.A. Happ have been tasked with solidifying the club’s rotation in the second half. Starting pitching is the only area where the Yankees really need help. The team’s offense ranks as the best in baseball according to wRC+, an advanced stat that measures offensive performance. The team’s 2.88 bullpen ERA is also the best in baseball. The team’s 4.02 rotation ERA sits at 13th in the majors. That’s not that bad, though it’s the one area where the Yankees aren’t an elite club. While Luis Severino has pitched like an ace, the rest of the rotation has had its ups and downs. CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka have been mostly effective, but Sonny Gray still has an ERA over 5.00. Even if Lynn doesn’t start, he could still play a big role The Lynn acquisition puts the Yankees’ rotation in flux. Severino, Sabathia and Tanaka will remain in the rotation, as will the newly-acquired Happ. That leaves Lynn and Gray for the final spot. Whoever loses that battle could be sent to the bullpen, and Lynn does have some experience as a reliever. He’s posted a 3.16 ERA over 31 1/3 innings of relief over his career. He has not been used in a relief role since 2012, however. Story continues Once the postseason rolls around, it’s also possible Lynn could be used in a hybrid role where he enters games early to relieve a struggling starter. Teams have employed tandem starters in the postseason in recent years. Lynn may not be a huge name, but the Yankees are only looking for stability. Lynn can provide that, and has a chance to give them more. Lance Lynn will attempt to solidify the Yankees’ rotation. (AP Photo) – – – – – – – Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! More from Yahoo Sports: • Dak Prescott gets called out by Raiders LB for criticism of anthem protests • Ex-WWE wrestler Brian Christopher dies at 46 • LeBron James’ new school looks amazing • Brian Dawkins reveals career-long battle with depression<doc-sep>

Monday was yet another crazy day across the baseball world, specifically in the trade department. With the non-waiver deadline today at 4 pm Eastern, teams are putting the finishing touches on their rosters as they prepare for the pennant race in August and September. Monday’s deals mainly focused on a variety of bullpen arms, but one trade that could use some breaking down is the Yankees’ acquisition of right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn. Lynn is 31-years-old and a free agent at the season’s end. He’s made 20 starts for the Minnesota Twins this year, who signed him to a one-year, $12 million deal this past offseason. He’s posted underwhelming results thus year, putting up a 5.10 ERA with 100 strikeouts to 62 walks over 102 1⁄ 3 innings pitched. FIP likes him a bit better, but DRA doesn’t, with a 7.08 mark. Though these poor numbers would suggest otherwise, Lynn has been fairly solid since May began. In this stretch, spanning 15 starts, he has a 4.12 ERA, but his poor strikeout and walk numbers still are a cause for concern. And the Yankees didn’t give up chump change to get him either, even as a rental. Tyler Austin and Luis Rijo is a solid return for Minnesota. Austin was once a top 100 prospect whose stock has cratered out since posting a 96 OPS+ in his first 268 big league plate appearances. Rijo is 19 and already in High-A, posting immaculate control over his professional career thus far; he has only allowed 14 walks in 125 1⁄ 3 innings to date. It’s a curious trade on the surface. Lynn isn’t the starter that the Yankees so desperately needed, as that title belongs to J.A. Happ, who they acquired from the Blue Jays late last week. Lynn is a starting pitcher, but in a rotation of Happ, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray and CC Sabathia, there may not be a ton of room. (Even considering Gray’s awful year to this point, he’s still probably a better option.) That would leave Lynn in the bullpen on a New York team with the best relief corps in the Major Leagues. In theory, he replaces Adam Warren, who the Yankees traded to the Mariners for international bonus space earlier today. But Warren is significantly better than Lynn, posting a 2.70 ERA with 37 strikeouts to just 12 walks over his 30 innings. Still, I’m missing the why. Why did the Yankees made this move? It appears as if there are two main motives. First, the Yankees need a long reliever. A.J. Cole has been serving in that role since his trade from the Nationals, but he hasn’t had any outings of more than seven outs with the Yankees. At a minimum, Lynn can provide extra length to the Yankees when necessary, especially with the starting pitching being a weak point on their roster. Lynn would be able to stop the bleeding if any starter is unable to go deep. Second, this increases pressure on Sonny Gray and gives the team more options. I don’t think Brian Cashman is done before tomorrow’s deadline. It seems unlikely, at least to me, that he is going to trade Gray away, but it’s true that crazier things have happened. The trade for Lynn, though, makes it easier to flip-flop the two in the rotation and the bullpen if Gray continues to struggle. I want to underscore the point I just made. Cashman isn’t done dealing, and his plan seems unclear at the moment. But he’s one of the most talented general managers in baseball, so I’m going to defer to his instincts on this one, even when it doesn’t make the most sense. Devan Fink is a Featured Writer for Beyond The Box Score. You can follow him on Twitter @DevanFink.

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 02: Texas A&M Aggies head coach Rob Childress signals to his catcher during the Houston Regional baseball game between the Baylor Bears and Texas A&M Aggies on June 2, 2017 at Schroeder Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Texas A&M baseball (24-6-1, 6-2-1 SEC) takes their show on the road to Baton Rouge to face LSU with first place in the SEC West on the line. This weekend will mark Texas A&M baseball’s fourth SEC weekend of the year and their first against an opponent from the SEC West. LSU (21-9, 6-3) enters the series coming off a big series win against Mississippi State and two midweek wins against Grambling and South Alabama. For the Aggies, A&M beat that school down in Austin (9-6) on Tuesday to move their midweek record to 8-2. Dustin Saenz got the start and pitched so well that he might have earned himself a spot as the third weekend starter. He went six innings giving up four hits and two runs both of which were earned. He kept the Longhorns off balance after a bit of a rocky first inning. He settled down and never faced more than four batters in an inning the rest of the way. Chandler Jozwiak came in and got touched up before giving way to Chris Weber, Bryce Miller and Kasey Kalich. On offense, the bats definitely made the trip after a rough weekend against Missouri. Jonathan Ducoff and Mikey Hoehner each homered in the second. Five Aggies had more than one hit in the game. Logan Foster gave A&M some insurance in the ninth after the Longhorns closed within one. The win in Austin was big for several reasons. One, we beat our rivals, and second, we beat a Top 15 team on the road. That will mean something if the Aggies continue to play well the rest of the way. Texas A&M has won the last three series against LSU, whose last series win came in 2015. Here are the probable pitching match-ups for the weekend. Friday – #14 John Doxakis (Jr., LHP, 3-2, 2.38 ERA) vs. #38 Zach Hess (Jr., RHP, 2-2, 4.06 ERA) Saturday – #35 Asa Lacy (So., LHP, 5-0, 1.48 ERA) vs. #18 Cole Henry (Fr., RHP, 2-1, 3.90 ERA) Sunday – TBA vs. #10 Eric Walker (So., RHP, 2-1, 4.60 ERA) Below is all the information you could possibly need for the games. Dates: April 5-7 Game Times: Friday – 7:00 PM CST Saturday – 7:00 PM CST Sunday – 2:00 PM CST Location: Alex Box Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Television: Saturday – ESPN2, Sunday – SEC Network Live Video: SEC Network+ (WatchESPN app) Live Audio: RadioAggieland.com Live Stats: LSUsports.net Series History: Texas A&M leads series 25-20-1, A&M leads 10-8 since joining SEC Rankings: LSU / No. 9 (CB), 11 (NCBWA), 12 (Coaches), 13 (D1B), 15 (BA), 16 (PG) Texas A&M / No. 14 (BA), 16 (NCBWA), 9 (D1B), 11 (PG, Coaches, CB) Be sure to follow the Gig Em Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.<doc-sep>Brandt Broussard does not hit the ball in the air. He rarely hits it into the outfield. When Broussard bats, he puts the ball on the ground and runs. Some of his hits haven’t left the infield. That approach changed against No. 11 Texas A&M on Friday night. Broussard whacked three balls into the air. The Aggies caught two on the warning track. But the third was an error-assisted sprint around the bases that gave No. 9 LSU its first run during a 2-1 win at Alex Box Stadium. An inning later, Josh Smith hit a home run. He stood a few steps down the first base line watching it sail out of the stadium. The umpire had to tell him to run. Shut out by Texas A&M starting pitcher John Doxakis through six innings, the Tigers (22-9, 7-3 Southeastern Conference) trailed by a run when Broussard walked to the plate for the third time. Against Texas A&M (24-7-1, 6-3-1), coach Paul Mainieri changed the regular batting order, moving Broussard to the six hole from the bottom of the lineup. Mainieri wanted a right-handed hitter to divide LSU's lefties with Doxakis, a lefty, on the mound. After flying out his first two at-bats, Broussard, who said he's "not a strong guy," lifted a pitch into the air. The ball wafted toward the right-field line. Texas A&M right fielder Jonathan Ducoff camped under the ball. Then Ducoff missed the catch. As the ball rolled into the corner, Broussard sprinted around second base. Third base coach Nolan Cain told him to hold at third. When Ducoff botched the throw — his second error on the play — Broussard scored, tying the game. With one out an inning later, Smith hit the first pitch of his at-bat deep toward right field. The ball’s destination left no doubt. After he took a few steps down the first base line, Smith stopped and watched the ball sail over the wall. The crowd roared. For the first time, LSU led the game. LSU sports news in your inbox If you're a Tiger fan you won't want to miss this newsletter. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "Hit it good and watched it go," Smith said. Long before the Tigers scored their two runs, starting pitcher Zack Hess cruised through two innings. He struck out three batters and didn’t let a runner reach base. His slider felt better than it had all season. Then Texas A&M designated hitter Logan Foster doubled to center field. He scored two batters later. Hess ended up allowing one run over six innings. He stranded four runners in scoring position. After walking the bases loaded with two outs in the fifth inning, his slider induced a quiet ground ball, keeping LSU within a run. Freshman pitcher Landon Marceaux nearing return for LSU baseball Landon Marceaux could pitch again when LSU plays Southern next Tuesday. After Smith singled in the third inning, Doxakis retired 10 straight LSU batters. The Tigers raised his pitch count to 58 by the end of the third inning, but Doxakis settled into a rhythm. The Tigers often hit the ball hard — right at people. "We just didn't have anything to show for it," Mainieri said. "And then we got a break." When Broussard walked to the plate for the third time, he wanted to hit the ball on the ground. Instead, he popped up the first pitch of the at-bat. Until he saw the replay, he didn't know the ball had rolled to the wall. "I don't know how that happened," Broussard said. "Baseball." Then Smith admired his long home run. The umpire told him to run toward first base. He jumped onto home plate, LSU won its fifth straight game and the Tigers moved into first place in the SEC Western Division. "I'm not the type of guy to be the villain, but in this situation, crowd like this, the emotions got to me," Smith said. "No disrepesct to them. Their pitcher is a great pitcher. Their catcher sure is a great guy. So I'm ready to get back out there tomorrow."<doc-sep>LSU baseball won the series with No. 11 Texas A&M, pushing the No. 9 Tigers into a tie atop the Southeastern Conference's Western Division. The Tigers came from behind on Friday night for a 2-1 victory. On Saturday, they split a doubleheader, winning game two 9-3. Here are three takeaways from the weekend: Wins are wins Three games crunched into two days because of forecasted storms, LSU won the series in a little over 24 hours. The Tigers faced two of the best left-handed starting pitchers in the Southeastern Conference in John Doxakis and Asa Lacy, who both held ERAs under 2.10, but they still won a series for the second straight weekend. It wasn’t always pretty — LSU committed five errors in the 6-4 loss Saturday afternoon — but wins are wins. Don’t count them out LSU sports news in your inbox If you're a Tiger fan you won't want to miss this newsletter. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up LSU entered this series 8-2 in one-run games, and these Tigers seem to have an affinity for comebacks. On Friday night, they trailed 1-0 entering the seventh inning. After LSU tied the game, Josh Smith hit a solo home run to take the lead. During the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, LSU scored four runs in the final two innings, but the comeback ended short. They lost the game with the tying run in scoring position. Shuffled lineups against left-handed pitching LSU has a lineup heavy with left-handed hitters. Facing three left-handed starters, LSU used a batting order each game. While the top four hitters generally stayed the same, the bottom of the lineup changed. Brandt Broussard, who spent most of the season batting ninth, moved as high as fifth. After lefty CJ Willis spent the first game at designated hitter, LSU used righties Saul Garza and Broussard at the position. Next week, the Tigers will face more left-handed pitchers.<doc-sep>No. 9 Texas A&M is set to play a three-game series at No. 12 LSU this weekend in a huge test for the Aggies. Originally, the series was supposed to see one game Friday night, another Saturday evening and then a Sunday finale. However, that has changed with inclement weather expected on Sunday. According to the University, the two teams will still play on Friday night in Baton Rouge but now, there will be a doubleheader on Saturday for the final two games. First pitch on Friday is set for 7 p.m. Central while Saturday's contests begin at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Originally, Saturday evening's game was schedule to air on ESPN2 and Sunday's on the SEC Network. It is unclear at this time how the television schedule will work out. However, all three contests will still be available via the WatchESPN app. The following is a previously-published series preview by GigEm247, updated to reflect the new start times. ************************* The No. 9 Texas A&M baseball (24-6-1, 6-2-1 SEC) team sits atop the SEC West standings. However, the Aggies have yet to play a team in their own division, having put together series wins over Vanderbilt and Kentucky and a tie with Missouri. That will all change this weekend, though. The Maroon and White will be leaving the borders of the Lone Star State for only the second time all season when they travel to Baton Rouge to face No. 13 LSU (21-9, 6-3 SEC) in a three-game weekend series. First pitch for Friday evening is set for 7 p.m. Central, with Saturday now featuring a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Aggies are coming off a midweek win at No. 12 Texas and have the series win over current top-5 Vanderbilt. However, the Tigers have also been playing well lately. Last weekend, they took two of three from then-No. 2 Mississippi State and, like the Aggies, also have a sweep of Kentucky under their belts. LSU had a pair of midweek shutout victories over in-state foes Grambling and Southern this week as well. On Friday, A&M ace John Doxakis (3-2, 2.38) will look for his first win since early March. The junior lefthander has not received a ton of run support but has been very good with 53 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings. Opposing him for the Tigers will be Zack Hess (2-2, 4.06). The junior righthander is averaging over a strikeout per inning but has also been susceptible to the long ball all season. Saturday afternoon's game will see Asa Lacy (5-0, 1.48) take the mound for the Aggies. The sophomore Southpaw has been nothing short of dominant in most of his outings this season. He looked like he would pick up his sixth win last weekend after pitching seven shutout innings before the bullpen gave up the lead in the ninth. Lacy leads the club with an impressive 68 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings. He will face Cole Henry (2-1, 3.90) for LSU. Only a freshman, the righty has five starts and three relief appearances on the season. He is averaging over a strikeout per inning as well. A&M has not decided its Saturday evening starter just yet. LSU has Eric Walker (2-1, 4.60) set to take the mound in the finale. The sophomore righthander has six starts on the season and is holding opposing hitters to a .215 average. A&M is led at the plate by Braden Shewmake. The junior shortstop has been one of the hottest hitters in the SEC as of late. He is batting .344 with a team-high 31 RBI to go with three home runs, three triples, six doubles and 27 runs scored. Second baseman and leadoff hitter Bryce Blaum is batting .302 with club highs in homers and runs with four and 35, respectively. After a big midweek contest, catcher Mikey Hoehner is up to .320 with two home runs and 19 RBI while Logan Foster is hitting .311 and Ty Coleman .308. The Tigers have Zach Watson with a .347 average. He also has two home runs and 11 doubles. Josh Smith is not far behind at .343 with a team-high 34 runs scored. Antoine Duplantis is batting .331 and leads the club with seven home runs and 33 RBI. Daniel Cabrera is hitting .309 with six long balls and 28 RBI. He has missed time recently with an injury, though. GAME SCHEDULE Fri. 7 p.m.: John Doxakis (Jr., LHP, 3-2, 2.38 ERA) vs. Zack Hess (Jr., RHP, 2-2, 4.06 ERA) Sat. 2 p.m.: Asa Lacy (So., LHP, 5-0, 1.48 ERA) vs. Cole Henry (Fr., RHP, 2-1, 3.90 ERA) Sat. 7 p.m.: TBA vs. Eric Walker (So., RHP, 2-1, 4.60 ERA)<doc-sep>

As the sun began to dip Saturday evening, Paul Mainieri spoke to his team inside their Alex Box Stadium locker room. LSU had just lost the first game of a doubleheader against No. 11 Texas A&M by committing five errors, something the Tigers hadn’t done in two years. Mainieri saw sadness on his players’ faces. He reminded them of the stakes for game two: a series win and first place in the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division. “Every game counts the same,” Mainieri said. About an hour and half later, the No. 9 Tigers began the series finale. Playing much cleaner baseball, they took the lead in the third inning and never let go, winning 9-3 to take the series. LSU (23-10, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) jumped over Texas A&M (25-8-1, 7-4-1) in the SEC standings. The Tigers are tied for first place. Before any of this began, Mainieri flipped his weekend starters, pitching redshirt sophomore Eric Walker in the first game and freshman Cole Henry in the nightcap. He wanted Walker to throw during the day and Henry at night. “I thought if things didn't go well during the afternoon game,” Mainieri said, “I'd want Henry pitching for the series in the evening.” Things didn’t go well during the afternoon game. LSU allowed three unearned runs and lost 6-4, unable to outscore the results of its errors. "That's the only time all year we've played bad defense," said Mainieri, who pointed out LSU's .980 fielding percentage before the series. Walker’s velocity touched 89 mph for the second consecutive week, but he lost his command in the second inning. With two outs, he walked the ninth batter in Texas A&M’s lineup. He walked the next hitter, too, loading the bases. "I feel like I didn't throw enough strikes to be effective," Walker said. Then Walker gave up a double off the wall in right-center field. Texas A&M scored three runs, its only earned runs of the game. The Tigers trailed 6-0 entering the eighth inning because four errors let the Aggies’ stretch their lead. LSU cut the deficit in half, and it put the tying run in scoring position with no outs in the ninth inning. But the comeback ended. LSU sports news in your inbox If you're a Tiger fan you won't want to miss this newsletter. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "It was a pretty tough loss for our kids," Mainieri said. There was little time for brooding. After Mainieri spoke inside the locker room, first baseman Cade Beloso said the Tigers' mood switched without another word. "That's not the way we're supposed to play," Beloso said. "Five errors is totally unacceptable." The Tigers switched out of the purple uniforms they wore in the first game to bright yellow ones for the series finale. Henry stepped to the rubber a couple minutes after 7 p.m. Henry hit the first batter of the game, and LSU fell into an early deficit when Texas A&M scored two runs during the first inning. But as Henry settled, at one point retiring nine straight batters, the Tigers retook the lead. "Wasn't he phenomenal after that?" Mainieri said. "I think we're watching greatness develop in front of our very eyes." With the bases loaded and no outs in the third inning, center fielder Zach Watson hit the ball hard at Texas A&M shortstop Braden Shewmake. The ball ricocheted off Shewmake, bouncing into left field for a what was ruled a double. Two runs scored. LSU took the lead when Cade Beloso hit an RBI single with two outs. In the fifth inning, Watson roped his fourth home run of the year. The Tigers later added three runs, giving Henry more than he needed. The freshman lasted eight innings. He struck out nine batters, tying a season-high. He wanted to pitch the final inning. He even convinced Mainieri to let him attempt a complete game. "Oh my gosh," Watson said, "he was outstanding." But as LSU added another two runs and Texas A&M changed pitchers twice, the time gathered between pitches. Mainieri decided to pull Henry. Once the Tigers finished off the game, five hours after feeling the disappointment of a loss, they relished a series victory for the second straight weekend. "Well," Mainieri said, "it was a good ending to a long day."

But the network is a frequent target of Mr. Trump and his allies, and its journalists have faced threats of physical violence, including a pipe bomb mailed to its Manhattan headquarters last year. Frank Sesno, a former CNN White House correspondent who now works as the director of George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, said that there had long been a “revolving door” between politics and news outlets. But political aides typically have a “cooling-off period” between jobs and Ms. Isgur’s quick transition is unusual, he added. He said CNN should clarify what Ms. Isgur’s role would be. “It’s one thing if you have somebody on staff whom you can consult, and it’s another thing if they are editing your copy,” he said. “Pretty big difference.” CNN declined to comment on Wednesday. The memo from Mr. Feist said that Ms. Isgur would help “organize and communicate between news gathering, digital and television” arms of the network, which has a sprawling news operation. Ms. Isgur did not respond to an email and a phone request for comment. Some prominent journalists have forged careers in news after working in politics, including George Stephanopoulos, who was hired as a contributing correspondent for ABC News in 1996 after serving as one of President Bill Clinton’s closest advisers. His move from the Clinton White House to ABC News — initially as a partisan member of a Sunday political panel, who would also do some reporting — raised hackles inside and outside the network at the time. He has since risen to become the network’s chief anchor and a host of “Good Morning America.” And the road from political strategist to political pundit is well traveled on both sides of the aisle.<doc-sep>The notoriously anti-Trump CNN is under fire by the left after hiring Jeff Sessions-era Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur to help coordinate political coverage for the 2020 campaign. While some feel the outrage makes sense, others say it’s a prime example of political bias in the media industry. While many former administration officials and political operatives join news networks as pundits, Isgur’s role of a political editor, as opposed to a typical talking head, sparked massive backlash. The move was criticized by liberal media watchdogs and former Barack Obama staffer Tommy Vietor even said it "gave every Democrat in the country a reason to doubt” CNN’s objectivity. CNN SLAMMED FOR HIRING FORMER JEFF SESSIONS SPOKESWOMAN TO OVERSEE 2020 CAMPAIGN COVERAGE The Daily Beast and CNN’s own Brian Stelter both reported that some of the network’s staffers were also upset with the decision to hire Isgur. “My sense is that the CNN viewers and staffers who are so outraged are more angry that Isgur is coming from the GOP, Trump establishment, rather than that she is simply coming from a political partisanship role,” DePauw University professor Jeffrey McCall told Fox News. While McCall thinks CNN’s decision to hire Isgur is being attacked because she’s a Republican, he agrees that it’s not the best fit despite a need for CNN to expand its political perspectives. “There just surely were plenty of other people available who could have expanded the range of CNN's political coverage, but who brought solid journalistic credentials to the position,” McCall said. “This sort of hiring of an establishment partisan being hired into establishment journalism is quite ill-advised for the media world. Journalism is supposed to serve a surrogate role for the citizenry and provide non-partisan coverage of politics and public affairs. When people who are clearly partisan parachute into making news decisions, it is no wonder public confidence in media suffers.” CNN’S AMY KLOBUCHAR TOWN HALL EVENT FALTERS AMONG VIEWERS IN KEY AGE DEMOGRAPHIC While CNN’s public relations team stayed quiet on the controversy Tuesday, Stelter was forced to clean up the mess in his “Reliable Sources” newsletter, where he reported his colleagues were “objecting to both her hiring and the way it was revealed… with no internal communication.” After acknowledging the controversy and skepticism, Stelter laid out the argument in favor of hiring Isgur and noted that some of his colleagues describe Isgur as “exceptional person whose political experience will improve CNN's coverage.” Prior to serving as spokeswoman for Sessions' Justice Department, Isgur worked for prominent Republicans including Mitt Romney, Carly Fiorina and Ted Cruz – all of whom are typically loathed by most far-left CNN loyalists. Media Research Center vice president Dan Gainor told Fox News that “journalism is desperately in need of a 12-step program,” and “the first step is admitting there's a problem” with bias in the media. CNN ANALYST DAVID GERGEN SAYS ROGER STONE COULD BE SEEN AS A ‘DANDY’ IN JAIL: ‘WILL HE BE SUBJECT TO RAPE?’ “Notice how upset ‘neutral’ journalists get when conservatives get hired anywhere in media. CNN is deservedly criticized for being liberal,” Gainor said. “It hires someone to help address that problem and the media mob forms because journalists don't want to fix it.” Gainor said the “backstabbing attack” on Isgur by soon-to-be colleagues accomplishes several things. “It lets conservatives know they are unwelcome in media outlets; it ensures that if they do get hired, they are fired if there is even a hint of an issue and reminds everyone that news is only supposed to be liberal,” Gainor said. Conservative strategist Chris Barron feels that CNN should embrace the hire, but the liberal media won’t allow the move to be celebrated. “It is a breath of fresh air at a network that desperately needs it,” Barron told Fox News. “The revolving door between Democratic administrations and the media is a decades-old tradition - and not a single person on the left complains about it. CNN hires one former administration official from a Republican administration and the left goes insane. They truly believe they own the media and that anyone who doesn’t share their liberal world view is an existential threat to journalism.” CNN has not responded to a request for comment. CNN appears to be standing by the decision to hire the polarizing Isgur, as an internal memo was leaked to The Daily Beast on Wednesday claiming top editors were “thrilled” she would join the network. Stelter tweeted, “The memo says Igsur ‘brings a wealth of government, political, communications, and legal experience to our team,’" but critics were quick to respond. Meanwhile, check out some of the initial criticism regarding CNN's newest employee:<doc-sep>CNN’s hiring of a former spokeswoman for then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions as a political editor has renewed debate over the “revolving door” between politics and journalism. On Tuesday, Politico reported that the cable news channel had named Sarah Isgur Flores, a former Justice Department spokesperson with no prior background in journalism, to the team that will direct the network’s coverage of the 2020 election. On Wednesday morning, an email from CNN political director David Chalian, newsgathering vice president Virginia Mosley and Washington bureau chief Sam Feist laid out Isgur’s role. “Sarah will spend the first few months here getting to know our systems and our people,” they wrote in the email, which was obtained by NBC News. “Eventually we plan to have her play a coordinating role in our daily political coverage — helping to organize and communicate between newsgathering, digital, and television. With two dozen candidates to cover, constant coordination is needed more than ever.” News of Isgur’s hiring quickly drew criticism from former government employees and journalists. “As a former DOJ Spox, I am flabbergasted by this,” tweeted Melanie R. Newman, a former Justice Department spokeswoman under Loretta Lynch, during the Obama administration. “Does anyone think I could have gone to CNN after being spox for Loretta Lynch? Anyone? No? Me either.” Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University, tweeted, “What I mostly think about this is that either Isgur will not really be doing the job she is described as doing, or CNN will not really be doing journalism during the 2020 campaign." CNN did not respond to a request for comment. CNN chief media correspondent Brian Stelter pushed back against critics of the hire, noting that Isgur is just the most recent example of public servants moving into the news media industry. ABC hired former presidential adviser George Stephanopoulos, while Tim Russert was an aide to New York Gov. Mario Cuomo before joining NBC News and becoming host of “Meet the Press.” CBS recently hired Caitlin Conant as political director. She had been director of communications for CBS News in Washington and was previously a regional communications director for Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. “‘GOP operative joins CNN’ is getting a LOT of criticism, especially from Dems,” Stelter tweeted. “But love it or hate it, political insiders have been joining newsrooms for decades. The more viewpoints represented in newsrooms, the better. As for the critiques, @CNNPR declined to comment.” CNN has not released a statement on Isgur’s hiring. Isgur did not respond to a request for comment. CNN, a favorite target for criticism from President Donald Trump, has hired a variety of pro-Trump voices in an attempt to bring balance to the perspectives of its commentary, including former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski; Jason Miller, former Trump campaign communications director; and Jeffrey Lord, who was a staff member in the Reagan administration — each of whom is no longer with CNN. "GOP operative joins CNN" is getting a LOT of criticism, especially from Dems. But love it or hate it, political insiders have been joining newsrooms for decades. The more viewpoints represented in newsrooms, the better. As for the critiques, @CNNPR declined to comment. — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 19, 2019 The digital media website Vox reported that Isgur won’t be involved with stories about the Justice Department, which is at the center of one of the biggest political stories of the day — the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. Brett Bruen, president of the consulting firm Global Situation Room and a former diplomat under President Barack Obama, said Isgur’s hiring adds to the recent erosion of journalistic norms. “It’s the continual blurring of what is news, politics and entertainment,” Bruen said. “It is a really concerning development, one that is put out without any explanation.” “We ought to be finding ways in which more moderate voices can be part of this coverage,” Bruen added. Isgur had been a vocal critic of Trump before joining the DOJ, and a critic of CNN, at one point calling it the “Clinton News Network” in a tweet. Mike McCurry, who was White House press secretary for President Bill Clinton, offered a positive word for Isgur. “Go easy on anyone who escapes from Trump-land for the real world ... so long as they are good and qualified,” he said. In addition to the political intrigue, Isgur’s hiring comes as CNN’s owner, AT&T, is in a long-running battle with the Justice Department over its acquisition of Time Warner. The DOJ had once suggested that CNN or another major asset be sold in order for AT&T to win approval. The Justice Department is still fighting the AT&T-Time Warner merger in the courts.<doc-sep>This image was removed due to legal reasons. Sarah Isgur Flores, a former GOP operative and recently hired political editor at CNN, will not participate in any Democratic primary debates the network will host in the coming months, according to The Daily Beast. Advertisement This announcement comes after a firestorm of criticism from political and media figures, including journalists inside CNN, over the network’s hiring of Isgur to help produce coverage of the 2020 election. Isgur has spent her career working for GOP politicians like Jeff Sessions and Ted Cruz. She has never held a job in journalism before. The reaction inside the DNC to the hiring was apparently one of “disbelief.” “[Chairman] Tom Perez and the DNC expressed to CNN that they have serious concerns with the hire,” a DNC aide told The Daily Beast. “They continue to talk to the network about how this impacts 2020, and as of Wednesday, they got assurances that Flores would not be involved in debates.” In her most recent position as senior counsel to deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, Isgur was accused of promoting the far-right conspiracy theory about the murder of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich. She has also shared misleadingly edited videos about Planned Parenthood and directly criticized CNN. There’s even suspicion that Isgur was in direct contact with the Trump administration in regards to the Rich conspiracy. Isgur was mentioned in a 2017 lawsuit against Fox News by private investigator Rod Wheeler, in which he said Fox made up a quote from him stating that Rich was in contact with WikiLeaks before his murder. Far-right conspiracists alleged that Rich, not Russian operatives, was responsible for the DNC leaks during the 2016 election. From The Daily Beast: Wheeler specifically mentioned pro-Trump money manager Ed Butowsky as having coordinated between Fox News and Trump administration officials, including Isgur, on advancing the claims that Rich was the source of the leaks. [...] Advertisement Isgur denies that these conversations took place. “I have not spoken about the death of Seth Rich with or to anyone except in response to questions pertaining to this lawsuit. I have not been contacted by either party or their counsel in reference to this case,” Isgur told the site . “There is a legitimate discussion that can be had around my future employment, but this is not part of it.” Advertisement As incredible as it is that CNN hired Isgur, what’s even more amazing is that they weren’t the only network considering doing so. According to Vanity Fair, she also pitched her “insider” information on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation to MSNBC . The network ultimately decided to pass.<doc-sep>

This image was removed due to legal reasons. On Tuesday , CNN announced that it had hired Sarah Isgur Flores, a career Republican operative and former Trump administration official who appears to have never held a job in journalism, to be a “political editor” helping to coordinate its 2020 coverage. And so far, it appears that the powers at be at CNN are totally oblivious to why this is bad . On Tuesday, the Daily Beast reported that CNN staffers were justifiably pissed off at the decision, which comes just a month after well over 2,000 journalists lost their jobs in an industry bloodbath of layoffs. “It’s extremely demoralizing for everyone here,” a CNN editorial staffer told The Daily Beast, while another added that it was “very bizarre.” After additional reports about how disgruntled CNN staffers were at the hire, including from CNN itself, the Daily Beast reported on Wednesday that CNN management sent a note to its politics team defending its hire of Isgur: In a note to the network’s politics team Wednesday, several top politics editors said that although they were upset that the news leaked out before it could be announced internally, the company was “thrilled” that Isgur was joining next month, saying she “brings a wealth of government, political, communications, and legal experience to our team.” The note, signed by Washington Bureau Chief Sam Feist, Newsgathering Vice President Virginia Mosley, and Political Director David Chalian, clarified Isgur’s new role, saying she would spend the first few months “getting to know our systems and our people,” and eventually would “play a coordinating role in our daily political coverage—helping to organize and communicate between newsgathering, digital, and television.” “With more than two dozen candidates to cover, constant coordination is needed more than ever,” it said. CNN’s Brian Stelter wrote his own report about the disquiet within the network , but he also defended the hire in both a tweet and his newsletter as merely a case of a “political insider” joining the newsroom. “The more viewpoints represented in newsrooms, the better,” he wrote: Stelter also spoke to CNN executives who defended the hire: “The notion that she isn’t qualified for this role is absurd,” a source told me Tuesday night. “There are plenty of examples of people going from high profile political jobs to news networks. George Stephanopou lo s. Nicolle Wallace. Dana Perino. Tim Russert. And those are anchors with huge platforms at their networks. She is one of more than a dozen people who will be helping coordinate our political coverage. She is highly qualified to do so.” Conveniently left out of the narrative that Isgur is simply being attacked for her beliefs by Democratic partisans is that she has never held a job in journalism before. Her latest job, per LinkedIn, was as senior counsel to deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein. Before that, she was the director of public affairs for the Department of Justice under Jeff Sessions. Before that, she was a deputy campaign manager for Carly Fiorina and worked for both Mitt Romney and Ted Cruz. Moreover, in her high-profile role at DOJ, Isgur defended some of the Trump administration’s most monst rous policies, and she was accused of helping to spread the conspiracy theory surrounding the death of former DNC staffer Seth Rich. She even bashed CNN, repeatedly. Did CNN think no one would notice? Nowhere is there anything to indicate the sort of experience one needs not just to be a talking head on the network, but to occupy the role of a “political editor.” T he fact that Isgur was hired in spite of this and also in spite of having no experience in the field whatsoever—at a time when so many experienced reporters are struggling to find work—is proof that CNN is less of a news outlet and more of a jobs program for castoffs from the Trump orbit.

Mohamed Salah and Emilia Clarke poses for pictures at the Time awards. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME Mohamed Salah set tongues a-wagging when he posted a photo on his Instagram account showing him out and about in New York city. With Liverpool knee-deep in a Premier League title race and due to play Huddersfield on Friday night, Salah shared an image of himself at Serafina pizzeria, an Italian restaurant in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan. When in NYC... eat like you're in Rome ?? pic.twitter.com/WPEYJxKafi — Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) 23 April 2019 Salah sat posing in front of two artisan pizzas: a Margherita priced at $15, and a "Tartufo Nero" pie, topped with Italian cheeses and black truffles, priced at a lofty $29. However, with an important game a matter of days away, many Reds fans were left querying exactly why their star man was gadding about in New York rather than preparing at Melwood. We have a huge match in 70 Hours. Why is Mo Salah in New York eating Pizzas? #LFC — Eoin (@EoinCasey1) 23 April 2019 Salah in New York when we have a game on Friday?? ???? — Lou Lou (@LilLoubieLou) 23 April 2019 Some speculated that Salah might miss the Huddersfield game in order to rest up for next week's Champions League semifinal clash with Barcelona. I reckon Mo Salah might start from the bench on Friday given he was in New York last night. — Mike (@MikeMongie) 24 April 2019 Salah eating pizza in New York Either he'll have the extra energy to score a hatrick against Huddersfield, or he'll be rested for CL ? ?#FPL #GW36 #LIVHUD pic.twitter.com/0vvmxFkUEN — Bøwstring the Carp (@MattKearney92) 23 April 2019 It turned out that Salah was actually in the Big Apple to attend the Time 100 Gala after recently being named one of the world's most influential people by the US magazine. The Egyptian rubbed shoulders with Hollywood A-Listers, political figures and various other celebrities at the Lincoln Center, with Taylor Swift also performing an acoustic set at the star-studded bash. Mo Salah arrives at the Time 100 awards in New York. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic Jimmy Fallon, Rami Malek and even Emilia Clarke, better known as the Mother of Dragons (or Daenerys Targaryen), snapped up the chance to meet the Premier League's joint-top goal scorer. Indeed, it all proved too much for ESPN host Katie Nolan (a huge Liverpool fan) who came perilously close to losing her marbles at the sight of Salah showing up in her vicinity. like.... lower east side rome? or midtown rome? just give me a neighborhood — Katie Nolan (@katienolan) 23 April 2019 BACK UP LFCNY — Katie Nolan (@katienolan) 23 April 2019 USWNT star Alex Morgan shared an Instagram story of her meeting with Salah on the red carpet. Nolan obviously saw this and desperately attempted to have Morgan pass a message on. @alexmorgan13 did u tell mo I said hi it's ok if you forgot — Katie Nolan (@katienolan) 24 April 2019 For the record, Salah wasn't the only Liverpool player granted special leave this week, with Georginio Wijnaldum flying out to Lyon for a catch-up with his old Dutch teammate Memphis Depay. Alberto Moreno, on the other hand, enjoyed a nice day out at Chester Zoo.<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Click to play Tap to play Get our LFC newsletter for the best Reds coverage Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Last week Liverpool's Mohamed Salah was named on TIME Magazine's list of 100 Most Influential people. And on Tuesday evening the winger was in New York to attend the prestigious gala. The event was held in the Lincoln Center and was attended by some of the world's most famous stars. Follow all the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours HERE Guests included actors Dwayne Johnson, Glenn Close and Sandra Oh, with singers Taylor Swift and Khalid both performing songs on the night. Comedian Jimmy Fallon was excited to meet the Egypt international as they posed together. (Image: Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME) British actress and Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke was wearing a stunning red dress as she smiled with Salah. (Image: Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME) Salah was wearing a smart tuxedo and also posed for a picture with award-winning actor Rami Malek. The Oscar winner scooped the Best Actor prize earlier this year for his starring role in biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Malek was born in Los Angeles to Egyptian parents and the iconic photo quickly went viral on social media. (Image: (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME)) Liverpool's goalscorer was later pictured with comedians Trevor Noah and Hasan Minhaj. (Image: Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME) The 26-year-old will return to Merseyside this week as Jurgen Klopp's side prepare to face Huddersfield on Friday at 8pm.<doc-sep>Mo Salah flew to a celebrity party in New York this week in the thick of Liverpool's battle for the Premier League title, but his club are confident he will be fit and ready to face Huddersfield Town on Friday. The Egyptian rubbed shoulders with Hollywood stars, music icons and political heavyweights for the renowned Time 100 Gala in the Big Apple on Tuesday night — 72 hours before Jurgen Klopp's title chasers host lowly Huddersfield at Anfield. Salah was named one of the world's most influential people by the US magazine and, wearing a tuxedo, was snapped alongside Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke at the historic Lincoln Center. Mohamed Salah looked sharp as he took to the red carpet and posed for photos on Tuesday Salah shared a snap with actress and Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke at the event Salah was also greeted by US television presenter Jimmy Fallon after entering the party The Liverpool forward had been named one of the cover stars for the Time 100 Taylor Swift (left), Brie Larson and three other stars joined Salah on the cover of Time magazine The great and the good descended on the event for the annual magazine issue Liverpool have kept tight-lipped on travel arrangements for the 6,600-mile trip but it is understood a number of steps were taken to ensure the 26-year-old was kept fresh for Friday night's key fixture. Salah is thought to have remained on English time and, given that he does not drink and has a reputation as a model pro, there were no concerns over his night out. It is thought that he missed one light training session at Melwood. His manager Klopp is relaxed about the situation, and last week explained how important it was for Salah to attend the gala because of what it meant in terms of breaking down barriers. In his interview with the magazine, in which he was one of six cover stars for the annual issue, Salah discussed the importance of gender equality. 'We need to change the way we treat women in our culture,' he told Time. 'I support women more than I did before, because I feel like they deserve more than what they're given at the moment. That has to be, it's not optional.' Dwayne Johnson took to the red carpet in a brown turtleneck and double-breasted jacked US footballer Alex Morgan was one of a number to celebrities to share the limelight Salah met with actor Rami Malek as they attended the dinner at Jazz in the Lincoln Center The 26-year-old has spoken of the need for equality and better treatment of women Supermodel Naomi Campbell took to the red carpet before heading inside to the event Salah has scored 19 goals for Liverpool this season and could yet win the double<doc-sep>

Liverpool’s Mo Salah meets Jimmy Fallon at Time 100 Gala The Egyptian was named as one of the top 100 most influential people by TIME Magazine last week. To celebrate the credible achievement, the 26-year-old was invited out to New York to attend a celebratory gala. Salah was in good company on the list alongside the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Nelson Mandela, George Clooney and Bill Gates. Singers Taylor Swift and Khalid performed at the awards, as the Liverpool winger enjoyed some downtime away from the pressure of the Premier League title race. He was pictured alongside comedian Jimmy Fallon, Game of Thrones actor Emilia Clarke as well as the award-winning Rami Malek. Despite being born in Los Angeles, his parents are Egyptian meaning the snap of the duo received huge engagement on social media from fans. The forward will now return to England and rejoin his team-mates at Melwood as they prepare for the visit of Huddersfield on Friday night. Jurgen Klopp’s troops will be tuned in for tonight’s Manchester derby between Manchester United and Manchester City. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp allowed Mohamed Salah to fly to New York for the awards Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was voted in Time Magazine's 100 most influential people Liverpool star Mohamed Salah with Rami Malek at the awards in New York Mohamed Salah won Liverpool a penalty at Cardiff on Sunday Anything other than a City win would be a fantastic would see Liverpool’s fate in their hands with three games left to play. Kop boss Klopp recently praised Salah for not only his performances on the pitch, but also his attitude off it where he is leading the way in the battle against Islamaphobia. “He’s a role model in so many different things,” said Klopp. “It’s really, really nice to have him, and Sadio Mane as well. Liverpool are potentially just three games from being crowned Premier League champions Liverpool: Win against Cardiff was 'massive' says Jurgen Klopp

The 2019 NCAA basketball tournament gets under way with the First Four on Tuesday, March 19, with the full tournament beginning Thursday, March 21. The full 68-team field and pairings for the first round of the tournament were released on Sunday. Tip-off times and TV information were also announced. Click HERE to print a copy of the bracket. All games are available via live stream at NCAA March Madness Live. 2019 NCAA tournament first-round schedule All times Central FIRST FOUR At UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio Tuesday, March 19 WEST: No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson (20-13) vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M (22-12), 5:40 p.m., TruTV EAST: No. 11 Belmont (26-5) vs. No. 11 Temple (23-9), 8 p.m., TruTV Wednesday, March 20 EAST: No. 16 North Carolina Central (18-15) vs. No. 16 North Dakota State (18-15), 5:40 p.m., TruTV WEST: No. 11 Arizona State (22-10) vs. No. 11 St. John’s (21-12), 8 p.m., TruTV --- EAST REGION Thursday, March 21 At Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Fla. No. 6 Maryland (22-10) vs. No. 11 Belmont/Temple winner, 2:10 p.m., TruTV No. 3 LSU (26-6) vs. No. 14 Yale (22-7), 11:40 a.m., TruTV Thursday, March 21 At Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa No. 7 Louisville (20-13) vs. No. 10 Minnesota (21-13), 11:15 a.m., CBS No. 2 Michigan State (28-6) vs. No. 15 Bradley (20-14), 1:45 p.m., CBS Friday, March 22 At Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, S.C. No. 1 Duke (29-5) vs. No. 16 North Carolina Central/North Dakota State winner, 6:10 p.m., CBS No. 8 Virginia Commonwealth (25-7) vs. No. 9 Central Florida (23-8), 8:40 p.m., CBS Friday, March 22 At SAP Center, San Jose, Calif. No. 5 Mississippi State (23-10) vs. No. 12 Liberty (28-6), 6:27 p.m., TruTV No. 4 Virginia Tech (24-8) vs. No. 13 Saint Louis (23-12), 9:07 p.m., TruTV --- SOUTH REGION Thursday, March 21 At XL Center, Hartford, Conn. No. 6 Villanova (25-9) vs. No. 11 Saint Mary’s (22-11), 6:20 p.m., TBS No. 3 Purdue (23-9) vs. No. 14 Old Dominion (26-8), 8:50 p.m., TBS Friday, March 22 At Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio No. 7 Cincinnati (28-6) vs. No. 10 Iowa (22-11), 11:15 a.m., CBS No. 2 Tennessee (29-5) vs. No. 15 Colgate (24-10), 1:45 p.m., CBS Friday, March 22 At Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, S.C. No. 1 Virginia (29-3) vs. No. 16 Gardner-Webb (23-11), 2:10 p.m., TruTV No. 8 Ole Miss (20-12) vs. No. 9 Oklahoma (19-13), 11:40 a.m., TruTV Friday, March 22 At SAP Center, San Jose, Calif. No. 5 Wisconsin (23-10) vs. No. 12 Oregon (23-12), 3:30 p.m., TBS No. 4 Kansas State (25-8) vs. No. 13 UC Irvine (30-5), 1 p.m., TBS --- MIDWEST REGION Friday, March 22 At Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio No. 1 North Carolina (27-6) vs. No. 16 Iona (17-15), 8:20 p.m., TNT No. 8 Utah State (28-6) vs. No. 9 Washington (26-8), 5:50 p.m., TNT Thursday, March 21 At Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah No. 5 Auburn (26-9) vs. No. 12 New Mexico State (30-4), 12:30 p.m., TNT No. 4 Kansas (25-9) vs. No. 13 Northeastern (23-10), 3 p.m., TNT Friday, March 22 At BOK Center, Tulsa, Okla. No. 6 Iowa State (23-11) vs. No. 11 Ohio State (19-14), 8:50 p.m., TBS No. 3 Houston (31-3) vs. No. 14 Georgia State (24-9), 6:20 p.m., TBS Thursday, March 21 At Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Fla. No. 7 Wofford (29-4) vs. No. 10 Seton Hall (20-13), 8:40 p.m., CBS No. 2 Kentucky (27-6) vs. No. 15 Abilene Christian (27-6), 6:10 p.m., CBS --- WEST REGION Thursday, March 21 At Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah No. 1 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson/Prairie View A&M winner, 6:27 p.m., TruTV No. 8 Syracuse (20-13) vs. No. 9 Baylor (19-13), 9:07 p.m., TruTV Thursday, March 21 At XL Center, Hartford, Conn. No. 5 Marquette (24-9) vs. No. 12 Murray State (27-4), 3:30 p.m., TBS No. 4 Florida State (27-7) vs. No. 13 Vermont (27-6), 1 p.m., TBS Friday, March 22 At BOK Center, Tulsa, Okla. No. 6 Buffalo (31-3) vs. No. 11 Arizona State/St. John’s winner, 3 p.m., TNT No. 3 Texas Tech (26-6) vs. No. 14 Northern Kentucky (26-8), 12:30 p.m., TNT Thursday, March 21 At Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa No. 7 Nevada (29-4) vs. No. 10 Florida (19-15), 5:50 p.m., TNT No. 2 Michigan (28-6) vs. No. 15 Montana (26-8), 8:20 p.m., TNT<doc-sep>Who’s ready for the greatest four days of the year? The first two rounds of the 2019 NCAA Tournament get underway on Thursday when CBS goes on the air at high noon. The fun doesn’t let up until Sunday night. Shortly after the full bracket was revealed, the NCAA announced the full schedule for the First Round, beginning with Thursday’s slate of games. Louisville and Minnesota get the honor of starting things off with the first tip-off just after 12:15 p.m. on CBS. LSU will play Yale, Auburn will face New Mexico State, and Florida State draws Vermont in the other three early games. The full schedule, complete with announcer pairings, TV assignments, and locations can be found below. There you have it. Now you can start counting down the minutes until Thursday when you turn on CBS just a couple minutes before The Price is Right ends and get goosebumps when the March Madness theme starts playing.<doc-sep>Darron Cummings/Associated Press While most fans have their attention on the NCAA tournament, 32 other teams will get a chance to end the year on a high note in the 2019 National Invitation Tournament. From small schools who played well all year before losing in their conference tournament to power-conference squads that came just short of earning a bid, there is a wide mix of talented squads in this year's NIT field. For young players, there is a chance to build on this season's success to become more dangerous next season. For seniors, this will be the last opportunity to win games in their college uniform. Everyone will be playing for something, which could lead to a competitive tournament over the next few weeks. Bracket Video Play Button Videos you might like Printable bracket available at NCAA.com. First Round Schedule Tuesday, March 19 No. 1 UNC Greensboro vs. No. 8 Campbell; 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3) No. 4 Davidson vs. No. 5 Lipscomb; 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3) No. 2 North Carolina State vs. No. 7 Hofstra; 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2) No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 St. Francis (PA); 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) No. 3 Furman vs. No. 6 Wichita State; 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU) No. 3 Memphis vs. No. 6 San Diego; 8 p.m. ET (ESPN3) No. 4 Providence vs. No. 5 Arkansas; 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2) No. 2 Texas vs. No. 7 South Dakota State; 9 p.m. ET (ESPN) No. 2 Creighton vs. No. 7 Loyola-Chicago; 9 p.m. ET (ESPNU) No. 4 Colorado vs. No. 5 Dayton; 11 p.m. ET (ESPN2) Wednesday, March 20 No. 3 Georgetown vs. No. 6 Harvard; 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2) No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 7 Wright State; 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3) No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 8 Norfolk State; 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU) No. 3 Xavier vs. No. 6 Toledo; 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3) No. 1 TCU vs. No. 8 Sam Houston State; 9 p.m. ET (ESPNU) No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Butler; 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2) Full schedule and TV times can be found here. All games can be viewed online at WatchESPN. Tournament Schedule First Round: March 19-20 Second Round: March 21-25 Quarterfinals: March 26-27 Semifinals: April 2 Championship Game: April 4 Semifinals and championship will be played at Madison Square Garden, New York. All other games will be played at campus sites. Teams to Watch Clemson Michael Hickey/Getty Images Going 1-10 against Quadrant 1 teams likely sunk Clemson's chances of reaching the NCAA tournament, but it also really showed how brutal the schedule was for the ACC team. The Tigers did at least take care of business against weaker opponents, which it will likely see a lot of in this tournament. Although the losses racked up, the team was efficient on the court throughout the year, especially on the defensive end. Per KenPom.com, Clemson had the No. 11 defense in the entire country, making it the 29th overall team in the sport. This is usually enough to be in the NCAA tournament, but the squad will instead have to make its mark in the NIT. Marcquise Reed will have a chance to carry the squad to a few wins on his own as the Tigers try to keep their season going as long as possible. Indiana Andy Lyons/Getty Images There might not have been too many worse stretches this season than when Indiana lost 12 of 13 games in January and February. Teams with no shot of reaching the NCAA tournament rarely struggled as much as this bubble team. The Hoosiers finally recovered down the stretch, earning impressive wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State to show how good this group can be when playing at its best. They ended up just outside of the Big Dance as one of the first four teams out, although they have no one to blame but themselves: Still, this is a team that still has something to prove going forward. Freshman Romeo Langford will now get one last chance to prove his play at the college level before likely heading to the NBA draft. Juwan Morgan will close out his collegiate career as well as a senior who has had big moments throughout his time at Indiana. This duo on its own is likely enough to win some games in the NIT, while the rest of the team can provide plenty of help for a possible deep run in this tournament. Furman Richard Shiro/Associated Press UNC Greensboro was listed as the first team out of the NCAA tournament, but the best Southern Conference team not in the field was probably Furman. The Paladins got on the national radar with an upset win over Villanova in November and stayed up there with a 12-0 start that got them inside the Associated Press Top 25. Even with some up-and-down play the rest of the year, the squad still finished No. 41 in the NET rankings, well ahead of bubble teams like Ohio State (55), Temple (56) and Minnesota (61). One of the keys has been the play of senior forward Matt Rafferty, who is currently averaging 17.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. His all-around play helped him lead the entire country with 8.3 win shares, per Sports Reference. With his high level of play all over the court and a team defense that plays well without fouling, Furman can make things difficult on every team it plays. Considering the squad might have more to prove than some of the major-conference squads, this could lead to a deep NIT run.<doc-sep>

March Madness starts on Tuesday, March 19th with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. We will have the full schedule for the NCAA tournament game times, dates and teams once they are announced on Selection Sunday. The Final Four will be in Minneapolis, Minnesota. What most consider the beginning of the NCAA tournament is Thursday, March 21st with the first full day of March Madness action. The games are expected to tip off at noon Eastern and will be televised on a number of networks including CBS, TNT and TBS. CBS Sports provided an overview of their planned coverage in a recent press release. NCAA Tournament game action will tip off with the NCAA First Four™ on truTV, Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20, with coverage beginning at 6:00 PM, ET both nights. Additional highlights : Turner will air 43 game telecasts across its three networks (TBS, TNT and truTV); CBS will broadcast 24 games throughout the tournament including the National Championship, Final Four Semifinals, Elite 8®, Sweet 16® and first and second rounds; TBS will televise 18 contests including the Elite 8®, Sweet 16® and first and second round games; truTV will air a total of 13 games, including the First Four™ and the first and second rounds; TNT will televise 12 games including first and second round match-ups. Duke, Virginia, North Carolina and Gonzaga are the favorites to land No. 1 seeds. The ACC could feature three of the top four seeds. We will have the specific dates and times of the first round as soon as they are released. March Madness Schedule: First Four DATE MATCHUP TIME(ET)/TV Tues., March 19 16 Farleigh Dickinson vs. 16 Prarie View A&M 6:40 p.m. TruTV Tues., March 19 11 Belmont vs. 11 Temple 9:10 P.M. TruTV Wed., March 20 16 NC Central vs. 16 NDSU 6:40 p.m. TruTV Wed., March 20 11 Arizona St. vs. St. John’s 9:10 p.m. TruTV March Madness First Round Schedule: Thursday, March 21st DATE MATCHUP TIME(ET)/TV March 21 4 FSU vs. 13 Vermont 2 p.m. TBS March 21 6 Villanova vs. 11 St. Mary’s 7:20 p.m. TBS March 21 3 Purdue vs. 14 Old Dominion 9:45 p.m. TBS March 21 1 Gonzaga vs. 16 Dickinson/Prarie View 7:27 p.m. Tru March 21 8 Syracuse vs. 9 Baylor 9:55 p.m. Tru March 21 5 Marquette vs. 12 Murray St. 4:20 p.m. TBS March 21 5 Auburn vs. 12 New Mexico St. 1:30 p.m. TNT March 21 4 Kansas vs. 13 Northeastern 3:50 p.m. TNT March 21 7 Nevada vs. 10 Florida 6:50 p.m. TNT March 21 2 Michigan vs. 15 Montana 9:15 p.m. TNT March 21 7 Louisville vs. 10 Minnesota 12:15 p.m. CBS March 21 2 Michigan St. vs. 15 Bradley 2:30 p.m. CBS March 21 6 Maryland vs. 11 Belmont/Temple 3 p.m. Tru March 21 3 LSU vs. 14 Yale 12:40 p.m. Tru March 21 7 Wofford vs. 10 Seton Hall 9:30 p.m. CBS March 21 2 Kentucky vs. 15 Abilene Christian 7:10 p.m. CBS March Madness First Round Schedule: Friday, March 22nd DATE MATCHUP TIME(ET)/TV March 22 6 Iowa St. vs. 11 Ohio St. 9:45 p.m. TBS March 22 3 Houston vs. 14 Georgia St. 7:20 p.m. TBS March 22 6 Buffalo vs. 11 ASU/St. John’s 3:50 p.m. TNT March 22 3 Texas Tech vs. 14 Northern Kentucky 1:30 p.m. TNT March 22 1 UNC vs. 16 Iona 9:15 p.m. TNT March 22 8 Utah St. vs. 9 Washington 6:50 p.m. TNT March 22 7 Cincinnati vs. 10 Iowa 12:15 p.m. CBS March 22 2 Tennessee vs. 15 Colgate 2:30 p.m. CBS March 22 1 Duke vs. 16 NC Central/NDSU 7:10 p.m. CBS March 22 8 VCU vs. 9 UCF 9:30 p.m. CBS March 22 1 Virginia vs. 16 Gardner Webb 3 p.m. Tru March 22 8 Ole Miss vs. 9 Oklahoma 12:40 p.m. Tru March 22 5 Wisconsin vs. 12 Oregon 4:20 p.m. TBS March 22 4 K State vs. 13 UC Irvine 2 p.m. TBS March 22 5 Mississippi St. vs. 12 Liberty 7:27 p.m. Tru March 22 4 Virginia Tech vs. 13 St. Louis 9:55 p.m. Tru March Madness 2019: Schedule, Dates & Locations

UCLA entered a holding pattern with its basketball coaching vacancy Thursday after the school’s pursuit of Texas Christian’s Jamie Dixon went into an apparent stall. Dixon did not address the Bruins’ opening during a previously scheduled end-of-the-season meeting with his players, according to a person close to the situation, instead focusing on routine topics two days after the Horned Frogs’ season ended with a loss to Texas in a semifinal of the National Invitation Tournament. The same person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said the Bruins’ hopes of hiring Dixon were being delayed by a snag: his $8-million contract buyout with the Horned Frogs. While negotiations with TCU to significantly lower the amount owed for Dixon to leave his alma mater struggled to gain traction, the person said, UCLA was hesitant to foot the necessary bill for him to become the next coach of its flagship sport. Advertisement When Dixon came to TCU in 2016, it was only after Pittsburgh lowered the $10-million buyout on Dixon’s contract to an undisclosed sum. A breakdown in negotiations with Dixon could force the Bruins to pivot to Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin, the other finalist for the job, or other backup candidates such as former UCLA point guard Earl Watson. Watson tweeted about the criticism levied by UCLA alumni at their alma mater over its 95-day search to replace coach Steve Alford. “Leadership doesn’t react it responds!” tweeted Watson, who is completing requirements for his bachelor’s degree, a prerequisite to hold the UCLA job. “All of these inner combating UCLA tweets from Bruins are classless. If you knew Coach [John] Wooden like me then you know he’d be disgusted & most of you would be quiet! Don’t forget who we are! Best of luck in the search!” If the Bruins were unable to complete a deal with Dixon, it would be another blow to a search in which the school has already struck out with a number of more established college and NBA coaches. The bigger names were either not interested, unable to pass the school’s background checks or unwilling to interview before the Final Four, forcing UCLA to move ahead with its pursuit of Dixon for fear of losing more candidates as the pool of available coaches dwindled. Dixon, a native of North Hollywood who starred at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High, has enjoyed substantial success with the tradition-starved Horned Frogs, going 68-41 in three seasons. TCU won the NIT championship in his first season and made its first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 20 years in his second season. Sign up for our daily sports newsletter » A disciple of former UCLA coach Ben Howland, Dixon has compiled a 395-164 record in 16 seasons at TCU and Pittsburgh, advancing to three regional semifinals and a regional final in 2009. His winning percentage of .715 entering last season ranked No. 12 among active Division I coaches. Advertisement Dixon recently hired Duane Broussard, who had been UCLA’s associate head coach under Alford, as an assistant on his staff. Cronin’s resume features fewer deep forays into the postseason than Dixon has made but more consistency. Cronin has made nine consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament during his 13 seasons at Cincinnati, guiding the Bearcats to a regional semifinal in 2012, and has compiled a 365-170 overall record that also includes three previous seasons at Murray State. Cronin’s teams beat UCLA in two of the last three seasons, including a 29-point thrashing in December. The Bearcats finished this season 28-7, winning a second consecutive American Athletic Conference tournament championship before losing to Iowa in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Advertisement Cronin was forced to miss the final 25 games of the 2014-15 season while recovering from an unruptured aneurysm that was discovered after he complained of lingering headaches. He was given a clean bill of health afterward and returned to his full coaching duties before the following season. Cronin’s teams have routinely been among the most efficient in the nation defensively, falling outside the top 20 in basketball analyst Ken Pomeroy’s rankings only twice in the last nine years. But the Bearcats have also featured one of the slowest tempos in the college game while remaining among the top 50 teams in offensive efficiency over each of the last three seasons.<doc-sep>It's still very possible that Jamie Dixon, the head coach at TCU, could be UCLA's next coach, according to sources. Dixon was thought to move into the front-runner spot for the job a few days ago. It was more uncertain in the last 24 hours when it became apparent that UCLA was balking at the buyout in Dixon's TCU contract, which is upward of $10 million. But sources very close to the situation said Friday night that Dixon is still a very viable candidate for the UCLA position, despite the buyout. Dixon, 53, has been a head coach for 16 years, at TCU and Pittsburgh. He led Pitt to an Elite Eight in 2009, and 11 total NCAA Tournaments. Since arriving at TCU, his alma mater, in 2016, he turned around the beleaguered program, guiding it to three consecutive winning seasons, an NIT championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. Originally from Southern California, Dixon worked his way up through Ben Howland's staffs at UC Santa Barbara and Pittsburgh before being tapped as the Panthers' head coach in 1999 when Howland moved on to the UCLA head coaching job.<doc-sep>

LAWRENCE, KS - FEBRUARY 6: TCU Horned Frogs head coach Jamie Dixon directs his team against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on February 6, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) UCLA Football: Keisean-Lucier South is done for the rest of spring practice by Mike Regalado After reports that Jamie Dixon was close to finalizing a deal to be the next head coach of the UCLA basketball team, further reports have confirmed that the deal is dead. Merriam Webster defines “dead” as, “deprived of life, no longer alive.” And if you look at the first example under that definition you would see: UCLA basketball-Jamie Dixon. Not really, but you get the picture. On Wednesday morning, it was reported by several sources that the UCLA athletic department was close to a deal with Texas Christian’s Jamie Dixon. It was said that the final hurdle was the $8 million buyout in Dixon’s contract. UCLA was said to be in negotiations with officials from Texas Christian to try and reduce the buyout. That was on Wednesday night. Today, it has been announced that the deal is dead. With both sides failing to budge on the terms of the buyout, UCLA now has to look for another candidate to lead their storied program. It has been just under a week since John Calipari spurned UCLA for a lifetime contract with Kentucky, which originally shined an unfavorable light on the AD. This prompted the athletic department to go after Dixon. Despite this not being perceived as a homerun hire, UCLA’s inability to bring in Dixon is not a good look. With the amount of money that they have spent on facilities and the money they were ready to throw at Calipari, $8 million does not seem like it would it be a deal-breaker, but here we are. Though this might be a blessing in disguise, as of now it gives the appearance that UCLA is incompetent and unable to get major deals done. UCLA now has to go back to their list of candidates and pursue other options. With many of their targets accepting jobs at other universities, the list is quickly dwindling. UCLA will most likely turn their attention back to the other targets named earlier this week: Mick Cronin, Shaka Smart, Randy Bennett, and Earl Watson. Jamie Dixon appears to be out as a candidate for UCLA's basketball coaching vacancy https://t.co/eFBwlwxvUv — Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) April 5, 2019 Though it would be a stretch, UCLA could possibly go after another top target: Tony Bennett. Although, if this is the case, they will have to wait to see how he fares in this weekend’s Final Four with Virginia.

Eighty universities field NCAA Division I wrestling teams. Of the Top 10 in that select group, six call the Big Ten home. That is one reason why many observers call the Big Ten Wrestling Championships the toughest tournament in the country. Ohio State begins its title defense at that tournament Saturday at 11 a.m. The Buckeyes are not only the defending tournament champions – they have three of the past tour tournament titles to their credit. While Penn State has dominated the NCAA Championships, Tom Ryan's teams have been Kings in the North more frequently of late. That may change this weekend, however, as the Nittany Lions appear to be prohibitive favorites in Minneapolis. Ryan told reporters last week that his team needed to win "all the big matches" in front of them, where their rivals to the East only needed a few breaks to fall their way. Championship Info Williams Arena, Minneapolis Printable Brackets HERE Saturday streaming: BTN Plus Sunday streaming: BTN Plus Session I: 11 a.m. Saturday Session II: 7 p.m. Saturday Session III: 11 a.m. Sunday Championships: 4 p.m. Sunday Championships air live on BTN To put it into perspective, Ohio State has one No. 1 seed in the tournament in Myles Martin at 184 pounds. Penn State has four. To the Buckeyes' credit, Ohio State’s entire 10-man lineup earned top-8 pre-seeds for the tournament; Michigan is the only other school to also have its complete lineup seeded in the top-8. Setting aside the team race, the Ohio State storylines this weekend are many, and they are compelling: Myles Martin, Micah Jordan, Joey McKenna and Te'Shan Campbell will wrestle in their final conference tournaments; Joey McKenna will go for his fourth conference crown, having won a pair of Pac-12 titles before winning last year's Big Ten championship at 141 pounds; McKenna and Kollin Moore have never lost a match in a conference tournament; Moore is the two-time defending champion at 197 pounds; Seventy-eight automatic bids to the 2019 NCAA Championships will be up for grabs in Minneapolis. That last part is especially important. Ohio State is one of only two teams in the country to earn its conference automatic bids at all 10 weight classes – now the athletes have to go out and earn the right to fill those bids for the NCAA tourney in Pittsburgh. Buckeye Breakdown Ohio State's Lineup: Record and Rankings Wt Wrestler W/L B1G Seed (NCAA Auto Bids) Coaches Panel RPI 125 Malik Heinselman 21-7 8th (nine NCAA bids) 30th 15th 133 Luke Pletcher 20-4 5th (eight NCAA bids) 7th 6th 141 Joey McKenna 16-2 3rd (nine NCAA bids) 3rd 1st 149 Micah Jordan 22-1 2nd (six NCAA bids) 2nd 4th 157 Ke-Shawn Hayes 18-7 7th (nine NCAA bids) 7th 4th 165 Te'Shan Campbell 17-4 6th (nine NCAA bids) 24th N/R 174 Ethan Smith 15-8 6th (eight NCAA bids) 20th 11th 184 Myles Martin 17-0 1st (eight NCAA bids) 1st 1st 197 Kollin Moore 16-1 2nd (five NCAA bids) 2nd 1st 285 Chase Singletary 18-5 5th (seven NCAA bids) 10th 6th The Buckeyes claimed three conference crowns over the past four seasons (2015, 2017, 2018), including a 164.5-point blowout a year ago that marked the biggest team score in 16 years (Minnesota, 174.0 in 2002) at the Big Ten Championships. Seventy percent of the lineup advanced to the finals with four champions and three runners-up. Opening-round action gets underway Saturday at 11 a.m. on BTNPlus with the preliminary, quarterfinal, semifinal and wrestleback matches taking place in Sessions I and II (session II starts at 5 p.m.). Consolation semifinals and seventh-place matches get underway at 11 a.m. on Sunday, while first-, third- and fifth-place matches begin at 2 p.m. BTN Plus will provide live streaming coverage of Session III, while the championship rounds will be carried live on the Big Ten Network. 125 pounds: Malik Heinselman, 8th seed True freshman Malik Heinselman shed his redshirt mid-season because Ryan and staff felt he provided the team the best opportunity to reach its postseason goals. He finished the season 21-7, ranked 30th in the NCAA Coaches Panel and 15th in the RPI. Less reassuring? His record versus the field this weekend is just 2-4. Heinselman came to Ohio State as one of the top recruits in the class, and he has serious international freestyle credibility and senior-level potential, but he gives up some size and strength to the veterans in the class at the moment. The tradeoff between burning a redshirt or not in his case was sacrificing size and strength for getting him battle-tested against the best wrestlers in the country, and having faced five of the Top 15 wrestlers in the country already this season, he certainly gained that experience along the way. To earn an automatic bid, he only need wrestle to seed as there are nine automatic bids up for grabs. His opening match is versus Purdue's Devin Schroder, which is a tough but winnable match. If he wins the opener, however, he'll face No. 1 seed Sebastian Rivera of Northwestern; lose and he'll like face Indiana's Elijah Oliver in the wrestlebacks. 133 pounds: Luke Pletcher, 5th seed Pletcher is a riddle inside a mystery wrapped in an enigma. He is perceived as a guy content to grind out low-scoring decisions, seeming to wait for the perfect shot rather than driving the action... and yet half of his victories in the regular season came with bonus points attached. He seemed to be in what he later admitted was the "worst slump of my career," in the early weeks of 2019, and then came out against Nebraska and scored the most points he'd put on the board since the Cliff Keen tournament in November. A 2018 Big Ten finalist, Pletcher has all of the skills and strength needed to be on the podium in Pittsburgh later this month. His path to a title in Minneapolis this weekend is a tough one, though: he's slated for a rematch with Penn State's Roman Bravo-Young in the quarterfinals, and would face No. 1 Stevan Micic of Michigan in the semis. 141 pounds: Joey McKenna, 3rd seed In some ways, it's a surprise that McKenna isn't the No. 1 seed in this tournament. He spent much of the season ranked No. 2 or No. 3 in the country behind Cornell superstar Yianni Diakomihalis, is currently ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Coaches Panel and is No. 1 in the RPI. He finished the regular season with a record of 16-2, and is 5-2 versus ranked opponents and is 5-1 versus the field in Minneapolis. But his loss to Diakomihalis in the last match of the dual-meet schedule and February loss to Penn State's Nick Lee gave the conference coaches reason to doubt the New Jersey native, and he slid to the No. 3 spot. McKenna should cruise through his first two matches Saturday, but will get his rematch with Lee in the semifinals. No. 1 seed Michael Carr should come out on top in the other half of the bracket. 149 pounds: Micah Jordan, 2nd seed It's hard to believe this is the last Big Ten tournament for "The Mongoose," and maybe harder to believe that with a career record of 106-19 that he has never won a conference crown. Jordan finished the season 22-1, with his only loss coming to Big Ten foe Anthony Ashnault of Rutgers, the No. 1 seed in the tournament. It seems fairly likely that the two will face off again in what will be Jordan's third conference final in a row. 157 pounds: Ke-Shawn Hayes, 7th seed Ke-Shawn Hayes has wrestled the toughest schedule of anyone on the team this season, explaining why he is the No. 7 man in the country despite having finished the season with a record of 18-7. He has five wins over top-20 opponents this season and is No. 4 in the RPI in part because 11 of his last 14 opponents have been ranked, and seven of those were Top 10 opponents. His bracket is pretty rough, too. After a match he should win over Rutgers' John Van Brill, he'll face No.<doc-sep>CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Notre Dame College junior heavyweight Kameron Teacher wants to win a national wrestling championship, after twice finishing second in the NCAA Division II National Championships. But, first things come first. “I’m just taking one match at a time,” Teacher said after advancing to the semifinals during the NCAA Tournament on Friday at Cleveland State’s Wolstein Center. “You don’t look ahead to anything. You just try to focus on what you can control.” Teacher and his teammates have Notre Dame in fourth place heading into Saturday’s semis and finals. The Falcons have 46.5 points, with four wrestlers left with individual title hopes and another who could finish as high as third. All five have clinched All-American status Defending champion St. Cloud State (Minn.) leads with 56.5 points, with three wrestlers still in championship contention, and four more who could place as high as third. Wheeling Jesuit (W. Va.) and McKendree (Ill.) are second and third, with 50 and 48 points, respectively. Both teams feature four remaining wrestlers with title chances, and two others who will finish between third and eighth. A first-round pin and an 11-5 quarterfinals decision advanced second-seeded Teacher (24-6) to a semifinal match against nseeded Andrew Dunn of Kutztown (Pa.). “I’m a lot more in shape,” said Teacher, looking back to his two runner-up seasons. “I’ve been working out a lot. I don’t tire as fast. That’s the thing about finishing second. It takes a little while to get over it, but it makes you want to improve.” Notre Dame, coached by Frank Romano, won national championships in 2014 -- at Cleveland's Public Hall -- and in 2017. The Falcons were second in 2016 and again last year to St. Cloud State, which has won three of the last four national titles. Three other Notre Dame wrestlers won first-round and quarterfinal matches: 133-pound sophomore Hunter Bray (27-4); 141-pound sophomore Jose Rodriguez (18-2); 184-pound junior Tony Vezzetti (18-6). "We're so deep in every weight class, 3-deep in every weight class," the unseeded Bray said of the Falcons, after his wins over third- and sixth-seeded opponents. The unseeded Rodriguez defeated Danny Swan of Lindenwood (Mo. ), 8-5, in an active quarterfinal. “I was able to roll in on his legs early,” said Rodriguez, who was 3-0 counting a preliminary match win. “It was tough to adjust, because (his style) is a little different. He was really strong, that’s for sure.” Sixth-seeded Vezzetti, who placed eighth last year, earned a 10-5 quarterfinal decision over St. Cloud’s third-seeded Clarence Helmick. “My goal last year was to get on the podium, and I was able to,” Vezzetti said. “Having that experience helped. It kind of gets the nerves out. You know what to expect.” Notre Dame senior Anthony Dailey will wrestle Saturday after winning a 165-pound consolation match. Falcons' freshman Cornell Beacham, Jr. (174) didn't advance after preliminary and first-round wins. Also not advancing were Notre Dame freshman Roberto Campos (125) and Lake Erie College senior Nick Boggs (157). Ashland senior Bret Romanzak injured an ankle to end his hopes of repeating as the 165-pound champion. He lost a 5-2 decision to Pittsburgh-Johnstown's Devin Austin, then was unable to compete in the consolation round. Romanzak was trailing, 3-2, when he was injured on Austin's takedown as the match was ending. DOUBLE PLAYS? -- Two wrestlers are trying to repeat as individual champions after first-round and quarterfinal wins: Wheeling Jesuit senior Terrance Fanning (285) and Pittsburgh-Johnstown junior Chris Eddins, who won last year at 141 pounds and is now at 149. Fanning defeated Teacher in last year's heavyweight title match. TIMES FOUR -- This is the fourth time a Division II national tournament has been held in Ohio. The 2014 event was held at Cleveland's Public Hall. Tournaments were hosted by Ashland in 1970 and Findlay in 2006. The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Ashland University are the tournament's official hosts. The last 12 months have been a treat for area wrestling fans. The 2018 Division I national tournament was held at Quicken Loans Arena, after the Division III wrestlers competed for national crowns at Public Hall. All six sessions at the Q were sold out, with the three-day event drawing approximately 120,000 fans.<doc-sep>The 2019 NCAA Championships are still several weeks away, and the Big Ten already has locked up close to a quarter of the field. The NCAA released its automatic qualifier allocations for the Big Ten and the other wrestling conferences ahead of each league’s tournament next weekend. The Big Ten was allocated 78 AQ spots, the most of any conference in the country. The AQ spots are awarded based on specific criteria listed at the bottom of this post; the formula then determines how many wrestlers at each weight earn an AQ spot for their conference. Thirty-three wrestlers qualify for nationals at all 10 weights; the NCAA will grant between 25 and 29 AQ spots at each weight. The remaining spots will be filled by at-large bids awarded by the NCAA selection committee after the conference tournaments. Rutgers and the other 13 Big Ten members will compete in Minneapolis on March 9-10 at the conference meet to determine the automatic qualifiers. The NCAA Championships are March 21-23 in Pittsburgh. The Big 12 was a distant second with 53 allocated spots. The Big Ten also received the most spots at nine of 10 weights; the Big 12 had the most at 197 pounds. That weight’s allocation haul has to be the most disappointing from Rutgers’ perspective. The Big Ten will only have five AQ spots at 197, which will make it very tough for Matt Correnti to qualify for nationals after making it to the tournament two years ago (he redshirted last season). The Scarlet Knights did get good news at 141, 165, 174 and 184 pounds, though. There will be nine Big Ten automatic qualifiers at 141 and 165 and eight at 174 and 184, which is more than was projected prior to the announcement. Rutgers has four wrestlers on the bubble at those weights - Peter Lipari (141), Stephan Glasgow (165), Joe Grello (174) and Nick Gravina (184). Here is a full rundown of the allocation numbers: CONFERENCE 125 133 141 149 157 165 174 184 197 HWT TOTAL ACC 2 4 4 4 4 4 3 5 4 3 37 BIG 12 5 5 6 7 1 6 5 5 7 6 53 BIG TEN 9 8 9 6 9 9 8 8 5 7 78 EIWA 4 4 3 5 6 4 5 6 6 4 47 EWL 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 14 MAC 4 3 4 1 5 1 2 2 1 4 27 PAC-12 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 17 SOCON 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 13 TOTAL 29 29 29 28 29 29 27 29 28 29 286 AT-LARGE 4 4 4 5 4 4 6 4 5 4 44 The criteria for automatic qualifier allocations is as follows, via the NCAA: Each qualifying tournament was awarded spots per weight class based on current year data. Each wrestler was measured on the following: Division I winning percentage at the weight class; ratings percentage index (RPI); and coaches' ranking. For each wrestler that reached the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his qualifying tournament was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class. Each qualifying tournament, with automatic qualifying status, was awarded a minimum of one wrestler per weight class, which will go to the tournament champion, even if they did not have any wrestlers reach at least two of the three thresholds. NCAA tournament spots for each qualifying event will be awarded at the tournament based solely on place-finish. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition; quality wins; coaches’ ranking; results against common opponents; RPI; qualifying event placement; and winning percentage. James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.<doc-sep>

Can someone crash the Valencia/Hall party at 174 this year? Can someone crash the Valencia/Hall party at 174 this year? INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA has announced the qualifier allocations for the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships as listed in the chart below. Each qualifying tournament was awarded automatic bids per weight class based on current year data. Each wrestler was measured on the following: Division I winning percentage at the weight class; ratings percentage index (RPI); and coaches’ ranking. POWER RANKINGS: Penn State still dominates, OSU's Nick Piccininni moves up For each wrestler that reached the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his conference tournament was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class. Each conference was awarded a minimum of one automatic bid per weight class, which will go to the tournament champion, even if they did not have any wrestlers reach at least two of the three thresholds. NCAA tournament spots for each qualifying event will be awarded at the tournament based solely on place-finish. After all of the conference tournaments have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 44 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 12, while brackets and seeding will be announced on NCAA.com at 6 p.m. on March 13. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition; quality wins; coaches’ ranking; results against common opponents; RPI; qualifying event placement; and winning percentage. Conference 125 133 141 149 157 165 174 184 197 285 Total Atlantic Coast Conference 2 4 4 4 4 4 3 5 4 3 37 Big 12 Conference 5 5 6 7 1 6 5 5 7 6 53 Big Ten Conference 9 8 9 6 9 9 8 8 5 7 78 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association 4 4 3 5 6 4 5 6 6 4 47 Eastern Wrestling League 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 14 Mid-American Conference 4 3 4 1 5 1 2 2 1 4 27 Pacific-12 Conference 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 17 Southern Conference 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 13 TOTAL QUALIFIERS 29 29 29 28 29 29 27 29 28 29 286 The coaches’ rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each conference. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. To be eligible for the rankings, wrestlers must have participated in at least five matches against Division I opponents in the weight class and have wrestled within the last 30 days. To be eligible for an RPI ranking, a wrestler must have a minimum of 17 Division I matches at a given weight class. For a full list of the coaches rankings by weight class please click here. For the full RPI please click here. Sebastian Rivera of Northwestern (125 pounds), Vincenzo Joseph of Penn State (165), Mark Hall of Penn State (174) and Myles Martin of Ohio State (184) are all ranked No. 1 by both the coaches and in the RPI. RIVALRY WIN: Oklahoma State takes down Iowa 27-12 in huge regular season finale The remaining top ranked wrestlers by the coaches are Stevan Micic of Michigan (133), Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell (141), Anthony Ashnault of Rutgers (149), Jason Nolf of Penn State (157), Bo Nickal of Penn State (197) and Gable Steveson of Minnesota (285). The remaining top-rated wrestlers in the RPI include Daton Fix of Oklahoma State (133), Joey McKenna of Ohio State (141), Matthew Kolodzik of Princeton (149), Ryan Deakin of Northwestern (157), Kollin Moore of Ohio State (197) and Derek White of Oklahoma State (285). LEGACY: 13 college wrestling head coaches who had the best NCAA wrestling careers The 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships takes place at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh March 21-23. Wrestling fans can buy and sell official tickets through the NCAA Ticket Exchange™. This gives ticket holders who are unable to attend a session a place to safely sell their tickets. Buyers can also get their tickets knowing the tickets are authentic and guaranteed, visit https://www.ncaa.com/tickets/wrestling/d1 for more information. A full description of the entire selection process is in the 2019 Division I Wrestling Championships Pre-Championships Manual which is available at NCAA.org.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded the 25th overall pick at the 2018 NHL Draft to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for picks #29 (1st round) and #76 (3rd round). The Maple Leafs traded down in the draft with prospects like Joe Veleno, Akil Thomas, Jett Woo, and Cale Addison on the board. They still have a first round pick, but now they’ve added another pick later on in the draft. “I don’t know how I ended up as a trade-back guy.” - Kyle Dubas, on his draft strategy. Says they will always consider moving up, but that 2015 helped him get an idea for the draft. Happy they moved No. 24 to get Dermott and Bracco, but doesn’t mean they’ll move No. 25. — Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) June 16, 2018<doc-sep>The Toronto Maple Leafs had an interesting draft. It hasn’t even been 24 hours since the Toronto Maple Leafs finished up their draft and I’m already hitting you guys with another article. Bear with me though. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the NHL won’t draft again until next year so I’m trying to squeeze in as much as I can. Anyways, the 2018 NHL Draft just finished up. And it was absolutely wild. Teams made gambles and went off the board almost right away, such as when the Montreal Canadiens took Jesperi Kotkaniemi third overall (projected 8-12th) and the Arizona Coyotes took Barrett Hayton at fifth overall (projected 15-25th). As for my personal mock draft, there were so many off-the-board picks that I didn’t get a single one right after the first two (Dahlin to Buffalo and Svechnikov to Carolina). Without a doubt my worst mock draft ever. Instead of going over the entire first round, I’m going to bring you guys some light on the topic of the players the Leafs drafted through seven rounds and give you an idea on what to expect from them.<doc-sep>DALLAS—When Rasmus Dahlin walked across the stage as the No. 1 overall pick of the NHL draft on Friday night, the 18-year-old defenceman could count himself in rare company. In the 55 years since the NHL instituted its amateur draft, Dahlin is just the second Swede to be taken first overall. So, no pressure. The sole previous wearer of the Tre Kronor deemed worthy of the top pick is Mats Sundin, and he only made it to the hall of fame. “It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” Dahlin said. “So many emotions right now, and I love it.” As rare as Dahlin’s offensive talent appears to be — and it’s certainly rarer than his first name, which he shared with the Maple Leafs’ first-round selection, fellow Swedish defenceman Rasmus Sandin; and 20th pick Rasmus Kupari, the Finnish centreman taken by the L.A. Kings — Dahlin’s arrival came with a familiar feeling. Given he was the choice of the Buffalo Sabres, who haven’t won a playoff game in 11 years, Dahlin is another in a line of teenagers being heralded as the saviour of a wayward franchise. Recent history suggests it’s a tough ask. Even Connor McDavid, the No. 1 pick in 2015, has delivered one trip to the post-season in three seasons in Edmonton. Still, as fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs can tell you, it’s difficult to find truly elite talent without the benefit of a top pick. The Maple Leafs had been looking in vain for a No. 1 centreman ever since Sundin left town in 2008. It wasn’t until they drafted Auston Matthews with the No. 1 selection in 2016 that they found one. It goes without saying Matthews has been a huge reason for the Leafs’ presence in the playoffs in two straight seasons since his arrival. Matthews, of course, isn’t the only reason. Team president Brendan Shanahan deserves credit for setting in motion a series of events that has led to a promising assemblage of talent that seems, even for the historically star-crossed Leafs, too good to screw up. It’s almost hard to fathom that it was just five years ago that the Maple Leafs counted themselves as one of the league’s biggest disasters. A teardown, some heady drafting and ultimately the lottery win that brought Matthews, were all required to undo the mess. The announcement of Toronto’s haul from Friday’s first round — that’s Sandin, not Sundin — probably won’t go down as an epochal moment in franchise history, although one never knows for sure. Rookie GM Kyle Dubas, as was his custom when he ran Toronto’s draft in 2015, traded the 25th pick to St. Louis for the 29th and 76th picks. Sandin is a crafty, highly skilled blue-liner, the second straight Swedish D-man taken by the Maple Leafs in the first round after Timothy Liljegren, who was picked 17th last year. Beyond projecting Sandin’s future, for fans of the blue and white the draft offered a moment to take some pleasure in the relative peace in Leafland. The site of hockey’s biggest mess has long moved elsewhere. Now it’s possibly residing in Montreal. Less than three years after being rewarded with a six-year contract extension, general manager Marc Bergevin is a beleaguered executive scrambling to recover from a series of widely panned trades that have seen the likes of P.K. Subban, Mikhail Sergachev and Alex Galchenyuk leave town for questionable returns. With 30-year-old Carey Price soon to begin drawing from an eight-year contract extension worth $84 million U.S. in the wake of a season that saw Price put up a .900 save percentage, this week Bergevin seemed to acknowledge the possibility that his professional leash is shortening. “I have to look at the long term of the Montreal Canadiens regardless if I’m here or not,” Bergevin said. His selection of Finnish centreman Jesperi Kotkaniemi with Friday’s third overall pick is a nod to that future. Or maybe hockey’s biggest mess lives in Edmonton. Three years since McDavid became the Oilers’ fourth No. 1 pick in a six-year span, fans of the once-proud franchise just watched one of those top selections, Taylor Hall, win the Hart Trophy for the New Jersey Devils. GM Peter Chiarelli can count Hall’s 2016 shipment in exchange for defenceman Adam Larsson among a long list of lamentable moves that have left him in desperate search of solutions to difficult problems. Friday’s 10th-overall selection of Evan Bouchard, the high-scoring defenceman of the London Knights, at least offered hope for long-sought help on the back end. Or surely hockey’s biggest mess makes its home in Ottawa. If Brady Tkachuk, the Senators’ fourth-overall pick, looked slightly forlorn as he took the stage, you’ll understand why. There isn’t a more pitiable figure in Canadian pro sports than Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion. On Thursday, Dorion presumably felt forced to stand in front of a group of reporters and insist that the Senators will be better next season. He was saying this after trading away Mike Hoffman, Ottawa’s top goal scorer when you combine the past five seasons, for pennies on the dollar in the wake of a bizarre harassment scandal. He was saying this while Erik Karlsson, the two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenceman, is widely assumed to be destined for elsewhere via trade. He was saying this before news broke that Craig Anderson, the veteran goaltender, has expressed his interest in moving on from the train wreck. But what else could Dorion say? In attendance-challenged Ottawa, where owner Eugene Melnyk spent a memorable afternoon in December threatening to relocate the team if fans don’t show up, “rebuild” is a dirty word. Toronto’s been down that pain-riddled road and come away stronger. With so many promising pieces already in place, Friday’s draft didn’t come attached with particularly high stakes for Dubas. The real pressure was on the likes of Bergevin, Chiarelli and Dorion. The real pressure, when play resumes in October, will be on Dahlin. Being No. 1 comes with its burdens and its gifts. The Sabres can only hope the weight of the former doesn’t lay waste to the latter. Loading... Loading... Loading... 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The Leafs chose Semyon Der-Arguchintsev with their 76th overall pick, condemning us to years of spelling errors. The Quick Bio SDA, as most writers elect to call him, is a very small, skilled, quite young playmaker born in Moscow, but currently plying his trade with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. He’s only going to turn 18 on September 15, 2018, meaning he was barely eligible for this draft year, so this is certainly a bet on future potential. Still, his vision and playmaking are highly thought-of by observers and there’s certainly a lot to like here. “Boom or bust” came up repeatedly in the instant reaction, and that’s how this one feels to me. Not at all a bad way to go in the third round. The Stats Semyon Der-Arguchintsev from Elite Prospects Season Team League GP G A TP PIM Playoffs GP G A TP PIM Season Team League GP G A TP PIM Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 2014-2015 CIHA Voyageurs Bantam AAA OEBHL 30 13 23 36 6 CIHA Voyageurs Minor Midget AAA OEMMHL 1 0 1 1 0 CIHA Voyageurs Bantam AAA Big Nickel Bantam 4 1 3 4 0 2015-2016 CIHA White Midget AAA HEOMAAA 46 21 49 70 18 Playoffs QC 4 1 3 4 0 Krylia Sovetov Moskva U16 Russia U16 1 0 0 0 0 2016-2017 Peterborough Petes OHL 63 8 21 29 2 Playoffs 12 3 5 8 2 2017-2018 Peterborough Petes OHL 68 12 39 51 18 The Highlights The Links All About The Jersey’s Draft Profile Canucks Army

NFL: Shaquem Griffin 'I'm not just a feel-good story' 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. The Los Angeles Chargers could be without standout running back Melvin Gordon when they face the Tennessee Titans later this afternoon. The team downgraded Gordon's status to questionable yesterday due to a hamstring injury. They also promoted rookie running back Detrez Newsome from the practice squad and released linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee. Gordon was listed on Friday's injury report as a limited practice participant, but he wasn't given a status for today’s game. "I think it was just sore," Chargers coach Anthony Lynn told reporters. "We had a long plane ride. He probably didn't drink enough water. "We were just being extra cautious with him and we just held him out." Last week saw the Seattle Seahawks storm to victory over the Oakland Raiders with a convincing 27-3 win in London. Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles will be in town next Sunday to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. NFL London LIVE - Latest updates from Chargers vs Titans NFL London games: Find out why Chargers vs Titans is being staged in London Why is the NFL in London? Since 2007, the NFL has run the ‘International Series’ which involves usually three to four games being staged in London each year. The Chargers and the Titans battle it out at Wembley today in the second of three games in the 2018 series. The purpose of holding games in London is to grow the sport, however, there are also hopes of eventually having a franchise based in the city. In 2017, NFL executive vice-president Mark Waller said it was "realistic" for an NFL team to make a permanent move to England's capital in the next five years. And last week he confirmed that those plans were still on track for 2022. NFL London games: Chargers vs Titans takes place at Wembley<doc-sep>LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 21: Jonnu Smith of Tennessee Titans is tackled by Jatavis Brown of Los Angeles Chargers during the NFL International Series match between Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Chargers at Wembley Stadium on October 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) The Tennessee Titans fell to the Los Angeles Chargers overseas on Sunday. While the loss stings, it wasn’t all bad for the Two-Tone Blue. On Sunday morning, before all of the other football games started, the Tennessee Titans lost to the Los Angeles Chargers in dramatic fashion. The Titans rallied back from a 17-6 deficit, but came up just short at the end, falling to 3-4 in the process. Before we head into the bye week, let’s talk a little bit about what happened overseas. Mike Vrabel made the right decision to go for it Down one point with 31 seconds left, head coach Mike Vrabel decided to try a two-point conversion and win the game. On the first try, a defensive holding penalty negated a failed attempt and put the ball at the one-yard line for a retry. Vrabel once again went for it, but a Marcus Mariota pass attempt was deflected and the ball fell incomplete. The Titans couldn’t recover the ensuing onside kick and left London with a bitter taste in their mouths. Many people questioned the decision to go for it, but the majority agreed with it. About 64% of Titan Sized twitter followers were on Vrabel’s side, although nearly everyone disagreed with the playcalls on both two-point attempts. While Vrabel’s decision was justified, the playcalls left a lot to be desired; particularly on the second try, when the Titans needed a measly yard and probably should’ve called a run play. Regardless of the outcome, it’s refreshing to have a coach that’s willing to gamble in situations that are more than likely to favor his team. Marcus Mariota is not the problem The interception before halftime was a bad decision. One of the two sacks could’ve been avoided. That’s it. Those are the only two negative plays that QB Marcus Mariota had throughout the whole game. Mariota was pinpoint on Sunday, completing 24-of-32 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. He also added a crucial 38 yards on the ground. He was locked-in, but once again he was let down by his wide receivers, and– at times — by a crumbling interior offensive line. Mariota would’ve completed 26 of his passes for an absurd 81.3 completion percentage had his second-year receivers, Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor, not dropped passes that hit them in the hands (hand in Davis’ case). The first egregious drop was truly rage-inducing. Mariota sees the rush coming from the right side, steps up in the pocket and delivers a perfect strike over a Chargers linebacker and into Taylor’s breadbasket. And Taylor just lets it go right through his hands, eliminating what would’ve been about a 30-yard play. Taywan Taylor lets the ball bounce right off his chest rather than attack it with his hands. Add it to the list. #TENvsLAC pic.twitter.com/g39mBvKiEN — Titans Film Room (@titansfilmroom) October 21, 2018 On that same drive, Davis committed an even worse error. It was utter laziness, as an apathetic Davis decided to try to one-hand a a ball with a ton of zing on it on 3rd and 7. The Titans ended up having to settle for a long 51-yard field goal, which Ryan Succop missed and ended up being the difference between a win and a loss. #Titans drive ends on ANOTHER third down drop by a Titans wide receiver #TENvsLAC pic.twitter.com/GzLztYFC2D — Titans Film Room (@titansfilmroom) October 21, 2018 The Titans’ wide receivers have literally cost them games this year, and Sunday was one of those instances. Has Mariota been great this year? No, but he has been pretty good and he was fantastic on Sunday. If he had a little help from the players who get paid to catch the ball, most fans would be looking at Mariota in a different light. The defense continues to keep the Titans in games If you only watched the first 31 minutes and 14 seconds of this game, you may not believe us, but the Titans defense once again did its job and allowed the offense a chance to get back into the game and nearly win it. The defense gave up two huge plays, both of which were backup safety Kendrick Lewis’ fault. Dane Cruikshank is clearly not deemed ready by the coaching staff, but starter Kenny Vaccaro should be back from injury after the bye week, so those big plays will not happen again. Aside from those two long touchdowns, the Titans defense gave up just a pair of under-30 field goals and forced punts on two of the Charger’s four drives in the second half. The Titans defense has now held opposing offense’s to less than 23 points scored in every single game this season (one of the Dolphins’ touchdowns was a kick return). That amount of points per game is not a lot to ask for your offense to match, but Matt LaFleur’s unit has been stuck in neutral all year. If the Titans could just convert a few of their field goals into touchdowns, the Titans will win a bunch of games over the second half of the season, and that’s largely due to a defense that steps up when needed.<doc-sep>There is plenty of good news in today’s injury report from London. Wesley Woodyard was not given a final injury designation meaning he will play against the Chargers. This is a huge development for this defense. His presence has been missed on a lot of fronts. Quinton Spain and Kenny Vaccaro are both listed as questionable. Both guys made the trip to London, so they at least have a chance to play. Vaccaro will have to wear a brace on his elbow for a couple of weeks if he is able to go. Spain injured his shoulder against the Ravens. Derrick Morgan and Will Compton are both listed as out for this game. The Chargers are pretty healthy. Joey Bosa will miss his 7th straight game. The only other player they have listed as out is Kyzir White. This is a big game for the Titans. Here’s to hoping they show up!<doc-sep>

Sunday's game will mark the first ever for the Tennessee Titans in London. The game will be played at historic Wembley Stadium. The Titans will become the 28th team from the NFL to play a game in London. Let's take a look at how it came about. The Titans look to get back on track on Sunday against the Chargers. Make sure you’re in the loop – take five seconds to Sign up for our FREE Titans newsletter now! The NFL requires a franchise that moves cities — as the Raiders are set to do from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020 — to host an international game as part of that relocation. The Raiders were the home team at Wembley Stadium last week vs. the Seattle Seahawks. Next up in the rotation were the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are set to be tenants along with the Los Angeles Rams in Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park. The stadium is scheduled to be ready for the 2020 NFL season. The Chargers are currently playing their home games in the StubHub Center. The Chargers share the StubHub Center with the LA Galaxy, Los Angeles' MLS team. The home team for Sunday's game is the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers had some say in the process on who they wanted their opponent to be in the London game. Alistair Kirkwood, NFL UK managing director, on how the Titans became that team via the Tennessean. “Tennessee did not come up as an option in many of the previous years. It's not as simple as, you would like Tennessee. You need to actually have the home team that has them on the road schedule in the first place. Then it's the case of can you get agreement with the home team. So for us, we hadn't had the Titans but thankfully we had the opportunity this time round to bring them over. They were on top of our list and the Chargers agreed." Could the Titans host to an international game some day? More from Kirkwood: "I'm not aware of any conversation that has ever taken place through Tennessee about it. There are a whole bunch of teams where either the owner believes that it's not the right thing to do for them but they're supportive of the overall international agenda, or their stadium leases or how they're currently structured prohibits them from doing it." Sunday's game at Wembley Stadium is sold out. The venue sits 85,000 for a football game. Don't expect Wembley to be full of Titans and Chargers fans on Sunday. In fact, you can expect to see fans wearing NFL jerseys from various teams. UK football fans like offense, so expect them to cheer for points and more points in the game. Kickoff is set for 8:30 AM Central time on Sunday. That's 2:30 PM London time.

