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Pakistan maintains that it was not involved in the Pulwama attack and will take an action against India, if it continues with its blaming spree. (File photo: Reuters) Former Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday backed Prime Minister Imran Khan against New Delhi's allegations that said Islamabad was providing safe havens to terrorists. He also accepted that Jaish-e-Mohammed could have been involved in the Pulwama terror attack that left 40 CRPF personnel dead. In an exclusive conversation with India Today TV's Rahul Kanwal, Musharraf said Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not have any "real emotion" for the CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama attack. Over 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)-led terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on February 14, drawing condemnation for Islamabad from across the world. Pakistan, however, maintains that it was not involved anyhow in the Pulwama attack and will take an action against India, if it continues with its blaming spree. Imran Khan, notably, in his televised speech on February 19, did not utter a word of condolence for the martyred CRPF jawans. To this end, Musharraf said the Pulwama terror attack was a terrible event to have occurred, but there was no reason to believe that the Pakistan government was party to it. "It [the Pulwama terror attack] was sad. Extremely terrible. There's no doubt about it. And I have no sympathy for Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. He had tried to kill me too. But that doesn't prove that Pakistan government was involved in it," Musharraf told India Today TV's Rahul Kanwal. Musharraf added, "I don't think Imran Khan should or will have any sympathy for Jaish. And I don't believe Pakistan government was involved in it." 'India is wrongly accusing Pakistan' When confronted with a snatch from Masood Azhar's recently released audio tape where he confirmed Jaish did carry out the attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, Musharraf said he did admit that the terror group was responsible for the attack, but the government wasn't involved. "India has been wrongly accusing Pakistan over everything. It's time you stopped it," he added. 'Modi ke dil mein koi aag nahin hai' The former Pakistan president said Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not have any "real emotion" for the CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama attack or for the Kashmiris. "Modi ke dil mein inn logon ke liye koi aag nahin hai. Agar hoti toh woh pehle woh Kashmir ka maslaa suljhaatey," he said. 'Stop meddling with Pakistan' Musharraf alleged that India was meddling with Pakistan by ganging up on it -- with help from France and the United States. "Don't say we meddle with India. Don't you meddle with Pakistan? Why did you help break Pakistan into two? Didn't you meddle with East Pakistan?" Musharraf told India Today TV's Rahul Kanwal. He added, "You are colluding with France and the US and are trying to blacklist Pakistan. Stop doing that." 'Koi surgical strike nahin ki thhi aapne, sab galat hai' The former president also refuted the whole idea of surgical strikes by India. He claimed they were not carried out at all. "You keep telling us that. But let me tell you it is all but a farce. There was no surgical strike carried out. We don't buy this idea at all," he said. Musharraf's predecessor slams Imran Khan Earlier today, another former Pakistan president, Asif Ali Zardari, slammed Imran Khan's way of handling India's allegations. Zardari said Khan was immature and did not know how to handle international politics. "During my tenure, the Taj Hotel in Mumbai was attacked. But back then, we handled the issue amicably. This time around, the prime minister [Imran Khan] is pretty immature. He does not know what to do. He is, in fact, a back seat driver and is acting at the behest of others. That's why the situation is getting worse," Zardari told ARY News. For the unversed, Asif Ali Zardari was the president of Pakistan when, in 2008, Mumbai was attacked by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The LeT, a Pakistan-based group, opposes Indian rule in Kashmir. Zardari, at that time, had promised the then US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, that his government would take a "strong action" against Pakistani elements implicated in the Mumbai attacks, as opposed to Imran Khan's clear dismissal of Islamabad's involvement in the Pulwama terror attack. Asif Ali Zardari further said, "We, however, still support the Army and if India plans to carry out any misadventure against us, we will be together and fight against it." This is not the first time Zardari has spoken against Imran Khan. Earlier, when Khan assumed power in August, 2018, Zardari said he would not complete his constitutional five-year term. "Sit down and think about the government. Now that you have become an accidental, selected prime minister, learn something," Zardari had further said. Even, PPP chairman and Zardari's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said Imran Khan lacked the courage to talk face-to-face during Parliament sessions. In response to these barbs, Imran Khan had once said Zardari was the biggest disease of Pakistan.<doc-sep>Many Bollywood celebrities are voicing their concern in the matter of terrorism and its sourcing from across the border after last week's Pulwama terror attack. The latest to condemn Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan over lack of accountability is lyricist Javed Akhtar. Akhtar wrote on Twitter, “Imran has thrown a no ball. Every time they ask what makes you think its our doing. After the Mumbai terrorist attack a Pak TV anchor asked me why you are so sure it is Pakistan it can be any country I said fine I will give you 3 you choose one. Brazil, Sweden and Pakistan.” Imran has thrown a no ball .Every time they ask what makes you think its our doing . After the mumbai terrorist attack a pak TV anchor asked me why you are so sure it is Pakistan it can be any country I said fine I will give you 3 you choose one .Brazil , Sweden and Pakistan .— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) February 19, 2019 His response comes after Imran denied his country’s involvement in Thursday’s terror attack and demanded evidence from India in the aftermath. Imran also blamed India for an ill-timed criticism. India has strongly condemned Khan’s speech. Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar seems to stand by Khan's statement. Zafar wrote on his Twitter handle, “Listen with an open heart and mind devoid of ego, bias or hatred. If can’t, listen again after a few days in a moment of peace.#love #peace # #humanity #togetherness above all. PM Imran Khan Address To The Nation.” Listen with an open heart and mind devoid of ego, bias or hatred. If can’t, listen again after a few days in a moment of peace.#love #peace # #humanity #togetherness above all. PM Imran Khan Address To The Nation | Pulwama Attack | 19 Feb 2019 - YouTube https://t.co/wSXu5mNeeM— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) February 19, 2019 In the wake of the attack, all artists from Pakistan stand boycotted from the entertainment industry in India, films stay withdrawn from theatrical release in Pakistan and cross-border events, too, have been cancelled by various cultural luminaries. Akhtar had earlier expressed grave concern in the matter and cancelled his visit to a cultural event organized by Kranchi art council. Follow @News18Movies for more<doc-sep>The dastardly attack on a security convoy in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday sent shockwaves across the nation. The attack, which was orchestrated by the Pakistan-sponsored terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad, has claimed the lives of at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers and grievously injured several others. A solidarity march at Film City in Goregaon was attended by members of 24 film associations, including Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and Indian Film and Television Directors' Association (IFTDA). The protest saw participation from major film bodies and the association of cinematographers, make-up men, costumes, junior artists, editors, fighters and dancers. President of IFTDA, Ashoke Pandit, vehemently opposed the inclusion of any Pakistani actors in Bollywood films. He also said that music companies will no longer sign contracts with Pakistani singers. ALSO READ | Kangana Ranaut on Pulwama terror attack: Anyone who talks peace now should be slapped on the streets "No Bollywood filmmaker will take any Pakistani artiste in his film. Even music companies will stop working with Pakistani singers," Pandit told India Today Television. "If any filmmaker or music company does not listen to the FWICE, we will stop the shooting of any film with Pakistani artistes and vandalise its sets," he warned. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) warned music companies to drop songs by Pakistani singers and not work with them in the future. "T-Series has already removed Pakistani artistes' videos from their various channels from February 15 and has decided to ban them all in future. Ditto with other music companies," Amey Khopkar, President of MNS Chitrapat Sena, told IANS. (With inputs from Shivangi Thakur and IANS) ALSO READ | Janhvi Kapoor slams Pakistan daily for calling Pulwama terror attack a fight for freedom ALSO READ | Pulwama terror attack: Akshay Kumar to Priyanka Chopra, Bollywood says hate is NEVER the answer ALSO READ | Sonu Nigam attacks secular Indians after Pulwama tragedy: Kyun dukh mana rahe ho? ALSO READ | Amitabh Bachchan to donate Rs 2.5 crore to families of soldiers martyred in Pulwama attack<doc-sep>

"I am Pakistani and I condemn Pulwama terrorist attack." Amid all the hate and bigotry that has plagued the social media on both sides of the border in the past few days, Pakistani journalist Sheyr Mirza has launched #AntiHateChallenge to speak out against war and terrorism and diffuse the growing tensions between India and Pakistan. In the wake of the Pulwama attack on a convoy that left several Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers dead last Thursday, Mirza urged her countrymen and social media users to join the campaign of peace. With #WeStandWithIndia #NoToWar written on the placard the journalist, in a Facebook post, wrote that the initiative did not only condemn the attack but was also aimed at expressing solidarity with their Indian counterparts. Quoting Indian poet and lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi, Mirza wrote: Whether blood be ours or theirs, Its the blood of humankind. Whether wars be waged in the east or west, It is the murder of world-peace. Whether houses be bombed or borders, The temple of the Soul is wounded. War is a problem itself. How will war resolve problems? Today it will rain fire and blood, Tomorrow, hunger and scarcity. In her post that was shared on Aman Ki Asha page on Facebook, Mirza wrote: We're deeply disturbed over the tragic terror attack that claimed innocent lives in Kashmir. In such testing times, we need more sane voices to speak out against war and terrorism. We have initiated this #AntiHateChallenge to not only condemn the attack but also express solidarity with our Indian friends. Requesting Pakistani fellows, who share our feelings to please, join in 🙏 Holding placards that read a similar message, several women from Pakistan joined her campaign. The #AntiHateChallenge was widely circulated on social media and Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar lauded the initiative by young Pakistanis. Thank you friends from #Pakistan for this message of condolence and peace. Laudable initiative by young Pakistanis. We hear you! 🙏🏿🙏🏿❤️❤️ #Pulwama pic.twitter.com/pJIZKI2c5O— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 19, 2019 Last week, Pakistani comedian Junaid Akram had questioned the people who easily resorted to violence or threats of violence. Akram, who runs a YouTube channel called 'Khalli Karao', started the video by asking Indians why they were threatening Pakistan so much on social media. He said that war-mongering was easy but the only people profiting from it were the arms dealers and certain sections of the government.

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise is a conservative Republican from Old Jefferson, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords a liberal Democrat from Tucson, Arizona. They have this much in common: They are the only two members of Congress to be shot in the past 40 years. They marked that connection Tuesday (Jan. 8), the anniversary of the attack on Giffords, when she returned to the House to help introduce legislation mandating background checks on private gun sales. The two survivors of assassination attempts embraced, chatted for about 20 seconds, hugged again and chatted a bit more before Scalise moved on to others in the chamber, according to a C-SPAN video recording of the meeting. Giffords was shot in the head Jan. 8, 2011, outside a grocery store in suburban Tucson at a public meeting with constituents. Twelve others were wounded, and six – including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl – were killed. U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona shot; aide killed, officials say The gunman, Jared Lee Loughner, a paranoid schizophrenic abuser of drugs and alcohol, pleaded guilty and is serving seven life terms in prison. Giffords stepped down from Congress in 2012 and now runs an anti-gun violence organization with her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Scalise was shot in the hip and abdomen June 14, 2017, at an Alexandria, Va., ballpark while practicing with fellow Republicans for the congressional baseball game. Three others were wounded. Police fatally shot the gunman, James T. Hodgkinson, who had raged against GOP President Donald Trump. After numerous surgeries, Scalise returned to the House 2½ months later. Watch Steve Scalise's emotional speech upon returning to Congress . . . . . . . Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and education, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach.<doc-sep>Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who have each survived mass shootings, shared a hug on the House floor on Tuesday night. The hug came before a moment of silence on the 8th anniversary of Gifford being shot, according to CNN. Giffords was shot in the head on Jan. 8, 2011, while meeting with constituents in Arizona. Several other people were also shot in the incident. ADVERTISEMENT Giffords, who is an advocate for stricter gun control, was visiting Congress on Tuesday for the introduction of legislation that would require universal background checks for gun purchases. Giffords joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiGOP leaders face new calls to boot Greene Biden, Bass press for police reform after meeting Floyd family Kinzinger calls for Greene to be removed from GOP conference after Holocaust remark MORE (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) to introduce the bill. Scalise was shot in Alexandria, Va., in June 2017 when a gunman opened fire while members of the GOP were practicing for the annual congressional baseball game. The gunshot wound left Scalise severely injured and forced him to undergo multiple surgeries.<doc-sep>Two members of Congress -- one a Republican, the other a Democrat -- who survived gunshot wounds in recent years shared an embrace on the House floor Tuesday as they marked the eighth anniversary of the attack against one of them. The moment shared by U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., and former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., came shortly before newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., unveiled a gun control bill that would require background checks for private gun sales. Eight years ago, Giffords survived an assassination attempt outside a Tucson, Ariz. supermarket where she was meeting with her constituents. Six other people were left dead and Giffords suffered significant brain injuries. Since recovering, Giffords has become one of the country’s most outspoken gun-control advocates. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Scalise survived a shooting attempt in June 2017 when a gunman targeted him as Republicans practiced for a congressional baseball game on a ballfield in Alexandria, Va. At the time he was the third-ranking member of the House Republican leadership. He returned to Congress in September of that year and said he was a “living example that miracles really do happen.” Giffords arrived in Washington to join Pelosi and Thompson for the unveiling of the new gun control bill, which would expand background checks for sales and transfers of firearms. 'YOU SHOULDN'T THREATEN PEOPLE': SCALISE CALLS ON OCASIO-CORTEZ TO 'STAND UP' TO RADICAL SUPPORTERS Giffords, who co-founded a gun safety group with her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, said in a statement Friday she was thrilled that her former House colleagues were responding to a gun-violence epidemic that killed nearly 40,000 people in 2017. The bill calling for expanded background checks "marks a critical first step toward strengthening America's gun laws and making our country a safer place to live, work, study, worship and play," Giffords said. "I stand ready to do everything in my power to get this legislation across the finish line." COLORADO SCHOOL SHOOTING VICTIM'S FATHER ACCUSES GIFFORDS SUPER PAC AD OF 'POLITICIZING' DAUGHTER'S DEATH But National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action spokeswoman Jennifer Baker dismissed the Democrats' proposal, commenting that a federal background check did not prevent Giffords' shooting. "[S]o-called universal background checks will never be universal because criminals do not comply with the law," she said. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., who is one of the NRA's biggest supporters, said the legislation "does nothing to prevent gun violence, yet threatens the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens." Despite bipartisan support for gun control, the bill is unlikely to become law given the GOP's control of the Senate and President Trump's promise to "protect the Second Amendment." The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>

Republican Rep. Steve Scalise and former Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords, both survivors of horrific shootings while serving in Congress, hugged on the floor of the House of Representatives shortly before a moment of silence on the eighth anniversary of the shooting that almost killed Giffords. Giffords was in Washington on Tuesday, the anniversary of the shooting in Tucson, Arizona that left six dead and Giffords badly wounded, to help introduce a bill requiring background checks on private transaction gun sales. In 2011, Giffords was shot in the head during an appearance in front of an supermarket and suffered severe brain injuries . Since the shooting, Giffords has become one of the nation's pre-eminent advocates for gun control legislation. On Tuesday, Giffords joined newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Democrat Rep. Mike Thompson to unveil a bill to require background checks for private gun sales. Despite bipartisan support for some gun legislation proposals, the Democrats' background check proposal appears unlikely to advance in the Republican-controlled Senate. In June 2017, Scalise, who at the time was the third ranking member of the House Republican leadership as majority whip, was shot and left in critical condition after a gunman targeted a GOP congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. The congressman sustained a single gunshot wound to his left hip and suffered "significant damage" to his blood vessels, bones and some internal organs, his doctor said following the shooting. Scalise returned to Congress in September 2017 and said he is a "living example that miracles really do happen."

With the 2nd overall pick in the draft, the San Francisco Giants have selected catcher Joey Bart from Georgia Tech. In mock drafts, Bart was projected to go 1st by ESPN and 2nd by Baseball America. Bart is considered the best college catcher in the draft after having an impressive junior season with the Yellow Jackets. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound right-handed hitter was named the ACC Player of the Year after he led the conference in batting average at .359, and ranked in the top 10 in slugging percentage (.632), hits (79), home runs (16), runs scored (55) and on-base percentage (.471). The 21-year-old was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year after he posted a .992 fielding percentage, threw out 12 of 33 runners and recorded three pickoffs from behind the plate. Bart has most of the tools to be successful at the next level. His hitting, power and plate discipline have made him into a player who can put the ball all over the field. Though his speed is below average, Bart is an excellent defensive presence behind the plate, with his arm being above average and his fielding on the cusp of being rated the same. He should be an excellent commodity for the Giants. Get a look at Bart at the plate here:<doc-sep>At the end of the day, the Giants kicked the tires of the consensus top prospects and decided that their best bet was on the the best hitting college catcher available. Joey Bart won’t be taking Buster Posey’s place in the lineup or our hearts anytime soon and that was never really the thinking behind this pick. Brian Sabean is not an idiot. With the #2 overall pick, the mission statement was “Don’t screw this up”, and given the caliber of player we know Bart to be, there’s no question that the front office accomplished their mission. You might hear the word scarcity when it comes to Bart, and that’s because it’s rare when one of the best hitters in a given draft is a catcher. As you’ll hear below in Jonathan Mayo’s analysis, Bart gets compared to Matt Wieters more often than not, and that’s probably because both of them went to Georgia Tech. That lazy comp aside, how about this lazy analysis: the Giants drafted who they believe to be the best hitting college catcher since Buster Posey. I’m writing this post right around the time the Giants might actually release a public comment about their pick, and so maybe I’m parroting something they’e already said. The numbers don’t actually support the equivalency (I’m not going to compare Bart and Posey’s junior year numbers because that’s not important right now), but again I return to the word scarcity. There aren’t many great hitting catchers on planet Earth, and few of them are available in a draft. There’s the old saying to “draft the best player available and not the player who most fills your need(s).” Well, Joey Bart is a quality player. A consensus “everybody would be thrilled to have him in their organization” guy, and for a team that needs a little flash and dynamism, the Giants made a very solid choice. Here’s some video: And here’s what 2080 Baseball had to say about him: A power-hitting catcher who will remain at the position, Bart is seen by many as the early-season favorite to be the first catcher off the board in June. His ceiling is that of an everyday catcher at the big league level with solid catch and throw tools, 15-to-20 home run power, and a healthy dose of strikeouts. Roger, Kevin, and Doug will have more on Joey Bart and the other picks in the coming days, so I’ll just end this post with why I think this pick will pay huge dividends: the promotional possibilities. Think about it: BART ads: Joey Bart is a call to civic responsibility through public transit Friends nostalgia night at the park: Joey “Tribbiani” Bart Simpsons series finale crossovers: Bart meets other famous Barts throughout history San Francisco Giants-themed Joey “St. Bart’s” travel packages Congratulations to Joey Bart for achieving a part of your dream to play Major League Baseball, and welcome to the San Francisco Giants. Yes, we are as weird as you’ve heard.<doc-sep>SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 07: Marco Scutaro #19 of the San Francisco Giants wears his 2012 Championship Ring and holds his hat during the playing of the National Anthem before their game against the St. Louis Cardinals at AT&T Park on April 7, 2013 in San Francisco, California. The Giants were given their Championship rings during a ceremony before the start of their game. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) 2018 MLB Draft: Who the Giants Will Take, and Who They Should Take 2018 MLB Draft: Who the Giants Will Take, and Who They Should Take by Jake Mastroianni The San Francisco Giants had the number two selection in this year’s Amateur draft. The chose to make Joey Bart, a Catcher from the University of Georgia Tech, their second overall pick. After a miserable 2017, at 64-98, the San Francisco Giants earned the number two selection in the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft. They decided to be smart, and take a polished college bat in Joey Bart. Bart was the number six ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He grades out at a 50 hit, 55 power, 30 speed, 60 arm, 55 field according to them. He was linked to the Giants for the last month leading into the draft and the move doesn’t really surprise anybody. He’s 6’3″ and throws and hits righty. This is his Junior Year at Georgia Tech, and his numbers are quite nice. He’s slashing .359/.471/.632/1.103 with 16 homers. Those numbers are a bit of an improvement, but the largest improvement came in his plate appearance. He has 41 walks to 56 strikeouts this season. In the second round, the Giants used the 45th overall pick on a literal giant. Sean Hjelle from the University of Kentucky stands at 6’11” and 215lbs. Flashes a mid-nineties fastball with a nasty knuckle-curve. His Slider/Cutter and Changeup are considered to be average offerings as well, per MLBPipeline’s profile. He was the closer on Kentucky’s squad during his first year, and moved to the rotation last year. He was the SEC Pitcher of the year in 2017 after posting a 3.89 ERA while striking out 102 in 108.2 innings. This season he followed up with an even better campaign as he posted a 3.44 ERA Striking out 91 in 99 innings. He doesn’t walk very many guys, as he’s only walked 66 guys in 228.2 innings. For a pitcher his size, the concern is always mechanics, but his motion is incredibly easy and repeatable, which bodes well for his future. If he makes the big leagues, he would tie Jon Rauch as the tallest player in big league history. The rest of the Giants picks will come over the next couple of days, and we’ll keep you updated on who, and what they bring in in the latter rounds. Stay tuned as we dive deep on our first two picks as well.<doc-sep>

Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart has been selected with the second pick of the MLB Draft, heading to the San Francisco Giants to continue his baseball career. Bart becomes the highest-selected player in the history of Georgia Tech baseball. His spot carries with it a suggested value of just over $7 million, though the exact amount that Bart will command from his new team remains to be seen. The Giants may choose to lowball him in hopes of offering more to later picks or could even offer more than the spot’s value depending on their gameplan. Bart, a three-year cornerstone at catcher for Danny Hall’s Yellow Jackets, enjoyed a breakout season in 2018 after garnering national attention for his power ans defense in 2017. His phenomenal line of .359/.471/.632 with 18 homeruns, second only to Clemson’s Seth Beer in the ACC, vaulted him to the top of prospect rankings in advance of today’s draft. In today’s MLB, a hitting catcher who plays good defense is a luxury that remarkably few teams enjoy. Of course, the Giants are one of the few — former Florida State catcher Buster Posey has held down the job in the Bay Area for years now. Bart’s arrival comes just in the nick of time, as Posey has begun to slow in recent years. Expect a player of Bart’s caliber to ascend the ranks of the minor leagues very quickly. The Jackets will likely see a number of other current and potentially future players selected in this year’s draft, including the versatile Tristin English and rising freshman Luke Bartnicki of Walton High School. Congratulations to Joey Bart and his family!

MANILA, Philippines — Rock band Razorback on Wednesday afternoon confirmed the death of drummer Brian Velasco, who reportedly died earlier in the day. "Today we lost our brother....and our hearts are broken.....we love you and we will always miss you Bri," the band said on its Facebook page. Razorback, who last had a gig in December, debuted in 1995 with the album "Hebigat Sounds, Vol. 1" followed by "Beggar’s Moon" in 1997. Velasco joined the band in 1996. Velasco, who died by suicide earlier on Wednesday, was a top trending topic on Twitter, with social media users expressing condolences to his family and friends as well as reminiscing on the band and its music. One user shared: “Many presentations, many pitch decks, and a lot of work from where I sit in were written with Razorback and Wolfgang playing in the background.” Many presentations, many pitch decks, and a lot of work from where I sit in were written with Razorback and Wolfgang playing in the background. This news hits hard. — Reverend Sparkjoy (@marocharim) January 16, 2019 Another tweeted, “I’ve watched them live so many times, Razorback has always been my favorite local band.” I've watched them live so many times. Razorback has always been my fave local band. Brian was simply one of the best drummers around. May your soul rest in peace. ??? ? My deepest sympathies to your love ones... https://t.co/NhzPMiJ9Fa — Kit Ian A M (@ianmauz22) January 16, 2019 Another fan tweeted that Velasco was "one of the best drummers on the Filipino rock scene." He said, "I've always watched you guys perform when I'd be at the Rarakan Festival or Dutdutan expo. Such a shame you took your own lief. Rest in peace sir." One of the best drummers on the Filipino Rock scene, I've always watched you guys perform when I'd be at the Rakrakan Festival or Dutdutan expo. Such a shame you took your own life. Rest in Peace sir Brian Velasco. pic.twitter.com/x8dfII5FWf — 6etco (@Dartagnan_BETCO) January 16, 2019 Arete Meque tweeted that Razorback gigs would "rock the devil out of you" and said we "lost a great musician today." RIP our big brother in rock Brian Velasco. I've watched Razorback a couple of times and they'll simply rock the devil out of you. As a drummer, Brian doesn't dominate their songs, but he's smooth like silk, groovy, and precise. We've lost a great musician today. #respect — Arete Mequi (@aretemequi) January 16, 2019 Velasco's name trended on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon. While some took the time to remember Razorback's music, other netizens were talking about his death and expressed sympathy with Velasco's family. In memory of Velasco, music channel MYX tweeted a throwback performance and lines from Razorback song "Wakasan" Sa dulo ng mundo, doon magtatagpo Ang 'yong kaluluwa at ang lumikha Lahat ng gusto mong malaman sa kanya Maisasagot rin niya Rest in peace, Brian Velasco. pic.twitter.com/HZQearPLo4 — MYX Philippines (@MYXphilippines) January 16, 2019 Velasco's family has yet to issue a statement on his death. The HOPELINE Project is a 24/7 service for depression and suicide prevention. They can be reached at the following numbers: (02) 804-HOPE (4673) 0917 558 HOPE (4673) 2919 (toll-free number for all GLOBE and TM subscribers)<doc-sep>Get email updates with the day's biggest stories 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 The drummer in the rock band Razorback streamed his own suicide on Facebook Live. Brian Velasco, 41, said goodbye to his friends and family while recording live online on the roof deck of an apartment in Malate, Manila, in the Philippines. The musician said to the camera “I’m going to go now” before saluting his band mates. He then stood up and leaned over the edge before finally saying “here I go” and plunging to his death some 34 floors. Facebook have now removed the video. His lifeless body was found on a safety canopy on the ground floor at 9.45am local time this morning, according to the Manila Police District (MPD) Homicide Section. Music promoter Dudee Alfonso confirmed that Velasco jumped to his death, reports the Philippine Inquirer. Velasco mourned the loss of his beloved pet dog in November and found it difficult to celebrate his birthday later that month, it has been reported. Singer Nicole Asensio, who formerly fronted General Luna, shared memories from a long friendship with Velasco, who she called her best friend. “I don’t know if you heard me when I told you how much you meant to me. I heard you loud and clear when you told me how much I meant to you. Ganyan tayo intense eh. But thats how things were. And I love you for it,” she wrote. “I am raging with anger but I love you. Like family and more. Now I’m back there in that drowning lull because I don’t know where you are... I’m effin miles away, there’s nothing I can do and I don’t have any words. No words. No Giggles. Jan 26 woulda been our next gig together. I love you,” she said. The 41-year-old joined Filipino rock band Razorback in 1996. Following the success of their second album Beggar’s Moon, the group has opened for US bands such as Rage Against the Machine and Metallica. If you need to speak to someone, Samaritans are available 24/7 by calling 116 123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org<doc-sep>

SHOCKING footage shows the drummer of the rock band Razorback livestreaming his own suicide today as he jumps 34 floors to his death. Brian Velasco, 41, said goodbye to his friends and family while recording live online on the roof deck of an apartment in Malate, Manila, in the Philippines. 4 Drummer Velasco said goodbye to his loved ones before taking his own life live on Facebook The musician said to the camera “I’m going to go now” before saluting his band mates. He then stands up and leans over the edge before finally saying “here I go” and plunging to his death. The video has since been taken down from Facebook. According to the Manila Police District (MPD) Homicide Section, his lifeless body was found on a safety canopy on the ground floor at 9.45am local time this morning. Music promoter Dudee Alfonso confirmed that Velasco jumped to his death, reports the Philippine Inquirer. I’m going to go now Brian Velasco Investigators believe that the drummer fell from the 34th floor from a roof deck, according to reports. Velasco mourned the loss of his beloved pet dog in November and found it difficult to celebrate his birthday later that month, it has been reported. The 41-year-old joined Filipino rock band Razorback in 1996. Following the success of their second album Beggar’s Moon, the group has opened for US bands such as Rage Against the Machine and Metallica. If you need someone to talk to the Samaritans are free to call on 116 123, or call CALM on 0800 58 58 58 4 The 41-year-old plunged 34 floors from a building in Manila, according to reports 4 Velasco, who joined Razorback in 1996, had recently struggled with the death of his beloved dog, it has been reported 4 The drummer said 'here I go' before jumping to his death 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 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours

Marcus Smart Says He Has Heard Racist Remarks From Celtics Fans: 'It's Sad And Sickening'Asked about Kyrie Irving's comments about Boston fans, Celtics guard Marcus Smart said that he is hoping that the Boston crowd will treat all players -- whether they're in a Celtics or a Nets uniform -- with respect. Jayson Tatum Good To Go For Celtics-Nets Game 3Celtics forward Jayson Tatum practiced on Thursday and is good to go for Friday night's must-win Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets. Jalen Mills Explains Why He Switched To No. 2 With PatriotsJalen Mills says switching to No. 2 is cool, but it also has a deeper meaning for the new Patriots defensive back. Long Snapper Joe Cardona On Playing For New England Patriots: 'I Never Thought I'd Be In The NFL'The Patriots long snapper says there is a different energy in the building knowing that fans will be returning to Gillette Stadium in the fall. Bruins-Islanders Game 1 Set For Saturday Night At TD GardenWe don't have a full series schedule just yet, but at least we know when the Bruins and the Islanders will begin their second-round series.<doc-sep>Crime & Safety Cape Cod Beach Closes After Shark Seen Eating Seal Swimming was suspended a day after a shark bit a man off the coast of Truro. Reply PROVINCETOWN, MA – Swimming was suspended Thursday at a Provincetown beach after a shark was spotted off the coast. Video taken at the scene shows a shark eating a seal off Race Point Beach. Beachgoers can be heard shouting, "Get out of the water!" The beach was closed for one hour around 3:45 p.m. The closure comes a day after a shark bit a man off the coast of nearby Truro, Cape Cod's first shark attack since 2012.<doc-sep>Shaken beachgoers described how a carefree day at a remote Cape Cod beach took a horrific turn when attacked and a 61-year-old man Wednesday. The victim, William Lytton, of Scarsdale, N.Y., remained in serious condition Thursday afternoon at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Marc Charbonneau, 56, of Montreal said Thursday on Long Nook Beach that he had seen Lytton swimming by himself in the water there Wednesday afternoon. Because it was high tide, the water was “way over his head,” Charbonneau said. Lytton was swimming near seals, said Charbonneau and a friend, Kevin Cox, 69, of North Carolina. They said Lytton swam past them, parallel to the shore. Cox said Lytton was beyond the seals. Advertisement Not long afterward, beachgoers sprang into action when it became clear that a shark had wounded Lytton. A man who declined to give his name said he and his family had just pulled into the parking lot when a woman ran up a steep bluff and yelled, “Does anybody have a cellphone? There’s been a shark attack.” The man later saw about 10 people carrying Lytton from the water. Lytton was wrapped in a towel, the man said, and when it slipped he saw “a pattern of red marks” on his leg. Charbonneau said he and his son were among the people who helped carry Lytton up the narrow path that cuts through the bluff. Lytton, Charbonneau said, had deep marks “all over” his right leg, rear end, and left hand. Joanne Fredericks, Charbonneau’s wife, said she tried to comfort a distraught woman after the attack. “She came up crying there,” Fredericks said. “She thought maybe he lost a limb or something.” Michael Sheridan of Philadelphia said Wednesday night that he had been at Long Nook with his family for about 15 minutes when he saw people running. Some headed toward Lytton in the water, while others ran toward the parking lot because they had no cell service and wanted to call 911. Advertisement Lytton left a trail of blood on the sand, Sheridan said, and the gash was deep, located right below the “left hip and upper-quad area.” “You could almost see his bone,” Sheridan said. He said Lytton was conscious but didn’t say much as the group carried him up the hill that separates the beach from the lot. Several people were holding the edges of the towel, Sheridan said. “I thought he was dying right there,” he said. “I thought he was going to bleed out on this beach.” Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.<doc-sep>

BARNSTABLE (CBS/AP) — Authorities in Massachusetts closed two Cape Cod beaches following shark sightings on Thursday, and three additional shark sightings were reported Friday as well in the area. According to the Cape Cod National Seashore, a shark was seen in the waters off Race Point Beach in Provincetown Thursday afternoon. Video shows the shark feeding on a seal near the shore. Meadow Beach in Truro was closed earlier in the day when several sharks were spotted in the water. The beach is expected to remain closed Friday and could possibly reopen on Saturday if no new sightings are reported. On Friday, Barnstable Police said visitors at all north side beaches, including Sandy Neck and Millway, are urged to use caution. A great white shark was sighted off Barnstable Harbor. A short time later, Sandwich Police said a fisherman spotted a shark outside the canal entrance at second barrel depth. The shark swam up close to the fisherman’s boat. A fisherman just came to SPD reporting a shark at 2nd barrel outside canal entrance on Sandwich side. It came near his boat. — Sandwich Police (@SandwichPD) August 17, 2018 Coast Guard Beach in Eastham was closed for an hour due to a shark sighting. SkyEye spotted a shark swimming about a half mile off the coast of Truro around noon on Friday. The shark encounters came in the days after 61-year-old William Lytton was bitten at Long Nook Beach in Truro. Lytton was taken to a hospital with puncture wounds to his torso and legs. Lytton remained in serious condition at Tufts Medical Center as of Friday. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, an organization that studies sharks, says shark encounters in which people are injured are as “terrifying as they are rare.” Massachusetts’ last shark attack fatality was in 1936. Barnstable Police offered tips to avoiding shark attacks while swimming. Police said swimmers should not swim at dusk or dawn, and should never swim near seals. (© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Images of the Norrth Korea missile launch on November 28 taken from Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's official newspaper. WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 09: National Security Adviser John Bolton speaks on a morning television show from the grounds of the White House, on May 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. Yesterday President Donald Trump announced that America was withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) SINGAPORE - JUNE 12: In this handout photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during their historic U.S.-DPRK summit at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island on June 12, 2018 in Singapore. U.S. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held the historic meeting between leaders of both countries on Tuesday morning in Singapore, carrying hopes to end decades of hostility and the threat of North Korea's nuclear program. (Photo by Kevin Lim/THE STRAITS TIMES/Handout/Getty Images) (CNN) — North Korea has accused Japan of sabotaging peace efforts on the Korean peninsula “at any cost.” The ongoing animosity between Pyongyang and Tokyo threatens to mar progress as the region and the US attempt to sway North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions in exchange for economic relief and diplomatic acceptance. The two nations are so far from rapprochement that barely a day passes without blistering condemnation of Japan in North Korea’s state media, or a hasty scramble from Japan’s leadership to preempt any action from Washington that might not be in its best interests. In the latest vitriol directed at Tokyo, North Korean state media claimed late Monday that Japan was engaged in naval exercises with British forces to police the shipment of goods to North Korea “under the pretext of strengthening the capability of monitoring the waters surrounding Japan.” “These are acts to check the climate of peace being created on the Korean Peninsula at any cost and ratchet up tension in the region,” said KCNA. The bad blood between the two nations dates back at least to the Japanese annexation of the Korean peninsula in 1910, an event routinely referenced in North Korean state media. On August 23, North Korea’s permanent mission to the United Nations issued a statement drawing attention to the “108 years since the Japanese gangsters cooked up ‘Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty.’” 00:53 - Source: CNN Japan PM: Nuclear N. Korea greatest threat Describing the treaty used to justify the annexation as an “illegal document for invasion,” the statement argued that Japan has failed to atone for its wartime actions. “Japan, overheated with militarist frenzy, has to keenly realize that it can never go to the future with their crime-woven past left pending,” the statement went on. “At a time when the new trend for peace created on the Korean peninsula has massive impact on the world political situation, and there witnesses a drastic change in the relations of dynamics in the region, only Japan is being treated like an outcast,” it said. Abe the outlier That statement, while incendiary, will likely strike a nerve for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Indeed, as North Korea points out, much of the international community has turned from viewing Pyongyang as a malicious uncontrollable threat to a possible returnee to the world’s stage. Japan has been the outlier, beseeching the world, and President Donald Trump, not to trust Kim Jong Un and his regime. “Abe is really trying and hoping he’s not going to be marginalized no matter what happens between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump,” said Koichi Nakano, a professor of political science at Sophia University in Japan. “There is a real danger at the end of the day that Abe’s Japan will have to pay the price for whatever changes are implemented by North Korea, without having a say in the decision itself,” he told CNN. 00:51 - Source: CNN Trump: No one should underestimate US resolve That danger explains Abe’s shuttle diplomacy, his dozens of phone calls with President Trump and at least eight face-to-face meetings since Trump came into office. Abe has met Trump at the White House, at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, at G7 summits around the world, as well as in Japan, all to press the American president to keep Japan’s interests at the forefront of his negotiations with North Korea. Along with the nuclear threat Pyongyang poses to the region and the US mainland, Japan remains on tense alert over North Korea’s use of short-range ballistic missiles, which have landed near Japan in the past, and the possible drawdown of US troops in the Korean peninsula, leaving Japan exposed to another emboldened regional player: China. Abductions and political cover Abe has also been pressing Trump to remember the fate of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. A report in 2014 by the United Nations Human Rights Council concluded that hundreds of South Koreans, Japanese and other foreign nationals were kidnapped by North Korea after the end of the Korean War in 1953. Even as Abe appears as the supplicant in the relationship with Trump, at home his position is strong and the media in lockstep with his use of North Korea as the perpetual bogeyman, deflecting his domestic political scandals. 02:07 - Source: CNN Japan's Abe poised for landslide victory “The Japanese media is not very good at covering foreign affairs, Abe gets to have the stories he wants people to believe conveyed in the mass media,” Nakano told CNN. “Abe has waged his whole political life on making sure North Korea is kept as the enemy,” said Caroline Norma, a senior research fellow at the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University in Melbourne. “Since 2007, the Abe regime in its first iteration gained political power domestically and constructed the whole administration as an anti-North Korean administration,” she told CNN. Deep divisions The vitriol between the two countries is real, says Joseph Siracusa, also at RMIT University. And while the Japanese may fight for the fate of some 17 Japanese citizens, he argues that the North Koreans’ grievances against Japan run much deeper, in much greater numbers. “The thing that drives the Koreans crazy is the issue of the comfort women, the North Koreans have made a number of public protests that Japan has failed to acknowledge,” Siracusa told CNN. “That explains it not only geopolitically, but they violated the flower of their youth. I think I’d remember that for a long time.” 02:39 - Source: CNN 2007: 'Sex slaves' tell painful stories It’s not known exactly how many women served as so-called comfort women but the Japanese government disputes the previously reported number of 200,000 across Asia. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women found in a report that “comfort stations” that provided forced sexual slaves for Japanese military began as early as 1932, nearly 10 years before it became a more widely known and regular practice. “The first military sexual slaves were Korean from the North Kyushu area of Japan, and were sent at the request of one of the commanding officers of the army,” the UN wrote in its report. The Japanese, it wrote, “were able to procure more women for the increasing demands of the army by using violence and outright coercion.” 04:17 - Source: CNN Japan's worries about U.S.-North Korea summit Seoul and Tokyo signed a deal in 2015 that was intended to settle the matter between the two countries, but victims groups objected and the issue remains highly controversial, even as South Korea and Japan work together to prevent more militarization and belligerence from North Korea. Japan has expressed “sincere apologies and remorse” for the way the women were treated, and opened a fund to provide compensation for former victims in South Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan. No specific deal has been negotiated with North Korea. “The two sides are so far apart that it’s hard to see the Japanese government being willing to get into that issue,” Koichi Nakano said. “The issue of the comfort women is the single biggest obstacle to a more cordial relationship even with South Korea.” Talks are canceled, again<doc-sep>Japan held a “secret” meeting with North Korea in Vietnam in July without informing the United States, according to media reports. Talks were reportedly held between Shigeru Kitamura, head of Japan’s Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, and Kim Song-hye, a senior North Korean official in charge of reunification. Japan’s decision not to inform the US government of the meeting, which was reported in the Washington Post, was said to have caused “irritation” among senior officials. The talks also reflect Tokyo’s growing concern that it is unable to depend on the US to lobby on its behalf in relation to key domestic issues such as the abduction of its citizens in North Korea. US President Donald Trump told Tokyo following his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June that he had raised the emotive issue during discussions. However, a joint statement issued after the Singapore talks did not refer to human rights or abduction issues in North Korea, with Pyongyang taking the position that the matter had been settled. Tokyo has long sought the return of at least a dozen Japanese nationals kidnapped by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s in order to train its spies, with Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, making it a cornerstone of his rise to power.<doc-sep>Japan say North Korea remains a serious threat to Japan’s national security. The statement comes from Japan’s yearly defense policy paper. The document was released on Tuesday. The Japanese government has announced plans to buy two American-made air defense radar tracking stations. Officials say the Aegis Ashore defense system would help strengthen the country’s defenses against a missile attack. The Japanese military notes that North Korea has carried out three nuclear tests and test-fired more than 40 ballistic missiles since 2016. Some of those missiles passed over Japanese air space. The new report recognizes recent efforts by North Korea to reduce tensions with South Korea. These efforts led to the historic talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12. At the meeting, the two men signed a statement. It included a general promise by North Korea to remove nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula. Yet the Japanese military noted that, “There is no change in our basic recognition concerning the threat of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles.” The report also expressed concerns about China’s military expansion, including Chinese territorial claims in the East China Sea. Yoichiro Sato is a professor of international strategic studies at Ritsumeikan Asia-Pacific University in Japan. He notes there have been many diplomatic developments involving North Korea. But he said “Japan is not likely to alter its perception of threats from North Korea.” Speaking about China, Sato said Japan is concerned about parts of China’s “Belt and Road” development plan. The plan provides money for building roads, rail transportation and other projects. The goal is to help connect Asia with Europe, and even Africa. Sato said some projects, such as ports, can also be used by China’s growing navy -- an important concern for Japan. Uneven diplomatic steps The release of Japan’s defense policy paper comes just days after President Trump cancelled U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s trip to North Korea. On Twitter, Trump wrote that “we are not making sufficient progress” on the issue of removing nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean government is seeking to improve relations with the North. The South expressed regret over the cancellation of Pompeo’s visit. It added, however, that it was important for the allies to seek “substantial progress” on the nuclear issue. North and South Korea are currently involved in a number of trust-building measures. These include reunions of family members separated by the Korean War and joint Korean sports teams at the Asian Games in Indonesia. On Sunday, North Korea announced that a Japanese man, Tomoyuki Sugimoto, would be released from detention. Sugimoto was arrested in early August and held for several weeks. The North’s official KCNA news agency said he was being released for humanitarian reasons. News reports say Sugimoto was seized for taking videos of a military area near the port of Nampo. He was first placed on an airplane going to Beijing and returned to Japan on Tuesday. I’m Mario Ritter. Mario Ritter adapted this story for Learning English based on VOA and Reuters news reports. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story ballistic – adj. describing a weapon that is shot through the sky over a great distance basic – adj. relating to the most important part of something strategic – adj. related to a plan for meeting a military or political goal alter – v. to change perception – n. the way that someone is understood or thought about sufficient – adj. having provided as much as is needed substantial – adj. large in amount, size or number We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.<doc-sep>

North Korea still poses a "serious and imminent threat", Japan said in its first annual defence review since an outbreak of diplomacy on the Korean peninsula. Japan's 2018 defence white paper also took aim at China's rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking "strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan." Last year's defence review was published at the height of the tension with North Korea, amid nuclear and missile tests and US President Donald Trump threatening to rain down "fire and fury" on Pyongyang if it kept up its threats. But since then, a spectacular diplomatic detente has taken place, culminating in the historic summit between Mr Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore on 12 June. Nevertheless, Tokyo insisted today: "There is no change in our basic recognition concerning the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles." Pyongyang continues to post "an unprecedentedly serious and imminent threat to Japan's security and significantly damage the peace and security of the region and the international community", according to Tokyo. Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera acknowledged in the document that North Korea had begun "dialogue" with former foes the US and South Korea. "But we cannot overlook the fact that, even to this day, it possesses and fully deploys several hundred missiles that put nearly all of Japan within range," stressed the minister. In response, Japan is steadily upgrading its capacity to shield the nation from the North's arsenal, including a plan to spend some $4.2bn over the next three decades on installing and operating US radar systems. Despite the historic handshake in Singapore, there has been little progress in denuclearising the Korean peninsula and Washington-Pyongyang relations appear to have taken a turn for the worse, with Mr Trump abruptly scrapping a planned visit to the North by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The white paper also reiterated its worries about China's increasing military spending and expanding naval ambitions. It complained that Beijing was trying to "change the status quo by coercion", referring to such actions as building up disputed islands in the South China Sea and expanding naval activities around East China Sea islands in dispute with Japan. Pompeo visit scrapped after belligerent letter from N Korea: report Mr Pompeo's planned trip to North Korea last weekend was cancelled after he received what US officials deemed to be a belligerent letter from Pyongyang, The Washington Post reported. The precise contents of the letter, which came from Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of North Korea's ruling party, were not known, the Post said. Mr Pompeo received it on Friday and showed it to President Trump. They concluded it was belligerent enough to call off the visit, the Post said, quoting two administration officials. In pulling the plug on the visit, Mr Trump tweeted that he had not seen sufficient progress toward Pyongyang denuclearising. Mr Trump also criticised China for not doing enough to help push denuclearisation, but left open the possibility of a Pompeo trip to Pyongyang when the US-China trading relationship is "resolved."

'The whole thing raises big issues of security': At Burnaby's Central Park, questions linger over slain teen Three small memorials sit in Burnaby's Central Park, where Marrisa Shen was murdered in 2017 Article content More than a year after Marrisa Shen’s body was found in Burnaby’s Central Park, her presence is still felt. Three small memorials adorned with flowers, stuffed animals and Shen’s photo, remain in the southeast corner of the park — a reminder of the 13-year-old who disappeared one summer night in July 2017, kicking off one of the most intensive murder investigations by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 'The whole thing raises big issues of security': At Burnaby's Central Park, questions linger over slain teen Back to video “I feel very sad when I walk down the spot where she was murdered,” said Donna Surman, who walks her dog almost every day in Central Park. “It just feels sad. I’ll never forget it, and I probably never will as long as I walk in the park.” On Monday, investigators announced 28-year-old Ibrahim Ali has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Shen’s death. “I’m very happy they’ve finally solved the situation, though we won’t know until we go through the courts,” said Surman.<doc-sep>A 28-year-old Syrian refugee has been charged with murder after the body of a 13-year-old Burnaby girl was found in a park last summer. Ibrahim Ali, of Burnaby, is accused of first-degree murder in connection with the slaying of Marrisa Shen in Central Park on July 18, 2017. Ali had moved to Canada just four months before Marrisa was killed, Integrated Homicide Investigation Team Supt. Donna Richardson said Monday. IHIT Supt. Donna Richardson speaks with reporters after announcing charges in the “random” killing of Marrisa Shen in Burnaby. (Katya Slepian/Black Press Media) “We still believe that this crime was a random act, meaning that Marrisa did not know the suspect,” said Richardson. “As far as motive is concerned… I am not able to discuss those matters in order to protect our future judicial proceedings.” IHIT Cpl. Frank Jang read out a statement from the Shen family, thanking police, the media and the public for their help in the 14 months since Marrisa’s death. “We hope that justice will now be served and that Marrisa can finally be at peace in heaven,” Jang said. READ MORE: Family thanks public 1 year after girl, 13, mysteriously killed in Burnaby park READ MORE: One year later: Still no suspects in killing of 13-year-old B.C. girl Police first became aware of Ali two weeks ago. He does not have a criminal record or evidence of mental illness and is currently a permanent resident. He was arrested in Burnaby last Friday, after a massive investigation. “More than 1,300 residents in the area surrounding Central Park were canvassed, over 600 interviews were conducted, over 2,000 persons of interest were identified and over 1,000 hours of video were collected from more than 60 locations,” Richardson said. There is no evidence that religious ideology played any part in the killing, she said, adding she hoped the charge would not create backlash against the region’s refugees. “I think by and large, our refugees who come to the country are hardworking citizens that are very happy to be in Canada,” she said. “I would just hope that we look at this incident for what it is: a one-off situation.” @katslepian katya.slepian@bpdigital.ca Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.<doc-sep>Share this Story: Ibrahim Ali, 28, charged with first-degree murder of Burnaby teen Marrisa Shen Ibrahim Ali, 28, charged with first-degree murder of Burnaby teen Marrisa Shen The man arrived in Canada as a refugee from Syria just months before the 13-year-old was killed, say police. Investigators have not said how they identified him as a suspect. Article content The man arrested and charged with the 2017 murder of Burnaby teen Marrisa Shen arrived in Canada as a refugee from Syria just months before she was killed, say police. Ibrahim Ali, 28, was arrested without incident Friday in Burnaby, where he lives, and later charged with first-degree murder, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Ibrahim Ali, 28, charged with first-degree murder of Burnaby teen Marrisa Shen Back to video Ali did not appear to know Shen, and Shen did not know Ali, said Supt. Donna Richardson, the officer in charge of IHIT. Police believed from the start that the murder had been random and Richardson said investigators still hold that belief. Shen was reported missing after she failed to return home by 11 p.m. on July 18, 2017. Police launched a search, using GPS to track her phone. The 13-year-old girl’s body was found in a wooded area in Burnaby’s Central Park early the next morning. Investigators became aware of Ali two weeks ago, Richardson said. By that time they had identified and eliminated more 2,000 “persons of interest.” Ali was not known to police and he does not have a criminal record. Richardson would not say how police identified him as a suspect. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Ali is a Syrian national and a permanent resident of Canada who came to the country 17 months ago, Richardson said. She did not know whether he was a privately-sponsored or government-assisted refugee, but believed he has family in Burnaby and was employed. A law enforcement source who was not authorized to speak publicly said IHIT has asked the Canada Border Services Agency for more information about Ali. That source confirmed Ali did not arrive at a port of entry in Canada to claim asylum. A spokeswoman for the Immigration and Refugee Board was unable to find records of any public proceedings in which Ali was involved. Photo by Nick Procaylo / PNG The Shen family released a statement through police following news of the arrest. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for all of their ongoing support and concern for us in this past year. We are aware that so many people reached out to the police to provide information and we were so grateful for that,” the statement read. “We would like to thank the police for all their hard work and specifically IHIT for their perseverance.” Ali is scheduled to appear in Vancouver provincial court on Friday at 9:30 a.m. Chris Friesen, director of the Immigrant Services Society of B.C., which helps Syrians settle here, said he did not recognize Ali’s name. He said there are about 3,500 Syrian refugees living in 69 different B.C. communities, and he knows of no others who have been in trouble with police. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content He called Shen’s murder a “horrific, unfortunate” case, but said it shouldn’t cast suspicion on all refugees. “When a tragedy like this happens, it can and does impact public opinion and it’s unfortunate that entire communities can be whitewashed by the horrific alleged behaviour of one individual. We have found the vast, vast majority have left all of that behind — the trauma, the war — and just want to live a peaceful and productive life in Canada, paying taxes and supporting their kids in school,” Friesen said. He said the Vancouver ISS office has a Vancouver police officer who comes regularly to meet with the refugees and assure them that law officials are here to support them in Canada. “It has been shown that immigrants are statistically less likely to commit crimes than others, but as in everything else, there are always exceptions,” said Olga Stachova of MOSAIC, the Multilingual Orientation Services Association for Immigrant Communities. She is concerned that the focus on the suspect’s immigration status will “erode the goodwill and generosity” that Canadians have for refugees. “Ibrahim Ali is accused of a terrible crime, but if he is guilty, he is not representative of all refugees, nor of all Syrians,” she said. More On This Topic One year later and police still have no suspect in Marrisa Shen's murder New video shows 13-year-old Burnaby homicide victim Marrisa Shen hours before body found 'The whole thing raises big issues of security': At Burnaby's Central Park, questions linger over slain teen A letter posted online by representatives of the Syrian community in Canada called the murder despicable. “At this moment of deep sadness, we earnestly join all Canadians in mourning and hope that this terrible incident won’t result in a backlash against refugees.” Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The federal Liberals said in 2015 that the government would give top priority to assisting Syrian families, women at risk and members of the LGBT community, and that single men would only be permitted entry if they were LGBT or accompanying their parents as part of a family unit. However, these categories did not apply to privately sponsored refugees, a process that could include single men. Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen’s office did not respond to a request for comment but in a statement, an official with the department said every refugee “undergoes a robust, multi-layered screening before being allowed to enter Canada.” Each has a medical exam and a security check to ensure they have not committed serious offences, said Shannon Ker. “Overseas, security screening includes collecting biographical information, and biometrics, such as fingerprints and digital photos, which are checked against immigration, law enforcement and security databases,” Ker said. The RCMP assistant commissioner in charge of criminal investigations in B.C., Eric Stubbs, described Shen’s case as “one of the biggest, if not the biggest murder investigation that IHIT has had” in terms of the hours and effort put in by officers and the “leading-edge” investigative techniques used. “The investigative path was extraordinary and I couldn’t be more proud.” More than 1,300 residents were canvassed, more than 600 interviews were conducted, and more than 1,000 hours of video footage was reviewed as part of the investigation. A website launched to solicit tips from the public received 80,000 visits. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content About nine months after Shen’s murder, the RCMP’s behavioural sciences group developed a criminal profile of the unknown killer. That person likely lived near Central Park at the time of the murder and they may have started to behave strangely after her death. Perhaps they moved from the area, avoided Central Park, withdrew from activities, missed appointments, made suicidal gestures or attempts, increased drug or alcohol use, or had heavy interest in media coverage of Shen’s murder. Chief Supt. Deanne Burleigh, the officer in charge of Burnaby RCMP, said Shen’s murder shook the community and led to people questioning their safety in local parks. She offered her condolences to Shen’s family. “While I understand that there is some relief at the announcement of an arrest I am mindful of the devastating loss that they have suffered.” With files from Jennifer Saltman, Lora Grindlay, Maura Forrest and Douglas Quan. mrobinson@postmedia.com lculbert@postmedia.com sip@postmedia.com *** For a time on Sept. 10, 2018, an early version of this story mistook Ibrahim Ali, 28, currently serving a custodial sentence, for a different man of the same name recently arrested and charged in connection with the death of Marrisa Shen.<doc-sep>

WATCH: A 28-year-old man has been arrested in what police believe was the random killing of a teenage girl in Burnaby. Ibrahim Ali, a Syrian national who came to Canada as a refugee 17 months ago is facing a charge of first-degree murder. RCMP have charged a man with first-degree murder in the death of a Burnaby teenager who was found in a park near her home over a year ago. Ibrahim Ali, 28, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 13-year-old Marrisa Shen, whose body was found on July 18, 2017, in a wooded area of Central Park in Burnaby just hours after she had left home at 6 p.m. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team held a media conference Monday morning to announce “significant developments” in the case. Supt. Donna Richardson, the officer in charge of the team, said Ali is a Syrian national who moved to Burnaby as a refugee 17 months ago. She said the permanent resident of Canada is employed and has family in Canada. She couldn’t provide any other details pending the judicial process for the man who is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Friday. None of the allegations in the case have been tested in court. In the days following Shen’s murder, police said they believed she was the victim of a random attack. Richardson said the investigation that involved 600 interviews and the elimination of over 2,000 persons of interest was one of the largest in the history of the team since its formation in 2003. “We still believe this crime was a random act, meaning that Marrisa did not know the suspect and vice versa,” Richardson told a news conference, adding the investigation involved multiple RCMP detachments and municipal police forces. She wouldn’t say if police know of a motive. The investigation into the girl’s death was one of the homicide team’s largest active investigations with over 2,300 investigative tasks completed, Richardson said. “We methodically went through these individuals and either included or excluded them from persons of interest.” Burnaby RCMP Chief Supt. Deanne Burleigh relayed her condolences to Shen’s family. “While I understand there is some relief of the announcement of an arrest, I am mindful of the devastating loss that they have suffered. Since the day of Marrisa’s murder, the thoughts of everyone at the Burnaby detachment have been with her family.” Burleigh said police continue to conduct patrols on bike, foot and in vehicles as a result of Shen’s death. CHEK Newsletter Sign up for our newsletter to get breaking news and daily digests sent to your email. Email Address Sign Up “Marrisa’s murder shook our community and it questioned the safety in our parks,” she said. Shen’s family thanked the public for their ongoing support in a statement read by Cpl. Frank Jang of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. “We are aware that so many people reached out to the police to provide information and we are so grateful for that,” the family said as they asked for privacy. “We hope that justice will now be served and that Marrisa can finally be at peace in heaven.” Shen was seen on security video entering a Tim Hortons about 10 minutes after she left home and she was last seen around 7:30 p.m. that night walking near the coffee shop. Shen’s mother reported her missing at 11:30 p.m. and the girl’s body was found 90 minutes later, police have said. Her family has said the girl planned to travel and visit friends in China the summer she was killed. A year after her death, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team held a news conference near the wooded area where Shen’s body was found as Jang appealed for help from the public and said police had no suspects despite following up on 200 tips. With files from the Canadian Press.

A family member show a picture believed to have been taken in 2017 of four of the 12 missing boys after hearing the news the group was found, near the Tham Luang cave at the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park. SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images<doc-sep>A soccer team and its coach are stranded in a partially flooded cave system in northern Thailand. Authorities say they need to either learn to dive or wait months for flooding to subside before they can leave. The map shows how complicated it will be to get them out. A soccer team stranded in a Thai cave system for more than a week was found relatively healthy on Monday, but it may take months to get everyone out. Authorities say the only ways the 12 teenage boys and their coach can escape will be by learning to scuba dive, getting dragged out by divers, or waiting months for the flooding that trapped them in the cave to subside. The Tham Luang cave system in the Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand is a complex series of tunnels that are now partially flooded: Skye Gould/Business Insider The boys, who are ages 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach were found alive on an elevated dry rock about 2 1/2 miles from the mouth of the cave after nine days of searches. It was particularly difficult for the rescuers to locate them because the cave system consists of dark, narrow bends that sometimes fit only one person, Ben Reymenants, one of the divers involved in the search, told Sky News. It took the divers at least four hours to swim to the point in the cave system where the team was located, he said. "This is one of the more extreme cave dives that I have done," Reymenants added. "It is very far, and very complex. There is current. The visibility can be zero at times." Rescuers at the entrance of the Tham Luang cave network on Monday. Linh Pham/Getty The group entered the cave on June 23, the BBC reported. It was most likely dry when they entered, but rushing waters later clogged the way back with mud and debris. Water levels in the cave are expected to rise as the summer goes on, as Thailand's rainy season usually lasts from May until October. Divers are supplying the group with food and medicine, Thailand's Navy SEALs said on Facebook. Two Thai medical workers have also joined the cave's occupants to keep them company and monitor their health, the SEALs added.<doc-sep>About a thousand Thai soldiers and civilians have been joined by technical experts from half a dozen countries in a desperate effort to rescue 12 young boys and their soccer coach trapped by floodwater in a cave in northern Thailand for more than a week. The boys, all members of the Wild Boars soccer team between the ages of 11 and 16, and their assistant coach, 25-year-old Ekkapol Chantawong, are believed to have entered Tham Luang Cave after practice on June 23 for what was meant to be roughly a five-hour trek. Monsoon rains flooded several chambers and blocked the exit. Rescuers tried to pump out the water so divers and medics could reach them, but the days that followed only brought more downpours. Authorities then began looking for alternative entries on the mountain above, but they found few viable options. More than a week later, time is running out. The search for the missing boys and their coach has gripped the nation. Well wishers hold vigils in schools and temples across the country. Social media users created hashtags to draw attention to the story. Residents of the mostly rural Chiang Rai province have volunteered to cook, clean and support the boys’ families and rescue teams at a muddy encampment near the entrance to the cave complex. They’ve held onto hope for ten days as Thai authorities try everything they can to make contact. Here’s why it’s taking so long to find the missing team, and what’s next in the extraordinary effort to save them. Local women attend a Buddhist prayer for the missing children at a school near Tham Luang cave at the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province on July 1, 2018. Lillian Suwanrumpha—AFP/Getty Images A Complex System The Tham Luang cave system is a sprawling complex beneath the Nang Non Mountain marking the border between Thailand and Myanmar to the north. Spanning roughly three miles as the crow flies, a system of narrow corridors winds sharply up and down, connecting larger chambers of limestone dripping with stalactites. Several small rooms are located along the 1.8-mile stretch from the cave’s mouth to a T-intersection. To the right is a tunnel leading north. To the left, the main attraction: a vast amphitheater-like chamber known as Pattaya Beach, named after the popular tourist destination just south of the Thai capital Bangkok. The trek to Pattaya is not particularly difficult, but it can take a few hours in dry conditions through narrow tunnels. Authorities hope that the missing team made it to the spacious cavern, where ground is high and likely to be above water. Small openings are expected to provide enough oxygen, while springs supply fresh water. Besides some scattered belongings in the earlier chambers of the cave, there has been no direct sign of the boys and their coach. But rescuers believe huddling on the Pattaya shelf would be their best — perhaps only — chance of survival. Divers have not yet been able to reach the chamber due to extremely rough conditions, while climbers have yet to find any chimneys leading into it from above ground. Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said Sunday that a conventional exit through the mouth of the cave is the most likely scenario. Thai Navy SEALs on the frontline of the rescue effort have established a command center in “chamber three,” an elevated room about a mile from the entrance and just under a mile from the junction, according to maps provided by Thai authorities. The station has been outfitted with lighting, medical equipment, a communications system and supplies such as food and oxygen, which is being deposited at 25-meter intervals throughout the inundated tunnels. As of Monday morning, divers were closing in on Pattaya after setting out from command, passing the intersection and arriving within a mile of the target. ‘Bad Luck’ Thai authorities responded quickly to the crisis, but conditions were not in their favor. SEALs arrived late on the night of June 24, and first dove into the dark waters around 2 a.m. They kept diving, rotating three teams of six over the next 16 hours, but made little progress through opaque pools of rain, dirt and debris. Rising water levels forced them to suspend exploration several times. Submersible pumps were brought to the scene to empty out the flooded tunnels, but new rains filled them right back up again. “We had bad luck,” Narongsak, the governor, told TIME on Friday. “The water came in faster than we could control it.” By Wednesday, Thai authorities had asked for help. Three British diving experts rushed to the scene, as did a cave expert with extensive knowledge of Tham Luang. The U.S. Indo-Pacific command sent a survival specialist and a team of pararescuemen — an elite special operations unit trained for search, rescue and medical response in almost any environment. Military personnel from Australia arrived later in the week. China, Japan and Israel also sent specialists, believed to be private-sector civilians. Upon their arrival Thursday, U.S. forces were met with pounding rains. Captain Jessica Tait, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Air Force, said Thai authorities were battling extremely unfavorable circumstances that got progressively worse. “This is a unique problem that’s bringing people together,” she said. “All of Thailand is here, bringing their hearts and their passions to solving this. Everyone is doing the best they can, given the situation.” No Help From Above Helicopters and drones hovered overhead searching for heat signatures and other signs of life, while police and soldiers rummaged through the jungle for chimneys that could provide an alternative entry point. Two appeared viable, according to Narongsak, and one provided access to a small room 40 meters below. It’s still unclear whether it connects to Pattaya; while extraction from above is unlikely, rescuers hope to at least make contact with the missing team to provide emergency medical treatment and food until floodwaters recede. Industrial drills supplemented efforts to drain the water, but progress is slow. Responders are working day and night in a race against rains expected to resume this week. Thai soldiers and police gather in the mountains near the Tham Luang cave at the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in Chiang Rai province on June 30, 2018 as the rescue operation continues for the children of a football team and their coach. Lillian Suwanrumph—AFP/Getty Images At the Ready Thirteen ambulances are standing by to transport survivors to Chiang Rai Region General Hospital, where an entire floor has been cleared to receive them. “We’ve been preparing since the beginning,” says Deputy Director Samroeng Seekaew, speaking to TIME on Monday. Doctors, nurses and mental health specialists are on call to treat trauma, organ failure and infectious disease in the event that anyone is found alive. “If we find them, we want their families to know that we are ready to care for them,” Samroeng said. Paramedics, soldiers and volunteers successfully carried out an evacuation drill Saturday; if found alive, the biggest obstacle to their survival will be transporting them from Pattaya through still-flooded tunnels to the SEAL command center, then on to the mouth of cave — a difficult journey of several miles guided by rope and sheer determination. Despite the odds, responders remain committed to the mission and say they will not give up efforts until all 13 of the missing are located. Addressing reporters Monday, Narongsak, the governor, says rescue teams will power on riding a wave of slow but encouraging progress. “I hope today will be another good day,” he said. Get The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. Please enter a valid email address. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Please attempt to sign up again. Sign Up Now An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .<doc-sep>

Twelve boys and their soccer coach were found alive in cave in Thailand. Twelve boys and their soccer coach, lost for 10 days in a cave in Thailand, have been found alive, officials announced Monday. "Thai Navy SEALs have found all 13 with signs of life," Narongsak Osottanakorn, the governor of the Chiang Rai province, told reporters. Rescuers are now working to extract the team from the cave. The Thai Navy SEALs posted a video on Facebook showing the group when they were first found. The boys appeared to be in good health and were talking, asking what day it was and being told by rescuers that more help was on the way. "I am very happy," one of the boys said in English. "Thank you so much." A British diver on the SEAL team told the group, "You have been here 10 days. You are very strong." One of the boys asked him, "What time do we go outside?" The diver responded, "No, not today, not today. There's two of us. You have to dive. We're coming. It's OK. Many people are coming. Many, many people. We're the first. Many people come." The divers provided the group with lights and told them food and medical help were on the way. "Where are you from?" one of the rescued boys asked. The diver answered, "England, the UK." "God bless you," another member of the rescued party was heard saying. When a Thai military official announced the rescue at a base camp near the mouth of the cave, loud cheers went up from the searchers, who had been praying and working feverishly for such an outcome. Aisha Wiboonrungrueng's 11-year-old son, Chanin Wiboonrungrueng, was among rescued. "He would love to eat a fried omelet," the ecstatic mother told reporters. Ben Reymenants, a Belgian diver who is part of an international contingent that had been searching for the soccer team, said he was briefed by an operation commander on the rescue. He said the children and their coach were weak when they were found and that a medic was now with them in the cave, providing medical assistance. Reymenants told ABC News the race is on to safely remove the group from the cave over the next 12 hours before the next rainstorm hits. The miraculous rescue came during a lull in the torrential rains that had hampered the agonizing search. The respite from the rain also gave rescuers confidence to push forward in an area of the subterranean labyrinth they had hoped the boys and their coach were waiting to be saved. Gov. Osottanakorn said the rescuers reached the area known as Pattaya Beach where they thought they would find the lost group. When they arrived the area was flooded. He said the rescuers forged ahead about another 1,000 feet, where they discovered the boys and their coach. "It is another high ground," Osottanakorn said of where the group was located. "We found that our younger brothers are safe." Reymenants said the team was found in the dark and wet underground web of tunnels in the jungle of northern Thailand about a day after rescuers spotted fresh writing on a wall of one of the passageways. "I'm feeling so happy. This is like out of a movie, truthfully," U.S. Air Force Capt. Jessica Tait, a spokeswoman for the 353rd Special Operations Group, told ABC News at the base camp near the entrance to the cave. "I felt elation. I felt so excited," she said of getting the news that the team had been located. The 12 boys, ranging in age from 11 to 16, and their coach went missing after entering the Tham Luang Nang Non cave for an excursion on June 23. Officials believe the team became trapped when monsoon rains flooded passages and blocked their path back to the entrance of the cave where authorities found their bicycles. Rescuers were hoping to find the group in the dryer part of the cave, where nooks, crannies, chambers and tunnels run six miles beneath the rugged mountains near the borders of Myanmar and Laos. Divers had to pull themselves along with rope against powerful currents in the cave's water. The visibility was so poor that one rescuer described it as swimming through coffee. The rescue operation had gripped the attention of Thailand and beyond as people across the region collectively prayed for a miracle in the search that had entered its tenth day on Monday.

NEW YORK -- Dallas Wings star Liz Cambage has asked to be traded, the team announced Tuesday. "Liz Cambage has communicated through her representation a desire to play elsewhere in the WNBA during the 2019 season," Wings president Greg Bibb said in a statement. "While Liz is currently under contract with the Dallas Wings, we will work to resolve this issue while keeping the interest of our organization the priority." The 27-year-old Cambage finished second behind Breanna Stewart in WNBA MVP balloting this past year. Cambage set the league scoring record last season when she had 53 points in a game against New York. She averaged 23 points and 9.7 rebounds last year. The 6-foot-8 Australian star was the No. 2 pick in the 2011 draft and played two years for the Tulsa Shock before sitting out from 2014 to 2017. The franchise moved to Dallas in 2016. Cambage returned to the WNBA last season with Dallas and really hit it off with Wings coach Fred Williams. She took it hard when Williams was fired a few weeks before the end of the season. Williams signed on as an assistant with the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday. After last season, Cambage left the door open to not returning to the WNBA this year, citing the league's low salaries. She excelled for Australia in the FIBA World Cup this fall, helping the team earn a silver medal. The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Liz wants trades? We’ve got trades! Here at High Post Hoops, we heard the request from Liz Cambage loud and clear. The superstar Australian center asked the Dallas Wings for a trade, Wings president and CEO Greg Bibb confirmed Tuesday afternoon. The move by Cambage throws an already-exciting WNBA offseason into a new realm, where the league’s 2018 leader in Player Efficiency Rating, a true two-way superstar, is now available to all who can put together a package that both entices the Wings and convinces Cambage to commit. It’s a dicey proposition, but the reward is beyond any other target on the free agent market, the upside greater, especially right away, than any draft pick. Maya Moore’s future is still unclear, but with Cambage, we now know what she wants, and that is to be traded. Accordingly, our High Post Hoops staff is on the case. Here are a few ideas from likely destinations for Cambage, a media star who excels in the spotlight, along with perspective from our Dallas Wings reporter on what is likely to be best for the franchise as it moves into the post-Cambage era.<doc-sep>UNCASVILLE, CT - AUGUST 14: Dallas Wings center Liz Cambage (8) during a WNBA game between Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun on August 14, 2018, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Connecticut won 96-76. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The WNBA offseason just got crazier. Liz Cambage, the dominant center who turned the Dallas Wings into playoff contenders last season while setting the WNBA single-game record for points, has asked the Dallas Wings to be traded. Rachel Galligan was first to report the story on Tuesday afternoon. Greg Bibb, Dallas Wings president and CEO, confirmed the report later Tuesday, saying in a statement: “Liz Cambage has communicated through her representation a desire to play elsewhere in the WNBA during the 2019 season. While Liz is currently under contract with the Dallas Wings, we will work to resolve this issue while keeping the interest of our organization the priority.” The decision by Cambage upends what was a fairly straightforward market for teams in search of a big. Relatively few true fives are on the list of unrestricted free agents, and those like LaToya Sanders and Erlana Larkins aren’t the players a team builds the franchise around. Those bigs looked to be coming in the WNBA Draft, with both Kalani Brown and Teaira McCowan high on the lists of teams in search of fives, such as the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty. Now, those two teams, along with everyone else, will be trying to figure out how to bring Cambage to town. Cambage’s player efficiency rating of 30.7 last season was best in the WNBA. She is an unguardable force, capable of rim protecting, rebounding, and shooting it from anywhere. Even her assist percentage jumped to 16.5 percent last year, extremely high for a post. And then there’s this: the entertainment value of Liz Cambage sells tickets. Period. She is a destination player. Consider that the negotiations ahead are extremely complicated. Without a defined team indicated by Cambage, as was the case when Elena Delle Donne told the Chicago Sky she wished only to play for the Washington Mystics, teams would need to find a package suitable for the Wings, while also maintaining enough of a talent base to entice Cambage to come spend the final season she’ll be unable to test free agent waters. That could also limit the return, with any acquiring team all too aware of Cambage’s decision to leave the WNBA after 2011, again after 2013, and then asking for a trade following 2018. There’s also this: the evolving CBA negotiations could throw the current restrictions on player movement out the window, especially if the Wings drag this out — and having already begun offseason planning under the assumption that Cambage would not return, there’s little incentive for them to accept a subpar deal for Cambage, one of the league’s true game-changers. A lot to process for everyone in this league.<doc-sep>

Tim Heitman/Getty Images Two-time WNBA All-Star Liz Cambage has requested a trade from the Dallas Wings. Wings President and CEO Gregg Bibb provided a statement about the situation: "Liz Cambage has communicated through her representation a desire to play elsewhere in the WNBA during the 2019 season. While Liz is currently under contract with the Dallas Wings, we will work to resolve this issue while keeping the interest of our organization the priority." WNBAinsidr's Rachel Galligan first reported Cambage's request. Cambage averaged a league-high 23.0 points per game and was second in rebounding (9.7) during the 2018 season. She finished second to the Seattle Storm's Breanna Stewart in MVP voting. The highlight of Cambage's season came when she poured in a single-game record 53 points in a win over the New York Liberty in July. The 6'8" center said in August she was unsure whether she'd return to the WNBA in 2019. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft, the Australian has played just three years in the league and cited the WNBA's relatively low salaries as one of her primary concerns. Video Play Button Videos you might like "I've said this many times: [The WNBA] doesn't pay my bills. Playing here doesn't pay my bills," she said, per ESPN.com's Sean Hurd. "We make more money overseas. I'm ready to have next summer off and focus on getting a European contract where it's 10 seasons here worth the pay." Because she has already said she's content to focus her attention elsewhere, Cambage arguably holds all the cards right now. If the Wings are unable to find a trade suitor, they risk watching her take another extended hiatus. She has played three seasons in China and recently enjoyed a spell with the Melbourne Boomers in Australia. Cambage's trade demand isn't entirely surprising. Dallas has a new head coach in Brian Agler, who said during his introductory press conference he had yet to reach out to the Australia international. Skylar Diggins-Smith is also set to miss a large chunk of 2019 after announcing in October she was pregnant. Even though Agler is a two-time WNBA champion as a head coach, the Wings might struggle without their star guard. Having reached the WNBA playoffs just once in three seasons, the 27-year-old Cambage might prefer to play for a team closer to winning a WNBA title. The Los Angeles Sparks may be the front-runners to land Cambage. The Sparks just hired Fred Williams as one of their top assistants under head coach Derek Fisher. Williams and Cambage had a strong rapport when he coached the Wings last season.

Boeing's press release reads in full: “Today’s announcement is the culmination of years of unwavering focus by the Boeing and Saab team,” said Leanne Caret, president and CEO, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “It is a direct result of our joint investment in developing a system centered on the unique requirements of the U.S. Air Force. We expect T-X to be a franchise program for much of this century.” Boeing and its risk-sharing partner Saab designed, developed, and flight tested two all-new, purpose-built jets ― proving out the system’s design, repeatability in manufacturing and training capability. “This selection allows our two companies to deliver on a commitment we jointly made nearly five years ago,” said Håkan Buskhe, president and CEO of Saab. “It is a major accomplishment for our partnership with Boeing and our joint team, and I look forward to delivering the first trainer aircraft to the Air Force.” Boeing is now clear to begin placing orders with its suppliers, including Saab. More than 90 percent of Boeing’s offering will be made in America, supporting more than 17,000 jobs in 34 states. Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defense and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs. The Air Force's original request for proposals said the winner of the competition would have to submit five aircraft for testing, after which it would make a decision about whether to proceed with two lots of low-rate initial production aircraft. It would then move on to at least eight lots of full-rate production aircraft. The service hopes to reach initial operational capability with the T-X in 2024. The Air Force's contract is a big deal by itself, but it might also spur further developments and sales of the T-X, or derivatives, abroad. Saab had previously said that if the design it crafted with Boeing won the competition that it would build a U.S.-based plant to build the aircraft. Boeing A pair of Boeing T-X prototypes. The size of the deal with the Air Force could attract U.S. allies and partners who are looking at buying new jet trainers themselves. Joining the larger American program would allow them to avoid much, if not all, of the cost of developing a new aircraft and to take advantage of the economies of scale from larger orders of the final production aircraft. The design might serve as the basis for future, combat-capable derivatives, as well, that could be of interest to smaller air forces. The USAF has long been interested in using the T-X for aggressor duties in the future. There is also a possibility that private contractors who provide "red air" aggressor support to U.S. military training exercises could be interested in acquiring the T-Xs, as well. The Air Force is presently running a separate and potentially lucrative competition to hire a contractor these types of services at a dozen locations or more. The service's requirements call for jets that can mimic fourth generation combat jets and most of the competitors have been acquiring older types and refurbishing them to meet that demand. Boeing's T-X could potentially offer a modern alternative with a big support infrastructure available to sustain it. Given how significant the contract could be, it's important to remember that Lockheed Martin and KAI and Leonardo could decide to protest the award if they think they can make a case that the Air Force's contracting process was flawed or unfair in any way. This would also potentially delay the program, even if federal watchdogs rule in favor of Boeing at the end of the day. But if everything moves ahead smoothly, Boeing and Saab could be looking a very significant future with their new jet trainer design. You can find our follow-up with more specifics about the T-X contract award here. Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com<doc-sep>It's been a long race for the right to build the U.S. Air Force's next trainer jet, but the competition finally has a winner. Boeing, in partnership with Saab, has won the $9.2 billion contract to create the T-X, the plane that will train the next generation of pilots. It's the continuation of a great week for Boeing, which, in collaboration with Euro defense firm Leonardo, just won the contract to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of UH-60 "Huey" helicopters. USAF has been training pilots in the Northrop T-38 for five decades, and while that venerable jet can still do the job (and the Air Force has plenty of experience with keeping planes in the air many years past their intended lifespan), problems began to arise. It's harder to find parts and to maintain these old planes. They also lack much of the modern tech that defines the experience of piloting a plane like the F-35. Lockheed Martin, the defense giant that builds the F-35, entered the competition with a plane it called the T-50 and which was derived from the F-16 Falcon. Boeing and Saab joined forces on a plane that looked kind of like an F/A-18. Raytheon got involved with a competitor called the T-100, which would become the last of the three finalists, but it dropped out and left European defense company Leonardo as the main contractor on that bid. The planes made their first test flights in 2016. Boeing's victory puts the company in position to supply an initial USAF purchase of 351 jets and 46 simulators. The jets are scheduled to debut in 2023 and reach full production status in 2034. Leanne Caret, chief executive of Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security, said in a statement, “Today’s announcement is the culmination of years of unwavering focus by the Boeing and Saab team. We expect T-X to be a franchise program for much of this century.” 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>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has selected Boeing to build its next training aircraft, a long-awaited Pentagon contract worth $9.2 billion. Boeing, which partnered with Swedish aerospace firm Saab, was awarded an initial $813 million for engineering and manufacturing development by the Air Force on Thursday. The service currently plans to buy 351 jets with full operational capability by 2034. The original service cost estimate was $19.7 billion, according to the award announcement. Boeing's trainer aircraft will replace the Air Force's aging T-38 trainers that have been in the U.S. military's portfolio since the 1960s. The multi-billion dollar contract comes as the Air Force moves to modernize its fleet of bombers, fighters, tankers as well as nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles. "It is not clear that the Air Force will have sufficient funding to support all of these different aircraft programs at the same time," Todd Harrison, a senior fellow and director of the defense budget analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told CNBC prior to the contract announcement. "The budget situation is even more complicated now that the Air Force has announced that it wants to grow in size by nearly 25 percent," he added.<doc-sep>

Boeing, along with its partner Saab, has just won out big in securing the U.S. Air Force's long-awaited T-X jet trainer contract. Now, additional, more specific details have emerged that shed more light on the service's plans and what the Chicago-based planemaker does and doesn't stand to gain from the deal. The Pentagon released a number of relatively detailed specifics about the deal in its daily contracting announcement on Sept. 27, 2018. The Air Force offered further information in its own statement and in comments to reporters, according to Defense News . At present, the Air Force expects to purchase just over 350 T-Xs to replace its existing T-38 Talons , as well as 46 simulators and other items. Here's what we know now: The Air Force expects to purchase 351 T-X aircraft, also known as Advanced Pilot Training aircraft, as well as 46 simulators, and additional parts and services. This is a so-called "indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity" contract and under the existing terms, the Air Force could potentially order as many as 475 planes and 120 simulators. The contract would only hit its full $9.2 billion value if the Air Force exercises all of its options and buys that larger number of aircraft. Around $813 million of the $9.2 billion contract covers building five pre-production examples of the planes and seven simulators. After that, the Air Force could buy the aircraft in two low-rate initial production lots, followed by at least eight lots of full-rate production, for a total of 10 lots. The contract starts out as a fixed-price deal with certain incentives, but transitions to a firm, fixed-price arrangement when the fifth lot of total production starts. The Air Force says this structure helped it trim the total cost of the program down from the original estimate of $19.7 billion. Boeing and Saab will perform the majority of the work at facilities in St. Louis, Missouri. The contract covers work, including the expected delivery of 351 aircraft, through 2034. The Air Force expects the first simulators will arrive at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas in 2023. The service's target date for reach initial operational capability with the T-X is 2024. This follows a trend in both Air Force contracts and Boeing's recent string of significant successes in offering aircraft to the U.S. military as a whole. Until recently, the Chicago-headquartered planemaker's last major contract award from the Air Force had been for the KC-46A tanker, program that has proven to be vexing for both parties, which you can read about in more detail here. This was also a firm, fixed-price deal, which has meant that Boeing has had correct millions of dollars worth of problems without receiving any more money. Earlier in the week, Boeing, in partnership with Italy's Leonardo, won the Air Force's $375.5 million contract for new helicopters to replace its UH-1N Hueys, which is also a firm, fixed-price arrangement. The company had also won the U.S. Navy's MQ-25A Stingray drone tanker competition, receiving another contract worth more than $800 million, but one that again has a fixed price. Boeing was the only competitor to pitch a clean-sheet design for T-X, which increases the likelihood that it will have to pay out of pocket to correct any issues that emerge as the program proceeds. Developing a new plane is an inherently riskier proposition than choosing an established design and it is hardly uncommon for problems to crop up during testing and as production ramps up that can lead to cost growth and delays.