Kevin Anderson will player either Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final Kevin Anderson has called for a change in the format of final sets in men's Grand Slam matches after a record-breaking Wimbledon win over John Isner. Anderson beat John Isner 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 26-24 in six hours and 36 minutes, making him the first South African man to reach the Wimbledon final for 97 years. But Anderson has little time to rest his aching body before facing either Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final. And he made it clear Grand Slam tournament organisers should consider a rule change - perhaps introducing a tie-break at 12-12 - to make the deciding set of five-set matches less gruelling. "I hope this is a sign for Grand Slams to change. For us to be out there for that length of time. I really hope we can look at this, because at the end you don't feel great," Anderson said. "Just playing like that in those conditions was tough on both of us. "I don't really know what to say right now, playing like that in those conditions was really tough for the both of us," he added. John Isner now holds the record for the longest and second longest ever matches at a Grand Slam "It feels like it's a draw but somebody has to win. John's a great guy. I really feel for him. "I don't know how you can take it playing for so long and coming out the wrong side. "I apologise if I'm not more excited right now. At the end you don't even feel that great out there, but at the same time I'm through to the final." Friday's contest was the longest semi-final ever played at Wimbledon, surpassing the four hours 44 minutes it took Djokovic to beat Juan Martin del Potro in 2013. It was also the second longest match at a Slam, beating the six hours and 33 minutes which Fabrice Santoro spent seeing off Arnaud Clement in the 2004 French Open. We have Wimbledon covered from all angles via our website skysports.com/tennis then click through to our dedicated section skysports.com/tennis/wimbledon. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Our next tennis action comes from the German Open in Hamburg. Watch the action live on Sky Sports Arena from Monday, July 23 from 10am. Never miss the big kick-off or have to deal with interrupted games or low-quality streams with a NOW TV Sky Sports Pass this summer. You'll get exclusive coverage of the 147th Open from Carnoustie, The Ryder Cup, ATP Tour, World Darts Matchplay, and loads more starting from just £7.99. No contract.<doc-sep>Wimbledon 2018 on the BBC Venue: All England Club, Wimbledon Dates: 2-15 July Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs and the BBC Sport website and app; Live Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra commentary; Text commentary online. South African Kevin Anderson won the second-longest match in Wimbledon history by outlasting American John Isner to reach the men's final. They slugged it out on Centre Court for six hours and 36 minutes before the eighth seed came through 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 26-24. The final set alone lasted for two hours and 50 minutes. Anderson, 32, will face either Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final. Djokovic was leading two sets to one when play was suspended at 23:02 BST on Centre Court under the roof lights. The Isner v Anderson match smashed the previous record for the longest semi-final at SW19, when Djokovic needed four hours and 44 minutes to beat Juan Martin del Potro in 2013. It is the third-longest match in tennis history, falling short of the 11 hours and five minutes that it took for Isner to beat France's Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the fifth set in their first-round match at Wimbledon in 2010. The match was also just shorter than a Davis Cup first-round match between Argentina's Leonardo Mayer and Brazil's Joao Souza, which went on for six hours and 43 minutes in 2015. Anderson, who was runner-up to Nadal in last year's US Open final, becomes the first South African man to reach the Wimbledon decider since Brian Norton in 1921. He finally broke the 33-year-old American in the 49th game of the decider after coming close in a couple of earlier games and looked impassive as he held his nerve to secure victory. 'Tough conditions' Anderson and John Isner created history on Centre Court Anderson and Isner are old friends and there was little celebration from the South African as he went over to the other side of the net to embrace his beaten rival. He came into the match having beaten Roger Federer in four hours and 14 minutes on Wednesday - and had been on court for three hours and 29 minutes in his fourth-round win over France's Gael Monfils. In contrast, Isner's longest match at this tournament had been three hours and 46 minutes, against Belgium's Ruben Bemelmans in round two, where he had to save two match points. "I don't know what to say right now. just playing like that in those conditions was tough on both of us," he told BBC Sport. "You feel like it is a draw, but someone has to win. John is a great guy and I feel for him. If I was on the opposite side, I don't know how you take it - getting through something like that is quite different. "I have known John for such a long time, he is a great guy. To be honest he has pushed me through my career and had a great one himself. "I have pushed myself harder because of the success he has had. I have to say congratulations to John on a great tournament and hopefully he can come back stronger." 'It stinks to lose' Isner admitted afterwards that he had been bothered by a blister on his foot but was "My foot was really bothering me with this blister that had come on," he said. "I felt all right out there. I mean, now I feel much worse, once you come down from the match. You have a lot of adrenaline and whatnot, that helps. That can mask a lot of things. "I competed hard. That's what it comes down to. That's what I have to be proud of. It stinks to lose, but I gave it everything I had out there. I just lost to someone who is just a little bit better at the end and I guess he just won a little bit more of the bigger points. "Right now I feel terrible. I work hard at what I do. I feel like I'm in pretty good shape. I think it showed out there today." Is it fair on the players not to have a final set tie-break? Three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe: "I hope this magnificent effort by these two experienced and very fit professionals allows the powers-that-be to make a change. For them and for those players coming up. "I believe that strongly, for our sport to continue to have as many people as possible watching. You can't say playing a tie-break would not have been a magnificent end to this game. The fifth set doesn't have to end six-all, it could be 10-all. "This will have an effect on Anderson's performance on Sunday. Rules should be made to benefit the players." Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman: "When we had the first Isner match, we didn't think we would see that again. But in the context of this game, it's going to be incredibly challenging for Kevin Anderson in the final and I think it will be on the agenda for Wimbledon to discuss after the Championships." Anderson won more points than his rival but served fewer aces How it all unfolded The pair came into the match with a total of 248 aces between them and it was no surprise that serving was to the fore once again. With break-point chances few and far between, the opening two sets went to tie-breaks. Leading 4-3 in the third set, Anderson eventually broke to end Isner's run of 110 consecutive service holds. It left him serving for the set - but he missed his chance and it went to another tie-break, which Isner won. Anderson broke early in the fourth set for a 3-2 lead, only for Isner to break straight back. Waiting to go on Centre Court after Anderson and Isner, Novak Djokovic claimed he was passing the time playing marbles The South African broke again to make it 5-4 - and this time he held serve to send the match to a decider. As fatigue started to creep in for both players, it took until the 15th game before Anderson earned the first break-point chance, which Isner saved with ace number 42. Anderson had another chance in the 21st game - and again in game 34 - but the American held firm. However, he started to look wearier on his serve and - eventually - Anderson seized his opportunity.<doc-sep>Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Kevin Anderson beat John Isner in an extraordinary men's semi-final at Wimbledon 2018 on Friday. The South African prevailed by winning the fifth set 26-24 after six hours and 35 minutes. The epic encounter goes down as the tournament's longest ever semi-final. It is also the second longest match ever played at Wimbledon: Anderson showed little signs of fatigue despite needing five sets to beat defending champion Roger Federer in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. He will go on to play either Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final. The second semi-final did not start until late in the evening due to the length of Anderson's match. Play was suspended at 11 p.m. local time with Djokovic leading Nadal by two sets to one. The two men will return on Saturday to finish their match. (8) Kevin Anderson bt. (9) John Isner 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 26-24 (2) Rafael Nadal vs. (12) Novak Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (9), play suspended Video Play Button Videos you might like Anderson's match with Isner always looked as if it might go the distance. It did not disappoint as the two big servers found opportunities to break rare. The first three sets all went to a tie-break with Anderson claiming the opener, before Isner hit back and took the next two to move ahead. The first break of serve did not arrive until the third set when Anderson finally made the breakthough. After 110 consecutive holds Isner was finally broken, per sports journalist Reem Abulleil: Incredibly the American hit straight back on his way to winning the third set. The fourth set was more open and went Anderson's way to set up the crucial decider. The records continued to tumble in a mesmerising match dominated by serve: As the match ticked past the six-hour mark Anderson started to earn break points, but a stubborn Isner kept coming up with the goods when it mattered. Anderson kept pushing and even managed to stay in a rally after falling and playing a left-handed shot: The pressure on Isner eventually told. A tired forehand wide on match point gave Anderson victory and a place in the final. The South African showed little emotion after his win but wants to see the format of Grand Slam tournaments changed in the wake of his epic match, per Christoper Clarey at the New York Times: The match meant a late start for Nadal and Djokovic under a closed roof on Centre Court. Djokovic began strongly and put his opponent under pressure from the off. His aggression paid dividends as he earned a break at 4-3 on his way to clinching the opener. Tennis commentator David Law suggested that meant bad news for Nadal: The Serb was dominant and had break points in the first game of the second set, but Nadal showed all his fighting qualities to hang on. Djokovic then let his level drop and allowed Nadal to break and move 3-1 up. It was a poor service game which left him roaring in frustration, but he hit straight back with a superb forehand crosscourt winner. Nadal was not to be denied as the quality of the match moved up a notch. A few errors crept into Djokovic's play and Nadal took full advantage, moving 4-2 up with a superb forehand winner. The Spaniard showed a few signs of tension as he tried to serve out the second set. Djokovic did have break points but could not convert as the second seed levelled it up. The tension increased in the third set with both players aware they would have to finish at 11 p.m. Still, the two former Wimbledon champions were playing at a high level, per Law: Djokovic managed to take the advantage by claiming an exciting tie-break, despite Nadal having chances to take it. Wimbledon confirmed when the match will resume: Nadal has work to do on Saturday if he is to reach his first Wimbledon final since 2011. Djokovic is in good shape to progress to a final against Anderson, and it will need all of the Spaniard's powers of recovery to beat his opponent from here.<doc-sep>

KEVIN Anderson and John Isner called for grand slam chiefs to introduce a cut-off point for final set marathons after their Wimbledon semi-final entered the record books as the second longest ever singles match at a major. Anderson survived Saturday morning’s incredible endurance test, beating Isner 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 26-24 in six hours and 36 minutes. The final set lasted just five minutes short of three hours. The 32-year-old Anderson is the first South African man to reach the Wimbledon final for 97 years. But he has little time to rest his aching body before facing Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s final. And he made it clear grand slam tournament organisers should consider a rule change — perhaps introducing a tie-break at 6-6 — to make the deciding set of five-set matches less gruelling. “I hope this is a sign for grand slams to change. For us to be out there for that length of time. I really hope we can look at this, because at the end you don’t feel great,” said Anderson who has been on court for over 21 hours at these championships. He had also gone to five sets to beat eight-time champion Roger Federer in the quarter-finals, winning the decider 13-11. “Just playing like that in those conditions was tough on both of us,” he said. “If I was on the opposite (losing) side I don’t know how you take it. “I have to recover as much as I can for the final now.” Isner previously won the longest ever grand slam singles match against Nicolas Mahut, lasting 11 hours and five minutes over three days in the 2010 Wimbledon first round. The 33-year-old agreed with Anderson that all slams should introduce a tiebreak in the final set and fall in line with the US Open. “I agree with Kevin. I personally think a sensible option would be 12-all,” said Isner, who was bidding to reach his first slam final at the 41st attempt. “If one person can’t finish the other off before 12-all, then do a tiebreaker there. I think it’s long overdue. “Rafa and Djokovic, I don’t even know, can they finish tonight? They’re getting on the court at 8:15pm (London time), whatever it is. We’re out there playing for seven hours. You know, it’s tough. “I’m a proponent of changing that rule, for sure. I think it needs to be done.” Isner finished the tournament with a record 221 aces. Until Saturday, he had not dropped serve until Anderson halted that run at 110 service games in the third set. “I feel pretty terrible. My left heel is killing me. I have an awful blister on my right foot. I’ve felt better before,” said Isner, who had also been hoping to be the first American man in a slam final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009. “You know, a few days’ rest, maybe more than that, and I’ll recoup.” Isner said being part of yet another record-breaking match did not help ease his pain. “That’s no consolation to me. It’s not. I’m not going to hang my hat on that, for sure,” he said. The six-and-a-half hour epic stunned the tennis world as fans and the media alike reacted with pure admiration at what the players had put themselves through. The crowd gave both men a standing ovation after Anderson had wrapped up the match. Outstanding effort @KAndersonATP & @JohnIsner Hats 🎩 off .. Both winners and tough to be on the other end. Kevin backing up after his comeback with @rogerfederer , wow . Enough balls hit , even got a left hander in. — roger rasheed (@roger_rasheed) July 13, 2018 Amazing effort from Kevin Anderson and John Isner, who played with intensity for 6 hrs 36 minutes. Anderson with an all-time back-to-back: Beats Federer 13-11 in the 5th, and Isner 26-24 in the fifth to reach first #Wimbledon final. — Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) July 13, 2018 What absolutely amazing 😉 effort from both both guys congratulations 🎊🍾🎉 to big Ando @Wimbledon final — Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) July 13, 2018 Kevin Anderson wins a marathon (run by a pretty slow marathon runner), beating John Isner 7-6(6), 6-7(6), 6-7(9), 6-4, TWENTY SIX-TWENTY FOUR. Six hours, 36 minutes. Incredible. Anderson awaits Djokovic or Nadal in the #Wimbledon final. — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 13, 2018 One hell of an effort by John Isner today, and incredible that he stopped to sign autographs after that brutal loss.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil giant in a dramatic move designed to empower the opposition and cripple the government of President Nicolás Maduro by preventing the proceeds of U.S. crude sales returning to Caracas. The sanctions on Petróleos de Venezuela SA, the South American country’s main exporter, are the culmination of a two-year pressure campaign, and are an attempt to funnel income from the country’s biggest revenue generator into the hands of opposition leader Juan Guaidó. It follows President Trump’s decision last week to recognize Mr. Guaidó as the nation’s legitimate head of state, and is by far the most powerful action so far to force Mr. Maduro to relinquish control of the country and allow new elections. Juan Guaidó, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, said his parallel administration will also name new boards of directors for state-run PdVSA and Citgo. Photo: Oscar B. Castillo/Fractures Collective for The Wall Street Journal “Today’s designation of PdVSA will help prevent further diverting of Venezuela’s assets by Maduro and preserve these assets for the people of Venezuela,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at the White House. Mr. Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, said Monday’s effort would block $7 billion in assets and deprive Caracas of $11 billion in funds from exports during the next year, if the sanctions are maintained. The Treasury Department said PdVSA and its subsidiaries, including the Citgo Petroleum Corp. refining company along the U.S. Gulf Coast, could be removed from the blacklist after “the expeditious transfer of control to the Interim President or a subsequent, democratically elected government.” The Trump administration’s latest actions, including last week’s official recognition, will enable a transitional government immediately to access some $500 million, Mr. Guaidó told The Wall Street Journal in an interview Monday. The funds will help his parallel administration, which is working toward organizing new elections, to finance the import of humanitarian aid in a country ravaged by chronic food and medicine shortages, he said. Mr. Maduro said Washington’s action was aimed at harming Venezuela. “The objective of the U.S. is to take away our wealth,” Mr. Maduro said on national TV. “This wealth belongs to Venezuela.” PdVSA’s oil revenue has been critical for a country in the midst of an economic crisis that has seen riots, spiraling prices for food and medicine, rising mortality and widespread hunger. Mr. Maduro and his top officials have long siphoned billions of dollars from oil coffers into personal accounts, to secure loyalty from top military and other government officials and firm up political control, the U.S. administration and former Venezuelan officials say. If the standoff endures, the U.S. move could prove devastating for Venezuela’s economy, which relies on oil exports for 95% of its hard currency income. The economy has already shrunk by half in the past six years, and the decline in oil income could cause a further contraction this year. While the sanctions automatically include Citgo, Mr. Mnuchin said that they will have minimal effect on U.S. refineries doing business in the area and on U.S. gasoline prices. Crude prices ticked up after the announcement. The Trump administration had long weighed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector, but had refrained from using one of its most powerful economic tools out of concern the action would exacerbate the economic crisis and lend Mr. Maduro ammunition to blame Washington for the nation’s woes. But the swell of support for Mr. Guaidó and his subsequent backing by the U.S., Western allies, and a host of Latin American nations following elections last year that were widely considered fraudulent, created an opportunity to empower the opposition leader by directing the state’s assets into his hands. Venezuela experts say that could encourage military leaders thus far reluctant to defect from Mr. Maduro an incentive to back a Guaidó government. The opposition figure said his administration will take over the government’s foreign accounts to prevent looting of assets by Mr. Maduro and members of his government. “We want to prevent the usurper and his gang from scraping the bottom of the barrel and continue stealing Venezuelan’s money,” Mr. Guaidó said in a statement on Monday. He said his parallel administration will also name new boards of directors for state-run PdVSA and Citgo. The staffs of both companies should remain at their jobs, he added. Mr. Guaidó said the U.S. measure will also help stop the cash-strapped Maduro administration from engaging in the fire sale of assets as it tries to scrounge up funds in the face of international pressure. Following barely veiled threats by Trump administration officials last week, Mr. Bolton said on Monday that the Venezuelan military and security forces should accept the “peaceful, democratic and constitutional transfer of power” in the country. “The United States will hold Venezuelan security forces responsible for the safety of all U.S. diplomatic personnel, the national assembly and President Guaidó,” Mr. Bolton said. “Any violence against these groups will signify a grave assault on the rule of law and will be met with a significant response.” PdVSA has been caught in the political strife. Once one of the world’s pre-eminent oil companies, it has seen its coffers emptied by rampant corruption. Little capital remains for oil-field investments, while technicians have been quitting to flee crime, hunger and hyperinflation. Oil production has plummeted under the tenures of Mr. Maduro and his anointing predecessor, Hugo Chávez, falling to about 1.2 million barrels a day from 3.5 million barrels a day just before Mr. Chávez took power in 1998. A handful of U.S. refineries rely on Venezuelan oil imports, but the U.S. has reduced that dependence by about half over the last decade, according to the Energy Information Administration. Still, America imports about 500,000 barrels a day from Venezuela, even as U.S. crude production is at record highs—topping an average of 11.8 million barrels a day in January, according to EIA estimates. Citgo and Valero Energy Corp. were among the top American importers of Venezuelan crude last year, according to consulting firm Rystad Energy. From the beginning of the Trump administration, critics have chided President Trump for not working more closely with allies. But right now the U.S. is working with allies in Venezuela. WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains. Photo: Getty Valero said it was reviewing the U.S. announcement and would comply with the sanctions. Citgo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. PdVSA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did Venezuela’s mission to the United Nations. Prices at the pump shouldn’t be affected, the Treasury secretary said. “Many of our friends in the Middle East will be happy to make up the supply” as imports of Venezuelan oil are reduced, he said. Oil already en route to U.S. refiners from Venezuela can proceed on that path, Mr. Mnuchin said, adding that Treasury issued licenses that will permit Citgo and other refineries receiving that crude to continue to operate. Revenue from those PdVSA-owned operations will go into a blocked account, Treasury said. The Treasury Department has also allowed for a three-month wind-down period that gives time for businesses on U.S. territory to disentangle from PdVSA and its assets. The department issued special licenses to Chevron Corp., Halliburton Co., Schlumberger Ltd., Baker Hughes and Weatherford International Ltd. to continue operating in Venezuela, which will enable the American firms to maintain access to the country and ensure the nation’s ongoing crude production. “If the people in Venezuela want to continue to sell us oil, as long as it goes into blocked accounts, we will take it,” Mr. Mnuchin said. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t buy it.” —Vivian Salama in Washington, José de Córdoba in Mexico City and Rebecca Elliott in Houston contributed to this article. Write to Ian Talley at ian.talley@wsj.com, Michael C. Bender at Mike.Bender@wsj.com and Kejal Vyas at kejal.vyas@wsj.com<doc-sep>(CNN) — The United States on Monday sanctioned Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, bringing to bear the most significant financial pressure so far on Venezuela’s embattled President Nicolas Maduro. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and national security adviser John Bolton announced the sanctions against Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. – the parent company of the US-based Citgo oil company – on Monday afternoon from the White House briefing room. The measure blocks about $7 billion in assets and would result in more than $11 billion in lost assets over the next year, Bolton said. “The United States is holding accountable those responsible for Venezuela’s tragic decline,” Mnuchin said. “PdVSA has long been a vehicle for embezzlement, for corruption for Venezuelan officials and businessmen. Today’s designation of PdVSA will help prevent further diversion of Venezuela’s assets by Maduro, and will preserve these assets for the people of Venezuela where they belong.” The sanctions will be effective “immediately,” Mnuchin said, and any purchases of Venezuelan oil by US entities would flow into blocked accounts – money the US officials said would be released only to the legitimate leaders of Venezuela. The oil sanctions represent the latest and most significant escalation of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign aimed at ousting Maduro from power. President Donald Trump last week recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela and the US has continued to ramp up pressure on Maduro to resign. Maduro has presided over an economic and political crisis since succeeding Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, with much of the country crippled by hyperinflation, soaring unemployment and a mass exodus of refugees. Announcing the new sanctions, Bolton once again urged the Venezuelan military to abandon Maduro and recognize Guaido’s legitimacy and said the US continues to keep all options on the table until Maduro transfers power to Guaido. “We also, today, call on the Venezuelan military and security forces to accept the peaceful, democratic and constitutional transfer of power,” Bolton said. “Now is time to stand for the democracy and prosperity in Venezuela.” The Venezuelan state-owned oil company was targeted in large part because it has been used as “a vehicle for embezzlement, for corruption” by Venezuelan officials, Mnuchin explained, and the sanctions will have the effect of ramping up the pressure not only on Maduro but on his inner circle who are also said to benefit financially from the state-owned enterprise. In a news release announcing the sanctions, the Treasury Department noted that “a 2014 currency exchange scheme was designed to embezzle and launder around $600 million from PdVSA, money obtained through bribery and fraud.” “By May 2015, the conspiracy had allegedly doubled in amount, to $1.2 billion embezzled from PdVSA,” the Treasury Department said. The action stopped short of a full oil embargo against Venezuela, a step that the Trump administration has also been considering and could still employ at a later date. The action announced Monday is expected to have a smaller impact on US gas prices than a full embargo would. Mnuchin said he does not “expect any big impact in the short term” on the oil market. “I don’t expect that people will see an impact on the gas pumps,” Mnuchin said. But he declined to swear off an oil embargo down the line. “As regards to an embargo, we’re not going to make any comment on that today. We don’t comment on future actions,” he added.<doc-sep>WASHINGTON/CARACAS (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Monday imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuelan state-owned oil firm PDVSA, aimed at severely curbing the OPEC member’s crude exports to the United States and at pressuring socialist President Nicolas Maduro to step down. Russia, a close ally of Venezuela, denounced the move as illegal interference in Venezuela’s affairs and said the curbs meant Venezuela would probably have problems servicing its $3.15 billion sovereign debt to Moscow. Minutes before the sanctions announcement, Juan Guaido, the opposition leader who proclaimed himself interim president last week with U.S. backing, said congress would name new boards of directors to the company and its U.S. subsidiary, Citgo. Guaido, supported by the United States and most countries in the Western Hemisphere, says Maduro stole his re-election and must resign to allow new, fair polls. Maduro, in a live national broadcast on Monday, accused the United States of trying to steal U.S. refining arm Citgo Petroleum, the OPEC member’s most important foreign asset, which also manages a chain of U.S. gas stations. He said Venezuela would take legal actions in response. In the first sign of serious retaliation, three sources with knowledge of the decision said PDVSA had ordered customers with tankers waiting to load Venezuelan crude bound for the United States to prepay for the cargoes or they will be authorized to fill the vessels or leave the ports. The Trump administration sanctions stopped short of banning U.S. companies from buying Venezuelan oil, but because the proceeds of such sales will be put in a “blocked account,” PDVSA is likely to quickly stop shipping much crude to the United States, its top client. “If the people in Venezuela want to continue to sell us oil, as long as the money goes into blocked accounts we will continue to take it, otherwise will we not be buying it,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at a White House briefing. Oil at sea, already paid for, would continue its journey to the United States, he said. White House national security adviser John Bolton said at the briefing the measure would cost Maduro $11 billion in lost export proceeds over the next year and block him from accessing PDVSA assets worth $7 billion. While there are significant exceptions, such as rules that should allow Citgo to keep using Venezuelan crude in U.S. refineries, the sanctions will likely cause some reordering of global oil flows as Venezuela seeks to sell elsewhere. Gulf refineries that use Venezuela’s heavy crude will have to look for alternatives to replace supplies. Despite a sharp decline in oil exports due largely to mismanagement of the industry and the economic crisis Venezuela remains the fourth-biggest vendor of oil to the United States, supplying some 500,000 barrels per day. Citgo, Valero Energy Corp and Chevron Corp are the three largest buyers of Venezuelan crude in the United States. “They are not allowing tankers bound for Valero, Citgo and Chevron to leave Venezuelan ports if not prepaid,” a PDVSA source said referring to a decision by the company’s trade and supply division. Slideshow ( 12 images ) Other exceptions in the sanctions will make it easier for Chevron Corp to keep participating in a joint venture in Venezuela, and allow U.S. entities in Venezuela to keep buying PDVSA gasoline. VITAL SECTOR In Moscow, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak said Venezuela could struggle to service its debt to Moscow. Slideshow ( 12 images ) “There will probably be problems. Everything now depends on the army, on the soldiers and how faithful they will be to their duty and oath. It is difficult, impossible to give a different assessment,” he said on Tuesday. The Kremlin condemned the U.S. sanctions as illegal interference in Venezuela, while Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they looked like an attempt to confiscate Venezuelan state assets. The sanctions, contained in an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, freeze U.S.-based assets of PDVSA, Venezuela’s largest source of revenue. The Trump administration had long held off on targeting Venezuela’s vital oil sector for fear that it would hurt U.S. refiners and raise oil prices for Americans. White House officials had also expressed concern about inflicting further hardship on the Venezuelan people. The latest sanctions appear to seek to build on the momentum mounting in recent weeks against Maduro at home and abroad. U.S. officials said the sanctions on PDVSA were intended to prevent Maduro’s government from siphoning off funds from the oil company to maintain his grip on power. Mnuchin said oil supplies were sufficient to ensure no significant impact on U.S. gas prices in the short term. Even though the Venezuelan military has shown no sign of abandoning Maduro, Bolton said: “Our assessment based on numerous contacts on the ground is that the rank and file of the Venezuelan military is acutely aware of the desperate economic conditions in the country and we think they look for ways to support the National Assembly government.” Countries around the world have recognized Guaido, the National Assembly speaker, as Venezuela’s rightful leader, and the United States vowed to starve Maduro’s administration of oil revenue after he was sworn in on Jan. 10 for a second term that was widely dubbed illegitimate. Maduro has promised to stay in office, backed by Russia and China, which have bank rolled his government and fought off efforts to have his government disavowed by the United Nations. Bolton reiterated that Maduro would be held responsible for the safety of U.S. diplomatic personnel in Venezuela as well as Guaido and other opposition figures.<doc-sep>

By MATTHEW LEE and DEB RIECHMANN WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday sanctioned Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, ratcheting up pressure on socialist President Nicolas Maduro to cede power to the U.S.-backed opposition in the oil-rich nation in South America. The action means Maduro’s embattled government would lose access to one of its most important sources of income and foreign currency along with around $7 billion in assets of the state-owned company, Petroleos De Venezuela S.A. Hours after the White House announced the sanctions, Maduro went on state TV and called the U.S. action “immoral, criminal.” In words directed at President Donald Trump, he said, “Hands off Venezuela!” The sanctions follow the unusual decision by more than 20 countries, including the U.S., to recognize the opposition leader of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the interim president of Venezuela. Maduro was re-elected last year in an election widely seen as fraudulent. The once prosperous nation has been in an economic collapse, with several million citizens fleeing to neighboring countries. “We have continued to expose the corruption of Maduro and his cronies, and today’s action ensures they can no longer loot the assets of the Venezuelan people,” national security adviser John Bolton said at a White House news conference to announce the sanctions with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Bolton said he expects Monday’s actions against PDVSA — the acronym for the state-owned oil company — will result in more than $11 billion in lost export proceeds during the next year. Oil production — the lifeblood of Venezuela’s economy — has been collapsing for years. Despite sitting atop the world’s largest reserves, Venezuela currently pumps just a third of the 3.5 million barrels a day it did when the late Hugo Chavez took power in 1999. The nation’s refining capacity has also declined because of poor maintenance and lack of skilled personnel. That has left it reliant on Citgo, the Houston-based refining arm of PDVSA, to refine the oil and send gasoline back to Venezuela to meet domestic needs. “They have just lost that source,” said Russ Dallen, managing partner of Caracas Capital, a brokerage company. Venezuela is very reliant on the U.S. for its oil revenue, sending 41 percent of its oil exports to the U.S. Maduro can divert the roughly 500,000 barrels per day of oil currently being sold to Gulf Coast refineries to markets in Russia, China, India, Malaysia and Thailand. But processing international financial transactions is hard without going through the U.S. or European banks. Transport costs would also jump because Venezuela’s ports aren’t well-equipped to load supertankers for transporting oil to distant markets. That means the country, which depends almost entirely on oil exports for hard currency, will be able to purchase even less food and other imports, potentially worsening shortages and deepening its economic collapse. Outside the PDVSA headquarters in Caracas, office workers lining up to board red company buses were seeking information about the immediate impact of the U.S. sanctions. As he hurried home with his two children, one employee told The Associated Press that the sanctions signaled tough times ahead. “Things are going to get difficult,” said the man, who refused to identify himself by name because he feared reprisals from the company. “The United States is one of the few buyers who pays for the oil up front, and it’s probably where most of our income comes from.” Mnuchin said any money that U.S. entities use to buy Venezuelan oil will go into a blocked account in the United States, not the Maduro government. He said if PDVSA wants to see the sanctions lifted, there would have to be a speedy transfer of control to the interim, U.S.-backed president and a democratically elected government that is “committed to taking concrete and meaningful actions to combat corruption.” He said the Treasury Department has taken steps to allow refineries to continue importing oil from Venezuela temporarily. Also, he said Citgo will be able to continue importing oil as long as the revenue is sent to the blocked account in the United States. “This is a country that is very rich in oil resources,” Mnuchin said. “There is no reason why these resources shouldn’t be used for the economic benefit of the people there.” Mnuchin said he did not expect the sanctions would cause U.S. consumers to see higher prices at gas pumps.

A banner at the NRA’s annual meeting in Indianapolis shows (from left) CEO Wayne LaPierre, legislative director Chris Cox, and president Oliver North, April 27, 2019. (Bryan Woolston/Reuters) Indianapolis, Ind. — As the most dramatic National Rifle Association annual meeting approaches its conclusion, the organization’s board of directors is now forced to confront several interconnected problems. Start with the allegations of “sweetheart deals and opaque financial arrangements.” While NRA members may be instinctively suspicious of reporting coming from The New Yorker, it’s obvious the magazine’s sources are former employees of the NRA and its major public relations and advertising firm, Ackerman McQueen. Some sources offered their criticism on the record. (“Most (NRA) staffers think that Ackerman is too expensive,” Aaron Davis, who spent a decade working in the NRA’s fund-raising department, told me. “They think they’re just using the NRA to make a massive profit.”) The NRA’s recent lawsuit against Ackerman McQueen, demanding access to documents about how the firm is spending its money on behalf on the NRA public relations efforts, indicates that at least some people within the organization think the allegations of financial improprieties and mismanagement are a genuine concern. Advertisement Oliver North is departing as NRA president; his farewell letter indicated that he still feels loyal to the membership but offered an ominous warning. He said that in September 2018 NRA board members and donors expressed concern to him about the amount of money paid to Ackerman McQueen. According to North, they told him they wanted a full accounting, and that they had been rebuffed by the firm repeatedly. “A series of articles in The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal and New York Times alleged financial mismanagement by senior NRA officers. If true, the NRA’s nonprofit status is threatened… There is a clear crisis. It needs to be dealt with immediately and responsibly.” No longer formally connected to the organization, and indicating that he’s been pushed out, he may be eager to publicly offer a version of events deeply unflattering to NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre. But the New Yorker article cited two NRA sources who contended North was paid roughly a million dollars a year through Ackerman, to produce a television show that so far has produced only three episodes. Some may ask whether North was benefitting from the costly relationship with Ackerman that now concerns him so much. Does Wayne LaPierre stay on as executive vice president? The current mess developed on his watch, and North accused LaPierre of charging more than $200,000 of wardrobe expenses to an NRA vendor. (LaPierre said the expenses covered a period going back 15 years – but that still comes out to $13,333 per year on wardrobe expenses.) Advertisement The 76-member board will debate LaPierre’s fate when it meets Monday. Suspending or ousting LaPierre would require three-quarters of the board to vote for his removal, according to the NRA’s bylaws, a high bar to clear. But according to those same bylaws, “no vote on removal may be taken unless at least fifteen days notice in writing shall have been given to the officer of the proposed removal and of any charges preferred if the proposed removal is for cause.” The bylaws also require the officer threatened with removal to be “accorded a full hearing and may be represented by counsel.” LaPierre fended off a challenge back in 1997 as well. Judging from the reaction to LaPierre’s remarks at the convention, many of the rank-and-file members who attended still enthusiastically support him, and he enjoys a reservoir of goodwill. One big question the board of directors will have to resolve Monday is who will replace North as the organization’s president. One figure to watch is former congressman Allen West, who told the Washington Free Beacon’s Stephen Gutowski that the NRA needs an “internal audit” and that “ it’s very important that the board reassert more of its control and power based upon the bylaws so that we don’t have any of these, you know, surprises that pop up.” New York state attorney general Letitia James is probably going to make the impending investigation as lengthy, painful and embarrassing as possible for the NRA. As Tim Mak lays out, the NRA can’t simply dissolve its charter and registration from New York to a state with a friendlier attorney general. The NRA’s board of directors may prefer to enter the investigative phase with new leadership, unconnected to the current allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Can the relationship between the NRA and Ackerman McQueen recover? (Considering how LaPierre accuses Ackerman McQueen of trying to oust him, probably not if LaPierre remains as executive vice president.) If the NRA cuts ties to Ackerman, does NRATV disappear entirely? Does the NRA go out and hire a new company to produce programming, or decide to produce it in-house? If James’ investigation finds serious financial impropriety, how severe would the legal consequences be? (Investigations launched by James’ predecessor led to the dissolution of the Trump Foundation.) And if the NRA is spending so much time, energy and money dealing with this investigation… how much will be left over to focus upon the 2020 elections?<doc-sep>New York Attorney General Letitia James has opened an investigation into the tax-exempt status of the organization, which is chartered in New York, though she has not specified what possible violations there might be. James has issued subpoenas as part of the investigation, and sent letters Friday telling the NRA, its charitable foundation and other affiliated organizations to preserve their financial records. James is “focused on enforcing the rule of law,” her office said Monday. “In any case we pursue, we will follow the facts wherever they may lead. We wish the President would share our respect for the law.”<doc-sep>INDIANAPOLIS— The National Rifle Association, facing internal turmoil over its financial management, increasingly partisan tone, and legal threats from government regulators, beat back efforts to overhaul its operations. Wayne LaPierre, the public face of the gun lobbying group for decades, fended off backlash and won re-appointment Monday as the gun lobby's CEO. It was unclear if the debate that has roiled the 5-million-member organization in recent weeks would still lead to significant changes in its operations. In recent days, retired Lt. Col. Oliver North lost a bid for a second term as president and the next likely successor was passed over in favor of Carolyn Meadows. But most of the board remained intact and despite a very public tussle with its longtime public relations firm, which has received tens of millions of dollars to steer its message, the board did not formally sever ties with it. Despite the turmoil, LaPierre struck a cheery tone in a statement after the board meeting: "United we stand. The NRA board of directors, our leadership team, and our more than 5 million members will come together as never before in support of our country's constitutional freedoms." Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president and CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA), speaks at the NRA annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 26, 2019. Lucas Jackson / Reuters For the past two decades, the NRA has faced criticism from among its ranks that its leaders had become corrupted by the millions of dollars flowing into its coffers. The criticism has included allegations of self-dealing and excessive personal spending. Now the pressure has increased, with New York's attorney general opening an investigation that could threaten the group's tax-exempt status. The NRA's charter was originally filed in New York, giving authorities there broad latitude to investigate its operations. Newly elected New York Attorney General Letitia James has made no bones about her dislike of the NRA, calling it a "terrorist organization." "I never thought this thing would ever get to the level it got," Joel Friedman, an NRA board member since 2002, told The Associated Press before the 76-member board met to decide whether organizational changes were needed to stave off punitive action by New York authorities. Just last year, an investigation by the previous New York attorney general led President Donald Trump's charitable foundation to dissolve amid allegations it was operating as an extension of Trump's business empire and presidential campaign. The prospect of scrutiny by New York authorities led the NRA last year to hire an outside law firm and to ask its vendors to provide documentation about its billings. The NRA in recent weeks sued Ackerman McQueen, the Oklahoma-based public relations firm that has earned tens of millions of dollars from the NRA since it began shaping the gun lobby's fierce talking points in the past two decades. The NRA accused Ackerman McQueen of refusing to provide the requested documents. Ackerman McQueen turned the NRA from an organization focused on hunting and gun safety into a conservative political powerhouse. The firm created and operates NRATV, an online channel whose hosts often venture into political debates not directly related to firearms, such as immigration and diversity on children's TV. The NRA has faced some financial struggles in recent years, losing a combined $64 million in 2016 and 2017, and that has prompted some to question whether the large sums spent on public relations and NRATV are worth the money. In its lawsuit, the NRA said some of its members have questioned NRATV's weighing in on "topics far afield of the Second Amendment." The turmoil boiled over Saturday when retired Lt. Col. Oliver North, a conservative stalwart aligned with the public relations firm and host of NRATV's "American Heroes" segment, was essentially ousted from his role as NRA president after trying to force LaPierre out. According to LaPierre, North tried to strong-arm him into resigning by threatening to expose damaging information about the NRA's finances — specifically, allegedly excessive staff travel expenses — as well as sexual harassment allegations against an employee and accusations that LaPierre had charged tens of thousands of dollars in wardrobe purchases to his expense account. North's own contract with Ackerman McQueen raised alarm bells within the NRA about the costs and possible conflicts of interest. LaPierre, in a letter to the board, noted that of the 12 TV episodes Ackerman McQueen promised to deliver, only three have aired. NRA insiders in recent weeks have described an operation with warring factions, a place where some are compensated richly, driving expensive cars and wearing fancy clothes, while most rank-and-file are paid so little that they hold down more than one job and risk being ostracized or fired if they question expenses. "Right now, it looks like the NRA has become like a self-licking ice cream cone," Allen West, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, conservative commentator and relatively recent NRA board member said in a video interview with the website Tactical Rifleman. "A lot of money is being raised just to scratch the backs of certain — a cabal of cronyism." "We've got one shot to fix this, and we've got one shot to make it right, which means there probably does have to be some personnel leadership changes," he said. "There also definitely has to be organizational reforms." Trump weighed in Monday in defense of the NRA against New York authorities. "The NRA is under siege by Cuomo and the New York State A.G., who are illegally using the State's legal apparatus to take down and destroy this very important organization, & others. It must get its act together quickly, stop the internal fighting, & get back to GREATNESS - FAST!" he tweeted.<doc-sep>INDIANAPOLIS — After a power struggle roiled the National Rifle Association’s annual convention over the last few days, the group’s board unanimously re-elected Wayne LaPierre as chief executive on Monday and selected a new president to replace Oliver L. North, attendees at its annual board meeting said. The moves ended a bitter internal fight that pitted Mr. North, a right-wing celebrity since he emerged in the Iran-contra scandal, against Mr. LaPierre, the best-known face of the gun rights movement. They came as the N.R.A. is facing an array of challenges, including an investigation by the New York attorney general into the group’s tax-exempt status, and the new financial strength of the gun control movement. In a statement on Monday, Mr. LaPierre said he was “humbled by the board’s vote of confidence and its support of my vision for the future.” Mr. North’s successor is Carolyn D. Meadows, a longtime member who was also elected unanimously, as the group did not seek to replace Mr. North with another celebrity. The N.R.A.’s presidency historically has been a largely ceremonial post, though Mr. North had sought to make it a paid one. The power struggle began last Wednesday when Mr. North warned that unless Mr. LaPierre resigned, one of the N.R.A.’s top contractors would release “a devastating account of our financial status, sexual harassment charges against a staff member, accusations of wardrobe expenses and excessive staff travel expenses,” according to details provided in a letter Mr. LaPierre sent the next day to the N.R.A. board.<doc-sep>

The Latest on the turmoil in the top ranks of the National Rifle Association(all times local): 4:05 p.m. Wayne LaPierre, the fiery head of the National Rifle Association, survived a challenge to his leadership on Monday. The NRA's board of directors met in executive session on Monday. A spokesman for the NRA says that LaPierre was re-elected as its CEO. The group also elected Carolyn Meadows as its new president. The decision to keep LaPierre at the helm was announced through the NRA's magazine, American Rifleman. It was confirmed to The Associated Press by NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam. The leadership elections came just two days after retired Lt. Col. Oliver North relayed to a stunned gathering of members that he would not serve a second term and had essentially been ousted. North had sought LaPierre's resignation and urged members to examine the NRA's finances and operations. LaPierre has countered that North was seeking to extort him. He has refused to step aside. ___ 3:30 p.m Under fire from inside and out, the National Rifle Association is holding a closed-door meeting of its board of directors to decide whether it's time for a change in leadership and direction. The organization is facing allegations from within of self-dealing, excessive spending and other financial mismanagement. And New York's state attorney general has opened an investigation that could threaten the NRA's tax-exempt status. The 76-member board is expected to decide whether organizational changes — including the removal of Wayne LaPierre, its CEO and the longtime public face of the powerful gun lobby — need to take place to stave off punitive action by New York authorities. The meeting began Monday and could extend into Tuesday.

Gain a global perspective on the US and go beyond with curated news and analysis from 600 journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more.<doc-sep>Theresa May has won the battle with her Brexiter rebels in the cabinet, but the war will be a long one. She gambled that the Brexit purists – those who gathered on the eve of the Chequers summit at the Foreign Office with Boris Johnson – would be outgunned at Chequers when the full cabinet was assembled. The choreography was impressive – May locked her ministers inside the Buckinghamshire retreat without their phones or special advisers. The final agreement – sent out on behalf of “HM government” came to journalists an hour before advisers had even seen it – and before they could get in contact with their ministers to know what concessions had been made. Within the hour, out came a letter to Conservative MPs warning the days of debate over the government’s Brexit position were over. “Collective responsibility is now fully restored,” May warned. The deal clinched with her most difficult members of her cabinet, architects of the leave campaign such as Johnson and Michael Gove, gave May the leverage to demand similarly hardline MPs get in line. Downing Street has been briefing in a strident tone, practically daring hard Brexiter ministers to give it all up to walk down the Chequers drive. The numbers that will matter now are those in her parliamentary party. Some will express predictable fury, though in the hours since the deal was reached, Jacob Rees-Mogg was telling MPs to keep their powder dry. Key will be whether this is a deal that can win over mainstream backbenchers. In recent weeks, a number of Conservative MPs had begun to express frustration that the prime minister was not prepared to face down one side of her party and lead. “I don’t need to see endless presentations on customs options; I just want to be told what we’re doing and see some leadership,” one senior backbencher had complained. In the early hours, some remainer Tory MPs privately said they could not believe their luck. “It is extremely welcome that common regulatory standards will be recognised, particularly since the UK has played a leading role in Europe in setting those standards,” one MP said. Some expressed suspicion that a game was afoot. “Either there has been a pretty big capitulation or [Brexiters] don’t expect to abide by this,” one former cabinet minister said. “I can’t see how they have agreed to this – I think they are buying time.” On Monday, the prime minister will address the 1922 committee of backbenchers, though the timing of the summit means angry MPs will have the weekend to either cool off or come to the boil. “I’ll wait to see if this collective responsibility lasts the weekend,” another MP said. Perhaps just as crucially there are still some concerns about the future deal for UK services, around 80% of the UK economy. The agreement states the UK would “strike different arrangements for services, where it is in our interests to have regulatory flexibility, recognising the UK and the EU will not have current levels of access to each other’s markets”. Allies of the business secretary, Greg Clark, said he had spoken some “hard truths” at Chequers, stressing the need for frictionless trade. He has argued that restricting the ability of British workers to travel within the EU could be as dangerous to the economy as a hard trade border. That argument may have been won on Friday night. The agreement says the UK will seek a “mobility framework” to ensure UK workers can continue to do “fly in-fly out” services, crucial to major businesses like Airbus and Rolls-Royce. May’s battle with her own party is just the beginning. The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, reacted warmly to the agreement. But the EU has already expressed significant scepticism about the original customs partnership proposal, reworked into this new deal, and the opportunities for fraud potentially presented by allowing the UK to collect tariffs on its behalf, even on a relatively small proportion of trade. Switzerland has a single market for goods, with no customs union, but that deal is widely seen by Brussels as one it has no desire to replicate. Should the EU agree such a deal with the UK, without freedom of movement, it could cause significant friction with Switzerland and countries such as Norway who are members of the European Economic Area.<doc-sep>Theresa May has made a breakthrough after securing the cabinet’s agreement on proposals for the UK’s future relations with the EU. She announced from her Chequers country residence that her team of ministers has now reached a “collective position” to take in negotiations with Brussels. Ms May indicated the UK would seek something very similar to a single market for goods and the “facilitated customs arrangement”, or FCA, which Downing Street unveiled earlier in the week. Recommended Chequers is the go to place for British prime ministers in crisis But while the prime minister appears to have sidestepped the prospect of destabilising resignations from her cabinet, the EU’s negotiators have already indicated they will reject anything that seeks to pick and choose which parts of the single market to take part in. Ms May made a statement following hours of discussion at the Chequers cabinet away day, which was still expected to drag into the night afterwards, as ministers hammered out the detail. The prime minister said: “Today in detailed discussions the cabinet has agreed our collective position for the future of our negotiations with the EU. “Our proposal will create a UK/EU free trade area which establishes a common rule book for industrial goods and agricultural products. This maintains high standards in these areas, but we will also ensure that no new changes in the future take place without the approval of our parliament. ✕ Michel Barnier says there is 'serious divergence' between EU and Britain in Brexit talks “As a result, we avoid friction in terms of trade, which protects jobs and livelihoods, as well as meeting our commitments in Northern Ireland.” The Independent understands that the commitment to maintain a “common rule book” means the UK would effectively seek to stay in a single market for goods, for the foreseeable future at least. It is essential to any effort to convince Europe that we should be able to trade with EU countries with ‘frictionless’ borders. Giving parliament the power to diverge from these common rules in the future was crucial to securing the support of Brexiteers for the plan, but any move to do so would be taken in the knowledge that it would cost the UK access to the single market. However, the hope is that the UK could retain the freedom to diverge on regulations for services, something which the EU already said would make any proposal untenable. Earlier in the day, the deal was discussed over a buffet lunch of BBQ chicken thighs, a “wheat-beets-squash” salad and feta, a Chequers estate new potato salad, estate-grown mixed leaves with summer tomato salad and pomegranate dressings. ✕ Theresa May would 'welcome' Brexit moving at a faster pace For desert it was Chequers scones with clotted cream and estate strawberry jam, Graham’s sticky tea loaf and a fruit platter. Ms May went on: “We have also agreed a new business-friendly customs model with freedom to strike new trade deals around the world. “Next week we will be publishing a white paper which will set out more details of how we will be taking back control of our money, laws and borders.” Insiders confirmed that the customs model agreed is the FCA mooted by Number 10 on Wednesday, which would see all imported goods charged the UK tariff at the border, keeping Brexiteers happy. Brexit so far: in pictures Show all 53 1 /53 Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign PA Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: “We send the EU £350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead.” Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Voting day A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Referendum results Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Protesting the result A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading “I’m not leaving” protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures David Cameron resigns British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Theresa May Becomes the new Conservative Party leader Theresa May receives a kiss from her husband Philip, after becoming the new Conservative Party leader on 11 July 2016. May became Prime Minister two days later and although she voted to remain in the referendum was keen to lead Britain’s Brexit talks after her only rival in the race to succeed David Cameron pulled out unexpectedly. May was left as the only contender standing after the withdrawal from the leadership race of Andrea Leadsom, who faced criticism for suggesting she was more qualified to be prime minister because she had children AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of “no deal is better than a bad deal”, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a “tone of trust” between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe.<doc-sep>Get US and UK politics insight with our free daily email briefing straight to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Theresa May narrowly avoided a full-blown Cabinet walkout tonight as she finally revealed an "agreed" Brexit plan. The panicking Prime Minister had feared mass resignations and was even drawing up an emergency reshuffle. But despite weeks of threats to quit, Brexiteer Tories appeared to bottle it at a 12-hour Chequers showdown - which had been dubbed The Body Bag Summit. Mrs May announced a big shift to a 'softer' Brexit after treating ministers to whisky-cured salmon and whisky barrel chips at her country retreat. But within minutes of the announcement tonight, The Times reported that Mrs May told senior allies she would sack Boris Johnson if he seeks to undermine the Brexit negotiating position agreed by her cabinet. (Image: Getty Images Europe) (Image: PA) Brexiteers Boris, Michael Gove and David Davis had previously hinted they were ready to walk. They were even warned they'd have to swap their ministerial cars for a local taxi for the 40-mile trip back to London if they quit. But tonight - while they were still at Chequers, without their phones - Mrs May announced her Cabinet had agreed a "collective position" for future UK negotiations with Brussels. Speaking after the meeting, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the Chequers plan would be assessed to see if it is "workable and realistic". A round of UK-EU negotiations will take place in the week beginning July 16, he added. (Image: Getty Images Europe) The new plan explained - and why the EU could still reject it The vulnerable PM broke the deadlock by coming up with a peace offering for both the Remain and Leave camps. In a bid to solve the Northern Ireland issue, she now wants to keep the UK closely aligned with the EU in a new "free trade area" for goods. This will include sharing a "common rulebook" for all goods including agricultural and food products - which critics had feared would make it harder to get a US trade deal. The PM claimed this will help the UK "avoid friction" in trade - protecting jobs and businesses. But in a desperate bid to prevent Brexiteers resigning, she also said Parliament would keep the right to block future changes to the trading rules. The olive branch to the Brexiteers means Mrs May remains vulnerable - because there is no guarantee the EU will accept her new plan. In a sign of nerves across government, the Cabinet also agreed to "step up" backup plans for a No Deal Brexit. (Image: PA) (Image: PA) More details of the plan The deal also proposes a "common rulebook" with the EU on state aid rules, which left-wing critics - including Jeremy Corbyn - say prevent the government intervening to help crisis-hit industry. On the other hand, Tory Brexiteers could be angry at how courts will intervene in disputes. UK courts, not the European Court of Justice, would rule on disputes in the UK - but would have to pay "due regard" to EU case law in areas with a common rulebook. (Image: Handout) What happens next The Prime Minister now plans to publish a more detailed White Paper next week as she mounts a tour of EU capitals - to persuade leaders to accept it. Speaking tonight after a marathon day of talks at the 16th-century manor house, Mrs May said: "Today in detailed discussions the Cabinet has agreed our collective position for the future of our negotiations with the EU. "Our proposal will create a UK - EU free trade area which establishes a common rule book for industrial goods and agricultural products. "This maintains high standards in these areas, but we will also ensure that no new changes in the future take place without the approval of our Parliament." She claimed this would meet "our commitments in Northern Ireland". The PM added: "Next week we will be publishing a white paper which will set out more details of how we will be taking back control of our money, laws and borders. "Now we must all move at pace to negotiate our proposal with the EU to deliver the prosperous and secure future all our people deserve." (Image: AFP) But Theresa May's position could still be threatened The government insisted the plan would still allow Britain to strike global trade deals - and will end free movement and "vast" EU budget payments. But there will be "appropriate contributions" of cash for "specific areas". And Mrs May could face a backlash for her shift from Brexiteer MPs and millions who voted for Brexit, who believe her plan does not really mean leaving the EU. Tonight, in a sign of the fresh war over Brexit that is looming, Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns said she would "100%" be willing to sign a letter to trigger a leadership challenge. Labour MP Virendra Sharma, a champion of pro-EU group Best for Britain, said: "We're two years on from the referendum and the party of government seems more divided than ever. "It's an embarrassment. A national embarrassment."<doc-sep>

THERESA May has claimed a crushing victory over Brexiteer ministers as she forced her Cabinet to back her vision of a soft Brexit during a crunch summit at her Chequers country retreat. After a marathon all day summit, the Prime Minister hailed a “collective agreement” for a controversial 12 point plan that will tie Britain to Brussels rules for goods and mirror EU judges diktats. 16 Theresa May's Soft Brexit has won at the epic Cabinet summit at Chequers Credit: © MoD/Crown Copyright 16 Theresa May told her ministers to accept her Brexit customs plan Credit: PA:Press Association 16 Here is the PM's 12-point Soft Brexit plan that will tie Britain to Brussels rules A proposed new “UK-EU Free Trade Area” will see a “combined customs territory” set up in a bid to solve the Northern Irish border headache. Under these plans Britain will be forced to collect tariffs on goods on behalf of Brussels - despite firm objections to this from David Davis and Boris Johnson. But there were no immediate walk outs from the government despite criticism from the Leave supporting ministers - to the relief of Downing Street. However one senior Brexiteer said: “This looks to me as though we have reneged on the Referendum.” 16 The members of cabinet and government officials who gathered at Chequers Credit: PA:Press Association Soft Brexit movers and shakers Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt Brexit Secretary David Davis Director of Communications at 10 Downing Street Robbie Gibb Environment Secretary Michael Gove International Trade Secretary Liam Fox International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson Director of Policy in the Europe Unit at the Cabinet Office Catherine Webb Special advisor to the Prime Minister Ed de Minckwitz Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson Home Secretary Sajid Javid Director of the Europe Unit at the Cabinet Office Jonathan Black Deputy Chief Executive of HMRC Jim Harra Education Secretary Damian Hinds Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley Chancellor Philip Hammond Energy Minister Claire Perry Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey Transport Secretary Chris Grayling 16 EU Brexit boss Michel Barnier had earlier opened the door to compromise Credit: Alamy Live News 16 Vote Leave chief and Environment Secretary Michael Gove played a key role in winning the peace for the PM Credit: �2018 Erica Dezonne / i-Images 16 Chequers is the country home of the Prime Minister Credit: Alamy 16 Whitehall sources are surprised no Brexiteer ministers have quit over the deal Credit: AFP 16 Leading Brexiteers had firm objections to key points in the Soft Brexit plan Credit: EPA And critics warned the agreement was a “recipe for total capitulation to Brussels” after a tentative welcoming of the new deal from EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Pro-Brexit groups were scathing of the PM's Brexit blueprint. In a withering assessment Leave Means Leave boss John Longworth said the PM had "totally misled" 17.4million voters and branded her plans a "fake Brexit". He added: We will be controlling neither laws, nor trade, nor borders. A total, humiliating capitulation.” 16 Ministers gathered for hours of talks about the future of Brexit Credit: PA:Press Association 16 Police checking cars this morning at ministers arrived Credit: PA:Press Association 16 Leavers warn the PM's plan smacks of 'fake Brexit' and is a 'recipe for total capitulation' Credit: PA:Press Association/PA Images 16 Pro-EU business interests have welcomed teh PM's Soft Brexit deal Credit: AFP or licensors But Europhile business groups hailed the PM's plans as a "genuine confidence boost". The pro-Brussels Confederation of British Industry said it was proof the Government was listening to warnings from big firms. Vote Leave chief and Environment Secretary Michael Gove played a key role in winning the peace for the PM by siding with her in order to isolate the hardline Brexiteers. The Sun Says: Blank Cheque THE Chequers Summit is a vital step towards Brexit, but there’s a long way to go. There are no done deals. A plan may have been cooked up but it still needs to get past the EU — and the continent’s leaders are showing no sign of compromise. Angela Merkel is already rubbishing our proposal. The Napoleonic Emmanuel Macron thinks he’s a political messiah, and he’d rather see us punished than give up on his federalist promised land. And Michel Barnier’s dangled “concessions” amount to a demand for total UK capitulation. With that level of zeal and stubbornness, it’s no wonder we voted in our millions to leave.

Fortnite Football: All three football pitch locations REVEALED 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. 2018’s most popular game, Fortnite, has made the move onto the Nintendo Switch, letting gamers take their matches out on the go. Fortnite has attracted a huge community of more than 125 million players worldwide, becoming the most played game on the market. Fortnite players are now able to play the shooter on their Nintendo Switch, battling against gamers from other platforms thanks to a new cross-play feature. Sony blocked the feature for PS4 players, stopping gamers on the PlayStation console from playing against other Xbox One and Nintendo Switch players. How does cross-play work and how do you play against Xbox One players? What is Cross-play on the Nintendo Switch and how does it work? Fortnite players now have a wealth of options to play the popular battle royale game, thanks to Nintendo launching a version of the game on their platform. The on-the-go console lets players take their Fortnite games out into the world with them, playing on their commute, or out of the comfort of their living room with friends across the internet. One of the biggest new additions to Fortnite is the inclusion of cross-play, a feature that lets players connect across platforms and consoles to compete. Nintendo Switch has joined the likes of Microsoft, Apple and Epic Games to combine the player base for cross-platform gaming, connecting players from different consoles into the same matches. Fortnite Switch: How do you play Fortnite against Xbox One players on the Switch? Pleasant Park Fortnite treasure map challenge guide: How to solve week 7 Battle Pass task Thu, June 14, 2018 Fortnite 'follow the treasure map found in Pleasant Park' is one of the week 7 challenges. Here is how to solve the new Battle Pass task. Play slideshow YOUTUBE SHUFFLEGAMER 1 of 9 Fortnite 'follow the treasure map found in Pleasant Park' is one of the week 7 challenges Cross-play between consoles has always been a sensitive subject, with both Microsoft and Sony being cautious of allowing gamers to connect between consoles. However, given the growing popularity over Fortnite, Nintendo and Epic Games decided to collaborate. Sony is the only company to have blocked the new initiative, stopping PS4 players from connecting to gamers from some other platforms. The game company has been quiet over the reasons for this, though they cite a “protection of their community” as a driving factor. Nintendo Switch players can connect with Fortnite players from other platforms A spokeswoman for Sony said: “We're always open to hearing what the PlayStation community is interested in to enhance their gaming experience. With... more than 80 million monthly active users on PlayStation Network, we've built a huge community of gamers who can play together on Fortnite and all online titles. "We also offer Fortnite cross-play support with PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices, expanding the opportunity for Fortnite fans on PS4 to play with even more gamers on other platforms. We have nothing further to add beyond this at this point." Fortnite was recently announced to be making its way to Android devices in the summer, adding the last available device for players to battle their way through Fortnite. How do you connect your Nintendo Swtich Fortnite account with Xbox One players?<doc-sep>A new patch is out now for Epic's popular battle royale game Fortnite. Version 4.4.1 rolled out June 14 on all platforms, and what appears to be the most notable thing is that Shopping Carts are back. Epic removed Shopping Carts earlier this week after the studio discovered an unspecified issue with them. Epic took a few days to investigate the issue and now it found a fix. There is still no word on what the issue was, however. Shopping Carts represent the first rideable vehicle (of sorts) in Fortnite. The patch notes also confirm that matches from the recent E3 2018 Pro-Am event are now available to watch in Battle Royale. And new for Save the World is a player-reporting feature. Posting on Reddit, Epic said the new 4.4.1 patch was not automatically downloaded by everyone on Nintendo Switch, and that caused some problems. People who don't grab the update automatically run the risk of experiencing matchmaking issues. If you don't have the update, you can trigger the download manually by pressing + with Fortnite selected and then choosing "Software Update." Fortnite: Battle Royale launched for free on Switch this week immediately after Nintendo's E3 briefing. The game ran into some issues right away, but those seems to be largely sorted out. For more on Fortnite's Switch edition, check out GameSpot's hands-on preview here. The game has been a huge hit already, passing 2 million downloads right out of the gate. The Switch edition supports cross-play with the Xbox One, PC, and mobile versions, but Sony won't allow it.<doc-sep>

Epic Games has announced a new content update for Fortnite which brings fixes to the Nintendo Switch version of the game. The battle royale sensation gets the Fortnite version 4.4 content update for PS4, Xbox One, PC, iOS, and Nintendo Switch. No download size has been revealed just yet. The Fortnite version 4.4 content also brings audio fixes, network debug statistics HUD UI option for the Xbox One, and improved Discord integration along with new weapons like the Stink Bomb. Furthermore, a fix has been implemented to prevent crashing that could happen when buying items from the in-game shop. Fortnite Nintendo Switch performance update Fixed performance issues on Switch related to frequently called time functions during gameplay (especially when skydiving). Level streaming optimisation to smooth out some hitches during skydiving on Switch. Hopefully this is the start of many updates to the Nintendo Switch version of Fortnite. At the moment its far from the best version of the game with the iOS editions faring better in almost every situation. Fortnite on Nintendo Switch Is the Worst Way to Play Epic Games' Battle Royale Sensation Right Now Last week Nintendo announced Fortnite for the Nintendo Switch has hit two million downloads in less than 24 hours. A colossal number by any stretch. More so when you consider that the Nintendo Switch has been out for a little more than a year with an install base that's nowhere close to the PS4 or Xbox One. "Fortnite’s launch went extremely well — we had more than two million downloads in less than 24 hours," Reggie Fils-Aime, President and Chief Operating Officer of Nintendo of America, told Polygon in an interview at E3 2018. "I think that speaks to the power of the franchise, the engagement of our players and the resonance of being able to play it anytime, anywhere." Also keep in mind that this is the Fortnite Battle Royale mode and not Save the World, which Epic Games has no plans of bringing to the Nintendo Switch. It's the game's cooperative experience and is currently in paid early access on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It makes sense considering most of Epic's efforts for Fortnite have gone towards the battle royale component. "We have no plans for Save the World on Switch," a representative for Epic Games told Gamespot. If you're a fan of video games, check out Transition, Gadgets 360's gaming podcast. You can listen to it via Apple Podcasts or RSS, or just listen to this week's episode by hitting the play button below.

EA brought a number of trailers for some of its biggest games in development, including multiple trailers for Anthem and Unravel 2. For every story out of the event, head over to our full EA Play at E3 2018 coverage page. For a quick look at what went down, here are all the trailers that played during the press conference. Anthem Anthem’s trailer focuses on a storm that threatens to wipe out an entire civilization. The anthem is the only thing that remains, says a player in the game, as humans take on giant extra-terrestrial looking creatures. On a world left unfinished by the gods, humanity struggles to survive in a savage environment. Equipped with incredible Javelin exosuits, a faction known as the Freelancers seeks to tip the balance in mankind’s favor. Command and Conquer: Rivals Command and Conquer: Rivals is EA’s mobile addition to the long-running franchise. The game should appeal to RTS and mobile fans who are looking for a new game to get their hands on. Sea of Solitude Sea of Solitude is best summed up by Polygon’s own Colin Campbell, who said the trailer and game looked like “a lovely tale of sadness and suffering.” Unravel 2 Unravel 2 marks the return of everyone’s favorite — or perhaps least favorite — character constructed from yarn. The trailer for the platform’s sequel looks like it will take many of its aesthetic cues from the first game, which was released in 2016. FIFA 2019 The UEFA Champions League is coming to FIFA 19. It’s quite possibly one of the most important announcements for FIFA fans who have been asking for this mode for years. Madden NFL 19 It simply wouldn’t be an EA Play event at E3 without a trailer for a new Madden game. NBA Live 19 The new trailer for NBA Live 19 follows the Golden State Warrior’s 4-0 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and securing the trophy for yet another year. It’s a good time to be a fan of both. Origin Access Premiere A new subscription service for PC fans was announced during EA’s keynote. Details can be found in the trailer. Battlefield 5 multiplayer More Battlefield 5 footage will be shown at Xbox’s keynote presentation on Monday, but we did get a quick look at the game’s multiplayer mode. Another look at the multiplayer mode can be seen in this NVIDIA trailer, below.<doc-sep>It's also been revealed Anthem will offer co-op in a shared world experience, allowing you to team up with friends. However, there is also a main hub for story and side quests. We also got a look at the game in action. From what was shown in the demo, it appears Anthem will be a mix of Destiny and Mass Effect. Anthem will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order We finally got confirmation on the name of the new Star Wars game by Respawn. Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order is set "during the dark times, when the Jedi are being hunted", and between the third and forth films. Though we didn't get any more details on the upcoming title, we do know it's due for release Holiday 2019. Battlefront V Surprise, surprise, Battlefield V will have a Battle Royale mode which will release shortly after the game's launch on October 19. No further details about Battle Royale mode were revealed but we did get more details about the main game. Apparently, you'll be able to dive and smash through windows, move (previously stationary) weapons around the battlefield, customise soldiers, vehicles, and weapons, and the destruction system is back (so no hiding from tanks.) EA Dice also confirmed there will not be microtransactions in Battlefield V.<doc-sep>EA Play 2018 - New Star Wars game, FIFA 19 and Battlefield 5 Battle Royale E3 reveals? 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. EA Play 2018 is the first major gaming event of the E3 2018 festivities. EA Play 2018 marks the third year that the California-based gaming giant has done their own thing outside the official E3 show floor. Taking place one day ahead of the Microsoft and Bethesda conferences, it means EA gets the attention of the whole gaming world early on during E3. But what can gamers expect from EA Play 2018? Last year during the EA Play event the latest instalments of big name franchises were announced. However, there were also a few surprises - most notably the announcement of co-op prison game A Way Out. And with EA Play 2018 gamers may also be in store for some surprise reveals alongside some staple announcements. Ahead of EA Play 2018 and E3 2018 kicking off, Express.co.uk has rounded up some games that could get showcased in LA today. Battlefield 5 screenshots for PS4, Xbox One Wed, May 23, 2018 BATTLEFIELD V returns to WW2, complete with Grand Operations, a new live service and lots more. Play slideshow EA 1 of 13 Battlefield 5 launches on October 19, 2018 EA PLAY 2018 - NEW STAR WARS GAME SET FOR REVEAL? EA has one mysterious Star Wars game up their sleeves that fans would love to get a look at. It all starts back in 2013, when Dead Space developer Visceral began work on a brand new Star Wars game. Naughty Dog’s brilliant Amy Hennig, who wrote the first three Unchartered games, was brought onboard as a creative lead for the project. Hennig was working with another big name player, Assassin’s Creed visionary Jade Raymond, on the game. The Visceral developed Star Wars game was described as a “story-based, linear adventure” in the style of the Nathan Drake series. It had all the hallmarks of a sure-fire hit. EA Play 2018 could showcase more on the revamped Visceral Star Wars project Fans had seen the potential in an action-adventure single player Star Wars game with trailers for the cancelled Star Wars 1313 project. It was hoped the Visceral game could fill the gap that defunct LucasArts project left behind. However, in October 2017 EA revealed they were shutting down Visceral Games studio and making changes to their Star Wars project. At the time EA executive vice president Patrick Söderlund said a “significant change” would be made to the title. He said: “Throughout the development process, we have been testing the game concept with players, listening to the feedback about what and how they want to play, and closely tracking fundamental shifts in the marketplace. EA Play 2018 is the first major event of the E3 festivities “It has become clear that to deliver an experience that players will want to come back to and enjoy for a long time to come, we needed to pivot the design. We will maintain the stunning visuals, authenticity in the Star Wars universe, and focus on bringing a Star Wars story to life. “Importantly, we are shifting the game to be a broader experience that allows for more variety and player agency, leaning into the capabilities of our Frostbite engine and reimagining central elements of the game to give players a Star Wars adventure of greater depth and breadth to explore.” A new development team has taken over the project, which originally had a release date pencilled in for the 2019 financial year. It remains to be seen when the revamped Star Wars game will be released, and what shape or form it could take. However, if EA are hoping to build excitement for the project then the perfect place to give a glimpse of it would be during EA Play 2018. Battlefield 5: The official reveal trailer EA PLAY 2018 - BATTLEFIELD 5 EA last month lifted the lid on Battlefield 5, which sees the DICE shooter return to its Second World War roots. So far a brief teaser trailer has been revealed and EA Play 2018 more may be revealed on its single player campaign and multiplayer. Battlefield 5 has also been rumoured, like Call of Duty 4 Black Ops, to go up against Fortnite and PUBG with its own Battle Royale mode. If that’s the case then E3 2018 would be the perfect place to announce a mode that would generate huge fan excitement. Anthem game - Pictures from BioWare's new title showcased on Xbox One X Mon, June 19, 2017 Anthem game - Pictures from BioWare's new title showcased on Xbox One X at E3 2017 Play slideshow BIOWARE 1 of 8 BioWare’s new game Anthem will be coming out on the PS4, Xbox One and PC<doc-sep>EA Play 2018 kicked off the biggest show off the year this evening. All the news out of it and the stream replay is right here. EA was first out of the gate this year, giving it a jump on everyone else with the usual mix of shooters, sports, smaller titles, and information on its Origin service. Bioware discussed its latest, Anthem, and showed off some gameplay with new footage, an in-depth look at combat, and a bit of information on the Javelin class’ exosuit powers. Gameplay was described as “single player and shared world”, but Bioware was quick to point out Anthem is not an MMO. There will be cosmetic boxes, but no pay to win loot boxes. In other words, no monetization schemes. We checked out an extended Anthem Demo at EA Play beyond what was at the conference – and found it owed a fair bit to Mass Effect’s multiplayer mode as well as to other co-op RPG shooters like Destiny. We’ll have more on Anthem as it comes. It’s out on February 22, 2019 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Watch on YouTube DICE took the E3 Play 2018 stage to show a rather quick look at Battlefield 5 multiplayer. The company called the game the “deepest and most immersive” entry in the series to-date. The studio reiterated the destruction system is back, touched again upon customization of characters and vehicles, and the lack of loot boxes and premium passes. It also provided more information on Grand Operations, and some new and returning multiplayer modes. After the EA Play live stream was over, Matt went hands-on with Battlefield 5’s new Grand Operations co-operative mode. DICE also confirmed Battle Royale for Battlefield 5, but said it would discuss it later this year. Single-player, also known as War Stories, will be shown and discussed tomorrow during the Xbox E3 briefing. Respawn Entertainment teased its Star Wars game today during EA Play 2018 at E3. Respawn boss Vince Zampella announced the name of the studio’s Star Wars title. It’s called Jedi: Fallen Order. According to Zampella, the game takes place place during the “dark times” where the Jedi are being hunted. Timeline wise, it takes place between episodes Star Wars episode 3 and episode 4. It’s out during holiday 2019. A first look at FIFA 19 and NBA Live 19 were shown along with annual football title, Madden 19 – which is coming to PC. Upcoming DLC for Star Wars Battlefront 2 was briefly discussed, and it is Clone Wars-based. EA CEO Andrew Wilson announced “new tier” of its Origin Access PC gaming membership. Called Origin Access Premier, subscribers can play full games such as Battlefield 5, FIFA 19, Madden NFL 19, and Anthem before launch. Not trials, full games. Subscribers can play over 100 PC titles whenever they like as long as a Premier member is maintained. The service will go live this summer. Zero news regarding the Assassin’s Creed-style “action project” at EA Motive expected in 2020 was provided, and we heard nada on the “revamped” Star Wars title from now defunct Visceral Games. Maybe its creative director Amy Hennig will discuss it during the E3 Colosseum program. Other than the obvious triple-A reveals, the new title from EA Originals , Sea of Solitude, was detailed. EA Originals picked up the title in 2016 as part of the publisher’s Originals label that aims to help small studios get their games out into the world. It’s out in early 2019 Unravel 2, which was been in development since the first title’s release, is out today. A new mobile title was announced, and its Command & Conquer: Rivals. No, you’re not reading that wrong. The mobile RTS will feature 1v1 real-time matches with rival commanders in the War for Tiberium. Starting today, Android players can pre-register on Google Play to be notified when the game will be available worldwide. By pre-registering, Android players in US and Canada may also be invited to the Command & Conquer: Rivals pre-alpha. iOS can also pre-register. E3 2018 doesn’t technically start until Monday, June 11, but the past few years, many publishers have opted to host separate presentations ahead of the conference. It’s a busy show, and things tend to get lost in all of the noise after all. Tomorrow, June 10, Microsoft and Bethesda will host off-site presentations. On Monday, we’ll find out what Square Enix, Ubisoft, and Sony have in store. Nintendo will follow with its own pre-recorded Nintendo Direct on Tuesday, June 12. Be sure to look over our handy E3 2018 conference page to find out start times, how to watch and everything else you need to know.<doc-sep>

Electronic Arts (EA) was the first big publisher to reveal its new video game line-up at the annual E3 conference. Taking place in Los Angeles for three days next week, the Electronic Entertainment Expo is a chance for the biggest industry players to tip their hands in front of fans. At a dedicated press conference, EA revealed more information on games that fans already knew were coming - but there were a couple of surprises. For example, the company is bringing back the excellent Command & Conquer series as a mobile experience and there's also a new game in the Star Wars franchise already in the works. Here's a breakdown of the most important announcements from the EA press conference. FIFA 19 will get the Champions League We knew that FIFA 19 was a dead cert, but EA has revealed that it will now include official licencing to the Champions League. The world's most popular console game will feature the competition for the first time in its history following the end of a 10-year agreement where Konami and Pro Evolution Soccer held the rights. In previous editions of FIFA, the Champions League has been one of the major omissions, considering it has largely trumped Pro Evo for the rights to teams, leagues and competitions. But now it will be featured throughout the 2019 edition of the game, which is released on September 28 this year. A new Star Wars game Although EA didn't reveal any actual video of the next Star Wars game, we did get a title. Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order will be released in late 2019 and will give EA a chance to recover after the debacle of Battlefront II. Command & Conquer: Rivals Gamers of a certain age may remember the fantastic real-time strategy series Command & Conquer on PC and PlayStation. Well now EA is bringing it to mobiles as a player-vs-player strategy title that brings back the GDI/NOD conflict. It will be focused around collecting resources, building armies and destroying your opposition. It's coming to both iOS and Android devices - with the beta now available on the former. Battlefield V will take on Fortnite EA's flagship shooter franchise will be trying to get some of Fortnite's success by introducing a battle royale mode called Royale. Team-play, vehicles and the customary destruction of the environment will all feature in the Royale mode. The company also confirmed there will be no loot boxes in this game - probably hoping to repair some of the damage from the inclusion of them in Star Wars Battlefront 2. Anthem release date revealed Anthem is EA's epic new shooter game and gamers finally got a concrete release date to mark in their calendars. It will be launched on February 22, 2019. Like Battlefield V, it will also drop the loot boxes that have become so controversial. Have a look at the trailer above and remind yourself why it's time to start getting excited about it.

As condolences pour in for Arizona Senator John McCain, who died on Saturday, videos are resurfacing of comments he made defending his then-rival Barack Obama in 2008. McCain ran against Obama in the 2008 election, conceding gracefully when he lost, and challenging his own supporters over their comments on the politician during his campaign. On one occasion, a McCain took the microphone from a supporter who began using racially charged language to describe Obama, suggesting she couldn't trust him because he was "an Arab." "No ma'am. He's a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with." McCain replied, in comments that are being widely shared following his death. Thank you John McCain for defending Barack Obama against bigotry and hatred. This moment will forever be remembered in American history and showed just how incredible of a man you were. RIP. pic.twitter.com/XiEZGW8v6o — Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) August 26, 2018 And in his concession speech after losing to Obama, McCain acknowledged the historical significance of Obama's victory, also stopping his own supporters from booing Obama. "In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance," he said, adding: "But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving." I'll always remember John McCain for his concession speech after losing to Obama. You'll never hear a better one: “Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans, and please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.” https://t.co/VIzFiRTP3f — Javi Perez (@JaviPerezSAM) August 26, 2018 A number of people on social media recalled that the senator had been a fan of dad jokes, one of his favorites being: "Some people ask me how I felt after losing to Obama. I told 'em I slept like a baby... woke up every two hours and cried." Sen McCain made these terrible dad jokes all the time. If you went to his speeches on a regular basis you would hear hem over and over. One of his faves: "Some people ask me how I felt after losing to Obama. I told em I slept like a baby... woke up every two hours and cried." — Tim Mak (@timkmak) August 26, 2018 In a statement issued by Obama following the announcement of McCain's death, the former president praised the senator, also sending condolences to his family. "John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics," the statement said. "But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher—the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible—and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way," it added. The senator maintained a good relationship with Obama following the 2008 campaign, having asked both he and former president George W. Bush to deliver eulogies at his funeral, CBS reported, while in contrast McCain allegedly did not wish President Donald Trump to attend at all. And in a 60 Minutes interview following his diagnosis with glioblastoma, and aggressive form of brain cancer, in July 2017, the 81-year-old senator outlined his funeral preferences. "I want… when I leave, that the ceremony is at the Naval Academy. And we just have a couple of people that stand up and say, 'This guy, he served his country,'" McCain said at the time.<doc-sep>A 2008 video of Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainHannity tells Santorum he helped prevent Joy Reid from being fired Richard Hanania sees Trump as 2024 GOP nominee Why Republican politicians are sticking with Trump MORE (R-Ariz.) defending his then-campaign opponent Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaWarren urges Biden to replace Fed's Quarles in testy exchange Content of Biden's agenda trumps Republican complaints about process Obama to join social media event on vaccines next week MORE went viral after McCain's death on Saturday. The resurfaced clip from the campaign trail shows McCain shutting down a supporter who pushed a racist conspiracy theory against Obama, who was then a Democratic senator from Illinois. “I can’t trust Obama. I have read about him, and he’s not, um, he’s an Arab,” a woman said to McCain at a town hall meeting in Lakeville, Minn., in October 2008. ADVERTISEMENT McCain then grabbed the microphone and cut the woman off. “No, ma’m,” he said. “He’s a decent family man [and] citizen that just I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that’s what the campaign’s all about. He’s not [an Arab].” McCain’s response was met by boos from the crowd, according to a Politico report from the time. The Republican giant died Saturday at the age of 81 after a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. The clip began circulating again on the internet, following the news of McCain's death. Author Stephen King said the instance was McCain’s “finest moment.” “That’s manning up,” he said in a tweet. John McCain's finest moment (for me) came in 2008, when a woman at a rally referred to Obama as an Arab. "No, ma'am," McCain replied. "He's a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with." That's manning up. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 25, 2018 Singer-songwriter Bill Madden praised McCain for standing up “in a packed auditorium full of Republican bigots” and defending Obama. He also took a dig at 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. “Something Trump would’ve NEVER had the human decency to do,” Madden added. I'll always remember one John McCain's finest moments: In a packed auditorium full of Republican bigots, a woman w/the mic said abt Obama: "I have read abt him ... he's an Arab." McCain said "No, ma'am ... He's not." Something Trump would've NEVER had the human decency to do. — Bill Madden (@activist360) August 25, 2018 Pakistani-Canadian author Ali Rizvi said the clip showed that McCain was “once a hero, always a hero.” When John McCain was running against Obama, this is how he responded to a supporter who said she didn’t trust Obama bc he was “an Arab.” Once a hero, always a hero. I also lost my father to cancer and it’s devastating. Wishing you strength, @MeghanMcCain. pic.twitter.com/46C1Iecywy — Ali A. Rizvi (@aliamjadrizvi) August 25, 2018 Rest in peace, #JohnMcCain, American hero, longtime civil servant and, of course, distinguished veteran who fought and suffered for his country. Two of Senator McCain's finest moments came when he defended one of his opponents. It took guts to do this: https://t.co/2Gsg84GlL0 — James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) August 25, 2018 RIP Senator McCain. No man is perfect but you had more class & civil service in your pinky than Trump' whole body. In an era where tweets & rallies are so gross & awful, I fondly remember the day McCain stopped a lady from calling Obama an Arab & stood up for empirical truth. — Stephanie Mickus (@smickable) August 25, 2018 RIP John McCain. *A lot* to to said about him. For now, I just want to remember the '08 rally where he came to the defence of Obama over claims he was an 'Arab' - an act that seems decades old now. pic.twitter.com/CwKKpnwCHv — Mike Stuchbery (@MikeStuchbery_) August 25, 2018 The longtime political leader and Vietnam War veteran died one day after his family announced that he would be discontinuing medical treatment for brain cancer, stating that the “progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age” had rendered “their verdict.” McCain was diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma in July 2017. He survived years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam before becoming a decades-long leading actor on the political stage.<doc-sep>John McCain spent 30 years of his life in the Senate. During that time, the Arizona Republican wrote multiple books and made hundreds of speeches. McCain, who died Saturday, was a two-time presidential candidate, losing the GOP nomination in 2000 to then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush and the general election in 2008 to then-Sen. Barack Obama. Often called a maverick, McCain, 81, was a complicated personality and will be remembered as the most important political figure to emerge from Arizona in the past 50 years. Take a dive through his words over the years. 1. Finding his love for his country while being held prisoner In his memoir Faith of My Fathers: "In prison, I fell in love with my country. I had loved her before then, but like most young people, my affection was little more than a simple appreciation for the comforts and privileges most Americans enjoyed and took for granted. It wasn't until I had lost America for a time that I realized how much I loved her." 2. 'We are Americans first' During his 2004 Republican National Convention speech: "We are Americans first, Americans last, Americans always. Let us argue our differences. But remember we are not enemies, but comrades in a war against a real enemy, and take courage from the knowledge that our military superiority is matched only by the superiority of our ideals, and our unconquerable love for them." 3. Defending Obama When a woman at a town hall meeting said she didn't trust then-Sen. Barack Obama because "he's an Arab," McCain countered: "No, ma'am. No, ma'am. He's a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what this campaign is all about. He's not. Thank you." 4. Conceding From his 2008 concession speech: "I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here." 5. On Osama bin Laden's death In a 2011 op-ed for The Washington Post, after the al-Qaida terrorist was killed in a covert operation ordered by then-President Obama: "I don’t mourn the loss of any terrorist’s life. What I do mourn is what we lose when by official policy or official neglect we confuse or encourage those who fight this war for us to forget that best sense of ourselves. Through the violence, chaos and heartache of war, through deprivation and cruelty and loss, we are always Americans, and different, stronger and better than those who would destroy us." 6. Defending the release of the CIA torture report In 2015, he spoke about the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on CIA interrogation tactics: “I believe the American people have a right – indeed, a responsibility – to know what was done in their name; how these practices did or did not serve our interests; and how they comported with our most important values. ... The truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. It sometimes causes us difficulties at home and abroad. It is sometimes used by our enemies in attempts to hurt us. But the American people are entitled to it, nonetheless." More:Sen. John McCain, American 'maverick' and political giant, dies at 81 More:John McCain, the dad: A look at his relationship with his seven children 7. Responding to Donald Trump's stance on torture In November 2016: "I don't give a damn what the president of the United States wants to do or what anybody else wants to do. We will not waterboard. We will not torture. ... We will not torture people. ... It doesn't work, my friends. It doesn't work." 8. His defense of the Khan family After then-candidate Trump feuded with the Gold Star family, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention: "It is time for Donald Trump to set the example for our country and the future of the Republican Party. While our party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us. ... I'd like to say to Mr. and Mrs. Khan: Thank you for immigrating to America. We're a better country because of you. And you are certainly right; your son was the best of America, and the memory of his sacrifice will make us a better nation – and he will never be forgotten." 9. His call for return to regular order Made before he voted down an Obamacare repeal: “I hope we can again rely on humility, on our need to cooperate, on our dependence on each other to learn how to trust each other again and by so doing better serve the people who elected us. Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio and television and the internet. To hell with them. They don’t want anything done for the public good. Our incapacity is their livelihood." 10. His attack against 'spurious nationalism' A seeming knock against Trump's "America First" policy: "To fear the world we have organized and led for three-quarters of a century, to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain 'the last best hope of earth' for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history." Contributing: Dan Nowicki, The Arizona Republic<doc-sep>

Arizona Sen. John McCain died last weekend from brain cancer at the age of 81, and his memorial service took place in Washington, DC on Saturday. His legacy is perhaps a complicated one, given the span of his life: He was a former Navy pilot, Vietnam prisoner of war, Republican presidential nominee, and spent 30 years as a United States senator. After news on Friday that McCain was choosing to discontinue treatment for his cancer, a video of his time on the campaign trail in 2008 resurfaced. In it he defended Barack Obama, his rival for the presidency, in the face of constituents spouting racist conspiracies about the then-senator from Illinois. “I can’t trust Obama. I have read about him, and he’s not, um, he’s an Arab,” a woman said to McCain at a town hall meeting in Lakeville, Minnesota in October 2008. McCain grabbed the microphone from her, cutting her off. “No, ma’am,” he said. “He’s a decent family man [and] citizen that just I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that’s what the campaign’s all about. He’s not [an Arab].” Of course, being of Arab descent and a “decent family man” have nothing to do with one another, and are not mutually exclusive. McCain’s response could have been better — he could have pointed out that it does not matter whether someone is Muslim or Arab or anything else — but taking away the microphone from the woman and defending his opponent was a powerful moment. At the same event, according to a Politico report from the time, he told a supporter who said he was “scared” of Obama that the senator was a “decent person” and one who “you don’t have to be scared of as president of the United States.” According to the report, audience members booed his defense of his rival and called Obama a “liar” and a “terrorist.” “I want to fight, and I will fight,” he said. “But I will be respectful. I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments, and I will respect him.” Obama went on to defeat McCain in the presidential election in November 2008. In 2013 Obama called McCain a “person of classic integrity” who’s “willing to say things regardless of the politics.” That wound up including McCain’s no vote in the summer of 2017 that sank the GOP’s efforts to repeal one of Obama’s signature pieces of legislation, the Affordable Care Act. In a statement on Saturday, Obama reacted to McCain’s death, saying that for all of his differences with McCain, the pair shared “a fidelity to something higher — the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed.” He said they saw their political battles as “an opportunity to serve as stewards” of those ideals. “Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did,” he said. “But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John’s best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt.”

He told jurors Ms Fletcher-Mitchie bought the drugs before Mr Broughton arrived at the festival and they could only find him guilty of gross negligence manslaughter if he had given her the drugs and she had been at an "obvious risk of dying".<doc-sep>Ceon Broughton, 29, arrives at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged in connection with the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie. Steve Parsons/PA Wire Ceon Broughton, 29, arrives at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged in connection with the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie. Steve Parsons/PA Wire Ceon Broughton, 29, arrives at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged in connection with the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie Steve Parsons/PA Wire Ceon Broughton, 29, arrives at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged in connection with the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie. Steve Parsons/PA Wire Louella Fletcher-Michie, the daughter of Holby City actor John Michie, who was found dead after taking party drug 2CP at Bestival Zoe Barling/PA Wire The daughter of Holby City actor John Michie was filmed by her boyfriend as she overdosed on drugs at a music festival, a court has heard. Louella Fletcher-Michie, 24, was given the drugs by her on-off boyfriend Ceon Broughton, 29, and died as her parents rushed to help her, it is alleged. She took the class A party drug 2-CP at Bestival in Dorset on September 10 2017 and died in woodland an hour before her 25th birthday. Her parents rushed to the site after telephoning Broughton as Ms Fletcher-Michie overdosed and hearing her "screeching", Winchester Crown Court heard. Expand Close Ceon Broughton, 29, arrives at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged in connection with the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie Steve Parsons/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ceon Broughton, 29, arrives at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged in connection with the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie Steve Parsons/PA Wire However, Broughton insisted she was fine and referred to Ms Fletcher-Michie as a "drama queen", jurors heard. Broughton, of Enfield, north London, denies manslaughter and supplying Ms Fletcher-Michie the drug. Prosecutor William Mousley QC said Broughton did not get help because he was handed a suspended jail term one month earlier and feared the consequences. He said: "She died as a result of having taken a large dose of, later described by the defendant as an overdose, of a class A drug known colloquially as 2-CP, which he had given her at a music festival." Expand Close Ceon Broughton, 29, arrives at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged in connection with the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie. Steve Parsons/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ceon Broughton, 29, arrives at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged in connection with the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie. Steve Parsons/PA Wire Mr Mousley added: "It had a terrible effect upon her, leading to her death after a significant period of suffering in woods close to the festival site, all of which he must have observed." Jurors heard Broughton filmed Ms Fletcher-Michie, a dancer and yoga teacher, as her condition deteriorated. In clips shown to the court, she repeatedly shouts at Broughton to telephone her mother, Carol Fletcher-Michie, but he tells her to "put your phone away". Carol Fletcher-Michie eventually contacted Broughton at 6.48pm and heard her daughter "screeching". Expand Close Ceon Broughton, 29, arrives at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged in connection with the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie. Steve Parsons/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ceon Broughton, 29, arrives at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged in connection with the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie. Steve Parsons/PA Wire Mr Mousley said: "She told her husband that they needed to get to her and they dropped everything to travel from north London to Dorset." Her brother Sam also contacted Broughton and urged him to seek medical help. But Broughton sent Sam a message which said "call back in an hour" and referred to Ms Fletcher-Michie as a "drama queen", the jury heard. Jurors were told Sam had also been given 2-CP by Broughton previously. When Sam then asked if Ms Fletcher-Michie had taken 2-CP, Broughton told him: "Yeah, but I bumped it up a bit." Mr Mousley said Sam thought that meant "either a larger dose or a combination of it with other drugs". Broughton has also previously admitted supplying the drug to Ms Fletcher-Michie and her friend at Glastonbury Festival in June 2017, the jury heard. After Mr Michie arrived at the festival site at Lulworth Castle, he messaged Broughton asking if he had sought medical help, Mr Mousley said. Carol Fletcher-Michie also sent a message which said: "Please message me that Louella is okay." Mr Mousley added: "In addition, during that extended period of time when they were together, he filmed her on a number of occasions. "He filmed her when she was disturbed, agitated and then seriously ill over a period of hours. "He even did so, the prosecution suggest, after she was apparently dead." A month before the incident, Broughton was handed a 24-week prison sentence suspended for one year, jurors heard. Mr Mousley said: "His failure to get her treatment which may well have saved her life was borne of selfishness and in self-preservation. "Because to have done otherwise, to have acted positively, he knew would have exposed him to the possibility of arrest and prosecution for a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment." Ms Fletcher-Michie was found dead by a security steward in the woodland, 400m from the festival's hospital tent, at around 1am. A post-mortem examination found "2-CP toxicity" and traces of ketamine and MDMA. Mr Mousley said a medical expert, Professor Charles Deakin, estimated a "90%" chance of survival with early intervention. Jurors were told Ms Fletcher-Michie occasionally used party drugs, including 2-CP and MDMA, and tried to take pills into Bestival which were confiscated by security. She told Broughton, who had travelled to the event separately, and he replied "that he would bring some", the jury heard. Stephen Kamlish QC, defending, said Broughton and Ms Fletcher-Michie "were in love with each other" and "soulmates". He said: "You will hear from experts that no-one has ever been known to die from taking this drug (2-CP) or taking an overdose." Ms Fletcher-Michie had acquired the 2-CP herself, he said, adding: "This is not gross negligence manslaughter." The trial continues. PA Media<doc-sep>Holby City actor John Michie emotionally condemned his daughter's rapper boyfriend in court for '"leaving her to die", claiming he even filmed her after her death. Former Coronation Street star Mr Michie, 62, stared at grime artist Ceon Broughton as he entered court to recall the night Louella Fletcher-Michie died after overdosing on party drug 2C-P. Mr Michie and his wife Carol Fletcher, 68, had ditched their Sunday roast dinner in a 130-mile scramble to a music festival after hearing Louella screech down the phone like a "wild animal". By the time Mr Michie and Mrs Fletcher arrived at the Bestival site in Lulworth, Dorset, Louella had died - just an hour before her 25th birthday. Today, giving evidence for the first time, Holby star Mr Michie blasted Broughton, 29, and said "I don't know how you can say you love someone who you left to die in front of you". He said "I believed him to be a good person at the time," and said he initially defended Broughton. Mr Michie told jurors: "But what I didn't realise was how in the six hours he was with her he had not taken her to get help, and how he had seen the very, very distressed state she was in and how I believe he has even filmed her after she died.<doc-sep>"I didn't realise how in the six hours he was with her, he had not taken her to get help, how he had seen her very, very distressed state.<doc-sep>

Actor John Michie was reduced to tears as he spoke about his daughter Louella in court. The Holby City star was giving evidence at the trial of Louella's boyfriend, Ceon Broughton, who is accused of manslaughter and supplying his girlfriend with party drug 2CP at Bestival in 2017. John told jurors that Ceon, of Enfield, north London, could not have possibly loved his daughter, as he left her to die from an overdose. "I think Louella loved Ceon. I'm not sure he loved her. I don't know how you could ever say you loved someone if you left them to die in front of you," the actor told Winchester Crown Court. He recalled how he and his wife Carol were eating Sunday dinner at home in London when they received a phone call from Ceon, in which they could hear their daughter shouting in the background. John Michie's daughter Louella died at Bestival in September 2017 "Louella seemed very distressed," John said. "I could hear her in the background shouting things like 'I hate you, I don't trust you,' obviously referring to Ceon. I've never heard her speak in that way. It almost didn't sound like her." The TV star added that Ceon "didn't seem to be concerned" and that his voice sounded "watery" on loudspeaker. "Obviously any normal person would be concerned," said John. MORE: Meghan Markle doula forced to address those reports Ceon Broughton is accused of manslaughter and supplying drugs At the time of Louella's death, the actor, 62, issued a statement supporting his daughter's boyfriend, saying it was a "tragic mistake", but he has since changed his outlook. "I believed him to be a good person at the time. Clearly, I made a mistake," said John. "I didn't realise how in the six hours he was with her, he had not taken her to get help, how he had seen her very, very distressed state. I believe he even filmed her after she was dead." The court was shown a video of Louella shouting at Ceon to "film me", "call my mum" and "call my brother, call my sister". MORE: Tributes pour in for Louella after her death Louella's brother Sam and sister Daisy gave evidence in court Louella's sister Daisy and her brother Sam also told the court how they had "begged" Ceon to take Louella to the festival's medical tent. "I couldn't get any sense of urgency," Daisy told jurors. "He didn't say much at all, just like a really slow, 'yeah, yeah, ok.'" Louella, who taught voga, a combination of dance and yoga, was found dead by security guards in a wooded area of Bestival in September 2017, on what would have been her 25th birthday. Her parents had rushed from London to Dorset that night, and begged security to let them into the festival to find their daughter.

Krystal Whipple, the sole suspect in the killing of a nail salon manager over a $35 manicure, was arrested early Friday in Arizona. Woman killed after being run over at nail salon (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department) Krystal Whipple (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona via LVMPD) Krystal Whipple (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department) Krystal Whipple, the sole suspect in the killing of a nail salon manager over a $35 manicure, was arrested early Friday in Arizona. Las Vegas police said Whipple, 21, was taken into custody without incident by the Phoenix FBI on the 9400 block of West Cabela Drive in Glendale, Arizona, although the Glendale Police Department wrote on Twitter Friday morning that Whipple was arrested in Phoenix. Jail records show she was arrested at 9:50 a.m., and was being held without bail at the Maricopa County jail awaiting her initial court appearance. Her arrest comes nearly two weeks after Nhu “Annie” Ngoc Nguyen, a mother of three, was struck with a stolen rental car and dragged about 50 feet outside Crystal Nails & Spa, 4983 W. Flamingo Road. Nguyen, 51, died of multiple blunt force injuries, and her death was ruled a homicide by the Clark County coroner’s office. Whipple is facing felony charges of murder, robbery and burglary, court records show. A criminal complaint and a warrant for her arrest were filed Jan. 4 in Las Vegas Justice Court, according to the jail records. Whipple was first identified as a suspect Jan. 3, after the Metropolitan Police Department released her mug shot from an April arrest and a video, including surveillance footage of the moments leading up to Nguyen’s death, that quickly went viral. That mug shot of a brown-haired Whipple had been circulating nationally, but in the mug shot released Friday by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Whipple’s hair was bleached. Less than a week later, Whipple’s mother and grandmother appeared on national television, begging the woman to turn herself in. “You can’t run baby. You cannot run,” Whipple’s tearful mother said into the camera in an interview with ABC News. “You have to come forward baby.” The deadly encounter unfolded at about 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 29, after a woman had tried to pay for her $35 manicure with a credit card that was declined. According to Sonny Chung, Nguyen’s boyfriend of nearly 13 years, the woman told Nguyen that she was going to get money from her car after at least three failed card swipes. The couple followed the woman outside and tried to stop her from leaving. But the woman got behind the wheel of a stolen black Camaro and struck Nguyen with the car as she took off, dragging her across the parking lot, Chung has said. Surveillance footage outside the salon shows Nguyen jumping in front of the car, which already had begun to drive forward. Chung also is seen clinging to the back of the car as it drives away from the salon. That same night, officers found the Camaro unoccupied at a nearby apartment complex. Police were able to identify Whipple as the suspect after they found receipts and her fingerprints in the car, records show. Contact Rio Lacanlale at rlacanlale@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @riolacanlale on Twitter. Staff writer Kimber Laux contributed to this report.<doc-sep>The victim chased the suspect after she left without paying. Las Vegas police are searching for a woman who allegedly struck and killed a nail salon employee with her car. The suspect allegedly ran over the salon employee after getting a manicure and attempting to leave without paying about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The employee chased after her to stop her from leaving, police said. “The victim ran in front of the suspect’s car. The suspect did not stop and struck the victim with the car,” a statement from the police department said. The victim was identified as Ngoc Q. Nguyen, according to ABC affiliate station KTNV. Las Vegas Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene before police, around 4 p.m. They found the victim about 50 feet away from the point of contact, LVMPD homicide Lt. Ray Spencer told ABC News. The victim was declared dead at University Hospital Las Vegas, police said. The suspect, a 20-year-old woman, was driving a black Chevy Camaro — a rental car — which had a broken back window, Spencer said. The car was found abandoned in a nearby housing complex. It’s “a tragic outcome to a $35 theft of service,” Spencer said. Nguyen's family created a GoFundMe page to help pay for the funeral and other expenses. "She's an extremely hard working single mother of 3 girls... She had been constantly putting in 12-14 hrs a day, 7 days a week to send her daughters to college and to support her mother, siblings, and grandchildren," the GoFundMe page says. "Unfortunately, we lost a selfless soul on Saturday, December 29th, 2018. We miss her very much and will always hold her dear in our hearts and memories." Anyone with information is urged to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-3521, or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com.<doc-sep>

A nail salon manager was run over and killed in Las Vegas while chasing a customer skipping out on a $35 manicure bill, authorities said. The suspect customer, whose credit card was declined, tried to drive away from Crystal Nails on Flamingo Road at 3:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. ET) on Saturday as Ngoc Nguyen moved to catch her, witnesses and police told NBC affiliate KSNV. No one had been arrested by Monday morning, Las Vegas police said. "My wife ran out and tried to stop her, and then she rolled forward," Sonny Chung, the longtime boyfriend of Nguyen and the store's co-manager, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Ngoc Nhu Nguyen GoFundMe Nguyen, 51, was rushed to University Medical Center of Southern Nevada and was pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m. PT (7:40 p.m. ET), a Clark County coroner's spokesperson said Monday. Nguyen was killed by "multiple blunt force injuries" and her death was classified as a homicide, the coroner said. The suspect was driving a black Chevrolet Camaro, which police later said was reported stolen from a rental agency three weeks ago, police said. Crystal Nails and Spa on Flamingo Road in Las Vegas, Nevada. Google "I tried to hold the car back but I'm not Superman," a tearful Chung said. "She ran off for $35 and killed my wife — $35 to run my wife over." The stolen car was found at a nearby apartment complex on Saturday night. "We do not believe the person who originally rented the car is the suspect," Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Lt. Ray Spencer told the newspaper. Nguyen is survived by three daughters, 20, 25 and 28 and two grandchildren, 4 and 6, the family said.