Spencer said he fell for the show's prank because of paralyzing fear his family would be attacked. He said he had received death threats after proposing a bill that would've placed limits on where women could wear burkas last year. The lawmaker’s national humiliation — the story is spreading from coast to coast in the country’s biggest media outlets — didn’t change the district, but the news permeates. Of the nearly dozen people asked Tuesday morning, only one hadn’t heard of the situation. Outside First Baptist Church of Harrietts Bluff, down the street from Spencer’s home in a gated community, Matthew Lee, 40, was helping with yard work and talking with the other men about the situation. “I don’t like or agree with the things said. I don’t like it,” Lee, who retired from the U.S. Air Force, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But everybody is a person and has skeletons.” He hopes people won’t see Southeast Georgia differently because of Spencer: “It doesn't represent a whole community, a whole area, just because one person did something.” MORE: Rep. Jason Spencer has faced other controversies At Camden Bicycle Center in St. Mary’s, Donald Bailey, a 71-year-old black man in a county that is 75 percent white, said he was shocked. Not at what Spencer did and said, but at the fact that so many people are shocked. “I don’t have my head in the sand as if racism doesn’t exist,” Bailey, who retired from Anheuser-Busch, said. “It was hidden below the surface.” What brought it out? Bailey thinks President Donald Trump’s statements have emboldened people to feel that it’s okay to express racist views. Spencer also brought up Trump in his statement apologizing for his Showtime appearance and explaining how he was tricked into behaving so outlandishly. “This media company’s deceptive and fraudulent behavior is exactly why President Donald Trump was elected,” he said. “They exploited my state of mind for profit and notoriety.” Several people voting at the polling place by the rep’s home in Tuesday’s run-off said they wanted to forget about Spencer and move on to more pressing issues to the community, since he’d already lost his seat earlier this year. Steven Sainz, the young Republican who beat Spencer in the primary, took news of the TV show as affirmation. “When I decided to challenge Jason Spencer to be the next State Representative for our region,” Sainz wrote on Facebook, “it was largely to provide our district with an alternative to someone whose history of inflammatory actions and rhetoric were not representative of our values and priorities.” While Spencer’s been familiar with criticism, he’s also drawn praise for such actions as pushing the Hidden Predator Act, which allowed alleged victims of sex abuse to sue decades after the statute of limitations ran out. Over in Ware County, he brushed off criticism from local officials and called for a public health investigation after four children were diagnosed with rare cancers in summer 2015. Haylee Metts, whose 6-year-old daughter Raylee was among the four and died in 2016, was devastated and confounded by Spencer’s display on Showtime. “I am just lost for words,” the mother said. “Shocked and just cant even put any words together. He has been a great supporter and advocate for us. I'm just completely shocked.” Spencer has declined calls to resign and intends to be in office until his term expires before the next legislative session. But he still has to live with what he’s done and live here. Can he live this down? It may be too soon to tell, but Lee had a potentially prophetic thought, one especially relevant today: when things like this happen, people who agree with a politician are willing to find a rationale to look the other way, and those who don’t like the man won’t let it slide.<doc-sep>The lawmaker thought he was dealing with an Israeli security expert and was learning methods to fight terrorism, including screaming the N-word, acting like a rude 1930s caricature of an Asian and then ramming his bare butt into an actor playing an Islamic terrorist. As his former state House colleague Joe Wilkinson put it, “You just can’t make this stuff up.” There are two things that strike me regarding Spencer. The first is that someone can be smart enough to earn a master’s degree and become a medical assistant, yet be dumb enough to get duped so damningly. The second and more important takeaway is there seems to be an increasing number of Jason Spencers in politics. The GOP came out immediately and loudly to denounce him and insist that he resign. And after saying he wouldn't, he soon caved in. He had hoped to hang on for five more months to finish out his term and qualify for the lifetime health care afforded to legislators who serve eight years in office. Sure, he doggedly fought Obamacare and subsidized medicine for others. But when it's you and your family, it's different. Spencer is fringe but is by no means unusual. Conspiracy theories, dog whistles, personal attacks and insipid meanness are increasingly in play. There was something about Spencer that represents the dark id of American politics, the de-evolution of rhetoric, a coupling of ignorance with partisanship. Spencer once warned a former black legislator that she might "go missing" in the Okefenokee Swamp if she kept pushing for the removal of Confederate statues. It was a friendly warning, he said, not a threat. Rep. LaDawn Jones, the Democrat who was warned by Georgia State Rep. Jason Spencer she could “go missing” in the swamp for advocating for the removal of Civil War statues. The two sit down for an in-depth discussion about the Facebook exchange of words, the removal of the monuments and a new legistlation the two are working together on. He’s also the guy who pushed legislation to bar women from wearing burqas on their drivers’ license photos or even while driving. He said he was fighting terrorism but quickly pulled the bill when the Republican leadership essentially said: What in the heck are you doing? You’re making us look like you! Eventually, and thankfully, it finally caught up with him this year when the voters in conservative House District 180, the state’s most southeastern corner, tossed him out of office in the GOP primary, putting in a 24-year-old sheriff’s deputy. I called some former and current legislators to get a sense of the current body politic. Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, who used to be a state senator and head of the state GOP, said, “We’ve been headed down this road for 30 years. The old school of politics allowed the two sides to battle it out and then talk afterwards to see if there was any middle ground.” But that land of compromise or even discussion is a vacant space these days. Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul during a county meeting at the Fulton County Government Center in December 2015. “You hear people say, ‘I want my country back,’” said Paul, who often thought the opposition was wrong, but still patriotic. “Now your adversary is not only wrong, he’s evil.” And who can hammer out a compromise bill on transit if the guy on the other side is Ayatollah Khomeini? The Republican leadership has never liked Spencer and his self-styled maverick ways. Former Rep. Wilkinson, a Republican, said his son recently ran into an AJC political reporter at a rally for gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp. He said they talked about the topsy-turvy, bitter campaign with secret tapes, shotguns and Donald Trump’s Twitter endorsements. His son said, “Have you ever seen a week like this?” Then-Rep. Joe Wilkinson, R-Atlanta, hugs House staff member Debbie Lynn after giving his farewell speech on March 24, 2016. And then, the next day Spencer was on TV ramming his butt into Sacha Baron Cohen in an attempt to defeat ISIS. Democratic state Rep. Scott Holcomb of House District 81 in Atlanta noted two reasons for the growth of fringe characters: "First, gerrymandering has resulted in some districts where extremists win. Second, there is massive distrust of government and people are frustrated. They want change. That leaves openings for people like Trump and Spencer and others like that." Georgia Rep. Scott Holcomb, D-Atlanta Spencer, in a statement, said he has received death threats because of his political stands and that Cohen and his producers took advantage of his fears, while also lying to him. He thought he was engaged in a “demonstration video” of Israeli terror-fighting skills “As uncomfortable as I was to participate, I agreed to, understanding that these ‘techniques’ were meant to help me and others fend off what I believed was an inevitable attack,” Spencer said. “I deeply regret the language I used at (Cohen’s) request as well as my participation in the ‘class’ in general. If I had not been so distracted by my fears, I never would have agreed to participate in the first place.” I must note that these are fears that Spencer fanned to get elected. Said Holcomb, “I think Jason believed every word that he said on the show. Every word. He was baited a little, but he jumped at it.” Holcomb added that there are lots of serious issues during this era of breathtaking — and sometimes terrifying — change, especially in the employment and technology world. “It’s unfortunate all the focus is on politics because the policy is what makes a difference,” said Holcomb in his best eat-your-vegetables manner. “I can see why people get turned off. We too often fail to give a good reason to tune in.” But when they do tune in, what they see scares them.<doc-sep>Sacha Baron Cohen at the premiere of The Brothers Grimsby in 2016. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters) The Georgia lawmaker who exposed himself and shouted a racial slur on television will resign despite originally promising to stay in office. Republican Representative Jason Spencer wrote to Georgia House Speaker David Ralston to inform him of his resignation effective July 31 after the unsavory performance. The lawmaker appeared on Sunday’s episode of Sacha Baron Cohen’s satirical Showtime series “Who Is America?” where Cohen posed as an Israeli anti-terrorist campaigner. Advertisement He was shown ridiculing Chinese people, yelling the n-word multiple times, and exposing his backside while yelling “I’ll make you a homosexual!” to fictitious terrorists. After the incident went viral, Spencer. apologized for his behavior in a statement to the Washington Post, calling it a “ridiculously ugly episode.” “Sacha Baron Cohen and his associates took advantage of my paralyzing fear that my family would be attacked,” he said. “I deeply regret the language I used at his request.” The Georgia House speaker and Georgia Governor Nathan Deal both condemned Spencer’s performance and requested his resignation. The actions and language used by Jason Spencer are appalling and offensive. There is no excuse for this type of behavior, ever, and I am saddened and disgusted by it. — Former Gov. Nathan Deal (@GovernorDeal) July 23, 2018 The premise of Cohen’s show involves the comedian and actor disguising himself and pranking unknowing people. Spencer, who says Cohen duped him, previously promised to sue the producers of “Who Is America” if they used the film. Cohen has also tricked former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh, former Vice President Dick Cheney, Carly Fiorina, and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Spencer already lost his Republican primary bid but would have been in office through November. NOW WATCH: “Georgia Lawmaker Under Fire for Actions on ‘Who Is America?” Send a tip to the news team at NR.<doc-sep>Georgia lawmakers have denounced state representative Jason Spencer in the wake of his appearance on Sacha Baron Cohen's show Sunday night that saw him use racial slurs and expose himself as part of a prank. "Representative Spencer has disgraced himself and should resign immediately," Georgia House Speaker David Ralston told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after the segment aired on Cohen's show, Who Is America? "Georgia is better than this." Governor Nathan Deal called Spencer's actions "appalling and offensive." and added, "there is no excuse for this type of behavior, ever, and I am saddened and disgusted by it." The premise of Who Is America?, which premiered last week on Showtime, is to trick unsuspecting politicians, or regular citizens, into scenarios where they say controversial or embarrassing things. In the segment Spencer was featured in Sunday night, Cohen had disguised himself as an Israeli anti-terrorism expert who convinces Spencer to partake in an anti-terrorism training video. Spencer repeatedly yelled the "N-word" and attacked Cohen with his pants pulled down while shouting "USA, Motherf*****!" as part of Cohen's suggested training techniques to ward off Muslim attackers. Spencer also appeared in a post-credits sequence where he looked into the camera to say "all you damn sand-n*ggers over in the Middle East, we are tired of you coming to America and we are tired of you trying to threaten us." "We will cut off your dick, you understand?" he added. "We will take your dick and we will shove it in your mouth." Before the segment was released, Spencer told The Journal-Constitution that the show had taken advantage of "my fears that I would be attacked by someone" and that "they exploited my state of mind for profit and notoriety. This media company's deceptive and fraudulent behavior is exactly why President Donald Trump was elected." Spencer did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment on whether he would resign from his position, but told the Washington Post he would remain in his role until his term ends in five months. "I deeply regret the language I used at his request as well as my participation in the "class" in general," he said. "If I had not been so distracted by my fears, I never would have agreed to participate in the first place." Spencer lost his GOP primary in May to stay in his current role beyond November. In last week's premiere of Who Is America?, Cohen tricked multiple GOP congressmen into supporting a fake initiative called "Kinderguardians" that aimed to arm toddlers in schools in an effort to prevent school shootings. Former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin and failed Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore have both put out statements to say they were tricked into participating in the show in segments that have yet to air. "Yup—we were duped. Ya' got me, Sacha, Feel better now?" Palin posted on Facebook before the show premiered. "I join a long list of American public personalities who have fallen victim to the evil, exploitive sick 'humor' of the British 'comedian' Sacha Baron Cohen, enabled and sponsored by CBS/Showtime." David Nevins, the CEO of Showtime has defended Cohen as "the premier provocateur of our time, but not for the sake of 'gotcha moments.' "Behind the elaborate set up is a genuine quest for the truth about people, places and politics."<doc-sep>

During a political age in which—officially—“nothing matters,” one big question remains after this past weekend’s episode of Sacha Baron Cohen’s Who Is America? : Can you repeatedly scream the N-word on national television and keep your job in the Georgia House of Representatives? We’re about to find out. For his segment in episode two of the British comedian’s news-making Showtime series, Spencer, a four-term Georgia state representative, apparently had no problem shouting racial epithets and pulling down his pants at the suggestion that Islamic terrorists believe touching a male behind will “turn” them gay, among other horrifying behavior. In a post-credits sequence that some viewers may have missed, he mimed cutting off the penises of what he refers to as “sand-n*ggers” and then eating them. “How are you going to rape children and women without a dick?” he asks with fury in his eyes. Suffice it to say all of this goes well beyond even the lawmakers who were “tricked” into advocating a guns-for-toddlers program in the previous week’s episode. The condemnations from his fellow Georgians have been swift. “Representative Spencer has disgraced himself and should resign immediately,” Georgia House Speaker David Ralston said in a statement Sunday night. “Georgia is better than this.” The state’s current governor, Nathan Deal, stopped short of calling for Spencer to vacate his seat, but he did tweet his “disgust” with the “appalling and offensive” language. Both Republican gubernatorial candidates, who will face each other in a run-off this Tuesday to determine who will oppose Democrat Stacey Abrams in the fall, issued statements denouncing Spencer. “Rep. Spencer’s words and behavior are hurtful, insensitive, and completely unacceptable. At the very least, he should issue a public apology for this shameful incident,” Brian Kemp, who also removed Spencer from his endorsement list, said. “Jason Spencer is a disgrace to Georgia and should resign his elected office immediately,” Kemp’s opponent, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, tweeted. “While I’m glad he never supported our campaign and actually actively opposed us, I think it speaks to the judgment of our voters that he was overwhelmingly defeated earlier this year.” And yet, Spencer, who lost his primary election earlier this year and only has five more months in office, has remained determined to serve out the rest of his term. In a series of text messages to Washington Post writer Steven Zeitchik, Spencer apologized for his behavior but said he has no plans to step down. Just as he did before the episode aired, Spencer complained that Baron Cohen and his associates “took advantage of my paralyzing fear that my family would be attacked” following alleged death threats he received in 2017 after he proposed legislation that would ban Muslim women from wearing veils—or “masks,” as he calls them. “As uncomfortable as I was to participate, I agreed to, understanding that these ‘techniques’ were meant to help me and others fend off what I believed was an inevitable attack,” Spencer wrote. “My fears were so heightened at that time, I was not thinking clearly nor could I appreciate what I was agreeing to when I participated in his ‘class.’ I was told I would be filmed as a ‘demonstration video’ to teach others the same skills in Israel. “I deeply regret the language I used at his request as well as my participation in the ‘class’ in general. If I had not been so distracted by my fears, I never would have agreed to participate in the first place,” Spencer added. “I apologize to my family, friends, and the people of my district for this ridiculously ugly episode.” “Finally, there are calls for me to resign,” he concluded. “I recently lost my primary election, so I will not be eligible to hold office next term. Therefore, I will finish the remaining five months at my post and vacate my seat." Unlike the statement he submitted before the episode’s airing, there were no more threats from Spencer to take legal action against the comedian.

Sign up NOW for daily Baggies news straight to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Team news West Brom are hopeful derby day hero Hal Robson-Kanu will be fit for the Tuesday night trip to QPR. Baggies boss Darren Moore could also have midfielders Matt Phillips, James Morrison and Chris Brunt to call upon at Loftus Road. Robson-Kanu was taken off with a knee injury at half-time after his fourth goal of the season put Albion on course for a 2-0 win at Aston Villa on Saturday. But the Welshman is in contention to face the Hoops, who Albion thumped 7-1 in the reverse fixture back in August. Phillips has been sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in training at the start of January. The versatile 27-year-old could be drafted into the squad to face QPR, the club he left to join Albion for £5 million in July 2016. Contract update West Brom are making progress in their efforts to tie down talented young midfielder Rekeem Harper with a new contract. Harper has cemented his place in the team with a string of excellent performances since getting the nod in Albion’s FA Cup win over Wigan at the start of January. The 18-year-old is out of contract this summer and the Baggies are keen to ensure the highly-rated youngster doesn’t go anywhere. Negotiations over a new deal “have moved on”, according to head coach Darren Moore, who has started Harper in Albion’s last nine fixtures. Blades boost Sheffield United are set to be able to call upon a trio of returning key players when they face West Bromwich Albion next Saturday. Chris Wilder is expecting injured duo Jack O'Connell and George Baldock to be in contention for the huge clash at The Hawthorns. The Blades will also have Chris Basham available for the game after he served a two game suspension. West Brom are currently four points behind Wilder's side, but could be only one, should they win their game in hand tonight. O'Connell has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, while Baldock was withdrawn against Boro with a calf injury. Leeds set-back Leeds United top scorer Kemar Roofe has suffered knee ligament damage and is set to be out for an extended period of time. The former West Bromwich Albion forward has been in fine form for Marcelo Bielsa's side this term with 14 goals in 26 league appearances. The injury, which was sustained against Swansea City is set to keep Roofe on the sidelines, but the club do hope he can return before the end of the season. In a statement, the club said: “Leeds United forward Kemar Roofe will face a period on the sidelines following confirmation that he damaged knee ligaments during the win over Swansea City at Elland Road. “Roofe will work hard with the medical team at Thorp Arch to return to action as quickly as possible.” Moving swiftly on West Bromwich Albion will be swiftly putting their derby success at Aston Villa behind them on Tuesday night when they journey to the capital to tackle Queens Park Rangers. The Baggies , who have been in fine form on the road since December, secured the bragging rights at B6 this weekend thanks to goals from Jay Rodriguez and Hal Robson-Kanu, but attentions quickly turn to Loftus Road. This match, rearranged because of both sides’ recent FA Cup commitments, presents an opportunity for Albion to push up towards the automatic promotion spots ahead of the weekend’s pivotal clash with Sheffield United. Here’s a look ahead to Tuesday’s meeting with the Hoops. Staying put Motherwell midfielder Jake Hastie has revealed he wants to stay at the club, despite interest from Championship clubs West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United. The 19-year-old has only recently broke into the team at the Scottish club, but had been linked with a move after impressing. The Daily Record reported that scouts from the Hawthorns had been to watch the midfielder, who can also operate as a winger. The academy graduate's contract runs out this summer, but Hastie has suggested that he wants to renew the deal to stay at the club.<doc-sep>This season on Sky Sports, you can see every game in the midweek rounds of the Sky Bet Championship live via the red button. In another great addition for football fans this season, Sky Sports Football customers can also see each match streamed live on the Sky Sports app - simply sign in with your Sky iD to view and make sure you have the latest version of the app. This week, Queens Park Rangers take on West Bromwich Albion live on Sky Sports Football red button from 7.45pm. You can also catch Wednesday night's game on the red button and app - Derby County vs Millwall. Image: Derby vs Millwall is live on Sky No matter which Championship team you support, you can see your team live, in full and with commentary, on every midweek round, either via your television or on your mobile. For Sky Q customers, the matches on the red button will be available in HD quality and the service comes at no extra cost. Midweek matches are only available through these channels and cannot be watched with a NOW TV pass and are also not available in Sky pubs. Please note: we can only show rescheduled or displaced games on the red button where respective clubs stream them on their iFollow app.<doc-sep>Joel Lynch is back in the QPR squad for tonight’s game at home to West Brom. Lynch has missed the last couple of games because of a back problem but has been passed fit to return to action. Rangers, who missed out on the FA Cup quarter-finals after losing 1-0 to Watford on Friday, have lost five Championship matches in a row and slipped to 18th in the table. But manager Steve McClaren has suggested to the club website that he might resist the temptation to make changes despite recent results and a packed fixture schedule. Rangers have been unlucky during their run of defeats and McClaren believes an upturn is on the way. “There is a temptation to use the squad,” McClaren said. “But I think our last game being on Friday rather than Saturday has helped, and those that played are quite positive about the performance which is the main thing.”<doc-sep>

QPR will be looking to get a win this evening against West Brom with their form tailing off badly in recent weeks. Indeed, this was the game where the Baggies hammered them earlier this season, so maybe revenge will be on their minds. Whilst we wait to see, though, we caught up with Dean Ashton not too long ago and he told us exclusively that despite their recent form they needn’t worry about the drop… “They’re one of those teams that are out of it. “It’s going to take too many teams below them to go on a run that they are not capable of to get them into trouble. “I think for QPR I wouldn’t be thinking about that and more the importance of just trying to get into good performances and good results for the rest of the season. “They’ve probably exceeded expectations in that run they went on after starting so poorly and that probably provided a false sense of where they’re at as a team. “I think they are about where their qualities are at the moment, they’re not going to get relegated but I don’t think they’re strong enough now to challenge further up. “It’s difficult to stay motivated, I’ve been in that situation before, and it is difficult when there’s no pressure at either end of the table – especially when you face sides that are in one of those battles. “I think Steve McClaren will know who he wants to keep and who he wants to bring in to strengthen for next season.” Watch EFL on Quest at 9pm every Saturday!

Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg who was killed in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., left, attempts to shake hands with President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, right, as he leaves for a lunch break while appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018, to begin his confirmation to replace retired Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kavanaugh did not shake his hand. Photo : Andrew Harnik ( AP Images ) On Tuesday, at the end of the first day of the Senate confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh’s possible appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, a man came over to him with his hand outstretched attempting to shake the nominee’s hand. Kavanaugh looked at the man and then turned and walked away. Advertisement The man was Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg, who was killed during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting earlier this year. It wasn’t that Kavanaugh didn’t shake his hand that bothered me, it was how Kavanaugh looked at Guttenberg before deciding that he wasn’t going to shake his hand. I was watching the hearing on TV and it made me yell, “Who the fuck are you looking at?” It was a natural reaction given to me by my forefathers. We’ve all given and received the look before. It’s the look where you’ve extended your hand and the person looks back at you as if you’ve offered them a pile of soft, gelatinous shit. In a book that was written by a slave and kept out of libraries for fear of revolt, rumor has it that Nat Turner’s first uprising began after a white man looked at him with the look, and Turner asked the white man “Who the fuck are you looking at?” It’s a look normally reserved for black people and poor people. The look that says you shouldn’t be talking to me. The look that says: “Who are you to even think you should be looking at me?” The look that says: “I can sell your wife away once I’ve raped her.” Advertisement Black women call it “ the crazy look.” Used in a sentence: “He looked at me like I’m crazy.” That’s the look Kavanaugh gave Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter was killed during the Parkland, Florida shooting, leaving 16 dead and 17 injured. Advertisement “Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended. Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg’s dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away,” Fred Guttenberg tweeted. “I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence.” White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah tried to spin the encounter as did many snowflakes on Twitter, writing, “As Judge Kavanaugh left for his lunch break, an unidentified individual approached him. Before the Judge was able to shake his hand, security had intervened.” Advertisement Guttenberg set the record straight: Advertisement Maybe that’s because Kavanaugh knows which side his bread is buttered. He’s such a National Rifle Association guy that the NRA ran ads calling for his confirmation to the Supreme Court. The dismissive handshake was one thing. As my grandmother used to tell me all the time, “It costs you nothing to be polite.” My grandmother also requested a closed casket when she died, stating: “Ain’t nobody going to be looking down on me like I’m crazy.”<doc-sep>The father of a student who died in February's mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida, said he "wasn't looking to create a viral moment" when he attempted to shake Judge Brett Kavanaugh's hand during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Fred Guttenberg, who lost his daughter Jamie in the shooting, tried to shake Kavanaugh's hand but was snubbed by the judge. After Guttenberg introduced himself and stuck his hand out, Kavanaugh turned and walked away. The moment garnered widespread attention—but Guttenberg said on Wednesday that wasn't his intention. "I wasn't looking to create a viral moment," Guttenberg told Newsweek. "I wanted to look another person in the eye who cares deeply about his family and to tell him my story." After he attempted to shake hands with the judge, Guttenberg wrote about the incident on Twitter. "Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended," he wrote. "Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg's dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence." Guttenberg told Newsweek he saw Kavanaugh's face change after the introduction. "That is the way I introduce myself to everyone that does not know me and that is exactly what I said to Judge Kavanaugh. Nothing more nothing less," Guttenberg told Newsweek. "You could see the expression in his face change as he made that turn." Guttenberg said that he was invited to the hearing by Senator Dianne Feinstein and sat three rows behind Kavanaugh. He said Feinstein had introduced him to the room before the hearing began, and he assumed Kavanaugh knew who he was when he attempted to shake his hand. Pictures and video of the incident have since gone viral. White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah responded to Guttenberg's initial tweet, saying that Kavanaugh was leaving for his lunch break when "an unidentified individual approached him. Before the Judge was able to shake his hand, security had intervened." Guttenberg, a prominent gun control activist and the founder of Orange Ribbons for Jamie, told Newsweek that security did not appear until after his handshake attempt. He said Capitol Hill police questioned him after his gesture and asked if he was at the hearing "to cause trouble." Authorities finally let him back inside and a security guard sat next to him for the remainder of the hearing. Since the incident, Guttenberg has garnered support from those urging others to call their local senators to block Kavanaugh's nomination into the Supreme Court. Parkland survivors and parents have also shown their support for Guttenberg. "Most pictures are worth a thousand words...This picture is worth thousands of lives[;] call your senators now and tell them to not appoint Kavanaugh 202-224-3121. The NRA has spent millions of dollars to appoint Kavanaugh [;] it's going to take 1000s of phone calls to stop this man," David Hogg, another Parkland survivor and one of the leaders of the March for Our Lives movement, wrote on Twitter following the incident. Tuesday was the first day of Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings, which will take place over the next several days. Senators at the hearing will challenge the Supreme Court nominee and ask him questions. During the second day of hearings on Wednesday, Kavanaugh was asked if he wanted to respond to Guttenberg. The judge did not directly address him, but said "I base my decisions on the law, but I do so with an awareness of the facts," and that he understood the passion behind certain issues. "I am concerned that this entire process of what I watched yesterday is a break down of civility across this country," Guttenberg told Newsweek. "I want to bring [America] back to the place where Americans [can] be Americans and love their country and disagree with each other and not have to be questioned. A simple gesture isn't even civil anymore."<doc-sep>The father of a student killed in the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., says Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh refused to shake his hand during a break in today's confirmation hearing. Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime Guttenberg died in the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, attended the hearing to listen to discussions on the Second Amendment, he wrote on Twitter. Video from the hearing shows Guttenberg approaching Kavanaugh as he stood up to leave, stretching out his arm for a handshake as Kavanaugh turned to look at him. Kavanaugh then turns the other way without a word and walks away, his security detail following closely behind. Guttenberg wrote on Twitter that, as the morning session ended, he "walked up to Judge Kavanaugh" and attempted to introduce himself "as Jaime Guttenberg's dad." "He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away," Guttenberg wrote. "I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence." Protesters began interrupting about an hour after chairman Chuck Grassley gaveled in the hearing. It is unclear from the video whether Kavanaugh had heard Guttenberg after he fully identified himself. White House Press Secretary Raj Shah tweeted that Kavanaugh was leaving for his lunch break when an "unidentified individual approached him." "Before the Judge was able to shake his hand, security had intervened," Shah wrote. Guttenberg made his concerns about gun violence clear just days after his daughter was killed. During a vigil two days after the shooting, Guttenberg told mourners that he couldn't remember he told Jaime he loved her that morning before she left for school. "Don't tell me there is no such thing as gun violence," he said, describing his family as "broken."<doc-sep>

The father of a student killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting earlier this year attempted to shake the hand of Brett Kavanaugh during the judge's first day of Senate confirmation hearings to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. "Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended. Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg's dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away," Fred Guttenberg tweeted. "I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence." Guttenberg's daughter Jaime, 14, was killed during the Valentine's Day shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left another 16 dead and injured 17 more. White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah responded to Guttenberg's tweet, writing, "As Judge Kavanaugh left for his lunch break, an unidentified individual approached him. Before the Judge was able to shake his hand, security had intervened." Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended. Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg's dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence. — Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 4, 2018 As Judge Kavanaugh left for his lunch break, an unidentified individual approached him. Before the Judge was able to shake his hand, security had intervened. https://t.co/ylOhtA1s6G — Raj Shah (@RajShah45) September 4, 2018 Incorrect. I was here all day and introduced by Senator Feinstein. No security involved. He turned and walked away. — Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 4, 2018 Guttenberg wasn't satisfied with that response. "Incorrect. I was here all day and introduced by Senator Feinstein. No security involved. He turned and walked away," Guttenberg tweeted. Guttenberg has previously stated that he opposed confirmation of Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court due to the National Rifle Association's support for the judge. In a tweet in July, Guttenberg wrote that "Kavanaugh must not become a Supreme Court Justice," calling him a "risk to public safety." A video of the moment shows Guttenberg approach Kavanaugh, and the father appears to speak to the judge. However, it is unclear what Guttenberg is saying. Kavanaugh then turns and walks away, flanked by a security team. Still images of the moment show Guttenberg with his hand extended as he and Kavanaugh appear to lock eyes. Guttenberg, who has become a fervent gun reform advocate since his daughter's death, did not immediately respond to a request for comment made by NBC News.

Enlarge Image A. Gennari It sounds like someone created an animal by pulling anatomical parts out of a hat. Researchers discovered an ancient whale skeleton in Peru that has four legs, webbed feet and hooves on its toes. The unusual find is giving scientists clues to how the ancestors of modern whales reached the Americas, and what they looked like when they got there. The Natural History Museum in the UK describes the animal as a "semi-aquatic proto-whale known as a protocetid." The skeleton dates to the middle Eocene, 42.6 million years ago. Enlarge Image Lambert et al./Current Biology The scientists who discovered the creature published their findings Thursday in the journal Current Biology. They named the animal Peregocetus pacificus, meaning "the traveling whale that reached the Pacific Ocean." The fossil record has already revealed that whales and dolphins can trace their ancestry back more than 50 million years to four-legged land animals in south Asia. But paleontologists have puzzled over how early whales spread out across the globe. "This is the first indisputable record of a quadrupedal whale skeleton for the whole Pacific Ocean, probably the oldest for the Americas and the most complete outside India and Pakistan," says Olivier Lambert of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, a co-author of the study on the animal. The well-preserved fossil specimen shows it had a long tail and four legs with hooved toes that were likely webbed like an otter's. It could swim as well as walk on land and measured about 13 feet (4 meters) long. "The features of the skeleton and its position in the whale family tree indicate that the most likely dispersal route of early whales to the Americas was from North Africa via the South Atlantic, where the distance between the African and South American continents was half what it is today," says Travis Park, a postdoctoral fellow at the Natural History Museum. The four-legged fossil is a long way from our current-day whales, but its journey through time writes a fascinating new chapter in the history of these iconic marine mammals. Originally published at 9:53 a.m. PT.<doc-sep>Around 50 million years ago, whales began inching toward planet-wide colonization. Research published Thursday in Current Biology, reveals that at the time, they were small, hooved, legged, and land-locked animals living in South Asia — quite unlike the giant, streamlined humpbacks and bowheads we know today. While scientists know that whales’ ancestors came from the sea onto land, then evolved to once again live in the sea, the exact details of that journey have been sparse. The new paper reveals an important piece of the puzzle: evidence of a four-legged whale that lived along the coast of Peru 42.6 million years ago. The international team named this newly identified species Peregocetus pacificus, or “the traveling whale that reached the Pacific.” This skeleton, dug out from the coastal desert Playa Media Luna, is the first indisputable record of a quadrupedal whale skeleton for the whole Pacific Ocean. Additionally, it’s the most complete skeleton found outside of India and Pakistan, and it is the oldest found yet in the Americas. The excavation of the whale. Cell Press Appearance-wise, this whale did not look like the whales we have come to know. Like its ancestors in South Asia, it still had small hooves, which indicate that it was still capable of standing and even walking on land. Bones in its tail are reminiscent of beavers’ and otters’ tails, suggesting that the body part was essential to its swimming capabilities. Overall, the ancient animal was four meters long, and the physical evidence suggests it possessed locomotion abilities that enabled it to travel great distances. This specimen’s existence also demonstrates that four-legged whales were able to cross the South Atlantic Ocean and disperse as far as the Pacific Ocean — all while retaining functional, weight-bearing limbs — less than 20 million years after their origin. The scientists believe its descendants later and gradually migrated both farther north and south, until whales reached a truly global distribution. The journey scientists think whales took to get to Peru. Cell Press While the journey is still impressive — from South Asia, to the western coast of Africa, to South America — researchers say that was in part possible because the distance between the latter two continents was half what it is today. This ancient whale also would have been assisted by westward surface currents, which pushed it onward as it swam. Today, all cetaceans — whales, dolphins, and porpoises — are descendants of these four-legged colonizers. Even the earliest fully aquatic whales still wore visual reminders of their past, little external hindlimbs that streamed behind them uselessly. In modern times, scientists still occasionally discover a living whale with the vestiges of small hindlimbs hiding inside its body wall. Summary: Cetaceans originated in south Asia more than 50 million years ago (mya), from a small quadrupedal artiodactyl ancestor. Amphibious whales gradually dispersed westward along North Africa and arrived in North America before 41.2 mya. However, fossil evidence on when, through which pathway, and under which locomotion abilities these early whales reached the New World is fragmentary and contentious. Peregocetus pacificus gen. et sp. nov. is a new protocetid cetacean discovered in middle Eocene (42.6 mya) marine deposits of coastal Peru, which constitutes the first indisputable quadrupedal whale record from the Pacific Ocean and the Southern Hemisphere. Preserving the mandibles and most of the postcranial skeleton, this unique four-limbed whale bore caudal vertebrae with bifurcated and anteroposteriorly expanded transverse processes, like those of beavers and otters, suggesting a significant contribution of the tail during swimming. The fore- and hind-limb proportions roughly similar to geologically older quadrupedal whales from India and Pakistan, the pelvis being firmly attached to the sacrum, an insertion fossa for the round ligament on the femur, and the retention of small hooves with a flat anteroventral tip at fingers and toes indicate that Peregocetus was still capable of standing and even walking on land. This new record from the southeastern Pacific demonstrates that early quadrupedal whales crossed the South Atlantic and nearly attained a circum-equatorial distribution with a combination of terrestrial and aquatic locomotion abilities less than 10 million years after their origin and probably before a northward dispersal toward higher North American latitudes.<doc-sep>

This illustration shows what Peregocetus might have looked like. A. Gennari A fossilized whale with four legs, webbed feet and hoofed toes is revealing new details about the evolution and geographical spread of whales across the globe. Paleontologist Mario Urbina and his team discovered the fossil in 2011 along the coast of Peru, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Current Biology. They were able to recover most of its skeleton, including the jaw, legs, some of its spine and tail. The fossil is 42.6 million years old, dating back to the middle Eocene Epoch. It's the oldest known whale found in that part of the world, and the most complete skeleton found outside of India and Pakistan. Scientists believe the creature — which resembled an otter — may have been an early form of whale that had not yet fully transitioned to living in water. The unusual discovery holds clues about how whales spread around the planet and indicates ancient whales settled in South America before North America. The skeletons of the four-legged whale indicate it would have been at home on the land and in water. Lambert et al./Current Biology The discovery team named the creature "Peregocetus pacificus," Latin for "the traveling whale that reached the Pacific." "This is the first indisputable record of a quadrupedal whale skeleton for the whole Pacific Ocean, probably the oldest for the Americas and the most complete outside India and Pakistan," said Dr. Olivier Lambert, who co-authored the study. According to the surprisingly well-preserved fossil, the animal would have been around 11 feet long. It had a large tail and four legs with hoofed toes that were likely webbed, making the creature well-adapted to both land and sea. Whales and dolphins were already known have adapted over the years from four-legged land animals as they transitioned to living in water. However, how they traveled from South Asia to South America remains a mystery. Researchers suggest the creatures likely crossed the south Atlantic Ocean from the western coast of Africa, assisted by surface currents. Because Africa and South America were much closer together millions of years ago, the whales would not have had as much difficulty making the journey. Once settled in Pacific waters near Peru, they would eventually make their way to North America.

Survivor kicked off their 37th season on Wednesday with David vs. Goliath -- but right out of the gate, the David tribe seemed down on their luck. Contestant Pat Cusack had to be medically evacuated after suffering a freak back injury following the season's first elimination challenge. "The boat slams down on one of the waves, and we hear a crack... at first I thought Pat just had hurt his back, maybe tweaked it a bit," his tribemate, Gabby explained, as Pat was shown arriving on the beach in a stretcher. "I'm scared!" he cried out, as the medical team did their best to evaluate him on the scene. Survivor host Jeff Probst then touched down to deliver what was sure to be bad news. "A boat ride back to camp is very normal, we've never had anybody injured," Jeff insisted of the routine transportation of castaways back to their beach after elimination games. "This is severe." Dr. Joe revealed the team was worried Pat may have fractured his back, and decided that it was imperative he leave the game for proper treatment. "You can't take me, I can't leave. I can't go out this way... I don't want to quit!" Pat yelled, but the decision was made, and a helicopter was called to take him to the hospital. Pat's tribe, already down from losing the day's elimination challenge and worried about heading to tribal council, tried to keep their spirits up following Pat's evacuation. "I feel like Pat would want to see us succeed and stick together as much as we can," Gabby said. The episode concluded with an update from Pat, who agreed that his leaving the game was ultimately the best. "My health is bigger than this game," he declared. Pat was treated for his injuries and has made a full recovery. Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. See more on the show's medical evacuations in the video below. RELATED CONTENT: Jeff Probst Reveals the Truth Behind 'Survivor' Medical Evacuations (Exclusive) 'Survivor' Season 37 First Look: 'Nerds' Unite to Form a Couple Threat in 'David vs. Goliath' (Exclusive) 'Survivor' Star Zeke Smith and Nico Santos Confirm They're Dating With Sweet LA Pride Photo The One 'Survivor' Moment That Still Terrifies Jeff Probst (Exclusive) 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>When Pat Cusack started his journey on CBS competition show Survivor, he didn't expect a severe injury to send him home. Wednesday night, when Season 37 Survivor: David vs. Goliath premiered, Cusack was the first contestant to go home, though no vote was necessary. Cusack, 40, who lives in New York state, was injured as the tribes took a boat ride back to their island. When the boat hit a hard wave, Cusack suffered a spinal injury that resulted in his removal from the game. In an emotional scene, Cusack was shown on the beach in a stretcher, worried for his fate and reeling in pain. Though he was visibly shaking from the turmoil, he fought with short sentences to stay on the island and complete his gameplay. He explained he doesn't remember the incident, but mentally, he was ready for the game despite his body's pain. "I wanted to play this game so bad for so long," Cusack told Newsweek. "I finally had it in my hand. I was finally on the island. I still don't have much recollection. Even though in the show, it shows that I'm somewhat speaking, but I still to this day don't have any recollection of any of that situation on the beach. I think you could just say that mentally, I was ready to play the game. Obviously, my body was telling me something else cause I was in all the pain. But the last thing I wanted to do was go out that way." Cusack told Newsweek his injury was diagnosed as spinal compression deterioration. A liquid-filled sac in between his vertebrates ruptured, resulting in the deterioration of his spinal discs. He returned home, completed physical therapy, and has been fully treated, through the injury could be relevant in his life moving forward. "If I over exert myself or if I lift something too heavy, I may feel some repercussions of it," Cusack said. "But it's not gonna affect my long-term health." Cusack watched the Survivor premiere Wednesday and saw some of his teammates called him bossy. He mentioned his natural skills as a leader and said if he redid the game, he may have taken a step back. Still, he has no regrets with how he played the game. "I'm a go-getter. I'm not one to sit back and let everybody else put up sweat and tears and me reap the benefits of it," he said. "I'm that guy that goes out there, I put up sweat and tears, and other people reap the benefits of it. ". Cusack spoke highly of his tribe, the David Tribe, and how they bonded. "There were a lot of personalities. There was a lot of colors," he said. "Everybody brought their own thing to the team. How it all blended and became this concocted smoothie of personalities...it's amazing to see how you put 10 people who are complete strangers from 10 completely different walks of life together and you hope that everybody can live in unison and bond. And we did."<doc-sep>

On Wednesday’s 37th season premiere of Survivor on CBS, contestant Pat Cusack was in some seriously bad shape after a choppy boat ride back to camp following a challenge. By the time cameras were able to start rolling, Cusack was being carried on a stretcher and moaning in pain. “The seas are really rough, and the boat slams down on one of the waves, and we hear a crack, and at first I thought Pat had just hurt his back, maybe tweaked it a bit,” contestant Gabby Pascuzzi said during the episode. “And then Jeff [Probst] arrived, and we all groaned, because it means something really bad has happened.” Probst, Survivor’s host, was informed about Cusack’s injuries by the medical staff and made his assessment. And Cusack, a 40-year-old maintenance manager from New York and part of the David tribe in this David and Goliath-themed season, lost the chance to live out his underdog story after Probst uttered that one word you don’t want to hear as a Survivor contestant — “helicopter.” “Brother, I’m afraid there is no other choice. We have to look out for you, Pat,” Probst told the injured contestant. “That’s the No. 1 job of our medical team is to take care of you. Let’s bring in the helicopter, guys.” Despite a very dramatic and emotional exit, the show later announced that Cusack was treated for his injuries and has made a full recovery. We also heard some of his thoughts on the incident. “To be out of the game not by vote but by pure accident is gut-wrenching,” Cusack said. “But my life and my health is bigger than this game. I will pick myself up off the beach, dust the sand off, and get back on my horse.” Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS. Watch clips and full episodes of Survivor for free on Yahoo View. Check out the surprising way the last season of Survivor ended: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

Scenes from UFC Fight Night Brooklyn on Saturday, Jan, 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Allen Crowder, left, grapples with Greg Hardy during the first round of a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Greg Hardy, right, punches Allen Crowder during the second round of a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Henry Cejudo, right, celebrates after stopping TJ Dillashaw during the first round of a flyweight mixed martial arts championship bout at UFC Fight Night early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Henry Cejudo, right, knocks down TJ Dillashaw during the first round of a flyweight mixed martial arts championship bout at UFC Fight Night early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Henry Cejudo, right, kicks TJ Dillashaw during the first round of a flyweight mixed martial arts championship bout at UFC Fight Night early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Henry Cejudo, above, wrestles with TJ Dillashaw during the first round of a flyweight mixed martial arts championship bout at UFC Fight Night early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Greg Hardy waits for his heavyweight mixed martial arts bout against Allen Crowder at UFC Fight Night early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Allen Crowder, left, punches Greg Hardy during the first round of a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Greg Hardy is escorted by the referee after being disqualified during the second round of a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout against Allen Crowder at UFC Fight Night, early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Crowder won after Hardy was disqualified for an illegal knee. Allen Crowder, right, falls down after Greg Hardy delivered a knee to his head during the second round of a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night, early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Crowder won the fight after Hardy was disqualified for an illegal knee. Greg Hardy knees Allen Crowder on the head during the second round of a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night, early Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Barclays Center. Crowder won the fight after Hardy was disqualified for an illegal knee in the second round. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. At 155 lbs Gregor Gillespie defeated Yancy Medeiros during the UFC Brooklyn fights at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie fights Yancy Medeiros during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Gregor Gillespie reacts after stopping Yancy Medeiros during the second round of a lightweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Rachael Ostovich, left, grapples with Paige Vanzant during the first round of a women's flyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Joseph Benavidez, right, punches Dustin Ortiz during the second round of a flyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Paige Vanzant, right, punches Rachael Ostovich during the second round of a women's flyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Joseph Benavidez, left, celebrates after winning a flyweight mixed martial arts bout against Dustin Ortiz at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Gregor Gillespie, right, punches Yancy Medeiros during the second round of a lightweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Joseph Benavidez, right, punches Dustin Ortiz during the first round of a flyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Gregor Gillespie, top, punches Yancy Medeiros during the second round of a lightweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Paige Vanzant, left, celebrates after beating Rachael Ostovich in a women's flyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Rachael Ostovich, right, reacts after losing a women's flyweight mixed martial arts bout against Paige Vanzant, left, at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Paige Vanzant, right, wrestles with Rachael Ostovich during the second round of a women's flyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Rachael Ostovich, right, punches Paige VanZant during the first round of a women's flyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Barclays Center. Dennis Bermudez fights Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019.. Dennis Bermudez fights Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Dennis Bermudez fights Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Dennis Bermudez, left, fights Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Dennis Bermudez, top, fights Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Dennis Bermudez fights Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Dennis Bermudez, top, fights Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Dennis Bermudez, top, fights Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Dennis Bermudez, top, fights Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Dennis Bermudez, top, fights Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Dennis Bermudez celebrates after defeating Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Dennis Bermudez celebrates after defeating Te Edwards during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Belal Muhammad is hit with a left against Geoff Neal during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Geoff Neal, right, fights Belal Muhammad during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Geoff Neal, right, fights Belal Muhammad during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Geoff Neal, left, fights Belal Muhammad during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Belal Muhammad tries to connect with a left against Geoff Neal during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Donald Cerrone, right, fights Alexander Hernandez during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Joanne Calderwood, left, fights Ariane Lipski during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Joanne Calderwood fights Ariane Lipski during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Joanne Calderwood fights Ariane Lipski during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Joanne Calderwood fights Ariane Lipski during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Joanne Calderwood fights Ariane Lipski during UFC Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019.<doc-sep>On Saturday night, the UFC will debut on ESPN and ESPN+ with the stacked UFC Brooklyn card. The card will be headlined by a flyweight title super fight between reigning champion Henry Cejudo and slimmed-down bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. Elsewhere on the card, meanwhile, we’ll see appearances from big names like Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Alexander Hernandez, Gregor Gillespie, Yancy Medeiros, Joseph Benavidez, Paige VanZant, Rachael Ostovich, Glover Teixeira, Joanne Calderwood and many others. Without further ado, here’s the official fight card for the UFC’s debut on ESPN (h/t Newsday) UFC Brooklyn Main cCrd | 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+ Flyweight title: Champion Henry Cejudo vs. Bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw Heavyweight: Greg Hardy vs. Allen Crowder Lightweight: Gregor Gillespie vs. Yancy Medeiros Flyweight: Joseph Benavidez vs. Dustin Ortiz Women’s flyweight: Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich Light heavyweight: Glover Teixeira vs. Karl Roberson (Ion Cutelaba out with injury) UFC Brooklyn Prelims | 8:00 p.m. on ESPN Lightweight: Donald Cerrone vs. Alexander Hernandez Women’s flyweight: Joanne Calderwood vs. Ariane Lipski Light heavyweight: Alonzo Menifield vs. Vinicius Moreira Castro Bantamweight: Mario Bautista vs. Cory Sandhagen UFC Brooklyn Early Prelims | 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+ Lightweight: Dennis Bermudez vs. Te Edwards Welterweight: Belal Muhammad vs. Geoff Neal Welterweight: Chance Rencountre vs. Kyle Stewart Which fight on the UFC Brooklyn lineup are you most excited for? Join the conversation in the comments section below. This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 1/14/2019. This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM<doc-sep>The UFC has gone into overtime in order to keep its 13-fight lineup in place for its January 19th Fight Night show in Brooklyn, New York. Over the past few days, three fighters have withdrawn from the card, with the latest one coming courtesy of Randy Brown. Brown confirmed a FloCombat report that he’ll be unable to fight Chance Rencountre on the preliminary card opener at Barclays Center, but it’s not due to injury. Thank you to all my friends family and the fans attending the UFC Brooklyn event. I am 100% healthy and ready to fight. My team and i tried our best to keep the fight on. Unfortunately the decision wasn’t up to us. Im excited to be back in action as soon as possible #UFCBrooklyn — Randy Brown (@TouchNgo_) January 13, 2019 The New York native is coming off a KO loss to Niko Price in July, when Price stopped him with hammerfists from the bottom. He has fought three times in New York since the state legalized pro MMA in 2016, and he’s won two of those bouts, but he’ll have to wait for his fourth one. According to MMAjunkie, Brown (10-3) has since been replaced by Dwight Grant (8-2), who lost to Zak Ottow at UFC on FOX 31 last month. Rencountre (12-3) is looking for his first win inside the Octagon, having dropped a decision to Belal Muhammad in his debut. The UFC also swapped in Karl Roberson to face Glover Teixeira after Ion Cutelaba pulled out with an injury, while newcomer Mario Bautista fills in for the injured John Lineker against Cory Sandhagen. UFC Brooklyn is headlined by a flyweight title defense featuring champion Henry Cejudo against bantamweight king T.J. Dillashaw. Click here for a free trial if you need to subscribe to ESPN+ to watch the fights<doc-sep>

The rumors are true and the road to the UFC’s ESPN+ debut has hit another bump. On Sunday, Randy Brown confirmed a report from FloCombat that he has been removed from his upcoming welterweight bout opposite Chance Rencountre, which was scheduled to take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn next Saturday. See Brown’s statement below, which does not disclose the reason for the fight being changed: “Thank you to all my friends family and the fans attending the UFC Brooklyn event. I am 100 percent healthy and ready to fight. My team and I tried our best to keep the fight on. Unfortunately, the decision wasn’t up to us. I’m excited to be back in action as soon as possible.” Brown no longer being on the card is the latest in a series of alterations to the Jan. 19 show, which includes Karl Roberson having to move up from middleweight to replace Ion Cutelaba in a light heavyweight bout with Glover Teixeira, and injuries causing a highly-anticipated bantamweight bout between Dominick Cruz and John Lineker to eventually become Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista instead. Officials are actively seeking a replacement for Brown, with Kyle Stewart emerging as a leading candidate, per ESPN. UFC Brooklyn marks the UFC’s first show of the ESPN era and the first to air on the ESPN+ streaming service. See the updated card below: Henry Cejudo vs. T.J. Dillashaw Greg Hardy vs. Allen Crowder Gregor Gillespie vs. Yancy Medeiros Joseph Benavidez vs. Dustin Ortiz Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich Glover Teixeira vs. Karl Roberson Donald Cerrone vs. Alexander Hernandez Joanne Calderwood vs. Ariane Lipski Alonzo Menifield vs. Vinicius Castro Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista Dennis Bermudez vs. Te Edwards Belal Muhammad vs. Geoff Neal Chance Rencountre vs. TBD

A massive fire engulfed the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Monday evening, destroying the monument’s spire and most of its roof. Fire crews and investigators are now assessing the full scale of the damage to the centuries-old cathedral less than a day after hundreds of firefighters battled, and finally extinguished, the relentless flames. Paris fire officials said late Monday that the cathedral’s two main rectangular towers had been “saved and preserved.” But the blaze collapsed the spire and consumed approximately two-thirds of the cathedral’s wooden roof. The flames damaged Notre Dame’s central nave; photos on social media showed debris littering the area, though the structure appeared to have survived largely unscathed. “Overall the structure is holding, but some vulnerabilities have been identified,” French Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told reporters Tuesday. Nunez said it would take at least 48 hours to complete that security assessment, after which crews will recover the works of art — which also seem to have mostly withstood the blaze. The high alter inside the nave of #NotreDame cathedral after the fire was brought under control. The Cross shines out through the darkness. pic.twitter.com/WzNZHmMZWs — (((Mike Glenn))) (@mrglenn) April 16, 2019 French Minister of Culture Franck Riester told reporters that any paintings damaged by the fire should be recovered by Friday and sent to the Louvre Museum, where they’ll be stored and restored. Riester said the cathedral’s rose stained-glass windows also appear intact, though they’ll likely have to be carefully inspected. Still, many of Notre Dame’s most prized relics were saved, including a crown of thorns believed to be a “band of rushes” from the original crown of thorns placed on Jesus’s head during the crucifixion, according to the Guardian; and the tunic of St. Louis, which dates to the 13th century. A priest serving as the chaplain for the Paris firefighters reportedly helped save some of this relics. How the disaster unfolded The blaze erupted at the centuries-old cathedral on Monday around 6:30 pm local time, and news of the fire spread rapidly on social media as people shared photos showing bright orange flames and smoke pouring from a spire of the church. Images later showed the cathedral’s spire crumbling, swallowed up by the fire. Jean-Claude Gallet, commander of the Paris firefighters, told the New York Times the fire likely started in the attic, which is reinforced with wooden trusses — effectively making them the perfect kindling and difficult to stop once the burning started. The cause of the fire is not yet clear, though prosecutors said a preliminary investigation suggests it appears to be an accident, possibly linked to restoration work. The 850-year-old church has been in desperate need of repairs and restoration. Notre Dame was evacuated when the flames broke out, and police evacuated the entire Ile de la Cité, the island where Notre Dame is located, by about 8:30 pm local time, according to the Guardian. At least one firefighter was reportedly seriously injured. In recent years, Notre Dame had fallen into a state of disrepair, with its buttresses eroding and its famous gargoyles replaced with piping because they were disintegrating. This prompted a massive fundraising effort to try to save the landmark, which is one of Paris’s most famous attractions. About 13 million tourists visit each year. Just last week, some of the statues atop the cathedral were removed for restoration as part of a $6.8 million renovation project on the cathedral’s spire, which was covered in scaffolding when the fire broke out. Construction began on the cathedral in the late 12th century, and the structure was badly damaged during the French Revolution. French writer Victor Hugo popularized the cathedral in his 1830s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which helped make the landmark famous and galvanized the public to undergo a major restoration project in the mid-1800s. Reactions to the burning of Notre Dame French President Emmanuel Macron described the fire at Notre Dame as the “emotion of an entire nation.” “Thinking of all Catholics and all French people,” he tweeted. “Like all our compatriots, I am sad this evening to see this part of us burn.” After fire officials said they salvaged the two main structures, Macron announced that the “worst had been avoided” and vowed to rebuild. Efforts to fund the reconstruction and renovation of the cathedral are already underway. According to Forbes, prominent French business leaders and companies have already donated a combined €600 million (about $680 million) to rebuild Notre Dame, including the family behind L’Oréal and the luxury brand LVMH. People in Paris mourned with Macron, with observers lining the streets as the cathedral burned. People prayed and held vigils for the monument. I took this after we were evacuated from Île de la Cité, seconds after the spire of #NotreDame fell to the flames. An entire city in mourning pic.twitter.com/z3l0vtbVTk — Patrick Galey (@patrickgaley) April 15, 2019 “It is like losing a member of one’s own family,” Pierre Guillaume Bonnet, a 45-year-old marketing director, told the New York Times. The people sing Ave Maria as they watch the flames #NotreDame #Parispic.twitter.com/w9eenF85jZ — Alicia V. Perry⏳ (@aliciavperry) April 15, 2019 Pope Francis offered prayers for the cathedral and the people of France, as they waited for the “sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction.” Today we unite in prayer with the people of France, as we wait for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction. Holy Mary, Our Lady, pray for us. #NotreDame — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 16, 2019 Other foreign leaders also lamented the destruction of Notre Dame and the loss to Paris and France. British Prime Minister Theresa May said her “thoughts are with the people of France tonight and with the emergency services who are fighting the terrible blaze at Notre-Dame cathedral.” President Donald Trump called the fire “so horrible to watch.” He also weighed in with his approach to firefighting, suggesting that “flying water tankers” could be used to put it out. So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 15, 2019 This idea was quickly shot down by France’s Interior Ministry, which noted in a tweet that water-bombing the cathedral would also destroy it. Hundreds of firemen of the Paris Fire Brigade are doing everything they can to bring the terrible #NotreDame fire under control. All means are being used, except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral. — Sécurité Civile Fr (@SecCivileFrance) April 15, 2019 At a later event, Trump called it a “terrible, terrible fire,” and lamented the damage done to the “one of the great treasures of the world.”<doc-sep>LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP/Getty Images The University of Notre Dame in Indiana is donating $100,000 toward the renovation of the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, according to a statement post on the school’s website today. “At the direction of Father Jenkins, the University will donate $100,000 toward the renovation of the cathedral. In addition, the bells of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus will toll 50 times — representing the 50 Hail Marys of Our Lady’s rosary — at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, to mark the start of the rebuilding process for the cathedral,” the statement reads. There is no direct connection between the cathedral and the university.<doc-sep>Historian Camille Pascal told French broadcaster BFMTV that "invaluable heritage" had been destroyed, adding: "Happy and unfortunate events for centuries have been marked by the bells of Notre-Dame. We can be only horrified by what we see".<doc-sep>

Paris (CNN) A massive blaze at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris devastated large parts of the 850-year-old church on Monday evening. Here's what we know so far. How did the blaze unfold? At 6:20 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET) on Monday, a fire alarm rang out, interrupting mass. Security guards started to evacuate the cathedral even though they did not see any sign of a fire, a spokesman for the Paris fire brigade told CNN. François-Xavier Lochet, a 70-year-old worshiper, said the congregation had just begun the Universal Prayer when the siren sounded. He said visitors were ushered out but those gathered for mass remained in place. Lochet said mass continued until a police officer went up and told the priest: "This is no joke. You've got to get out." Twenty-three minutes later, at 6:43 p.m. (12:43 p.m. ET), a second alarm blared and the fire was visible at that point, the fire department said. Around 400 firefighters were deployed to the scene but were delayed slightly by rush hour traffic. Police in Paris confirmed a fire had taken hold at Notre Dame and asked the public to avoid the area in a tweet sent at 7:20 p.m. (1:20 p.m. ET). A minute later, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo posted a tweet saying "a terrible fire is underway" with photographs taken outside the church: one of smoke billowing from near the spire and over the towers, and a second showing the fire department responders working at the scene. Shortly before 8 p.m. (2 p.m. ET), the cathedral's famed spire burned to a blackened shell before finally toppling, as thousands of Parisians who had gathered in the streets watched in horror. Around 11 p.m. (5 p.m. ET), French President Emmanuel Macron announced: "The worst has been avoided. The façade and the two main towers did not collapse." At 9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. ET) on Tuesday, French firefighters announced on Twitter that after nine hours of intense battle, the flames had finally been extinguished. Two policemen and a firefighter were injured, the tweet added. 2/2 Après plus de 9h de combats acharnés, près de 400 pompiers de Paris sont venus à bout de l'effroyable l'incendie. 2 policiers et un sapeur-pompier ont été légèrement blessés. pic.twitter.com/re9ZR0KB3W — Pompiers de Paris (@PompiersParis) April 16, 2019 Read More

Pink has always been really good at coming through for her fans. And she just did it again during her Beautiful Trauma World Tour at her show in Brisbane, Australia, where she stopped her show to comfort a young member of the audience. The 14-year old fan, Leah Murphy, held up a sign for Pink to see, telling the singer that her mum had passed away and that she really could use a hug from her idol. According to the Brisbane newspaper The Courier-Mail, the fan's sign read "My name is Leah — I’m 14 years old. I lost my beautiful mum last month. I would LOVE a hug… Please!" Sure enough, Pink stopped her show to give the young fan the hug she wanted. Several other audience members captured the moment on video: "It's going to be ok," Pink told the crying fan. Later, Murphy, posted this selfie to Instagram. Murphy told The Courier-Mail that getting the hug from Pink was "a dream come true." What a touching gesture.<doc-sep>After postponing a few of her Australia Beautiful Trauma Tour dates because of dehydration and a gastric virus, Pink is back and giving fans shows they'll never forget. During her Monday show in Brisbane, Pink stopped her concert after she noticed a poster made by 14-year-old Leah Murphy, one of her fans. Leah was supposed to attend the concert with her mom, Debbie, but sadly, her mom passed away in June. Instead, Leah attended with her aunt, Katrina Donkin, who helped her make posters for the concert. One of the posters had a photo of Leah and her mom along with a blushing emoji. Next to the picture and emoji, Leah wrote, "Hi, my name's Leah. I'm 14 years old and I just lost my beautiful mum. I would love a hug...please!" 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. In the middle of a show, Pink paused to comfort a young fan whose mom had recently died https://t.co/K6TjvcC9cC pic.twitter.com/HZjwG74E3T — CNN (@CNN) August 23, 2018 After Leah, Katrina, and neighboring fans waved the posters to try to get Pink's attention, Pink saw the poster and immediately stopped her show to step off the stage and meet Leah. Katrina said the audience made a path so Leah could get to the front of the stage and meet Pink, and when she did, she got the hug she wanted. Pink also took selfies with a tearful Leah, held her for what "felt like 20 seconds," and told her, "It's going to be alright." Can someone pass some tissues, please! ? 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. "She's just a huge, huge fan of Pink, and so was her mom, so it was just amazing she [Pink] took the time to give her a hug," Katrina said. "I haven't seen her smile so much since," she added. After Pink climbed back on stage, she reportedly said, "everyone call your mom." Shannon Barbour News Writer Shannon is a news writer at Cosmopolitan.com, and when she's not obsessing about Cardi B, she's thinking about Justin Bieber and still trying to memorize Beyoncé's Beychella choreography. 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>Pink just proved yet again that no one takes care of their fans the way she does. During her concert in Brisbane, Australia, on Monday, the songstress stopped her concert when she noticed one particular sign in the audience. It read, “My name is Leah – I’m 14 years old. I lost my beautiful Mum last month. I would LOVE a hug…Please!” The “Beautiful Trauma” singer quickly headed into the crowd to oblige the young fan. After giving the fan, whose whole name is Leah Murphy, she gave her an autograph and posed for some selfies. Murphy’s mother Debbie, a diehard Pink fan, had planned to attend the singer’s concert in Sydney but sadly died before she could, Murphy's aunt Katrina Donkin tells ET. Her daughter had planned to use her ticket, however, the concert was postponed because Pink got ill. So Donkin bought a ticket and took her to the Brisbane concert. Prior to the concert, Donkin set out on a mission to see that her niece got a hug at the show. “Ok guys Help me out,” she captioned a photo of Murphy and her mother, Debbie. “Leah and I are going to see @pink Monday 20th in Brisbane. Most of you know Leah and Harvey [her brother] lost their beautiful mum Deb recently. We are planning on dancing for Deb the whole night. If you can share this post as much as you can in the hope that @pink might see it and give Leah a hug. That’s all we’re hoping for.” A 14-year-old girl grieving the recent loss of her mother has been sent "a hug from heaven" after pop star @Pink pulled her out of the crowd for a hug, selfie, and motivational chat at one of her concerts this week.https://t.co/8wmDhQAUAA 📸: Katrina Donkin pic.twitter.com/R2rmXTt6yH — ABC Brisbane (@abcbrisbane) August 22, 2018 "Leah was singing and just so excited and said many times she was just so happy to be going," Donkin said, explaining the mood prior to the concert. "We waved the signs as often as we could whenever Pink looked our way and eventually she squinted and said, 'What is that over there?' Someone passed her sign up. She touched her heart and read out the sign. She motioned for us to make our way forward. The crowd parted and bulldozed us to the front. I said to Leah… 'You’re going to get your hug, sweetheart.' "I truly believe her mum orchestrated the whole thing. It was a hug from heaven. Leah hasn’t stopped smiling, skipping and dancing since," Donkin continued. "The whole family is feeling very loved and supported right now." After the hug, Pink walked back onstage and made a simple request to her fans in attendance. “Everyone call your mom," she said. "I don’t care if it’s two o’clock in the morning and you’re stupid drunk. Call your mom.” Get more music news in the clip below. Reporting by Kelly Agnes. RELATED CONTENT: Simon Cowell Supports Fifth Harmony After Tiffany Haddish's VMAs Shade (Exclusive) 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. Aerosmith Closes 2018 Video Music Awards With Post Malone and 21 Savage Jennifer Lopez Nails Her Career's Biggest Hits Ahead of Accepting Prestigious MTV Video Vanguard Award! Britney Spears Strikes a Pose & Sings an Old Hit With Jimmy Fallon on 'Ew!' Related Gallery<doc-sep>

Pink can give the world the finger and then melt our hearts. We love her both ways. As for the latter, take for example what the rock star did for a grieving fan during her concert in Brisbane, Australia. Pink left the stage midshow to hug a teenager who announced on a homemade sign that her mother recently died and she needed a hug. Leah Murphy from Townsville, Australia, was holding a sign that read, according to CBS News: "My name is Leah – I'm 14 years old. I lost my beautiful Mum last month. I would LOVE a hug…Please!" Pink left the stage after spotting the sign and gave the teen a hug, said her aunt, who went to the concert with her. "Pink said to her 'You're pretty - oh don't cry - it's going to be OK." Before returning to the stage, Pink and Murphy took selfies. Leah's mother had planned to see Pink perform in Sydney but died in June before she could. Then Leah planned to take her mother's place at the concert but Pink postponed the show because she was sick. So Leah's aunt, Katrina Donkin, bought a ticket to take her to the Brisbane concert. She believes the teen's mother, who used to crank up Pink and dance around her house, had a hand in arranging Leah's meeting the tough-as-nails singer with a heart of gold. "I believed she orchestrated the whole thing and sent her little girl a hug from heaven." Pink never ceases to move us by always keeping it real. Like All the Moms? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. READ MORE:

Roberto Martinez has a huge responsibility this summer, leading Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ into a World Cup that many believe they have all the tools to win. Disappointing showings under Marc Wilmots in Brazil four years ago and at Euro 2016 have ramped up the pressure on this year’s star-studded squad, while Martinez has also made a bold call by leaving Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan out of his 23-man selection. If Belgium fail again, there will be no shortage of blame to go around. The good news is that Belgium’s top talent has never been better. Kevin De Bruyne has blossomed into arguably the world’s best playmaker at Manchester City, while captain Eden Hazard was at his devastating best for Chelsea in last month’s FA Cup final. Between them, Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku and Napoli false nine Dries Mertens should provide plenty of firepower. Doubts remain over the fitness of Vincent Kompany and Michy Batshuayi, and Martinez still has questions to answer about his ability as a defensive coach. Experience and mentality, however, are likely to be Belgium’s biggest obstacles to glory in Russia. World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Show all 10 1 /10 World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Thorgan Hazard Age: 25 Club: Borussia Monchengladbach Position: Midfielder AFP/Getty Images World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Kevin De Bruyne Age: 26 Club: Manchester City Position: Midfielder AFP/Getty Images World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Jan Vertonghen Age: 31 Club: Tottenham Hotspur Position: Defender AFP/Getty Images World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Marcus Rashford Age: 20 Club: Manchester United Position: Forward Getty Images World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Ruben Loftus-Cheek Age: 22 Club: Chelsea Position: Midfielder Getty Images World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Jesse Lingard Age: 25 Club: Manchester United Position: Midfielder Getty Images World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Wahbi Khazri Age: 27 Club: Rennes Position: Forward AFP/Getty Images World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Mohamed Amine Ben Amor Age: 26 Club: Étoile du Sahel Position: Midfielder AFP/Getty Images World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Jaime Penedo Age: 36 Club: Dinamo Bucuresti Position: Goalkeeper AFP/Getty Images World Cup 2018: 10 players to watch in Group G Roman Torres Age: 32 Club: Seattle Sounders Position: Defender Getty Images Fixtures Belgium vs Panama – 16:00, Monday 18 June Belgium vs Tunisia – 13:00, Saturday 23 June Belgium vs England – 19:00, Thursday 28 June Key players Eden Hazard: A disrupted and disappointing season yielded the second-worst goal tally of Hazard’s career at Chelsea, but he showed ominous signs of life in the final stretch of the campaign. His ability to commit defenders, force mistakes and create for himself or others will be particularly crucial against the massed defences Belgium are likely to face in the group stage. De Bruyne heads into the World Cup in the form of his life (AFP/Getty Images) Kevin De Bruyne: Unlucky to be pipped by Mohamed Salah in the race for English football’s top individual honours this season, De Bruyne goes into the World Cup as a Premier League champion and in the form of his life. He sees passes that do not even occur to most other players and when his game clicks into top gear, no defence can stop him. Jan Vertonghen: Kompany’s fitness issues, coupled with Martinez’s decision to name only six natural defenders in his World Cup squad, ensure that Vertonghen’s steadying influence at the back will be all the more vital. He is mobile and versatile enough to shift to the left if Yannick Ferreira Carrasco proves too much of a liability, and his understanding with Tottenham teammate Toby Alderweireld is also a plus. One to watch Thorgan Hazard: Forever in the shadow of his older brother Eden, Thorgan has built an impressive career for himself since signing permanently for Borussia Monchengladbach from Chelsea in 2015. He registered 10 goals and five assists in the Bundesliga last season, and his intelligent movement and eye for goal can offer Belgium a valuable threat off the bench in Russia. How did they get here? Belgium could scarcely have been more convincing in qualifying, winning nine of 10 matches, conceding just six goals and emerging unbeaten at the top of a lopsided group featuring Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Cyprus and Gibraltar. Lukaku scored 11 of their 43 goals, while Hazard registered six goals and five assists. The only draw came at home to Greece, with Martinez’s men held to a 0-0 despite out-shooting their defensive-minded opponents 17 to two. How will they do? There is no reason why Belgium should not finish top of Group G ahead of England and, depending on the results of their first two games against Panama and Tunisia, they may not even need to beat Gareth Southgate’s men to secure top spot. A potential round of 16 tie against the runners up of a relatively weak Group H should provide no problems. The true test is likely to arrive in the form of a blockbuster quarter-final against Brazil. Win that, and this Belgium generation will have finally arrived at a major tournament. Anything less will be seen as another missed opportunity. Odds of winning the tournament: 11/1 Loading.... Full squad Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels, Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet. Defenders: Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Vincent Kompany, Thomas Meunier, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen. Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco, Kevin de Bruyne, Mousa Dembele, Leander Dendoncker, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Thorgan Hazard, Adnan Januzaj, Dries Mertens, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel. Forwards: Michy Batshuayi, Nacer Chadli, Romelu Lukaku.<doc-sep>With the football fraternity fastening its seat belt to experience the biggest sporting event in the world of football, it is of no doubt that the FIFA World Cup 2018 is what every football fan is eagerly waiting for. The best in the world will battle it out against each other to carve their names and immortalize themselves in history books. One simply cannot expect the FIFA World Cup to be bereft of spectacular goals, mouthwatering contests, nail-biting finishes, drama, heartbreaks and glory. My personal belief is that the giants of this forthcoming event include 5-time champions Brazil, 4-time winners Germany, Argentina, Spain and France. However, another nation with a population of just over 11 million is witnessing a remarkable golden generation presently. They are ready to defeat teams with grit and flair, accept the toughest of challenges and fight with the very best to challenge for this prestigious prize. This country is none other than Belgium. With a plethora of spirited talent, an able leader in Roberto Martinez and an array of match winners, the Red Devils look more than just ready. They are seeded in Group G, alongside England, Tunisia and newcomers Panama. Do not be surprised if they top their group with a statement, as they are not the underdogs or dark horses anymore. On their day, the Eden Hazard-led side can thrash any side, and over the last 24-30 months, they have established themselves as serious challengers for the big competitions. Here, we will try and analyse what Belgium has in store for us in this edition of the FIFA World Cup: Strengths: A pool of fine talent The Belgians have a number of plus points heading into the World Cup. Firstly, they have a young squad. However, this young squad isn't inexperienced. Almost all their players have made their international debuts a few years back. In fact, 12 players who are in the current squad featured in the previous World Cup and the Euros in 2016. This only means that they have a pre-existing core in the side. Next, they have pace and precision in their armoury. A lot of their players are quick, agile and have exceptional technical abilities. This team is no short of talent. From Yannick Carrasco at left wing-back to Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard, the Red Devils can strike fear into any opposing defence with their blistering speed. A lot of their players have the winning mentality. A list of players including Thibaut Courtois, Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard, Yannick Carrasco and Kevin De Bruyne have tasted success at the club levels, and have even been pivotal for their respective clubs over the years, without a doubt. 1 / 5 NEXT<doc-sep>More than a week to go before Belgium’s World Cup campaign begins, but the flags are already hanging from the windows on a small row of terraced houses outside the national football centre in Tubize, around 15 miles from the heart of Brussels. Inside the base, the breeze is warm and the mood is relaxed as the most hyped generation in Belgian history amble onto the training pitch. Thierry Henry, the assistant manager, is in jovial spirits as he joins in with an early session of keepy-uppy, while Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi plays the jester by scarpering off with one of the balls. The following night, on Monday, Belgium take on Costa Rica in their final friendly before Russia, and it is Romelu Lukaku’s turn to have some fun. First, he sticks his fingers above the head of a touchline TV reporter, giving him ‘bunny ears’ during a live broadcast, and then he obliterates Costa Rica’s defence, scoring twice as Belgium cruise to an impressive 4-1 victory. The players are enjoying themselves, it seems, and so are the supporters. “For the fans it’s unbelievable how we play,” Toby Alderweireld says afterwards. “We’ll build on this.” There is an air of calmness and confidence around Belgium, but it has not always been this way. And, it should be added, it may not be like this again. A week earlier, they had been whistled off the pitch after drawing 0-0 with Portugal. And a week later, on Monday, they take on Panama knowing that anything but a commanding victory in their first World Cup game will dramatically increase the pressure on this ‘golden generation’.<doc-sep>

Head coach: Roberto Martinez FIFA World Cup History: Qualified 12 times; best – 4th place (1986) Qualifying route: Won nine out of 10 matches to top European qualifying Group H. Squad: Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels, Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet; Defenders: Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Vincent Kompany, Thomas Meunier, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen; Midfielders:Yannick Carrasco, Kevin de Bruyne, Mousa Dembele, Leander Dendoncker, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Thorgan Hazard, Adnan Januzaj, Dries Mertens, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel; Forwards: Michy Batshuayi, Nacer Chadli, Romelu Lukaku. READ | FIFA World Cup 2018: Son Heung-min aims to inspire South Korea Unbeaten in qualifying, the Belgium national football team appears one of the most fancied sides on paper going into the World Cup. The team was outstanding in its qualifying campaign scoring 43 goals and conceding only 11. Dubbed Belgium’s ‘golden generation’, the current set of players, though, would be under pressure to live up to their high-profile status after not being able to go past the quarterfinal stage in both 2014 World Cup and 2016 Euro Cup. Coach Martinez’s decision to keep Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan out of the squad has raised a few eyebrows, but the Red Devils have a well-balanced side. In Kevin De Bruyne, they have one of the best playmakers while captain Eden Hazard is coming from his match-winning performance for Chelsea in last month’s FA Cup final. READ | FIFA World Cup 2018: Lionel Messi star attraction as Banega trains apart There are doubts over the fitness of ace defender Vincent Kompany and striker Michy Batshuayi, but the team has plenty of resources to cover up for any loss. Three players to watch out for Eden Hazard: Though Hazard had a disappointing outing with Chelsea in the Premier League, he regained his touch old towards the end of the campaign and was at his lethal best during the final of the FA Cup. He possesses a great ability to commit defenders, force mistakes and generate opportunities for himself. Kevin De Bruyne: De Bruyne is in the form of his life having played a stellar role in Manchester City’s Premier League victory this season. With 16 assists, he topped the chart for the most number of assists in England. He will be a key to Belgium’s hope as he has the finesse to make any defence look clueless. Romelu Lukaku: Lukaku is the most prolific Belgian goalscorer at international level with a total of 36 goals. He was in a red-hot form during the team’s qualifying campaign netting home 11 times. His pace and finishing is going to be vital for the side.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jordan Belliveau is asked to call the Largo Police Department at 727-587-6730 or 911. LARGO, Fla. – A Largo Police Department spokesperson said investigators are searching two specific areas for the last known location of a missing 2-year-old boy Monday. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued an Amber Alert for Jordan Belliveau on Sunday morning. Investigators are searching the area near Belliveau’s mother’s apartment at 3660 East Bay Drive in Largo. Police said Belliveau and his mother were walking on East Bay Drive near Belcher Road to a friend's place around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when they were offered a ride by a person they didn't know. The person said his name was Antwan. The mother told police that once they were in the white Toyota Camry, she was struck on the face and lost consciousness, police said. When she woke up, it was about 1:30 a.m. Sunday and she was in a wooded area in Largo Central Park without the child. Investigators searched the area but Belliveau was not found. Surveillance video confirmed the mother's location when she walked to Largo Central Park. She needed medical help and was sent to be treated at Bayfront Hospital. The mother told investigators she got into the car because Belliveau was too heavy to carry to their destination. Slaughter said that Belliveau's mother did not know the suspect. On Monday, police released a sketch of the suspect. He is described as a man who appeared to be around 26 years old. He's black and identified himself as 'Antwan.' He has gold teeth and dreadlocks. He was wearing black basketball shorts and a white tank top. Police are asking residents along East Bay Dr. corridor between Belcher Rd. and Missouri Ave. for any surveillance video that might have captured the suspect between 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 a.m. Sunday. The search for Jordan “We have the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office dive team out looking through that pond for us just to make sure there’s nothing suspicious in that pond, or anything that may help us find him,” said Largo police spokesperson Stephen Slaughter. “We’re going to do the same thing through different waterways down the way. WANTED: Sketch of man named Antwan believed to have taken 2-year-old Jordan Belliveau is released along with his car. @LargoPD asks for help from the public & businesses any surveillance video near E. Bay Dr./Belcher Rd on 9/1 & 9/2 would be helpful @10NewsWTSP pic.twitter.com/DfvPKL78nF — Sarah Rosario (@sarahbrosario) September 3, 2018 “Unfortunately, it’s Florida. We have a lot of ponds, we have a lot of streams, we have a lot of different areas of water, and a small toddler can find his way in there pretty easily. So, we want to make sure we look at those.” #MISSING: Jordan Belliveau, 2, last seen Sat. evening walking w/ mother on East Bay Drive near Belcher Rd. Man offered them ride. Mom claims during ride she was knock out & when she came to in Largo Central Park she was alone, Jordan was gone. @10NewsWTSP https://t.co/FW28QfjZt4 pic.twitter.com/BdByiV8dEf — Josh Sidorowicz (@joshsidorowicz) September 3, 2018 Largo police said the mother is being cooperative with the investigation. Slaughter said investigators are using a dive team and K-9s to search two areas where the mother said was Belliveau was last seen. Earlier Monday, Largo police released a picture of the 2010 White Toyota Camry that Belliveau could be traveling in with a man named Antwan. The suspected Camry has a white grill and dark-tinted windows, Largo police said. Investigators believe the Camry could have rosary beads hanging from the rearview mirror and a black ice air freshener. “We’re asking the public if you have any information where you’ve seen this child, where you have seen this vehicle with a child matching that description, to please give us a call. We would love to have that tip,” Slaughter said. “To anybody that may know the whereabouts of Jordan [Belliveau], we urge to please, just take him to a safe place.” Slaughter said safe places include local fire stations or even a library. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the child is asked to call the Largo Police Department at 727-587-6730 or 911. ►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.<doc-sep>Jordan Belliveau had been missing since Saturday. An Amber Alert was issued Sunday. On Tuesday, his body was found and his mother arrested. LARGO, Fla. – The search for a missing Largo toddler came to a tragic end on Tuesday. And now his mother is in custody facing a first-degree murder charge in his death. The body of Jordan Belliveau was found in a wooded area near Lake Avenue and McMullen Road. Shortly after his body was located, police announced the child's mother, Charisse Stinson, 21, had been arrested in his death. Belliveau had been missing since Saturday night. According to police, Stinson said she was walking with the child on East Bay Drive near Belcher Road when they were offered a ride by a stranger named Antwan. Stinson told detectives they got into the stranger's car because Jordan was too heavy to carry. BREAKING: Charisse Stinson, Mom of 2yo Jordan Belliveau charged w/ 1st degree murder in son’s death. She reported him missing Sat. after telling police she accepted a ride from a stranger, was knocked unconscious after getting in the car, & woke up in the woods. @10NewsWTSP pic.twitter.com/9DAIGlAjLl — Sarah Rosario (@sarahbrosario) September 5, 2018 She says once inside the car, Antwan hit her in the face and she became unconscious. She told police she woke up four hours later -- around 1:30 a.m. Sunday -- in a wooded part of Largo Central Park. Sunday morning, an Amber Alert was issued. UPDATE: THE AMBER Alert for Jordan Belliveau has been canceled. Sadly, the child has been found deceased. — FDLE (@fdlepio) September 4, 2018 A 10News camera was there when Stinson entered the Pinellas County jail to be booked for murder. BREAKING: @LargoPD confirm the body of missing 2-year-old Jordan Belliveau was found in a wooden area south of McMullen Rd in Largo. #Florida. Devastated family members are hoping for more answers in this case. Calling for #JusticeForJordan @10NewsWTSP pic.twitter.com/WjEezxm462 — Sarah Rosario (@sarahbrosario) September 4, 2018 Earlier Tuesday, police released gas station footage from the 7-Eleven at 1200 East Bay Drive in Largo. Investigators said a man in the footage may have spoken to the mom and might have information about what happened to Belliveau. And on Monday, a sketch of a suspect was released in the case. There are two upcoming events to honor Jordan. On Wednesday, Jordan's uncle will host a thank-you get together for the community and their efforts to help find Jordan at 5 p.m. at Highland Rec, 400 Highland Ave. NE, in Largo. On Saturday, a prayer vigil is planned for 5 p.m. where he was found near Lake Avenue and McMullen Road. ►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.<doc-sep>

Jordan Belliveau remains missing. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Largo Police Department at 727-587-6730 or 911. LARGO, Fla. – A Largo Police Department spokesperson said Tuesday investigators still need "one good tip" to find a missing 2-year-old boy. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued an Amber Alert for Jordan Belliveau on Sunday morning. "We're not frustrated. We're encouraged. We're going to find Jordan and we're going to get out there," said Largo police spokesperson Stephen Slaughter. "We're going to put boots on the ground. You're going to see puts on the ground today, and you're going to see boots on the ground tomorrow." Slaughter said investigators have received up to 70 tips. "We're still hoping for that one big break that's going to give us that step forward," Slaughter said. "We just haven't received that tip yet." Investigators continue searching the area near Belliveau’s mother’s apartment at 3660 East Bay Drive in Largo. Slaughter asked for Largo residents and business owners in the area to review their security cameras from 9:30 p.m. Saturday to about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. "We're continuing to acquire all the security footages from businesses up and down the East Bay corridor," Slaughter said. "We believe that we'll be able to get some good video or something that may able to help us out on this case from personal security systems that we're not aware of." Slaughter called submitting security footage "voluntary." On Monday, police released a sketch of the suspect. Largo police released a picture of the 2010 White Toyota Camry on Monday that Belliveau could be traveling in with a man named Antwan. The suspected Camry has a white grill and dark-tinted windows, Largo police said. Investigators believe the Camry could have rosary beads hanging from the rearview mirror and a black ice air freshener. Police said Belliveau and his mother were walking on East Bay Drive near Belcher Road to a friend's place around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when they were offered a ride by a person they didn't know. The person said his name was Antwan. The mother told police that once they were in the white Toyota Camry, she was struck on the face and lost consciousness, police said. When she woke up, it was about 1:30 a.m. Sunday and she was in a wooded area in Largo Central Park without the child. Investigators searched the area, but Belliveau was not found. Surveillance video confirmed the mother's location when she walked to Largo Central Park. She needed medical help and was sent to be treated at Bayfront Hospital. The mother told investigators she got into the car because Belliveau was too heavy to carry to their destination. Slaughter said that Belliveau's mother did not know the suspect. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Belliveau is asked to call the Largo Police Department at 727-587-6730 or 911. ►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.

South Dakota State University men's basketball earned a No. 7 seed and drew second-seeded Texas in the 2019 National Invitational Tournament. The Jackrabbits and Longhorns will play Tuesday in Austin, Texas, at 8 p.m. CST on ESPN. The Jackrabbits (24-8, 14-2 Summit League) are making their eighth straight trip to the postseason, and second-ever in the NIT, with an automatic bid after winning the Summit League's regular season title outright. The Longhorns (16-16, 8-10 Big 12) are making their first appearance in the NIT since 1986 after finishing sixth in the Big 12 standings. This is the first-ever meeting between South Dakota State and Texas. The winner of Tuesday's game faces the winner of Xavier and Toledo in the NIT's second round. Location, date and time for that game is yet to be determined. Participating schools host the 32-team, single-elimination tournament at campus sites through the first three rounds. The first round of the NIT is on Tuesday and Wednesday. The second round will then be played between Thursday and Monday, March 25. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27. Action shifts to New York City for the semifinals on Tuesday, April 2. The NIT title game, also at Madison Square Garden, is set for Thursday, April 4.<doc-sep>After failing to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons, the Texas Longhorns are headed to the NIT as a 2 seed. Texas will host 7-seeded South Dakota State (24-8, 14-2) for that first round matchup on Tuesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Central on ESPN. Sitting at 16-16 (8-10 Big 12) on the season following five losses throughout their past six games, including three consecutive defeats, the Longhorns entered Selection Sunday seemingly just on the outside of the bubble looking in, as evident with Texas being among the ‘First Four Out,’ per ESPN’s Bracketology. Texas, of course, was left out when the NCAA Tournament’s field of 68 was set, which, in turn, paved the way for the Longhorns’ fifth-ever NIT appearance and the program’s first since 1986. The Longhorns are 6-3 all-time in the NIT, and won the NIT Championship in 1978 following four wins over Temple, Nebraska, Rutgers, and N.C. State by a combined 61 points.<doc-sep>South Dakota State’s 16-game win streak and Summit League regular-season and conference titles were enough to award them their highest ever seed in nine NCAA tournament appearances, as the Jackrabbits were awarded a No. 6 seed during Monday’s women’s tournament selection show on ESPN2. SDSU will face 11th-seeded Quinnipiac on Saturday in Syracuse, N.Y., where the Orange host the first round as the 3-seed. Should the Jacks get past the Bobcats they’d face the winner of Syracuse and No. 14 Fordham. MORE: No. 8 South Dakota receives at-large bid, will face No. 9 Clemson It’ll be a battle of two of the hottest teams in women’s college basketball, as the Bobcats come in winners of 21 straight. Previously, the best seed the Jacks were ever awarded was a 7-seed in 2009, when they defeated TCU before falling (barely) to 2-seed Baylor in the second round. The Jacks were an eight last year, the only other time they’d been granted a single-digit seed. They lost to ninth-seeded Villanova. This year’s bracket leaked early thanks to a mistake by an ESPN employee, which sapped some of the drama from the reveal – ESPN2 moved up the selection show by two hours since the seedings and matchups were already in the public sphere. But the result wouldn’t have been a big surprise to the Jacks, anyway. By virtue of capturing the conference tournament with their win over USD, the Jacks had the automatic bid, and most projections had them in the 5-7 range, so they landed about where they expected. MORE: It's official: South Dakota State gets Quinnipiac; South Dakota gets Clemson The primary question is where they’d go, and while a warmer destination probably would’ve been welcome after the winter South Dakota is just coming out of, New York should be a fun trip for SDSU. USD, as expected, received an at-large bid. They’re an 8-seed and will face Clemson. The Jacks (26-6) are 2-8 all-time in the NCAA tournament – in addition to winning their Big Dance debut back in ’09, SDSU knocked off 12th-seeded Miami in 2016. They then lost 66-65 to Stanford, narrowly missing the Sweet 16. Making it at least that far in this tournament is no doubt a goal for the Jacks, and it’s an attainable one. They’re as hot as any team in the country, riding that 16-game winning streak, which includes two wins over the tourney-bound Coyotes in the last month. SDSU also beat Drake when the Bulldogs were ranked 21st, and had close losses to Oregon and Baylor, who were both ranked in the top 10. Quinnipiac, a school of 6,500 located in Hamden, Conn., is a precarious opponent for SDSU. The Bobcats are in the tournament for the fourth time since 2013 and the third year in a row. They were an 8-seed last year and defeated Miami in the first round before getting whacked by top-seeded UConn in the second round. The Bobcats (26-6) have won both the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles in each of the last three seasons. They’ve gone 18-0 in league play in each of the last two seasons. The parallels between the teams extend beyond their winning streaks – both clubs have been dominant on defense this year. The Bobcats score a mere 65 points per game but they’re allowing only 50.5 per game. Their top players are Jen Fay (12.1 points, 6.7 rebounds per game) and Aryn McClure (10.3 points, 5.7 rebounds). The Bobcats are coached by Tricia Fabbri, who’s been in charge for 23 years and is Quinnipiac’s all-time winningest coach.<doc-sep>

The Jackrabbit men’s basketball team staged a brilliant comeback, but saw its 2018-19 season come to an end Tuesday in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament, falling 79-73 to Texas at the Frank Erwin Center. South Dakota State concludes the year at 24-9, reaching the 20-win plateau for the 25th time as a program while saying goodbye to three seniors: Mike Daum , Skyler Flatten and Tevin King . The first half was full of momentum swings, as the Longhorns started fast towards a 19-0 lead while scoring on seven of their first eight possessions. Skyler Flatten ended SDSU’s drought with a drive to the basket and a 3-pointer around the 15-minute mark, starting a long climb back for the Jackrabbits. The teams traded baskets until 8:24, when an Alex Arians layup sparked SDSU on a 12-0 burst that pulled State within three (31-28) over the next three minutes. Arians scored the first seven points of the run, which was part of a larger five-minute span that Texas went scoreless. The Longhorns recovered their edge down the stretch, pushing the lead to double figures briefly once more, but State used a Daum bucket inside the final minute to send the Jackrabbits to the locker room, down 43-35. Texas again started fast in the second, building a 13-point lead early, but the Jackrabbits kept coming. SDSU crawled within two (59-57) at 13:01, and a Jenkins jumper at 8:32 put them in front, 65-64 before a two-handed, breakaway slam moments later gave State a 67-64 advantage. UT answered with six straight to go back in front, and though SDSU kept it a one-possession game until the final minute of action, the Jackrabbits could not complete the rally. Daum led the Jackrabbits with 25 points and 11 rebounds for his 55th career double-double, rising to No. 7 on the NCAA’s all-time scoring list in the game. He concludes his career with 3,067 points. Flatten added 14 points with a team-high five assists, and Tevin King pulled down five boards while coming up with two steals. David Jenkins scored 19 behind a trio of 3-pointers, and Alex Arians tallied seven boards, seven points and three assists. Texas’ Dylan Osetkowski led all scorers with 26 points as one of three Longhorns in double figures. Game Notes This is the first-ever meeting between South Dakota State and Texas. The Jackrabbits are 1-2 all-time in the National Invitational Tournament. David Jenkins is No. 25 on SDSU’s career scoring list with 1,194 points. He passed John Thomas (1966-69; 1,178) early in the first half. is No. 25 on SDSU’s career scoring list with 1,194 points. He passed John Thomas (1966-69; 1,178) early in the first half. At least three Jackrabbits scored in double figures in 32 of 33 games this year. -GoJacks.com- Courtesy: SDSU

As election results continued to be tallied into Wednesday morning, November's races for Michigan's 14 congressional seats -- including a handful of open seats and potential toss-up contests -- began to become clear. Though there was still a question mark or two. Among the marquee results: Former state Rep. Rashida Tlaib defeated Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones in the race for the Democratic nomination to the Detroit-based seat held by U.S. Rep. John Conyers for some 52 years until his resignation last December. As the winner, she is the prohibitive favorite to become the next full-term congressman in one of the most Democratic districts in the nation; she also would become the first Muslim woman to hold a seat in the U.S. House. But the results in Wayne County -- which appeared to be having problems with its election servers even into Wednesday morning -- also showed Jones leading the primary balloting to serve out a 2-month term beginning in November representing the remainder of Conyers' current term. Meanwhile, in another one of Michigan's three open congressional seats, Andy Levin won the Democratic nomination to 9th District seat being vacated at the end of the current term by his dad, U.S. Rep. Sandy Levin, D-Royal Oak. And in the hotly contested 11th District in western Wayne and Oakland counties — where U.S. Rep. Dave Trott, R-Birmingham is stepping down — Republican businesswoman Lena Epstein and Democratic former Obama administration official Haley Stevens won their respective nominations. More:Michigan primary: See all the election results for metro Detroit, state races More:Ballot shortages reported in Oakland County; voters told to wait Key national political handicappers have the 11th District as a toss-up in November despite it being a Republican stronghold in the past. But that is just one district where Democrats are looking — or hoping — to pick up seats in the Nov. 6 general election and regain control of the U.S. House: In the 8th District, running from northeastern Oakland County west to Lansing, U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, was expected to face a stiff challenge from Democrat Elissa Slotkin, who cruised to a primary victory. National experts were also keeping an eye on what happens next in races involving U.S. Reps. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, and Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph. And in the Senate race, it was Republicans who learned that businessman John James will be challenge U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., in her bid for a fourth 6-year term. Her'es a look at the latest results: Senate: Detroit-area businessman and Iraq War veteran John James won the Republican nomination to run against Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow this fall. James, a political newcomer endorsed by President Donald Trump, defeated Sandy Pensler in Tuesday's primary, the Associated Press said late Tuesday. With 99 percent of the state's precincts reporting, James had 511,203 votes, or 55 percent, to Pensler's 423,210, or 45 percent. Stabenow is considered a favorite to hang on to her seat, however. 1ST DISTRICT: U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, was running unopposed in his party's primary. On the Democratic side, Matt Morgan failed to make the party ticket and was trying to win a write-in bid. (We're still waiting to know whether he will; to get the nomination, he'll need to get a number of write-in votes equal to at least 5 percent of the total number of the top Democratic vote-getter — regardless of the office he or she is running for — in the district. That calculation wasn't immediately available.) 2ND DISTRICT: U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, and emergency room physician Rob Davidson, a Democrat, are unopposed in their parties' primaries. 3RD DISTRICT: In the Democratic primary to take on U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, in west Michigan, former educator Cathy Albro was called the winner by the Associated Press. With 100 percent of the vote in, she had 42,391 votes, or 68 percent, compared to 19,820 or 32 percent for minister Fred Wooden. 4TH DISTRICT: U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, is the incumbent in a heavily Republican mid-Michigan district. In the Democratic race to face him, the AP called the contest for former business teacher Jerry Hilliard who, with all of the votes in, had 39,092 votes, or 71 percent, compared to public health researcher Ziggy Kozicki's 16,262, or 29 percent. 5TH DISTRICT: U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee. D-Flint Township, has no primary opposition, neither does Navy vet and Republican Travis Wines. 6TH DISTRICT: In a crowded Democratic field to take on Upton, R-St. Joseph, in southwest Michigan, the AP called the race for physician Matt Longjohn. With 99 percent of the vote in, Longjohn had 22,077 votes, or 31 percent, compared to former Kellogg's executive George Franklin with 17,222 or 29 percent. They were trailed by history professor David Benac with 12,681, or 21 percent and scientist Rich Eichholz with 7,596 or 13 percent. 7TH DISTRICT: U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, is unopposed in the primary. Former Saline mayor and state representative Gretchen Driskell was called the Democratic winner to face him by the AP. With all of the vote in, she had 52,193 votes, or 85 percent, to Steven Friday's 9,054 or 15 percent. 8TH DISTRICT: Bishop, R-Rochester, a two-term incumbent, had token opposition from businessman Lokesh Kumar and won handily with 75,391 votes, or 92 percent, to Kumar's 6,250 or 8 percent, with all of the precincts reporting; on the Democratic side, former intelligence/Pentagon official Elissa Slotkin -- who has outraised Bishop and gotten national buzz in a general election race handicappers expect to be close -- was called the winner by the AP. She had 57,817 votes -- or 71 percent -- compared to Michigan State professor Chris Smith's 23,995 or 29 percent. 9TH DISTRICT: As mentioned above, Andy Levin won the Democratic nomination to replace his father with the AP calling the race in his favor Wednesday morning. With all of the precincts reporting, he had 49,469 votes, or 53 percent, to 39,900, or 42 percent, for former state Rep. Ellen Lipton of Huntington Woods. They were trailed by attorney Martin Brook with 4,841 votes or 5 percent.<doc-sep>Democrats didn’t walk away with a clear win Tuesday night. But they didn’t have to. They battled Republicans in a referendum on Donald Trump in a central Ohio congressional district that should have been an easy win for the GOP. Both Trump and the Republican candidate declared victory even as the race remained too-close-to-call, but the razor thin margin remains a sign of Democratic momentum and offered clues for how to run in November. Some takeaways from another round of voting ahead of the fall midterm elections: THE YEAR OF WOMEN CONTINUES There will be at least eight Democratic women running for governor in November. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Laura Kelly of Kansas joined the list Tuesday. Both will face Republican men. Whitmer defeated Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, in a race that was seen as the Hillary Clinton wing of the party against the Bernie Sanders wing. El-Sayed, who was vying to be the first Muslim governor in the United States, was hit with a last-minute attack from a right-wing group claiming he had lines to the Nation of Islam. >> Rashida Tlaib set to become first Palestinian-American congresswoman Unlike some of their fellow Democratic nominees in other states, neither would become their state’s first female governors. Whitmer and Kelly both have extensive records as legislative leaders and pitch themselves as get-it-done pragmatists. That’s not in line with some of the headliners of the #MeToo era and the anti-Trump resistance movement, but it may be Democrats’ best shot to flip two governor’s mansions that Republicans have held since 2011. Two all-female races are set in Washington state. Democrat Lisa Brown, a university administrator and former state lawmaker, will take on Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the highest-ranking female House Republican, in an eastern Washington seat. Former state Republican chairwoman Susan Hutchison will try to unseat Sen. Maria Cantwell. URBAN-RURAL-SUBURBAN SPLITS PREVIEW NOVEMBER BATTLES Democrat Danny O’Connor’s strong showing in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District offers his party a roadmap to the House majority: Galvanize suburbanites to join the party’s urban base and offset the Republican advantage in rural areas. O’Connor came close to upsetting Republican Troy Balderson by running up his numbers closest to Columbus, performing better than Democrats recently have in the district’s suburban core, and even managing to dent the GOP advantage in rural areas. O’Connor won 65 percent of the vote in precincts closest to heavily Democratic Columbus. He ran ahead of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential marks across the district: about 6 percentage points ahead of her mark in vote-rich Delaware, small-town Licking and rural Morrow counties. Far from the city, Balderson answered with his own wide margins, peaking at 69 percent in rural Morrow County. In suburban Delaware County, Balderson led by 8 percentage points. Many of the districts Democrats are hoping to flip in November are more favorable to them than the Ohio 12th. If they can compete there, they’re well positioned in the key battlegrounds. The tight outcome also underscores lingering questions about President Donald Trump’s value — or liability — to Republicans in the districts that will determine whether the party maintains its control of Congress. Trump won the district by 11 percentage points in 2016, and he rallied on Balderson’s behalf ahead of Tuesday’s vote. While Trump declared Balderson the winner, the close margin, several thousand provisional votes and absentee ballots, and Ohio law putting off a final count means it will be weeks before the outcome is known. DEMS HAVE THEIR ANTI-TAX LAW PLAYBOOK The narrow results in Ohio leave Democrats confident that they can win voters by running full-force against the GOP tax plan. O’Connor watched Republican outside groups outspend him as they poured millions into the race. But the GOP barrage mostly steered clear of touting the tax cuts that Republicans once said would be the key to maintaining control of Congress. Instead, they dusted off their well-worn approach of tying Democratic nominees to unpopular national party leaders like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. O’Connor, meanwhile, hammered the tax law as a threat to Social Security and Medicare. It’s a similar argument to what Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania used earlier this year to win a special election in heavy GOP territory. Republican incumbents still insist that they’ll champion tax cuts as the reason for strong economic numbers so far this year. But two high-profile special elections leave Democrats confident in their attacks on the signature legislation of Trump’s first two years, and that ensures voters in battleground House districts will see and hear plenty of advertisements warning them about potential consequences of the Republican law.<doc-sep>LANSING — The Nov. 6 election for Michigan's next governor will be a showdown between Republican Bill Schuette and Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, who were both declared winners by 10 p.m. in Tuesday's primary. After hard-fought races in both parties, candidates from both primaries were extending olive branches to their former opponents and calling for unity. That included second-place finishers Brian Calley, the Republican lieutenant governor, and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the former head of the Detroit health department. Turnout appeared heavier than expected, at least in pockets of Oakland County and elsewhere. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Whitmer had 52 percent of the vote, compared with 30 percent for El-Sayed and 18 percent for Shri Thanedar. In the Republican race, Schuette had 51 percent of the vote while Calley trailed with 25 percent. "We did it," Schuette, the state attorney general since 2011, told supporters in his home town of Midland. "I am proud to be your Republican nominee for governor." He added: "Michigan, it's time to win again." He then launched into an immediate attack on Whitmer as a tax-and-spend liberal. Whitmer, the former Senate minority leader, speaking to supporters in Detroit, said that thanks to their hard work, "we have the opportunity to reject the policies of division" and return a Democrat to the governor's office. “As a child, I never once worried about literacy or drinking water and infrastructure, but our leaders have failed us," she said, referencing problems with public schools, the Flint water crisis, and Michigan's crumbling roads. Ed Sarpolus, founder and executive director of the Lansing-based polling and political consulting firm Target-Insyght, said both Whitmer and Schuette have work to do to separate themselves from other recent candidates. Whitmer has to "run as herself" and show she is not the same as former Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm or former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, as her opponents will try to portray her, Sarpolus said. Schuette "has to show he's not Donald Trump and also show he's not (Republican Gov.) Rick Snyder," who can't run again because of term limits. Schuette and Whitmer previewed their pending general election battle during their primary campaigns. Schuette depicted Whitmer as a Granholm clone who would return Michigan to the "lost decade" of the 2000s. Whitmer portrayed Schuette as a politician beholden to special interests who wouldn't fight for the interests of middle-class voters. More:See all the election results for metro Detroit and statewide races More:Ballot shortages reported in Oakland County; voters told to wait Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ronald Weiser said Schuette "will lead our state into another decade of prosperity." Democratic Governors Association Chairman Gov. Jay Inslee congratulated Whitmer, saying: “Michigan is one of the DGA’s top targets for pickup this cycle, and Gretchen is a terrific candidate." The Republican race turned nasty early and often. Calley, running a distant second in the polls, repeatedly attacked Schuette over hiring Republican activists to fill civil service positions, using state workers to sign and notarize private real estate deals, and for allegedly holding political meetings and conducting other political activity in state office buildings and on state time. Otherwise, Calley, a Portland banker and state House representative before he was chosen as lieutenant governor, ran largely on the record of Snyder. He said they worked as a team to slash business taxes and regulations and transform Michigan's economy after a lengthy recession. In a video released shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday, Calley thanked his supporters and his family and said "we took our shot" and "we left everything out there on the field." He congratulated Schuette and called for unity, saying Schuette's victory showed the Republican Party belonged to President Donald Trump, who endorsed his opponent over him. Schuette, and especially his backers such as political consultant Stu Sandler, didn't pull punches with Calley, either. They ridiculed him over a problem-plagued and ultimately failed ballot drive to create a part-time Legislature, blasted him for working with Granholm to create the much-hated Michigan Business Tax, and never missed an opportunity to remind GOP primary voters that Calley renounced his endorsement of Trump. Schuette, a former congressman, state department director, state senator and appellate court judge, said Michigan still needs more growth and a personal income tax cut, and he has the experience to make that happen. Two other GOP candidates, right-wing favorite Sen. Patrick Colbeck of Canton and Saginaw-area physician Dr. Jim Hines, were largely reduced to onlookers as the Schuette-Calley battle raged. They trailed with 13 percent and 11 percent of the vote, respectively. Both parties will have opportunities for public displays of unity on Wednesday. On the Republican side, Vice President Mike Pence is to appear at a Michigan Republican "unity rally" in Grand Rapids. The Democrats are planning a unity meeting of their own in Detroit. In the Democratic race, three candidates battled over who could claim to be the true progressive. Whitmer, an East Lansing attorney, picked up most of the union and elected official endorsements, plus one from the Detroit Regional Chamber, and was seen as the establishment choice. She alone among the three Democratic gubernatorial candidates did not embrace a move to a single-payer health care system. But she pushed back at suggestions she was not a progressive Democrat and said she was alone in having a track record of accomplishments, such as her role in Michigan's 2013 expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act. El-Sayed was widely embraced as the true progressive in the race, winning endorsements and campaign visits from Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who won Michigan's 2016 presidential primary on the Democratic side, and New York congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who defeated the chair of the House Democratic caucus, U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley, in a June primary. El-Sayed gained considerable national media attention as potentially Michigan's first Muslim governor and claimed momentum as he drew large crowds to rallies held in the last 10 days. On Tuesday night, El-Sayed endorsed Whitmer and called for unity in his concession speech, saying the job for Michigan Democrats is now to defeat Schuette.<doc-sep>Her refusal to support a “Medicare-for-all” or single-payer health care system caused friction between her and her opponents — a former Detroit health director, Abdul El-Sayed, and a business mogul, Shri Thanedar — but Ms. Whitmer said she was proud to “have the receipts from being on the front line as a progressive.” In recent days Ms. Whitmer had leaned in to her front-runner status, refusing to mention her primary opponents on the campaign trail and admonishing campaign crowds to not take anything for granted. She travels the state in a large bus marked with her trademark campaign slogan: “Fix The Damn Roads.” She also claims her message is resonating with female voters in the state. “Gender is a huge strength in this environment right now,’’ Ms. Whitmer said in an interview this week. “Women are turning out in droves. I find Republican women coming up to me saying they don’t like what’s happening in the White House and saying they don’t particularly like their options.” Mr. El-Sayed, in particular, was touted by some as a insurgent progressive in the mold of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Bronx-born activist who shockingly defeated a leading Democrat, Joseph Crowley, in a New York City House primary in June. Following her victory, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez came to Michigan to campaign with Mr. El-Sayed, as did Senator Bernie Sanders, who held a rally with him on Sunday. On the Republican side, the results again reinforced how Mr. Trump has refashioned the party in his own image while playing an influential role in many primary races. Both Mr. Schuette in the governor’s race and Mr. James in the Senate primary were backed by the president.<doc-sep>

In the 2018 midterm elections in Michigan, Democrats are in good shape to keep a Senate seat and retake the governor’s mansion — and the Wolverine State also gives them a couple of chances to pick up House wins. Two Michigan House elections are outright toss-ups, and a couple of others could be in play if Democrats build a big enough blue wave. Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow looks to be in good shape to hold the Senate seat on the ballot in 2018. Democrats could also retake the governor’s mansion, and the political environment is favorable enough here for them that election forecasters think they could take the state House, despite a sizable deficit in seats. The gubernatorial fight has shaped up to feature an interesting tussle among progressive and establishment Democrats. Polls close at 8 pm ET in Michigan. Live results, powered by Decision Desk, are below. Michigan governor’s primary elections: a tight race on both sides for an open governor’s seat Republican Gov. Rick Snyder is retiring with dismal approval ratings during the Flint water crisis. In a recent NBC/Marist survey of the GOP primary, Attorney General Bill Schuette (36 percent) had built a decent lead over Lt. Gov. Calley (26 percent) with lots of voters undecided. On the Democratic side, former State Senate Democratic leader Gretchen Whitmer has narrowly led in the polling. She looks like the slight favorite, while prominent progressives like Alexandria Oscaio-Cortez are trying push Abdul El-Sayed to an upset victory. Both parties still need to get through their August primaries, but NBC/Marist polled a hypothetical general election matchup with the leading candidates. They found Whitmer leading Schuette 47 percent to 38 percent. Cook Political Report thinks the governor’s race is a toss-up. Michigan Senate primary elections: Stabenow is expected to sail through Business executive and veteran John James and business executive/Yale and Harvard economist Sandy Pensler are considered the Republican frontrunners. Polls have shown James, one of the few black Republicans in big races this year, with a slight but persistent lead. Stabenow should be fine; polls put her up by a lot over her potential challengers. Cook puts this in the Likely Democratic camp. Michigan Sixth Congressional District: a packed field angles to take on Rep. Fred Upton Four Democrats are on the ballot. Matt Longjohn, a former YMCA and public health official, has raised a lot of money and might have the most compelling story, having jumped into the race after Upton’s vote for the repeal legislation. David Benac is a Western Michigan history professor trying to run as a grassroots candidate. Rich Eichholz is a scientist arguing for evidenced-based policy. George Franklin, a former Kellogg lobbyist also raising a lot of money, rounds out the field. The 6th, like the 1st, is more of a long-shot for Democrats. Cook has it as Likely Republican and rates the district as R+4. Upton is an entrenched incumbent. But Trump’s margin of victory was narrower here — 8 points — and the district has elected the more moderate Upton for decades. It seems at least conceivable that an anti-Trump wave could sweep him out of office, if Democrats successfully tie him to the president. But it probably would take a significant wave. Michigan Seventh Congressional District: a seasoned Democrat and a “Berniecrat” seek to topple a Republican incumbent Gretchen Driskell was put on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue list, meaning Washington Democrats like what they’ve seen from her campaign. She comes from a Navy family and has served as a mayor and now in the state legislature. She has run here before, having lost to Rep. Tim Walberg in 2016 by 15 points. Her only competition on the ballot is Steven Friday, running as a self-identified “Berniecrat.” This is another Likely Republican district; according to Cook it’s R+7. Trump won by 17 points, and the district is very white and not particularly well-educated. But the 7th District has swung in prior wave elections (see 2008 and 2010), and Driskell profiles as the kind of candidate Democrats think can compete in areas like the 7th. Her 2016 loss to Walberg was actually a little narrower than Clinton’s, too, if you’re looking for a reason to be optimistic. Michigan Eighth Congressional District: a former CIA officer strives to flip this toss-up district to blue Elissa Slotkin is another name on the DCCC’s Red to Blue list.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images The Saint Mary's Gaels punched their ticket to the 2019 NCAA tournament with a 60-47 upset of the top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs in the West Coast Conference championship game. This is the first time since 2012 that Gonzaga has failed to win the conference tournament. Gaels guard Jordan Ford was one of three Saint Mary's players to score in double figures. He led the team with 17 points, while center Jordan Hunter (12 points, 15 rebounds) posted a double-double. The Gaels held the Gonzaga offense to nearly half its scoring average (90.2 points). The Bulldogs shot 38.3 percent from the field and went 2-of-17 (11.8 percent) from beyond the arc. Although Brandon Clarke had 16 points in the defeat, fellow Zags stars Rui Hachimura and Zach Norvell Jr. were largely invisible. Hachimura attempted just six shots en route to a nine-point night, while Norvell shot 1-of-11 and finished with two points. Tuesday's result is bound to have a domino effect on the seeding for the NCAA tournament. From Gonzaga's perspective, the selection committee may not look kindly upon such a heavy defeat this close to the Big Dance. The Bulldogs might be the No. 1 team in the country, but their hold on a No. 1 seed is far from airtight. Video Play Button Videos you might like While slipping to a No. 2 seed wouldn't be the worst outcome for Gonzaga, it would make the team's road to the Final Four a little more difficult. The Gaels' win was the worst-case scenario for any at-large teams on the bubble. In his most recent edition of Bracketology, ESPN's Joe Lunardi projected Saint Mary's as one of his "next four out." Now, the squad is guaranteed a place in the 68-team field. The Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, ACC, SEC and Pac-12 tournaments haven't even started yet, with all six set to tip off Wednesday. Bubble teams still have an opportunity to either impress the selection committee or claim a guaranteed tournament berth. Conversely, a few more schools may emulate Saint Mary's and play the role of spoiler, shrinking the margin for error even further for those programs with work to do in the coming days.<doc-sep>LAS VEGAS — There will be no nail-biting in Moraga this year come Selection Sunday. St. Mary’s, the perpetual bubble dweller, took the decision out of the selection committee’s hands Tuesday night by shocking the No. 1 team in the country, Gonzaga, 60-47 in the WCC tournament title game. St. Mary’s (22-11) will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in six years. The Gaels ended Gonzaga’s run of conference-tournament titles at six. It is the Gaels’ first conference-tournament title since 2012 and their first-ever win over a top-ranked team. “There are some wins that are just great. And this is one of those great wins,” St. Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett said. “To win the tournament, the way we did it, too, from where we were at in the beginning of the year to now, you get a lot of satisfaction out of that.” Bennett will lead the Gaels into the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in 12 seasons. In the other six, the Gaels played in the NIT. Streak-breakers St. Mary's upset of No. 1 Gonzaga on Tuesday ended these winning streaks for the Zags: 21 games overall 31 games against WCC competition (including the conference tournament) 18 games in WCC tourney See More Collapse Gonzaga (30-3) entered Tuesday night as the No. 1-scoring team in the country, averaging better than 90 points per game, and was held to 43 points below that average. In February’s matchup in Spokane, Wash., the Bulldogs beat the Gaels by 48. Bennett said he showed his team the video of that blowout before Tuesday’s game. The Gaels completely frustrated the Bulldogs by routinely slowing the pace on the offensive end and, as a result, Gonzaga shot 37.5 percent from the field and was 2-for-17 from deep. “I mean we didn’t get much of anything done, quite frankly,” Gonzaga head coach Mark Few said. “I mean, that was our worst conference game of the year, and they deserve credit for that.” St. Mary’s led the final 26 minutes, but twice its lead was trimmed to one in the second half, at 40-39 and 42-41. The Gaels ran down the shot clock and scored on each following possession, the second on a Jordan Hunter and-one on a putback. Gonzaga’s winning streak would end at 21 games. Hunter, a senior center averaging less than six points per game, turned in his most timely effort of the season, scoring 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting with 15 rebounds. He was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. “We were being told to pull off a miracle by people who don’t know us,” Hunter said. “We didn’t just pull off a miracle. We knew we were going to win that game going in. Everyone was counting us out.” The final margin of 13 points was the largest of the game. Jordan Ford, the leading scorer in the WCC, had a game-high 17 points and did not leave the floor once. Gonzaga won its 16 regular-season WCC games by an average of 27 points, then blew out Pepperdine 100-74 in a semifinal Monday. On Tuesday, St. Mary’s led 27-24 at halftime. The Gaels’ second-leading scorer, Malik Fitts, played less than a minute in the first half with two quick fouls. He finished with eight points. Redshirt junior swingman Tanner Krebs delivered for the Gaels. Krebs connected on his first five shots on his way to 13 first-half points. He did not score again. Tuesday’s game marked the 100th in the all-time series between Gonzaga and St. Mary’s. The Gaels are 31-69 against the Bulldogs. This season has to rate as one of Bennett’s best coaching jobs in his 18 seasons with the Gaels. St. Mary’s endured a four-game losing streak in November, and after back-to-back road losses at the end of January, it was 13-9, 4-3 in WCC play. The Gaels have gone 9-2 since then, with the losses to Gonzaga. And now Selection Sunday will be a day to savor. Chronicle staff writer Steve Kroner contributed to this report. Nathan Shoup is a freelance writer.<doc-sep>

Saint Mary's clinched a bid to the NCAA tournament on Tuesday night in shocking fashion, upsetting No. 1 Gonzaga 60-47 in the WCC tournament final in Las Vegas. Saint Mary's is in the big dance for the second time in three seasons, as the Gaels made it to the 2017 NCAA tournament after a three-year absence. Here's how it happened. Saint Mary's took advantage of Gonzaga's slow start, then clamped down in the final minutes Gonzaga started out cold, only shooting 40 percent from the field in the first half, and was just 1-for-7 on 3-pointers. Saint Mary's only shot a bit better than that, but it was enough for a 3-point lead at halftime. The Gaels were not messing around as things progressed. They continued to bottle up the Zags, as Brandon Clarke's efficient play was the only successful part of Gonzaga's scoring attack on Tuesday. This kind of game was unheard of against Gonzaga this season. Minutes played in which Gonzaga trailed. - In WCC play entering tonight: 35 - Tonight vs. SMC: 26 — Troy Machir (@TroyMachir) March 13, 2019 This was a one-point game with nine minutes to play. That lead increased to five, then ballooned to 13 as Saint Mary's went on an 18-2 run in the final five minutes. Soak it in, Saint Mary's! 👏pic.twitter.com/UrT7NYgXrt — NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 13, 2019 Saint Mary's is going dancing The Gaels weren't in Andy Katz's field of 68 Tuesday morning. They would have been waiting on pins and needles come Selection Sunday had they not been able to beat the Zags. They didn't leave the decision up to anyone else. MARCH MADNESS: 2019 schedule, dates By winning this game, Saint Mary's guaranteed its spot in the field of 68. Of course it came down to Gonzaga and Saint Mary's The two titans of the West Coast Conference have now played in eight of the last 11 conference championships games. But Gonzaga's dominance isn't exactly a secret. The Bulldogs had won the previous six tournament titles, while Saint Mary's was able to claim championships in 2012 and 2010. AUTO BIDS: We're keeping track of every team that makes the tournament here Gonzaga was dominant in the regular season. The Zags came into the game at 30-2, and held the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll and the NET coming into the championship. Saint Mary's was No. 37 in the NET with a 21-11 record. Two of those losses were to Gonzaga — and both were blowouts. When the teams met on Feb. 9, the Zags went nuclear for a 94-46 win. The Gaels were in a bit better form this time around.

Alan Halsall appears to have gone public with rumoured girlfriend Tisha Merry. The pair were linked last month after they were spotted going for a cosy dinner together. Alan, 36, and Tisha, 25, looked loved-up as they laughed together at a recent wedding. Alan posted a photo of him and Tisha to his social media. In the snap, the actors have their arms wrapped around each other. Alan is looking at Tisha as she laughs with her head back, a brilliant smile stretched across her face. Alan captioned the photo: ‘Congratulations Mr & Mrs Aston. ‘What a wonderful day, we’re so proud to be part of it.’ View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alan Halsall (@alanhalsall) on May 5, 2019 at 9:54am PDT Under the post, Tisha — who also starred on Coronation Street with Alan — left a heart-eye emoji. The actress shared the same photo, but simply added a red love heart to her post. Friends of the new couple loved the sweet snap, including Samia Longchambon who commented underneath. Fans also shared their delight for the love birds, with one writing: ‘Lovely photo Alan.. Tisha is gorgeous so happy for both of you.’ ‘Oh Alan — no wonder you’ve been looking so good!’ another said. Alan and Tisha have enjoyed spending time together and went to visit AJ Bell Stadium in Manchester earlier this year. They posed for a photo together, which first sparked rumours they were an item. Under the post, many fans said Alan and Tisha made a ‘great couple’ as others said they were ‘delighted’ for them. The soap stars were also joined by Alan’s older brother Stephen Halsall and their pal Carl Grundy. Alan was previously married to fellow Corrie star Lucy-Jo Hudson and share once child together, daughter Sienna-Rae, five. They married in 2009 after four years of dating, but later announced they were divorcing in May 2018.<doc-sep>Coronation Street's Alan Halsall confirms relationship with former co-star Tisha Merry Back at it again, Tyrone. Coronation Street's Alan Halsall has confirmed his relationship with former co-star Tisha Merry. Advertisement The pair, who play Tyrone Hobbs and played Steph Britton in the ITV soap, showed up together to another Corrie star's wedding over the weekend. Sam Aston, who plays Chesney Brown, was tying the knot in Cheshire yesterday. So naturally, Alan decided to do one better and let the world know that he and Tisha are officially going out via a nice Instagram post. "Congratulations Mr & Mrs Aston," he wrote. "What a wonderful day, we’re so proud to be part of it." God bless. Alan's post was met with a few heart-based emojis from other members of the cast, as well as questions from fans who were gagging to know if the pair were actually together. Advertisement And like, yeah lads, judging from the above photo you can probably go ahead and assume that they definitely are. This comes over a year after Alan split from former Corrie star Lucy-Jo Hudson for a second time after nine years of marriage. The soap stars met on the set of Coronation Street in 2002 and married in 2009. They had previously announced their separation in 2016 but reconciled a few months later. They have one daughter together, four-year-old Sienna Rae. Advertisement Lucy-Jo has since also moved on from her ex and is now dating a lad called Lewis Devine. The pair met while they were both starring in Panto and, if their Instagram pages are anything to go by, are having a fair decent time in each other's company. Great to see it.<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get the latest showbiz news and gossip every day by signing up to our FREE newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Coronation Street star Alan Halsall has made his relationship with co-star Tisha Merry official by sharing a snap on social media. The actor, best known for his role playing Tyrone Dobbs, split from his wife Lucy-Jo Hudson last year. The couple share one daughter, Sienna-Rae. There have been rumours that Alan has since moved on. Fans speculated that he was dating 25-year-old Tisha Merry, who plays Steph Britton on the ITV soap, after they shared a snap together at AJ Bell Stadium earlier this year. (Image: Instagram) The pair have now confirmed they’re together as they were among the guests at co-star Sam Aston’s wedding to Briony Gardner in Cheshire. Taking to Instagram, the soap star shared a gorgeous snap of himself with his new love. Both were dressed for the occasion, with Tisha looking gorgeous in a strapless yellow dress while Alan was wearing navy trousers and a grey blazer. The couple have their arms wrapped around each other while laughing. "Congratulations Mr & Mrs Aston, What a wonderful day, we’re so proud to be part of it," Alan captioned the image. According to Ok! magazine, Lucy and Alan met on the long-running ITV soap back in 2002 and tied the knot in June 2009. Their daughter was born in September 2013. The couple announced their split last year, with Lucy saying at the time: "I can confirm Al and I are in the process of divorcing. We remain friends and devoted Mummy and Daddy to our daughter Sienna."<doc-sep>Get the latest news from across Ireland straight to your inbox every single day 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 Coronation Street stars Alan Halsall and Tisha Merry swore their friends to secrecy and banned them from sharing pictures of the pair together in a bid to keep their romance secret. The new couple went public with their relationship this weekend after months of speculation. Alan, 36, took Tisha, 25, as his date to his co-star Sam Aston's wedding and posted a loved-up snap of the pair on Instagram . It has now emerged that the pair went to great lengths to keep their blossoming relationship private before they made it official. They even banned their friends from sharing any snaps of them together in a bid to quieten speculation about whether they were more than just friends. (Image: Instag am) After the Insta picture this weekend, one of Tisha's pals added another snap of the new couple and declared she could finally share photos of them "without getting b***ocked". She declared she's never seen the actress so happy, writing: "I’ll no longer get b***ocked for posting this... "Never seen my beauty so happy. Makes my eyes leak." Alan and Tisha, who have an 11-year age-gap, look the picture of happiness as they pose in the gardens of the Stock Farm estate where Sam married his fiancée Briony Gardner on Sunday. (Image: Instagram) Alan, who has played Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street since 1998, wrote in the caption: "Congratulations Mr & Mrs Aston What a wonderful day, we’re so proud to be part of it." Tisha also posted the same snap on her own Instagram page adding a simple yellow heart to match her yellow dress. The actress, who played Steph Britton in the soap until 2017, received comments from her former co-stars including Samia Longchambon who wrote several romantic emojis. Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033<doc-sep>

Alan Halsall has made things official with his new girlfriend Tisha Merry by confirming they're a couple in a loved-up snap. Taking to Instagram Alan, 36, shared a picture of himself alongside his 25-year-old girlfriend and former Coronation Street co-star. After months of rumours about the pair's relationship status Alan finally went public with Tisha by taking her as his date to Sam Aston's wedding. Alan and Tisha, who have an 11-year age-gap, look the picture of happiness as they pose in the gardens of the Stock Farm estate where Sam married his fiancée Briony Gardner on Sunday. (Image: Instagram) Alan, who has played Tyrone Dobbs since 1998 on the soap, wrote in the caption: "Congratulations Mr & Mrs Aston What a wonderful day, we’re so proud to be part of it." Tisha also posted the same snap on her own Instagram page adding a simple yellow heart to match her yellow dress. The actress, who played Steph Britton in the soap until 2017, received comments from her former co-stars including Samia Longchambon who wrote several romantic emojis. (Image: Instagram) Former Corrie star Ryan Thomas added a love heart, while many other fans wrote about how they looked great together as a couple. The pair first sparked rumours they were dating back in February when Alan shared a picture of them watching the Salford Red Devils at AJ Bell Stadium. They also played a few games of badminton together in March and were reportedly spotted on a loved up trip to Anglesey the same month. (Image: WireImage) Alan split from his wife and former co-star Lucy-Jo Hudson in 2017 after nine years of marriage. They share four-year-old daughter, Sienna-Rae, who is said to have already met Tisha. Lucy-Jo, who now stars in Hollyoaks, has since starting dating Lewis Devine. Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033

Sony Wena Wrist smart strap for your regular watch escapes Japan Sony’s Wena Wrist smart watch strap is finally spreading outside of Japan, though the unusual upgrade to make traditional watches connected is still a tough sell. Sony revealed the Wena back in 2015, part of its First Flight crowdfunding platform. Unlike most smartwatches, the tech isn’t in the face. Instead, Sony squeezes the gadgetry into the strap itself. That may sound like an unnecessary challenge to the company’s engineers, but there’s a good reason for it. Sony’s target audience is those watch-wearers who have a timepiece they’re not wanting to give up, but who still want more functionality from it. Think along the lines of someone with a Rolex, Panarai, or other high-end wristwatch – or someone with a watch that has sentimental value – but who still wants to be able to track steps, get alerts, and other features. So, the Wena Wrist attaches like a regular, replacement strap to your existing watch, and hides its tech on the underside of your wrist. It has a tiny display integrated into the buckle, a small strip of OLED that can show Caller ID for incoming phone calls, along with message previews for email, texts, and other app messages. The display also shows battery status. NFC for contactless payments is also integrated, and there are sensors for step tracking. In the companion app, the Wena Wrist can show you how far you’ve walked, what speed you walked at, and other metrics like your heart rate and how many calories were burned. It was an interesting idea, but Sony didn’t show much enthusiasm for giving the Wena Wrist platform a broad launch. In fact until now it has only been available in Japan, though that’s finally changing. Pre-orders have now opened up in the UK. Sony offers both the straps, and a selection of chronograph “heads” with which a whole watch can be assembled. There are three band designs, two metal and one rubber, and a number of “head” designs that they can be paired with. These range from more classic designs through to more technical chronographs. What they’re not is especially cheap, at least not in smartwatch terms. In fact Sony has priced the Wena Wrist more in the region of traditional replacement straps for high-end watches. The bands alone are from £100 ($129) and range all the way up to around £400 ($515). For that, you could get a whole new Apple Watch Series 4. US availability is yet to be announced.<doc-sep>Recap: Sony is taking a different approach to the smartwatch with the Wena line of watch straps. The Wena, which comes in a version aimed at fitness users and a metal variant, attaches to most traditional watches to enable smart features such as NFC payments, fitness tracking, and phone notifications. Beyond a select few, competition in the smartwatch space isn't all that robust. On the Android side, there hasn't been much in the form of innovation, with Android Wear OS starting to feel stagnant and with no major new features over the past few generations of watches. Wear OS's current version was released over two years ago. Sony, which left the smartwatch scene in 2014 and hadn't returned, unveiled a new way to get smart features onto your wrist and into your favorite traditional watch. The new Sona Wena strap is a fresh take on the hybrid smartwatch. The strap connects to your existing watch and enables contact-less payments, basic fitness tracking functions like step count and distance, and phone notifications. The strap comes in two different styles - the Wena Wrist Active, a silicone strap for fitness users, and the Wena Wrist Pro, a metal strap with a more premium look and feel. The bands themselves are 20 mm, but are compatible with any watch with 18, 20, or 22 mm pins so it's likely to work with most watches. The metal band will be available in silver and black, while the silicone strap will be black-only. If you don't have a watch face to connect these to, Sony has got you covered. The company is releasing four non-smart watch faces alongside the Wena. A US release date hasn't been announced yet, but they will be coming per Sony. They are currently available in the UK, but they're pricey. The Wena Wrist Pro is £399 (around $510), while the active is £349 ($450).<doc-sep>Sony has pledged to “bring traditional watchmaking into the 21st century” with its latest product, Wena, a strap that adds smart features to traditional watches. It’s a rather unfortunate name, but Wena stands for “wear electronics naturally”. The device is a product of Sony’s Seed Acceleration Programme (SAP), which encourages staff to propose new ideas outside of Sony’s traditional areas of expertise. Think of it as Sony’s own version of the TV show Dragon’s Den, if you like. In short, the strap will introduce modern features such as fitness tracking, contactless payments and smartphone notifications to the world of traditional timepieces. Can it deliver on such lofty ambitions and give consumers the best of both worlds? Read on to find out. Pre-order Wena Wrist Pro from Sony now Pre-order Wena Wrist Active from Sony now Sony Wena: Everything you need to know Sony has made two styles of Wena strap: Wena Wrist Pro and Wena Wrist Active. The former is a metal strap, available in silver and black, and is aimed at the traditional watch wearer. The latter was designed with sporty types in mind, and is formed from silicone. Although you can use both straps on any watch with 18mm, 20mm or 22mm lugs, Sony has made its own Wena watch faces too. There are three designs available – Mechanical, Solar and Quartz – each of which looks broadly similar, albeit with subtle aesthetic differences. (Above: Wena Wrist Active) Both Wena straps incorporate the kind of features found on any decent smartwatch such as step and calorie counting and NFC, and there’s also GPS and heart-rate tracking on the sporty model. For more detailed info regarding features and specs, read on. Sony Wena price: How much will it cost? The Active strap costs £349, while the Pro strap will set you back £399. Meanwhile, the watch faces start at £100 for a basic Quartz model, going all the way up to £450 for the premium Mechanical option. To bundle a Wena strap and face together, then, you’re looking at forking out anywhere between £449 and £849, depending on your selection. Even in the world of smartwatches, that’s a lot of money. READ NEXT: The best smartwatches you can buy right now Sony Wena features: What will it do? Contactless payments Both watch straps support contactless payments via NFC, meaning you’ll be able to buy thing with a tap of your wrist. And although this functionality is already possible with many wearables these days, the beauty of Wena is that the chip is underneath your wrist, so you don’t have to make the unnatural movement of twisting your arm to bring the watch face close to the terminal. In the UK and Ireland, payments will be powered by Wirecard. Sony has promised that everyone will be able to add a virtual card to the Wena app via Wirecard’s Boon app for iOS and Android no matter who they bank with. Phone notifications Wena pairs with your smartphone to deliver phone call, email and app notifications via a basic two-line OLED display on the underside of the strap. These can be customised via 7-coloured LED lighting and vibration support, helping you to easily differentiate between different types of notification. For example, you can programme a red LED light to flash when you receive an email, and a blue one for when you receive a phone call. (Above: Wena Wrist Pro) Fitness tracking The strap can log your steps and calories burned, and this data is sent to your smartphone where you can further pore over it. However, the fitness-oriented Active strap goes one step further, offering GPS tracking and a heart-rate sensor, as well as Apple Health and Google Fit app integration. Considering very few fitness bands have built-in GPS, it’s very impressive that Sony has managed to squeeze so much functionality into a mere watch strap. Sony Wena release date: When can I buy one? Wena is available to pre-order in the UK from 13 February. It’s currently unclear when shipping will begin, but we’ve been assured that an official product launch is on the way at some point in March, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long. Pre-order Wena Wrist Pro from Sony now Pre-order Wena Wrist Active from Sony now The product is already available in Japan, but we don’t have any information as to when it will be rolled out globally. We’ll keep this page updated as and when we receive more info, so be sure to keep checking back. Sony Wena specs: What’s inside? Wena Wrist Pro Battery life (stated): 1 week 1 week Battery charge time (stated): 1.5hrs 1.5hrs Settlement: Wena pay Wena pay Supported OS: iOS 8.0 and above, Android 5.0 and above iOS 8.0 and above, Android 5.0 and above Water resistance: 5 bar 5 bar Materials: SUS316L SUS316L Display: OLED OLED Bluetooth: Bluetooth Ver.4.2 Low Energy complied Bluetooth Ver.4.2 Low Energy complied Bluetooth effective range: Approx 10m Approx 10m Sensors: Acceleration sensor, IR sensor Acceleration sensor, IR sensor Band width: Display part 20mm, head part 22mm Display part 20mm, head part 22mm Weight: 84.9g (LL size) Wena Wrist Active Battery: Lithium ion Lithium ion Battery life (stated): 1 week 1 week Battery charge time (stated): 1.5hrs 1.5hrs Settlement: Wena pay Wena pay Supported OS: iOS 8.0 and above, Android 5.0 and above iOS 8.0 and above, Android 5.0 and above Water resistance: 3 bar 3 bar Materials: Silicone rubber Silicone rubber Display: OLED OLED Bluetooth: Bluetooth Ver.4.2 Low Energy complied Bluetooth Ver.4.2 Low Energy complied Bluetooth effective range: Approx 10m Approx 10m Sensors: Acceleration sensor, GPS sensor, heart rate sensor Acceleration sensor, GPS sensor, heart rate sensor Band width: Display part 20mm, head part 22mm Display part 20mm, head part 22mm Weight: 40.5g Sony Wena: Early verdict Wena is a terrible name, but arguably a very clever concept. Although smartwatches featuring an analog clock face are nothing new, the versatility that Sony’s new product offers has adds a certain appeal for those who want to be able to pick out their own mechanical timepiece. Pre-order Wena Wrist Pro from Sony now<doc-sep>The Sony Wena strap has been released in two different variants. While the Wena Wrist Pro- which is a costlier version- is all about style, Wena Wrist Active is a cheaper variant which is all about the sensors. The Pro comes off looking like a metal strap, and will go with all the formal watches you own. However, its functionality is limited to notifications, step counting and contactless payment. As for the latter, it is a rubber strap and packs in a GPS, a heart-rate monitor and is waterproof, along with all the the features of Pro. The apps for both these straps are available on iOS and Android. It will give you information about your activity, sleep and heart rate. However, if you choose to buy the dials as well as the straps, the package will cost you anything between $128 to $512 (around Rs 9,000- Rs 36,500). It's worth mentioning that for this kind of a budget, you could easily get the much more versatile Apple Watch, Galaxy watch or the fitbit instead. But if you want that bling to shine on your wrist, while also being in tune with the times, the Sony Wena straps are your best bet. NOW READ 27 year old Ankiti Bose becomes the first Indian woman CEO of a $1 billion startup company 10 best new gadgets to buy in February 2019 AirPods 2: Everything we know so far about the second-generation AirPods > More on Get Smart<doc-sep>

Katie Collins/CNET If you have a Rolex or a Breitling or even a Patek Philippe, you'd probably be reluctant to swap out your expensive status symbol for a cheaper model, even if it is newer, smarter and offers you a whole host of features a traditional timepiece just can't provide. But you might be willing to change the strap. At least that's the bet Sony is placing with its latest range of Wena wearables. The company on Wednesday announced two different versions of the Wena wristband. Both can either be used with your existing watch face, or with one of a range of faces designed by Sony. Katie Collins/CNET The Wena Wrist Pro is a metal strap, which is available in silver and black, with 18, 20 and 22mm attachments, and is the more traditional of the two options. The technology is concentrated inside the clasp of the strap, and allows you to make contactless payments, log simple activity and also see basic notifications on the small, subtle screen. For those with an active lifestyle who prefer a sportier wearable, there's the Wena Wrist Active. This silicone strap, when detached from a watch face, can also double as a standalone wrist-worn activity tracker. To compete with more established fitness trackers on the market, the Active incorporates a GPS tracker and heart-rate monitor -- neither of which are included in the Wena Wrist Pro. It offers integration with Apple Health and Google Fit, as well as a quick-release system to make it more comfortable to wear while exercising or sleeping. Katie Collins/CNET The Sony Wena Wrist wearables are available only in the UK for now, and can be preordered from today for £349 (which converts to around $450 or AU$630) for the Active version and £399 for the Wena Wrist Pro. US and Australian availability is yet to be announced. If you don't already have a watch you'd like to attach the Wena Wrist to, you can opt for a face from Sony's collection, which include solar, mechanical and quartz faces, and which range in price from £100-£450. Best smartwatches for 2019: Hand-picked by CNET's experts. Apple Watch Series 4 vs. Series 3: Which one should you buy?

Katy Perry fully committed to wearing a memorable look to this year's Grammys. The singer, who will be performing during the ceremony, just arrived on the carpet wearing sleeveless millennial pink dress with a puffy skirt. The look is very Barbie. Her boyfriend Orlando Bloom did not join her. Neilson Barnard Getty Images Perry will be part of the Dolly Parton tribute along with Little Big Town, Maren Morris, and Kacey Musgraves during the broadcast. Perry herself has no nominations at the awards this year, so she'll be able to just take in the show. Earlier this weekend, Perry attended the MusiCares Gala, which honored Parton. She received a special shoutout from Miley Cyrus on Cyrus' Instagram that revealed just how close she and Cyrus are in real life. "FAM BAM THANK YOU MAM! @tishcyrus @billyraycyrus Thanks for giving me life y’all! You’re the best! (@katyperry @dollyparton @reallindaperry included because they’re also family xoxo)," Cyrus wrote in her Instagram caption, tagging Perry. Kevin Mazur Getty Images Right before Grammys weekend, Perry's new interview with Paper magazine was released, showing a rare glimpse of what Perry is doing now from the pop star herself. She got personal about taking a break from music and touring this year (touring really "tires me out," she said). She's considering taking some college classes and is generally focused on her mental health and personal growth. One way she's grown, she told Paper, is in how she approaches relationships, including her current one with Bloom. She sees them as partnerships where both people develop. "It's easy to be single and not to be called out on your stuff, living your awesome single life thinking you're the greatest, and the best, and doing anything you want," she started. "But then when you get in a partnership, you guys are there to teach each other lessons." She's more ready for those lessons than she was in her early twenties, she said, when she "believed in Disney Princesses" and the fairy tale those romances represented. "I'm very pragmatic and logistical and I am less fantastical about things," she said of her mentality now. "I mean, I was married when I was 25 [to Russell Brand]. I'm 34. It was almost 10 years ago. I was like, 'One person for the rest of my life,' and I'm not so sure that that idea is for me.' I'm just such a different person than I was." Alyssa Bailey News and Strategy Editor Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>The Grammy Awards had a lot of fashion hits and misses, but no one can deny that Katy Perry's look was a stand out. Our girl hit the red carpet wearing an incredibly fluffy and structured pink gown by Balmain, and Twitter spent approximately zero time turning her into a meme. But first, here's the full lewk: Getty Images Cute, but this is what we came 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. 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. Katy Perry’s dress reminds me of Hostess Sno Balls cakes. Now I want cake 😂 pic.twitter.com/AT6xtI6Z7s — Josette Galante (@Froggie37g) February 11, 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. 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. Why is Katy Perry’s dress making me hungry #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/ox7w3UNRNH — Hayley (@somecallmehay) February 11, 2019 This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. I knew Katy Perry’s dress looked familiar!!!! pic.twitter.com/sFlf9fy4We — Kimberly Miller (@kimberlyoh1973) February 11, 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. katy perry's lookin' like squidward ate too many krabby patties huh? #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/DTZ81SjiQ4 — Robbie Fox (@RobbieBarstool) February 11, 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. Did Katy Perry mean to remind us of the dolls our grandmothers used to cover up spare rolls of toilet paper? pic.twitter.com/84qOlE5hvU — Danette Chavez (@BonMotVivant) February 11, 2019 For what it's worth, Katy is here for all the memes of her Grammys dress, and even posted her fave to Instagram. 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. RIP me. 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. Follow Mehera on Instagram. Mehera Bonner Mehera Bonner is a news writer who focuses on celebrities and royals. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>Katy Perry will take the Grammys stage later to sing in a tribute to Dolly Parton Katy Perry hit the 2019 Grammys red carpet and per usual, the 34-year-old singer wore a standout look. She chose a strapless bubblegum pink Balmain Couture gown featuring a sculptural silver-accented bodice and a structured pleated skirt. Djula diamond jewelry added extra sparkle to her ensemble. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full Grammys coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night. She’ll be joining Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris and Little Big Town, who will all sing covers from the catalog of Parton’s hits. Parton herself is also going to take the stage to sing new music from the soundtrack to Netflix’s Dumplin’. 61st Annual Grammy Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 10 Feb 2019 Credit: Chelsea Lauren/REX/Shutterstock Noticeably absent from the carpet was Perry’s boyfriend, Orlando Bloom. The two first were spotted together in 2016 snuggling at a Golden Globes after party. They split a year later in February 2017, when their reps told PEOPLE they’d be “taking respectful, loving space.” But by April 2018, they were back together again.<doc-sep>

Products in this story are independently selected and featured editorially. If you make a purchase using these links we may earn commission. Grammys Glam! See How Katy Perry, Cardi B and More Are Getting Ready for Music's Biggest Night The Grammys never fail to deliver some of the most shocking, revealing and risqué red carpet looks every year. But before that can happen, music’s biggest stars turn to their massive crews of stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, manicurists and aestheticians to make sure they look their best for the biggest night in music. The best part: Stars shared every intimate behind-the-scenes moment with us on social media. Check out what Cardi B, Katy Perry and more are doing before they make their grand appearances at Sunday’s 61st Annual Grammy Awards in L.A. Cardi B Screen Shot 2019-02-10 at 4.43.43 PM Credit: Cardi B/Instagram The rapper and Grammy nominee kicked off her glam session with a manicure done by her younger sister Hennessy Carolina. Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full Grammys coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night. Katy Perry Screen Shot 2019-02-10 at 4.48.45 PM Credit: Katy Perry/Instagram “Thuyen! Take me back to 2008!” the pop star said as her aesthetician Thuyen Nguyen gave her a cupping facial. “Just make me look like it was my first Grammys. Not my 75th!” Bebe Rexha Screen Shot 2019-02-10 at 4.56.25 PM Credit: Bebe Rexha/Instagram The best new artist nominee started off her Grammys morning with a hearty breakfast of scallion cream cheese, a poppy-seed bagel, tomatoes, avocados, eggs and potatoes. “Yeah, about trying to eat healthy right before the red carpet um, not going to work,” she said on her Instagram Story. Maren Morris Screen Shot 2019-02-10 at 4.59.12 PM Credit: Maren Morris/Instagram The country star makes sure the vibes in her dressing room are on point as she gets ready for the red carpet by lighting a Le Labo Palo Santo 14 Candle, laying out healing crystals and doing a tarot card reading. Nina Dobrev image_from_ios Credit: Nina Dobrev/Instagram image_from_ios Credit: Nina Dobrev/Instagram The actress and Grammy presenter isn’t letting a dislocated shoulder stop her from going to Grammys weekend parties! Dobrev soothed the pain by simply rubbing a CBD pain salve all over the irritated area. Kelsea Ballerini Screen Shot 2019-02-10 at 6.32.40 PM Credit: Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram The country crooner’s makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan prepped the star’s skin with cooling Skyn Iceland firming eye gels before applying her makeup.

At a Glance Hector passed well south of the Big Island of Hawaii. Dangerous surf and rip currents will be the main threat on the island beaches. Hurricane Hector passed well south of the Big Island of Hawaii with only some peripheral effects expected in the islands. The tropical storm warning that was in effect for the Big Island has been discontinued. Building subtropical high pressure north of Hector will keep the hurricane on a generally westward course the next several days. This kept Hector's eyewall with its strongest winds and heaviest rain well south of Hawaii. Hector's intensity has ticked down since Monday, possibly due to the presence of dry air in the environment surrounding Hector, or somewhat marginal ocean heat content. Advertisement On Monday, Hector's maximum sustained winds peaked at an estimated 155 mph, just shy of Category 5 intensity, making it the strongest central Pacific hurricane since Ioke in 2006, according to Colorado State University tropical scientist Dr. Phil Klotzbach. (MORE: Hector Could Become a Typhoon Next Week) Deep tropical moisture behind Hector may produce locally heavy rain across the Hawaiian Islands into Friday. Some local flash flooding is possible in a few spots, particularly along east-, south- or southeastward-facing slopes of the Big Island. Breezy conditions and high surf were also observed. (MORE: Hector Won't Be the First Tropical Cyclone to Pass Near Hawaii's Erupting Kilauea Volcano)<doc-sep>The storm, which is approximately 1,490 miles east of Hilo, has been whipping up near 130mph winds 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 storm, which is approximately 1,490 miles east of Hilo, has been whipping up near 130mph winds. It is expected to intensify over the weekend as it heads towards the Big Island settlement of Hilo, where thousands of tourists flock each year. The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) warned there was the potential for Hector to affect portions of the Hawaiian Islands. However, experts added it is too soon to specify the magnitude of any impacts, where they could occur or at what time the islands will be hit. The NHC said: “This is a good time for everyone in the Hawaiian Islands to ensure they have their hurricane plan in place.” It added: “Hector has continued to move steadily westward, and the initial motion estimate is 270/10 kt. “A large subtropical ridge to the north should steer the hurricane generally westward through the entire forecast period. “The official track forecast has been nudged very slightly northward, in line with the latest consensus guidance.” Central Pacific Hurricane Center's John Bravender said: "All options are on the table. “It could move northwards to our latitude and have direct and significant impacts. "Hector is a small hurricane and the smaller hurricanes tend vary their strength quite rapidly more than a larger hurricane. "And as it comes near us, it's certainly not out of the possibility of it being stronger than anticipated." Hurricane Hector: 120mph winds move towards Hawaii Honolulu mayor Kirk Caldwell said: “Now is the time to make sure your 14-day hurricane kit is fully stocked, and to check your home for any loose items or debris that could become projectiles during windy conditions.” Governor Ige also urged the state to prepare for the storm via Twitter. He said: “Hurricane Hector is expected to move into the Central Pacific late Sunday. “Public urge to take the weekend to prepare their homes and families for impacts that could be felt statewide.” Measures to prepare for the storm include checking streams and channels for potential blockages<doc-sep>Hurricane Hector: 120mph winds move towards 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. Hawaii’s main islands are at risk from a surging Hurricane Hector, which is now barrelling towards the Pacific Ocean. The hurricane, which was upgraded to a category three last night, could grow in strength again due to conditions surrounding the area, but a firm outlook is yet to be decided. It is feared a hurricane in Hawaii could trigger an eruption in the famously volcanic island chain. The impact of the hurricane remains yet to be observed, but currently Hurricane Hector is on course to glance off at least one Hawaiian island. Where is Hurricane Hector now? Hurricane Hector is still a little way off making landfall in the USA - currently sitting 1587 miles (2555km) away from the nearest island. As it stands, the hurricane is travelling at a speed of 12 kilometres per hour, making slow progress. Hector is not destined to make significant landfall until Wednesday next week, when it will brush Big Island late in the morning. Hurricane Hector 2018 path update: Where is Hurricane Hector? Hurricane Hector will remain a strong force to be reckoned with as it journeys towards Hawaii. Set to hit Big Island next Wednesday, Hector is expected to be downgraded from a major hurricane into a normal hurricane. At the moment, wind speeds in the storm system are reaching more than 110pmh and fierce winds extend out 15km from the storm's centre. The next three days will see Hurricane Hectors wind speeds slow down to 74 to 110mph. Hawaii's Big Island is most under threat from the hurricane What damage could Hurricane Hector cause? The National Hurricane Centre in the US has advised that there are no risks to land just yet, and there are no coastal watches or guards in effect. Currently a category three Hurricane, Hector would be able to cause serious damage if it was over land. Despite its distance, Hawaiian authorities have begun to prepare for potential damage, and have urged Hawaiians to do the same. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said in a news release: “Just as the city is going through its checklist ahead of any possible impact from Hurricane Hector, I’m asking Oahu residents and visitors do the same.” Kilauea volcano sits right in the path of Hurricane Hector<doc-sep>

Hilo overlooks Hilo Bay and is a hotspot for tourists and locals alike Hawaiian residents of the Big Island settlement of Hilo are being warned to prepare for Hurricane Hector as it carves its way through the Pacific. According to recent reports, the storm is approximately 1,490 miles east of Hilo. Honolulu mayor Kirk Caldwell said: “Now is the time to make sure your 14-day hurricane kit is fully stocked, and to check your home for any loose items or debris that could become projectiles during windy conditions.” Governor Ige also urged the state to prepare for the storm via Twitter. He said: “Hurricane Hector is expected to move into the Central Pacific late Sunday. “Public urge to take the weekend to prepare their homes and families for impacts that could be felt statewide.” Measures to prepare for the storm include checking streams and channels for potential blockages, as they help catch debris and sediment during heavy rain events. Pet-friendly shelter locations will be announced as storm conditions worsen. Governor Ige also urged the state to prepare for the storm via Twitter City buses will be set up to transport individuals to and from shelters, including for the homeless. Mayor Caldwell will hold another briefing on Monday when the National Weather Service will know more about Hurricane Hector’s potential impact on the islands. The swirling storm, which was upgraded to a category three hurricane last night, is whipping up near 120mph winds as it carves up the Pacific. Hector is predicted to develop into a “major hurricane” and is heading on a trajectory towards Hilo that would see the storm brush against the southern coast of Big Island late on Wednesday morning. The storm will have passed through Big Island by 11pm on Wednesday night (local time), but the affects of the storm will likely still be felt in the region - and Hawaii’s other smaller islands. The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) warned there was the potential for Hector to affect portions of the Hawaiian Islands by the middle of next week. However, experts added it is too soon to specify the magnitude of any impacts, where they could occur or at what time the islands will be hit. The NHC said: “This is a good time for everyone in the Hawaiian Islands to ensure they have their hurricane plan in place.” Hurricane Hector: 120mph winds move towards Hawaii It added: “Hector has continued to move steadily westward, and the initial motion estimate is 270/10 kt. “A large subtropical ridge to the north should steer the hurricane generally westward through the entire forecast period. “The official track forecast has been nudged very slightly northward, in line with the latest consensus guidance.” Central Pacific Hurricane Center's John Bravender said: "All options are on the table. Hilo's Rainbow falls make the area a popular spot for tourists

At its latest Unpacked event today in San Francisco, Samsung has officially debuted its latest flagship smartphones. Following months of leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are official. Here’s what you need to know. The biggest new change to the Samsung Galaxy S10 from its predecessor comes from the new “Infinity-O” display. Samsung’s take on a notch puts the selfie camera in a free-standing hole-punch in the top right corner of the device. The Galaxy S10 has a 6.1-inch display with one camera in that cutout, with the Galaxy S10+ having two within that space, but on a larger 6.4-inch panel. Samsung says that this is the first “Dynamic AMOLED” display and gets 100% color accuracy, all with HDR10+. Also hidden under the display on the Galaxy S10 is an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Under the hood, the Galaxy S10 and S10+ both use a Snapdragon 855 processor. That’s paired with at least 8GB of RAM on both devices, with an optional 12GB on the S10+. 128GB of storage is the base option across the board, with 512GB and 1TB options available on the S10+, and the latter on the S10. microSD cards are still supported as well. Samsung, of course, ships the Galaxy S10 and S10+ with Android 9 Pie and the company’s new One UI software layer. Around the back, the Galaxy S10 and S10+ both have three cameras. The primary sensor is a 12MP sensor with a 12MP telephoto lens and a new 16MP ultra-wide sensor added on. That ultra-wide lens is 123-degrees which Samsung says matches what the human eye can see. As for selfie shots, Samsung is using a 10MP primary sensor on both phones, and the S10+ gets an 8MP RGB depth sensor to go with that. Samsung has also improved video performance on these cameras as well. This is the first smartphone that can shoot footage in HDR10+ quality. Further, the addition of Super Steady Recording uses digital stabilization to enhance video footage and remove shake from handheld video. Wireless charging is also back this year, and Samsung is also including a new option which lets you wirelessly charge another device using your S10. USB-C is on board for charging, and the Galaxy S10 has a 3,400 mAh battery. As for the larger S10+, there’s a 4,100 mAh battery. As for pricing, the Galaxy S10 costs $900, and the S10+ lands at $1000. Pre-orders open up tomorrow, February 21, and come with a free set of Samsung Galaxy Buds too, February 21. Both phones are available in Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow and Flamingo Pink. The S10+ will also be available in Ceramic Black and Ceramic White. The phone ships March 8th. For those looking to save a bit of money, the Galaxy S10e starts at $749. Samsung notes that the Galaxy S10 is the first mobile device that officially supports Wi-Fi 6. The standard S10 doesn’t support 5G, though, but there is a special edition that does support that. More on Samsung: FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:<doc-sep>Galaxy S10 is expected to debut in at least three variants 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. GALAXY S10 RELEASE LIVE UPDATE: Samsung has now officially announced the all-new Galaxy S10. As expected, this phone will arrive in three models including the Galaxy a cheaper S10e, S10 and larger S10+. The S10+ has been shown throughout tonight's keynote and appears to be the most premium of the trio with it featuring a larger 6.4-inch screen and dual front-facing camera which offers the ability to add depth of field to your photos. There's also three cameras on the rear of the phone which offer improved zoom and the option to shoot images with a wide and ultra wide-angle lens. Other new features include the ability to unlock the device via an embedded fingerprint sensor under the screen. Samsung has also confirmed the rumours that the Galaxy S10 will be capable of reverse wireless charging via a technology called Wireless PowerShare. This means the product will be able to charge other products that are placed on its rear. Such a feature debuted on the Mate 20 Pro back in October. Galaxy S10 comes in three models Samsung Galaxy S10 Samsung has announced the S10+ will come with up to 1TB of storage and 12GB of RAM. Moreover, the firm has stated the handset will come with a microSD slot that will allow another 512GB of memory to be added. Samsung has declared the S10 will arrive with improved performance when compared to its predecessor. However, it is unclear what chipset is housed inside the product. The Galaxy S10 range will arrive with an "Instagram mode" in its camera app that will let fans instantly share photos and stories on the social media platform. As well as announcing this new trio of devices, Samsung has also unveiled its first 5G-ready phone called the S10 5G. This will arrive later in the year and will feature a huge 6.7-inch screen, giant 4,500mAh battery and extra camera on the rear case for improved augmented reality. Samsung Galaxy S10 has been officially announced by Samsung ORIGINAL STORY: Galaxy S10 is expected to debut in at least three variants when Samsung takes to the stage in San Francisco. In addition to standard and "+" models of the phone, it is also anticipated a cheaper variety of the handset will be showed dubbed the Galaxy S10e. It is assumed this version of the device will forgo some premium features in exchange for a more appealing price tag. The most notable of these has been said by Bloomberg to be a signature Samsung curved display. Instead, it is presumed the Galaxy S10e will flaunt a flat OLED screen. With that said, all three models of the flagship are expected to come with an all-screen design and have a cutout within each's panel for their respective front-facing camera systems. The more premium models are expected to be priced as such. In fact, Gizmodo previously discussed the expected costs for each flagship. They were said to be: • Galaxy S10 Lite, 128GB storage - £669 • Galaxy S10, 128GB storage - £799 • Galaxy S10, 512GB storage - £999 • Galaxy S10+, 128GB - £899 • Galaxy S10+, 512GB - £1,099 • Galaxy S10+, 1TB storage - £1,399 Samsung teases fans with S10 launch date Although the Galaxy S10 is expected to flaunt myriad features that make it appealing, it appears Samsung has just given Android fans three big reasons not to pick up the handset. That is because ahead of the S10's release, the South Korean OEM has discounted the prices of its Note 9, S9 and S8 devices. Plus, the tech giant is also giving away a free wireless charger with each product. The Galaxy Note 9 is currently £100 off its original asking price, meaning the phablet now starts at £799. Here is a full list of Samsung's Note 9 deals: • Galaxy Note 9, 128GB storage and 6GB RAM with free wireless charger - £799 (was £899) GET THE DEAL HERE • Galaxy Note 9, 512GB storage and 8GB RAM with free wireless charger and SD card - £999 (was £1,099) GET THE DEAL HERE The Galaxy Note 9 is currently £100 off its original asking price Meanwhile, Samsung has slashed the price of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ to £549 and £649 respectively. Here is a full list of Galaxy S9 deals: • Galaxy S9, 64GB storage with free wireless charger - £549 (was £739) GET THE DEAL HERE • Galaxy S9+, 128GB storage with free wireless charger - £649 (was £869) GET THE DEAL HERE • Galaxy S9+, 256GB storage with free wireless charger - £709 (was £929) GET THE DEAL HERE Samsung has slashed the price of the Galaxy S9 and S9 to £549 and £649 respectively The Galaxy S8 has been slashed to just £449 in price<doc-sep>

Samsung's new Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus smartphones were announced on Wednesday during the company's Unpacked event. The new smartphones come with significant design, feature, and spec overhauls compared to previous models. Both phones will be available for pre-order starting February 21 and will go on full retail sale on March 8. Samsung announced its new Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus on Wednesday during the company's Unpacked event in San Francisco. The Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus come with new design over their predecessors —the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus — as well as a wide variety of new features and updated specs. Samsung boasts an upgraded "Infinity O" display for the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus that supports HDR10+ for better colors and contrast. The Galaxy S10 has a 6.1-inch display, while the Galaxy S10 Plus comes with a 6.4-inch display. Samsung continues to snub the display notch that was popularized by the iPhone X, and has opted to used punch-hole-sized ports for the selfie cameras. Other sensors are hidden beneath the display. The Galaxy S10 Plus. Samsung Built into the display is a fingerprint sensor that uses ultrasonic technology that's supposedly superior to earlier versions of in-display fingerprint sensors. On the Galaxy S8 and S9 series, the fingerprint sensors were at the back of the phones out of necessity to allow for thinner display bezels. With in-display fingerprint sensors, phones can have thin display bezels while keeping the fingerprint sensor at the front. The cameras on the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus also got significant upgrades. Both smartphones come with triple-lens camera systems on the rear — one for regular photos, one for ultra-wide angle photos, and the other for a 2X zoom. Ultra-wide angle camera lenses are new to Samsung devices, but have been a signature feature on phones from LG. Only the Galaxy S10 Plus comes with a dual-lens selfie camera on the front, where one lens takes regular selfies, and the other takes slightly wider angle selfies and assists with depth sensing for portrait mode shots where backgrounds are blurred out. A secondary selfie lens is also new to Samsung devices, and is quickly becoming a must-have feature for smartphones. Previously, the recent LG V40 and Pixel 3 phones from Google have sported dual-lens selfie camera systems. The regular Galaxy S10, however, has a single selfie camera for conventional selfies. One of the major new features of both devices is reverse wireless charging, which Samsung calls Wireless PowerShare. It's designed to charge other devices that support wireless charging when they're placed on the backs of the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus. Reverse wireless charging first featured on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro smartphone that was released in late 2018. The Galaxy S10. Samsung Both new smartphones are running on the latest Snapdragon 855 processor from mobile chipmaker Qualcomm, making Samsung's latest Galaxy S phones one of the first few devices to come with the chip. Both phones come standard with a hefty 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM, which should make for smooth and fast switching between apps. There's a 1 terabyte (1,000 GB) storage, 12 GB RAM option for the Galaxy S10 Plus, which is the highest amount of RAM we've seen in a smartphone. Samsung is using artificial intelligence to boost performance, too. The company says its AI learns a user's behavior over time and adjusts power accordingly, leading to better performance and battery life. Both devices support the new WiFi 6 standard, which, when paired with a WiFi 6-capable router, can deliver faster WiFi speeds with more range and less interference from surrounding WiFi signals. The Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus will go on pre-order starting on February 21, and will go on full retail sale on March 8. Those who pre-order the Galaxy S10 or Galaxy S10 Plus between February 21 and March 7 will also get a pair of Galaxy Buds wireless earphones. The Galaxy S10 will start at $900, and the Galaxy S10 Plus at $1,000.