It has been over a year since we have gotten new Taylor Swift music and I am DESPERATE for more!!! Luckily, we may not have to wait too much longer for T-Swift to return to the music scene triumphantly. The internet sleuths are on the case and some are predicting an album release very very soon. So yeah, cancel all your plans and check out these 6 signs that TS7 is on its way. 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. 1. She announced her alum title and release date! Taylor said she had a big announcement to share and now she has finally confirmed some things that fans have been waiting for. On her Instagram live, Taylor revealed that her new album will be called Lover (sound familiar?) and that it will be released on August 23 (8+2+3 = 13). 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. Fans have been guessing the album title after TayTay revealed that it was an easter egg on her first music video for "Me!". She also revealed her new song, "You Need to Calm Down," which seems to be a love letter to the LGBTQ community. This content is imported from YouTube. 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. Fans also think that she's going against Donald Trump, especially since the song was released on his birthday. This is a big shift for Taylor as she started to become more political in her public life and fans seem to be excited about this new move. 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. #YouNeedToCalmDown is about Donald Trump and no one can change my mind. @taylorswift13 — carolk (@carolinekorinek) June 14, 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. Taylor Swift releasing a pro-gay anthem during pride season ON DONALD TRUMPS BIRTHDAY I have to stan — 𝓢𝓲𝓶𝓸𝓷🍄 (@KnopSimon) June 14, 2019 She still hasn't revealed a track-list yet, which means fans will still have to wait and see what the other songs are going to be titled. According to Apple Music, the album will have 18 tracks so there is still plenty of new songs that fans will get to listen to once it drops. 2. She is opening up about all the songs fans can expect. In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Taylor is finally opening up about her upcoming album. While she still hasn't confirmed the album title name or what her next single will be, she says that there will be plenty of different genres and themes throughout the album that fans will fall in love with. "I’m trying to convey an emotional spectrum. I definitely don’t wanna have too much of one thing…. You get some joyful songs and you get the bops, as they say," she told Entertainment Weekly. "[Some] really, really, really, really sad songs, not enough to where you need to worry about me." She also seemed to confirm the track five theory on her jean jacket that she is wearing on the cover, which means fans should definitely expect another heartbreaking ballad in that slot. 3. She is confirming that fans are already right about some things. Taylor just brought the house down at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, but while fans didn't get any new easter eggs about her upcoming album, she did officially confirm that some fans already know what her album is going to be called. "A lot of them know it," she told Zane Lowe on Beats 1. "They're really smart. [But] there are fewer people who know the next single title." Fans shouldn't expect her to stop the easter eggs any time soon, especially since they enjoy looking out for them. "The Easter egg hunts, when they stop being fun for my fans, I'll stop doing them," she said. "But they seem to be having fun with them and I think that with music, I'm always trying to expand the experience from just being an audio one. Like, if I can turn it into something that feels symbolic or seems like a scavenger hunt or seems like some kind of brain game that feels like it's more, then I think that's something to keep in mind as a goal for me. I just want to entertain them on as many levels when I can." 4. She is shutting down some theories. Swifties already know to expect anything and everything from Taylor when it comes to clues and hints that she drops on her socials and videos every so often. However, she's already reassuring fans that some of the photos they thought were clues actually were just her changing things up. "I really was just trying to change up my Instagram aesthetic to get ready for the new album," she told Hit FM. "I really was just posting pastel pictures to try to go from a dark to a light, and kind of show them what the color scheme would be for the next album." They specifically talked about the fence photo that many thought was a subtle countdown to a release. 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. While this theory might've not been exactly what T-Swift fans thought, there are still plenty of them still out there that definitely hint at her new album. 5. Selena Gomez hinted about it a while ago. It's not surprising to see Selena and Taylor are still BFFs after all these years, but it looks like Sel has been helping Taylor promote her latest single since 2017! While celebrating Taylor's birthday, Selena posted a sweet post that inlcuded the caption, "You write all the thoughts some aren’t able to articulate. (ME!)" 'ME!' ended up being the first single of TS7 and now fans think that Selena has known about it since then. 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. Selena also talked about Taylor's new song at We Day, a couple of hours before it released, confirming that she heard it. 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. 📹 | “Oh yeah! Oh my goodness yeah, it’s amazing, you just wait!” - Selena Gomez on Taylor’s new music [@etnow] pic.twitter.com/VVtnPIT5UD — Taylor Swift News 💛 (@TSwiftNZ) April 25, 2019 Shout out to Selena for keeping this secret for this long, cause I definitely would've spilled a long time ago! 6. Radio stations are already secretly promoting the new single. As T-Swift fans get ready to finally listen to the first single of her new era, it seems like radio stations are already prepping for the big launch. According to Pop Crave and HITS Daily Double, some radio DJs have had a chance to listen to the new track, but things are so under wraps that they had to sign an NDA saying they don't even know anything about the track. Plus, some radio stations have already changed their logos to match TS7's look, but they haven't been able to say what it's for. 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. According to @HITSDD, Taylor Swift’s promo team has played a portion of her upcoming single to program and music directors in radio. Certain stations have changed their profile pictures to resemble the pastel clouds that have been seen in other teasers that Taylor has posted. pic.twitter.com/y6d9KAhici — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 23, 2019 7. She's already wearing her new merch. Fans are counting down the days before the first major release of TS7 drops, but it looks like Taylor is already showing off some of her new merch. While out and about in NYC, Taylor wore an adorable floral top that said "Taylor Swift" on one of the sleeves. The shirt matches her new aesthetic for the TS7 era, which she keeps hinting at on Instagram. Robert Kamau Getty Images Taylor's store is currently down, so fans can't get this shirt just yet. But with only two days left before her big reveal, it won't be long before all the Swifties can get their hands on it and so much more! 8. Fans are finding a clue on Spotify. With a new song on the way, it's not surprising to see fans going back to Taylor's big hits over the years to prepare for what's coming next. Fans started to noticed that Taylor was promoting her new single on Spotify with a new background showing up on her songs, but there's a bigger cue for fans who went all the way back to her Speak Now album. 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. all of @taylorswift13’s songs on spotify have this new background... except the story of us i’ve had enough y’all pic.twitter.com/zKGlyZFMfo — ellie⁷ 🥞 (@eleanorbate) April 17, 2019 According to fans, "Story of Us" is the only song that doesn't have the special background and it also runs for 4 minutes and 26 seconds, going back to her new single's date of April 26. 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. it goes for 4 minutes and 26 seconds pic.twitter.com/mf1MuZ40r3 — eloisegoodwin (@eloisegoodwin_) April 17, 2019 9. She posted a countdown. Set your calendars for April 26th, because Taylor is going to be dropping something MAJOR and fans are hoping it's the first single for TS7. While T-Swift has been keeping things pretty hush-hush on what to expect, all her latest Instagram posts hint at a music video coming out on April 26. 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. She updated her website and it's unlike anything fans have seen from her Reputation era. The new pastel background and pink logo are a complete 180 from her new persona from the past couple of years. She also posted a countdown in the middle, which is set for April 26 and a form for fans to fill out so they can get more info once it drops. Taylor Swift 10. Katy Perry may be involved. There have been some major rumors that Katy and Taylor are going to collab on TS7 and while there's no legit evidence, Twitter is convinced of it. Of course, when both stars were on the iHeartRadio red carpet, the question of a collab came up. During an Interview with Katy Perry, ET Now asked the singer about the rumors. "I mean, I'm making music with Zedd," she said, referencing their recent song together "365." "I'm open. Open. Open. Open." 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. During an interview with @ETNow at the #iHeartAward2019 red carpet, @KatyPerry revealed she is open to making music with @TaylorSwift13.<doc-sep>Unbothered About My Business: Joyce Wrice Owns Her Music Masters — And You C... My name is Laurise McMillian, and I lead R29Unbothered’s social media team. Welcome to About My Business, our brand new career column. For years, I was g<doc-sep>

Are you ready for it? Taylor Swift seems to be hinting at a new era in her music career, and fans have a whole lot of theories about her seventh album. Swift has posted a whopping six Instagram photos in the past five days, including Wednesday's unveiling of a rare cover photo shoot with Elle UK, which was published on the magazine's website Thursday along with an essay by Swift about her music. "I love writing songs because I love preserving memories, like putting a picture frame around a feeling you once had," Swift writes in the essay. "I like to use nostalgia as inspiration when I’m writing songs for the same reason I like to take photographs. I like to be able to remember the extremely good and extremely bad times." The recent surge of social media posts, plus the essay, have sent fans into a tailspin, trying to figure out what it all means. Swift, 29, began dropping clues about her previous album, "Reputation," in August 2017 by completely wiping her Instagram and posting dark, cryptic videos of a snake (the snake became the unofficial mascot of the album after Kim Kardashian infamously called her one). The album eventually dropped in November 2017. But it appears now "edgy" Taylor Swift has been ushered out in favor of a new pastel mermaid-type aesthetic. Bring on the fan theories. Some believe Swift's Instagram posts are a countdown to something (her album announcement? A single? The entire album?). One picture included seven palm trees, the next showed Swift sitting on the sixth step of a staircase and the next was taken behind a fence with five different cutouts. She didn't post anything the next day, but fans even found a loophole there: she "4got" to post. "IT'S DEFINITELY A COUNTDOWN AND IT ENDS MARCH 2," one fan tweeted. Others chimed in with photos of the official Taylor Swift "Reputation" 2019 calendar, which features a large flower stamp on March 2. Another popular fan theory: palm trees are going to be a key symbol – perhaps like the snake was? Swift has shown off palm tree-patterned outfits during a handful of key points during the "Reputation" album era, including an army jacket with a palm tree patch and a jean jacket with palm trees worn by Future in her "Endgame" music video. During a scene in her "Look What You Made Me Do" music video, multiple versions of past and present Taylors are standing together. But one Taylor fans couldn't recall seeing before was dressed head-to-toe in palm trees. The color schemes and summer-y symbols Swift seems to be projecting have fans wondering if this was the album she had been working on before the Kardashian/West drama. "There’s a theory going around that TS7 was what TS6 was supposed to be before Taylor had to get Reputation out of her system," a fan wrote in a lengthy Reddit thread dedicated to sharing new album speculations. "Looking at the imagery that’s coming out, it does seem like a natural progression from 1989 and trop pop was the hottest sound at the time." "She was posting a lot of beachy/tropical photos after the 1989 tour ended and before she went on social media hiatus," another user added. Swift jokingly responded to the speculation Wednesday, just hours before sharing the Elle UK cover: "She just read all the theories 🙀," she captioned a photo of one of her cats with a shocked expression. Some fans pointed out that certain clues about past albums turned out to be dead ends. "In about a month, Palm Trees will join Roses and Timeless as Taylor Swift Albums That Never Were," one user tweeted. Others joked about the extreme lengths they were going to in an attempt to piece clues together. "Baby, let the games begin," indeed.

Real Madrid traveled to the Wanda Metropolitano to battle Atletico Madrid for Matchday 22 of La Liga here’s a look at how the match played out. Atletico Madrid boasts a great home record this season, losing just four times, prior to today’s occasion. Real Madrid though, had every desire of changing that as they jump ahead of Atletico in the tables, up by a point. The game was scrappy with over eight yellow cards shown as well as a red to Thomas Partey who was dismissed at the 80-minute. VAR proved to be worth the investment in this match with 37 fouls between the two teams. Here’s a look at the big moments of the match by the half.<doc-sep>Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: TV channel, live stream, team news & preview The two fierce rivals meet in a vital derby clash that could be pivotal in the race for the Liga title Atletico Madrid play host to neighbours Real Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday, with the outcome of the match liable to be pivotal in the chase of Primera Division leaders Barcelona. The Catalans lie six points clear of second-placed Atleti and a further two clear of Los Blancos, so in the event of any dropped points, the teams are likely to have an even greater margin to close. Complicating matters further for Real, who go into the game off the back of a 1-1 Copa del Rey draw at Camp Nou, is the small matter of a Champions League meeting with Ajax on Wednesday. Can Santiago Solari juggle his side successfully to keep up the pressure at the top of La Liga while keeping them fresh for the big midweek match? Game Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Date Saturday, February 8 Time 3:15pm GMT / 10:15am 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 beIN Sports / beIN Sports en Espanol fubo TV (7-day free trial) In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will be streamed on Eleven Sports 1. UK TV channel Online stream N/A Eleven Sports 1 Squads & Team News Position Atletico Madrid squad Goalkeepers Oblak, Adan Defenders Lucas, Gimenez, Godin, Perez, Montero, Filipe Luis, Arias, Juanfran Midfielders Rodri, Thomas, Niguez, Koko Forwards Lemar, Vitolo, Correa, Griezmann, Morata, Kalinic, Garces Diego Godin’s return to training for Atletico Madrid is a major boost before the derby. The centre-back is not certain to play, but he stands a good chance. Saul Niguez and Koke are also fitness concerns, with the former likelier to be involved in the midfield. Meanwhile, the bullish Diego Costa and centre-back Stefan Savic are both ruled out. Alvaro Morata starts against his former club. Confirmed Atletico Madrid starting XI: Oblak, Arias, Gimenez, Godin, Hernandez, Sail, Thomas, Correa, Lemar, Morata, Griezmann. Position Real Madrid squad Goalkeepers Navas, Casilla, Courtois Defenders Carvajal, Vallejo, Ramos, Nacho, Varane, Marcelo, Odriozoloa, Reguilon Midfielders Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Vazquez, Llorente, Asensio, Isco, Ceballos, B. Diaz Forwards Marcelo, Benzema, Bale, Vinicius Junior Once again, Santi Solari is set to have a strong squad to call upon. Luca Zidane is still missing while Marcos Llorente is set to watch from the stands after picking up a problem in the Clasico. Gareth Bale is dropped to the bench due to the form of Lucas Vazquez and Vinicius Junior, while Isco is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench too. Confirmed Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Reguilon, Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Lucas, Vinicius Jr, Benzema. Betting & Match Odds Atletico Madrid are priced as 11/8 favourites by bet365, with Real Madrid 21/10 underdogs. A draw, meanwhile, is available at 9/4. Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more. Match Preview Real Madrid were plunged into a season-defining period on Wednesday when they picked up a 1-1 draw against Barcelona at Camp Nou, and while it might not quite have been the perfect result they were hoping for in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, it was a performance that can act as a building block to better things. Interim head coach Santi Solari was certainly content with what he saw from his side, who had taken the lead through Lucas Vazquez after fine build-up play from Vinicius Junior and an apparently resurgent Karim Benzema. "We always want to win games and we had chances to score a second but we're happy with what we've done today," he said after the match. Solari knows, however, that was only one step and it will be for nought if Barca win the second leg at the Bernabeu, or if Madrid cannot kick on when they meet their neighbours on Saturday. Atleti remain as stoic a force as they have ever been under the shrewd guidance of Diego Simeone. They may have been surprisingly eliminated from the cup by Girona at the round-of-16 stage, but they are well established in second place and had been poised to seriously threaten Barca before slipping to a 1-0 defeat against Real Betis last weekend – just their second of the season. Their trademark defensive wall has been breached only 14 times in the league this term, unsurprisingly the best tally of any team, and though they may lack the sparkling offence of the Clasico clubs, they boast a steely determination that their more illustrious rivals struggle to match. Article continues below Simeone will call upon that ahead of Saturday’s derby clash as he has done so many times in the past. Between 2000 and 2012, Atleti failed to win a single league derby against their rivals, but they have been the dominant force in the fixture when played in La Liga in recent times. Indeed, they have won four of the last 11, with six draws and only one Real victory. The Argentine will be hopeful, therefore, that this trend can continue at the Wanda Metropolitano over the weekend.<doc-sep>Real Madrid have beaten Atletico 3-1 to leapfrog them in Spain’s La Liga and go within five points of leader Barcelona. Real took the lead on 16 minutes after Sergio Ramos flicked on Toni Kroos’ corner and Casemiro volleyed past Jan Oblak at the Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday. Atletico equalised when Antoine Griezmann scored from Angel Correa’s pass on 25 minutes. There was a tense wait for VAR to confirm the decision with the linesman’s flag raised in error. Sergio Ramos put Real Madrid back in front from the spot two minutes before half time. Again the decision went to VAR with Atletico Madrid players complaining that Jose Gimenez’ foul having been outside the box. In the second half substitute Gareth Bale scored the third running on to a Luka Modric pass on 74 minutes. It was Bale’s 100th goal for Real and he might have scored the fourth but he headed Karim Benzema’s cross just over Oblak’s bar. Gareth Bale struck late to seal the victory. Source: AP Before Bale got the third Alvaro Morata thought he had equalised but VAR intervened in favour of the visitors. Morata had raced away and lobbed Thibaut Courtois but the flag was raised and VAR confirmed the referee’s assistant had made the right call. “I don’t normally comment on VAR. It is something that will get better. I don’t have the replays that they have. I hope they got the decisions right,” Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said. Casemiro’s acrobatic effort opened the scoring just after a quarter of an hour. Source: AP “But I do not think that we lost because of VAR. They were better than us. I congratulate the rival.” Real coach Santiago Solari said: “They are competitive everywhere and nowhere more so than here so you have to give everything to get a win against them. “The key is the players. We are all part of the team but they are the ones that put everything out on the pitch. When I talk about this being a team win the credit is theirs.” Real are now five points behind leaders Barcelona who play Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. “The league is not decided yet,” Real captain Sergio Ramos insisted. Later on Saturday Espanyol host Rayo Vallecano and Huesca travel to Girona. Earlier Getafe beat Celta Vigo 3-1.<doc-sep>When fixtures like the Madrid derby come around, it is easy to imagine most players in world football dreaming of being a centre-forward with the match on the line. A chance to be the hero, a shot at immortality in the eyes of your supporters when passions are at their highest. Benzema vs Morata: striking differences But the men likely to lead the lines at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday know the toil behind such cinematic moments better than most – the loneliness of a goal drought and stinging torrents of criticism. "I'm sorry for those who have discovered Karim Benzema last week," said Real Madrid head coach Santiago Solari, with heavy sarcasm, during his French striker's recent hot streak in front of goal. "But, hey, they still have time to enjoy him. He is in a great moment, it's true." When Madrid played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona in midweek, Benzema was the last man standing of a celebrated trio. Cristiano Ronaldo is enjoying life in Juventus somewhat more than Gareth Bale, who was on the Camp Nou bench as Benzema formed a front three with Vinicius Jr and Lucas Vazquez and laid on the latter's opener. That contribution followed a run of six goals in four matches for a forward who has endured famine more often than feast over recent seasons. Benzema's LaLiga haul of 10 this term is already double what he managed last time around and such exploits give hope to his old team-mate Alvaro Morata. The Spain international is back in his country's capital on the other side of the footballing divide, having received a mixed welcome from the Atleti faithful on the back of previous associations and a spell at Chelsea that dried up worryingly. A haul of 16 goals from 35 Premier League starts is far from terrible, but 10 of those came before the turn of the year in 2017-18. The first of two seven-match runs without finding the net followed and Morata's status was further hit after Maurizio Sarri replaced his long-time admirer Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge. An unwelcome blow to Atletico's title credentials arrived along with the new recruit's debut in the 1-0 loss to Real Betis last weekend but he is set to partner Antoine Griezmann in attack once more against Madrid. Morata should simply look across the centre circle this weekend to see an example of how apparently never-ending slumps can turn around quickly. In 2016-17, while Zinedine Zidane's Madrid were working their way towards the second of three consecutive Champions League triumphs, Benzema endured a mid-season spell of one goal in 12 LaLiga appearances. Morata was the Madridista on the bench, enjoying starts when Zidane rotated. He was a man who dealt in goals set favourably against the striker who could not buy one. How many he scores for Atleti will not be the sum of Morata's worth to Simeone's well-drilled side. "Griezmann, you all know, feels more comfortable if he has a reference point playing ahead," the head coach said, when outlining Morata's role. It is much the same for Benzema at Madrid who, after a decade as Ronaldo's foil, now sees Vinicius being loftily compared to his former colleague. Yet he remains unbowed after almost a decade with one of the most cut-throat clubs in the business. Morata, meanwhile, has persuaded Madrid, Juventus, Chelsea and now Atleti he is worth their time - evidence toil should give way to glory again soon enough. Benzema's resurgence shows him it is worth the wait.<doc-sep>

Courtois and Morata: How things have changed Atletico vs Real Madrid Both players crossed the divide On Saturday afternoon, Thibaut Courtois and Alvaro Morata will face off in the Madrid derby as Real Madrid travel to the Wanda Metropolitano to face Atletico Madrid, yet both players were heroes at their former sides before crossing the divide. Looking back to May 2014, when Madrid and Atletico played each other in the Champions League final, Morata was playing for Los Blancos while Courtois was in goal for Los Rojiblancos. Morata came off the bench and played 41 minutes, including extra-time, whereas Courtois saw Sergio Ramos score his famous 93rd minute goal to take the match beyond the 90 minutes; the striker ended the match as a winner as Madrid went on to win 4-1, while the Belgian was in tears. Things have changed drastically five years later, and the two players are preparing to face their former team. Morata, after that Champions League victory in 2014, went on to play for Juventus - scoring two key goals one year later as Los Blancos were knocked out in the semi-final - before returning to Madrid for one season, after which he joined Chelsea as he went in search of becoming the main man, becoming teammates with Courtois for one season in the process. Courtois, meanwhile, had plenty of happy memories from his time with Atletico as they visited the Fountain of Neptune on four occasions - for the Europa League, the European Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, and LaLiga Santander - and the 26-year-old was a key component in that side, though the arrival and subsequent play of Jan Oblak has made supporters forget about all about Courtois. This will be Morata's first home match at the Wanda since joining the club he played for as a child, and in the final game before his arrival, the fans made it clear that they would rather see Diego Simeone put faith in their youth players, such as Borja Garces. "Less Morata and more Borja Garces," they sung against Getafe, to which some other supporters whistled the chant. While the Spaniard will likely be received positively on Saturday, the same cannot be said for Courtois, particularly after his comments upon signing for Real Madrid. "Atletico? I'm where I've always wanted to be," said Courtois, referring to Los Blancos and kissing the club's badge. "I have the utmost respect [for Atletico], but I have fulfilled my dream." This, naturally, did not go down well with Atletico's fans and they wanted his plaque to be removed from the Walk of Legends at the Wanda. Back in 2013, after Atletico won the Copa del Rey against Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, Courtois chanted against his current side, Los Blancos. "Sing, sing, little kangaroo," he started. "And the Madridistas who give it up the ass." Morata was more cautious in his press conference upon joining Atletico, though he did make a comment about Los Rojiblancos after the 2014 Champions League victory in Lisbon. "Let the Indians find out who commands the capital," he said. Unlike Courtois, though, Morata was at Atletico as a boy and that will always resonate well with much of their fanbase, especially if he starts scoring on a regular basis and in big matches. Saturday afternoon will see Courtois and Morata face their former sides for the first time since crossing the divide; how things have changed.

Man City: Guardiola previews Tottenham Champions League clash HERE for the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign upfor the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates 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. TOTTENHAM 1-0 MAN CITY | SON (77) Tottenham XI: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane. Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Laporte, Otamendi, Delph, Fernandinho, Gundogan, David Silva, Mahrez, Sterling, Aguero. With Spurs talisman Harry Kane having hobbled off injured and favourites City beginning to turn the screw, Son sent the home fans inside the London club's majestic new stadium into delirium as he fired past Ederson in the 78th minute. Quadruple-chasing City, beaten at the same stage last year by Liverpool, were not at their slick best and Sergio Aguero's first-half penalty miss proved costly. The Argentine's spot kick was superbly saved by Hugo Lloris after VAR adjudged defender Danny Rose to have handled. Tottenham showed great discipline to preserve their lead and will now go to The Etihad next Wednesday with their hopes of a first Champions League semi-final appearance intact. Sergio Aguero returns from injury, KDB and Sane on bench Harry Kane leads the line for Tottenham, Harry Winks starts Danny Rose penalised for handball, Hugo Lloris saves from Sergio Aguero Harry Kane hobbles off injured after clash with Delph Son opens the scoring with low drive under Ederson Tottenham vs Man City LIVE: Champions League score, goals and updates TOTTENHAM 1-0 MAN CITY FT: Tottenham beat Manchester City! They’ve lost Harry Kane and Dele Alli to injury - but that diamond Son Heung-Min has come up trumps AGAIN to claim the win. Spurs have the edge going into the second leg - but that’s going to one hell of a task at the Etihad Stadium. 96: Last. Chance. Saloon. Victor Wanyama fouls Leroy Sane on the left side of the field. Prime Kevin De Bruyne territory. The Belgian steps up… punched clear by Hugo Lloris and Fernandinho send the rebound over the crossbar. That should be enough for Spurs. 95: Save! Hugo Lloris makes a brave stop to prevent Gabriel Jesus from connecting with a low Kevin De Bruyne cross. Toby Alderweireld gives his goalkeeper a pat on the head. 94: No sign of a City goal here. They look quite happy to keep this at 1-0 as Son has another effort saved by Ederson. 92: Well I bet Liverpool are loving this. They’re cruised to victory against Porto unharmed, while their title rivals are losing and have a huge match to distract them next week. Tottenham vs Man City LIVE: Champions League score, goals and updates 90: Six minutes added time. Oh we’ve got an idiot pitch invader folks. Some fella has run onto the field and asked Fabian Delph to pass him the ball. Didn’t look like there was any aggression buttery unhelpful. 88: Better late than never, I suppose. Riyad Mahrez leaves the field to be replaced by Leroy Sane. Kevin De Bruyne replaces David Silva. Heck knows WHY these two didn’t start - but that’s a question for Pep Guardiola to answer later. Not that I’m brave enough to ask it… 87: Goodness me - Spurs look like winning this one but there’s been a significant cost. Harry Kane injured and now Dele Alli has gone off with what looks like a wrist injury. Fernando Llorente on. 85: City on the attack? Nope. It’s actually Spurs who are looking for a second. Lucas Moura has been on a couple of solo runs forward to no avail. Tottenham vs Man City LIVE: Champions League score, goals and updates Tottenham's new stadium erupts! ������ Son scores and Spurs take the lead against Manchester City! HUGE! ������ pic.twitter.com/vnszpNxLMV — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 9, 2019 83: How many times has Son stepped in to fill the enormous Harry Kane-shaped void? My shout for Player of the Year. No doubt. Son Heung-Min has now scored as many goals in 40 games in all competitions this season for Spurs as he managed in 53 appearances in the whole of 2017-18 (18 goals). 80: Tottenham make a change with Victor Wanyama on for Harry Winks. Spurs fans in fine voice now as City search for a crucial equaliser. TOTTENHAM 1-0 MAN CITY | SON 77: No Harry Kane, no problem as Tottenham break the deadlock against tournament favourites Manchester City! Son was down injured a few moments prior - but he’s produced a moment of magic here at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Son's perseverance pays off as he keeps the ball alive on the byline. Fabian Delph thinks it has gone out and stands with his arm in the air. Son continues before thrashing a shot goalwards which goes through Ederson. VAR check confirms ball didn't go out. Tottenham vs Man City LIVE: Champions League score, goals and updates 75: This is getting worrying for Spurs now. They look absolutely shattered. Worse than that - Son has just gone down in a heap and had to be helped to the sidelines. 74: Gabriel Jesus has his first opportunity when glancing Kyle Walker’s cross over the crossbar. Replays show that Alderweireld got the final touch. Goal kick, much to City’s dismay. 71: You just get the feeling that City will score soon. They are finding those pockets of space in and around the Tottenham penalty area. Just as I write that, Fabian Delph thwacks a horrendous effort 30-miles wide of the target. Tottenham vs Man City LIVE: Champions League score, goals and updates 68: Chance! Dele Alli capitalises on a sloppy pass from Otamendi and drives forward. He reaches the edge of the penalty area before firing into a crowd of bodies. 65: Gabriel Jesus getting ready to come on for Manchester City. In fact, here he comes now. Sergio Aguero heads off. 63: Aside from that Lucas Moura run - Spurs haven’t adjusted to Harry Kane’s injury. Manchester City are growing in confidence and have seen more of the ball. Raheem Sterling has broken clear a couple of times only to be caught by Alderweireld and Vertonghen. 60: So Lucas Moura comes on for Harry Kane and is straight into the action. He glides past one… two… three challenges before Riyad Mahrez hacks him down. Booked! Tottenham vs Man City LIVE: Champions League score, goals and updates 58: Ederson is fine but Harry Kane IS NOT! Wow - this is a devastating blow for Tottenham as their talisman goes off. Kane went in for a challenge with Delph down the touchline and rolls his ankle when clattering into the City left-back. Harry knows he’s done something and limps down the tunnel. We saw a camera view down the tunnel that showed Kane being carried by two members of staff. Could that be Kane done for the season? 55: Lengthy pause in play here as Ederson hits the deck. The City stopper flew through the air to catch a cross and has hurt his shoulder. 20-year-old Muric is doing his warm ups… 54: Son has another pop. Pep Guardiola will be getting worried with how involved the South Korea international has been since the restart. Kane feeds Son, who drills low at Ederson. 51: Son decides to have a crack from distance. He gets an insane amount of whip on that one but the left-footed effort bounces wide. 48: Close! Massive chance in the first 60 seconds of the second half. Sergio Aguero spots Raheem Sterling unmarked inside the box. A floated cross finds the winger, who brings it down and fires at Lloris. The Spurs stopper spilt the shot but luckily Vertonghen was there to boot it into orbit. TOTTENHAM 0-0 MAN CITY 45: And we’re back underway folks. No changes for either side. The BT Sport crew noticed that there was a slight encroachment when Sergio Aguero took his penalty.<doc-sep>Manchester City will have to overturn a one-goal deficit in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Tottenham to reach the semi-finals for the second time in the club's history. Heung Min Son made Sergio Aguero pay for missing an early penalty in the first European night at Tottenham's new stadium, with the Blues struggling to fashion gilt-edged opportunities against their Premier League opponents thereafter. City boss Pep Guardiola was left without influential midfielder Bernardo Silva's services after the Portuguese injured his thigh in training, while Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sané were left on the bench. Fabian Delph started at left-back in Benjamin Mendy's absence. City slipped to defeat for the first time since January 29 with a lacklustre showing, in stark contrast to the convincing displays against Cardiff and Brighton. We will bring you all the reaction from Guardiola and his City players throughout the evening.<doc-sep>Manchester City's bid for an unprecedented quadruple faces another stern test on Tuesday night as they travel to take on Tottenham in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Pep Guardiola's side make the trip to Tottenham's new £1billion stadium for the first leg under no illusions at the size of the challenge facing them in the only all-Premier League tie of the round. Tottenham enter the match-up as firm underdogs but will be buoyed by the fact they have pedigree in Europe having beaten Real Madrid last season before the Spanish giants went on to claim the title in Kiev. Follow all the action as it happens this evening here with Sportsmail's NATHAN SALT. If you are following on the app please click here to stay up to date with the action.<doc-sep>

This is the first ever European meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in what is the 157th meeting between the teams in all competitions. Manchester City have won 11 of their last 16 matches against Spurs (D1 L4), with all those meetings coming in the Premier League; they’ve won their last three in a row. Spurs haven’t faced an English team in a European competition since April 1973, when they faced – and were eliminated by – Liverpool in the 1972-73 UEFA Cup semi-final. Manchester City have lost all four of their European matches against English opponents, losing both legs of the 1970-71 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final against Chelsea and both legs of last season’s Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool. Spurs are competing in only their second Champions League quarter-final, losing previously 0-5 on aggregate to Real Madrid in 2010-11; in all European competition, Spurs have been eliminated from their last five quarter-final ties, most recently in the 2012-13 Europa League against FC Basel. Manchester City eliminated FC Schalke 04 by an aggregate score of 10-2 in the last 16, becoming the first English side to score 10 goals across two legs of a European Cup/Champions League knockout match since Liverpool in October 1980 (11-2 vs OPS). Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been involved in 17 goals in 17 Champions League appearances (14 goals, 3 assists); Kane has scored a goal every 106 minutes, the best ratio of any Englishman to have played at least 200 minutes in the competition. Leroy Sané has had a hand in seven goals in his last three Champions League games for Manchester City (4 goals, 3 assists), scoring with all four shots on target in this time. Of the remaining eight teams, Spurs have scored the highest percentage of Champions League goals in the second half this season (92%, 12/13), while Man City have scored more second half goals than any other side (16). Man City boss Pep Guardiola has won 26 of his 52 Champions League knockout matches, just one behind the all-time record held jointly by Sir Alex Ferguson, José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti (27 wins). Tottenham Hotspur will face off against Manchester City this evening as the Champions League quarter-finals kick off; with this clash alongside Liverpool vs FC Porto. The hosts will come into this game as underdogs against a strong City side but Pep Guardiola's side have far more to lose.

The Bloody Elbow staff has made its predictions for UFC 236, and even though both interim title fights look very competitive on paper, it’s overwhelmingly one-sided in the picks department. Everyone but Lewis McKeever is going with Max Holloway to defeat Dustin Poirier in the main event (which obviously means Poirier will win), and only Shakiel Mahjouri and Lewis are going with Kelvin Gastelum for the W over Israel Adesanya in the co-main event. Note: Predictions are entered throughout the week and collected the day before the event. Explanations behind each pick are not required and some writers opt not to do so for their own reasons. For example, if Phil Mackenzie entered all of his predictions on Wednesday without adding in any explanations, he has no idea if he’s going to be the only one siding with one fighter for any given fight. Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier Anton Tabuena: Poirier seems to have the edge in power, and while he has grown leaps and bounds and looked incredible at 155, I feel like Holloway is just slightly better at almost every facet on this match up. That’s why I’m predicting that we’ll have a new Champ (Interim) Champ. Max Holloway by late TKO. Mookie Alexander: The only thing I hate about this fight is that there can only be a maximum of one winner. I don’t want either of them to lose. Holloway is clearly the better striker, and that’s not a knock on Poirier. Dustin is the heavier hitter, whereas Holloway is more accurate and drowns you with his volume. I do not expect this fight to hit the ground, but if it does then things can get interesting. Poirier is a very underrated grappler, and that’s even if you just passed off the first Holloway fight as Dustin being far too experienced and skilled for a green Max. The other key is durability. Poirier has been stopped a couple of times before but has otherwise shown himself to be very hard to put away. Holloway has arguably never been badly hurt in any of his UFC fights. I can’t recall the last time i saw him as much as wobble. That’s an exceptional skill to have against a power striker like Dustin. What this might come down to is footwork (as Connor Ruebusch notes in his Judo Chop), in which case Holloway uses that so expertly to set up the proper angles to fire off his combination striking while taking minimal damage in the process. I’m expecting this to be an action-packed fight early on, with Poirier getting his licks in and proving to be super competitive against Max, but as the fight progresses Holloway just becomes an unstoppable wrecking machine. Max Holloway by unanimous decision. Zane Simon: This should be an absolutely excellent fight. Poirier and Holloway have both evolved into very clean, technical, high-output strikers, and among the best MMA fighters in the world. Finding the room between them this time may come down to some very particular minutia. In the broader scope, however, Holloway’s takedown defense has improved miles beyond his early fights, and he’s the higher-output, better defensive fighter between the two men. He’s also never been KO’d. So, if Poirier can’t get Max down, and can’t stop him standing, he may find himself just dropping rounds on volume and points. The smaller factors are Poirier’s power striking, his excellent defense and counter-punching as he leaves the pocket, and Holloway’s slow building combination striking behind his jab-cross. Holloway can get clipped up moving backwards early in fights, and caught off guard by wild offense late when opponents get desperate to stem the ever-increasing tide of punches coming their way. Poirier is good at lunging into the pocket with power, but also puts himself at his greatest defensive risk doing so. If he can jump in and go after Holloway early, however, he may have some very good success before Holloway can get his timing down. If he can’t, it could come down to finding that one huge counter shot that could put Holloway away, as Poirier loses the rounds. Max Holloway via TKO round 4. Fraser Coffeen: This is interesting in that it’s a GREAT fight that I’m incredibly excited for, yet at the same time, I don’t see it being up in the air at all. Poirier has shown great improvement over the years (not that he was ever bad, he’s just gotten great), but I don’t really see anything he does that Max doesn’t do a little bit better. The real question will be in the upcoming comments, how many pick Poirier because they feel there is a BE curse? Max Holloway, TKO, R3 Victor Rodriguez: I’m fully confident in Poirier’s ability to eventually make his way in and deal with Max’s range, but after the first two rounds, Max is going to start throwing enough things at him that it’ll be tough to keep up. Both have really good cardio, but it seems to me that Max’s speed will make a difference here as well. Waianae stand up. Max Holloway by TKO. Staff picking Holloway: Anton, Nick, Phil, Stephie, Mookie, Shak, Dayne, Zane, Fraser, Harry, Victor Staff picking Poirier: Lewis Kelvin Gastelum vs. Israel Adesanya Anton Tabuena: Sometimes Adesanya’s boxing defense has its holes, and Gastelum definitely has the power to turn the tide there if he gets a tad sloppy. That being said, I think it’s more likely that Adesanya manages to keep him at kicking range and slowly pick him apart. I think Gastelum will eat a steady diet of kicks until Adesanya eventually lands that clean shot that hurts him. Israel Adesanya by TKO. Mookie Alexander: It feels like there has been way too much over-analyzing of the Silva fight. And that Silva had some success backing Adesanya up didn’t really provide some magical blueprint of “Just make Izzy go backwards and he’s mortal.” Even a faded Silva provides most fighters a lot to think about when it comes to striking. Gastelum is a dangerous, heavy-handed, quick pressure boxer but he’s also quite limited in his attacks. He loves the jab-cross combo and centers his striking around his left hand, and that’s not the type of striking depth I feel it takes to beat someone as advanced as Izzy. Gastelum also has never been a defensive stalwart, so I can see Adesanya using his reach and jab to just pick apart Kelvin as he pleases. The real wild card here is if Gastelum can go to his wrestling and push for takedowns. There are still valid concerns about Adesanya’s bottom game from the Marvin Vettori fight. His TDD was excellent against Brad Tavares and Derek Brunson, but Gastelum is way better than both men. If Gastelum wants to try and somewhat grind this fight out, I think he can actually win this. But I have to go with Adesanya to just outstrike Kelvin and to win this on points. Israel Adesanya by unanimous decision. Zane Simon: Gastelum is a live dog against pretty much every elite welterweight and middleweight in the world. He’s double-tough, has remarkably fast hands with good power, and keeps his cardio well into late rounds. That alone is enough to make him a very difficult fighter to beat. On the flip-side, however, he’s also a very predictable fighter. Sort of like a middleweight John Dodson, Gastelum is all about firing power left hands, every other part of his game is a setup for that. Also, perhaps helping maintain that good cardio, he’s a very relaxed defensive wrestler... to a fault, and rarely shows any interest in offensive wrestling himself. Adesanya can get caught on the back foot, thinking that he’s safer than he is. And he can get clipped coming forward with his confident entries into the pocket. But he’s difficult to surprise, has very good eyes for incoming strikes, and generally great footwork. Assuming he can read Gastelum’s left hand, he should be able to draw Kelvin into coming forward and land counters pivoting out of the pocket. And given Gastelum’s own inconsistent counter game and Adesanya’s huge reach advantage, he should be able to create a lot of one-way point scoring offense off the front foot. Israel Adesanya by decision. Victor Rodriguez: Adesanya is the guy that nobody else in the division can really prepare for properly, and Gastelum might run out of answers quick here. Kelvin’s long arms can be deceptive, but a guy with Israel’s striking pedigree should be able to figure him out and spring back up from takedowns. I’m guessing Adesanya also might try to mix in some hard body shots to wear Kelvin down, while sniping with shots down the middle and keeping things outside and at midrange, but never in the clinch unless he initiates it. Israel Adesanya by TKO. Lewis McKeever: Gastelum will wrestlebox Adesanya enroute to a KO victory. Just a hunch. Kelvin Gastelum by KO. Staff picking Gastelum: Shak, Lewis Staff picking Adesanya: Anton, Nick, Phil, Stephie, Mookie, Dayne, Zane, Fraser, Harry, Victor Eryk Anders vs. Khalil Rountree Mookie Alexander: I’ve never seen Eryk Anders jab. I’ve never seen Khalil Rountree display any semblance of good cardio. Rountree is the more dangerous finishing threat. Anders is more likely to win some slog of a bout that features too much staring. This is a toss-up matchup and I don’t really understand the appeal of this particular bout. Khalil Rountree by KO, round 1. Phil Mackenzie: There is a major chance that this is boring. Both men are fairly low pace and rely on their power, and both are coming off losses. There’s always the chance in this kind of fight that both guys see someone that they can be by being “more technical” and so we get something of a staring match. Anders has shown more durability, a better gas tank and a little more of a knack for wrestling, but there really isn’t much in it. Eryk Anders by unanimous decision. Zane Simon: Rountree is the more fluid, natural and coordinated puncher. But he’s also shown less of a gas tank and less durability. Anders may not have much beyond his lead left, but he sticks to it and carries his power decently as the fight goes on. Rountree tends to have a round in him before things go way off the rails. Eryk Anders via KO, Round 2. Victor Rodriguez: Can’t trust either guy, sadly. Seems to me that Rountree might blast Anders with something massive early and put the lights out. If not, we’re in for a long slog with sweaty hugging. Whatever. Khalil Rountree by TKO. Staff picking Anders: Nick, Phil, Shak, Dayne, Zane, Anton Staff picking Rountree: Stephie, Mookie, Fraser, Harry, Victor, Lewis Alan Jouban vs. Dwight Grant Mookie Alexander: Jouban should win this, as he’s more consistent minute-to-minute than Grant. It’s evident that Grant is an all-or-nothing fighter, hence the boring-as-hell Zak Ottow fight followed by the complete annihilation of Carlo Pedersoli. Jouban is up there in age and his durability concerns me, so I’m going to gamble and take Dwight Grant by KO, round 2. Phil Mackenzie: Jouban has a more functional round-winning style. Body kicks and punches, decent footwork. Grant has a terrible tendency to take his foot off the gas and look for one big punch. The problem is that there’s a good chance he’s going to find it. Jouban doesn’t have tremendous defense in the pocket, and fighters who have been athletic and quick enough to close distance on him have been able to hit him hard. Dwight Grant by TKO, round 1. Zane Simon: If Jouban doesn’t get KO’d, then he probably wins a pretty clear decision. Grant tends to only fight in short offensive bursts. And while he may be a decent wrestler, he doesn’t really show it on offense. Jouban is much more persistent in his striking and creation of exchanges, more creative in his output, and can be a dangerous grappler when he gets the chance. He’s also much more likely to get melted by one huge shot or flurry of them. Dwight Grant via KO, round 2. Victor Rodriguez: Grant is on the come up, and I’m a believer.<doc-sep>There's plenty to get excited about on Saturday night in Atlanta when UFC 236 lands in the city. That's because the four fighters atop the marquee are guaranteed to bring the action in a pair of interim title bouts. Featherweight champion Max Holloway is set to make his first move up to 155 pounds when he takes on No. 3 contender Dustin Poirier for the interim lightweight crown. Holloway, who comes in riding a 13-fight winning streak, has just about cleaned out the featherweight division, leading to the decision to move up in weight. On the other hand, Poirier is finally getting his chance at gold and glory after nearly nine years with the organization. After falling short in previous chances at getting close to the belt (losing to Cub Swanson, Conor McGregor and Michael Johnson), "The Diamond" has worked his way back up the rankings and into position for a title shot with three consecutive fight night bonuses in wins over Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje. Meanwhile in the co-main event, Israel Adesanya will face off against Kelvin Gastelum in an interim middleweight title fight that might be better on paper than either facing off against current champion Robert Whittaker. Adesanya is coming off a less-than-stellar performance against Anderson Silva in February that led many to wonder if the rising star was ready for primetime just yet. "The Last Stylebender" has gotten a considerable push from UFC since joining the organization, boasting a main event win over Brad Tavares at the TUF Finale as well as an utter destruction of Derek Brunson at UFC 230 in November. Gastelum, meanwhile, was scheduled to face Whittaker the same night as Adesanya took on Silva until an injury and illness forced the champ out of action. He has not fought since May 2018 when he scored a decision win over Jacare Souza. He also boasts victories over former champions Michael Bisping and Chris Weidman. Can't get enough UFC? Subscribe to my podcast State of Combat with Brian Campbell where we break down everything you need to know in the Octagon, and be sure to listen to our interview with Max Holloway leading up to UFC 236 below. Plus, we get the return of Eryk Anders, Khalil Rountree Jr., Ovince Saint Preux and Nikita Krylov in a pair of light heavyweight bouts on the main card. Let's take a closer look at the complete card with the latest odds from Westgate Superbook. UFC 236 odds Favorite Underdog Weightclass Max Holloway -200 Dustin Poirier +170 Interim lightweight title Israel Adesanya -150 Kelvin Gastelum +130 Interim middleweight title Eryk Anders -190 Khalil Rountree Jr. +160 Light heavyweights Alan Jouban -130 Dwight Green +110 Welterweights Nikita Krylov -120 Ovince Saint Preux +100 Light heavyweights Jalin Turner -130 Matt Frevola +110 Lightweights Alexandre Pantoja -155 Wilson Reis +135 Bantamweights Zelim Imadaev -120 Max Griffin +100 Welterweights Boston Salmon -145 Khalid Taha +125 Bantamweights Belal Muhammad -150 Curtis Millender +130 Welterweights Montel Jackson -550 Andre Soukhamthath +400 Bantamweights Poliana Botelho -165 Lauren Mueller +142 Women's flyweights Brandon Davis -170 Randy Costa +145 Bantamweights With a big card on tap, our experts took a crack at picking each of the main card fights. Here are your pick makers: Brian Campbell (combat sports writer), Matthew Coca (producer), Michael Mormile (producer), Jack Crosby (editor) and Brandon Wise (editor). UFC 236 predictions Fight Campbell Coca Crosby Mormile Wise Holloway vs. Poirier Holloway Holloway Holloway Holloway Poirier Adesanya vs. Gastelum Gastelum Gastelum Adesanya Gastelum Adesanya Anders vs. Rountree Jr. Anders Anders Anders Rountree Rountree Jouban vs. Green Jouban Jouban Green Green Jouban Saint Preux vs. Kylov Krylov OSP OSP OSP OSP Overall (2019) 10-5 9-6 9-6 9-6 9-6 Campbell on why Holloway wins: A rematch of their 2012 bout, this is about as good as it gets on the elite level in terms of an even fight between exciting strikers. But you can throw out their first meeting -- a first-round submission win by Poirier -- in terms of whether there is anything to learn from that. Holloway, who was just 20 and making his UFC debut, has grown by leaps and bounds and could find his power and stamina only increase at lightweight without having to make such a difficult weight cut. Poirier has also improved and uses angles to set up his offense as well as any other elite at 155 pounds. The difference between them, however, comes down to intangibles and vulnerability. Holloway is completely comfortable in the midst of a storm while Poirier can be lured into a brawl a bit too easily. Look for "Blessed" to make an emphatic statement in his new weight class via late stoppage. Wise on why Poirier wins: This is about as close to even as fights get, and to be honest, these two are in my top five must-watch guys in the sport at this point given their all-action styles and aggressiveness. To see one of these guys fall on Saturday will be bittersweet, but when breaking down the measurables, I'll lean on the guy with more experience in the division, as well as somebody who we've seen rally from being rocked recently. I'll be curious to see if the gameplan goes out the window for Holloway if Poirier is able to land something big. "The Diamond" outguns his way to a decision win and possible Fight of the Year. Campbell on why Gastelum wins: Adesanya is one of the most skilled and smartest strikers in UFC; a master at controlling distance and freezing his opponents with feints before delivering creative strikes. But the brash middleweight has rarely been tested in any form throughout his rise, which doesn't always tell the full story about a fighter's intangibles. His decision win in February against Anderson Silva created a few questions as to whether he either showed the 43-year-old legend too much respect or was too willing to let the fight go the distance. Gastelum is the perfect elite measuring stick from the standpoint that he isn't likely to outpoint Adesanya but he does bring the danger of a rocket counter left hand that can end the fight at any point. Gastelum can also wrestle and, should he be able to take the fight to the ground, could present Adesanya with challenges he hasn't yet faced. Adesanya has just about everything you would want a future star to possess. But even Hall of Fame fighters have gotten caught early in their careers and faced the kind of setbacks that define who they become. Gastelum is the perfect live underdog who could do just that via knockout. Crosby on why Adesanya wins: Here we have a fight between two talented strikers, which generally creates the possibility for an exciting outing. The problem for Gastelum, though, is that there's a little more depth to the striking of Adesanya. When you couple the well-rounded ability of Adesanya with the confidence he gained in his last fight by going toe-to-toe and coming out on top against one of the greatest of all time in Anderson Silva, you're looking at the man who will walk out of Atlanta with the interim middleweight title on Saturday night -- (hopefully) setting up a future showdown with a fully-healthy Robert Whittaker. Adesanya: TKO3 Who wins Poirier vs. Holloway and Gastelum vs. Adesanya? And how does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks for all 13 fights at UFC 236, all from the incomparable expert who's up nearly $20,000 in MMA bets in the past year.<doc-sep>

Tom Egan, who was in Conor McGregor's corner for wins over Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier, breaks down the keys to win the main event of UFC 236. (1:49) A lot has changed since Dustin Poirier submitted Max Holloway in the first round of a featherweight bout at UFC 143 in 2012. Holloway (20-3) became a featherweight champion and has turned into one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. At age 27, he's already working on "legacy fights" and will attempt to claim an interim lightweight title against Poirier at UFC 236 in Atlanta. Poirier (24-5) is more of a late bloomer, if you want to call it that. He has steadily worked his way up the lightweight rankings and cemented a title shot by defeating two former UFC champions (Eddie Alvarez and Anthony Pettis) in his past three fights. Who has the edge in Saturday's rematch? ESPN asked some of the brightest minds in the sport to break it down. Duane Ludwig, Ludwig Martial Arts Holloway needs to make sure he keeps his distance, and Poirier needs to press him and get inside his punches. Poirier tends to sit back and counter a little bit, though, and he also has good length. To me, it's whoever can push, pull and then return -- what I mean by that is, if you throw a right cross and the guy leans back and then goes to counter, I have to counter the counter. I think it will be a game of touch, pull, return. Whoever counters the counter will win. I love Max's accuracy, volume and fluidity between his stances. He's maturing as a fighter and no longer following the misconception that you can't cross your feet. He's crossing his feet quite a bit, fighting out of both stances, from an athletic stance. That allows him to control distance. He's able to close distance by making full, fluid steps. If you're in a traditional stance, gaining ground like a traditional boxer, where your lead foot comes forward and then the back foot meets it, you're covering 6 to 8 inches. Maybe a foot. If you walk and take your right foot and step it all the way forward to southpaw, you just covered twice the space. Now, your foot is in the air during that time, so you have to know how to do it and when to do it, but you're able to cover more space. My prediction is an awesome stand-up fight. Max is on top right now, mentally, physically, spiritually. It's very hard to beat Max right now. He knows he's a champion. John Kavanagh, SBG Ireland Max is just a completely different fighter since losing to Conor [in August 2013]. I believe around the time he fought Cub Swanson [in April 2015], I said he was the second-best 145-pounder -- after Conor. Since then, he's just improved every fight and naturally grown into a 155-pounder. Dustin has also improved a lot since losing to Conor. Plus, he's beaten some genuinely tough 155-pounders. Overall, I think Max has improved most, and I think he gets it done by decision. Danny Castillo, Team Alpha Male I feel like Dustin's self-confidence and experience have reached a certain point where he believes he's invincible -- but Max has the same thing going. I think Max Holloway truly believes nobody on this planet can beat him. Max is really long and super-accurate on the feet. I believe his punching power might be a little more, as he goes up in weight and fills out his body. Part of his game we just haven't seen much of is his jiu-jitsu. That's not to say it isn't good; he's just done such a good job of stopping the takedown to not even show that aspect of his game. One thing Brian Ortega did [in a loss to Holloway in December] was smother him against the fence, but Ortega doesn't really have a good takedown. He was just using his upper body and keeping him in a clinch though. As far as going down to the legs and shooting, Ortega doesn't have that. His takedowns are mostly getting into a clinch and pulling guard. I think if Dustin has an opportunity to win this fight, it's against the cage, but maybe following with a takedown. I can't pick a winner. Marc Montoya, Factory X MMA Big fan of both. They do have contrasting styles.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Moore is facing a difficult decision between a rehabilitation or surgical approach to his injured right knee. The injury, officially reported as a “right knee sprain,” occurred on Saturday in the third inning of his start against Kansas City Royals, where Moore landed awkwardly on a comebacker from Billy Hamilton. Moore managed to finish the inning, but was seen escorted to the trainer’s room after leaving the field. Moore is no stranger to injury. The eighth round selection by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2007 draft has seen more than his share of time on the injured list after an extremely promising start to his professional career. Most notably, Moore underwent Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow on April 22, 2015. His most recent injury prior to yesterday was a right knee sprain in May 2018 while pitching with the Rangers that resulted in a short stint on the IL. The current injury appears to be similar in nature to the previous one, which is not terribly encouraging news. Gardenhire on Matt Moore's knee injury: "There's decisions to be made on how they want to attack it, whether he can go rehab it for 10 days or something like that. And then there's the other option, which would be some kind of surgery to repair it." — Jason Beck (@beckjason) April 7, 2019 If Moore is out for surgery, he could miss about two months for a quick arthroscopic procedure, which employs a minimally-invasive approach to correcting the issue. If it is a full-blown meniscus repair, it is very possible that Moore will be lost for the entire season. Results from diagnostic imaging studies performed thus far have not been released to the public. Before the injury, Moore had pitched three scoreless innings allowing only one hit and collecting three strikeouts against the Royals in his second start of the season. His line so far for 2019 reads 10 innings pitched, allowing three hits, no runs, walking only one batter, and striking out nine along the way. Daniel Norris will assume Moore’s spot in the Tigers’ starting rotation, Gardenhire said. — Anthony Fenech (@anthonyfenech) April 6, 2019 Moore’s trip to the IL opens a spot for Daniel Norris to join the starting rotation, which could possibly be one of his last chances at living up to his potential with the Tigers. The mercurial lefty will fill in for as long as he can hold his own; one would expect at this point that his leash would be fairly short. Drew VerHagen has been recalled from the 10-day IL and is expected to join the team to take Moore’s place on the active roster.<doc-sep>DETROIT -- Matt Moore left Detroit's 7-4 win against Kansas City on Saturday with a right knee injury after pitching the first three innings. The team announced it as a sprain, although Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire described it afterward as a strain. Detroit announced it would put Moore on the 10-day injured list. Daniel Norris, who pitched three innings in relief of Moore, is joining the rotation in his place. Moore retired the first eight hitters he faced, striking out the side in the second, but with two out in the third, he went to the ground to field Billy Hamilton's bunt to the right of the mound. Hamilton ended up with an infield single, and Moore threw wildly to first for an error, allowing the batter to reach second. Moore retired Whit Merrifield on a grounder for the third out, but the Tigers got Norris up in the bullpen, and he came on in the fourth in relief. Detroit signed the 29-year-old Moore in the offseason. The left-hander went seven scoreless innings at Toronto in his first start for the Tigers. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.<doc-sep>Detroit — As Matt Moore was riding a stationary bike inside the clubhouse Sunday morning, Tigers general manager Al Avila, members of the team’s medical staff and manager Ron Gardenhire were still trying to determine the best course of action for his sprained right knee. “There are decisions to be made on how they want to attack it,” Gardenhire said. “Whether they can go and rehab it for 10 days and see where it’s at. The other option would be some kind of surgery to repair it. “I don’t know which one he’s going to do.” Moore injured the knee fielding a bunt by the Royals' Billy Hamilton in the third inning Saturday. He made one more pitch, getting an inning-ending ground out from Whit Merrifield, but didn’t return. In his two starts with the Tigers, he’s pitched 10 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits. “It’s tough,” said Daniel Norris, who will replace Moore in the Tigers’ rotation. “That guy has been awesome. He’s been awesome his whole career. I loved watching him pitch with the Rays and his two starts here. “It’s really sad to see this. Hopefully he can come back soon and be good to go.” The circumstances notwithstanding, Norris wants to make the most of this opportunity. “We’ll see what happens,” he said. “I feel fine. I am just happy to pitch again.” Norris went three-plus innings in relief of Moore on Saturday and gave up three runs, including home runs to Merrifield and Jorge Soler. “Results are results, but I was happy to be back out there,” he said. “I didn’t feel great, but, just trying to make pitches.” He threw 50 pitches, 37 of them were four-seam fastballs in a velocity range of 88 to 92 mph. He threw 10 sliders and three change-ups. He has only thrown two curveballs and seven sliders this season. He was asked if he’s dropping those pitches from his arsenal. “Not consciously,” he said. “I’m just sort of throwing whatever (the catcher) puts down.” Asked about his mindset as a starter versus coming in from the bullpen, he said, “My mindset is throw strikes and get people out. That shouldn’t change at all. Easier said than done, but that’s what I need to think of it as.” After playing games in eight straight days to start the season, the Tigers will have three off-days over an 11-day span. They could conceivably use just four starters over that stretch. But Gardenhire said there are no plans to alter the rotation. Norris’ first start will be Saturday at Minnesota. “Early in the season, it’s not a bad thing to keep them all in line,” Gardenhire said. “If you have off-days, just back them up and give them an extra day. That can help them later on rather than skipping somebody.” VerHagen returns At about 9:30 Sunday morning, Drew VerHagen walked past reporters carrying his equipment bag — thus ending what little suspense there was over who the Tigers would call up to replace Moore. “He’s been throwing down there and he feels good,” Gardenhire said. “It’s a little quicker than we wanted it, but he’s OK.” VerHagen, who missed two weeks in spring training with an inflamed nerve in his shoulder, started the season on the injured list with a forearm strain. He made one 10-pitch rehab appearance at Lakeland and was supposed to do at least one more. But, Moore’s injury accelerated his return. “He’s ready to go,” Gardenhire said. “We talked to him and he’s champing at the bit to get back out there. We won’t run him out there for three straight innings or anything like that. But we’ll put him out for an inning and see how it goes. “We’ll guard it, but he is ready to go.” Gardenhire said VerHagen likely will slot back in to his regular role in the bullpen, as the sixth- and seventh-inning set-up man. Around the horn Through two full turns through the rotation now, the Tigers starting pitchers have an ERA of 2.02 in 58 innings. They have allowed three earned runs or less in every start this season. ...Nick Castellanos, who doubled and scored a run Sunday, has reached base safely in all 10 games this season. ...Christin Stewart, after he tripled, singled and knocked in two runs Sunday, was 5 for 10, with a grand slam home run, triple, double and seven RBIs in the three-game series against the Royals. JaCoby Jones, in his second rehab game in Lakeland, went 2 for 4 with a double, two walks and two RBIs. There is a good chance Jones will be activated off the injured list (shoulder sprain) this week. chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com Twitter: @cmccosky<doc-sep>DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Moore left Saturday’s game with a right knee sprain. Moore had pitched three scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals before exiting. Moore went to the ground in an attempt to field Billy Hamilton’s bunt in the third inning. He was charged with an error after throwing the ball away and allowing Hamilton to advance to second. It was the only hit allowed by Moore in three innings of work. He was replaced by Daniel Norris in the fourth inning. The Tigers led 1-0. Follow live updates here. Moore pitched seven shutout innings in his Tigers debut last week at Toronto. Moore has allowed just one walk and three hits in 10 scoreless innings this year. The Tigers signed the 29-year-old left-hander as a free agent this winter.<doc-sep>

Detroit Tigers' pitcher Matt Moore was fantastic again on Saturday afternoon. But his second straight impressive start was cut short, after he exited the game with a right knee sprain following the top of the third inning against the Royals. Then after the game, the Tigers announced he would be placed on the 10-day injured list. A corresponding move to fill Moore's spot on the 25-man roster will come before Sunday's game at Comerica Park. Moore cruised through the Royals’ order to start, sitting the first eight men down. But he fell to the turf on a Billy Hamilton comebacker with two outs, scrambled to throw the speedster out at first base and instead, hooked a throw wide down the right-field line. The veteran left-hander finished the inning, but immediately headed down the tunnel in the Detroit Tigers’ dugout, to where the trainer’s room is located. Moore, 29, signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal in the off-season. His first impression with the Tigers was good: He threw seven scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on March 31, allowing two hits. Moore struck out six batters and walked one. In his short start on Saturday, he allowed one hit over three innings, striking out the side in the top of the second. Moore was relieved by lefty Daniel Norris, who likely would get the first chance to fill his starting rotation spot if he is sidelined for an extended period of time. Contact Anthony Fenech at afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.

Seven are in, there is spot for one more. Will that be Colombia, who started poorly against Japan but have since kept two clean sheet in wins against Poland and Senegal? Can they overcome the Jame Rodriguez injury? Or will it be England, who are set to win the whole thing, according to many? Football’s coming home! They are on the “easier” side of the bracket, could very well lose tonight. Here we go! Starting lineups: Date / Time: Tuesday, July 3, 2018, 19:00 BST; 2pm EDT Venue: Spartak Stadium, Moscow Referee: Mark Geiger (USA) On TV: ITV 1 (UK); FOX, Telemundo (USA); elsewhere Streaming online: ITV Hub (UK); FOX Sports Go, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo; Sling World Cup (USA)<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section World Cup 2018 Fifa World Cup quarter-final: Sweden v England Venue: Samara Arena, Samara Date: Saturday 7 July, 15:00 BST Coverage: Live on BBC One and Online; full radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and text commentary and in-play clips online and in BBC Sport app England's players will not be "bowed by the pressure of the past", said manager Gareth Southgate after they beat Colombia on penalties to set up a World Cup quarter-final against Sweden. It was their first shootout victory in a World Cup after defeats in 1990, 1998 and 2006. Eric Dier scored the winning spot-kick after Jordan Pickford saved Carlos Bacca's effort in Moscow. "Today was a special night for every Englishman," Southgate told BBC Sport. "The fans that were here were outnumbered but I'm delighted for them and everyone at home. "We're trying to write our own history, and I've talked to the players about that. They write their own stories. We don't have to be bowed by the pressure of the past. "This was special but I want us to go on. I don't want to go home yet." 'We deserved it' Southgate and England players react to shootout win Before the game, England had won only two World Cup knockout matches since 1990 and looked to be making it three when captain Harry Kane gave them the lead from the penalty spot. But in the third minute of stoppage time at the Spartak Stadium, Colombia defender Yerry Mina headed home to take the game into extra time and then to penalties. Jordan Henderson's effort was saved by David Ospina, but Colombia's Mateus Uribe hit the crossbar before Pickford dived to his right to deny Bacca with his left hand. England will play Sweden, who beat Switzerland 1-0 earlier on Tuesday, at 15:00 BST in Samara on Saturday, live across the BBC. "Fantastic," said Southgate. "We deserved it as well. We played so well in the 90 minutes. "We showed resilience to come back from huge disappointment and kept calm. It's huge credit to all our players and staff. "Shootouts are tough. We had talked long and hard about owning the process of a shootout. They kept calm. The players have taken it all on board. It's a special moment for us. "We looked at technique, how we needed to be as a team, the goalkeeper's role. "But now I'm thinking about Sweden. They are another team we have a poor record against. We have underestimated them for years." 'Players fall in the box - it's hurtful' In a tempestuous game, six Colombia players were shown yellow cards, including Wilmar Barrios for what looked like a headbutt in the Colombia penalty area on midfielder Henderson. Colombia players also surrounded referee Mark Geiger for about three minutes after he awarded a penalty for Carlos Sanchez's foul on Kane. Colombia manager Jose Pekerman said: "People in England or others should not think of Colombia players like this. It's a very competitive game. "England have a great weapon in the air. Players fall in the box. They collide and fall. It's hurtful. You have to try and stand in the shoes of the players. They are subject to situations which shouldn't be present in football. "These interruptions are bad. It's OK, but when there are so many fouls and interruptions that's not good. We have to find the right balance so both teams can play with the same intentions. "We should not only look to Colombia but also England's players. In the next match England will be more careful. Today we were on the receiving end of this. It's been so obvious, too obvious." Southgate said: "We didn't rise to it in general, which was brilliant. A couple of times we lost our cool. "It looked like our fans were outnumbered five to one. It was an away game. To deal with it all was exceptional. "There were many, many fouls in the game and I do not think we committed anywhere near the number they did. "We kept our composure in a really difficult environment." 'We stepped up when it mattered' England won their first World Cup shootout in four attempts Kane leads the race for the Golden Boot as the topscorer in the tournament, having netted six goals in three games - two more than Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku. "We played well, we controlled the game and it hits you hard when something like that happens," Kane said of Mina's equaliser. "But it shows what we're made of. We had to go again in extra time and then the penalty shootout. "It's been terrible for us over the years - of course we know that - and to step up when it mattered and do what we did, I'm so proud of everyone involved." Kane and Marcus Rashford scored from the spot for England before Henderson missed, but Kieran Trippier levelled and Dier sealed victory by beating Ospina low to his right. "We're a young squad but we learnt a lot out there today and we would have grown up a lot too," said Kane. "We're in a great position and that could be a big moment going forward in the tournament. "We stepped up when it mattered. We've just got to settle down and go again on the weekend." 'I was in a massive whirlwind' England have won two and lost six penalty shootouts in major tournaments Pickford made a stunning save - diving high to his left - to deny Uribe in stoppage time, but the resulting corner led to Colombia's goal. The Everton keeper was questioned for conceding Adnan Januzaj's strike in the defeat by Belgium in the final group game. Pickford, 24, said: "I was in a massive whirlwind but I saved it with my left hand. "I've been criticised for going with my top hand, but as long as you save it that's all that counts. "I might be young but I've got good mental strength and experience and I used that today. "It's a great night to win a penalty shootout. Ideally we don't want to be going to a penalty shootout but we are delighted for the fans and the whole country." 'We handled it perfectly' England defender Kieran Trippier: "We've practised [penalties] after loads of training sessions when we've all been fatiguing, but I had full faith in all the boys. "With my penalty, I just stick to one spot and put it there. I'm absolutely delighted I could score for my team. "I believe in my own ability and I believed that I could score. Hendo missed but we're all behind him and we couldn't be happier for Picks and Eric Dier. "We had to dig deep in this game. Colombia did well - they put us on the back foot for 20 minutes - and we handled the game perfectly. "We didn't change the way we played. We carried on playing out from the back like we do in training and like the gaffer wants us to do. "They were trying to wind us up but we kept our cool heads. We knew they were going to taunt us before the game." England defender Harry Maguire: "We've worked tirelessly on them (penalties). The gaffer has been reiterating it's not all about luck; it's a skill under pressure and the boys did it well. The staff have studied penalties for weeks and it's paid off tonight. "They (Colombia) did everything they could to try and frustrate us - falling on the floor, rolling about and continuous fouling. It was a tough game to get any rhythm. "We controlled the game for the 90 minutes then the big sucker punch was at the end in the corner. Maybe we should deal with it better. "They threw bodies in the box and it was a bit difficult to take. We could have quite easily gone under at that point but the boys showed great courage and character to come back. "People have been going on about 'it's coming home', and it's great to enjoy tonight.<doc-sep>SAMARA, Russia (Reuters) - England hold no fear for World Cup last 16 opponents Colombia, said the South American side’s coach Jose Pekerman, who is relishing the prospect of the “full on, to-the-death” knockout phase of the tournament. Slideshow ( 7 images ) Colombia completed the first round with a 1-0 victory over Senegal that sent them into the last 16 as Group H winners and dumped the African side out of the tournament in a thrilling finale. It was a very different end to Group G, where England and Belgium both seemed intent on finishing second, gambling on the runners-up spot delivering a smoother route into the tournament’s latter stages. England ended up losing to Belgium 1-0 in an encounter where both teams played second-string sides. That ensured Colombia and England would meet in Moscow on Tuesday. While Pekerman was impressed with England’s opening displays in the tournament, he was confident his side could get through to the quarter-finals, where either Sweden or Switzerland would be waiting. “I definitely think England have what it takes to do well, but it will be a match in which Colombia is going to be confident of playing at a high level and getting a good result,” he told reporters. “We know that any team that reaches the last 16 is good, we are talking about the best 16 teams in the world,” he added. “Obviously England can have a good day or an even better day. England is a young team, has a lot of harmony and you can tell they have a lot of faith in themselves... “Now a different kind of match is heading our way, these will be completely full-on, to the death matches, win or you are out. These are extreme situations.” Pekerman’s side were largely second best for much of their match against Senegal and had to play 60 minutes without talisman James Rodriguez, who was substituted in the first half with an injury. The Colombia coach said he was “extremely concerned” about the player’s fitness but was pleased that the team rose to the occasion to snatch the win against Senegal. “I want to highlight that all my players played well and at a high level,” Pekerman said. “When you prepare a team you look at the upcoming game and are very focused. These incidents (Rodriguez injury) can give you a very hard time so what we did was very extraordinary, especially when you think about the team we were playing.”<doc-sep>

England fans have declared the World Cup knockout curse over after the Three Lions’ dramatic penalty shootout win over Colombia, with spontaneous celebrations and unfettered joy breaking out across the country. Eric Dier slotted home the winning spot kick to confirm England’s place in the last eight of the tournament, sending the relatively few England fans in the stadium and nearby bars into raptures. The national side’s first World Cup shootout win – at the fourth time of asking – along with a quarter-final draw against Sweden, had many supporters believing “football’s coming home”. In London, traffic on Shoreditch High Street was brought to a standstill as jubilant groups of fans broke out into song, belting out the resurrected anthem Three Lions and dancing in the street, pints held aloft. @Baddiel Shoreditch High St blocked to traffic due to spontaneous rendition of Three Lions pic.twitter.com/W76Qd1QxoL — Dan Onymous (@Aurelius) July 3, 2018 Similar scenes played out across the capital, and the nation. Congratulations poured in for the team from all quarters. Kensington Palace tweeted congratulations from the Duke of Cambridge, signing the tweet “W”. The apparently personal message from the president of the Football Association said: “I couldn’t be prouder of england - a victory in a penalty shootout! You have well and truly earned your place in the final eight of the #worldcup and you should know the whole country is right behind you for Saturday! Come on England! W.” Former England striker Gary Lineker tweeted: “Football. There is nothing like it. Nothing.” And also the poignant message “So that’s what it feels like”. So that’s what it feels like. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 3, 2018 Fellow former Three Lions star Alan Shearer simply said: “Yesssssssss boys yeeesss yes yes #RUSSIA-2018 England.” ‘It’s broken the curse’ Alastair and Gillian Robertson, who moved to Moscow from Sevenoaks, in Kent, for work 18 months ago, spoke of their delight. Alastair Robertson, 44, said: “If England can win at penalties for the first time in I don’t know how many years – 50 years of hurt, we win on penalties then we can go all the way. “And the next round Sweden, all respect to Sweden it’s going to be a great game but I think our boys will step up.” Barney Corkhill, 26, who lives in Peckham, south-east London, agreed. He said: “At full time I was telling people around me, ‘Yes we are going to win on penalties’ - I didn’t believe it. “I actually predicted we would get knocked out to Colombia in the last 16 so I was already worried. “It’s coming home, isn’t it? Brendan Collins, 30, described the match as an “emotional rollercoaster”. “We won and to win on penalties was probably a massive boost to the ego,” Mr Collins, who is originally from Manchester but has lived in Stavropol for 18 months and Russia on and off for five years, said. “When it went to penalties, we had a lot of people around us like, ‘hmmm’. “But it’s broken the curse now, it’s coming home. “I think given the penalties have broken the curse, we’re going all the way - 2-1 in the final against France.” Jay Kumar, 55, from Northolt, west London, and his friend Johnny Rai, 59, from Hayes, west London, had to settle for watching the game in a bar packed with Colombia fans near the Spartak Stadium. Inside the arena, the lowest number of England fans since the Tunisia game - officially numbering 2,225 - were drowned out by their rivals until after the game, when the players went over to take selfies and share the special moment with them. England are now joint second favourites alongside France to win the tournament at just 4/1, according to bookmakers Ladbrokes. Press Association contributed to this report

Like with any highly anticipated product introduction, things tend to heat up as we get closer to the actual release date. The stories and rumors get wilder and crazier and now the same thing is happening with DJI’s most recent announcement. According to some people, the image that accompanied DJI’s announcement may contain a hidden hint to the Mavic Pro II (2). Have a look yourself and let us know if you think this is purely coincidence or that it confirms the arrival of the long-awaited foldable Mavic Pro successor from the Chinese drone-maker. Coincidence or not? This morning Cliff Totten on Youtube pointed out to us that @OsitaLV had possibly spotted a very creative trick from Chinese drone-maker DJI. If you rotate the image that accompanied the announcement for DJI’s event on July 18th, the letter M seems to appear together with the Roman number 2 (II). Could it be that this is a clever and creative trick from DJI to hint to and confirm the long-awaited foldable Mavic Pro successor? Or do you think this is purely a coincidence and that it is crazy for people to look too deep into any possible clues hidden in DJI’s image? Watch the video and let us know in the poll below! It will be interesting when upside down. pic.twitter.com/6RRJq4woj9 — OsitaLV (@OsitaLV) June 18, 2018 STAY IN TOUCH! If you’d like to stay up to date with all the latest drone news, scoops, rumors and reviews, then follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or sign up for our email newsletter DroneRise, that goes out every weekday morning at 6 am. If you’d like to help us grow, you can buy your next drone through one of the following links directly from manufacturers, such as DJI, Parrot, Yuneec or retailers like Amazon, B&H, BestBuy or eBay. We will make a small commission and it will not cost you anything extra. Thank you! Subscribe to DroneDJ on YouTube for exclusive videos<doc-sep>Enlarge Image DroneDJ When it comes to pushing the limits of drones that'll fit in a backpack or (very large) purse, DJI has been tops -- the Mavic Pro made flying 4K footage pretty dang portable, and we've called the Mavic Air the best travel drone. But you might want to hold off on buying either one, because it looks like a new DJI Mavic 2 has just leaked out. DroneDJ published this photo that is currently circulating the web, along with some speculation on how the new drone might compare to the ones we already know. The most interesting likely improvement: a modular camera you could swap out to change your gimbal, sensor and perhaps even the camera's field of view. (DJI's Mavic lineup doesn't have the same wide-angle lenses as its Phantom series, so you see less of the world in your shot.) It also looks like the drone might have 360-degree obstacle avoidance, which could be a big deal depending on the software. (Watch my video below to see what the rival Skydio drone can do with an entire sphere's worth of cameras helping it dodge objects.) And if you take a close look at the left of the leaked picture, it seems like the Mavic 2's motor-stabilized camera might be able to become a portable handheld gimbal as well. Sounds like we're going to have to update our Mavic Air vs. Mavic Pro vs. DJI Spark guide pretty soon. But maybe not right away -- because DJI confirms that though it had a July 18 event planned (perhaps for a product launch?) the event has now been pushed back. DJI declined to comment on the leak. Now playing: Watch this: DJI's Mavic Air has big features but still fits in a... Update, 4:35 p.m. PT: DJI has confirmed it planned a July 18 event in New York that has since been postponed.<doc-sep>When DJI launched the compact Mavic Air drone in January for $800, it seemed like there was no longer a compelling enough reason to splash money on the older, larger, and more expensive Mavic Pro quadcopter. But a report earlier this month claimed DJI hasn’t given up on the Pro as the company plans to launch the “Mavic 2” with several new features that could turn heads. And now an accidental leak (below) by British retail store Argos confirms this to be the case. According to a listing published by the store this week, the Mavic 2 will come in two versions, the Pro and the Zoom. The Mavic 2 Pro features a “Hasselblad camera” with a larger, 1-inch sensor, while the Mavic 2 Zoom comes with a 24-48mm zoom lens. So if you’re interested in the Mavic 2, you’ll need to decide which is more important — image quality or the ability to alter focal length. The Mavic Pro’s image quality has received mixed reviews, so the Hasselblad camera with a 1-inch sensor is certain to give hope to budding filmmakers and the like who are interested in a compact and portable quadcopter capable of delivering decent image quality. The zoom capability, on the other hand, will offer pilots more versatility for grabbing different types of shots. Enhanced obstacle avoidance In line with the earlier report, the Argos listing confirms that the Mavic 2 will also feature “omnidirectional obstacle sensing” (also known as 360-degree obstacle avoidance) that gives the new machine greater situational awareness than the Mavic Air, which has sensors on the front, underside, and rear. Such technology will provide even greater reassurance to drone novices afraid of accidentally flying their drone smack into a building or some other obstacle. The new machine can fly for 31 minutes on a single charge, which is longer than both the Mavic Pro (27 minutes) and the Air (21 minutes). And at 45 mph, its top speed is 5 mph faster than the Mavic Pro and 3 mph faster than the Air. But the listing says nothing about the price of the new drone, so on that we’ll just have to wait and see. DJI was expected to unveil the Mavic 2 at a special press event on July 18, but it postponed the gathering without offering a new date. The company said it decided to delay the event so that it could “deliver according to our standard of innovation.” Yes, it sounds rather like it has hit a snag with its technology and needs to sort it out first. Updated on July 31, 2018: Added information about Argos leak. Editors' Recommendations<doc-sep>Here’s what we know for sure: DJI’s got a big event coming up. It was originally scheduled for July 18, but was ultimately pushed back so the company “can deliver according to [its] standard of innovation.” The timing certainly seems right for a followup to 2016’s Mavic Pro, and the “bigger picture” event artwork appears to confirm a focus on imaging. This next part gets a bit more speculative, however. DroneDJ has published an image a (relatively) large folding drone bearing the name “Mavic 2.” The device also sports what looks to be a swappable camera gimbal, meaning users could potentially switch out the on-board model with different version. That would be a welcome change for professional photographers searching for a portable solution they can shove in their camera bag along with the rest of their gear. The addition of wide-angle option would also be in keeping with that whole “bigger picture” bit. CNET notes in a post that 360-degree obstacle avoidance is a possibility here, as well. That would help the new Mavic compete with the (admittedly pricey) R1 from Playground Global-backed startup Skydio that captured the drone community’s hearts. DJI is, of course, still far and away the market leader for consumer drones, and its Mavic line has gone a long way toward helping mainstream the product for consumers. But increased competition is no doubt keeping the company on its toes of late. Leaks certainly wouldn’t be anything new for DJI, as the last several devices have surfaced online in some form prior to release. The company unsurprisingly declined our request for comment, however.<doc-sep>

There can be no argument that DJI produces some of the best consumer drones in the market today. The company began to push the envelope with the 2016 Mavic Pro that offered 4K video in a portable package. And although the Spark didn’t offer 4K footage, it came with smarts that made the drone fun and easy to use. Last year's Mavic Air then combined the best of both worlds, becoming what we consider to be the best travel drone you can currently buy. DJI's not resting on its laurels, however, and was originally scheduled to host a big event on July 18 (US time) – one where the company had invited attendees to “see the bigger picture”. That event has however since been postponed, and while it's not quite 100 percent confirmation that a Mavic successor was what DJI was planning on revealing on the day, a purported image of the company's next major consumer drone was leaked online over the weekend – and it shows off several new features. Leaked image of DJI Mavic 2 | Image courtesy: DroneDJ Flying high Website DroneDJ was the first to publish the image of the new drone, which displays the name ‘Mavic 2’ printed on a foldable propeller arm. The copter appears to have a sleeker and more aerodynamic design compared to the Mavic Air, but retains the basic character of the Mavic Pro in terms of shape and color. From the parts on the table in the image, the Mavic 2 appears to include a removable gimbal, like the one on the competing GoPro Karma . And given DJI’s sell for its postponed event mentioned “the bigger picture”, it seems logical that the other key addition could be a wide-angle lens. That’s something DJI already offers on select models in its Phantom series. Reports have also suggested that the upcoming drone could include additional sensors on the bottom and the back, which combined with the existing front and side sensors would provide 360-degree obstacle avoidance. This could be a huge selling point for the drone in terms of ease-of-use, and DJI has already demonstrated its obstacle-avoidance tech works well on previous models, albeit in a more limited fashion. We’ve reached out to DJI for comments on the leak, but are yet to receive a response. We’ll update this story as soon as we know more.

Welcome to The National Today newsletter, which takes a closer look at what's happening around some of the day's most notable stories. Sign up here and it will be delivered directly to your inbox Monday to Friday. TODAY: Some come bearing placards, others buy flowers: How International Women's Day is playing out around the world. The success of Dear Evan Hansen and Mean Girls proves it: the young folk love musical theatre. Can virtual reality help alleviate the pain and stress of medical procedures? Missed The National last night? Watch it here. Women (and workers) of the world unite The rallying cry — "if we stop, the world stops" — is crystal clear. And for the second year running, women in Spain appear to be living up to its promise, bringing life to a virtual halt via a nationwide strike to mark International Women's Day. This evening, streets across the country are filling with hundreds of thousands of people taking part in some 500 planned protests in support of greater gender equality. Trains, buses and other services have been shut down as members of the country's two largest unions have walked out in solidarity. And the left-wing government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called it a day's work after a morning cabinet meeting. The ultimate goal of organizers — "subverting the world order and the pervading hetero-patriarchal, racist and neoliberal rhetoric" — is unlikely to be achieved in a single day. But the movement, which claims 5.3 million Spaniards participated in last year's work stoppage, is spreading to other European nations. In Italy, solidarity strikes have shut down public transit in Rome, and much of the country's rail system, while flights and ferries were stopped for two hours in the afternoon. Tens of thousands of women in France left their jobs at 3:40 p.m. — the point at which an average 26 per cent pay gap (compared to their male colleagues) sees them working for free. A feminist strike in Greece drew protesting crowds across the country. Further afield, International Women's Day was marked by marches in India and Pakistan, while 4,000 people gathered outside the presidential palace in Manila, Philippines, to decry Rodrigo Duterte's past jokes about rape and abusing his family's maid. Protesters gather as Turkish police block Istiklal street, the main shopping street in Istanbul, during the International Women's Day. (Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press) South of the border, the U.S. women's national soccer team grabbed the headlines today by suing the United States Soccer Federation for "institutionalized gender discrimination." The proposed class action seeks compensation for unequal pay cheques and damages for second-class treatment when it comes to coaching, training facilities and travel. (FIFA, soccer's international governing body might want to take notice. The prize pool for this year's Women's World Cup in France will see the 24 teams share $15 million US, compared to the $440 million that will be on offer to the 32 men's teams in Qatar in 2022.) Some locales embraced the progressive spirit of the day. In Berlin, International Women's Day was declared a public holiday for the first time, giving close to four million residents a day off work. In Japan, the country's cabinet approved new legislation that will ban all forms of workplace harassment and force private firms to promote more women to senior positions. Other places failed to rise to the challenge. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison sparked a backlash after his International Women's Day address in Perth seemed to focus more on the feelings of men. "We want to see women rise," he said. "But we don't want to see women rise only on the basis of others doing worse." But nothing really compares to Russia, which has marked the day as a national holiday since the 1960s, but seems to have transformed it into a quasi-Valentine's celebration, filled with flowers and compliments, as evidenced in this bizarre video posted by the country's ministry of emergency services. Vladimir Putin captured the mood in his annual Women's Day speech this morning. "This spring day is always full of flowers and gifts, lit up with the joy of our women and your shining smiles," the Russian president said, praising women as "reliable workers and responsible leaders." "You manage to do everything, both at work and at home," Putin marvelled. "And you remain beautiful, brilliant, charming, the centre of gravity inside the family." Breathing new life into Broadway Deana Sumanac-Johnson takes a look at Broadway's surprising popularity with the teen set. As far as I can tell, the kids are alright. Some of my favourite pieces that I've worked on have revealed surprising things about teens, who tend to be such a frequent target of our societal freakouts. ("Screen time!" "Fortnite!" "Momo challenge!") Today's teens are such big readers, they're practically keeping the publishing industry afloat. They also tend to be less racist, less homophobic. And, as demographic studies and the runaway success of Dear Evan Hansen and Mean Girls proves, they love musical theatre. If you run away at the sight of jazz hands, this may not be a positive development — but you have to admit it's a surprising one. People line up outside the Lyceum, one of Broadway's most storied theatres, for a showing of Be More Chill. (Nigel Hunt/CBC) Our story this week focuses on Be More Chill, a musical whose journey to Broadway is proof of the growing interest among teens and young adults in musical theatre. The story of a kid who pops a microchip-implanted pill to make him act more cool, the show opened and closed unceremoniously at Two River Theatre in New Jersey before young fans gave it a new life. The cast recording became a hit on Spotify (150 million streams) and funny, poignant teen anthems like Michael in the Bathroom inspired hundreds of YouTube covers — most of them by kids who had never seen the show. Producers took notice, and after a sold-out off-Broadway run, the show is about to open at the Lyceum, one of Broadway's most storied theatres. "The way that we have gotten here, to the Lyceum on Broadway, is a path that I didn't know existed," said 30-something writer/composer Joe Iconis, who wrote the music and lyrics to the show. We were sitting at Broadway's legendary hangout Sardi's, a beloved "old man bar" that Iconis likes to frequent. As we sat there, with caricatures of theatre stars up on the wall and the voice of Harvey Fierstein warbling from the other room (the cast of Kinky Boots was having a party), it very much seemed like time had frozen for Broadway, and things were as they'd always been. I had some anxiety that maybe I overestimated the Broadway-teen trend, and that we would get to the show and see the usual pearl-clutching, middle-aged set. But when we got to the Lyceum, teens were there in full force. Some travelled from as far as Houston, Tex. "It's so relatable … Jeremy is just like me," said a tall 17-year-old boy with glasses, referring to the show's protagonist. After the show was done, they huddled outside for more than 20 minutes on a surprisingly chilly night, waiting for the cast to come out and sign autographs. Deana Sumanac-Johnson speaks to Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz, the creators of the musical Be More Chill. (Nigel Hunt/CBC) Iconis joked that other musicals will now try to manufacture Be More Chill's viral-success route to Broadway, but that he'll be immediately able to "sniff them out." "We weren't trying to write something that was going to be, like, a hit with kids or a hit with tweens. I think that's why it is a hit with kids and it is a hit with teens — because it wasn't a cynical enterprise." WATCH: Deana Sumanac-Johnson's story about teens and Broadway tonight on The National on CBC Television and streamed online Like this newsletter? Sign up and have it delivered by email. You may also like our early-morning newsletter, the Morning Brief — start the day with the news you need in one quick and concise read. Sign up here. Virtual reality, real medicine Doctors in B.C.<doc-sep>International Women's Day: NHS staff celebrate 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 history of International Women's Day goes back to the early 1900s, and remains a focal point in the fight for gender equality worldwide. Last year saw protests, celebrations and debates on the crucial topic. This year will be no different, with mass protests in some parts, and influential women lending their voices to the cause globally. What is happening today? A few examples of the way people are marking International Women's Day: * Emma Watson, Keira Knightley, and Dame Emma Thompson are among 76 actors, writers, business leaders and campaigners to have used a letter in the Guardian to call on governments to increase support and protection of women fighting for their rights around the world. They say women risk “backlash, censorship and violence” whenever they defend their rights or speak out over injustice. International Women's Day: Protestors in Milan, Italy International Women's Day: Striking in Spain International Women's Day: A protest in the Philippines * Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted to mark International Women’s Day. He highlighted a speech by the party’s shadow secretary of state for women and equalities, Dawn Butler, in which she announces their policy on flexible working. * On International Women’s day last year, more than five million workers took part in Spain’s first nationwide “feminist strike” to draw attention to sexual discrimination, violence and the wage gap. This year will see another strike, as well as well as 1,400 rallies across the country. International Women's Day: A suitable earring for a protest in Nairobi, Kenya International Women's Day: Protests in Indonesia Spain’s socialist government, which came to power in June last year, has made improving equality a key aim. As he entered office, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez appointed 11 women and six men to his cabinet, saying his new government was “unmistakably committed to equality” and intended to reflect recent changes in Spanish society. The cabinet has suspended all activity today - except for its weekly ministerial meeting - and eight ministers are due to join a protest in central Madrid this evening. * Soaps Emmerdale and Neighbours will feature an all-female cast today, with episodes written entirely by women. * India’s Vitara airline has announced it is the first to offer free sanitary products on board its flights. * Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has issued a statement to mark International Women’s day. International Women's Day: Today's Google Doodle International Women's Day: Soldiers of the German Armed Forces in Berlin, Germany<doc-sep>Marches, protests, strikes and studies - people around the globe are taking action to mark International Women's Day and to strive for efforts to obtain equality. Here are some of the events: Strike by women, for women Across Spain, women downed tools in a strike for equality, a mass movement which drew in female employees from across the spectrum, from nuns to journalists and even the mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena. As Spain gears up for an April election, women's rights has become a hot-button issue for both the left and right, with everyone competing to do their bit to tackle inequality. "Only with feminism will we end violence against women and achieve real equality," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter. Thousands protest Duterte's mysogyny About 4,000 demonstrators marched through Manila chanting slogans against President Rodrigo Duterte, who has repeatedly made jokes about rape and last year admitted indecently touching the family maid when he was a teenager. Aides brushed off his comments as jokes, but activists have denounced his "misogynistic" statements as "unacceptable, pointing to statistics showing a 153% increase in rape from the decade before he was elected. With one woman or child is raped in the Philippines every hour, activists aiming to raise awareness about gender-based violence staged an exhibition of clothes worn by victims, called 'Don't tell me how to Dress'. Activists from an indigenous group raise clenched fists during a protest near Malacanang palace in Manila Flowers for mums and wives In Pyongyang, Flower Shop No. 5 is doing a brisk trade in flowers on International Women's Day, which is a full public holiday in North Korea, as a steady stream of customers turn up to buy blooms for their wives, mothers and significant others. As the North's founder Kim Il Sung once said: "In our country, women are in charge of one of the wheels of the revolution". His attitude has even found expression in the dictionary which features sample phrases like "an indomitable revolutionary woman fighter" or "If women are confined to their homes and remain away from labour and organisational life they cannot be revolutionised". Do more at home, UN tells men Of all the factors blocking equality in employment, the biggest is the heavy burden of caregiving borne by women, a UN report has found, saying the pace of change will only change if men take on far more unpaid tasks at home. "In the last 20 years, the amount of time women spent on unpaid care and domestic work has hardly fallen, and men's has increased by just eight minutes a day," said Manuela Tomei of the UN's International Labour Organization. Globally, women perform more than three-quarters of the total time spent on unpaid care work, averaging four hours and 25 minutes per day, while men only do one hour and 23 minutes. "The imbalanced division of work within the household between men and women is one of the most resilient features of gender inequality," the report said. Designed with a gender bias? Women's lives are impacted every day by a built-in "gender data gap" that touches everything from urban life to design, says a new book called "Invisible Women". British author Caroline Criado Perez says it is the story of "what happens when we forget to account for half of humanity", citing examples which range from slight irritations to life-threatening situations. Author Caroline Criado Perez From cars designed using crash-test dummies based on the average male, to doctors misdiagnosing women suffering a heart attack because their symptoms differ from those of men, the bias pervades modern society, and can have fatal consequences, she says. Even consumer products are often male-centric with voice recognition software far more likely to accurately recognise men's speech, and mobile phones often too large for women's hands. "Designers may believe they are making products for everyone, but in reality they are mainly making them for men." Putin rides out with women police In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin saddled up for a canter with women police officers on horseback, although not bare-chested this time. Mr Putin, who likes to project an active image, has previously been pictured hunting, fishing, diving or showing off his judo skills, often without wearing a shirt. Oz takes aim at sexist campervans Australia's government used International Women's Day to take aim at Wicked Campers, a "misogynistic" campervan firm known for its fleet of vehicles spray-painted with crude, sexist graffiti and slogans which years have sparked outrage. "We have no tolerance for sexist, misogynistic and offensive slogans on campervans," said Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer, while Transport Minister Michael McCormack said they "belong in a junkyard, not on Australian roads." 'Peace is born of women' Pope Francis praised women as the source of peace, hailing their contribution to building a world "that can be a home for all". "Women make the world beautiful, they protect it and keep it alive. They bring the grace of renewal, the embrace of inclusion, and the courage to give of oneself," he said. "Peace, then, is born of women, it arises and is rekindled by the tenderness of mothers. Thus the dream of peace becomes a reality when we look towards women... If we dream of a future peace, we need to give space to women." Cameroon activist wins French prize France awarded the first Simone Veil Prize to Aissa Doumara Ngatansou, a Cameroonian woman who has spent 20 years helping victims of rape and forced marriages. On receiving the €100,000 prize Doumara dedicated it to "all women victims of violence and forced marriages" and to those who had escaped the clutches of Boko Haram, the jihadist movement which emerged in Nigeria a decade ago and has terrorised the region. Day of mourning for murdered women Yesterday, Portugal observed a day of mourning to remember women killed by domestic violence, with flags lowered to half mast on official buildings and ministers pausing for a minute during the weekly cabinet meeting. Last year, 28 women were killed by their partner or former partner, women's rights groups say, with local media saying another 12 had died so far this year. "The violence must end and this is a collective challenge for every society and everyone among us," Prime Minister Antonio Costa wrote on Twitter. "Remembering the victims is the first step towards action."<doc-sep>

Marches and protests were held Friday across the globe to mark International Women’s Day under the slogan #BalanceforBetter, with calls for a more gender-balanced world. The day, sponsored by the United Nations since 1975, celebrates women’s achievements and aims to further their rights. Thousands of women walked off the job in Spain, joining millions more around the world demanding equality amid a persistent salary gap, violence and widespread inequality. Canada In Toronto, councillors marked the day with a celebration in council chambers. The Toronto sign will also be lit in purple Friday night. Toronto city council marks International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019. CITYNEWS/George Joseph Later this evening, Mayor John Tory will present the Pam McConnell Award for Young Women in Leadership. The award, which was created last year in memory of the late deputy mayor, recognizes young Toronto women who inspire their peers, demonstrate leadership in volunteerism, and a commitment to social justice. The Toronto sign will be lit in purple tonight to celebrate International Women’s Day. #IWD #IWD2019 pic.twitter.com/awIOBZFvYz — John Tory (@JohnTory) March 8, 2019 Happy #IWD2019 We hit the streets of Toronto to ask you to describe women in 2019 in one word? Leave your word in the comments below… pic.twitter.com/v5sIh0EGFM — KiSS 92.5 (@KiSS925) March 8, 2019 Liberal MP Jane Philpott spoke at a International Women’s Day event hosted by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Ottawa city councillor Theresa Kavanagh. United States On the eve of International Women’s Day, U.S. first lady Melania Trump saluted women from 10 countries for their courage. The recipients of the International Women of Courage Award included human rights activists, police officers and an investigative journalist. They came from Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Ireland, Jordan, Montenegro, Myanmar, Peru, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. “Courage is what divides those who only talk about change from those who actually act to change,” Mrs. Trump said at a ceremony Thursday that was also attended by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Pompeo separately recognized women in Iran for protesting the requirement that they wear a head covering known as a hijab in public and a Ukrainian activist who died in 2018 after she was attacked with sulfuric acid. Europe Police in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv detained three people as far-right demonstrators tried to provoke activists protesting domestic and sexual violence. About 300 people gathered on Mykhailivska Square in central Kyiv on Friday for the women’s rights demonstration. Several dozen far-right demonstrators stood nearby, holding placards reading “God! Homeland! Patriarchy!” and “Feminism is destroying Ukrainian families.” In Spain, where women’s rights have become one of the hot topics in the run-up to a general election next month, many female employees didn’t show up to work Friday. Others also halted domestic work or left to men the care of children and ill or elderly people. In neighbouring Portugal, the Cabinet observed a minute of silence Thursday as part of a day of national mourning it decreed for victims of domestic violence. Portuguese police say 12 women have died this year in domestic violence incidents — the highest number over the same period in 10 years. Pope Francis hailed the “irreplaceable contribution of women” to fostering peace. “Women make the world beautiful, they protect it and keep it alive,” the Argentine Jesuit said. Francis has vowed to give more decision-making roles to women in the Catholic Church, where the priesthood — and therefore the highest ranks of authority — is reserved for men. Some feminists bristle at Francis’ frequent use of the term “feminine genius” and his focus on women as mothers. In Germany, topless feminist protesters went to one of the country’s most famous red-light districts in Hamburg and pulled down a metal barrier wall intended to keep out women — other than prostitutes. A half-dozen women belonging to the Femen activist group had the slogan “No brothels for women written on their bare back in black lettering. Legally, all women are allowed to enter the street, but in reality most women obey the signs saying, “Entry only for men 18+.” In France, the first Simone Veil prize went Friday to a Cameroonian activist who has worked against forced marriages and other violence against girls and women. Aissa Doumara Ngatansou was married against her will at age 15 but insisted upon continuing her studies as a young wife. She has since turned her attention to victims of Boko Haram extremists.

COIMBATORE: The Centre’s decision to hold the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test ( NEET ) twice a year from 2019 is seen as a right move by most students since they will get one more chance to appear for the exam every year. But the Tamil Nadu minister for school education K A Sengottaiyan seems to be not so happy with the decision, announced on Saturday.On Sunday, the minister said the state government would press the Centre to conduct NEET once a year. "If NEET is held twice a year, students will not have time to prepare for it," he said.Speaking to reporters here, Sengottaiyan said Centre’s decision to conduct NEET twice a year had not reached the state yet. “If an official communication reaches the state, the government will press the Centre for conducting the exam only once a year,” he said.He didn’t make any comment on the Centre’s decision to hold the Joint Entrance Examination – Main ( JEE Main ) twice a year.The minister said government schools students would be given NEET training for one hour on school days and three hours on off days. The training will be held at 412 centres.A total of 20,000 students from government schools would be trained for auditing and charted accountancy courses, he said. Around 500 auditors would be deployed for this, he added. As a first phase, 2,700 students from Erode would be trained, he said.“To create employment opportunities for students right after Class XII, a total of 12 skill training courses will be introduced from next year,” Sengottaiyan said.Around eight lakh engineering graduated are without jobs in the country. Skill development training would be given to students with an aim to give jobs to all in Tamil Nadu, he said.Next year, the state syllabus would be framed in such a way that it would be better than the CBSE syllabus, he added.<doc-sep>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>Minister responds to decision to conduct the test twice a year The State government will write to the Centre to conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) only once a year, School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan said here on Sunday. The Minister told reporters that the Centre was yet to officially communicate the decision to conduct the test twice a year for admission to medical colleges. He had learnt about the Centre’s decision only from the newspapers. As and when the Centre communicated the decision, the State would write to the Centre in this regard. The State government would soon establish 412 centres across the State to train Plus Two students in government schools to take NEET. The classes would be held for an hour, after school hours on working days, and for three hours during weekends. The government was also looking at imparting skill development training for Plus Two students. “The objective of the programme is to make students employment-ready by training them in 12 trades. This will start next year and is necessary because around eight lakh engineers across the country are unemployed.” Mr. Sengottaiyan also spoke about the government’s plan to engage 500 Chartered Accountants to train Plus Two students to take the first level of the CA examination. “The target is to train 20,000 government school students and the first batch of training for 2,700 students will begin soon in Erode.”<doc-sep>NEET, JEE Mains to be held twice a year from 2019 A student can attend exams twice in a year and the best score will be considered for admissions. news Education Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday announced that JEE Mains and NEET -- the two national level engineering and medical entrance examinations -- will be held twice a year from 2019 by a newly-formed National Testing Agency (NTA). The NTA was approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2017 as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organisation to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions to bring in major reforms in the examination system. "The National Testing Agency will conduct them this year. The same student can take the exam both times a year and the best score will be counted," Javadekar said. He said all examinations under the NTA will be online. "Computer centres will be set up where students with no access to computers can practise from August-end or September." JEE Main exams will be held in January and April while NEET will be held twice in February and May, Javadekar told reporters. The nodal agency responsible for JEE Main and NEET examinations was the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Javadekar said apart from Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and National Eligibility cum Entrance Examination (NEET), NTA would also conduct National Eligibility Test (NET), Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) and Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) exams. But the IITs will continue to conduct JEE-Advanced. The National Eligibility Test (NET) is conducted twice a year -- July and December. The December session of the NET will be the first exam to be conducted by the newly formed body. "The exams will be more secure and at par with international norms. There will be no issues of leakage and it would be more student friendly, open, scientific and a leak-proof system," Javadekar said. The minister said there would be no change in the syllabus, neither would the exam cost more than what it did earlier.<doc-sep>

NEET exam once in 6 months: Tamil Nadu to oppose centre's decision Education Minister KA Sengottiyan said that the new rule to hold NEET every 6 months would not give students enough time to prepare. news NEET Following the central government's decision to hold the NEET exam for all states once every six months beginning next academic year, Tamil Nadu expressed its opposition to the change. Speaking to media persons in Coimbatore, Minister for School Education in the State, KA Sengottiyan said that students would not have enough time to prepare for the exam if it was being held once every 6 months. "Usually when centre rolls out a new plan, state governments participate and give opinions. Our opinion is that it should be conducted annually. We will request our CM to submit a letter to the Prime Minister and the respective ministry officials. Only if it is conducted once a year it will be possible for our students (to study and attempt the exam). Six month period will be too short for them," he said. The response comes after Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday announced that JEE Mains and NEET -- the two national level engineering and medical entrance examinations -- will be held twice a year from 2019 by a newly-formed National Testing Agency (NTA). The NTA was approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2017 as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organisation to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions to bring in major reforms in the examination system. "The National Testing Agency will conduct them this year. The same student can take the exam both times a year and the best score will be counted," Javadekar said. He said all examinations under the NTA will be online. "Computer centres will be set up where students with no access to computers can practise from August-end or September." JEE Main exams will be held in January and April while NEET will be held twice in February and May, Javadekar told reporters. The nodal agency responsible for JEE Main and NEET examinations was the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). It will now be transferred to the National Testing Agency, the minister announced. (With inputs from IANS)

Like we’ve done in years past, every Friday throughout the season we’ll highlight the five best games of the coming weekend. This year, we’ll pick those games against the spread, plus some other matchups that caught our eye from a betting perspective. This weekend presents the last opportunity for teams to impress the College Football Playoff selection committee before the first set of rankings is unveiled on Tuesday night. Well, maybe “impress” is the wrong way to characterize it. There are mostly chances to avoid disaster. While there are three ranked vs. ranked games, 14 other ranked teams have unranked opponents on the schedule, with 12 of those games on the road (if you include No. 3 Notre Dame’s trip to San Diego to play Navy). That’s the usual recipe for upsets. With wins, the playoff hopes of teams like No. 6 Texas (at Oklahoma State) and No. 12 Kentucky (at Missouri) live on for another week. A loss pretty much spells the end of their national title road. (Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports) (Games on Saturday unless otherwise noted, all times ET) 5. No. 21 South Florida at Houston Time: 3:30 p.m. | TV: ESPN2 | Line: Houston -7 Through eight weeks, five undefeated teams remain. One is 7-0 South Florida, a team with an explosive offense (505 yards per game, 11th nationally) led by two transfers: QB Blake Barnett (Arizona State, Alabama) and RB Jordan Cronkrite (Florida). But there have been close calls against bad teams along the way. Charlie Strong’s Bulls trailed in the fourth quarter against Illinois and Tulsa and only beat East Carolina (20-13) and UConn (38-30) by a touchdown. Those four teams have a combined record of 7-21. The schedule increases in difficulty with Saturday’s trip to Houston, a game that impacts both AAC divisions and the Group of Five race. In the AAC East, USF is one of three teams without a conference loss. In the West, Houston (6-1, 3-0) leads the way after dispatching Navy in Annapolis last week. The Cougars, winners of four straight, boast the AAC’s best offense, averaging 48.7 points and 555.3 yards per game. That offense is led by D’Eriq King, a junior who began his career as a wide receiver. Ever since Major Applewhite moved King into the starting QB role, the UH offense has thrived. This year, King has thrown for 1,984 yards and 23 touchdowns and added 281 yards and nine scores rushing. But King isn’t UH’s most well-known player. That honor goes to two-time All-American defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who is listed as questionable after injuring his knee vs. Navy. Story continues Picks: Sam: UH -7, Nick: UH-7 4. No. 6 Texas at Oklahoma State Time: 8 p.m. | TV: ABC | Line: Texas -3.5 The bye week was well-timed for Texas (6-1, 4-0 Big 12) this season. Following its triumph over Oklahoma on Oct. 6, the Longhorns eked out a win over Baylor the following week, losing QB Sam Ehlinger to a shoulder injury in the process. Ehlinger was able to rest the shoulder during the bye and, by all accounts, should be ready to roll against Oklahoma State. The Longhorns will need Ehlinger, too. They can’t afford a letdown if they want to stay atop the Big 12 standings and remain in the College Football Playoff picture. Inconsistent would be the best way to describe the first half of the season for Oklahoma State (4-3, 1-3 Big 12). After the Cowboys trounced Boise State in Week 3, we wondered if OSU could challenge for a Big 12 title. Instead, the Cowboys, losers in three of their last four games, have an opportunity to play the role of spoiler with first-place Texas visiting Stillwater on Saturday night. OSU put forth a terrible effort its last time out, losing 31-12 at Kansas State. Following a bye week, expect a much better effort from Mike Gundy’s group on a night where Barry Sanders’ Heisman Trophy season will be honored. Picks: Sam Cooper: OSU +3.5, Nick Bromberg: UT -3.5 3. No. 18 Iowa at No. 17 Penn State Time: 3:30 p.m. | TV: ESPN | Line: Penn State -6.5 As our Pat Forde detailed earlier this week, the Big Ten West is jumbled at the top with Northwestern (4-1), Wisconsin (3-1), Iowa (3-1), and Purdue (3-1) all having just one loss in league play. After Wisconsin and Northwestern meet Saturday in Evanston, Iowa has a chance for a big win in Happy Valley. This isn’t the plodding Iowa teams you’re used to watching, either. While the usually solid defense is there, the Hawkeyes are much more creative offensively, finding ways to get the ball to versatile tight ends Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson. Penn State started 4-0 and was very much in the CFP picture, but dropped heartbreakers to Ohio State and Michigan State in back-to-back weeks. PSU rebounded last week at Indiana and has the chance to get some momentum going for the second half of the season. PSU is the clear third wheel in the East behind Ohio State and Michigan, but it still is very much in the mix for a New Year’s Six bowl game. And so is Iowa. But PSU is the toughest game left on the Iowa schedule, so a CFP bid would be a tough sell even if the Hawkeyes run the table and win the Big Ten. Picks: Sam: Iowa +6.5, Nick: Iowa +6.5 2. No. 14 Washington State at No. 24 Stanford Time: 7 p.m. | TV: Pac-12 | Line: Stanford -3 On the heels of last week’s visit from College GameDay and win over Oregon, can Washington State (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) bring the same level of intensity on the road at Stanford? As important as the win over the Ducks was, the matchup with the Cardinal is even bigger. Washington State, led by grad transfer QB Gardner Minshew, would be in the driver’s seat in the Pac-12 North with a win. Oh, and the Cougars — the Pac-12’s only one-loss team — are the conference’s only hope to make the College Football Playoff. But in the end, the potential of Wazzu’s season — in the conference and nationally — will come down to the season finale vs. No. 15 Washington. This year, the Apple Cup is in Pullman. It’s been an up-and-down year for Stanford, but this is a big opportunity. Ever since its huge comeback overtime win over Oregon, things have gone downhill. The Cardinal dropped back-to-back games to Notre Dame and Utah, and neither game was all that close. After a bye, Stanford got back in the win column last Thursday at Arizona State, but it wasn’t a particularly impressive performance. Still, it put the Cardinal back in the Top 25 and in the thick of things in the North. A win over Washington State would set up another pivotal divisional battle against Washington in Seattle next weekend. Picks: Sam: WSU +3, Nick: WSU +3 1. No. 9 Florida vs. No. 7 Georgia (Jacksonville) Time: 3:30 p.m. | TV: CBS | Line: Georgia -7 It’s been a while since the stakes were this high in the Cocktail Party. Not only is this game huge for the SEC East, but the rivalry also has College Football Playoff implications. Coming off last year’s national runner-up finish, Georgia was far and away the favorite in the East. But it has serious competition with Florida and No. 12 Kentucky nipping at its heels (all three teams are 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the SEC). The last time we watched UGA, it got blown out 36-16 by LSU. LSU was, by far, the toughest opponent for UGA to that point in the season and it showed. Can the Bulldogs put up more of a fight on Saturday in Jacksonville? While the expectations were sky-high in Athens, nobody had Florida in the CFP picture in its first year under Dan Mullen. Now, at the minimum, Mullen has the Gators in position to play in a New Year’s Six bowl. But the Gators’ sights are higher entering Saturday.<doc-sep>1 of 8 John Bazemore/Associated Press Matt Hayes (Twitter: @MattHayesCFB) Here's the thing: Georgia isn't as bad as it showed against LSU, and Jake Fromm has a history of ratcheting up his play after a poor game (see: response to Auburn loss last year). Though the Dawgs aren't nearly as disruptive on defense as they were last season, they'll protect the ball, Fromm will play better, his backup Justin Fields will have a couple of critical series, and Florida won't have enough to keep pace with the Georgia offense. David Kenyon (Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR) Fromm looked awful in that loss to LSU. Worst day of his college career, and it's not particularly close. But I'm not panicking just yet, because I think the bigger test is Florida QB Feleipe Franks against a tough Georgia secondary. Florida will likely rely heavily on its quick-passing game, so creating after the catch will be vital unless Franks successfully tests UGA downfield. And I don't see that happening. Adam Kramer (Twitter: @KegsnEggs) First and foremost, I'm glad we're calling this name by its original, rightful title. Yeah, they're trying to tell you it's no longer the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, but deep down you know it's still very much that. Anyway, I will take Georgia. I don't feel particularly solid in that, but I believe the overall talent of the Bulldogs will prevail. That said, Florida's resurgence has been one of the best stories of the college football season. Dan Mullen will be up for this and will likely keep it close. But I feel like Georgia will find a way, and I could see Fields playing a significant role in that, some way or another. Kerry Miller (Twitter: @kerrancejames) LSU has completely screwed up my feeling about both of these teams. Take out Florida's win over the Tigers and Georgia's loss to them, and I'd probably pick the Bulldogs to win this game by at least three touchdowns. I'm still picking Georgia—but not confidently. The X-factor will be third-year running back Elijah Holyfield. D'Andre Swift hasn't had anywhere near the breakout year everyone was expecting, but Holyfield has emerged as a bruiser who Georgia can turn to when it desperately needs a first down. Brad Shepard (Twitter: @Brad_Shepard) I've gone back and forth on this one for much of the week. Everything screams to pick the Bulldogs, but I'm a big Mullen believer. The way he has the Gators playing is impressive. Just when you think they aren't a dynamic team, they beat LSU. Just when you think they're going to show their true colors against a bad team like Vanderbilt, they come roaring back. This team has staying power, so this game should be a lot closer than some people think. But I believe Fromm is going to rebound for the Bulldogs. Last year around this time, he started to elevate his game. If he has a big game against the Gators, it can kick-start his season. It's going to be a back-and-forth defensive battle, but I like Fromm to make one more play in the end. I'll say Georgia wins 24-16. Ian Wharton (Twitter: @NFLFilmStudy) Georgia is in the midst of a brutal stretch, but it is coming off a bye week. That will be the key difference in this game, as head coach Kirby Smart had time to self-evaluate and retool how they blocked (or rather didn't block) for Fromm against LSU. Florida will present a similar challenge and certainly has a good shot to win. But I trust the Bulldogs more than I trust the Gators to create big plays when needed.<doc-sep>Week 9 is the final week of the regular season before the first College Football Playoff rankings are released on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Four top-10 teams are on a bye this week, but there are a few pivotal matchups that will affect those rankings. The 3:30 p.m. ET time slot features two big-time matchups. No. 7 Georgia takes on No. 9 Georgia in a SEC East showdown, and No. 18 Iowa travels to No. 17 Penn State in the latest Big Ten eliminator stage. No. 14 Washington State travels to No. 24 Stanford for the next Pac-12 North showdown at 7 p.m. WEEK 9 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread It's not a blockbuster Saturday, but that's coming next weekend. With that in mind, here's a look at this week's Heisman Watch, coach on the spot, upset alert and what else to look forward to heading into Week 9. Heisman Watch Houston's Ed Oliver still ranks among the Heisman Trophy candidates and is generally considered a good bet to be the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Oliver has the numbers this season — he ranks third in the FBS with 13.5 tackles for loss and has three sacks — and that landed him on just about every midseason All-American team. Now Oliver gets a little bit of the spotlight. Houston (6-1, 3-0 American), which leads the American Athletic Conference West Division, has a chance to knock South Florida (7-0, 3-0 AAC) from the ranks of the unbeaten on Saturday. Houston also could be the team that faces UCF at the end of the road in the conference championship game. Those are big opportunities for Oliver to make an imprint on the national consciousness — like he did on the Thursday night game against Louisville in 2016. Coach on the spot Two weeks ago, Georgia was No. 2 in the FBS and on track to reach the SEC championship game for the second straight season. Kirby Smart's program was being compared to the early stages of Nick Saban's dynasty at Alabama. Now, the Bulldogs are coming off a bye week after a 36-16 loss to LSU, and a loss to Florida would knock Georgia down a peg in the SEC East race and likely out of the College Football Playoff debate. Throw in the rivalry factor with the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," and there's just as much on the line for — and perhaps more pressure on — the Bulldogs in Jacksonville. Georgia has four running backs averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry: D'Andre Swift, Elijah Holyfield, Brian Herrien and James Cook. The Bulldogs compiled 292 rushing yards in a 42-7 victory against the Gators last season. If the ground game is clicking early, then Georgia should be fine. MORE: Week 9 Playoff picture Upset alert There might not be that out-of-this-world upset on the board this week, but there are five games involving top-25 teams with single-digit point spreads that could have a trickle-down effect on the College Football Playoff race. While none of these games might be a huge "upset," they are the games you want to watch closely this weekend. Among those games: No. 22. N.C. State (Pick) at Syracuse. Both teams lost to Clemson, but the Wolfpack still have a shot at a New Year's Day Six bowl. No. 16 Texas A&M at Mississippi State (-3). The Aggies still have a stake in the SEC West race with a game against LSU later. They have to win as a road underdog against the Bulldogs first. No. 14 Washington State at No. 24 Stanford (-3.5). The Cougars are the only one-loss Pac-12 team left, and they'll need to take care of business on the road. No. 12 Kentucky at Missouri (-7). Why are the Wildcats an underdog here? A victory here could set up an unbelievable matchup in Lexington against Georgia. No. 18 Iowa at No. 17 Penn State (-5). The Hawkeyes need this one if they want to have a chance in the Big Ten West, and the Nittany Lions still have longshot hopes in the Big Ten East with Michigan on deck. No. 20 Wisconsin at Northwestern (-6). The Wildcats are on top of the Big Ten West. If the Badgers want to make a third straight trip to Indianapolis, they'll need to change that in Evanston. Among this six-pack, we picked the Aggies, Cougars and Wildcats to pull upsets. MORE: Week 9 bowl projections Think about it If there's a team that can make the biggest statement this weekend, then it's Clemson. Here's why. Since the 27-23 scare against Syracuse on Sept. 29, the Tigers have outscored Wake Forest and N.C. State 104-10 in two explosive victories that have given the Tigers control of the ACC Atlantic. The Tigers outgained the Demon Deacons and Wolfpack by an average of 585-275 in those victories. Now, Clemson travels to Tallahassee to face rival Florida State. The Tigers have split the last two meetings at Doak Campbell Stadium, winning the last meeting there by a field goal. Win big here, and it won’t just serve notice to the rest of the regular-season schedule — which features Louisville, Boston College, Duke and South Carolina — it will affirm once more that Clemson is the best bet to challenge Alabama in the College Football Playoff (if LSU can't win next week in Baton Rouge).<doc-sep>

Week 9 is the last week before the first College Football Playoff rankings are revealed, and it features three matchups between ranked teams. The 3:30 p.m. slot features the main event in the SEC East between No. 7 Georgia and No. 9 Florida. It's a matchup of one-loss teams, and the winner will be in good shape heading into the final leg of the regular season. No. 18 Iowa also travels to No. 17 Penn State in that time slot. No. 14 Washington State travels to No. 24 Stanford in the primetime slot at 7:30 p.m. in another Pac-12 showdown. MORE: Watch college football live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) Here is a look at our record so far: Straight up: 127-28, .819 (12-3 last week) Against the spread: 80-61, .567 (6-9 last week) Upset picks: 5-6, .455 (0-1 last week) And now, Sporting News' picks against the spread for Week 9 (lines reflect Consensus picks according to VegasInsiders.com as of Monday): Baylor at No. 13 West Virginia (-14) The Mountaineers are coming out of a bye week against an improved Baylor team, which has already played at Oklahoma (33-point loss) and Texas (six-point loss). West Virginia had five turnovers in its last two games before the bye week. This used to be a game where 70 points was required to win. Now, 40 will be fine. West Virginia wins 42-31 but FAILS TO COVER the spread. No. 25 Appalachian State (-8) at Georgia Southern The Mountaineers have won the last three meetings by 18-plus points, and Darrynton Evans has settled in as the lead back role with the loss of Jalin Moore. The Eagles have a chance to make a statement at home in what should be a Sun Belt thriller. Appalachian State wins 31-28 but FAILS TO COVER the spread. No. 23 Utah (-10) at UCLA Don't look now, but the Bruins have won two games in a row under Chip Kelly. The Utes have found their offense, too, with 40-plus points in three consecutive games. This is an opportunity for the Bruins at home, and we're just skeptical about a double-digit road favorite. Utah wins 35-28 but FAILS TO COVER the spread. No. 2 Clemson (-14) at Florida State This is tougher than it looks. The Tigers have split the last two meetings in Tallahassee, and won their last meeting by just three points. Willie Taggart has the Seminoles trending in the right direction, and we could see FSU rising up for the cover here. — but we've picked against the Tigers the last two weeks and lost. We'll make FSU prove it. Clemson wins 38-21 and COVERS the spread. No. 20 Wisconsin (-5.5) at Northwestern The Big Ten West is wide open, and these teams have split the last four meetings. It's a contrast of styles, and Alex Hornibook will be on the spot again, but we like Jonathan Taylor to make a few big runs that prove to be the difference. Wisconsin ranks first in the Big Ten in rush offense (282.1 yards per game). Northwestern is last (78.1). Wisconsin wins 34-24 and COVERS the spread. No. 7 Georgia (-7) vs. No. 9 Florida The line opened at 6.5, and the Bulldogs got a half-point bump. Florida ranks third in the SEC with 22 sacks, while the Bulldogs rank last with nine. The Gators are good enough to pressure Jake Fromm and hang around in this game, but we think Georgia pulls it out. Georgia wins 28-21 and COVERS the spread. MORE: Week 9 bowl projections Kansas State at No. 8 Oklahoma (-23) If the Sooners want to get back in the Playoff hunt, they have to put up big scores. The Wildcats are coming off an impressive win against Oklahoma State. The Sooners have covered as 20-plus point favorites in that situation against Baylor and TCU, and they'll do it again at home. Oklahoma wins 52-21 and COVERS the spread. No. 18 Iowa at No. 17 Penn State (-5) The Hawkeyes need this one in order to keep their Big Ten West and Playoff hopes alive. It's a tall order on the road against a Penn State team that refocused after heartbreaking losses to Ohio State and Michigan State. This is a chance for the Hawkeyes to avenge last year's loss as well. The Hawkeyes are good enough to steal this win, but we can't see the Nittany Lions losing three. Penn State wins 27-24 but FAILS TO COVER the spread. No.

It’s going to be an eventful Sunday for Auburn. First, the Tigers will play Tennessee vying for the SEC Tournament championship — something they haven’t played for since 2000 or won since 1985. Then, AU will head back to its Nashville hotel to watch the Selection Show at 5 p.m., where they’re currently projected as a No. 5 seed. Auburn has defeated Missouri, South Carolina and Florida to get to this matchup with the Volunteers. UT has defeated Mississippi State and Kentucky to make the finals Auburn prevented Tennessee from winning the regular-season championship last Saturday. Now, they have a chance to win the tournament against them. Follow along below for live updates. Updates: • Auburn crushes Tennessee to win the title. Read all about it here. • Bruce Pearl gives Grant Williams an applause as he comes out of the game. • Tennessee fans are starting to leave the arena with four minutes left. • This game is bonkers with 3-pointers. • This Tennessee crowd got excited when the deficit went down to 17 points. Auburn responds with five straight. • Auburn has largest lead of the day at 15 points with 14:52 to go. • Admiral Schofield took a really hard foul from Admiral Schofield. He gets up and is fine. Auburn up by 13 points. • Chuma Okeke with two consecutive 3-pointers, keeping UT at arm’s length. • An incredible defensive first half ends with a Tennessee buzzer beating layup AU up 32-23, still 20 minutes away from an SEC title. Jared Harper hardly even played that half. • UT scores for the first time in 6:45. • Eight UT turnovers in five minutes. 15-0 run. • Auburn, playing its fourth game in four days, is on a 12-0 run against Tennessee, and has a nine-point lead with 5:06 left in the half. • J’Von McCormick has been absolutely fantastic without Harper. He puts Auburn up 22-18. • Auburn is just 2-of-13 from behind the arc, but are winning by one point. • Malik Dunbar, who’d been struggling, with a huge and-one driving to the basket. • Auburn shooting 27 percent from the floor and is being out-rebounded by six, but only down by four points. • The jacket has already come off for Bruce Pearl. • Two poorly executed shots in a row for Samir Doughty. Auburn down four. • Jared Harper is out of the game. J’Von McCormick is showing good composure in his absence. • Okeke blocked a shot at one end, then got blocked on the other end. • Bryce Brown opened the game with a 3-pointer, and has Auburn’s first five points after some scoreless first halves this weekend. It’s 5-5.<doc-sep>Tennessee entered today with an outside chance at a No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Vols likely need a win in the SEC Tournament championship game first, though, and that is proving to be more difficult than imagined. Auburn, the No. 5 seed in the SEC Tournament, dominated No. 3 seed Tennessee in the first 20 minutes of the conference title game. The Tigers are leading the Vols, 32-23, at halftime. Auburn got off to a big first half lead and held strong heading into the break. For those tracking at home, it's now a 17-1 run over the last 6:05. 😳 The Tigers have forced 10 turnovers in the half. Auburn 31, Tennessee 18#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/aALICEwX1s — Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) March 17, 2019 Some believe Tennessee could still be in line for a No. 1 seed, even with a loss. “Tennessee is a pretty easy choice as a No. 1 seed today if they win today. If they lose, I think UNC is next on the stoop but not sure they have enough to overtake the Vols even if they lose to Auburn,” Seth Davis tweeted. Tennessee is a pretty easy choice as a No. 1 seed today if they win today. If they lose, I think UNC is next on the stoop but not sure they have enough to overtake the Vols even if they lose to Auburn. — Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 17, 2019 ESPN currently has Tennessee has the No. 2 seed in the South Region. CBS also has Tennessee as the No. 2 seed in the South Region. The second half of Auburn-Tennessee will begin shortly on ESPN.<doc-sep>

It's Selection Sunday, and Auburn still has a chance to improve its seeding in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The Tigers (25-9) face Tennessee (29-4) in the SEC Tournament Championship today at noon CT in Nashville. Heading into the day, Auburn has won seven straight games and in the process has watched its seeding line jump in bracket projections across the country. The Tigers have jumped from a No. 6 seed to a No. 5 seed after winning three games in three days at the SEC Tournament, and could be a No. 4 seed should they knock off Tennessee for the second time in eight days, according to numbers compiled by BracketMatrix.com. The website takes the average seeding of dozens of projections (120 as of Sunday morning) to piece together the most comprehensive seeding predictions. Auburn's average seed line has improved drastically over the last three weeks, rising from 7.33 to 5.42. Auburn has the third-best average among No. 5 seeds and is only .001 behind the team in front of them for the second spot, according to BracketMatrix.com. Not much separates the Tigers from the six-seed line, too. Auburn is rated as high as a No. 4 seed and as low as a No. 9 seed among the "bracketologists" sampled by BracketMatrix.com. Auburn enters Sunday at No. 18 in the NCAA's NET rankings. Auburn improved to 4-7 against "quadrant 1" teams after beating Florida 65-62 Saturday in an SEC Tournament semifinal. The NCAA will unveil its 68-team bracket Sunday at 5 p.m. CT on CBS. You can stream the Selection Show on the March Madness Live app. *** Try us FOR FREE for 7 days and get the latest Auburn recruiting and team scoops *** *** Get FREE Auburn breaking news in your inbox ***

A U.S. Border Patrol agent was arrested Saturday in Texas on suspicion that he killed four women and prosecutors are describing him as a serial killer. The agent, Juan David Ortiz, is a supervisor for the Border Patrol. He fled into a hotel parking lot in Laredo, Texas after he fled from state troopers but was located and arrested early Saturday morning. “The county, the city can rest assured we have the serial killer in custody,” said Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar. Journalist Valerie Gonzalez wrote on Twitter that Ortiz “confessed to all four homicides.” She later posted a statement from the Webb Conty Sheriff’s Office that describes Ortiz as a 10-year Border Patrol veteran. Advertisement Update: Juan David Ortiz confessed to all four homicides. He is a nine-year veteran of Border Patrol, according to Webb County DA. Still waiting on statement from BP. This would be the second homicide investigation in Webb involving a border patrol agent from the Laredo sector. pic.twitter.com/3digC0mmq2 — Valerie Gonzalez (@ValOnTheBorder) September 15, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement From Webb County Sheriff’s Office regarding killing spree that ended with BP agent’s arrest: pic.twitter.com/ZLlm9yaZvX — Valerie Gonzalez (@ValOnTheBorder) September 15, 2018 Advertisement Although most say all four of the victims were women, CNN reports that “the bodies of three females and one male were found over the last two weeks.” Authorities say they have “very strong evidence” that Ortiz was the one who killed four prostitutes and he is believed to have acted alone. Authorities were able to locate Ortiz after a fifth woman apparently managed to escape and notify law enforcement officers. The county’s district attorney, Isidro Alaniz, said Ortiz will be charged with four counts of murder and one count of aggravated kidnapping. The motives for the suspected killings are not clear.<doc-sep>Border Patrol agents patrol the US-Mexico border prior to an Easter mass at the fence separating the two countries at Friendship Park in San Ysidro, California on Sunday, April 16, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Sandy Huffaker (Photo credit should read SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images) (CNN) — A supervisory US Border Patrol agent who authorities are calling a serial killer was arrested Saturday in the deaths of four people after a would-be fifth victim narrowly escaped harm and alerted a police officer. \/Webb County Sheriff's Office/Webb County Sheriff's Office Juan David Ortiz Juan David Ortiz, 35, confessed to killing four people between September 3 and September 15, according to a criminal complaint filed in Webb County, Texas. Ortiz was charged with four murder charges and one unlawful restraint with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Webb County District Attorney Isidro R. “Chilo” Alaniz. The bodies of four victims were found over the past two weeks, sheriff’s spokesman Eduardo Chapa told CNN. Chapa said investigators are not ruling out the possibility of more victims. An affidavit originally described the victims as three women and one man but the sheriff’s office later said that the victim identified as male was a transgender woman. The victims were shot in the head, according to the affidavit. All of the victims worked as prostitutes, authorities told CNN. “He was profiling certain kinds of victims,” Alaniz said, adding “the suspect was hunting for his victims.” The prosecutor says he feels comfortable describing Ortiz as a serial killer. It was not immediately known whether Ortiz has an attorney. Andrew Meehan, a US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson, said in a statement to CNN that the agency is fully cooperating with investigators. “While it is CBP policy to not comment on the details of an ongoing investigation, criminal action by our employees is not, and will not be tolerated,” his statement read. “Out of respect for the victims’ family and friends, we ask that deference and due process be given to the investigation so that all the facts are brought to light and they can receive the closure they deserve.” Woman able to escape, call police The case broke Friday after a woman narrowly escaped Ortiz’s grasp, the criminal affidavit shows. The woman was in a truck with a man named “David” and the two started talking about one of the prostitutes who had gone missing a week earlier. The man then pulled out a pistol and pointed it at her, and when she tried to flee, he grabbed her shirt to prevent her from leaving the vehicle, the affidavit states. She pulled off her shirt and ran to a nearby gas station, where she found a state trooper. The victim was able to provide a detailed description of Ortiz, including his tattoos, Alaniz said. Authorities found Ortiz at a gas station in Laredo, about 160 miles southwest of San Antonio. He fled the scene on foot and ran to a Ramada Inn, where he was found hiding in the bed of a pickup truck, Alaniz said. Ortiz was read his Miranda Rights and then verbally confessed to killing four people over the last two weeks, the affidavit states. Two of the four killings took place in the hours after the woman was able to escape but before police tracked him down, according to the affidavit. “We have very strong evidence that he is the person who has been killing,” Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar said at a news conference posted on CNN affiliate KGNS’s Facebook page. Ortiz, Cuellar said, spent 10 years as an agent with the US Border Patrol. He also is a US Navy veteran, Alaniz said. Cuellar passed his condolences to the families of the four victims. He said his department, along with other state and federal agencies, had been “working diligently on this case.” CNN’s Amanda Watts, Eric Levenson, AnneClaire Stapleton and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.<doc-sep>News Lori Vallow Has Been Charged For The Murder Of Her Two Children On Tuesday, a grand jury in Idaho formally accused Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow of murder in connection with the deaths of Vallow’s two children, Tyl<doc-sep>

A U.S. Border Patrol agent is suspected of being a serial killer after he was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping in rural Webb County, Texas, authorities announced Saturday. Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar said at a news conference that Juan David Ortiz was booked Saturday morning after a woman he allegedly attempted to kidnap Friday escaped and went to law enforcement. He said authorities believe Ortiz is behind the murder of four women in a nearly two-week span. "We have very strong evidence that he is the person that’s been killing," the sheriff said. Starting nearly two weeks ago, local investigators were trying to find a killer of women whose bodies were found in the border county that abuts the Rio Grande. A woman described by authorities as a "second victim" was found Thursday "with head trauma injury" off state highway 255, according to a statement from Texas Rangers. She was identified as Claudine Anne Luera, 42, of Laredo, Texas. A third body was found Saturday morning, then a fourth was found just after noon along the a highway north of Laredo, NBC News affiliate KGNS reported. Details on the other victims weren't immediately available from a Rangers spokesman. The women were sex workers whom the agent had allegedly "picked up," KGNS reported, citing Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz. Officials don't believe there are other victims. It's not clear if they think the suspect was on-duty at the time of the alleged killings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection assistant commissioner for public affairs Andrew Meehan said in a statement that Ortiz is a supervisory agent. "There are charges pending related to multiple homicides in the Laredo area," he said. He did not discuss if the agency has taken disciplinary action but said CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility was cooperating with investigators. "While it is CBP policy to not comment on the details of an ongoing investigation, criminal action by our employees is not, and will not be tolerated," Meehan said. NBC News reached out to the Webb County public defender's office and did not get a response on whether Ortiz has legal representation. Cuellar said Ortiz is a 10-year veteran with Border Patrol. He was detained overnight Friday before being formally arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping, the sheriff, speaking at a news conference, said. District Attorney Alaniz told reporters, "There is probable cause that this individual is responsible for this series of murders which qualify as a serial murder [case]." Jail records show he was charged with four counts of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and other crimes. He was being held in lieu of $2.5 million bond. The investigation was undertaken jointly by the Rangers and the Webb County Sheriff's Office, said Rangers Staff Sgt. Erick Estrada.

A fortnight ago, the Australian government launched what it called a world-first inquiry into sexual harassment at work in response to the revelations of the #MeToo movement. It was a widely-praised initiative, with an expectation that it would dig into what the problem was, and what needed to be done to fix it. Then David Leyonhjelm, a federal senator, delivered a real-life case study in what the problem was and how women, especially uppity women with a public profile, can expect to be treated. With perfect timing, he exposed the obvious: insulting or disagreeing with women almost invariably becomes sexual in a way that it does not for men. And parts of the media use outrage as a business model, and women – those feminist women – are all part of the show. There is nothing uniquely Australian about this, but let’s say we do sexism with Australian characteristics. The Senate was debating a motion to allow the importation of pepper spray and personal tasers to give women options to defend themselves. That motion was in part inspired by the rape and murder of 22-year-old Eurydice Dixon when she walked home through an inner-city Melbourne park in June. Greens senator Janet Rice opposed the motion in a way that highlighted the culture war debate that arose after Dixon’s death: the onus should not be on women to go to extreme lengths to combat violence, she said, when it was men’s crimes that were the issue. Sarah Hanson-Young, a fellow Green senator, interjected that “men should stop raping women”. Leyonhjelm, who was one of only five senators who supported the motion, shot back that Hanson-Young “should stop shagging men”. When Hanson-Young went over to confront him, she called him a “creep”. Leyonhjelm replied, “fuck off”. The loudest, most outrageous comment gets media attention, especially in those parts of the media that rely on it. Leyonhjelm, a member of the Liberal Democrats, is a libertarian elected to the Senate in 2013 through sheer luck. His party drew first on the ballot and, because it had “liberal” in the title, many thought they were voting for the mainstream Liberal party. So here he is, a powerful crossbencher in a divided Senate, espousing his notion of “freedom”. He’s pro same-sex marriage, wants lower taxes, is keen on privatising the ABC and campaigns to loosen gun control laws. He invited Milo Yiannopoulos to speak at Parliament House, the same Milo who during his national tour put up a photo of feminist writer Clementine Ford, with the word “UNFUCKABLE” superimposed. Leyonhjelm found Milo a “reasonable, rational sort of a guy”. Every parliament has its eccentrics, and they have a place. Having a libertarian in the house is no bad thing, however accidental his election. Yet we are in the outrage era, the angry era, the era of political disillusionment. The loudest, most outrageous comment gets media attention, especially in those parts of the media that rely on it. Sky News is a cable news channel controlled by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation. It has excellent, award-winning news programs, and a number of shouty rightwing opinion shows. Sky News decided Leyonhjelm’s remark about Hanson-Young, and his refusal to apologise to her, was so juicy it had him on twice to discuss it. On Sunday, he appeared on a little watched show called Outsiders, hosted by Rowan Dean and Ross Cameron, middle-aged rightwing culture warriors. Leyonhjelm would certainly not apologise, he said, because he was calling out misandry, or hatred of men. He hadn’t quite heard what Hanson-Young had said, but it was “to the effect of men should stop raping women, the implication being all men are rapists”. Those statements are not at all the same, but he went further. “This is not a criticism, but Sarah is known for liking men, the rumours about her in parliament house are well known, so I just said, ‘well just stop shagging men, then Sarah, it just doesn’t make any sense. If you think they are all rapists why would you shag them?’ ” The remark drips with tawdry contempt, implying that Hanson-Young sleeps around. It is such a routine way for men to dismiss women they disagree with – they’re sluts, they’re frigid, they’re ugly, they’re hot. Sky News has apologised for the “appalling” comment, and many of its credible presenters agreed. The award-winning journalist David Speers said the remarks were “completely unacceptable and should have been called out by Rowan and Ross at the time”. Something called “basic human decency” should come first. The comments were completely unacceptable and should have been called out by Rowan and Ross at the time. There’s room for plenty of opinions, but basic human decency should come first. Sexism is never ok. I’m glad Sky News has apologised. I have also contacted @sarahinthesen8 https://t.co/OuMiwhmSdJ — David Speers (@David_Speers) July 1, 2018 Sky News apologised and launched an investigation, and has in the meantime suspended a young female producer responsible for writing the strap at the bottom of the screen – which accurately recorded what Leyonhjelm said. It has not reprimanded the hosts – not Rowan Dean, who rants against feminism and identity politics and who once wrote a column blaming “climate change alarmists” for the Grenfell fire tragedy. Australia has a blokey culture, and there is considerable backlash to revelations of the ubiquity of sexual harassment Not Ross Cameron, the former Liberal MP who calls the Sydney Morning Herald the Sydney Morning Homosexual. How could these two be reprimanded? The hosts are meant to be outrageous, required to offend. Dean chuckled along as Leyonhjelm said Hanson-Young “has the right to shag as many men as she likes”. This show appears designed to be unfair and ugly and angry. It has nothing to do with “basic human decency”, so it is far easier to scapegoat a junior producer than admit the program was working entirely as planned. A day later, the hosts issued an on-air apology, saying the senator had crossed a line and seeking to disassociate themselves from “unverified rumour and innuendo” about Hanson-Young’s private life.<doc-sep>"It is a sad reflection on society that even in 2018, attacks like these occur to women after they have spoken out about sexism, sexual harassment and abuse in their workplace and daily lives," she said. "It is greatly disappointing and it sends a damaging message to our community that Senator Leyonhjelm has been given multiple platforms to continue making these harmful remarks." Loading Speaking to Fairfax Media, Senator Leyonhjelm said he was aware of the legal threat but did not intend to apologise. He said his comments had been taken out of context, and doubled-down by labelling Senator Hanson-Young a "misandrist". "It would be easier [to apologise] but it would be insincere, wouldn’t it, because I don’t think I have anything to apologise for," Senator Leyonhjelm said. "Insincere apologies seem to be all the rage at the moment and I’m not in for it." Asked about the response by Sky News and the repudiation of his remarks from several senior Sky presenters, Senator Leyonhjelm said: "My information is that Sky’s reaction to this is driven by its concern about Qantas as a sponsor." A Change.org petition calling on Qantas to dump Sky News from the screens of its lounges and planes has garnered nearly 5000 signatures. Fairfax Media understands the airline is satisfied with how Sky has handled the controversy. A Qantas spokesman said: "We note that Sky has apologised and is investigating." The airline also noted it does not show the Outsiders program on its planes. Former prime minister Tony Abbott - who was also minister for women while PM - described Senator Leyonhjelm's initial slur in the Senate as "just tacky" and called on him to apologise. "All of us I suppose get carried away but when you make a mistake, fix it," Mr Abbott told 2GB on Monday. "People should be better than that." The offending comments were broadcast on Sky's Outsiders program on Sunday, hosted by Rowan Dean and Ross Cameron. Sky News political editor David Speers reprimanded the pair for failing to call out Senator Leyonhjelm's remarks during the broadcast.<doc-sep>Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young has threatened to sue two media organisations and a crossbench senator over comments he made about her sex life. Key points: Last Thursday David Leyonhjelm told Sarah Hanson-Young to "stop shagging men" during a Senate debate Last Thursday David Leyonhjelm told Sarah Hanson-Young to "stop shagging men" during a Senate debate He says it was in response to comments she made to the effect of "all men being rapists", but Senator Hanson-Young denies she said that He says it was in response to comments she made to the effect of "all men being rapists", but Senator Hanson-Young denies she said that Senator Leyonhjelm went further in his criticism during two interviews over the weekend, and Senator Hanson-Young is threatening to sue Letters have been sent to Sky News, Melbourne radio station 3AW and Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm for the remarks he made on Sunday, which Senator Hanson-Young has described as reprehensible. "[They are] hurtful, and no woman, whether in public or in the privacy of her own home deserves them," Senator Hanson-Young said in a statement. The public spat between the two senators began last Thursday, when David Leyonhjelm told his counterpart to "stop shagging men" during a debate in Parliament. The comments were made while the Senate was considering whether to relax import restrictions on pepper sprays, in an attempt to provide further protections for women following recent attacks. Senator Leyonhjelm refused to back down from his remarks during an interview on Sky News with conservative political commentators Rowan Dean and Ross Cameron, and went further in his criticism. The ABC has chosen not to republish the comments made in that interview. Senator Hanson-Young said they were a "sad reflection" on society and she had no choice but to launch legal action. "I'm doing this because the women on the factory floor or the flight attendant who has things like this hurled at her, comments made, many of those women can't stand up," she told ABC's 730. "Many of those women are made to feel intimidated and silenced and it's time that this ended." Sorry, this video has expired 'When I am abused... I'm perfectly entitled to respond': Leyonhjelm on Hanson-Young saga. No apology necessary, argues Leyonhjelm Senator Leyonhjelm is adamant he did not say anything that "warrants an apology" and has urged people to consider his comments in context. The senator argues he was responding to Senator Hanson-Young, who was shouting comments across the chamber during last week's debate. "She has said words to the effect that all men are rapists and that would seem to me to be a double standard when she is obviously a normal woman who likes men," he told the ABC. "She's perfectly entitled to like men, but to also at the same time hold the view that they are collectively responsible for violence and sexual assault cases would seem to me to be a double standard." Senator Hanson-Young denies she made those comments. "I did not say those words, I did not infer them and I do not believe them. To suggest so is simply a lie," she said. When pressed about whether he could see why Senator Hanson-Young would consider his comments offensive, Senator Leyonhjelm stood his ground. "If she chooses to take offence that's her business, they weren't intended to be offensive to her, I can't see any reason why she would take offence," he said. 'Really tacky': Politicians back Hanson-Young Labor's Penny Wong said sexist slurs had "no place in political debate" and congratulated colleagues "from across the Parliament" for calling out that type of behaviour. Loading Former prime minister Tony Abbott described Senator Leyonhjelm's comments as "really tacky" and urged him to apologise. "When you make a mistake, fix it. Fix it as fast as you can. But Leyonhjelm goes on Sky and very smug and self-righteous repeats the damn thing, people should be better than that," he told radio station 2GB. His sentiment was echoed by senior Government minister Simon Birmingham. "I don't believe that that type of commentary has any real place in decent fair public policy," he told Sky News. "I would expect that apologies would be the appropriate order of the day and that frankly people ought to be a little bigger and better than that." Senator Hanson-Young said the culture in Parliament had to change. "If we can't clean it up in the nation's Parliament, where can we do it? We must be better than this," she said. Sorry, this video has expired Sarah Hanson-Young accuses David Leyonhjelm of sexist slur. Sky suspends producer over interview Sky News has apologised to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young for broadcasting what it described as "appalling comments" by Senator Leyonhjelm. Loading The organisation suspended a producer, pending an internal investigation, but Senator Leyonhjelm said he did not agree with that decision. "The producer was not responsible for my comments. I was responsible for my comments, I fully accept responsibility for them," he said. "Nobody at Sky knew what I was going to say, they knew the topic that I was going to discuss, but they didn't know how I was going to present it." He suggested that Sky News was looking for someone to point the finger at to save any potential advertising loss. "Sky was concerned that they may lose a sponsor over it rather than anything else, they were concerned that it may have an impact on the business," he said.<doc-sep>The Sky News Outsiders program has apologised live on air for broadcasting offensive remarks about Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, but the senator who made the remarks, David Leyonhjelm, remains defiant. Leyonhjelm appeared on both Channel Ten’s The Project and the ABC’s 7.30 on Monday evening, but refused to apologise. “I am not apologising for anything. I stand by it. I am opposed to double standards,” Leyonhjelm said. “I made no comment whatsoever on her private life, other than that there were two standards being applied.” We ask why senator David Leyonhjelm won’t be apologising for his "sexist" comments and hear senator Sarah Hanson-Young’s response, explaining why she’s speaking out. #auspol #TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/KsEFBRccd6 — The Project (@theprojecttv) July 2, 2018 Hanson-Young, who also appeared separately on both programs, said she would not be bullied any more by men yelling personal abuse at her across the chamber. “I’m standing up. I’ve decided as a matter of principle, I am not going to take this,” an emotional Hanson-Young told Ten. “Our parliament should be the pinnacle of how we engage in respectful debate, and just because you are losing an argument gives no person, whether they are a member of parliament or a commentator, or they are somebody in the privacy of backyard discussion over a barbecue, nobody has the right to treat a woman like that with such sexist slurs just because they couldn’t win the argument on sound facts.” Outsiders hosts Rowan Dean and Ross Cameron apologised at the top of their show on Monday night for “crossing a line” in their interview with Leyonhjelm. They said they should have immediately “disassociated” themselves from the remarks on their show on Sunday. It is the second apology from Sky News in as many days after the News Corp-owned channel broadcast a strap which said Hanson-Young was “well known for liking men”. Sky suspended the young producer who wrote the strap even though she was reflecting what the hosts said. 25 year old woman gets suspended not the misogynists what a joke https://t.co/277DDj7T9f — Laura Tingle (@latingle) July 1, 2018 “This program is called Outsiders, it is the name of the program,” Dean said. “We tackle issues and stories the mainstream media tends to avoid with observations that are not always popular, are sometimes controversial, often firey, but we hope informative. It’s what you’ve come to expect from us. We take a great deal of pride in delivering this content and plan to keep doing so for many years to come. But there is a line that should not be crossed and yesterday that line was crossed.” Earlier on Monday Hanson-Young said she was taking legal advice, and followed up by announcing on The Project she had retained Rebekah Giles of the law firm Kennedys to act for her. In a statement on Monday morning she said Leyonhjelm was unfit to remain in the Senate. “I believe he has proven himself incapable of showing respect and is unfit to represent not only women, but all decent Australians, in our nation’s parliament. “I will not be intimidated or bullied by offensive and sexist slurs on my professional reputation,” Hanson-Young said.<doc-sep>

Michael Masters/Getty Images) Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says she is seeking legal advice over a sexual slur made by NSW crossbench senator David Leyonhjelm on Sky News yesterday. Hanson-Young says Leyonhjelm should “do the decent thing” and resign from the Senate because “he has proven himself incapable of showing respect and is unfit to represent not only women, but all decent Australians in our nation’s Parliament”. His potentially defamatory comments about Hanson-Young on Sky’s Outsiders program led to a hasty apology from the broadcaster, while a young female producer has been suspended after including Leyonhjelm’s comments in a strap line on the show. Sky News wishes to apologise to Senator @sarahinthesen8 for broadcasting appalling comments by Senator @DavidLeyonhjelm earlier today, and for highlighting them in an on-screen strap. A producer has been suspended pending an internal investigation. — Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) July 1, 2018 Similar comments are also believed to have been made on Melbourne radio station 3AW. The comment about a “well-known” rumour came after Leyonhjelm interjected during Senate chamber during debate about violence against women that Hanson-Young “should stop shagging men”. When she subsequently confronted him about the comment, Hanson-Young told the Senate that he said her to “f..k off”. “I asked whether I heard him correctly. He confirmed he yelled ‘you should stop shagging men, Sarah’,” she said. “Shocked, I told him he was a creep. His reply was to tell me to ‘f..k off’.” Leyonhjelm has refused to apologise or withdraw those earlier comments, despite a request from Senate president Scott Ryan. The senator then doubled down on Sunday morning when speaking to conservatives Rowan Dean and Ross Cameron on Outsiders, saying his fellow senator is “known for liking men”. Today, Hanson-Young said she was “seeking legal advice” over his latest comments. “I will not be intimidated or bullied by offensive, sexist slurs,” she said on Twitter. Thank you for all the words of support and care; they mean a lot to me. I am seeking legal advice – as many of you have suggested. As a woman, a sister and a mother, I will continue to stand up. I will not be intimidated or bullied by offensive & sexist slurs. — Sarah Hanson-Young???? (@sarahinthesen8) July 2, 2018 In a statement today, Hanson-Young said Lyonhjelm’s public comments “are reprehensible, hurtful and no woman, whether in public or the privacy of her own home, deserves them”. She did not comment on whether the media companies that broadcast his comments could also face legal action. “It is greatly disappointing and it sends a damaging message to our community that Senator Leyonhjelm has been given multiple platforms to continue making these harmful remarks,” she said. A senior Turnbull government senator, education minister Simon Birmingham, told Sky News today that Leyonhjelm’s comment was “appalling” and he should apologise. “I would expect that apologies would be the appropriate order of the day,” he said. On Friday, Hanson-Young wrote in the Guardian Australia that personal attacks in the Senate, as well as the level of nastiness, had gotten worse during her time in parliament. “For years I have winced and tried not to flinch at innuendos about my dress, my face (being told by older men that I don’t smile at them enough) and my apparent sex life,” she wrote. “What started as mutterings while I would be on my feet speaking, or during a debate, slowly over the years has become slurs that are now shouted across the chamber floor.” In 2015, Hanson-Young won a defamation case against Bauer Media’s now defunct Zoo Weekly magazine after it photoshopped her face on a lingerie model’s body. The magazine was forced to issue an apology and closed a few months later. Business Insider Emails & Alerts Site highlights each day to your inbox. Email Address Join Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

— Update: Ran Northam, a spokesman for the Town of Chapel Hill, told WRAL News on July 2 that police Officer Cole Daniels resigned his position on April 5, 2019. Police Chief Chris Blue instructed Chapel Hill officers to stand aside last week as protesters pulled down a controversial Confederate monument on the University of North Carolina campus, a review of Blue's text messages and emails shows. Following a public records request, WRAL News obtained about 400 pages of emails and texts sent to and from Blue on Aug. 20-21 – before, during and after the protest that led to the toppling of the "Silent Sam" statue. Blue's texts show he was closely monitoring what unfolded at McCorkle Place on campus on Aug. 20 and was relaying directions to his officers. It remains unclear who sent some texts to Blue and received his messages in return. "Looks like about 200 people. Making speeches. Crowd is calm. Curt said they saw a couple of counter folks moving up from the planetarium. They [are] keeping eyes on them," a text sent to Blue around 6:30 p.m. reads. "Ask them to get some pics and share them," Blue responds. "It looks like it's getting busy," someone else texts a short time later. "Counter demonstrators?" Blue asks. "Don't see any and not reports if any," comes the response. "Have you asked? UNC is seeing things we are not," Blue texts. "I'd appreciate a periodic update. Maybe some pics?" UNC Police officers also were at the demonstration. "Mark is watching it on Facebook and it looks ok," someone texts. "Moving to silent sam." Blue sends a thumbs-up emoji and suggests helping with traffic control. When someone lets him know officers on bicycles are already doing that, he replies, "Ok. Monitor the masked folks. Keep our folks off McCorkle place for now." "Need to make sure our plainclothes guys are really looking out for counter protesters to arrive," Blue texts at 7:35 p.m. "This thing is all over tv and internet. The longer they take with the statue the more time Folks have to arrive." "We connected with them. They are going to keep us posted," someone replies. At 9 p.m., Blue texts, "Let's give them lots of space." That was followed by, "Yes but do not engage w Crowd at statue. Stay way out." When he tells his officers that UNC officers also are backing away from "Silent Sam," someone texts him, "Copy our folks did as well." "Wral shows CHPD guys too close. Back up," Blue replies. "Silent Sam" came down shortly after those texts went out. Blue received dozens of emails, almost all critical, from across the country after the protest about how his officers handled the incident. "Any police force who will stand by, watch a crime committed, and do nothing about it, have failed in their sworn duties to the people," William Richardson wrote. "When do you get to decide what laws you will enforce? If this is what you call law enforcement it is time for you to retire," a man named "Danny" emailed. Still, Blue emailed his officers on Aug. 21 to thank them for their efforts. "I'm understandably proud of our agency's history of protecting people. All who were working last night most certainly did that well," he wrote. No one was injured during the protest, and three people were charged with misdemeanor rioting and misdemeanor defacing a public monument in connection with the statue's toppling. Blue declined to comment Wednesday, as did UNC Police Chief Jeff McCracken. Some emails to Blue noted that one Chapel Hill officer at the scene of the protest had a tattoo on his arm for the Three Percenters, a militia group that pledges armed resistance to any effort to curtail constitutional rights. The officer, identified as Cole Daniels, "expressed regret that his tattoo has been associated with groups that perpetuate hatred and violence," Blue said in an email sent Wednesday to WRAL News by Chapel Hill spokeswoman Catherine Lazorko. "We understand the concerns regarding the negative interpretations of the tattoo and regret it was displayed. This will not occur again," Blue said. "We also want to emphasize that the negative interpretation of that tattoo is inconsistent with the values and mission of our department. We expect employees to abide by our values in the performance of their duties for the Town." UPDATE: Town Manager Roger Stancil said in an email Wednesday evening to Town Council members that Daniels was placed on paid leave Monday. Concerns over his tattoo led the police department "to question his ability to function effectively as a police officer within this community," the email says. The department is conducting an internal investigation into the matter. "Silent Sam" has been a flashpoint for protests for more than a year, with critics decrying it as a symbol of racism and supporters calling it a tribute to fallen veterans. Even after it fell, both sides clashed last weekend, and several people were charged. University police on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant charging a UNC-Chapel Hill student with affray in the incident, but the warrant hasn't yet been served, so the student's name was unavailable. The student, the first person affiliated with the university to be charged in last week's activities, is said to have tried to snatch flowers laid near the "Silent Sam" site by a monument supporter and was later punched in the face by that supporter. More protests are expected Thursday evening, prompting Chancellor Carol Folt to warn students to stay away from that area of campus. "We know from past experience that, when groups with opposing views come together in a highly charged environment, there is a real possibility for demonstrations to escalate to violence. Your safety is always our highest priority," Folt said in an emailed message to students, faculty and staff on Wednesday. Chapel Hill officials also urged residents to stay away from the area for safety reasons and said traffic will be restricted around Franklin and Henderson streets as a precaution. Beginning at 5 p.m., restrictions will be placed on parking and loading zone access on Henderson Street and in the 100 and 200 blocks of East Franklin Street, officials said. Depending on the size and nature of the protests, officials said it may be necessary to close portions of the streets at times. The UNC Board of Governors on Tuesday gave Folt and UNC-Chapel Hill trustees and administrators until Nov. 15 to devise a plan for the future of "Silent Sam," which has been stored in what officials called "a secure location" since the protest. Folt said all options will be considered, including returning the statue to its pedestal on McCorkle Place. Hundreds of UNC alumni have signed a petition urging administrators not to bring the monument back. "Now that Silent Sam has been removed from a place of honor on our campus, it is our hope that you, Chancellor Folt, take decisive action to keep Silent Sam down," the alumni wrote in a letter on change.org. "In its place, we encourage Carolina to live up to her motto, 'Lux, Libertas,' by dedicating sufficient institutional resources to research, teach, and learn from the reconciliation of the rich and truthful history of people whom the University enslaved and excluded, people whose unsung and uncompensated labor forms the very foundation of our University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill." More than 200 UNC-Chapel Hill faculty members likewise have sent a signed letter to Folt asking that the statue remain down. "The time is now for the university administration to show leadership, not bureaucratic obfuscation. Show us that you and the university do indeed stand for Lux et Libertas, not sustaining and enforcing the symbols of human cruelty," the letter states.<doc-sep>CHAPEL HILL, NC (WTVD) -- A Chapel Hill police officer has been placed on administrative leave after concerns regarding his "Three Percenters" tattoo.In a statement, Town Manager Roger Stancil said Officer Cole Daniels was placed on administrative leave with pay August 27. "The pervasiveness of the concerns raised by many regarding his display of a tattoo that is associated with the Three Percenters' has caused the Department to question his ability to function effectively as a police officer within his community. "The Three Percenters are seen by some as a militia group. The left-leaning Southern Poverty Law Center refers to the group as being part of an anti-government extremist movement.The North Carolina Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans released the following statement on Officer Daniels:<doc-sep>CHAPEL HILL, NC (WTVD) -- Text messages and emails obtained by ABC11 shed light into the police response at the Silent Sam protest last Monday when the Confederate statue was pulled down. The documents included more than 400 pages of texts and emails to and from Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue. They were made available through a public records request.One text from Chief Blue said, "Yes but do not engage w Crowd at statue. Stay way out. "Another said, "Let's give them lots of space. "Messages indicated he was monitoring the protest. One message said, "This thing is all over tv and internet. "In an email to police Tuesday, one day after the protest, Chief Blue acknowledged he's received criticism but wrote, "..I'm understandably proud of our agency's history of protecting people. "ABC11 attempted to get a response to the text messages and emails.In an email from a Chapel Hill spokesperson, ABC11 was told Chief Blue could not talk to the media Thursday because he's planning for the anticipated demonstrations. The email said .. "his priority is community safety. "ABC11 was also told by a UNC-Chapel Hill spokesperson that UNC Police didn't have someone available Thursday to talk on camera.In a statement last week, the UNC administration said that at no point did they direct officers to allow the protesters to topple the monument.While talking to the media on the phone last week, UNC Chancellor Carol Folt would not answer ABC11's question about whether police were given a "stand down" order; instead, she said police are well-trained and care deeply for students.<doc-sep>

The chief of the police force in Chapel Hill, N.C. ordered officers to stand down as protestors toppled a Confederate monument at the University of North Carolina, according to a report from local station WRAL News. “Let’s give them space,” Police Chief Chris Blue reportedly texted at 9 p.m. on the night of Aug. 20 as protesters gathered around the statue known as "Silent Sam," representing a Confederate soldier. Moments later he wrote, “Yes but do not engage w Crowd at statue. Stay way out.” The statue fell at about 9:30 p.m. Shortly after, the police began to form a small boundary around the statue, according to reports at the time from The Daily Tar Heel, a campus newspaper. WRAL obtained 400 pages of chief Blue’s emails and texts from the days of Aug. 20-21 following a public relations request. Law enforcement's handling of the protests and the toppling of the statue has come under scrutiny. Critics say they should have done more to prevent the statue from being taken down. ADVERTISEMENT According to the WRAL, Blue kept a close eye on the situation developing around the statue, particularly the arrival of counter protestors. He repeatedly asked about their location, according to the texts, and seemed to express concerns about a clash. “Need to make sure our plainclothes guys are really looking out for counter protesters to arrive,” Blue reportedly texted at 7:35 p.m. “This thing is all over tv and internet. The longer they take with the statue the more time Folks have to arrive.” Blue’s texts also seem to suggest that the UNC campus security force left the statue. According to WRAL, Blue texted his officers that the UNC people were backing away from the statue. An officer responded to the chief, texting “Copy our folks did as well.” No one was injured in the protests but there face misdemeanor rioting or defacing public monument charges. UNC had previously released a statement saying, “at no time did the administration direct the officers to allow protesters to topple the monument.” “During the event, we rely on the experience and judgment of law enforcement to make decisions on the ground, keeping safety as the top priority,” the statement continued. A member of the UNC System Board of Governors, Thom Goolsby, posted on Twitter last Thursday that the statue would be reinstalled as per state law.

Every day in the NBA there is a lot to unpack, so every weekday morning throughout the season we will give you the three things you need to know from the last 24 hours in the NBA. 1) James Harden drops 42, Celtics roll over in the face of adversity. Again. James Harden puts unique pressures on a defense. He’s physical and knows how to use his shoulder to create space going to the rim. He’s got ridiculous handles. He’s got the best step-back in the game. He is a good passer who can find shooters when you collapse on him. And it helps when he gets away with this. When faced with those pressures Sunday, on national television, the Celtics just folded. Again. Houston was in control almost the entire game and won 115-104, handing the Celtics their fifth loss in six games since the All-Star break (and now Boston heads out on a four-game road trip through the West). Harden finished with 42. Once again the Celtics played like a bunch of individuals, and that is more obvious on defense than anywhere else. Houston’s Eric Gordon had 20 points in the first half, yet early in the third quarter Boston lost him off cuts on consecutive possessions. It forced Brad Stevens to call a timeout. Who led the team after that? Semi Ojeleye yelled at them in the huddle. Jaylen Brown had another high-energy outing off the bench (he’s got to start for the struggling Marcus Morris). Kyrie Irving? Sure he had 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting, but after the game he seemed a combination of angry, frustrated, and detached. He didn’t sound like a leader. "We'll see." is the same thing I tell my daughter when she asks if we can do something and I know there is no way in hell we are doing that thing she asked to do. pic.twitter.com/QGlxNEtJeE — Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) March 4, 2019 There is plenty of blame to go around — Irving, Brad Stevens, Danny Ainge, frankly every player gets a little — but what the Celtics need is leadership. Someone to unify them. Someone to get them to believe in themselves. Someone to get them to put out a focused effort nightly. Story continues I’m just not sure that person is in the locker room. I’m not sure there is time for them to pull this all together before the playoffs. 2) Trae Young hits ridiculous three then gets even more ridiculous ejection for stare down of Kris Dunn. I get why NBA referees are frustrated — players seem to complain about every call, even the obvious ones, and will try to incite the crowd with gestures while doing it. The referees feel more targeted than they have in a long time. But overreaction calls like this one don’t help. This is just ridiculous. Atlanta’s Trae Young hit a deep three over Kris Dunn then starred down Dunn a little — and got tossed for taunting. Even the Bulls players were at a loss. It’s an emotional game. It’s entertainment. Let the players show that — it’s why we tune in. We want them to care, to be passionate, to talk a little smack and stare some guys down. Some lines should not be crossed, but Young was nowhere near that. If you want the referees perspective. Transcript: NBA Referee Mark Ayotte Comments to Pool Reporter after Hawks – Bulls Game pic.twitter.com/j03CGABW0y — NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) March 3, 2019 That wasn’t the only overly eager technical handed out Sunday. Russ got a tech…for talking to himself 😂 pic.twitter.com/g939ZpsJDS — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 4, 2019 3) Detroit beats Toronto in OT improving to 9-2 in last 11. Suddenly the Detroit Pistons are emerging as a team the elite would like to avoid in the first round of the playoffs in the East. It started 15 games ago when Andre Drummond returned from concussion protocol, since then he has averaged 20.5 points a game on 62.6 percent shooting, and he’s grabbing 15.7 rebounds a game. Add to that point guard Reggie Jackson started to find his groove. And Blake Griffin has stepped up in the shot-creating/leader role, and is even hitting circus shots like this (although this one didn’t count). Blake Griffin ridiculous behind the backboard circus shot, but it doesn't count pic.twitter.com/oUFKDnZkui — The Render (@TheRenderNBA) March 4, 2019 Sunday the Raptors sat Kawhi Leonard (load management) but the team still came in 13-4 without him, they are still deep with talent (Kyle Lowry had an impressive 35 on the night). The Pistons were deeper for a day. Griffin had 27 points, Drummond added 15 points and 17 rebounds, Jackson had 19 including a clutch three in overtime, and Luke Kennard added 19 off the bench, too. The Pistons are clicking, 9-2 in their last 11 with a +10.9 net rating. They’ve had the best offense in the NBA during that stretch, at 118.1 per 100 (and the defense is fifth in the league). With Sunday’s win, the Pistons are at .500 (31-31) and are the sixth seed now in the East. Keep playing like this and Detroit will make life difficult for some team in the first round of the playoffs.<doc-sep>BOSTON -- Following the Celtics unimpressive, yet very welcome win vs the Washington Wizards on Friday, James Harden and the Houston Rockets are next up. Can the Celtics continue from their 4th quarter resiliency Friday night? Jimmy Toscano and Josue Pavon give you the keys for the Celtics to come away from Sunday’s contest with a 2 game win streak. SUPPORT CLNS MEDIA: For more Celtics Videos SUBSCRIBE to our CLNS Media YOUTUBE Channel. Too Busy to watch The Garden Report video segments? Then subscribe to the PODCAST version HERE and listen to all your favorite Celtics’ personalities and analysts on-the-go! Get the inside scoop on the Celtics every week on CLNS Media’s Celtics Beat Podcast with host Adam Kaufman. Listen and subscribe here . For all your Celtics content needs throughout the 2018-2019 season follow us on Twitter @CelticsCLNS<doc-sep>The Rockets occupy the longest winning streak in the league with its fifth straight win on Sunday against the Celtics. Houston took the lead early in Sunday’s contest and never relinquished it in a 115-104 win over Boston. The Rockets started off hot while the Celtics started off flat and the team ran with the momentum. Eric Gordon notched a career-high eight three-point makes on 12 attempts en route to 32 points, the most EG has scored in a game since late November. Gordon was a solid complement to The Beard, who led the Rockets to a 22-point lead at halftime. With the large lead, the Rockets faced a storming Celtics team eager to come back in the third quarter. However, the Rockets responded every time, keeping the 22-point lead into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was when the Celtics began to make their push. Boston was able to cut the lead all the way down to just eight points in the fourth quarter thanks to the bench unit. Jaylen Brown scored nine of his 15 points off the bench in the fourth quarter. The Celtics did not shoot poorly from the field, outshooting the Rockets 48.1 percent to 47.5 percent, but where the team missed out was beyond the arc. Boston made just eight of its 28 attempts from deep, while Houston knocked down 21 of their 51 attempts. The +39 for Houston from behind the three-point line made a huge difference in the game. Boston could not dig itself out of the hole it had created for itself in the first half. For the Celtics, Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 24 while Al Horford scored 19 on 7-8 shooting. With the win, the Rockets inch closer towards the top of the Western Conference. As of this writing, the team sits just one game behind the Portland Trail Blazers for third place and just six games behind the Golden State Warriors at the top of the conference. It may have taken 60+ games, but today’s game proves that the Rockets are clicking. Ever since the Foster-gate loss to the Lakers to open the post-ASG schedule, the Rockets have yet to lose. The Rockets look to make it six straight as they fly north of the border to face the Toronto Raptors Tuesday night. Tipoff is at 7 PM CT. Box Score<doc-sep>

The first time the Boston Celtics met the Houston Rockets, the Celtics were well prepared for Rockets star James Harden. The Celtics defend a lot of superstars well, in part because they have a lot of versatile perimeter defenders and bigs who can switch. Against Houston, the defensive game plan in December involved switching and recovering on the deadly pick-and-roll sets Harden runs constantly at the top of the key, and the Celtics executed their plan fairly well. But, Harden being Harden, even a well-run defensive game plan with good defensive personnel didn’t really matter. The Action Network’s Matt Moore put together a series of Tweets on Saturday showing several times Celtics defenders played Harden as well as could reasonably be expected, and how Harden still managed to power his way to 45 points on 11-for-26 shooting (9-for-18 from three, 14-for-17 from the line). Since that game two days after Christmas, Harden has put together one of the most brilliant offensive stretches in recent memory, and the Rockets -- who hovered near the bottom of the West’s playoff push for an uncomfortably long stretch -- are just a game out of third place. Harden’s season has been so absurd, he has averaged 37.6 points per game over his last five, which actually drags his per-game total over the last 20 games (an astounding 41.3) down. “They’ve been playing really well,” Marcus Morris said. “Harden’s one of my good friends and he’s been dominating, you know, I’m happy to see that but they’re coming to the Garden, we’ll give them our best shot and hopefully get the W.” For the Celtics, Sunday’s game carries a little extra importance, if only because Boston so recently got off the longest losing streak of its season (four) with a win over the Washington Wizards. With a tough four-game road stretch looming, the Celtics are two games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the four seed and 2.5 games behind Indiana for the three. The next five games, which include Golden State and both Los Angeles teams in California, could play an enormous role in determining where the Celtics finish the season. That starts, however, with handling an MVP favorite on Sunday. “We can’t let all those other guys, plus him, get going,” Marcus Smart said. “We’ve got to pick our poison. It’s going to take a full team effort.” “We’ve got to hold ourself accountable,” Morris added. “Obviously, s--- he’s been cooking everybody so if he scores on somebody it’s not a bad thing. He’s gonna get his so the best thing for us is make sure other guys don’t offense much and he’s been playing well, he’s playing MVP-level basketball, you know, they need him to play like that so the only thing we can do is continue to play hard, just continue to play together and give them our best shot.”

(CNN) — When one of New Orleans’ most cherished parades rolls today, float riders – African-American and white – will greet the screaming throngs wearing lofty feather headdresses, crinkly grass skirts and the sort of black face paint that most anywhere else might draw gasps and cries of racism. Some 1,500 men and women, their faces blackened, will ride along 4.5 miles of the city’s most storied avenues in the full light of Mardi Gras morning as part of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club’s annual parade. They’ll mug for TV cameras and snap social media selfies, all while sporting makeup similar in appearance to the kind that in recent weeks has sparked a national firestorm. After resurfacing in long-buried archives, photos of white officials – Virginia’s governor, Florida’s secretary of state and police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana – involved in blackface drew swift mea culpas. So did clothing gaffes on the theme involving singer Katy Perry and the fashion houses Gucci and Prada. Calls for resignations and boycotts are still going strong. mptvimages.com/Reuters Louis Armstrong reigns as King Zulu in 1949. But Zulu club officials, among them some of New Orleans’ most prominent black business and elected leaders, aren’t sorry. They say their Carnival getups have nothing to do with the racist minstrel shows and offensive depictions implicit in the blackface legacy that demeans African-Americans – even when the black makeup is worn by the club’s white members. And they aren’t making any changes to a century-old custom practiced by Louis Armstrong during his reign as Zulu king, and, more recently, promoted openly by avowed civil rights advocates, from former mayors Marc Morial and Mitch Landrieu to filmmaker Spike Lee. Now, though, for the first time since a backlash during the civil rights surge of the 1960s, Zulu dignitaries are taking steps to explain the message they mean to send with their parade costumes, especially the painted faces. The move owes directly to the recent public maelstrom over blackface and a modern media landscape that spreads local culture far beyond its often-complex origins, they said. “Black makeup is NOT the same as ‘blackface,’” reads the bolded, underscored opening line of a news release issued last month by the club in consultation with supporters, including US Rep. Cedric Richmond, a New Orleans attorney who chaired the Congressional Black Caucus in the opening years of the Trump administration. Emily Kask/AFP/Getty Images Zulu members parade on Mardi Gras in 2018 in New Orleans. “Blackface is pretending that black people are less than human; the black makeup that we wear has nothing to do with that,” said City Councilman Jay Banks, a onetime Zulu king who now serves as chairman of the organization’s board. “Our costumes are warrior-like,” he told CNN, “and they have nothing to do with the buffoonishness when these idiots do blackface.” The sentiment was echoed by Andrew Gross, a white entrepreneur who’s paraded with Zulu since 2004 and who said he’s “never had a single soul say anything” to him about his black parade makeup. “If someone misconstrues that, I 100% respect that. You can’t blame people for how they feel,” he told CNN. “But I think if they understood the relevance of it, being a Zulu, for me, a white guy from Uptown New Orleans, … is just such an honor for me. It’s opened up so many doors. … “If my Zulu brothers want me to mask this way,” he said, “I’m going to mask this way.” Intentions and impressions are at odds When Banks sees his fellow Zulus in black makeup, he said, the racist context of blackface does not cross his mind. “I can tell you on my right arm and my grandson, I do not see that,” Banks said, who described with pride his father as a key local leader of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference and his mother as one of the first African-Americans to graduate from Tulane University. The costumes, Banks explained, pay homage to the Zulu people of southern Africa, who in the late 19th century drove out British colonists “with sticks and spears.” Inspired by a 1909 theater skit about the Zulus, the group’s earliest members donned their notion of tribal garb and, too poor to afford masks, mimicked Zulu war paint to comply with city rules that Carnival parade participants hide their identities, he said. Still, their intention hasn’t always been clear cut. The founding Zulus’ king had a “lard can” crown and “banana stalk” scepter, and to this day, members give out coveted, hand-decorated coconuts to parade-goers. News reports in the 1950s indicated “a wide feeling that the parade degrades and ridicules the Negro race,” citing an NAACP leader. The following decade, at the “height of Black awareness,” the club’s own website recalls, “dressing in a grass skirt and donning a black face were seen as being demeaning,” and Zulu’s “membership dwindled to approximately 16 men.” Emily Kask/AFP/Getty Images Zulu float riders parade in 2018 in New Orleans. Still, the club endured, in part because of its other, arguably more vital role as a social safety net. In the Jim Crow era, members provided insurance, of sorts, to help black residents barred from bank loans cover a sick relative’s treatment or bury a loved one. Today, the club still delivers Thanksgiving meals and Christmas toys to the needy, hosts nights out against crime and helps students make their way to college. “Zulu is much more than a just a one-and-done,” said state Sen. Troy Carter, who has participated in club events for decades, including donning black makeup as a float rider. “Mardi Gras is just one part of who we are.” Over time, Zulu’s ranks swelled again. To help boost dues and, later, in step with a 1991 City Council order requiring krewes to integrate or lose the right to process on public streets, the proportion of white members climbed. Now, about 10% of riders are not African-American, most of them white, Banks said. It’s undoubtedly one reason the matter of the makeup – a requirement for all who parade – has roared back to life in light of the scandals in Virginia and elsewhere. “To Zulu’s credit, they don’t discriminate,” state Sen. J.P. Morrell said. “The issue becomes much more nuanced when you have white people doing blackface next to black people.” The debate may hinge on who makes the rules Some Zulu officials insist that seeing white float riders donning black makeup simply does not conjure notions of racist blackface. “I see it just the opposite because it’s an exchange of culture,” said Carter, who is African-American. “When our white brothers and sisters engage in Zulu, that’s a recognition of us better understanding each other’s cultures.” Indeed, the sight of a white person – whose neck is often exposed below the black face paint – might connote among locals a person liberal on matters of race, respected enough by Zulu’s overwhelmingly black membership to merit an invitation. For his part, Gross said he’s “never, not once, considered myself wearing blackface.” “We’re not trying to disguise the fact that we’re whatever race underneath,” he said. “I’m not out there on Mardi Gras morning trying to pretend I’m not a white guy.” Skip Bolen/Getty Images New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, center, and Zulu members pose in 2012 before the group's parade. The outcome, however, isn’t always so neat. The founder of a New Orleans-based cocktail festival and conference went to great lengths to apologize in 2017 after she was invited to ride in the Zulu parade and, with black paint on her face, took part in a Facebook video with a caption that said the makeup made her “lose all (her) Media Skills.” The phrase was attributed to her husband, who resigned in its wake from the festival company. In a piece last month titled, “The Zulu Club once scrubbed off the blackface; can it be convinced to do so again?” columnist Jarvis DeBerry of The Times-Picayune pressed Zulu officials on the club’s competing explanations for why parade participants paint their faces. For two years in the mid-1960s, DeBerry writes, the club traded makeup for masks, noting that the then-king told a newspaper: “We are moving with the times.” Back to the modern day, DeBerry, who is black, issues this admonition: “If Zulu doesn’t change, if it continues to demand that its members paint their faces black, please don’t misconstrue that as permission for anybody else to do the same.” The leader of the nonprofit Dialogue on Race Louisiana, which hosts community conversations, took a similar view. “If it was me, I wouldn’t use black paint … because it looks like Jim Crow blackface that whites used,” Maxine Crump said, noting another complication of Zulu’s makeup justification: History books tend to show African Zulu warriors wearing face paint that’s brightly colored, not black. But, she acknowledged, the right to choose how its parade looks lies squarely with Zulu’s African-American leaders. “It’s like the N-word,” said Crump, recognized as the first black woman to live in a dorm at Louisiana State University. “To me, you can’t tell an African-American that they can’t use the N-word because they have taken a word used against them and used it in their own cultural context, and nobody can call that the same thing. “If Zulus have done that with blackface, … they can use it the way they want to,” she said. “And if they decide that white riders can wear blackface, then OK.” That permission, though, ends the moment the parade disbands, Crump said. “If they wore their same Zulu masks at a Halloween, then it’s disrespectful,” she said. “Only in the context of the Zulu parade is this worn. It’s never appropriate to dress in Zulu costume outside the Krewe of Zulu.” Zulus want to clarify – but not change – the picture Such deference generally has been the practice of New Orleans’ political leaders and its luminaries, white and black. And until the latest scandals involving Virginia’s governor and others, the matter of Zulu’s black makeup existed as just another long-accepted quirk of America’s quirkiest city. Landrieu, who earned praise in 2017 for his bracingly honest speech about his push to remove New Orleans’ Confederate monuments, and Morial, now president of the National Urban League, both participated for years – without black makeup – in Zulu events leading up to and including the parade on Carnival’s high holy day. None ever drew controversy, though both declined to comment for this story. Erika Goldring/Getty Images Spike Lee rides in Zulu's 2018 parade. Lee, who recently announced he’ll boycott Prada and Gucci over their blackface-reminiscent products, rode last year as the Zulu parade’s celebrity grand marshal. His publicist did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment. As such, Zulu leaders haven’t sought to publicize the nuances of their tradition beyond their own ranks – until now. “With the onset of the internet, we probably should have been pumping the fact that black makeup wasn’t blackface,” Banks said. “But we were fine; it wasn’t affecting us. And then all this blew up. “Maybe with this attention, people will get a clearer picture,” he said. Not everyone is buying it, though. New Orleans activists who pushed for the removal of the city’s Confederate monuments protested last month outside Zulu’s headquarters, demanding its members quit “perpetuating these racist images.” “They know good and damn well that this blackface has its roots in minstrelsy, and they are the modern-day minstrels,” Malcolm Suber of the group Take ‘Em Down NOLA said, The New Orleans Advocate reported. Far from cowed, some Zulu members, in demonstrators’ full view, responded by smearing on their parade makeup and pacing the sidewalk, The Advocate and CNN affiliate WVUE reported. The act boldly mirrored the club’s repeated answer to recent implications or outright suggestions that it ditch black face paint. “That would somehow indicate that we were complicit of the disrespect of black people for 115 years,” Banks said. “That’s no way going to happen.”<doc-sep>Protesters are going after a group that has been wearing black makeup for decades during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, saying members of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club are wearing blackface. Worth noting: Many of the group's members are black, and are standing by the tradition. Take Em Down NOLA, a group dedicated to removing "all symbols of white supremacy in New Orleans," held a news conference Thursday, demanding the Zulu club end its 110-year-old tradition of "donning blackface." "It is no longer tenable for Zulu to pretend that wearing blackface is not reinforcing racist stereotyping of black people," activist Malcolm Suber said, New Orleans's WWL-TV reports. The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club says its makeup for its Mardi Gras float riders and dancers is not the same as blackface, and instead is meant to "honor their ancestry." The group said in a statement its costumes are meant to look like garments worn by South African Zulu Warriors and "bear no resemblance" to blackface minstrel performers, the origins of blackface. The Zulu group has long had the support of prominent community members including former mayors Marc Morial and Mitch Landrieu. Jazz legend Louis Armstrong even served as Zulu king for the parade in 1949. He called the title a “life long ambition.” More:Blackface, KKK hoods and mock lynchings: Review of 900 yearbooks finds blatant racism But, this isn't the first time the Zulu group has been criticized for its black face makeup. In the 1960s, many black organizations protested against Zulu makeup and grass skirts. During that time, the group lost favor in the community and saw a dip in membership, according to its website. "Some traditions are bad traditions," Suber told NOLA Media Group. Take Em Down NOLA has also led protests against the appearance of confederate statues in New Orleans. More:Blackface, explained: Why Ralph Northam, Mark Herring and others darkening their faces is such a big deal More:Blackface shoes and Holocaust T-shirts: Fashion brands' most controversial designs Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets<doc-sep>

“One of the ways that we found that people resist is through satire and irony and parody when they’re in oppressive situations, because it gives the cover of, ‘I’m making fun of you, but this is just a big joke in case you get angry,’” Dr. Vaz-Deville said. “They blackened their already-dark skin to say, ‘You white people are putting on white powder and coming from some mythical European space, so in the same way we’re going to darken our faces even more and say we come from a magical mystical place in Africa.’” Either way, the eventual inclusion of white people in Zulu, which Mr. Becknell said began in the late 1970s, amped up the complication. For years, a New Orleanian who saw a white man in blackface on a Zulu float was likely to assume that the rider was either a member or an invited guest of a person of color. Instead of a boorish racist, that white person was likely to be perceived as a racial progressive, one who openly celebrated integration. So it is with Dr. Lutz, who for 13 years served as the city health director and forged lasting friendships with black colleagues, one of whom sponsored him for membership in the mid-1980s. He is probably one of about 10 white men, out of 525 regular members, said Zulu’s president, Elroy James. Earlier this week, Dr. Lutz stopped by the member’s lounge of Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club on North Broad Street, the only white face in a crowd of about 30 men. (The club is all-male, but women are involved in a number of its activities.) He was immediately greeted with warm pats on the back and cries of “Doc!” In a city over-blessed with good places to have a drink, the members-only Zulu lounge is among the best of them. There was a kind of eased-back, space-age funk on the sound system, the ambience was inviting and cheerful, and the back wall exploded with vibrant photos of Zulu kings past in spectacular glittering costumes. Some were in black face and some were not. Among them was Louis Armstrong, who reigned in 1949. Most members hewed strictly to rules forbidding them to talk publicly about club business without the consent of the president. But a number of them said the blackface masking was purely positive — a way to honor tradition and the working men, locked out of white Mardi Gras, who had invented the practice long ago.

Celebrate your love of all fried potatoes at these restaurants on July 13. How to Get Free McDonald's Fries and More Deals on Friday for National French Fry Day It’s finally Fry-day! Whether you’re a waffle fry person or more of a shoestring fan, you can celebrate your love of all fried potatoes on National French Fry Day. Swing by any of the restaurants below to indulge in a plate of free or discounted French fries on July 13. Bite Squad This nationwide delivery service is offering $5 off delivery orders of $20 or more to go toward the purchase of any fry item on the menu from their restaurant partners. Get push notifications with news, features and more. BurgerFi Make any purchase at this fast-casual burger joint and receive an order of house-cut fries on the house. Customers must mention the offer at the counter in order to redeem their free treat. Carl’s Jr. In order to receive a free small order of French fries and a beverage at this fast food restaurant, customers have to sign up to receive the company’s emails and make a $6 burger purchase. Dunkin Donuts They aren’t made of potatoes but they are still considered fries. This coffee and donut chain is giving away their new donut fries made from croissant dough tossed in cinnamon sugar for free to the first 100 guests between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in 25 of their restaurants nationwide. Macdonald's Restaurant In London Credit: Jason Alden/Bloomberg/Getty McDonald’s Place an order on the McDonald’s mobile app for $1 or more (excluding tax) and receive a free medium order of fries to accompany your meal. Want the ultimate dish on the latest celebrity food news, plus exclusive recipes, videos and more? Click here to subscribe to the People Food newsletter. Ore-Ida The frozen french fry brand is offering a free bag of crinkles all weekend long from participating retailers if you use this coupon. Sonny’s BBQ Alongside their new “create your own fry” special, where you can top your potatoes with pulled pork or chicken, queso, fried onions and sweet sauce until July 22, the chain is offering 50 cent crinkle-cut fries all day on Friday. Wingstop<doc-sep>Ever since the month of June kicked off with National Donut Day, I've been keeping an eye out for the next tasty "holiday" of the summer. National French Fry Day is on Friday, July 13 this year, and there are some scary-good deals to take advantage of. Here's where to get free fries on National French Fry Day 2018, because there is no better way to celebrate. The French fry is really the ultimate side to any meal. It's crunchy and crispy, and it's perfect for dipping into all of your favorite sauces. It's no wonder that a bite this good has an entire holiday devoted to it. I mean, what other food is so good that you actually fight over who gets to eat the ones that fell in the bottom of the take-out bag? While scooping up loose fries can be entertaining, you can skip the hassle and get your own free fries on Friday, July 13 when you visit certain restaurants. Some deals are straightforward free fries while others are free fries in addition to another purchase. If you regularly enjoy fries, then you'll be saving money and eating your favorite side when you take advantage of these National French Fry Day deals. 01 Wingstop Facebook According to RetailMeNot, you get a free large order of fries when you sign up for Wingstop's eClub. Per the restaurant's website, you can join "The Club" to get all the Wingstop deals you can handle, and of course you get those tasty free fries once you sign up. National French Fry Day won't be the end of the freebies either. Once you're signed up in the Wingstop e-club, you'll also get a free gift on your birthday. 02 Hardee's & Carl's Jr. Facebook Hardee's also has free fries coming your way when you sign up for emails from the chain, per WRAL-TV. When you sign up, you'll score a coupon for a free small fry and a small beverage with the purchase of any 1/3-pound Thickburger, according to the Hardee's website. Given that fries pair perfectly with a burger, this deal is a great way to celebrate National French Fry Day. 03 McDonald's McDonald's McDonald's French fries are the first ones that pop into my mind when I think of the hot and fresh side, so it's no wonder that they're called "World Famous Fries" on the McDonald's website. You can get a free order of McDonald's fries on Friday, July 13 when you show the coupon from the McDonald's App to get an order of free medium fries with any $1 purchase. The even better news is that you can use this coupon in the app every Friday through the end of 2018 (!!! ). 04 Penn Station East Coast Subs Facebook A sandwich is never really complete without a side of fries, right? Penn Station East Coast Subs will make sure you get your free fries on National French Fry Day, with its deal of one free small order of Fresh-Cut Fries with any sub purchase on July 13, per WRAL-TV. 05 BurgerFi burgerfi on Twitter The combination of French fries and burgers is basically the ultimate pairing, so BurgerFi is giving away a free order of regular fries with any in-store purchase on Friday, July 13, per WRAL-TV. Simply mention the tasty offer when you order, and you'll be ready to celebrate National French Fry Day in the most fitting way possible. 06 Checkers & Rally's checkersrallys on Twitter Trading in your email for a free order of fries seems to be a popular deal, so celebrate National French Fry Day with Checkers and Rally's to score a free order of fries after you sign up for emails, per WRAL-TV. This deal is always on the table when you sign up for emails, but it's so much more fitting to redeem it on National French Fry Day. 07 Wayback Burgers waybackburgers on Twitter The only thing better than free fries is a never-ending supply of French fries. That's what you'll get when you dine at a Wayback Burger location on Friday, July 13. In honor of National French Fry Day, you can get free bottomless fries with the purchase of a burger or sandwich on July 13, per the company's official Twitter page.<doc-sep>McDonald's is giving away free French fries on Friday, July 13 in celebration of National French Fry Day. Customers need to download and register for the McDonald's app, and then use the app to make a purchase. McDonald's isn't the only chain celebrating National French Fry Day on Friday. Dunkin' Donuts is selling "donut fries" for $2 for a limited time. And, Wayback Burgers is serving free bottomless fries with the purchase of a sandwich or burger. McDonald's is giving away free French fries on Friday. The fast-food chain is giving away free medium fries on Friday, July 13, as a National French Fry Day deal. Customers can get their free fries with any purchase of $1 or more. The fine print: customers need to download and register for the McDonald's app, and then use the app to make a purchase. Customers can only make one order of fries on Friday. McDonald's isn't the only chain celebrating National French Fry Day on Friday. Dunkin' Donuts is selling "donut fries" for $2 for a limited time. And, Wayback Burgers is serving free bottomless fries with the purchase of a sandwich or burger. The origin of National French Fry Day is unclear. However, on July 13, it follows a number of other food "holidays" of dubious origin based around the promise of free food. On Wednesday, July 11, 7-Eleven celebrated "Free Slurpee Day." On Tuesday, Chick-fil-A celebrated Cow Appreciation Day for the 14th year in a row, with customers dressing as cows for free food. Fast-food chains are dealing with a competitive environment. To beat out rivals, chains are slashing prices and offering new deals to win over customers. Food "holidays" have served as a new maneuver from chains to get customers in the stores in recent years.<doc-sep>

Here are all the places you can go to indulge today after you get your Friday the 13th tattoo . It's time for those fried starch sticks to take center stage. Many restaurants -- McDonald's, Wendy's, Dunkin' Donuts, among others -- are offering free or cheap fries to help you celebrate the day in the traditional manner, which involves a pile of napkins, a salt shaker hat, a roll of Tums, and a massive pile of fries. Oh, and probably some ketchup . The humble French fry too often plays second fiddle on the dinner plate. Some other foodstuff is given top billing while the fries are left to linger after the "and." Burger and fries. Milkshake and fries. Poutine? Gravy, cheese, and fries. But that all changes on Friday, July 13 , because it's National French Fry Day . Free Food for National French Fry Day With a minimum $1 purchase, you'll get a free medium order of french fries July 13 Wendy's The deal: The Wendy's mobile app has a new offer that will get you a free order of Baconator fries with any purchase. When: July 13 Dunkin' Donuts The deal: 25 Dunkin' locations are giving out a free order of Donut Fries to the first 100 people through the door at 25 of its restaurants. Here's the list of participating locations. When: July 13 Ore Ida The deal: You can pick up a free pack of classic Ore Ida crinkle fries. Head over here for details and to claim your bag. When: July 13 Wayback Burgers The deal: Get bottomless fries with the purchase of a burger or sandwich. It's the perfect deal for anyone attempting to see how many fries they're capable of eating in a single sitting. When: July 13 Burger Fi The deal: Pick yourself up a free order of hand-cut fries with the purchase of absolutely anything. Just be sure you mention the deal at the counter when you're placing your order. When: July 13 Wingstop The deal: Get a free order of fries when you sign up for "The Club." When: Ongoing Mooyah The deal: You'll get handed a free order of fries if you download the Mooyah Rewards App. When: Ongoing Farmer Boys The deal: The fast-casual hub in California and Nevada is doling out a free side of fries with every order of a farm-fresh burger. It's available at every Farmer Boys location. When: July 13 Sajj Mediterranean The deal: All seven California locations are giving out a free side of fries with a purchase of any bowl, wrap, pita, or salad entrée. When: July 13 Steak 'N Shake The deal: Kids eat free all weekend at Steak 'N Shake. For every $9 you drop, one kid gets a free meal and each meal is served with fries or applesauce. When: Ongoing Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar The deal: You get a free order of fries with any purchase at this chain's 15 locations on the East Coast. When: July 13 Checkers The deal: Sign up for Checkers emails and you'll get a coupon for a free order of fries when you buy something. When: Ongoing

What do we really know about Lorena Bobbitt? Twenty-five years after the trials of Lorena and her ex-husband John Wayne Bobbitt captivated the world, the woman who cut off her husband’s penis remains infamous for that act, and all the jokes that came after. But Amazon’s new Jordan Peele-produced documentary “Lorena” seeks to reclaim the narrative and illuminate an episode of modern American history that has long been boiled down to a punchline. The docuseries, which spans four hour-long episodes streaming on Amazon Friday, focuses the story away from her act and toward the deeper tale of domestic violence and sexism. It is equal parts informative and evocative, finding deeper layers in a saga many people think they know. The biggest points and most noteworthy moments: A refresher course For many people from younger generations, or older folks who don’t remember or didn’t pay attention in the early 1990s, the documentary is educational. Even though it often focuses on facts from the case that were publicly available at the time, many of them, especially about the domestic abuse Lorena Bobbitt endured, weren't highlighted in the press. One of the most powerful aspects of "Lorena" is the trial footage, including Lorena Bobbitt's testimony. Long stretches of her describing rape and abuse are included as she sobs on the stand. The documentary also shows the multiple witnesses testified about the abuse she suffered from her husband, including evidence of injuries and of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Related:Lorena Bobbitt explains why she never remarried after slashing ex-husband's genitals Related:Lorena Bobbitt OK'd filmmakers' request to interview her ex, John: 'I know who he is' Her fear of deportation if she left him (she was born in Ecuador and immigrated to the U.S. as a young adult) is a prominent part of the documentary. In current and past footage, she expresses her strong belief in the American dream, and that portrait is vastly different from the sometimes racist media depictions of her as a "fiery Latina." She recalls that at one point in her case, she rejected a plea deal because a felony conviction would have ended her dream of becoming an American citizen. The media were even more relentless than you might have imagined More than anything, the documentary is an indictment of a media and culture that that squeezed every ounce of tabloid drama from the incident yet ignored the domestic violence at the root of the case. In interviews, the way that Lorena Bobbitt was hounded by reporters and media personality comes into stark relief. Geraldo Rivera, she says, sent her signed photos to try to woo her for an interview, and his camera crew tried to film her inside her home during the trial. During the 45 days Lorena Bobbitt spent in a Virginia state mental hospital, Barbara Walters pursued an interview, but she turned it down. Speaking about her relationship with the media now, she says she sees it as a “double-edged sword”: It can be a circus but also a way to raise awareness of domestic violence. Both aspects are seen in a clip of her as a guest on “The Steve Harvey Show” where she makes eloquent statements about domestic violence, bringing the studio audience to its feet amid the host's jokes about waking up next to a severed penis. But the filmmakers are less optimistic about changing our scandal-hungry culture. Near the end of the docuseries, one of the talking heads theorizes that, had the case happened today, Fox News would have stepped into the role of stalwart John Bobbitt defender and radio provocateur Howard Stern. John Bobbitt tried to contact her many times in the past 25 years Near the end of the documentary, Lorena Bobbitt (now Lorena Gallo) reads a series of letters John Bobbitt sent her after the trials. The film also shows Facebook messages and other forms of digital communication that appear to be from him sent over the past decade. He says that he should have been a better husband and that she was the best woman he has ever been with. In one message he mentions how much money the pair could make if they reconciled, and he suggests they could have a child who would generate interest from paying media. In his interview, John Bobbitt claims it was Lorena who first reached out, inquiring how much money he had. He says it was only after that when he contacted her, and he suggested it would be a big deal if they got back together (although he says nothing about a baby).<doc-sep>Amazon Studios Chances are that you know what made Lorena Bobbitt famous in 1993, even if you aren’t old enough to have experienced it in real time. Just over 25 years ago, Lorena — who now goes by her maiden name, Lorena Gallo — cut her husband’s penis off in the middle of the night, driving away with it and throwing it into a field. The trial and media coverage were sensational, as you might expect them to be around any penis-chopping case — and Lorena’s story became a punchline, an oddity, a way to consider supposedly hotheaded Latina women. Amazon is now premiering a four-part docuseries about her, aptly called Lorena. The documentary, produced by Jordan Peele, covers the trial, of course, but also explores the context around it that people have largely forgotten, or never learned to begin with: the ways Lorena’s husband, John Wayne Bobbitt, allegedly abused her; the cruel treatment she received from the media, her tender age (she was 24 years old); and how this case brought the issue of marital rape to the forefront for the American public. The timing is excellent, if a total bummer. The embers of the #MeToo movement are still burning, marital rape continues to be a surprisingly controversial topic for the courts to grapple with, and everyone is still afraid of immigrants. Lorena is compelling and well-made, a narrative that focuses both on the salacious details of the case (wanna see a severed dick? Girl, you got it) and Lorena’s activism in preventing domestic violence and sexual assault. It acts as both a historical primer for those who didn’t live through Lorena’s trial and a rectification for the way she was treated, not just by her husband but by late-night talk show hosts, journalists, and the public. “The media was focusing only on the penis, the sensationalistic, the scandalous. But I wanted to shine the light on this issue of spousal abuse,” Lorena told Vanity Fair in an interview this past summer. David Ake / AFP / Getty Images Lorena Bobbitt arrives at the Prince William County Courthouse in Virginia on Jan. 18, 1994, for the fifth day of her trial for malicious wounding. As a documentary that reassesses a notable ’90s scandal with the benefit of a couple decades’ hindsight, Lorena is one among many recent examples. And these retrospectives tend to fit a similar pattern: We are asked or encouraged to reconsider a woman whose public image was linked inextricably with a man’s bad behavior, whose reputation was destroyed while the man got away relatively consequence-free. 2013’s Anita was a reconsideration of Anita Hill’s allegations of sexual harassment against then–Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. The documentary recast her not as an angry black woman trying to keep a man from his deserved job, but a reserved, smart attorney who merely told the truth about a man about to be given a tremendous amount of power. (Sound familiar?) 2014’s The Price of Gold gave Tonya Harding room to tell her version of the story of her career and the 1994 attack on Nancy Kerrigan, replete with class context and details about her own abuse. The 2016 documentary O.J. Simpson: Made in America, though primarily about Simpson, also forced audiences to rethink how his murdered ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson was treated by him and by the press. And 2018’s The Clinton Affair included an interview with Monica Lewinsky herself about her affair with President Bill Clinton — long considered a salacious sexual scandal, with Lewinsky cast as a slut trying to fuck a powerful man — and reframed the incident as one in which a young intern was seduced (and then thrown under the bus) by the goddamn president, who should’ve known better. These reconsiderations aren’t limited to documentaries. In June, journalist Allison Yarrow published the book ’90s Bitch: Media, Culture, and the Failed Promise of Gender Equality, which includes Hill, Harding, Lewinsky, and Lorena in telling “the real story of women and girls in the 1990s, exploring how they were maligned by the media.” Podcasts like Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes’ You’re Wrong About… also serialize reassessments of history, often focusing on women mired in scandals. They’ve done episodes on Amy Fisher (the “Long Island Lolita”), televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton (the “dingo’s got my baby” woman, who never actually said that), Courtney Love, and Lorena herself. Michael Kovac / Getty Images for ELLE Magazine, Jesse Grant / Getty Images Anita Hill (left) and Monica Lewinsky right) speak during events in 2018. “America is going through this period of realizing how much we misread what was right in front of us,” says Marshall. “We came to the realization that we elected a reality TV president. We elected someone whose image was made by reality TV. That kind of understanding can allow us to go back and say, “What else did I just swallow that I was sold?” Reconsiderations like these can’t be antidotes if we ignore the cure — if we continue to dismiss women and other marginalized, vulnerable people when they’re being abused. Documentaries that revisit scandals are no doubt valuable in that they can profoundly change the way we consider the past and hopefully, the future. But they also pose a certain temptation to get too comfortable: There is some risk that we might watch something like Lorena, pat ourselves on the back for figuring out who the bad guy really is, and walk away thinking that the past is the past and we won’t make the same mistakes again. But what Lorena Bobbitt’s story meant in 1993 “is not that different from what it means today,” says journalist Kim Masters in Lorena. “It’s the same story.” Then, too, there’s the reality that these reconsiderations tend to revolve around trials or public hearings, which provide a clear way to revisit the past through criminal records and court transcripts and recorded interviews. These were big, splashy stories that now get big, splashy reappraisals. But the world is filled with smaller, more mundane injustices and oversights, and most of those who suffer will never make it to court or Congress, or receive a high-profile opportunity to seek vindication. Watching something like Lorena feels important, but it also feels lousy, because not enough is different now. Reconsiderations like these can’t be antidotes if we ignore the cure — if we continue to dismiss women and other marginalized, vulnerable people when they’re being abused, or taken advantage of, or otherwise maligned. Lorena receives a tremendous amount of empathy in Lorena, as she should. But why can’t we extend that kind of empathy to more people like her today, instead of waiting two and a half decades to rethink how we’ve behaved? Amazon Studio In a scene from Lorena, Lorena speaks at a press conference during her 1994 trial. Apology tours for sexual misconduct are practically rote at this point: Transgressors get plenty of airtime to beg for forgiveness for touching butts, to come out of the closet, to recommend a supposedly great pizza dough cinnamon roll recipe. Meanwhile, victims or survivors are largely forgotten after the accusation becomes public. It’s relatively new that women like Lorena or Hill are getting some space to tell their stories on their own terms, and still rare that the opportunity is afforded to women of color in particular. Lorena is timely not only in the sense that conversations about sexual abuse and assault have taken center stage over the past year, but also because anxiety about immigrants taking advantage of the system and of poor, unwitting white Americans is currently at a fever pitch. When Lorena and John Wayne Bobbitt got married in 1989, she was 20, and in the US on a student visa. “There’s women who are opportunists, gold diggers, they use you as a stepping stone to advance their career,” Bobbitt says, referring to his ex-wife in an interview in Lorena. “These women, they know that their backup is [to] use law enforcement to their advantage by saying, ‘You know what, if you leave or you fuck up this relationship or you don’t get my citizenship, I’ll call the cops.’” Despite Bobbitt’s own laundry list of arrests — many of which are for domestic violence against past partners — he still uses Lorena’s citizenship (or lack thereof) as supposed proof that she was unstable, demanding, and manipulative. “She was obsessed with having her American dream, her American dream, her American dream,” Bobbitt told Vanity Fair. “She just wanted too much, too fast.” And even in a supposedly silly reality series like 90 Day Fiancé (a show about bad American people marrying other, noncitizen but still-often-bad people), it’s clear that many of the same biases against immigrants that were at play in the Bobbitt case are alive and well today. Pool / AFP / Getty Images, Amazon Studios John Wayne Bobbitt in 1994 (left) and in Lorena. Lorena takes great pains to draw similarities between then and now, reminding viewers that domestic violence is still a secret shame for countless women, and that it’s still incredibly challenging to get away from your abuser. The last episode of the series is called “The Cycle of Abuse” and opens with a slideshow of women’s bruises and scars from domestic violence. “This is about a victim and a survivor and this is about what’s happening in our world today,” Lorena recently told the New York Times. Instead of feeling smug for finally listening, 25 years later, it’s worth taking the opportunity to see what we can do better now. And that may be true of what Lorena experienced at the hands of the media, as well as her husband. “If Lorena’s story hit today, Fox News would take the place of Howard Stern, and the 24-hour news cycle would focus on what she did, rather than what he did,” says Kim Gandy, the president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Documentaries like Lorena are timely for a reason — a bad reason — and instead of feeling smug for finally listening, 25 years later, it’s worth taking the opportunity to see what we can do better now. While the outrage around Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court this past fall might have sounded deafening depending on who’s inside your political bubble, the result is ultimately the same as it was for Clarence Thomas after Anita Hill’s testimony. He’s in, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Meanwhile, Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who came forward to detail Kavanaugh’s alleged assault, was left unable to work and in need of a security detail. I was 3 years old during Lorena Bobbitt’s trial. I was 7 during the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal. I was a few months old for Anita Hill’s hearing. When Blasey Ford testified late last year, I was 27. And yet somehow her testimony still felt like unbearable déjà vu, as if I had lived through this already and already knew the inevitable conclusion. Win Mcnamee / AFP / Getty Images Christine Blasey Ford testifies before the US Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, DC, Sept. 27, 2018. Amazon Studios Lorena during an interview in Lorena. Lorena also reminds audiences that she was the subject of wild cruelty from the media and comedians during and after her trial. “David Letterman used to call me his girlfriend,” Lorena says in the docuseries. “The jokes did bother me, because I didn’t know to handle it. People were talking about my background. They were saying I was just a hot-blooded Latina woman. It hurts my heart. It hurts my brain. It hurts my whole body.” Howard Stern practically made a career out of promoting Lorena’s ex-husband — he had Bobbitt on his show repeatedly and during his 1994 Rotten New Year’s Eve Pageant special, raising money for Bobbitt’s medical expenses. During the pageant, Stern airs a mocking reenactment of Lorena’s crime. “A penis is a terrible thing to waste,” Stern says, holding two pieces of a fake member, cut in half, aloft.<doc-sep>

If there’s one person who will be watching a new documentary on Lorena Bobbitt, it’s her ex-husband. “Lorena,” a four-part docuseries from Amazon Studios, aims to shed light on the notorious case that quickly became tabloid fodder and a late-night punchline — on June 23, 1993, the then-24-year-old cut off the penis of her sleeping husband John Wayne Bobbitt, 26, in small-town Manassas, Va., and fled the scene, organ in hand. She drove off from their home and flung the penis out of the driver’s side window into a field. Police later went digging through the overgrown roadside grass for the missing member, The New York Times reported, found it, and put it on ice in a Big Bite hot dog box from a nearby 7-Eleven, and then rushed it to the hospital for the bleeding spouse. Bobbitt then underwent surgery for nearly 10 hours and had it reattached. LORENA BOBBITT SPEAKS OUT ON HOWARD STERN HATE At the time, a distraught Lorena, who now goes by her maiden name Gallo, claimed she endured years of domestic violence and was raped by her drunk husband on that fateful night, causing her to snap. "From what I saw, it was clear to me that Lorena Bobbitt had been abused by her husband," said state forensic psychologist Dr. Evan Nelson in the film. "But from a legal and mental health perspective... What matters is whether she was so mentally ill that she knew what she was doing but she was incapable of stopping that impulse. That was the issue [with this case]." Neighbors told filmmakers they felt something sinister was occurring within the marriage and that at one point, Gallo's "makeup was thicker than usual." In a statement to Fox News, filmmaker Joshua Rofé said: “Lorena, John Wayne and more than 40 other witnesses, attorneys, jurors and experts were interviewed over the course of a year to give this docuseries a complete picture of events that took place. This is something Lorena Gallo was not afforded 25 years ago when the story was misconstrued and unfairly sensationalized in the public eye.” “It was our expressed intention to right the wrongs of the past by giving her a platform to tell her side of the story as a survivor of domestic violence,” added Rofé. The docuseries, executive produced by Jordan Peele, is available Friday for streaming on Amazon — the same night Reelz will air their documentary “Lorena Bobbitt: What Happened?” While all these years Gallo has avoided turning the high-profile tale into a film or TV series, she agreed to participate in the Amazon project in hopes of finally telling her story. Bobbitt also agreed to participate. JOHN WAYNE BOBBITT RECALLS NIGHTMARE Despite Bobbitt's involvement, the 51-year-old told Fox News the creators of “Lorena” had allegedly set him up to make him look bad. “[The filmmakers] came from LA, they didn’t tell me what it was for and that it was a non-titled documentary,” Bobbitt alleged. “They didn’t want… to tell me that it’s for Lorena. … They’re trying to paint this picture of a bad boy, you know? This violent mean guy. They brought me out up to the shooting range, shooting with all these different types of weapons and riding in my Harley, wearing a skull mask and all that. They want to get this video, obviously this visual of this bad guy, you know? … I have never talked to Jordan Peele, and Jordan Peele has never seen my transcripts [from my trial].” In response to the allegations, a rep for Amazon said they were sticking with their initial statement from director and executive producer Rofé. A rep for Peele did not respond to Fox News' request for comment. Bobbitt insisted he has never harmed Gallo during their turbulent marriage. “Lorena lied and made this all up,” he alleged. “She just went with it, and she’s still going with it. And it sucks. … [You] stick up for battered women and children, why not stick up for battered men too? Because men are also battered by women. I was battered by Lorena. My penis was cut off. … I woke up without a penis. … I was upset, I was embarrassed. … She wanted it all and nothing was going to stand in her way.” In the film, Gallo described her union with the former Marine as a living nightmare. "I felt like I was in hell," she recalled.