Barcelona have completed the signing of Sevilla's Clement Lenglet after the defender deposited his €35.9 million release clause with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Thursday. Lenglet, 23, agreed personal terms on a five-year deal with Barca last week before telling Sevilla of his intention to join the La Liga champions. Barca believed that would pave the way for negotiations with Sevilla -- instead of paying the buyout clause, they were hopeful of striking a deal which would have seen them pay more but with the fee spread across a number of instalments. However, Sevilla were unequivocal in their stance and both president Jose Castro and director of football Joaquin Caparros said there would be no deal with the Catalan club. That meant Lenglet had to exercise his release clause, paying €35.9m to buy himself out of his contract and free himself up to move to Camp Nou. Lenglet, a former France under-21 international, becomes Barca's second signing of the summer following confirmation last week that Gremio midfielder Arthur Melo will also join the club this month. After joining Sevilla from Nantes for €3.5m in January of 2017, Lenglet impressed in La Liga and the Champions League last season, his first full season in Spanish football. Clement Lenglet was also linked with a move to Manchester United. Aitor Alcalde Colomer/Getty Images Manchester United were also credited with an interest in the defender but Barca's long-standing interest and the efforts of previous sporting director Robert Fernandez helped swing the deal in the Blaugrana's favour. The deal with Barcelona also includes a €300m release clause. Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Pique are likely to remain as Ernesto Valverde's first choice centre-back pairing but Lenglet arrives to put pressure on the duo. Barca also currently have Thomas Vermaelen and Yerry Mina vying for a place in the middle of the defence, although one of them is likely to leave before the transfer window closes. Mina's the favourite to be allowed to go -- be that on loan or permanently with a buy-back option -- but Paulinho's return to China means Barca no longer need to free up a non-EU spot in the squad. Three goals in three games capped an impressive World Cup for Colombia's Mina, who will have no shortage of takers if Barca decide to sell this summer.<doc-sep>The young defender has been impressive in his year and a half in the south of Spain and completed a €36 million move to the Catalan club on Thursday Clement Lenglet has hit the big time. The 23-year-old centre-back signed for Sevilla in January 2017 and quickly established himself as a fans' favourite at the Sanchez Pizjuan. So much so, in fact, that many of Europe's elite clubs watched with interest. One of those teams was Barcelona. The Blaugrana were on the lookout for a new defender this summer and possibly two, with coach Ernesto Valverde keen to bring in a player already adapted to La Liga. Barca were worried that their own French defender, Samuel Umtiti, might leave, but he put pen to paper on a new contract in June and now he could line up alongside his compatriot at Camp Nou next season after Lenglet completed a €36 million (£32m/$42m) move on Thursday. Sevilla had hoped to keep the centre-back, who recently turned 23, but their financial situation means they usually have to part with their best players and Lenglet is no exception. The Frenchman is the last in a long line of talents recruited by Monchi at Sevilla and many of those, including Dani Alves, Seydou Keita and Adriano, ended up moving from Andalucia to the Catalan club. The defender joined Sevilla at the age of 21 from Nancy, but admitted he had been wanted by the Spanish side since he was a teenager. "Monchi spoke to my parents when I was 17," he said last season. "My parents came to Seville and they thought the city was incredible. From that moment, I wanted to come, but my club didn't want to let me go. So when they called to sign me last January, I fulfilled a dream, something I had been dreaming of since the age of 17." Monchi is now at Roma after leaving Sevilla last summer, but Lenglet proved to be quite the parting gift. The centre-back featured more than any other player for the Andalusians in 2017-18 and was superb in both legs as Vincenzo Montella's men knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League. "Lenglet is a champion in the head and on the pitch," former coach Montella said in April. "He could play in the future for a big team like Barcelona but I hope he stays at Sevilla for a few years." Unfortunately for Sevilla, that has not happened. But their loss is Barca's gain as it will be the Blaugrana benefitting now from the 23-year-old, a left-footed centre-back with pace, physical strength and excellent positional sense. The French Under-21 international leaves behind his brother Corentin, a full-back for Sevilla C, who he had lived with in the Andalusian capital. And the pair's Spanish teacher, who has given lessons to countless players, said earlier this year: "Of all the footballers I have taught, they are the most responsible of them all. They always have their homework done and they pay great attention." Barca have done their homework, too, and have bought one of the league's best young defenders for €36m, choosing to pay Sevilla a little more than his release clause, which was set at €30m. Article continues below Lenglet turned down Juventus to sign for Sevilla last year and was wary that he would not be a starter at Barcelona, but is now ready to take the next step in a career on a rapid rise. "He is a starter, he rarely gets injured and he has a great competitive mentality," former Sevilla and France defender Julien Escude said recently. "He has all the characteristics to be a key player in future." Barca believe that, too, and as coincidence would have it, Lenglet could now make his competitive debut for the Blaugrana against his former club Sevilla in the Spanish Supercopa on August 12.<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. Barcelona signed the 23-year-old from their La Liga rivals for a fee of £32million and inserted a £265m release clause into his five-year contract. But the transfer was announced in the bizarrest way possible. The Catalan giants posted a short video on Twitter in which a talking ball discusses a new signing and team-mate for Lionel Messi. Normally, a player would be seen wearing the club shirt and would come up with a slogan to signal their delight at signing. However, Lenglet’s unveiling arguably is the worst ever!<doc-sep>

Barcelona have signed French defender Clement Lenglet from Sevilla for €35.9million (£31.7m) on a five-year deal after paying his release clause. 'The player will sign a contract with the club for the next five seasons, until June 2023, with a buy-out clause of €300m (£265m),' Barca said in a statement. Lenglet, 23, joined Sevilla from French side Nancy in January 2017. He has played for France at Under 21 level but has never been called up to the first team. Barcelona have signed French defender Clement Lenglet from Sevilla for £31.7million Frenchman Lenglet has put pen to paper on a lucrative five-year contract at the Nou Camp Lenglet is all smiles as he poses inside the Nou Camp following his move from Sevilla Lenglet is Barca's second signing of the summer after they captured midfielder Arthur Melo. The deal means Barca now have five centre backs on their books, with Lenglet joining Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Yerry Mina and Thomas Vermaelen. And Ernesto Valverde is still looking to add to his squad before the end of the window. The Spanish champions have launched a second bid of £60m for Chelsea winger Willian. The 23-year-old has signed a deal until June 2023, which includes a buy-out clause of £265m Lenglet defending against Lionel Messi, who will now be his team-mate at the Nou Camp Sportsmail revealed last month that Chelsea had rejected a £50m offer from the Spanish side. But Ernesto Valverde has returned with an improved figure which is certain to test Chelsea's resolve as he looks to add an extra dimension to his attack this summer. It is understood that the La Liga giants have tabled a £55m offer for the player with a further £5m in add-ons.

India's medal winners from Asian Games 2018 Indian athletes gave their best to make the country proud at the 18th Asian Games. Having won 57 medals at the 2014 Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea, the Indian contingent put up an indomitable show this year in Indonesia. India finished their campaign on Saturday at the 18th edition of the Games with their best ever haul in the Games. With 15 Gold, 24 Silver and 30 Bronze medals, India finished 8th with 69 medals under their belt. (Asian Games 2018: Full coverage | Medal tally) Here is a list of medals won by India on a day-to-day basis at Asian Games 2018: Day 14: 69) Men's Hockey Team (Bronze): The Indian men's hockey team took home the bronze medal on Saturday as they pipped Pakistan 2-1 in the men's bronze medal match. Goals from Akashdeep Singh and Harmanpreet Singh sealed the win for India as they took India's medal tally to 69. 68) Women's Team Squash (Silver): Facing the mighty Hong Kong in the final, the Indian team of Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal, Sunayna Kuruvilla and Tanvi Khanna suffered a 0-2 defeat to settle for a silver medal. 67) Men's Bridge (Pair) - GOLD: A rather unfamiliar Gold came to India from Men's Bridge (Pair) event as Pranab Bardhan and Shibnath Sarkar emerged as champion. The 60-year-old Pranab and 56-year-old Shibhnath bagged a total of 384 points in the finals. 66) Men's Boxing 49kg lifht fly - GOLD: Boxer Amit Panghal bagged the country's first medal on the 14th day as he defeated Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov via split decision 3-2, to earn a Gold medal in the event. He was the only Indian boxer to have reached the final in the 2018 Asian Games. Day 13 65) Men's squash team - BRONZE: Saurav Ghosal lost the first singles match 0-3 as Hong Kong took the 1-0 lead, before Harinder Pal Sandhu went down 1-3 in the second game to settle for a bronze. India's women's team went through to the finals on Friday. 64) Indian women's hockey team - SILVER: Hopes of an elusive gold were dashed by their Japanese opponent, who scripted a 2-1 win to leave India with the silver medal. This is India's second silver medal in Asiad after 20 years. 63) Varun Thakkar and Ganapathy Chengappa - BRONZE - 49er Men’s Sailing: The Indian duo finished with 43 net points, just half a point behind the silver-medal position. They were disqualified in the 14th race, but came back strong to win the final one. "We could have won a gold if we were not disqualified on Thursday. There was no incident and there was false protest by Japan," said Ganapathy. 62) Harshita Tomar - BRONZE - Open Laser 4.7 in Sailing: Harshita accumulated a total 62 points and 50 net points to settle for the bronze medal, finishing behind gold-medallist Muhammad Fauzi Kaman Shah of Malaysia and Jianxiong Wang of China, who took the silver. 61) Varsha Gautham and Sweta Shervegar - SILVER - 49er FX women sailing: The Indian pair bagged a cumulative score of 44 and 40 net points to grab the second spot, finishing behind Singapore's Min Kimberly Lim and Rui Qi Cecilia Low. 60) Vikas Krishnan - BRONZE - 75kg men's boxing: Unfortunate for the boxer as eye injury urged him to pull out of the Asian Games boxing semis. He had incurred the injury during quarterfinal clash against China's Erbieke Tanglatihan. Day 12 59) India men's relay team - SILVER - 4x400 final: The men's team comprising Kunhu Muhammed, Dharunn Ayyasamy, Muhammed Anas and Arokia Rajiv capped off a brilliant finish to bag the silver medal in the event behind Qatar, who clinched the gold medal with Asian record of 3:00.56. 58) India women's relay team - GOLD - 4x400 final: For the fifth straight year, the women's team bagged the gold medal in this event staying unbeaten in the 21st century. The Indian team of Hima Das, M R Poovamma, Saritaben Gayakwad and Vismaya Velluva Koroth clocked 3:28.72sec to clinch the gold medal. 57) Jinson Johnson - GOLD - men's 1500m final: Johnson clocked 3:44.72sec to claim the gold medal, thus making it up for his silver-medal finish in 800m race. It was the first time in 56 years that an Indian had won the top honour in the event. His compatriot and 800m gold medallist Manjit Singh finished fourth. 56) PU Chitra - BRONZE - Women's 1500m final: Chitra was a gold probable for India having been the Asian Champion, but had to settle for the bronze on clocking 4:12.56 sec. 55) Seema Punia - BRONZE - women's discus throw final: The defending champion of the event threw her best of 62.26m to settle for the third spot. She had won the gold medal in 2014 Incheon edition of Asiad. Day 11 54) Swapna Barman - Gold - Women's heptathlon: Swapna Barman braved toothache as she clinched India's 11th gold medal of the Games, being the only athlete to score 6000+ points in the heptathlon. 53) Arpinder Singh - Gold - Men's Triple Jump: Arpinder Singh finished first in the triple jump, recording a best effort of 16.77m in his third attempt, which was enough for him to win gold. 52) Dutee Chand - Silver - Women's 200m: Dutee added her second medal in Indonesia by finishing second in the final of the women's 200m race and clocking a time of 23.20 seconds. 51) Sharath Kamal & Manika Batra - Bronze - Table Tennis mixed doubles: The duo of Sharath and Manika clinched India's second TT medal at the Asian Games, going down to China's Wang C and Sun Y in the semifinals 4-1. Day 10: 50) Mixed team - Silver - 4x400m relay: The team of Muhammed Anas, Poovamma, Hima Das and Arorikiya Rajiv won the silver medal in the first-ever mixed relay event at the Asian Games, clocking a combined 3:15.71. 49) Jinson Johnson - Silver - Men's 800m: India completed a one-two in the men's 800m as Johnson finished second in the final race, completing the race in 1:46.35.<doc-sep>The 18th edition of the Asian Games is underway in Indonesia. India have sent a 572-athlete strong contingent, who will be participating in 18 different events. Indian athletes have already clinched six gold medals at the event and would be looking to better their tally from the 2014 Incheon Games, where India won 11 gold medals. Here are the gold medal medal winners for India at Asian Games 2018 so far: Bajrang Punia, wrestling Wrestler Bajrang won India's its first gold medal at the games in the 65kg freestyle category. An in-form Bajrang outclassed Uzbekistan's Sirojiddin Khasanov (13-3), Tajikistan's Fayziev Abdulqosim (12-2) and Mongolia's N Batmagnai Batchuluu (10-0) to storm into the gold medal bout. In the final, he was tested by Japan's Takatani Daichi but the Haryana grappler held his nerve to prevail 10-8 in an exciting battle. Vinesh Phogat, wrestling Vinesh created hsitory after she won the 50kg category final. Vinesh is the first Indian female wrestler to win gold at the Games. Vinesh defeated Japan's Irie Yuki 6-2 in the final to bag the top prize. Saurabh Chaudhary, shooting Saurabh, clinched the top prize in men's 10m air pistol event with Games record of 240.7. The 16-year-old, son of a farmer, became the youngest Indian shooter to strike gold at the games. Rahi Sarnobat, shooting Rahi scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win a gold medal at the Asian Games as she prevailed in a nervy shoot-off in the 25m pistol event. The 27-year-old got the better of Thailand's Naphaswan Yangpaiboon in a shoot-off after both shot a Games record score of 34 in the finals. Indian rowing team The Indian rowing team clinched the gold medal in the men's Quadruple Sculls final. The Indian rowing team comprising of Sawarn Singh, Dattu Bhokanal, Om Prakash and Sukhmeet Singh crossed the finish line in first place with a time of 6:17.13 to bag the yellow medal. Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan, tennis Bopanna and Sharan won the gold medal in the men's doubles tennis event at the ongoing 18th Asian Games 2018 in the twin cities of Jakarta and Palembang by winning the gold medal match against Kazakhstan's men's doubles pair. Bopanna and Sharan, who were the top seeds in the event, played to their billing throughout the tournament and beat Kazakhstan's Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev 6-3, 6-4 to scoop the top prize in the event.<doc-sep>Key Highlights Indian men's hockey team recorded their biggest Asian Games win, defeating Indonesia 17-0 India assured itself of a maiden Asian Games medal in Sepaktakraw by progressing to the semifinals Indian men's kabaddi team suffered a big blow as they lost 23-24 to Korea NEW DELHI: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat led India on the second day of the 18th edition of Asian Games with her maiden gold medal while shooters Deepak Kumar and Lakshay clinched silver medals in 10m air rifle and trap events respectively. India finished the day with an overall tally of five medals consisting two gold, two silver and one bronze. Here is the list of India's results on Day 2. Wrestling (Women's Freestyle 50 kg Qualifications) Vinesh Phogat - Gold Shooting (10m Air Rifle Men) Deepak Kumar - Silver Ravi Kumar - 4th Shooting (Trap Men) Lakshay - Silver Manavjit Singh Sandhu - 4th Shooting (Trap Women Qualification - Day 2) Seema Tomar finishes 6th Shreyasi Singh finishes 7th Hockey (Men's Team) India beat Indonesia 17-0 in Pool A Sepaktakraw (Men's Team Regu) India beat Iran to progress into semifinals Rowing (Men's Lightweight Double Sculls Heats) Rohit Kumar, Bhagwan Singh finish second, make it to the repechage round Swimming (Men's 200m Individual Medley Heat 3) Neel Roy finishes 5th Badminton (Women's Team quarterfinals) India lose 1-3 to Japan Rowing (Men's Lightweight Single Sculls Heats) Dushyant finishes 1st, reaches final Swimming (Men's 800m Freestyle Heat 1) Advait Page finishes third, fails to qualify for final Taekwondo (Women -53 kg Round of 16) Latika Bhandari loses 22-24 to Sin Yi Law of Hong Kong, China Wushu (Women's Taijiquan & Taijijian All-Round Gold Medal round) Sanatombi Chanu Leimapokpam finishes 8th Wushu (Men's Daoshu & Gunshu All-Round) Chirag Sharma finishes 8th Wushu (Men's Nanquan & Nangun All-Round) Punshiva Meitei Mayanglambam finishes 17th Sajan Lama finishes 19th Swimming (Men's 50m Backstroke Heat 1) Srihari Nataraj, Arvind Mani fail to qualify for final Shooting (10m Air Rifle Women) Apurvi Chandela finishes 5th in final Elavenil Valarivan fails to qualify for final Kabaddi (Women's Team) India beat Thailand 33-23 in Group A Rowing (Men's Lightweight Eight Heat 2) India finish second and make it to repechage round Basketball (Women's Basketball 5x5Preliminary: Group A - Game 7) India lose 54-104 to Unified Korea Rowing (Men's Quadruple Sculls Heats) India finish top, qualify for final Tennis (Women's Singles Round of 32) Ankita Raina beats Gumulya Beatrice of Indonesia 6-2, 6-4 Kamran Kaur Thandi beats Jargal Altansarnai of Mongolia 6-1, 6-0 Swimming (Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay) India finish last in final Rowing (Women's Four Heats) India finish last, move to repechage round Handball (Men's Main Round: Group 3 - Match 2) India beat Malaysia 45-19 Tennis (Men's Singles Round of 32) Prajnesh Gunneswaran beats Indonesia's M Rifqi Fitriadi 6-2, 6-0 Ramkumar Ramanathan beats Hong Kit Wong of Hong Kong, China's 6-0, 7-6 Tennis (Women's Doubles Round of 32) Ankita Raina-Prarthana Thombare beat Sarah Khan Mahboob-Ushna Suhail of Pakistan 6-0, 6-0 Wrestling (Men's Freestyle 125 kg Qualifications) Sumit Malik loses in bronze medal bout Wrestling (Women's Freestyle 57 kg) Pooja Dhanda loses in bronze medal bout Wrestling (Women's Freestyle 53 kg) Pinki loses in round of 16 Wrestling (Women's Freestyle 62 kg) Sakshi Malik loses in bronze medal bout Tennis (Women's Doubles Round of 32) Rutuja Bhosale-Pranjala Yadlapall lose 6-3, 4-6, 9-11 to Thailand's Nicha Lertpitaksinchai/Peangtarn Plipuech Badminton (Men's Team quarterfinals) India lose 1-3 to Indonesia Tennis (Men's Doubles Round of 32) Rohan Bopanna-Divij Sharan beat David Agung Susanto/Ignatius Anthony Susanto of Indonesia 6-3, 6-3 Sumit Nagal-Ramkumar Ramanathan beat Samrakshyak Bhushan Bajracharya/Abhishek Bastola of Nepal 6-1, 6-1 Volleyball (Men's Team) India beat Hong Kong, China 3-0 in Pool F Kabaddi (Men's Team) India lose 23-24 to Korea in Group A Artistic Gymnastics Men's Qualification (Subdivision 3) India finish 9th Wushu (Men's Sanda -56kg Round of 16) Santosh Kumar beats Zaid Ali of Yemen 2-0 Wushu (Men's Sanda -60kg Round of 16) Surya Bhanu Pratrap Singh beats Abdul Haris of Indonesia 2-1 Wushu (Men's Sanda -65kg Round of 16) Narender Grewal beats Clemente Jr Tabugara of Philippines 2-1<doc-sep>Sun Peiyuan of China competes in the men's changquan during the Asian Games 2018. Photo: EPA<doc-sep>

Indian rowing Men’s team members Sawarn Singh, Bhokanal Dattu, Om Prakash and S Singh won the gold in Men’s Quadruple Sculls. (Source: PTI) Indian rowing Men’s team members Sawarn Singh, Bhokanal Dattu, Om Prakash and S Singh won the gold in Men’s Quadruple Sculls. (Source: PTI) India enjoyed their most productive day at the 18th Asian Games Jakarta Palembang 2018, in Indonesia on Friday. Gold rush continued in rowing and tennis. The rowing quarter secured a historic gold in Quadruple Sculls. In tennis, Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan added to the tally by clinching the doubles gold in tennis. The quadruple sculls gold Indian rowers Sawarn Singh/Dattu Bhokanal/Om Prakash/Sukhmeet Singh triumph was only India’s second gold medal in rowing at the Asian Games. “Yesterday we had a bad day but (as) soldiers we never give up. I told my teammates that we will go for the gold and we will give it all. It was about karo ya maro (do or die). And we did it,” PTI quoted the senior most member of the gold-winning quadruple sculls team Sawarn Singh as saying. The women’s kabaddi team grabbed silver while more good news followed when India beat Pakistan 28-27 in men’s Handball main round, group 3 match. At the end of an eventful day seven medals were added on Day 6 of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta to take their medal tally to 25 (including 6 gold, 5 silver, 14 bronze). Earlier in the day, Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan beat the Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev in a 6-3, 6-4 win. The tennis gold was India’s sixth Gold and 22nd medal in the competition. Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan beat the Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev in a 6-3, 6-4 win. (Source: File) Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan beat the Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev in a 6-3, 6-4 win. (Source: File) Meanwhile, Heena Sidhu added to the medals tally at the Asian Games 2018 with a bronze medal in 10m Air pistol. 16-year-old Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the final. The India women’s kabaddi team suffered massive disappointment as they lost 24-27 to Iran in the final to settle for a silver. India ended the day with a comfortable 8-0 victory against Japan in the preliminary round of men’s tournament Pool A game. Disappointments- Gymnast Dipa Karmakar could only manage a fifth spot in women’s balance team final. In Pencak Silat, Naorem Boynao Singh loses 0-5 to Dumaan Dines In Sport Climbing, the trio of Bharath Stephen, Pereira Kamath and Shreya Sanjay Nankar failed to secure a position in the top 3 of their respective events. In swimming (men’s 4 x 100m medley relay), India failed to qualify for final. While weightlifter Rakhi Halder did not finish her lift in women’s 63kg category.-

The emotionally shaken family of a University of Southern California student killed during an off-campus robbery attempt asked Tuesday that anyone with information about possible suspects call Los Angeles police investigators. Music student Victor McElhaney, 21, was shot early Sunday after leaving a market with friends. Detectives were searching for three or four male suspects who fled in a newer model, dark sedan, police Capt. Billy Hayes said. The victim's mother, Oakland City Councilwoman Lynette McElhaney, described her son's life from a high-risk pregnancy through an early talent for drumming to his start of classes at USC. "Victor's not a homicide number or statistic, or just another black boy gunned down in South Central Los Angeles," she said. "I want you all to know that Victor came into the world a drummer. He was drumming from the moment he could sit up." Her son was an inquisitive young man who believed music could heal the world, she said. Police say the group of students was confronted shortly after midnight at the market about a mile from campus. McElhaney was shot as the assailants rifled through the victims' pockets, Hayes said. McElhaney was in critical condition when he was rushed to a hospital and later died. "We're looking at this as a robbery attempt that went bad," Hayes said. McElhaney transferred to USC in 2017 to study jazz at the Thornton School of Music. Friends said he was a member of USC's Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs and mentored young musicians. He also taught at the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music. Victor's father, Clarence McElhaney, tearfully urged anyone with information to speak up. "Silence is worse than the bullet that killed my son," he said. The family had previously suffered through the killing of 17-year-old Torian Hughes, who Lynette McElhaney helped raise and described as her grandson. Hughes was shot on an Oakland street in what prosecutors described as robbery attempt. Trial for a suspect, Shiheim Johnson, is currently underway in an Alameda County court. In 2014, 24-year-old USC student Xinran Ji died after an attack by four people as he walked home from a study group near campus. He made it back to his apartment and died before he was found by a roommate. The attackers were convicted and sent to prison. ___ Follow Weber at https://twitter.com/WeberCM<doc-sep>A 21-year-old student at the University of Southern California was shot dead near the Los Angeles campus this weekend, the university said, leaving his mother, an Oakland councilwoman, heartbroken. Victor McElhaney was a senior at USC's Thornton School of Music "where he was pursuing his lifelong love of music with some of the greats," his mother, Oakland Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney, wrote in a statement Sunday. Councilwoman McElhaney called her son's death a "senseless act of violence." The Los Angeles Police Department said a 21-year-old man was shot during a robbery shortly after midnight Sunday. The gunman and two or three other suspects fled the scene, which was east of campus, by Adams Boulevard and Maple Avenue, police said. The victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Police did not release the victim's name or confirm that he died. "Victor was a son of Oakland," his mother said. "He was a musician who drew his inspiration from the beat, soul, and sound of the Town and he belonged in every nook and cranny of Oakland." "I miss my baby," she said. "Please keep me, my family, and all of my son's friends in your thoughts and prayers." Victor McElhaney was a jazz studies student who "believed in the power of music to touch lives, to heal, and to bring hope," Robert Cutietta, Dean of the USC Thornton School of Music, said in a statement Sunday. "We honor Victor's life and send our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends in this time of grief and tragedy." USC Thornton faculty member Peter Erskine, who taught the 21-year-old privately for a year, said in a statement, "I just saw Victor a week or two ago walking across campus. His smile, even on that sunny day, lit up the whole place." "I had the pleasure of getting to speak with his mother Lynette at a student orientation meeting," Erskine said. "I asked, 'What does Victor want?' She replied, 'He wants to change the world.' And that’s what he was doing with his music, trying to change the world. He made it a better place." "Victor was already playing at a professional level when he came to USC," Erskine said. "Speaking on behalf of the entire USC community, we are devastated by this loss, and we extend heartfelt and heartbroken condolences to all of his family, friends and colleagues." University officials added, "We appreciate the diligent and ongoing efforts of the Los Angeles Police Department to quickly identify and arrest those responsible for this senseless crime and extend our greatest sympathies to Victor’s family and friends."<doc-sep>A USC student who is the son of an Oakland city councilwoman was shot and killed in an apparent robbery attempt about a mile from the campus early Sunday, officials said. The victim was first identified by campus media as Victor McElhaney, who was studying at USC’s Thornton School of Music, USC Annenberg Media reported on its Twitter page. Oakland Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney confirmed in a statement Sunday night that the 21-year-old is her son. “I miss my baby. Please keep me, my family, and all of my son’s friends in your thoughts and prayers,” she said. “We are beginning a new chapter in this reoccurring circle of violence.… And it will take all of us together to make it through this tragedy.” Advertisement RELATED: Slain USC music student Victor McElhaney was a ‘bright light,’ dedicated to helping others » Three or four men in their 20s approached the victim at the corner of Maple Avenue and Adams Boulevard shortly after midnight in what appeared to be a robbery attempt, said Officer Mike Lopez of the Los Angeles Police Department. The victim was shot and the men fled in a vehicle, police said. The victim was in critical condition when he was taken to a hospital, where he died, Lopez said. Victor McElhaney was pronounced dead at 11 a.m. Sunday, Annenberg Media reported. It was unclear if anything was taken during the robbery. No arrests had been made in connection with the shooting as of Sunday afternoon. McElhaney transferred to USC from Cal State East Bay in the fall of 2017, according to USC Annenberg Media. The jazz studies major was an active member of USC’s Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs. Before moving to Los Angeles, McElhaney was an instructor at Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, Annenberg Media reported. McElhaney was an extraordinarily talented drummer, said USC jazz professor Peter Erskine, who gave the young man private lessons for a year. “He was a bright light,” Erskine said, describing McElhaney as quiet and dignified. “He was someone I was expecting to hear a lot of music from in the future. I’m so sad that his voice has been silenced.” Advertisement USC interim President Wanda Austin wrote in a letter to students and faculty that McElhaney “believed in the power of music to touch lives, to heal, and to bring hope.” “Victor’s loss will affect all of the faculty and students who knew him,” she said. In 2015, Councilwoman McElhaney lost a close family friend — whom she considered a “grandson,” she told the East Bay Times — to gun violence. The 17-year-old boy, Torian Hughes, was shot during a robbery in West Oakland. Since then, the councilwoman has used her platform to speak out against gun violence in Oakland. She helped to pass laws such as Measure Z, a public safety measure that funds investment in community policing and violent crime prevention strategies. Advertisement Security has long been an issue at USC, in an area south of downtown L.A. that has historically experienced significant crime problems. Crime has dropped there as it has in the rest of the city over the last decade, and the neighborhoods around USC have gentrified. But safety remains a concern in the area. In the six-month period ending Jan. 20, 93 violent crimes were recorded in University Park, according to city data, giving the neighborhood a higher rate of violent crime than in downtown L.A. during the same time period. Several high-profile incidents in recent years have sparked debate about the best ways to keep students safe. On Friday, 22-year-old Alberto Ochoa was sentenced to life in prison in connection with the 2014 beating death of a USC graduate student from China. The student, 24-year-old Xinran Ji, was walking home from a study group near the campus when Ochoa and three others robbed and attacked him. Prosecutors said Ochoa, the fourth and final person sentenced in the murder, hit Ji with a bat. Advertisement Ji’s death followed the killing of two Chinese graduate students in 2012 during a botched robbery near campus. Six months later, a man fired gunshots in the middle of campus outside a Halloween party and four people were injured. None were USC students. USC improved security after those incidents and added unarmed “ambassadors” in off-campus neighborhoods. Coming into USC, sophomore Anuva Mittal, 19, said people repeatedly warned her the campus was in a crime-ridden area. That was one of her parents’ biggest concerns. But during her freshman year orientation staff reassured her security was robust on the streets around campus. Advertisement She’s living off campus but still close enough that she can see USC Department of Public Safety officers patrolling from her window. “Honestly so far it’s been fine. I feel safe,” Mittal said. “I personally haven’t felt it but I know getting all these emails constantly from DPS about crime, I know it’s an issue.” Christina Yuan, 18, agrees that the presence of security officers makes her feel safe. She said she actively thinks about safety the moment she steps off campus, and it’s always a concern in the back of her head.<doc-sep>

Victor McElhaney was studying music at USC, but his mother said his heart was in his hometown of Oakland. “Victor was a son of Oakland,” Oakland Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney said in a statement. “He was a musician who drew his inspiration from the beat, soul, and sound of the Town and he belonged in every nook and cranny of Oakland.” Victor McElhaney, 21, was shot and killed in an apparent robbery attempt about a mile from USC early Sunday. The shooting stunned the campus and brought an outpouring of mourning and love for the young man. “I miss my baby,” his mother said. “Please keep me, my family, and all of my son’s friends in your thoughts and prayers.” McElhaney transferred to USC from Cal State East Bay in the fall of 2017, according to USC Annenberg Media. The jazz-studies major was an active member of USC’s Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs. Previously, McElhaney was an instructor at Oakland Public Conservatory of Music. He was an extraordinarily talented drummer, said USC jazz professor Peter Erskine, who gave the young man private lessons for a year. “He was a bright light,” Erskine said, describing McElhaney as quiet and dignified. “He was someone I was expecting to hear a lot of music from in the future. I’m so sad that his voice has been silenced.” Others described a talented young man whose life was cut short. “He enjoyed mentoring young musicians and had a long-standing commitment to community service,” USC music school dean Robert Cutietta said in a statement. USC interim President Wanda Austin wrote in a letter to students and faculty that McElhaney “believed in the power of music to touch lives, to heal, and to bring hope.” “Victor’s loss will affect all of the faculty and students who knew him,” she said. Oakland Councilman Larry Reid told the East Bay Times that McElhaney wanted to share his musical talents with others. “He didn’t think about himself; he thought about others. He was just an all-around great young man,” Reid said. “He was a very talented musician and he didn’t mind sharing that talent he had with other young people.” Los Angeles police are still investigating the shooting. Three or four men in their 20s approached McElhaney at Maple Avenue and Adams Boulevard shortly after midnight in what appeared to be a robbery attempt, LAPD Officer Mike Lopez said. It was not clear whether anything was taken from McElhaney. No arrests have been made.

Ivanka Trump congratulated her new sister-in-law, Victoria’s Secret model Karlie Kloss, and brother-in-law Joshua Kushner after they tied the knot. “So much love for you both as you begin forever together,” the first daughter captioned her post on Instagram Friday, along with a beautiful picture of the 26-year-old lingerie model all decked out in a Dior lace wedding gown and veil as she stood next to her groom, businessman and investor Kushner. Joshua is the brother of White House advisor Jared Kushner who is married to Ivanka. (RELATED: Karlie Kloss And Josh Kushner Are Engaged) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump) on Oct 19, 2018 at 10:37am PDT The comment comes after Kloss shared Thursday that she and Kushner had wed at what’s been described as an “intimate” Jewish ceremony in upstate New York with fewer than 80 people on hand to witness the celebration. “The wedding was intimate and moving. The couple was beaming with happiness,” a friend at the ceremony shared with People magazine. As previously reported, the news comes three months after the couple announced that they were engaged. At the time, Kloss shared the news on Instagram with a picture of the two embracing at sunset. The caption next to the post read, “I love you more than I have words to express. Josh, you’re my best friend and my soulmate. I can’t wait for forever together. Yes, a million times over.” Soon after news broke, Trump responded to the post with, “So, so happy for you and Josh! I feel blessed to have you as a sister (!!!) Karlie and look forward to the decades of happy memories we will create together as a family.”<doc-sep>Some readers may still be reeling from Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande’s broken engagement, but today we close the week on a somewhat happier celebrity wedding note: Josh Kushner and Karlie Kloss got married. Kushner, a 33-year-old venture capitalist and founder of the health care startup Oscar, is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump’s husband and an adviser to President Donald Trump. Kloss, 26, is an extremely successful supermodel — currently ranked seventh on Forbes’s highest-paid models list, earning $9 million between June 2016 and June 2017 — and is close friends with Taylor Swift. Swift recently outed herself as a Democratic voter, disappointing members of the far right who had previously claimed her as an “Aryan goddess” avatar. Neither Josh Kushner nor Kloss voted for Trump. Once again, why do we care? Because in this case, it adds new layers of complication, wealth, and star power to the extended Trump family tree. Who is Karlie Kloss? Raised in St. Louis, Kloss hit the fashion circuit in the late ’00s and quickly became one of the industry’s more in-demand runway and editorial models, booking shows for brands like Calvin Klein and Marc Jacobs and shooting numerous spreads for Vogue. After conquering the high-fashion world — that’s really not an exaggeration — Kloss starting taking on more commercial (and lucrative) jobs, becoming a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2013 and signing a contract with Nike in 2014. In doing so, Kloss shifted her image from runway waif to bankable big name and athlete. At the same time, Kloss was making bigger career moves to become not just a model, but a brand. In 2012, she collaborated with Momofuku Milk Bar on an assortment of healthy-ish (gluten-free, dairy-free) cookies called Karlie’s Kookies, some of the proceeds of which went to Lauren Bush’s Feed organization. You can still buy Kloss’s “Perfect 10” cookie today. Kloss went on to launch her Klossy YouTube channel in 2015, using the platform to document her life and work (subscribers: 727,264). And she made coding — specifically, getting girls into computer science — her big cause, founding a program called Kode with Klossy. The venture landed her on the cover of Forbes as “the new face of coding.” All of this was aided by Kloss’s high-profile friendship with Taylor Swift. Among their public appearances together, Kloss and Swift shot a joint Vogue cover in 2015 (“On the Road with Best Friends Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss”), and Swift invited Kloss onstage on the London leg of her “1989” tour. Some stans hoped their relationship was a romantic one; there was also some speculation that their friendship was over, which Kloss denied in a Vogue interview. (It looks like Swift didn’t attend Kloss’s wedding, since she was performing in Perth, Australia, at the time.) Either way, Kloss’s ties to Swift are particularly interesting right now, as she marries into the Kushner family — and, in doing so, into the Trump family. Beyond Kloss’s own considerable earnings, Kloss’s Swift ties speak to the degree of fame, wealth, and influence that flows through this extended network, while also underscoring the political divisions within it: After remaining quiet during the lead-up to the 2016 election, Swift finally broke her silence early this month and endorsed two Democrats in the Tennessee midterm elections. That Instagram post, which now has more than 2 million likes, might have contributed to a rise in voter registrations in the state. The liberal wing of the family Unlike Swift, Kloss was very public about who she voted for in 2016: Hillary Clinton. On November 8 of that year, she tweeted a photo of herself filling out the ballot. One of the greatest privileges we have as Americans is a voice. I’m proud to say I did my part, now it’s your turn. #ImWithHer pic.twitter.com/kJSNxLqy2u — Karlie Kloss (@karliekloss) November 8, 2016 Josh Kushner also didn’t vote for Trump in 2016, and he told Forbes that his values and voting history have skewed liberal. After the election he held hundreds of one-on-one meetings with employees at his VC firm, Thrive Capital, and at its portfolio companies. “Josh went around to me and presumably every company and said, ‘I have no personal ties to this administration. I’m not responsible for their actions and won’t be able to get you special favors,’” Stewart Butterfield, the CEO of Slack, told Forbes. “‘Just consider me the same person who invested in your company—there is no connection, either good or bad.’” While Kushner has remained relatively quiet throughout the first years of Trump’s presidency, one extremely prominent member of the Trump family extended her congratulations to the couple on Twitter, cementing the connection between Kushner, Kloss, and the White House. So much love for you both as you begin forever together. ❤️ https://t.co/8lYSGrKpVu — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 19, 2018 Like Ivanka Trump, Kloss reportedly converted to Judaism to marry Kushner. When the two got engaged over the summer, Ivanka Trump commented on her brother-in-law’s Instagram, “♥️ So incredibly happy for you Josh! You and Karlie are blessed to have found one another. Here’s to a lifetime of love, laughter + adventure for you both! xx.” With Kloss and Kushner’s wedding in the books, the Trump family gets a little bit bigger and a lot weirder. Want more stories from The Goods by Vox? Sign up for our newsletter here.<doc-sep>UNGA 2017: Ivanka Trump gives talk on human trafficking FREE health tips to live a long and happy life SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up forhealth tips to live a long and happy life 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. Ivanka Trump took to social media to celebrate the marriage of her brother-in-law. Model Karlie loss, 26, has tied the knot with Joshua Kushner, 33. Joshua, who works in private equity, is the younger brother of Ivanka’s husband, Jared Kushner, 37. Both Jared and Ivanka work as senior advisors to President Donald Trump, 72, and live in Washington DC. Ivanka Trump news: Donald daughter welcomes Karlie Kloss to Kushner family Ivanka retweeted Karlie Kloss’s tweet revealed she had married her long-term love. The president’s daughter said: “So much love for you both as you begin forever together.” Karlie and Joshua have been together since 2012. The model, from Chicago, has a highly impressive resume. She was a Victoria's Secret Angel, leaving the brand to study at university. She is close friends with singer Taylor Swift and appeared in one of her music videos. Karlie is also a computer programmer and she has created a coding scholarship for girls who want to work in computer science. Ivanka Trump news: Donald daughter welcomes Karlie Kloss to Kushner family Ivanka Trump news: She and Jared Kushner are in Saudi Arabia tonight Today Ivanka and her husband Jared are in Saudi Arabia. Today they have met with Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology in Riyadh. Many will be curious as to their discussions after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been missing. Recently Ivanka Trump wore white to meet Kanye West with Donald at the White House. Ivanka looked ethereal in an all-white £1,500 Roland Mouret ensemble. Ivanka Trump news: Model Karlie loss, 26, has tied the knot with Joshua Kushner, 33 Ivanka Trump in pictures Wed, August 1, 2018 Ivanka Trump is Advisor to President Trump and the US First daughter. She is the eldest daughter of Donald Trump and former model Ivana Trump. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 100 Ivanka Trump in pictures<doc-sep>

Karlie Kloss and Josh Kushner got married on Thursday, October 18, in a top-secret wedding attended by a reported 80 people. Though it's unclear exactly who was there, we do know that Kloss' pal Taylor Swift wasn't in attendance, as she had to take an 18-hour flight to Perth, Australia, for her latest stop on the Reputation Stadium Tour -- news she revealed in a colorful Instagram Story. With the question of whether or not Swift was at the upstate New York wedding answered, the next potential guest that people wanted to know about was Ivanka Trump, who is married to Josh's brother, Jared Kushner. Right now, it's unclear if Trump was in attendance at the nuptials (The Daily Mail reports that she did attend along with her husband and three children), but the First Daughter did take to Twitter to congratulate the happy couple on their wedding, which came just four months after Kloss announced their engagement. "So much love for you both as you begin forever together," Ivanka tweeted in response to Kloss' simple wedding announcement, which included a photo of the pair together at their wooded venue. So much love for you both as you begin forever together. ❤️ https://t.co/8lYSGrKpVu — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 19, 2018 Trump had previously given the couple a public show of support when Kloss revealed their engagement to the world over the summer. "So, so happy for you and Josh!" Ivanka wrote back in July. "I feel blessed to have you as a sister (!!!) Karlie and look forward to the decades of happy memories we will create together as a family!" "So incredibly happy for you Josh," the advisor to the president wrote on Josh's engagement announcement. "You and Karlie are blessed to have found one another. Here’s to a lifetime of love, laughter + adventure for you both!" Though Kloss has never publicly addressed her relationship with her now-sister-in-law, the two did attend the 2016 US Open together with a mutual friend, and sources claim that they've been friendly since 2012. Josh reportedly refers to Ivanka as his "sister" (instead of "sister-in-law"), and Newsweek insists that he is close with Jared and Ivanka, despite their vastly different political views. Indeed, Kloss and her husband have said in the past that they share the same "liberal values" and that they've chosen to spend their lives together "despite complications," alluding to their connection to the Trump family.

​Tony Romo's name has been circulating in recent days, with the former quarterback ​saying he's healthy enough to take the field. However, it appears to be all talk, despite many Dallas Cowboys fans calling for him to make his return in lieu of the struggles of Dak Prescott this season. It appears that Romo will not be making taking the field in Dallas as a player, but he will return later down the road for a much grander spectacle. According to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Romo will be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor sometime in the near future. Jones says Romo will be in the Ring of honor https://t.co/lNo93XPkiU — Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) October 2, 2018 ​​While Romo doesn't have the coveted Super Bowl title to his resume, he has proven to be ​one of the best signal callers in the franchise's history. In fact, he is the Cowboys all-time passing leader in yardage (34,138) and touchdowns (248), which ranks above fellow Dallas greats Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. Romo's career was cut short due to a back injury, where he made his decision to retire from the game in 2017, and accept a commentator's role with CBS. Jerry Jones says that @tonyromo will be in the #DallasCowboys Ring of Honor, he is just unsure of a timeline for Romo's induction as of now.  https://t.co/vSYMAJavBN pic.twitter.com/UImdFnpq2G — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 2, 2018 Romo will be the third Cowboy without a Super Bowl to join the Ring of Honor, joining quarterback Don Meredith and fullback Don Perkins. Tony Romo will join Don Meredith and Don Perkins as the only members of the Ring of Honor without a Super Bowl title during their time with the Cowboys. — Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) October 2, 2018 ​​Jones did not provide a specific date, but make no mistake about it, Romo will be inducted at some point down the road in Dallas.<doc-sep>Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hinted at some major Tony Romo news during an appearance on the quarterback’s A Football Life show on the NFL Network. This morning, he confirmed it. Jones said during a radio interview Tuesday morning that Romo will be inducted into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. From dallascowboys.com: Asked about it on Tuesday morning during his weekly interview with 105.3 FM The Fan, Jones confirmed as much – although he’s not ready to put a date on it. “The bottom line is the answer is that is, yes, he will be in the Ring of Honor,” Jones said. “Now, the details will follow.” This isn’t exactly unforeseen news. Romo retired in the spring of 2017 after injuries derailed the final two years of his career, but he ended his career holding the vast majority of the Cowboys’ important passing records. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in career passing yardage and passing touchdowns, and his career quarterback rating and completion percentage are among the best in NFL history. Romo holds a number of the Cowboys’ all-time passing records and is undoubtedly one of Dallas’ top players of the 21st century. The former star Cowboys quarterback is now CBS’ lead NFL analyst.<doc-sep>

Jerry Jones revealed on a recent NFL Network episode of "A Football Life" about Tony Romo's career that the former Cowboys quarterback would one day be in the team's Ring of Honor. The team's owner and general manager explained that decision Tuesday morning. "First of all, you've heard me say this, if I had to list my No. 1 disappointment since owning the Cowboys, it would be not to have gotten Tony Romo to a Super Bowl," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan's Shan and RJ show [KRLD-FM]. "He's deserving of it. He was that caliber of quarterback. Tony was magnificent for this franchise during his career. "He elevated the franchise. And that's what the Ring of Honor is about, a player that certainly has got to be a great player in my mind, but they've got to do something that takes a step up for the franchise. While there wasn't a Super Bowl there, I think he's one of the best at his position. "Bottom line, the answer is yes, he'll be in the Ring of Honor. Now, the detail will follow." Jones was then asked if he ever tried to talk Romo out of stepping away from the game, even if it meant playing for another team. His response made it clear that Romo was never going to play for anyone but the Cowboys. "I will just say, it was never going to be anybody else," Jones said. "We'll leave it at that. It was never going to be anybody else. I can say that succinctly. He was never going to play any place else."

BRUSSELS — European Union leaders on Thursday agreed to extend the deadline for Britain’s looming exit from the bloc in order to give Prime Minister Theresa May and the British Parliament more time to get their act together. Thursday’s agreement effectively averted the possibility of a disorderly and possibly chaotic departure by Britain on March 29. Yet that still remains a possibility just a few weeks later. After hours of difficult and sometimes passionate talks, the leaders decided that Britain’s exit date will be pushed back to May 22 if next week Mrs. May can persuade lawmakers in Parliament to accept her plan for leaving the bloc, which they have already rejected overwhelmingly, not once but twice. If she cannot persuade lawmakers to accept her plan, Mrs. May will get a shorter delay in exiting the European Union — until April 12. But Britain could stay in the bloc longer if it decides it needs more time for a more fundamental rethink of Brexit, as the process is known.<doc-sep>Brexit: What just happened? Published 22 March 2019 media caption "I hope we can all agree we are now at the moment of decision" The EU has agreed to postpone Brexit from next Friday and give UK Prime Minister Theresa May more time to get her deal approved in Parliament. But - and with Brexit there is always a but - it is not as simple as it may sound. Here is what just happened, why it matters, and what might happen next. What happened in Brussels? Mrs May was forced to ask EU leaders to delay Brexit after the UK Parliament twice overwhelmingly rejected the deal she had agreed with the EU on how to withdraw from the bloc and voted against a no-deal exit. EU leaders are among those who fear the UK leaving the bloc without a deal would lead to chaos. Mrs May had hoped to persuade the EU to delay the 29 March Brexit date - which is set in law - to 30 June. Instead the 27 EU leaders offered her two dates: A delay until 22 May if MPs approve her withdrawal deal in a vote next week A shorter delay until 12 April if they reject it. By that time the UK must set out its next steps - either another extension or leaving without a deal But the EU says a further extension beyond 12 April is only possible if the UK agrees to hold European elections on 23 May. Mrs May has said the UK will not take part in the vote. The EU's offer means a no-deal Brexit is considerably less likely on 29 March. But it is not off the table yet and the way forward is far from clear. What will happen next? It had been thought MPs would vote for a third time on the Brexit deal next week. Now Mrs May has suggested to MPs this might not happen "if there is not sufficient support". A third attempt at getting her deal passed had already been thrown into doubt by House of Commons Speaker John Bercow. Earlier this week, he cited parliamentary precedent to rule that a third vote could only take place if the proposal on the table was substantially different from the previous one. Another task facing MPs is to change the legally-binding 29 March date to leave the EU. If MPs approve her deal... The UK leaves under Theresa May's EU Withdrawal Agreement on 22 May, to enable Parliament to pass all the legislation needed. But getting it approved will be a tough task for Mrs May, especially after she angered MPs on Wednesday by going on television to essentially blame them for the impasse. She did offer a more conciliatory tone on Thursday but it remains to be seen if she will be able to convince MPs to back her agreement. If MPs reject her deal... The UK could still leave with no deal on 12 April if a way forward is not found. But other options include: Parliament could try to take control of the process and offer a new strategy. MPs have been told that if the deal is rejected they can hold a series of "indicative" votes to see if there is a majority for any particular alternative, such as staying in the EU Customs Union Mrs May would then know which option had most support in Parliament. She would then have to agree to pursue a new policy for the EU to reopen talks The opposition Labour party could table a vote of no confidence aimed at bringing down Mrs May's government - but it would require the support of some of Mrs May's own Conservatives. It is not clear what would happen to the dates set by the EU Mrs May could ask Parliament to hold an early general election or, most unlikely, call another referendum. Again, it is not entirely clear what would happen in that scenario Article 50, the two-year treaty provision that the UK invoked to leave the bloc in 2017, could be revoked by Mrs May, delaying Brexit indefinitely. But she is strongly opposed to that. A petition calling for the article to be revoked has reached more than three million signatures What does this mean for Mrs May? The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg says the choices for Mrs May are running out, making her leadership difficult to maintain. Many MPs within her own party are alarmed by the events of the past few days. And, she says, it is likely that MPs from all parties will push for a series of votes on different versions of Brexit or another referendum, in an attempt to take control of the process. Mrs May arrives back in the UK today, writes Laura Kuenssberg, having won a little bit of extra time, but less and less space to breathe. How does the EU see it? EU leaders were reportedly unconvinced by Theresa May's assurance that she could convince the UK Parliament to back her withdrawal deal. Mrs May made her case for a delay in a 90-minute presentation to her European counterparts and then left the room and the discussions continued for eight hours. Please upgrade your browser Your guide to Brexit jargon Use the list below or select a button French President Emmanuel Macron said he thought she had a chance of 10% of having her deal approved but after listening to her he had cut his estimate to 5%, Reuters news agency said. European Council President Donald Tusk replied that Mr Macron was being "very optimistic", it reported. But the end could be in sight? Not yet. It is worth remembering that the debate now is focused on the terms of the UK's exit from the European Union. The conditions of the future relationship between the country and the bloc still have to be negotiated. Related Topics European Union Brexit<doc-sep>The European Union has agreed to grant Britain a short Brexit delay, removing the immediate threat of the United Kingdom leaving the EU without a deal next week, on March 29. EU member states are pushing the Brexit deadline to April 12 without any conditions, a much shorter time period than the June 30 date UK Prime Minister Theresa May initially requested. These three weeks will give May a third chance to get her Brexit deal through the UK Parliament. If Parliament approves the agreement, the EU will extend the Brexit deadline even further — to May 22 — to give the UK time to pass the necessary domestic legislation. (The EU Parliament must also ratify the deal, though that’s expected to be mostly a formality.) But if Parliament rejects May’s deal for a third time, then the UK will either leave without a deal on April 12 or have to propose an alternative approach before that April 12 date. If the UK somehow comes up with a brand new plan, the EU says it will entertain a longer extension but will require the UK to participate in European parliamentary elections, which start May 23. And that new strategy will have to be more along the lines of a second referendum or softer Brexit, not a fourth vote on the deal. The EU’s decision to postpone Brexit — just eight days before the March 29 deadline — came after hours of deliberations at the European Council Summit in Brussels that extended well into the night. Some EU leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, made clear their utter exasperation with the political paralysis in the UK and their desire for the EU to take a tougher stance toward May’s request. But EU leaders ultimately reached this compromise. They arrived at the April 12 date because that’s the week the UK will need to tell the EU whether it will put up candidates for the European parliamentary elections. If the UK doesn’t want to do that — and there probably isn’t a majority in the UK Parliament that would support it — then the UK has to get out of the EU, whether or not it has an agreement in place. The new deadline averts the impending disaster of a no-deal Brexit, but it doesn’t eliminate it. Some political observers think it might make it even more likely — given the long-shot prospects of May’s Brexit deal passing and Parliament’s inability to find a majority for anything else. So the EU granted the UK a temporary reprieve, but its message was pretty clear: pass the only deal on offer or prepare to break up with the EU empty-handed. Now it’s up to the UK to avoid a no-deal scenario Prime Minister May gave a short statement after agreeing to the EU’s Brexit deadline extension, a day after infuriating members of Parliament by blaming them for the Brexit impasse. May tried to strike a more apologetic tone in her Thursday speech, saying that “last night she had expressed her frustration” and that she knows “MPs are frustrated too.” “I hope we can all agree we are now at the moment of decision,” May said in Brussels, “and I will make every effort to make sure we can leave with a deal and move our country forward.” But her talking points were basically the same as they’ve always been: Pass my deal now or exit the EU without a deal. "I know MPs are frustrated too" UK PM Theresa May says she is grateful to all MPs across the House of Commons who support her #Brexit deal as well as those with concerns about ithttps://t.co/gyNquMDhpO pic.twitter.com/XwM9hyBme3 — BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) March 21, 2019 A petition for the UK government to revoke Article 50 — which would effectively cancel Brexit — has now garnered 3 million votes in the country. But when asked by reporters if she would consider taking that step to avoid a catastrophic crash-out if her Brexit deal failed a third time, May insisted she would not. “We will be leaving the European Union,” she said. The Brexit drama will now shift back to Westminster, where May is expected to try to put her Brexit deal to a third vote. Parliament rejected her Brexit plan by 230 votes in January and by 150 votes last week. That’s a massive margin to make up, and it’s still looking very likely that Parliament will defeat the proposal once again. Members of Parliament will also likely try to seize control and push forward different Brexit plans — a softer Brexit, a second referendum, or any number of other ideas. But whether any alternative plan can get the support of a majority of MPs and break the Brexit logjam is the perennial question in British politics. And the answer, so far, has been a resounding no. So the UK won’t be leaving the EU on March 29 without a deal. But April 12 is now the hard Brexit deadline. The UK has three weeks to agree to a plan or brace itself for the no-deal fallout.<doc-sep>

Jasper Juinen | Bloomberg via Getty Images Theresa May, U.K. prime minister, pauses during a news conference at a European Union (EU) leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Friday, March 22, 2019. European Union leaders have warned Britain that it has one final opportunity to leave the bloc in an orderly fashion, after agreeing to delay the departure date beyond March 29. The U.K. will be offered a delay until May 22, if lawmakers support Prime Minister Theresa May's twice-rejected Withdrawal Agreement next week. But, if Parliament votes against May's embattled template to leave the bloc, the EU will support a shorter delay until April 12. This is designed to allow the U.K. time to get the deal through or indicate another way forward. "This is perhaps the last chance for Britain to say what it wants for the future," Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters on Friday. "More than ever, this is in the hands of the British parliament," Michel said, as he arrived for the second day of an EU summit overshadowed by talks over Britain's departure. 'This is it' May, who had asked to be able to delay Britain's departure until June 30, said British lawmakers now faced a "clear choice." They could either support her Brexit deal, deliver on the referendum result and exit the EU in an "orderly manner" or face the prospect of having to stand candidates in the European Parliamentary elections three years after a small but clear majority voted for Brexit. On Thursday, EU leaders spent seven hours discussing a host of options regarding Brexit, saying that while they regret the country's decision to leave, they are eager to move on with the process. Eventually, the bloc decided a May 22 departure date would apply if Parliament rallies behind the prime minister next week. Otherwise, Britain must decide whether to offer a new plan or leave the EU without a deal on April 12. "In case of no vote (in Parliament)… it will guide everybody to a no-deal for sure," French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters on Thursday. "This is it. We are ready," Macron said. 'How can you prepare for something terrible?' The French premier reportedly told EU leaders in the room on Thursday that before coming to Brussels he had thought May only had a 10 percent chance of winning a third meaningful vote. But, after listening to the prime minister speak on Thursday, he had cut his estimate to just 5 percent, Reuters reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

1 of 7 Winslow Townson/Associated Press No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Detroit Pistons This might be even more lopsided than the seeding suggests, as the Pistons entered the playoffs with their backup alarm blaring. A full-strength Detroit squad would be overmatched here, but with Blake Griffin playing on one leg while he recovers from a knee injury, the NBA might consider adopting a mercy rule for this series. Prediction: Bucks in four No. 4 Boston Celtics vs. No. 5 Indiana Pacers We've waited all season for the Celtics to be who we thought they were, and they still haven't flipped the switch. At this point, maybe it's foolish to keep waiting, although Gordon Hayward's encouraging finish (14.7 points on 60.0/36.4/79.2 shooting over his final 14 games) at least gives more of a reason to believe beyond the on-paper talent. We also waited for the Pacers to feel the sting of Victor Oladipo's absence, and it became much more noticeable in the second half. Indy went just 10-14 with a minus-1.1 net rating after the All-Star break. Boston's inconsistency can be maddening, and it might get worse with Marcus Smart on the shelf. But the Celtics have enough to escape this series. Prediction: Celtics in six No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Nets Round of applause for the Nets returning to the postseason, and another round of cheers for D'Angelo Russell quieting his critics with his All-Star emergence. General manager Sean Marks quietly assembled an intriguing roster, and coach Kenny Atkinson made it go by forming a three-heavy attack around multiple shot-creators. Brooklyn can make Philly sweat, and the Nets feel destined to get a win either by catching fire from deep or seeing the Sixers go ice-cold. This hinges on the health of Joel Embiid, who may not be ready for the opener due to knee soreness. Assuming he's back sooner than later, though, expect him to be a difference-maker; he pounded Brooklyn for 30.0 points and 14.3 rebounds across four regular-season matchups. Prediction: 76ers in six No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic If you pooled these two rosters together, how many Raptors are taken before the first Magic player comes off the board? It has to be at least three, right? Nikola Vucevic's All-Star breakout was fun. Contract-year Terrence Ross had some electric moments, too, and he seems destined to tilt the scales one night by dropping a 30-piece on his former team. But Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam are too much for the Magic to handle. Prediction: Raptors in five<doc-sep>In true NBA fashion, the standings weren't settled until the final day of the 2018-19 regular season. But late Wednesday night, the league's 16 playoff participants locked into their positions ahead of what should be an entertaining postseason run. The Warriors are undoubtedly the favorite to win the Western Conference (and the 2019 NBA championship), but they must get past a feisty Clippers team in the first round, then the Rockets or Jazz just to reach the conference finals. The Nuggets are hoping to carry over the success from a 54-win regular season into the playoffs, but the Spurs, Thunder and Trail Blazers could all present the No. 2 seed with problems on that side of the bracket. The Eastern Conference is looking top-heavy to start with the Bucks, Raptors, Sixers and Celtics all expected to advance to the second round. The East bracket could have a far-reaching impact on these teams beyond the playoffs with a pivotal offseason on the horizon. Get bounced early, and it could prove costly in free agency. Can anyone prevent another Warriors championship? Who will emerge from the Eastern Conference with LeBron James no longer in charge? Let's go through the 2019 NBA playoff bracket to find out. NBA PLAYOFFS 2019: Full schedule | West breakdown | East breakdown NBA playoff bracket (SN Illustration) https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/75/86/nba-playoff-bracket-2019-ftrjpg_1gpu87ztq6tpi1mlqx8hgsc44p.jpg?t=216014194&w=500&quality=80 The Nos. 6 and 7 seeds have a chance to put a scare into their first-round foes, but no upsets are expected here. The second round should be a dandy. Bucks over Pistons Raptors over Magic Sixers over Nets Celtics over Pacers The defending champs cruise, No. 2 will struggle to get by, a shorthanded No. 3 seed goes down and the Rockets shoot down Utah (again). Warriors over Clippers Nuggets over Spurs Thunder over Trail Blazers Rockets over Jazz Eastern Conference semifinal predictions Celtics over Bucks, 4-2 If there were a contest based on chemistry, the Celtics would have missed the postseason altogether. But talent is a factor, especially as the playoff rounds get tougher. The Celtics have depth and can create matchup advantages all over the lineup against the Bucks — Boston can throw big, medium and small lineups on the floor, with solid players in each. The Celtics will miss Marcus Smart, and that could be enough to make them unravel against a relentless, fast-paced team with a system as well-organized as the Bucks. The Celtics will need to figure out how to challenge Milwaukee on the perimeter while still containing likely league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The bet here is that they’ll have enough versatility to do it. Raptors over Sixers, 4-3 Joel Embiid is not completely healthy, and there’s no telling whether the impact of that will seep into the second round — or even be a problem in the first round. But even with a healthy Embiid, Philly does not have the depth to keep pace with Toronto, and the Raptors’ versatility gives them a distinct edge here. The Sixers have addressed some of their weak spots by adding Tobias Harris via trade, but there are still too many holes — Ben Simmons’ jumper, JJ Redick’s defense, the bench as a whole — that the Raptors can exploit. Western Conference semifinal predictions Warriors over Rockets, 4-2 This will likely be Golden State’s biggest threat in this postseason. Houston was not able to complete the upset in last year’s Western Conference finals after taking a 3-2 advantage in the series — Chris Paul got hurt before Game 6, and the Rockets went 7-for-44 from the 3-point line in the final loss. Despite the comparatively rough regular season, the Rockets might be in better position to do so this time. But expect the Golden State defense, which ranked just 11th this season, to snap into place in the postseason, as it did last year when the team was 11th in the regular season and first in the playoffs. Nuggets over Thunder, 4-3 It would be a surprise if the Nuggets, who have precious little playoff experience, were able to break through to the conference finals, but then it would be a surprise if the Thunder had the breakthrough, considering they were 11-13 to finish the season. ​OKC has the experience edge, but the Nuggets have talent on their side, and we’re going to stick with talent here. Denver struggles away from home, but they’ll get four games at the Pepsi Center, and that’s a big advantage for them. It wouldn’t be shocking if the Nuggets got through to the conference finals with eight home wins and six road losses in the first two rounds. Conference finals predictions Raptors over Celtics, 4-3 The Celtics played well against the Raptors during the season, winning twice at home and losing the two road games. But the Raptors have a better combination of talent and chemistry and have home-court advantage. Toronto did not exactly tear through the league after trading for Marc Gasol, but the Raptors do have a high-post big man who can pass and shoot and figures to scramble the Celtics’ options in the middle of the floor. The key here may be point guard Kyle Lowry, who had a rough season and struggled especially against Boston (11.5 points, 36.1 percent shooting). Lowry did shoot better down the stretch, and if he can maintain that through the postseason, it will be a major boost for the Raptors. Warriors over Nuggets, 4-1 The Nuggets got pretty favorable seeding in the playoffs, if they can handle the experience advantage the Spurs have in the first round. They’re young but talented enough to get past both the Spurs and the Thunder. The Warriors are a different story, though. Golden State has a way of locking in during the postseason, and the Nuggets certainly do not have a talent advantage in this matchup. Denver won the first meeting of the two teams, back in October, but the Warriors won the last three games by margins of 14, 17 and 31 points. NBA Finals prediction Warriors over Raptors, 4-2 A trip to the Finals could be enough to validate the risky move the Raptors made in trading for Kawhi Leonard last summer, and it may be enough to persuade Leonard to stick around in free agency next summer. One thing it is very unlikely to mean is a Toronto championship this season. The Warriors simply have too many weapons, too many players — Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala — who can navigate a high-pressure series like this. And the Warriors have advantages at every position, even at small forward, where Leonard is among the league’s best. Durant is a bit better. Go down the list, and the Warriors have advantages everywhere. For the fourth time in five years, then, put the Warriors down as league champs.<doc-sep>Gadiel Notelovitz and Olgun Uluc from Fox Sports After a wild day of NBA action, every playoff matchup is finally locked in. Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers face a massive test in the East, while the Western Conference provided one final surprise to swing the final standings. Here’s how it all looks! Stream live coverage of the 2018/19 NBA Playoffs & every game of The NBA Finals with ESPN on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial > MORE NBA NEWS SIMMONS’ SIXERS DRAW SCARY MATCHUP AS NBA PLAYOFFS PICTURE TAKES SHAPE CELTICS SUFFER MAJOR INJURY BLOW AHEAD OF NBA PLAYOFFS HOW NBA TEAM TRIED TO TANK... BUT FAILED MISERABLY PLAYOFF SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES AEST) WESTERN CONFERENCE If needed* GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (1) VS. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (8) Game 1: @ Golden State Warriors — Sunday, April 14 (10am) Game 2: @ Golden State Warriors — Tuesday, April 16 (12.30pm) Game 3: @ Los Angeles Clippers — Friday, April 19 (12.30pm) Game 4: @ Los Angeles Clippers — Monday, April 22 (5.30am) *Games 5: @ Golden State Warriors — Thursday, April 25 (TBD) *Game 6: @ Los Angeles Clippers — Saturday, April 27 (TBD) *Game 7: @ Golden State Warriors — Monday, April 29 (TBD) DENVER NUGGETS (2) VS. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (7) Game 1: @ Denver Nuggets — Sunday, April 14 (12.30pm) Game 2: @ Denver Nuggets — Wednesday, April 17 (11am) Game 3: @ San Antonio Spurs — Friday, April 19 (11am) Game 4: @ San Antonio Spurs — Sunday, April 21 (7.30am) *Game 5: @ Denver Nuggets — Wednesday, April 24 (TBD) *Game 6: @ San Antonio Spurs — Friday, April 26 (TBD) *Game 7: @ Denver Nuggets — Sunday, April 28 (TBD) PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (3) VS. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (6) Game 1: @ Portland Trail Blazers — Monday, April 15 (5.30am) Game 2: @ Portland Trail Blazers — Wednesday, April 17 (12.30pm) Game 3: @ Oklahoma City Thunder — Saturday, April 20 (11.30am) Game 4: @ Oklahoma City Thunder — Monday, April 22 (11.30am) *Game 5: @ Portland Trail Blazers — Wednesday, April 24 (TBD) *Game 6: @ Oklahoma City Thunder — Friday, April 26 (TBD) *Game 7: @ Portland Trail Blazers — Sunday, April 28 (TBD) HOUSTON ROCKETS (4) VS. UTAH JAZZ (5) Game 1: @ Houston Rockets — Monday, April 15 (11.30am) Game 2: @ Houston Rockets — Thurday, April 18 (11.30am) Game 3: @ Utah Jazz — Sunday, April 21 (12.30pm) Game 4: @ Utah Jazz — Tuesday, April 23 (12.30pm) *Game 5: @ Houston Rockets — Thursday, April 25 (TBD) *Game 6: @ Utah Jazz — Saturday, April 27 (TBD) *Game 7: @ Houston Rockets — Monday, April 29 (TBD) * EASTERN CONFERENCE MILWAUKEE BUCKS (1) VS. DETROIT PISTONS (8) Game 1: @ Milwaukee Bucks — Monday, April 15 (9am) Game 2: @ Milwaukee Bucks — Thursday, April 18 (10am) Game 3: @ Detroit Pistons — Sunday, April 21 (10am) Game 4: @ Detroit Pistons — Tuesday, April 23 (10am) *Games 5: @ Milwaukee Bucks — Thursday, April 25 (TBD) *Game 6: @ Detroit Pistons — Saturday, April 27 (TBD) *Game 7: @ Milwaukee Bucks — Monday, April 29 (TBD) TORONTO RAPTORS (2) VS. ORLANDO MAGIC (7) Game 1: @ Toronto Raptors — Sunday, April 14 (7am) Game 2: @ Toronto Raptors — Wednesday, April 17 (10am) Game 3: @ Orlando Magic — Saturday, April 20 (9am) Game 4: @ Orlando Magic — Monday, April 22 (9am) *Games 5: @ Toronto Raptors — Wednesday, April 24 (TBD) *Game 6: @ Orlando Magic — Friday, April 26 (TBD) *Game 7: @ Toronto Raptors — Sunday, April 28 (TBD) PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (3) VS. BROOKLYN NETS (6) Game 1: @ Philadelphia 76ers — Sunday, April 14 (4:30am) Game 2: @ Philadelphia 76ers — Tuesday, April 16 (10am) Game 3: @ Brooklyn Nets — Friday, April 19 (10am) Game 4: @ Brooklyn Nets — Sunday, April 21 (5am) *Games 5: @ Philadelphia 76ers — Wednesday, April 24 (TBD) *Game 6: @ Brooklyn Nets — Friday, April 26 (TBD) *Game 7: @ Philadelphia 76ers — Sunday, April 28 (TBD) BOSTON CELTICS (4) VS. INDIANA PACERS (5) Game 1: @ Boston Celtics — Monday, April 15 (3am) Game 2: @ Boston Celtics — Thursday, April 18 (9am) Game 3: @ Indiana Pacers — Saturday, April 20 (10:30am) Game 4: @ Indiana Pacers — Monday, April 22 (3am) *Games 5: @ Boston Celtics — Thursday, April 25 (TBD) *Game 6: @ Indiana Pacers — Saturday, April 27 (TBD) *Game 7: @ Boston Celtics — Monday, April 29 (TBD)<doc-sep>

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press The 2018-19 NBA regular season reached its conclusion on Wednesday. For the 16 teams that made it into the postseason—which kicks off on Saturday—the past 82 games mean far less than the ones that are about to be played. Which of these teams have a realistic hope of lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy this year? They all have a chance because they are in the dance, but not all playoff teams are equal. The Detroit Pistons, for example, narrowly beat out the Charlotte Hornets for the final slot in the Eastern Conference. They're being "rewarded" with a Round 1 matchup against the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks. Getting out of the first round will be a tough challenge for low-seeded teams like Detroit. Getting to the NBA Finals is an extreme long shot. Here you will find a run-down of the opening-round matchups, the latest championship odds—according to Oddschecker—a closer look at some of the Finals favorites and predictions for the postseason's final four teams. Video Play Button Videos you might like 2019 NBA Playoffs, Round 1 Eastern Conference 1. Milwaukee Bucks vs. 8. Detroit Pistons 2. Toronto Raptors vs. 7. Orlando Magic 3. Philadelphia 76ers vs. 6. Brooklyn Nets 4. Boston Celtics vs. 5. Indiana Pacers Western Conference 1. Golden State Warriors vs. 8. Los Angeles Clippers 2. Denver Nuggets vs. 7. San Antonio Spurs 3. Portland Trail Blazers vs. 6. Oklahoma City Thunder 4. Houston Rockets vs. 5. Utah Jazz Latest Championship Odds Golden State Warriors: 10-21 Milwaukee Bucks: 6-1 Toronto Raptors: 9-1 Houston Rockets: 10-1 Philadelphia 76ers: 12-1 Boston Celtics: 16-1 Oklahoma City Thunder: 25-1 Denver Nuggets: 30-1 Utah Jazz: 60-1 Portland Trail Blazers: 80-1 San Antonio Spurs: 80-1 Los Angeles Clippers: 180-1 Indiana Pacers: 210-1 Brooklyn Nets: 240-1 Orlando Magic: 250-1 Detroit Pistons: 250-1 Golden State Warriors: 10-21 The Golden State Warriors are once again overwhelming favorites to win the NBA title. This isn't a major surprise, as they have won two championships in a row and three of the past four. They're armed with a plethora of top-tier talent, and they will hold home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. Barring some unforeseen meltdown, the only thing likely to keep Golden State out of the Finals is injury. This is why fans had to be more than a little concerned when Stephen Curry rolled his ankle in a meaningless Tuesday night game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Thanks to the likes of Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, the Warriors could likely survive a series or two without Curry, but if he were lost for the postseason, it could spell trouble. Fortunately, the ankle injury doesn't appear to be significant at all. "He's good," head coach Steve Kerr said of Curry shortly before Wednesday's season finale, per Ali Thanawalla of NBC Sports Bay Area. Golden State remains the team to beat until another franchise takes the crown from them. Milwaukee Bucks: 6-1 Aaron Gash/Associated Press If a team from the East is going to knock off the Warriors, it's probably going to be the Milwaukee Bucks. They have perhaps the best individual player in basketball in Giannis Antetokounmpo and a vastly underrated supporting cast. What's more, head coach Mike Budenholzer has his squad playing team ball as well as anyone in the NBA. The big question is whether they can beat the Warriors four times in a seven-game series if they meet in the Finals. Golden State and Milwaukee each won one head-to-head matchup in the regular season. Like the Warriors, the Bucks are dealing with an injury to one of their key players—in their case, forward Nikola Mirotic. Budenholzer, though, remains hopeful he will return to the lineup sooner rather than later: Expect Milwaukee to have little trouble with the Pistons in the opening round. Houston Rockets: 10-1 A one-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday saw the Houston Rockets slip to the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. This means they will face the Warriors in Round 2, assuming both teams advance. While this doesn't necessarily bode well for Houston's chances of reaching the Finals, it also means there could be an early upset of Golden State in the playoffs. Despite being the No. 4 seed, Houston is equipped to handle the Warriors—probably better than any other team in the league. Led by James Harden and Chris Paul, the Rockets have given the Warriors everything they can handle over the past couple years.