A 13-year-old Nevada boy brought his single mother to tears after stepping up to help her during a self-described "low point" in her life. Krystal Preston told KOLO-TV that she recently moved to a new neighborhood with her three children and three dogs in order to pursue a fresh start. Preston's oldest son, 13-year-old William, witnessed his mother struggling to make ends meet with no means of transportation and eventually got the idea to surprise her with a car after watching a YouTube video. William told the station he saved up the cash he earned from performing odd jobs and housework around his community until one day he spotted a woman selling a 1999 Chevrolet Metro on Facebook for a decent price. The boy asked the woman if he could trade his Xbox to cover part of the cost and, after initial hesitation, she agreed to the deal. Preston was in disbelief when her young son told her the good news until the seller showed up at her home to make the trade. "I lost it, I bawled, I was just like, there's no way," the single mother told KOLO-TV. "And then she gave me the keys and the paperwork." "At my low point, here comes my son," she continued. "Everybody goes through rough patches in their life, but there's good that can come from any situation as long as somebody with a heart does it." Despite a few "quirks" and a couple of small improvements needed, Preston says her new car is perfect and that she is in awe of her son's thoughtful deed. "What 13-year-old buys their mom a car? I don't know any,” she said. "I can't even express it; there are no words that can express my gratitude and how proud I am."<doc-sep>A single mom from Nevada said she was in "complete shock" after her 13-year-old son gave her a grand gift she never expected from a boy his age. Krystal Preston posted the heartwarming story on her Facebook, sharing that her son, William Rabillo, surprised her with a car. "I have no words right now that can express how I am feeling at this moment," the mom wrote. "The last couple weeks have literally been hell filled with so many tears, anger, confusion and heart ache. Today I got the shock of my life." Preston said her son, who had been busy mowing lawns and cleaning yards, turned into a "money making machine" recently. That's why she didn't question the teen when he said he had a job to go do. When he came back home, Preston realized this time was different. "William came home and said, 'Mom I bought you a car,'" Preston wrote. "I of course laughed and told him, 'Ya right!'" I have no words right now that can express how I am feeling at this moment. I'm in complete shock ... The last couple... Posted by Krystal June Preston on Saturday, March 23, 2019 Rabillo told his mom he was serious — he really bought her a car. He told her they had to go see it "with this lady." The few details coming out of her son made Preston skeptical, but when she walked outside, there was a woman in their front yard waiting to give them a ride. Rabillo jumped in the woman's car and his mom, still puzzled, followed along. "I'm still thinking at this point [it's] still a joke. We pull up to this house and William says, 'Mom that's your car.'" "I completely lost it," Preston wrote, adding that she started to cry. "I am speechless my 13 year old son bought me a car." In an interview with KOLO-TV, Rabillo said the idea came about when he was scrolling through Facebook and found someone in his area was selling a car. He reached out and offered to give them his Xbox and do some yard work in exchange for the car. The seller took him up on his offer. "And here I thought it was a joke," the mom wrote. "Nope I was handed the keys and paperwork to the car and I'm freaking out but so in shock." The mother and son drove off together in the white 1999 Chevrolet Metro he bought her. "I am so proud of my son. He is such a good kid," Preston wrote. "He may have his days but OMG what 13 year old kid do you know that buys his mom a car... William I love you son and thank you. You have such a big heart and I love you ..."<doc-sep>

When his single mom needed a car, a 13-year-old boy decided to sell his Xbox to buy her one. What's the story? Krystal Preston, a single mother of three in Fernley, Nevada, has been going through a tough time financially. Her oldest child, William, has tried to help out by mowing lawns and cleaning yards in their neighborhood. Krystal wrote in a Facebook post that the weeks leading up to her son's showing of generosity had "literally been hell filled with so many tears, anger, confusion and heartache." In the midst of all this turmoil, she said, William informed her that he had bought her a car. "I, of course, laughed and told him 'ya right!,'" she recalled. But he insisted that he was telling the truth. As it turns out, William had seen on Facebook that a local woman wanted to sell her 1999 Chevy Metro. "It was really cheap so I asked her if I could trade it or earn it, and at first she said no and after she thought about it, then she said yes," William told KOLO-TV. The woman eventually agreed to sell the car in return for William's Xbox and some yard work. William said he was inspired by seeing a YouTube video of another family surprising their mother with a car. "I wanted to do that," he explained. What did his mom say? "I completely lost it. I started balling my eyes out," Krystal said on Facebook. "I am so proud of my son. He is such a good kid. He may have his days but OMG what 13-year-old kid do you know that buys his mom a car." After the story broke, people started contacting KOLO asking how they could help. The station directed people to a GoFundMe account that had raised $3,530 at the time of this article's publication.

A film crew was with Derrick Rose when he learned he was being traded from the Bulls to the Knicks in 2016. Stadium included video from the emotional moment in a new documentary, "Pooh: The Derrick Rose Story," on Thursday. Watch as the 2008 No. 1 pick, who had played his entire professional career with Chicago up to that point, fights back tears as he receives the phone call from his agent, B.J. Armstrong, telling him the news. EXCLUSIVE: Our cameras captured the emotional moment Derrick Rose learned his hometown #Bulls traded him to the #Knicks.#DRoseDoc pic.twitter.com/qCXvbKsoH7 — Stadium (@Stadium) April 12, 2019 NBA FREE AGENCY: Derrick Rose 'open' to returning to Bulls "It's funny how everything plays out in this business and in my life period," Rose said. "It always be twists and turns like this. I don't know how to feel right now. I'm anxious but shocked. It's [Chicago], man. That s— made me who I am, man." The 30-year-old guard, who has spent the last two seasons with the Timberwolves, will be a free agent this summer. Armstrong discussed the possibility of Rose returning to Chicago during an interview Monday with 670 The Score: "I think we’re going to look at everything. We want to look at the situation," Armstrong said. "There isn’t a situation we would not look at because Derrick is still a very capable player. We’ll see what the Bulls have. "There’s no secret. There’s no doubt that, in his heart, Chicago will always be there. We’ll see. I don’t know what the Bulls are going to do at this particular time. … If it presented itself, we’d be open to that conversation. We’ll find out in due time."<doc-sep>Point guard Derrick Rose hasn’t ruled out a return to the Chicago Bulls this summer. Bringing him home makes a lot of sense. The 2018-2019 NBA season has been a down year for the Chicago Bulls, but that was to be expected. With a fully healthy roster and maybe another piece or two going into next year, they could end up making a push for the playoffs. One piece the Bulls could end up adding is a familiar face, whom the city loves dearly — Derrick Rose. The former no. 1 overall pick could end up coming back to the Bulls this summer if all goes right with both sides. Earlier this week, Rose’s agent and former Bull, B.J. Armstrong, went on local sports radio and answered a question regarding a potential return to his hometown. On 670 The Score, Armstrong said that they would listen if they Bulls wanted to bring Rose back to Chicago. Armstrong said, on SportsTalk Live, that Rose is a Chicagoan “through and through” and that his loyalty to his city is unquestioned. Fans have countless memories of Rose at the United Center. He gave us last-second shots, highlight reel dunks and acrobatic finishes at the rim. His time in Chicago was unforgettable, for many reasons. Whether it was positive or negative, fans will always remember the moments early on in Rose’s career. This summer, Rose’s contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves is up. He will enter free agency with a bit of momentum after playing well enough to become an NBA All Star this season, though he has been out for a while after having surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. Of course, injuries have always been an issue for Rose. But, they haven’t been as severe as they were earlier in his career with the Bulls. If Rose is truly open to a reunion in Chicago, Gar Forman and John Paxson should make it happen. It only seems right, but here are three main reasons why Rose needs to come back.<doc-sep>Hannah Foslien/Getty Images Derrick Rose's agent didn't rule out a potential return to the Chicago Bulls as the three-time All-Star point guard approaches free agency this offseason. B.J. Armstrong addressed the possibility during an interview on 670 The Score in Chicago (h/t Omnisports' E.Jay Zarett): "I think we're going to look at everything, we want to look at the situation. There isn't a situation we would not look at because Derrick is still a very capable player. We'll see what the Bulls have. There's no secret, there's no doubt that in his heart, Chicago will always be there. We'll see. I don't know what the Bulls are going to do at this particular time. ... If it presented itself, we'd be open to that conversation. We'll find out in due time." Rose hasn't played since the Minnesota Timberwolves' 103-92 win over the New York Knicks on March 10. The team announced March 23 he had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow and would be out indefinitely. Before his elbow injury, Rose enjoyed a bounce-back 2018-19 season. He averaged 18.0 points and 4.3 assists while shooting a career-high 37.0 percent from beyond the arc. The 30-year-old spent his first eight seasons with the Bulls. During his tenure with the team, Chicago reached the playoffs seven times, going as far as the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011. Video Play Button Videos you might like Returning to the Bulls would be a nice story but wouldn't make much sense given where they're at as a franchise. Chicago is 22-58 with two games left in the regular season and likely another year or two from seriously challenging for the playoffs—even in the weaker Eastern Conference. One could reasonably question whether Kris Dunn or Ryan Arcidiacono is the long-term answer at point guard. Dunn, in particular, has received ample time to prove himself as a starting-caliber NBA point guard, only to fall short of expectations. Assuming they aren't sold on their current situation, the Bulls would be better off targeting a point guard in the draft rather than signing Rose. Whatever contributions he'd provide would do little in the grand scheme of things. And after watching the homecomings of Dwyane Wade and Jabari Parker fail spectacularly, Chicago should avoid letting sentiment guide its personnel decisions in the offseason.<doc-sep>

Derrick Rose's season ended a few weeks ago when he was shut down with an elbow injury. And as an unrestricted free agent in the summer, that means he may have played his last game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Tom Thibodeau no longer head coach, Rose doesn't have his main connection to the Wolves, so it wouldn't be a shock if he moved on. But where to? Obviously, a return to the Chicago Bulls will come up any time Rose reaches free agency, and according to his agent, B.J. Armstrong, Rose would be "open" to a reunion. During a recent interview, Armstrong told a Chicago radio station they'd be "open to that conversation." As transcribed by Sporting News: "I think we're going to look at everything, we want to look at the situation," Armstrong said. "There isn't a situation we would not look at because Derrick is still a very capable player. We'll see what the Bulls have. "There's no secret, there's no doubt that in his heart, Chicago will always be there. We'll see. I don't know what the Bulls are going to do at this particular time. … If it presented itself, we'd be open to that conversation. We'll find out in due time." None of this is a surprise at all. With Rose's connection to the city of Chicago, and the success he had with the Bulls, he'll likely always have a pull to go back there. But as Armstrong subtly notes, this is all coming from Rose's perspective. There's been no indication that the Bulls are interested in Rose. Additionally, it must be noted that Rose has a documentary coming out later this week, and this seems an awful lot like a convenient bit of PR work. What's a better way to get some good publicity than saying Rose wants to go back to his hometown team? Look, could the Bulls end up signing Rose? Sure. They've never been against bringing players in for business reasons as much as basketball ones. Just look at the Jabari Parker signing last summer. This interview with Rose's agent, however, isn't going to be a factor.

In this Jan. 5, 2017, photo, a painting by David Pulphus hangs in a hallway displaying paintings by high school students selected by their member of congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. Vice Admiral Karl Schultz, Commander, Coast Guard. Atlantic Area, speaks to the media about the U.S. Coast Guard ship Hamilton and the approximately 26.5 tons of cocaine that was being prepared to be offloaded at Port Everglades on December 15, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 10: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) speaks to the media before a painting he found offensive and removed is rehung on the U.S. Capitol walls on January 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. The painting is part of a larger art show hanging in the Capitol and is by a recent high school graduate, David Pulphus, and depicts his interpretation of civil unrest in and around the 2014 events in Ferguson, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 23: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) walks into the Federal Courthouse for an arraignment hearing on August 23, 2018 in San Diego, California. Hunter and his wife Margaret are accused of using more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal use. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images) SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 23: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) walks into the Federal Courthouse for an arraignment hearing on August 23, 2018 in San Diego, California. Hunter and his wife Margaret are accused of using more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal use. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images) (CNN) — Indicted California Congressman Duncan Hunter (R) offered a glimpse into his legal strategy in an interview with Fox News on Thursday night: Blame his wife for the whole thing. “She was also the campaign manager, so whatever she did that’ll be looked at too, I’m sure,” Hunter said of his wife, Margaret. “But I didn’t do it. I didn’t spend any money illegally.” Ooomph. The turn to pushing his wife directly under the bus is a change even from 24 hours earlier when Hunter insisted that the 47-page indictment detailing 200 separate instances of the misuse of campaign funds for personal use was nothing more than the “Democrats’ arm of law enforcement” (aka the Justice Department) organizing a “witch hunt” (his words) against him just like they did with President Donald Trump. This is what panic looks like when facing down an onrushing federal prosecution that could lead to significant jail time. You’ll say or do anything to lessen your legal jeopardy – up to and including insisting that your wife did it all and you tried to tell her no but she wouldn’t listen. There was some inkling that things were headed this way when Hunter and his wife made their first appearance on the charges in a San Diego courtoom on Thursday. CNN’s Maeve Reston wrote of the scene: “The congressman entered the courtroom with his lawyers, but not his wife, around 9:45 a.m. PT in a navy blue suit. Margaret Hunter arrived at court separately with her legal team and entered through a side door. Duncan Hunter and Margaret Hunter sat four seats apart in the courtroom after she entered.” Trouble in paradise! Hunter’s new strategy of putting all the blame on his wife has a major hole in it, however. And that hole is this: He was repeatedly warned about her misuse of the campaign credit card and not only refused to take it from her but also kept her in a job running his campaign. It’s all right there on pages 8 and 9 of the charging document: “Duncan Hunter facilitated the theft of campaign funds by directing his Treasurer to obtain a Campaign credit card for Margaret at a time when she had no official role with the Campaign and received no official salary, knowing that she would spend campaign funds for the Hunters’ personal benefit.” “Duncan Hunter installed Margaret Hunter as his paid Campaign Manager despite the protests of his Treasurer and with full knowledge of her long history of misuse of campaign funds, in part because as they discussed the Hunters ‘need[ed] the extra money’ that would come from her salary.” “Duncan Hunter facilitated the theft of campaign funds by ignoring his campaign staff’s multiple warnings about Margaret’s improper use of campaign funds, accusing campaign staff of disloyalty by ‘trying to create some kind of paper trail on me’ when they raised concerns about improper spending, and continually refusing to remove her access to campaign funds.” What’s clear in the indictment is that Hunter was repeatedly told about his wife’s misuse of campaign funds – and did nothing (or next to nothing) about it. And, it’s not as though the money she was spending was solely for her benefit. Duncan Hunter played a lot of golf, allegedly, using campaign cash. He went on plenty of family vacations – including one to Italy. The portrait of the Hunters created in the indictment is not of a rogue wife, refusing to heed her husband’s call to change her ways. It’s of a couple conspiring to live massively above their means and working very hard to cover their tracks. Duncan Hunter appears to be trying to paint a very different picture. The problem for him is that the hundreds – literally – of instances of alleged law-breaking in the indictment run directly counter to the story he is selling.<doc-sep>On Thursday night, embattled Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) went on Fox News to tell host Martha MacCallum that his wife was to blame for the apparent improprieties in his campaign spending. The eyebrow-raising claim has since been noted far and wide, and made it's way back to the same Fox News show where it started. This time, though, MacCallum was on to discuss the matter with a panel of three other women. None had anything nice to say about Hunter. "Ahh!" MacCallum gasped as she rolled footage of her own interview. 'Oh, 'I didn't do it, you'd better check out my wife, she's the campaign manager!'" Washington Examiner columnist Capri Cafaro was not impressed with Hunter's performance. "Stutter much? This guy—his body language, the way he's presenting himself—clearly, I mean, I know he's innocent until proven guilty but let me say a few things about this: what kind of wimp blames their wife?" she said. "He shouldn't have crossed her because if he does and they get divorced he can't benefit from that spousal immunity. They really should have a united front here but apparently he doesn't and he's a coward." Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe echoed that. "I think he's got a lot bigger things to fear here than this indictment," she said. Elizabeth Wagmeister of Page Six TV "Aside from throwing your wife under the bus on national TV, or at all, what about taking responsibility?" she asked. Watch below.<doc-sep>California GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter threw his wife under the bus after the couple was charged with illegally blowing through wads of campaign cash on vacations, clothes and other personal items. “She was also the campaign manager, so whatever she did, that’ll be looked at too, I’m sure,” Hunter said on Fox News about his wife, Margaret. “But I didn’t do it. I didn’t spend any money illegally.” The Hunters pleaded not guilty Thursday morning to federal criminal charges that they swiped $250,000 in campaign cash to live a lavish lifestyle far above their means. They were indicted earlier in the week and accused of spending the money on luxuries including a $14,000 Italian vacation, dentist bills — and even a plane ticket for their pet rabbit. “My campaign did make mistakes,” Hunter admitted in the Fox interview. “There was money spent on things not by me but by the campaign, and I paid that back before my last election.” He said that when he was deployed to Iraq, he gave his wife power of attorney. “I’m saying when I went to Iraq in 2003, the first time, I gave her power of attorney and she handled my finances throughout my entire military career and that continued on when I got into Congress. Because I’m gone five days a week, I’m home for two,” he said. The Hunters are accused of conspiracy to commit offenses against the US, wire fraud, falsification of records and prohibited use of campaign contributions. Hunter, who is running for re-election in November in what is considered a safe GOP district in San Diego County, claimed the charges were politically motivated. “This is pure politics and the prosecutors can make an indictment read like a scandalous novel if they want to,” he said about lawyers for the Justice Department, headed by Republican Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “They’ve had a year and a half to do this. There’s no way for me now to go out and be able to talk to my people or get this done in court before my election. They’ve had this for a long time. This is a late hit,” he told the network. Hunter did admit that he said “F–k the Navy” after his request for a tour of a naval base in Italy — a cover story for the family vacation — was turned down.<doc-sep>Representative Duncan Hunter of California pleaded not guilty to charges of illegally using campaign funds for personal expenses on Thursday and blamed his wife, Margaret Hunter, saying she handled his finances. Both Hunter and his wife entered not guilty pleas after they were indicted on 60 counts by a federal grand jury earlier this week for allegedly using $250,000 in campaign funds from 2009 to 2016 for a variety of personal expenses, including family vacations, dentist bills, video games and tequila. After the pair entered their pleas in federal court, bail was set at $15,000 for the congressman and $10,000 for his wife. "She was also the campaign manager, so whatever she did that'll be looked at too, I'm sure," Hunter told Fox News on Thursday. "But I didn't do it. I didn't spend any money illegally. "My campaign did make mistakes. There was money spent on things not by me but by the campaign, and I paid that back before my last election," he said, explaining that his wife had been handling his finances since he gave her power of attorney when he went to Iraq in 2003. According to the indictment, the couple spent a total of $11,375.46 on personal items at Costco between 2010 and 2016. Prosecutors claimed that they had also spent $1,528.68 of their campaign funds on video games. In 2015, Hunter, a Republican, spent $14,261.33 of his campaign funds on a family vacation to Italy, but he tried to justify it by organizing a tour of a naval facility. A year later, he spent $462.46 on 30 shots of tequila and one steak at a restaurant during a bachelor party. Hunter's attorney argued that the prosecution had targeted his clients because Hunter supported President Donald Trump, and that the charges were "politically motivated." He also pointed out that the pair had repaid $60,000 to the campaign fund in 2017. Hunter has made it clear that he will not resign because of the charges. "I'm not going to resign with a bunch of leftist government folks throwing allegations at me," he said. "There's a trial. This means nothing. The indictment is all they have. They only have what you have now seen. That's it. I've done nothing wrong." In a separate statement, Hunter criticized the Justice Department for acting on its political prejudices. "One of the pillars of our country since its founding is that those tasked with enforcing the law would do so in an unbiased manner, allowing evidence to dictate how cases should run, with nothing impeding the rule of law," he said. "Unfortunately, this is not the case today. The fact is that there is a culture operating within our Justice Department that is politically motivated."<doc-sep>

In this Jan. 5, 2017, photo, a painting by David Pulphus hangs in a hallway displaying paintings by high school students selected by their member of congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. Vice Admiral Karl Schultz, Commander, Coast Guard. Atlantic Area, speaks to the media about the U.S. Coast Guard ship Hamilton and the approximately 26.5 tons of cocaine that was being prepared to be offloaded at Port Everglades on December 15, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 10: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) speaks to the media before a painting he found offensive and removed is rehung on the U.S. Capitol walls on January 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. The painting is part of a larger art show hanging in the Capitol and is by a recent high school graduate, David Pulphus, and depicts his interpretation of civil unrest in and around the 2014 events in Ferguson, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 23: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) walks into the Federal Courthouse for an arraignment hearing on August 23, 2018 in San Diego, California. Hunter and his wife Margaret are accused of using more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal use. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images) SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 23: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) walks into the Federal Courthouse for an arraignment hearing on August 23, 2018 in San Diego, California. Hunter and his wife Margaret are accused of using more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal use. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images) (CNN) — Rep. Duncan D. Hunter seemed to shift any blame onto his wife, Margaret, on Thursday for alleged campaign fund abuses, saying she was the one handling his finances. “She was also the campaign manager, so whatever she did that’ll be looked at too, I’m sure,” the California Republican said on Fox News. “But I didn’t do it,” Hunter said. “I didn’t spend any money illegally.” Duncan and Margaret Hunter pleaded not guilty Thursday morning to federal charges that they had stolen a quarter of a million dollars in campaign funds to furnish their lavish lifestyle. The Hunters had been indicted earlier this week, accused of spending the campaign money on expenses including a $14,000 Italian vacation, groceries and other household items. “My campaign did make mistakes,” Hunter said in the Fox interview. “There was money spent on things not by me but by the campaign, and I paid that back before my last election.” Hunter, a former Marine, said that when he went to Iraq in 2003 he gave his wife power of attorney and she has handled his finances throughout his military career and time in Congress. The Hunters are accused of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, wire fraud, falsification of records and prohibited use of campaign contributions, among other charges.

India vs Kenya, Intercontinental Cup: India won Intercontinental Cup on Sunday. (Source: AP) India vs Kenya, Intercontinental Cup: India won Intercontinental Cup on Sunday. (Source: AP) India vs Kenya, Intercontinental Cup Final: India became the champions of Intercontinental Cup on Sunday as they beat Kenya 2-0 in the final to a packed Mumbai Football Arena. Both the goals came in the first half as India took lead against the visitors after seven minutes into the game. While India took 2-0 lead in first half, the second half belonged to Kenya, even though they failed to change the scoreline. Talismanic Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri scored a brace to become the joint second highest international goalscorer among active players along with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi with his 64th strike for the country. He is now only second to Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.<doc-sep>India will take on Kenya in the final of the 2018 Intercontinental Cup after the African side registered a 4-0 over Chinese Taipei in the last league match of the four-nation football tournament on Friday. After today's result, Kenya, India and New Zealand ended on six points each from two wins and the Kiwis missed out on the basis of goal-difference. Kenya made it to the final to be played on Sunday on better goal difference of plus two as against plus one of New Zealand. India has a goal difference of plus seven. India had beaten Kenya (3-0) and Chinese Taipei (5-0) before losing to New Zealand (1-2). Kenya jumps into the second place in the points table to face India in the Finals of Hero Intercontinental Cup at the Mumbai Football Arena at 8 PM on Sunday.#WeAreIndia #BackTheBlue #AsianDream pic.twitter.com/jZKV7ibxuR Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 8, 2018 Chinese Taipei were already out of the tournament having suffered consecutive losses to India (5-0) and New Zealand (1-0). They were the only side who did not score a single goal. Dennis Odhiambo gave Kenya the lead in the 52nd minute before Joackins Atudo made it 2-0 three minutes later as he converted a penalty kick. Substitute Timothy Otieno scored Kenya's third goal in the 69th minute while Atudo made it 4-0 in the 88th minute. Ovella Ochieng swung in a corner into the centre of the box where an unmarked Odhiambo netted the ball to give his side the lead. For the third goal, Otieno chased a routine pass towards the Chinese Taipei goalkeeper who missed it and the Kenyan forward slotted the ball home. Atudo then completed the tally from a rebound. Earlier, Kenya had a chance to take the lead in the fourth minute as their strikers built up an attack but Miheso Cliffton, instead of chipping over the goalkeeper, shot straight and the Chinese Taipei custodian managed to keep it at bay. In the 19th minute, Kenya wasted another chance to score. Jockins Atudo gave a through ball to Mutamba, who failed to convert it. Later, Duncon Otieno took a shot from close range but that flew over the bar. Chinese Taipei suddenly counter-attacked and had three good chances to go ahead. The best came in the 29th minute when Hao-Wei Chan released Ching-Ming Wang on the overlap into the box and the striker took a shot, but it fell onto the safe hands of Patrick Matasi. At the half way mark, the scoreline was 0-0. (With PTI inputs)<doc-sep>India’s soccer player Sunil Chhetri, right,controls the ball from an identified Kenyan player, during the Hero Intercontinental Cup final match in Mumbai, India, Sunday, June 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) India’s soccer player Sunil Chhetri, right,controls the ball from an identified Kenyan player, during the Hero Intercontinental Cup final match in Mumbai, India, Sunday, June 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) India defeated Kenya 2-0 to lift the Intercontinental Cup at Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday. The electrifying summit showdown of the match before a packed stadium saw fans roaring for Sunil Chhetri and his teams. With a lead of two goals, Sunil Chhetri’s brace helped India to clinch the title. India had blanked Kenya 3-0 in their previous encounter during the tournament and the final match was seen as an opportunity for Kenya to seek revenge for their humiliating loss in the league stage. Although they tried to maintain a good pressure in the second half of the match, owing to India’s lead and team’s joint effort along with full support from the audience, the host country dominated and won in style. Cut to social media, fans witnessing the epic battle on TV screens also couldn’t control their joy and broke out in an exuberant celebration online. Tributes and praise flooded Twitter for matching up with Messi in the goals tally and Indians couldn’t be any happier. Sample these: #INDvKEN That's a splendid display from the boys @chetrisunil11 🔥🔥..!! U guys made the whole India proud.Congrats @IndianFootball On winning the #IntercontinentalCup2018 . The football era is officially begun 😎 ✌️…!! #bleedBlue — vishnuvarthan (@I_mvishnu) June 10, 2018 Congratulations team India and a special congrats to @chetrisunil11 for being second in the international goal scorer list ☺️ #INDvKEN #IntercontinentalCup #IntercontinentalCup2018 — SachiN A R (@sachin__ar) June 10, 2018 What a moment for Team India and @chetrisunil11 winning Intercontinental cup 2018 defeating Kenya 2-0. In the process Chhetri also equalled Lionel messi scoring 64 international Goals. #INDvKEN pic.twitter.com/4bCKq6ZDL7 — Manoj Kumar Sahu (@ManojSahuG) June 10, 2018 🇮🇳 Chak de INDIA !! ! The Champion of Hero Intercontinental cup 2018. Highest Active International Goal Scorers: https://images.indianexpress.com/2020/08/1x1.png 🇵🇹(Portugal) Cristiano Ronaldo – 81 🇮🇳(INDIA) SUNIL CHHETRI – 64 🇦🇷(Argentina) Lionel Messi – 64 Keep letting us feel proud Captain #Chhetri . — Anand kishore (@Anandksr) June 10, 2018 And India wins it… Sunil chhetri and Lionel Messi both share the same number of goals. Definitely there is no comparison between the two captains, but the Indian captain has contributed more to his national team than the Argentinian :) ISL has seriously changed Indian football — NAVONEEL NANDAN (@being_navo) June 10, 2018 INDIA EMERGE AS CHAMPIONS IN THE INTERCONTINENTAL CUP 2018 This victory comes as a great achievement for Indian football. More than this win,it’s the support of the nation that stands above all. 1000s joined the Blue Pilgrims to support the team which has worked so hard!#INDvKEN — AkShAtA (@MenInBlueDvotee) June 10, 2018 👍👍👍GOOSEBUMPS. We are witnessing a revolution in @IndianFootball. The scenes in the Stadium are surreal. Thank you @chetrisunil11 and Team for making us proud. Onwards and Upwards from here. My favourite moment of this #HeroIntercontinentalCup has to be this ❤️ #INDvKEN — Shahanaaz Shaikh💙 (@ShaikhShahanaaz) June 10, 2018 Highest active international goalscorers’ list: Ronaldo 🇵🇹 – 81 Chhetri🇮🇳 – 64 Messi🇦🇷 – 64 Congrats @chetrisunil11 👍🏻 Proud of you…#INDvKEN pic.twitter.com/TCiu3bBNxn — ʎʞuǝʌ (@_VenkyTweets) June 10, 2018 Equals Messi’s record of Goals. What a player Sunil Chhetri has been. Massive Respect 🙏 — Hamzah Bhuta (@Hamzah_Bhuta) June 10, 2018 The greatest players are the quickest thinkers – @chetrisunil11 take a bow (again) #INDvKEN pic.twitter.com/M80QKntrXT — Joe Morrison (@joefooty) June 10, 2018 Thank you @chetrisunil11 for giving the country so much to cherish. You were inspirational and I am sure this #IntercontinentalCup victory will help in ensuring that you guys play in a jam packed stadium . Congratulations @IndianFootball #INDvKEN pic.twitter.com/YgwiCmccw7 — Satvik Bhatt (@cricket_satvik) June 10, 2018 India 🇮🇳 wins ! Congratulation! Take a bow for Socerman !Sunil Chhetri For an amazing brace! #INDvKEN — Anuj Tiwari (@anujtiwariIND) June 10, 2018 Sunil Chhetri has equalled Lionel Messi with 64 international goals. Chhetri has a better goal per game ratio than Messi and is now joint 2nd highest active international football goal scorer. India is proud of you @chetrisunil11#JaiHind 🇮🇳#chhetri100 #sunilchhetri #INDvKEN pic.twitter.com/trAW7jDbt3 — KapoorRohan (@samratrohan99) June 10, 2018 And thats a wrap up of Hero intercontinental Cup with the 🏆 and one proud records as Sunil Chhetri equals Messi’s record, joint second highest scorer among active players kudos to Chhetri and @IndianFootball 🇮🇳 #INDvKEN pic.twitter.com/xNkyCrmxuF — Troll (@sabtrolled) June 10, 2018 Sunil Chhetri scores his 64th international goal. Tied with Lionel Messi among active footballers across the world. Take a bow, captain! #INDvKEN #BlueTigers #BackTheBlue — Bihan Sengupta (@BihanSengupta91) June 10, 2018 @chetrisunil11 sir Thankyou for inspiring a whole generation.. Your contribution is too huge for the support you get…I hope and pray some day you and indian football will get its due..#BleedBlue #IndianFootball #TeamIndia #BackTheBlue #Champions — avinash shaw (@avinashshaw552) June 10, 2018 The final match of the championship also became special as Indian skipper doubled the lead in the second half and equalled Lionel Messi in terms of international goals. With 64 goals in his kitty, he is currently in second position among active International goalscorers along with the Argentinian star player. Cristiano Ronaldo is only active player ahead of Chhetri now. Football buffs couldn’t stop cheering for the Indian captain who has been wowing fans with his superb performances. The 33-year old already made the country proud not just by defeating opponent teams with his stunning goals but also by playing 100 matches while donning the Indian jersey.<doc-sep>Skipper Sunil Chhetri continued his superb form, striking a brace as India thrashed Kenya 2-0 to clinch the Intercontinental Cup at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Sunday. Chhetri, who scored in the eighth and 29th minutes to hand India a convincing victory, also equalled Argentina's Lionel Messi's tally of 64 international goals, making him the joint-second active international goalscorer behind Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (81 goals). With the stadium jam-packed with Indian fans, the hosts started on an aggressive note as they penetrated the Kenyan defense twice in the first minute. India will look to their talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri as they face Kenya in the summit showdown of the Intercontinental Cup on Sunday. The world's third-leading scorer, Chhetri have so far found the back of the net in each of the three games, including a hat-trick against Chinese Taipei and a brace against Kenya. The tournament is being used by hosts India as a preparatory ground for the AFC Asian Cup, to be held in January next year, and a win in the final will surely boost their confidence going ahead. India had blanked Kenya 3-0 in the league game at the Mumbai Football Arena, which was skipper Chhetri's 100th appearance in national colours. And the India captain made the game memorable by scoring a brace. They will look to replicate the performance of their league game against the African side again in the summit clash, which the organisers have claimed to be a 'sold out' match. The hosts are the side to beat this tournament as they have throughout played an aggressive brand of football. But the Stephen Constantine coached team cannot take Kenya lightly as they have defeated New Zealand 2-1 and blanked Chinese Taipei 4-0 last night. Constantine will ensure that his best playing XI will take the field after his strategy of making seven changes initially in the game against New Zealand backfired as the team lost 2-1. Intercontinental Cup 2018 Final Highlights of India vs Kenya Match, Straight from Mumbai Football Arena 21:53 IST : India beat Kenya 2-0 to lift the Intercontinental Cup 21:52 IST : 90+3' : And its over! India outclass Kenya 2-0 in the finals of the Intercontinental Cup. Sunil Chhetri's legend continues to grow as he scores twice in the all important final. 21:48 IST : 90' : Three minutes of EXTRA TIME 21:45 IST : 87' : Corner! Another corner for Kenya another header from Dennis and another MISS! Kenyans succumbing under pressure. Ball sails pass over the net. India still lead 2-0 against Kenya 21:40 IST : 81' : Substitution for India: Udanta Singh is replaced by Ashique Kuruniyan 21:39 IST : 80' : Final 10 minutes and its still 2-0 in India's favor. 21:33 IST : 75' : BRILLIANT SAVE! Free kick for Kenya from right outside the box and Gurpreet Sandhu puts in a brilliant dive. Great save from the Indian goalkeeper. India still with 2-0 lead but Kenyans are testing Indian defenders really hard. 21:29 IST : 70' : Another opportunity another miss for Kenya! Dennis hits straight in the hands of goalkeeper Sandhu. Kenyans have been right on the money in the second half but have just not been able to find the net. Indian defense needs to concentrate more. 21:24 IST : 66' : Balwant Singh with a free kick but lands straight in the hands of the Kenyan goalkeeper. 21:19 IST : 61' : Two back to back changes for Indian team. Balwant Singh comes in for Jeje Lalpekhlua while Rowllin Borges replaces Holicharan Narzary. 21:15 IST : 57' : Corner for Kenya! but Sunil heads the ball safely away from the net. 21:12 IST : 54' : Kenyans have brilliantly controlled the ball till now in the second half but have failed to score yet. 21:05 IST : 47' : Kenyan attackers have come all charged up in the second half. Two shots on target in the first two minutes of the second half. 21:04 IST : 46' : Brilliant diving save from the Indian goal keeper Gurpreet Sandhu in the initial minute of the second half. 21:03 IST: Second half begins. 20:47 IST : HALF TIME : Blue Tigers have been of fire in the first half. Skipper Sunil Chhetri has lead the team from the front scoring twice in the eighth and the twenty ninth minute of the game. On the other hand Kenyan defense has been sloppy in the first half while their attackers have been tackled brilliantly by the Indian defense. IND 2-0 KEN 20:45 IST : 45' : Two minutes of added time in the first half 20:41 IST : 41' : Second yellow card for Kenya. Sunil Chhetri takes in the free kick from right outside the box but the ball sails over the the net. 20:37 IST : 37' : First change for the Kenyan team. John Makwata comes in for Kenneth Mugambi. 20:34 IST : 34" : Chhetri goes down. Yellow card for Oginga. Sandeep takes the free kick but the ball has been cleared. 20:33 IST : 33' : Kenyan attackers are trying really hard to penetrate but Indian defense has been brilliant so far. 20:28 IST : 28' : GOAL! Chhetri is on Fire. Second goal from the skipper. He is playing on a different level today. Brilliant pass from the centre of the pitch and Chhetri does the rest. IND 2-0 KEN 20:27 IST : 27' : Corner for Kenya! Ends safely in the hands of goalkeeper Sandhu 20:24 IST : 24' : Kenyan team on the offensive now but have been brilliantly dealt with by the Indian defense. 20:19 IST : 19' : Counter attack from the visitors. Kenyan attackers get the ball past the Indian defense but the ball goes straight into the hands of the goalkeeper Sandhu. 20:13 IST : 13' : India continues to attack. Possession has mostly been with the Indian team till now. Kenyan defense is under pressure. 20:09 IST: 7' : GOAL! The legend of skipper Sunil Chhetri continues to grow. Free kick from Anirudh Thapa and a brilliant flick from the skipper.<doc-sep>

India will look to their talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri as they face Kenya in the summit showdown of the Intercontinental Cup on Sunday. The world's third leading scorer, Chhetri have so far found the back of the net in each of the three games, including a hat-trick against Chinese Taipei and a brace against Kenya. The tournament is being used by hosts India as a preparatory ground for the AFC Asian Cup, to be held in January next year, and a win in the final will surely boost their confidence going ahead. India had blanked Kenya 3-0 in the league game at the Mumbai Football Arena, which was skipper Chhetri's 100th appearance in national colours. And the India captain made the game memorable by scoring a brace. They will look to replicate the performance of their league game against the African side again in the summit clash, which the organisers have claimed to be a 'sold out' match. The hosts are the side to beat this tournament as they have throughout played an aggressive brand of football. But the Stephen Constantine coached team cannot take Kenya lightly as they have defeated New Zealand 2-1 and blanked Chinese Taipei 4-0 last night. Constantine will ensure that his best playing XI will take the field on Sunday after his strategy of making seven changes initially in the game against New Zealand backfired as the team lost 2-1. When will India vs Kenya match be played? The India vs Kenya match will be played on June 10, 2018. Where will India vs Kenya be played? The India vs Kenya match will be played at the Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai. How do I watch India vs Kenya match live? The India vs Kenya match will be telecast live by the Star Network. What time does India vs Kenya match start? The live telecast of the India vs Kenya match will begin at 8 pm IST. Promoted Where can you follow India vs Kenya match online? The India vs Kenya match will be streamed live on Hotstar. For live updates, you can follow sports.ndtv.com.

Kendall Jenner attended Sunday night’s Vanity Fair Oscar party in a dress that was cut so high, it brings new meaning to the thigh-high split trend. With a red carpet that included Miley Cryus, Winnie Harlow, Emily Ratajkowski, Chrissy Teigen, Jennifer Lopez (you can see the full gallery here), Kendall had to find a way to stand out... And boy did she do that. Daniele Venturelli Getty Images At first glance, I thought she was wearing a combination of cut off denim hot pants and a black halterneck top, which is obviously a definite no, no at an Oscars party. But on closer inspection, Kenny was actually wearing a black sequin dress, with a hell of a lot of fabric missing from either side. Getty Images There's bold and there's wearing a loincloth to the Oscars bold. 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. Let's be honest, she looks incredible. I have literally never seen anyone look so hot in an outfit like this, apart from Tarzan maybe, but his was way less sparkly. But there's something about going to the Oscars without pants on, that just makes me feel very uncomfortable. Daniele Venturelli Getty Images Can you imagine bumping into Sophie from Peep Show aka Olivia Colman, who just won her first ever Oscar for portraying Queen Anne, and you're standing there very, very still, for risk of indecent exposure. Nope, that is a kind of stress I don't need in my life, give me a midi brief any day of the week. John Shearer Getty Images It's just a shame Ryan Seacrest wasn't on hand to do some awkward Jordyn Woods questioning... Follow Laura on Instagram. Laura Capon Senior Fashion & Beauty Writer Laura writes about everything beauty and fashion related for Cosmopolitan UK and specialises in makeup, plus-size fashion and the world of YouTube. 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>Kendall Jenner's revealing 'side-vagina' Oscars dress has divided the internet By Katie Louise Smith It's a miracle how Kendall Jenner didn't have a massive wardrobe malfunction in that almost naked from the waist down dress! The 2019 Oscars took place last night and amongst all the memes and all the controversy, there were some quite iconic red carpet looks. Best dressed on the night included Billy Porter in his tuxedo dress inspired by Hector Xtravaganza, Lady Gaga in her $30million Breakfast at Tiffany's necklace and a whole host of other actors who all turned it out on the red carpet. But enough about that... it's time to talk about Kendall Jenner and her almost nude from the waist down/'side-vagina' at the annual Vanity Fair party. (Yeah, that's right, I said 'side-vagina') Kendall Jenner wears an almost naked dress to the Vanity Fair Oscars party. Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor While she didn't attend the actual ceremony, Kendall did show up to the after party and when I say that her dress took my breath away, I mean it in the literal sense because I actually gasped in shock and almost choked on air. Kendall wore what can only be described as a ~loin cloth~ by couture designer Rami Kadi to the after party and the internet had what can only be described as a ~heart attack~ when they saw it. Here's the dress loin cloth in all its hip-bone glory: Kendall Jenner is at the Vanity Fair #Oscars after-party, full party pic gallery here: https://t.co/aTXXNPmmB7 pic.twitter.com/habqdSgIYf — Variety (@Variety) February 25, 2019 Some people were loving it... Some people were not! And they are entitled to their opinion! kendall jenner really wore THAT to the oscars pic.twitter.com/txveuLLeO0 — zoë (@woahzoe) February 25, 2019 Is there underwear involved in this dress or?? How does she pee? HOW DID THIS NOT GO HORRIBLY WRONG? Kendall Jenner in this stunning dress at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party last night. #KendallJenner #VanityFairOscarParty pic.twitter.com/M6UNXCKXEm — Johnny (@Johnnys_Eye) February 25, 2019 Angelina Jolie's leg is SHAKING! Kendall Jenner serving at the #Oscars after party! pic.twitter.com/7Po1fsGx6n — Music News Facts (@musicfactnews) February 25, 2019 Ladies, we are gathered here today... Kendall Jenner showing up at Tristan Thompson’s funeral pic.twitter.com/L3he63bFhG — ʙᴠʟᴇᴠᴀʀɪ (@bvlevari) February 25, 2019 It's a 'no' on the side vajajay then? We'll let Kendall know! Can someone tell Kendall Jenner that the side vagina look isn’t in — Steph 🥀 (@coolKjellberg) February 25, 2019 "Who are you?" "I'm you... but stronger..." Kendall Jenner in 2014 and Kendall Jenner in 2019. Picture: Sonia Recchia / Stringer, Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor The internet is pretty split over the look, with the majority of people not enjoying Kendall's take on the 'no pants'/'naked' red carpet trends of recent months. But you know what, she went for it, she worked it and she looked good! Whatever! If you're not wearing something bold or risqué to the Vanity Fair party, what's the point! ? What do you think? Is it a yes or a no on Kendall's look?<doc-sep>

Kendall Jenner loves to take risks on the red carpet, and her look at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscars party had our jaws on the floor! Check out her sexy, double slit dress here! Kendall Jenner whipped out one hell of a look when she attended the Vanity Fair Oscars party on Feb. 24. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star always looks gorgeous, but she really nailed this ensemble. Kendall wore a barely-there black dress, with just one piece of fabric covering up the bottom portion of her body. The double slit put MAJOR leg on display, and somehow, Kendall avoided having a wardrobe malfunction on the red carpet. She completed her look with black pumps, and styled her hair with major volume to dramatize the full ensemble. The 23-year-old showed up to the event solo, but she caught up with her dad, Caitlyn Jenner, on the red carpet. The ladies laughed together as cameras snapped photos of them, and it looked like such a fun night out! There’s been quite a bit of drama for the Kardashian family lately — her sister, Khloe Kardashian’s, boyfriend and baby daddy, Tristan Thompson, reportedly cheated on her with Kylie Jenner’s best friend, Jordyn Woods — but Kendall seemed unbothered by the problems and looked fierce as ever during Hollywood’s biggest night! While Khloe might be having relationship trouble, though, things certainly seem to be going well for Kendall in the loooove department! She’s been happily dating Ben Simmons for several months now, and although she doesn’t talk about their relationship much, she hasn’t been shy about flaunting their romance in public recently. Ben didn’t join Kendall on the Vanity Fair red carpet, but clearly, she did just fine stealing the show on her own. We seriously can’t get over this look!

A woman in her 70s was the only one found lying on the floor. Most of the dead were blindfolded and gagged with their hands tied behind their backs.<doc-sep>MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Eleven members of a family were found dead in India’s capital on Sunday, most of them hanging from the ceiling of their home, blindfolded, gagged and with hands tied behind the back, with police unable to offer any concrete explanation about what happened. Slideshow ( 2 images ) A police statement said some handwritten notes were found in the house “which point towards observance of some definite spiritual/mystical practices by the whole family”. “These notes have strong similarity with the manner in which the mouths, eyes etc of the deceased were tied and taped.” This angle was being investigated and a case of murder registered, the statement said. The home of those who died is above a grocery store the family owned in the Burari district in a northern part of Delhi. It is near to where three people were killed and several injured in a shootout between two gangs just two weeks ago, but police said there was no apparent link. Sunday’s dead were four men and seven women, including teenagers and a 75-year-old woman who was found on the floor. The others were hanging from a railing attached to the ceiling, media reports said. Police said the family included the woman, her two sons and their wives, a daughter and grandchildren. A neighbor found the victims early on Sunday, police said. “I haven’t seen such a crime before,” said Vineet Kumar, additional deputy commissioner of police in north Delhi. “We are investigating all possible angles including suicide, foul play. We can say something about the cause of death only after the postmortem reports come.” All the family members had died and there were no witnesses. Neighbors had not heard anything untoward, police said. According to media reports, the family migrated to the capital from the northwestern state of Rajasthan about two decades ago and police were trying to get in touch with relatives there. On June 18, members of rival gangs opened fire on each other in the main Burari market, killing three people and wounding five.<doc-sep>Some of the bodies were found hanging, while the hands of some were tied. (Photo: ANI) The Delhi Police have rushed in a forensic team to Burari in north Delhi where 11 members of a family were found hanging and blindfolded early Sunday morning. The bodies are of seven females and four males. The deceased include an elderly woman, her two sons, their wives, five children and the elderly woman's daughter. The elderly woman's third son is a civil contractor in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. Ten of the 11 bodies were blindfolded and found hanging from a wire mesh. Some of them had their hands tied. The family owned a grocery shop near the local gurdwara and also ran a furniture business. Delhi: Police inspects the house in Burari where 11 bodies were found blindfolded and hanging from a railing, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/v3EnwEq1O1 ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2018 The dead include the elderly woman identified as Narayan (75); her two sons Lalit (42) and Bhupi (46); her daughter Pratibha (60); her daughter-in-laws Swita (42) and Tina (38); granddaughters Priyanka (30), Swita (42), Nitu (24), Meenu (22) and her grandson Dhiru (12). Joint Commissioner of Police, Delhi, said, "Bodies of seven women and four men, including three teenagers, have been found. We are investigating the case from all possible angles and are not ruling out anything." Bodies of 7 women and 4 men including three teenagers have been found. We are investigating from all possible angles, we are not ruling out anything: Joint CP Delhi, on bodies of 11 people found at a house in Delhi's Burari pic.twitter.com/apdRPL5w8r July 1, 2018 Sandeep Goyal, Special Commissioner of Police (law and order) added that preliminary investigations have not revealed any robbery attempt in the house. The matter came to light when a neighbour spotted the hanging bodies early morning and informed the police. #Visuals from Delhi's Burari where bodies of 7 women and 4 men have been found at a house; Police present at the spot, investigation on. pic.twitter.com/CjuReQbaXT ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2018 Locals say the family closed their shop around 11:45 on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, when a neighbour went to the shop to buy milk, he found it was closed. Since the house was open, he went upstairs to call the owner and saw the 11 bodies hanging. "He found the family members were hanging from a net used for ventilation. He then informed others and police were informed later on," the police said. The cops have also taken possession of CCTV footage from the area. Relatives of the deceased are being called to get more information about the family. Police have taken possession of CCTV footage from the area. They are also calling relatives to know more about the deceased family. (Photo: ANI) The family had been living in the area for the past 20 years and hails from Rajasthan. The house is in a double storey building and is located in street number 24, Sant Nagar, Burari. The Delhi Police have rushed a team to the spot. Police are investigating if this was a case of mass suicide or were the family members murdered and then hanged. Police officials on ground are presently collecting details about the family from people in the area. The entire area has been cordoned off. later in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also visited the area and took stock of the situtaion. (With inputs from Puneet Sharma)<doc-sep>In a shocking incident, bodies of eleven members of a family were found at a house in Delhi's Burari area early on Sunday morning. Ten bodies were found hanging and blindfolded, while a 75-year-old woman's body was found on the floor, the police said. Seven of the victims are women and four are men. The police have reached the spot and an investigation is currently underway.<doc-sep>

The family ran a grocery shop and plywood business near their home in Burari. Highlights The Bhatia family ran a grocery shop and plywood business Seven of the victims are women, including a 75-year-old; three are minors Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi BJP chief visited the spot Eleven members of a family were found dead at their home in north Delhi's Burari this morning. Ten of those found dead were hanging from an iron grill ceiling and the body of an elderly woman was on the floor of one of the rooms, police said. Most of them were blindfolded with their hands tied behind their backs. "It is a tragic incident. I have spoken to the police. Let's wait for their investigation to be over," Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who visited the spot, said. Earlier, Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari as well as a Congress leader also visited Burari. The police suspect they committed suicide. Seven of them are women, including a 75-year-old; two are teenagers, the police said. There was no suicide note, said Rajesh Khurana, joint commissioner of police, Central Range. Seven of them are women, including a 75-year-old; two are teenagers "We are investigating from all possible angles, we are not ruling out anything. The bodies have been sent for postmortem," he added. The Bhatia family ran a grocery shop and plywood business a few steps from their double-storey home in Burari's Sant Nagar. They have been living in the area for the last two decades. Every morning, their shop would open by 6, but when it didn't till 7.30 today, a neighbour went to check on the family. Finding the door open, he went inside and saw the family members hanging from the grill ceiling using dupattas. They were blindfolded and their mouths taped shut, he said He informed the police, who rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. The police are currently examining the CCTV footage for clues. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the spot and spoke to the neighbours. In a video posted by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the neighbours are heard telling Mr Kejriwal that the family was busy with wedding preparations and were looking forward to it. Local residents of Sant Nagar, #Burari tells CM @ArvindKejriwal about the family, in whose house the tragic incident happened. pic.twitter.com/dEHNdKqJM5 - AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 1, 2018 The neighbour added that Bhupinder and Lalit Singh, who were brothers, were quite friendly. "They couldn't have commited suicide. I spoke to Bhupinder last night. He was very happy and there was no sign of any stress," he told news agency IANS. For more Delhi news, click here

An 18-year-old who had been charged in the fatal shooting of a police officer in Georgia was shot and killed on Monday as he was pursued by the police, officials said. Butch Ayers, the police chief for Gwinnett County, told reporters that the suspect, Tafahree Maynard, failed to comply with verbal commands when he was found in a shed in Snellville, Ga., about 25 miles northeast of Atlanta. In a statement on Monday, the police added that the officers had used a Taser on Mr. Maynard, but it failed to stop him. Mr. Maynard then brandished a lawnmower blade and “made an aggressive move” toward the officers, the statement said. One officer opened fire, striking and killing him. Image Tafahree Maynard, 18, was shot and killed during a police pursuit on Monday. He had been charged with aggravated assault and felony murder in connection with Officer Antwan Toney’s death. Credit... Gwinnett County Police Department The police had been searching for Mr. Maynard since Saturday, when the officer, Antwan Toney, 30, was shot and killed while responding to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked near a middle school in Snellville. As Officer Toney and other officers approached, shots were fired from the vehicle, the police said.<doc-sep>The officer, Antwan Toney, died after he was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center, according to the police department. He had been on the Gwinnett police force for three years. Toney and other officers were responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked near Shiloh Middle School on Saturday afternoon, police said. When officers approached, the suspects fired through their vehicle’s window, hitting Toney before driving off, said police spokesman Jake Smith. At least one officer returned fire, but it’s unknown whether the suspects were hit or injured. The suspects crashed their vehicle a short time later, and as many as four people ran from the scene. Law enforcement officers, helicopters, SWAT teams and K-9 units swarmed the area to search for the suspects, checking nearby buildings and wooded areas. DeKalb County police were called in to help. GWINNETT OFFICER SHOOTING: What we know now: -- Officer shot is in critical condition -- Suspects are on run -- Multiple agencies working several scenes -- SWAT on scenehttps://t.co/zpfdcAhHWf pic.twitter.com/SddYtryXUu — WSB-TV (@wsbtv) October 20, 2018 Gwinnett police said they have interviewed a few people about their involvement, but no one is charged with a crime. A witness described one of the suspects to police as a 6-foot-tall man with long dreadlocks, green sweatpants and a grey T-shirt. Descriptions of the other suspects weren’t available. Toney, a member of the Gwinnett Police Department’s Uniform Division, was working his shift on patrol Saturday. At a news conference Saturday night, Police Chief Butch Ayers spoke about the slain officer, saying he was known as “very jovial, very dedicated to his job and to serving his community.” Toney is the first Gwinnett officer killed in the line of duty since 1993, Ayers said. Toney is from southern California, where his immediate family still lives. Ofc. Antwan Toney was killed in the line of duty while investigating a suspicious vehicle. His 3 year anniversary with the department would have been in 6 days. pic.twitter.com/FHTWNljTx1 — Gwinnett Police Dept (@GwinnettPd) October 20, 2018 In 1993, Officer Chris Magill was killed along Interstate 85 by a drunk driver. Three Gwinnett officers were gunned down in 1964 when they were investigating a "suspicious activity" call in Duluth. The officers — Jerry Everett, Marvin Gravitt and Ralph Davis — were handcuffed together and shot with their own weapons. Forty-five officers have been killed by gunfire nationwide so far in 2018, the same number as were killed nationally in all of 2017, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. Toney is the fourth Georgia officer killed by gunfire this year. Six Georgia officers were killed by guns in all of 2017. The shooting came after three separate officer-involved shootings in Georgia on Thursday that left two men dead. In one of the previous shootings, a state patrolman was shot at close range along I-75 South in Bartow County but survived because he was wearing a body armor vest. Two troopers returned fire and killed the original shooter, according to the Georgia State Patrol. Neighbors heard gunshots. Two women said they heard around 8. pic.twitter.com/GxlKPqXaeS — Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) October 20, 2018 The other shooting death occurred in Monroe when a man carrying a replica Thompson submachine gun allegedly pointed it at an officer, according to the GBI. In the third incident, a suspect shot at police in Richland but no one died. — AJC staff writer Christian Boone contributed to this article. Please return to AJC.com for updates.<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) — A police officer in Gwinnett County, Georgia, was shot and killed while answering a call about a suspicious vehicle on Saturday afternoon, according to a department spokesman. Officer Antwan Toney, who had just turned 30, was responding with another officer to a call of possible marijuana use, said Jake Smith of the Gwinnett County Police Department. “There was no particular red flags in this call,” Smith said. Toney was shot at from inside the suspect vehicle as soon as he approached the car in a parking lot at a middle school. He was hit one time. The other officer, returned fire and dragged Toney away, Smith said, and he died at a hospital. The suspect’s four-door black sedan sped away and crashed about a mile away. There were as many as four people inside the car, Smith said. There are no suspects in custody. “They fled the scene and crashed without an officer in hot pursuit,” Smith said. Smith said it is unclear whether anyone in the suspect’s car was hit or how many shots were fired. Chief of Police Butch Ayers said investigators were talking to multiple “persons of interest.” “We have interviewed a few people about their involvement in this case. As of now, no one has been formally charged with any crimes,” the department said in a news release. Detectives were still processing evidence from the car and had engaged in some searches elsewhere, Smith said. Police are also looking at body camera video recorded by responding officers. It is unclear whether there was police dash camera video of the event. Police presence was heavy Saturday evening in neighborhoods a few miles east of Stone Mountain. A helicopter flew above the vicinity of the middle school. Toney had been with the department for almost three years. Before he was an officer, he had been a security guard, police said. Ayers said his Gwinett colleagues “recall a very jovial person who was dedicated to his job and dedicated to his community.” Toney was originally from Southern California. Gwinnett County is in the metropolitan Atlanta area and has 920,000 residents. Toney’s killing is the first line-of-duty death in the county since May 1993 when an officer was killed in a traffic accident. Three officers were shot to death in April 1964. Toney’s death was the second fatal shooting of a law enforcement officer this week. North Carolina State Trooper Kevin K. Conner was killed Wednesday during a traffic stop near the border with South Carolina. A suspect was taken into custody. CNN’s Steve Almasy contributed to this report.<doc-sep>

A police officer on Monday shot and killed an 18-year-old man accused of fatally shooting another officer near a school in the Atlanta area over the weekend, police said. Tafahree Maynard was one of two men charged in the fatal shooting Saturday of Gwinnett County police Officer Antwan Toney. Police believe Maynard shot Toney and had launched a manhunt as he faced charges of aggravated assault and felony murder. Police got a credible tip about Maynard’s whereabouts around 3 a.m. Monday, Gwinnett County police Chief Butch Ayers told reporters. Dozens of police officers went door-to-door in a search for him and interviewed people. Two officers searching a shed behind a house encountered Maynard, who failed to comply with verbal commands, Ayers said. Maynard initially had his hand behind his back and when he showed his hand, he was holding an “edged weapon” in his hand, the chief said. One officer fired a stun gun at Maynard and the other fatally shot him from about 5 or 6 feet away, Ayers said. Tafahree Maynard (Gwinnett County Police Department) “I would like to say that the danger to the community is over,” Ayers said at a news conference, adding that police would continue to investigate any potential charges against people who may have provided assistance to Maynard “during his attempt to escape justice.” Toney was responding to a call around 2:30 p.m. Saturday about a suspicious vehicle near Shiloh Middle School in the Snellville area, about 25 miles northeast of Atlanta. When the officers approached, someone in the vehicle opened fire and Toney was hit, police said. Then the vehicle sped off. Toney died at a hospital from his wounds, police said. The 30-year-old from Southern California had been with the Gwinnett County Police Department for nearly three years, serving in his first police job. “The people that worked with Officer Toney on a daily basis recalled a very jovial person who was dedicated to his job and dedicated to his community,” Ayers said. Isaiah Pretlow (Gwinnett County Police Department) A second suspect, 19-year-old Isaiah Pretlow, was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a gun at an officer during the pursuit after Toney’s fatal shooting, police had said earlier. According to police, Pretlow drove the vehicle away after the shooting, crashed a short distance away and fled along with other occupants. An officer searching the area later encountered Pretlow around 3 p.m. Pretlow pointed a gun at the officer, who fired shots, according to police. Pretlow was not hit and fled into some woods. He was subsequently taken into custody around 11:30 p.m. Saturday by U.S. marshals.

Get the latest Burnley FC news delivered straight to your inbox each day - sign up for free email updates Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Burnley have made two changes to the starting line-up for the trip to Everton. The Clarets welcome Robbie Brady back to the starting XI after the winger missed the home defeat to Manchester City after his wife gave birth to their second child. Johann Berg Gudmundsson is also in from the start as Jeff Hendrick and Dwight McNeil drop out with both among the subs. Phil Bardsley is not in the 18 while Peter Crouch is on the bench. Burnley begin the weekend in 15th but will climb to places, for 24 hours at least, should they take three points at Goodison Park. The Clarets have been in fine form in 2019, picking up 28 points from 17 games to pull clear of the bottom three and secure another season in the top flight. Everton, meanwhile, are sitting in eighth and remain in contention for a seventh place finish which could provide Europa League football if Manchester City win the FA Cup final against Watford. Clarets: Tom Heaton; Matt Lowton, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee, Charlie Taylor; Robbie Brady, Ashley Westwood, Jack Cork, Johann Berg Gudmundssson; Chris Wood, Ashley Barnes. Subs: Hart, Hendrick, Gibson, Crouch, Vydra, Long, McNeil Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin<doc-sep>18 - Resident of Kolkata, India - In love with the Bundesliga since birth. Big fan of TwentyOnePilots and basically every other teen stuff(Star Wars not included). Still waiting for my man Milos Raonic to win a Grand Slam. Come to my house and we will watch Netflix and eat Nutella. lol just kidding. Follow me on Twitter @covershadow09<doc-sep>Everton has picked up some memorable victories in the final quarter of the 2018-19 Premier League season, but the final act of Marco Silva’s debut season might instead be remembered in the long-term for the matches that got away. On April 14, his Toffees lost 2-0 to an already-relegated Fulham side. Last week, Everton drew 0-0 against Crystal Palace, likely ending any late hopes of his side securing a Europa League spot for next season. Of course, the unpredictable nature of all those results — losses to bottom-half teams and wins over top-six teams — has made it pretty difficult to predict Everton’s fate. That was true for a fair number of our writers last week. Crystal Palace Predictions Writer First Scorer Everton MOTM Winner Score Points Writer First Scorer Everton MOTM Winner Score Points Adam B. Benteke Lookman Draw 1-1 2 Brian F. Calvert-Lewin Digne Draw 2-2 2 Brian L. Calvert-Lewin Calvert-Lewin Everton 2-1 0 Calvin Keane Gueye Everton 2-1 1 Chris Lookman Lookman Everton 2-1 0 Geno Sigurdsson Gueye Draw 1-1 3 Matt A. Calvert-Lewin Sigurdsson Everton 3-1 0 Matthew C. Sigurdsson Digne Draw 1-1 2 Pete Sigurdsson Sigurdsson Draw 1-1 2 Rachel Zaha Calvert-Lewin Crystal Palace 1-0 0 Sean Sigurdsson Gueye Everton 3-1 1 Tom Calvert-Lewin Gueye Draw 1-1 3 Zach Sigurdsson Sigurdsson Everton 2-0 0 Six writers had the final result right, though none predicted a 0-0 scoreline. As such, no one had the opening goalscorer right either. Midfield stalwart Idrissa Gueye was voted Everton’s man of the match, earning a point for Calvin, Geno, Sean, and Tom. Calvin’s point — along with Adam and Rachel’s relatively quiet weeks — may well have cast the final die in our prediction league standings. Prediction League Table Writer Points Writer Points Calvin 64 Rachel 56 Adam B. 53 Sean 51 Geno 51 Chris 51 Matt A. 51 Pete 50 Brian L. 49 Tom 49 Matthew C. 46 Brian F. 45 Zach 44 Calvin now sits eight points clear of Rachel and nine of Adam with two matches to play. With our scoring system, the most number of points any writer can attain before the season ends is 12, meaning that it’ll take nearly a perfect performance — and multiple misses from Calvin — for a changing of the guard atop the table. The first chance to make up the deficit comes on Friday, when Everton hosts Burnley. It’s been a disappointing season for Sean Dyche’s squad, which finished seventh last season. Burnley got bounced in the final Europa League qualifying round, and it’s pretty much been all downhill from there. A couple of results against Bournemouth and Cardiff in recent weeks secured Premier League safety, but Burnley still sits in 15th. As a result, our predictions are relatively uniform. Burnley Predictions Writer First Scorer Everton MOTM Winner Score Points Writer First Scorer Everton MOTM Winner Score Points Adam B. Sigurdsson Bernard Everton 3-0 2 Brian F. Richarlison Richarlison Everton 2-1 2 Brian L. Calvert-Lewin Richarlison Everton 1-0 2 Calvin Richarlison Richarlison Everton 2-1 2 Chris Bernard Bernard Everton 2-0 4 Geno Richarlison Sigurdsson Everton 2-1 2 Matt A. Barnes Sigurdsson Everton 2-1 2 Matthew C. Sigurdsson Bernard Everton 1-0 2 Pete Richarlison Richarlison Everton 5-0 2 Rachel Richarlison Digne Everton 2-0 4 Sean Richarlison Sigurdsson Everton 2-1 2 Tom Sigurdsson Gueye Everton 2-0 4 Zach Richarlison Gueye Everton 2-0 4 Historically, Everton has not fared particularly well when all of our writers pick the Toffees to win, so brace yourself for disappointment. As usual, Richarlison is a popular choice for opening goalscorer and Everton man of the match. Gylfi Sigurdsson is also a frequent choice for both categories.<doc-sep>

Everton vs Burnley Betting Tips: Latest odds, team news, preview and predictions In high spirits after a string of strong home performances, Al Hain-Cole expects the Toffees to get the better of Dyche's men in an entertaining clash Everton will be hoping to keep themselves in the running for Europa League qualification when they welcome Burnley to Goodison Park in Friday's Premier League clash. Marco Silva's men are four points adrift of seventh-placed Wolves with just two games to go, but find themselves in strong form after four wins and just one defeat from the last six league matches. Latest odds Having run out 5-1 winners in the reverse encounter at Turf Moor, they are 20/33 (1.61) favourites with SportPesa to maintain the pressure on the top seven with another victory here. However, the Clarets have won three of the last five meetings between the sides, and are priced at 19/4 (5.75) to come out on top once again in this one. None of the nine Premier League encounters between this pair have resulted in draws, but you can get odds of 3/1 (4.00) on this one finishing up all square. Team news Andre Gomes will serve the last of his three suspended matches incurred for a stamp on Aleksandar Mitrovic against Fulham, while Yerry Mina could be in contention after returning to training following injury. Phil Bardsley should be in contention after recovering from injury, although Aaron Lennon and Peter Crouch will be assessed and Steven Defour is definitely ruled out. In-form Toffees After a run of just one win in eight home games, the Toffees have turned things around by first holding Liverpool to a goalless draw before beating Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United in successive matches in front of their own fans. They should therefore feel confident of seeing off a visiting team that has won just four times in 18 games on the road this campaign - although it may not be all plain sailing. Indeed, Sean Dyche’s side have found the net in all but two of their most recent nine – scoring seven times in the last three including twice at Chelsea. Predictions All in all, odds of 47/20 (3.35) are well worth backing on Everton coming out on top despite both teams getting on target for the fifth meeting in six against Burnley. Everton to win and both teams to score at 47/20 (3.35) for a 1pt stake with SportPesa

All eight series of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs are underway and the opening of this year's NHL postseason has been as much surprising as it has been thrilling. The Columbus Blue Jackets have looked like the record-setting division winner, and not the Tampa Bay Lightning as the Jackets are off to a stunning start. On Long Island, the New York Islanders are feeling very good after two games, and the same can be said for the St. Louis Blues as they head back home. We finally got out first series evened up when the Golden Knights topped the Sharks to close out Friday's action. You can check out Friday's updates below, and make sure to keep an eye out for Saturday's action, as CBS Sports will be your home for live updates. Games on NBC, NBCSN and USA can be streamed via fuboTV (Try for free). Stanley Cup playoffs schedule for Friday, April 12 All times Eastern Game 2: FINAL - Blue Jackets 5, Lightning 1 (CBJ leads, 2-0) (Box Score) Game 2: FINAL - Islanders 3, Penguins 1 (NYI leads, 2-0) (Box Score) Game 2: FINAL - Blues 4, Jets 3 (STL leads, 2-0), (Box Score) Game 2: FINAL - Golden Knights 5, Sharks 3 (Series tied, 1-1) (Box Score) Schedule for Saturday, April 13 Game 2: Hurricanes at Capitals (WSH leads, 1-0), 3 p.m. (Preview) -- TV: NBC NBC Game 2: Stars at Predators (DAL leads, 1-0), 6 p.m. (Preview) -- TV: CNBC CNBC Game 2: Maple Leafs at Bruins (TOR leads, 1-0), 8 p.m. (Preview) -- TV: NBC NBC Game 2: Avalanche at Flames (CGY leads, 1-0), 10:30 p.m. (Preview) -- TV: NBCSN San Jose's power play crumbles in loss The Sharks managed to climb out of an early three-goal hole but they couldn't double their series lead against the Golden Knights on Friday night, and their power play was a big reason why. Not only did San Jose's man-advantage unit go a brutal 1-for-8 on the night, they also gave up two shorthanded goals ... including this dagger from William Karlsson in the third period, which was made possibly by a turnover from Brent Burns. Blues take another road win in Winnipeg The St. Louis Blues stole Game 1 on the road in Winnipeg with a dramatic late effort, and they doubled-down on Friday night. It was a see-saw battle with the teams trading goals back-and-forth all night long. The Jets' looked good -- as did their power play -- and Patrik Laine got on the board for the second consecutive game, which is a huge development for a guy who scored just twice from late February to the end of the regular season. Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele also added goals for Winnipeg, but it was St. Louis who came away victorious on the night. As the game was locked at 3-3 coming out of second intermission, Ryan O'Reilly scored the go-ahead goal for the Blues. That goal came on a shot that Connor Hellebuyck probably should have stopped. It wasn't exactly Hellebuyck's night in net. However, he did have this save. Oskar Sundqvist also added two goals for St. Louis. The Blues are one of the best home teams in the NHL and they'll head back to St. Louis with a 2-0 series lead in what has been a tight series so far. Golden Knights, Sharks battle it out in San Jose Vegas had a rough go of things in Game 1, but it came out of the gate flying in Game 2. The Golden Knights chased Sharks goaltender Martin Jones from the game less than seven minutes in, scoring three times (including a shorthanded tally) on seven shots. But the Sharks weren't done ... not by a long shot. By the time the first intermission hit, the score was tied. The Sharks ripped off three unanswered goals in the span of just over three minutes. Logan Couture, Erik Karlsson and Joe Thornton accounted for San Jose's goals. Mark Stone was able to reclaim the lead for the Golden Knights with a power play goal (his third of the series so far) following a controversial goaltender interference call in the second period. Third period surge pushes Islanders to two-game lead How about the New York Islanders? The Isles certainly put on a show for their home fans at Nassau Coliseum through the first two games of the series and they'll head to Pittsburgh with a 2-0 lead. After coming out of the second intermission locked at 1-1, the Islanders managed to make a late push and score twice to bury the Pens. The game-winner came off the stick of Jordan Eberle, who has been huge for New York so far -- tallying a goal and an assist in each of the two contests to open the series. Blue Jackets crush Lightning to take 2-0 lead After the Blue Jackets put together a stunning comeback from a three-goal deficit to win Game 1, Columbus continued to shock the hockey world in Game 2. The Jackets came out of the gate like Little Caesars -- hot and ready -- and dominated the league's top regular season team from nearly start to finish. The Blue Jackets were physical and imposing all night long, clogging lanes and disrupting Tampa's fearsome attack before it could really get anything going. Columbus got a huge night from Matt Duchene, who scored his first career postseason goal and added three assists. CBJ got first period tallies from Cam Atkinson and Zach Werenski. Penguins, Isles trade blows in ugly game The Pens and Islanders are grinding one out on Long Island in a game that's full of messiness. The scoring didn't get underway until the second period, when Erik Gudbranson (yes, that Erik Gudbranson!) found the back of the net for Pittsburgh. But the Islanders were able to quickly answer when the Penguins allowed a rush and Anthony Beauvillier was able to bury a rebound chance on an open net. They barely had time to celebrate before more anarchy broke out. The Penguins' defense has looked pretty shaky once again in this contest, though they've only given up one goal (so far) and went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill through the first two periods. Blue Jackets get out in front early Columbus' gameplan apparently included putting an emphasis on punching Tampa Bay in the mouth early and often, and both in the figurative and literal sense. There was plenty of chippy play and animosity in the opening period, including a surprising fight between Werenski and Brayden Point. Columbus increased its lead to three in the second period when Duchene scored his first career playoff goal. Tampa managed to find a bit of life to start the third when Mikhail Sergachev got the Bolts on the scoreboard, but if there was any concern that Columbus would follow in the Lightning's footsteps of letting a three-goal lead evaporate...well, not so fast. The Blue Jackets answered with two more goals -- one from Riley Nash, who had just three goals during the regular season, and another from Artemi Panarin. The Lightning clearly were frustrated by the end of this one, and they allowed that frustration to get the better of them. Nikita Kucherov was given a minor, a major and a game misconduct for this ugly hit late in the third period. He also may be looking at a suspension for Game 3 (and possibly beyond) as a result.<doc-sep>Monday's games were filled with tension and grit, but it was ultimately Carolina and Dallas that triumphed in their respective series. Here are the results from each matchup. NHL Playoffs 2019 Roundup: Hurricanes force Game 7, Stars finish off Predators originally appeared on nbcsportswashington.com Heading into Tuesday, a variety of teams are still set to battle it out in Game 7, now including the Carolina Hurricanes, who defeated the Washington Capitals and evened the series at home Monday. However, others have already moved on, most recently the Dallas Stars, who overcame the Nashville Predators to win a series for the first time in three seasons. Neither game was an easy battle, though, as emotions boiled over and intensity rose. Here's how Monday's games ended up playing out. Hurricanes force Game 7 with dominant 5-2 win After the Caps triumphed 6-0 in Game 5, things looked good yet again for Washington after the first period. However, it would soon evolve into a completely different game as the Caps fell 5-2. Brett Connolly struck first for Washington about five minutes in, beating Petr Mrazek on a quick shot for his second goal in his second game. Warren Foegele tied the game minutes later, entering the slot and scored after the puck deflected in off a defender. Before the period ended, Alex Ovechkin was able to fire a wrister and put home his fourth goal of the playoffs to give the Caps a 2-1 lead heading into the second. an absolute BEAUTY by Ovi puts the Caps up 2-1#CapsCanes pic.twitter.com/jg9UOr4DDs — NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) April 22, 2019 However, entering the second period, momentum and favor shifted in the Hurricanes' direction. Teuvo Teravainen evened the score just over a minute into the middle frame to make it 2-2. The score would hold until the third period, when Brett Pesce added another goal to put the Hurricanes in front. Soonafter, Ovechkin appeared to make it even yet again when he crashed the net and pushed a loose puck in the crease past Mrazek, but the goal was waved off on a confusing goaltender interference call. Story continues All momentum appeared lost after that, as Justin Williams and Dougie Hamilton potted goals to extend the lead to three. Washington attempted a comeback, but the lead proved too much, and after Ovechkin was called for slashing and ejected after his emotions took over, any chance at clawing back was spoiled. B U L L S E Y E pic.twitter.com/7Ia5c90ZvW — Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) April 23, 2019 Carolina and Washington will play Game 7 in D.C. Wednesday. The Hurricanes have won four straight Game 7s. The last time the Caps went to Game 7 was last season in the Eastern Conference Final against Tampa, where they won 4-0. Stars eliminate Predators with 2-1 OT win Just a day after the Sharks were able to force overtime with a double overtime victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, the Stars and Predators found themselves in a similar situation in their Game 6 Monday. Although both teams battled to the end, it was Dallas that was able to win and effectively end Nashville's season. Austin Watson was able to open the scoring around six minutes in when he jumped on a Brian Boyle rebound and put the puck past Ben Bishop to give Nashville the 1-0 lead. In the first period, the Predators managed 19 shots on goal, while Pekka Rinne was able to put aside all 10 of the Stars' shots in the opening frame. From the start, both goaltenders had established that they were coming up big in this one. The Stars roared back in the second period by heavily increasing their shot totals, and it paid off as Blake Comeau scored his first of the postseason on an odd-man rush to make it 1-1. The score would hold through the remainder of regulation, with Nashville leading 40-37 in shots. About 17 minutes into overtime, John Klingberg was able to strike on a one-timer from the point to win it for the Stars, pushing them to the second round. That's all she wrote! Klingberg wins it for the Stars in OT! #GoStars | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/KLSoSBIh7P — Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 23, 2019 The last time they accomplished such a feat was in 2016. Bishop finished with 47 saves, and Rinne put aside 49 shots when all was said and done. MORE CAPITALS NEWS:<doc-sep>The Columbus Blue Jackets will play the Boston Bruins in the second round. Game one is scheduled for Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 7 p.m. EDT in Boston at the TD Garden. Second Round Schedule Game 1: Thursday, April 25 at Boston, Mass. – 7 p.m. on NBCSN Game 2: Saturday, April 27 at Boston, Mass.– 8 p.m. on NBC Game 3: Tuesday, April 30 at Columbus, Ohio – 7 p.m. on NBCSN Game 4: Thursday, May 2 at Columbus, Ohio – 7:30 p.m. NBCSN Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at Boston, Mass. – 7:15 p.m. on NBC Game 6 (if necessary): Monday, May 6 at Columbus, Ohio – TBD Game 7 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 8 at Boston, Mass. – TBD Stay tuned to the Cannon for playoff coverage!<doc-sep>

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press There have already been plenty of surprises in this year's NHL playoffs. And there may be even more in the weeks to come. The No. 1 seeds from each conference—the Tampa Bay Lightning (Eastern Conference) and Calgary Flames (Western Conference)—have been eliminated. Tampa Bay was swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets, while Calgary lost to the Colorado Avalanche in five games. However, only half of the second-round field has been set. The rest will be decided over the next several days. Updated Playoff Standings Eastern Conference Columbus Blue Jackets defeated Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0. Columbus will face winner of Boston-Toronto series. Toronto Maple Leafs lead Boston Bruins 3-2. Game 6 at Toronto, Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, NBC. Washington Capitals lead Carolina Hurricanes 3-2. Game 6 at Carolina, Monday, 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network. New York Islanders defeated Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0. New York will face winner of Washington-Carolina series. Video Play Button Videos you might like Western Conference Colorado Avalanche defeated Calgary Flames 4-1. Colorado will face winner of Vegas-San Jose series. Vegas Golden Knights lead San Jose Sharks 3-2. Game 6 at Vegas, Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network. Dallas Stars lead Nashville Predators 3-2. Game 6 at Dallas, Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, CNBC. St. Louis Blues defeated Winnipeg Jets 4-2. St. Louis will face winner of Nashville-Dallas Series. Remaining 1st-Round Picture Michael Dwyer/Associated Press By Wednesday night, the first round of the postseason will be over. However, it could also end as early as Monday night, depending on the results of the upcoming Game 6 matchups. On Sunday, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights will look to advance to the second round. Each team needs just one more win, and they're both playing Game 6 at home. The Maples Leafs will look to take down the Boston Bruins for their first playoff series win since 2004. "It means a lot to be part of a great franchise," Toronto coach Mike Babcock said, according to NHL.com's Dave McCarthy. "I think we're going in the right direction; I think we've been doing that for three years. We have a chance to build a real good program here. This is all part of that process." Meanwhile, the Golden Knights also hold a 3-2 lead in their series against the San Jose Sharks heading into Sunday's Game 6 in Las Vegas. Last year, Vegas reached the Stanley Cup Final in the first season in franchise history. If the Golden Knights continue to play this well, they could be back there again this year. "We're in a good position and we know that," Vegas forward Max Pacioretty said, according to NHL.com's Danny Webster. "Each game kind of writes its own script. You go up in a game and you play a certain way, you go down in a game, you play a certain way. But at the same time, no matter what the score is, we want to go out there and play the right way every shift." On Monday night, the Dallas Stars and Washington Capitals will also look to notch Game 6 wins and move on to the second round. Like the Maple Leafs and Golden Knights, the Stars will have home-ice advantage. However, the Capitals will have to win on the road, or else they'll be back home for Game 7. In the Washington-Carolina series, the home team has won each of the first five games. After dropping Games 3 and 4, the Capitals bounced back with a big 6-0 win in Game 5. Dallas also has momentum heading into its Game 6 matchup with Nashville. After dropping Games 2 and 3 to fall behind 2-1 in the series, the Stars notched a 5-1 win in Game 4, followed by a 5-3 victory in Game 5.

"Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honor for me." - APJ Abdul Kalam "Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world." - Malala Yousafzai "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." - William Arthur Ward "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." - Albert Einstein "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts." - CS Lewis "Teach the children so it will not be necessary to teach the adults." - Abraham Lincoln "I am not a teacher, but an awakener." - Robert Frost "I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework." - Lily Tomlin "Those who know, do. Those who understand, teach." Aristotle<doc-sep>They're the people who taught you to read and laid the foundation that gives you the ability to add up what you spent for the month and realize you're way over budget. They're the people you accidentally called "mom" and felt the blood rush to your face with embarrassment. They're teachers and on Friday, people from around the globe celebrate the world's educators for World Teachers' Day. Ahead of the celebration, WalletHub analyzed all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine the best and worst states in America for teachers with regards to 22 factors of the job. The top 10 best states for teachers were determined to be: New York Connecticut Minnesota Illinois North Dakota Pennsylvania Wyoming New Jersey Maryland Ohio The worst states including the District of Columbia in America, according to WalletHub's findings were: Hawaii Arizona North Carolina Louisiana Florida Mississippi South Carolina Oklahoma District of Columbia West Virginia WalletHub also broke down the results by various categories to determine the best and worst states for salaries, projected turnover, pupil to teacher ratio, spending per student and school system. Salaries were adjusted for the cost of living and Michigan was found to be the state that pays its teachers the highest salary. Michigan was followed by Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York for the top five spots. Kentucky didn't make the top 10 overall list, but when it came to lowest projected teacher turnover for the year 2026, the Bluegrass State took the number one spot. The District of Columbia had the highest projected teacher turnover rate. A common discussion when it comes to the success of a school district is the number of students assigned to each teacher. The belief being that fewer students in a class foster a more beneficial learning environment. WalletHub's analysis found that Vermont has the lowest pupil to teacher ratio, followed by North Dakota, Maine, New Jersey and then Connecticut and Louisiana, which tied for the fifth spot. Rounding out the bottom of the list were Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and California. Funding is another contentious point for public school systems with there never seeming to be enough money to go around. The District of Columbia was identified as being the best place for teachers when only factoring in the amount public schools spend per student. Indiana was identified as the worst. Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont were ranked the top five states for overall school systems. On the other side of the list, Arizona, Alaska, the District of Columbia, Louisiana and New Mexico took the bottom five spots. To compile its list, WalletHub broke 22 metrics down into one of two categories: Opportunity and Competition or Academic and Work Environment. Opportunity and Competition was made up of 10 metrics worth seven points each and were listed as: Average Starting Salary for Teachers Average Salary for Teachers Teachers' Income Growth Potential 10-Year Change in Teacher Salaries Average Teacher Pension Share of New Teachers with Inadequate Pensions Projected Teacher Competition in Year 2026 Public-School Enrollment Growth Teacher Tenure Protections Share of Uncertified Teachers The category Academic and Work Environment included 12 metrics that varied in weight from 1.20 points to 7.20 points. The breakdown was: Quality of School System: Triple Weight 7.20 Points Pupil-Teacher Ratio: 2.40 Points Public-School Spending per Student: 2.40 Points Presence of Annual Teacher-Evaluation Requirement: 2.40 Points Presence of Teacher-Effectiveness Requirement: 2.40 Points Projected Share of Teacher Turnover: 2.40 Points Teacher Union Strength: 2.40 Points Teacher Safety: 2.40 Points Share of Teachers Who Feel Supported by Their Administrator: 2.40 Points Average Commute Time:1.20 Points Prevalence of Childhood Disadvantage: 1.20 Points Working Mom-Friendliness:1.20 Points Opportunity and Competition was weighted about 40 points more than Academic and Work Environment because WalletHub identified competitive salaries and job security to be integral to a balanced personal and professional life. World Teachers' Day commemorates the 1966 adoption of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recommendation. The recommendation set standards for teachers' responsibilities, further education and learning conditions.<doc-sep>More than a month after students return to school in the United States, UNESCO’s World Teachers’ Day is celebrated each year on October 5 to appreciate the role that educators play in the development of young people and society. At Brookings, World Teachers’ Day is an occasion to revisit some of our most recent and most-visited research related to pressing issues facing the teacher workforce in the United States and around the world. Teachers in the United States are poorly paid On average, American teachers earn much less than what other, similarly educated workers in the United States earn, writes Dick Startz for the Brookings Brown Center Chalkboard. Additionally, U.S. public teacher salaries fall far behind those of other advanced countries, again relative to similarly educated workers. Although teachers’ compensation includes bonuses and other unmeasured benefits, Startz notes, higher teacher salaries are essential for recruiting and retaining qualified teachers in America. Teacher salaries are falling—but not because they’re getting younger Between 2007 and 2016, public school teacher salaries decreased by 2.2 percent, contributing to strikes across the United States in 2018. Though some have argued that this decline is the result of retirements among older teachers, thus creating a younger and less qualified teacher workforce, this simply isn’t the case, writes Michael Hansen, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings. Teachers in 2016, he points out, were on average actually older than in 2007 and more likely to have advanced degrees. “This evidence should compel the public and policymakers to rethink our popular assumptions about how generously (or not) teachers are paid,” Hansen concludes. Teachers in fast-growing cities experience more financial stress In cities around the country with rising living expenses, such as San Francisco, low wages are driving economic anxiety among teachers. Although teacher salaries have increased in some states, they simply have not kept up with the rising cost of living in many areas. This financial stress, former Brookings expert Susanna Loeb explains, appears to be negatively affecting teachers’ performance in the classroom, such as missing more days of school or being more likely to resign than teachers in less expensive regions. Exposure to same-race teachers improves outcomes for minority students Studies show that having one black elementary school teacher decreases the probability that a disadvantaged black male student will drop out of high school by almost 40 percent. David Figlio, dean of the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University, argues that while the reasons behind this phenomenon aren’t clear—students may see same-race teachers as role models, or minority teachers may have higher expectations for students of color—it is clear that the underrepresentation of minorities in the teacher workforce is limiting minority students’ educational success. The female-dominated teacher workforce isn’t causing boys to fall behind While it’s well documented that race gaps in the teacher workforce negatively affect students, the gender imbalance (75 percent of teachers in America are female) does not appear to have any clear harmful effects on boys or girls. Michael Hansen and Diana Quintero argue that while increasing the share of male minority teachers and female STEM teachers may address certain performance gaps, the focus should be on promoting greater racial and ethnic diversity among instructors in the classroom. Read more from the Teacher Diversity in America series. Millennials of color could forever change teaching Millennials, the largest and most diverse generation of adults to date, have strong opinions about education, social justice, and societal issues, as well as strong technological skills—all of which will undoubtedly have an effect on the way millennials lead a classroom, Mary E. Dilworth writes for the Brown Center Chalkboard. It is now up to schools, she argues, to provide an environment that welcomes, encourages, and cultivates the new skills and ideas that these diverse young teachers bring to their classrooms and their students. Teachers are more segregated than students Because of the evidence that students perform better with same-race teachers, teachers of color are often steered toward high-minority schools. However, as Michael Hansen and Diana Quintero show, this has created an education system in which teachers are more segregated than the students they teach, limiting students’ exposure to teachers of the opposite race—which evidence indicates is also beneficial—and raising serious questions about structural racism in hiring practices. Artificial intelligence may reinvent the teaching profession With educational innovations such as algorithmic teaching and self-directed learning on the horizon, the future of a human teacher workforce has become uncertain. Writing in a 2017 essay series, “Meaningful Education in Times of Uncertainty,” Jim Knight argues that this new, highly individualized, and automated educational system will liberate human teachers from lesson plans, textbooks, and standardized tests while changing their role from instructor to one of collaborator and coach. Teachers can be architects of female empowerment Education is one of the strongest tools for empowering girls, especially in patriarchal societies. In India, specifically, 2015 Echidna Global Scholar Suman Sachdeva explains why it is critical to equip female teachers with principles of gender equality so that they can, in turn, help girls overcome the challenges of marginalization, discrimination, and subordination that pervades their society. Mary Bernard contributed to this post.<doc-sep>Teacher Appreciation Day won’t happen again for several months, but educators can still cash in on great deals. In honor of World Teacher Day 2018, also known as International Teachers Day, on Friday, Oct. 5, dozens of companies are celebrating teachers by offering freebies and discounts galore. Find out where to eat and shop this Friday below. Freebies Overstock- Teachers can get a free membership to Club O Gold. The membership includes free shipping and early access to sales. Pluckers- Teachers can get one free appetizer year-round when they visit a Pluckers on Fridays from 3-7 p.m.. There is one free appetizer per two guests and the app sampler is excluded from this deal. Microsoft- Those with a vlaid school email addres can download Office 365 for free. This program includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, One Note and Microsoft Teams. (Educators can also get 10 percent off the purchase of Windows devices.) Chuck E. Cheese – If you book a school fundraiser through the chain you will get promotional materials prior to the event, 10-free-play points sticker for each enrolled child, a school visit from Chuck E. on the day of the event, and a free meal for each teacher in attendance. Get more details here. Photo: Tim Boyle/Getty Images Deals & Discounts Champion- You don’t have to be an active teacher to get this deal. Champion, JustMySize, One Hanes Place, and Hanes websites are offering educators 10 percent off their orders. Teachers who use this offer will also only have to pay one shipping charge for shopping on all of the named sites. Banana Republic- Enjoy 15 percent off your full-priced, in-store purchase. You will need to present your valid ID in order to participate. This offer is not valid in factory outlet stores. J.Crew- You can get 15 percent off your online order at J.Crew. Madewell- Teachers can get 15 percent off their purchase when they shop in store. This promotion is not available on Madewell’s website. Sperry- Offers.com reports teachers can get 15 percent off any order. No coupon code is required. Tommy Hilfiger- Get 15 percent off your next purchase when you select “teacher discount” at checkout. You will have to verify your status. West Elm- Educators can get 15 percent off their orders by entering their .edu email address on the store’s Ace Your Space page. A.C. Moore- Teachers can get 15 percent off their sale and regular-priced items when they shop. This offer cannot be combined with total purchase price coupons. Other exclusions apply. Michaels- Like A.C. Moore, teachers can always get 15 percent off their buys, including sale items. Costco- New members who purchase a membership activation certificate will receive over $60 in savings. Certificates must be purchase online and are not available in stores. CoolFrames.com- You will get $20 off for every $200 you spend, plus an additional 5 percent off your purchase. Other promtions cannot be combined with this offer and certain brands are excluded from this deal. Contiki- You’ll save $75 when you book a trip that is seven days or longer. Redeem this offer by calling 1-866-CONTIKI and mention “teacher.” This offer cannot be used in combination with last-minute deals and is only valid for U.S. residents. Loft- Teachers can always get a discount when they shop at Loft. By signing up, you can get 15 percent off full-priced purchases, access to seasonal style guides, invites to teacher appreciation nights and a chance to win their teacher-exclusive sweepstakes. Check out more deals on Offers.com.<doc-sep>

World Teachers’ Day is being celebrated in a special way: with its own unique Google Doodle. The event is held annually to honor teachers throughout the world and is always held a specific day to mark the anniversary of the adoption of an important document in the history of education. Here’s all you need to know about what World Teachers’ Day us, when it is, some gift and activity ideas and also what a Google Doodle is. Google has just marked World Teachers' Day with a new Google Doodle for October 5, 2018 What is World Teachers' Day? World Teachers’ Day is an annual event that aims to promote ‘appreciating, assessing and improving the educators of the world’, honor educators worldwide and to bring attention to issues impacting teachers and other educational professionals throughout the world. The event was established in 1994 and commemorates the 1966 signing of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers, the document that helped to address the status of teachers worldwide. It outlines standards pertaining to the recruitment, training and retention of teachers throughout the world and advocates for their employment and working conditions. To mark the event, UNESCO and Education International undertake a campaign annually to help people understand the critical role that teachers play in both the classroom and society as a whole, partnering with private sector organizations to achieve this and focusing on a singular theme every year. The theme for 2018 is, ‘The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher’ and also marks the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 by the United Nations. Today, World Teachers’ Day is celebrated in more than 100 countries throughout the world. When is World Teachers' Day 2018? World Teachers’ Day 2018 will be held on Friday, October 5. It’s held on October 5 on an annual basis. World Teachers’ Day is on October 5th🎉! Spend some time thanking an educator or mentor that helped encourage you to be creative. Share a note, drawing, video, photo, or story to tell them how much they mean to you using #EveryoneCanCreate + #WorldTeachersDay. pic.twitter.com/9XEuU51yrG — Apple Education (@AppleEDU) October 1, 2018 World Teachers' Day gift ideas For students and parents looking to give gifts to teachers for World Teachers’ Day, a wide array of options are available. Just a few ideas include traditional gifts like apples as well as tote bags, doormats, candy, mugs, books and more. World Teachers' Day activities In addition to giving gifts, World Teachers’ Day can be celebrated with many fun events and activities. Some ideas for this include holding stage performances at school, playing games, having picnics and by simply thanking teachers for what they do. Other ideas for how to mark World Teachers’ Day in a memorable way also include hosting a party for local school teachers and educators, offering teacher discounts at local businesses and giving out candy, coffee, cookies and other treats for teachers. The #RightToEducation means the right to a qualified teacher! Without qualified #teachers, the goal of universal primary & secondary education, a fundamental human right, cannot be met. Stay tuned for more ahead of #WorldTeachersDay: https://t.co/AnUTDXyrzK #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/cHspSYV4ux — UNESCO (@UNESCO) October 1, 2018 What is a Google Doodle? Google Doodles are changes to Google’s homepage on a temporary basis that reflect a key anniversary, event, individual, accomplishment and the like. First created back in 1998 by Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin to commemorate the Burning Man festival, they were later produced by an in-house team called Doodlers established to create them on a more regular basis. Nowadays, Google Doodles are generally used to celebrate holidays such as Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day as well as to commemorate important people like Fred Rogers and to mark events such as German Reunification Day, U.S. National Voter Registration Day and even Google’s own 20th birthday.