A student has been killed and another taken into custody and charged with murder, after a shooting at a high school in North Carolina, an incident apparently triggered by a dispute over bullying by two 16-year-old youths. Police in the town of Matthews, 10 miles southeast of Charlotte, confirmed that a lockdown had been ordered at Butler High School after reports were received of shots being fired at around 7.15am. The lockdown was subsequently lifted and parents were able to collect their children “We have responded to a shooting at Butler High School this morning. There is one student that has been shot that was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries at this time,” the city's police force said in a post on Facebook. Recommended Investment giant threatens to pull funds from gunmakers “Another student has been taken into custody. This is believed to be an isolated incident and the scene has now been secured by police. Information on releasing students to their parents will be coming soon.” Local news channel WDBO said the victim had been taken to the Carolinas Medical Centre. It was later reported the victim had died from his injuries. Television images showed groups of anxious parents standing close to the school, waiting for more information as to who had been hurt. Police Supt Clayton Wilcox said during a press conference outside the school, that the suspected shooter, himself a student had been wounded, and was at that time undergoing surgery. Mr Wilcox said the shooting occurred after a disagreement between two students. The disagreement occurred in a hallway and there were “many kids in the hallways when it took place”, he said, according to the Charlotte Observer. Later, the victim was named as 16-year-old Bobby McKeithen. Matthews Police Department Capt Stason Tyrrell said that another 16-year-old, Jatwan Craig Cuffie, had been detained and charged with first-degree murder. He was charged as an adult and is being held in the Mecklenburg County jail. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said the shooting appeared to have stemmed from a case of bullying “that escalated out of control”. Neither Mr Wilcox nor Mr Tyrrell said which student was being bullied, the Associated Press said. 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.<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 TINLEY PARK, IL - OCTOBER 18: Pistols are offered for sale at Freddie Bear Sports on October 18, 2012 in Tinley Park, Illinois. Facing a $267.5 million fiscal 2013 budget gap, Cook County, which includes the City of Chicago and suburbs, has proposed a tax of 5 cents per bullet and $25 on each firearm sold at gun and sporting goods stores in the county. Fred Lutger, who has owned Freddie Bear Sports for 35 years, is concerned with the impact the tax will have on his store which is located about 2 miles inside the Cook County line. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (CNN) — A North Carolina high school freshman was charged with first-degree murder after he fatally shot a fellow student, police said Monday. The shooting in the hallway of Butler High School in Matthews stemmed from a fight between the victim and the suspect, said Matthews Police Capt. Stason Tyrrell. Initial reports indicate that the conflict started with bullying that spiraled out of control, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox. “And as fear took over, a young person bought a gun to solve the problems,” Wilcox said. WSOC Stason Tyrrell of Matthews, North Carolina police Tyrrell identified the victim as a 16-year-old Bobby McKeithen, a sophomore. The suspect, Jatwan Craig Cuffie, also 16, is in the Mecklenburg County jail, he said. The shooting happened just before the final bell rang for students to go into their classrooms, according to Tyrrell. He said a school resource officer was in the cafeteria area when he and school security officers heard a commotion in an adjoining hallway at 7:14 a.m. They ran to the hallway and started giving the victim first aid within 15 to 20 seconds, Tyrrell said. The school immediately went into a lockdown, Tyrrell said. Two other police officers, including a school resource officer directing traffic in front of the school, entered the school within minutes, according to Tyrrell. About five to seven minutes after the shooting, authorities learned from a teacher that she was with the suspected shooter, Tyrrell said. The suspect admitted to the shooting and, around 7:25 a.m., said he wanted to surrender, Tyrrell said. No one else was injured in the shooting. “This event actually began days before this morning. So what took place this morning was something that built up,” Tyrrell said. He said several people knew there was a chance of an altercation on Monday morning. “And we just didn’t have that information until after it had happened,” he said. Wilcox said the schools don’t have metal detectors and students aren’t searched when they enter the building. “Some have asked me, how could someone, especially a student, come on to one of our campus(es) with a loaded gun,” Wilcox said. “And I wish I had an answer to that. There really is no easy answer.” The superintendent said the school will be closed on Tuesday. Matthews is located about 22 miles southeast of Charlotte. CNN’s Darran Simon and Jamiel Lynch contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Fatal shooting of student in NC high school hallway reportedly 'stemmed from case of bullying,' officials say A male student was fatally shot in a crowded hallway Monday morning inside a North Carolina high school, according to authorities. The shooting happened during a fight between the victim and the suspect at Butler High School in Matthews, about 12 miles southeast of Charlotte, authorities said. Matthews Police Department Capt. Stason Tyrrell said at a news conference that 16-year-old Bobby McKeithen was shot Monday and died at a local hospital. McKeithen was a 10th-grader at Butler High School.Tyrrell said 16-year-old ninth-grader Jatwan Craig Cuffie is charged with first-degree murder. He is charged as an adult and is being held in the Mecklenburg County jail.Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said the shooting appears to have stemmed from a case of bullying "that escalated out of control." Neither Wilcox nor Tyrrell said which student was being bullied.Wilcox said classes at the high school have been canceled for Tuesday.The lockdown was apparently lifted around 9:15 a.m., and students streamed out, many crying and hugging parents.The Matthews Police Department posted the following on Facebook: "We have responded to a shooting at Butler High School this morning. There is one student that has been shot that was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries at this time. Another student has been taken into custody. This is believed to be an isolated incident and the scene has now been secured by police. Information on releasing students to their parents will be coming soon. "The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District posted the following message on Facebook: "Butler High School is on lockdown after a student was shot on campus this morning. The single shooter has been apprehended and the weapon is in the possession of law enforcement. Law enforcement has advised that there is no further immediate danger at this time and initial investigation shows this to be an isolated incident. The victim has been transported for medical attention. Butler HS families are being advised through phone calls. Law enforcement officers have secured the campus and an investigation by law enforcement continues. No persons will be allowed on to the Butler HS campus until the lockdown has been lifted by law enforcement. CMS will update on this situation. "The Associated Press contributed to this article. A male student was fatally shot in a crowded hallway Monday morning inside a North Carolina high school, according to authorities. The shooting happened during a fight between the victim and the suspect at Butler High School in Matthews, about 12 miles southeast of Charlotte, authorities said. Advertisement Matthews Police Department Capt. Stason Tyrrell said at a news conference that 16-year-old Bobby McKeithen was shot Monday and died at a local hospital. McKeithen was a 10th-grader at Butler High School. Tyrrell said 16-year-old ninth-grader Jatwan Craig Cuffie is charged with first-degree murder. He is charged as an adult and is being held in the Mecklenburg County jail. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said the shooting appears to have stemmed from a case of bullying "that escalated out of control." Neither Wilcox nor Tyrrell said which student was being bullied. Wilcox said classes at the high school have been canceled for Tuesday. The lockdown was apparently lifted around 9:15 a.m., and students streamed out, many crying and hugging parents. The Matthews Police Department posted the following on Facebook: "We have responded to a shooting at Butler High School this morning. There is one student that has been shot that was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries at this time. Another student has been taken into custody. This is believed to be an isolated incident and the scene has now been secured by police. Information on releasing students to their parents will be coming soon." The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District posted the following message on Facebook: "Butler High School is on lockdown after a student was shot on campus this morning. The single shooter has been apprehended and the weapon is in the possession of law enforcement. Law enforcement has advised that there is no further immediate danger at this time and initial investigation shows this to be an isolated incident. The victim has been transported for medical attention. Butler HS families are being advised through phone calls. Law enforcement officers have secured the campus and an investigation by law enforcement continues. No persons will be allowed on to the Butler HS campus until the lockdown has been lifted by law enforcement. CMS will update on this situation." This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. CMS ALERT: Butler High School is on lockdown after a student was shot on campus this morning. The single shooter has been apprehended and the weapon is in the possession of law enforcement. More information: https://t.co/iYnUVZzDdt pic.twitter.com/UumkdVCi6K — CMS Communications (@CMScomms) October 29, 2018 The Associated Press contributed to this article.<doc-sep>By Peter Szekely (Reuters) - A fistfight between two North Carolina high school students turned deadly on Monday when one of them pulled out a handgun and fired at the other in a crowded hallway before the start of classes, authorities said. The alleged shooter, identified only as a male student at David W. Butler High School in Matthews, a suburb southeast of Charlotte, was quickly taken into custody, police said. “There are no other threats or dangers to any of the students or staff, or anyone in the area of the school,” Captain Stason Tyrrell of the Matthews Police Department told reporters near the school. “I can just tell you that the shooter was taken into custody by Matthews Police Department, and his family is aware as well," Tyrrell said. The school briefly went into a lockdown as the wounded student, who was also not identified by police, was rushed to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. The student died there a few hours later, they said. Students were later released to their anxious parents who had jammed the area around the school, while police spent much of the day interviewing witnesses and combing over the crime scene. Surveillance video shows the two students getting into a fight before the shooting, Tyrrell said. “From what I’ve seen and the information I’ve received, our school resource officer was very nearby when it took place, and the situation became under control very quickly,” he added. Charlotte Mecklenburg School Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said the school did not have a policy of searching every bag that enters the school, but said all security procedures would be reviewed following the shooting. Keeping firearms out of schools has become an urgent issue across the country since a suspect killed 17 in a shooting rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in February. "I don’t know how a young person gets a handgun in the state of North Carolina," Wilcox told reporters. "But we are going to look into all those things, and we will do our best to make sure that this never happens again." (Reporting by Peter Szekely in New York; additional reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Tom Brown)<doc-sep>

A North Carolina high school student was shot and killed after a fellow classmate opened fire Monday in a crowded hallway at the start of the school day, police said. Officers responded to a report of a shooting at Butler High School, about 12 miles southeast of Charlotte, around 7 a.m. The school was placed on lockdown as emergency crews took the student, who was not identified, to a hospital where he later died from his injuries, Matthews Police Department Patrol Commander Mason Tyrrell said in a Monday news conference. "It's been an extremely tragic event here for us in Matthews for the Butler High School community," Tyrrell said. Officers took the suspected shooter — identified as Jatwan Craig Cuffie, a 16-year-old freshman — into custody and recovered the weapon used in the incident, officials said. He was charged as an adult with first-degree murder and is being held in the Mecklenburg County jail. “This is believed to be an isolated incident and the scene has now been secured by police,” Matthews police said in a statement on Facebook. Tyrrell said school surveillance video captured the shooting that appeared to have stemmed from a fight between the students. It's unclear how the student obtained a gun. A student at Butler High School told Fox 46 a physical fight broke out between the classmates prior to the shooting. “I was in the cafeteria, the hallway next to the cafeteria...and I just heard a shot. Well, I heard a loud noise. I thought it was someone banging against the lockers. I thought it was a prank at first, and I saw people running,” a student told Fox 46. “...As soon as I get to my hallway, teachers are yelling, ‘There’s a lockdown, there’s a lockdown! There’s a shooter! '” A crowd of frustrated parents gathered on the school's campus, demanding answers and the release of their children from the school. The students were able to leave the campus once the lockdown was lifted. "We are incredibly saddened by the fact that we had a loss of life on one of our campuses," said Clayton Wilcox, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. "What makes it doubly worse is it was one of our students who was the shooter." Wilcox said the shooting appears to have stemmed from a case of bullying "that escalated out of control." Neither Wilcox nor Tyrrell said which student was being bullied. Tyrrell said several people apparently knew there would be an altercation at the school, but police had no information prior to the incident. Wilcox said there were many students in the school's hallways when the deadly shooting happened. He said officials will be reviewing security plans to increase safety. PROSECUTORS SEEK DEATH PENALTY FOR SYNAGOGUE MASSACRE SUSPECT “We worked really hard on school security the last six or seven months,” Wilcox said. “We will review procedures and security plans and perhaps will do things that are a little more aggressive.” State Superintendent Mark Johnson said in a statement he was "heartbroken" by the shooting. "I am heartbroken to hear that we have lost a student to school violence in one of our schools. We have contacted Charlotte-Mecklenburg authorities and will assist in any way we can, but of course, our first thoughts are for the parents and other loved ones of the student who passed away. The safety of our students is paramount. This is a sad day for all of North Carolina, and we must work together as a community to address these problems," Johnson said. TODDLER DIES AFTER FAMILY PULLS HIM FROM FILTHY POOL, REPORTS SAY "I am heartbroken to hear about today's school violence that has taken the life of a high school student in Matthews, and my family is praying for this community. I have been in touch with local officials to offer condolences and state support as needed. As we get more information it is critical that we come together to do everything in our power to prevent these incidents from happening and keep guns out of our schools," North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper echoed in a statement. Fox News' Travis Fedschun and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Many have spoken out against the new anti-LGBT emoji (Tristan Fewings/Getty and twitter) A new emoji with a clear anti-LGBT message has sparked outrage. The emoji, which features an LGBT+ Pride flag with a crossed-out circle superimposed over it, has gone viral on Twitter after being discovered by a user on Monday (February 18). It has been used by queer people to criticise or make fun of intolerant people, while also being included in anti-LGBT messages of hate on the platform. Did Apple make an anti-LGBT emoji? The emoji does not appear to have been made by Apple or the Unicode Consortium, which creates emojis. Instead, the arresting image seems to be a glitch in the software. A Twitter user called Mitchell told Out Magazine on February 19 that he discovered the apparent flaw a month ago. How gay twitter became obsessed with this: a thread ✨ — mitchell (Discovered ️‍ ⃠) (@mioog) February 19, 2019 He found the mistake by combining the blocks of Unicode which make up the Pride flag with the Unicode which creates a circle with a slash through it. “It shouldn’t be possible,” said Mitchell, who is gay. “I’ve been embracing it, but it’s also dangerous for people to use it hatefully.” — Mitchell, who discovered the anti-LGBT emoji He added that he was pleased to see queer people using the emoji ironically or for humorous purposes, but was worried about the potential harm it could do in the wrong hands. “I’ve been embracing it, but it’s also dangerous for people to use it hatefully,” he explained. Twitter users lash out at Apple as anti-LGBT emoji goes viral Many people have registered their displeasure with a clearly anti-LGBT emoji being used on Twitter. One person tweeted: ” ️‍ ⃠ Why ️‍ ⃠ does ️‍ ⃠ this ️‍ ⃠ exist ️‍ ⃠.” Another said: “Nobody: Apple: Y’all mind if I hit that ️‍ ⃠ ️‍ ⃠ ️‍ ⃠ ️‍ ⃠ ️‍ ⃠ ️‍ ⃠.” A different user said the emoji was equivalent to Apple creating a blackface emoji, writing: ” ️‍ ⃠ iphone emoti. U still gonna buy a iphone When will we get black face emoti.” And one tweeter commented: ” ️‍ ⃠. This new emoji is the anti-pride emoji. Sickening.” Discovery of anti-LGBT emoji comes after revelation of new gender neutral emojis on Apple phones Last month, the Unicode Consortium revealed that gender-inclusive emojis for couples who both don’t define as male or female will be coming to Apple and Android phones in 2019. The emojis for non-binary partners will be available in 16 different combinations of skin tone and are reportedly set to be rolled out by October this year. They are listed as “people holding hands,” and will be seen in the family category with the rest of the 230 new emojis, which were revealed on February 5. The move comes after gender neutral emojis were unveiled in 2017. The latest rollout of emojis also included various images representing disabled people, such as blind people using white canes, people in wheelchairs and guide dogs. However, though the new white heart emoji will please anyone who likes using emojis to represent the transgender flag, it won’t satisfy people who have long called for a transgender flag emoji. Despite users now being able to choose from thousands of emojis, the trans flag has never been officially approved for creation. In the Unicode Consortium’s sixth major emoji update since 2014, it still wasn’t present. The bisexual, lesbian, pansexual and asexual flags were also left out. The new emojis included a sloth, skunk, mechanical arm, ice cube, yo-yo and banjo, as well as a drop of blood—but still no LGBT+ flag emojis apart from the Pride flag.<doc-sep>An LGBTQ pride flag with a strikethrough symbol layered across it has appeared on Twitter. The presence of the emoji has caused a huge stir on social media, with users outraged at what is likely to be a glitch. Tweets about the emoji first appeared on the night of February 18. WHY IS THERE AN ANTI GAY FLAG EMOJI… IM SCREAMING ?️‍?⃠ ?️‍?⃠ ?️‍?⃠ ??? pic.twitter.com/PikdyxJAvn — Honey Lemon Daily (@rossleonardy) February 19, 2019 The homophobic emoji, which was referred to as the “no homo” emoji by Paper Magazine, appears to only work on mobile and not desktop. The mobile version puts the strikethrough on top of the pride flag while the desktop version puts the strikethrough after the flag. The emoji was not made by emoji creator Unicode. In a statement to Paper Magazine, a Twitter spokesperson said, “The way the emoji appears is due to Unicode presentation on iOS, and on its own is not a violation of our rules. However, if a user is targeted with this kind of emoji, and we have context that the intention is to shame, degrade, or harass based on membership (or perceived membership) in a protected category, we will action under our Hateful Conduct policies.” The glitch appears for users if they tweet the pride flag and “banned” together. A Twitter user name Mitchell, who has since changed his handle to reflect the fact that he discovered the glitch, says he discovered the glitch. Mitchell says that he had noticed the flaw a while back and only posted about it on February 19. Mitchell later told Out that he was “shocked” when discovered the flaw. He added, “It shouldn’t be possible. I’ve been embracing it, but it’s also dangerous for people to use it hatefully.” the church be like: we ?️‍?⃠ are ?️‍?⃠ not ?️‍?⃠ homophobic ?️‍?⃠ why ?️‍?⃠ would ?️‍?⃠ yall ?️‍?⃠ even ?️‍?⃠ think ?️‍?⃠ that ?️‍?⃠ haha ?️‍?⃠ silly ?️‍?⃠ gays ?️‍?⃠ — ?? ?･ﾟ☆ (@THNGYN) February 19, 2019 The fact that the emoji only appears on mobile should be worrying for Jack Dorsey and co., Omnicore says that 80 percent of Twitter users are on mobile. READ NEXT: Michigan School Teachers Admit to Making Adult Movies on the Side<doc-sep>The emoji began to go viral after one Twitter user shared it on social media. Grimace face emoji, crying laughing face emoji, monkey with hands over eyes. Have you seen the latest emoji that’s taking over Twitter? The easiest way to describe it is an LGBTQ+ pride flag with a strikethrough symbol over it. It’s not an official emoji, but it’s somehow taken over Twitter. The image is only visible on mobile — on desktops it renders as the LGBTQ+ pride flag followed by the strikethrough symbol, rather than rendering them one on top of the other. WHY IS THERE AN ANTI GAY FLAG EMOJI... IM SCREAMING ??? pic.twitter.com/PikdyxJAvn — Honey Lemon Daily (@rossleonardy) February 19, 2019 Several people took to Twitter to question the emoji’s origin, since it is not an official emoji, but rather seems to be an aberration or glitch. Out has contacted Apple for more information and we will update when we hear back. Apple trying to figure out who green light this emoji pic.twitter.com/R4JR5ZY2Jk — Blacksenseii (@Blacksenseii) February 19, 2019 When the tl gets asked where this emoji came from pic.twitter.com/xBOFJGoKSu — justin (@justinclemz) February 19, 2019 But queer people are nothing if not resilient and rather than let the anti-gay emoji be used against them, many have adopted it and started to make jokes about it on Twitter. me online: me with my parents: — Luis (@luisortiza13) February 19, 2019 gays obsessed w the emoji pic.twitter.com/LgswcV01UR — Worst Bastard Ever (@ComradeMinghao) February 19, 2019 Homophobes and homosexuals when they discovered the emoji pic.twitter.com/wsSb9A0mCB — Carlos Armando Rodriguez (@solracodnamra98) February 19, 2019 A recent Twitter moment compiled instances of the use of the emoji and traced it back to one Twitter user who first tweeted out the emoji Monday evening. According to the user, who changed his username to reflect that they had discovered the emoji, he discovered the flaw in Apple’s code and had known about it for some time. So i’m fucking around and i’ve known this for a while, so i decide to post it and tell ppl in a group chat (power move) to get people to know about it.... What then went down is history PERIODT pic.twitter.com/AQK23LjIM1 — mitchell (Discovered ) (@mioog) February 19, 2019 The user, whose real name is Mitchell, told Out in a direct message that he discovered the flaw a month ago and was “shocked.” He found the flaw by combining two unicode blocks to make one emoji. He said that the flaw raised his suspicion. “It shouldn’t be possible,” he says. Mitchell, who identifies as gay, said that he’s happy to see queer people use it ironically or humorously, but that he’s worried about the flip side. “I’ve been embracing it, but it’s also dangerous for people to use it hatefully,” he says. In a series of tweets, founder and editor in chief of Emojipedia Jeremy Burge explained that the anti-pride flag emoji is “not a glitch” and that it is “literally how that character works in combo with any emoji or character.” Burge also criticized Out as well as other outlets’ coverage of the emoji, asking media to frame the story in a more helpful way. In the past ~36h a flurry of tweets about this "new emoji" have surfaced. As always, it's not clear which people believe it is somehow a genuine emoji, and which are trying to troll with faux outrage https://t.co/Vx5pkunnJj — Jeremy Burge (@jeremyburge) February 19, 2019 In one tweet, Burge screenshotted a headline that reported that there was social media “outrage” over the emoji. “I get that not everyone can be an expert on everything but when it comes to hateful messages and trolling attempts to create a narrative that don't (yet) exist in the public sphere: perhaps take a bit more time before hitting publish on the article,” he wrote. - not a glitch - it's literally how that character works in combo with any emoji or character - if covering this, at least pick a helpful angle: "people have been duped into *thinking* there is a so-called 'anti-lgbt' emoji but there is not" pic.twitter.com/OIIlDStbFL — Jeremy Burge (@jeremyburge) February 20, 2019 This story has been updated to include a response from Jeremy Burge. RELATED | The Lobster Emoji Is Apparently a Trans Icon?<doc-sep>

An unofficial emoji showing a crossed-out pride flag has caused uproar online after going viral. The emoji is being used across social media to spread anti-LGBT messages and propaganda and has been christened the ‘no homo’ emoji. It was first discovered on February 18 and has been widely shared since. The ‘no homo’ emoji being shared online (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk) Rather than an official emoji created by the Unicode Consortium, this appears to be the result of a glitch in the display settings on mobile devices. While the image shows a pride flag followed by the ‘condemned’ sign on desktop, when viewed on a phone the sign appears over the flag. A Twitter user known as @mioog claims to have originally discovered it over a month ago. So i’m fucking around and i’ve known this for a while, so i decide to post it and tell ppl in a group chat (power move) to get people to know about it…. What then went down is history PERIODT pic.twitter.com/AQK23LjIM1 — mitchell (Discovered ?️‍?⃠) (@mioog) February 19, 2019 Speaking to LGBT site Out, @mioog said he was ‘shocked’ by the discovery and that it ‘shouldn’t be possible.’ Other social media users share his outrage that it’s even possible to create an ‘anti-gay’ emoji. WHY IS THERE AN ANTI GAY FLAG EMOJI… IM SCREAMING ?️‍?⃠ ?️‍?⃠ ?️‍?⃠ ??? pic.twitter.com/PikdyxJAvn — Honey Lemon Daily (@rossleonardy) February 19, 2019 I can’t believe the anti-LGBT flag emoji is real — Kini Caraan (@_k1n1) February 20, 2019 WHY ARE THERE ANTI LGBT EMOJIS WTF IS THAT ABOUT???? — robbie? (@dqncedqnce) February 20, 2019 Twitter is apparently aware of the emoji and is taking steps to banish it from the platform. ‘The way the emoji is appears is due to Unicode presentation on iOS, and on its own is not a violation of our rules,’ Twitter told Paper magazine. ‘However, if a user is targeted with this kind of emoji, and we have context that the intention is to shame, degrade, or harass based on membership (or perceived membership) in a protected category, we will action under our Hateful Conduct policies.’

On Tuesday, the Baseball Writers Association of America announced their 2019 Hall of Fame voting results. Four players were elected, including right-handed starters Mike Mussina and Roy Halladay. An important question has surfaced thereafter: Which hat will each's plaque bear -- the New York Yankees or the Baltimore Orioles for Mussina; the Toronto Blue Jays or the Philadelphia Phillies for Halladay? Mussina offered a standard, noncommittal response when asked for his preference on Tuesday, and still appeared undecided on Wednesday: Not that anyone asked us, but if Mussina did we'd tell him to rock the Orioles cap. Mussina spent the majority of his 18-year career with the Orioles, pitching in parts of 10 seasons and making 39 more appearances with the O's than he did in eight seasons with the Yankees. He also performed better with the Orioles, if you're going off ERA+ (130 versus 114) or WAR (47.8 versus 35.2). Sure, he pitched in more postseason games with the Yankees -- and enjoyed his sole 20-win season as part of New York's rotation -- but that's not enough for us. Of course, that doesn't mean Mussina and the Hall will see things the same way. Halladay, meanwhile, will have neither team of his two MLB teams on his Hall of Fame hat. Brandy Halladay announced Wednesday her late husband's plaque will feature a blank cap -- a means of honoring both the Jays and Phillies: Halladay spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Blue Jays before wrapping up his career with four seasons in Philadelphia. He didn't win a ring with the Phillies, but did throw a postseason no-hitter and clearly the time in Philly meant a great deal to him. As for the other inductees, both Edgar Martinez (Seattle Mariners) and Mariano Rivera (Yankees) played with just one franchise, making their cap decisions a lot easier.<doc-sep>Mariano Rivera sits down with SVP to describe the feeling of finding out he was the first player unanimously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. (0:41) Closer Mariano Rivera, designated hitter Edgar Martinez and starting pitchers Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina will be the newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rivera became the first player to be unanimously voted into the Hall, appearing on all 425 ballots. The four were voted in by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. Of the four, Halladay and Mussina were first-round draft picks, though only Mussina was touted for stardom from the start of his career. Before Rivera, the highest vote percentage to gain Hall entry belonged to Ken Griffey Jr. in 2016, when he received 99.3 percent (named on 437 of 440 ballots). "This was just beyond my imagination," Rivera said on a conference call with reporters. "Just to be considered a Hall of Famer is an honor, but to be unanimous is just amazing." Martinez, in his final year on the ballot, received 85.4 percent, culminating a late surge of support; he received just 27 percent four years ago, when his election felt like a remote possibility. Halladay, who died in 2017 when the plane he was piloting crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast, also received 85.4 percent of the vote, joining Rivera as a first-ballot inductee. Mussina received 76.7 percent of the vote, clearing the 75 percent threshold by seven votes. Curt Schilling received 60.9 percent of the votes, while Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds -- whose cases are muddied by steroid accusations -- continued to make small gains, up from 57.3 percent and 56.4 percent, respectively, in 2018 to 59.5 percent and 59.1 percent. They have three years remaining on the ballot. Fred McGriff made a leap on his final year on the ballot but fell short at 39.8 percent, and now he moves over to the Veterans Committee. Rivera signed for $3,000, was left unprotected in the 1993 expansion draft and struggled in his initial big league trial as a starter. Now he is not only a Hall of Famer, but the first player the BBWAA ever has unanimously elected. Hall of Fame voting results Receiving the necessary 75 percent of votes, four were announced Tuesday as the Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2019. Here are the results from the 425 ballots cast. Name Votes Pct. Mariano Rivera 425 100% Roy Halladay 363 85.4% Edgar Martinez 363 85.4% Mike Mussina 326 76.7% Curt Schilling 259 60.9% Roger Clemens 253 59.5% Barry Bonds 251 59.1% Larry Walker 232 54.6% Omar Vizquel 182 42.8% Fred McGriff 169 39.8% Manny Ramirez 97 22.8% Jeff Kent 77 18.1% Billy Wagner 71 16.7% Todd Helton 70 16.5% Scott Rolen 73 17.2% Gary Sheffield 58 13.6% Andy Pettitte 42 9.9% Sammy Sosa 36 8.5% Andruw Jones 32 7.5% Michael Young 9 2.1% Lance Berkman 5 1.2% Miguel Tejada 5 1.2% Roy Oswalt 4 0.9% Placido Polanco 2 0.5% Martinez signed for $4,000, hit .173 in his first minor league season and didn't get the opportunity to become a full-time starter in the majors until he was 27. He is now a Hall of Famer. The late Halladay was a first-round pick but was once so lost in the majors that he had to go all the way back down to Class A to rebuild himself as a pitcher. He is now a Hall of Famer. Mussina was an 11th-round pick out of Montoursville, Pennsylvania, in 1987, but he went to Stanford University and then was a first-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 1990. He is now a Hall of Famer. Rivera, Martinez, Halladay and Mussina will join Lee Smith and Harold Baines -- who were selected in December by the Today's Game Era Committee -- in a unique Hall of Fame class: two closers, two designated hitters and two starting pitchers, including one with 203 wins, the fewest for a starting pitcher since the Veterans Committee elected Addie Joss in 1978 with 160 wins. Tuesday's selections represent a much-beloved foursome: • Rivera, the greatest closer of all time with a record 652 saves over his 19-year career, helped the New York Yankees win five World Series titles, becoming one of the most iconic players in the storied history of the franchise. His postseason performance was even more remarkable than his regular-season dominance, finishing 8-1 with a 0.70 ERA over 96 appearances and 141 innings. He recorded 42 postseason saves -- including 14 of two innings. That's more two-inning saves than all other relievers combined in the postseason while Rivera was active. • Martinez spent his entire career with the Mariners, staying in Seattle and becoming a franchise icon while other stars -- Griffey, Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez -- left. Martinez won two batting titles and hit .312 with 309 home runs over 18 seasons. He is one of just six players who began their careers after World War II and retired with a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage. • Halladay finished 203-105 in his career with a 3.38 ERA, playing 12 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and the final four with the Philadelphia Phillies. He won two Cy Young Awards, one with each franchise, finished second two other times, threw a perfect game and tossed a no-hitter for the Phillies in the 2010 National League Division Series against the Cincinnati Reds. He also was one of the last great workhorses. During his peak from 2003 to 2011, he threw 61 complete games -- 30 more than the No. 2 guy (CC Sabathia). • Mussina played 18 seasons, 10 with the Orioles and eight with the Yankees. He compiled a 270-153 record with a 3.68 ERA and 2,813 strikeouts. Mussina was a five-time All-Star and earned seven Gold Gloves. He never won a Cy Young Award, finishing second in 1999 behind the Boston Red Sox's Pedro Martinez. play 0:38 Martinez gets the Hall of Fame call Edgar Martinez receives the news that he has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. More than anything, however, these four players are a testament to hard work and perseverance -- and even a little good fortune. The Yankees left Rivera, then a Class A player who had suffered an elbow injury, exposed in the 1993 expansion draft. The Marlins were reportedly set to take him, but the Rockies selected Brad Ausmus, meaning the Yankees couldn't lose any more players. The Yankees also nearly traded Rivera to the Mariners after Rivera posted a 5.51 ERA as a rookie in 1995. Instead, the Yankees moved him to the bullpen and one day in 1997, while playing catch with Ramiro Mendoza, his ball suddenly started moving. He had found his famous cutter. "Mariano was a fierce competitor and a humble champion, which has made him such a beloved baseball legend," said Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner. "Success and stardom never changed Mariano, and his respect for the game, the pinstripes and for his teammates and opponents alike makes this day such a celebration of his legacy. There will be many more great and talented relief pitchers, but there will never be another like him." The Yankees didn't even wait until Rivera's final game to retire his No. 42 -- he was the last player in the major leagues to wear that number, grandfathered to him when No. 42 was retired in honor of Jackie Robinson in 1997. "Wearing No. 42, representing Jackie Robinson, I assume he was the first No. 42 elected,'' Rivera said. "To be the last No. 42 elected to the Hall of Fame, and unanimously, is amazing.'' Rivera and Smith will be the seventh and eighth relievers in the Hall, joining Hoyt Wilhelm (1985), Rollie Fingers (1992), Dennis Eckersley (2004), Bruce Sutter (2006), Rich Gossage (2008) and Trevor Hoffman (2018). Martinez spent most of three seasons in Triple-A, hitting .344 over 276 games. The Mariners wouldn't give him a full-time job. When Darnell Coles made a bunch of errors at third base early in 1990, Martinez finally got the chance to play.<doc-sep>Mariano Rivera was elected unanimously to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but it’s safe to say his former Yankees teammate Mike Mussina isn’t as universally loved. On Wednesday’s episode of The Michael Kay Show on ESPN-New York radio, the host shared the reasons for his distaste for Mussina, who went 123-72 over eight seasons in The Bronx as part of his 18-year MLB career that culminated in being voted into Cooperstown on Tuesday. Of course, it was personal. “He had just pitched a great game at the Stadium,” Kay said, recalling an incident to guest Trey Wingo without giving any time frame. “The team was in Cleveland the next day, I wanted a three-minute interview and he acted like I asked for his first-born son. So at the end of the interview, which was very painful — 10-second pauses between questions and answer — I said, ‘You know what Mike, this is obviously too painful for you. I will never, ever interview you again. You could pitch a perfect game. I wouldn’t interview you.’ And I never spoke to him again.” Kay — who also broadcasts Yankees game on the YES network — didn’t need to be on speaking terms with Mussina to have another angle on his diatribe, either. “The fact that Mussina gets in, to me, that’s one of the first pure analytical guys to get in because they don’t care about wins,” Kay said. “So the fact that he hit 270 [wins] doesn’t matter. They looked at the other numbers, the fact it was the steroid era … but, here’s my problem with Mussina getting in, not that he’s not a Hall of Famer, who do you want starting a game to save you life: Curt Schilling or Mike Mussina?” “I would probably take Curt Schilling in that situation,” Wingo admitted. Schilling, a controversial name on the ballot, saw his voting percentage jump almost 10 points to 60.9 percent, but still fell short of the 75 percent needed for entry. “Right!” Kay said. “Same thing with Andy Pettitte, same thing with David Cone, who didn’t last more than one year on the ballot. I don’t understand their thinking sometime. “It does make me wonder why, over years, people decide to … five years ago, only 20 percent of the electorate picked Mike Mussina. Now, it was 76 percent five years later. He didn’t win any more games.”<doc-sep>

Mike Mussina should go into the Hall of Fame as a Yankee. Out of deference to Baltimore. The Great Plaque Debate of 2019 comes down to the two teams in question and their respective identities and histories. And the fact the Orioles hold a considerably higher bar for immortality than do the Yankees, and Mussina — through no fault of his own — struggles to clear the former and easily surpasses the latter. The caustic Mussina, in fine form at Wednesday’s Hall of Fame news conference after living off the radar for most of the last decade, whined with a wink when asked for a second straight day whether he had decided what team’s logo, if any, would be on his plaque. “No,” he answered flatly, pausing for effect, before elaborating: “Obviously, the situation is unique. I almost split my career down the middle between the two organizations. Right now, I couldn’t sit here and choose between one or the other. They were both instrumental to me sitting here. “We’ve got a little bit of time here to talk it over with the Hall of Fame and with the people there. I think we’ll come to the right decision, whatever it is.” As Mussina indicated, he doesn’t get to decide alone; the Hall owns approval rights. The right-hander’s vote will go a long way, however, given the extended time he spent with both clubs — 10 years with the Orioles and eight with the Yankees. As he contemplates this matter, he should take a tour of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Walk a lap around the game’s best ballpark, and you’ll see statues of six revered Orioles: Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Cal Ripken Jr., Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson and Earl Weaver. If you can gain access to the press box, you’ll see a wonderful photo of that beloved sextet together, wearing Orioles caps, at a Hall induction ceremony in Cooperstown. They are the only people with Orioles caps in the Hall. Would Mussina belong in a theoretical group photo (Weaver died in 2013) to make it a Magnificent Seven? Does his time in Charm City merit a statue? The answer to both questions would be yes if he had remained an Oriole for the entirety of his career and finished with similar numbers. And Mussina surely would’ve stayed put had the O’s not imploded in the late 1990s and beyond. No intelligent person blames Mussina for jumping that doomed ship at age 32 and joining the Yankees after the 2000 campaign. With the Yankees, Mussina became the rare sound investment for what was a huge contract (six years and $88.5 million) at the time. He played a huge role in steering the Yankees to seven playoff appearances and two American League pennants in eight years. When a reporter asked Mussina and his fellow electees Mariano Rivera and Edgar Martinez to name their career highlights, Mussina identified two, both with the Yankees: his outstanding relief appearance in 2003 AL Championship Series in the legendary Game 7 and the last start of his career, in which he became a 20-game winner for the first time. The Yankees, by virtue of their ultra-successful history as well as George Steinbrenner’s predilection for honoring his many favorite warriors, can’t fit all of their “legends” in one photo. You can find 19 interlocking NYs at the Hall, with Rivera set to become number 20. And then there’s Monument Park, which currently features 37 Yankees executives, managers and players, including Rivera. If Mussina didn’t get a ring with the Yankees, he nevertheless matched or exceeded the value provided by worthy occupants such as Reggie Jackson, Goose Gossage, Tino Martinez and Paul O’Neill. For the Yankees, Mussina represents an excellent investment who earned his keep and kept the good times going. For the Orioles, unfortunately, Mussina represents glory lost due to incompetence well above his pay grade. This is written with a soft spot for Baltimore sports. I have family there and know how much Baltimoreans cherish their teams and their icons. Maybe a no-logo cap (like Yogi Berra’s, oddly) would be less painful for Orioles fans than the hated Yankees? An Orioles cap, though, just wouldn’t feel right for a player who registered his greatest memories elsewhere and a franchise that takes its history so seriously.

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 27: Kemba Walker #15 of the Charlotte Hornets prepares for their game against the Chicago Bulls at Spectrum Center on February 27, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Cavs draft rumors involving an apparent smokescreen aimed at the Hornets, plus updates on Kemba Walker, Kevin Love and Michael Porter. 1. In Cavs draft rumors, it sure looks like Cleveland is trying to entice the Charlotte Hornets into a trade. The discussion, which has a very smoke-screeny feel to it, is centered around Kentucky point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Who? Exactly. OK, to be fair to Gilgeous-Alexander, people know who he is, but there’s a lot of people who don’t. He certainly hasn’t been tied to the Cavs until now. The Hornets and Clippers reportedly like Gilgeous-Alexander, which is interesting because the Cavs have been linked to Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker, who has one year and $12 million remaining on his current contract. How can the Cavs take Gilgeous-Alexander when Trae Young or Collin Sexton might still be available? One theory has Cleveland sending Kevin Love and the eighth pick to the Hornets for the 11th pick and Walker. The notion of trading down isn’t something new, although there’s a case to be made against it. Fortunately we won’t have to wait much longer to find out. 2. Some NBA Draft rumors have centered around the Cavs moving up, possibly taking on the fourth pick and Chandler Parsons‘ $24 million contract for next season off Memphis’ hands. The Grizzlies are getting a lot of calls from teams desiring the fourth pick, but the organization reportedly doesn’t like any proposals. 3. Luca Doncic, who was the EuroLeague MVP at 19 years old, is perhaps the most intriguing prospect in the draft. He can’t legally buy a beer in the US for two more years, yet he’s already won everything there is to win in Europe. He’s considered to be a better version of Manu Ginobli, which is pretty good company. But which team will take the plunge and draft him and how does his selection impact the Cavs? ESPN’s Brian Windhorst told his audience to keep an eye out on the No. 2 pick, which belongs to the Kings. Windhorst: What you really want to watch is the 2nd pick. If the Kings take Luka Doncic, everything goes in order. I think the #Cavs have a choice of Wendell Carter or Collin Sexton. If they don't, Doncic could slide to 5. The #Cavs could get trade offers or get jumped. — ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 19, 2018 Ideally, Cleveland would be proactive and try to jump up and get him he if he falls. 4. Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon wrote the Cavaliers would love to select Michael Porter at No. 8. Porter’s my favorite player in this draft you know the wrap about big guys with bad backs. Now, Porter’s got hip problems, although he says the injury as been “Exaggerated.” 5. Will Kevin Love be a Cav next season? Portland could be a possibility. Also, hearing Kevin Love's name thrown out a lot. I will be surprised if he is a Cav next season. One team I would watch for is Portland with Lillard or McCollum as pieces to target. — Probasketballdraft (@Probballdraft) June 19, 2018 Love, along with the eighth pick, are the only two assets the Cavs have to get better. If he’s still on the roster by mid-July, it will be a surprise. What’s your dream draft scenario?<doc-sep>Following the 2018 NBA Draft, one thing is almost crystal clear: the Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets are set up perfectly for a blockbuster trade. Over the last few days, the Cleveland Cavaliers have continued to be at the forefront of trade rumors, yet the most likely scenario where they keep their pick and analyze their position following the draft was the one that actually happened. However, just a few hundred miles down the road, the Charlotte Hornets have been not so silently blowing their team up. They traded Dwight Howard for a few second rounds picks and Timofey Mozgov. They’ve done this to clear cap, enhance their culture, and allow their younger players to showcase their skill. That’s where the Cavs-Hornets scenario stood coming into the draft night. While rumors had been swirling, it hadn’t seemed like an actual proposal had been reported. That didn’t stop Charlotte from making significant trades on draft night. Needless to say, prior to the draft, Charlotte seemed enamored with both Collin Sexton and Shai Gilegous-Alexander. Well, the Cavaliers drafted Sexton with the No. 8 pick. The Hornets got their desired player with the No. 11 pick, drafting SGA. Quickly after, the Hornets traded for Bridges, sending away SGA and a few second rounds. Oddly enough, Bridges was drafted No. 12. The Hornets could’ve just drafted Bridges at No. 11 if they wanted him badly enough. Instead, they might get their point guard through the Cavaliers. Maybe. That said, let’s recap. The Hornets got the point guard many thought they wanted yet traded him away, securing a capable small forward. Interesting. On top of the Hornets trading for a small forward, the rumored trade scenarios that have featured Charlotte and Cleveland have also generally included Nicolas Batum, Charlotte’s starting small forward who signed a 5-year, $120 million contract and still has four years remaining. This perfectly set up the Cleveland Cavaliers to deal Sexton, Hill, and Tristan Thompson for Walker and Batum, getting Cleveland their star while clear Charlotte of a long and unneeded contract. For Charlotte, they replenish their frontcourt, get their desired guard in Sexton, and take on Hill’s contract. Hill, who signed a huge contract last offseason, is due to just $1 million in his last contractual season, the 2019-2020 season. As for Cleveland, they bring a developed point guard to Cleveland. The ball is in the Cavs court. They must make a move to replace the lost production for trading James’ superstar teammate Kyrie Irving. James and the Cavaliers were one solid piece away from actually competing with Golden State this season, but with an offense as predictable as Kevin Durant‘s burner accounts, the Cavaliers need change. At the end of the day, the 2018 NBA Draft set both teams up for this NBA-shaking trade. The Cavaliers return to the beasts of the East again while Charlotte can start a full rebuild. It seems too perfect not to happen.<doc-sep>It looks like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does not want to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst, SGA is doing his best to avoid landing in Cleveland when the 2018 NBA Draft kicks off. “I know Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting up draft boards but from what I can tell, it doesn’t seem like he wants to play for the Cavs,” said Windhorst. “He patently refused to work out for them, in fact made a point to tell them he didn’t want to be there.” This is an odd development for a guy who was widely projected to be selected in the top 10 with Cleveland being a logical landing spot. They have a major need at point guard, and SGA will likely be the best one available there, not to mention he’ll arguably be the best player available of any position. However, the Cavs are likely losing LeBron James in free agency this offseason, and their franchise has a long history of futility without James.Perhaps SGA isn't confident that cleveland will be a good place for him to develop and become the best version of himself while also being a respectable team that contends for the playoffs. Whatever the case may be, let’s just hope this doesn’t come back to bite SGA. It does sound like the lowest he’ll go is 11th to the Charlotte Hornets, where he could team up with former Kentucky Wildcats Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Malik Monk. UK fans would love to see that happen.<doc-sep>

The pre-NBA Draft trade that sent Dwight Howard from the Charlotte Hornets to the Brooklyn Nets could have ramifications for the Cleveland Cavaliers. On the eve of the NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets made a trade, albeit not one with the Cleveland Cavaliers. At least not yet. Sending Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets for Timofey Mozgov, Charlotte appears to be beginning the process of a much-needed rebuild; in the exchange of the two centers, the Hornets will cut nearly $8 million from their 2018-19 payroll. In the long-term, however, Charlotte is taking on money in the trade, which suggests another move for Michael Jordan's team is possibly in the works. Dating back to this past NBA trade deadline, the Hornets have been linked the Cavs, with rumors only picking back up following Cleveland's four-game exit from the NBA Finals. As the Cavs look to bolster their roster in an effort to retain LeBron James, Charlotte presents the rare trade partner who might be willing to part with its star-caliber players. Earlier this week, Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon reported Cleveland has taken an interest in Kemba Walker, an All-Star point guard who could help fill the void in the Cavs backcourt left by Kyrie Irving. Although Walker recently became the Hornet's all-time leading scorer -- doing so against the Cavs -- Charlotte has only made the playoffs twice and has yet to finish higher than sixth in the Eastern Conference since drafting the UConn product in 2011. With one year remaining on the 2-time All-Star's contract, there stands reason to believe the Hornets will shop Walker this summer in an effort to jumpstart their rebuild. A partnership between Cleveland and Charlotte possesses the potential to be mutually beneficial. While adding Walker could potentially aid the Cavs in re-signing James, Cleveland possesses assets -- the No. 8 pick in Thursday's draft and expiring contracts -- which could help the Hornets tear their roster down while simultaneously infusing it with youth. One trade that's already been floated around is a deal in which Cleveland would acquire Walker and Nicolas Batum in exchange for Jordan Clarkson, J.R. Smith, Ante Zizic and the No. 8 pick. Another variation, suggested by Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz, would see the Cavs send George Hill and the No. 8 pick to Charlotte for Walker and Marvin Williams. Whatever the deal might be, don't expect this to be the last time the Cavs are linked to Charlotte in the coming days.

The new Drake album features a verse from Michael Jackson Interesting choice. Drake doesn't exactly need to do much promoting for his albums. Advertisement He just puts them out, and people listen. But for his new album Scorpion, he has done something that is sure to get people talking. He has got the King of Pop on one of the choruses. Obviously the album is out less than 24 hours at the time of writing, so it's hard to get a full grasp of how it will be received in the future, but if Drake's previous work is anything to go by, we've got a damn good record on our hands. Scorpion is 25 songs in length, with one half of the album being hip-hop based, and the other having a more R&B style. Undoubtedly, one of the best efforts on the album has a feature from none other than the King of Pop - Michael Jackson. And it's not some verse off one of his old albums, it's actually some never-heard before footage. Advertisement How cool is that? The song is called 'Don't Matter To Me', and you can listen to it here. It's a pretty brave move getting Michael Jackson to sing the chorus on one of your songs, nine years after the iconic star's death. Drake could even be alluding to something a lot more meaningful by doing this. Michael Jackson is quite commonly referred to as the greatest artist of all time. The GOAT. A term that is thrown around quite a lot lately. Advertisement Is Drake subtly telling us that he should be mentioned in the GOAT conversation? Or are we reading too much into it? Probably the latter to be honest. Definitely a good song though.<doc-sep>Drake's latest album Scorpion, which he released on Friday, is a smashing success. The 31-year-old rapper's album broke the global record on Spotify for the most streams ever for individual tracks - at 132, 450, 203, according to Variety. The news comes after Michael Jackson's nephew Austin Brown spoke out about Drake using his uncle's unreleased track as a sample on one of his songs,TMZ reports. Drake's album broke the global record on Spotify for the most streams ever for individual tracks on an album - at 132, 450, 203, according to Variety; the rapper pictured on Friday night celebrating the release of his album at Elleven in Miami Austin told the outlet that he's 'not ok with him' using it, adding that 'if he [Michael] didn't finish it, you shouldn't use it.' Adding that while he 'respects' Drake, he wouldn't have done it if it was him. Austin, who is the son of Rebbie Jackson, told TMZ his thoughts on it on Friday while out in Hollywood. The song was a tune Michael had worked on before his hit single Thriller. Star: The news comes after Michael Jackson's nephew Austin Brown spoke out Drake using his uncle's unreleased track as a sample on one of his songs, TMZ reports Drake latest album Scorpion, which he released on Friday, is a smashing success; seen at his release party in Miami at E11even night club in Miami Variety writes that fellow rapper Post Malone had previously set a record on Spotify with his Beerbongs & Bentleys album, which was streamed worldwide 78,744,748 times. Drake broke that record with 132,450,203 streams of his album's individual tracks, Variety reports. The website also noted that on Apple Music, Scorpion was streamed 170 million times on Friday. Speaking out: Austin (pictured) told the outlet that he's 'not ok with it' him, adding that 'if he didn't finish it, you shouldn't use it' Drake's last release - More Life - in 2017 had 89.9 million streams on the first day. Variety said that the results were from SpotfiyCharts.com but noted that a Spotify rep said that the data may not be 'fully accurate.' Scorpion was the number one album on Apple Music charts in 92 countries on Friday, they reported. Icon: Drake raps and sings along to the Jackson tune, which is similar to the late King Of Pop's 2014 song, Love Never Felt So Good that was turned into a duet with Justin Timberlake Confirmation: Drake has ended months of speculation and finally confirmed he has fathered a son with French former adult movie star Sophie Brussaux, also known as Rosie Divine Drake also finally confirmed on the tune Emotionless that he did in fact father a son with French former adult movie star Sophie Brussaux. The musician who became a father in October 2017 - sang in the tune: 'Speaking about his experience of fatherhood, he revealed: 'I wasn't hiding my kid from the world/I was hiding the world from my kid. "Breakin' news in my life I don't run to the blogs/ The only ones I wanna tell are the ones I can call.' Referencing former fling Sophie, the Take Care hitmaker admitted the pair have only actually met on two occasions. He added: 'I had to come to terms with the fact that it’s not a maybe. That s*** is in stone, sealed and signed. 'She's not my lover like Billie Jean, but the kid is mine. S***, we only met two times.' At the end of May, Pusha-T had stirred up a firestorm of rumors on his Drake diss track, The Story of Adidon, in which he alleged that Drake was hiding a son from the world. Here she is: Sophie as her adult movie alter-ego Rosee Divine clearly caught Drake's attention Parents: Brussaux, a former adult film star, was spotted with Drake in January 2017 following his split from Jennifer Lopez Proof: In May 2017, she claimed she was three pregnant with Drake’s child and hired two major New York City attorneys to begin the proceedings to prove paternity and seek child support The song also includes lyrics about the difficulties of being a single dad to a child who lives with his mother in a different country. 'I'm out here on frontlines just trying to make sure I see him sometimes. It's breaking my spirit. "Single father" I hate when I hear it.' 'I challenged my parents on every album, now I'm embarrassed to tell them I'm a co-parent. 'Always promised a family unit. I wanted it to be different because I've been through it,' the Canadian recording artist rapped. Brussaux, a former adult film star, was spotted with Drake in January 2017 following his split from Jennifer Lopez. WHO IS SOPHIE BRUSSAUX? Born in France in 1990, Sophie is currently a social media star who lives in New York and focuses on her artwork. She was formerly known as Rosee Divine, the name she used when she appeared in adult films. On her website, it claimed that: ‘Since her younger years she’s been travelling and studying abroad, which greatly influenced her art. She exhibited in cities like NYC, Milan, and London. Her style is a mix of surrealism and symbolism with influences of pop art. Back in 2017, Sophie was identified as the brunette spending time with Drake during his time in Amsterdam around the same time he was linked to Jennifer Lopez. The pair were pictured laughing and nibbling on food at a restaurant with a group of friends and it was not clear whether or not the meeting was on romantic terms. Advertisement In May 2017, she claimed she was three-and-a-half months pregnant with Drake’s child and hired two major New York City attorneys to begin the proceedings to prove paternity and seek child support, TMZ reported at the time. However, in May, a rep for Drake denied the child was his. They told TMZ at the time that the rumours were not true and asserted that the woman has a 'very questionable background.' The retired porn star released text messages between the two that reportedly shows Drake telling Sophie to have an abortion, although Drake's rep says he cannot confirm the validity of the texts. 'I can't kill my baby simply to indulge you sorry,' she allegedly responded. Drake purportedly asks her: 'Do you know what you're doing you think you're going to get money?' She documented her pregnancy and has shared photos of her baby on her Instagram. Born in France in 1990, Sophie is a social media star who lives in New York and focuses on her artwork. She was formerly known as Rosee Divine, the name she used when she appeared in adult films. Hitmaker: The musician posted a track list to his Instagram and the tenth track on the B side is listed as: Don't Matter To Me (ft. Michael Jackson)<doc-sep>The long-awaited new album by Drake has arrived. “Scorpion” clocks in at 25 tracks, 12 on side A and 13 on side B, and features guest appearances by Jay-Z (“Talk Up”), Static Major and Ty Dolla Sign (“After Dark”) and a previously unreleased vocal by Michael Jackson which leads the hook to the song “Don’t Matter to Me.” Credited elsewhere on the album are Nicki Minaj, Future and Paul Anka, the 76-year-old crooner known for classics like “Puppy Love” and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” and a longtime collaborator of Jackson’s. The album also seems to confirm rumors that Drake has fathered a son, acknowledging his newborn child in several tracks including “Emotionless” and “March 14.” Among the revelations, Drake raps, “I wasn’t hiding my kid from the world, I was hiding the world from my kid,” “Kiss my son on the forehead” and “The kid is mine.” Other references include lyrics about George Zimmerman and Malcolm X. Within an hour of its release, “Scorpion” shot up to No. 1 on the iTunes chart and on Apple Music. Spotify users, however, had to wait more than three hours until it was available on the streaming service. On Friday, Spotify will host a campaign across the platform in which Drake will take over several playlists, including popular hip-hop destination Rap Caviar. Three hours after its midnight ET release, the album was not yet available on Amazon in digital or physical formats but came online by 1 a.m. PT. It is expected to be at all digital providers on June 29. The industry is keeping a close eye on Drake’s out-the-gate streaming numbers and how “Scorpion” will compare to the year’s biggest mover Post Malone, which saw 385 million streams of his album “Beerbongs & Bentleys” in its first week out. The album was produced by Noah “40” Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib and features additional credits for No I.D., PARTYNEXTDOOR, Boi-1da, Stefflon Don, Murda Beatz, James Fauntleroy and nineteen85, among many others. See the full list at Complex.<doc-sep>

His highly anticipated new album Scorpion officially drops Friday. And on Thursday, Drake dropped a last minute bombshell by suggesting one of the tracks is, in fact, a previously unreleased song by Michael Jackson. He posted a track list to his Instagram and the tenth track on the B side is listed as: Don't Matter To Me (FT. Michael Jackson). Surprise: Drake dropped a last minute bombshell Thursday by suggesting one of the tracks on his Scorpion album, out Friday is, in fact, a previously unreleased song by Michael Jackson Listed: The rapper posted a track list to his Instagram and the tenth track on the B side is listed as: Don't Matter To Me (FT. Michael Jackson According to TMZ, Drake raps and sings along to the Jackson tune. The website's sources also claim it's similar to the 2014 Jackson song, Love Never Felt So Good that was turned into a duet with Justin Timberlake. The Jackson collaboration isn't the only collaboration on the album. The 11th track on the A-side Talk Up features Jay-Z while track 11 on the B-side features Static Major and Ty Dolla Sign. Icon: According to TMZ , Drake raps and sings along to the Jackson tune. The website also claim it's similar to the late King Of Pop's 2014 song, Love Never Felt So Good that was turned into a duet with Justin Timberlake New release: Drake announced in April that he planned to release his fifth studio album in June. He has since been relatively quiet about the album Drake announced in April that he planned to release his fifth studio album in June. He has since been relatively quiet about the album. He hinted it would be a double album when he shared photos on social media photos of billboards across Toronto, Canada, that read: 'A Side B Side' and 'Is there more'. Then, three days ago, he posted a cinematic trailer for the project on social media. It shows Drake pacing the grounds of a luxurious water-front home, driving one of his vehicles and laying down verses in the studio. It didn't though, feature any of his music.

The Eagles have a bit of a scare when Lane Johnson goes down for a couple moments and has to come off. It looks like he'll be fine, though, because he tried to get back onto the field without sitting out. The refs catch him, so Stefen Wisniewski gets a snap. The Eagles drive sputters and they settle for a 30-yard field goal from Jake Elliott to go up by three touchdowns. Daniel Gallen<doc-sep>The NFC East, right now, is the worst division in football. None of the division's four teams are above .500 as of this writing, as Washington is sitting in first place with a 2-2 record. All four teams have a negative point differential, and none of them has a unit ranked in the top 10 in efficiency on either side of the ball. On Thursday night, two of those four teams will battle it out to see if they can at least salvage the early part of their season. The defending champion Philadelphia Eagles are just 2-3 heading into their showdown with the New York Giants, and they're only 1-2 since getting star quarterback Carson Wentz back on the field. The team's defense has fallen off significantly from a year ago, and the offense has been dealing with a spate of injuries. New York's defense has been even worse than Philly's and while the offense has not dealt with a ton of injuries, it has not exactly experienced much in the way of success, either. Can the Eagles right the ship and propel themselves back into the playoff picture? Can the Giants save their season from falling over the edge? We'll find out Thursday night (8:20 p.m., NFL Network, Fox). Here's what to look out for. What NFL picks can you make with confidence in Week 6? And what Super Bowl contender goes down hard? Visit SportsLine to see which NFL teams are winning more than 50 percent of simulations, all from the model that has beaten 98 percent of experts over the past two years. When the Giants have the ball This offseason, the Giants made a big, bold move to improve their offense. Picking No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft, the Giants chose to pass on a quarterback who could become the successor to Eli Manning and instead selected Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, reasoning that Barkley's spectacular talent would be enough to lift the play of everyone around him. General manager Dave Gettleman mocked analytics and those who believe that running backs are not valuable enough players to be picked at No. 2 overall, and the Giants exuded confidence that Barkley would transform their team. To Barkley's credit, he has been every bit as good as the Giants envisioned. Through five games, Barkley has racked up 308 yards on the ground and 274 through the air. That makes him one of just four players in the league with at least 300 rushing yards and at least 200 receiving yards this season. He's also the first player in NFL history to reach those marks within the first five games of his career. Much of Barkley's production, though, has come via big plays as opposed to consistent gains. In other words, Barkley has been gobbled up near the line of scrimmage fairly often, but he's boosted his overall numbers with explosive gains. Indeed, Barkley has six runs of 15 yards or more already this season, including a 68-yard touchdown on opening day. But he's also gained two or fewer yards on 43 of his 71 carries. As such, his success rate of 38 percent ranks 31st among the 38 players with at least 40 rushes this season, per Football Outsiders. Additionally, because Barkley's 274 receiving yards have come on 31 catches, he has not been quite as valuable a receiving back as one might initially believe. That 8.84 yards per reception figure ranks 12th among players with at least 10 catches so far this season, for example. But even if Barkley has not been quite as extraordinary as he might appear on first glance, he has still been quite good. More concerning for the Giants is that he appears to have had little or no effect on the overall quality of the team's offense. The Giants clearly expected him to be a rising tide that lifted all boats, and that simply has not happened. The New York offense is nearly as inept this year as it has been for the last two. The Giants rank 25th in yards per game this season and 23rd in points per game. They have 10 offensive touchdowns in five games -- a figure that exceeds only five teams, one of which has played only four games. Odell Beckham is averaging 7.8 catches per game, the highest mark of his career ... but he's also averaging a career-low 11.8 yards per reception and he's found the end zone just once in five games. Sterling Shepard's 10.9 yards per reception figure represents a steep drop from last year's mark of 12.4 per reception as well. Eli Manning's overall passing figures are up a bit, though largely because his 2017 season was so terrible. (Manning is averaging an adjusted yards per attempt figure of 6.18, which is worse than the figures he posted in 2014, 2015, and 2016 but better than his dreadful 2017 campaign.) Manning's also been sacked on 7.9 percent of his drop backs, and the offensive line appears to still be a disaster even after the offseason signing of left tackle Nate Solder and the jettisoning of former first-round pick Ereck Flowers, who was released earlier this week. The Giants may have a pretty decent chance to get their offense going Thursday night, however, because Philadelphia's pass defense has been much more friendly to the opposition than it was a year ago. Eagles opponents are averaging 7.4 yards per attempt and have a passer rating of 96.5. The Eagles have been destroyed by No. 2 receivers in particular, with Football Outsiders ranking them 31st in DVOA against No. 2's. Cornerback Jalen Mills has struggled badly, yielding a 128.0 passer rating on throws in his direction, according to Sports Info Solutions. Of the five Eagles defenders who have been targeted at least 10 times in coverage, three of them are allowing a passer rating of 100 or higher. When the Eagles have the ball The Eagles will be without Jay Ajayi for not just this game, but the rest of the year. That means the team will likely not play a single game all season with their entire running backs corps at full strength. Ajayi will be replaced on Thursday by the combination of Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood, with the possibility of rookie Josh Adams mixing in for some work as well. That trio filled in for Ajayi against the Colts a few weeks ago and faired pretty well. Combined, they carried the ball 32 times for 142 yards and caught six passes for another 54 yards. That game was Carson Wentz's first after returning from ACL surgery late last season, and it was also his worst game so far. Wentz has looked better with reach passing week, seeing his yards per attempt figure climb (6.9, 7.0, 8.9) along with his passer rating (84.9, 99.4, 115.3) as he's settled back into the role. Wentz is completing a career-best 67.2 percent of his passes and his overall yards per attempt figure is now right in line with where it was last year, when he was an inner-circle MVP candidate. His touchdown rate has dropped off from the huge spike it took last season, but he's also only thrown one interception on 122 pass attempts. Wentz's receiving corps is at least healthy, even if his backs aren't. Alshon Jeffery missed the few weeks of the season, but has been back on the field for the past two. He provides an element that neither tight end Zach Ertz or No. 2 receiver Nelson Agholor can, with his ability to stretch the field vertically from the perimeter. Ertz does the same kind of thing from the inside, but Agholor is almost exclusively an underneath receiver at this point, even with Doug Pederson's creative offensive design moving him around the formation. (Agholor is averaging an insanely-low 7.3 yards per reception. Among the 84 receivers with 10-plus catches this season, that figure ranks 82nd ahead of only Chris Conley and Ryan Switzer.) Interestingly, the Giants' pass defense this season has been weakest against No. 1 receivers like Jeffery (27th in DVOA) and interior receivers like Agholor (28th). Wide receivers lined up in the slot have caught 27 of 39 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown against the Giants, good for a 107.2 passer rating. Tight ends haven't been as big a problem for the Giants' pass defense as they were a year ago, when they seemingly allowed every tight end they played against to score, but they did allow four catches for 87 yards to Texans tight ends, four catches for 86 yards to Saints tight ends, and another three catches for 38 yards to Panthers rookie tight end Ian Thomas. Their other two games came against the Jaguars and Cowboys, whose tight ends are not significant parts of their offense. Zach Ertz essentially is the Eagles' passing game, so this will be a different kind of test for New York's safeties and linebackers. The Eagles might initially find more success running the ball against New York, as the Giants have allowed at least 118 rushing yards in four of their five games and are yielding 4.6 yards per carry. The Giants are getting Olivier Vernon back for this game, which should help, but they need to get better tackling when players break through to the second level so they don't give up quite as many medium and long-gaining runs. The duo of Smallwood and Clement doesn't necessarily command as much defensive respect as Ajayi, but they are capable players and if you give the Eagles light boxes, they are fully capable of breaking through. That would be far more difficult, though, if Lane Johnson -- a late addition to the injury report -- does not play. A Johnson absence would also have an adverse effect on Wentz, who struggled badly when his tackle was out during his rookie season. Prediction: Eagles 24, Giants 13<doc-sep>

The Eagles smoked the Giants in Week 6 and brought an end to the streak of exciting games on Thursday Night Football. Though, Giants running back Saquon Barkley was reason enough to watch a blowout. The Eagles won 34-13, but Barkley recorded 229 yards from scrimmage. Even as a member of the losing team, Barkley had an unbelievable game in which he became the seventh player in NFL history to record 10 yards per rush, 10 yards per catch, 90 rushing yards, and 90 receiving yards in a singular game, per Pro Football Reference. Let’s take a by-the-numbers look at the game, which features quite a lot on Barkley’s big performance in the Giants’ losing effort. 3: The number of seconds in the game before the first reviewed play of the night. Jawill Davis nearly fumbled on the game-opening kickoff return, but upon review it was determined he had an elbow down before the ball slipped out. It wasn’t long before the Eagles did in fact get the ball as ... 2: It was on just the second pass of the game from Eli Manning that the Giants quarterback threw an interception. Eagles linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill returned the ball 24 yards, setting up the Eagles on the Giants’ 16-yard line. They would go on to score a touchdown three plays later to take an early 7-0 lead. 46: Yards on an awesome first-quarter Barkley run. The one play accounted for more yards than every other first-quarter play for the Giants combined. New York was only able to score three points on the drive on a 33-yard field goal from Aldrick Rosas. 55: Yards on another unbelievable catch and run from Barkley in which he basically made every Eagles defender miss a tackle. 2004: The last Giants player who had a 40-yard rush and 40-yard reception in the same game, as Barkley did on Thursday, was running back Tiki Barber in Week 5 of the 2004 season (h/t: ESPN Stats & Info). 74.6: The difference in passer rating for Wentz (124.1) and Manning (49.5) in the first half of the game. Wentz was 14 of 21 for 175 yards and two touchdowns while Manning was 10 of 23 for 162 yards and one interception at the half. 24: The Eagles scored more points against the Giants in the first half (24) than they totaled in any of their previous games this season. Their season high was scoring 23 points against the Titans in Week 4, and it took overtime to achieve. 0/8: Third-down conversions for the Giants in the first half of the game. They had a streak of 15 consecutive failed third-down attempts when including their Week 5 game against the Panthers. Odell Beckham Jr. ended the streak in the third quarter with a 9-yard catch on third-and-5. Barkley scored a touchdown on the next play on another unreal 50-yard touchdown run. The Giants finished the game 4 of 14 (29 percent) on third down and 0 of 1 on fourth down. 22: Barkley had 22 more rushing yards (130) than the Eagles rushers combined for (108) and more receiving yards (99) than any player for the Eagles. 12: Odell Beckham Jr.’s biggest play of the evening was a 12-yard catch in the first quarter. The star receiver seemed quite frustrated throughout the game, causing a stir when he left the field with seconds remaining on the clock before halftime. Pat Shurmur said his early exit was to receive an IV in the locker room. After the half, OBJ came back, played, and punched a literal (not human!) fan. 10-20: Manning has two times as many losses as he has wins against the Eagles in his career and boasts a 70-79 record since the 2009 season. 56.1: The difference between Wentz and Manning’s final passer rating. Wentz finished with nearly double the passer rating as Manning, 122.2 to 66.1 34-13: The final score. The Eagles are now 3-3 while the Giants are 1-5.

A teacher is having surgery in hospital and a parent has been arrested after she allegedly stabbed him with scissors at a primary school in northern NSW on Tuesday morning. Key points: A female parent is accused of attacking teacher Zane Vockler in the school grounds at about 7:20am A female parent is accused of attacking teacher Zane Vockler in the school grounds at about 7:20am Mr Vockler is undergoing surgery and is in a stable condition with cuts to his arms and face Mr Vockler is undergoing surgery and is in a stable condition with cuts to his arms and face One parent described the injured teacher as "a lovely, wonderful man" The female parent, aged 31, has been charged by police after allegedly attacking the man on the grounds of Byron Bay Public School on Kingsley Street at around 7:20am. Zane Vockler, 28, was taken to Byron Central Hospital with cuts to his arms and face, while the school was placed into lockdown. He was later transferred to Tweed Hospital where he is undergoing surgery. He is in a stable condition. Police charged the woman with wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and trespassing. The NSW Department of Education said strict security measures — which resulted in the school being put in lockdown — were taken following the incident. A teacher was taken to hospital with stab wounds to his arms and face. ( ABC News: Bronwyn Herbert "Counselling has been made available to staff and students," the spokesperson said. Parent Luke Jolly described Mr Vockler, known by the children as "Mr V", as a "gentle and caring" teacher. "My daughter had him as a teacher for a year," he said. "He's a lovely, wonderful man. He loves the kids and the kids love him — and he's well loved by all the parents too." Zane Vockler, 28, a teacher at Byron Bay Public School, was allegedly stabbed in the face and arms by a female parent on Tuesday April 30, 2019. ( Supplied Mr Jolly said the school community had been shocked by the incident. "No-one in any workplace should encounter this, but our teachers are a very special part of our society," he said. "And it's a sacred job. And for him to have to face that when he's such a giving, caring soul it's just very sad." A member of the public school posted on the Byron Bay Community Board on Facebook to inform people of the alleged stabbing. "Attention parents of Byron Bay Public School kids. There has been an incident at the school this morning which has resulted in a teacher being hospitalised," it read. "We have been reassured that our child and all the children are safe. "Just wanted to let everyone know, in case you wanted to contact the school and check on the wellbeing of your child, although they can't share any details of the incident."<doc-sep>A primary school and two childcare centres spent a terrifying morning in lockdown after heavily armed police responded to gunfire reports. A primary school and two childcare centres spent a terrifying morning in lockdown after heavily armed police responded to gunfire reports.... An Auckland primary school has praised its students and teachers for following lockdown procedures “perfectly” after dozens of armed police swarmed the area to reports of gunfire. Dozens of officers rushed to West Auckland, on New Zealand’s north island, to reports shots had been fired just before 10am this morning. Glen Eden Primary School was in lockdown for more than an hour and advised parents not to phone or come to the school as they will not be attended to. The school announced police had lifted its lockdown just before 12.30pm NZ time and said everyone was “safe and well”. A shop near the primary school and two childcare centres were also locked down as police responded to the incident nearby. The New Zealand Heraldreports police are negotiating with a man in the area. It’s believed the man has locked himself in his house and is refusing to come out. A roofer working on a nearby building told the publication the police were using a megaphone to communication with the man. “This is your last chance to give yourself up,” police have said to the man. Cordons have been put in place on a section of West Coast Road near Glendale Road. WEST COAST RD, GLEN EDEN - ROAD CLOSED - 11:30AM Due to a police incident a section of West Coast Rd - between Glendale Rd & Swan Hill Dr - is currently CLOSED in Glen Eden. Please avoid this area or allow extra time for diversions. ^TP pic.twitter.com/kq4t1cP6Sz — Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) April 2, 2019 Glen Eden Primary School, on Glenview Road, informed parents earlier today it was in lockdown. Our Kids Early Learning Centre, near the primary school, was also briefly locked down. “Just letting you all know that our Glen Eden centre is currently under lock-down as there is police activity outside (police cars and helicopters),” the centre’s owner Anita wrote on Facebook. “We have been in contact with police, who have given instruction to keep children inside. Due to these circumstances, this may not be the good time to pick up or drop your children as we need to keep doors locked until further instruction. We will keep you updated when the lock-down is over.” The pre-school lockdown was lifted 45 minutes later, just before 12pm NZ time. Talented Tots childcare centre, on West Coast Rd, was also in lockdown. Police first rushed to the scene after 10am, to reports a shot had been fired in the Glen Eden area. Police said the Armed Offenders Squad has been deployed to the area as a precaution. Locals are reporting a heavy police presence in the area and that roads are closed. Schools have been on high alert after the Christchurch mosque shootings. Last week, three Auckland schools around Avondale were put in lockdown after of sightings of a man with a firearm. It later emerged the weapon was only a BB gun.<doc-sep>A parent has been charged after she allegedly stabbed a “gentle and caring“ teacher with scissors at a primary school in Byron Bay. The woman, 31, allegedly stabbed 28-year-old Zane Vockler in the face and arm at Byron Bay Public School about 7am on Tuesday. Police allege the two were “speaking on the premises before she approached him with what’s believed to be a pair of scissors”. The teacher was initially taken to a local hospital before being transferred to Tweed Hospital in a stable condition for surgery. A crime scene was established and the school temporarily locked down as police searched for the assailant. Officers arrested the accused parent at a home in nearby Suffolk Park about three hours later. She was subsequently charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and entering enclosed lands without a lawful excuse. One parent wrote on Facebook that her child saw a “pool of blood” near the school’s library. Another local said it was sad to hear about the attack on the first day back at school after the holiday break. “The most lovely teacher,” he wrote on Facebook. “So undeserving of this. May his recovery and healing be swift.” Another person posted: “(He’s) a great teacher and a gentle and caring soul.” School newsletters reveal Mr Vockler is an active staff member. He’s helped organise parent volunteers for the school garden and he’s played the guitar for visiting grandparents. The NSW education department said strict security measures were put in place on Tuesday until it was safe for the school to begin operating normally again. “Counselling has been made available to staff and students,” a spokesman told AAP in a statement. The school faced another security scare recently when a threatening comment about the principal was posted on social media, according to one local. The threat came after a “concerned parent” launched a petition to pressure the principal to remove the school’s WiFi over fears it could “microwave kids”. The petition attracted more than 250 signatures in a month. The 31-year-old parent is due to face Tweed Heads Local Court on Wednesday.<doc-sep>

A Byron Bay primary school has gone into lockdown after a teacher was allegedly stabbed by a parent with a pair of scissors. A Byron Bay primary school has gone into lockdown after a teacher was allegedly stabbed by a parent with a pair of scissors.... A Byron Bay teacher has undergone surgery after a parent allegedly set upon him with scissors this morning, slashing at his face. Zane Vockler, 28, received cuts to his face and arms after the female parent allegedly stabbed him on the grounds of Byron Bay Public School about 7.20am today. “Police will allege a 28-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were speaking on the premises before she approached him with what’s believed to be a pair of scissors,” NSW Police said in a statement. “The man was treated at the scene before being taken to Byron Central Hospital for further treatment.” Mr Vockler has since been transferred to Tweed Hospital in a stable condition to undergo surgery. The woman fled the scene, sparking a search and forcing the school to go into lockdown. She was later arrested at her home on Beach Side Drive, Suffolk Park about 10.30am. The lockdown was lifted before 11am. The woman was taken to Byron Bay Police Station and charged with wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and entering inclosed lands without lawful excuse. She was refused bail to face Tweed Heads Local Court tomorrow The Party Games newsletter Get your political briefing from news.com.au's political editor Samantha Maiden. Sign up The Party Games newsletter Success! Check your inbox for details. See all newsletters A spokesman for the NSW Department of Education confirmed to news.com.au that an incident had taken place involving a staff member at the school. “Strict security measures were taken until police confirmed it was safe for the school to operate as normal,” the spokesman said. “Counselling has been made available to staff and students.” A member of the public took to the Byron Bay Community Board on Facebook to notify people of the alleged attack. “Attention parents of Byron Bay Public School kids. There has been an incident at the school this morning which has resulted in a teacher being hospitalised,” the post read. “We have been reassured that our child and all the children are safe. Just wanted to let everyone know, in case you wanted to contact the school and check on the wellbeing of your child, although they can’t share any details of the incident.” Members of the community have been rocked by the news and have started sending well wishes for the victim. “Hope everyone is safe terrible news wishing the teacher a speedy recovery,” one person said. Another wrote: “Shocking, the news in our usually safe community, hope everyone can recover from this OK.” One parent claimed the children were told the teacher had an accident and that's why he had to go to hospital. “The children have been told that a teacher had an accident. But, there was a pool of blood some children saw near the library. My son just showed me,” the woman wrote on the community Facebook group. “I feel sick that it happened, and so shaken up that he saw the blood.” People have praised the teachers for how they responded to the incident. “The teachers did an amazing job ensuring all students at the school were in a safe area, with their parents close by, upon arrival to school. Scary stuff,” one person wrote. Another person described the man who was allegedly stabbed as “the most lovely teacher” who was “so undeserving” of such horrible attack.

Lime, you've got some competition. DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL — Venice, California-based electric scooter company Bird flew into Denver Friday, launching its app-based rental service in Curtis Park, Five Points, LoDo, Downtown, and Villa Park. The news comes a week after San Mateo, California-based Lime launched scooter service in Denver. Bird scooters cost $1 to start each ride and 15 cents per minute thereafter. They last about 15 miles per electric charge, according to Bird. The scooters are rounded up each evening and parked at designated "nests" on private property (with owners' permission) for use by 7 a.m. Some municipalities have gone to battle over regulation of scooter services. The city of Nashville recently impounded 125 Bird scooters after a cease-and-desist letter and lawsuit intended to halt the use of the scooters until rules and regulations are ironed out. And in San Francisco, all scooter-rental companies agreed to remove their scooters from service after city officials there required additional permitting for the scooters.<doc-sep>Denver officials —one wearing a vest emblazoned with the words "Denver Special Police" — were spotted Thursday confiscating a Bird scooter at 17th Avenue and North Broadway. DPW issued a statement Friday stating it had ordered the companies to remove them from public right of ways. Today the agency confirmed it is confiscating the scooters if they are left unattended on sidewalks or other public areas. "Last Friday, we provided the companies notice that they are violation of an existing ordinance, which states it is unlawful to utilize any street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other public place for the storage of goods, wares or merchandise," said Nancy Kuhn, director of DPW's Public Information Office. "Denver Public Works also gave the companies an Order for Immediate Removal of their scooters from the public right of way in Denver. The city is removing scooters left unattended in the public right of way to the extent its resources allow."<doc-sep>DENVER -- More than a week after tech mobility company LimeBike launched its fleet of electric scooters in the Mile High City without notifying the City of Denver, the street-zipping two-wheelers are still in use and abundantly present. According the LimeBike and Bird apps, the companies’ scooters are still available and being used in the city. On Friday, Denver Public Works issued an order to LimeBike and fellow e-scooter company Bird, who launched their fleet that same day, to cease operations. Public works told the companies in a release that they were in violation of city code. The problem? The electric scooters are dockless, which means they can essentially be left anywhere -- even in areas where they aren’t supposed to be. “It is unlawful to utilize any street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other public place for the storage of goods, wares or merchandise,” the release said, noting that many of the scooters were being left unattended in the public right of way. On Twitter, many bemoaned the move by public works. One user, identified as Chris Barnett on the social media site, said “confiscating LimeBike scooters, a cheap, gas-free transportation that Denver residents want and use, is against public interest, and is a surefire way to lose Amazon’s interest in Denver,” referring to the city’s bid to host the company’s second headquarters here. Another user also lamented the decision, saying the scooters were fun and convenient. And the popularity is visible in data LimeBike made public. By Friday, June 1, Denver riders had logged more than 22,000 miles on 16,000 trips on LimeBike’s e-scooters, according to a blog post by the company. Others, however, are not enthusiastic about the scooters’ presence in the city. “Good. Almost got ran over by one of these zipping down the sidewalk yesterday,” Dan Walker said on Facebook. “The city probably received a ton of complaints.” The city echoed Walker’s sentiments on Twitter, saying safety was paramount to their decision. Denver Public Works tweeted last week that they don't want safety and accessibility to be infringed, “which are huge priorities for making Denver a multimodal kind of town” and added they are “concerned about the use, placement and quantity of these scooters operating on Denver's sidewalks, especially where there are a lot of pedestrians.” So what does this mean for people who want to use the scooters? The two companies have shown no sign of removing their scooters, even after the city issued its order last week that the zipping modes of transport be removed. And residents continue to use them even as the city and the companies work through negotiations. According to The Denver Post, the companies said they received the city’s notice and want to work on creating a set of rules to safely and legally operate the scooters within Denver. If you’re aching to try an e-scooter just keep these rules in mind, as stated by the city in its release: Scooters are not allowed to operate in roadways (except to cross an intersection) They are not allowed in bike lanes They can’t be used on trails They can’t be ridden in city parks The scooters can be used on sidewalks in a “controlled fashion,” but must yield to pedestrians However, Bird’s website says scooter riders shouldn’t use sidewalks and should use bike lanes when available, contradicting the rules the city laid out. In sum, residents can still use the scooters but the rules remain murky.<doc-sep>

DENVER — The fate of recent electric scooter share programs operating in Denver appear to have been settled. Friday afternoon, the Denver Public Works Department provided notice to LimeBike and Bird that they are in violation of city code. They ordered the two companies to remove their scooters from the public right of way immediately. The city said its crews would be removing scooters left unattended in the public right of way to the extent its resources allow. Meanwhile, the city said members of the public utilizing these companies' scooters should be aware that the scooters are not allowed to operate in the roadway except to cross the street at an intersection, nor are they allowed in bike lanes, on the city’s trail system, or in city parks. LimeBike launched the rent-by-the-minute dockless electric scooters in Denver last week, and they proved to be very popular, resulting in complaints about uncharged batteries and close calls. Bird, another e-scooter company from California, launched in Denver Friday. According to 303 Magazine, the company promised to pick-up the scooters every night so they could be charged and placed at strategic points the next day. But their popularity didn’t go unnoticed by the city, and its response to the dockless scooters just added to the confusion. A public works spokeswoman said last week that the scooters "should not be on the streets unless they're crossing at an intersection." Nancy Kuhn of Denver Public Works said the confusion is a result of Lime dropping off its scooters without coordinating with the city. Limebook nor Bird have offered a response to Friday's statement from the city. Denver7 has reached to the companies, but have not gotten a response.

BOISE, ID - MARCH 17: CJ Massinburg #5 of the Buffalo Bulls reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Buffalo Basketball loses another quality coach to a power conference program. Can the Bulls remain an elite mid-major team? The last few seasons Buffalo Basketball have been a team on the rise in the MAC and in the country. They were ranked as high as 14 in the nation on three separate occasions. They ended up earning themselves a six seed in the NCAA tournament, but they were ousted by the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second round. This leads me to think after crushing Arizona 89-68 in 2018 and again this season finishing 32-4 and making the second round, could they be the next VCU or Wichita State? To be short in the answer no I do not think they will. They had a great coach in Bobby Hurley who recruited most of the kids on this team. Then Nate Oats came in and developed them. Now both are gone with Hurley coaching Arizona State who the Bulls beat in the first round this year, and now Oats left to coach Alabama and Kira Lewis Jr. They are also losing their top three scorers and rebounders. All three of C.J. Massinburg, Nick Perkins, and Dontay Caruthers are gone not to mention key roles players as well. They do have a couple important players returning to Buffalo in, Jayvon Graves and Jeenathan Williams who is a former 4-star recruit out of New York. Although I do think that they have some good players I do not think they have the carry-over of the likes of other mid-major programs such as Wichita State, Creighton, or VCU. Then there is the other issue with Buffalo, they do not have the ability to move conferences as the other three did. Creighton was able to move to the Big East, Wichita State to the AAC, and VCU was able to move to the A-10. One thing all of those programs have in common is that they are really one sport schools. You do not hear about really any other sports from any of those schools with the exception of maybe Wichita State and baseball. Buffalo has another sport that they are very good at, football. Buffalo was very good this season and even have their quarterback going to make an effort to get into the NFL. They can not just up and move into say the Big East because they have more than one sport to think about. They would completely jeopardize the future of that program for another. If they were somehow able to like Creighton or any of the others to move, and be able to recruit at a higher level, because let’s face it recruits are not awed by the chance to play in the MAC over the Big East. Now more in regard to recruiting. Where are most of the top prospects playing now? They are in big-name prep schools such as Montverde, Oak Hill, or even Bishop Gorman none of those schools are even relatively close to Buffalo. That could cause an issue for them getting some of those 3 and 4-star recruits. Buffalo sometimes is able to produce a top of the line recruit or even the state of New York as a whole, but then Buffalo has to worry about the other big D-1 school in the state in Syracuse. If I was a recruit and was asked where I wanted to play between those two schools it is not even a question I would be going to Syracuse. So not only does Buffalo face a geographical recruiting problem they also have to deal with the bullies in Syracuse who take the recruits when they come to the area. Although Buffalo has had multiple good seasons in a row I would look for them to just be distinctly average in the years coming. Although I think they will always be competitive in the MAC that is not the conference they need to be in to make them advance to a major impact team. Buffalo has to take a step back and decide would they rather have two sports that are average, or one that is always making a run at the NCAA tournament.<doc-sep>Buffalo athletic director Mark Alnutt has confirmed in a statement to Mid-American Conference assistant commissioner/intergrated digital strategies manager Jeremy Guy on Wednesday afternoon that Buffalo men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats has resigned his post to accept the same job at the University of Alabama. The hire was first reported by Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News. Oats, who replaced current Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley in 2015, took over the head coaching position after Buffalo’s first NCAA tournament appearance and went on to create one of the most dominant forces in MAC basketball history, accumualting a record of 97-43 overall (52-20 MAC), while winning three MAC championship titles (2016, 2018, 2019), two regular-season titles (2018, 2019) and two division titles (2018, 2019.) In 2019, the Bulls were ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for all but one week. Oats has also won MAC Coach of the Year honors twice (2018, 2019.) Prior to his stint at Buffalo, Oats was an assistant under Hurley for two seasons. He was hired from Romulus HS in Detroit, Michigan, after an 11-year stint which saw him go 222-52 with five state semi-final appearances and a state championship in the 5A division, earning five coach of the year awards along the way. The move comes as a shock to those in the MAC basketball community, as it was only two weeks ago Oats signed an official extension shortly after leading the Bulls to a quarterfinals victory over Akron in the MAC Championship Tournament. The terms of the deal, per The Washington Post, secured Oats’ status as the highest-paid coach in the MAC, with an annual salary of $837,000 until 2024. It was the second consecutive year Oats earned a contract extension as coach of the Bulls. Oats will replace Avery Johnson, who mutualy agreed to part ways with the university after four seasons at the helm in Tuscaloosa. Johnson went 75-62 (34-38 SEC) during his tenure, with one NCAA Tournament appearance and three NIT appearances. Johnson’s teams finished no higher than tied-for-fifth in the conference. The Alabama program itself faces a bit of a personnel crisis this offseason, with two players confirmed to be in the transfer portal, and two others said to be exploring the possibility of leaving, per TideSports. If all four leave, Alabama would have just six scholarship players after taking into account graduation, transfer and redshirts. Alabama will owe the University at Buffalo the reported maximum buyout of $750,000 to attain Oats’ services.<doc-sep>TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Nate Oats doesn’t have a timetable to complete his Alabama coaching staff, but he also doesn’t want to take a lot of time in getting assistants to join his Crimson Tide bench. Following his introductory press conference at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility, he said he plans to bring one of his assistant coaches from Buffalo with him, barring a promotion, in Bryan Hodgson. “He’s definitely coming unless -- he’s supposed to get an interview up there, so obviously he could get the head job,” Oats said Thursday. “But I think they’re going to interview two of my former assistants -- Coach (Jim) Whitesell and Coach Hodgson both. So, we’ll figure it out. It’s a lot of moving parts, and it’s not easy, either. Sometimes you come in and everybody’s gone, and it’s great that there’s three assistants here continuing to keep things rolling and they’ve got a really good reputation amongst the department. I had great conversations with all three today.” Hodgson just finished up his fourth season at Buffalo, helping guide the Bulls to a trio of NCAA Tournament appearances. He led the Buffalo recruiting efforts and oversaw the 2018 class that was ranked 76th nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite ranking -- the highest ranking in program history. Four-star guard signee Jeenathan Williams was ranked 131st overall. Oats said Buffalo wants to have the hiring process of its next head coach completed in the next week and a half or so. Hodgson flew to Tuscaloosa along with Oats on Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, the new men’s basketball head coach met with the three assistants from Alabama’s 2018-19 team -- John Pelphrey, Antoine Pettway and Yasir Rosemond -- and will consider keeping at least one of them on his inaugural staff over the next week or two. “All three guys that are here are great guys,” Oats said. “The administration loves them, everybody I’ve talked to has had nothing but good things to say about them. It’s a hard spot to be in. Nobody really comes in and keeps all three -- it just doesn’t happen often. But in all likelihood, we’re going to keep some. I just don’t know what. And to be honest with you, on the first day, I told them all it wouldn’t be fair to decide whether to hire you or not hire you based on a 30-minute conversation.” New Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats Although he has been to the state before, Oats made his first trip to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday. So, how important will it be to Oats to have an assistant with a presence in the state of Alabama? “I definitely think that would help,” Oats said. “I don’t want to come in here as a guy that’s never been in Alabama before and hire three guys that don’t know the state of Alabama. I mean, Alabama’s got players, athletes on a yearly basis that want to go to the University of Alabama. I don’t want to upset the state of Alabama. And not even that, it was important for me up in Buffalo to have a guy that a western New York guy. I think it’s going to be important for me at Alabama to have at least one guy who whether he’s actually from Alabama originally but at least knows and has connections in the state of Alabama.” As a former high school coach, Oats said he is going to talk to a handful of high school coaches and build relationships with them. When asked about considering them for his staff, he said this: “I’ve got a lot of respect for high school coaches. And I was fortunate that the Hurley family with them having a Hall of Fame high school coach for a father, respected high school coaches like they did, for me to get in with them. But I’ll say this -- I was offered jobs based on me bringing players with me at Romulus and I never took those. I didn’t want to get in like that. I wanted to get in based on me as a coach, not based on player X or Y. And I don’t want to name names. “But it certainly helps to have players to build those relationships. I definitely built the relationships as strong as I could when I had those opportunities to, and I’m more than willing to build relationships with plenty of high school coaches. Obviously, if they have players, there’s going to be more of a reason for me to want to talk to them.” Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter). *** Take advantage of 30% OFF our Annual VIP Pass for the first year ***<doc-sep>The UB Bulls were 96-43 under Oats and recently made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. They have won four MAC titles in the past five years. "I want to thank the UB administration for helping us elevate Buffalo into one of the premier mid-major programs in the country," said Oats in a statement sent out by UB athletics on Wednesday afternoon. "The support we have received from the Western New York community during the good times and the bad times has been nothing short of amazing. This community has made Buffalo feel like home for Crystal and my family over the last six years."<doc-sep>

I’ve been running the Bull Run site for just about 10 years, and in all that time I’ve heard many coaches of many programs talk about how they were happy at their $MidMajor and had no plans to leave unless something perfect happened. And I have never believed them, until Nate Oats... Now And there is never going to be a mid major coach who really means it when they want to say “I’m going to stick around and build this program up into something special” P.J Fleck didn’t mean it at WMU and Nate Oats didn’t mean it at Buffalo. I feel like a kid who just learned Santa is not real, or like an adult who really thinks this is the time Brett Farve is going to retire. Thoughts on Oats: I don’t hold any animus towards Oats. The man more than did his part for Buffalo Basketball and didn’t owe us a thing. He took the program over from Bobby Hurley and elevated up even higher. He brought in a lot of kids and ran a clean program not only to the top of the MAC but to a top 25 ranking and back to back trips to the round of 32. Thoughts on The Next Coach: When your program loses a coach because of his four years of success... hire one of the assistants I’m partial towards Hodgson but you could make a case for either Buffalo Assistant. They have both been here for years, they both have good relationships with the players (and alumni, media, administration), and they both have had a hand in recruiting this years class Players Were may lose some recruits, and potentially a player or two. It happened when Hurley left and it’s pretty common whenever a coaching change happens. (1) thats why you hire an assistant (2) even if we lose a player it’s not the end of the world. After all we only got CJ Massinburg because Nate Navagato committed from Buffalo when Hurley left. Buffalo Hoops Next year was going to be a minis step back as we were losing so many seniors. But if we hire the right coach and he keeps the team together then the Bulls can be contending for and winning MAC titles again in the not too distant future. Let’s not forget Reggie Witherspoon had three 20+ win seasons in his last five years at Buffalo and the program has much more financial support now than they did back then. UB Basketball is structurally set up to be one of the best programs in the MAC, we just need a coach who plays to the programs strengths. Twitter Reaction The few loud people who are making a mess on twitter need to (1) let Oats be, the man did not do anything other than give us the best four years of hoops the program has ever known. (2) stop being fatalistic about the future of UB Basketball... We will be fine if Alnutt makes a good hire.