Democratic California Rep. Ted Lieu apologized Friday for a snarky tweet that mocked President Donald Trump’s trip to storm-ravaged Alabama to meet with tornado victims. In response to the president’s Friday morning announcement that he was on his way to Alabama, Lieu wrote in a since-deleted tweet, “WE ARE IN THE THIRD WEEK OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY! Can you feel the emergency? Is this why [Trump] is going to Alabama, because we need to build a Wall along Alabama’s southern border? Oh wait, I just looked at the map ….” Lieu concluded his comment with the hashtag, “#FridayMorning Thoughts”. Lieu later amended his hasty conclusion after taking flak from Twitter users and learning that the president was, in fact, visiting Alabama to meet with Americans who had lost loved ones and property in Sunday’s devastating tornadoes. (RELATED: Trump Signed Bibles In Alabama And People Can’t Handle It) “I have concluded based on Twitter comments I received,” Lieu began, “that my last tweet was inappropriate. I understand the purpose now of the President’s visit to Alabama. I apologize and am going to delete my tweet.” I have concluded based on Twitter comments I received that my last tweet was inappropriate. I understand the purpose now of the President’s visit to Alabama. I apologize and am going to delete my tweet. — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 8, 2019 Lieu, whose Twitter bio claims he doesn’t “take orders from Putin,” is a frequent and vociferous critic of the Trump administration. Among his attacks, he has accused Vice President Mike Pence of “cloaking [his] hate” in Christianity, called for a criminal investigation of former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, said Justice Brett Kavanaugh is an angry drunk and accused White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders of lying about tax reform. (RELATED: Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu Accuses Pence Of ‘Cloaking Your Hate’ In Christianity) “You should spend less time tweeting, more time doing your job,” Sanders said in response to Lieu’s accusatory December 2017 tweet, also since deleted. Follow Jon Brown on Twitter<doc-sep>BEAUREGARD, Ala. – President Donald Trump toured tornado-ravaged Alabama on Friday nearly a week after storms ripped through a small town, killing 23 people. The president touched down in Lee County near where a massive tornado spun winds as high as 170 mph on Sunday. Trump had signed a major disaster declaration for the county earlier this week, freeing federal assistance to the region. The president and first lady Melania Trump viewed the damage caused by the storm as they flew aboard Marine One. The president also met victims in Opelika, Alabama, and received a briefing from the Lee County Emergency Management Agency. As his motorcade wound through the county, Trump passed through entire neighborhoods that were destroyed, passing by empty lots with broken pieces of metal, wood and what appeared to be scattered clothing. Trump, alongside Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, surveyed the destruction wreaked across Beauregard on foot before meeting with victims’ families. “I saw this. And it’s hard to believe,” Trump said. “You saw things that you wouldn’t believe.” At one stop, Trump visited with the family of Sheila Creech and Marshall Lynn Grimes, who were killed in the storm. Trump hugged their survivors, and one member of the family showed him Grimes's motorcycle vest and Bible. At Providence Baptist Church, Trump met privately with nearly a dozen families who were victims of the storm. Afterward, he thanked dozens of community volunteers in the church auditorium, which was filled with clothes, toiletries, diapers and school backpacks. Trump signed several hats and Bibles, including one belonging to a 12-year-old boy. Emergency crews are doing an "A-plus job," Trump told the crowd, adding that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will remain onsite as long as it's needed. One of the volunteers, Ada Ingram, who said she knows 10 of the people killed in the storm, said Trump's visit will bring the community closer together. "I think it’s a godsend," she said of the presidential visit. "The situation is bad. And there are going to be people who will say, 'Why did he come to my town?' I don’t know why. I don’t know why the hurricane happened. But there is a reason." Before leaving, the Trumps stepped out of the motorcade to stand before 23 crosses erected in front of the church in remembrance of those lost to the tornado. The Trumps held hands and paused for several moments in front of each of the crosses, which were decorated with hearts, stuffed animals, flowers and personal messages. Earlier, before the presidential entourage arrived in Alabama, Conner Moulton, 7, carefully crafted each marker stroke as he signed a short message on a banner thanking Trump for coming to Beauregard. "I wrote the 'Beauregard Strong' and 'thank you for your help,'" the second-grader said. "Then I put my first name and my last name. He's helping the people who got affected and lost their homes in the tornado.” Lana Ledbetter, a Beauregard resident who did not have any home damage but knew several people who did, came to the high school to put her mark upon the banner. "It’s just amazing that he’s showing his support for our little tiny community. We’re just very thankful for the funding and just for him taking his time to come and show that support for us." Trump was accompanied on his Air Force One flight to Georgia by members of the state’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Richard Shelby and Rep. Mike Rogers, both Republicans. Trump has made several trips to visit victims of natural disasters in recent months, including to California after last year's wildfires and to the Carolinas following Hurricane Florence. Trump tweeted about the storms on Monday, vowing that the Federal Emergency Management Agency would provide “A plus treatment” to the state. Contributing: The Montgomery Advertiser More:As Trump visits tornado victims in Alabama, is he playing politics with disaster relief?' More:Alabama tornado victims revealed; area braces for weekend storms – and possible severe weather More:6-year-old boy is youngest victim of Alabama tornado that left 23 dead<doc-sep>

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said he will travel to Alabama on Friday to visit with the victims of a devastating tornado that killed at least 23 people. The tornado was part of a powerful storm system that ripped through parts of Florida, South Carolina and Georgia over the weekend. The area had been warned of possible tornadoes days before the storm, but some Alabama residents were warned only eight to nine minutes before the killer twister struck. "I'll be heading to Alabama on Friday," Trump said during a veterans event at the White House. "It's been a tragic situation. But a lot of good work is being done." Trump has made several trips to visit with the victims of natural disasters in recent months, including to California after last year's wild fires and to the Carolinas following Hurricane Florence. Alabama:Storm-battered state could see more severe weather this weekend Tornado victims:6-year-old boy is youngest victims of Alabama tornado that left 23 dead The president was expected to travel to his resort in Florida this weekend to attend a fundraiser. Further details of his Alabama trip were not immediately available, and the White House has generally kept a close hold on schedule details for such trips until the president is on the ground. Trump said he’s been in touch with the governors of Alabama and Georgia since the tornado struck. Authorities in Alabama released the names of the 23 victims of Sunday's tornado, including seven in one family, while meteorologists warned that another blast of severe weather could roar through the region in coming days. Contributing: John Bacon

An Alaska moose hunter whose case against the federal government made a rare second trip to the U.S. Supreme Court prevailed on Tuesday. The ruling marks a win for Alaskans unhappy with federal “overreach” on some public lands but doesn’t topple rural subsistence rights as some feared it might. John Sturgeon sued the National Park Service after rangers on the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in 2007 ordered him off the hovercraft he used for moose-hunting trips through the shallows of the Nation River near the Canadian border. The park service claimed the right to manage navigable waters inside parks and preserves. The state maintained that management of those waters was clearly left to the state, which allows hovercrafts. U.S. Supreme Court justices in this week’s decision ruled unanimously that the Nation River doesn’t qualify as “public land” for the purposes of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The sweeping 1980 law created 10 new national park units following natural boundaries rather than federally owned lands, adding more than 18 million acres of state, Native and private land. Nor does the park service have authority to regulate Sturgeon’s activities on the part of the river that falls within the preserve, according to a ruling authored by Justice Elena Kagan for the court. “That means Sturgeon can again rev up his hovercraft in search of moose,” Kagan wrote. Sturgeon, reached in Anchorage a few hours after the ruling, said he planned to do just that in September. “I’m really happy with the decision,” he said. Sturgeon cheered the restored access to once-secret hunting grounds on the Nation that he’d visited since 1971. But he also expressed gratitude that the Supreme Court ruling upheld the so-called Katie John decisions that underlie Alaska’s federal subsistence fishing rights. “Katie John was a casualty that I didn’t intend on,” Sturgeon said Tuesday. “I’m glad they said it doesn’t disturb Katie John.” He said he called Alaska Federation of Natives president and CEO Julie Kitka Tuesday morning and they agreed it was a good outcome. Sturgeon said AFN and he, along with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, had worked unsuccessfully on a compromise solution that would have left Katie John intact but “this was just as good.” “Alaska is different by law,” he said. “Alaska is different, our parks and preserves and refuges are not managed like they do down south. I think that’s pretty important.” A park service spokesman said the agency is reviewing the Supreme Court decision to “determine what changes will be necessary to bring existing policy in line with today’s ruling.” Ruth Botstein, the assistant district attorney who successfully argued the case last year on the state’s behalf, was one of numerous at-will employees dismissed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy last fall when he came into office. The ruling is the second time the court had heard the case -- and generally ruled in Sturgeon’s favor. Justices in 2016 ordered the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to take another look at the case, particularly the provisions about ANILCA exceptions. The unanimous decision of all eight justices declared the 9th Circuit had taken a “topsy-turvy” approach to the law when it said a National Park Service rule banning hovercraft in the Lower 48 must be applied to Alaska. It ordered the lower court to reconsider the issue in light of ANILCA, which created an “Alaska exception” to many of the normal rules applied to national parks, wilderness areas, refuges and other preserves. The lawsuit grew into a potential test of the legal precedents, named for the late Ahtna elder and litigant Katie John, which for two decades have provided the legal underpinning of federal subsistence fishing rights in Alaska. Federal rules give priority to rural subsistence families in times of shortage. The Supreme Court decision this week does not undermine the Katie John precedents, said Heather Kendall-Miller, an Anchorage-based attorney with the Native American Rights Fund who drew up a brief in the case for the Alaska Federation of Natives. “The Katie John cases remain the law of the land,” Kendall-Miller said. Just one footnote about halfway through the 46-page ruling makes the ruling’s precision clear: the Katie John provisions are “not at issue in this case, and we therefore do not disturb the Ninth Circuit’s holdings that the Park Service may regulate subsistence fishing on navigable waters.” AFN released a statement Tuesday congratulating Sturgeon on the ruling and saying the decision was also a victory for subsistence users. “This is good news for the Alaska Native community and for rural Alaskan subsistence users,” Kitka said in the statement. “Our Board previously approved two principles related to the case: private landowner’s access to - and use of - inholdings within conservation system units; and no net loss to subsistence rights. This ruling accomplishes both.” Alaska’s congressional delegation in 2015 submitted an amicus brief in support of Sturgeon. The delegation on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court decision as upholding “promises made to Alaskans in ANILCA” that the park service doesn’t have expansive rights over state and native lands. “During its inception, Senator Ted Stevens and I worked hard to make ANILCA fair to sportsmen, Native communities, and energy developers," Congressman Don Young wrote in a statement. "Our legislation was intentionally written so that the Alaskan people wouldn’t need to ask the Federal government for permission to use the lands they had been stewards of for generations." Young and Murkowski also praised the ruling for not disturbing the Katie John decision. Members of the state senate majority cheered the decision that the Nation River is state rather than federal land and navigable inside Alaska national parks. Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, also referenced the Taku and Stikine rivers in Southeast as “clearly navigable waters and the domain of the state, not the federal government.” The Supreme Court decision includes a concurring opinion from justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg recognizing the ruling raises uncertainty about the park service’s authority over navigable waters in Alaska’s parks. “Many of Alaska’s navigable rivers course directly through the heart of protected parks, monuments, and preserves.<doc-sep>(CNN) — The Supreme Court ruled in favor of an Alaska man who was barred by the National Park Service from using his hovercraft to hunt moose on a section of a river that runs through public land. John Sturgeon, with the support of Alaska, argued that the National Park Service did not have jurisdiction over the land. Alaska allows the use of hovercrafts. “That means Sturgeon can again rev up his hovercraft in search of moose,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote for a unanimous court. While the opinion is specific to Alaska, it signals support for states when it comes to control of waterways through public lands. Sturgeon argued that a federal law – the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act – stripped the Park Service of its authority to regulate the navigable water. His lawyers said the law was passed to balance a goal of protecting public lands with the needs of the “State of Alaska and its people” and specifies that the Park Service could not prohibit certain activities “of particular importance to Alaskans.”<doc-sep>WASHINGTON — An Alaska moose hunter can "rev up his hovercraft" in search of moose, the Supreme Court says. The court on Tuesday limited the National Park Service's authority to enforce laws and regulations on state-owned rivers in Alaska. Justices held unanimously that the Park Service can't enforce a ban on amphibious vehicles known as hovercrafts on rivers that run through national conservation areas there. The outcome was a victory for hunter John Sturgeon. Three park rangers ordered Sturgeon off the Nation River within the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in northeast Alaska. They told him it was illegal to operate the noisy craft that can navigate shallow water or even mud. Justice Elena Kagan said in her opinion that Sturgeon "can again rev up his hovercraft in search of moose."<doc-sep>This article has been updated. Find the most recent version here. WASHINGTON - An Alaska moose hunter can “rev up his hovercraft” in search of moose, the Supreme Court says. The court on Tuesday limited the National Park Service’s authority to enforce laws and regulations on state-owned rivers in Alaska. Justices held unanimously that the Park Service can’t enforce a ban on amphibious vehicles known as hovercrafts on rivers that run through national conservation areas. The outcome was a victory for hunter John Sturgeon. Three park rangers ordered Sturgeon off the Nation River within the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in northeast Alaska. They told him it was illegal to operate the noisy craft that can navigate shallow water or even mud. Justice Elena Kagan said in her opinion that Sturgeon “can again rev up his hovercraft in search of moose.”<doc-sep>

On March 26, 2019, the Supreme Court decided Sturgeon v. Frost, No. 17-949, holding that the federal government does not own a navigable water that traverses a national park in Alaska, so the water is not “public land” under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), 16 U.S.C. § 3101 et seq., and the National Park Service may not enforce a hovercraft ban on it. Through ANILCA, Congress preserved extensive amounts of federally owned Alaskan land for national parks and preserves. Congress designated the National Park System to oversee nearly half of this land, called “conservation system unit[s].” The National Park Service Organic Act (Organic Act), 54 U.S.C. § 100751 et seq., gives the Park Service broad authority to administer both lands and waters within all such units nationwide. Because some of the Alaskan units’ boundaries encompassed land owned by the state, Natives, or private parties, Congress specified that only those lands within each Alaskan unit that are “public lands . . . shall be deemed to be included as a portion of such unit.”16 U.S.C. § 3103(c). Congress defined “public lands” as “lands, waters, and interests therein” for which the U.S. holds title, except those that the federal government selects for future transfer to Alaska or Natives. After the Park Service told John Sturgeon, a moose hunter, that he may not use a hovercraft over the Nation River, a navigable water, within the boundaries of the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, an Alaskan unit, Sturgeon sued. Sturgeon contended that the federal government did not own the river so it was not “public land” and was, therefore, exempt from Park Service regulation under § 3103(c). The District Court and Ninth Circuit held that the Park Service could enforce its anti-hovercraft regulation, even if the river was not “public land,” because § 3103(c) limited the Park Service’s authority to impose only Alaska-specific regulations on non-public land within Alaskan units. The Supreme Court rejected that holding in 2016 and asked the Ninth Circuit to consider whether the river constitutes “public land” under ANILCA, and, if not, whether the Park Service nonetheless had authority to regulate Sturgeon’s use of the river. Sturgeon v. Frost, 577 U. S. ___ (2016). On remand, the Ninth Circuit held that the river was “public land.” Without reaching the second question, it again rejected Sturgeon’s claims. 872 F. 3d 927, 936 (2017). The Supreme Court granted certiorari. The Court held that no party, including the federal government, “owns” the river, and Alaska, not the federal government, owns the land beneath it. At most, the Court instructed, the federal government’s interest in the river is a “reserved water right―permitting the government to use its waters—whether by withdrawing or maintaining—for preservation purposes, despite lacking title. But, the Court concluded, even this title to a reserved water right would not provide authority under ANILCA for the Park Service’s hovercraft ban because the ban did not further the Park Service’s preservation interests. Because they were not at issue, the Court left undisturbed other Ninth Circuit holdings that “the Park Service may regulate subsistence fishing on navigable waters.” The Court then considered whether any other authority supported the Park Service’s hovercraft ban on the river. The Court acknowledged the Park Service’s clear right under the Organic Act to regulate this type of activity on navigable waters within conservation system units nationwide. But it held that ANILCA makes Alaska “the exception, not the rule” and precludes the Park Service from imposing a hovercraft ban on non-public land, including waters, in Alaska’s units. The Court observed, however, that the Park Service may regulate “public lands flanking rivers,” “enter into ‘cooperative agreements’ with the State (which holds the rivers’ submerged lands) to preserve the rivers themselves,” “propose that state or other federal agencies with appropriate jurisdiction undertake needed regulatory action on those rivers,” or “buy from Alaska the submerged lands of navigable waters―and then administer them as public lands” under § 3103(c). Justice Kagan announced the judgment of the Court. Justice Sotomayor filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Ginsburg joined. Download Opinion of the Court.

Cyclone Fani: There was damage to the roof of the Biju Patnaik International Airport as well The Biju Patnaik International Airport in Odisha capital Bhubaneswar became a victim of the monster winds of Cyclone Fani which battered Odisha today. Pictures shared by news agency ANI show extensive damage to the airport. Even parts of the hoarding of the name of the airport seemed to have been blown away. There was damage to the roof of the airport as well and the trees were affected too. Waterproof sheds had also come down in the deserted airport that has been shut down for the "extremely severe cyclone". All flights from Bhubaneswar had been cancelled from midnight as the cyclone was to make landfall today morning. Nearly 160 trains have been called and flights have been stopped from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. Fani has now gradually weakened and is moving towards Bengal. Flight operations will resume at 1pm tomorrow in Bhubaneswar. Strong winds and heavy rainfall damage Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha (ANI) Track updates: https://t.co/qJxe7YBWa3#CycloneFanipic.twitter.com/SMlODVxZMo - NDTV (@ndtv) May 3, 2019 Cyclone Fani pummeled through Bhubaneswar and Puri causing extreme damage to canopy and even buildings. The cyclone has claimed eight lives and injured over 160 in the state. A 250-foot crane crashed onto a building in the state and the hostel roof of AIIMS Bhubaneswar was ripped off due to gusty winds. Many people in Bhubaneswar went down to the streets; some said their houses were shaking. Bystanders reportedly saw tin roofs, car doors and even motorcycles being blown away as the worst storm in 20 years crossed the state. Over 11 lakh people have been evacuated in Odisha and hundreds of ambulances are on standby. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and disaster management agencies are also ready for an eventuality. Fani is the strongest cyclonic storm since the Super Cyclone of 1999, which left nearly 10,000 dead.<doc-sep>Rains and strong winds lashed Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and Bhadrak on Friday as the extremely severe Cyclone Fani made landfall in Puri hitting power supply and emptying streets. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of a storm surge of about 1.5 metres which may inundate low-lying coastal areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur districts at the time of landfall. The government said that 10,000 villages and 52 towns located in nine districts in Odisha will be affected. Follow LIVE updates here. The cyclonic storm is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross the Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, south of Puri during forenoon with maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph. The Odisha government has evacuated more than a million people from the vulnerable districts since Thursday. Also Read | Cyclone Fani makes landfall, 175 km/hr winds, rain batter Odisha’s Puri All shops were closed in state capital Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and Bhadrak towns the state. The streets were completely empty with no vehicle, except for a handful of private cars, plying. The sky was overcast on Friday as Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Bhadrak witnessed rain from Thursday night. The landfall process is very likely to continue till afternoon on Friday. The system is then very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards, weaken gradually and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal as a “severe cyclonic storm” by the early morning of May 4. It is very likely to move further north-northeastwards and emerge into Bangladesh on May 4 evening as a cyclonic storm. (With agency inputs)<doc-sep>Extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani with wind speed touching nearly 200 kmph that made landfall earlier on Friday on the eastern coast wreaking havoc in Odisha, will cross several districts in the state before advancing to neighbouring West Bengal. The India Meteorological Department have been issuing regular updates. Meanwhile, airports in Odisha and West Bengal have shutdown and situation is grave for flyers as many flights has been cancelled. Severe thunderstorm with intense rainfall and gale wind speed reaching 90 to 100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph likely to occur at a few places over the districts of Khorda (including Bhubaneswar), Kendrapada, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Balasore and Nayagadh during the same time. Already damages have been reported to houses. Thousands of trees and electricity poles have been uprooted under the impact of cyclonic storm that made landfall in Puri. Here are the latest updates of Cyclone Fani: --Three people were killed in separate incidents as cyclone Fani battered the Odisha coast today. --Cyclone Fani is weakening after barrelling into Odisha, K. J. Ramesh, Director General of the IMD, said. --As the severe cyclonic storm Fani made landfall in neighbouring Odisha, heavy rainfall lashed Kolkata and Gangetic West Bengal on Friday. --As a precaution against cyclone 'Fani', the Indian Railway has cancelled 223 trains in the Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section, along the coastal lines of Odisha on the Kolkata-Chennai route till May 4, officials said. --No flights to and from Kolkata airport between 3 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Saturday: DGCA. --As flights from Kolkata and Bhubaneswar airport have been cancelled due to cyclone Fani, several airlines have waived off cancellation charges. Air India said no penalties will be charged for "re-issuance, date change, no-show, cancellation and refund" if the passenger is travelling to and from Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam between May 3 and May 5. --About 10,000 villages and 52 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are likely to be affected by the cyclonic storm. --At least one million people have been evacuated in the last 24 hours from the vulnerable districts in Odisha --As Cyclone Fani heads towards the eastern coast, the Indian Coast Guard has positioned 34 disaster relief teams at different spots and deployed four ships to handle any exigency. -- As Cyclone Fani moves closer to the east coast, the West Bengal government on Thursday sounded alert in several coastal districts and the state capital Kolkata, asking the public to leave seaside destinations and directing fishermen to not venture into the sea. Schools have been ordered closed and people asked to move to safer places as the extremely severe cyclonic storm makes the landfall in Puri in Odisha Friday morning --All flights to and from Bhubaneswar have been cancelled for 24 hours starting midnight of 3 May in view of the impending severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' threat over the Bay of Bengal, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Thursday. --Cyclone Fani is expected to make a landfall on Friday morning in Odisha between 8 am and 10 am. The MET department said the cyclone will cross Odisha Coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, around Puri with maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kilometer per hour gusting to 200 kmph. Officials say Fani could be the worst storm since Phailin Cyclone that hit the Odisha coast in October 2013. Meanwhile, Paradip and Gopalpur ports have suspended their operations ahead of the cyclone landfall. “Due to cyclone Fani, Gopalpur port operation will stand suspended till conditions improve. Port operations will resume after an assessment," said a spokesperson of the Gopalpur Port. -- An estimated 10,000 villages and 52 towns in Odisha will be hit by the 'extremely severe' cyclonic storm 'Fani', which is approaching India's eastern coast and is expected to make landfall south of Puri on Friday, the home ministry said. A total of 11.5 lakh people in Odisha will have to be moved to safer areas. Of them about 3.3 lakh people have already been shifted. -- The railways cancelled at least 10 express/mail trains for Thursday night between Bengaluru/Mysuru in Karnataka and Puri and Bhubaneswar in Odisha, Howrah in West Bengal and Guwahati in Assam, in view of the impending cyclone Fani threat over the Bay of Bengal sea, an official said. — Sangram Mohapatra, spokesperson, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority said that the cyclone will make landfall between 12 noon and 2 pm tomorrow. It was earlier expected to be at 5:30 pm. All colleges & soft business establishments will be closed. — Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu requested all airlines to offer all assistance for rescue & relief operations in view of the cyclonic storm Fani. All relief material should be airlifted to be delivered to officially designated agencies. Control room being set up. — GoAir has cancelled its flights in and out from Bhubaneswar Airport for 03 May 2019. inconvenienced. GoAir is waiving cancellation and change fees for Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Ranchi flights for travel between 2-5 May 2019. Vistara and IndiGo have also issued travel advisories. Passengers are allowed to re-book their flights within 7 days of scheduled departure. — NASA's satellites Aqua and Terra tracked Tropical Cyclone Fani as it continued to move northward along the eastern coast of India. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Fani to continue moving north and intensify slightly as it moves over warm waters. Fani is expected to move to the north-northeast. — PM Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review preparedness for Cyclone Fani. The meeting was attended by Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the PM, Additional Principal Secretary to the PM, the Home Secretary and other senior officials from IMD, NDRF, NDMA & PMO. — The storm is likely to impact the coastal districts of Odisha, including Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Balasore. In West Bengal, it will affect East and West Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Jhargram districts and Kolkata. — Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said that all authorities concerned have been alerted to deal with cyclone Fani. "Alerted all concerned to be ready to deal with Cyclone Fani. Airport Authority of India issued alert to all coastal airports to ensure all precautions, SOPs (standard operating procedures) put in place immediately," Prabhu tweeted. — The Navy and the Coast Guard have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operation. Over 8 lakh people in the coastal districts are being evacuated, said officials. — More than 800 cyclone shelters, school and college buildings and other important structures are kept ready for the evacuees. — Railways has cancelled 81 trains so far in view of cyclone Fani. The railways said that it will grant full refund to passengers for the cancelled or diverted trains if the tickets are produced for cancellation within three days from scheduled date of journey. — Odisha governemnt has asked the health officials to not go on leave until May 15. All the schools and colleges are closed in the state. — National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has sent 50 teams across four coastal states, including Odisha. The NDRF has also put 32 teams equipped with boats, tree cutters, medical supplies, telecoms gear and other equipment on standby. "I think we are fully prepared," Satya Narayan Pradhan, NDRF director general, told state TV. — ONGC has evacuated close to 500 of its employees from offshore installations in the Bay of Bengal. Paradip port in Odisha and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh have been shut and ships have been ordered to move out to sea to avoid damage. The company has also moved drilling rigs to safer locations. — The India Meteorological Department forecasts Fani to make landfall along the Odisha coastline between Gopalpur and Chandbali on May 3 at hurricane-strength. IMD has warned that the high speed winds can uproot trees, flatten crops and damage homes, power and communication infrastructure. — The neighbouring coastal states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have also been put on high alert. With inputs from agencies Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now! ! Topics<doc-sep>

Update (2.00 PM): Cyclone Fani hit the Puri coast in Odisha on Friday morning around 8 am, with heavy rain and strong winds lashing Odisha and parts of Andhra Pradesh. A wind speed of 145 km per hour was recorded, according to the India Meteorology Department (IMD). Gale wind speed reaching 140-150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph is prevailing along and off Puri and Jagatsighpur districts of the Odisha coast. It is very likely to increase during the next six hours. Storm surge of about 1.5 metre height above astronomical tide likely to inundate the low-lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha. The situation is likely to continue till afternoon. Heavy rainfall has also been reported in Kolkata and the Gangetic West Bengal with Cyclone Fani hitting the Odisha coast on Friday morning. To tackle any emergency situation, six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed at Sankrail in Jhargram district, Narayangarh Block in west Medinipur, Ramnagar in East Medinipur, Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas, and Dhamakhali and Hasnabad in North 24 Parganas district. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has formed a team along with police and disaster management departments to monitor the measures being initiated. At 11.30 am, IMD said, Fani weakened into “very severe cyclonic storm” about 10 km east of Bhubaneswar and 30 km south of Cuttack. The weather department also said Fani would move “North + North-Eastwards” and weaken into “severe cyclonic storm” in the next six hours. Update (1.00 PM): The Indian Navy would conduct aerial surveys in the afternoon to assess the cyclone’s impact and ensuing damage using its P8I and Dornier aircraft. Various wildlife. Affected people have been moved to shelters across the states were they are supplied with essentials. Update (11.30 AM): Andhra Pradesh is also reeling under Fani’s pressure with people being forced to take refuge in a shelter in Ichchapuram town of Srikakulam district. According to reports, some houses were damaged in the rain and wind. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the cyclone’s influence will be prevalent in Srikakulam for next 12 hours. Update (11 AM): According to an ANI report, wind speeds in Puri have reached a maximum of 240-245 km per hour. Heavy to very heavy rains continue to pour along the Odisha coast. However, it is predicted that after Fani’s landfall, the impact is likely to reduce and the cyclone is likely to move towards West Bengal coast. The landfall began about three hours ago and cities like Puri are witnessing heavy storm.

Uber Freight — a smartphone app that links truck drivers to freight — will continue, the company said, noting that it remains one of Uber’s most promising businesses, one that has tripled in size in little more than a year. The company says it does not need to immediately develop self-driving trucks to remain a competitive force in the world of freight logistics.<doc-sep>Uber is shuttering its self-driving trucks unit, a beleaguered program borne out of the company’s controversial multi-million acquisition of Otto nearly two years ago. The company said Monday that Uber Advanced Technologies Group will stop development of self-driving trucks and instead focus its efforts on self-driving cars. “We recently took the important step of returning to public roads in Pittsburgh, and as we look to continue that momentum, we believe having our entire team’s energy and expertise focused on this effort is the best path forward,” Eric Meyhofer, head of Uber Advanced Technologies Group, said in an emailed statement. Uber Freight, a business unit that helps truck drivers connect with shipping companies, is unaffected by this decision. Uber Freight, which launched in May 2017, is designed for vetted and approved drivers, who can use it to find nearby available loads and see destination info, distance required and payment upfront. If the drivers like what they see, they can tap to book. Uber Freight, which started in three regions, is now available throughout the continental U.S. And it is considered a viable and promising business (and revenue opportunity) within the company. The business unit has expanded threefold in the past 15 months and has offices in San Francisco and Chicago. “Rather than having two groups working side by side, focused on different vehicle platforms, I want us instead collaborating as one team, according to an email reviewed by TechCrunch that was sent by Meyhofer to employees. “I know we’re all super proud of what the Trucks team has accomplished, and we continue to see the incredible promise of self-driving technology applied to moving freight across the country. But we believe delivering on self-driving for passenger applications first, and then bringing it to freight applications down the line, is the best path forward. For now, we need the focus of one team, with one clear objective.” Uber’s self-driving trucks unit is based in San Francisco, while the team dedicated to self-driving cars is located in Pittsburgh. Uber says it will pivot employees focused on self-driving trucks to other work that supports its ongoing development of self-driving technology. If there isn’t a comparable role, Uber will offer relocation to Pittsburgh or a separation package to support the transition. Uber ATG is going to continue to investigate approaches to highway driving using the car platform, and is going to keep its relationship with truck manufacturers intact. The company may return to self-driving trucks, but only after it has developed the foundation of the self-driving system. Uber ATG will continue its in-house development of light detection and ranging radar known as LiDAR. This technology, which would later be at the heart of a lawsuit between Uber and Waymo, measures distance using laser light to generate highly accurate 3D maps of the world around the car. Uber’s self-driving truck efforts have been plagued by controversy since its beginning. Uber bought Otto, the self-driving trucks startup founded by former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski and three others, including Lior Ron, who was head of product at Google Maps, in August 2016 for $680 million. (Later reports suggest the actual payout might have been as low as $220 million.) As part of the acquisition, Levandowski became head of Uber’s self-driving car research. Two months later, the company enjoyed a moment of glory that received a lot of media attention: a self-driving truck that drove 120 highway miles along a route in Colorado with a trailer full of Budweiser. But the buzz around the size of the Otto deal and its self-driving truck run in Colorado would soon be replaced with a different, more unwelcoming kind of attention. Nine months after the acquisition, Uber was embroiled in a trade secrets lawsuit with Waymo, the former Google self-driving project that spun out to become a business under Alphabet. Waymo accused Levandowski of hatching a plan to use trade secrets related to Waymo’s in-house development of LiDAR tech and use it to kickstart Otto and ultimately, Uber’s own self-driving technology program. The lawsuit, filed against Otto and its parent company Uber in February 2017, alleged patent infringement and stealing trade secrets. The lawsuit made a number of allegations specifically against Levandowski, including that he downloaded more than 14,000 confidential and proprietary files shortly before his resignation. Waymo contended that Otto and Uber were using key parts of its self-driving technology, specifically related to LiDAR. Uber would later fire Levandowski. However, the polarizing star engineer isn’t out of the self-driving trucks game just yet. TechCrunch uncovered that Levandowski was behind Kache.ai, a self-driving trucks company that is still in stealth mode. The case did go to trial in February 2018. Before a jury could weigh in, the two parties reached a settlement agreement. Uber agreed to not incorporate Waymo’s confidential information into their hardware and software. Uber also agreed to pay a financial settlement that includes 0.34 percent of Uber equity, per its Series G-1 round $72 billion valuation. In other words, Waymo got about $244.8 million in Uber equity. Uber ATG has had other existential struggles in recent months. The unit has suffered a number of departures. The other three Otto founders left, including Don Burnette, who, with Paz Eshel, formerly of Battery Ventures, in April founded an autonomous vehicle company called Kodiak Robotics. In March, and just six weeks after settling with Waymo, an Uber self-driving test vehicle was involved in a tragic fatal accident in Tempe, Ariz. Uber halted all of its autonomous vehicle operations March 19, the day after one of its vehicles struck and killed pedestrian Elaine Herzberg in the Phoenix suburb. Uber was testing its self-driving vehicles on public roads in Tempe, Ariz., where the accident occurred, as well as in Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto. Uber’s decision to shut down its self-driving trucks operation comes just a week after the company put its autonomous vehicles back on Pittsburgh’s city streets. For now, Uber’s modified self-driving Volvo XC90 vehicles will only be driven manually by humans and under a new set of safety standards that includes real-time monitoring of its test drivers and efforts to beef up simulation. This manual-first rollout is a step toward Uber’s ultimate goal to relaunch its autonomous vehicle testing program in Pittsburgh.<doc-sep>A partially self driving Uber semi truck at the Mcity autonomous vehicle testing facility in Ann Arbor Michigan, U.S., September 12, 2017. REUTERS/Joseph White (Reuters) - Uber [UBER.UL] will stop developing self-driving trucks that have been hauling cargo on U.S. highways, the ride-hailing company said on Monday, seeking to focus its autonomous-vehicle technology solely on cars. Through its acquisition of Otto in 2016, Uber had sought to disrupt freight hauling with self-driving trucks and Uber Freight, its smartphone app that connects truck drivers and shippers. Uber Freight, which has seen “rapid” growth, is unaffected by the decision, the company said. Trucking has been viewed by transportation experts as a natural application for self-driving technology because of the relative predictability of highways compared with busy city streets. Uber had unveiled plans earlier this year to integrate manual trucking with self-driving trucks by deploying the former for short hauls and the latter for longer distances. “We believe having our entire team’s energy and expertise focused on (self-driving cars) is the best path forward,” Eric Meyhofer, head of Uber Advanced Technologies Group, said in an emailed statement. San Francisco-based Uber faces competition from Silicon Valley companies including Tesla Inc TSLA.O and Alphabet Inc's GOOGL.O Waymo as well as traditional automakers such as Ford F.N and General Motors GM.N in the race to bring self-driving cars to the market. Uber said it will move employees working on self-driving trucks to other internal roles within autonomous vehicle development.<doc-sep>

Uber/Gregory Murphy Uber has put the brakes on its self-driving truck program. The company said Monday it's shutting down its self-driving truck program to focus building its own self-driving car technology. "We recently took the important step of returning to public roads in Pittsburgh, and as we look to continue that momentum, we believe having our entire team's energy and expertise focused on this effort is the best path forward," Eric Meyhofer, head of Uber Advanced Technologies Group, said in a statement. Uber is mostly known for its ride-hailing service, which matches passengers with drivers through a smartphone app. But over the last three years, it's ventured into driverless vehicles. Uber's idea was to have several transfer hubs around the county that would connect automated long-haul routes with drivers specializing in local hauls. The company had tested the trucks in Arizona and had begun to use its autonomous truck fleet to move freight across the state for multiple customers. The effort was born out of Uber's purchase in 2016 of Otto, a self-driving truck company founded by former Google star engineer Anthony Levandowski. But the acquisition led the startup to a legal battle with Waymo, Google's self-driving car effort, which accused Levandowski of stealing 14,000 "highly confidential" files before he left the company. In February, on the fourth day of a closely watched trial, the two announced a surprise settlement in which Uber would pay Waymo about $245 million. Waymo had sought $1.8 billion in damages. Uber ran into more trouble the next month when one of Uber's self-driving cars was involved in a fatal accident in Arizona involving a pedestrian, prompting the state's governor to suspend Uber's ability to test the cars on state roads. The decision doesn't affect Uber Freight, an app platform similar to its ride-hailing app that lets trucking companies and their drivers connect with shippers. This app is already being used in the trucking industry around the US, and Uber's autonomous semis will be available on this platform. CNET Magazine: Check out a sampling of the stories you'll find in CNET's newsstand edition. The Smartest Stuff: Innovators are thinking up new ways to make you -- and the world around you -- smarter.

The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get our LFC newsletter for the best Reds coverage Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Mohamed Salah has been blasted for a "pretty embarrassing" dive during Liverpool's win over Crystal Palace on Saturday. Salah went to ground inside the area under the slightest of touches from former Reds defender Mamadou Sakho during the first half of the Reds' thrilling 4-3 triumph at Anfield. Palace's players were incensed with Luka Milivojevic confronting the Egyptian before the pair were separated. Salah, who went on to score twice in the match, has won three penalties in recent weeks against Newcastle United, Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion, all of which he has converted. But former Newcastle forward Alan Shearer was not impressed with his latest claim for a spot kick. "We have to mention this," Shearer said, speaking on BBC One's Match of the Day. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now "I think he got away with one against Newcastle, but that is a dive. "He feels a bit of contact and then realises it a second or too later, and then goes down, and it is a dive. Follow all the reaction to Liverpool's win and the latest transfer news here Subscribe to the Liverpool ECHO YouTube Channel HERE "Pretty embarrassing really and not good at all to see that. "You can see the Palace players are going absolutely berserk and rightly so. They accuse him of diving and they are right."<doc-sep>Mohamed Salah is one of the best players in the Premier League - a wonderfully gifted goalscorer whose efforts could well end up ending his club's long wait for a title. But there is a less savoury side to his football which is in danger of spoiling his reputation - the tendency to collapse to the ground at the slightest of contact in the penalty area. There have been some close calls in recent weeks, with Salah earning penalties against Newcastle and Brighton, but against Crystal Palace on Saturday there was simply no doubt that he dived after Mamadou Sakho flicked out a leg in the box. Regardless of whether there was a tiny bit of contact, one of the factors in determining an act of simulation is the exaggeration used in the reaction, and nobody would dispute that Salah's fall - and the delay which preceded it - was out of proportion to whatever contact there might have been. He should have been booked for simulation, and I'm disappointed the referee, Jon Moss, failed to take action. One of the important tasks a referee manager has is to raise the awareness of this type of offence.<doc-sep>As usual, there was plenty of drama in the 3:00pm kick-offs in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Mo Salah was accused of diving again, Paul Pogba celebrated the birth of his first child with the archetypal 'footballer has child' celebration, and fans at Anfield paid tribute to legendary Liverpool boss Bob Paisley. Sportsmail were on hand to sweep up anything you might have missed... Pogba pulls out the classic baby celebration The modern footballer as a couple of options when simultaneously celebrating the birth of a child and a goal. The sucking of the thumb is a popular one, as is the ball under the shirt for a pregnant other half, but Paul Pogba opted for the classic 'rocking the baby' action. The Frenchman's partner Maria Salaues gave birth to a baby boy recently and fatherhood is doing wonders for Pogba's form, as is the lack of Jose Mourinho in the dugout. Paul Pogba performed the classic 'baby rocking' celebration after scoring his penalty Salah accused of diving Another week, another Mo Salah diving controversy. The Egyptian has largely been hard done by with claims of blatant cheating but fair or otherwise, the reputation is beginning to precede him. Against Crystal Palace in Liverpool's 4-3 win, the forward was involved in a tangle in the box and appeared to fall unnaturally, although it must be said there seemed to be contact. Mamadou Sakho swung a leg at Salah before he went down a moment later. And Luka Milivojevic was seen yelling at Salah after the incident, clearly feeling he'd simulated the contact. Make your own mind up below.. Salah went down in the box under a challenge from former Liverpool man Mamadou Sakho The Egyptian went to ground and was then accused of diving by the visitors Another 10/10 dive from Salah pic.twitter.com/dJNaOtc75W — Jonny (@Gooner_AFC) January 19, 2019 Bob Paisley mosaic on 100 year anniversary of birth To mark the 100th year of legendary manager Bob Paisley's birth, supporters held up a mosaic at Anfield, reading: 'Paisley 100'. The understated former manager led the Reds through an unprecedented period of success as assistant manager between 1959–1975 and then manager until 1983. Spending almost half a century at the club and winning an average of 2.2 honours per season during his tenure, he will forever be remembered as a managerial great. The Liverpool supporters produced this mosaic in tribute to legendary boss Bob Paisley Incredible strike rate from Palace This stat is a pretty extraordinary one. Crystal Palace have had six shots on target in total against Manchester City and Liverpool. They scored with each one. In the City game the Eagles went on to win 3-2. Against Liverpool's miserly defence they managed three goals from three shots on target but still came up short. Roy Hodgson will desperately hoping his team can keep up that kind of clinical edge in front of goal against the so called lesser sides. Andros Townsend scored one of Crystal Palace's three goals from three shots at Anfield Against Manchester City the Eagles also scored with every shot on target they had Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gets hug from Klopp The Jurgen Klopp hug has been used as an example of modern day management at it's best, it's been ridiculed by opposition fans and almost taken on a folkloric quality. It was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the German's embrace at Anfield on Saturday. The England midfielder is still recovering from his horrific knee injury suffered in the Champions League against Roma last season. He is on schedule to return to training at the end of February. Jurgen Klopp offered a hug to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who is coming back from injury A landmark for Salah There has rightly been a constant stream of effusive praise for Salah since he joined Liverpool. The 26-year-old has devastated opposition defences and become one of the most dangerous attacking players in world football. Salah's Premier League goal-scoring stats speak for themselves. He scored his 50th in the competition against Palace in just his 72nd game. Only the three players have done it quicker. Have a guess who, if you can't work it out, the answer is below in large font. Mo Salah's strike rate in reaching 50 goals in the Premier League has been outstanding Full English? More like empty English There were plenty of stars on show at the Emirates Stadium. Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eden Hazard. But some eagle-eyed viewers noticed that no English players started the match. This was in fact the first time that no Englishman has started a Premier League game between Arsenal and Chelsea. This was the first time that no Englishman started a Premier League game between the sides Will you stop shooting? Chelsea fans on social media were tired of their players shooting from long-range. Willian's shot in the second half emphasised why they were so annoyed with their hopeful efforts. The Brazil international cut inside before blasting the ball out for a throw-in. Chelsea fans on social media were tired of their players shooting from long-range Willian's shot in the second half emphasised why they were so annoyed with their efforts The Brazil international cut inside before blasting the ball out for a throw-in against Arsenal Stalwart Koscielny Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny missed nearly 200 days of action after injuring his achilles tendon in May. The French centre-back doubled Arsenal's advantage just before the break with a header that deflected in off his own shoulder. Koscielny has now scored in each of his nine seasons in the Premier League and is the first Arsenal defender to net 20 goals in the competition.<doc-sep>

Milivojevic confronted Salah about diving (Picture: Getty) Mohamed Salah’s dive against Crystal Palace was ’embarrassing’, according to Alan Shearer. Mamadou Sakho and Luka Milivojevic reacted furiously to Salah going down in the box in the first half, and angrily accused the forward of diving. Salah has faced accusations of diving in recent weeks after winning penalties against Brighton, Newcastle and Arsenal. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Egyptian scored a critical double in the 4-3 victory over Palace, but Premier League legend Shearer blasted Salah for simulation. ‘We have to mention this, I think he got away with one against Newcastle, but that is a dive,’ Shearer said on the BBC. ‘He feels a bit of contact and then realises it a second or too later, and then goes down, and it is a dive. Salah did not win the penalty (Picture: Reuters) ‘Pretty embarrassing really and not good at all to see that. ‘You can see the Palace players are going absolutely berserk and rightly so. They accuse him of diving and they are right.’ Salah was not booked for diving by the referee Jonathan Moss and the league does have the power to retrospectively ban the Liverpool star. Despite the controversy, Salah enjoyed another superb game as he scored two and helped Liverpool go seven points clear at the top of the table. Salah scored his 50th Premier League goal in the thrilling encounter and it is up to Manchester City to cut the gap against Huddersfield on Sunday. MORE : Liverpool ace Virgil van Dijk reveals what Jurgen Klopp told him about his huge transfer fee

Advertisement Every year, the BRITs after-parties are some of the wildest events in the award season calendar. And yet again, the stars were out in force as they attended all the top bashes - with Perrie Edwards leading the way with a risqué departure as she struggled to contain her assets while she was joined by Lily Allen and Louise Redknapp on Tuesday evening among the crème de la crème of the music and showbiz world. The Little Mix songstress looked stunning in an olive green suit yet her choice to go braless meant she struggled to contain her assets while Lily slipped into lingerie for her second outfit of the night, as the stars headed out of the top three after parties - hosted by Sony, Universal and Warner. All the stars: Perrie Edwards leading the way with a risqué departure as she struggled to contain her assets while she was joined by Lily Allen and Louise Redknapp on Tuesday evening among the crème de la crème of the music and showbiz world Following her appearance with Little Mix earlier in the evening, Perrie was ready to let her hair down at the Sony Music After Party at aqua shard as she was joined by her footballer beau Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Sony Music UK Chairman Jason Iley was joined by artists and executives from across the industry, who partied into the early hours at the record label’s elite bash. The blonde beauty wowed in the olive mini dress yet as she climbed into her car after the night on the town she struggled to keep her ensemble together as she clutched her front. Louise seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the revelry of the night as she put on a bleary-eyed display and allowed her previously coiffed tresses to tumble loosely while her eyes seemed blurred. Lily injected some saucy elements into the Warner Music after party at the Chiltern Firehouse as she changed not only her outfit but also her hair from her red carpet look earlier in the night. Oliving it large! Following her appearance with Little Mix earlier in the evening, Perrie was ready to let her hair down as she was joined by her footballer beau Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the aqua shard bash while sizzling in her ensemble Eek! Louise seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the revelry of the night as she put on a bleary-eyed display and allowed her previously coiffed tresses to tumble loosely while her eyes seemed blurred Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed: Louise was slightly dishevelled upon departure but still looked sensational Dua Lipa was looking sensational for her evening yet she seemed to have overindulged slightly as she too made a bleary-eyed departure while hopping between all the top parties. She was dressed to impress in a feathered coat layered over a bejewelled bra and paired with tracksuit bottoms in a bizarre yet incredibly chic addition to the ensemble. Despite her sleek arrival in a sizzling white gown, Emily Atack's tresses grew increasingly more wild following her glam appearance at the Universal Music bash, sponsored by BACARDÍ Rum and co-hosted with Soho House. Oh my! Lily injected some saucy elements into the Warner Music after party at the Chiltern Firehouse as she changed not only her outfit but also her hair from her red carpet look earlier in the night Wow! Lily left very little to the imagination as her feathered, beaded and sheer dress failed to cover her bust at the Warner Music & CIROC Vodka House Party, in association with GQ, at Chiltern Firehouse A hairy situation: Lily went from raven haired and boho on the red carpet to blonde and lingerie clad later on Perhaps the most hilarious and problematic of the departures was Caroline Flack, who suffered an epic wardrobe malfunction when her strappy sandals popped and were forced to be taped up with electric tape. The Love Island host could not stop laughing as she headed out of the bash, having shared on Instagram that she was having her feet taped up due to the woeful mess-up. Despite her plight, she still looked stunning in her plunging dress and embroidered coat as she strutted down the street in style while looking coiffed and elegant with her hair and make-up flawless. Incredible: Dua Lipa looked stunning as she sported a bejewelled bra with a feathered top and tracksuit bottoms Off we pop: She was dressed to impress in a feathered coat layered over a bejewelled bra and paired with tracksuit bottoms in a bizarre yet incredibly chic addition to the ensemble Oops! Perhaps the most hilarious and problematic of the departures was Caroline Flack, who suffered an epic wardrobe malfunction when her strappy sandals popped and were forced to be taped up with electric tape Shocker: The Love Island host could not stop laughing as she headed out of the bash, having shared on Instagram that she was having her feet taped up due to the woeful mess-up Pink Lady: The stunner was strutting her stuff in her silk slip dress when she changed for the Warner after party later on Blonde bombshell: Despite her sleek arrival in a sizzling white gown, Emily Atack's tresses grew increasingly more wild following her glam appearance at the Universal Music bash Stunner: Nicola Roberts was a vision as she showed off her alabaster complexion in a typically kooky ensemble All white? Winnie Harlow looked sensational in a white mini dress with zips extending along the hips Legs eleven: The stunner pinned her hair back with grips and wore dazzling heels Maya Jama was beaming at passersby as she departed the bash in style. Love Island beauty Megan Barton Hanson proved she is climbing the slippy showbiz ladder as she rubbed shoulders with the stars at the glitzy bash, while sporting a smouldering leopard print slip dress. Paloma Faith went for a kooky ensemble as ever as she strutted out in style in a pleated pink jumpsuit with metallic detailing while she clutched a Mickey Mouse handbag and wore a pink hairband. The hottest stars in music headed to London's 02 arena in North Greenwich on Wednesday night in celebration of the 2019 Brit Awards. The evening, hosted by Jack Whitehall for the second year in a row, saw P!nk, 39, honoured for her career with the Outstanding Contribution To Music prize. Collecting the most awards was The 1975 with British Album of the Year for A Brief Inquiry into Online and British Group. Calvin Harris also won two awards, collecting the gong for Best Producer and British Single for One Kiss with Dua Lipa. Stunner: Paloma Faith went for a kooky ensemble as ever as she strutted out in style in a pleated pink jumpsuit with metallic detailing while she clutched a Mickey Mouse handbag and wore a pink hairband Woah Maya! Maya Jama was feeling playful as she waved at passersby after the Universal Music BRITS 2019 After Party co-hosted with Soho House City Hotel Stunning: Perrie's bandmates Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall put on racy displays - with the former needing an aide to pull down her mini skirt to protect her modesty Sizzling: Love Island beauty Megan Barton Hanson proved she is climbing the slippy showbiz ladder as she rubbed shoulders with the stars at the glitzy bash, while sporting a smouldering leopard print slip dress What a difference a night makes! Jess Glynne went from elegant in silk with slicked tresses to racy and animated in a tiny black mini dress with her hair in a volumunious do Last year she took home two prizes; British Female and British Breakthrough Artist. Little Mix, Sam Smith, George Ezra, Calvin Harris, The 1975 and Rag 'N' Bone Man all took to the stage on the biggest night in British music. But the evening kicked off with a special performance from Hollywood star Hugh Jackman in celebration of The Greatest Showman. Host Jack Whitehall joined him for the spectacular entrance before leaving viewers in stitches with his scathing one-liners throughout the show. He said of hosting the ceremony once again: 'What am I looking forward to most about hosting the BRITs?<doc-sep>She looked every inch the siren as she sizzled in a strapless sheer sapphire fishtail gown at the 2019 BRIT Awards on Wednesday evening, held at the O2 Arena. And Demi Rose maintained her typically racy fashion sense as she and Love Island's Kaz Crossley attended the Beats by Dr. Dre afterparty in London later that evening. The model, 23, set pulses racing as she slipped her famously ample assets into a black latex dress, complete with a perilously plunging neckline at the event sponsored by CÎROC vodka. Wow-factor! Demi Rose and Kaz Crossley sizzled in latex as they attended the Beats by Dr. Dre afterparty following the BRIT Awards in London on Wednesday evening Commanding attention, the social media star boosted her physique in a pair of gold ankle-strap heels. The bombshell ensured focus remained on her scanty outfit as she kept accessories to a minimum while toting a lace-embroidered handbag. Taking inspiration from the 60s, Demi oozed Old Hollywood glamour as she styled her tresses into soft waves. She's got it! The model, 23, set pulses racing as she slipped her famously ample assets into a black latex dress, complete with a perilously plunging neckline at the event sponsored by CÎROC vodka Outfit change: Demi looked every inch the siren as she sizzled in a strapless sheer sapphire fishtail gown at the ceremony earlier that night, held at the O2 Arena Standing tall: Commanding attention, the social media star boosted her physique in a pair of gold ankle-strap heels She intensified her beauty with gold-toned make-up, featuring shimmery eyeshadow, heavy strokes of bronzer and lipgloss. Meanwhile, Love Island star Kaz, 24, showed her ex Josh Denzel what he's missing as she accentuated her killer physique into a hot pink PVC dress. Enhancing her petite frame, the TV personality wore perspex heels and injected even more colour into her look with an iridescent square-framed handbag. All in the details: The bombshell ensured focus remained on her scanty outfit as she kept accessories to a minimum while toting a lace-embroidered handbag Radiant: Taking inspiration from the 60s, Demi oozed Old Hollywood glamour as she styled her tresses into soft waves Stunning: She intensified her beauty with gold-toned make-up, featuring shimmery eyeshadow, heavy strokes of bronzer and lipgloss Showing off: The pair posed up a storm for the cameras as they made their way into the swanky bash South London native Kaz added a touch of pazzazz into her appearance with mini gold hooped earrings, which worked well with her tanned complexion. She wore her shoulder-length tresses in loose curls and complemented her striking features with fluttery false lashes, bronzed eyeshadow and a slick of nude lipgloss for a plump pout. The pair posed up a storm for the cameras as they made their way into the swanky bash. Turning heads: Meanwhile, Love Island star Kaz, 24, showed her ex Josh Denzel what he's missing as she accentuated her killer physique into a hot pink PVC dress Catching the eye: Enhancing her petite frame, the TV personality wore perspex heels and injected even more colour into her look with an iridescent square-framed handbag Glamour: South London native Kaz added a touch of pazzazz into her appearance with mini gold hooped earrings, which worked well with her tanned complexion Bouncy: She turned heads as she styled her shoulder-length tresses into loose curls Commanding attention: She covered up slightly in a pink fluffy cropped jacket Demi is a huge star on Instagram after she garnered the attention of 8,400,000 followers on social media because of her saucy snaps. The Instagram sensation uses social media to document her risqué outfits and her sun-drenched bikini snaps from her enviable trips abroad. Recently, the curvy star insisted that 'genes, a hell of a lot of hard work and dedication in the gym' were the key to her generous derriere. Make-up look: Kaz complemented her striking features with fluttery false lashes, bronzed eyeshadow and a slick of nude lipgloss for a plump pout Beaming: Naughty Boy was in great spirits as he took to the red carpet Daring: Model Victoria Clay flashed some serious underboob in a black fishtail dress with a sizzling cut-out detail around her cleavage region Demi's gruelling workout routine includes the likes of hip thrusts, partial squats and jumping lunges while her meals focus on eggs, fish, vegetables and nuts. In September, she told MailOnline: 'I try to keep as healthy as I can. With travelling, it's hard to work out, I travel across the world but try to keep my routine. 'Everyone says I'm the healthiest person they know. The fattiest thing I will ever eat is nuts and peanut butter.'<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 The 44-year-old former Eternal singer was snapped leaving the Warner Music and CIROC party following the BRIT Awards 2019. Louise Redknapp appeared to be struggling slightly as she squinted while making her way out of celebrity hotspot Chiltern Firehouse. Looking somewhat dishevelled, she accidentally exposed a hint of sideboob in her black mini dress, which boasted a pussybow tie and a slashed neckline. Earlier in the night, the popstar was snapped looking the picture of elegance as she took to the red carpet before the ceremony. Emily Atack in BRITs gaffe before nearly bumping into Louise Redknapp Louise Redknapp parties after crossing paths with Emily Atack at BRITS She was dressed in a chic black number which skimmed her thighs and clung to her slender physique. The dress had long puff sleeves and she finished the look with black stiletto court shoes with silver toes. She highlighted her natural beauty with dark eye make-up and nude pink lipstick, styling her mane of golden locks into a dramatic single platt with a few strands left lose to frame her face. Elsewhere, Louise Redknapp narrowly avoided bumping into Emily Atack after her comments about Jamie at the star-studded bash. Both stars were pictured posing for photographers on the red carpet, after The Inbetweeners actress, 29, made a play for Louise’s ex-husband during her stint on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Emily Atack, who lost her ticket to the BRITs 2019 earlier in the evening, turned heads at the event in a figure-hugging white gown.<doc-sep>

The BRIT Awards was just the warm-up for the lavish after-parties that came to life across London, following the star-studded ceremony at the O2 Arena. After the stars of TV and music undertook a quick change, they were out in force to celebrate the 39th BRITs, with a number of celebs sparkling in the February night. Little Mix celebrated their video win in style at the Sony bash and looked suitably worse for wear as they all took separate taxis back to their hotels. Perrie Edwards looked amazing in her third outfit change of the evening while band-mate Jade Thirwall could barely keep her eyes open. (Image: CURLEY) (Image: CURLEY) Love Island star Megan Barton-Hanson was looking confident as she went solo at Sony's party at the Shard. Wearing a silk leopard-print dress, the 24-year-old model was the picture of happiness. (Image: CURLEY) (Image: Will/GoffPhotos.com) (Image: CURLEY) (Image: WENN.com) The leopard-skin may have been more appropriate on self-confessed 'cougar' Caroline Flack, who has admitted she has a penchant for younger men. Caroline opted for a pink silk gown instead for the Warner Music & CIROC Vodka House Party at Chiltern Firehouse, which was brave on a winter's night. (Image: CURLEY) (Image: Old Boy's Club / BACKGRID) (Image: Beretta/Sims/REX/Shutterstock) (Image: Richard Young/REX/Shutterstock) (Image: Getty) Louise Redknapp was also enjoying the hospitality there while Paloma Faith and Emily Atack partied the night away at Britain's tallest building, alongside Megan. Dua Lipa went for less is more as she matched her minimalistic outfit with a feathery frills. (Image: (Credit too long, see caption)) (Image: (Credit too long, see caption)) (Image: Phil Lewis/WENN.com) I'm A Celebrity campmate and Inbetweeners star Emily Atack was a picture in white, but however angelic she may have been feeling, she was no doubt pleased to not be at the same party as Louise Redknapp, after her public chasing of her ex-husband Jamie. Paloma Faith continued her quirky party style with a flowery creation that was only undone on the quirkiness scale by Abbey Clancy's shiny black dress. (Image: Nic Serpell-Rand/REX/Shutterstock) (Image: Nic Serpell-Rand/REX/Shutterstock) (Image: Nic Serpell-Rand/REX/Shutterstock) Little Mix celebrated their BRITs gong by heading out with their partners in tow. Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwell were joined by their boyfriends Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andre Gray and Jed Elliott respectively. (Image: Greg Brennan) It may have seemed that one noticeable absentee was their bandmate Jesy Nelson, who may have decided the single life was no place for after-parties but she sneaked in to enjoy all that was on offer. Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033.

It's matchday once again as Everton are ready to take part in their latest pre-season friendly against Blackburn! Following a defeat on penalties to Lille and a 1-0 loss to Porto in the Algarve Cup over the weekend, the Blues will travel to Ewood Park look for their second win this summer. Marco Silva could be in line to welcome a number of players back into the squad for tonight's game, including World Cup stars Gylfi Sigurdsson and Idrissa Gueye. However, all eyes will potentially be on new £40m signing Richarlison , who is expected to travel with the squad and could play some part for the first time in an Everton shirt. We'll have all the very latest updates, reaction and analysis from our man Phil Kirkbride at Ewood Park, with Adam Jones and Paul Gorst back at ECHO HQ in Liverpool City Centre.<doc-sep>Everton were absolutely dire again today, and new manager Marco Silva should be very concerned on two fronts - one goal scored in four games, and the poor quality of all the goals conceded. The Blues found themselves 2-0 down to the hosts after two terrible defensive lapses. It’ll come as no surprise to fans that the centrehalf pairing of Ashley Williams and Matthew Pennington were utterly horrendous and Silva surely knows that now too. Despite a better start to the second half, the Blues didn’t take any of the half-chances they created before captain Phil Jagielka was easily brushed aside and the Rovers scored their third. Michael Keane for his part was equally terrible today too. However, Richarlison caught the eye early, applying himself all over the pitch, going into tackles bravely and distributing it well. He even tried a naughty shot from a tight spot, dinking the ball over the angle as well as getting on the end of a number of crosses but had no luck. Confine this one to the dustbin, but with five preseason friendlies done, Silva’s task for the new Premier League season seems monumental.<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. Everton are playing Blackburn in a pre-season friendly at Ewood Park. Manager Marco Silva is seeking to understand his squad better ahead of the new season. And fans who were not at the game were dealt a blow when the live stream went down. Everton tweeted: “A power outage at one of our streaming suppliers is effecting tonight's live stream. “It's being worked on and we hope to have it back very soon. Apologies for the inconvenience.” Rovers had been 1-0 up at the time thanks to Darragh Lenihan’s 10th-minute header.<doc-sep>Everton fall to a third successive pre-season defeat courtesy of a 3-0 loss at the hands of Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers. Everton have fallen to a third successive pre-season defeat courtesy of a 3-0 loss at the hands of Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park this evening. Darragh Lenihan and Dominic Samuel gave the newly-promoted Championship side a two-goal lead heading into half time, and despite Everton introducing £50m signing Richarlison for his debut, they could not find a route back into the match. Bradley Dack sealed the result once and for all with a third goal 21 minutes from time, leaving new Everton boss Marco Silva now without a win in four pre-season matches since their 22-0 triumph over Austrian minnows Irdning. © Reuters The game got off to a quick start with chances at both ends, but Dack fired narrowly wide having been set up by Lenihan and Danny Graham before Tom Davies also missed the target for the Toffees moments later. The opening goal arrived after only 10 minutes, though, when a short corner was clipped into the box by Richard Smallwood, allowing Lenihan to loop his header over Maarten Stekelenburg and into the far corner. Blackburn continued to put the pressure on their Premier League opponents as the first half wore on, with Elliott Bennett seeing one effort blocked by Ashley Williams before Dack and Samuel both failed to hit the target on the half-hour mark. Everton took a while to respond, but they created their best chance of the first half in the 37th minute when Davies threaded a ball through for Gylfi Sigurdsson, who could only scuff his effort into the grateful arms of David Raya. It proved to be a costly miss for the Toffees as Blackburn doubled their lead just three minutes later, with Dack the creator as he drove into the box and pulled the ball back for Samuel, who slammed his finish past Stekelenburg from 10 yards. The hosts took a deserved lead into the break and remained unchanged at the interval, whereas Silva made nine outfield subs, including a first appearance in blue for summer signing Richarlison. © Reuters The changes appeared to initially have the desired effect for the visitors too, with only a fine save from Raya denying Cenk Tosun from six yards out before Michael Keane missed the target with a headed effort of his own. Blackburn continued to pose a threat themselves, though, and Bennett forced Stekelenburg into a save before both Lenihan and Dack came close in quick succession shortly after the hour mark. Dack would not be denied with a little over 20 minutes remaining as he raced on to a loose ball inside the area before finishing past Stekelenburg to all but wrap up the result. Everton had a number of late chances to reduce the deficit and at least give themselves a consolation goal, but Tosun wasted the best of them by planting another close-range header wide before Nikola Vlasic and Richarlison both also failed to hit the target. Blackburn ultimately held on to their three-goal lead - and even had a chance to extend it late on when Stekelenburg kept out another Lenihan header - making it back-to-back pre-season wins with just one friendly left before the start of the new Championship campaign. Everton, meanwhile, will still face Rennes and Valencia before getting their Premier League season underway against newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers. BLACKBURN: Raya; Nyambe, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Bell; Evans (Travis 83'), Smallwood, Bennett, Dack, Samuel; Graham EVERTON: Stekelenburg; Kenny (Coleman 46') Robinson (Baines 46'), Williams (Keane 46'), Pennington (Jagielka 46'); Besic (Gueye 46'), Davies (Schneiderlin 46'), Sigurdsson (Dowell 46'); Sandro (Vlasic 79'), Niasse (Richarlison 46'), Mirallas (Tosun 46')<doc-sep>

Everton suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Championship side Blackburn Rovers in their latest pre-season game. Here, Phil Kirkbride gives his verdict on how Marco Silva’s men performed . Stekelenburg 5 One of the parties at fault for Blackburn’s opener. Distribution also erratic. Merely keeping the place warm for Jordan Pickford . Kenny 6 Tried to make things happen down the right but struggled to find rhythm. Pennington 6 Given another opportunity to impress but hasn’t yet shown he can force his way into Silva’s thinking. Williams 5 The other player culpable for the goal as both he and Stekelenburg left it for each other. That, or both thought it was going wide. It wasn’t. (Image: Getty Images Europe) Robinson 6 Like Kenny, endeavoured to make things happen down his flank. Davies 6 Had to work hard to stem the flow of midfielders from deep. Booked just past the half hour mark. Besic 5 Had a poor half. Saw a series of passes intercepted in the middle of the pitch. Sigurdsson 6 Pressed in a way that will please Silva - and how the rest of his team-mates should. But otherwise a quiet return to pre-season. Had Everton’s best sight of goal but failed to make proper contact. Mirallas 5 Also easy to forget he was playing for most of a poor opening 45 from Everton. Niasse 5 Starved of service. Coleman 8 A real threat down the right hand side and solid in defence Jagielka 6 No getting away from the fact Dack barged him off the ball with worrying ease for Blackburn’s third. Keane 7 Solid, minimal fuss performance from Keane. Baines 7 Linked up well with Richarlison, as he did Lookman in Austria, and looks refreshed to be playing with someone comfortable on the left. Gueye 6 Came flying out of the blocks on his return to Everton action but his influence faded a little after that even though it was clear he improved the Blues’ midfield. Schneiderlin 7 Has the ability and class to prosper under Silva but is currently showing it inconsistently. Shown he can inject the tempo the manager wants in Everton’s passing but we need to see more. Sandro 5 Didn’t improve on his first-half performance. Unless something drastic changes, expect the Spaniard to have left by August 31. Dowell 6 With Sigurdsson now back and, surely, first choice Dowell needed to show he can influence games in order to give Silva food for thought. Came off having not really achieved that. Richarlison 7 Encouraging debut from the Brazilian who showed flashes of what he will bring to this Everton side. Twice came close to scoring Tosun 6 Looked to have pulled one back with a header soon after coming on but was denied by a fine save by Raya. Working harder off the ball and looks fit but needs service to thrive. Sent another header over late on. Subs Vlasic (on for Sandro ‘78) 6 Neat and tidy but nothing more in his cameo.

Eric Gay/Associated Press Stephen Curry is arguably the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history, but not even he is supposed to have range that extends to 61 feet. So much for that. The Golden State Warriors guard drilled a 61-foot buzzer-beater at the end of the first quarter of Monday's 111-105 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Nick Friedell of ESPN.com cited ESPN Stats & Information and noted it was the longest shot an NBA player has hit during a game this season. Video Play Button McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer" Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear 29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes Right Arrow Icon "I might be delusional, but every time I shoot it, I feel like it's going in," Curry said, per Friedell. "You kind of know right away whether it has a chance or not. Some of them are in and out, it's close, whatever. That one felt great, I was running after [it]. A cool way to end the quarter, I just wish we had gotten the win, too." Curry knows the feeling. As Friedell pointed out, he connected on a 62-foot shot in the playoffs earlier in his career. Unfortunately for the Warriors, he struggled with his shooting outside of the heave and finished 6-of-18 from three-point range in the loss. He challenged for a triple-double with 25 points, eight assists and seven rebounds but never established a rhythm from outside as the two-time defending champions were in comeback mode for much of the second half. San Antonio extended its winning streak to nine games behind impressive performances from LaMarcus Aldridge (23 points and 13 rebounds) and DeMar DeRozan (26 points, nine rebounds and eight assists). As for Curry and the Warriors, they are now tied with the Denver Nuggets atop the Western Conference standings.<doc-sep>By now we all know Steph Curry has some serious range. But what he did Monday against the San Antonio Spurs was pretty ridiculous, even for him. Because the two-time NBA MVP and three-time NBA champ let one fly from 75-feet at the end of the first quarter in San Antonio and banked it in for a 61-foot 3-pointer. Check it out: Unreal.<doc-sep>In a loss to San Antonio, the Golden State Warriors guard converted from beyond half court for the fifth time in his career. He is now tied with Zach Randolph with the most shots from such distance in the last 20 years. Though the Golden State Warriors suffered a six-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, Stephen Curry still found a way to have the highlight of the night. The All-Star guard ended the first quarter with a triple from the opposite 3-point line that stunned the crowd. Takeaways: Spurs beat Warriors, extend win streak to nine games It's far from a surprise, as we all know that Steph is no stranger to long-distance shots thanks to his seemingly unlimited range. In fact, with the shot on Monday, the two-time MVP has now sunk five shots from behind half-court in his career (according to Basketball-Reference data). The others? On Jan. 28, 2017, to end the first half against the LA Clippers, Curry knocked down a heave from 51-feet out. On March 9, 2016 he did it against the Utah Jazz, hitting from 54-feet out. On Jan. 22, 2016, Curry closed the first half against Indiana Pacers from 48-feet out. The longest shot of Curry's career came in the postseason against the Memphis Grizzlies. In Memphis, he ended the third quarter with a shot from 62-feet. Unique Company https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/7d/c3/zach-randolph_1s08recpu0ulj19big4qw1b7dw.jpg?t=-1772644983&w=500 While it's no surprise that Curry is the leader in such shots, it would be fair to assume that if there was someone close to him they would be a shooter by nature. But it's not quite what you would imagine. Until Monday, Curry had not hit as many shots from beyond half court as Mr. Grit N' Grind himself, Zach Randolph. The 18-year veteran has also hit five shots from beyond halfcourt and, according to ESPN Stats & Info, Steph and Zach are the ones who have hit the most shots from that distance in the last 20 seasons. The big man, who began the 2018-19 season with the Sacramento Kings, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks near the deadline and released without appearing in a game. Now, at age 37, Randolph is nearing retirement. Feb. 25, 2015: vs. Sacramento from 61-feet Feb. 2, 2015: vs. Utah from 59-feet Jan. 25, 2010: vs. Orlando Magic from 63-feet The final two? Feb. 6, 2009: vs. Memphis from 49-feet Dec. 3, 2006: vs. Phoenix Suns from 56-feet<doc-sep>

SAN ANTONIO -- Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry drained a 61-foot 3-pointer to close the first quarter of Monday night's 111-105 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs. It is the longest shot anyone in the league has hit all season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The shot came as time was winding down. Curry received a pass from teammate Shaun Livingston, took a quick dribble and then heaved the shot up from the opposite 3-point line. It hit off the backboard and went in, and the Warriors bench went nuts. Curry ran toward the bench to celebrate as AT&T Center was left in stunned silence for a moment. Curry acknowledged after the game that he didn't call bank, but he did think the shot was going in when it left his hand. "I might be delusional, but every time I shoot it, I feel like it's going in," Curry said. "You kind of know right away whether it has a chance or not. Some of them are in and out, it's close, whatever. That one felt great, I was running after [it]. A cool way to end the quarter, I just wish we had gotten the win, too." The shot was the longest Curry has hit in a regular season. He hit a 62-footer in the playoffs. However, the 3-pointer was one of only six Curry hit on 18 attempts Monday night. He finished with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Curry is one of four players who has hit multiple 50 footers since 2009-10. With that shot, Curry now has four such shots to tie Zach Randolph for the most in the last 20 seasons; Andre Miller has three. Curry takes pride in his long-range shots, repeatedly practicing them after practice and before games.

For the first time in more than a decade, WWE is returning to Australia for a pay-per-view event that should have major storyline implications for Raw and SmackDown Live. While there are no Raw titles on the line over the course of the show (three of them are contained to one match), all three SmackDown titles, plus the cruiserweight championship, will be defended on Saturday when WWE Super Showdown airs live from the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. WWE Super Showdown will begin live at 5 a.m. ET. The event is expected to wrap up by 9 a.m. CBS Sports will be with you the entire way with coverage of Super Showdown, including highlights, results, grades and analysis after the event. For now, let's take a look at our predictions and picks ahead of the big night from our CBS Sports experts. Big fan of WWE? Subscribe to our podcast -- In This Corner with Brian Campbell -- where we go in depth on everything you need to know in WWE each week. 2018 WWE Super Showdown predictions Cruiserweight Championship: Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Buddy Murphy Brian Campbell, Adam Silverstein, Jack Jorgensen: Murphy isn't just a native Australian, he calls Melbourne his home city. Yet this match could've taken place on the moon and there would still be a need to push the impressive Murphy as the new champion. Say what you will about the comical idea of him making 205 pounds or the fact that Alexander's title run has been fun. Murphy is too good not for the gold to be around his waist and the former NXT tag team champion has big-time potential on the main roster. Pick: Buddy Murphy wins the title John Cena & Bobby Lashley vs. Elias & Kevin Owens JJ, BC, AS: Cena, with everything he has going on lately, seems to be appearing here out of obligation. He's not going to return for one night to lose, even if it is as part of a tag team. Particularly not with Lashley as his partner. Pick: John Cena & Bobby Lashley win Asuka & Naomi vs. The IIconics JJ, AS: Traditionally, we know WWE loves to book hometown heroes on the losing end, and creative likely feels Peyton Royce & Billie Kay could recover quickly from one loss in their home country. Pick: Asuka & Naomi win BC: Drawing a huge pop in front of an international crowd is a lot easier to pull off when there's a local wrestler on the card. In this case there's two of them with Kaye and Royce, which makes it a no-brainer for the heel duo to gain a clean victory and a babyface reaction from the Melbourne crowd. While the admittedly odd pairing of Asuka & Naomi are starting to develop chemistry, the pairing marks a continued step back in the booking of Asuka since her memorable and unbeaten NXT run. Pick: The Iiconics win SmackDown Tag Team Championship: The New Day (c) vs. The Bar AS, BC, JJ: So The Bar receive a tag team title match after failing to win No. 1 contendership opportunities in two straight tournaments? This match just does not make much sense. As great as the SmackDown tag team division was last year, it has really fallen off due to WWE failing to move either New Day or The Usos to Raw. It simply does not make sense for the titles to change hands here, but it also doesn't matter because the division has been completely wasted over the last few months. Pick: The New Day retains the titles Ronda Rousey & The Bella Twins vs. The Riott Squad AS, BC: Whether you believe rumors of a Rousey-Nikki Bella title match at Evolution, this stands as a great opportunity for Rousey to suffer her first loss in WWE without taking a pinfall or submission herself. If this winds up being a glorified house show, Rousey and the Bellas will go over easily. If not, the Riott Squad should get one over here, possibly sowing some tension between the face teammates. Pick: The Riott Squad wins JJ: The babyfaces get the victory here, ut the underlying story will be some tension between Rousey and Nikki in some form throughout the match, setting up the build to their rumored main event match on the upcoming Evolution show. Pick: Ronda Rousey & The Bella Twins win Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz for the No. 1 contendership to the WWE championship JJ, AS: Yes, Miz should get yet another victory over Bryan here and the title shot to go along with it. Early 2019 could very well see Bryan chasing WWE champion Miz with the story of recent failure looming over Bryan. Pick: The Miz wins BC: Adding the stipulation of a WWE championship shot at stake for the winner puts the company creatively in a no-lose situation considering future feuds involving any combination of Bryan, Miz, AJ Styles or Samoa Joe is certified gold. Considering this feud likely won't see any real closure until WrestleMania, Bryan could see a much-needed victory come his way after what has largely been a one-sided build up to this point. With WWE further expanding Down Under with this PPV, having a huge babyface pop for someone like Bryan only means good business. Pick: Daniel Bryan wins SmackDown Women's Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair AS, BC, JJ: I still maintain that Lynch should have won the title at SummerSlam -- or beaten Flair clean without a roll-up at Hell in a Cell -- but alas, here we are. Taking the title off Lynch at such an early juncture as she is currently the best thing on SmackDown would be a colossal mistake. As would taking it off of Lynch at Evolution, but that is at least what I expect to happen as she gets one over here on Flair. Pick: Becky Lynch retains the title WWE Championship: AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe JJ, BC, AS: As much as I would love to see Joe get rewarded for his great heel work lately with a long-overdue title run, I have believed for quite a while now that Miz is slowly being positioned to be the man to finally dethrone Styles. Which ties into another prediction for this show. It just does not feel like Joe is going to win here, as much as many (particularly Adam) want that to happen. Pick: AJ Styles retains the title The Shield vs. Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre JJ, AS: Among what may likely be a lot of feel-good moments on this super show, The Shield standing tall among the heels that have tormented them -- mentally and physically -- over the course of the past few weeks. Then Monday on Raw, a disgruntled Strowman can begin to torment Reigns ahead of their main event in Saudi Arabia with Brock Lesnar. It could also lead to the split-up of this trio, which is only together temporarily anyway -- one would think -- unless there are Survivor Series plans. Pick: The Shield wins BC: Serving as the centerpiece of Raw throughout the aftermath of SummerSlam, this feud has produced big moments and more than a few great matches. Recently, the length WWE has gone to tease a Dean Ambrose heel turn from the Shield can't be ignored. Look for the escalation of the Shield's eventual breakup to continue without fully happening on Saturday as the larger storyline continue to builds toward Survivor Series. Pick: Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre win Triple H (w/ Shawn Michaels) vs. The Undertaker (w/ Kane) AS, JJ: If it is to believed that these four superstars will team up and square off at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia, then it only makes sense for it to be the "heels" getting the first win in this scenario. While it may seem like Taker is at the point of his career where he should only return for winning spots, the fact of the matter is that he is washed and can lose any match without being affected.<doc-sep>WWE's Super Show-Down in Australia will feature 10 matches, and the results will have short-term ramifications for both Monday Night RAW and SmackDown Live. The show is this Saturday, Oct. 6. While most of the card seems predictable, there are some very intriguing matchups that even our group of wrestling marks had trouble picking winners for. We've done our best to correctly predict the winners of Super Show-Down (which means we'll get them completely wrong). If video is more your thing, you can watch the predictions over on our Facebook page. Here's every WWE Super Show-Down match with our team's picks. THE UNDERTAKER VS TRIPLE H For the last time ever, Undertaker will take on Triple H. Everyone seems to think the Undertaker will continue his dominance of Trips on Super Show-Down, but Phil seems to think having Shawn Michaels in his corner will get Triple H the victory. Bob - Taker Phil - Triple H Rocco - Taker CEDRIC ALEXANDER (c) VS BUDDY MURPHY - CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE MATCH Cedric Alexander has had the Cruiserweight title since WrestleMania, and Bob doesn't see that changing with this show. However, Phil and Rocco believe the hometown boy, Buddy Murphy, is ready to get the strap. Bob - Cedric Phil - Buddy Rocco - Buddy THE NEW DAY (c) VS THE BAR - SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH This feud has just begun and we all can see it continuing after Super Show-Down, with New Day narrowly getting the victory to retain their Tag Team Championships. Bob - New Day Phil - New Day Rocco - New Day NAOMI & ASUKA VS THE IICONICS Another case of the hometown wrestlers picking up the win. We all feel it'll be a perfect moment for Peyton Royce and Billie Kaye (The IIconics) to get a much-needed victory in Australia. Bob - IIconics Phil - IIconics Rocco - IIconics BOBBY LASHLEY & JOHN CENA VS KEVIN OWENS & ELIAS Probably the easiest match to predict: it's hard to see how John Cena loses his first match back since WrestleMania. Elias and Kevin Owens are almost "loss-proof" meaning they can handle a defeat. Bob - Cena/Lashley Phil - Cena/Lashley Rocco - Cena/Lashley DANIEL BRYAN VS THE MIZ - WWE #1 CONTENDERS MATCH It was tough to choose a winner here, as either wrestler could come out on top and become the new number one contender for AJ Style's WWE Championship. Bob feels its Daniel Bryan's time, while Rocco and Phil believe the story of Miz getting over on Bryan using heel tactics will continue. Bob - Daniel Bryan Phil - Miz Rocco - Miz AJ STYLES (c) VS SAMOA JOE - WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH/NO DQ AJ Styles has had an impressive run as WWE Champion, and Bob and Phil feel it will continue. With WWE 2K19 coming out next week with AJ as the cover star, it's easy to see Styles going over. Rocco, however, feels Samoa Joe needs the victory and will pick up the belt here. Bob - AJ Phil - AJ Rocco - Joe CHARLOTTE VS BECKY LYNCH (c) - SMACKDOWN WOMENS TITLE MATCH Becky Lynch won the SmackDown Women's title less than a month ago, so none of the crew believe she's losing it to Charlotte in Australia. Whether Becky get herself disqualified or the two have a double countout, Lynch will walk out still the champ. Bob - Becky Phil - Becky Rocco - Becky RONDA ROUSEY & THE BELLA TWINS VS THE RIOTT SQUAD Rocco believes The Riott Squad are prime to defeat Ronda Rousey and The Bella Twins in their six-woman tag match. Bob and Phil think he's crazy. Bob - Rousey/Bellas Phil - Rousey/Bellas Rocco - Riott Squad THE SHIELD VS THE DOGS OF WAR The main story of Monday Night RAW has been whether or not Dean Ambrose will turn on his Shield brethren. Bob and Phil don't believe it'll happen in Australia, but Rocco seems to think the Dogs of War will somehow get the upper hand. Bob - Shield Phil - Shield Rocco - Dogs of War<doc-sep>0 of 6 Credit: WWE.com Less than three weeks removed from Hell in a Cell comes WWE's latest special event entitled Super Show-Down 2018, emanating live from the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia this Saturday. Unlike Greatest Royal Rumble from earlier this year, WWE has done a commendable job of hyping the show in recent weeks and making each match feel meaningful. Some are certainly more important than others, but on the whole, the pay-per-view has promise and the potential to be thoroughly entertaining. The Undertaker vs. Triple H will headline the event in what is being billed as a "last time ever" encounter. The addition of Shawn Michaels and Kane to ringside for that bout all but guarantees it will be a spectacle and could possibly set the stage for another outing involving those four down the road. Elsewhere on the card, The Shield will have their hands full with the dastardly trio of Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre while the long-running rivalry between AJ Styles and Samoa Joe over the WWE Championship will culminate in a No Count-out, No Disqualification match. Additionally, Ronda Rousey, Daniel Bryan, The Bella Twins, The Miz, John Cena, Kevin Owens and other notable names being a part of the card will make this one of WWE's most star-studded lineups in recent memory. That combined with the electric atmosphere in Melbourne will surely help give Super Show-Down a WrestleMania-like vibe. In order for the show to be deemed a success from a storyline standpoint, the outcomes should not be as obvious as they seem. As the event draws closer, now is the time to offer to make bold predictions and attempt to anticipate what will happen in the night's biggest matches.<doc-sep>

October is a busy month for the WWE, and it begins in Australia with the Super Show-Down Live from the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Sydney this Saturday, Oct. 6. The Super Show-Down will feature title matches, returning WWE Superstars and a whole lot more. There are currently 10 confirmed matches with four title bouts that can shape the path of Monday Night RAW and SmackDown Live heading into Evolution, Crown Jewel and Survivor Series. Here is every match confirmed so far for WWE Super Show-Down. Note: This list is subject to change CEDRIC ALEXANDER (c) VS BUDDY MURPHY - CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE MATCH The Cruiserweight title is on the line as Cedric Alexander takes his six-month reign into battle against the hometown hero, Buddy Murphy. These two had a feud over the summer that ended with Alexander retaining his title, but will Murphy come out on top with the home field advantage? THE NEW DAY (c) VS THE BAR - SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH After The New Day dispatched Rusev Day at Hell in a Cell, The Bar were next in line to try to take the SmackDown Tag Team championships. This is the first title opportunity on SmackDown Live for The Bar, and they hope to put the hurting on The New Day. NAOMI & ASUKA VS THE IICONICS More hometown wrestlers get the spotlight at Super Show-Down as The IIconics take on Naomi and Asuka in tag-team action. Over the last few weeks, The IIconics took turns defeating Naomi, leading to Asuka coming in for the save and making a new friend in the process. Can the combined might of Peyton Royce and Billie Kaye take out a former champ and Asuka? BOBBY LASHLEY & JOHN CENA VS KEVIN OWENS & ELIAS John Cena is set to return to the WWE at Super Show-Down, teaming with Bobby Lashley against Kevin Owens and Elias. KO and Elias have tussled with Lashley and his manager Lio Rush over the last few weeks, but everyone will be waiting to see how Cena performs after being away from a WWE ring for so long. DANIEL BRYAN VS THE MIZ - WWE #1 CONTENDERS MATCH The match between Daniel Bryan and The Miz may have the biggest implications for SmackDown Live moving forward. These rivals have been at odds for years, and now it's time for the two to fight for a chance at the WWE Championship. The Miz has come out on top in recent weeks using "heelish" tactics, but can Bryan overcome the A-Lister and his growing desire to cut corners to win? AJ STYLES (c) VS SAMOA JOE - WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH/NO DQ Samoa Joe took his feud with WWE Champion AJ Styles to the next level, threatening the champ's family by visiting them while The Phenomenal One was on SmackDown. After a controversial finish at Hell in a Cell, SmackDown general manager Paige has made the title match between Styles and Joe a No DQ and No Countout contest, so there has to be a winner in Australia. CHARLOTTE VS BECKY LYNCH (c) - SMACKDOWN WOMENS TITLE MATCH Becky Lynch captured the SmackDown Women's Title from her former best friend Charlotte at Hell in a Cell, but the Irish Lass-kicker continues to have a mean streak as she lauds her victory over the rest of the women in the SmackDown locker room. Can Charlotte humble Becky and re-capture the title, or will Lynch continue to dominate the competition? RONDA ROUSEY & THE BELLA TWINS VS THE RIOTT SQUAD The Riott Squad has made Ronda Rousey and The Bella Twins' lives a living hell on Monday Night RAW, but the six women will all face off in a tag match in Australia. As the RAW Women's Champion, Ronda looks to put The Riott Squad in their place after they attacked her friend Natalya. THE SHIELD VS THE DOGS OF WAR The war between The Shield and The Dogs of War rages on, as the six top stars on RAW square off. The story here is whether Dean Ambrose will betray his Shield brethren after the Dogs of War brought up some great points about his time injured last week. While Ambrose continues to say he'll go into battle with the Shield no matter what, but will that end here? THE UNDERTAKER VS TRIPLE H The Undertaker and Triple H have had some memorable battles in the past, but their meeting at Super Show-Down will be their final encounter.

Arsenal kick off the knockout stages of the Europa League with a trip to Belarus to face familiar foe BATE Borisov. The Gunners beat the Belarusian side twice in the group stage of last season’s Europa League, scoring 10 while only conceding 2. BATE currently sit atop their domestic table, 9 points clear of second place. I don’t expect you to be familiar with any of BATE’s players except for former Gunner Alexander Hleb, still kicking at the age of 37. Unai Emery, once again, has elected to leave Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil out of the squad for the match. Ramsey has a slight knock, so his absence is understandable. Baffling, however, is the exclusion of a fully fit (as confirmed by the club) Mesut Ozil. A fixture against a team that is going to ask little of the German defensively seems as if it would be the perfect time to give him a run out. In other news, I cannot believe I just had to write about giving Mesut Ozil a run out. The continued marginalization of the best and highest paid player at the club is absurd. The Gunners will also be without Sokratis, who is not expected to return to training until later this month, and Dinos Mavropanos, who was not registered for the Europa League. With no game until the second leg next week, there is no need to rest Laurent Koscielny (or anybody else for that matter), so you should expect Unai Emery to field a strong side. A multi-goal, away victory would basically seal the tie and allow for a bit of squad rotation next Thursday. Arsenal need a convincing win. The club has not played well lately, especially on the offensive side of the ball. BATE are a side against which the Gunners should be able to score multiple goals. Hopefully that will be the tonic the lads need to get things back on track. Arsenal TEAM NEWS Cech starts in goal Xhaka back from injury Lacazette leads the line#UEL — Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 14, 2019 BATE Borisov BATE Borisov XI: Scherbitsky, Rios, Volkov, Filipenko, Filipovic, Baga, Dragun, Hleb, Milic, Stasevich, Skavysh. Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Hleb starts. pic.twitter.com/oVBZzV6fFN — Arsenal FC News (@ArsenalFC_fl) February 14, 2019 WHAT: Arsenal at BATE Borisov WHEN: 12:55pm EST/9:55am PST/5:55pm BST WHERE: Borisov Arena, Barysaw, Belarus STREAMING: As with all of Arsenal’s Europa League matches this season, this will only be available on B/R Live ($). Check out livesoccer.tv for all your international streaming needs. Please do not discuss or share illegal streams.<doc-sep>How to watch BATE vs. Arsenal in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32 on Thursday, Feb. 14. Arsenal returns to action in the Europa League, hitting the road for the first leg against Belarusian side BATE Borisov on Thursday. BATE, which emerged in second place from a group won by Chelsea, turns its focus to another Premier League power and will try to stifle the Gunners, who will be without Mesut Ozil for the match. BATE hasn't played a competitive match in two months due to its domestic schedule, last featuring in a competitive setting Dec. 13 vs. PAOK in the Europa League. Arsenal, meanwhile, went unbeaten in group play (5-0-1) to finish in first place, and will look to make another deep run in the competition after coming up short in the semifinals a season ago. Here's how to watch the match: Time: 12:55 p.m. ET TV: None in the USA Live Stream: You can watch the match via B/R Live.<doc-sep>ARSENAL make the long trip to BATE Borisov as favourites in this Europa League Round of 32 first leg. The Gunners reached the semi-final stage last season - losing out to Atletico Madrid - and are among the favourites to go all the way this time around. 1 Unai Emery can become the most successful manager in the Europa League if he wins a fourth title this season Credit: Getty Images - Getty What time does BATE vs Arsenal kick off? This Europa League tie will take place on Thursday, February 14. It will kick off at 5.55pm - that is 8.55pm in Barysaw. The match will be held at Borisov Arena. The reverse fixture will be played on Thursday, February 21 at Emirates Stadium. What TV channel is BATE vs Arsenal on and can I live stream it? BATE vs Arsenal will be shown live on BT Sport 2 with coverage starting at 5.30pm. BT Sport customers can live stream the match online, on mobile and on tablet via their app. Alternatively, you can follow all the latest updates via our dedicated SunSport LIVE BLOG. Can I watch BATE vs Arsenal for free? EE phone subscribers can catch the action by signing up for a free three-month trial - all you have to do is text SPORT to 150 and follow the instructions. What is the team news?<doc-sep>Sports Mole provides team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of Thursday's Europa League last-32 tie between BATE Borisov and Arsenal. Arsenal head into the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie with BATE Borisov looking to register a third victory over Thursday's opponents in the space of 18 months. BATE play host to the Premier League side having not played a competitive game since the end of the group stages due to their new domestic campaign not starting until March. BATE Borisov © Reuters BATE were placed in a group which included Chelsea and PAOK before the start of the main stages of this competition, and it meant that the Belarusian champions were only regarded as outsiders to progress through to the last 32. That remained the case as they lost three out of their opening four matches, but boss Alyaksey Baha was able guide his side to victories over Vidi and PAOK to claim the runners-up spot. That was always going to be the best-case scenario due to Chelsea's presence, but BATE also showed enough against the Blues that they are capable of causing a surprise against their London rivals. Chelsea - having been unbeaten since August - only prevailed 1-0 on their visit to the Borisov Arena, and it suggested that Baha's team had progressed from their two heavy defeats to Arsenal during the previous campaign. One hindrance for BATE ahead of this fixture is their lack of competitive action, and the club are currently in the middle of their pre-season programme ahead of the start of the new domestic season in March. Baha will not be too concerned that two of their three friendlies have ended in defeat, but it suggests that Arsenal may have some joy if they play at a high tempo on Thursday evening. BATE are also now without Nikolai Signevich - who scored three times in the group stages - with the forward having made the switch to Hungarian side Ferencvaros in January. Bojan Dubajic has arrived at the club as his replacement and several other new players have also come through the door, and it leaves Baha potentially using this double-header as an opportunity to bed in his new signings ahead of their first league outing. Recent form: WLLLWW Recent form (all competitions): DLWWDW Arsenal © Reuters Arsenal reached the first knockout stage by registering five wins and a draw from six matches as well as achieving five consecutive clean sheets, but the Gunners have struggled for any consistency since the middle of December. Six victories and six defeats have come from their last 13 outings, and Manchester United's resurgence currently leaves Unai Emery's team as outsiders to finish in fourth place in the Premier League standings. Frequent injuries to key players in defence has also not helped Arsenal's cause, and Emery has been left to try to achieve one of the club's targets for the season against the odds. As many as 28 different players were used during the group stages, but Emery is likely to call upon his most-proven players for Thursday's first leg with the club having no fixture at the weekend. Whether Mesut Ozil still falls into that category is open to debate, as the German playmaker has been left on the fringes of the squad as he seemingly does not fit into Emery's system. That said, Arsenal also need to provide Ozil with a platform to showcase his talents if they are to successfully part ways with the player in the summer, and this is the perfect competition to provide the 30-year-old with plenty of minutes. Emery will still want to give opportunities to his younger crop of players, but Ozil's wage packet and an apparent lack of desire to leave the club means that there is more onus on Arsenal to achieve Champions League football for next season. That is achievable - despite the presence of a number of high-quality teams in this competition - but Emery will want to move through to the last 16 with minimal fuss due to the recent fitness issues with his squad. Recent form: WWWDWW Recent form (all competitions): LWLWLW Team News © Reuters Ozil has recently been sidelined through illness - as has Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - but the pair could both feature in the starting lineup in Belarus. Aaron Ramsey has been suffering with a knee problem and may not be risked, and Granit Xhaka may be rested as he deals with an issue with his groin. Sokratis Papastathopoulos is also a likely absentee, but Denis Suarez may be handed a first start in an Arsenal shirt after his loan move from Barcelona. Dubajic could be handed a competitive debut for BATE, while fellow new arrivals Nemanja Milic and Dmitri Bessmertny may also be involved in the 18-man squad. Alexander Hleb is likely to be named among the replacements for the game against his former club. BATE Borisov possible starting lineup: Scherbitski; Rios, Volkov, Filipenko, Filipovic; Baga, Dragun, Ivanic; Skavysh, Dubajic, Stasevich Arsenal possible starting lineup: Leno; Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Guendouzi, Kolasinac; Suarez, Ozil, Aubameyang Head To Head The two teams were drawn against each other for last season's group stages, and Arsenal prevailed in each encounter and scored a total of 10 goals. Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud both got on the scoresheet in a 4-2 win in Belarus, before a 6-0 triumph was registered in North London in December. We say: BATE Borisov 1-4 Arsenal Emery will select a strong team for the trip to Belarus and we expect an even stronger performance. The Gunners will want this tie wrapped up before the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium, and they have the firepower to put the game out of BATE's reach.<doc-sep>

BATE vs Arsenal: TV channel, live stream, team news & preview Having cut the gap to the top four once more, the Gunners return to European action as they face the journey east to Belarus With a return to winning ways secured and the gap to the top four of the Premier League closed to a point with victory at Huddersfield last weekend, Arsenal are back in continental competition as they face a Valentine’s Day trip to BATE in the Europa League. Unai Emery’s Gunners shrugged off their loss to Manchester City to regain some momentum and overhaul Chelsea in the race for the Champions League spots domestically. However, with the top-flight title a distant dream and their chances of success in either the FA Cup or Carabao Cup over, their exploits in Europe are now the only chance of silverware they stand to have. Article continues below A trip to the Belarusian champions is the first step on the road to this year’s final in Baku – and Arsenal will be determined to go one better after reaching the semi-finals last season. Game BATE vs Arsenal Date Thursday, February 14 Time 5:55pm GMT/12:55pm ET TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch In the United States (US), the game will not be broadcast on television. It will however be streamed on Bleacher Report's B/R Live service. US TV channel Online stream N/A B/R Live In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will be broadcast on BT Sport 2 and livestreamed on the BT Sport Live app. UK TV channel Online stream BT Sport 2 BT Sport Live Squads & Team News Position BATE players Goalkeepers Scherbitskiy, Chichkan Defenders Filipenko, Volkov, Filipovic, Malkevich, Yablonski, Simovic Midfielders Drahun, Baha, Berezkin, Rios, Stasevich, Bessmertniy, Hleb Forwards Skavysh, Milic, Moukam, Mukhamedov, Dubajic, Tuominen With no competitive domestic football between December and April, this represents BATE’s first game of 2019 with any real meaning to it. Nemanja Milic makes his debut for the club, but Dmitri Bessmertny and Bojan Dubajic miss out. Ex-Gunners man Aleksandr Hleb faces his former club. BATE starting XI: Scherbitskiy; Rios, Volkov, Filipenko, Filipovic; Baga, Dragun, Hleb; Skavysh, Milic, Stasevich. Position Arsenal players Goalkeepers Cech, Leno Defenders Koscielny, Lichtsteiner, Kolasinac, Mustafi, Monreal Midfielders Elneny, Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Xhaka Forwards Iwobi, Lacazette, Aubameyang, Nketiah, Suarez, Mkhitaryan There's no room for Mesut Ozil in the travelling party for Arsenal, with the German left out in the cold once again. Aaron Ramsey, Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck meanwhile are all out through injury. Arsenal starting XI: Cech, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Mkhitaryan, Lacazette, Iwobi. Betting & Match Odds Arsenal are the odds-on favourites to pick up a vital away win at 4/11 wit bet365 . BATE are meanwhile priced at 17/2 while a draw is available at 9/2. Match Preview Having exited the FA Cup to Manchester United and slipped off the pace of the top four with defeat to Manchester City, Arsenal were likely relieved to get back into the swing of winning ways after their victory over Huddersfield this weekend. However, with their losses at the hands of the Red Devils and the Citizens, the Gunners have now seen any chance of domestic success slip away from them once again. As such, their return to continental action with a Europa League trip represents Unai Emery’s last chance to claim silverware in his debut season at the Emirates Stadium – and it remains an opportunity he will be keen to take. A three-time competition winner with Sevilla in consecutive years – tasting success in 2014, 2015 and 2016 – the Spaniard will be hoping to take Arsenal one better than their semi-final exit under Arsene Wenger last season. In his way stands Belarusian champions BATE, who have not only never progressed beyond the round-of-32 in this tournament but have not played a competitive game since 2018 either. Alyaksey Baha’s side have seen several new faces enter the fray during the off-season, with several in line to make their debut for the club when they host the Gunners. They’re also looking for a modicum of revenge if possible – Arsenal swatted them aside by an aggregate scoreline of 10-2 when the pair met in the Europa League group stages last season. Igor Stasevich is likely to hold the key for them if they hope to deliver a shock – with a total of six, he has made more assists than any other player in the competition this campaign.

Is it all over for Cap? (Picture: Marvel) Chris Evans has appeared to confirm that Avengers 4 will officially be Captain America’s last big screen outing. ‘Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful,’ he said, taking to Twitter. Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful. — Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) October 4, 2018 Although we knew Avengers 4 would be Evans’ last – his contract is now up – and that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is now moving into a phase that does not include many of the original heroes including Iron Man and hulk, many fans continued to hold out hope that Cap would return. Of course, the biggest theory surrounding the upcoming films is that at least Captain America or Tony Stark are going to die in the upcoming fourth movie; both Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. are expected to leave the MCU following the film as their contracts are up. Chris Evans (L) and Robert Downey Jr. are both expected to leave the MCU (Picture: Getty Images) Some theories suggest that in fact Cap may die at the hands of Stark – a theory in which we have to deep dive back into 2012 – while others suggest that Cap dying is the only possible outcome, as revealed by Doctor Strange in Infinity War. The time travel theory is one that seems almost certain at this point for Avengers 4, thanks to set pictures revealing Scarlett Johansson filming scenes sporting red hair, a look which her character Black Widow had in the early Avengers movies, as well as previous set pictures of Captain America in his old uniform. So of course rather than death, it is possible that after the Avengers reverse time to defeat Thanos (because, duh, they have to. Right?) Cap could decide to go back in time and finally get that dance with Peggy Carter he promised her, all the way back in The First Avenger. And that’s an ending we’d much rather cry over, Kevin Feige. MORE : Chris Hemsworth feels ‘gross’ about being rich as he continues to build massive mansion<doc-sep>Chris Evans is officially done with Avengers: Infinity War, and his last day on set was "emotional...to say the least." Saying goodbye to a character you've played for eight years is certainly an emotional experience, but knowing Marvel, Cap will have quite the send off. In fact, we think he died. Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful. — Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) October 4, 2018 We've suspected for some time that Cap's death (among others) will conclude the Avengers series – in fact, we kind of think it should. This is a war, and no one knows the cost of battle better than former soldier Steve Rogers. The Avengers are going to lose quite a few soldiers – and that's on top of having lost half of them to Thanos' deadly snap if they can't reverse its effects. Though he survived part 1 of Infinity War, Cap is now faced with the monumental task of rallying his gutted team against an all-powerful Thanos – not to mention wracked with guilt for his foolhardy fight plan and being so stubborn about "trading lives." Knowing Steve, he's going to double down on the fight and sacrifice himself to save everyone – just like that skinny kid from Brooklyn who jumped on a grenade all those years ago. Avengers 4 premieres in 2019.<doc-sep>Fans have been on edge about the what’s going to happen to the longest-running hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since even before “Avengers: Infinity War” came out. And after seeing Thanos’ cosmic finger snap wipe so many heroes from existence that worrying has ramped up, fans wait in great anticipation for “Avengers 4” to land next May. Now a tweet from Captain America himself, Chris Evans, has fans even more freaked out. In the tweet, Evans announced he has wrapped up filming on “Avengers 4” and continued on with a message that makes it very much sound like he’s completely done with the MCU. With the subtext being that Captain America may very well not survive the upcoming climax of the MCU’s first decade. “Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least,” Evans tweeted. “Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful.” Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful. — Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) October 4, 2018 Evans has hinted at his desire to move on from the MCU before, most recently back in march in a New York Times profile, which declared that he “expects that planned reshoots [for “Avengers 4”] in the fall will mark the end of his tenure in the familiar red, white and blue super suit.” But there has never been any sort of official declaration that Evans actually is exiting the franchise — his contract is up after “Avengers 4,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean he wouldn’t renew it. This tweet, however, might be that declaration — though it’s certainly vague enough that he could keep the door open for more forays into in the MCU even if he were to take a backseat after whatever universe-altering events happen in “Avengers 4.” For now, though, fans are taking Evans’ tweet as indicating that Captain America is going to die next year. In other words Cap’s dead — Antony (@antonygwherbert) October 4, 2018 Why did you just spoil your death pic.twitter.com/PNFND20KzF — Calvin (@calvinstowell) October 4, 2018 Is it the end of the line? pic.twitter.com/ONciifLil1 — kushal (@moaningwaynes) October 4, 2018 Whatever is actually going on with Captain America, we’ll find out for sure on May 3 next year, when “Avengers 4” hits theaters everywhere. While Marvel has been typically cagey about revealing any details about the fourth “Avengers” movie, we have spent a ton of time making educated guesses about what’s in store for us next year. We’ve got theories about time travel plots that “Ant-Man and the Wasp” may have been setting up, thoughts about how “Captain Marvel” will play into this great big mess Thanos made as well as a breakdown of that film’s first trailer, and some musings about what exactly Doctor Strange may have seen when he looked into the future that caused him to give up the Time Stone.<doc-sep>

Chris Evans’ tweet suggests Captain America’s death in Avengers 4. Chris Evans’ tweet suggests Captain America’s death in Avengers 4. The end of Avengers Infinity War showed a big win for Thanos as he snapped his fingers and destroyed half the world, including half the superheroes who were fighting against him. The superheroes introduced in Phase 1 were still alive and one can only hope that they will band together and defeat Thanos in Avengers 4. The reshoots of Avengers 4 have been underway for some weeks now and it looks like Chris Evans who plays Steve Rogers aka Captain America will die in the battle against Thanos. Evans recently wrapped up his portions and posted on Twitter, “Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful.” Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful. — Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) October 4, 2018 In the tweet, Evans mentions that he has been honoured to play Rogers for 8 years and this surely reads like a farewell message to the character. Before the release of Avengers Infinity War, there were speculations that this would be the last film featuring Captain America as Chris’ contract was coming to an end but as the events unfolded, he was still alive in the end. But it looks like after Avengers 4, it will be the audience’s turn to bid farewell to Captain America who in many ways has been the moral centre of the Avengers.

The German Football Federation unwittingly released the final list of players that manager Joachim Löw will take to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. So far, the coach had shared a provision squad with 27 names, with four still needing to be discarded, but it appears that the details of this have been leaked ahead of time, via a poster on the team website. Four disappointed Germans The There is one victim in each position, namely goalkeeper Kevin Trapp (PSG), defender Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), midfielder Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich) and striker Nils Petersen (Freiburg). However, according to UOL, the early announcement has angered the former player Oliver Bierhoff, who is now the sporting director of the German national team: "This must have been a slip up, I'm going to find out immediately because it really angers me. All the players have made a great impression here and it is a very difficult decision. The night before the [official] announcement, there will be a final discussion between the technical team and the following day the players will be informed." The full squad for Germany, who kick off their World Cup against Mexico on June 17, is as follows: Full screen La lista de 23 de Alemania para el Mundial filtrada antes de tiempo. Twitter German national team squad Goalkeepers Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-André Ter Stegen (Barcelona) and Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen). Defenders Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) and Niklas Süle (Bayern Munich). Midfielders Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (PSG), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Özil ( Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) and Leroy Sané (Manchester City). Forwards Mario Gómez (Stuttgart) and Timo Werner (Leipzig).<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section World Cup Manchester City winger Leroy Sane has been left out of Germany's final 23-man World Cup squad. Sane, Bayer Leverkusen pair Bernd Leno and Jonathan Tah and Freiburg striker Nils Petersen were all dropped as Joachim Low cut the defending champions' 27-man provisional squad. Keeper Manuel Neuer, who came back after nine months out in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Austria, is in the squad. Three Premier League players are selected. Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil have all been named in the squad. Germany are in Group F with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea, and play their first match on Sunday, 17 June. Sane's stellar season with City Sane being dropped from the squad was a surprise after an excellent season with City, which saw him named the Premier League's young player of the year. He scored 14 goals and assisted 19 in all competitions as City won the league with five games to spare. Midfielder Ozil scored five times and made 14 assists for Arsenal. However Ozil did create 84 chances in the Premier League, compared to Sane's 58. Low said it was a "very close decision" between Sane and Julian Brandt, who scored 12 goals and made seven assists for fifth-placed Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen this year. Sane had played in six of Germany's past seven games, including starting in their most recent game - Saturday's 2-1 loss to Austria. Germany's 23-man squad in full Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St-Germain) Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich) Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St-Germain), Leon Goretska (Schalke), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich) Strikers: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)<doc-sep>The youngster has not made the final cut for this summer’s tournament in Russia (Picture: Getty) Joachim Low has made the stunning decision to axe Manchester City star Leroy Sane from Germany’s World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament in Russia. The 58-year-old named his final 23-man squad on Monday and announced that Premier League Young Player of the Year Sane, along with Bernd Leno, Nils Peterson and Jonathan Tah, would not be making the cut. World Cup holders Germany have been in South Tyrol on a pre-season training camp and surprisingly lost to Austria in a pre-tournament friendly, with Sane paying the price for his struggles for the national team. Leverkusen star Julian Brandt, however, has taken to the role slightly better and is more diligent defensively, and thus edged out Sane, while they have a wealth of attacking options with the likes of Marco Reus and Julian Draxler. Low explained: ‘That was a very close decision between him and Julian Brandt, which was made in favor of Brandt. Draxler, Reus and Muller are set. ‘Leroy is a huge talent. He will be back again from September. He had not arrived in international matches yet. It was a very close decision. If it was a 100 metre race, it would have been a photo finish.’ Brandt has 15 goals and assists this season, Sane has double that with 31 (Picture: Getty) The German boss told a press conference that he had spoken to each of the four axed players individually earlier in the day, who will all now leave the training camp, and then informed the rest of the squad of his decision. He continued: ‘There are certainly easier days in the life of a national team head coach than they day where I have to send four payers home. ‘These are four players who had merited their place in the provisional squad through their performances ‘I spoke to the four players and the disappointment was huge, as you would expect. Low had brought 27 players to Germany’s training camp, so had to axe four (Picture: Getty) ‘It’s as if you are stood at the check in desk for your flight to Moscow, but are then prevented from boarding.’ Sane could yet go to the World Cup, however, if another attacker gets injured before their first group game, with Low allowed to make a change up to 24 hours before kick-off against Mexico on June 17.<doc-sep>

Manchester City winger Leroy Sane has been surprisingly omitted from Germany's final 23-man World Cup squad. Sane was a key member of a City side who won the Premier League title with a record 100 points and was named the PFA Young Player of the Year. But Joachim Low left out the 22-year-old when he named his final 23-man squad for Russia 2018 on Monday morning. There were places for Sane's City team-mate Ilkay Gundogan, Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger. When you find out @LeroySane19 isn’t going to the World Cup 😧 pic.twitter.com/0IV3VVahXX — Kyle Walker (@kylewalker2) June 4, 2018 Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been given the No 1 jersey and will also captain the side. Neuer had been sidelined since September with a metatarsal injury but made his return in the 2-1 defeat by Austria at the weekend. #Germany‘s #Löw puts himself under Massive pressure with this decision! @LeroySane19 , the Best young player in the #PL, has to stay home 🤔🤔 Jogi nicht dein #Sane-Tag heute? !#DFB — Michael Ballack (@Ballack) June 4, 2018 Sane, who scored 10 goals and provided 15 assists in 28 games for City during the season, was one of four players who failed to make the final cut, along with Bernd Leno, Jonathan Tah and Nils Petersen. Asked about Sane's omission, Low said: "It was a very tight decision between him and Julian Brandt (of Bayer Leverkusen) which went in favour of Brandt. "There are better days in the life of a national team coach, when you have to send four amazing players, who deserve to be at the World Cup, home. "It's like being at the airport check-in counter en route to Moscow and you are not allowed to board the plane." Neuer is thrilled to have returned to fitness in time for the tournament and said: "I always had the goal in front of me. "I stayed positive through the injury and, had I not been positive, I would not have been included. "I feel good and now my focus is on the World Cup." Defending champions Germany will begin their campaign against Mexico on June 17 before facing Sweden (June 23) and South Korea (June 27). Image: Manuel Neuer will captain the defending champions at the World Cup Germany squad: Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St Germain). Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Ruediger (Chelsea), Niklas Suele (Bayern Munich). Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St Germain), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal). Forwards: Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig).

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>OPELOUSAS, La. - A state judge Monday ordered Holden Matthews held without bond after prosecutors argued he was a flight risk and offered evidence that he captured video on his phone of burning three predominately black churches in St. Landry Parish. The District Attorney also added three state hate crime charges against Matthews, who pleaded not guilty to those and arson charges. Matthews was charged with two counts of simple arson of a religious building, one count of aggravated arson of a religious building. Twenty-Seventh Judicial Court Judge James Doherty of Opelousas denied Matthews' bail, citing concerns about releasing the 21-year-old and a pending investigation by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Sunday service:Louisiana congregations devastated by fires share hope, faith in unity service What we know:Fires destroy three churches in Louisiana in the past two weeks. Under Louisiana law, the hate crimes could apply to various protected groups including race, age, gender and religion. The District Attorney's Office did not specify a basis for the hate-crime charges against Matthews. Matthews, the son of a St. Landry Parish Sheriff's deputy, is accused of setting the churches on fire in a 10-day span. His parents, Roy and Angela Matthews, were present at the hearing. Matthews appeared stoic with his court-appointed attorney, Quincy Cawthorne, via a video feed from the jail. Matthews was arrested in connection with the fires Wednesday. Authorities are investigating Matthews' involvement in the music genre of black metal, whose followers have been tied to church fires and extreme acts in other parts of the country. Assistant District Attorney Charles Cravins argued Matthews was a danger to the community and a flight risk. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said Matthews may face federal hate crime charges from the FBI. He also testified that Matthews intentionally set the fires, used gasoline as an accelerant and documented his actions through videos found on his cellphone. Once Matthews was arrested, investigators found photos of the fires on his phone after they were set and possibly before 911 was called, Browning said. There were videos on Matthews' phone of firefighters attempting to extinguish them and photos of the churches after the fires had been extinguished. Investigators also found news reports of the fires on Matthews' phone. He had superimposed himself on those reports claiming he was responsible, Browning said. There was also a video on Matthews' phone that showed him talking with a friend about burning churches in St. Landry Parish, Browning said. Browning also mentioned Matthews' ties to black metal. Matthews told the FBI that the movie "Lords of Chaos," which loosely documents a Norwegian black metal band, may have been a motivation, though he maintained his innocence, Browning said. Lousiana church fires:Documents claim suspect bought gas can before crimes Holden Matthews:Suspect accused of burning black churches 'didn't seem right,' and used racial slurs Louisiana church fires:Deputy's son arrested as authorities investigate ties to black metal Cravins argued that Matthews was a flight risk, which Cawthorne contended wasn't possible because Matthews didn't have the resources. Browning, while on the stand, said, "you don't have to have money to run." An arrest affidavit showed investigators tied him to the crimes through surveillance video that showed a truck registered to his father at the fires, as well as the purchase of a gas can and cellphone tower data. While investigating the fire sites, authorities found a charred Scepter brand red gas can near the origin of the fire, according to court records. Investigators said they found that someone, later identified as Matthews, had purchased the 2-gallon gas can at about midnight from Walmart in Opelousas, less than three hours before the first fire on March 25. In surveillance footage from Walmart, Matthews is seen getting into a light-colored pickup with a bed cover, according to the affidavit. A beige Ford is registered to Matthews' father, Roy. Surveillance footage collected from homes and businesses near each church shows a light-colored, extended cab pickup around the area at the time of the fire, according to court records. St. Mary Baptist Church, which is in Port Barre, was the first church burned, on March 26/ The Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas burned a week later. On April 4, a fire destroyed Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on Highway 182 south of Opelousas. A pretrial hearing is set for July. Jury selection will begin Sept. 10. Police:California mosque arson suspect left graffiti about New Zealand attack, police say Follow Ashley White on Twitter @AshleyyDi.<doc-sep>In the media coverage of the three Louisana church fires that happened last week, it's been a bit jarring to see black metal at the forefront of the headlines, and no mention of the fact that the guy is the son of a St. Landry Parish sheriff’s deputy. For the record, I was sort of guilty of this same oversight. So I wanted to be clear on who this person is. Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. 21-year-old Holden Matthews was arrested last Wednesday for burning three primarily black churches in rural St. Landry Parish. The Daily Beast notes the fires occurred at St. Mary Baptist Church, Greater Union Baptist Church, and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on March 26, April 2, and April 4, respectively. Another “intentionally set” fire was also reported on April 7 at the predominantly white Vivian United Pentecostal Church a few hours away. Mathews, who posted of pagan beliefs and was a fan of Burzum frontman Varg Vikernes, has been denied bail according to ABC News. Here is what went down at the hearing: 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. Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. "In my mind, I felt another fire was imminent," Browning said in court Monday. The story notes that they have yet to find a motive for his crimes. Browning officials again cited black metal saying Matthews has ties to "black metal and its association and history with church burnings in other parts of the world." From what we've seen, he basically has a photo in front of graffiti that says "black metal" and he commented on some Varg memes. Matthews' father, the sherrif's deputy, was seen watching the hearing from a video conference room in the courthouse. At one point, he left the room in tears. Thankfully, nobody was hurt as a result of the fires.<doc-sep>

Louisiana officials have laid out a mountain of evidence they say ties a 21-year-old white man to the burnings of three black churches Holden Matthews bought a gas can and oil rags similar to those found at the site of the fires, he recorded a conversation with a friend in which he talked about using gasoline to burn churches, and his cellphone held images of the fires before law enforcement even arrived to the blazes, Louisiana Fire Marshal Butch Browning testified at Matthews' bond hearing. The 21-year-old Matthews - the son of a sheriff's deputy - entered a not guilty plea Monday via video conference from the St. Landry Parish jail, as prosecutors added new charges declaring the arsons a hate crime. "There is a substantial amount of evidence, it appears," state District Judge James Doherty said before denying Matthews' bond request, keeping him in jail. In his testimony for prosecutors, Browning outlined a litany of evidence 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. On his phone, Browning said, Matthews had images of the church fires in the early stages and the destruction days after the churches were set ablaze, in addition to copies of news reports about the fires. "He actually superimposed himself on those news reports, claiming responsibility for these fires," Browning said. Video surveillance near the churches showed a truck similar to the one Matthews drives, Browning said. Matthews also exchanged text messages with a friend who asked about the fires: "Was that your work?" the fire marshal said. In addition, Browning 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. "The evidence we have was unequivocal," Browning said. Later he added: "He has clearly demonstrated the characteristics of a pathological fire setter." The fires, all started with gasoline, occurred in and around Opelousas, about 60 miles west of Louisiana's capital city of Baton Rouge. The first blaze happened 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. 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, 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. 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, shackled and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, never spoke to the court during Monday's 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. 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 in the trial on Sept. 10. ——— Follow Melinda Deslatte on Twitter at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte

Walker Buehler wedged his slender frame through a teeming throng inside the Dodger Stadium clubhouse Monday. He sloshed across puddles of Beau Joie Brut and Budweiser, celebratory alcohol spilled because of Buehler’s right arm. He caught sight of a stooped figure wearing ski goggles and a Dodgers blue parka. Buehler opened his arms to embrace the man in front of him. “I’m so proud of you,” Tom Lasorda said. “You’re going to be a Dodger for a long time.” All around the 24-year-old budding ace and the 91-year-old Hall of Famer, the Dodgers consecrated their sixth consecutive National League West title after a 5-2 victory over Colorado. They reclaimed their crown in the 163rd game of the season, one game beyond the number required by the sport and far later than the team intended. They needed a midsummer surge to offset an early-season swoon, and a tiebreaker to hold off the red-hot Rockies. The trauma only heightened the triumph. Comatose in April and adrift in August, the Dodgers ended the regular season in the same spot they have occupied since 2013. They will host Atlanta in Game 1 of a National League Division Series on Thursday, hoping to secure the World Series championship that has eluded this franchise since 1988. Advertisement “This one is sweeter because everybody gave up on us in April,” closer Kenley Jansen said. “Like, ‘Oh, this is not the Dodgers’ year.’ We turned our season around and here we are again.” 1 / 20 Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (13) hits a two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez (48) in the fifth inning in a NL West tiebreaker game. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 20 Dodgers reliever Kenta Maeda (18) celebrates after the third out is recorded in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies on Oct. 1. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 20 Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger hits a two-run homer against the Rockies in the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 1. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 20 Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) tips his hat to the crowd while coming off the field after the Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-2. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 20 Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) celebrates after the Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 5-2 to win the NL West title. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 20 Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (13) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run homer in the fifth inning on Oct. 1. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 20 Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (21) delivers a pitch against the Colorado Rockies in an NL West tiebreaker game played at Dodger Stadium. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 20 Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (13) celebrates with outfielder Joc Pederson (31) after hitting a two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 20 Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates with Yasiel Puig (66) after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning on Oct. 1 (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 20 Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the NL West tiebreaker. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 20 Rockies left fielder David Dahl (26) is caught stealing. He is tagged out by Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado (8) in the fourth inning on Oct. 1. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 20 Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig celebrates after defeating the Rockies to win the NL West division at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 1. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 20 Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw plays with his children after his team defeated the Rockies to win the NL West division at Dodger Stadium. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 20 Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the NL West tiebreaker game. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 20 Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado, left, hugs Chris Taylor as Enrique Hernandez and Joc Pederson embrace after defeating the Rockies to win the NL West at Dodger Stadium. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 20 Dodgers base runner Kiki Hernandez slides safely ahead of the throw to score a run against the Rockies in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 20 Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler gets a standing ovation as he comes out of the game in the 7th inning against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 20 Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler celebrates the last out of the 6th inning against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 20 Dodger players and coaches celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Rockies and winning the National League Western Division at Dodger Stadium Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 20 Dodgers Joc Pederson, second from left, celebrates with teamates after defeating the Rockies to win the National League West Division at Dodger Stadium Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) To do so, the Dodgers called upon Buehler, their swaggering rookie starter. His politer teammates refer to his confidence — “You don’t have to tell Walker how good he is,” Clayton Kershaw said — while others offer a more candid way to describe an arsenal that includes a 98-mph fastball, multiple effective breaking balls and an unflappable demeanor. He inspires expletives. “He’s gross,” Cody Bellinger said. “I mean, he’s cocky as hell, too.” Buehler earned the superlatives on Monday. He stomped a division rival before a crowd of 47,816 and then swore over the sound-system for those who stayed to cheer him. Operating with imprecise command on Monday, Buehler still showed his surfeit of talent across 6 2/3 innings of one-hit baseball. He induced a slew of soft contact and silenced a team that had won nine of its last 10 games to force Game 163. At the plate, he even delivered an RBI single. His teammates supplied enough support. Bellinger and Max Muncy blunted the upper-90s heat from Colorado starter German Marquez with a pair of two-run homers. The only sour note arose in the ninth, when Jansen yielded a pair of solo home runs. Manager Dave Roberts vowed to speak with Jansen before the NLDS. En route to the World Series in 2017, Jansen anchored the bullpen. To reach that summit once more, the team may rely on their rotation of Kershaw, Buehler, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill. Buehler was an interloper in September 2017. He will be a vital cog in the journey this October. He looked electric at the start of Monday’s game, as eight of his 13 pitches in the first inning were fastballs clocked at 98 mph or higher. He retired the first six batters he faced and worked around a hit batsman and a walk in the third. An inning later, he issued a 10-pitch walk to outfielder David Dahl but otherwise kept the Rockies quiet. While Buehler rolled, general manager Farhan Zaidi allowed himself a moment of nostalgia. Buehler was the first player drafted by Zaidi and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman in Los Angeles. They chose Buehler out of Vanderbilt in June 2015 on the advice of scout Marty Lamb, scouting director Billy Gasparino and vice president of baseball operations Josh Byrnes. Advertisement The group knew Buehler needed an elbow reconstruction. They believed his talent outweighed the risk. Buehler underwent surgery two months after the Dodgers selected him with the 24th pick. He debuted on July 7, 2016, with the Class-A Great Lake Loons. Less than 14 months later, he reached the majors, and he established himself as a cornerstone in 2018. “That’s what you think about when you’re building an organization,” Zaidi said. “So I do think it was pretty special for him to get it done today.”<doc-sep>LOS ANGELES -- They fell 10 games below .500, then roared back into contention. Their star closer suffered a heart scare, their ace pitcher dealt with back issues and their promising young shortstop was lost for the season, but their unrivaled wealth of depth, talent and resources made up for it. They struggled to hit with runners in scoring position and could never find the ideal setup reliever, but they mashed home runs at an alarming rate and had enough starting pitchers to help late in games. The 2018 Los Angeles Dodgers are a bizarre, enigmatic, boisterous, supremely talented marvel. Somehow, once again, they are also division champions. The Dodgers claimed their sixth consecutive National League West title with a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies in a tiebreaker game on Monday afternoon, getting another excellent outing by young pitcher Walker Buehler and a couple of two-run homers from Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger to capture their 92nd win in Game 163. "We went through a lot of downs this year; a lot more downs than we expected," Bellinger said. "But we have a really, really good team." The Dodgers (92-71) will now have home-field advantage against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series, which doesn't begin until Thursday. The Rockies (91-72) must travel to face Jon Lester and the Chicago Cubs from Wrigley Field in the NL wild-card game on Tuesday, an elimination contest that will be started by Kyle Freeland. The Dodgers -- 16-26 on May 16 -- are only the sixth team in history to win the division in the same season that saw it fall 10 games below .500. "A lot of work," Justin Turner said of what it took. "A lot of work, a lot of tough times, a lot of battling, a lot of adjustments, a lot of conversations to talk about getting better. And a lot of guys in here got better all year long. Couldn't be prouder of a ballclub." Dave Roberts, the Dodgers' manager, never wavered in his confidence. He declared on April 29, just as the season was beginning to unravel, that his team would sit at the top of the division when the dust settled. The Dodgers sported a 2½-game lead when they swept the Rockies at home from Sept. 17 to 19. But the Rockies recovered by winning nine of their next 10, forcing the Dodgers to sweep the San Francisco Giants over the weekend to set up this scenario -- which ended in a champagne-soaked Dodger Stadium clubhouse. "A lot of work, a lot of tough times, a lot of battling, a lot of adjustments, a lot of conversations to talk about getting better," Justin Turner said of what it took the Dodgers to win the division in the same season that saw them fall 10 games under. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports "I just believed in our guys," Roberts said, with goggles on his face and a bottle of champagne in his hand. "I just felt that we could overcome anything." "It's a grateful feeling," said Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who overcame a balky back and a dip in velocity to deliver a 2.73 ERA in 161⅓ innings. "I feel grateful to get to be a part of this organization. It's not the ultimate prize; obviously we're still searching for that. But not too many organizations can say they've done this six years in a row." Buehler, the precocious rookie right-hander who does not lack in confidence, sat 98 mph early and wound up allowing only four baserunners through 6⅔ innings. He exited after a two-out walk in the seventh inning, drawing a raucous standing ovation from a crowd of 47,816 that grew in size as the day prolonged. "This is just the start, man," Buehler said. "We have a long way to go. We have another month to play." Over his last 12 regular-season starts, which spanned 75⅓ innings, Buehler has allowed only 13 earned runs on 41 hits, issuing 23 walks and striking out 87 batters. The 24-year-old finished his rookie year with a 2.62 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and a 4.35 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 137⅓ innings. "I don't know if I can say this on air," Turner said, "but huge set of balls." "I can't say enough good things about him," said Kershaw, who is expected to start the postseason opener. "You just have to say it behind his back so that he doesn't get too big a head. But it's a really special thing to watch him pitch. His talent level is just -- I mean, it's unbelievable. Some of the best stuff I've ever witnessed." The Dodgers did just enough against right-hander German Marquez, who was named NL Pitcher of the Month moments before the game. Bellinger, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, turned on a 1-0, 95-mph fastball with one on and two outs in the fourth and drove it out to right-center field. With one out and one on in the fifth, Muncy, one of baseball's most improbable performers this season, hammered a full-count, 99-mph fastball out to left-center, giving the Dodgers their NL-leading 235th home run this season. The defending NL champions finished the regular season with a plus-193 run-differential, by far the best in the NL. Bellinger believes they're a "dangerous" postseason opponent. "I think we have one of the best lineups in the whole league," he said. "We proved it today. We hit the long ball and we have good pitching. It's going to be hard to beat us." The only real concern, perhaps, is Kenley Jansen, who struggled mightily early in the season, then missed time with an irregular heartbeat and has been inconsistence since. He began the ninth by serving up back-to-back home runs to Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, giving him 13 home runs allowed this season -- four more than the previous two years combined. But Jansen retired the next three batters, igniting a celebration that was subdued on the field but turned lively inside. He was all smiles postgame. "What happened in the ninth?" Jansen asked, repeating a media member's question. "We won the division -- that's what happened."<doc-sep>It took one extra day and two extra games, but the National League postseason field is now set. Monday evening, a few hours after the Brewers beat the Cubs in their Game 163 tiebreaker to win the NL Central, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies in a Game 163 tiebreaker at Dodger Stadium to clinch the NL West title. The final score was 5-2 (box score). Here, finally, is the NL postseason picture: Wild Card Game: Rockies at Cubs (on Tuesday) Rockies at Cubs (on Tuesday) NLDS: Wild Card Game winner at Brewers (starts Thursday) Wild Card Game winner at Brewers (starts Thursday) NLDS: Braves at Dodgers (starts Thursday) The Dodgers and Rockies finished the 162-game regular season with identical 91-71 records, which necessitated the Game 163 tiebreaker. Never before had MLB needed two tiebreaker games in one season. Although these were not traditional do-or-die tiebreakers because of the Wild Card Game, winning the division is such a big advantage, so these games were very important. Here are six things to know about the Dodgers vs. Rockies Game 163 tiebreaker. Dodgers win sixth straight division title The Dodgers are the third team to win six consecutive division titles since MLB switched to a four-division format in 1969. Only the Braves and Yankees have longer division title streaks. Braves: 14 straight years (1991-2005) 14 straight years (1991-2005) Yankees: 9 straight years (1998-2006) 9 straight years (1998-2006) Dodgers: 6 straight years (2013-18) Even if they didn't win Monday's tiebreaker, Los Angeles would've been in the postseason as a wild card team. Prior to this run, the Dodgers had never gone to the postseason in more than two consecutive seasons. That dates back to their Brooklyn days. Now they've won six straight division titles. Remarkable. Rockies still looking for their first NL West title After 25 years of existence, the Rockies are still looking for their first division title. Colorado joined the league as an expansion team in 1993 and they have yet to claim an NL West championship. This is the fourth time they finished in second place. 1995: 77-67 (one game behind Dodgers) 77-67 (one game behind Dodgers) 2007: 90-73 (half-game behind Diamondbacks) 90-73 (half-game behind Diamondbacks) 2009: 92-70 (three games behind Dodgers) 92-70 (three games behind Dodgers) 2018: 91-72 (one game behind Dodgers) Even last season, when the Rockies played in the Wild Card Game, they finished third in the NL West (87-75) behind the Dodgers (104-58) and D-Backs (93-69). The Rockies are still looking for their first division title, but they have made the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time in franchise history, and that's not nothing. Buehler took a no-hitter into the sixth Rookie right-hander Walker Buehler, a breakout star for the Dodgers this season, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning Monday evening. Charlie Blackmon broke the no-hit bid up with a shift-beating single with one out in that sixth inning. The Dodgers were up 4-0 before the Rockies even recorded a hit. Walker Buehler LAD • SP • 21 Oct. 1 vs. Rockies IP 6 2/3 H 1 R 0 ER 0 BB 3 K 3 View Profile Buehler allowed 15 balls in play Monday and his average exit velocity allowed was 81.6 mph. Only three of those 15 balls in play were hit 90 mph or better. Statcast hit probability says Buehler allowed one ball in play that had better than a 40 percent chance to fall in for a hit. That is domination. It was soft contact all game long. Oh, and by the way, Buehler also drew a walk and slapped a run-scoring single at the plate. It was the first RBI of his career. Buehler was a two-way threat Monday night. What a performance. A cross-up cost the Rockies German Marquez struck out the first three batters he faced in the fourth inning and still allowed two runs. He and catcher Tony Wolters got crossed up on Max Muncy's strikeout. Wolters was expecting something soft, Marquez threw a heater, Muncy swung through it for strike three, and the pitch went to the backstop. That allowed Muncy to reach base. Marquez bounced back to strike out Manny Machado and Yasmani Grandal, but a two-seam fastball ran back across the plate to Cody Bellinger, and Bellinger swatted it over the right field wall for a two-run home run and a 2-0 lead. Who knows how the inning plays out if Marquez and Wolters don't get crossed up, and Muncy doesn't reach base on the strikeout. Maybe the Dodgers don't score that inning. Or maybe the Dodgers have a nine-run inning instead of a two-run inning! It would've changed everything. Either way, Marquez struck out four batters in the inning and allowed a two-run home run. It was the most 2018 inning ever. Marquez gave up a two-run home run to Muncy in the fifth inning, but, prior to that, he was really good. Nine strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings and a lot of really ugly swings. Since this goes in the books as a regular season game, the nine strikeouts Monday give Marquez 230 strikeouts on the season, fourth most in the NL. Only Max Scherzer (300), Jacob deGrom (269), and Patrick Corbin (246) had more. The Dodgers overcame a big deficit to win the division On May 8, the Dodgers were nine games back of first place in the NL West. They were 4 1/2 games back as recently as Aug. 22. It's been a few years since a team erased a nine-game deficit to win the division. Those 2015 Rangers were as far back as 9 1/2 games in the standings, including nine games back as late as July 22. The Rockies are going to Chicago next Even with Monday's loss, the Rockies do get to play another game. They'll face the Cubs at Wrigley Field in the NL Wild Card Game on Tuesday night. Here's the Rockies' travel schedule: Sunday: Beat the Nationals in Colorado Beat the Nationals in Colorado Monday: Lose to the Dodgers in Los Angeles Lose to the Dodgers in Los Angeles Tuesday: Play the Cubs in the Wild Card Game in Chicago Mountain Time to Pacific Time to Central Time in three days. That can't be fun. I suppose the good news is the deficit was large enough Monday that Rockies manager Bud Black was able to avoid his top relievers, namely Adam Ottavino and Wade Davis. Ottavino and Davis will be rested and ready to go in the Wild Card Game on Tuesday. Rockies vs. Dodgers: Game 163 commentary If the live blog tool does not load properly, please click here.<doc-sep>

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West for the sixth consecutive season. (EFE/Mike Nelson) LOS ANGELES – Granted one more day on the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday afternoon beat the Colorado Rockies, 5-2, and clinched the organization’s sixth consecutive National League West title. The Rockies, whose first season was 1993, came one game from the first division championship in their history. The teams had finished atop the division with 91-71 records. In the tie-breaker at Dodger Stadium, 24-year-old rookie Walker Buehler pitched 6⅔ one-hit, shutout innings and Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy hit two-run home runs against Rockies starter German Márquez. Colorado hit back-to-back home runs off Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning before the closer recorded the final three outs. By virtue of their win, the Dodgers will open the best-of-five division series against the NL East champion Atlanta Braves on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. The Rockies will play the Chicago Cubs in Chicago in Tuesday night’s win-or-go-home wild-card game. Left-hander Kyle Freeland, a 17-game winner, is expected to make the start on short rest for the Rockies. The Rockies lost last season’s wild-card game to the Arizona Diamondbacks, while the Dodgers played into the World Series. In his 23rd career start, Buehler did not allow a hit until Charlie Blackmon singled with one out in the sixth inning. He rode a 99-mph fastball and wicked slider through a Rockies lineup that had scored 58 runs in its previous seven games, all of those at Coors Field. Nearly two weeks ago, Buehler struck out 12 Rockies in a six-inning start at Dodger Stadium. On Monday afternoon, with the division (and a potential evening trip to Chicago) on the line, he had but three strikeouts, in part because the Rockies seemed eager to swing early. The result was shorter innings and a lower pitch count, allowing Buehler to pitch into the seventh and, in a sixth-inning at-bat of his own, drive in the Dodgers’ fifth run with an opposite-field single. When he was done, Buehler handed the ball manager Dave Roberts. The Dodger Stadium crowd, in love with its new ace, rose and chanted his name. In his final four regular-season starts, Buehler had allowed two earned runs in 26⅔ innings. Story continues In a scoreless game, Rockies starter Márquez struck out the first three batters of the fourth inning. Then he gave up a two-run home run. The first of those three strikeout victims had reached first base on a passed ball, that the result of a miscommunication between Márquez and his catcher, Tony Wolters. On a two-ball, two-strike fastball high in the zone, Muncy swung under the pitch while Wolters was falling to his right knee, perhaps expecting a slider. The ball bounced to the backstop. With Muncy at first base, Márquez then struck out Manny Machado and Yasmani Grandal. His one-ball pitch to Bellinger was a two-seam fastball that veered into Bellinger’s swing path, then landed in the right-field bleachers. The Dodgers led, 2-0. Márquez finished the inning by striking out Buehler. With one out, a runner at second base and Marquez losing his bearing in the fifth inning, Muncy homered on a full-count fastball. The homer was Muncy’s 35th. The Rockies appeared to be closing in on Buehler, the 24-year-old right-hander, in the third inning. Buehler hit Ian Desmond with a fastball. Wolters followed with a sharp ground ball toward left field. Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado rushed to his right and reached with his backhand. The ball clipped his glove, then caromed off his elbow, then his upper arm, before Machado captured it in his right hand, spun, and fired to second base for the force out. In spite of their reputation for possessing a ferocious offense, the Rockies are not even ordinary on the road, away from Coors Field. They ranked 14th – next-to-last – in road OPS among National League teams, and 13th in on-base percentage. They scored 22 runs in their final nine road games, three of those games, and six of those runs, at Dodger Stadium. That they were here at all was a testament to nearly two weeks well spent. The Colorado Rockies will travel to Chicago on Monday night and face the Cubs Tuesday in the NL wild card game. (EFE/Mike Nelson) Twelve days before Monday, the Rockies departed Dodger Stadium on a three-game losing streak. They weren’t hitting. Trevor Story’s elbow was sore and, for the moment, unusable.

Welcome back to New Jersey Devils exhibition hockey! It’s been a good week since the Prospect Challenge anyway. Of course, tonight will have some veterans playing. Tonight begins the preseason for New Jersey and it begins with a split squad. The training camp lineup will be split up as the Devils will play in two separate places on this evening. The Matchups: The New Jersey Devils vs. the New York Rangers (SBN Blog: Blueshirt Banter) and The New Jersey Devils at the Montreal Canadiens (SBN Blog: Habs Eyes on the Prize) The Times: 7:00 PM ET in New Jersey, 7:30 PM ET in Montreal The Broadcasts: TV - MSG, MSG+ for the Devils-Rangers game; TSN2 for the Devils-Montreal game The Songs for the Night: Two games. Two songs. For the Devils-Rangers game, get hyped up with one of the first big hardcore bands to come out of New Jersey. From their first album, The Wacky Hi-jinks of..., this is Adrenalin O.D. and the song is “A.O.D. vs. Godzilla.” For the Devils-Montreal game, let’s go in a different direction. Let’s go indie. Let’s get noisy. Let’s have an instrumental that is not frantic but evokes emotion. From the wonderfully titled album Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, this is “White Noise” by Mogwai. The Rules: The rules remain the rules even when there is more than one game. Please keep your comments clean, legal (read: no streams, no links to streams, no asking for streams, no streams), and all about the games itself. Just as importantly, let’s respect each other. There’s no need for drama or being unwelcoming of your fellow Devils fan. This is a gamethread, let’s focus on the game. Thank you for reading. Go Devils! Twice!<doc-sep>The New York Rangers open preseason against the New Jersey Devils tonight at the Prudential Center. It’s the first look we’ll get at the 2018-19 Rangers, and the coaching staff which includes new head coach David Quinn, assistants Greg Brown and David Oliver, holdover assistant Lindy Ruff, and of course goaltending coach extraordinaire Benoit Allaire. Since the Rangers are rebuilding, there are more opportunities for young players and prospects to make the lineup. Tonight’s game feature a number of those players looking for a chance to prove themselves, including Lias Andersson, Ryan Lindgren, Boo Nieves, Tim Gettinger, Ville Meskanen, Michael Lindqvist, and Neal Pionk. The lineup will also include some mainstays Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider, Jesper Fast, Pavel Buchnevich, and Marc Staal. PROJECTED #NYR LINEUP TOMORROW VS NJ: GOALTENDERS Mazanec Georgiev SKATERS McLeod Hayes Fast Staal Kreider Nieves Schneider Claesson Lindqvist Fogarty Pionk O’Gara Andersson Lindgren DeAngelo Meskanen Buchnevich Gettinger — New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 16, 2018 Between the pipes it’ll be Marek Mazaenc, who joined the Hartford Wolf Pack last season and extended this offseason, and Alexandar Georgiev backstopped the Wolf Pack and backed up Henrik Lundqvist at the NHL level. The two, along with offseason signing Dustin Tokarski, will battle for the role of Lundqvist’s backup this season. On the other side of the ice, the the Rangers will see a split-squad of the Devils, who are play two simultaneous preseason games — one at home and another in Montreal. Players including Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, Brian Boyle, Sami Vatanen, and Keith Kinkaid will face-off against their division rivals at home. #NJDevils vs Rangers should look like this tonight. pic.twitter.com/sRZTF3sHbU — Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) September 17, 2018 For more on the Devils, check out All About the Jersey.<doc-sep>Tonight, the New Jersey Devils opened up their preseason with a split-squad night. One team was in Newark, New Jersey hosting Our Hated Rivals, the New York Rangers. One team was in Montreal, Quebec visiting the Montreal Canadiens. While the Devils held leads in both and were competitive for much of the game, they ended up losing both of them. In New Jersey, the Devils lost in overtime to the Rangers, 3-4. The Rangers ended up matching each of the Devils’ goals. In the short 3-on-3, the Rangers had two straight attacks. Jesper Bratt lost the puck at the sideboards after a clearing attempt towards it and Jesper Fast picked it up behind him. With Michael McLeod heading up ice - he assumed Bratt would have it - the Rangers had a 3-on-1 against Sami Vatanen and goaltender Cam Johnson. Neal Pionk finished the drill with a backdoor shot no one was going to stop. It was a bummer of an ending where the Devils probably had their better of the two showings. In Montreal, the Devils went into the third period holding a 1-0 lead. The game was short on shots as the Devils entered the third period down in shots, 10-13. But the difference maker came from Blake Speers. During a first period power play, defenseman Simon Depres tried to go D-to-D. He ended up moving the puck forward a bit instead of across - and right to Speers. Speers turned on the jets and broke ahead for a shorthanded goal. Montreal would rise up with a whopper of a third period. Victor Mete, Charlie Hudon, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi all scored within two minutes of each other to turn a 1-0 game into a 1-3 game. The Devils were subsequently out-shot and held in check for the remainder of the third period. Not that the game was littered with shooting attempts, but the Devils in Montreal did not even crack 20 shots in their 1-3 regulation defeat. The good news is that this is preseason and the results really do not matter so much. Performances and injuries - as in, no injuries - are more important. I do not know as of this writing if anyone was hurt in either game. I do know that some players raised their stock a bit while others did not put their best skate forward tonight. In a way, it may not be such a bad thing that the Devils lost both games as head coach John Hynes can utilize them as a teaching moment about what is to come in 2018-19. Certainly it is not good to lose to Our Hated Rivals in OT or give up three scores in quick succession in a third period in Montreal. But it is not the end of the world, the season, or anything. The main lesson that I would think Hynes will impart on the players is that they are not going to surprise anyone. Every game, regardless of the opponent and their situation, is going to have its challenges and opportunities. It is on the players to minimize the former and make gains on the latter. In both games, the Devils paid the price for their errors while not making the most out of their opponent’s issues. That said, the Devils did some good things in both games and those should be encouraged. Tonight was their only split-squad game. As there are only three more preseason games before the team heads off to Europe, there will not be too many opportunities for some to make their case for a roster spot. We’ll see who did well enough to get another chance on Thursday, September 20 when the Devils go to Brooklyn. In the meantime, let us discuss both games. The Game Stats for the Devils-Rangers Game: The NHL.com Game Summary | The NHL.com Event Summary | The NHL.com Play by Play Log | The NHL.com Shot Summary | The Natural Stat Trick Game Stats The Game Highlights for the Devils-Rangers Game: While it certainly did not end well, this highlight video from NHL.com should clue you in on what was good (and bad) about the Devils’ performance at the Rock tonight. The Opposition Opinion for the Devils-Rangers Game: I guess if you care about Our Hated Rivals, you should probably go read Bryan Winters’ recap at Blueshirt Banter. The Devils-Rangers Game as a Whole: Do you like penalties? This game had 15 total calls, with 13 non-fighting penalties called in total. As a result, there was a lot of stopping and starting between 5-on-5 play. Plenty of practice time for special teams. While the Devils went 2-for-7 with 10 shots on their power plays; they conceded three shorthanded chances with one of them being a breakaway goal by Lias Andersson. The power play units largely ran what Geoff Ward showed in New Jersey: four forwards and one defenseman, a 1-3-1 formation, build up around the edges to the top, and the occasional drop pass on their breakouts. When it worked, the shots created were pretty smart. When it failed at the blueline or with a defended pass, the Devils were usually caught in counter-attack situations. The Rangers were very aggressive, even sending two PK’ers on the puck carrier at times. The Devils’ own PK, which also ran what they did last season - a wedge plus one - was stingier except when they faltered. While they only allowed three shots out of seven power plays, which is usually superb, two of those three shots ended up being goals: one being a rocket of a shot by Pavel Buchnevich off a Rangers faceoff win and the other being a put-back in the slot by Lias Andersson. There was some good work on both ends, but further gains could be made. The Devils looked really good to start the game. They pressed the issue. They scored first. By the end of the first period, the Devils nearly made it 3-1 a couple of times. The Rangers struggled to attack with no shots on net in the first nine minutes and did little when they had the puck. Unfortunately, that did not lost. The Rangers showed up to the rink ready to play hockey in the second period and put up plenty of offensive pressure. They drew calls; they made the Devils’ bottom six tonight look like a bunch of AHLers; and they made it a game. The third period was more even. Annoying as it was to see a PPG responded with a PPGA not long after, the Devils, I thought, did more at the end to try and break the deadlock. The Rangers, in the latter two periods, were successful at catching the Devils off guard with long passes through the neutral zone. Good on Cam Johnson, the third period goalie, to make two breakaway stops. Bad on the Devils for not adjusting and/or accounting for the speed of Cole Schneider. Still, when push came to shove, the better lines by the Devils were a bit better than the NHL line the Rangers rolled out (although Andersson probably did plenty for his own case for a NHL spot tonight). Overtime was brief with all of two shifts. The opening shift saw an attack by Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, and Andy Greene amount to not much. The Rangers responded, forcing a nice scramble of saves by Johnson. The second shift saw McLeod, Bratt, and Vatanen. The Rangers attacked, the aforementioned loss of the puck by Bratt with McLeod too far up ice, led to the 3-on-1, and Pionk finished it. In total, the shots ended even at 27-28 and 16-17 in 5-on-5 play, both in favor of the opponents. Likewise, attempts in all situations, 50-51, and 5-on-5 hockey, 29-30, were also slightly in favor of the Rangers. I think that’s fair. Despite a better first period and strong ending in regulation, the game ended up being even with loads of man advantages spread about. The Rangers had the better of the Devils in two shifts in OT and in 3-on-3, that’s all you need on some nights.<doc-sep>

The New Jersey Devils will begin their preseason schedule of games tonight. They will have two games tonight with the training camp squad split between Newark, New Jersey and Montreal, Quebec; three more games away from the Rock; and a trip to Bern, Switzerland to play the local team on October 1 to close out preseason. Five days after that one, the 2018-19 regular season for New Jersey will begin against Edmonton in Gothenburg, Sweden. We are less than twenty days away from that game; but the true start of the whole campaign begins tonight. A quick recap of the Devils’ situation. The 2017-18 season was a total success for the Devils. Against what many predicted - including myself - the Devils made the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Yes, they were defeated by Tampa Bay in five games. Yes, the Devils were still done in April. But they played beyond 82 games for the first time in a while and experiencing all of Game 3 - especially when Stefan Noesen scored - it was all worth it even if it was just a five-game run. The fans were - and are - energized for what happens next. The Devils had a fairly quiet offseason. There were some high points. At the NHL Awards Ceremony, Brian Boyle won the Masterton and Taylor Hall became the first ever New Jersey Devil to win the Hart Trophy. At the 2018 NHL Draft, defenseman Ty Smith fell to the Devils at 17th overall - which was a big get. The Devils were far quieter at free agency and several players would move on: Moore, Gibbons, Grabner, Hayes, and Maroon all signed elsewhere. All RFAs except for Miles Wood were signed. Wood remains the only Devil to not be under contract; as an RFA, he does not have much leverage to force a deal. Drew Stafford was unsigned - but he came back to camp on a professional tryout deal. There were no trades or massive deals. Away from the roster, assistant coaches Geoff Ward and Ryane Clowe moved on; the Devils promoted Rick Kowalsky from Binghamton, hired Mike Grier, and named Mark Dennehy the head coach of Binghamton. The only other notable off-ice move was the return of Martin Brodeur to the organization on the business side of the franchise. What about health? At the end of last season, it was revealed that Cory Schneider, Nico Hischier, Pavel Zacha and Taylor Hall were not 100%. Their various conditions, as reported by Chris Ryan of NJ.com: Schneider had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his hip; Hischier had a wrist injury that kept him away from the World Championships; Zacha had a ligament injury that also kept him away from the WCs; and Hall had surgery to repair torn liagments in his left hand. The good news is that Hischier, Zacha, and Hall are all performing in training camp and should be active in preseason. Schneider is a bigger question mark, but it is encouraging that he did take part in a part of the team’s first practices. I would figure on Keith Kinkaid and Eddie Lack opening the season as the goaltending tandem in New Jersey, but that may not be for very long. Other than that, the rest of the team should be ready to go. Training camp has been underway for the past few days. Tonight really starts the campaign for 2018-19. The preseason are just exhibition games. Except these are meaningful for everyone up and down the roster. For the established players, they are to make sure they are in form for when games that count begin. For the coaches, it is to see who works well with each other and how the tactics play out for the start of the season. For the younger players, it is an opportunity to get onto the roster or at least have the decision-makers know that the have a future in Newark. For the Binghamton players, these games will not only get them somewhat prepared for the AHL season but also give the NHL coaches an idea of who can be called upon when players get hurt. There may not be much room on the roster on defense or in the crease, but these games could make some of the decisions to be tougher. For the fans, it is a chance to see what the team can do ahead of the regular season.

A large, flightless bird, similar to an emu and native to both Australia and New Guinea, killed its owner when the man fell down on his property in Florida, authorities said Saturday. According to The Associated Press, the Alachua County Fire Rescue Department told The Gainesville Sun that a cassowary killed the man Friday on land near Gainesville, likely using its exceedingly long claws. The victim's name was not released, but reports said he was apparently breeding the animals. TEXAS PET OWNER DEAD, MAULED BY 2 PIT BULL TERRIERS: POLICE "My understanding is that the gentleman was in the vicinity of the bird and at some point fell. When he fell, he was attacked," Deputy Chief Jeff Taylor told the paper, according to AP. Cassowaries are similar to emus and stand up to six feet tall, weigh as much as 130 pounds and have bright blue heads and necks. But that's not all that makes them distinctive. According to the San Diego Zoo's website, cassowaries are the world's most dangerous bird, boasting a four-inch claw on each foot. "The cassowary can slice open any predator or potential threat with a single swift kick. Powerful legs help the cassowary run up to 31 miles per hour (50 kph) through the dense forest underbrush," AP quoted the website as explaining. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP AP said the fate of the animal in the Florida encounter was not known as of Saturday evening. The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>A cassowary – a large, flightless bird native to Australia and Papua New Guinea – has killed its Florida owner when it attacked him after he fell. The fire rescue department in Alachua county told the Gainesville Sun newspaper the cassowary killed the man on Friday on his property near Gainesville, in the north of the state, likely using its long claws. The victim, whose name was not released, was apparently breeding the birds, state wildlife officials said. “It looks like it was accidental. My understanding is that the gentleman was in the vicinity of the bird and at some point fell. When he fell, he was attacked,” the deputy chief, Jeff Taylor, told the newspaper. Cassowaries are similar to emus. They can be up to 2 meters (6ft) tall and weigh up to 60kg (130lb), with black body feathers and bright blue heads and necks. The San Diego zoo’s website calls cassowaries the world’s most dangerous bird with a 10cm dagger-like claw on each foot. “The cassowary can slice open any predator or potential threat with a single swift kick. Powerful legs help the cassowary run up to 31 miles per hour (50km/h) through the dense forest underbrush,” the website says. Cassowaries are not raised for food in the US, but are sought after by collectors. It is not clear what happened to the bird.<doc-sep>A large, flightless bird native to Australia and New Guinea attacked and killed its owner on a farm in Florida, according to authorities. The man, identified by police as 75-year-old Marvin Hajos, raised cassowaries and was injured after falling on a path near their enclosure Friday, according to Alachua County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Jeff Taylor. Paramedics found Hajos just after 10 a.m. on Friday and transported him to the hospital where he died of his injuries, police said. “Our crews worked very hard to give the victim the best chance possible at survival," Taylor said via email. There were two birds onsite but Taylor said it’s unclear whether they both participated in the attack. Cassowaries are similar to emus and stand up to 6 feet tall and weigh up to 130 pounds, with black body feathers and bright blue heads and necks. The San Diego Zoo’s website calls cassowaries the world’s most dangerous bird with a four-inch, dagger-like claw on each foot. Alligator:Florida family surprised by gator at 2 a.m. Pet lion:Czech man mauled to death by lion he kept in his backyard “The cassowary can slice open any predator or potential threat with a single swift kick. Powerful legs help the cassowary run up to 31 miles per hour through the dense forest underbrush,” the website says. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lists cassowaries along with animals such as alligators, clouded leopards and wolverines as Class II wildlife because they can “pose a danger to people.” Owners must have a permit and “substantial experience and specific cage requirements must be met.” Police spokesperson Lt. Brett Rhodenizer said the cassowary involved is currently secured on private property. "Sheriff's Office personnel will continue their investigation, and may coordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) if necessary as the case progresses," Rhodenizer said. "Initial information indicates that this was a tragic accident for Mr. Hajos and his family." Contributing: The Associated Press Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg<doc-sep>

ALACHUA, Fla. — A large, flightless bird native to Australia and New Guinea attacked and killed its owner when the man fell on his property in Florida, authorities said Saturday. The Alachua County Fire Rescue Department told the Gainesville Sun that a cassowary killed the man Friday on the property near Gainesville, likely using its long claws. The victim, whose name was not released, was apparently breeding the birds, state wildlife officials said. "It looks like it was accidental. My understanding is that the gentleman was in the vicinity of the bird and at some point fell. When he fell, he was attacked," Deputy Chief Jeff Taylor told the newspaper. Cassowaries are similar to emus and stand up to 6 feet tall and weigh up to 130 pounds, with black body feathers and bright blue heads and necks. The San Diego Zoo's website calls cassowaries the world's most dangerous bird with a four-inch, dagger-like claw on each foot. "The cassowary can slice open any predator or potential threat with a single swift kick. Powerful legs help the cassowary run up to 31 miles per hour through the dense forest underbrush," the website says. Cassowaries are not raised for food in the U.S., but are sought after by collectors of exotic birds. To obtain the mandatory permit, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission requires cassowary owners to have "substantial experience" and meet specific cage requirements, spokeswoman Karen Parker told the newspaper. Wildlife officials did not answer phone calls late Saturday from The Associated Press and it could not be learned what happened to the bird.

WATCH: Caroline D'Amore Discusses 'Surreal' MTV's 'The Hills: New Beginnings' Experience & Pizza Girl BusinessThe Los Angeles native discusses what it was like to join the cast of "The Hills: New Beginnings" and her new line of sauce. SEC Football: CBS Sports Announces 2021 Schedule Including Alabama At Florida On September 18The SEC on CBS kicks off on September 18 with an SEC Championship game rematch between the Crimson Tide and Gators. Mayweather Vs. Paul: Showtime Sports Announces Broadcast Team For June 6 EventThe network announced its plans for the broadcast of the pay-per-view exhibition bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Logan Paul. The 74th Annual 'Tony Awards' And 'The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back!' Come To CBS September 26thCBS and Tony Award Productions will celebrate Broadway’s highly anticipated return to live theatre with a multiplatform event The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back! Sunday, September 26th (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) broadcasting on CBS and available to stream live and on demand with Paramount+ or the CBS app. Champions League Final: Christian Pulisic 'Could Be The Difference' For Chelsea Against Manchester City Says Micah RichardsThe Champions League on CBS Sports analyst says Pulisic could have a "huge impact" on Saturday's final for Chelsea as they look to upset the favorites, Manchester City. ⚽⚽⚽ UEFA Champions League Final: How To Watch, Coverage Plan For Chelsea Vs. Manchester CityThe all England final featuring Chelsea and Manchester City is getting wall-to-wall coverage on CBS and various platforms. 📺📺📺<doc-sep>The family of a 35-year-old man who was fatally shot while camping with his two young daughters at Malibu Creek State Park described him as a “supportive and generous husband” in a statement Sunday night. Tristan Beaudette was shot at least once in the upper torso at about 4:45 a.m. on Friday, sheriff’s officials said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The children, ages 2 and 4, were not hurt in the shooting. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Rodney Moore said Sunday that investigators are still trying to identify the assailant, and are sifting through evidence from the scene for leads. “The theory we are working with is he was shot inside the tent,” Moore said. “The children were inside the tent, too. Advertisement “We are working this as a homicide at this point,” he said. “We are gathering evidence.... It will take some time.” Beaudette’s family said he was a “scientist who loved cooking and microbrews.” They said he was married to his high school sweetheart and was “happiest out in nature. “His selfless devotion to his children came naturally, and Tristan found true joy in all aspects of being a father,” the family said. “The grief and trauma this loss has caused our close-knit family is indescribable.” The shooting occurred inside the popular campground in an area frequented by hikers. Malibu Creek State Park is four miles south of Highway 101 and is known around the world as the backdrop for the TV series “MASH,” as well as the movies “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and the original “Planet of the Apes.” Its 15 miles of hiking trails set among 8,200 scenic acres are a well-known destination spot for Angelenos on weekends. richard.winton@latimes.com nicole.santacruz@latimes.com UPDATES: Advertisement June 24, 11:30 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from the victim’s family. This article was originally published June 23 at 6:10 p.m.<doc-sep>A man has been shot dead on a camping trip in California with his two young daughters. Tristan Beaudette, 35, died after suffering a gunshot wound to his upper torso at a campsite in Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas. At least 60 state-owned campsites in the park have closed in the wake of the fatal shooting to allow sheriff’s detectives to hunt for the shooter. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the victim died at the scene of the shooting which was reported at 4.45am on Friday in the 1900 block of Las Virgenes Road. A motive for the shooting of Mr Beaudette - from Irvine in Orange County – is unknown. "It appears that the victim was camping at the site with family members," according to the sheriff's department. The victim was reportedly accompanied by his daughters who are aged two and four. No one else was injured and no arrests appear to have been made. 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>

A man was shot to death while camping with his family at Malibu Creek State Park in the Calabasas area early Friday, and detectives are seeking to identify the assailant, officials said. The victim was camping with his two young girls, ages 2 and 4, when he was shot at least once in the upper torso, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Rodney Moore said. He said the children were not hurt in the shooting. “The theory we are working with is he was shot inside the tent,” Moore said. “The children were inside the tent, too. “We are working this as a homicide at this point,” he said. “We are gathering evidence. ... It will take some time.” The shooting occurred inside the popular Malibu Creek State Park campground in an area well traveled by hikers and day trekkers, officials said. Deputies from the sheriff’s Lost Hills station responded to a report of shots fired in the 1900 block of Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas about 4:45 a.m. When deputies arrived, they found the victim, Moore said. Moore said the man was pronounced dead at the scene. As of Friday afternoon, detectives had not identified the assailant or a motive for the shooting. The man’s family members were taken to the Lost Hills station to be interviewed by investigators. Detectives assisted by deputies and forensic technicians scoured the area in and around the family’s tent Friday. Scent dogs from the Sheriff’s Department searched the area Friday afternoon for clues. The campground itself remained closed to the public. Malibu Creek State Park is four miles south of Highway 101 and is known to millions around the world as the backdrop for the TV series “MASH,” as well as the movies “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and the original “Planet of the Apes.” Its 15 miles of hiking trails set among 8,200 scenic acres are a well-known destination spot for Angelenos on weekends. richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes UPDATES: 5:35 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the shooting. This article was originally posted at 2:40 p.m.

A flash flood warning has been issued for parts of Hawaii after tropical storm Lane drenched the state with more than 1.3 metres of rain. The US National Weather Service (NWS) said a “trailing band of deep tropical moisture” would keep conditions wet in the wake of the storm, which caused major damage and forced the rescue of dozens of people on Sunday. Lane’s downpours dumped more rain on the state than any storm in the past 68 years, according to preliminary figures. Recommended Satellite video shows Hurricane Lane heading towards Hawaii A flash flood warning, meaning flooding is imminent, is in place until 8.45pm Tuesday local time (5.45am Wednesday BST) in Kauai, the northernmost of Hawaii’s main islands. Some bus services have been restricted, parts of key roads have been shut and a primary school has been closed. The rest of the state's islands have been placed under flash flood watch, a lesser alert which means flooding is possible. The NWS said further rainfall in already saturated grounds could quickly lead to flooding. It had been feared that Lane could cause devastation to Hawaii as it barrelled towards the islands as a category 5 hurricane last week. Residents and businesses across the islands prepared for the worst, boarding up windows and stocking up on supplies. 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. 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. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil.<doc-sep>Hurricane Lane: Drone footage captures raging river in Hawaii 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. Lane was downgraded to a tropical storm as it approached Hawaii over the weekend but strong winds and heavy rainfall still made a devastating impact. Big Island was the worst hit with several homes damaged or destroyed and a number of roads closed, authorities said. Waiakea Uka, in the Hilo district, was drenched as 44.88 inches of rain fell in some parts. Hilo was hit by a record-breaking 31 inches of rain between Wednesday and Friday, the National Weather Service said. Two of its neighbourhoods were evacuated, with many people still forced out of their homes now. County Managing Director Will Okabe estimated the clean-up operation could run into the millions, on top of the $650 million total already needed after Mount Kilauea’s recent eruption. He said: “We are going to have to ask for more financial assistance whether it's from the state or from the federal government,” as reported by Hawaii News Now. "It's definitely going to be a challenge to go through the assessment process to really get a handle of the cost." Hawaii damage: Residents bodyboard through the flooded Hilo district Are any flash flood warnings in place right now for Hawaii? A flash flood warning for Kauai island, at the north-west tip of the Hawaiian archipelago, was cancelled within the couple of hours but some roads have been closed due to the heavy rain. Officials had introduced the warning until 7.45am BST today (8.45pm local time on Monday). However, a flood advisory has been introduced for O'hau until 11.15am BST (12.15am local time) and for Maui until (11.30am) 12.30am local time. Hawaii damage: A Hawaii County employee photographs a swollen river in Hilo The National Weather Service said radar showed rain was falling at over a quarter of an inch per hour. Residents are advised to avoid streams, low-lying areas and drainage ditches. A flash flood watch is also in place for all islands until Tuesday afternoon. Many people have now returned to their homes after seeking shelter in emergency shelters on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Hawaii damage: A car is partially submerged by floodwater<doc-sep>

At a Glance Hurricane Lane brought more than four feet of rain and days of flooding to the Big Island. On Kauai, one person was found dead in a flooded stream. More than 20 homes were destroyed in brush fires on Maui Island. Heavy rains associated with the remnants of Lane persisted days after the storm's center pulled away from Hawaii, dumping nearly three feet of rain on the island of Kauai. Officials told the Associated Press that the first confirmed death from the storm occurred Wednesday when crews found the body of 30-year-old Joshua Bradbury in a stream in Koloa, a town on the southern end of Kauai. A resident said he saw Bradbury jump into the stream and float away; police told the AP they believe he was attempting to rescue a dog. (PHOTOS: Lane, in Pictures) The days-long deluge brought by Lane prompted officials to urge residents in southern Kauai to evacuate until waters recede. Rain totals in some parts of the island neared 35 inches by the time Lane was gone. "Some of my friends had to evacuate their Weke Road home in chest-deep water," Terry Lilley, a 15-year resident of Hanalei, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Gov. David Ige signed a supplementary proclamation Tuesday, extending relief for damage resulting from Lane. The proclamation is effective through Oct. 27. Dozens Rescued as Islands Flood The powerful storm racked up prolific rainfall totals, unleashing hours of torrential downpours that yielded dangerous floods, blocking roads for days. The storm became the No. 2 rainmaker from a U.S. tropical cyclone since 1950, topped only by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The storm dumped more than 50 inches of rain on some parts of Hawaii Island, and more than three feet of precipitation in Hilo, where widespread flooding was reported. Some of the biggest rainfall totals came upslope of Hilo, adding to the disaster occurring in the city. "It was almost biblical proportions," Kai Kahele, a state senator who represents Hilo, told the AP. South of Hilo, rising water trapped one family in a Keaau home Friday until rescue personnel could arrive. As the flood slammed tree trunks against her sister's house, Lou-Ann Tolentino and her family climbed to the second floor and called for help, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. Hawaii County firefighters tied one end of a rope to the house and the other to a tree in the yard. After putting on life vests, six adults and five children – two 5-year-olds, a 7-year-old and two 11-year-olds – climbed through the kitchen window to escape. "We jumped into the water, and then they took us one by one up to the hill," Tolentino told the Star-Advertiser. (MORE: Lane's Floodwaters Could Be Toxic, Officials Warn) Ichelle Fukuhara, whose family also had to be rescued from flooding in Keaau, said they had to flee upstairs in their home as debris and flood water battered the lower level Friday. Advertisement "They had to tie ropes from our mountain apple tree and to our house foundation and we all had to climb out one at a time," she told Hawaii News Now. "It was very traumatizing having to watch and praying that your kids are going to make it through with the firemen." Officials told the AP that five tourists were rescued Thursday from their Hilo rental home on the Big Island when it was flooded by a swollen gulch nearby. Hawaii County firefighters were able to remove all five people from the house, and nobody was injured, the report added. "It was quite an experience because we weren't planning to have a hurricane during our vacation time," Suzanne Demerais, one of the rescued tourists, told the AP. Officials also told the AP that they removed six people and a dog from a flooded home in a separate rescue in Hilo, which was flooded with waist-high water. Firefighters on the Big Island rescued 39 people from floodwaters Friday through early Saturday, the AP reported. "Thank you for your work," Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim told state and county officials gathered at county Civil Defense headquarters in Hilo on Saturday. "Man, oh man, oh man, was that a lot of water." Homes Lost to Maui Brush Fire In what was the last thing locals expected to happen as a powerful rainmaker arrived, about 600 people were evacuated in the town of Lahaina on the western side of Maui Island early Friday morning because of a brush fire, Maui County said in a statement.

Looks like Kendall Jenner is really enjoying the single life! Early Tuesday morning, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star was spotted kissing Anwar Hadid, the younger brother of her model pals, Gigi and Bella Hadid. Kendall, 22, cozied up close to Anwar, 18, who put his hands on her face as they kissed, as shown in a picture obtained by TMZ. The model also shared a pic of Anwar's hands to her Instagram Stories, confirming they were hanging out the night before. Instagram Stories The steamy smooch comes less than a week after rumors started swirling that Kendall and NBA star Ben Simmons have struck up a romance. According to multiple reports at the time, Kendall and the Philadelphia 76ers point guard had been been casually seeing each other for a few weeks. "Kendall has been out with Ben Simmons a few times and she likes him," a source told E! News. "They have mutual friends and have been getting to know each other over the last few weeks. He has been spending time in L.A. with her and has been to her house. They've hung out there and have been to dinner a few times." Hear more on that rumored romance in the video below. RELATED CONTENT: Kendall Jenner Compares Her CFDA Fashion Awards Look to a Flamingo -- Pics! Kendall Jenner Steps Out With Ben Simmons in Los Angeles Following Romance Reports: Pics Kendall Jenner Reportedly Dating NBA Star Ben Simmons Kendall Jenner and Rumored New Beau Ben Simmons Step Out Together This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. If you are using ad-blocking software, please disable it and reload the page. Related Gallery<doc-sep>Kendall Jenner was photographed kissing a man who appears to be Anwar Hadid Was Kendall Jenner Caught Making Out with Gigi and Bella Hadid's Brother Anwar? Was Kendall Jenner caught locking lips with Anwar Hadid? Get push notifications with news, features and more. In a photo obtained by TMZ, Jenner, 22, is captured kissing a man who, like Anwar, 18, has bleach blond hair. On Monday, Jenner posted multiple photos to her Instagram Story, including a snap of Anwar’s tattooed hands modeling two sequined cherries, which Jenner also snapped Gigi holding at the awards. Kendall JennerCredit: Kendall Jenner/Instagram Kendall JennerCredit: Kendall Jenner/Instagram According to the outlet, Jenner was with Anwar — he recently split from longtime girlfriend Nicola Peltz, a source confirms to PEOPLE — early Tuesday morning at Socialista New York, where the pair was spotted cuddling and kissing for two hours. Jenner’s rep did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. RELATED VIDEO: Kendall Jenner Feels ‘Ready’ as She Goes Braless in Sheer Dress for Second Time in 24 Hours The photo comes days after Jenner stepped out with Ben Simmons in Los Angeles. Jenner and Philadelphia 76ers player Simmons, 21, were spotted hitting up the Nice Guy in West Hollywood on Wednesday night. Though they arrived separately and exited through different doors, they got in the same SUV at the end of the night, according to video obtained by TMZ. Want to keep up on the latest from PEOPLE? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our best stories of the day delivered straight to your inbox. The duo were also joined by Kaia Gerber and Jordyn Woods, who was reportedly hanging with another NBA player, Devin Booker. The Blast published a video of the couple entering the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Beverly Hills around 2 a.m. Earlier, the model dined at Nobu Malibu along with Scott Disick, Kris Jenner, Corey Gamble and a friend.<doc-sep>Kendall Jenner was spotted kissing Anwar Hadid (Picture: Wenn) Kendall Jenner sent us all into meltdown after she was spotted kissing Anwar Hadid, during a wild night out. AKA Bella and Gigi Hadid’s little brother. But while they didn’t seem to mind who saw them locking lips at a party in New York, the pair have come over all shy in the cold light of day. The supermodel tried to go incognito as she left Mercer Hotel, and headed straight to Gigi’s flat. Kendall Jenner kept her head down after kissing Anwar Hadid (Picture: Backgrid) When we say incognito, the 22-year-old kept her hand firmly locked in front of her face so she definitely didn’t want to be noticed – which is a little hard when you’re part of the most famous family on the planet. But her appearance raised a few eyebrows as Anwar also decided to pop in on his sister, and ended up basically right behind her. Almost as if they planned it… Kenwar (?) haven’t publicly spoken about their kiss – and whether this means the modelling world has a new power couple – but an insider revealed it was ‘just a bit of fun’. Sources told TMZ they aren’t dating, or ‘anything serious’, vowing there’s no bad blood between the KarJenner and the Hadids. Anwar tried – and failed – to go unnoticed while in New York (Picture: Backgrid) Phew! Kendall has been living her best single life recently, after she was linked to basketballer Ben Simmons. In fact, just 24 hours before she enjoyed a make-out session with Anwar, she was seen on a bike-riding date with the Philadelphia 76 star. And just weeks before this all kicked off, she was thought to be seeing Blake Griffin. We seriously can’t Keep Up! Got a showbiz story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you. MORE : Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik take to Instagram to confirm they’re back on MORE : Bella Hadid and The Weeknd ‘officially back together’ as they seal the deal with romantic date<doc-sep>The world has long been wondering what exactly Kendall Jenner's dating situation is. Thanks to a new report from TMZ, everyone may have gotten their answer! Jenner was reportedly spotted kissing Gigi and Bella Hadid's little brother and everyone's losing their minds. Elite Daily reached out to Jenner and Hadid's teams for comment on the report, but did not hear back by the time of publication. So, are Kendall Jenner and Anwar Hadid dating? It's definitely possible! The two were reportedly spotted getting cozy at the 2018 Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards after-party in New York City, according to TMZ. The CFDA Awards, which is basically the Oscars of fashion, brings the international fashion community together each year. So, it makes total sense that Jenner and Hadid would both be in attendance. They’re both models, after all. Plus, Hadid comes from an entire family of fashionistas. His big sisters are Gigi and Bella Hadid (ever heard of them?). So, of course, he’d be at the awards celebration and after-party. Jenner and Hadid were reportedly involved in a hot and heavy makeout session in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 5. According to TMZ’s report, the pair was spotted at Socialista New York, allegedly doing all the things normal couples probably do: kissing, cuddling, holding hands, you name it! So, basically, they were on a date. Which doesn’t necessarily mean they’re dating. Jenner, 22, has been playing the field as of late. Or so it seems. She was spotted with NBA player Ben Simmons just days ago. The two have been out and about recently. They’ve gone on double dates. They’ve spent time at hotels together. They’ve done all the cute things you’d expect a budding couple to do. Elite Daily reached out to Jenner and Simmons' teams for comment on the dating rumors, but did not hear back by the time of publication. Anyway, it seems like Jenner may have her eyes and heart on something else. Because now she’s locking lips with Gigi and Bella Hadid’s baby brother (who is 18, by the way). In spite of all the rumors that could possibly swirl regarding her and Hadid, Jenner actually made a bold move and posted a snapshot of Hadid's hands on her Instagram story: So, what’s the deal here? There’s so much going on and it’s honestly so hard to keep up. What does anyone know about Anwar Hadid, anyway? Well, lucky for you, I did some digging and he’s actually got a pretty interesting history. Even though he’s still a teenager, he’s accomplished quite a lot for his short time on earth so far. He was signed to IMG Models back in 2016 when he was just 16 years old. Since then, he’s walked a slew of runways and done a bunch of professional shoots. So, he’s right up Jenner’s alley in terms of career goals. A couple that slays together... stays together? I don’t know. Jason Kempin/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images In any case, his dating history isn’t as interesting. He had been dating Nicola Peltz since December 2016, but the pair no longer follow each other on Instagram, which may be an indicator that they’ve split. There’s been no official announcement yet about the state of the Hadid-Peltz relationship, so the world will have to settle for Instagram clues. Either way, the apparently ill-fated relationship with Peltz leaves Hadid open for starting something romantic with Jenner — if that's what the supermodel pair are going for, I mean. According to TMZ, an eyewitness saw Jenner head back to her hotel all alone at around 4 a.m after spending some time canoodling with Hadid. So, this wasn’t some all-nighter for the cute new couple, though it does seem like they spent most of the night together. Seems like a date to me! But what do I know? Hollywood has its own rules. Jenner may just be having fun and living her best life, and kissin' multiple boys. And I say, GO KENDALL. Whatever’s going on between them, this is one story that’s going to be interesting to follow!<doc-sep>

Weeks after Anwar Hadid split from long-term girlfriend Nicola Peltz, Gigi and Bella Hadid’s younger brother was seen smooching their BFF, Kendal Jenner, at a CFDA Awards after-party in New York City on Monday evening. Following the intimate moment, TMZ published a grainy photo of the 22-year-old straddling Anwar during their kiss at Socialista New York, which according to the publication lasted two hours and ended around 4am when the model left on her own. Yes, two hours. That’s the equivalent of two episodes of Love Island. In other words - dedication. Instagram On Monday, Jenner also posted multiple photos to her Instagram Story, including a snap of Anwar’s tattooed hands modeling two sequined cherries, which the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star also snapped Gigi holding at the awards. Kendall Jenner Instagram Despite being currently linked to NBA star Ben Simmons, Kendall’s kiss with Anwar isn’t entirely surprising, given their close relationship over the years. In 2016, the reality star even posted an adorable photo with 18-year-old in which she plants a kiss on his cheek with the caption ‘dibs’, suggesting this recent smooch was a long time coming for the pair. Perhaps awkwardly for Kendall and Anwar, Gigi was also in attendance at the awards and posed for several photos with her little brother, but is yet to comment on his romantic make-out session with her friend. Anwar reportedly called time on his relationship with model Nicola Peltz earlier this year after confirming their romance in January 2017 to WWD. Despite being spotted attending Prada's Resort 2019 fashion show together last month, the pair no longer follow each other on social media. Anwar Hadid Instagram Meanwhile, Kendall was spotted by photographers on a bike ride with rumoured love interest Simmons in West Hollywood just a day before the CFDA Awards. The two also were seen hitting up the Nice Guy food chain in West Hollywood last Wednesday with model Kaia Gerber and Kylie Jenner’s BFF Jordan Woods. NBA star Ben Simmons Getty Images However, if you're expecting Kendall to speak out about her romance with Anwar anytime soon, you might be waiting a rather long time given her preference to keep quiet when it comes to discussing her love life. In a recent interview with Vogue, she said: ‘I think it's because I'm not like all my other sisters, who are like, “Here's me and my boyfriend!” So it was a thing for a minute because no one ever saw me with a guy. 'I would always go that extra mile to be low-key with guys, sneaking around all the time. You don't want to, like, look crazy.’ Watch this space.

Hima would end up being nicked by the prone figure’s flailing leg. She would suffer a minor groin strain and run one of the slowest 400 metres in recent times. (Source: Reuters) Hima would end up being nicked by the prone figure’s flailing leg. She would suffer a minor groin strain and run one of the slowest 400 metres in recent times. (Source: Reuters) Hima Das went up against Salwa Eid Naser, a third time at the Asian Games, and there was plenty of drama as Bahrain pipped India to silver with a time of 3:11.89 in the 4×400 Mixed Team Relay. The race was blighted by a couple of human roadblocks with Hima at the centre of both pile-ups. Muhammed Anas took off like a bullet earning the Indian team a good 30-metre lead in the first leg. MR Poovamma would run next alongside Bahrainian hurdles champ Oluwakemi Adekoya, and lose ground to the first female runner for the Middle Eastern team — trailing by around 30 metres. It was at this juncture with Salwa and Hima poised to take off for the third exciting leg, that Oluwakemi would stumble and sprawl out on the inner lane. Hima would end up being nicked by the prone figure’s flailing leg. She would suffer a minor groin strain and run one of the slowest 400 metres in recent times. The Athletics Federation of India launched a protest. “It was clear obstruction and we have lodged a protest. It also caused a minor injury to Hima and cost us some time. The jury will see what happened,” AFI President Adille Sumariwala told PTI. The appeal for obstruction will be heard on Wednesday morning. India lodges protest against Bahrain in 400m mixed relay, decision on Wednesday The Salwa vs Hima face-off would only open up a wider gap with Hima struggling with her injury after having to jump over the Bahraini girl, and Salwa steaming away. By the time, Hima handed over the baton to Rajiv Arokia, Bahrain had managed a good lead though Arokia would try narrowing the gap. Here, at the changeover, Hima would end up collapsing on the track and sitting in Lane 1 unable to get up herself. Arokia would come home in 3:15.71. “They had better experience,” Arokia said of the Bahraini team, adding that the second leg runner surprised the Indians who were fancied for gold. The protest has been admitted by the jury of appeals which will give a ruling at 10am (local time) on Wednesday. The protest has been admitted by the jury of appeals which will give a ruling at 10am (local time) on Wednesday. Salwa, who earned Bahrain the 50m lead, would say, “It was exciting, and we are the world’s best,” she would declare. The Chinese who took fourth place would say they were mighty confused that men and women ran against each other. “We were surprised because we didn’t know that rule. Then lot of confusion happened because people fell on the track. We’re not sure but it was very exciting. We’ll prepare for Tokyo 2020,” a Chinese team member said.<doc-sep>India's rising star Hima Das broke a 14-year-old national record when she clocked 51.00s as she qualified for the 400m final during Day 7 of the ongoing Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta on Saturday. The previous national record was set by Manjit Kaur (51.05s) in Chennai in 2004. Hima ran with Bahrain's Salwa Naser, who is favourite to win this event and won the Heat 1 with a new Games record. Also qualifying for the 400m final was Nirmala Sheoran, who stood fourth overall with a timing of 54.09s. It was the best effort in Heat 3. National champion Dutee Chand, competing in her first big event after winning her gender case at the CAS, qualified for the semifinals of the women's 100m with a timing of 11.38. Running in lane 4, Dutee edged out Kazakhstan's Olga Safronov (11.46) and Uzbekistan's Nigina Sharipova (11.59) to win Heat 2. The effort was slightly slower than her national record (11.29) and the timing of 11:32 with which she had won gold at the National Games. With seven laps to go, Suriya was behind runners and Sanjivani was also struggling to catch up. Asian champion Mohammed Anas also emerged as a strong gold medal contender in the men's 400m by qualifying for the final with a timing of 45.30s. It was the fastest time in the semifinal. Anas cut down on his timing from the Heats as he had clocked 45.63 in the morning session. (With PTi inputs)<doc-sep>Hima Das continued her brilliant run on the international stage as she bagged a silver in the women’s 400m final at the 18th Asian Games on Sunday with a timing of 50.79s. Hima broke her own national record which she had set in the semis with a timing of 51.00s. The joy was doubled as Muhammed Anas added to India’s tally by picking a silver in the men’s 400m final. It could well have been a silver and bronze for India in the women’s 400m final had Nirmla, another Indian participating in the final, not missed out on the third spot by just 0.33 seconds. Hima had earlier scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win gold in the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World U-20 Athletic Championships in Tampere, Finland. Putting on another impressive show, Hima — the daughter of a rice farmer from Dhing in Nagaon district — has made everyone proud as she keeps improving with each outing. Anas too had reasons to smile as he finished second behind Hassan Abdalelah of Qatar with a timing of 45.69s. As was the case in the women’s event Rajiv Arokia finished fourth, missing the bronze by just 0.14 seconds.<doc-sep>What's the story? Ace Indian track and field athlete Hima Das has hit back at a local Assamese news channel that had raised questions regarding doping allegations after a surprise test was conducted on the 18-year-old. In case you didn't know... One of the brightest prospects of Indian athletics, Hima Das proved at the Asian Games that she is ready to be the next big thing. Coming on the back of her Junior Championships Gold, the Indian athlete once again shone throughout the tournament, winning the silver medal in Women's 400m. She added another Silver to her name, this time in the mixed 4x400m relay. However, Das suffered a small setback as well, when she was disqualified from the women's 200m event. The heart of the matter Two days earlier, on August 27, Assamese news channel DY365 ran a story questioning whether doping was behind Hima Das' success at the Asiad. It is widely known that random athletes are picked up for doping tests at every big sporting event. Moreover, the results of these tests are usually not revealed to the general public. Das was picked recently for the same, along with another Indian athlete. The news channel, in this instance, decided to run a story regarding the same. They asked the Indian officials in Jakarta who relayed the same message, that it was a routine check. As expected, the results of the tests were not shared with them. However, the new channel questioned the same, linking Das's improving results to doping. Speaking in the video below, Das hit back at the claims of the News Channel, after the false start that saw her disqualified from the 200m event. She remarked that the accusations distracted her from giving her best. The video is in Hima's native tongue. "I couldn't do well in both the events. I'm new to athletics, and there are all kinds of pressures to deal with. Sirs (coaches) will say more about that. Two people, both from Assam, have been making certain comments which distract athletes," she said. "I plead to them, and all others, to not create any controversy. We are athletes, and we are hurt by such comments. I couldn't do well in the 200m event because I was tensed due to such controversies," the youngster says in the above video. What's next? It is quite disappointing to see honest athletes being put under unnecessary pressure. Hima Das' case is another example of a situation being created out of nothing. Nevertheless, the athlete has now herself hit back, along with support from her coaches.<doc-sep>

Hima Das | Photo Credit: AP New Delhi: India's impressive show in athletics continued on the 12th evening at the ongoing Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta as Hima Das-led Indian Women's 4 x 400m Relay team bagged the gold medal and maintained their dominance in the event. Undefeated in the 21st century, the women's team were up against the formidable Bahrain side, but Hima's outstanding sprint in the final stretch of her part along with the efforts of teammates Machettira Poovamma, Saritaben Laxmanbhai Gayakwad and Velluva Koroth Vismaya helped India retain their title. India now have 58 medals at Asian Games 2018 and 12 gold medals. The gold medal is Hima's third medal at Jakarta after clinching silver in women's 400m and a second-place finish in 4x400m mixed relay event. It could have been his fourth, had she not been disqualified from 200m semifinals. Minutes later, the men's team of Kunhu Muhammed Puthanpurakkal, Dharun Ayyasamy, Muhammed Anas and Rajiv Arokia bagged the silver medal clocking 3:01.85 to clinch their first medal in the event since 2006. The Qatar team finished with Asian record of 3:00.56, while Japan settled for the bronze 3:00.56. Earlier in the day, PU Chitra settled for the bronze medal in women's 1500m clocking 4:12.56 behind Bahrain's Kalkidan Befkadu and Tigist Belay, while Seema Punia failed to defend her gold medal in women's shot put event as he bagged the bronze with her throw of 62.26m. Minutes later, Jinson Johnson clinched historic gold in men's 1500m race as he became the first Indian to bag the medal in 56 years in Asian Games.

Bodyguard (2018 TV series) type TV Show genre Thriller Beginning today, Netflix subscribers can see what the Brits have been so crazy about since August: the limited series Bodyguard, which stars Richard Madden as a troubled Afghanistan war veteran who has been assigned to protect Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes). We asked creator Jed Mercurio — a former doctor turned TV writer — to reveal the origin of the show and why there won’t be a season 2 (at least for now). ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you get the idea for this? JED MERCURIO: Well, I love writing thrillers. Here in the U.K., we haven’t had a thriller set in the political world for a long, long time. That was something the BBC got excited about when I first pitched it to them. It was really a case of trying to figure out the best way into the story. That led to the idea of the [Royalty and] Specialist Protection unit, an elite unit that looks after high-ranking politicians, royals, and diplomats, and protects them from external threats. Did you know early on that you wanted your protagonist to have PTSD? It was actually part of a development process of the character. I looked to find ways that he would be developed away from being a kind of one-dimensional protector who was just heroic in every respect. What we wanted to do was create a character who could plausibly be part of the threat toward the politician. And one of the ways we looked at that was psychological trauma, psychological instability, and a very specific backstory relating to U.K. military operations in the Middle East. When you pitched the show, did you only want to do six episodes? Yeah. It felt like that was the best way to find the focus of the story and to keep it very dynamic and fast-moving, and to be able to move through the twists and turns. There’s a lot of story to get through, but I like things to move fast, and that’s what we wanted to give to the audience. I think the result is a very dynamic piece of storytelling. Was it your idea to cast Richard Madden? I actually worked with Richard before [on Lady Chatterley’s Lover in 2015], so he was a name that I threw in very early on. People got very excited about meeting him. He really wanted to do it, and because I’d worked with him before, I knew the qualities he’d bring, and that he would be a really great leading man. He would be meticulously well-prepared and work very hard on the show. You feature so many women in high-power roles. I come from gender-balanced workplaces. I started off working in medicine, and when I went through med school, it’s 50/50 men and women. And when I started working as a doctor, it’s 50/50 men and women. So I’ve always been very accustomed to women occupying pivotal roles in the professional environment. What I’m doing is trying to show what’s going on in the real world. In terms of high-powered roles in the U.K., the head of the Metropolitan Police is female. The head of the National Crime Agency is female. We all know the prime minister is female. For most of the time when I was writing the script, the home secretary was female. There are great female role models out there, and I just feel very proud to be able to represent them in my work. How did the Brits react when the show debuted on the BBC? We were overwhelmed with the reaction to the show. I mean, as a content creator all you can do is do your best work, and then hope that it resonates somehow with an audience. But we kind of really hit the ground running with this. The first episode was the biggest launch of a new drama in the U.K. for over a decade. And then as the series went on, it just started breaking record after record, and then by the end of the run with the last episode, it’s the most-watched drama episode since modern U.K. records began. When you met with the network, did they want you to make it longer? Are they already asking you to make more? Not at all. One of the benefits of working for the BBC is that they’re very open to different formats. So with a drama season, we can do anything from four episodes to eight, as a standard first run. And six is kind of that sweet spot they like. How has this changed your life? I’m still driving the same car. To be honest, I’m in the very fortunate position that I’ve got another show that is a returning and is actually shooting. Was shooting. It’s great that there’s been a fantastic reaction to Bodyguard, but my first order of business is to get this other show going. It’s Line of Duty, on Hulu in the U.S. It’s on Netflix in the rest of the world, and on the BBC. We’re doing season 5. Bodyguard is currently streaming on Netflix. Related content:<doc-sep>The season one finale of Bodyguard was the UK’s most watched drama TV episode since records began, attracting 17.1 million viewers once BBC iPlayer is taken into account. The Richard Madden-starring thriller, about a police protection officer protecting a politician, was a hit right from the opening episode, and news of its success quickly reached American shores. But will US critics be as enamoured of Bodyguard as those in the UK generally were? Season one is released on Netflix for non-UK territories today (24 October). Here are the takes of the major US publications that have covered the show: Deadline, Dominic Patten “Bodyguard comes with the benefit and burden of having been a massive hit over in Britain. Yet, despite the BBC six-parter being watched by an audience of 11 million at its peak on the other side of the Atlantic, the series [...] is a stiffly mixed collection of conspiracy clichés.” “Virtually handing you a set of storyline binoculars if you can’t see the plot lines coming down the track, the Jed Mercurio-created Bodyguard finds itself more often than not heading towards the weaker aspects of a Designated Survivor.” “Unfortunately, full of filler where there should be thriller, Bodyguard just can’t get the job done, literally or figuratively.” The New York Times, Mike Hale “In Bodyguard, Mercurio’s breakneck story feels, at every moment, both carefully constructed and made up on the spot.” “It can also be a blast, if you’re all about the mystery and the forward momentum and your requirements for plausibility and psychological realism aren’t high. Whether American viewers will be sucked in the way British viewers were is a question that won’t get a definitive answer, since Netflix releases no numbers. British shows that hit it big in America tend to be raucous comedies.” Variety, Daniel D’Addario “This show excels at both the daring, gasp-inducing twist and the methodical construction of slower-burning thrills.” “With nearly as much sprightly imagination as fellow recent British thriller Killing Eve and a committed, gritty relentlessness all its own, Bodyguard makes for the most engaging sort of binge, and for a perfect fall-weekend Netflix series.” ✕ Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events NPR, John Powers “The show doesn’t seek to alert us to the dangers of terrorism and government malfeasance — by now, we’ve had all the warnings we need. Instead, Bodyguard reduces the things that scare us to shamelessly white-knuckled entertainment with a neat resolution. Don’t worry, it suggests: It’s just another thriller.” Collider, Allison Keen “Bodyguard is an exhilarating ride that truly showcases Madden as a major talent, one who is capable of not just leading Winterfell’s bannermen in Game of Thrones, but leading this breakout series and others — or even a certain movie franchise.” Los Angeles Times, Robert Lloyd Some elements of the series struck me as odd, including what seems an endorsement of the surveillance state, and certain climactic revelations had me talking to the screen. But the action is well mounted and the tension tightly wound; it uncoils, when it does, with a satisfying snap. Forbes, Merrill Barr “The action and style are what make Bodyguard accessible. The exploration of PTSD is what makes Bodyguard great. This is a show worth watching and one that we can only hope to see more of down the road. Netflix was right to bring this show to the States – especially when one considers how many veterans make up the streamer’s audience who might find much to connect to in the series as a whole.”<doc-sep>Bodyguard is officially the biggest TV drama since records began (Picture: BBC) If you had any doubt there would be a second series of Bodyguard, the latest news has basically sealed the deal. The Jed Mercurio six-part series is now officially the most successful drama on British television since records began in 2002, and the box set on iPlayer is the most popular series on the streaming service of all time. An incredible 17.1 million of us tuned into that finale – the most stressful 75 minutes imaginable – making up almost a third of the entire British population. So, despite no confirmation coming from camp BBC just yet, let’s just make it clear – it’s happening. ‘Bodyguard continues to smash records and thrill new audiences everyday via the boxset, which is available exclusively on BBC iPlayer for the next five months,’ enthused BBC’s Director of Content, Charlotte Moore. The agonising Bodyguard finale was watched by over 17 million people (Picture: BBC) Simon Heath, CEO & Creative Director of World Productions, added: ‘A big thank you to the BBC for their terrific support and to everyone who watched Bodyguard either live or on catch up. We’re hugely grateful. Bodyguard followed conflicted security guard, David Budd, who’s assigned to protect Julia Montague, the UK’s Home Secretary, as she takes on the Prime Minister to try and pass a controversial terrorism bill. While fans have come up with a vast array of theories behind Bodyguard’s return, writer Mercurio has stressed there are absolutely no plans – just yet. ‘I really don’t know [about series 2],’ he exclusively told Metro.co.uk. ‘The approach to it was definitely that we would just focus on this series and if we’re fortunate enough it’s successful and the BBC wants to do more, and we can find a way of setting up production, then yes definitely I’d be open to the idea. ‘But there’s been absolutely no discussion about a second series yet, there’s certainly no plan to do a second series yet until we’ve had that conversation with the BBC.’ So Beeb, what are you waiting for? Bodyguard is available to stream on iPlayer now. Got a showbiz story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you. MORE : Richard Madden channels inner James Bond with swanky new car amid claims he will be offered 007 role MORE : Richard Madden’s ex Jenna Coleman shares the red carpet with his new girlfriend Ellie Bamber<doc-sep>Trailer for new BBC drama Bodyguard starring Richard Madden FREE now for the biggest moments from morning TV SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow for the biggest moments from morning TV 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. Bodyguard drops on Netflix on Wednesday, October 24 When will Bodyguard be released on Netflix? Bodyguard, the hit BBC drama of the summer is launching on Netflix globally this month. This means fans inside and outside the UK and Ireland who were not able to watch the show as it aired on BBC One will be able to catch up with the gripping drama from Line of Duty’s Jed Mercurio. The official global Netflix release date is tomorrow, Wednesday, October 24. Fans across the globe will be able to stream and download the entire series as soon as it is released tomorrow morning. UK and Ireland fans of the show can watch the show on Netflix and are still able to watch all six episodes of the drama via the BBC iPlayer for the next five months. Bodyguard was first released in September 2018 on the BBC and soon became the most watched TV drama in 10 years across all channels. Netflix acquired the rights to Bodyguard in a deal with ITV Studios. The deal was made by production company World Productions which was bought by ITV Studios last year. Maria Kyriacou, President International, ITV Studios said: “Bodyguard has gripped the [UK] with its twists and turns. It’s a perfect example of a show produced locally which has huge global appeal. Through our partnership with Netflix, we can’t wait for audiences around the world to enjoy the show as much as audiences here in the UK.” HOW TO WATCH THE BODYGUARD ONLINE Bodyguard will drop on Netflix, Wednesday October 23 What will happen in Bodyguard? The official BBC synopsis for the series reads: “Set in and around the corridors of power, Bodyguard tells the fictional story of David Budd (played by Richard Madden), a heroic but volatile war veteran now working as a Specialist Protection Officer for the Royalty and Specialist Protection Branch (RaSP) of London’s Metropolitan Police Service. “When he is assigned to protect the ambitious and powerful Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes), Budd finds himself torn between his duty and his beliefs. Responsible for her safety, could he become her biggest threat?” Things soon turn dark after the Home Secretary becomes the target of a terror plot and David puts his life in grave danger to pursue the truth. BODYGUARD REVIEW: A TRULY TERRORISING THRILLER Bodyguard will drop on Netflix, Wednesday October 23 Who stars in Bodyguard? Game of Thrones alumni, Richard Madden plays Bodyguard’s lead character, PC David Budd. David is a war veteran and becomes a Specialist Protection Officer of the MET Police who is assigned to protect the Home Secretary, Julia Montague. Madden is best recognised as Robb Stark in HBO’s Game of Thrones and as Prince Kit in the Disney adaption of Cinderella. Keeley Hawes plays Conservative Home Secretary Julia Montague. Hawes is best known as Detective Lindsay Denton in Line of Duty. Hawes described her character as a: “Hugely ambitious woman and incredibly bright. She got into politics for all the right reasons... to make the right changes. She’s strong but she’s also flawed. She’s kind of damage – she’s divorced, vulnerable, and she’s in such a tense and high-power, high-profile job as a cabinet minister.” Other cast members include Peaky Blinder’s Sophie Rundle as David’s wife Vicky, BAFTA-winning actress Gina McKee as Commander Anne Sampson and the Bourne Identity actor Vincent Franklin as Mike Travis, The Minister of State for Counter-Terrorism. Nicholas Gleaves and Nina Toussaint-White also star in Bodyguard as MP Roger Penhaligon and Detective Louise Rayburn respectively. WHO STARS IN BODYGUARD? Bodyguard is available on Netflix worldwide tomorrow, Wednesday, October 24.<doc-sep>

Bodyguard (2018 TV series) type TV Show genre Thriller If you love sitting on the edge of your seat and not having a clue who to trust, Netflix’s Bodyguard is for you. The political thriller — which debuted on the BBC to British audiences back in August — stars Game of Thrones alum Richard Madden as a police officer and PTSD-suffering war veteran David Budd, who is assigned as a protection officer to the U.K.’s controversial Home Secretary Julia Montague (played by Line Of Duty’s Keeley Hawes) at a time when there’s a heightened threat of terrorism in the country. Crammed with twists, turns and what-the-heck-is-even-happening moments, the show (created by Line of Duty‘s Jed Mercurio) is the precisely the kind of content you won’t be able to resist binging in one sitting — there are just six episodes, so it’s totally doable. Here are the five main reasons we love the series so much. 1. Richard Madden is perfectly cast — and hot — as David Budd He’s proved his chops by suffering possibly the most traumatizing death on cable TV as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones, shown how suave he can be, pursuing slipper-less would-be-princesses in the live action retelling of Cinderella and let loose, rocking some drug-addled minds as superstar DJ Leo West in Netflix’s summer romp Ibiza, but Bodyguard is where Madden really gets to show his range and skill. From moments of sheer panic (bound to happen when you wake up with a bomb strapped to your chest!! ), to tortured stares and stony silences, the Scottish actor hits every beat with nuance and vulnerability. If you don’t believe that he’s a superstar — well, first, watch the show and you totally will — maybe you will when he’s cast as the next James Bond. — Ruth Kinane 2. It’s already a monster hit in the U.K. — and the Brits have sophisticated taste, mostly The country that brought us heavyweight drams such as Luther, Broadchurch, Sherlock and Downton Abbey has more than shown it knows how to deliver content and Bodyguard is no exception. The show captivated audiences weekly in late summer, drawing in more than 10 million television viewers in a week for its first episode, securing the largest audience for a new drama on U.K. TV since Downton Abbey. “The first episode was the biggest launch of a new drama in the U.K. for over a decade,” creator and writer Mercurio told EW. “And then as the series went on, it just started breaking record after record, and then by the end of the run with the last episode, it’s the most-watched drama episode since modern U.K. records began.” Thinking of tuning in yet? — RK 3. That 20-minute opening scene Sometimes, when you start a new show, it takes you a minute to get into it the action and you wind up swiping through social media on your phone with one eye on the TV screen. NOT WITH THIS SHOW. As soon as we meet David Budd sitting on a train with his two kids who he is shepherding back to their mother’s home, he’s scanning his surroundings aware of some barely perceptible threat. Minutes later he’s trying to talk a terrorist suicide bomber out of detonating the bomb and killing all the train’s passengers — including his two young children. It’s about as tense as it comes and Madden’s face runs a gamut of emotions from a calm, conversational façade to high-pitched desperation. (Honestly, the moment where he loses cell phone service, an incident that could derail his attempts to stop the bomber, is probably the most stressful thing I’ve ever witnessed.) Interestingly, the bomb on the train scene was originally intended to be set on a subway. “It was actually set in the London underground originally, in a station in central London,” Madden told EW. “We had a problem with that location, so we lost it and ended up having to change the whole concept and make it on a moving train coming into London, rather than be on the underground. I think that was great actually, because I think it makes it much more accessible and much less about London and more about the whole of the U.K. — and that works to pull people in.” — RK 4. All the women in power positions From the moment the first episode begins, we meet women in power — and they never stop coming.