At the end of episode two of Titans, Rachel had been captured by the Nuclear Family after they attacked Dick Grayson, Hawk, and Dove. Thankfully, another hero is around the corner to help. The Nuclear Family are chuffed to have successfully completed their mission, but unbeknownst to them, Starfire (Anna Diop) is right behind them. After her foray in Vienna (in the pilot episode of Titans), Starfire had tracked Rachel to her home in Traverse City, which she discovered was a crime scene. This didn’t stop her from breaking in and uncovering an old photograph of Rachel and her mother at St. Paul’s Convent from a hidden compartment in Rachel’s room. All it took was brutally attacking three innocent cops patrolling the house. When the Family park at a rest stop in the third Titans episode, Starfire burns the father to a crisp and asks Rachel to join her. Introducing herself as Kory Anders, Starfire is disappointed that Rachel knows nothing about her. Starfire still has no memories of her life, so she decides to head to St. Paul’s in the hopes of uncovering more information about herself. She and Rachel bond on their long road trip. Neither understands the power within them, but while Rachel feels a darkness inside, Starfire sees light. They stop at a diner so Rachel can eat, but before they are served, a group of unruly men walk in and begin harassing the waitress. Bad move to make in front of Starfire. She sends Rachel back to the car, but the girl clearly sees Starfire taking out the thugs. The waitress is so pleased she gives Starfire their meal on the house. Despite the contrivances, this was an awesome scene of female solidarity. Girl power to the tune of Boney M! Titans Ep. 103–Photo Credit: Steve Wilkie / ©2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved Meanwhile, Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites) leaves a comatose Dawn (Minka Kelly) with Hank (Alan Ritchson), asking him ‘to take care of her’. Newsflash, Dick, Hank, and Dawn were doing fine till you showed up. Miraculously Hank doesn’t have a scratch on him despite being shot in the shoulder, beaten to a pulp and throttled in the previous Titans episode. Dick appears unscathed as well. As he looks on at Dawn, we get the first of many flashbacks of young Dick Grayson (Tomaso Sanelli) starting his life in Wayne Manor. Essentially, these are a montage of Robin’s ‘Origins’, which is what this Titans episode is called, but they do not add much character development. Young Dick looks around the Manor completely emotionless and later acts out by pulling a Kelvin-timeline-James-Kirk and driving off with one of Bruce’s cars – it’s the Porsche that Dick in the present day has been driving around. It’s all very Batman Forever, but without Batman, this Dick Grayson origin story falls flat. Titans Ep. 101–Photo Credit: Steve Wilkie / ©2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved Young Dick’s interactions with a social worker are stand-ins for conversations he had with Bruce Wayne in the comics – the revelation that his parents’ deaths weren’t an accident, the fact that Bruce was also orphaned at a young age, Dick’s desire to kill those responsible for his parents’ murder – these are moments that allowed the two characters to bond, but for some reason Bruce and Batman aren’t allowed to be on Titans, and hence there is no gravitas to this central relationship. Even Bruce inviting Dick to become his sidekick as Robin is relegated to a cryptic letter. Part of me wonders if DC Universe will see sense and cast someone as Batman for the second season, much like Supergirl did with Superman, to avoid the continued lack of authenticity in having a silhouette fill in for such an iconic character. Dick’s Detroit PD colleague, Detective Jessica Perez (Liza Colón-Zayas), calls to inform Dick that a woman was caught on camera leaving with Rachel at a gas station. She also tells him about the death of his partner Amy Rohrbach (Lindsay Gort). Dick follows Starfire and Rachel using his Bird-tablet. It is an excruciatingly overlong scene where the director is trying to show off how cool technology is, but really it just comes off as cringe-worthy. However, when Dick zooms in on Starfire’s car number plate, he looks extremely frustrated at the thought of having to fall back on Batman’s technology to track her location. The nun at St Paul’s (Meagen Fay) recognises Starfire from a year ago when she came looking for Rachel because ‘they’ had found her. Starfire didn’t explain much else, but the nun is delighted to have Rachel back. She and her mother had stayed at the convent for a while and the only thing Rachel believes she recalls from that time is a painting of the Virgin Mary looking into the light. The nun asks Rachel if she sees a figure emerging from the amber glow, ‘a man, perhaps?’ What is she getting at? Titans Ep. 104–Photo Credit: Steve Wilkie / ©2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved Once Rachel is out of earshot, Starfire asks the nun what Rachel’s mother, Melissa, was protecting her from when they were first at the convent. The nun explains that they were running from Rachel’s father, who Melissa felt was a danger to them. She was very convincing, but so were the strangle marks around her neck. It’s to be remembered that in the pilot episode of Titans, Melissa confessed that she wasn’t actually Rachel’s mother. The remaining members of the Nuclear Family head to Chicago to report about their failure to ‘Dr. Adamson’ (Reed Birney), the man who activated them in the second episode. He is frustrated that they were thwarted by someone other than Rachel. He explains why ‘the girl’ is so important – without her ‘welcome’, Rachel’s father cannot enter this realm and fulfill his promise to scrub humanity clean of its pain and oppression. Nuclear Sis (Jeni Ross) saves the family from extermination by being inquisitive, so Adamson gives them another chance and even offers them a ‘new dad’. The 80s soundtrack that accompanies most Starfire scenes is stupendous. Across the road from the convent is a skating club and Starfire has a key to one of their lockers, which surprisingly hides yet another key. Starfire plugs Rachel for information about her father, but Rachel knows nothing about him. Rachel heads off to play an arcade game, when who should sneak up behind her but Garfield Logan (Ryan Potter). He is evidently interested in interacting with her and gives her some tips to win the jackpot. They both compliment each other on their hair and awkwardly play the game. In the original comics, Garfield and Rachel are around the same age and Gar is a quintessential hormonal teenage boy, hitting on every female that moves, including Rachel. Unfortunately, that would not work in Titans because Potter is at least a decade older than Croft and an adult, so I’m hoping the showrunners remember that before proceeding with any romantic entanglements between these two characters. Titans Ep. 104–Photo Credit: Steve Wilkie / ©2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved Dick arrives at the rink and drags a reluctant Rachel away from Gar and the arcade machine. And the Titans team is finally together! Well, briefly anyway. Dick confronts Starfire about ‘kidnapping’ Rachel, and when he refuses to back down, Rachel’s soul-self lashes out. Starfire, Dick and Rachel then leave for the convent without Gar, who looks on from afar. And that’s all for Garfield in this episode. Who did Ryan Potter anger to constantly get left out of the show? Visibly upset over her soul-self being triggered and about Dick’s plan to leave her in episode two, Rachel retreats to the chapel for some quiet time. Dick somehow manages to make her hopelessness all about him, giving her some spiel about trusting no one but herself and using it to control her powers. It isn’t a pep talk as much as Dick being a jerk. He’s a horrible person for crushing a scared little girl’s hopes. What’s worse is, Dick leaves Rachel alone in the chapel when he hears Starfire run off with his car. The elderly nun takes this opportunity to drug Rachel and lock her up in the basement for her protection. This plan spectacularly backfires, because Rachel’s soul-self appears in the mirror and asks her to ‘let me in’. Except, this isn’t Rachel’s soul-self, but something much worse. This might explain the soul-self’s erratic nature. While in the pilot episode of Titans it protected her from imminent danger, it has not behaved the same way in the past two episodes, allowing Rachel to get into scrape after scrape. Meanwhile, Starfire locates the warehouse to which she has a key. There’s a cassette tape of her voice from November, 2017 detailing her investigation on Rachel and a Russian trafficking ring. The wall is plastered with photos of Rachel and some papers with alien writing. Starfire can read the writing but doesn’t know its meaning. The warehouse also has a sun-bed in it, but we don’t understand its significance yet. Dick arrives at the warehouse and they try and dissect all the information Starfire has found. The raven is significant in this case, and mortality rates spike on Rachel’s birthday every year. Starfire concludes that Rachel is part of a prophecy – she’s the destroyer of worlds. Before they can continue their conversation, an explosion interrupts them. The convent has been blown up, and Rachel is on the run. This is on you, Dick!<doc-sep>The unnamed amnesiac (Anna Diop) asks everyone if they know who she is, and those whose responses she doesn’t like risk being reduced to piles of ash. (At some point she’ll realize that she’s Starfire.) The one teenage member of the nascent team, Rachel (Teagen Croft), who will come to be known as Raven, may have it worst of all: Her supernatural abilities, manifesting in a metaphorically volcanic split personality, have made her the target of a murderous religious cult. That’s a lot to unravel, and the three episodes available for review only begin the process, using Rachel’s plight as a mechanism to start bringing the characters together. A potential sixth member of the team, the shape shifter known in the comics as Beast Boy (Ryan Potter), gets just one brief scene that positions him as possible comic relief down the road. What the opening episodes do make clear is that the high-powered team behind the show — the Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, the uber-producer Greg Berlanti and the DC veteran Geoff Johns, a one-time “Teen Titans” writer — is aiming for the superhero version of kitchen-sink realism rather than comic-book gloss. Like Netflix’s Marvel series and Mr. Berlanti’s DC series for the CW network, “Titans” borrows from police procedurals, action thrillers and teenage dramas, but it goes grayer, quieter and more psychological. It also goes more graphically violent than a typical broadcast or cable superhero show, though it’s far short of the bloodthirstiness displayed in the Marvel-Netflix “Punisher.” The neck-snappings and eye-gougings feel a little more earned because the show is also more serious than usual about making violence a subject rather than a voyeuristic bonus. (It also exhibits some welcome self-awareness, such as when Robin wonders whether Rachel is old enough to be watching “Game of Thrones.”) The superhero Sturm und Drang and personal melodrama that “Titans” offers is attractively packaged and reasonably entertaining in the early episodes (the first two were directed by Brad Anderson, a television veteran who made the well-received feature “Next Stop Wonderland” 20 years ago). And Ms. Kelly, of “Friday Night Lights,” and the charismatic Ms. Diop make their characters more interesting and appealing than the comic-book norm.<doc-sep>

This series has given a much darker impression on Titans so far, and episode three ‘Origins’ is no different. Spoilers are ahead. On Titans, we pick up right where last weeks episode left off, with Rachel being compromised by the Nuclear Family and Dove being thrown off the roof in the fight with the family. I didn’t think this fall would land her in a hospital, but that’s where the next scene takes us. Dove is safe, and will survive but she was hurt pretty bad. Dick leaves the hospital but not before getting a call about an accident at a gas station where Starfire saved Rachel from the Nuclear Family and introducing herself as Kory and burning the father in the family to a crisp. Dick (Robin) and Rachel (Raven)’s pasts are tossed in frequent flashbacks in the episode, the first being us seeing a young Robin finding out that his parents passing at the circus wasn’t a mistake. Starfire and Rachel talk about their powers for a brief moment, not sure what it is that they are or in Starfire’s who they are. We go back to Dick’s childhood where he attempted to run away but was soon taken back to child services. Once ‘accepting’ staying with Bruce Wayne, he does some snooping around in the house and we see some foreshadowing with his new car…escalating in a car chase. Back to the present, we see Dick doing some detective work and gathering some evidence from the security cameras to see where Starfire (Kory) and Rachel (Raven) went. Next we see Starfire and Rachel end up at a church to where she stayed for a short time in her life to get more information about Rachel’s past. Sister Cathrine takes Kory and Rachel to her old room. The entire time we have seen Rachel and Kory together, Kory has always had a gut feeling about Rachel and how she needs to be protected. We’re taken to the Nuclear Family next, minus one member where they seem to serve some man who stated we built you better than this after saying the mission to obtain Rachel failed. The daughter of the Nuclear Family asked what the importance of Rachel and we learn a vague description of Rachel’s father – who seems like Thanos but far worse. The man then suggests they get them a new father for the new mission before cracking open another egg for omelets as if nothing just happened. Rachel and Kory then go to the arcade down the street from the church where Rachel comes into contact with none other than Beastboy who introduces himself as Gar. And if that meetup wasn’t enough, we see Dick come to the arcade where he asks Rachel to come back to Detroit with her because the cops think Rachel killed her mother. She confesses that she knew Dick was going to leave her and upon getting angrier and angrier she shouts “Stop lying!” and all the car window’s in the in the parking shatter. We’re taking back to another flashback where Dick gets caught for his reckless driving underage. Back in the present, Rachel and Dick have a conversation in the church about her powers and how she has to channel her powers. Dick has a better understanding of what Rachel is going through and sees her less as a potential runaway murderer. Kory goes to a storage shelter where she finds a stereo box that gives us Rachel Roth’s story in a few lines. “November 6th, 2017. Log entry 2.8 My efforts to locate and secure the girl has led me to a terrestrial religious convent in Covington, Ohio, where she and her mother took refuge eight years ago. They knew the girl only has Rachel. Evidence suggests a Russian human-trafficking ring operating out of Europe supplied Rachel and mother with new last names. I’m flying to meet my contact in Vienna Tomorrow” The tape skips and stops playing. The storage box was unlit and had photos of Rachel all around. Back with Rachel at the church Sister Cathrine had sedated her and is wheeling her into a room where she could remain “safe” and away from him, most likely implying her father. She apologizes before rushing out and locking her in the room. Soon, it seems like the Demon or Voice in her head has found her and is been speaking with her longer than normal.

Marcus Smart Says He Has Heard Racist Remarks From Celtics Fans: 'It's Sad And Sickening'Asked about Kyrie Irving's comments about Boston fans, Celtics guard Marcus Smart said that he is hoping that the Boston crowd will treat all players -- whether they're in a Celtics or a Nets uniform -- with respect. Jayson Tatum Good To Go For Celtics-Nets Game 3Celtics forward Jayson Tatum practiced on Thursday and is good to go for Friday night's must-win Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets. Jalen Mills Explains Why He Switched To No. 2 With PatriotsJalen Mills says switching to No. 2 is cool, but it also has a deeper meaning for the new Patriots defensive back. Long Snapper Joe Cardona On Playing For New England Patriots: 'I Never Thought I'd Be In The NFL'The Patriots long snapper says there is a different energy in the building knowing that fans will be returning to Gillette Stadium in the fall. Bruins-Islanders Game 1 Set For Saturday Night At TD GardenWe don't have a full series schedule just yet, but at least we know when the Bruins and the Islanders will begin their second-round series.<doc-sep>FOXBORO, MASS. (WHDH) - The NFL is trying to figure out what triggered a positive performance-enhancing drug test for Patriots wide receiver Julien Edelman, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The substance Edelman tested positive for “wasn’t immediately recognizable,” Breer wrote. He added that league scientists are analyzing it. Any kind of stimulant, like Adderall, can be ruled out, according to Breer. This would have landed Edelman in the league’s substance abuse policy, rather than the PED policy. The star player is reportedly facing a four-game suspension for violating the policy. He took to Instagram to apologize. “I am very sorry – I don’t know what happened. I’ve taken many, many tests obviously over the course of my career, and nothing like this has ever happened,” Edelman wrote in the post, which was shared as an Instagram story. “I apologize to the Kraft family, my coaches, teammates and fans. As this matter is being appealed, I can’t say anymore but not matter what I will be ready to play and pursue another championship with our team and for Patriots fans around the world.” The 32-year-old is coming off major knee surgery. He missed all of the 2017 season after tearing his ACL in a preseason game in August. A Patriots spokesperson told 7News that the team is “aware” of the report but not commenting on the matter at this time. If the suspension is upheld, Edelman would miss games against Houston, Jacksonville, Detroit and Miami.<doc-sep>Getty Images At first blush, the report that Patriots receiver Julian Edelman‘s positive PED test was “triggered by a substance that wasn’t immediately recognizable” created an opening for thinking that the NFL has yet to conclude that Edelman took a banned substance, and that the NFL ultimately may conclude that he didn’t. Closer inspection of the PED policy paints a different picture. There’s no provision in the PED policy that transforms a “substance that wasn’t immediately recognizable” into a positive result. Instead, a four-game suspension arises from a positive test for an anabolic agent that comes from the laundry list of 71 specific substances or that falls within the potentially broad catch-all of “other substances with a similar chemical structure and similar biological effect(s).” That’s the more likely (and likely more accurate) description of the situation. It’s not that Edelman’s urine sample showed the presence of some substance that medical science is incapable of identifying; it’s that the sample had a substance with “a similar chemical structure and similar biological effect(s)” as one of the 71 specific anabolic agents listed in the PED policy. Whatever it was, it presumably showed up in both the “A” bottle and “B” bottle, which are created when the urine sample is split into two separate samples, in order to allow for two separate tests. And even if the NFL’s medical experts haven’t specifically fit the substance within any of the 71 anabolic agents listed in the policy, it wouldn’t have been a positive test unless the unrecognized substance has “a similar chemical structure and similar biological effect(s)” to an anabolic agent. Logic points to an anabolic agent because of the length of the suspension (a positive test for a masking agent or similar substance triggers only a two-game suspension), and because stimulants don’t fall under the PED policy in the offseason. Common sense points to the reality that if the NFL truly had no idea what the substance was, the outcome wouldn’t have been a positive test — because the PED policy does not contemplate any discipline for a player based simply upon the fact that there’s something in the urine that can’t be identified. It’s also possible that the unrecognized substance came from an effort to adulterate the sample, which provides separate grounds for discipline. In those cases, however, the discipline may be enhanced, in order to deter efforts to manipulate the outcome via an additive aimed at scrubbing the sample after it is provided. (Masking agents, in contrast, are taken by the player to hide the presence of the banned substance in the urine.) Here’s the bottom line: The NFL doesn’t immediately dub a sample with an “unrecognized substance” a positive test. If it’s a positive test, that means the NFL discovered something in the urine that indicates PED use. And while Edelman will still have appeal rights, the fact that the substance doesn’t neatly fit within the scope of one of the 71 listed anabolic agents is irrelevant if the unrecognized substance has “similar chemical structure and similar biological effect(s).” The fact that the test was positive points to a substance that fits within that catch-all language, and the characterization of this as a positive of “a substance that wasn’t immediately recognizable” seems like a not-so-subtle effort to create the impression that Edelman didn’t ingest a banned substance. The circumstances suggest that the NFL believes he did.<doc-sep>

Elise Amendola/Associated Press There's a reason the source of Julian Edelman's failed drug test has not leaked yet: No one seems to know what it was. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported Edelman's positive test was "triggered by a substance that wasn’t immediately recognizable, and there are scientists analyzing it." Edelman, 32, is appealing the four-game ban for his violation of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. "I am very sorry—I don’t know what happened," Edelman said in an Instagram post. "I've taken many, many tests obviously over the course of my career, and nothing like this has ever happened. I apologize to the Kraft family, my coaches, teammates and fans. As this matter is being appealed, I can't say anymore but no matter what, I will be ready to play and pursue another championship with our team and for Patriots fans around the world." Edelman missed the 2017 season due to a torn ACL. He had recorded at least 90 receptions in three of the four previous years, becoming Tom Brady's favorite underneath target. The Patriots got used to playing without Edelman last season but were banking on his return. They traded Brandin Cooks and allowed Danny Amendola to leave via free agency. Rob Gronkowski is the only player remaining from the 2017 roster who had 500 yards receiving. Unlike last year, when Amendola could play the Edelman role, there is no obvious replacement on the roster. It's possible New England could take a nosedive offensively for the first four weeks if Edelman's suspension is upheld.

Update: 5:40 a.m. EDT - Mega Millions has officially confirmed there was only one winning ticket sold for the Tuesday drawing and as was reported earlier, it was sold in South Carolina. The results have been tallied and no other winning tickets were sold in any other states. However, there is still no word on where in South Carolina the ticket was sold. According to Lottery, the unidentified winner has up to 180 days to claim the prize and hence the winner might not come forward straight away. Apart from the single grand prize winning ticket, 36 people in the country bought the $1 million-prize ticket and 419 hopefuls ended up with the $10,000 prize. You can get details about the rest of the prizes here. Original story: At least one winning ticket for Tuesday’s record Mega Millions prize money of $1.6 billion was sold in South Carolina, the state’s lottery website has confirmed. According to the South Carolina Education Lottery, at least one winning ticket was sold in the state, although it did not provide details on which store sold the ticket. The Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday were 28-70-5-62-65 and the mega ball was five. If you happened to purchase a ticket from South Carolina for Tuesday’s lottery, you are already one step ahead than the rest of the contenders. However, Mega Millions ticket holders from other states need not lose heart as the results of the latest drawing is still being tallied and lottery officials are likely to announce the final results Wednesday morning. If you have bought the winning ticket, it is always recommended that you sign the back of your ticket before you go popping the champagne. This way, no one will be able to claim your ticket if you happen to lose it or it gets stolen. The next step is to get in touch with your lottery retailer or lottery district office in order to start the process of claiming the reward. Any jackpot winner has two options when it comes to claiming his or her winnings — take a one-time payout of $913 million (which is an option that most lottery winners opt for) or receive $1.6 billion winnings in annuity payments spread over 29 years. Since the odds of drawing all six numbers in Mega Millions are one in nearly 302 million, there are more chances of a ticket holder getting a partial match to winning numbers, which also assures the individual a certain amount of prize money. If you got all the five white numbers without the mega ball, your ticket is worth $1 million; similarly, four white numbers plus the mega ball gets you $10,000; just four white numbers amounts to $500; three white numbers plus the mega ball amounts to $200; three white numbers is $10; two white numbers plus the mega ball is $10; one white number plus the mega ball is $4; and matching the mega ball earns you $2. The prize money for Mega Millions reached an all-time high this time because the last winning ticket was sold in July in California, after which it had been building up. If no winning ticket had been sold this time around too, the amount for the next Mega Millions drawings would have reached $2 billion, CBS-affiliated 3 News Now reported. This is not the first time that a lottery has reached more than a billion in prize money. On Jan. 13, 2016, the Powerball lottery was worth $1.6 billion. At that time, the jackpot was split between three winners. Other than Hawaii, Alaska, Nevada, Utah, Mississippi and Alabama, every other state in the United States participate in the Mega Millions lottery. After Mega Millions, even the Powerball’s jackpot for Wednesday is an estimated $620 million, which is the sixth largest of its kind in U.S. history. Photo: Getty Images/ Justin Sullivan<doc-sep>Someone in the Palmetto State appears to have won the second-largest jackpot in American history -- and we may never know their name. One Mega Millions ticket matching all six numbers was sold in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Mega Millions officials said the jackpot for Tuesday night's drawing was $1.537 billion, just short of the record for all lotteries. Mega Millions confirmed the location Wednesday morning, concurring what the South Carolina state lottery website had posted hours before. The KC Mart at 303 Lee Vaughn Rd. sold the winning ticket. This is the first Mega Millions jackpot win in South Carolina. Tuesday's winning numbers were 5, 28, 62, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 5. The jackpot was initially listed as $1.6 billion, what would've been the highest lottery ever. But Mega Millions officials said Wednesday the jackpot was several million dollars less. It was unclear what caused the discrepancy. The biggest jackpot in U.S. history was the $1.586 billion Powerball prize in January 2016. “The moment we’ve been waiting for finally arrived, and we couldn’t be more excited,” read a statement from Gordon Medenica, Lead Director of the Mega Millions Group. “This is truly a historic occasion. We’re so happy for the winner, and we know the South Carolina Education Lottery can’t wait to meet the lucky ticket holder.” While lottery officials will meet the winner -- or winners if the ticket was bought as part of a pool -- the general public may never know the identity. South Carolina allows lottery winners to remain anonymous. Most winners opt for the cash reward, which, in this case, was $878 million, lottery officials said. That number is likely to fall even more as other taxes come into play. The jackpot has been growing since July, when a group of California office workers won $543 million. The updated jackpot for Friday's drawing -- which could have reached $2 billion had there been no winner -- was announced at $40 million. Thirty-six people won $1 million, with two winning $3 million because they opted to get the Megaplier, which was 3x. It costs $2 to play the game, but the odds of matching all six numbers and taking home the grand prize is a dismal 1 in 302.5 million. Mega Millions is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.<doc-sep>GREENVILLE, S.C. – C.J. Patel's phone rang the first time at 5 a.m. EDT Wednesday with the news that his store on a rural crossroads in South Carolina had sold the most unlikely lottery ticket in history. The prize was a staggering $1.537 billion. "I can't even count that number," Patel said six hours later, surrounded by media and well-wishers at his store, the KC Mart #7 in Simpsonville near Greenville. Outside, a couple of South Carolina Education Lottery officials hung up a banner that read "Luck Struck Here!" That one person won the jackpot was clear early Wednesday morning. And though lottery officials announced by 11 a.m. that this person had bought the ticket at Patel's store, the winner's identity remained unknown even to those officials late Wednesday. The ticket buyer has 180 days to step forward, said Tony Cooper, the state lottery's chief operating officer, and that person can choose thereafter to keep his or her name private. More:There's a winner! Ticket sold for $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot in South Carolina Stores that sell the winning lottery tickets typically receive 1 percent of the proceeds, but those are capped at $50,000. "Too bad for me," Patel said laughing, adding that he hopes all the attention will bring his store more business. After taxes, Patel will have about $30,000, which he said he will share with his four employees. Patel, born in India, has owned convenience stores around Simpsonville for about 20 years. He first came to the United States in 1996. Before marrying and starting a family with his wife, pharmacist Jayshree Patel, he said he slept in the back of his first store in Simpsonville. "This is the land of opportunity," Patel said. "We work hard for our kids." Regular customers streamed into Patel's store Wednesday to congratulate him and his employees. Taylor Sloan, who lives about 2 miles away, said he had to see it to believe the news that Patel's store had sold the ticket. “You think maybe there’s a mistake or something, but there’s not.” Sloan held an energy drink and Rice Krispie treats in his hand. “These are just my excuse for coming by." Cynthia Eldridge chatted with Jee Patel, one of the KC Mart workers, trying to figure out who had bought the winning ticket. Some locals thought maybe the winner works at a nearby transmission plant, she said. "We always come here," Eldridge said. "I had to get some gas and wanted to congratulate them." Patel said Wednesday afternoon that he hadn't yet had a chance to share the news with his three school-aged sons. He was sworn to secrecy until the official 11 a.m. announcement. Rumors swirled in the intervening hours. A Circle K in Columbia had previously told The Greenville News on Wednesday morning that their store had sold the winning ticket, and other store owners also thought theirs might be the lucky spots. The lottery win is also good news for the state of South Carolina: Income taxes off the prize money will amount to about $60 million, officials said. This is on top of about $10 million in ticket-sale proceeds that will fund education programs. The winning numbers were 5, 28, 62, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 5. The public may never know who claims the jackpot. South Carolina is one of eight states where winners can remain anonymous. The others are Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and Texas. "I have no clue," Patel said when asked if he knew who bought the winning ticket. "We had a lot of customers yesterday, so I have no idea,” TOP 10 A look at the 10 largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold: 1. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee) 2. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, South Carolina) 3. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts) 4. $656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (three tickets, from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland) 5. $648 million, Mega Millions, Dec. 17, 2013 (two tickets, from California and Georgia) 6. $590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013 (one ticket, from Florida) 7. $587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012 (two tickets, from Arizona and Missouri) 8. $564.1 million, Powerball, Feb. 11, 2015 (three tickets, from North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas) 9. $559.7 million, Powerball, Jan. 6, 2018 (one ticket, New Hampshire) 10. $543 million, Mega Millions, July 24, 2018 (one ticket, California) The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>

Advertisement Winning Mega Millions lottery ticket purchased in South Carolina Share Shares Copy Link Copy Lottery officials say someone bought a ticket in South Carolina to win the Mega Millions jackpot with a final total of $1.537 billion, just shy of the all-time world record.The earlier Mega Millions estimate of $1.6 billion would have been a world record for lotteries, but actual sales came in just below the $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot prize shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee in January of 2016.The ticket sold Tuesday is worth about $877.8 million in a lump-sum cash payment, which most winners choose to take. "The final total was less than the $1.6 billion estimate," said Carol Gentry, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Lottery, which leads a consortium of state lotteries participating in the Mega Millions jackpot. "Estimates are based on historical patterns," she explained Wednesday morning in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "The jackpot's been rolling since it was hit in July in California, but there are few precedents for a jackpot of this size. Typically about 70 percent of sales occur on the drawing day, so forecasting precise numbers in advance can be difficult. That's why we always use the term estimate. "It's possible the world will never know who bought the ticket in South Carolina that matches all six numbers in Tuesday night's drawing.South Carolina is one of eight states — along with Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and Texas — where winners can remain anonymous.A portion of the prize money will go to the retailer; the exact amount is determined by each state, Gentry said.The biggest Mega Millions jackpot winner prior to this was a $656 million ticket sold back in 2012, she said, "so it's a record for Mega Millions and it came very close to breaking the world record of all the jackpots. "The winning numbers were 5, 28, 62, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 5. No details on where the winning ticket was sold were immediately available. But the lucky player overcame miserable odds: The chance of matching all six numbers and winning the top prize is 1 in 302.5 million.Mega Millions is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.It will likely be days or even weeks before a winner steps forward to claim the prize.Lottery officials and financial managers encourage people to take time to map out a strategy for investing their hundreds of millions of dollars, and winners must deal with security concerns befitting someone who suddenly is immensely wealthy. Depending on the state, winners have from 180 days to a year to claim their prize.The Mega Millions jackpot grew so large because it had been nearly three months since a player had matched all six numbers and won the top prize. The last time that happened was July 24, when 11 co-workers from California won a $543 million prize.Although Tuesday's jackpot was extraordinarily large, it's no fluke. It reflects a trend toward ever-growing lottery prizes due to changes in the game that worsened the odds with hopes that bigger jackpots would result in better sales.Officials with the Powerball game were the first to make that move in October 2015 when changing the odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 175 million to 1 in 292.2 million. Mega Millions followed suit in October 2017, resulting in the odds worsening from 1 in 259 million to 1 in 302.5 million.While most attention has been on the Mega Millions game, Powerball also has been soaring. The estimated prize for Powerball's annuity option in Wednesday night's drawing is $620 million, with a cash prize of $354.3 million.

A bomb threat against the Boston Globe was reported on Thursday — the same day that the newspaper led hundreds of newspapers around the country in an editorial campaign taking aim at President Trump. Boston Police said that the threat didn’t seem to be “super serious” — but they have stepped up security just in case. The threat follows a tweet by President Trump in which Trump railed against both the Globe and the “failing New York Times.” Here’s what you need to know: 1. Trump Tweeted That The Boston Globe Is ‘In Collusion’ With Other Newspapers on Free Speech and Added, ‘Prove It!’ The Boston Globe, which was sold to the the Failing New York Times for 1.3 BILLION DOLLARS (plus 800 million dollars in losses & investment), or 2.1 BILLION DOLLARS, was then sold by the Times for 1 DOLLAR. Now the Globe is in COLLUSION with other papers on free press. PROVE IT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2018 Trump took to Twitter on Thursday morning, seemingly angered by the co-ordinated editorials that appeared about him in newspapers around the country. He tweeted, “The Boston Globe, which was sold to the the Failing New York Times for 1.3 BILLION DOLLARS (plus 800 million dollars in losses & investment), or 2.1 BILLION DOLLARS, was then sold by the Times for 1 DOLLAR. Now the Globe is in COLLUSION with other papers on free press. PROVE IT!” It’s not exactly clear what Trump meant by “prove it.” Did he mean that the Boston Globe needs to prove that there is a lack of free press? Or did he mean that his twitter followers should prove that collusion is taking place? Almost 12 thousand people retweeted the president’s tweet, and over 45 thousand “liked” it. 2. The FBI Is Conducting an Investigation into the Threat JUST IN: Bomb threat made at Boston Globe after editorial condemning Trump attacks against press https://t.co/G9x5p6IJuM pic.twitter.com/2Jaq07u53e — The Hill (@thehill) August 16, 2018 Police in Boston said they don’t believe that the threat to bomb the Boston Globe is serious. But still, security was beefed up around the Globe’s office building. Uniformed officers were posted in the lobby and around the outside of the building. The FBI was also reportedly conducting an investigation. The Globe issued a statement saying, “We are taking the advice of local and federal authorities who have recommended some additional security measures. The alarming turn of the president’s rhetoric — the specific labeling of the press as an ‘enemy of the American people’ and the opposition party — does cause us concern about media outlets and the stories we have heard around the country. Journalistic outlets have had threats throughout time but it’s the president’s rhetoric that gives us the most concern.” 3. The Globe Also Reported Receiving Threatening Phone Calls According to an email obtained by Axios, the Globe received “several threats by phone” on Thursday morning. The email, from a building manager at the Globe, was sent to other tenants at the newspaper’s headquarters. It read, in part, “Earlier today a tenant in the building, the Boston Globe, received several threats via phone call. Based on this threat the local and federal authorities have recommended some additional security measures for the property. For the remainder of the day you will see uniformed Boston Police officers in the lobby and around the property. There are very few specifics, but the threat was specific to later this afternoon.” 4. Over 300 Newspapers Around the Country Joined the Globe’s Editorial Campaign Against Trump’s Alleged Attacks on the Press Today, American news outlets will publish editorials to counter Donald Trump's attacks on the media. A free press should be defended pic.twitter.com/HCR2wibvHR — The Economist (@TheEconomist) August 16, 2018 On August 10, the Boston Globe called on news sites around the country to join them in publishing editorials criticizing Trump’s statements about the media. The Globe challenged newspapers big and small to publish editorials about Trump on Thursday, August 16. The Globe said that Trump was carrying out a ‘‘dirty war against the free press” and urged editorial boards to speak out against it. You can find a list of the participating newspapers — and the editorials they published — here. The original editorial, which called on newspapers around the country to come together in a campaign for free press, is here. 5. The Globe Says That ‘Journalists Are Not the Enemy’ The Globe, of course, joined the more than 300 newspapers which answered its call to publish an editorial about Trump’s alleged attacks on the press. You can read their editorial here. The editorial reads, “President Trump, we are not the nation’s enemy.” Trump has often talked about “fake news” and has accused the press of being “the enemy of the people.” Part of today’s campaign was in response to those perceived atttacks by the president.<doc-sep>The Boston Globe was forced to bring in uniformed police officers to its headquarters after the newspaper received multiple threats shortly after President Donald Trump attacked it on Twitter. Universal Hub reports that a notice was sent out to tenants who worked inside the Globe's State Street headquarters building that informed them off additional security measures being taken to protect the building and its inhabitants from potential attacks. "Earlier today a tenant in the building, the Boston Globe, received several threats via phone call," the notice read. "Based on this threat the local and federal authorities have recommended some additional security measures for the property. For the remainder of the day you will see uniformed Boston Police officers in the lobby and around the property." The threat against the newspaper came hours after President Donald Trump attacked it on his Twitter feed over its role in leading a campaign to get newspapers across the country to denounce his attacks on the media as the "enemy of the people." "The Boston Globe... is in COLLUSION with other papers on free press," the president wrote. "PROVE IT!"<doc-sep>

Law enforcement is investigating a bomb threat The Boston Globe received Thursday, the same day it led a nationwide publication of newspaper editorials denouncing President Donald Trump's attacks on the press as "the enemy of the people." Boston police do not believe the threat was “super serious,” but the Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation, reported WHDH, a Boston TV station. Boston police responded to the building where the Globe's offices are located after the newspaper received a threatening phone call Thursday morning, Axios reported. The building's manager alerted other tenants just before noon about the situation, according to an email obtained by Axios. "Earlier today a tenant in the building, the Boston Globe, received several threats via phone call. Based on this threat the local and federal authorities have recommended some additional security measures for the property. For the remainder of the day you will see uniformed Boston Police officers in the lobby and around the property. There are very few specifics, but the threat was specific to later this afternoon." Boston police referred a query about the incident to the FBI, which would neither confirm or deny an investigation. In an editorial published Thursday entitled "Journalists Are Not The Enemy," the Globe criticized Trump's labeling of mainstream media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN and NBC as "fake news media" and "the enemy of the American people." The Globe's editorial said: "A central pillar of President Trump’s politics is a sustained assault on the free press." More than 350 other newspapers and some radio and TV stations joined the Globe in publishing their own editorials. The main message: "Trump is inflicting massive, and perhaps irreparable, damage to democracy with these attacks," the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote in its editorial. President Trump fired back on Twitter saying the Globe was "in COLLUSION with other papers on free press" and tweeting, 'THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA IS THE OPPOSITION PARTY. It is very bad for our Great Country....BUT WE ARE WINNING!" Many on Twitter expressed concern that Trump's tweet could have inspired the bomb threat. "Your inability to be civil has now incited a bomb threat to the Boston Globe," tweeted attorney Andrew Turner. Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.

E3 week kicked off in Los Angeles on Saturday, offering a first look at some of the biggest video games to be released in the months ahead. The Electronic Entertainment Expo, to give it its full title, is where the biggest and best games of the coming months and years are unveiled and demoed. As ever, enthusiasts are expecting a bumper crop of titles that run the gamut of action, adventure, sport, puzzling and narrative exploration. Although the event properly begins on Tuesday, Electronic Arts got things going on Saturday with its pre-show press conference. As expected, it offered a few more details on BioWare's upcoming action RPG Anthem, including that the title finally has a release date: February 22, 2019. The popular football game Fifa 19 is also to introduce the Champions League for the first time. This year's instalment ill feature the competition as a fully licensed mode for the first time, following the tournament's split with rival football game Pro Evolution Soccer.<doc-sep>Pokemon Let’s Go Nintendo Switch announcement trailer 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. E3 has already delivered some incredible new announcements this year, and major studios Sony and Nintendo are yet to present. Sony are expected to make their presentation at 2am tomorrow in the UK, and Nintendo are expected to follow later at 5pm. Gamers have a lot to look forward to, with major teases from both Sony and Nintendo. Nintendo has so far released a Super Smash Bros. trailer for the Nintendo Switch, and Sony are set to reveal more about their upcoming Spiderman title. When will Nintendo present at E3? Nintendo and Sony are both scheduled to present on the same day, tomorrow on June 12. Sony will kick things off with an early start at 2am UK time, and Nintendo will present in the evening at 5pm. Like last year, Nintendo will favour a live-streamed Nintendo Direct video presentation without the pre-E3 press conference. The Japan-based company have made no secret that Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch will be a core focus. Nintendo will make their presentation at E3 tomorrow, but what time? Which other studios are presenting? Before Nintendo make their much-anticipated reveal, there are other major studios that are yet to present. Square Enix is making their presentation right now, and Ubisoft will make theirs by 9pm, and a PC gaming conference will take place late on at 11pm. Ubisoft’s announcements are likely to take centre stage, as the company posted a teaser on their Facebook page for Assassins Creed Odyssey. Returning to their yearly release schedule following a long process for Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Odyssey looks to be set in Ancient Greece. Ubisoft's the Division Two has already whipped gamers into a frenzy with an early reveal ahead of the presentation, so expectations are high. Bethesda have made a splash at E3, with some huge new games What has been released so far? Microsoft has made some huge announcements so far, with Halo Infinite just revealed, and a Kingdom Hearts 3 release date pegged for 2019. EA have teased more for forthcoming Battlefield V, with another trailer and a single-player teaser. A surprise announcement for The Division 2 also likely surprised players, who got a gameplay trailer for the forthcoming release. Battlefield V revealed some interesting new features and a story mode Ubisoft at E3 2018 - Watch Dogs 3, Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell Sun, June 10, 2018 UBISOFT is expected to showcase Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Splinter Cell, The Division 2 and Watch Dogs 3 at E3 2018. Play slideshow 1 of 9<doc-sep>

Microsoft has kicked off E3 2018 by announcing the next game in the Forza Horizon series will be set in the UK. Forza Horizon 4 will launch on October 2nd, 2018 and will be available for both Xbox One and Windows PC. Gamers were confident the game would be revealed as the open-world Forza Horizon titles tend to alternate yearly with the track-focused Forza Motorsport ones. As well as setting the game in the UK, this will be the first Forza game with a fully online world that's shared by other players in real time. Developer Playground Games also revealed that Horizon 4 will bring in dynamic seasons that will change the environment and the racing requirements for online players. Car fans will be pleased to see an impressive roster of British classics in the line-up, including a McLaren Senna hypercar and the London Black Cab. A gameplay demo at the announcement showed cars hurtling through a variety of different landscapes. Rolling fields and wooden tracks looked as stunning as ever while the featured city of Edinburgh popped with detail. Naturally, the game has been given an extra lick of paint for owners of the powerful Xbox One X console. The game will run in 4K and there will be a 60-frames-per-second mode for Microsoft's top-tier console. Subscribers to the monthly Xbox Game Pass will get access to Forza Horizon 4 when it launches for free. You can find information about all the press conferences at this year's E3 event right here .

Time magazine had to issue a major correction after featuring a photograph of a crying two-year-old girl on their cover and in their story about family separations at the border. It turns out the Honduran toddler was smuggled by her mother across the border and they were never separated. However, Time is standing by their cover art featuring President Donald Trump standing over the crying little girl with the caption “Welcome to America.” Father says little Honduran girl on Time cover was not taken from mother https://t.co/h1HMee4hZ1 pic.twitter.com/rlffqXAcJO — Reuters Top News (@Reuters) June 22, 2018 Time clarified that the little girl had not been separated from her mother at all. Correction: The original version of this story misstated what happened to the girl in the photo after she taken from the scene. The girl was not carried away screaming by U.S. Border Patrol agents; her mother picked her up and the two were taken away together. Despite the magazine’s complete mischaracterization of the photo, they are standing by their cover art. "The June 12 photograph of the 2-year-old Honduran girl became the most visible symbol of the ongoing immigration debate in America for a reason," Time’s Editor in Chief Edward Felsenthal said in a statement. “Under the policy enforced by the administration, prior to its reversal this week, those who crossed the border illegally were criminally prosecuted,” he continued, “which in turn resulted in the separation of children and parents. Our cover and our reporting capture the stakes of this moment.”<doc-sep>Time magazine has issued a correction to a controversial cover story about a Honduran migrant girl who they said was taken from her mother by US border patrol agents after it was revealed that the pair were never separated at all. Three-year-old Yanela Denise became the unintentional face of the now defunct family separation crisis after photographer John Moore captured her agonized face screaming as her mother was questioned by agents on June 12. After the picture was taken, the pair were taken together to a family detention center. Yanela's father has since told DailyMail.com that they are 'safe'. As millions shared Yanela's photograph on social media and attached to fundraisers for other children who have been separated from their families, Time used it on its cover. The magazine photoshopped an image to place her at the foot of a towering Donald Trump and the words 'Welcome to America' appeared next to it. The July cover of Time features three-year-old Yanela Denise screaming beneath a towering Donald Trump along with the words 'Welcome to America'. Inside the magazine, it was claimed that she was taken 'screaming' from her mother by US Border Patrol agents which is not the case In the story, despite Moore having told the magazine that he did not know what became of the girl after he took the picture, the journalist wrote that she had been taken away like the thousands of other children who have been. Time issued its correction on Friday after US and Honduran officials, along with the girl's father, confirmed that this was not the case. 'The original version of this story misstated what happened to the girl in the photo after she (was) taken from the scene. 'The girl was not carried away screaming by US Border Patrol agents; her mother picked her up and the two were taken away together,' the magazine said. Our cover and our reporting capture the stakes of this moment Time Editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal Editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal stood by using the picture, saying that while Yanela herself may not have been taken by agents, the photograph and her desperation in it encapsulates the mood of the issue. 'The June 12 photograph of the 2-year-old Honduran girl became the most visible symbol of the ongoing immigration debate in America for a reason: Under the policy enforced by the administration, prior to its reversal this week, those who crossed the border illegally were criminally prosecuted, which in turn resulted in the separation of children and parents. 'Our cover and our reporting capture the stakes of this moment.' Readers are now asking for Time to pay her as if they would a professional model in the hopes that any compensation she is given can be used to set up a legal or college fund. The magazine has not commented on whether or not it plans to do so. Yanela and her mother Sandra (shown above together before they embarked for the US on June 3 from Honduras) are still together and are being held at a detention center in Texas The picture that started it all: Getty photographer John Moore took this photo of Yanela on June 12. Her mother had just out her down to be questioned by agents and she began screaming. Moore gave an interview to Time about it afterwards saying he did not know what became of the pair afterwards. Despite no one ever confirming that they were separated, Yanela became the face of the issue and the picture spread like wildfire on social media Earlier this week, her father Denis told DailyMail.com that he had not heard from Sandra for 10 days, since she embarked on her journey with Yanela, when he saw the heartbreaking image of his daughter crying. 'You can imagine how I felt when I saw that photo of my daughter. It broke my heart. 'It's difficult as a father to see that, but I know now that they are not in danger. 'They are safer now than when they were making that journey to the border,' he said. Denis Javier Varela Hernandez (far right) said he had no idea what had happened to his daughter until he saw the photograph of her crying on June 12. His wife Sandra took her without telling him to try to enter the US illegally. The couple has three other children in Honduras who were left behind. Denis says he just wants them to either be sent back to Honduras or gain entry to the US Denis revealed that he received a phone call from a US official on Wednesday to tell him the pair were safe. Yanela's father said he does not know why her mother took on the journey when neither of them knew what could happen to her but is relieved that she is safe Sandra has already been deported from the US once in 2013. She did not tell Denis that she was planning another attempt to cross the border and he did not know that she wanted to take Yanela with him. 'I didn't support it. I asked her, why? Why would she want to put our little girl through that? But it was her decision at the end of the day.' They have three other children who she left at home who are now waiting anxiously for her be sent back. 'The kids see what's happening. 'They're a little worried but I don't try to bring it up that much. They know their mother and sister are safe now.' Among those who have Tweeted DailyMail.com’s story have been White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She wrote: ‘It’s shameful that dems and the media exploited this photo of a little girl to push their agenda. She was not separated from her mom. The separation here is from the facts’. On Saturday morning, the president retweeted it himself.<doc-sep>

Time Magazine issued a correction to their most recent cover story on Friday, revealing that Yanela Hernandez, who became world famous over a tearful image of her being separated from her family, was, in fact never separated at all. “The original version of this story misstated what happened to the girl in the photo after she taken from the scene,” read the correction at the bottom of their cover story. “The girl was not carried away screaming by U.S. Border Patrol agents; her mother picked her up and the two were taken away together.” While there is no doubt the family separation policy at the border did take place, the revelation that Hernandez herself was not separated is a high-profile mistake for the iconic magazine. The magazine did, however, stand by the broader thrust of the piece. “The June 12 photograph of the 2-year-old Honduran girl became the most visible symbol of the ongoing immigration debate in America for a reason,” said the magazine’s editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal. “Under the policy enforced by the administration, prior to its reversal this week, those who crossed the border illegally were criminally prosecuted, which in turn resulted in the separation of children and parents. Our cover and our reporting capture the stakes of this moment.” JUST IN: Time magazine standing by the cover: pic.twitter.com/gXKg4shL6F — Hadas Gold (@Hadas_Gold) June 22, 2018 Time’s cover story was released in the wake of a national furor over the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy of separating children from their families at the Mexican border. Although Trump caved to political pressure and announced an executive order ending the policy on Wednesday, it is not yet clear how the administration will reunite the thousands of families that have already been separated. Story continues Time did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment. Related Video: 'The View' Talks About Immigration Time Cover Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View. Related stories from TheWrap: Trump on First Lady's 'I Really Don't Care' Jacket: 'Refers to the Fake News Media' Did Melania Trump Troll Foes With 'I Really Don't Care' Jacket During Border Visit? Seth Meyers: Trump 'Concocts Racist Lies, Uses Dehumanizing Language to Justify Cruelty Towards Immigrants and Outsiders' Trump Signs Executive Order Ending Family Separation of Undocumented Migrants

For the first time in over a decade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is performing "direct releases" of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. This comes as President Donald Trump threatens to shut down the border completely. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said the agency would be releasing migrants from its custody "on a risk basis" due to overcrowding at both its facilities and those overseen by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. McAleenan later explained that the "direct release" of migrants will mean that instead of an ICE official deciding on whether an individual can be accepted into custody or needs to be released pending a court hearing, that decision will now be made by a Border Patrol agent and the release "will happen more expeditiously and directly." "That is not something we want to do," he said. "It is something we have to do given the overcrowding in our facilities." McAleenan said the decision to allow direct releases was made "reluctantly, and it represents a negative outcome for enforcement." "It represents an increase in flows that will follow," he continued. "And it impacts the morale of our team, but is the only current option we have from a life and safety perspective to try to reduce the overcrowding in our facilities." McAleenan's announcement came as CBP revealed March was on track to become "the highest month" in apprehensions and encounters with migrants at the border in over a decade. "CBP is facing an unprecedented humanitarian border security crisis all along our southwest border and nowhere has that crisis manifested more acutely than here in El Paso," McAleenan said. "We are now on pace for over 100,000 apprehensions and encounters with migrants—with 90 percent crossing the border illegally between ports of entry." On Thursday, President Trump renewed a threat to shut down the southern border in response to the flow of migrants arriving with asylum claims. The president blamed Mexico for the influx of asylum seekers, asserting that the country was "all talk and no action" in its efforts to stop migrants from making their way to the U.S. Meanwhile, in addition to performing direct releases, CBP said on Wednesday that its Office of Field Operations would be temporarily reassigning up to 750 CBP officers to Border Patrol Sectors "that are confronting the unprecedented humanitarian and border security crisis on the Southwest border." "Border Patrol processing facilities on the southwest border have far exceeded capacity and the Border Patrol does not have the personnel to process, care for, and transport individuals in custody without help from its partners," the agency said in a statement, adding, "CBP officers will support sectors with care and custody responsibilities, including hospital watch and transportation. The agency said the increase in the flow of migrants arriving at the border, many of which were arriving as families, "is having a detrimental impact on CBP's primary border security mission." "With up to 40 percent or more of CBP personnel working to care for, transport, and process vulnerable families and children, CBP's security posture on the border is negatively impacted," the agency said. "The same transnational criminal organizations and smugglers that exploit and profit from migrants benefit from that reduced border enforcement presence. Smugglers and criminal organizations are using large groups of families as diversions," it claimed. McAleenan said he did not know how long CBP officers would be reassigned for. "We don't know. Right now, it's an immediate response to a crisis that's overwhelming our capacity," he said. "We have, in some sectors, an average of 40 percent of our Border Patrol agents all fully engaged in just the care, transport, and processing of migrants," he continued. "Those agents are not on the line. They're not able to provide their border security functions. We need to balance that out. We need to get them help, not only from our CBP officers, but from mission support professionals and contracts and ideally, by interagency partners to increase our capacity." The CBP commissioner said the agency asked for help from interagency partners across the federal government, including the National Guard and the Department of Defense (DOD). "They're already working alongside us to assist with our border security mission, to provide capacity for emergencies, to include security at the Ports of Entry, as well as medical care," he noted. "That partnership is going to continue. And we're looking at ways that DOD can even help us more in looking at additional resources that they can bring to bear here at the border."<doc-sep>Although Border Patrol apprehensions remain below their annual peak of 1.6 million in 2000, the nature of the increasing migration flows has shifted dramatically, and that shift is driving the alarm. In prior eras, most of the migrants were adult men who could be easily deported to Mexico; now, many of those attempting to cross the border are asylum-seeking Central American families and, to a lesser degree, minors traveling on their own. Because those seeking asylum have a legal right to have their cases evaluated, most families are released into the United States to await hearings in clogged immigration courts, a process that can take months or years.<doc-sep>

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told reporters on Wednesday that the U.S. immigration system has reached a "breaking point" of illegal border crossings. “Two weeks ago, I briefed the media and testified in Congress that our immigration system was at the breaking point. That breaking point has arrived this week at our border," McAleenan said in El Paso, Texas. "CBP is facing an unprecedented humanitarian and border security crisis all along our Southwest Border and nowhere has that crisis manifested more acutely than here in El Paso,” he added. .@CBP_McAleenan: CBP is facing an unprecedented humanitarian and border security crisis all along our Southwest Border—and nowhere has that crisis manifested more acutely than here in El Paso Sector. WATCH: https://t.co/RsEGMjFeZZ — CBP (@CBP) March 27, 2019 “For the first time in over a decade, CBP is performing direct releases of migrants when [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is unable to provide bed space to relieve overcrowding,” McAleenan said. ADVERTISEMENT He also said the high number of immigrant families coming into the country is resulting in illnesses in CBP facilities. He said he has become aware of people suffering from chicken pox, lice, fevers, seizures and heart problems. "We are doing everything we can to simply avoid a tragedy in a CBP facility,” he said. “But with these numbers, with the types of illnesses we’re seeing at the border, I fear that it’s just a matter of time.” Officials estimate that the number of people trying to cross the southern border could hit 1 million this year, ABC News reported Wednesday. Over the past five years, and more markedly since 2017, Central American families have replaced single Mexican men as the bulk of border crossers. Families tend to surrender themselves to Border Patrol or Customs and Border Protection officers to request asylum in the United States, while individual migrants in the past were more likely to attempt to enter the U.S. surreptitiously. ADVERTISEMENT According to The Washington Post, the overcrowding is the worst around El Paso, Texas, with Border Patrol stations at 300 percent to 400 percent capacity. He called on Congress to act to address these issues and also said the government would be asking Mexico to do more. McAleenan was scheduled to appear before the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday for a budget hearing, but the hearing was postponed.

World football witnessed another UEFA Champions League draw on Friday. Ajax will face Juventus in their next knock out match. After thrashing Real Madrid at Bernabeu, they will be looking to pose a strong challenge to the Italian league leaders, whereas Juventus somehow managed to grab a place in the quarter after a 2-0 away defeat against Atletico Madrid. There are four Premier League teams still in the competition and one of them is definitely going to miss out the semi-final stages following another vital fixture. Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City will face in one of the most exciting quarter-final fixtures of this season. Manchester City outclassed Schalke 04 in the previous round of Champions League, whereas Tottenham Hotspur held their fort to qualify for the next stage in front of the German opponent, Borrusia Dortmund. Liverpool have been drawn against the Portuguese side, Porto FC. After watching Liverpool's performance against Bayern Munich, it is expected that Liverpool will easily qualify for the semi-finals. It is going to be another hard task for Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his team will face FC Barcelona in their next UEFA Champions League. After a disappointing loss at Old Trafford in the first leg of the round 16, Man United knocked PSG out of the competition in the second leg of that tie. On the other hand, Barcelona launched a 5-1 home victory over Lyon to qualify for the next round. A few great matches are waiting for the football fans. The first leg of the quarterfinals will be played on April 9 and 10. Fans could expect some dramatic moments. This is the quarter-final stage where anything can happen. Lionel Messi to the Manchester United defence #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/L5jHEqo9HU — Ugbedeojo #MUFC (@Certifiedopeboi) March 15, 2019 United fans: bring it on, give us anybody, we are United. UEFA : oya take Barca United fans :#UCLDRAW pic.twitter.com/tOim1VcaXt — Rek6ix 😎😎😎😎 (@Itzakzee) March 15, 2019 QF: Man United vs Barcelona Arsenal & Chelsea fans:#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/L0hWuiwRRl — J O T H A M ™ (@iam_jobaba) March 15, 2019 Jose Mourinho when he hears Manchester united has been drawn with Barcelona #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/GdHAxeVWyD — common sense (@headmistrexx) March 15, 2019 R16: Manchester United vs PSG #UCLDraw QF: Manchester United vs Barcelona Manchester United fans: pic.twitter.com/rgZcqPvzuI — IG: Omope Abdulazeez (@Iam_Abdolaxis) March 15, 2019 Manchester City's run of fixtures in April: 🇪🇺 Tottenham (a) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tottenham (h) 🇪🇺 Tottenham (h) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Man Utd (a) pic.twitter.com/rxQxXhf2Pj — Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) March 15, 2019 Liverpool - 5 UCL’s Barcelona - 5 UCL’s Ajax - 4 UCL’s Man U - 3 UCL’s Porto - 2 UCL’s Juventus - 2 UCL’s Spurs - The page cannot load 404 City - The history file has been lost — 5x (@Kovakick) March 15, 2019<doc-sep>The Sun from The Sun Twitter users have convinced themselves the Champions League quarter-final draw is fixed after an image was “leaked” online. Conspiracy theorists claim a ‘UEFA director’ accidentally uploaded an image, showing a list of the four ties to social media, before swiftly deleting it. Stream international football with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live coverage from 2018/19 La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Argentine Super Liga & more. Try 14-Days Free Now. The piece of paper in the image is entitled “UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Draw” and features the famous logo. Underneath the four ties can be easily made out, including Manchester United vs Tottenham. Hoards of social media users have suggested the entire draw is a fix, but it could of course just be a print-out of a trial run. It could alternatively be a complete hoax altogether and a fabrication from an attention-starved Twitter user. LISTEN! NEWEST FOX FOOTBALL PODCAST: Champions League | Bravo, Ronaldo | Mariners’ ‘shocking demise’ ON YOUR MOBILE? CLICK HERE TO LISTEN Regardless, the slip of paper shows the ties as: Liverpool vs Ajax, Juventus vs Porto, Man Utd vs Spurs and Barcelona vs Manchester City. One Twitter user wrote: “UCL director posted this on social media by accident seconds before deleting.” Another claimed: “Remember this post after the draw tomorrow.” A third added: “Quarter finals draws leaked? Is it?” Here’s how Twitter reacted to the “leaked” image... This story originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.<doc-sep>

The UEFA Champions League last 8: Who is in and out. The Champions League quarter-final line-up is set after a thrilling round of 16. Liverpool and Barcelona secured the final two spots on offer in the last eight on Thursday (AEDT), completing a remarkable fortnight that featured comebacks and upsets galore. Four English teams have made the last eight — the first time in 10 years that many countries from one nation have reached the quarters. Here’s a look at who made it before the draw for the remaining stages is made on Friday night, March 15 (10pm AEDT). The best of world football LIVE. Get it all on Foxtel. MANCHESTER MIRACLE: VAR CONTROVERSY CREATES CL HISTORY IN INJURY-TIME FRENZY BIGGEST CALL EVER: FOOTBALL WORLD STUNNED BY VAR MADNESS THE FINAL 8 Barcelona (ESP) Manchester City (ENG) Manchester United (ENG) Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) Liverpool (ENG) Juventus (ITA) FC Porto (POR) Ajax (NED) ROUND OF 16 RESULTS Liverpool (ENG) def Bayern Munich (GER) 3-1 on aggregate Barcelona (ESP) def Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) 5-1 on aggregate Manchester City (ENG) def Schlake (GER) 10-2 on aggregate Juventus (ITA) def Atletico Madrid (ESP) 3-2 on aggregate Porto (POR) defeated Roma (ITA) 4-3 on aggregate Manchester United (ENG) def Paris Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 3-3, on away goals Ajax (NED) def Real Madrid (ESP) 5-3 on aggregate Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) def Borussia Dortmund (GER) 4-0 on aggrefat0 Tottenham HOW THE DRAW WORKS Draw for quarter-finals and semi-finals will be made on Friday night. Unlike in previous rounds, there are no longer any restrictions on teams from the same country facing each other.

WASHINGTON—When President Trump served fast food to football players at the White House Monday night, it drew attention to a little-noted element of the more than three-week-old partial government shutdown: The president’s own staff is feeling the squeeze. Funding for parts of the White House operation, including the executive residence, has been lapsed since the shutdown began Dec. 22. With the shutdown already the longest in modern history, Mr. Trump sought to highlight its effect on his own operations when the Clemson University national football champions came for dinner in the State Dining Room. The Clemson University football team digs in to fast food on Monday night. The Tigers visited the White House to celebrate their national championship. Photo: chris kleponis/pool/Shutterstock The White House said Mr. Trump personally paid for the catering, which included food from McDonald’s Corp. , Wendy’s Co. , Restaurant Brands International Inc.’s Burger King and Domino’s Pizza Inc., because much of the residence staff has been furloughed. “Because of the Shutdown I served them massive amounts of Fast Food (I paid), over 1000 hamburgers etc.,” the president wrote Tuesday morning on Twitter. As the shutdown entered the 25th day, Mr. Trump held a lunch discussion Tuesday about the border with nine Republican House members, though it wasn’t immediately clear where the food came from. The White House said Democrats were invited but none chose to attend. A small group of Republican House members emerged from the lunch and criticized Democrats for not showing up, saying the problem cannot be solved if both sides fail to compromise. “The most important job of the federal government is to keep our families and our citizens safe,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas. “That’s all this president is trying to do.” Congressional staff are being paid during the shutdown because lawmakers passed—and Mr. Trump signed into law—five spending bills in September, including one funding the legislative branch of government. But the fight over the border wall derailed the remaining seven, whose expiration led to the shutdown last month. Hamburgers, salads other food from McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Pizza Hut were among the items served. The White House said the president personally paid the bill. Photo: joshua roberts/Reuters Lawmakers and the president get paid during a shutdown regardless of which spending bills have been passed. The Constitution forbids the salary of the president to be reduced, while lawmakers’ salaries can’t be altered until after there is an intervening election, according to the 27th Amendment. But the budget of the executive office of the president, including salaries for workers in the executive residence, is funded by the Financial Services and General Government spending bill, one of the seven caught up in the border-wall fight. That bill didn’t pass because its financial-services portion included controversial provisions still being debated, while the legislative funding bill wasn’t seen as contentious. Under the shutdown contingency plan prepared by Mick Mulvaney, then the White House budget director and now Mr. Trump’s acting chief of staff, only 21 of the executive residence’s 79 employees were considered essential, requiring them to show up for work during the shutdown. In total, roughly 1,068 of the overall executive office’s 1,759 staffers were scheduled to be furloughed under the contingency plan, while 691 would continue to report to work. Mr. Trump’s top economic adviser said Tuesday the shutdown is hurting his staff. Kevin Hassett, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, said one long-time CEA employee is now driving for Uber and a prospective employee is considering turning down a position because that person is unable to start the job due to the shutdown. Mr. Hassett confirmed he is working without receiving a paycheck. “Nobody thinks that government workers are better off because of the furlough,” Mr. Hassett said on a call with reporters. “It breaks my heart that that is going on.” Mr. Hassett had faced criticism for earlier suggesting that some employees could end up better off as a result of the shutdown because they get to take off work but not use vacation days. Mr. Trump called out the issue of lawmakers’ pay on Twitter Tuesday morning: “Why is Nancy Pelosi getting paid when people who are working are not?” The president, who often talks about his financial success, has donated his $400,000 annual paycheck to various arms of the government, including the National Park Service, Small Business Administration, Veterans Affairs and the departments of Education, Transportation and Health and Human Services. But lawmakers acknowledged discomfort with getting paid while many federal employees aren’t. Things have gotten nasty between President Trump and congressional Democrats over the government shutdown. But there could be ways out of the current stalemate. WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains. Photo: Getty Though lawmakers cannot stop their pay, they can ask congressional administrators to withhold it temporarily. They also can donate their pay. More than 50 lawmakers from the House and Senate have either publicly pledged to donate their salary or have requested congressional administrators to withhold it during the shutdown, according to a Wall Street Journal review of statements and tweets from lawmakers. “It’s hard, but, you know, it’s hard for my constituents too,” said Virginia Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton, a freshman whose district in the outskirts of Washington includes many federal workers. She was sworn in Jan. 3, and on that same day asked the chief administrative officer of the House to withhold her pay. “At least we have some control over this situation whereas our constituents have none,” Ms. Wexton said, pointing to air-traffic controllers in her district who have reached out to her to express concern about the shutdown. “Even though they’re working full-time schedules at a very challenging and high-stress job, they’re not getting paid.” Sen. Steve Daines (R., Mont.) on Jan. 5 asked the secretary of the Senate to withhold his pay. Mr. Daines wrote that until “Border Patrol agents and other federal personnel again receive their paychecks, I think it would be inappropriate for me to receive my pay.” A spokesman for Mrs. Pelosi didn’t respond to a request for comment.<doc-sep>WASHINGTON -- As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history continues, President Donald Trump is not the only member of the first family affected. The White House residence staff, which caters to the first family and maintains the White House, is down to 21 workers from its usual 79, according to a shutdown memo from the Office of Management and Budget. Melania Trump also is working with a skeleton crew. The first lady's staff, which promotes her work, has been cut from 10 to five, according to her spokesman. The effect of the diminished ranks was on display Monday night as Donald Trump served a buffet of fast food to the visiting college football champions, the Clemson Tigers. No floral arrangements graced the buffet, where blooms crafted by the White House florist's office would typically appear. The White House florists have been deemed nonessential during the shutdown. Chief usher Timothy Harleth, the residence's top executive and manager, helped light a pair of ornate candelabras, taking on a job more often delegated to a butler. Some functions Melania Trump oversees have been shut down entirely, including White House tours. The first lady has been particularly involved in the operations of the White House Visitor Center, aides have said. But since the shutdown began, there are no groups of tourists filing through the executive mansion. A call to the White House visitors information line directs callers with scheduled tours to contact the congressional office that arranged it. Congressional offices said they were informed that tours have halted during the shutdown and that people who had scheduled tours are getting cancellation notices. Melania Trump's spokesman, Stephanie Grisham, said the first lady -- who hasn't held any public events this year -- is spending the shutdown plotting out future events and the direction of her "Be Best" initiative. "We are in the planning phase for 2019 in terms of 'Be Best' and annual functions at the White House," Grisham wrote in an email. The first lady and her aides are "using this time for meetings and planning/strategy sessions." The White House residence staff, which typically serves across multiple presidential administrations, has been through shutdowns before. But some former White House staff members have criticized the effect of the shutdown on the residence workers, who are often beloved by White House aides and the first families themselves. The 21 members of the staff who are still at work are probably working without pay, like many furloughed federal employees, and won't be paid until the government reopens and restores back pay, former White House staff members say. Grisham would not comment on whether the residence workers were going without paychecks. Stephen Rochon, who was the White House's chief usher from 2007 to 2011, said it would be difficult to stretch the staff so thin as it manages a complex institution. "It's a tough place to run with only 21 people because everyone is very crucial, from the engineers to the butlers to the electricians to the carpenters," he said. "It takes every one of them to keep that house going." Jeremy Bernard, a social secretary during the Barack Obama administration, recalled working through the 2013 government closure, though many of his White House colleagues were not allowed to work. During that shutdown, the administration postponed some public events and limited others. Serving meals, he said, was out of the question because there wasn't a staff to prepare and serve them -- and the optics of throwing parties during a shutdown weren't good, either. Bernard recalled having to go to a White House gate to double-check names on a guest list with the Secret Service, a task usually handled by an intern. Secret Service agents are also on the job and unpaid during a shutdown. Before a press event, Bernard said, he and the chief usher were frantically moving chairs in place. While staff members can multitask like that for a while, Bernard said, the effect of a White House that's closed to the world is more consequential. Businesses nearby that rely on the flow of tourists suffer -- and so does the public, he said. A Section on 01/17/2019<doc-sep>WASHINGTON — As the partial government shutdown took hold over the holidays, President Trump seemed to express wonder at being alone in the White House with little but the cheeriness of heavily armed guards to keep him warm for the better part of a week. “I was waving to them,” Mr. Trump said just after New Year’s Day. “I never saw so many guys with machine guns in my life. Secret Service and military. These are great people.” Mr. Trump’s “Home Alone”-like Christmas tale has hardened into a 20-day standoff as relations between his administration and Congress over his $5 billion demand for a border wall grow ever frostier. The White House has stopped paying its water bill. Desks of some furloughed employees, whose job can include such drudgeries as helping their bosses work the copy machine, sit empty in the West Wing. And the Secret Service agents Mr. Trump was so impressed with, down to the officers who check IDs and wave black SUVs in and out of the gates surrounding the complex, are all working unpaid — everyone in the Secret Service is, according to an official at the agency.<doc-sep>President Trump on Monday hosted the national champion Clemson Tigers football team at the White House and treated them to a fast food feast. The menu of takeout burgers, pizza and fries was courtesy of the partial government shutdown, with much of the White House kitchen staff furloughed. “So we went out and we ordered American fast food paid for by me,” Trump said. “Lots of hamburgers, lots of pizza, I think they’d like it better than anything we could give.” The football players walked into the event and found a table piled high with hamburgers from McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King. Another table was covered with Domino’s pizzas and fries. Some of the college athletes whooped when they saw the spread. Trump described the grub as “great American food.” A reporter asked Trump which fast food joint was his favorite. “If it’s American I like it. It’s all American Stuff,” said the president. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.<doc-sep>

As they ambled into the room, members of the championship soccer team whooped at the sight of burgers piled high on a table for their celebratory reception at the White House. There was another table, further up, with pizzas and fries. All of it was paid for by US president Donald Trump personally, because most of the residence staff at the White House had been furloughed, which has impacted an estimated 800,000 employees of a fourth of the federal government. The burgers were from McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King, the market leaders in this category and the pizzas were from Domino’s, the leading chain. “Great American food,” is how Trump described the spread. Trump is personally partial to that food himself. His daily dinner on the campaign trail was two McDonald’s Big Macs and two fillet-of-fish sandwiches pushed down with a chocolate milkshake, according to his former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski’s book, which the president had endorsed. So, there it was all the food he likes, minus the steaks, spread out for the players of the Clemson Tigers, the team that won the college football championship. “The reason we did this is because of the shutdown,” the president said to reporters covering the reception. “We want to make sure that everything is right, so we sent out, we got this. And we have some wonderful people working in the White House.” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that the president wanted to host a “fun event” for the college players and added because “much of the residence staff at the White House is furloughed – so the President is personally paying for the event to be catered with some of everyone’s favorite fast foods”. Trump had paid for them, and he had kept track of it, he revealed later. “We have pizzas, we have 300 hamburgers, many, many french fries, all of our favourite foods”. That seemed like an accurate account from someone who had ordered that many — 300 — burgers. For a billionaire such as Trump, the cost of the food on the tables in the White House was but small change. He donates his $400,000 a year salary as president to charities and government organisations, such as veterans affairs. But hundreds of thousands of federal employees who have been furloughed or made to work without pay are struggling to make ends meet. They are dipping into savings and selling personal and households goods such as cars, television sets, spare car tires and, even baby car seats. Effects of the shutdown are also being felt by general public across sectors where the government’s interface with the public is typically high such as security screening of passengers at airports, where waiting lines have grown longer, and world-renown museums such as those prefixed Smithsonian. Some of the iconic US national parks such as the Yellow Stone and Grand Canyon, which attract tourists from abroad and home, remain open and operational either with financial aid and other kinds of help from local government and businesses benefiting from them or with reduced or no official staff on duty.

Melania Trump's spokeswoman has slammed a 'disgusting' new music video featuring her look-alike stripping in the White House. The video shows Atlanta rapper T.I. sitting in the presidential chair and lighting a cigar in the Oval Office while a woman resembling the the First Lady struts in and performs a racy striptease. The one-minute promotional video, uploaded to the rapper's Twitter, shows the Melania look-alike wearing black stilettos and her notorious khaki jacket emblazoned with 'I really don't care, do u?' - which she wore when visiting migrant children in Texas in June. T.I. posted the video on his Twitter account with the remark 'Dear 45, I ain't Kanye.' That is a reference to Kanye's visit to the Oval Office last week which angered many left-leaning celebrities. The clip is a teaser for a full length music video. Melania Trump has hit back over a 'disgusting' new music video featuring her look-alike (pictured) stripping in the White House The video shows Atlanta rapper T.I. sitting in the presidential chair and lighting a cigar in the Oval Office while a woman resembling the First Lady disrobes and performs a racy striptease The First Lady's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham called on the public to boycott the Atlanta rapper's video in a tweet which the First Lady retweeted on Saturday. Ms Grishap tweeted: 'How is this acceptable? #disgusting #boycott' on Saturday. People have taken to social media out against T.I. 's new video. 'Just lost a fan T.I. How about I shoot a video like that with Tiny? I've overlooked a lot of your behaviour but this is just too disrespectful to be ignored. You are despicable,' one man said on Twitter. Another woman said: 'No words can describe... Seriously I can't believe my eyes right now.' She added: 'We are not just talking about a lady, she is the FIRST LADY of the US... the equivalent of the Queen of Spain or the UK.' In the video, the Melania look-alike wore black stilettos and the First Lady's notorious khaki jacket emblazoned with 'I really don't care, do u?' T.I. 's video which features a Melania Trump look-alike disrobing and suggestively dancing was uploaded on his Twitter as a teaser for his new album 'Dime Trap' last week T.I. 's video was uploaded on his Twitter as a teaser for his new album 'Dime Trap' on Friday. And just hours later, Melania Trump claimed she was a victim of bullying on-air. In an exclusive interview with the ABC last Friday she said, 'I could say I’m the most bullied person in the world.' Melania Trump opened up on the many attacks she has endured since her husband took office. The video comes just before Melania Trump claimed she is the most 'bullied' person in the world The First Lady also revealed that the bullying actually motivated her to create her own White House anti-bullying and self-care initiative named Be Best. When asked by the ABC reporter on whether she supports the #MeToo movement Melania Trump said she supports both male and female victims. 'I support the women and they need to be heard. We need to support them. And also men, not just women,' she said.<doc-sep>Products in this story are independently selected and featured editorially. If you make a purchase using these links we may earn commission. T.I. has made his feelings about Donald Trump and Kanye West well known, but in case there was any doubt, the Atlanta-based rapper's latest video made things very clear T.I. Takes Aim at Trump and Kanye West in New Music Video Featuring Melania Lookalike Stripper T.I. has made his feelings about President Donald Trump and Kanye West well known, but in case there was any doubt, the Atlanta-based rapper’s latest video made things very clear. On Friday, T.I. dropped an NSFW clip on his social media accounts that showed him posing as a secret service agent hanging in the Oval Office. After watching the president fly away on his helicopter, T.I. then stands behind POTUS’ desk watching a woman seemingly meant to be First Lady Melania Trump enter the room. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Soon she strips off her green jacket — a mock of FLOTUS’ “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” trench — and stands naked on the desk, stroking T.I.’s tie. They later leave together and are seen wrecking the White House, spray painting over Mr. Trump’s portrait and more. “Dear 45, I ain’t Kanye,” T.I. wrote of the minute-long video acting as a promo for his new album, Dime Trap. “How is this acceptable? #disgusting #boycottT.I.,” tweeted Stephanie Grisham, Mrs. Trump’s communications director, on Saturday. Friday’s clip came a day after T.I. posted a long rant against West following the 41-year-old Yeezy owner’s bizarre meeting with the president. “All I can say is… I’ve reached my limits,” T.I., 38, wrote. “This is my stop, I’m officially DONE!!!! [F—] Trump & his Lil Cookie Boy.” “At one time it was a pleasure to work alongside you…” T.I. added of his former collaborator. “Now, I’m ashamed to have ever been associated with you.” RELATED: Kanye West Meets with President Trump in the Oval Office Coming to the decision wasn’t easy for T.I. (né Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.). But West’s meeting with Trump — and the rapper’s controversial statements there about racism — pushed him over the edge. “This is the most repulsive, disgraceful, embarrassing act of desperation & auctioning off of one’s soul to gain power I’ve ever seen,” T.I. wrote. “You ass kissing and boot licking on a whole new level & I refuse to associate myself with something so vile, weak, & inconsiderate to the effect this has on the greater good of ALL OUR PEOPLE!!! !” “Don’t follow this puppet,” T.I. continued. “Because as long as I’ve lived I’ve learned that it benefits a man nothing at all to gain the world, if to do so he must lose his soul. We just saw Mr. West’s Soul on auction. If you listen closely you can hear the tears of our ancestors hit the floor.”<doc-sep>The chopper takes off, and the scene shifts to T.I., clad in a sharp blue suit, wandering around the Oval Office. He stares out the window for a moment, then walks to the desk and places his hand on it, as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders.<doc-sep>

The first lady's spokesperson is firing back at T.I over the rapper's “disgusting” music video that features a character, who looks like Melania Trump, wearing nothing but that infamous "I Really Don't Care, Do U?" jacket. "Like it or not, she is the first lady and this is the White House," Stephanie Grisham, Melania Trump's spokeswoman told USA TODAY in a statement Tuesday. She continued: "It’s disrespectful and disgusting to portray her this way simply because of politics." The statement comes after Atlanta rapper T.I. released a NSFW presidential-themed video teaser for his new album "Dime Trap" Friday. The message about his dislike for President Donald Trump was clear, "Dear 45, I ain't Kanye," he tweeted, with the video. The clip begins with real footage of Trump boarding Marine One solo. It then cuts to T.I. watching from a set the looks like the Oval Office, with a voice-over noting that the first lady's absence from Trump's trip, which "has a lot of people wondering." After the coast is clear, T.I. takes a seat behind the Resolute Desk and lights a cigar as a woman wearing nothing but the first lady's notorious green Zara jacket (which she told ABC News was directed at the left-wing media) and a pair of heels steps in front of him, disrobes and begins dancing suggestively on the desk. Later, T.I. watches as she sprays paint over the eyes of her husband's portrait. "These kinds of vulgar attacks only further the divisiveness and bias in our country - it needs to stop," Grisham added. More: Melania says controversial jacket was a message 'for the left-winged media' More:Here's every word of Kanye West's bizarre meeting with President Trump The president, who spent the weekend campaigning and welcoming Pastor Andrew Brunson home from captivity in Turkey, has yet to acknowledge the T.I. video on his social media channels. T.I. has been busy on social media lately. He made waves last week when he went after West following the rapper's appearance at the White House. The rapper, who collaborated with 'Ye on the 2006 track "Swagga Like Us," publicly unfriended West in an NSFW Instagram post. "At one time it was a pleasure to work alongside you... now, I’m ashamed to have ever been associated with you," he wrote. "I’ve reached my limits. This is my stop, I’m officially DONE!!!!" The rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., revealed he'd turned down West's invitation to join him at the White House and called the meeting the "most repulsive, disgraceful, embarrassing act of desperation & auctioning off of one’s soul to gain power I’ve ever seen." Contributing: Cydney Henderson Related: Chrissy Teigen says John Legend, Kanye West 'learned a lot' from political debate

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 3, 2018. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters) U.S. tariffs against $34 billion in Chinese goods took effect Friday, serving as the opening volley in a trade war that many fear will disrupt the strong economic performance President Trump has enjoyed since taking office. China responded immediately to the 25 percent tariffs, which took effect at 12:01 a.m., announcing they would implement their own, similarly-scaled tariffs on a number of unspecified American goods. Soy beans, sports utility vehicles and whiskey are among the American products expected to be hardest hit. Advertisement The U.S. “has launched the biggest trade war in economic history so far,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. President Trump has thus far been undeterred by widespread fears that the cumulative effect of the trade wars he is fighting against China, as well as North American and European allies, will have a deleterious effect on the stock market and the cost of consumer goods. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross communicated Trump’s commitment to a protectionist agenda Monday, telling CNBC hosts that a market downturn, regardless of size, will not cause the administration to abandon tariffs. “There’s no bright-line level of the stock market that’s going to change policy,” Ross said. “The president is trying to fix long-term problems that should have been fixed a long time ago.” Speaking to reporters on Air Force One Thursday, Trump continued to posture, vowing to follow up the tariffs with levies on some $16 billion in Chinese goods. He also threatened, once again, to slap tariffs on $450 billion in Chinese products — a figure that nearly represents the totality of Chinese exports to the U.S. With no official talks between the countries planned, there is no clear exit strategy for the administration. “At the moment, I don’t see how this ends,” said Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told the New York Times. “This is very much in the president’s hands because he’s got advisers that seem divided, some substantively, some tactically. I just don’t think we’ve had any clear signs of the resolution he wants.” Send a tip to the news team at NR.<doc-sep>NEW A vastly improved search engine helps you find the latest on companies, business leaders, and news more easily.<doc-sep>"You have another 16 [billion dollars] in two weeks, and then, as you know, we have $200bn in abeyance and then after the $200bn, we have $300bn in abeyance. OK? So we have 50 plus 200 plus almost 300," he said.<doc-sep>BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and China exchanged the first salvos in what could become a protracted trade war on Friday, slapping tariffs on $34 billion worth of each others’ goods and giving no sign of willingness to start talks aimed at a reaching a truce. Duties on a range of Chinese goods imported into the United States took effect on Friday and were immediately countered by measures from China, with Beijing accusing the United States of triggering the “largest-scale trade war”. The escalating fight between the world’s two biggest economies meant that it could “take economic and political pain to get these two parties to the (negotiating) table”, said Scott Kennedy, head of China studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. President Donald Trump is already threatening additional rounds of tariffs, possibly targeting more than $500 billion worth of Chinese goods - roughly the total amount of U.S. imports from China last year. It will take weeks or months for the U.S. Trade Representative to review and possibly activate any new rounds of punishment. “The key questions during that time are what will happen to financial markets, how will U.S. voters react and will China’s economy start to wobble,” Kennedy said in a telephone interview. Erin Ennis, senior vice president of the U.S. China Business Council, said there was a danger the two sides will dig in on trade sanctions without a clear strategy for resuming negotiations. While U.S. companies doing business in China agree with Trump’s complaint about Chinese intellectual property practices, Ennis said they do not see tariffs pushing China into submission. China’s commerce ministry said it was forced to retaliate, meaning imported U.S. goods including cars, soybeans, and lobsters also faced 25 percent tariffs. Some of Trump’s fellow Republicans in the U.S. Congress lashed out at his actions. “Tariffs not only hurt our farmers, ranchers and airplane manufacturers, but they also harm every American consumer. We should be working with our allies to isolate China rather than escalate a trade war,” said Senator Jerry Moran, who represents the agriculture-heavy state of Kansas. China’s soymeal futures fell more than 2 percent on Friday afternoon before recovering most of those losses amid initial market confusion over whether Beijing had actually implemented the tariffs, which it later confirmed it had. Friday’s long-expected China tariff volley fueled fear that a prolonged and escalating battle would hurt global trade, investment and growth, while also damaging U.S. farm exports and potentially driving up food prices in China. For example, U.S.-based audio company Sonos Inc noted in an initial public offering on Friday its performance “may be materially harmed” by trade restrictions. To view a graphic on China trade with U.S., click: reut.rs/2HjTuSw ‘NEVER A SOLUTION’ “Trade war is never a solution,” Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said at a news briefing with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in Sofia before a summit with 16 central and easternEuropean countries. Slideshow ( 8 images ) “China would never start a trade war but if any party resorts to an increase of tariffs, then China will take measures in response to protect development interests,” he said. There was no sign of renewed negotiations between U.S. and Chinese officials in the run-up to Friday, business sources in Washington and Beijing said. The dispute has roiled financial markets including stocks, currencies and the global trade of commodities from soybeans to coal in recent weeks. China lodged a case with the World Trade Organization against the United States, its commerce ministry said on Friday. Slideshow ( 8 images ) White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman KevinHassett said in an interview on Fox Business Network on Friday Trump is “going to deliver better (trade) deals”. He said that, for now, “he’s called the bluff of other countries that have basically been abusing” U.S. companies and workers. To view a graphic on Industry impact, click: reut.rs/2IVkPHd PRICE WATCH Importers of American retail goods hit by higher Chinese duties were reluctant to pass the costs on to consumers for now. An analysis of more than four dozen targeted U.S products showed that prices were little changed on Friday afternoon from earlier in the week. The products, sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms, ranged from pet food to mixed nuts and whiskey. Ford Motor Co F.N said on Thursday that, for now, it will not hike prices of imported Ford and higher-margin luxury Lincoln models in China. However, German automaker BMWBMWG.DE said it is unable to "completely absorb" new Chinese tariff on imported U.S.-made models and will raise prices. U.S. stocks shook off the tariffs, which investors said had been well-anticipated and priced in. The S&P 500 rose to a two-week high on Friday, partly buoyed by strong U.S. jobs growth. However, investors said a significant escalation intension would cause worries to set in. Companies seeking product exclusions from tariffs on Chinese goods imported into the United States will get 90 days to file such requests, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said onFriday. To view a graphic on the Tit-for-tat impact, click: tmsnrt.rs/2GXE9qr ‘GANG OF HOODLUMS’ Chinese state media slammed Trump’s trade policies and onFriday likened his administration to a “gang of hoodlums”. China’s commerce ministry called the U.S. actions “a violation of world trade rules” and said it had “initiated the largest-scale trade war in economic history”. Trump has railed against Beijing for intellectual property theft, barriers to entry for U.S. businesses and a $375 billionU.S. trade deficit with China. A China central bank adviser said the planned U.S. import tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods - $34 billion plus a planned follow-on list worth $16 billion - would cut China’s economic growth by 0.2 percentage points, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. China’s tariff list is heavy on agricultural goods such as soybeans, sorghum and cotton, threatening U.S. farmers in states that backed Trump in the 2016 U.S. election, such as Texas and Iowa.<doc-sep>

U.S. tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods kicked in on Friday, escalating a war of words between the world's two largest economies into a full-blown trade conflict. Washington's 25 percent duties went into effect at midnight EDT and affected products such as water boilers, X-ray machine components, airplane tires and various other industrial parts. China immediately implemented retaliatory tariffs on its $34 billion list of goods issued last month, including soybeans, pork and electric vehicles. Beijing called it the "biggest trade war in economic history." It's unlikely to stop there. In fact, there will be probably be “escalation upon escalation,” warned Geoff Raby, Australia’s former ambassador to China. Ahead of the Friday implementation of American and Chinese tariffs, Raby told CNBC that “it looks like the first shots to the trade war are about to be fired.” China, for its part, was already calling the tariff threats between Beijing and Washington a "trade war" in June. “I thought that by now a negotiated solution would have been found,” Raby told CNBC’s Martin Soong, adding that it seems the U.S. has “walked away” from any potential deal. President Donald Trump said Thursday that tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods will kick in at 12:01 a.m. EDT Friday. Another $16 billion are expected to go into effect in two weeks, he said. He told reporters he would also consider imposing additional tariffs on $500 billion in Chinese goods, should Beijing retaliate against the already-scheduled actions. China had said it would not "fire the first shot." Raby, who was also his country’s former ambassador to the World Trade Organization, said Trump seemed to be driven by “very short-term political considerations" ahead of U.S. midterm elections in November. “He’s escalated the dispute, the midterms are coming up, he’s polling well, and tough rhetoric coming out of the White House seems to be playing well with his base.” He called it a “big risk” for the world trading system that its key player — the United States — is driven by such considerations. “We’ll probably see escalation upon escalation. China has made it absolutely clear,” Raby said. “It cannot show weakness in the face of the United States. ... So I think this comes to some sort of end once there’s been a lot of damage done and people start to come to their senses.”

Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BEIJING — A popular Chinese social media site is blocking users from posting about “Last Week Tonight” and its HBO host John Oliver after the news satire program aired a segment this week making fun of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Attempts to send posts Friday with either the terms “John Oliver” or “Last Week Tonight” on the Sina Weibo microblog were met with failure messages saying “the content contains information that violates relevant laws and regulations.” Oliver’s show on Sunday made satirical references to Xi and the way that Chinese internet users often joke that he resembles Winnie the Pooh. The show also referred to China’s internment of hundreds of thousands of members of the Muslim minority groups in political indoctrination camps. Weibo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<doc-sep>John Oliver has been censored in China days after criticising the country's president Xi Jinping. China's biggest social media site has banned any mention of the TV personality following an episode of US show Last Week Tonight in which he highlighted political and human rights issues the country is facing. The BBC verified the censorship by trying - and failing - to post a status with John Oliver's name to Chinese social media site Weibo. Attempts are being met with an error message stating the post is a violation of “relevant laws and regulations.” The episode saw Oliver detail the country's heavily criticised removal of presidential term limits, something which has permitted Xi to stay in power for the remainder of his life. The British presenter didn't stop there. He highlighted the case of human rights activist Liu Xiaobo who was deemed a criminal and died while serving an 11-year prison sentence for subversion in 2017. Like Oliver, mention of Liu has been censored on Weibo. “Xi's crackdown on human rights is apparently the harshest crackdown since Tiananmen square,” Oliver said, adding: “[He] has clamped down noticeably on any form of dissident whatsoever.” 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>On his Sunday HBO show, "Last Week Tonight," John Oliver criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping. Oliver blasted Xi's consolidation of power and China's human-rights abuses. The Chinese social network Weibo has blocked all mentions of Oliver and scrubbed all recent posts about him and his show. Chinese internet companies regularly censor content they believe could jeopardize the country's political stability. China's largest social network, Weibo, has blocked all mentions of John Oliver after the TV host criticized President Xi Jinping. On Sunday's episode of Oliver's HBO show, "Last Week Tonight," Oliver blasted Xi's consolidation of power and attempts to establish what he described as a cult of personality by way of abolishing presidential term limits, amassing lists of "untrustworthy" people, and censoring content on the internet at an unprecedented pace. As a result, Weibo has censored all posts mentioning Oliver's name and show in an attempt to stop people from reading about Oliver's attacks on Xi. The ban was first noticed on Wednesday by Inkstone, a China-focused news outlet affiliated with the South China Morning Post, as reporters found they were unable to post news about Oliver on Weibo. The microblogging platform has also scrubbed all posts containing the phrases "John Oliver" and "Last Week Tonight" since June 12, Business Insider has found. While there is no indication that Weibo's censorship came at the behest of the Chinese government, the Communist Party is known to have a firm grip on internet content. In March, China temporarily banned a Quora-like platform from app stores after it was found not to have censored enough content. While "Last Week Tonight" is not officially broadcast in China and YouTube is blocked in mainland China, Oliver's shows are regularly discussed and shared unofficially on video platforms, Inkstone said. These images were banned from the internet in China. @vinayak_jain/Twitter Chinese internet companies regularly censor content they believe could jeopardize the country's political stability. Earlier this year, Weibo blocked the letter N from the internet after it was used to attack Xi. Douyin, the country's video-sharing app, also banned "Peppa Pig" videos because the government believed the cartoon was being used to spread "negative influence" in the country. The country has also repeatedly censored content containing images of Winnie the Pooh, which Chinese critics use to mock Xi and imply physical similarities between the president and the fictional bear. US viewers can watch Oliver's 20-minute segment on China here.<doc-sep>

BEIJING — A popular Chinese social media site is censoring discussion of “Last Week Tonight” and its HBO host John Oliver after he mocked Chinese President Xi Jinping, his apparent sensitivity about being compared to Winnie the Pooh and his country’s crackdown on human rights. Attempts to send posts with either the terms “John Oliver” or “Last Week Tonight” on the Sina Weibo microblog Friday were met with failure messages saying “the content contains information that violates relevant laws and regulations.” Oliver’s show on Sunday made satirical references to Xi and the way that Chinese internet users often joke that he resembles Winnie the Pooh. The show also referred to China’s internment of hundreds of thousands of members of the Muslim Uighur minority groups in political indoctrination camps . Oliver called Xi “the man who is now emperor for life,” referring to the Chinese leader’s power grab earlier this year when presidential term limits were eliminated. On YouTube, the video of the 20-minute segment, which contains graphic language, was viewed more than 3.3 million times by Friday. The show also turned a critical eye to Xi’s signature anti-corruption crackdown that has ensnared political rivals and his hallmark program of overseas infrastructure projects known as the “Belt and Road” initiative. Oliver’s show included a parody of a propaganda music video made to promote the initiative in which children sing about China being an autocracy that abuses its citizens’ human rights. “This is the China Xi doesn’t want you to see,” they sing in chorus. It also discussed moves to build up a cult of personality around Xi, the ruling Communist Party’s attacks on human rights campaigners and the death of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo last year while serving a prison term for subversion. The censoring of social media posts was the latest sign of the country’s increasing sensitivity over political content and satire. China maintains some of the world’s toughest restrictions on content online as well as on foreign news and entertainment broadcasters such as HBO. Weibo did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.

Heavy rain caused chaos in qualifying, which was delayed due to the downpour, before Jorge Lorenzo took pole. MOTOGP rider Tito Rabat is to undergo emergency surgery after suffering a broken leg in a horror smash at Silverstone. Qualifying for the British MotoGP was delayed following the accident involving Tito Rabat Rabat was taken to hospital in Coventry for attention to his injuries Lorenzo and Aleix Espargaro both fell before Suzuki's Alex Rins jumped off his bike at over 100mph at the Stowe corner. The Spaniard was then flown to the University Hospital Coventry with his team saying he had multiple fractures to his leg before later confirming a broken femur, fibula and tibula. He lay on the ground before being treated 'for multiple injuries' by medical staff, according to an update from MotoGP via Twitter. The Avintia Ducati rider had come off his bike and was walking away when he was struck by Franco Morbidelli's bike in FP4, sending him flying. The Spaniard is into his third season in MotoGP Rabat was hit by another bike and suffered a broken leg Rins later said about the incident: "What happened today was incredible, I have no words to describe it. "I saw Tito, but he was on his back. I screamed at him and I made gestures, but he could not move. "I saw that Morbidelli was also losing control. I could not prevent his bike from hitting Rabat's leg and throwing him two or three metre away. It was a brutal impact." After qualifying, Lorenzo told Movistar TV: "We are worried about Tito and let's hope it is not serious. "We will see how much water falls tomorrow and what happens in the race." 5 Suzuki rider Alex Rins witnessed the accident Credit: EPA Rabat is in his third season in MotoGP and the 29-year-old currently sits 14th in the standings. It was the second heavy crash for Rabat this year after he escaped an incident during a tyre testing session at Barcelona in May. On that occasion he picked up only a small muscle rupture on his left arm that did not mean he missed a race as a result. Speaking to Movistar TV at Silverstone, doctor Angel Charte revealed Rabat's life was not in danger but that he had been sedated to cope with the pain before being sent to hospital for a number of checks.<doc-sep>Get email updates with the day's biggest stories 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 Tito Rabat was taken to hospital with a suspected triple leg break after crashing in qualifying for the British stage of the MotoGP at Silverstone. The Spaniard was involved in the horror incident after crashing at high speed at the Stowe corner as heavy rain caused chaos. As many as four riders fell and as Rabat walked away from the incident, he was struck by Franco Morbidelli. Rabat of Reale Avintia Racing Team received treatment off the track and required an oxygen mask as he was stretchered away. The 31-year-old was then taken to the University Hospital Coventry amid fears he had suffered a triple fracture of his right leg. (Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: REX/Shutterstock) Jorge Lorenzo eventually took pole at Silverstone but admitted Rabat's injury had marred the occasion. "We are worried about Tito and let's hope it is not serious," he said. "We will see how much water falls tomorrow and what happens in the race." (Image: REX/Shutterstock) Lorenzo pipped fellow Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso by 15 hundredths of a second in two minutes 10.155 seconds. Championship leader Marc Marquez will start fifth, with Johann Zarco and Britain's Cal Crutchlow also ahead of him, but had the boost of seeing his nearest title challenger Valentino Rossi record the slowest time in the second qualifying session. The Italian will start from 12th on the grid.<doc-sep>Silverstone is facing a humiliating backlash over its recent track resurfacing after Saturday’s rain-hit MotoGP practice session left riders in doubt over whether a similar downpour on Sunday would make the British Grand Prix possible to run. Jorge Lorenzo took pole position in a delayed qualifying session that took place on a drying track, but it was the multiple pile-up towards the end of free practice that caused the biggest concern as a number of riders went off at the Stowe corner, resulting in Tito Rabat being hit by Franco Morbidelli’s bike as it careered into the gravel trap. Rabat was heard to be in pain on the world television feed and was airlifted to University Hospital Coventry with multiple fractures to his right leg, the Avintia Racing team announced on Saturday evening. Lorenzo and Aleix Espargaro had already gone off after hitting a rain shower at the end of the Hangar Straight - the fastest point on the Northamptonshire circuit - before Alex Rins jumped off his Suzuki at more than 100mph as he aquaplaned off the track. Morbidelli also fell, with his Marc VDS Honda hitting Rabat who was already in the gravel trap. The controversy comes after Silverstone's owners, the British Racing Drivers’ Club [BRDC], had the track resurfaced in a multi-million deal earlier this year in a bid to iron out the bumps that the MotoGP riders complained about last season. Speaking after qualifying, a number of riders expressed their concern at the conditions and said that the track quickly became unrideable. With heavy rain predicted from early on Sunday, race organisers Dorna agreed with the International Road-Racing Teams Association [IRTA] to alter the schedule and move the MotoGP race to the earlier time slot of 11.30am, swapping places with Moto3. However, with showers expected to start in the area from 06.00am, there are genuine fears that the race could be cancelled altogether. Six riders crashed at Stowe in free practice (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images) “"I don't like to say this, because I love racing, but if conditions are like FP4 we cannot race,” said reigning champion and current series leader Marc Marquez, who on Friday criticised the track resurface as “worse than last year” due to the bumps that are in the tarmac. "Tomorrow the forecast is for much more water. The aquaplaning was amazing. The problem is the bumps. The water gets inside the bumps, then you have aquaplaning where you don't expect it, because you don't have the same amount of water everywhere. "Where the bumps are, there is much more water." Marquez was one of many riders to criticise the track on Friday, with Britain’s Cal Crutchlow another to note that the track was worse than when he visited earlier in the year in testing. “We’ve seen today that it’s worse than last year, even though the track’s been resurfaced,” Crutchlow told The Independent on Friday. “I’m a great supporter and very fond of Silverstone so I never like to say anything bad about it but it is true. I came here three months ago and the track was like a millpond, there wasn’t one bump in it at all, then it seems to have got worse. I have no idea why but there’s a lot of bumps on the track.” Marc Marquez said the race cannot be held in the same conditions (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images) Crutchlow, who is due to start his home race from fourth, also said during Saturday’s free practice session that he had no control of the bike in a straight line in sixth gear, such was the problem with aquaplaning, and that the best course of action could be to move the race to Bank Holiday Monday when no rain is currently forecast. "It could be a disaster, because today under one millimetre of rain was forecast," Crutchlow added. "Tomorrow 15mm, 16mm of rain is forecast. So either we'll be racing on the Monday or we'll see you in Misano. "If you want to see a race, it's a bank holiday Monday, just stay here. Honestly speaking I don't think you can ride on a circuit that was like Turn 7 for the rest of the circuit - you wouldn't even make it round." Pole-sitter Lorenzo admitted that he was concerned for Rabat’s well-being, and that race organisers would need to consider the safety of the riders as their main priority when considering whether to give Sunday’s schedule the go-ahead. "We are worried about Tito and let's hope it is not serious,” Lorenzo said. "We will see how much water falls tomorrow and what happens in the race. “It was really difficult and really tricky conditions because you didn’t know if the rain would arrive in the middle of qualifying. Moto3 is now due to start at 1.00pm, with Moto2 following that at 2.30pm, but the heaviest rain is due to hit Silverstone in the early-afternoon, with both races also at risk of cancellation. The BRDC decided to resurface the track in order to correct “a few bumps, uneven surfaces and different age asphalt sections” with the new tarmac designed to “help improve the racing by providing a much smoother surface”, they said in a press release in February this year. Aggregate Industries were responsible for laying the “high performance asphalt”, and Silverstone’s managing director Stuart Pringle said at the time of the announcement: “I’m hugely excited about the enhanced and, importantly for motorcycles, consistent grip that the new Aggregate Industries asphalt will provide.”<doc-sep>

Spanish Moto GP rider Tito Rabat has undergone surgery in Coventry after a horror smash saw him suffer a triple leg fracture at Silverstone. Taking part in a qualifying race for the British MotoGP, Rabat, 31, crashed out on Stowe Corners as heavy rain wreaked chaos throughout the event. Initially one of four riders to come off their bikes, Rabat was hit by another rider as he walked away from the crash reports The Mirror . (Image: Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images) The Reale Avintia Racing Team member was stretched away while medics administered oxygen. The 31-year-old was then taken to the University Hospital Coventry amid fears he had suffered a triple fracture of his right leg. Last night his team posted an update saying the rider had come out of surgery and would remain in hospital until today. In a tweet updating worried fans, his team said :"@TitoRabat Surgery at the University Hopsital of Coventry has been successful. The fractures of right femur, tibia and fibula have been fixed. "He will stay at the UCI hospital until tomorrow #vamostito #britishgp #motogp" Riders, fans and commentators went on to wish Tito well with his recovery following the incident. Jorge Lorenzo eventually took pole at Silverstone but admitted Rabat's injury had marred the occasion. "We are worried about Tito and let's hope it is not serious," he said. "We will see how much water falls tomorrow and what happens in the race." (Image: Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images) Lorenzo pipped fellow Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso by 15 hundredths of a second in two minutes 10.155 seconds. Championship leader Marc Marquez will start fifth, with Johann Zarco and Britain's Cal Crutchlow also ahead of him, but had the boost of seeing his nearest title challenger Valentino Rossi record the slowest time in the second qualifying session. The Italian will start from 12th on the grid.

The internet and phone provider Comcast has confirmed it has suffered a huge service outage – with reports of problems stretching from coast to coast. The Philadelphia-based company, said to be the the second largest broadcasting and cable television firm in the world, told users it was working to restore service as soon as possible. “Hello, we apologise for the inconvenience,” it said to one customer asking for information. “Use this link to send a DM to our Digital Care Team for assistance.” 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. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Reports suggest the outage is primarily affecting the company’s cable service, but telephone and internet services were apparently also affected in some areas. The company did not immediately respond to enquiries after the breakout at 2pm EST on Friday Comcast, which was founded in 1963, is said to have 23.3 million internet subscribers and 11.5m phone customers.<doc-sep>A cut in a fiber line from one of Comcast’s network partners has caused nationwide internet outages. The outages are affecting pockets across the country, from the southeast to Washington state. Comcast, one of America’s largest internet service providers, relies on network partners to deliver its services across the country. “You can think of the internet as like a pile of fishing nets that are independent, but sometimes connect to each other,” Andrew Blum, author of Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet, told Quartz. “Sometimes a physical failure at one place could have an impact on networks that you didn’t realize are part of that infrastructure.” Despite the talk of “the cloud,” Comcast users across the US were reminded again today that the internet is still a physical thing.<doc-sep>

Comcast’s Xfinity phone service is apparently suffering a massive outage today, knocking out phone service for thousands of companies across the country that still largely rely on landline access to do business. According to DownDetector.com, Comcast phone service began experiencing issues around 8AM ET this morning and by the afternoon, areas around the country have started reporting disruptions. The areas most affected appear to be the Pacific Northwest, California, the tri-state area, and Florida. The official support Twitter account for Comcast Xfinity’s residential and business services has acknowledged the issues, tweeting at 1PM ET today that some “customers may still be experiencing an issue with their Voice service,” though Comcast has yet to release an official statement regarding the issue. @comcastbusiness customers may still be experiencing an issue with their Voice service. We appreciate your patience as we continue to resolve. Please continue to check back here for more updates. — ComcastCares (@comcastcares) June 6, 2018 A cursory search on Twitter shows hundreds of users complaining about the business phone outage and the effect it’s having, and many companies seem to be attempting to route calls through cell phones or alternative methods. Comcast is having issues since 11:28 AM ESThttps://t.co/he0RZm1TIj RT if you're also affected #comcastoutage pic.twitter.com/1yWrkCKKb9 — Outage Report (@ReportOutage) June 6, 2018 Due to a Comcast phone service outage in our area, our phone service is down until 4:00! (6/6/18) We are working on routing incoming calls to a cellphone and will update you promptly. Please email an administrator if you need assistance. pic.twitter.com/FiH5s4U6hz — Glen Montessori (@GlenMontessori) June 6, 2018 Others, like radio host Thom Hartmann, pointed out how Comcast’s stranglehold on the landline market makes US companies especially susceptible to situations like this, where one provider can cripple large swaths of a country. The #comcastoutage shows the danger of giant monopolies. In Europe, you can get your phone and internet service from any company you want (over 100 in France! ), regardless of who owns the copper or fiber coming into your home or business. Here, we get monopoly and screwed. — Thom Hartmann (@Thom_Hartmann) June 6, 2018 In at least one case, granted a very troubling one, the outage affected landline 911 calls to Washington’s Spokane County police department, with the Greater Spokane Emergency Management department informing residents to use their cellphone in an emergency to contact law enforcement. We have been informed that there is a Comcast phone outage in Spokane County. You may not be able to reach 911 with your landline (VOIP) phone and should use your cell phone if you need to call 911. — Greater Spokane EM (@GEGEmergencyMgt) June 6, 2018 The issue was later resolved for Spokane County, but it’s clear a Comcast landline outage is a serious matter that could affect police and ambulance response. In a statement issued around 3:30PM ET, Comcast says service has been restored for most of its customers. “We experienced a service interruption today with our Comcast Business Voice and VoiceEdge Select services and we apologize,” a company spokesperson said. “Our engineers began working to address the issue immediately and services have been restored for most of our customers. We recognize that some customers are still impacted and we expect the issue to be fully resolved shortly. We have every resource focused on getting everyone back online and apologize again to the customers who were affected.” Update 6/6, 3:30PM ET: Added statement from Comcast. Correction: Spokane County is located in Washington, not Oregon. We regret the error.

SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (AP) — The lead pastor of a Chicago-area evangelical church that is one of the largest in the nation says she is stepping down, and the entire Board of Elders will do so by the end of the year. In an announcement posted on the Willow Creek Community Church website late Wednesday, Heather Larson said the church needed new leadership in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against church founder Bill Hybels. In a New York Times story, former assistant Pat Baranowski said Hybels repeatedly groped her in the 1980s. Hybels denies the allegation. He resigned in April. The announcements come as the Willow Creek Association is scheduled to host its 23rd annual Global Leadership Summit. Several speakers have backed out and over 100 churches cancelled plans to broadcast the event. The church has eight Chicago-area locations.<doc-sep>Hybels was the subject of a series of inquiries overseen by Willow Creek’s elders, including one conducted by an outside law firm. He was cleared of any wrongdoing in those inquires. With the elders’ knowledge, he continued to counsel the woman who alleged, then retracted, her story of having a 14-year affair with Hybels. When members of the Willow Creek Association board questioned that conflict of interest, elders said he was fulfilling his pastoral duty because the woman was suicidal and had kept them informed every time the woman reached out to him.<doc-sep>“It’s really tragic that things had to come to this point,” said Vonda Dyer, who once led the church’s vocal ministry and accused Mr. Hybels of luring her to his hotel room in Sweden in 1998, touching her stomach and kissing her unexpectedly. [Read more about the church employee who accused the Rev. Bill Hybels of groping her repeatedly] “This is not the outcome I would have ever wanted. My hope was that Bill Hybels would have admitted his sins, and that Willow Creek leaders would have come to repentance voluntarily, not through pressure from the national media,” Ms. Dyer said, crying in a telephone interview. “This is a sad day for Willow and for me personally.” Mr. Hybels, the two pastors he chose as his successors and his board of elders have all been brought down by a gathering storm of allegations that ended in a thunderclap. It began more than four years ago, when the elders were told privately about a woman who said she had had a lengthy affair with Mr. Hybels. But Mr. Hybels denied it, and when the elders questioned her, she insisted she had been lying. Then the elders learned that several women employed by the church, including Ms. Dyer, had accused Mr. Hybels of making inappropriate comments about their appearance, giving them uncomfortably long hugs and in one case an unwelcome kiss, and inviting some of them to his hotel room for a drink. The elders conducted their own investigation and commissioned another by an outside lawyer, all of which cleared Mr. Hybels. The congregation learned of the allegations only after some of the women told their stories to The Chicago Tribune and Christianity Today last spring. The elders and the church’s two pastors stood by Mr. Hybels in March as he appeared before the congregation and said that the women were lying, and that their advocates, former Willow Creek staff members, were colluding to bring him down. However, he stepped down in April, six months ahead of his planned retirement, saying it was for the good of the church. He denies all the accusations against him. Finally, on Sunday, Mr. Hybels’s former executive assistant Pat Baranowski alleged in an article in The New York Times that Mr. Hybels had broken her down emotionally, groped her repeatedly and once insisted on oral sex while she worked for him and lived in his home in the 1980s. Ms. Baranowski left her job and spent more than 25 years struggling with depression, unemployment and homelessness.<doc-sep>Board members and a new pastor at a Chicago-area megachurch are resigning, saying they mishandled sexual misconduct allegations aimed at the church’s founder. Bill Hybels, 66, resigned from his position as pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in April after a series of sexual misconduct claims he described as “flat-out lies” became public. Wednesday, lead pastor Heather Larson announced her resignation and that of other church elders, who she said are sorry for not handling the allegations against Hybels properly. "In recent days and weeks, it has become clear to me that this church needs a fresh start," said Larson. "The staff, this staff that I dearly love, they also need a clean running lane to heal, to build, to dream." She read a statement to a full congregation during a meeting at the church’s South Barrington, Illinois, campus, where the news was met with applause and also protest with at least one person approaching the stage, the Chicago Tribune reported. “We can now see this investigation was flawed. … We viewed the allegations through the lens of trust we had in Bill, and this clouded our judgement,” elder Missy Rasmussen said in a statement posted to the church's website. More:Megachurch pastor Bill Hybels resigns, calls sexual accusations 'flat-out lies' Rasmussen said Hybels, who has been accused of suggestive comments, an uninvited kiss, hotel room invitations and an extended affair with a married woman, worked "without the kind of accountability he should have had." She also said the elders believe Hybels did not publicly admit the extent of his actions. The elders apologized for not believing the women who came forward, some who directly worked for Hybels. Lead teaching pastor Steve Carter resigned on Sunday, after hearing of "horrifying" allegations against Hybels reported by The New York Times. Regional campus pastor Steve Gillen was named Willow Creek's interim lead pastor. More:Memphis megachurch pastor resigns following sexual abuse investigation More:Were you sexually harassed, assaulted or raped at work? Here's what steps you can take More:How common is sexual misconduct in Hollywood? Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets<doc-sep>

SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (WLS) -- The elders of the Willow Creek Community Church will step down following the launch of an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct were leveled against the founding pastor of Willow Creek Community Church.Willow Creek Elder Missy Rasmussen made the announcement at a Wednesday night service at the church in South Barrington. "To the people of Willow Creek, we are sorry we allowed Bill to operate without the accountability he should have had," she said.Lead Pastor Heather Larson, who was co-appointed with Carter to lead the church in the wake of the allegations against Hybels, also announced that she is stepping down during the investigation. She made the announcement immediately after the announcement about the elder board.The months-long fallout at the South Barrington megachurch began in April when founder Bill Hybels resigned after women within the church accused him of repeated sexual misconduct and harassment.This past Sunday, after more detailed allegations from Hybels' former assistant surfaced, lead teaching pastor Steve Carter resigned abruptly, saying he could no longer continue to lead the congregation in good conscience after the way he said the church handled the accusations.Carter's resignation followed a New York Times article detailing the accusations against Hybels, which date back to the 1980s.The church said it will now try to atone for their self-proclaimed sins with an independent investigation into the allegations.Willow Creek is preparing for its 23rd annual Global Leadership Summit, but many speakers have stepped down since the accusations came to light. The Summit is an important event in the Christian Evangelical movement, and will reportedly go forward as planned.Willow Creek has eight campuses around the Chicago region and approximately 25,000 members.

The schools administration and parents accused polio vaccine for students'ill-health (Representational) Several school students in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province reportedly fell ill and were taken to hospital after being administered anti-polio drops during a nation-wide campaign on Monday, sparking violent protests by the parents and relatives who ransacked a local health facility, according to a media report. Pakistan is one of the three countries, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, where polio is still endemic. It launched a country-wide campaign on Monday to administer anti-polio drops 39 million children under five years of age. More than 260,000 polio workers have been deployed to administer anti-polio vaccines to children in all four provinces as well as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Dozens of students of schools in Mashokhel in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were rushed for medical attention because they felt unwell after being administered the polio vaccine, the Express Tribune reported. While the schools administration and the parents accused the polio vaccine for the students' ill-health, officials associated with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and other health departments rejected it, saying it is the safest vaccine. "The anti-polio vaccine is the safest vaccine that has protected millions of children from disabilities. The polio vaccine is administered to millions of children in every polio campaign in the country without any adverse effects," EOC Coordinator Capt (retd) Kamran Afridi was quoted as saying. Rejecting the reports on various media outlets linking the children''s condition with the vaccine, he said, "It was reported that children from two private schools in Peshawar fell sick due to the polio vaccine but that is not true. The children are in stable condition." He also said that the stock of the vaccine had been checked by health officials and was found to be safe and effective. "The same vaccine stock was used in other areas too and was found to be completely effective with no adverse effects," he said. Despite efforts, Pakistan has not been able to completely eliminate the disease. Six cases of polio have been reported so far in 2019. Twelve cases were reported in 2018 and eight in 2017. Attempts to eradicate the crippling disease have been seriously hampered by deadly targeting of vaccination teams in recent years by militants, who oppose the drives, claiming the polio drops cause infertility. Attacks on immunisation teams have claimed 68 lives since December 2012. Earlier this month, member of a polio monitoring team was gunned down on Monday by a man after a verbal brawl during a campaign at a village near Pak-Afghan border. Afridi said that the schools whose students have reported fallen ill after getting administered polio drops had previously refused to allow their pupils to be vaccinated. Soon after the reports of students falling ill appeared, violent protests broke out in Mashokhel and demonstrators ransacked a Basic Health Unit in the area, the report said. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mehmood Khan sought a report from the officials. Earlier, national coordinator of polio eradication programme Rana Safdar urged people to cooperate with polio teams to administer the drops to their children to fight against this crippling disease.<doc-sep>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: A drive to eradicate polio in Pakistan this week has sparked killings, arson and public hysteria. With most provinces now leaning Conservative and a rise in Green votes, these are interesting times for federal politicians. When it comes to protecting people from excessive pressures in the workplace, there are lessons to be learned from places like Japan and France. Missed The National last night? Watch it here. Osama bin Laden's polio legacy Vaccine hesitancy has been identified as one of the top threats to global health, but in Pakistan the pushback against inoculation has become a deadly concern. A government polio worker was shot dead today in an ambush in Balochistan province, near the Afghan border, and one of her colleagues was critically wounded. The attack follows the murders of two policemen in the country's northwest tribal regions earlier this week as they stood guard over vaccination teams. The killings bring the number of vaccine martyrs in Pakistan to at least 95 since late 2012. Pakistani police officers salute during a funeral in Bannu on Tuesday for a colleague who was shot while escorting polio workers during a three-day nationwide vaccination campaign. (Abdul Haseeb/Associated Press) On Monday, a mob ransacked and set fire to a health clinic near Peshawar, as part of wider panic over a supposedly spoiled batch of polio vaccine. The doctors and nurses had to take refuge in a local public school, protected by a heroic principal who refused to allow the angry crowd inside. Rumours of children falling ill after receiving oral doses of the polio vaccine ran rampant in the region this week, leading to more than 40,000 emergency room visits over complaints of stomach pain, dizziness and vomiting. But Pakistani authorities say that all the symptoms were panic-induced, and that tests on nine different batches of the vaccine show that it is perfectly safe. Pakistan is one of just three nations, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, where the wild polio virus remains endemic. Last year, the country recorded 12 of the 33 global cases of the now-preventable disease, which can cause paralysis in children and once sickened millions. So far in 2019, Pakistan has had nine more cases. Prime Minister Imran Khan's government has set a goal of making the country polio-free, and has launched a national vaccination push that saw more than 262,000 health workers fan out across the country this week, protected by 151,000 police. A family member rushes a girl to a hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Monday. School children complained of nausea and vomiting after being given polio vaccinations, but doctors said their symptoms were 'panic induced' by false rumours about a bad batch of vaccine. (Muhammad Sajjad/Associated Press) There remains, however, a hardcore subset of vaccine refusers, mostly along the restive frontier with Afghanistan, where many subscribe to Taliban-spread rumours about the safety and true purpose of the inoculations. In the past, people have been told that the polio vaccine contains pork products, or George W. Bush's urine, and that it is part of a wider plot to make Muslims infertile. There were also suggestions that health workers were in fact foreign-paid spies, collecting information for U.S. military bombings and drone strikes. Such wild tales took on the currency of fact after the 2011 revelation of a CIA-backed attempt to gain access to Osama bin Laden's hidey-hole in Abbottabad via a local vaccine campaign. The inoculations were legitimate and designed to offer children protection from hepatitis B. The spy agency's plan to collect the used needles and test them for DNA to confirm who lived in high-walled compound failed because none of the kids were at home at the time. The ruse did, however, yield a vital piece of information — the name and cellphone number of the purported owner of the property, bin Laden's courier and protector. And a few months later, a team of U.S. Navy Seals staged their late-night raid, killing the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. Shakil Afridi, the local doctor who was overseeing the vaccinations, has always maintained that he was hired by Save the Children and knew nothing of the CIA plot. (He remains in solitary confinement in a Pakistani prison, serving a 23-year sentence for his supposed links to a banned militant group.) In this family photo, Shakil Afridi stands third from the left. The now-jailed Pakistani doctor has denied accusations of having been recruited by the CIA to help find Osama bin Laden through a vaccination program. (SS Mirza/AFP/Getty Images) Not that it matters to the Taliban, who issued a fatwa in the summer of 2012 specifically forbidding polio vaccinations. The group has since waged a campaign of arson, shootings and roadside bombings targeting hospitals, health workers and their police escorts. That terror campaign, and the generalized distrust of vaccines, sparked a real resurgence of polio in Pakistan. By 2014, the country had 327 new cases, and the disease, which is spread by person-to-person contact, had travelled along with militants and their families into Afghanistan, and then Syria and Iraq. Local residents gather Tuesday outside a health centre on the outskirts of Peshawar that was torched by a mob following rumours of children having a reaction to polio vaccinations. (Abdul Majeed/AFP/Getty Images) Of course, the link between conspiracies and vaccine hesitancy isn't just a problem in Pakistan. The now thoroughly discredited 1998 research paper that suggested a possible tie between autism and the MMR vaccine spawned a global anti-vaxxer movement, which has led to millions of unvaccinated children and mushrooming outbreaks of measles, another potentially deadly but easily preventable disease. (The United States, for example, now has 681 active cases across 22 states, the most in almost 20 years.) In fact, opinion surveys suggest that vaccine hesitancy is far bigger problem in European nations than in the Muslim world. But there does appear to be a common link — zealotry.<doc-sep>Pakistani security officials gather at the site of an attack by gunmen on a polio vaccination team in Balochistan province on Thursday. (CNN) — A string of deadly attacks in Pakistan targeting healthcare workers has sparked fears that the spread of misinformation is fueling a resurgence of violence against those attempting to rid the country of polio. Attacks were reported on Monday in Bannu, Wednesday in Buner and Thursday in Quetta. One polio vaccination worker and two policemen have been killed. Public health experts say there is concern that these attacks are exacerbating what is already one of the world’s most intractable public health threats. Pakistan is one of only three countries to have failed in its bid to stop the transmission of polio, according to the World Health Organization. That is in part due to a historical distrust of foreign healthcare providers, concerns that were inflamed after allegations surfaced that US intelligence officials had used a fake vaccination program in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad as part of efforts to capture Osama bin Laden in 2011. Islamist militants have attacked and killed those attempting to distribute vaccines since the bin Laden revelation. International NGOs and Pakistani authorities have worked aggressively to dispel rumors and vaccinate children in recent years. More than 20 million children were vaccinated in March of this year, according to Pakistani authorities. Abdul Majeed/AFP/Getty Images In this picture taken on Monday outside Peshawar, Pakistani children look at a damaged health center local torched by a mob following rumors related to polio vaccinations. But the omnipresence of smart phones and spread of social media has made it difficult to stop the spread of misinformation when it comes to polio eradication. This week proved a telling example. On Monday, reports that some students had a bad reaction to the polio vaccine spread like wildfire in the northern city of Peshawar. “People rushed to the loudspeakers of nearby mosques barring people to stop polio drops to their children. They also suggested people to take their children to hospital immediately as some ‘poisonous’ material has been added to the vaccine,” deputy police commissioner Muhammad Ali Asghar told CNN. Following the reports, at least 25,000 students sought medical assistance, provincial health minister Hisham Inamullah said. Not one child showed symptoms relating to the reports, had contracted a disease, or died after receiving the vaccine, said Inamullah. Spreading ‘fake news’ Yasmine Rashid, the public health minister for Pakistan’s Punjab Province, said this week’s developments have shown the country has to make a “concerted effort” to fight polio. “Creating scares and spreading ‘fake news’ about polio drops may serve vested interests, but it’s dealing a major blow (to our country),” she said. Poliomyelitis, polio’s formal name, is a highly infectious viral disease that is transmitted from person-to-person via the ingestion of contaminated feces, or through contaminated food. Polio mainly affects young children. Fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs are symptoms of the disease, which also can cause permanent paralysis. The virus is easily preventable through immunization, but there’s no cure once it is contracted. The issue goes beyond Pakistan, the World Health Organization said late last year. The body announced that global progress in eradicating the disease had stalled and fears of a resurgence were rising – much like what is occurring now with measles. CNN’s Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report<doc-sep>The majority of those suffering from polio will only deal with the disease for a number of days, but some afflictions with the disease can lead to meningitis, paralysis, and even death, according to the CDC. Seemingly full recoveries can also be misleading, as post-polio syndrome can afflict patients 15 to 40 years after the initial disease, leading to paralysis, weakness, and additional muscle pain.<doc-sep>

Authorities in Pakistan arrested a man on Tuesday for allegedly disseminating false rumors on social media that the polio vaccine led to fainting and vomiting, a move that prompted concerned parents to rush 25,000 children to the hospital and a mob of about 500 people to set fire to a local health center. According to the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency, the mob also held polio workers from the health center, identified as the Basic Health Unit, “hostage for some time.” Along with Nigeria and neighboring Afghanistan, Pakistan is considered one of the last polio bastions in the world. The unfounded fears came as health workers were carrying out a three-day vaccination campaign in Pakistan’s volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which lies along the Afghanistan border and serves as a sanctuary for the Taliban and other jihadi groups. These groups, according to the Telegraph, claim the vaccine is a Western conspiracy to harm or sterilize children. Saddar Sahibzada Sajjad, the deputy superintendent of the local police, indicated to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper that authorities filed a police report “against identified individuals for setting fire to a Basic Health Unit and causing widespread panic by rumor-mongering.” Sajjad confirmed the arrest of Nazar Muhammad for spreading the misinformation, adding that more arrests are forthcoming in connection to the vandalism at the hands of the mob. Babar Bin Atta, the Pakistani prime minister’s spokesman for polio matters, reportedly vowed to take action against everyone involved in damaging the anti-polio campaign. “Panic was created to jeopardize polio vaccination as part of a campaign and to put our children at risk of diseases. It is a criminal act and perpetrators will be held accountable. There were no instances of diarrhea or skin rashes on affected children,” he proclaimed, according to Dawn. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), polio is only endemic in three countries in the world — Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria, making them the last frontier for efforts to eradicate naturally-occurring cases of the virus. The Pakistani PM’s spokesman pledged to continue the anti-polio campaign until the virus is completely eradicated from the country. Dawn reveals: Police in [KP’s provincial capital of] Peshawar arrested a man on Tuesday after he allegedly spread misinformation about the anti-polio vaccine in a series of videos that went viral on social media, a day after hundreds of children in different cities complained of illness and were admitted to hospitals in the midst of a province-wide anti-polio drive. Videos circulating on Twitter show a resident of Peshawar’s Mashokhel area, Nazar Muhammad, in Hayatabad Medical Complex, where children from a school in Badhber were admitted yesterday with complaints of illness following administration of the anti-polio vaccine. In the video, Nazar alleges that [the] administration of the vaccine causes children to fall unconscious. Then he turns to a group of children standing next to him and orders them to “fall asleep”. They then lie down on the hospital bed behind them as if they were unconscious. When a boy gets up, Nazar tells him to “fall asleep” again, after which he lies down on the bed again. A different video purportedly shows the man telling reporters that some of the children died after health officials administered the vaccine. #Polio vaccination and the kids fainting. Reality vs Agendas. pic.twitter.com/iF6VL8LIl1 — Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) April 22, 2019 Panic soon spread after the videos went viral and local mosques began using their loudspeakers to caution people against the vaccines. “The announcements ignited panic and villagers came out of their homes,” Qazi Jamil, the Peshawar police chief, told AFP, adding that a mob of 500 people subsequently set a local health center ablaze in anger. “No one is believed to have been injured in the incident,” AFP reports. Nevertheless, Hisham Inamullah, the health minister in KP, noted the false rumors prompted parents to take “around 25,000 kids” to the local hospital. “Despite all our assurances, parents were worried”, Inamullah told reporters Tuesday, adding that the only two children who remained in the hospital are expected to be released soon. The Telegraph notes: Earlier this month Wajid Ali, a health worker, was murdered in the Mohmand district in the north of the country after he had remonstrated with a man who had stopped his children from receiving the vaccine. There were 18 separate attacks on health workers in Pakistan in 2017, according to The Safeguarding Health in Conflict coalition of NGOs.

Montenegro vs England: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview The Three Lions will be confident of claiming another three points following on from their thumping victory over Czech Republic on Friday England head into their second game of Euro 2020 qualifying as heavy favourites, with anything less than a victory over Montenegro on Monday deemed to be a poor result. Gareth Southgate's side will be confident of claiming another three points following on from their 5-0 thrashing of Czech Republic on Friday. Montenegro, meanwhile, will take confidence from a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria and will be hopeful their home advantage could help them claim a result over the Three Lions. Article continues below While Montenegro's squad also boasts some some quality, such as Atletico Madrid's Stefan Savic, England are still likely to have far too much for Ljubisa Tumbakovic's men to handle. Game Montenegro vs England Date Monday, March 25 Time 7:45pm GMT / 3:45pm ET TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch In the United States (US), the game will be broadcast on Univision Deportes En Vivo and can be livestreamed on the ESPNEWS platform. US TV channel Online stream Univision Deportes En Vivo ESPN+ In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will be broadcast on ITV and can be streamed online via ITV's website. UK TV channel Online stream ITV ITV online Squads & Team News Position Montenegro squad Goalkeepers Petkovic, Mijatovic, Ljuljanovic Defenders Savic, Simic, Tomasevic, Marusiv, Stojkovic, Kopitovic, Radunovic, Vujacic Midfielders Vukcevic, Vesovic, Jovovic, Jankovic, Scekic, Ivanic, Bakic, Kosovic, Boljevic, Kajevic, Mirkovic, Loncar, Hocko Forwards Beciraj, Mugosa, Dordevic Confirmed Montenegro starting XI: Petkovic; Stojkovic, Savic, Simic, Tomasevic; Vesovic, Vukcevic, Ivanic, Marusic; Beciraj, Mugosa. Position England squad Goalkeepers Butland, Pickford, Heaton Defenders Walker, Chilwell, Keane, Trippier, Tarkowski, Maguire, Rose Midfielders Henderson, Barkley, Alli, Rice, Ward-Prowse Forwards Kane, Sancho, Sterling, Wilson, Hudson-Odoi Confirmed England starting XI: Pickford; Walker, Keane, Maguire, Rose; Barkley, Rice, Alli; Sterling, Kane, Hudson-Odoi. Betting & Match Odds England are the odds-on favourites at 4/11 with bet365 . Montenegro are meanwhile at 8/1 while a draw is priced at 7/2. Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more . Match Preview Despite an energy-sapping three-hour flight to Montenegro's capital of Podgorica, England will be highly confident of claiming another three points and maintaining their position at the top of Group A. They have continued their brilliant form from the World Cup last year, and will no doubt be using this match as preparation for this summer's Nations League finals. The Three Lions have won their last four fixtures, including triumphs over both Croatia and Spain, so another win here against Montenegro is to be expected. The one dilemma Southgate faces heading into the clash is who will replace the injured Dier in central midfield. Ross Barkley came on to replace the Tottenham midfielder on Friday, but he also had the option of giving Declan Rice his first start in an England shirt and elected to use both players in the XI against Montenegro. Southgate will also use Sancho's fitness issues to integrate Callum Hudson-Odoi into the starting XI. "We've got competition for places and I think attacking players mature very young, and they can go in very young," said Southgate. "So it's not an issue to play them, and really we've found another player that we really liked (in Hudson-Odoi). "We weren't certain he'd be able to adapt to this level, and we're a bit fortunate in finding him - in that we probably wouldn't have done that in this camp, we'd have given him a bit longer in the Under-21s. "But already he's proved in this environment that he can more than cope." Montenegro, meanwhile, are without their talisman Stevan Jovetic, who has returned to club side Monaco, thus making the difficult task of gaining a surprise result over England even harder. Other star player Savic also missed the match against Bulgaria with injury managed to be ready in time for the England game. His experience marshalling the Atletico Madrid defence in La Liga will prove vital in their quest of gaining a result. However, manager Ljubisa Tumbakovic is optimistic his side can still acheive a result despite their limitations as a squad in comparison to Southgate's side. "We in the coaching team who deal with the players are realistic," he said. "Things that happen in the past are just nice results for Montenegro, tomorrow (Monday) we will play a match with totally different players, new coaches, with different capabilities and different ideas from both teams."<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Want Euro 2020 news sent straight to your inbox? Sign up to our email updates 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 Gareth Southgate’s England side got off to the perfect start in their quest to qualify for the European Championship tournament in 2020. The Three Lions dispatched the Czech Republic with ease at Wembley on Friday evening. Raheem Sterling stole the show with a hat-trick, while a Harry Kane penalty and a Tomas Kalas own goal rounded off a 5-0 win for Southgate’s men. Next up for the Three Lions is a trip the Balkans, where they face Montenegro in their second Group A qualifier. England have drawn on their last two visits to Podgorica, in 2011 and 2013. Here is all the key information you need to know ahead of the game… (Image: Getty Images) When is the match? The games takes place on Monday 25th March. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:45pm GMT. Where is the match taking place? The Stadion Pod Goricom will host the match, which is based in Montenegro’s capital city Podgorica. The venue boasts a capacity of just over 15,000. England fans have received just under 700 tickets for the Group A qualifier. Is the match on TV? The game is being shown on ITV for those who are based in the UK. Coverage begins at 7pm. Alternatively, you can follow all the action with our blog right here. Can you live stream the match? If you register on the ITV website, you can stream the match on the ITV Hub. Alternatively, you can follow all the action on the Mirror Football live blog. (Image: PA) Montenegro team news Former Manchester City man Stefan Savic is likely to miss the match, having missed Friday’s 1-1 draw with Bulgaria due to a hamstring injury sustained with domestic side Atletico Madrid. Another former City star, Stevan Jovetic, has returned to club side Monaco with a knee problem. England team news Eric Dier will miss the match in Montenegro, after the Spurs midfielder went off injured in the first half of the Czech Republic game. Ross Barkley replaced Dier on Friday evening and may keep his place in Podgorica after starring in the 5-0 win. Jason Sancho and Dele Alli could drop to the bench after picking up niggles at Wembley. Declan Rice and Callum Hudson-Odoi could make their full England debuts on Monday, after both came on in the second half during the victory against the Czech Republic. Gareth Southgate will of course be without Fabian Delph, Marcus Ashford, Trent Alexander-Arnold, John Stones, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Luke Shaw, who all withdrew from the squad with injury. Betting odds Montenegro: 10/1 Draw: 7/2 England: 1/3 Odds courtesy of Paddy Power.<doc-sep>Don't miss a thing by getting the day's biggest stories sent direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Click here Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice An international break during the business end of the Premier League season is usually a bit of an inconvenience, but England's 5-0 rout of Czech Republic on Friday night made for decent viewing. It was Gareth Southgate's first real opportunity to assess his squad ahead of the Nations League semi-final in Portugal against Netherlands in June - and it will have been exactly what he wanted to see. On Monday, his squad will face Montenegro for the second of two EURO 2020 qualifiers in four days as England look to make it two wins from two. Which TV channel is Montenegro vs England on? England vs Czech Republic will be live on ITV HD from 7pm on Monday 25 March. Kick-off is at 7:45pm from the Podgorica City Stadium. Team news for Montenegro vs England There will likely be a few changes from the team that started on Friday night. Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi will make his first England start after appearing as a substitute on Friday. He is still yet to start in the league for his club. Elsewhere, fellow teenager Jadon Sancho is expected to miss the game with an unspecified injury after making his first competitive start for England against the Czech Republic. England manager Southgate said on Sunday night that Sancho, Jordan Henderson and Dele Alli all face late fitness tests to decide whether they will play in Podgorica. Odds for Montenegro vs England (Sky Bet) Montenegro - 9/1 Draw - 19/5 England - 1/3 England to win 2-0 - 5/1 Kane 2+ shots on target and Sterling 1+ shots on target - 6/5 BTTS, over 2.5 goals, 5+ corners each team and 30+ England booking points - 28/1 Predictions for Montenegro vs England poll loading Predict the result 0+ VOTES SO FAR Montenegro Draw England England squad for EURO 2020 qualifiers: Goalkeepers Jack Butland, Tom Heaton, Jordan Pickford Defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Chilwell, Michael Keane, Harry Maguire, Danny Rose, Callum Hudson-Odoi, James Tarkowski, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker Midfielders Ross Barkley, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice Forwards Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Callum Wilson<doc-sep>Here we go! England are back in action today in Montenegro as they play the second of their two EURO qualifiers during this international break. The bad news is that England broke Eric Dier in the last game. This time, there are three Tottenham players in action: Dele Alli, Harry Kane, and Danny Rose. Kieran Trippier is on the bench. No (more) injuries, please. Come on you Three Lions! How to Watch Montenegro vs. England Time: 3:45 pm ET, 7:45 pm UK Location: Stadion Pod Goricom, Montenegro TV: Not televised (USA) | ITV 1 (England), STV (Scotland) | other listings on livesoccertv.com Streaming: ESPN+ (USA) Lineups Match thread rules:<doc-sep>

Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick on Friday against Czech Republic (Picture: Getty Images) England will look to continue their fine form when they take on Monetenegro in a Euro 2020 qualifier on Monday night in Podgorica. Gareth Southgate’s side were in rampant mood on Friday night as they destroyed Czech Republic 5-0 at Wembley, giving themselves an early lead at the top of Group A. Amazon mocked for AmaZen mental health 'cry closets' set up on factory floor On the same night, Montenegro picked up a 1-1 draw in Bulgaria, as they realistically battle it out for second place in the group behind the Three Lions. Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick at Wembley and will be eager to get back on the field and add to his seven international goals as his superb form continues. Harry Kane was also on the score sheet on Friday at Wembley (Picture: EMPICS Sport) When is Montenegro vs England? The match is on Monday 25 March with kick-off at 7.45pm at Stadion Pod Goricom in Podgorica. What TV channel is Montenegro vs England on and is there a live stream? ITV will be showing the game live with coverage starting at 7pm. If you register for an ITV account you can stream the match on the ITV Hub. Gareth Southgate was thrilled with his side’s performance (Picture: Getty Images) What are the odds? (Courtesy of Betfair) 17/2 Montenegro 7/2 Draw 2/5 England Team news Eric Dier went off injured in the first half against Czech Republic and is out of the game on Monday. Ross Barkley came on for him at Wembley and played well so he could keep his place, or Declan Rice may come in. England have no other injury worries from Friday night. Previous meetings 11 Oct 2013 – England 4-1 Montenegro – World Cup qualifier 26 Mar 2013 – Montenegro 1-1 England – World Cup qualifier 07 Oct 2011 – Montenegro 2-2 England – Euro qualifier 12 Oct 2010 – England 0-0 Montenegro – Euro qualifier MORE : Stockport fans attack Fylde players on the pitch and in the dressing room during FA Trophy match MORE : Zinedine Zidane makes Real Madrid perform U-turn on Chelsea and Liverpool target Marco Asensio

Somewhere in the middle of writing his new movie “Us,” Jordan Peele had an epiphany. There was a black family at the center of this thing, and the Oscar-winning filmmaker of “Get Out” – a longtime fright-fest connoisseur – recognized he’d never seen that before in a horror film. “I realized that element was pushing the boundaries of representation that have been established and that that was an important thing,” says Peele, who won a screenwriting Academy Award for his 2017 directorial debut. The Armitage clan at the center of his social thriller “Get Out” was white – and also really evil. The families dealing with crazy circumstances in films such as “Poltergeist,” “The Shining” and “Hereditary” are also white. But in “Us" (in theaters Friday), the Wilsons – mom Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o), dad Gabe (Winston Duke), teen daughter Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and young son Jason (Evan Alex) – are an African-American family who come face-to-face with malevolent doppelgangers and have to survive a night with their lookalikes trying to kill them. Review:Jordan Peele's thoughtfully freaky 'Us' proves 'Get Out' was no fluke 'Lupita scared the s*** out of me!' Jordan Peele talks new film 'Us' at SXSW “When I did my first movie, I was just hoping it wouldn't get shut down,” Peele says, laughing. “Now I'm in a place where I get to say, ‘Look, I'm going to have this black family at the center’ (because) that's what I want to see. So there is a special-ness, a now-ness.” Must-see horror in 2019: From Jordan Peele's 'Us' to Stephen King's 'It' sequel Winston Duke adores 'Avengers' run:'Us' star feels like a kid 'in Marvel Land' Many moviegoers will connect with various family members, and Peele thinks they're all a little part of him – though after having his first son, Beaumont, with wife Chelsea Peretti in 2017, the director could relate more to Gabe. "He's the average American dad that we all recognize," Peele says. Duke's goal with Gabe was to give his fun-loving (at least until the horror stuff starts) father a familiar appeal for the audience and have him “feel a lot like Homer Simpson, like they could invite him into their living rooms one time a week for 24 years.” The "Black Panther" star appreciates Peele's progressive work in a genre that usually isn’t “in support of blackness,” he says. “The black family no longer becomes the primary and first casualty. You see them as heroes. You see them as the all-American nuclear family. It's not primarily white faces in those positions and that's really refreshing.” Adds Wright Joseph: "Representation is really important for young black kids in America. To see people that look like them in a horror movie, or just any movie, really makes us feel so special." Jordan Peele embraces his latest role with 'Us': 'I'm a truth seeker in my work'<doc-sep>The heart of Us makes itself known before any blood spills. Right after Red, the gasping doppelgänger of Lupita Nyong’o’s character Adelaide Wilson, marches her lookalike family into the Wilson family lake home, she sits down opposite her mirror image and identifies herself. [Ed. note: this post, particularly after the in-line image, contains major spoilers for Us.] “We are Americans.” The raspy declaration explodes Us into a Rorschach test of social despair, with a handful of twists ensuring the audience is on its toes until the very last seconds. Us is a film about the mass population, about those left behind, about those who leave those left behind, about technological advancement, about religious fundamentalism, about relationships we sell ourselves, and about the misplaced pride we find in everyday life. Or maybe it’s not. The movie is full of possibilities, but one line delivered in Red’s raspy voice, a thesis statement of everything to come, gives us the 30,000-foot view of the message. Peele made that even clearer when speaking before the premiere of the film at the 2019 SXSW festival. “This movie is about this country,” Peele said. “And when I decided to write this movie, I was stricken with the fact that we are in a time where we fear the other: whether it is the mysterious invader that we think is going to come and kill us and take our jobs, or the faction that we don’t live near that voted a different way than us. We’re all about pointing the finger, and I wanted to suggest that maybe the monster we really need to look at has our face. Maybe the evil is us.” Landing in a circle of confusion is the way writer-director Jordan Peele wanted it — and why he tells Polygon that he’d be open to returning in the future, in some undefined capacity, to the world of Us. In terms of reveals, Us swerves left, swerves right, then barrel rolls from side to side before launching itself off a cliff Thelma-and-Louise-style. The reveal that Red and the other Wilson lookalikes are not alone, but foot soldiers in a militia of revolting doppelgängers, is a gut punch. (The minute Us reveals Tim Heidecker #2 is up there with the oh-these-zombies-can-run moments in 28 Days Later — no one is safe.) Then we learn that there’s nothing magical about the tethered; like Get Out, there’s a pseudoscience basis for the horror scenario, involving secret clone experiments conducted in the abandoned tunnels underneath the United States. And it’s not just that there’s a double of every single American — they’re all synced to our movements. Or, that was the plan. The real doozy of a twist is when Jason, Adelaide’s son, realizes that maybe his mother is “the evil twin.” We don’t have to rely on any diabolical grin (although we get one of those, too, for good measure): Peele flashes back to the first scene in the film, as a young Adelaide comes face to face with her double in a carnival house of mirrors, to extend the moment, when the tethered clone from the tunnels below actually swaps places with the “real” Adelaide. The clone has been living as one of us (hey, that’s the name of the movie!) the entire time, and at least in the final moments of the film, she’s getting away with her break out. “I have the entire mythology of this world because the audience can tell if you don’t” Us leaves the audience with a handful burning questions. Is there an end goal to the tethered invasion or was the faux-Hands Across America pose an ironic victory lap for a people who simply needed to disrupt the status quo? Where will the Wilsons go now that the country has been upended? Who was behind the cloning project, and what’s going to happen to all of those bunnies? Though Us strikes a Shyamalan chord in those final moments, none of these questions require answers. The thematic inquiry is intact, and chilling. As the Wilsons drive off into the unknown, one can almost imagine Rod Serling’s voice-over kicking in to tie our now-knotted brain coils into a bow. Here’s how The Twilight Zone creator ended the episode “Mirror’s Image,” a story about coming face to face with your double, which Peele says inspired Us: Obscure and metaphysical explanation to cover a phenomena. Reasons dredged out of the shadows to explain away that which cannot be explained. Call it “parallel planes” or just “insanity.” Whatever it is, you will find it in the Twilight Zone. Us owes the audience nothing more, but according to Peele, there are plenty of answers — you just have to be Jordan Peele to know them for sure. “I have the entire mythology of this world because the audience can tell if you don’t,” Pelle tells Polygon. “The choice becomes how much of that mythology do you reveal. The line that I’m exploring in this movie is a very difficult line. Some people might want less explanation. Some people might want more explanation. I’m trying to serve whatever your appetite is, but ultimately I’m trying to give enough context to be able to discuss and hypothesize about more. When it’s all wrapped up neatly and perfectly, it alleviates the fear. I don’t want to do it.” But would he ever return to the “Us-verse” to tell another story? “Sure! It’s a fun one,” Peele says, referring to the dystopian world he built from a web of horror movie references, Twilight Zone themes, and personal fears. “There’s a lot going on there. The ‘Us-verse’ ... I like that.” For anyone who treasures Us’ ambiguity, the idea of carving out more of the who, what, where, when, and why of Red’s backstory may send a different kind of chill down the spine. But lest we forget the great horror sequels built on foundations of other terror that didn’t need to be explained: George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, John Carpenter’s Halloween II, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s 28 Weeks Later, Chuck Russell’s ecstatic A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and James Cameron’s genre-shifting Aliens. There may be places to go with Us that we couldn’t possibly imagine — which sounds like the perfect job for Jordan Peele.<doc-sep>Us (Photo: Universal Pictures) Us is the type of film that rewards those who keep their eyes Peeled. Like Get Out, the 2017 Oscar winner that established writer-director Jordan Peele as a visionary in the realm of genre filmmaking with something to say, his sophomore effort Us is brimming — no, overflowing — with foreshadowing, visual cues, Easter eggs, references, symbolism, callbacks and hidden meanings. It also leaves us with plenty of questions. Like does Us, which follows a family of four to their beach house where they terrorized by their red-clad doppelgängers (aka the Tethered), share “the same universe” as Get Out? There are clues that it might. Here’s what we’ve spotted so far. Warning: Major, MAJOR spoilers ahead. 1. There’s a double meaning right there in the title. There’s the literal sense: “It’s us,” Gabe Wilson (Winston Duke) says when he first recognizes the strangers to be doppelgängers of themselves. Add periods to the title, though, and it becomes “U.S.” As Peele told Yahoo Entertainment (see interview below), “There’s a double meaning to everything… This movie’s about duality.” He also revealed the story was heavily inspired by the state of the country, apparent in the film’s dialogue when Adelaide’s twin Red (Lupita Nyong’o) tells her, “We’re Americans.” 2. About that VHS collection. Peele doesn’t waste a single frame before dropping some Easter eggs. In the opening shot, Young Adelaide (Madison Curry) watches a “Hands Across America” commercial on a television set in a classic ’80s console. It’s 1986, we learn. Adjacent to the television are a few VHS tapes, including The Goonies (1985) and C.H.U.D. (1984), two films about, well, undesirables living underground. (As Peele told Polygon, C.H.U.D. was actually directed by his first girlfriend’s father, Douglas Cheek). Goonie Mikey is later quoted when one of the doppelgängers proclaims, “It’s our time now!,” one of three Corey Feldman connections in the film. Another tape is The Man With Two Brains (1983), which Peele told Uproxx sets up a thematic connection: “The idea of two intelligences sharing a soul in a way.” It also works as a wink to Get Out. Story continues 3. Why “Hands Across America”? (And the movie’s hand-holding motif.) Peele has been straightforward about why a cheesy, only moderately successful ’80s charity campaign would serve as such a main thematic thrust for his new horror film. He came across the commercial on YouTube, and it creeped him out. “I just had this feeling of dread watching the amusing, bright optimism on display,” he told Polygon. Beyond the commercial and T-shirt Young Addie wears, there’s plenty of other hand-locking on display in the movie. Several pictures in the beach house show happy people holding hands. Later, when Addie is being held down by her doppelgänger, her head is next to a jar of chestnuts with a nutcrackers-holding-hands design. There’s also the political symbolism of human chains, which have long been used in protests — like Martin Luther King Jr.’s march in Selma, which at one point we see a photo of in the film. 4. The meaning and reappearance of 11:11. When Young Addie passes what appears to be a homeless man on the boardwalk, he holds up a cardboard sign scrawled with “Jeremiah 11:11” on it. For those who skipped Sunday school, the King James Bible verse reads: “Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.” The prophet is essentially admonishing people for worshipping false gods and warning that they will be punished for it. Clearly a tease of the chaos to come. Later that night, grown-up Adelaide looks at the clock and it’s 11:11 — just before the doppelgängers are spotted outside their beach house. (Related: Doppelgänger Addie believes she is being tested by God, and refers to “finding her faith” the night she hatches her plan). The numbers are also mirrored in a Black Flag T-shirt in the form of four vertical blocks that resemble the numbers. Also of note, according to the film’s credits (or at least IMDb), the actor who played the homeless man is Alan Frazier. His “normal” character is credited as “Alan,” while his doppelgänger is “Jeremiah.” 5. The stranger on the beach. Speaking of our old friend Jeremiah, the man creepily hanging out on the beach with blood dripping from his glove in broad daylight had to be the homeless man’s (Alan’s) doppelgänger, who’s just murdered him and thus why we see the man being carted out on a stretcher bloodied and dead as the family arrives at the boardwalk. The reason why Peele hones in on that hand? (Besides the creepy blood droplet?) He’s ready to join some others in Hands Across America. (Image: Universal Pictures) 6. The spider-verse. Young Addie whistles “Itsy Bitsy Spider” to herself as she’s walking around the carnival. Later, in the beach house, we see a real spider crawling by a plastic toy spider. 7. “Find yourself.” That’s the tagline on both the past and present versions of the beach funhouse, even as the names change. Young Addie enters and literally does that. 8. The candy apple. There has to be something about that candy apple Young Addie takes into the carnival funhouse, right? Or somethings, like a throwback to Snow White’s poisonous apple just as she’s about to go all “Mirror Mirror.” It also very well could be another biblical reference, with Eve eating from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil and thus getting expelled from the Garden of Eden (life as she knows it). (Image: Universal Pictures) 9. Everybody wants to be somebody else. This is another theme that’s prevalent, particularly in the first act. Gabe wants to be more like his more successful or at least wealthier friend, Josh (Tim Heidecker). Addie laments that she could have been a dancer. Kitty (Elisabeth Moss) got plastic surgery and says she could’ve been a movie star. Zora (Shahidi Wright Joseph) doesn’t want to be a track star. And Jason (Evan Alex) wants to be a magician. Or maybe Chewbacca. He also wants to be a dog owner, asking for a pet in the film’s first act. And his doppelgänger acts like a feral dog. 10. Our very first look at the “shadows.” In what might be the most perfectly executed foreshadowing imagery the film has to offer, we get an overhead shot of our family of four on the beach… their shadows looming adjacent to them in the sand. Of course we have no idea at this point that they mirror the four doppelgängers directly beneath them. As Peele told Fox’s Kevin McCarthy, the shot was captured entirely practical thanks to “good old-fashioned sunlight.” (Image: Universal Pictures) 11. The early line of dialogue that gives it all away. “Being here, I don’t feel like myself,” a stressed-out Addie tells Gabe when they arrive at the beach house. BECAUSE SHE’S NOT. 12. Why “I Got 5 On It” is so important. First off, it’s one of the best raps songs and weed anthems of the ’90s, but that’s neither here nor there. But you knew it had to be important the second Peele opened the film’s first trailer with the Luniz hit. And turns out the car scene provides a huge clue. Notice the moment where Adelaide turns to her son and snaps, telling him to “Get in rhythm”… yet is completely off the beat. Knowing what we eventually find out about Adelaide, was this because she literally has no soul? (Props to this Twitter user for sniffing out the fact that this was a clue the day the trailer was released.) Peele’s composer Michael Abels then brilliantly flips the song into a full-blown horror score when it’s reprised in the third act with Adelaide and Red underground, a cue to make us think back to that moment in the car.<doc-sep>

Photo: Claudette Barius/© 2019 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. On the evening of Tuesday, March 19, two days before the opening of Jordan Peele’s critically acclaimed Get Out follow-up Us, Twitter user @MaxCorn paired up and tweeted out an arresting pair of photographs: Jordan Peele out here literally dressed as Jack Torrance. pic.twitter.com/TD5D9J2n3E — a common dog name (@MaxCorn) March 20, 2019 The sartorial similarity was particularly striking because multiple reviews from the film’s SXSW premiere noted its copious visual references to The Shining, a debt that Peele himself seemed to acknowledge by quote-tweeting the photo pairing the next day, and adding the film’s notorious phrase “All work and no play … ” But the parallels between Us and The Shining aren’t just a matter of homage, or clever promotional cosplay. The Shining is one of the most meticulously analyzed motion pictures of our time, a film that has been so widely broken down and puzzled-out that it beget a documentary of warring and complementary Shining fan theories, Room 237. In that film, every tiny detail — from a Calumet Baking Powder tin to a German typewriter to an oddly arranged skiing poster — is ripe for multiple interpretations, we’re told, because Stanley Kubrick was so fastidious that even things which looked like errors must be intentional and purposeful. Jordan Peele has admitted to the same kind of micromanagement, announcing in promotional interviews, “Everything in this movie was deliberate, that is one thing I can guarantee you.” And so, even the throwaway minutiae of Us warrants pause, deliberation, and some attempt at analysis. Here’s a brief inventory, compiled from two viewings, of the film’s cultural references, roughly organized by their first appearance in the film. Photo: Universal Pictures The Tapes The opening frames of Us will prompt immediate squinting and puzzling from eagle-eyed viewers, as the film begins with the image of a television surrounded by VHS tapes. Some of them are home recordings that are not legible to the naked eye in a theatre auditorium — we’ll have to return to those when the movie hits video — but the store-bought tapes are telling indeed: C.H.U.D. : This 1984 sci-fi/horror hybrid concerns an outbreak of deaths and disappearances in New York City, caused by “undergrounders,” a race of mutants living in the city’s sewers. Late in Us, when the Wilsons are watching the first television news reports, a witness remarks, “Someone said they were coming from the sewers.” (In an interview with Polygon, Peele also admits a “little personal thing”: “My first girlfriend’s father directed C.H.U.D.”) The Goonies: Another story of adventure in underground tunnels and shafts, but one quoted more explicitly in Us: At the end of Red’s big explainer speech in the underground classroom, she paraphrases Sean Astin’s big rallying-the-troops speech by telling Adelaide, “It’s our time now. Our time, up there.” The Man With Two Brains: This 1983 Steve Martin comedy concerns a scientist who falls in love with a talking brain; Peele confirmed its “thematic connection” to Uproxx: “The idea of two intelligences sharing a soul in a way. And was probably a little reference to Get Out in there too.” A Nightmare on Elm Street: In addition to another promo-tour clothing shout-out (again acknowledged by Mr. Peele), there are multiple references to Wes Craven’s 1984 horror classic, most notably: the burns on Pluto’s face, uncomfortably similar to Freddy Krueger’s; he and his family’s donning of a single, brown glove; and Adelaide’s trip through a boiler room, just like the one where Freddy took his victims. The Right Stuff: Okay, on this one, your guess is as good as mine. Hands Across America On that television surrounded by tapes is a promo for the 1986 benefit event, and you’ll find more background on that here. (Gabe is right, come to find out; it would take “a shit load of coordination.”) Michael Jackson During her fateful birthday trip to the Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk, little Adelaide covers up her Hands Across America T-shirt with her prize: a shirt for Michael Jackson’s Thriller. (“That shirt better not give her nightmares,” her mother warns her father.) Jackson wore a red jacket and pants in that album’s title video, and his single glove became his most iconic accessory in that period; that costume is echoed in the “Tethered” uniform of red coveralls and a single glove. (The coveralls also recall one of the best villains in horror cinema, Halloween’s Michael Myers.)

Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) has officially been added to the cast of Dwayne Johnson’s (Rampage) highly-anticipated Red Notice, TheWrap reports. The action thriller—which follows an Interpol agent as he tracks the world’s most wanted art thief—sparked a bidding war among the major studios. Universal eventually landed the prize and agreed to finance the $125 million to $160 million picture, while also doling out a career-best paycheck of $22 million to The Rock with room for more. Rawson Marshall Thurber (Skyscraper) is writing and directing and reportedly earning an eight-figure salary. Adding Gadot helps give the expensive blockbuster a higher-floor as her star-power still sits at an all-time high thanks to the rollicking success of last year’s Wonder Woman. Despite following that up with the underwhelming Justice League, fan excitement over Gadot’s super heroine remains enthusiastic, as does the opinions of those at Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment. Wonder Woman 2 is set to begin production this month and remains a high priority for the studio. The combined audience love for both stars could give Red Notice a leg up at the box office in terms of opening weekend numbers. Johnson is in the midst of an impressive financial tear (which I fully support and will continue to contribute to), while Wonder Woman became one of the top-grossing domestic films in history. Universal will need every extra ounce of their worldwide appeal to push the expensive Red Notice to profitability. Filming for the project is expected to begin in the spring of 2019 (so don’t count on a Johnson presidential ticket) and is set for release on June 12, 2020. In addition to Johnson’s hefty base salary, the star will earn $1 million for every $25 million Red Notice earns in worldwide box office dollars after it has grossed 2.5 times its budget. As things stand now, Johnson is reportedly set to be paid $22 million and 30 percent of the movie’s profits or box office bonuses at key benchmarks, whichever number ends up higher. No official word yet on Gadot’s salary, but we expect her to get a hefty pay raise from the $300,000 she earned on Wonder Woman.<doc-sep>cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: '36af7c51-0caf-4741-9824-2c941fc6c17b' }).render('4c4d856e0e6f4e3d808bbc1715e132f6'); }); if(window.location.pathname.indexOf("656089") != -1){console.log("hedva connatix");document.getElementsByClassName("divConnatix")[0].style.display ="none";} Gal Gadot is adding yet another project to her busy schedule.The Israeli actress is slated to appear in a new comedy alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson titled Red Notice.The film tells the story of an Interpol agent – played by Johnson – who is tracking down an international art thief.Gadot and Johnson first appeared together in the Fast and the Furious franchise.According to Deadline, which first reported the news, the movie begins filming in April and is slated to be released in June 2020. The Rosh Ha'ayin native has added a series of projects in recent months.Last month Gadot announced that she will be producing a film about the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. The film, tentatively titled My Dearest Fidel, is based on a Politico article published last month which details a relationship in the early 1960s between the Cuban leader and the American reporter Lisa Howard.Multiple news outlets have speculated that Gadot may also star in the upcoming film.The actress, model and Revlon spokeswoman also just appeared in a music video for Maroon 5, and is currently filming Wonder Woman 2.Last month, the Israeli public broadcaster asked Gadot to host next year’s Eurovision competition. The actress turned down the gig due to scheduling conflicts. Now we know just where Gadot will be at the time.<doc-sep>'The Fast and the Furious' co-stars are joining forces once again. (Photos: Getty Images) In her first non-DC role after the release of Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot will star in the action/comedy Red Notice alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The movie is said to be about the hunt for the world's most-wanted art-thief, with Johnson playing an Interpol agent and Gadot playing a "brilliant and mysterious figure in the art world." 10 Gallery 10 Images The hunt is on for another actor to play an unknown third lead role. Gadot and Johnson have worked together three times before in The Fast and the Furious franchise, in installments 5, 6 and 7. ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website Rawson Marshall Thurber, who previously directed Johnson in Central Intelligence and the upcoming Skyscraper, wrote the script and will direct. Red Notice is set to hit theaters on June 12, 2020.<doc-sep>

Wonder Woman’s Gal Gadot and Jumaji’s Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson have teamed up for new action movie ‘Red Notice’. The pair have previously worked together on 2011’s Fast Five, 2013’s Fast & Furious 6 and 2015’s Furious 7. The premise for the new movie is currently under wraps but is described as “a globe-trotting action comedy” that will also star another as-yet-announced male lead. ‘Red Notice’ has also secured Johnson’s first $20million pay-day. According to The Independent, Gadot will play a ‘brilliant and mysterious figure in the art world’. The film is set for release in the summer of 2020 and will be directed by Rawson Marshall, who previously worked with Johnson on ‘Central Intelligence’ and ‘Skyscraper’. Thurber reportedly flew to London, where Gadot has been working on Wonder Woman 2, to convince the actress to join the project. Universal Pictures purchased rights to the movie after what’s been reported as a ‘heated mutli-studio bidding battle’. How much they paid for those rights is yet to be revealed. Meanwhile, Johnson opened up about his battle with depression earlier this year. “Struggle and pain is real. I was devastated and depressed. I reached a point where I didn’t want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly,” he said. He also spoke of his “absolute worst time”, when his dreams of being a professional football player were ended by multiple injuries. Later, he was recruited for the Canadian Football League, but lasted less than a year. His girlfriend also broke up with him around the same time. “We both healed, but we’ve always got to do our best to pay attention when other people are in pain,” he said. “We have to help them through it and remind them they are not alone.”