Ford has introduced the 2019 New Ford Endeavour in India for a starting price of Rs 28.19 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The new Endeavour now gets a base variant housing a 2.2-litre diesel motor with a manual gearbox. Ford has also reduced the price of previous variants with automatic gearbox. The new Endeavour gets some minor changes in exterior and cabin. Click here to watch latest automobile videos and reviews! “As one of India’s most loved, trusted and revered premium SUV brand, Ford Endeavour has helped each of its owners to make every drive extraordinary,” said Anurag Mehrotra, president and managing director, Ford India. “Taking forward its rich legacy, the New Ford Endeavour will also enable customers to take on the most epic adventures and conquer tough terrains with ease while delivering on its value proposition.” New Ford Endeavour cabin. (Image: Ford) New Ford Endeavour introduces several changes to the premium SUVs design. The new design front bumper, chrome plated bold trapezoidal grille, integrated skid plates at both rear and front bumpers, new design 18-inch alloy wheels, puddle lamps are the changes to the exterior. Inside the cabin, the new Endeavour introduces 8-way power adjustable driver & front passenger seat, first-in-class Active Noise Cancellation (a technology used in noise-cancelling headphones) to help reduce low-frequency engine sounds from entering the cabin. The rest of the features continue to be the same. The new Ford Endeavour continues to be powered by two diesel engine options -- 2.2-litre four-cylinder TDCi and 3.2-litre five-cylinder TDCi. The 2.2-litre diesel motor puts out 160PS of power and 385 Nm of torque. This engine is now paired to a six-speed manual transmission as well along with automatic. With the new introduction of a manual transmission, the 2.2L engine will deliver a best-in-segment 14.2 Kmpl fuel economy. The Automatic transmission will continue delivering a fuel economy of 12.62 Kmpl. The 3.2- diesel engine generates 200PS of power and 470 Nm of torque. With a simplified variant lineup, the New Endeavour is now available in three-trims – 2.2L Titanium Manual, 2.2L Titanium+ Automatic and 3.2L Titanium+ Automatic.<doc-sep>Modified On Feb 25, 2019 06:02 PM By Dhruv for Ford Endeavour 2015-2020 Ford has just updated the Endeavour and here’s how it stacks up against its rivals on paper Ford has given the Endeavour a midlife update and added a few features to bring the SUV in line with the times. It competes with the Mahindra Alturas G4, Toyota Fortuner and Isuzu MU-X in its segment. While the Endeavour has not received a comprehensive cosmetic overhaul, it is enough for us to once again compare it with its rivals on paper to find out which one has better specs. DIMENSIONS Measurements 2019 Ford Endeavour Mahindra Alturas G4 Toyota Fortuner Isuzu MU-X Length 4903mm 4850mm 4795mm 4825mm Width 1869mm 1960mm 1855mm 1860mm Height 1837mm 1845mm 1835mm 1840mm Wheelbase 2850mm 2865mm 2745mm 2845mm Ground Clearance 225mm 244mm 225mm 230mm Longest: Ford Endeavour Widest: Mahindra Alturas G4 Tallest: Mahindra Alturas G4 Longest Wheelbase: Mahindra Alturas G4 Highest Ground Clearance (laden): Isuzu mu-X Just like before, the Endeavour is longer than all its rivals. However, the Mahindra Alturas G4 is the widest and the tallest, and also has the longest wheelbase. The 2019 Endeavour comes in second when comparing the width, third when talking about height and second again as far as wheelbase is concerned. The 2019 Endeavour is bigger than the Toyota Fortuner in all dimensions. Diesel 2019 Ford Endeavour Mahindra Alturas G4 Toyota Fortuner Isuzu MU-X Displacement 2.2-litre/3.2-litre 2.2-litre 2.8-litre 3.0-litre Power 160PS/200PS 180PS 177PS 177PS Torque 385Nm/470Nm 420Nm 420Nm/450Nm 380Nm Transmission 6-speed AT/ 6-speed MT(2.2-litre) 7-speed AT 6-speed MT/6-speed AT 5-speed AT Drivetrain 4x2/4x4 4x2/4x4 4x2/4x4 4x2/4x4 Most powerful: Ford Endeavour 3.2 Torquiest: Ford Endeavour 3.2 The updated Endeavour’s 3.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine continues to rule the roost in the segment just like before. It is the most powerful and the torquiest amongst its peers. The Alturas G4 comes in second when talking about power, while the AT variant of the Fortuner is second in terms of torque. The Isuzu’s only claim to fame in this list is its 3.0-litre engine, which is second only to the updated Endeavour in terms of displacement. All the SUVs are available with a 2WD drivetrain or a 4WD drivetrain. FEATURES Safety: All SUVs in this comparison are well equipped in terms of driver and occupant safety. They all have ABS with EBD, hill-start assist, traction control, electronic stability control and hill-descent control as well. The updated Endeavour even in the base spec gets six airbags, while the top-spec variant gets seven airbags. The only safety feature missing is ISOFIX mounts in the big Ford, something that is offered in all the others SUVs. The Alturas G4 offers a segment-leading nine airbags, while the Fortuner has seven airbags and the MU-X gets six. Rear parking sensors and a rearview camera are available on the Alturas G4, Fortuner and 2019 Endeavour, but not with the MU-X. Comfort and Convenience features: The top-spec Ford Endeavour boasts of the most goodies in this segment which include an electric panoramic sunroof, electric tailgate and semi-auto parallel park assist as well to identify empty parking spots and turn in automatically. The Mahindra Alturas G4 gets ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control with blowers in the second and third row, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, 360° surround view camera and a smart automatic electric tailgate. It even has a feature called the ‘easy access mode’ which moves the front seats backwards when you open the door. Meanwhile, the Toyota Fortuner gets dual-zone automatic climate control and an electric tailgate with a memory function and jam protection. The MU-X has climate control with cabin vents for all three rows and separate blower controls for the second row of seats and is the least feature-rich of all these SUVs. Off-road ability: All the SUVs compared here have something in common - off-roading ability. The 2019 Endeavour gets a host of off-road modes and the Alturas, Fortuner and MU-X are also equipped with a low-range gearbox and all three can switch between 4WD and 2WD on the fly. Seating: The Ford Endeavour comes with tip and slide mechanism for second-row seats. They can also be reclined and slid forwards and backwards. The third row seats can also be folded down in a 50:50 split. And this can be done electrically. The Mahindra Alturas G4’s second-row seats have a recline function but do not slide. They can be folded 60:40 split and can be tumbled forward to access the third row of seats. The final row of seats can be split-folded 50:50 or flat down to offer more luggage space when not in use. In the Fortuner, the second row seats have one-touch tumble functionality along with the ability to slide and recline. Even the third row seats can recline in the Toyota and are available with a 50:50 split. In the MU-X, the second row seat has a one-touch tumble feature for easy ingress and egress into the third row. The third-row seats can be manually folded down to increase boot space, in 50:50 split fashion. Other common features: These are all premium SUVs that cost north of Rs 25 lakh. So they are bound to have a few features that are common across the range. Features like electrically foldable and adjustable ORVMs, touchscreen infotainment system, climate control with vents and controls for the second row of seats, 60:40 split rear seats, power-adjustable driver seat, steering-mounted audio controls and cruise control are available as standard on the 2019 Endeavour, Alturas G4, Fortuner and MU-X. PRICE Model 2019 Ford Endeavour Mahindra Alturas G4 Toyota Fortuner Isuzu MU-X Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) Rs 28.19 lakh to Rs 32.97 lakh Rs 26.95 lakh to Rs 29.95 lakh Rs 27.58 lakh to Rs 33.28 lakh Rs 27.35 lakh to Rs 29.32 lakh Read More on : Ford Endeavour Automatic<doc-sep>

The 2019 Ford Endeavour facelift has launched in India. Prices for the seven-seat Ford SUV start at Rs 28.19 lakh. The Ford Endeavour is available with two engine options – a 2.2-litre, prices for which range between Rs 28.19-30.60 lakh and a 3.2-litre, which is priced at Rs 32.97 lakh. Competition for the Ford Endeavour facelift in India ranges from the likes of the recently launched Mahindra Alturas G4 to the extremely popular Toyota Fortuner, and even the Skoda Kodiaq. The Ford Endeavour is only available with diesel engine options as mentioned above, and there is no petrol motor on offer. 2019 Ford Endeavour technical specifications Endeavour 2.2 Endeavour 3.2 LxWxH 4903x1869x1837mm 4903x1869x1837mm Wheelbase 2850mm 2850mm Engine 2.2-litre, 4-cyl, turbo-diesel 3.2-litre, 5-cyl, turbo-diesel Power 160hp at 3200rpm 200hp at 3000rpm Torque 385Nm at 1750-2500rpm 470Nm at 1750-2500rpm Gearbox 6-speed MT/AT 6-speed AT All-wheel-drive No Yes Tyres 265/60 R18 265/60 R18 Kerb weight 2204kg (MT)/2238kg (AT) 2394kg The updated Ford Endeavour gets a new triple-slat grille with new styling bits and a new black painted bezel around the fog lamps. The new Endeavour also gets blacked out headlamps with LED daytime running lights and HID headlamps. Other changes on the exterior include a new set of 18-inch wheels in a two-tone black and diamond-cut finish. Around the rear, there are no changes in terms of design, however, Ford has added a virtual pedal to open the boot with a swipe of the foot below the rear bumper, which is quite a handy feature. There is also a new colour on offer – as seen in the images above – called ‘Diffused Silver’, which replaces the older shade of grey. On the inside, the Endeavour now gets a black and beige, two-tone dashboard as compared to the older version that got a brown-black-beige combination. The gear lever has also received an update with a chrome bezel and the SUV now get keyless entry and a start-stop button. Other features include a touchscreen infotainment system with Ford’s excellent Sync3 user interface along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 2019 Ford Endeavour variant-wise prices (ex-showroom, pan-India) Variant New Endeavour Old Endeavour Endeavour 2.2 Trend AT 4x2 - 26.83 lakh Endeavour 2.2 Titanium MT 4x2 28.19 lakh - Endeavour 2.2 Titanium+ AT 4x2 30.60 lakh 31.07 lakh Endeavour 3.2 Titanium+ AT 4x4 32.97 lakh 33.31 lakh While the Toyota Fortuner has always been the crowd favourite in this segment, these smaller updates to the Ford Endeavour might help swing buyers back towards this big and brutish ladder frame SUV. The return of the manual gearbox with the 2.2-litre engine will also help the Ford Endeavour get an entry level customer that now has the option of the Mahindra Alturas G4 too. While the Ford SUV has maintained an average of about 500 units a month over the last year and a half or so, expect this update to up the sales figures marginally too. 2019 Ford Endeavour vs rivals: Price (ex-showroom, pan-India) Ford Endeavour Toyota Fortuner* Mahindra Alturas G4 Skoda Kodiaq Petrol variants - Rs 27.58-29.17 lakh - - Diesel variants Rs 28.19-32.97 lakh Rs 29.59-33.28 lakh Rs 26.95-29.95 lakh Rs 34.49-35.99 lakh *Toyota Fortuner prices are ex-showroom, Delhi Also see: Ford Endeavour facelift image gallery 2019 Ford Endeavour facelift review, test drive

The BBC investigated but declined to publish a story when it could not confirm what happened - Mr Cavil deleted the Facebook posts in which he made the false claims and did not respond to an interview request. He repeated the false claims when contacted by other media organisations.<doc-sep>A waiter at a Texas steakhouse made up the viral story about a customer leaving him a racist note, his employer said Monday. The story gained national attention after Khalil Cavil, a 20-year-old server for Saltgrass Steak House in Odessa, Texas, posted a now-deleted image of the receipt he claimed was left for him on July 14. On the bill, Khalil's name was circled and the words, "we don't tip terrorist," were written at the top. Cavil wrote in his post, which was deleted as of Tuesday morning: "I share this because I want people to understand that this racism, and this hatred still exists. Although, this is nothing new, it is still something that will test your faith." Cavil's Facebook page also appears to have been deleted. Saltgrass originally said it had banned the customer blamed for the message. But now, the restaurant's corporate office says it has learned the story was a hoax. "After further investigation, we have learned that our employee fabricated the entire story," Terry Turney, COO of Saltgrass Steak House, told the Odessa American in a statement. "The customer has been contacted and invited back to our restaurant to dine on us. Racism of any form is intolerable, and we will always act swiftly should it occur in any of our establishments. "Falsely accusing someone of racism is equaling disturbing," Turney said. Cavil also admitted to newspaper that he wrote the "we don't tip terrorist" note himself. "I did write it," Cavil told the Odessa American. "I don't have an explanation. I made a mistake. There is no excuse for what I did." After sharing his post on Facebook, Cavil had received monetary donations, which he told the newspaper is now being returned.<doc-sep>The Texas restaurant company which banned a customer after an employee’s story of a receipt scrawled with a racial epithet went viral said that it had parted ways with the employee and learned that the story was made up. “We have learned that our employee fabricated the entire story,” Terry Turney, the chief operating officer of Saltgrass steakhouses, said in a statement. “Racism of any form is intolerable, and we will always act swiftly should it occur in any of our establishments. Falsely accusing someone of racism is equally disturbing.” The incident unfolded earlier this month when Khalil Cavil, a 20-year-old waiter at a Saltgrass outpost in Odessa, Texas, posted an image to Facebook that showed a $108 bill with zero on the tip line, and “We don’t tip terrorist,” written in ink at the top. Mr Cavil, who is of mixed black and white parentage, said that he received the note from one of his tables, and that it left him “sick to my stomach”. “I share this because I want people to understand that this racism, and this hatred still exists,” he wrote. “Although, this is nothing new, it is still something that will test your faith.” The incident came in the midst of increased attention given to incidents of racist behaviour in the public sphere, particularly as they are shared in social media posts that generate thousands of views and strong emotions. But the ease with which fake information can spread on the internet before it is ever verified remains a persistent concern. Mr Cavil’s post was shared thousands of times, generating some 8,000 comments on Facebook. The decision by Saltgrass, which is owned by the company Landry’s, to ban the customer for the incident made headlines around the world. 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>

Waiter Cavil's post was shared thousands of times on Facebook which generating some 8,000 comments. The Texas restaurant company which banned a customer after an employee's story of a receipt scrawled with a racial epithet went viral said on Monday that it had parted ways with the employee and learned that the story was spurious. "After further investigation, we have learned that our employee fabricated the entire story," Terry Turney, the chief operating officer of Saltgrass steakhouses, said in a statement. "Racism of any form is intolerable, and we will always act swiftly should it occur in any of our establishments. Falsely accusing someone of racism is equaling disturbing." The incident unfolded earlier this month when Khalil Cavil, a 20-year-old waiter at a Saltgrass outpost in Odessa, Texas, posted an image to Facebook that showed a $108 bill with zero on the tip line, and "We don't tip terrorist," written in ink at the top. Cavil, who is of mixed black and white parentage, said that he received the note from one of his tables, and that it left him "sick to my stomach." "I share this because I want people to understand that this racism, and this hatred still exists," Cavil wrote. "Although, this is nothing new, it is still something that will test your faith." The incident came in the midst of increased attention given to incidents of racist behavior in the public sphere, particularly as they are shared in social media posts that generate thousands of views and strong emotions. But the ease with which fake information can spread on the Internet before it is ever verified remains a persistent concern. Cavil's post was shared thousands of times, generating some 8,000 comments on Facebook. The decision by Saltgrass, which is owned by the company Landry's, to ban the customer for the incident drew coverage in USA Today, CBS, and The Washington Post. "Racism of any form is unacceptable," Turney said at the time. On Monday, the company declined to explain what had caused it to issue the striking about-face or whether Cavil had been dismissed. "All I can say is he's no longer with the company," spokeswoman Colleen Wagner said. It is not clear what information on the image of the receipt was authentic. The customer, whose name had been redacted on the receipt, has not been identified, but the company said that the person had been invited back to the restaurant to dine for free. Cavil was not immediately available for comment. A voicemail message left with his mother, Jamie Swindle, was not returned. The Odessa American reported that he had apologized in an interview with a reporter. After his story went viral, Cavil thanked supporters on Facebook who sent him money. But Cavil's Facebook posts about the incident have since been deleted and it is not clear if his profile still exists on the service. At the time, Cavil gave an interview to an ABC affiliate in Texas in which he spoke about what he said was the history of his name and about how his faith was guiding him through the experience of supposedly being called a terrorist. "It was not about the money," Cavil said. "It's about shedding a light on an issue I feel very passionately about."

The day many of you have been waiting for is finally here, Borderlands 3 is launching on Xbox One and other platforms on September 13. Many expected the title to be available in 2020 or 2021, but that's not the case at all. What's even better is that the game features phenomenal Xbox One X support. According to developer Gearbox Software, the original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and an all-new mayhem-fueled adventure. Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four brand new Vault Hunters, each with deep skill trees, abilities, and customization. Your goal is to stop the fanatical Calypso Twins from uniting the bandit clans and claiming the galaxy's ultimate power. During the course of the adventure, you'll discover new worlds beyond Pandora, each featuring unique environments. There are a number of editions available, and each come with their own perks. However, only the $100 Super Deluxe Edition gives you access to the season pass and all the additional content. Given the scope of Borderlands 2 post-launch content, it's safe to assume that Borderlands 3 will get a lot of missions in late 2019 and early 2020. Everything you need to know about Borderlands 3 Are you interested in Borderlands 3? What do you want to see from the game? Let us know. Keep in mind that you have to go through the Epic Games Store on PC. Borderlands 3 is exclusive to to that platform until April 2020. Luckily, there's no such restriction on consoles so you can purchase it from the Microsoft or PlayStation stores. Amazon See at Amazon GameStop Microsoft Store The price of many of these bundles may go up after launch. For example, the special editions are only available at a discount until September. If you're interested in the game, and will probably play the expansions, be sure to pick up those versions. Xbox accessories you'll love While you're checking out Borderlands 3, take a look at these awesome Xbox accessories to enhance your experience.<doc-sep>Now that Borderlands 3 is available for pre-order, Gearbox has revealed the game’s various editions. Following the Borderlands 3 release date announcement moments ago, pre-orders for the loot shooter have officially gone live on all platforms. Which means, we have a better idea of what each of the game’s different editions will include. Before we get into details, there is one item in particular worth highlighting. Borderlands 3’s deluxe, and super deluxe editions (both digital and retail) come with boost mods for loot drops, and XP earned. Though the official press release does not mention any other details, their existence as a bonus in the game’s more expensive editions is concerning. Borderlands 2 introduced the concept of Relics, rare items that confer specific bonuses. Indeed, one of these Relics could boost drop rates of items higher than common, and another increased XP gain. It’s not yet clear if these are temporary boosts, or if the deluxe editions simply provide early access to mods players will be able to find through normal play (as that is sometimes the case). Read on below for a round-up of all of the game’s editions. Pre-ordering any edition gets you gold weapon skins, and weapon trinket. Borderlands 3 deluxe edition – $80 Retro Cosmetic Pack: Vault Hunter head and skin, Echo Device skin, and weapon skin. Neon Cosmetic Pack: Vault Hunter head and skin, Echo Device skin, and weapon trinket. Gearbox Cosmetic Pack: Weapon skin, and weapon trinket. Toy Box Weapon Pack: Two toy guns, toy grenade mod, and weapon trinket. XP and loot drop boost mods. Borderlands 3 super deluxe edition – $100 All digital deluxe content. -The Borderlands 3 season pass, which includes: Four campaign DLC packs with new stories, missions, and challenges. Butt Stallion weapon skin, weapon trinket, and grenade mod. Borderlands 3 Diamond Loot Chest collector’s edition – $250 All digital super deluxe content. Diamond Loot Chest Replica: Featuring a functional retractable lid, this chest is perfect for storing your real-world loot. Ten Borderlands 3 character figurines: The four new Vault Hunters, the fanatical Calypso Twins, and some of your favourite characters from the Borderlands universe (approximately 3” tall. ). Sanctuary 3 snap model: Construct your very own Sanctuary 3 model ship (includes stand) Four Vault Key keychains. Cloth galaxy map: Typhon DeLeon’s map of the Borderlands. Five character art lithographs: Unique character prints starring the new Vault Hunters and fanatical Calypso Twins. Borderlands 3 Steelbook case: A metal case for any collector’s shelf. Borderlands 3 is out September 13 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.<doc-sep>“Borderlands 3” will release September 13, according to a tweet from the official “Borderlands” Twitter account that has since been deleted. The tweet, which appears to have been unintentionally published on Monday, states “Mayhem is Coming September 13. Pre-order now for the Gold Weapon Skins Pack!” It also appears “Borderlands 3” will release on the Epic Games Store, based on a second deleted tweet grabbed by user Wario64. The deleted post shows a few seconds of “Borderlands” footage followed by the Epic Games logo. “2K/Take Two has exclusive publishing rights for Borderlands 3 and makes all decisions regarding price-points, territories, distribution and platform partnerships,” wrote Gearbox Software’s Randy Pitchford in a tweet addressing the news of its upcoming release on Epic Games Store. “As a customer, I’m happy to shop in different stores – already do! I’ve bought games from Xbox, Playstation, Switch, Steam, Origin, GOG, Humble, Uplay, Epic and other stores. To me, exclusives are fine when they come w/ advantages and when they are short – say, six months” “For what it’s worth, 2K’s decisions aside, myself and the team at Gearbox have a very keen interest in cross-platform play. We believe multi-platform support is a pre-requisite and Epic’s leadership with cross platform support is helpful to our interests there.” The official release date for “Borderlands 3” will be revealed on Wednesday, the developer previously confirmed. “Borderlands 3” was officially confirmed with a splashy trailer during developer Gearbox’s annual PAX East talk on Thursday. Last week, Gearbox dropped a teaser trailer that ends with the phrase “Mayhem is coming.” The video was entitled “Mask of Mayhem” and the description included a link to the “Borderlands” website. The studio previously announced a remastered and improved version of the original “Borderlands” coming to PC for free, and to consoles. All of the DLC to date for “Borderlands 2” is coming to the VR version of the game for free, as well as a new HD upgrade coming to the other existing games.<doc-sep>

The day many of you have been waiting for is finally here, Borderlands 3 is launching on Xbox One and other platforms on September 13. Many expected the title to be available much later, but that's not the case at all. What's even better is that the game features phenomenal Xbox One X support. The original shooter-looter returns, packing "bazillions" of guns and an all-new mayhem-fueled adventure. Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four brand new Vault Hunters, each with deep skill trees, abilities, and customization. Your goal is to stop the fanatical Calypso Twins from uniting the bandit clans and claiming the galaxy's ultimate power. During the course of the adventure, you'll discover new worlds beyond Pandora, each featuring unique environments. Instead of simply buying the normal version, avid collectors will want to take a look at the Borderlands 3: Collector's Edition. Not only does this package contain the full game, season pass, and all bonus content from the Super Deluxe Edition, it also packs tons of amazing memorabilia. You can take a look at the complete list below. Diamond Loot Chest replica: Featuring a functional retractable lid, this chest is perfect for storing your real-world loot. Featuring a functional retractable lid, this chest is perfect for storing your real-world loot. Character figurines: Make room on your shelf for the whole crew, including the four new Vault Hunters, the fanatical Calypso Twins, and some of your favorite characters from the Borderlands universe. Make room on your shelf for the whole crew, including the four new Vault Hunters, the fanatical Calypso Twins, and some of your favorite characters from the Borderlands universe. Sanctuary 3 snap model: Construct your very own Sanctuary 3 model ship and display it proudly on its included stand. Construct your very own Sanctuary 3 model ship and display it proudly on its included stand. Set of Vault Key keychains: Because you never know when you might stumble across an unopened Vault. Because you never know when you might stumble across an unopened Vault. Cloth galaxy map: Discover new worlds beyond Pandora with Typhon DeLeon's map of the Borderlands. Discover new worlds beyond Pandora with Typhon DeLeon's map of the Borderlands. Character art lithographs: Unique character prints starring the new Vault Hunters and fanatical Calypso Twins. Unique character prints starring the new Vault Hunters and fanatical Calypso Twins. Borderlands 3 SteelBook case: A gorgeous metal case for any collector's shelf. Unfortunately, all this swag doesn't come cheap. It's priced at $250, and is expected to sell out quite soon. Are you interested in the Borderlands 3: Collector's Edition? Let us know.

New relationship Little Mix's Jesy Nelson and Love Island's Chris Hughes are dating. The new couple confirmed their relationship during the week. They went for drinks at The Cauldron, a Harry Potter themed bar in London, and to a kebab shop afterwards. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @jesynelson on Jan 20, 2019 at 2:25pm PST Onlookers spotted them kissing and told The Sun the pair, 'were really affectionate'. The Mail Online are reporting that this was the couple's first date after meeting on social media. They left holding hands and smiling. Jesy split from Harry James in November 2018 Jesy was recently made single following a split from musician Harry James in November. The pair dated for just over a year. Although she deleted all traces of him from her social media they're said to be on good terms. Chris has dated a lot of TV stars in the pair Chris dated Olivia Attwood after meeting on Love Island in 2017. The couple split last year following a highly publicised romance. Chris continued to date TV stars after Olivia briefly moving onto Corrie's Georgia May Foote and Made In Chelsea's Emily Blackwell. Jesy and Chris will be taking things slowly Despite looking really happy together during their Wednesday night date Jesy and Chris will be taking things slowly. A source told the Mail Online that Jesy is busy promoting Little Mix's fifth album. 'She's happy focusing on performances with the girls and promoting their material.'<doc-sep>IF YOU CAN cast your mind back this far, Chris Hughes (of Love Island Kem-and-Chris fame), was on This Morning to take part in a live examination for testicular cancer from a doctor. (You can watch it back here, if you fancy.) He was widely praised for taking part, in an effort to encourage men to do self check-ups regularly. (Recent reports suggest 68% of men don’t know how to properly self-examine in this area.) Prior to this, Chris underwent four surgeries on his testicles after first noticing problems, which stemmed from a varicocele, six years previous, saying he put it off as the issue “didn’t come with a lot of pain”. After his appearance on the show, his older brother Ben, was prompted to check himself. In an Instagram post of the pair as children, Chris explained how Ben “came into my room at 3am the morning after my testicular examination on tv, clearly struggling to sleep, telling me he’d found a lump and asked me if he’s checking it right”. After advising him to go to the doctor, Ben was diagnosed with testicular cancer. This week, Chris returned to This Morning with brother Ben in tow to affirm the importance of self-examinations. Source: ITV “To be completely honest, I had never checked before,” he said. “I text [Chris] after the show and said, ‘you are so, so brave, I can’t believe you did that.’ I came in late [that night], laid in bed and I thought, ‘I’ll just check.’” Ben proceeded to text his brother in the next room to see if he was awake and if he could confirm his worst suspicions. The pair agreed Ben would visit his GP the following day. After undergoing an ultrasound, he was referred to a specialist and was told the bad news – Ben had testicular cancer. What exactly did Ben feel that prompted the call to the doctor? He described it as “a nut-size ball” on the size of his testicle. However, he stressed that size can often vary when it comes to tumours. As of right now, Ben is awaiting the results of his CT scan to see if the cancer has spread. In the mean time, he will be having an operation to remove the testicle. Chris described his shock at the reality of the situation, and how is appearance continues to have a positive impact on men, young and old – something which Ben reiterated. If he hadn’t done it, I’d still be in the dark now.” You can watch the interview below or by clicking here. The Irish Cancer Society Nurseline is available on Freephone 1800 200 700 during weekdays as well as anytime through email, social media and through our online community on cancer.ie. DailyEdge is on Instagram!<doc-sep>She split from her musician beau Harry James in November, following a 16-month romance. And Jesy Nelson looked to be moving on from her ex as she went on a date with Love Island hunk Chris Hughes. The Little Mix singer, 27, and the reality star, 25, are said to have been spending time together in recent weeks, and enjoyed a night mixing cocktails together on Wednesday at Harry Potter themed bar The Cauldron. New romance? Jesy Nelson looked to be moving on from her ex as she went on a date with Love Island hunk Chris Hughes on Wednesday Chris shared videos of the date to Instagram, with Jesy's distinctive tattooed hands visible as she mixed cocktails. The pair seemed to be getting on like a house on fire as they joked about magic and Chris commented on the amethyst colour of the cocktails. A source exclusively told MailOnline: 'This was a first date for Chris and Jesy. Someone slid into the other's Instagram DMs.' Who's that girl? Chris shared videos of the date to Instagram, with Jesy's distinctive tattooed hands visible as she mixed cocktails Magical: The pair seemed to be getting on like a house on fire as they joked about magic and Chris commented on the amethyst colour of the cocktails A source also told The Sun: 'It's very early days but there's definitely an attraction between them and they're getting on really well. 'Jesy is enjoying her newly single status and spending time with Chris – they had fun mixing cocktails together at The Cauldron last night – and couldn't resist posting some pictures on both their Instagram stories. 'They are taking things slowly for now but it could become something more serious.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Jesy and Chris for comment. Jesy and Harry got together in the summer of 2017, when they enjoyed a sun-soaked break in Mykonos together. Fierce: A source told MailOnline: 'This was a first date for Chris and Jesy. Someone slid into the other's Instagram DMs' Hunky: Chris is known for his emotional stint on Love Island 2017 However back in November, it was reported they had split, with the Black Magic hitmaker erasing all traces of Harry from her social media. Despite the Insta-cull, a source said: 'There are no hard feelings between them and they remain good friends – just at the moment it makes sense for them to separate. 'Jesy is in work mode ahead of the release of Little Mix’s new album LM5 and she’s happy focusing on performances with the girls and promoting their material.' Of Jesy's new romance when it sparked up 16 months ago, a source told The Sun: 'Jesy looked very happy with Harry [when they were spotted for the first time in Greece]. They were completely smitten with each other, giggling and taking photos as they tried on different sunglasses. Over: Jesy and now ex Harry James got together in the summer of 2017, when they enjoyed a sun-soaked break in Mykonos together before splitting in November 2018 (Feb 2018) 'They have a lot in common with Harry also in the music industry - he’s definitely Jesy’s type. She used her most recent break from the band to holiday with Harry. It’s early days but there’s definitely a real spark between them.' Jesy has now become the only member of Little Mix to be single, with Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock all in stable relationships. This is not the first time Jesy has enjoyed romance with a reality star, in 2017 she briefly dated TOWIE's Chris Clark, with the relationship coming to an acrimonious end when he rekindled his romance with ex Amber Dowding. Chris was previously in a high-profile romance with fellow Love Island star Olivia Attwood, 27, with the pair going their separate ways in March 2018. He was then linked to Made In Chelsea star Emily Blackwell.<doc-sep>

After Chris Hughes and Jesy Nelson from Little Mix went on a first date, the pair were papped kissing in a kebab shop - and the Love Island star has since given an update on what's going on between them. Say hello to your new celebrity power couple! When asked by The Sun at Tuesday's National Television Awards whether he's still single, Chris responded, "It’s a tough one. I’m just enjoying what I’m doing. There’s no updates, nothing you haven’t seen. I’m just happy with myself at the minute." Oh spill the beans Chris, we need more details than that. Chris at the NTAs with Kem Getty Images After the singer and reality TV star "enjoyed a night mixing cocktails together" on Wednesday [16 January] at Harry Potter themed bar The Cauldron, they were spotted necking on in a chippy in Elephant & Castle, London. The pictures show Jesy and Chris kissing, as well as touching tongues, over the top of ketchup bottles. Who said romance is dead? An onlooker told The Sun, "They couldn't keep their mitts off one another. They kept pausing mid-sentence to snog, and were really affectionate. It may be early days but there's definitely a real spark. "Jesy is enjoying her newly single status and spending time with Chris – they had fun mixing cocktails together at The Cauldron last night – and couldn't resist posting some pictures on both their Instagram stories. They are taking things slowly for now but it could become something more serious." Another insider told MailOnline, "This was a first date for Chris and Jesy. Someone slid into the other's Instagram DMs. It's very early days but there's definitely an attraction between them and they're getting on really well." Whether or not a future date is on the cards for the couple remains to be seen, but the potential new couple comes off the back of Jesy's split from Harry James in November 2018. At the time, she culled her Instagram of all pictures of him, and a source told The Sun the pair had "decided to call it a day" but "there are no hard feelings between them and they remain good friends – just at the moment it makes sense for them to separate. Jesy with Harry at the Brits in February 2018 Getty Images "Jesy is in work mode ahead of the release of Little Mix’s new album LM5 and she’s happy focusing on performances with the girls and promoting their material." Could Chris Hughes fit in that hectic schedule somewhere, Jes? Dusty Baxter-Wright Senior Entertainment & Lifestyle Writer Dusty Baxter-Wright is Cosmopolitan's Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer, covering celebrities, movies, TV and books as well as travel, interiors, food and drink on a daily basis.

T ommy Robinson is facing backlash in Australia after he announced a new speaking tour of the country alongside the leader of a ‘new right’ men-only group. The tour, named “The Deplorables”, features Mr Robinson and Gavin McInnes addressing crowds in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Sydney in December. Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon was freed on bail from a UK prison earlier this year after being charged with contempt of court. Gavin McInnes, centre, founder of the far-right group Proud Boys / AP Gavin McInnes was one of the founders of Vice media before embracing right wing politics, forming the group Proud Boys. Proud Boys have been banned from Facebook and Instagram for "organised hate". Mr Robinson had been set to tour Australia with Milo Yiannopoulos however the event was cancelled without refunds. The new tour has drawn criticism from Australians who have called for the pair to have their visas cancelled. A petition to stop Gavin McInnes’ tour has been signed by over 48,000 people. While Australia’s Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich has called on the country’s Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton to cancel Mr Robinson's visa. The country’s Green Party has also called for the Home Affairs minister to cancel their visas in a lengthy statement. Richard Di Natale, leader of the Green Party said: “Mr Yaxley-Lennon was recently jailed in the United Kingdom after being found guilty of contempt of court, and while a criminal history alone is not necessarily a justification to deny a visa on character grounds, it clearly reflects that his views remain unchanged. “Mr Yaxley-Lennon’s sole reported purpose for this trip is to join a fellow white supremacist in a national talking tour, with the intention of spreading hatred and misogyny and the potential to incite violence.” Other Australians have taken to social media to share their outrage at the tour. Ian Evans wrote: “Tommy Robinson and Gavin McInnes are far-right organisers, with violent supporters. They’ve both been in a rally with Generation Identity, the neo-nazi group. They really shouldn’t be in Australia.” While Karen Williams said: "I hear Tommy Robinson wants to come to Australia., please do not let him in." Another user wrote: "In the coming months Australia is going to get visits from a lot of people such as Tommy Robinson & Gavin McInnes. These people & I use that term loosely, scare me." 20,000 people have signed a petition calling for Tommy Robinson and Gavin McInnes to be allowed into Australia. Tommy Robinson has also been invited to speak in the US by The Middle East Forum. The speech is set to take place in Washington on November 14. Earlier this year Nigel Farage's toured Australia as part of an "Entertaining Evening with Nigel Farage."<doc-sep>Should conservatives be able to gather without facing violent left-wing protests? Should conservatives be able to gather without facing violent left-wing protests?... ANTI-ISLAM campaigner Tommy Robinson has announced he will join Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes on his Australian tour in December, in a move likely to increase pressure on the government to ban the right-wing activists from entering the country. Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is the former leader of the English Defence League and is one of the most prominent anti-Islam voices in the UK. Earlier this year he spent two months in jail after being sentenced for contempt of court for live-streaming outside a “grooming gang” trial. The 35-year-old was released on bail in August and ordered to face a retrial. A judge last week referred the long-running case to the attorney-general to determine whether it should be dropped. In a Facebook video on Monday, Robinson said he was coming to Australia to “thank everyone” for their support, “providing all is good”. “We’re going to see over the next couple of days,” he said. “I guess there’s going to be a lot of people getting triggered in Australia and hopefully a lot of people happy I’ll be coming. Eight weeks ago I was sitting in solitary confinement in prison, and now I’m probably going to address American Congress and speak in cities across Australia.” The tour, dubbed “The Deplorables”, is being organised by Penthouse magazine and follows controversial visits by right-wing provocateurs Milo Yiannopoulos and Lauren Southern, both of which were marred by clashes between attendees and protesters. There are growing calls for McInnes to have his visa rejected on character grounds. The former Vice co-founder has described his Proud Boys group as a “gang” and encourages members to brawl with left-wing groups like Antifa. Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich called on Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to reject both men’s visas, saying the tour would “whip up fear and unrest in our nation and should be of grave concern”. He said McInnes held “hateful, anti-Semitic and abhorrent views” and he would “not be surprised if one of his rallies will result in rioting in the streets as well as in violence and bloodshed”. “This is an individual who has said that he hates Jews and who has demonised Muslims, women, Africans and gays, and who brought a sword to an event and performed a re-enactment of the assassination of Japanese leader Inejiro Asanuma — a killing he described an ‘inspiring moment’ in history,” he said. Dr Abramovich said in the aftermath of the Pittsburgh massacre and a surge in anti-Semitism, “we should not be giving McInnes a platform to spew his vile rhetoric”. On Robinson, Dr Abramovich said it was “alarming that a far-right extremist and white-nationalist” was planning to visit Australia. “Mr Robinson has a number of criminal convictions and has served time in prison for contempt and for trying to enter the US with a false passport,” he said. “Allowing an individual, whose group has engaged in threats and incidents of violence with police, and who through fiery rhetoric and race-baiting promotes religious bigotry and vilification, would be a mistake.” In his Facebook video, Robinson said he knew there would be “a lot of people trying to stop” his visit and that there would be “many people who know very little about me spreading lies and rumours and just out and out bulls**t about who I am and what I stand for”. “They’ll be saying I’m a white supremacist,” he said. “For the record, I despise white supremacy. I’ve got a 10-year history of battling and confronting genuine Nazis. The real far-right hate me and despise me in my own country, I’m known as a race traitor.” Penthouse publisher Damien Costas denied Robinson was Islamophobic. “There’s a big difference between Muslims and the perceived ideology of Islam,” he said. “In my opinion, people don’t have a problem with Muslims, I think they have a problem with extreme Islam and the issues that come with that. I would say the vast majority of Australians don’t have an issue with multiculturalism, it’s when certain groups start advocating a nation with two separate sets of laws. That’s a very different story and a very divisive notion.” He also claimed McInnes “doesn’t advocate violence at all”. “He’s a comedian, he advocates self-defence,” he said. “It’s easy to take what he says out of context and silly to do so. For a number of years, conservatives, especially in the US, have been told to turn the other cheek and take a beating from groups like Antifa because violence is wrong. Now it’s at the point where it’s expected. That’s just wrong.” He added historically “in many cases, the authorities haven’t intervened”. “There’s now an attitude that if the police are not going to get involved, the victims should hit back,” he said. “That’s a very sad state of affairs.” Speaking to news.com.au in August, McInnes said he saw it as a “comedy tour” but predicted it would draw violent left-wing protesters. “I don’t know why,” he said. “We don’t come to their things. I don’t understand why there’s a problem with free speech. Why is that seen as a threat?” He added “people will show up and if they want to fight, I’m happy to fight”. “Our motto is we don’t start fights but we’re happy to finish them,” he said. A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs declined to say whether visas for the pair would be rejected. “The Department does not comment on individual cases,” they said. “All non-citizens entering Australia must meet the character requirements set out in the Migration Act 1958 (the Act), prior to the grant of any visa. For visitors who may hold controversial views, any risk they may pose will be balanced against Australia’s well established freedom of speech and freedom of beliefs, among other relevant considerations.” frank.chung@news.com.au<doc-sep>Over the summer, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was elevated to a free speech martyr on the international far right after a stunt he pulled outside of a courthouse in Leeds, England, that had potential to spoil a just trial. He was arrested, and right-wing personalities quickly flocked to his cause. He currently faces charges of being in contempt of court for violating a court-ordered media blackout surrounding a criminal trial. In May, Robinson was arrested and convicted for filming defendants arriving at the courthouse. The defendants in the high-profile criminal case were accused of involvement in child-sex-abuse rings known as “grooming gangs.” Robinson's initial 13-month sentence was later quashed, and he was released on bail in August. Robinson’s travel plans are pending the outcome of the case, which has been sent to the attorney general. However, he is already making plans to tap into a network of international supporters who rallied behind him. Rumors about an upcoming world tour surfaced during a controversial luncheon for Robinson in the House of Lords. On Monday, Robinson announced plans to tag along on an Australian speaking tour featuring Gavin McInnes, leader of the street-brawling hate group the Proud Boys. Robinson posted a video saying he’s joining up with McInnes on what is being billed as “The Deplorables” tour. “I guess there’s going to be a lot of people getting triggered in Australia and hopefully a lot of people happy I’ll be coming,” Robinson said in the video. This will not be the first time McInnes has given the former English Defence League leader a platform. The EDL are a thuggish anti-Muslim street movement that, like McInnes’ Proud Boys, have engaged in violent street actions. Robinson’s Australia announcement came at the heels of news last week that he had been invited to speak in the United States by Daniel Pipes’ Middle East Forum (MEF), the anti-Muslim hate group David Horowitz Freedom Center, and seven members of Congress, including Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona). He is slated to appear in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14 at a closed-door event sponsored by the Conservative Opportunity Society, which is chaired by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). Robinson is also advertised to speak at a ticketed event later that day. Robinson will not be the first controversial figure to speak at the Conservative Opportunity Society. Previous speakers include former Breitbart executive Stephen Bannon, anti-Muslim demagogue Brigitte Gabriel and Austrian anti-Muslim activist Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff. Pipes’ MEF bankrolled two “Free Tommy” rallies in London over the summer, including one that turned violent. Pipes’ group paid for Rep. Gosar to attend and speak at one of the rallies on July 14. MEF also helped fund Robinson’s legal defense and has vowed to “continue to support Mr. Robinson personally.” Robinson’s past criminal conduct could complicate his travel visa to the U.S. In 2010, he was barred from entering the country while trying to attend a protest against the Park51 Islamic Center in New York City. Two years later, he used a friend’s passport to illegally gain entry into the U.S. to speak at a gathering put on by Stop the Islamization of Nations (SION), a transatlantic anti-Muslim coalition headed by notorious Muslim-basher Pamela Geller. Robinson’s rap sheet also includes assault, drug and public order offenses and mortgage fraud. The Guardian recently described Robinson in an Oct. 25 article as part of “a new breed of entrepreneurial activists who are bringing extremist myths into the mainstream.” “The real challenge posed by the far right is its success at spreading anti-Muslim and xenophobic attitudes in society at large.” The article concludes, “Stephen Yaxley-Lennon is just one symptom of a bigger problem — which must be challenged, locally and internationally, before it starts to do serious damage.”<doc-sep>Tommy Robinson could make more than £1m from a potential trip to the US next month, making him one of the best funded far-right figures since the second world war, an analysis by anti-fascist campaigners says. The English Defence League founder, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been invited to give an address in Washington by members of Congress and is waiting to see if US authorities will grant a visa for the event, scheduled for 14 November. The Middle East Forum (MEF), a US neo-conservative thinktank, and the rightwing David Horowitz Freedom Center invited the 35-year-old, who, despite repeatedly falling foul of the British justice system, has growing support in the US. Robinson is on bail after being charged with contempt of court, and has a string of previous convictions in Britain. Joe Mulhall, a senior researcher at Hope not Hate, said: “The inevitable media coverage that will surround the visit will no doubt lead to an increase in his already significant monthly donations from America. “We believe that, should he be allowed to enter the US for this event, he stands to make in the range of £1m in donations with the potential for much more. America offers the opportunity for further large-scale investment in Lennon.” “Both the organisations that have invited Lennon to the US have a history of donating large amounts to European anti-Muslim individuals and organisations.” MEF donates $2m (£1.6m) annually to primarily rightwing causes and has contributed to Robinson’s legal fees. David Horowitz is also a significant donor to anti-Muslim causes and in 2015 donated £90,000 to the far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders. Former assistants to Robinson recently claimed he had secured a “massive payday” after being jailed for contempt in May, earning hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations. Hope not Hate warns that Robinson will earn massive sums in donations that it fears will be used to fund a future UK tour in which he will attempt to sow community tensions. The sums that far-right activists are raising are unprecedented in modern times. Recent data shows that alt-right figure Stefan Molyneux drew more than £1m from his Bitcoin wallet between February 2013 and January 2018. Robinson, says Mulhall, is significantly more high-profile than Molyneux and stands to make a huge amount in donations.<doc-sep>

FAR-RIGHT hot-head Tommy Robinson has announced plans to tour Australia next month where he will speak alongside the founder of another right-wing group. As the Sun Online revealed last week, the former EDL leader, 35, discussed plans to launch a worldwide tour that could net him millions during his lavish Parliament lunch. 6 Tommy Robinson is set to cash in on his growing notoriety by touring the globe Credit: AFP or licensors Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon - was celebrating with Ukip bigwig Lord Pearson, Ukip leader Gerard Batten and Canadian shock-jock Ezra Levant after his contempt of court charges were sent to the Attorney General. Now on bail, he is hoping to cash in on his new-found fame with a series of speaking tours across the globe. He has already received one firm offer to talk in Washington DC in a fortnight. The event has been organised by the Middle East Forum, a controversial think-tank based in Philadelphia, along with the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a California-based “school for political warfare” set up to defend conservative values from “attack by leftist and Islamist enemies.” The Middle East Forum has already given Robinson “five-figure” financial support for his legal defence, as well as organising London rallies and political lobbying. 6 The EDL founder hopes to speak in Washington DC in two weeks time Credit: Getty Images - Getty In the invitation it says “Is Mr Robinson’s plight America’s future?” However it does explain that Robinson will be able to speak only “assuming all the legal issues are sorted out.” He has a string of criminal convictions and was jailed for 13 months for contempt in May for allegedly breaching reporting restrictions around a grooming gang - although this was later overturned by the court. It is not known if the convictions will hamper his chances of getting a visa to the USA. ​Tommy Robinson addresses crowds outside after he's freed on bail as his case is referred to the attorney general 6 Tommy Robinson, left, pictured alongside Lord Pearson of Rannoch in the House of Lords last Tuesday shortly after leaving court 6 The ex-EDL leader has been invited to speak in Washington DC on November 14 Credit: AFP or licensors After the Washington DC event, Robinson is set to appear alongside Gavin McInnes, the Canadian founder of the alt-right group Proud Boys, at a series of speeches in Australia in December. The pair say they will appear in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Sydney between December 5 and December 16. The tour, dubbed “The Deplorables”, is being organised by Penthouse magazine and follows controversial visits by right-wing figures Milo Yiannopoulos and Lauren Southern, both of which were marred by violence. In a video he posted to Facebook on Tuesday, Robinson boasted: "Australia thinks they've seen scenes when they've had talks and guest speakers there. "You ain't seen nothing like the scenes you're going to get if I'm allowed to come to your country and tell you the real score on what's heading your way." He added: "Eight weeks ago I was sitting in solitary confinement in prison, and now I’m probably going to address American Congress and speak in cities across Australia." Almost 20,000 have signed a petition calling for the right-wing pair to be allowed into Australia. 6 Robinson still faces a possible jail term for contempt of court having posted footage he filmed from outside a grooming gang’s trial online Credit: London News Pictures The controversial plans have sparked concerns Down Under over the threat of violence after some members of McInnes's Proud Boys group were filmed fighting with counter demonstrators in New York last month. Australia's Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich has urged the country's Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to deny Robinson a visa, saying his "race-baiting promotes religious bigotry". Australia's Labor party immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann has meanwhile written to immigration minister David Coleman asking for Robinson's Canadian co-speaker McInnes to be barred from the country. Facebook yesterday banned the Proud Boys group from Facebook and Instagram. They said: "We will take action against hate speech and hate organisations to keep our community safe." 6 There are plans for Robinson to take his message across the globe Credit: Getty Images - Getty A spokesman for British campaign group Hope Not Hate said: "Far right figures like Stephen Lennon and Gavin McInnes are building an international network. "They're seeking new platforms to fundraise, get media attention and recruit supporters.

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 Express Sport runs through the starting grid for the German Grand Prix following penalties Lewis Hamilton is set to start the German Grand Prix from way down the grid after a hydraulic failure in qualifying. The Brit was forced to pull his Mercedes over after losing drive in Q2, with the four-time world champion initially attempting to push his car back to the pits. Sebastian Vettel secured pole position with a mega lap to pip Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas by two tenths, while Daniel Ricciardo will start 19th after Red Bull changed three separate engine parts. Pierre Gasly will begin the race last after Toro Rosso opted to change six engine components following qualifying, with the Frenchman lining up behind Ricciardo because the Australian took his penalty first. Take a look through the gallery above to see the starting grid for the German Grand Prix after penalties have been applied.<doc-sep>Qualifying for the German Grand Prix will get underway at 2pm UK time 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. German Grand Prix qualifying news Red Bull make it a three-way fight The F1 World Drivers’ Championship is delicately poised after 10 races with Sebastian Vettel leading Lewis Hamilton by just eight points. The German triumphed in Hamilton’s backyard, winning the British Grand Prix, and now the Mercedes driver will be hoping to return the favour at Hockenheim. But it is Red Bull who appear ready to spoil the party after first Daniel Ricciardo and then Max Verstappen topped the timesheets during Friday’s FP1 and FP2 respectively. The Milton Keynes-based team are 68 points behind Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship but Ricciardo believes they have a chance reeling in the reigning champions, who still trail Ferrari by 20 at the top. "Compared to how they've been, yeah they look vulnerable, but still in the big scheme of things they are a strong team and difficult to beat,” Ricciardo said. McLaren nightmare continues Fernando Alonso warned last week that Hockenheim would be a difficult track for McLaren and their woes look set to continue in qualifying today. His team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne was bottom of the pack in both morning and afternoon sessions on Friday with Alonso only 12th and 17th. And Vandoorne bemoaned the “worst Friday” of his career afterwards. "We don't understand how to get the car to work. We have to find a solution,” Vandoorne said. "We can see we've got big problems but we don't know how to get the car in a normal condition.” McLaren are not expecting large improvements this weekend Ricciardo qualifying largely irrelevant Daniel Ricciardo has shown strong pace in the Red Bull this week but will still start the German Grand Prix from the back of the grid after incurring a penalty for changing parts on his engine. Red Bull have fitted a new MGU-K, energy store and control electronics on Ricciardo’s Red Bull, exceeding the new 15-place limit on penalties. It guarantees that the Australian will start at the back of the pack on Sunday, but the team preferred to take the hit this week than next as the Hungarian Grand Prix is seen as a circuit that suits their set-up even more. Daniel Ricciardo will start from the back of the grid on Sunday German Grand Prix schedule and timings (All times BST) Friday July 20: FP1 10am-11.30am, FP2 2pm-3.30pm Saturday July 21: FP3 11am-12pm, qualifying 2pm-3pm Sunday July 22: Race 2.10pm Formula 1: Sebastian Vettel discusses Lewis Hamilton rivalry German Grand Prix qualifying TV channel F1 coverage in the UK is split across Sky Sports and Channel 4 with every race live on Sky while the terrestrial channel are showing 10 races - but not the German Grand Prix. However, the Hockenheim race will make an appearance on free-to-air as C4 will show highlights on Saturday and Sunday evening. Sky Sports meanwhile will split coverage between their Main Event and dedicated F1 channels. Sky Sports schedule Friday July 20: FP1 (Sky Sports F1 9.45am-11.50am), FP2 (Sky Sports F1 1.45pm-3.50pm) Saturday July 21: FP3 (Sky Sports F1 10.45am-12.15pm), qualifying (Sky Sports F1 1pm-3.45pm) Sunday July 22: Race (12.30pm-5.10pm) Channel 4 schedule Saturday July 21: Qualifying highlights (5.30pm-7.05pm) Sunday July 22: Race highlights (6.45pm-9pm) F1 2018 Drivers' World Championship standings Sun, July 29, 2018 Express Sport runs through the F1 2018 Drivers' World Championship standings Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 21 Express Sport runs through the latest standings in the F1 2018 Drivers' World Championship<doc-sep>Full qualifying results for the German Grand Prix, the eleventh round of the 2018 F1 season at Hockenheim, Germany. Formula 1 German Grand Prix – Full qualifying classification Q3 1. Sebastian Vettel GER Scuderia Ferrari 1m 11.212s 2. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport 1m 11.416s 3. Kimi Raikkonen FIN Scuderia Ferrari 1m 11.547s 4. Max Verstappen NED Aston Martin Red Bull Racing 1m 11.822s 5. Kevin Magnussen DEN Haas F1 Team 1m 12.200s 6. Romain Grosjean FRA Haas F1 Team 1m 12.544s 7. Nico Hulkenberg GER Renault Sport Formula One Team 1m 12.560s 8. Carlos Sainz Jr. ESP Renault Sport Formula One Team 1m 12.692s 9. Charles Leclerc MON Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team 1m 12.717s 10. Sergio Perez MEX Sahara Force India F1 Team 1m 12.774s Q2 11. Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren F1 Team 1m 13.657s 12. Sergey Sirotkin RUS Williams Martini Racing 1m 13.702s 13. Marcus Ericsson SWE Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team 1m 13.763s 14. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport No time set 15. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Aston Martin Red Bull Racing No time set* Q1 16. Esteban Ocon FRA Sahara Force India F1 Team 1m 13.720s 17. Pierre Gasly FRA Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda 1m 13.749s 18. Brendon Hartley NZL Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda 1m 14.045s 19. Lance Stroll CAN Williams Martini Racing 1m 14.206s 20. Stoffel Vandoorne BEL McLaren F1 Team 1m 14.401s *Ricciardo will start from the back of the grid due to engine penalties<doc-sep>UPDATE: SEBASTIAN Vettel secured pole position for the German Grand Prix on Saturday while Lewis Hamilton’s hopes took another blow. Already trailing Vettel by eight points in the title race, Hamilton starts Sunday’s race from 14th place after a hydraulic failure. A huge roar went up from German fans at the Hockenheimring as their local favorite - Vettel grew up near to the track - moved top of the leaderboard with seconds left in qualifying. Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas had only just beaten Vettel’s leading time, when Vettel produced a stunning lap to move back in front by about 0.2 seconds. “To do it here, just minutes from where I was born and grew up, it means a lot,” Vettel said. “I’m confident for tomorrow.” Vettel has only won the German GP once - five years ago when it was held at the Nuerburgring - but never at Hockeneim. His 55th career pole position felt even sweeter. Today’s one of my best. I have a mixed relationship with this track. For some reason it has never come together,” Vettel said. “The car was really a pleasure to drive. Some days you can feel you have something in your hands. That’s the feeling I had.” Ferrari’s good day was completed with Kimi Raikkonen third fastest, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Earlier, German fans had cheered for a different reason when Hamilton’s Mercedes suddenly stalled on track in the first part of qualifying, known as Q1. It happened shortly after Hamilton had gone too wide into a turn, sliding off the track and then going over some rough grass and bumping over a kerb - momentarily airborne - as he came back onto the track. The British driver desperately tried to push his car back to the pits so he could continue qualifying, but even with the help of track officials he realized it was a futile effort. Moments later, Hamilton was slumped over his car, head down for several moments. “It was a shame to see him go out, and I mean it,” said Vettel, who is aiming for his fifth win this season and 52nd overall. Hamilton is one win away from matching F1 great Michael Schumacher’s record of four German GP wins, but he will need an exceptional drive - and probably a little good fortune - to achieve that. After a huge downpour drenched the track for final practice earlier Saturday, led by Monaco driver Charles Leclerc, the Hockenheimring dried out somewhat by the time qualifying started. After veering off track, a worried Hamilton complained over his team radio that his gears would not change. Within moments, fans had the rare sight of a four- time F1 champion - who has just signed a whopping new two-year contract - pushing his own car. After giving up, Hamilton ripped his driving gloves off in frustration as he walked away. He jumped onto the back of a scooter, taking him to the paddock area. With cameras fixed firmly on him, Hamilton walked slowly before standing completely still for several seconds, his helmet still on, seemingly unable to comprehend his misfortune. It is the latest reliability issue to blight the once-dominant Mercedes team after Hamilton and Bottas were forced to retire from the Austrian GP three weeks ago. There have also been communication errors and strategy mistakes. Hamilton now faces another slog through the field after being bumped off the track by Raikkonen early into the British GP two weeks ago. In that race, he clawed back from last to finish second. Although Hamilton is way down, he still needs to watch his back on Sunday. Daniel Ricciardo, who has won two races for this season, starts from last place because of an engine penalty. He incurred it because Red Bull made changes to the hybrid system, the energy store and the electronics unit for a combined total of 20 grid positions. Drivers can use two of each specific engine part during the season before penalties, but this is the third time he is using each individual element. Hamilton and Ricciardo carving through the midfield, possibly dueling with each other, promises to be an exciting spectacle. Final practice hit by near washout CHARLES Leclerc led a rain-soaked final practice session at the German Grand Prix ahead of qualifying later Saturday. The 20-year-old from Monaco was about 0.4 seconds quicker than his Sauber teammate Marcus Ericsson. Only nine cars set times on a drenched Hockenheim track, with most leading drivers preferring to wait for qualifying. Formula One championship leader Sebastian Vettel went out briefly toward the end, with heavy rain bouncing off his Ferrari, and was fourth behind the Williams car of Russian driver Sergey Sirotkin. Defending champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas did not set times. Neither did Red Bull pair Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, the quickest drivers in first and second practice on a sunny Friday. Frenchman Pierre Gasly span his Toro Rosso car in treacherous conditions. Watch every remaining 2018 FIA Formula One Championship race Exclusively Live & Ad-break free during racing on FOX SPORTS. SIGN UP NOW ><doc-sep>

Sebastian Vettel took pole in dramatic fashion at the German Grand Prix The third and final practice session on Saturday morning was effectively washed out as few chose to even set a lap time in the wet conditions. But Hamilton did suit up and get out on track despite a back issue that left him less than 100 per cent, just to back up Mercedes' assertion that he would be fine for qualifying. Charles Leclerc of Sauber technically set the fastest lap in the morning but Red Bull had topped the two sessions on Friday, giving Max Verstappen hope of a surprise pole. But his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo might not even bother setting a time - he has taken engine penalties that mean he will start at the back of the grid on Sunday. German Grand Prix Q1 results German Grand Prix Q1 results Daniel Ricciardo headed out knowing whatever time he set was largely irrelevant as he would be relegated to the back of the grid by his engine penalties and instead just used the session to run around on the same set of ultra-softs, building up more information for the race. A dire weekend for McLaren showed little sign of abating when Vandoorne complained of gearbox problems but the team were at least able to fix that and give him half a chance of reaching Q2. The biggest casualty of the session was not in the bottom five as Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes got stuck in fourth gear and he could not even limp back to the pits. The Brit even tried pushing his car but was eventually steered off the track and forced to retire from qualifying. With Ricciardo moving all the way down the grid, Hamilton will at best start 14th. Eliminated: 16th Esteban Ocon (Force India), 17th Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso), 18th Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso), 19th Lance Stroll (Williams), 20th Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren). German Grand Prix Q2 results German Grand Prix Q2 results A dramatic qualifying session continued as Marcus Ericsson ran wide in his Sauber and brought a substantial amount of gravel back onto the racing line as he returned to the track. The session was red-flagged with seven minutes left meaning that when green-flag racing resumed, it really only gave drivers one or perhaps two chances to dial in a fast lap. However, with neither Hamilton or Ricciardo setting a time, only three drivers would really be eliminated in Q2 and Charles Leclerc was the man who seized the opportunity as he put his Sauber into Q3 for the third time in four races. 11th Fernando Alonso (McLaren), 12th Sergey Sirotkin (Williams), 13th Marcus Ericsson (Sauber), 14th Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 15th Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull). German Grand Prix Q3 results

After a thrilling win over North Carolina State this past weekend, the Iowa women’s basketball team takes on Baylor in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament this evening. Baylor, historically, is close to juggernaut-status in women’s basketball. Not quite UConn-levels of dominance, but up there. Head coach Kim Mulkey has been in Waco since 2000, racking up a 570-99 record in that time. Under her watch, the Bears have been to five Elite Eights, and two national championships, the most recent one coming in 2012. That team had Britney Griner on it, if you recall. Mulkey also seems... terse with the media. Her and Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder are each finalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award. Baylor coach Kim Mulkey hopes her center, Kalani Brown, doesn't have nightmares about Iowa's Megan Gustafson. Brown is going to try staying with the Hawkeye star. The Bears seem annoyed with attention Megan is getting. pic.twitter.com/oXKJAgzkmi — Rob Howe (@RobHoweHN) March 31, 2019 The last time Baylor was in the Elite Eight was during the 2016-17 season, ending a run of four consecutive trips to the final weekend of the tournament. The last time Iowa was in the Elite Eight was 26 years ago. I’m 27 years old. So yeah. This year, the Bears are led by senior center Kalani Brown, who’s going to be battling with Megan Gustafson in the post for prime position all night. She’s averaging 15 points and 8 boards a game on 61 percent shooting. Brown had 18 and 10 while shooting 9-20 in Baylor’s 90-68 win over South Carolina in the Sweet 16. Junior forward Lauren Cox is another potent offensive weapon for the Lady Bears; she’s averaging 13 and 8 on the year, and had 17 points to go with 14 boards against SC. And then there’s sophomore guard DiDi Richards who set a season-record with 25 points against the Gamecocks. Baylor has just one blemish on their record this year: the Lady Bears are 34-1, owning a 18-0 Big 12 record. The lone loss came at the hands of a Stanford team that’s taking on Notre Dame this evening in the Elite Eight matchup. That loss to the Cardinal came all the way back on Dec. 15. Twenty-six games ago. Let’s change that tonight.<doc-sep>The second day of the women's basketball Sweet 16 went chalk — top-ranked Baylor and Notre Dame advanced over South Carolina and Texas A&M, and No. 2 seeds Iowa and Stanford also booked their tickets to the Elite Eight with wins over North Carolina State and Missouri State. CLICK HERE: Printable bracket The Bears, Fighting Irish, Hawkeyes and Cardinal will join No. 2 UConn, No. 2 Oregon, No. 1 Mississippi State and No. 1 Louisville in the star-studded Elite Eight, but before games start Sunday, here are eight facts that you need to know about the eights teams still remaining in this year's tournament. 1. UConn will play in its 14th consecutive Elite Eight, but for the first time in 13 years, the Huskies won't play as a No. 1 seed. Geno Auriemma's squad posted two losses in the regular season to earn a No. 2 seed in its region, and this year's Huskies will face their biggest challenge in the tournament so far when they take on No. 1 Louisville in the first game of the Elite Eight. The Cardinals beat UConn 79-68 in their earlier battle this year, but UConn will be looking for redemption when they take the floor at the Times Union Center on Sunday. UConn advances to women's Elite Eight 2. Notre Dame will look to defend its national title and look to become the first team other than UConn to go back-to-back since Pat Summitt and the Tennessee Volunteers accomplished the feat in 2007 and 2008. All five of Notre Dame's starters are averaging double-digit point totals per game, and they look to be a good position, as a team, to make another deeper run in this tournament. 3. Stanford, Baylor and Notre Dame are the only teams other than UConn to have won a title. All three of these teams have won two. The Cardinal took home the program's first championship in 1990 under head coach Tara VanDerveer and earned a second title two years later. Notre Dame became the second of this year's Elite Eight teams to win a championship in 2001 with a close 68-66 win over Purdue, led by head coach Muffet McGraw. The Fighting Irish needed another 17 years to pick up their second national win. Baylor has been a more recent success, picking up its first title in 2005 and adding a second in 2012. Since then, the women's game has been almost entirely dominated by the UConn Huskies, but all three of these teams will be looking to stop Geno Auriemma and Co. in this year's tournament for a third title. Baylor knocks off South Carolina, advances to Elite Eight 4. Sabrina Ionescu has been breaking records all season, and she's not slowing down. The Oregon junior holds the record for the most triple-doubles in NCAA history with eighteen, and eight of those have come this season. She's averaging 19.5 points, 7.2 assists and 6.9 rebounds, meaning she's a threat in all corners of the floor. Oregon punches ticket to women's Elite Eight 5. Megan Gustafson has been equally impressive, hitting double-doubles in her three last tournament games and averaging 27 points in those performances. The senior Hawkeye is going out strong, and this Elite Eight matchup against Baylor will give her a chance to keep that dream alive. In the battle against the Bears, she'll face-off against another senior in Kalani Brown who has been averaging 15.5 points per game. This will be a classic battle between two veterans hoping to extend their seasons, and it sets up this year's Elite Eight game to be one for the ages. The winner of this game will take on the winner of Mississippi State vs. Oregon. Iowa women's Elite Eight bound 6. Speaking of records, Mississippi State's Teaira McCowan also has an NCAA record to her name. McCowan secured her 225th career rebound in Friday's game against Arizona State to pass Sylvia Fowles on the all-time tournament rebounding list. She'll come into Sunday's game against Oregon aiming to add to that total and further separate herself from the field. But she can do more than rebound. McCowan is also a scoring machine who has scored double-digit points in all but two of her games this season. Look for McCowan to stuff the stat sheet when she takes the court. CHASING THE CHAMPIONSHIP: Final Four details, information and tickets 7. UConn may be one of the most successful women's basketball dynasties in recent years, but Tara VanDerveer and Stanford have also been piling up Final Four appearances. The Cardinal leader has been at the helm of the Stanford program since 1978, and in that time, she has captured two titles with Stanford and advanced to 12 Final Fours. She also recorded her 1,000 career win last year and has only been adding to her resume since. A Stanford win against Notre Dame would not only stop the defending national champions from adding another trophy to the Fighting Irish collection, but it would also keep Stanford's hope alive for winning its first title in over two decades. 8. Louisville's leading scorer, Asia Durr, is chasing program and national records in her Elite Eight game against UConn on Sunday, as she currently sits just two points short of second all-time at Louisville for points scored during the NCAA tournament. She's also ranked 16th nationally this year for points per game. The athlete in 15th? UConn's Napheesa Collier. The Husky is averaging just .1 more points per game than Durr at 21.3, but the Cardinals will be aiming to top Collier and push her team past UConn for the second time this season during the Elite Eight matchup.<doc-sep>Chuck Burton/Associated Press The Sweet 16 of the NCAA women's basketball tournament is set to conclude Saturday. The Connecticut Huskies, Oregon Ducks, Louisville Cardinals and Mississippi State Bulldogs are already through to the Elite Eight. Four teams will have joined them by the end of Saturday. The reigning national champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Baylor Lady Bears, the tournament's No. 1 overall seed, headlined the squads taking the court. Here are the scores from the Sweet 16 and recaps of the action. 2019 NCAA Women's Tournament Schedule/Results (Sweet 16) No. 2 Iowa def. No. 3 North Carolina State, 79-61 No. 1 Baylor def. No. 4 South Carolina, 93-68 No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 4 Texas A&M, 87-80 No. 2 Stanford def. No. 11 Missouri State, 55-46 Video Play Button Videos you might like Bracket The full bracket for the 2019 women's NCAA tournament can be viewed at NCAA.com. No. 2 Iowa 79, No. 3 North Carolina State 61 Megan Gustafson's legend continues to grow as she helped lead the Iowa Hawkeyes to their first Elite Eight appearance since 1993. Gustafson had 27 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in Iowa's 79-61 victory over the North Carolina State Wolfpack. ESPN Women's Hoops noted the senior forward tied the Division I record for most double-doubles in a single season (33). NC State head coach Wes Moore used every strategic trick in his arsenal to try to slow Gustafson down in the paint, be it throwing multiple defenders at her, fronting her close to the basket and sending her to the foul line. None of it worked as Gustafson shot 10-of-13 from the field and made all seven of her free throws. Hannah Stewart contributed to the effort for Iowa, posting a double-double of her own (16 points, 11 rebounds). Kathleen Doyle had a nice game as well, finishing with nine points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals. The Hawkeyes did a great job of stifling Kiara Leslie and Elissa Cunane, NC State's two best offensive options. The pair combined to score 30 points but shot 12-of-37 from the floor. No. 1 Baylor 93, No. 4 South Carolina 68 Baylor blitzed the South Carolina Gamecocks with 24 points in the first quarter and didn't look back from there, cruising to the Elite Eight following a 93-68 victory. The Lady Bears were holding opponents to 54.3 points per game, seventh-fewest in the NCAA, entering Saturday. Opponents were also shooting an NCAA-low 31.3 percent against Baylor. South Carolina was the next team to fall victim to Baylor's suffocating defense. The Gamecocks shot 33.3 percent from the floor and 4-of-19 from beyond the arc. The Lady Bears also owned a 54-30 edge in rebounding, with Kalani Brown and Lauren Cox combining to nearly out-rebound (24 boards) South Carolina on their own. They had 18 and 17 points apiece as well. The Gamecocks didn't have an answer for DiDi Richards, who scored a game-high 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Baylor's 93 points came despite the fact that it attempted only four three-pointers, connecting on one. The Lady Bears are a terror in transition and so good at working the ball around in half-court sets to get the ball inside. As good as Gustafson is, Iowa will have a hard time against Baylor in the Elite Eight. No. 1 Notre Dame 87, No. 4 Texas A&M 80 The individual battle between Arike Ogunbowale and Chennedy Carter lived up to the hype as Ogunbowale stepped up late to power the Fighting Irish through to an 87-80 victory over the Texas A&M Aggies. Last year, Ogunbowale was the hero for Notre Dame as she hit last-second shots in the Final Four and national title game. The senior guard once again took her game to a different level down the final stretch. Aja Ellison tied the game at 69 for Texas A&M with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. Ogunbowale responded with a three-pointer on the Fighting Irish's next possession and then intercepted a wayward pass from Carter before finishing with a breakaway layup. In less than a minute, she had single-handedly given Notre Dame a five-point advantage. Ogunbowale then completed a three-point play at the 3:14 mark as the Fighting Irish continued to lead by five. She hit a pull-up jumper from the baseline against Carter, who was called for a foul. Carter attempted to match Ogunbowale shot for shot, hitting a three-pointer with 1:52 remaining to bring the Aggies back to within five, 79-74. Carter's one-woman show wasn't enough for A&M to claw its way back. The Aggies star got the better of Ogunbowale in the scoring category, finishing with a game-high 35 points. Those came on 34 shots, though, nearly half of her team's total field-goal attempts (69). Ogunbowale scored a career-high 34 points, missing only eight of her 26 shot attempts. Jessica Shepard had a big game for Notre Dame, too, posting 24 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. No. 2 Stanford 55, No. 11 Missouri State 46 The Stanford Cardinal survived an upset bid by the Missouri State Lady Bears, hanging on for a 55-46 win. Stanford also had a sluggish start in the second round against the BYU Cougars before the talent gap was simply too wide. The Cardinal pulled away in the second and third quarters, and a 25-point outburst by BYU made the score, 72-63, look a little closer than the game truly was. There was no such surge for Stanford this time around. Trailing by eight points entering the fourth quarter, the Lady Bears got the deficit down to five points, 49-44, after a Jasmine Franklin with 2:09 remaining. Emily Gartner and Sydney Wilson both had opportunities to close the gap further but saw their shots miss the mark. Three free throws from Alanna Smith eased the pressure on the Cardinal before two more Lexie Hull effectively ruled out any comeback. Smith was one of only two Stanford players to score double figures. Kiana Williams and DiJonai Carrington combined to score 15 points on 5-of-28 shooting. Anna Wilson was the unsung hero, coming off the bench to score 11 points in 21 minutes on the floor. Stanford plays Notre Dame in the Elite Eight, and the Cardinal's offensive struggles don't bode well matched up against a Fighting Irish squad firing on all cylinders.<doc-sep>

Chuck Burton/Associated Press The Final Four for the 2019 NCAA women's basketball tournament is set with the conclusion of the Elite Eight on Monday. The UConn Huskies and Oregon Ducks are already through to the national semifinals, two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum historically speaking. UConn is through to the Final Four for the 12th consecutive year, while Oregon is making its first trip. In Monday's first game, the second-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes were matched up with the No. 1 overall seed Baylor Lady Bears. The reigning national champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish and No. 2 Stanford Cardinal would close the curtain on the regional finals. Here are the scores from Monday and a recap of the action. 2019 NCAA Women's Tournament Schedule/Results (Elite Eight) Video Play Button Videos you might like No. 1 Baylor def. No. 2 Iowa, 85-53 No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 2 Stanford, 84-68 Bracket The full bracket for the 2019 women's NCAA tournament can be viewed at NCAA.com. No. 1 Baylor 85, No. 2 Iowa 53 Megan Gustafson has been excellent throughout the 2018-19 regular season and into the NCAA tournament. The Hawkeyes star needed to be superhuman for her team to have any shot of upsetting Baylor. The Lady Bears rolled over the Hawkeyes 85-53, with Baylor's depth and defense simply overwhelming Iowa. Gustafson had 23 points and nine rebounds and hit a significant benchmark in the second half. She reached 1,000 points for the season, joining Kelsey Plum, Odyssey Sims and Jackie Stiles as the only players to reach that mark. Gustafson was the outlier for Iowa. The Lady Bears were content to let the senior forward enjoy success inside while stifling her supporting cast. The Hawkeyes shot 32.1 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers. The Iowa defense didn't have much of an answer for Baylor's efficient post-centric offense, either. Lauren Cox had a team-high 22 points, adding 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks to a great all-around night. DiDi Richards (16 points, 10 rebounds) had a double-double as well. Together, Cox and Richards nearly out-rebounded Iowa on their own, with the Hawkeyes collecting 26 boards. Baylor has won its four tournament games by an average of 38.3 points. The Lady Bears are firing on all cylinders, which is bad news for Oregon. No. 1 Notre Dame 84, No. 2 Stanford 68 Winning ugly was Stanford's approach in the last two rounds, and the strategy was working for the Cardinal through the first half Monday. They led Notre Dame 33-26 heading into the locker room, with the Fighting Irish well below the 89.2-point-per-game pace they've set this season. The plan unraveled in the third quarter. Notre Dame closed the quarter on an 11-2 run and outscored Stanford 26-13 over the 10-minute period. The Fighting Irish continued to pour it on in the fourth, scoring 32 points and putting the game out of reach. Jackie Young was a big reason for Notre Dame's second-half turnaround. Nineteen of her 25 points came after halftime. Young also grabbed 10 rebounds to earn her 11th double-double of the season. Jessica Shepard also had her third double-double (11 points, 14 rebounds) of the tournament. Arike Ogunbowale, last year's Final Four hero, didn't have an efficient night, shooting 6-of-19 from the floor. She still finished with 21 points and helped to provide an offensive spark in the third and fourth quarters. The stage is now set for a rematch between Notre Dame and Connecticut. The two teams delivered an instant classic in last year's semifinals, and this year will likely be no different.

Hide press release Show press release Next-level capability: New 2020 F-Series Super Duty will offer its highest-ever conventional, gooseneck and fifth-wheel towing and payload ratings New 2020 F-Series Super Duty will offer its highest-ever conventional, gooseneck and fifth-wheel towing and payload ratings Next-level power: Most powerful Super Duty yet launches with two new engine offerings including all-new advanced 7.3-liter gasoline V8 and upgraded third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke ® diesel V8; all-new heavy-duty 10-speed TorqShift ® automatic transmission Most powerful Super Duty yet launches with two new engine offerings including all-new advanced 7.3-liter gasoline V8 and upgraded third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8; all-new heavy-duty 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission Next-level technology: New F-Series Super Duty now offers class-exclusive Pro Trailer Backup Assist, while its Trailer Reverse Guidance is now compatible with fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers; standard FordPass Connect™ with 4G LTE modem and available wireless charging keep you connected; smart driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking are standard on XLT series and above DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 5, 2019 – Ford, America’s truck leader, introduces the next level of Built Ford Tough heavy-duty pickup truck capability, power and technology with the new 2020 F-Series Super Duty pickup. “Super Duty customers have demanding and diverse needs – from towing heavy trailers to repairing critical infrastructure,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford president, North America. “Productivity is their lifeblood and their truck is their biggest tool. Our new Super Duty has more power, more payload and towing capability and better technology than ever to help these customers build a better world.” F-Series Super Duty had the most market share in industries such as government with more than 60 percent share, petroleum with 50 percent share and utility services with more than 45 percent share, according to Ford analysis of IHS Markit TIPet U.S. registration data, January 2017 through November 2018. Assembled in the United States, Ford’s F-Series Super Duty is built with pride at both Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville and Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake. New F-Series Super Duty improvements include new gas and diesel engines, an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission, chassis upgrades, exterior and interior design updates, and smart advanced technology that raises the bar again in towing, payload and connectivity. All-new powertrains for improved performance and capability An all-new Ford-designed and Ford-built 7.3-liter V8 joins the standard 6.2-liter V8 in Super Duty’s gas engine stable. The Ford-designed and Ford-built third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel V8 is upgraded to deliver more power and torque. An all-new Ford-designed and Ford-built 10-speed heavy-duty TorqShift® automatic transmission is paired with the 7.3-liter V8 and third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel V8. Ford is the only manufacturer to design and build all of its heavy-duty engine and transmission combinations – ensuring the powertrain works seamlessly with all chassis components and vehicle calibrations. “With the addition of the 7.3-liter V8, upgrades to our 6.7-liter and the debut of an all-new 10-speed transmission, we are delivering the strongest, most capable Super Duty powertrain offerings yet,” said Mike Pruitt, Ford Super Duty chief engineer. The 7.3-liter gas V8 engine delivers high performance in a compact package. Based on decades of commercial engine experience, this 7.3-liter is expected to be the most powerful gas V8 in its class – providing durability, ease of maintenance, and the towing and payload capability customers want. It uses an all-new cam-in-block, overhead valve architecture with cast iron block and forged steel crankshaft for maximum durability. Port injection with variable-valve timing optimizes the intake and exhaust to match performance with workloads. Oil jets cool the pistons under heavy loads. Super Duty’s third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke includes a new 36,000-psi fuel injection system with all-new injectors that precisely meter and spray up to eight times per stroke to control noise levels and optimize combustion. This innovative inboard exhaust diesel V8 features a redesigned electronic-actuated variable-geometry turbocharger that provides improved pumping efficiency and throttle response. Structural enhancements increase the strength of the cylinder head, block, connecting rods and bearings to handle higher cylinder pressure and increased output. New steel pistons provide higher firing pressure capability and less friction – meaning improved performance and more horsepower and torque than ever. The truck’s standard 6.2-liter gas V8 rounds out the three engine choices for Super Duty customers. This workhorse offers heavy-duty truck customers proven capability at an affordable price. Ford is making its all-new 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission available across all three Super Duty engine offerings for the new 2020 model. This TorqShift features a wider gear ratio span than the 6-speed and is designed for the harshest towing conditions. The heavy-duty transmission continues to offer class-exclusive live-drive power takeoff, which allows the operator to engage industrial equipment and accessories, such as snowplows, with the truck in motion. This electronically controlled transmission has selectable drive modes that include normal, tow/haul, eco, slippery, and deep sand and snow. The entire unit is so cleverly engineered that – even with four extra gears – it fits in the same space as the 6-speed and weighs only 3.5 pounds more. Technology that assists and improves productivity For 2020, class-exclusive new Pro Trailer Backup Assist makes negotiating even the largest trailers into the tightest of spaces easier than ever before. With hands off the steering wheel, drivers use the Pro Trailer Backup Assist knob to easily steer the trailer via the reverse camera. The truck’s Trailer Reverse Guidance system shows trailer angle and direction, and provides steering suggestions to most efficiently direct a trailer backward. Both systems are built to accommodate all trailer styles, including fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers. Because today’s work is a 24/7 proposition, staying connected is essential. Every new 2020 Super Duty includes FordPass Connect™ embedded 4G LTE modem with Wi-Fi access for up to 10 devices, keeping crews in communication no matter where the job might take them. Available lane-keeping alert helps you stay between the lines on the road, while the Blind Spot Information System with trailer coverage monitors for vehicles in your blind spots – even when towing. Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Detection aids in avoiding or mitigating collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians. These features are standard on XLT and above Super Duty models. Modern touches include the addition of wireless charging and USB-C ports to power your devices. Powerful upgrades inside and out Across the range, an enhanced front-end design allows for optimized cooling and lighting performance under heavy loads. For the first time, all dual-rear-wheel Super Duty trucks are fitted with a uniquely designed high-airflow grille optimized for maximum powertrain cooling. Super Duty’s LED headlamps have a new look with improved performance, while high series trucks feature continuous signature lighting. An improved front bumper and air dam optimize cooling and make using utility hooks easier. A freshened tailgate design, revised taillamps and new rear bumper convey bolder Built Ford Tough style. Decorative appliqués on the doors and media bin door have been updated on Lariat, while on Platinum edition trucks, these pieces have been updated to Onyx Argento wood. The interior of the Limited model is completely refreshed, with colors updated to Ebony and Highland Tan to provide a refined, modern feel. Limited features authentic materials like genuine leather, a coarse ash wood in black and modern brushed aluminum trim. Crafted details include decorative stitching on the leather-wrapped instrument panel topper, wrapped door armrests, seating and center console lid, and an embroidered Super Duty logo added to the floor mats. A soft headliner in Miko® suede is intended to give the cabin an expansive feel. Tested to Built Ford Tough standards The new F-Series Super Duty debuts as the most tested pickup in the company’s history. It endured more than 12 million miles of testing for the 2017 model year, which was increased by an additional 7 million miles for 2020 to ensure the new Super Duty can stand up to the rigors the most exacting truck customers demand of it. This torture includes running the truck around the clock under the most extreme loads and through all kinds of environmental conditions using dynos, test tracks and public roads. Because the testing surfaces and durability test tracks are so punishing, many of the miles are run using robot drivers that can handle the abuse better than humans to ensure every F-Series truck is Built Ford Tough. Ford’s new 2020 F-Series Super Duty will start shipping to dealers this fall.<doc-sep>The pickup wars are about to get bigger and badder. Ford is unveiling a massive new V8 engine and what the automaker says are the most powerful versions ever of its F-series Super Duty medium-duty pickups to face challengers from Chevrolet, GMC and Ram. Medium-duty pickups can tow and haul more than light-duty pickups like the F-150. They’re mainstays of construction, agriculture and utilities, but many are also loaded with luxurious interiors and advanced driver assistance features for personal use. They can cost more than $100,000. Automakers don’t report medium-duty sales separately from light-duty pickups like the F-150, Ram 1500 and Silverado 1500, but they are believed to account for around 30 percent of total full-size pickup sales, and a disproportionate share of profits at Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler. “The next chapter of truck wars unfolds this year. It will be ferocious,” Autotrader executive analyst Michelle Krebs said. “These vehicles make up the bulk of vehicle makers’ profits in a year in which overall vehicle sales are expected to slip.” The Chicago auto show will be ground zero when it opens to the public Saturday. Buyers will be able to compare the 2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 HD pickups that debuted at the recent Detroit auto show with the Silverado and Sierra HDs and F-series Super Duties, all of which bow at the Chicago show. “The Super Duty is a big part of the reason the F-series has been America’s No. 1 vehicle for 37 years,” Ford group truck marketing manager Todd Eckert said. “That’s why we’re taking it to the next level.” That means a new 7.3-liter gasoline-powered V8, an upgraded 6.7L diesel, 10-speed automatic transmission and more towing and payload capacity than ever before. Ford won’t reveal exact numbers for the 7.3L gasoline and new diesel V8 but the existing 6.2L V8 gasoline engine that powers what’s now the “base” Super Duty produces 385 horsepower, while the 2019 diesel produces 450 hp and 935 pound-feet of torque. Easier towing The Super Duty’s new top towing capacity will be more than a 2019 F-450 diesel pickup’s 34,000 pounds, the ability to tow 33-foot-long trailers up mountain highways, multihorse trailers and luxury RVs. The 7.3L gasoline V8 is for owners who tow a lot, but not quite enough to need the diesel, Eckert said. “The new engines will deliver outstanding performance at all speeds.” Automakers aren’t required to publish fuel economy figures for medium-duty pickups because the government considers them commercial vehicles like ambulances and delivery vans. Despite that, fuel efficiency is a selling point for the vehicles, which run all day in business use, and tow boats and other luxury goods long distances in recreational service. Ford is aggressively promoting driver assistance features, particularly those that make towing big trailers easier. A knob on the center console that’s linked to backup cameras makes reversing with a big trailer feel more natural than using the steering wheel, and guidance lines offer steering suggestions. Automatic braking to avoid front collisions and pedestrians are also available. Exterior changes include new grilles, headlights, bumpers and tailgate. Ford will offer six trim levels of Super Duty from basic work trucks to personal luxury. The competition for medium-duty pickup bragging rights promises to simmer through much of this year. The formerly sleepy midsize pickup segment is also heating up. “The midsize Ford Ranger is off to a fast start, with loads of orders in hand and overtime scheduled,” Krebs said. Look for that battle to intensify when the aggressively styled Jeep Gladiator joins the fray in the spring. Contact Mark Phelan at 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter<doc-sep>

Ford Motor Co.'s biggest pickups will get new engines and technology when the redesigned 2020 Super Duty is introduced later this year. The trucks — the Super Duty badge applies to the F-250, F-350 and F-450 models — will hit Ford's lineup as the automaker moves to sell higher-margin vehicles, turn away from sedans and small passenger-cars, and attempt to give U.S. buyers more of what Ford thinks they want. For the foreseeable future that means big, powerful trucks with features to make them more user-friendly. The Super Duty line picks up where the F-150 leaves off. "We pride ourselves on offering trucks for every customer," said Todd Eckert, Ford F-Series marketing manager. Eckert said about 60 percent of Super Duty sales are retail. The rest go to fleet buyers. Some of the retail sales are made up of small-business owners like plumbers or electricians who only need a couple of trucks. But the hulking pickups appeal to a range of customers, he said. And they're a big reason Ford can year after year claim it has the best-selling pickup brand in the country. It does. But that brand is made up of five pickups ranging from the F-150 to the F-550. Ford makes a F-650 and F-750, too, but those are sold on the commercial truck side of the business. The 2020 models get an all-new 7.3-liter V-8 option along with the standard 6.2-liter V-8. The truck also has the third-generation of its 6.7-liter PowerStroke diesel V-8. Those engines are mated to a 10-speed heavy-duty TorqShift automatic transmission. Ford took some of what it learned from the 10-speed transmission introduced on the F-150 a few years ago, and beefed it up for the Super Duty, officials said. The new Super Duty will have the highest-ever payload and towing capabilities, Eckert and others said, though they declined to give specific numbers. Those will be released closer to when the truck goes on sale at the end of 2019. Ford also redesigned the interior on the higher-trim Super Duty models. The XL and XLT trims have the same interior as the previous generation, but get the exterior face-lift and body tweaks. The Lariat and Platinum trims get the interior changes, which include decorative trim and wood paneling. The automaker updated the Super Duty's headlamps, front bumper and tailgate as well. The new Super Duty will be the only pickup in its class with Trailer Backup Assist technology, according to Ford. The heavy-duty trucks typically skimp on technology, but Ford heard from its customers that they wanted some of the driver-assist features found on the F-150. The Super Duty's trailer backup feature works with different trailers, including fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers, according to Ford. The new truck gets an embedded 4G LTE modem with Wi-Fi access, available lane-keeping assist, blind-spot information system, pre-collision assist and other features standard from the XLT trim and above. The automaker also added wireless charging and USB ports. Ford officials hope that by 2020, 90 percent of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. will be a truck or SUV. The company just launched the midsize Ranger pickup in North America in January, which Kumar Galhotra, Ford's head of North America, said has already thousands of "hand-raisers." The Dearborn-automaker had to call in overtime to increase production on that truck. Ford also has plans to build a small unibody pickup that with slot in behind the Ranger, though it has not formally announced details or a launch date for that unnamed product. ithibodeau@detroitnews.com Twitter: @Ian_Thibodeau

April 23, 2017, was supposed to be one of the most exciting moments of Dennis Dickey's life: the day he and his wife would find out if they were having a boy or a girl. But things went horribly, horribly wrong. On Friday, the 37-year-old Border Patrol agent pleaded guilty to accidentally starting a massive wildfire that torched 47,000 acres of Arizona's parched grasslands, forcing residents from their homes, requiring 800 firefighters to extinguish the blaze, and, ultimately, costing authorities more than $8 million. He ignited the blaze the moment he found out the gender of his baby. It was a dry, windy spring day and Dickey had planned an exciting gender-reveal party in the Coronado National Forest, near Green Valley, Arizona. For the big moment, the father-to-be filled a target with powder that would burst either pink or blue. He had also added Tannerite, a highly explosive but perfectly legal substance, officials said, and when he fired his rifle, the blast sent sparks into the state's dry brush and started the Sawmill fire. Alarmed, he immediately but unsuccessfully tried to put out the fast-moving flames and then alerted authorities, Forest Service Special Agent Brent Robinson said in court documents. Dickey "immediately reported the fire to law enforcement, cooperated, and admitted that he started the fire," Robinson said in a court filing last month, noting that the entire incident was "caught on film by a witness." Fueled by 40 mph winds and bone-dry conditions, the flames raced across state-owned land over the Santa Rita Mountains and scorched thousands of acres belonging to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.<doc-sep>When Dennis Dickey, a United States Border Patrol agent from Arizona, fired at a target filled with colorful powder, he was expecting to learn the gender of his future child, his lawyer said. Instead, the target erupted and sparked a fire that consumed more than 45,000 acres of land and resulted in more than $8 million in damages, the United States attorney’s office for Arizona said. On Friday, Mr. Dickey pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation of United States Forest Service regulations for igniting what became known as the Sawmill Fire, which started on April 23, 2017, and had nearly 800 firefighters battling it for about a week. The fire began while Mr. Dickey was off duty near Green Valley, Ariz., about 26 miles south of Tucson, to celebrate his wife’s pregnancy, his lawyer, Sean Chapman, told The Arizona Daily Star.<doc-sep>A Border Patrol agent pleaded guilty to starting an Arizona wildfire by shooting a rifle at a target intended to reveal the gender of his baby. Dennis Dickey, 37, of Tucson, Arizona, pleaded guilty Friday to causing the Sawmill Fire, which torched swaths of Coronado National Forest, federal land administered by the U.S. Forest Service, and caused more than $8 million in damage, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Dickey accidentally started the fire by shooting a target filled with a color substance, which would burst out in pink or blue, depending on the sex of his and his wife's child. Gender-reveal events, which have grown in popularity over the last decade, according to The Washington Post, typically involve parents popping balloons, cutting into cakes, or doing other everyday tasks that reveal the color pink or blue, indicating the sex of their baby. But Dickey's target also contained Tannerite, a highly explosive substance, and he shot at it, the explosion sparked the fire that spread for thousands of acres. Nearly 800 firefighters worked to contain a blaze that engulfed more than 45,000 acres in flames over the course of a week in April 2017, according to Tucson.com. Dickey's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment; the baby's gender was not immediately clear. As soon as the explosion triggered the fire, Dickey, a U.S. Border Patrol agent, who was off-duty at the time, called the police and admitted to starting the fire. In pleading guilty, Dickey agreed to five years of probation and more than $8.1 million in restitution with an initial payment of $100,000. Although he agreed to the $8.1 million restitution sum, it's unclear if Dickey will pay the total amount. Local reports suggested Dickey will pay $500 a month for the next 20 years, for a total fine of $220,000. It was also unclear what will happen after the 20-year period. Dickey also agreed to star in a public service announcement with the U.S. Forest Service, according to a news release. He will be sentenced on Oct. 9, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of Arizona.<doc-sep>

A Tucson, Arizona Border Patrol agent must pay $220,000 in fines after starting last year's Sawmill Fire during a gender reveal party. Dennis Dickey, 37, who plead guilty to a misdeanor federal charge Friday, is set for five years probation and has agreed to pay $220,000 in installments after he shot a target containing the explosive substance, Tannerite, last year at a gender reveal celebration. The April 2017 Sawmill Fire required around 800 firefighters, forced hundreds of people from their homes and burned more than 45,000 acres of land along Arizona's Highway 83. The cost of fighting it was more than $8 million. Federal prosecutors had charged the off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent with a misdmeanor of starting a fire without a permit, KOLD-TV first reported. Dickey and his wife were holding a gender reveal party last year when he shot a "high-velocity firearm" at a target intended to explode with either a blue or pink powder. But instead of simply revealing the gender of their baby to family and friends, the fire immediately caught in the dry conditions and began spreading rapidly, U.S. Forest Service agents told federal prosecutors. The explosive gender reveal party stunt was recorded by several attendees. "Dickey immediately reported the fire to law enforcement, cooperated, and admitted that he started the fire," Forest Service Special Agent Brent Robinson wrote in the September affidavit. The target contained Tannerite, which is a legal but explosive compund that has been tied to several major wildires, the affidavit added. Under Dickey's plea agreement, he will pay an up-front restitution fine of $100,000 during his October 9 sentencing. And then he is set to pay another $120,000 in monthly installments of $500 over the course of the next two decades. Dickey is also set to be sentenced to 5 years of probation. Dickey has repeatedly told the judge the entire incident and sparking of the wildire was "a complete accident," and has expressed remorse.