​Fulham earned their first three points of their 2018/19 Premier League campaign after prevailing 4-2 in an entertaining affair against ​Burnley. An outstanding long range strike, a brace from Aleksandar Mitrovic and a late strike from Andre Schurrle proved the difference between the two sides. It was a breathtaking start to the match, with Seri taking aim from outside the box to leave Joe Hart with no hope. Burnley gave themselves a fighting chance by equalising through Jeff Hendrick, but two quick goals from Mitrovic looked to have put the tie to bed. James Tarkowski pulled one back for Burnley on the brink of half time but, following a comparatively tame second half, it wasn't enough to inspire a comeback. Andre Schurrle compounded the visitors' misery right at the death to confirm the victory. FULHAM Key Talking Point: It was a somewhat disappointing start to life back in the Premier League for the Cottagers, but they were able to produce some magic in the final third to earn them a first win of the season. It was far from perfect, as demonstrated by the scoreline, but if this game is anything to go by then Slavisa Jokanovic's men will have no trouble finding the back of the net this season. There were plenty of impressive individual displays from the likes of Jean Michael Seri and Luciano Vietto and they were much the better side over the course of the 90 minutes. However, the sooner Alfie Mawson returns to full match fitness, the better. The centre-back would add some much needed steel to the back line that is currently missing. Player Ratings Starting XI: Bettinelli (6); Fosu-Mensah (7), Odoi (6), Le Marchand (5), Bryan (6); McDonald (6) Cairney (6), Seri (8); Vietto (7), Mitrovic (8), Schurrle (9). Substitutes: Chambers (6), Anguissa (6), Sessegnon (N/A). Star Man - There were plenty of top performances, but Andre Schurrle was a class above the rest for the Cottagers on this occasion. The German winger turned the Burnley defence inside out on more than one occasion and on another day he could have easily picked up a handful of goals. He had to settle for just the one, which was the least he deserved for a wonderful showing. His experience will be crucial for Fulham this season, but if he plays like that every week then he'll be dragging them kicking and screaming up the table. Worst Player​ - Defensive frailties are still present in the side and much of that was down to Maxime Le Marchand. The Frenchman looked nervous on the ball and was bullied far too easily for Burnley's second goal when he was pushed off the ball by James Tarkowski. BURNLEY Key Talking Point - It was always going to be the case if the Clarets lost, but after today there will be questions asked over whether their European adventure is going to jeopardise their League campaign. Sean Dyche's men were off the pace in this one and their lack of time to prepare for the clash was exposed by Fulham, who penetrated the normally resolute defence far too easily. They didn't test Marcus Bettinelli enough and both of their goals were courtesy of some sloppy mistakes at the back from Fulham. All attention will now be on Thursday's Europa League qualifier against Olympiacos. Player Ratings Starting XI: Hart (5), Lowton (4), Tarkowski (6), Mee (5), Ward (4); Cork (5), Hendrick (6), Westwood (5), Lennon (5), Gudmundsson (N/A); Wood (4). Substitutes: Taylor (5), Vokes (4), Barnes (4). Star Man - There were very few impressive performances on show from Burnley who were utterly outclassed by the opposition. Jeff Hendrick gets the most credit from the match as he was their most influential player in midfield and he even nabbed himself a goal in the first half. It was by no means a brilliant performance, but his goal pips him narrowly above his teammates. Worst Player - It may be a reflection of the poor service he had to contend with, but Chris Wood was virtually a spectator throughout his time up top. He failed to even get a shot on goal and was duly replaced after the hour mark to round off a poor afternoon. Going Forward Fulham travel to Brighton next Saturday and will no doubt be brimming with confidence after such an impressive showing. They'll have to make sure they are more defensively secure though, as Brighton have already proven how good they are at home. Burnley have to negotiate the second leg of their Europa League qualifier on Thursday before turning their attentions to a home tie against Manchester United. The upcoming international break will no doubt be welcomed at Turf Moor after a hectic start.<doc-sep>Good afternoon and welcome to Craven Cottage where Slavisa Jokanovic is speaking to the press after Fulham's thrilling 4-2 win over Burnley. The Fulham boss made five changes to his starting XI, with Marcus Bettinelli recalled after being dropped for the first two games of the season. There was also a start for Luciano Vietto, while Kevin McDonald, Denis Odoi and Andre Schurrle all returned to the starting XI. A wonder strike from Jean Michael Seri and a brace from Aleksandar Mitrovic meant the Cottagers edged a first half which saw five goals. James Tarkowski and Jeff Hendrick scored for Sean Dyche's side, but the Whites hung on to seal a first three points of the season. The result leaves the visitors in the relegation zone while Fulham move up to 12th. Follow everything Jokanovic has to say to the media right here. Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android. Available to download from the App Store and Google Play.<doc-sep>Fulham made their way into the third round of the Carabao Cup with a routine 2-0 victory over Exeter City. It didn't take Fulham long to get the opener - some lovely football saw the ball played to Cyrus Christie, whose effort was palmed into the path of Kamara, who volleyed home. The first half saw very little in terms of real chances - Fulham had a few chances to increase their lead but never really tested Christy Pym in the Exeter goal, while the away side hit the post after they had capitalised on a mistake by Ibrahima Cisse in midfield. Kamara got his second of the game shortly after half time when Stefan Johansen played him through on goal, with the winger poking past Pym. Rui Fonte had a good effort saved by Pym after some nice movement in the box, but there were very little more to talk about in terms of chances as Fulham saw out a comfortable win. Here's how we rated the side: Sergio Rico - 6 A few iffy kicks out from the back but otherwise the first half was quiet for Rico. Had a quiet second half too with Exeter rarely threatening. Looked very comfortable at collecting crosses. Cyrus Christie - 8 Was getting down the wing well for Fulham in the early stages and causing problems. Continued to do so in the second half and was unlucky not to get a couple of assists under his belt. Calum Chambers - 7 Was dominant in the heart of defence in the first half the game and was strong in the second half, keeping Exeter's forwards extremely quiet in the Fulham half. (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire) Alfie Mawson - 7 Did well next to Chambers in defence and was dominant in the air. Demonstrated what he could do with the ball at his feet. The two have the potential to be a good partnershup. Ryan Sessegnon - 6 Attacked well down the left but his final ball in the first half wasn't up to his usual standards. Was very quiet in the second 45 minutes and didn't really threaten much. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa - 7 Found himself further forward than usual but was strong in the tackle, if not creative on the ball. Had a very good game in midfield and looked every bit the midfield general. Ibrahima Cisse - 6 Was caught in possession in midfield after dallying on the ball for too long. Otherwise looked decent in the holding midfield role but was beaten a few too many times by Exeter's attacking midfielders. (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire) Stefan Johansen - 7 Was the creative force in the middle of the park and looked to make things happen for Fulham. Nice through ball for Kamara to latch onto for his second. Aboubakar Kamara - 7 Got the opener with some good positioning after putting in the rebound from Christie's strike. Got his second shortly after half time. Had a good game but some of his decision making in the final third could've been better. (Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images) Neeskens Kebano - 7 Saw lots of the ball early on and was causing Exeter problems down the left flank. Continued that in the second half but didn't have the end product to match the forays forward. Rui Fonte - 7 His runs kept the Exeter defence stretched and provided an outlet for his team mates to pick out, bringing others into play. Was unlucky not to get a goal, with Pym equal to his effort after good movement once more. Substitutes Luca de la Torre - 6 Didn't really get too involved in the game out on the left after coming on for Kebano. Steven Sessegnon - 6 Showed some nice touches in the heart of defence and did well after coming on for Mawson. Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android. Available to download from the App Store and Google Play.<doc-sep>

Fulham got their first points of the Premier League campaign as they beat Burnley 4-2 at Craven Cottage. They got off to the best possible start after just four minutes, when Jean-Michael Seri made some space for himself on the edge of the box, lashing the ball into the top corner. But it was all square on the 10th minute mark when Maxime Le Marchand gave the ball away cheaply in the middle of the pitch - Burnley broke and Jeff Hendrick smashed the ball into the roof of the net. The home side got themselves back in the lead after a really well worked corner found Tom Cairney on the edge, whose chipped ball to the back stick was nodded home by Aleksandar Mitrovic before he added his second and Fulham's third a minute later, heading past Joe Hart once again. And Burnley got one back on the 40th minute mark when Fulham were unable to defend a corner, which James Tarkowski poked in at the back post Andre Schurrle got his deserved goal when he pounced on the ball after it rebounded from the post, courtesy of Mitrovic's strike to wrap up the three points. Here's how we rated the side. Marcus Bettinelli - 6 Played almost as a sweeper at most times and looked determined to prove he could play with the ball at his feet. Came out to claim crosses well and had a good game. Timothy Fosu-Mensah - 7 Made some good runs down the right but couldn't deliver the final ball in the first half. His runs caused Burnley's defence problems all game. (Image: Henry Browne/Getty Images) Denis Odoi - 6 Had a decent performance in the heart of defence and grew into the game more and more as the match progressed. Maxime Le Marchand - 6 Was at fault for the Burnley goal when he gave away the ball cheaply in the middle of the park. Was outmuscled by Tarkowski for the second goal. Improved in the second half. Joe Bryan - 6 Tried to attack down the wing but his delivery wasn't quite up to scratch. Did well defensively but has yet to offer teh attacking threat Fulham require from their full backs. Kevin McDonald - 7 Was his usual self in the anchor role but Burnley found a lot of space between the midfield and the defence when breaking. Tom Cairney - 7 Lovely chipped ball to find Mitrovic at the back post for Fulham's second goal. Wasn't at his usual best in the first half, producing a few sloppy passes but produced a fine performance in the second. Limped off with an injury with 13 left. Jean-Michael Seri - 7 Scored a stunning goal after just four minutes. Put in some good tackles and looked to get the ball down and play. (Image: Henry Browne/Getty Images) Luciano Vietto - 7 Had a slow start to the game but he did very well to put in a lovely ball for Mitrovic's second goal. Grew into the match and was a livewire during the second half. Andre Schurrle - 8 Enjoyed a good first half and looked the liveliest of Fulham's forwards. Caused Burnley problems cutting inside onto his right all game. Got the goal that his performance deserved. Aleksandar Mitrovic - 9 Demonstrated good strength throughout the game and he used that to nod in the second goal. A really good all round display from Mitrovic. (Image: Henry Browne/Getty Images) Substitutes Calum Chambers - 5 Slotted into the centre back role and sured up the defence as Fulham looked to see out the game. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa - 5 Came on for Cairney and added some strength into the midfield with ten odd minutes remaining. Ryan Sessegnon - 5 No time to affect proceedings. Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android. Available to download from the App Store and Google Play.

April 25 might be one of the most highly-anticipated days of 2019 for several reasons. Not only is it the day that some fans in the U.S. will get to see the premiere of Avengers: Endgame, but now, we also expect it to be the start date of a new Avengers-themed event in Fortnite. Epic Games released the first teaser image for a Fortnite x Avengers event today. The tweet featured a picture of a Fortnite character holding Captain America's shield. A single line of text simply said "whatever it takes" (a line from the Endgame trailers ), along with the date, April 25. Related: What we know so far about the Fortnite x Avengers event Epic and Marvel teamed up last year to bring Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet to Fortniteand this trailer got us thinking: What if this year's crossover event brought more than just a Limited Time Mode to the game? There are tons of opportunities here—you could basically have a unique skin, back bling, and pickaxe for every character in the Avengers movie franchise. But we don't know much about this event yet—Epic might not even introduce Avengers skins or cosmetic items to Fortnite. If Epic does plan on bringing fan-favorite superheroes to life in the popular battle royale game, though, here are the skins and items that we'd like to see the most. Captain America's uniform and shield Screengrab via Marvel Entertainment Captain America is one of the most popular Avengers, so it'd make perfect sense for him to get his own skin in Fortnite. The first teaser image for this event showed a Fortnite character holding Captain America's patriotic shield, so maybe it could be a back bling. It probably wouldn't be very good at deflecting bullets in-game, though—that'd be a little too overpowered. Iron Man Screengrab via FilmClips4K Iron Man is another fan-favorite character from the Avengers franchise who Fortnite fans would love to see added to the game. We can't really think of a suitable back bling or pickaxe idea for Iron Man, but his trademark suit would make an excellent Fortnite skin. Spider-Man Screengrab via FilmClips4K Similar to Iron Man, a Spider-Man Fortnite skin would be awesome. Epic could use the traditional Spider-Man costume or the Iron Spider suit that was seen in Avengers: Infinity War, too. Mjolnir or Stormbreaker Screengrab via BestClips Epic could likely produce excellent skins for the rest of the Avengers—but wearing a replica superhero costume might not be for everyone. That's why we think there are some epic Avengers-themed pickaxes that could be added to Fortnite. Thor's mighty hammer, Mjolnir, and his newest weapon, Stormbreaker, would both make absolutely badass pickaxes. Just don't expect to be able to shoot thunder from these items, though. Loki's scepter Screengrab via Filmic Box This one might be more of a throwback for longtime Avengers fans, but Loki's scepter from The Avengers would be a sweet pickaxe. Loki technically isn't a part of the Avengers, but many fans have grown to appreciate the mischievous villain over the years—and Epic could pay homage to the character by making his scepter into a Fortnite pickaxe.<doc-sep>Since season 3, with the infamous John Wick-esque skin, The Reaper, Fortnite has dabbled in skins that are almost based off real-life characters. But, with the new Avengers: Endgame-inspired event, Fortnite has its first official skin of a fictional character: Black Widow. The skin includes a Black Widow costume for 1,500 V-Bucks that comes with both red and blond hair to match Natasha’s dual looks in the Marvel movies. There’s also a harvesting tool that looks like one of her shock batons. It’s called Widow’s Bite and costs 800 V-Bucks. There’s even a new emote, Widow’s Pirouette, that’s more or less one of her moves from Iron Man 2, the first MCU movie the character appeared in. This isn’t the only cosmetic coming to Fortnite as part of the new event. The Avengers’ Quinjet is also coming to the game as a deployable glider. All you have to do to earn that one is complete challenges in the new Endgame mode. There are also a few smaller unlocks attached to those challenges which mostly include completing matches and doing damage with certain weapons. Fortnite’s news screen also mentions that another skin set will be coming to the game along with Black Widow’s. However, whatever that set may be, it isn’t in the game yet so we’ll have to wait until later in the Avengers event to see what these skins might be.<doc-sep>The Avengers are coming back to Fortnite — though in what form, we don’t know just yet. Today, developer Epic teased a crossover event between the two pop culture giants, which will kick off on April 25th, a day before the conclusive Avengers: Endgame hits theaters. Right now, all we can glean about the crossover comes from a single image of a Fortnite character wielding Captain America’s shield along with the tagline “whatever it takes.” Last year, Marvel brought Thanos to the battle royale game with a limited time mode that let players take on the role of the galaxy-conquering villain. It seems like we’ll see a similar limited time event this time around that’s possibly based around Captain America’s shield. Epic did something along those lines when it introduced the Infinity Blade sword to the game (though that crossover did not end so well). Hopefully, we’ll get some nice superhero skins as well — and, if we’re lucky, a Hulk smash emote. As always, it’s a busy time in Fortnite. In addition to the forthcoming Avengers content, the game’s map is also undergoing changes as a series of strange alien runes steadily make their way across the island. Meanwhile, the competitive community is gearing up for the upcoming World Cup in July, which will include both battle royale and creative competitions.<doc-sep>

The Fortnite x Avengers crossover is going to be huge. Fortnite: Battle Royale has received its first set of Avengers character skins and cosmetic items, an in-game message revealed this morning. A Black Widow set is now available in the game's Item Shop. It comes with the Epic character outfit and back bling combo that costs 1,500 V-Bucks and the Rare pickaxe Widow's Bite and emote Widow's Pirouette that will cost 800 and 200 V-Bucks each. This is the first set of two that are coming as part of the Fortnite x Avengers mashup. Fortnite data miners found that an Infinity Gauntlet spray and the Avengers Quinjet glider also seem to be hidden in the game files, as revealed by FortTory and Lucas. They were later revealed as part of the Endgame challenge rewards, along with emoticons for Captain America's shield and Thor's Stormbreaker. SORRY This is the v8.50 Cosmetics pic.twitter.com/JCxM2K4zEw — Lucas7yoshi (@Lucas7yoshi) April 25, 2019 New styles seem to be coming to three Battle Pass outfits as part of season eight's Overtime challenges. Leakers haven't found names for them yet, but they're coming for Sidewinder, Ember, and Master Key. Challenges for the three new Variants! pic.twitter.com/C8dYBbchwk — FortTory - Fortnite Leaks & News (@FortTory) April 25, 2019 The patch came out this morning, and data miners are still finding new assets and game models that will give us a sneak peek at what's coming this week. Most of these cosmetic items should become available for purchase in the game’s Item Shop throughout the week or come as rewards for completing Endgame challenges.

Duelling had died out in Britain in the early Victorian era. The last known duel took place on the cricket ground at Englefield Green, between two Frenchmen, in 1852. The practice was revived, however, after tea at the cricket ground of Edgbaston. England’s captain Joe Root and India’s captain Virat Kohli took up their positions at a distance of 50 paces. Honour, as usual in duels, was at stake. Root, on completing his century in the Headingley one-dayer to seal the series 2-1 for England, had thrown down his bat like a stage performer concluding a triumphant performance. Kohli demanded satisfaction: such a celebration is not in the gentlemanly traditions of cricket. No sabres or pistols were involved, only a cricket ball, and one shot from Kohli was enough. He took aim and, even though falling backwards, scored a direct hit that pierced the heart of England’s captain, intent as he had been on converting a 50 into a hundred for once. Kohli blew kisses in the direction of Root and pretended to drop a microphone. India’s honour was satisfied. The ICC are renowned for exempting Indian captains from punishment but none would be justified in this instance. It was pure theatre, both when Root celebrated at Headingley and Kohli responded here. It would be a fool who tried to imitate either, as he would not have the panache to carry it off.<doc-sep>Yorkshire Day suddenly fell flat for England at Edgbaston as Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root's high hopes were dashed against India. England were on course for a substantial first-innings total while Root (80) and his fellow Yorkshireman Bairstow (70) were sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 104 in only 23 overs. But just as the hosts threatened to dominate their 1,000th Test, Root was cut off in his prime - run out, once more short of a 14th Test century which has eluded him for the past year. Ravi Ashwin finished with four for 60 as England folded to an underwhelming 285 for nine at stumps. England would have been all out, in fact, had a tough caught-behind chance been held when Sam Curran edged Mohammad Shami's penultimate ball of day one. For his trouble, the first of three wickets to fall for eight runs from 216 for three, Root's misfortune was accompanied by a full-house 'send-off' from his opposite number Virat Kohli. It was the India captain who produced the brilliant piece of fielding, with a direct-hit throw on the turn after Bairstow called an ambitious two barely to the edge of the square at midwicket.<doc-sep>Joe Root was in fine touch before he was run out for 80 David Lloyd reflects on a frustrating first day for England and captain Joe Root after his run out triggered a batting collapse against India at Edgbaston... Joe Root is fully aware of his issue of converting fifties into hundreds and the run out here was sloppy. At 216-3 England were absolutely cruising. You never know whose call it is with run outs like Root's, the strong suspicion is that it was Jonny Bairstow's but you can always send him back, it was needless. England had a bit of bad luck with Keaton Jennings' wicket off the inside edge, onto body, onto floor, spinning back and dislodging one bail. Dawid Malan's lbw could easily have gone the other way - that is a brave call, it's just clipping the varnish on the bails! I'd feel quite unlucky if I'd got that. Then when they needed to consolidate after Root's wicket they lost Bairstow and Buttler quickly so from 216-3, all of a sudden they're six down. From looking as if 450 might be on, England are struggling to make 300. England in their last 10 first innings in Test matches before today, their average score is 288. That is not good enough, especially against this India team. The manner of Root's dismissal is all the more frustrating because his rhythm of batting was excellent as soon as he walked in, he was in good nick. You look at the rhythm, backwards and forwards, there were no false shots, he was confident and busy at the crease. Root's half-century was his 41st in Test match cricket It's always good when you get that early score in a series as captain. People always try and have a go at the captain and if you can sort him out then you'll get a couple more with him. The frustration is ongoing for him, he keeps getting out in the 80s! Virat Kohli did brilliantly with the direct hit but why are they running to him? He's a terrific fielder and the other thing that you've got to assess, which they clearly didn't, is the outfield. The whole day it has been slow, it's lush, and the ball is not scooting past the fielders, it's slowing up so you have to be careful. It was needless. 0:22 Virat Kohli produced a moment of magic to get rid of Root Virat Kohli produced a moment of magic to get rid of Root As for Kohli's celebration, I'm far too old to know what that is all about. A 'mic drop'? I've no idea what they're doing! It's passed me by. Ravichandran Ashwin has bowled well and taken four wickets but there wasn't a huge amount of turn. I thought it was good captaincy to get him on in the seventh over with the ball and the seam still hard. He bowled the perfect delivery which has got the spin on it, bounced on the seam and gripped. That's the only one, other than the gentle spinner that got Buttler lbw, that has shown any signs of movement. The majority of deliveries from the spinner haven't spun but when that ball has gripped with a brand new ball's seam, it's a perfect delivery. 0:22 Ravi Ashwin produced a perfect off-spinner to remove Alastair Cook Ravi Ashwin produced a perfect off-spinner to remove Alastair Cook He bowled with the second new ball at the end as well and took another wicket, he'll be looking to complete his five-for on Thursday morning. Watch day two of the first Test between England and India from 10.30am, Thursday on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event.<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section Cricket First Specsavers Test, Edgbaston, day one of five England 285-9: Root 80, Bairstow 70, Jennings 42; Ashwin 4-60 India: Yet to bat Scorecard A horrible run-out of Joe Root sparked an England collapse on day one of the first Test against India at Edgbaston. Root was on 80 when he and Jonny Bairstow opted for a second run, only for Virat Kohli's direct hit to beat the dive of the England captain. From there, England lost four wickets for 27 runs and eventually limped to 285-9. Earlier, they looked to be taking advantage of winning the toss on a surface that seems true for batting, but is also offering some encouragement to both pace and spin bowlers. Root shared stands of 72 with Keaton Jennings, who made a watchful 42, and 104 with Bairstow, whose 70 was the most fluent batting of the day. But, after Root and Bairstow were removed, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin tormented England to end with 4-60. It left England in a disappointing position on the first day of their 1,000th Test, played in front of a ground that was no more than three-quarters full. The crowd was subdued until it was brought to life by England's struggle, with some of the biggest cheers reserved for number 11 James Anderson blocking the hosts towards the close. Kohli sparks England slump For two sessions this was a hard-fought day, one that bodes well for the competitiveness of the remainder of the five-Test series. England showed patience against the moving ball and later, when Bairstow and Root were scoring at four and a half runs an over, the home side were taking control at 215-3. However, it was England's eagerness which began India's resurgence. Bairstow played Ashwin to mid-wicket and came back for a second that never looked viable. Kohli chased, gathered and threw off-balance, the ball hitting the non-striker's stumps with the desperate Root well short. As Bairstow dropped to his haunches and Root stomped off, skipper Kohli blew kisses to both batsmen, then put his finger to his lips and mimicked Root's 'mic drop' celebration from England's victory in the third one-day international. Virat Kohli celebrates running out Joe Root Soon after, Bairstow chopped Umesh Yadav on to his own stumps, Jos Buttler was lbw to Ashwin and Ben Stokes somehow patted a return catch to the same bowler. Sam Curran and the controversially recalled Adil Rashid briefly halted the tourists, only for Rashid to be lbw on review to Ishant Sharma before Stuart Broad was trapped leg before by Ashwin. Run-out robs Root of long-awaited ton For so long, Root looked set to end a run that had seen him fail to convert any of his previous 10 half-centuries into hundreds. The skipper patiently absorbed probing India bowling, tucking the ball off his pads or guiding it to third man. In reaching 40, he became the third-youngest batsman, after Sachin Tendulkar and Alastair Cook, to reach 6,000 Test runs. His half-century meant he had passed 50 in each of the 12 Tests he has played against India - no other player in the history of the game has made more than nine successive fifties against the same opposition. During his stands with Jennings and Bairstow, Root was keen to rotate the strike, often holding out his hands and asking his partner for a single. It was running, though, that proved his downfall. England collapse rewards India India, the world number one side, have lost only one Test series since the beginning of 2015 but are looking for their first success in England since 2007. Although captain Kohli said he was happy to lose the toss, his side were poor with the new ball, their wastefulness compounded when Ajinkya Rahane dropped Jennings at fourth slip when the opener had only nine. Ashwin was introduced in only the seventh over of the day and turned the ball throughout, perhaps showing the error of both sides in opting for only one specialist spinner each. Ashwin led the India improvement. Alastair Cook was bowled by a beautiful off-break that clipped the top of off stump and impressive pace bowler Mohammed Shami removed both Jennings and Dawid Malan. India were forced to retreat when Bairstow was in full flow, but after Kohli's moment of magic the tourists took control in the evening sunshine. They would have completed the job had diving wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik not spilled Curran off Shami in the final over the day, leaving Curran unbeaten on 24. 'England missed a massive opportunity' Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special: "The run-out shouldn't happen. Root and Bairstow will know they were controlling game. "England had a great opportunity to post 400. We have seen it before - England get into a good position and allow the opposition back into the game. England have missed a massive opportunity." England opener Keaton Jennings: "On one hand, it is a missed opportunity, but on the other you don't know what a good score is until both sides have batted. "We need to be pretty relentless in the way we go about our work tomorrow." Ex-England spinner Phil Tufnell: "India are renowned for not starting well abroad but have come out of the blocks beautifully. Everyone has got wickets, Ashwin is in the game, they have got a run-out. Everything is looking pretty rosy. "India came back well. One piece of magic unlocked the whole day for them."<doc-sep>

JOE Root’s run out by opposing captain Virat Kohli sparked an England collapse against India on the opening day of the first Test at Edgbaston and may have set the tone for the series after the tourists’ skipper gave him a colourful and controversial send-off. At stumps, England was 9-285 in its 1000th Test. However, the action on the field may yet be overshadowed by suggestions Kohli swore at Root and mocked the home skipper’s “mic drop” celebration in a one-day clash between the two sides last month. NEW GIG: LEHMANN SLIPS INTO COMMENTARY BOX ENGLAND VILLAIN: ANDERSON SET TO BREAK McGRATH’S RECORD England had been well-placed at 3-216 for three, with Root seemingly on course to score a first Test century since his 136 against the West Indies during last year’s day-night clash at Edgbaston. But his 11th Test 50 without a hundred since that innings ended in frustrating fashion after a run out involving Yorkshire teammate Jonny Bairstow. Wicketkeeper Bairstow played the ball to mid-wicket for a single and then set off for what always looked a tight second, with Root comfortably run out by Kohli’s agile direct hit on the turn to end a 156-ball innings including nine fours. It was also the finish of a fourth-wicket stand worth 104. However, Kohli rubbed salt into the wound by blowing kisses in the direction of Root and putting his finger to his lips. He also did the “mic drop” gesture in imitation of Root’s celebration of his one-day series-clinching hundred against India at the batsman’s Headingley home ground, and the words Kohli appeared to utter in the batsman’s direction could attract the attention of match referee Jeff Crowe, the former New Zealand captain. England opener batsman Keaton Jennings tried to defuse any potential bad feeling by saying: “Everybody is entitled to celebrate how they want to. “He (Kohli) celebrated, and that’s cool. “I’m sure Joe and Jonny will shake hands, sort it out and have a beer tonight. “Joe played fantastically well. The way he goes about constructing an innings and communicates with a young cricketer like myself is phenomenal. He’s taught me a hell of a lot. To watch a master at work is great — he’s a fantastic player and guy. “It was a bit of a missed opportunity by us, but there was still some lateral movement with the old ball. We have almost 300 on the board and nobody knows what a good score is until both sides have batted.” As has often been the case, a needless dismissal was also the spark for a collapse, with England losing three wickets for eight runs in 25 balls as they squandered a promising position. One way Bairstow could have atoned for his part in denying Root a 14th Test century was to have gone to three figures himself. But a brisk innings of 70 in 88 balls, featuring nine fours, was terminated when Bairstow played on to paceman Umesh Yadav as he tried to cut a ball that was too close to him. Jos Buttler was then lbw for a second-ball duck to off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who took four wickets for 60 runs in 25 overs, as he played across the line. And when Ben Stokes (21) chipped a gentle return catch to Ashwin, England were 243 for seven. England would have been all out a ball before the close if diving wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik had not dropped Sam Curran (24 not out) off Mohammed Shami when an edged chance was heading straight to Shikhar Dhawan at first slip. LIVE Stream the England v India Test Series on FOX SPORTS. SIGN UP NOW >

We are in the final stages of the Arizona Cardinals trimming their roster from 90 to 53 players. All the decisions must be in by 1 p.m. Arizona time on Saturday and the Cardinals still have quite a bit of work to do to get there. Check out our 53-man roster prediction for the Cardinals here as well. Who have the Arizona Cardinals made roster moves on so far? LB Scooby Wright III RB Darius Victor CB Chris Campbell K Matt McCrane TE Alec Bloom DE Arthur Moats to IR LB Matt Oplinger That means the Cardinals are at 83 players on their roster and have to find a way to get to 53 today. We will keep you updated as the information becomes available, so check back often, we’ll have our reactions to the cuts shortly after all of them are announced, as well as tracking any signings to the roster and practice squad as they happen over the next 24 hours. Our updates of cuts are below and ongoing.... RB Sherman Badie OL Will House CB Tavierre Thomas DE Alec James WR Carlton Agudosi OL Josh Allen DT Siupeli Anau WR Brice Butler DE Cap Capi S Trevell Dixon WR C.J. Duncan QB Charles Kanoff WR Greg Little LB Airius Moore CB Jonathan Moxey DT Owen Obasuyi LB Matthew Oplinger OL Vinston Painter FB Elijhaa Penny OL Greg Pyke LB Edmond Robinson CB Tim Scott DT Pasoni Tasini WR Jalen Tolliver DT Tani Tupou TE Andrew Vollert OL Brant Weiss TE Bryce Williams DT Nigel Williams WR Corey Willis<doc-sep>NFL roster cut weekend is here as the Arizona Cardinals and every other team will be making their cuts to get down to 53 players by Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals have not made any moves quite yet, but they are coming and we will have them all as they do. Check out our 53-man roster prediction for the Cardinals here as well. Our updates of cuts are below and ongoing.... LB Scooby Wright III RB Darius Victor CB Chris Campbell K Matt McCrane TE Alec Bloom DE Arthur Moats to IR LB Matt Oplinger 2018 Arizona Cardinals Schedule Week 1 vs Washington Redskins, September 9, 2018 1:25pm Arizona Time Week 2 at Los Angeles Rams, September 16, 2018 1:05pm Week 3 vs Chicago Bears, September 23, 2018 1:25pm Week 4 vs Seattle Seahawks, September 30, 2018 1:05pm Week 5 - at San Francisco 49ers, October 7, 2018 1:25pm Week 6 - at Minnesota Vikings, October 14, 2018 10:00am Week 7 vs Denver Broncos, October 18, 2018 Thursday Night Football 5:20pm Week 8 - vs San Francisco 49ers, October 28, 2018 1:25pm Week 9 - Bye Week Week 10 - @ Kansas City Chiefs, November 11, 2018 11:00am Week 11 - vs Oakland Raiders, November 18, 2018 2:05pm Week 12 @ Los Angeles Chargers, November 25, 2018 2:05pm Week 13 - @ Green Bay Packers, December 2, 2018 11am Week 14 - vs Detroit Lions, December 9, 2018 2:25pm Week 15 @ Atlanta Falcons, December 16, 2018 11am Week 16 - vs Los Angles Rams, December 23, 2018 2:05pm Week 17 @ Seattle Seahawks, December 30, 2018 2:25pm<doc-sep>Happy Monday one and all, hope you had a great weekend and an even better Labor Day today. The Arizona Cardinals are finishing up their first 53-man roster of the 2018 season and that means... It is time for the real NFL season. While you enjoy the holiday though, we will get to some news and notes from around the web on the Arizona Cardinals, before we get to the Washington Redskins week. Jermaine Gresham, Markus Golden Activated Off PUP Tight end, defensive end now eligible to practice Cardinals Make Cuts To Reach 53-Man Roster Little, Butler, Penny among those released; Five undrafted rookies kept Arizona Cardinals 2018 Season Preview: The Quest To Reload A new era begins with first-year coach Steve Wilks at the helm Cardinals Undergo Roster Changes, Build Practice Squad Team adds OL Jeremy Vujnovich, OL Blaine Clausell, DE Zach Moore, DT Garrison Smith Roster cutdown aftermath, and receiver roulette Arizona Cardinals announce official 53-man roster on deadline The Arizona Cardinals announced their 53-man schedule coming out of the preseason. Which players made the initial cut Saturday? Cardinals adding players following 53-man roster cut downs Following player cuts on Saturday afternoon, the Arizona Cardinals have started to claim players off waivers and make corresponding cuts to keep the roster at 53 players. Notable Cardinals cuts include Evan Boehm, veteran wide receivers The Arizona Cardinals announced several roster moves over Labor Day Weekend, including cutting Evan Boehm, Greg Little and Brice Butler. Cardinals wide receiver room down to five after weekend cuts The highlight of the group is one of the best receivers of all time in Larry Fitzgerald, but behind the former Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner on the depth chart are two rookies, one player in his second year and veteran J.J. Nelson. Khalil Mack contract, trade shows AZ Cardinals smart with Chandler Jones Arizona gave up far less and paid far less money to get much more production. Josh Rosen’s best five throws of the 2018 preseason He might not play again until 2019, so enjoy these great throws. NFL roster cuts: Final 53-man roster for Arizona Cardinals There could be changes over the next couple of days with waiver claims and trades, but this is what the final 53 looks like for now. NFL roster cuts: 5 undrafted rookies make AZ Cardinals roster They cut one of their five draft picks, but with five undrafted rookies, they have nine rookies on the roster. NFL roster cuts: 4 surprises from AZ Cardinals final roster Many of the moves were expected. Others were not. Arizona Cardinals claim 3 players off waivers They add two offensive linemen and a defensive lineman. what to know about 3 Arizona Cardinals waiver claims All three players have bounced around the league for a few seasons. NFL roster cuts: AZ Cardinals add waiver claims They add four players, waive two and waive/injured another two. Arizona Cardinals announce 7 practice squad additions They re-sign seven of the players they waived Saturday, including QB Charles Kanoff. Information on new AZ Cardinals DE Zach Moore Moore is on his sixth team since being drafted in 2014 and spent 2017 with the Panthers.<doc-sep>For many, the NFL dream is over until next year. For others, the chance to find a new team is their reality now, while for the rest, they will find themselves on a practice squad, some with the Arizona Cardinals, most with other teams. Who did the Arizona Cardinals cut to get to their first 53-man roster of 2018? Here are the names. Wide receiver CARLTON AGUDOSI Offensive lineman JOSH ALLEN Defensive tackle SIUPELI ANAU Running back SHERMAN BADIE Tight end ALEC BLOOM Wide receiver BRICE BUTLER Cornerback CHRIS CAMPBELL Defensive end CAP CAPI Safety TRAVELL DIXON Wide receiver C.J. DUNCAN Offensive lineman WILL HOUSE Defensive end ALEC JAMES Quarterback CHARLES KANOFF Wide receiver GREG LITTLE Kicker MATT MCCRANE Linebacker AIRIUS MOORE Cornerback JONATHAN MOXEY Defensive tackle OWEN OBASUYI Linebacker MATTHEW OPLINGER Offensive lineman VINSTON PAINTER Fullback ELIJHAA PENNY Offensive lineman GREG PYKE Linebacker EDMOND ROBINSON Cornerback TIM SCOTT Defensive tackle PASONI TASINI Cornerback TAVIERRE THOMAS Wide receiver JALEN TOLLIVER Defensive tackle TANI TUPOU Running back DARIUS VICTOR Tight end ANDREW VOLLERT Offensive lineman BRANT WEISS Tight end BRYCE WILLIAMS Defensive tackle NIGEL WILLIAMS Wide receiver COREY WILLIS Linebacker SCOOBY WRIGHT III<doc-sep>

The Arizona Cardinals announced its roster cuts before the deadline on Saturday. Notable players that made the initial roster were cornerback Brandon Williams and five undrafted rookies: wide receiver Trent Sherfield, linebacker Dennis Gardeck and defensive backs A.J. Howard, Zeke Turner and Deatrick Nichols. Tight end Jermaine Gresham (Achilles) and linebacker Markus Golden were also activated from the PUP list to the 53-man roster, the team announced. Additionally, quarterbacks Sam Bradford, Josh Rosen and Mike Glennon all made the regular season team. Glennon, third on the depth chart during preseason, serves as insurance in case Bradford or Rosen get injured. Arizona Cardinals first-year head coach Steve Wilks believed his team used the preseason to form an identity. Toughness, discipline and a run-heavy scheme flashed in four games leading into 2018. Now, it’s time for the Cardinals to make the tough decisions. The deadline for NFL teams to trim their rosters to 53 players for the season was at 1 p.m. Arizona time on Saturday. The moves the Cardinals made tell a bit about what Wilks will prioritize, which players the front office believes in and the style they expect to play with this coming season. Notable cuts include wide receivers Brice Butler and Greg Little, former Arizona star linebacker Scooby Wright III, defensive end Cap Capi and fullback Elijhaa Penny. The team announced the full list of cuts Saturday: – Wide receiver Carlton Agudosi – Offensive lineman Josh Allen – Defensive tackle siupeli Anau – Running back Sherman Badie – Tight end Alec Bloom – Wide receiver Brice Butler – Cornerback Chris Campbell – Defensive end Cap capi – Safety Travell Dixon – Wide Receiver C.J. Duncan – Offensive lineman Will House – Defense end Alec James – Quarterback Charles Kanoff – Wide receiver Greg Little – Kicker Matt McCrane – Linebacker Airius Moore – Cornerback Jonathan Moxey – Defensive tackle Owen Obasuyi – Linebacker Matthew Oplinger – Offensive lineman Vinston Painter – Fullback Elijhaa Penny – Offensive lineman Greg Pyke – Linebacker Edmond Robinson – Cornerback Tim Scott – Defensive tackle Pasoni Tasini – Cornerback Tavierre Thomas – Wide receiver Jalen Tolliver – Defensive tackle Tani Tupou – Running back Darius Victor – Tight end Andrew Vollert – Offensive lineman Brant Weiss – Tight end Bryce Williams – Defensive tackle Nigel Williams – Wide Receiver Corey Willis – Linebacker Scooby Wright III – Third-year linebacker Scooby Wright, the former Arizona Wildcats star. – 2018 Sixth-round pick Chris Campbell. – Tight end Alec Bloom. Additional notes – Rookie kicker Matt McCrane tweeted support and good luck to veteran Phil Dawson, a sign Arizona opted to retain their kicker from a year ago. – Defensive end Alec James was released and expected to sign with the practice squad on Sunday. – The Cardinals also moved defensive lineman Arthur Moats (knee) to injured reserve due to a knee injury and released safety Harlan Miller in an injury settlement (ankle). Follow @AZSports

The 2019 NFL Draft is just hours away. It is actually here — and the Jacksonville Jaguars are once again picking in the top 10. Will they try and trade down? Will they stay put at pick Jonah Williams? What about T.J. Hockenson? Noah Fant? DWAYNE HASKINS?!? ! (Probably not.) We’ll be updating this live blog all day (and running live blogs every day of the draft) and packing in every rumor, piece of news, and mention of the Jaguars. Live blog 9:31 PM: Tom Coughlin and Dave Caldwell confirm that Josh Allen will fill Dante Fowler’s spot as a versatile linebacker who can be a pass rushing specialist. No brainer. Caldwell confirmed the part about filling Fowler's spot. https://t.co/QT7MBW4lfE — Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) April 26, 2019 Coughlin says Allen can be a pass rusher, play defensive end in base defense and play outside linebacker. Sounds like they like his versatility. I expect him to move into role Dante Fowler filled before he was traded. #Jaguars — Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) April 26, 2019 9:13 PM: Jalen Ramsey approves the Josh Allen pick. I stan. YEAHH @JoshAllen41_ YOU A REAL DEAL BALLER!! I TOLD YOU!! WE GOTTA TURN UP!! pic.twitter.com/Q5xB7pO3E7 — Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) April 26, 2019 9:12 PM: Oh my God, Josh Allen’s walk up music was Pennywise’s “Bro Hymn” and I am openly weeping. 9:09 PM: What a dream scenario for this front office. God bless you, Jon Gruden. 9:06 PM: JOSH ALLEN IS THE PICK FOR THE JAGUARS AND I AM SCREAMING! #Jaguars select the good Josh Allen in 2019 NFL Draft https://t.co/YZOPhUaIRX pic.twitter.com/nRZiOusQix — Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) April 26, 2019 8:32 PM: Nick Bosa to the San Francisco 49ers with the second overall pick. Hell of a defense they’re building to pair with Jimmy Garoppolo. 8:26 PM: And the Arizona Cardinals make Kyler Murray the first overall draft pick this year. And with the first pick... pic.twitter.com/488oao1Qjk — First Coast News (@FCN2go) April 26, 2019 8:17 PM: Hilarious. ESPN was working hard to modulate down all the boos: pic.twitter.com/JJZaCps7vn — Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) April 26, 2019 8:06 PM: Nashville looks ELECTRIC. Damn. 8:00 PM: IT’S DRAAAAAAAAAAAFT TIIIIIIIIIIIIME! 1:49 PM: Washington is rumored to want to trade up for a quarterback, but they’re currently apparently fighting between what looks like an actual good quarterback and Blake Bortles with an un-fun name. The Redskins are not only in disagreement about whether to go quarterback with their top pick but which quarterback to select. While we know by now that Bruce Allen and Dan Snyder are fixated on Dwayne Haskins, there is a case being pled for Duke QB Daniel Jones per sources — Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) April 25, 2019 1:05 PM: Some teams think Montez Sweat was misdiagnosed at the combine and the heart issue may not actually be a risk or a big deal. Teams think Mississippi State DE Montez Sweat's heart condition was misdiagnosed at the combine, per @RapSheet. Additional tests indicate no risk. Teams doing last-minute research now. — NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) April 25, 2019 12:30 PM: The Houston Texans are open to trading Jadeveon Clowney, which seems really weird! 11:58 AM: Looks like after changing defensive schemes AGAIN the 49ers are looking to see if they can get anything for 2017 first round pick Solomon Thomas. Just heard 49ers are shopping Solomon Thomas, the third pick in the 2017 draft. — ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 25, 2019 10:00 AM: The Oakland Raiders allegedly moved Dwayne Haskins up their board today. Multiple quarterbacks going ahead of the Jaguars would be a great thing. As the #Raiders ponder where to go with their fourth overall pick, worth noting: Oakland brass moved QB Dwayne Haskins up their board late this week, source said. He impressed them in his workout, and could be a consideration at No. 4 . — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2019 8:51 AM: Don’t be surprised if/when the Jaguars trade down when a guy like Ed Oliver or Josh Allen falls. This is a deep class at positions of need for the Jaguars and picking up an extra first or second round pick would be hugely beneficial for this team. Two teams that have shown a willingness to trade into the top 10, doing their homework on what it would cost: The #Falcons and the #Redskins. For Washington, it would likely be for a QB. For Atlanta, the options are varied. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2019 7:18 AM: I am ready. My body is ready. My soul is ready. 7:14 AM: Agree. The Jaguars need a right tackle and Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams checks a lot of boxes. Although a game changing tight end is important, getting some help on the right side of the offensive line is key.<doc-sep>The Jacksonville Jaguars have an abundance of options at the top of the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Will they pick an offensive lineman with the No. 7 overall pick? What about a game changing tight end? A (*gulp*) quarterback? We’re less than 12 hours away from the NFL Draft kicking off and we have two questions for you: “Who should the Jaguars draft in the first round?” Alfie Crow (@AlfieBCC) The top of half the 2019 NFL Draft is loaded with defensive line talent and the Jaguars should pluck one of those players if they fall in their lap. The defense is going to be what gets the team wins more often than not in 2019 and they could use added rotational depth with an eye to the future as a starter. The pick: Ed Oliver Ryan Day (@ryaneatscake) Without knowing who will be there, I’ll say that this Jaguars team is going to be carried once again by its defense. Why not make it even better? Nick Foles isn’t great, but he’s an upgrade over Blake Bortles. Now go get the best defensive lineman available. If Ed Oliver is still there (and I think he will be) he should be the pick. The pick: Ed Oliver Jon Kirland (@BCBCouch) I think the Jags find a dance partner for the first time since 2007, and indeed trade down into the 11 to 15 area. They take the Clemson defensive lineman, who has been lost in the shuffle of Jonah Williams and Ed Oliver, but is a premium player himself. The pick: Ed Oliver I know this is a top-heavy defensive draft, and I understand that a rotational pass-rusher is important, but drafting a backup player is a luxury the Jaguars cannot afford. Outside of maybe the two safety positions, there are no question marks on the Jaguars defense. On the offensive side of the ball, there are holes at tight end, offensive tackle and wide receiver. Say what you want about drafting tight ends too early, but I think T.J. Hockenson should be the pick. He is the most pro-ready tight end in this year’s class and has Pro Bowl level potential. Why not get Nick Foles a legitimate weapon, while also helping Leonard Fournette in the run game? The pick: T.J. Hockenson Brian Fullford (@iambwf) By paying Nick Foles to replace Blake Bortles, this team has committed to focusing more on the passing game. As such, Foles must have weapons to be successful. T. J. Hockenson not only gives Foles a target in the passing game, but he is also valuable as a blocking TE. He is a value pick at seven? No, but if the Jaguars can’t move down then I would like them to enhance the team’s lack of playmaker within the receiving corps. For some time I’ve been a fan of either Hockenson or Houston’s Ed Oliver, and at this point I would be fine with either one of them, but I have leaned back to T.J. The pick: T.J. Hockenson Filip Prus (@JaxonFil) Realistically, Jonah Williams is probably my favorite pick if they stay put at 7, but wouldn’t be distraught if they took T.J. Hockenson. Williams has been described as “special” by former Alabama offensive line coach Brent Key, who has a close relationship with Doug Marrone from their time playing together at Georgia Tech. Williams implored his parents to build a gym in their Atlanta home at the age of 12 so he can get big and strong and play like his childhood idol, Joe Thomas, who also had shorter arms than the ideal preference and still ended up pretty okay. Former Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander has worked with Williams this offseason and has tabbed Williams as the most mature, psych ready player he’s met since Andrew Whitworth and called him a “foundation piece” for an offense. Williams was a Freshman All-American at right tackle playing opposite… you guessed it, Cam Robinson. With the enormous emphasis the Jaguars front office has placed on durability and injecting the locker room with “culture changers,” Williams is the ideal fit and gives them a scenario where he can also move inside in the future if Will Richardson develops into the guy they thought they drafted at right tackle. The pick: Jonah Williams Jimmy Siettmann (@J_Siettmann) If all goes right, I want the Jaguars to pick Ed Oliver if he is available. In my opinion, he is one of the few players in this draft who possesses elite talent. He was in the spotlight for a long time at Houston, and his game was picked apart because of it. That, plus him playing out of position in his junior year have made people question his game. Oliver can flat out play though, and I think he will be a difference maker from day one. The pick: Ed Oliver “Who will the Jaguars draft in the first round?” Alfie Crow (@AlfieBCC) It will probably be the boring pick and be an offensive tackle. I don’t think it will be Jawaan Taylor however, as it feels like that is the player the team has wanted everyone to think they will be picking. I also think they’ll move away from being run heavy. The pick: Jonah Williams Ryan Day (@ryaneatscake) It’s an offensive tackle. The right tackle position needs improvement and Will Richardson is a big gamble. I think it’s Alabama’s Jonah Williams. The pick: Jonah Williams Jon Kirland (@BCBCouch) I think the Jags find a dance partner for the first time since 2007, and indeed trade down into the 11-15 area. They take the Clemson defensive lineman, who has been lost in the shuffle of Williams/Oliver, but is a premium player himself. The pick: Christian Wilkins While I think Jacksonville needs to covet an offensive player, I am sure they will go defensive line because Jaguars. I’d of course be happy with one of the premier defensive linemen, but most of those guys will be gone already.<doc-sep>Each year the day before the NFL Draft I usually do a post with the ancillary rumors and things I’m hearing from some sources, most of it is unconfirmed and probably nonsense, but it’s still fun to talk about in a purely hypothetical capacity. I didn’t do it last season because there was just so much in the air most of it seemed way too off the wall to be interesting. This season however, with the Jacksonville Jaguars picking seventh overall in the 2019 NFL Draft it makes a little bit more sense. So, here’s a few things I am hearing from various avenues that are not confirmed and pure rumor. I will notate what is my opinion/spin.<doc-sep>We’ve ran through every possible scenario for the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 7 overall pick, whether that is trading the pick, taking Alabama offensive tackle Jonah Williams or taking Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson. However, Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com believes there may be another option on the table. That is Washington State offensive tackle Andre Dillard, who many believed was more of a prospect worth taking in mid to late range of the first-round. When asked if Florida offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor might be the first tackle off the board, Pauline said the buzz he was hearing indicated that Dillard might be the first instead, while adding that Taylor’s medical situation (with his knee) is in the “eye of the beholder,” which means it varies from team to team. He then proceeded to discuss how he envisions the tackles coming off the board based on the latest he’s been told. “Right now, I think [the offensive tackle order] goes Andre Dillard, Jawaan Taylor then Jonah Williams,” said Pauline Thursday. […] “I’m hearing three different scenarios for Dillard. No. 1, Jacksonville selects him with the seventh pick. No. 2, Buffalo takes him at No. 9, which I previously mentioned and that’s where I have him mocked. The scenario I’m hearing is either the Minnesota Vikings or the Houston Texans trade up with the Detroit Lions to draft Dillard.” This is rather interesting stuff for the simple fact that Pauline has been accurate with some Jags picks in the past like defensive lineman Tyson Alualu and quarterback Blake Bortles. However, this one might be a smokescreen although it’s often times hard to gauge what the Jags’ front office is thinking. In looking at Locked on Jags’ threshold chart, Dillard’s arm length seems to be shorter than the Jags like at offensive tackle (33.50-inches), but that hasn’t stopped many from calling Williams a fit. For that reason, this is something to keep in mind for Jags fans as we get closer to the draft, although I think the only offensive lineman they would take at seven is still Williams.<doc-sep>

JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 30: The football helmet of Blake Bortles #5 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is seen in the team area during their game against the New York Jets at TIAA Bank Field on September 30, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) With the 2019 NFL draft fast approaching it is time to look at the full seven round mock draft for the Jacksonville Jaguars. This years NFL draft has been talked about, argued over, and analyzed at great length. When the Jacksonville Jaguars take the podium to announce their pick it will mark the transition from speculation to reality. It seems that the week before the draft is the most chaotic. After analyzing prospects, finally a full seven-round mock draft may outline what the Jaguars decide to do with their picks. This years draft will without a doubt have a fair share of surprises, Jacksonville will be under a spotlight as they look to once again return to dominance and make the jump back into the playoffs. Previously it was discussed what it would take to consider next season successful, this draft could make or break this season. 1st round (Jaguars Trade 7th pick to the Washington Redskins for the 15th overall selection): T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa Summary: The Jaguars trade the 7th overall pick with the Washington Redskins for their 1st round (15th), 2nd round (46th), and 5th round (153rd)picks. The Redskins jump up past the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and Cincinnati Bengals to select their QB. The Jaguars still draft a talented player in T.J. Hockenson who sits at the top of their draft board, fills a huge need, and get other picks later in the draft. Nick Foles put it best when discussing with the media last Tuesday, 2nd round: 38th Overall: Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss Summary: Greg Little is a talented offensive tackle, he fills a major need on the offensive line and will make an immediate impact for the Jaguars. So far in this mock draft Jacksonville has done a good job of filling voids but still taking top talent. Little has talent but will need some coaching to unleash his full potential. He could start at right tackle or left tackle and move Cam Robinson to the right side. 46th Overall (via Washington): Paris Campbell, WR, Ohio State Summary: Paris Campbell has speed, consistency, and is a very good route runner. He could be one of the steals of the draft. The trade with Washington opens up the opportunity for the playmaking receiver. Early on in the mock draft the Jaguars look to improve their offense with players that have loads of potential. 3rd round: 69th Overall: Deionte Thompson, Safety, Alabama Summary: Deionte Thompson is joining his former Alabama teammate Ronnie Harrison in the secondary for what the Jaguars hope will once again be one of the most feared passing defenses in the NFL. Thompson will compete for a starting role in the secondary. 4th round: 109th Overall: Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion Summary: The Jaguars pass rush lacks depth, Oshane Ximines is a player who would provide immediate depth. He is a talented pass rusher who will be able to fill Dante Fowler’s role and allow for more flexibility along the defensive line. 5th round: 153rd Overall (via Washington): Bryce Love, RB, Stanford Summary: Bryce Love is a big play spark plug running back who will complement a bruising back like Leonard Fournette well. He also can serve as a very good receiving threat out of the backfield, something TJ Yeldon developed to be a big part of his game. 6th round: 178th Overall: Deion “Shaq” Calhoun, OL, Mississippi State Summary: Deion Calhoun is a player who will add depth at guard in case of injury and may be groomed into a starting role given time. He has good size, strength, and toughness. He’s a great value pick. 7th round: 236th Overall: Kyle Shurmur, QB, Vanderbilt Summary: With the last pick in the mock draft the Jaguars decide to pick Kyle Shurmur out of Vanderbilt. He faced tough competition in the SEC in a pro style offense. He would serve as a backup and learn behind Nick Foles.

Twenty-six-year-old Mac Miller tragically passed away on Friday and despite claims of his death being the result of a drug overdose, reports from The Blast say his autopsy resulted in a "deferred" cause of death. The exact reason for Mac's sudden passing will be revealed once the toxicology report is complete. The L.A. County Medical Examiner reported to the publication that Mac's autopsy was completed on Saturday but it will need to be further investigated. When Mac was found at his Studio City home there were no outward signs of abuse and sources told The Blast that it could have been an accidental drug overdose or even a natural death. "Malcolm McCormick, known and adored by fans as Mac Miller, has tragically passed away at the age of 26. He was a bright light in this world for his family, friends and fans. Thank you for your prayers," his family stated. Mac's hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will be holding a vigil in his honour tomorrow, September 10th at 7 PM. The event will take place at Blue Slide Park, the place Mac named his debut album after, which is a portion of Pittsburgh's sprawling Frick Park.<doc-sep>Mac Miller, the 26-year-old rapper known for his canny wordplay and artistic reinvention, died Friday at his Los Angeles home. The apparent cause of death was a drug overdose. “Malcolm McCormick, known and adored by fans as Mac Miller, has tragically passed away at the age of 26,” his family said in a statement. “He was a bright light in this world for his family, friends and fans. Thank you for your prayers. Please respect our privacy. There are no further details as to the cause of his death at this time.” The County of Los Angeles medical examiner said in a statement Friday, “In the late morning of Sept. 7, Malcolm McCormick (dob 1/19/92) was found unresponsive in his home located in the 11600 block of Valleycrest Drive in Studio City. Authorities were called and Miller was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:51 a.m. At this time, an autopsy is pending and a cause of death has not been determined.” While initially counted as a member of the frat-rap genre of the early 2010s, Miller’s career was defined by a refusal to fit in an artistic box. He transitioned from party rap to heady backpacker lyricism to jazz-inflected songwriting in his final two albums. To do so, he often turned away from guaranteed commercial success in favor of experimentation and craftsmanship in his work. Miller, whose real name is Malcolm McCormick, had publicly struggled with substance abuse throughout his career, and had a well-publicized DUI arrest in May of this year. Miller had been open about his addiction issues in the past, and had discussed his dependence on lean — a combination of codeine and promethazine — extensively. After a years-long period of sobriety, he began to drink again. According to tweets from his ex-girlfriend Ariana Grande, his substance abuse was a reason the pair broke up after two years. “I am not a babysitter or a mother and no woman should feel that they need to be,” she wrote. “I have cared for him and tried to support his sobriety and prayed for his balance for years (and always will of course).” Miller was born in Pittsburgh in 1992, and first broke onto the hip-hop scene when he began rapping at 14 under the alias EZ Mac. He quickly racked up an enormous following as a good-natured, preternaturally talented wordsmith while still in his teens, releasing a series of mixtapes. By 2010, he’d ditched the moniker for the simpler Mac Miller, and signed with Rostrum Records, the label of fellow Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa, whose career was burgeoning at the time. Miller found wild success in the era of hip-hop blogs as a rapper that catered to fans in his direct demographic: young, and looking to have fun. Among his earliest hits was “Donald Trump,” a light-hearted song that would lead to a feud between Miller and the now-President. That song would be followed by Blue Slide Park, Miller’s 2011 debut album named after Frick Park in Pittsburgh. The album was a commercial smash, receiving disappointing reviews but debuting at Number One on the Billboard charts. As his career progressed, Miller shunned the massive audience he’d developed early in his career. He quickly began to delve into more artistically daring — and often darker — fare. Watching Movies With The Sound Off, Miller’s 2013 follow-up to Blue Slide Park, was a far cry from the sound he’d burst onto the scene with. It featured elastic rapping, and more mature themes than what Miller had been known for, kicking off an artistic reinvention that he would continue to develop for the rest of his career. Miller became a prolific collaborator, working with other rappers, jazz musicians and acclaimed producers. He also began producing music under his own alter ego, Larry Fisherman. By 2016, Miller had two more albums under his belt — each generally more critically favored than the last — and became a celebrity thanks to his budding relationship with Grande. His final album, Swimming, was released last month and featured collaborations with Thundercat and John Mayer and production from Jon Brion. It was his most critically acclaimed album to date, and marked a return to the commercial success that defined his early career, debuting at Number Three on the Billboard charts. The album, an artistically assured effort, contained lyrics that discussed both his sobriety and his recent DUI. Miller’s peers shared their memories and condolences of the rappers following his death. “Praying for Mac’s family and that he rest easy,” tweeted fellow Pittsburgh rapper and former labelmate. Chance The Rapper also tweeted his condolences: “Mac Miller took me on my second tour ever. But beyond helping me launch my career he was one of the sweetest guys I ever knew. Great man. I loved him for real. Im completely broken. God bless him.” “Rest in your peace Mac Miller,” wrote Solange Knowles. “Always exuded so much kindness and goodness. Than you for sharing your gifts with us all.” In an interview with New York‘s Craig Jenkins, Miller frankly addressed his mental health and substance abuse issues. ““I really wouldn’t want just happiness, and I don’t want just sadness either,” he said. “I don’t want to be depressed. I want to be able to have good days and bad days.”<doc-sep>Three days after Mac Miller died, an autopsy on the rapper has been completed, PEOPLE confirms. “The autopsy was completed and a cause of death has been deferred pending additional tests. His body has been released,” Los Angeles County coroner’s spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani said of the 26-year-old hip-hop star, born Malcolm McCormick, who was found dead in his Studio City, California, home on Friday. A cause of death will not be announced until the results of laboratory tests are released and that can take weeks or months, according to Ardalani. On Friday, a source told PEOPLE Miller had gone into cardiac arrest after appearing to suffer a drug overdose. RELATED: Mac Miller Dead: What to Know About the Prolific Late Rapper Mac Miller Miller’s home was reportedly “swept clean” so that there would be no evidence of drug use, according to TMZ on Saturday, which also reported that only a small amount of white powder was found in Miller’s home when police searched for clues as to how he died. An insider told PEOPLE that Miller, who just dropped his fifth and final studio album Swimming on Aug. 3, spent his Thursday evening watching football with friends. RELATED: Ariana Grande Breaks Her Silence After Ex Mac Miller’s Tragic Death with a Touching Photo “He loved the Steelers and was just out with friends watching the game,” the insider said. (The Steelers were not playing during Thursday night’s 2018 regular-season opener; instead, the Philadelphia Eagles faced off against the Atlanta Falcons.) Miller’s casual night with friends seemed so benign, “that’s why this is such a shock,” the insider added. “Everyone who he worked with was aware that he was delicate, but thought it was because of the new album, nerves, nothing like this.” LISTEN: Mac Miller Was Working on Music Hours Before His Death Throughout his life, Miller was very open about his struggles with sobriety and had revealed he battled depression. Though Miller attempted to turn his life recently, he was arrested for DUI in May, less than a week after his split with Ariana Grande following two years of dating. “If a bunch of people think I am a huge drug addict, OK. Cool. What can I really do? Go talk to all those people and be like ‘Naw man, it’s really not that simple?’ ” he told Rolling Stone in August. “Have I done drugs? Yeah. But am I a drug addict? No.” If you or someone you know is in need of help, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.<doc-sep>

UPDATE 5:15 PM PT: Mac's body has been released to his family from the L.A. County Medical Examiner. Mac Miller's official cause of death is listed as 'Deferred' as the medical examiner needs additional investigation to determine why the hip-hop star died. According to the L.A. County Medical Examiner, the "Small Worlds" rapper's autopsy was completed on Saturday, a day ahead of schedule. The initial cause of death has been deferred and the medical examiner notes that additional investigation is needed, which is the information they should get from the toxicology. Sources close to the investigation tell us during the autopsy there was nothing "obvious" found, which is why they need to wait for the test results. The rapper's body is also now ready for pickup by his family for whatever final preparations they choose to make. As we reported, there were no outwards signs of abuse or drug use when emergency responders showed up at Miller's home in Studio City. Sources close to the investigation told us as the time it seemed like death could be categorized as an accidental overdose or even just a natural death, but that all depends on the toxicology results. It's unclear what Miller's family will do for his arrangements, but after his death they said, "Malcolm McCormick, known and adored by fans as Mac Miller, has tragically passed away at the age of 26. He was a bright light in this world for his family, friends and fans. Thank you for your prayers." Mega

A Pakistani man convicted of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl, whose death shocked the country and sparked riots earlier this year, has been executed. Zainab Fatima Ameen was snatched off the street in Kasur, eastern Pakistan, and her remains found five days later dumped on a rubbish heap. The DNA of Imran Ali, 24, was found on her body, and after confessing to killing Zainab and four seven-year-old girls, he was handed four separate death sentences. Killed: Zainab Ansari, six, was raped and murdered after being kidnapped on her way to Koran school in Kasur, Pakistan, in January Murdered: Imran Ali, 24, was found guilty of murdering Zainab and also confessed to murdering four other girls, all aged just seven 'He was hanged this morning in the presence of a prison official and the father of the victim,' an official at Lahore's central prison, where the convict was executed, told AFP. 'His dead body was handed over to his family who took it away for burial,' he said. Justice: Ali was executed by hanging, in a Lahore prison, on Wednesday Zainab's father, Mohammed Amin Ansari, was allowed to witness the execution, and thanked the judiciary, government and investigators for delivering speedy justice. Mr Ansari had demanded that Imran should be hanged at some public place in order to deter others, but the judges rejected his plea this week. 'My daughter will not come back, but I am satisfied that we got justice,' he said. The six-year-old girl was snatched by Ali as she walked to a Koran class in January this year, with CCTV footage showing him leading her down a street by the hand. Five days later, she was found raped and strangled on a rubbish pile about a mile from her home. Evidence: CCTV footage from the day Zainab disappeared shows her walking hand in hand with a man, later identified as Ali Witness: Zainab's father Mohammed Amin Ansari, leaves the jail after witnessing the killer's execution Zainab's death sparked outrage across Pakistan, with violence erupting in Kasur as thousands swarmed police stations and set fire to politicians' homes, while Pakistanis across the country took to social media demanding action. Ali was caught after his DNA was found on Zainab's body - the same as had been recovered from six other murdered girls found in rubbish dumps or abandoned houses in the same area. At least 12 cases of rape and murder have been recorded in the Kasur area in the past two years. Ali confessed to eight of these, but four remain unsolved. Prior to the recent flood of cases, Kasur was already infamous for sexual abuse, after authorities uncovered a huge paedophile ring in the city in 2015.<doc-sep>Imran Ali, who was arrested after Zainab’s body was found in a garbage dump, was executed in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison in the presence of Zainab’s father and other relatives early on Wednesday, police said. Imran was a serial killer of eight children. He was executed after the country's top court rejected requests for his public hanging. After his arrest, Imran confessed to the other slayings and was convicted, according to the Khaleej Times, a Pakistan-based newspaper. The case, the most heinous in a string of similar child murders in the city of Kasur, had sparked outrage and protests in the country. Zainab's father, Amin Ansari, said after the execution that he was "satisfied". "I have seen his awe-inspiring end with my own eyes. They dropped him on the gallows, and let his body hang for half an hour," he told reporters. However Ansari, who said that Zainab would have been 7 years and 2 months old if she was alive, expressed regret that authorities did not televise the hanging. Zainab disappeared on Jan 4 and her body was found five days later in a rubbish dump. Police said there had been several similar child murders in the past two years in Kasur but her killing proved to be a tipping point.<doc-sep>Without such a public reaction, and the fact that it was Zainab's family and not the police that recovered the crucial CCTV footage which would ultimately lead to the arrest of her killer, few expected the police to investigate the case seriously.<doc-sep>Seven-year-old Zainab Ansari's rapist was executed by Pakistan in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail at 5. The rapist, Imran Ali, was executed in the presence of Magistrate Adil Sarwar and Zainab's father Muhammad Amin. An ambulance also arrived at the spot, along with Ali's brother and two of his friends, Geo TV reported. The jail authorities arranged a 45-minute meeting for the convict and his family on Tuesday, before the impending execution. indiatimes Ali was sentenced to 21 counts of death, three life sentences and 23 years in jail by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in February after being nabbed by the police forces on January 23, according to ARY News. Ali had confessed to raping nine girls, including Zainab Ansari, whose body was found from a garbage heap on January 9 after she went missing from her aunt's house on January 4. Autopsy reports indicated that the minor had been raped before being strangulated to death. The minor's death sparked international outrage, as DNA tests confirmed Ali's role in the girl's rape and eventual death. A Joint Investigation Team was formed to nab the accused, who was taken into custody within the three-day time limit set by Pakistan's Supreme Court.<doc-sep>

A man convicted of killing eight children was executed at a Pakistani prison early Wednesday after the country’s top court rejected a request for his public hanging, officials said. Mohammad Imran was hanged in the eastern city of Lahore in the presence of the father of 7-year-old Zainab Ansari, whose rape and murder in January ignited nationwide outrage. Imran was arrested two weeks after he threw the body into a garbage dump in the city of Kasur in Punjab province. After his arrest, Imran confessed to the other slayings and was convicted by a court. Other courts later upheld his death sentence. “Imran was taken to the gallows just before dawn and he has been hanged with a rope in the presence of magistrate and a doctor,” local police official Mohammad Afzal said. Zainab’s father, Mohammed Amin Ansari, was allowed to witness the execution. Ansari had demanded that Imran be hanged at some public place in order to deter others, but the judges rejected his plea this week. Shortly after witnessing Imran’s execution, Ansari thanked the judiciary, government and investigators for giving them speedy justice. “My daughter will not come back, but I am satisfied that we got justice,” he said. Authorities handed over the body of Imran to his family and he was expected to be buried later Wednesday. Zainab’s rape and murder shocked the nation after a photo of her went viral on social media, showing the smiling girl in her favorite bright pink coat, with a pink barrette in her hair. Pakistanis rallied across the country, demanding the immediate arrest of the killer. Ansari was on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia with his wife at the time of his daughter’s disappearance. His daughter disappeared while going to a nearby home for Quranic studies. .

KITH‘s landmark KITH PARK Fall/Winter 2018 presentation showcased an eye-popping number of collaborations. Emphasizing Ronnie Fieg‘s knack for joint efforts, a backstage look at the range revealed just how much variety informed the release, simultaneously covering nearly every aspect of contemporary streetwear. Along with exclusives from Advisory Board Crystals, Converse, and Vans, key pieces included extensive collaborations with the likes of Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, mastermind JAPAN and Greg Lauren. Versace’s signature opulence lent itself well to tracksuits and puffer jackets saturated with blinding gold co-branding, a motif carried over to the exclusive Chain Reaction runners and hefty jewelry. Tommy Hilfiger’s retro sweaters and jackets meshed naturally with Columbia‘s throwback adventure gear, Eastpak’s plaid shoulder bags and UGG‘s comfy boots, further complemented by Greg Lauren‘s handmade, heavily distressed American staples. Knitwear, polo shirts, college blazers and cargo pants were distressed, splattered with paint and reassembled into a surprisingly accessible blend of artisinal detailing and sportswear heritage. Meanwhile, mastermind JAPAN contributed a set of tall Vans sneakers, complete with furry lining, which made for a natural partner for the co-branded tracksuits and jacquard knit cardigans. Check out the wide range of clothes above and check out the runway show to see them in action. Elsewhere at NYFW, John Elliott debuted a co-ed Spring/Summer 2019 collection.<doc-sep>Ronnie Fieg is a kid in his own candy store. It's two days before KITH PARK, the third edition of his annual fashion show that shows off all of the brands offerings for the following year. He's poring through racks of clothes, excitedly pointing out the details, fabrications, and new iterations of the logo-laden sportswear and footwear that have made him and his label one of New York City's most talked-about brands. This season is his most ambitious one yet, as last night's fashion show revealed three collaborations, one with American prep master Tommy Hilfiger, another with vintage reinterpreter Greg Lauren, and an unprecedented team-up with Italian fashion house Versace. Well, perhaps collaborations is the wrong term. “I hate the word ‘collabs,’” says Fieg matter-of-factly. He prefers the word “partnerships” to describe his co-branded endeavors, of which there are many. While Hilfiger, Lauren, and Versace have their own dedicated sections of the fashion show, the first will show off KITH's mainline offerings, with a few select partnerships sprinkled in the looks, which were styled by Eugene Tong. KITH's partnerships include capsule collections with Mastermind Japan (a crystal-studded KITH logo rugby), Levi's, and a New Balance capsule with United Arrows and Japanese label nonnative. It consists of several colorways of the New Balance 997S sneaker along with color-coordinated track suits. Accessories include modular chest rigs with fourdii and several backpacks and pouches done with Eastpak. There's also a continuation of KITH's partnership with outerwear company Columbia, and the debut of KITH's in-house expedition parkas, dubbed the “825” and “930” after the opening dates of KITH's SoHo and Brooklyn shops. The universe Fieg has created is inhabited by a wide circle of high-profile associates he keeps close to the vest. It echoes Vin Diesel's sentiment throughout The Fast and the Furious franchise: He don't got friends; he got family. Considering KITH's namesake is derived from the adage “kith and kin,” the approach speaks to Fieg's desire to create his own unique lane in the industry. Designer Tommy Hilfiger has been a longtime friend, and even made suits for Fieg's groomsmen during his wedding. Greg Lauren, whom Fieg described as his favorite designer, has his collection stocked at Fieg's store. As for the Versace collaboration, that came through Salehe Bembury, Versace's head of sneaker design. The show itself took the idea of a theme park ride quite literally. Guests were ushered into a small set of risers at the Duggal Greenhouse, revealing an autumnal set that soon became a wintry wonderland thanks to falling snow. This was where Fieg showed off KITH's core offerings, before the whirr of motors revealed the audience was sitting on a movable riser. The environments of the show included a detailed library to showcase the Tommy Hilfiger collection, and a stage with three settings that spoke to the inspiration behind Greg Lauren's collaborative effort. That included a rugby team, a sports car, a cozy fireplace, and Lauren's trademark patchwork tent. It loosely told a story of college students going to war and returning home. The last environment looked like something out of American Horror Story, revealing the Versace Medusa head with the KITH logo across its eyes. Behind an iron gate models stood with their heads covered in hooded cloaks, before slowly taking them off to reveal the looks—the first of which was modeled by Bella Hadid. KITH's interpretation of Versace's codes include several sneakers, like a high-top winterized take on Salehe Bembury's “Chain Reaction” shoe designed with 2 Chainz, and a hiking-inspired boot-turned-sneaker inspired by an archival boot by Gianni Versace. Bembury credits the latter silhouette to KITH's Thomas Cykana, who works with Ronnie Fieg on the label's special projects. It comes in a mid-top version that hews closely to the original, and a low-top reinterpretation that speaks to today's chunky sneaker climate. The end result was a wild ride not just through Fieg's mind, but the deliberate and painstaking work ethic that has gotten him to where he is. Back in the showroom, he made sure to pay attention to every stitch in the clothes down to the way the looks were styled—even picking up stray bits of string that had found their way onto a hoodie or rugby shirt. It's the kind of meticulous mindset one might imagine Willy Wonka might have before inviting you on a tour of his chocolate factory, and wowing you every step of the way. Now check out John Elliott's Los Angeles-inspired Spring/Summer 2019 collection.<doc-sep>Ronnie Fieg and Donatella Versace, two unstoppable industry forces from different generations and markets, have come together for a collection that both hypebeasts and high-fashion fanatics will freak over. The Kith x Versace collaboration finale. Photo: Imaxtree While brands on both ends of the market today are desperately fighting to raise their cultural capital — whether through the excessive use of logos, partnerships with influencers, celebrities and Instagram personalities, preying on customer nostalgia, hiring Virgil Abloh to design literally anything or another tactic altogether — certain companies are sitting pretty at the top of the clout pyramid, watching the hypebeasts await each next drop with bated breath. Two such brands are Kith, the streetwear mega-retailer that produces an eponymous collection of clothing and accessories, and Versace, the 40-year-old Italian luxury house that's been a pop culture mainstay for decades, but is increasingly relevant to younger consumers thanks to constant references in rap lyrics, "It" girl campaign stars like the Hadid sisters and Kaia Gerber and an impressive amount of red carpet and street style visibility — with most of the photos ending up on social media for millions to see. On Thursday night at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Kith and Versace — companies that, from the outside, couldn't appear more different from a brand-strategy perspective — debuted their upcoming collaboration on the runway at "Kith Park," a highly produced, stadium-style presentation experience that previewed what Kith has coming down the pipeline for Fall 2018. The four-part show kicked off with Kith's in-house collection (which included exclusive product collabs with the likes of Columbia, Ugg, Bergdorf Goodman, MISBHV, New Balance, Oakley, Vans, Levi's and more), followed by the official unveiling of both Kith for Tommy Hilfiger — a preppy, all-American delight — and Kith for Greg Lauren. For the final scene, a gate recalling that of the Versace Mansion in Miami — complete with the Versace Medusa logo intersected by the Kith name — rolled out before the audience, with robed models lined up behind it, their clothing concealed. One by one, starting with Versace house muse Bella Hadid, the 24 sporty looks were revealed, each containing iconic Versace motifs and iconography (Greek key patterns, golden Baroque prints, heavy gold hardware and, of course, logos galore) while upholding the streetwise Kith aesthetic. Key pieces include puffer coats, branded track and sweatsuits, biker shorts, hats (of the bucket and baseball variety) and both denim and fur jackets, as well as plenty of lightweight tees and tops for layering as fall transitions into winter. Because this is Kith we're talking about, we're sure the price points will be higher than, say, Versace's 2011 collaboration with H&M, but below those of Versace's main label. There's no word yet as to when this joint collection will drop, but since anything either Ronnie Fieg or Donatella Versace touches seems to turn to gold, we suggest you start strategizing now — unless you're willing to pay actual Versace-level prices on the resale market. See every look from the forthcoming Kith for Versace collection in the gallery below. 24 Gallery 24 Images Want the latest fashion industry news first? Sign up for our daily newsletter.<doc-sep>

Last night KITH held its third fashion show dubbed KITH PARK. The show took place at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Duggal Greenhouse and featured a wide selection of star studded guests such as Justin Bieber, Samuel Ross, Heron Preston, Nigel Sylvester, Lebron James, Kevin Love, 2 Chainz and many others. The presentation quickly immersed the audience into a fall/winter scene as faux trees, leaves and snow would set the tone for upcoming collaborations alongside Columbia , Bergdorf Goodman, misbhv, UGG, mastermind JAPAN and more. Shortly after the first scene ended the audience’s seating area began to shift to the next setting and collection: KITH x Tommy Hilfiger. The collection was complemented by a classroom surrounding and included Hailey Baldwin – Hilfiger’s new ambassador — taking the role as the popular girl in school. The arrangement was then closed by Tommy Hilfiger himself before it was time to float to the next act. KITH x Greg Lauren commanded the next stage with a gritty ambiance to enhance the collaborative denim and military mashups. This range would feature Aleali May amongst additional models who would all display intense facial expressions which would bounce off of the personality of each individual piece. Lastly, we moved onward from raw to royalty as the seating transitioned to the grand gates of Versace. The streetwear-luxury combination was opened by Bella Hadid who confidently wore a cropped puffer jacket and biker shorts donning Versace’s signature print. Salehe Bembury-designed footwear also made an appearance sporting Versace x KITH co-branding. Ronnie Fieg would finally close the show in a top with all-over branding from both fashion houses in addition to upcoming footwear, hat and scarf from the forthcoming collection. Take a glance at some of the looks above and let us know what pieces stand out to you the most.

Nike shares have been on a roller coaster since the company aired its new ad with controversial ex-NFL star Colin Kaepernick. Despite the volatility, some market watchers advise investors to keep riding the stock. "The bottom line is that Nike remains in an uptrend. Anytime you have some polarizing news like this, I think it's a good reminder to know that the company is different from the stock. The stock itself fell about 5.5 percent from its August high to last week's low, which was more than the major averages, but not that out of character for Nike," Frank Cappelleri, chief market technician at Instinet, said Monday on CNBC's "Trading Nation." Cappelleri pointed to the stock's solid uptrend in place for the last year, and noted a pattern in Nike's declines. Six separate times, when the shares fell more than 6 percent, those drops led to "higher lows" and eventual buying opportunities. That leads him to be bullish at this juncture. Others are less confident in where the stock is trading now, due in part to its lofty valuation. "It's shot up so much, so fast, trading at 70 times earnings; that's too high for a company like that," said Michael Bapis, managing director with Vios Advisors at Rockefeller Capital Management, Monday on "Trading Nation." The stock is trading near its 52-week high, Bapis pointed out, rallying from just above $60 per share at the start of the year to north of $80, Bapis pointed out. This makes him cautious on the name. "No pun intended, but we're staying on the sidelines with Nike right now," he said. Nike closed a little more than 2 percent higher on Monday, at $82.10 per share. It is the best-performing stock this year and over the last year.<doc-sep>Nike Inc. was upgraded to buy from hold at Canaccord Genuity, as the brand undergoes a turnaround fueled by innovation, improved customer experience, and more controlled distribution of the Jordan basketball brand, analysts say. Canaccord’s new price target is $95, up from $78. The stock rose 1% in morning trade. “After two years of a soft product cycle that led to increased inventory levels, higher discounting, margin compression and market share declines, Nike has regained its footing and is solidly marching back to top form,” wrote analysts led by Camilo Lyon. How the ad industry is working to move away from the 'Mad Men' era “In aggregate, we see newly introduced platforms coupled with forthcoming innovations sparking the next multi-year run for Nike. These elements, underpinned by Nike’s transformation to an experientially-driven company, combine to form catalysts to sustaining mid-teens earnings-per-share growth for the next three years, an outlook that is increasingly visible and reflective of [fiscal] 2021 earnings power approaching $4.00,” analysts said. Nike NKE, +1.91% sparked fierce backlash after it announced a new ad campaign starring Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who led protests against racial injustice and police brutality by taking to one knee during the national anthem. Some football fans and President Donald Trump have railed against the protests. After first declining, Nike shares have rebounded, up 3.6% over the past five trading days to erase all the initial losses, and then some. Online sales soared 31% from the Sunday of Labor Day weekend until Tuesday, beating back fears that calls to boycott the brand would take a negative toll. Read: Nike’s online sales jumped 31% after company unveiled Kaepernick campaign, data show Nike stock has rallied nearly 32% for the year to date, outpacing the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.03% , which is up 5.1% for the period. FactSet, MarketWatch There are a number of problems at Nike that pre-date the Kaepernick firestorm, that the company appears to have addressed. “After two years of a soft product cycle that led to increased inventory levels, higher discounting, margin compression, and market share declines, Nike has regained its footing and is solidly marching back to top form,” wrote Canaccord. In addition to merchandise innovation with items like the Epic React shoe, analysts say the focus on customer experience through the SNKRS app, NikePlus membership and other efforts is a positive. The Jordan basketball brand is also “rebounding.” “Recall, Nike over-distributed Jordan last year, causing inventory to mount and promotions to ensue,” analysts said. “As such, Nike has been pulling back on the volume behind releases to good success. We believe margins are healthy as sell-throughs have steadily improved on retro product.” See:Here’s what Twitter data says about the Nike boycott Wedbush analysts also wrote a bullish note on Monday, raising their price target to $90 from $85 and maintaining their outperform rating, with analysts citing not just Nike product but the France World Cup win, growth across international regions and potential North American acceleration. “In all, there is likely sustained reported revenue growth, despite incremental [foreign currency exchange] headwinds, as well as gross margin expansion, the two key ingredients that have historically generated multiple and share price expansion,” analysts led by Christopher Svezia wrote. Nike is also a big reason for Wells Fargo’s upgrade of Foot Locker Inc. FL, +4.17% on Monday. “We believe that after a difficult 18 months for Foot Locker, which was primarily driven by issues in the Nike product assortment (and weakness in other pockets of the business such as retro Adidas ADS, -0.70% ) , Foot Locker should benefit going forward due to reinvigorated interest in the Nike brand by Foot Locker’s core “sneakerhead” consumer,” wrote analysts led by Tom Nikic. Foot Locker was moved to outperform from hold, and Wells Fargo raised its price target to $58 from $50.<doc-sep>Nike on Tuesday recovered the stock losses it experienced immediately after announcing its decision to feature polarizing NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick in a major marketing campaign. The apparel giant’s shares rose about half a percentage point to close at $82.63. Nike’s stock had closed at $82.20 the day before it revealed Kaepernick’s role in a campaign to commemorate the 30th anniversary of its iconic “Just Do It” slogan. Nike shares briefly fell below $80 last week as the advertising campaign drew a mixed reaction on social media. Kaepernick was the first NFL player to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality and social injustice, kicking off a wave of player demonstrations that roiled the league and infuriated President Donald Trump. Trump ripped Nike for the decision on Twitter earlier this month, writing that the company was “getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts.” However, a report by Edison Trends noted that Nike’s online sales rose 31 percent in the two days after the announcement, which took place on Labor Day, up from 17 percent over the same period last year. Nike aired its first commercial starring Kaepernick during various sporting events last week, including the first game of the 2018 NFL season. Nike is the NFL’s official uniform supplier. Kaepernick hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since the 2016 season. He is currently suing the league for collusion, arguing that NFL teams are conspiring to keep him off the field.<doc-sep>Nike’s share prices have fully recovered after taking a hit following its announcement that Colin Kaepernick would be the face of its latest ad campaign. Nike share prices were trading at $82.96 on Tuesday morning, higher than the $82.20 at which it was trading the session before the company made its announcement about Kaepernick on Sept. 3. The stock had dipped below $80 after the announcement. The former quarterback was the first NFL player to protest racial inequality and police brutality by taking a knee during the national anthem before games. The New York Post estimated Nike had lost $3.3 billion in market value after the announcement, though it recovered that as share prices rebounded. ADVERTISEMENT Nike’s “core customer wants them to take a stand on social issues,” Matt Powell, vice president and senior industry adviser for The NPD Group, told The New York Post. Data released from Edison Trends, a digital commerce research company based in Silicon Valley, last week also showed the brand’s sales surged shortly after the announcement. According to the research company, online sales for the sportswear brand grew 31 percent from last Sunday through Tuesday. The report also found that the growth was a 17 percent gain over the number recorded for the same period in 2017. The signing of Kaepernick generated backlash from critics of the protest movement. President Trump, a frequent critic of the protests during the anthem, also spoke out against the ad campaign.<doc-sep>

"It was courageous in that Nike took a stand in support of a social issue where few (if any) companies have of late," the analyst added. "It spoke to Nike's core consumers in a very Nike-esque provocative way that shows it understands them and the issues that matter to them." "We believe Nike's new 'Just Do It' ad campaign with Colin Kaepernick was a stroke of genius," Canaccord Genuity's Camilo Lyon wrote to clients. "This premeditated move was another subtle but significant sign of Nike's strength and confidence in its position in the marketplace, one that likely does more good than harm." One Wall Street analyst is calling Nike's controversial advertising campaign featuring former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick "a stroke of genius" and upgraded the company's stock to a buy rating Tuesday. Shares rallied 1.1 percent Tuesday following the Canaccord note. The analyst raised his price forecast for the stock as well, telling clients that shares could rally to $95 in just 12 months. The new target implies 15 percent upside from Monday's close. The campaign, released last Tuesday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Nike's "Just Do it" slogan, drew a deluge of criticism and support from shoppers. Kaepernick became one of the most polarizing figures in the sports world after he took a leading role in player protests, kneeling during the national anthem to call attention to racial injustice and social inequality. He has gone unsigned by any NFL team since March 2017. While Nike shares initially dropped 3 percent after the release of the ad campaign, Nike's online sales jumped. Between Sunday and Wednesday of Labor Day weekend, product orders rose 27 percent, according to Edison Trends, a digital-commerce researcher. In the same period last year, product orders fell 2 percent. Nike shares have since recouped all their losses. Highlighting Nike's new product pipeline as a primary reason for the upgrade, Lyon said stakeholders should expect a reversal of fortune after an underwhelming two years. "Since last year's announcement of its new 'Triple Double' strategy, Nike has most notably accelerated its product engine as evidenced by a flurry of new innovation," Lyon wrote. "It also has increased its focus on the consumer experience via its SNKRS app, NikePlus membership, and other in store/ online consumer-centric initiatives." "These elements, underpinned by Nike's transformation to an experientially driven company, combine to form catalysts to sustaining mid-teens earnings per share growth for the next three years, an outlook that is increasingly visible and reflective of F2021 earnings power approaching $4.00." — CNBC's Lauren Hirsch contributed reporting.

Jamal Khashoggi told me he feared for his life. I was reporting a cover story on Saudi Arabia for Newsweek and we were speaking confidentially: That's one reason I haven't allowed this transcript to be published until now. The other reason is I hoped against hope that he was still alive. Despite ample signs of the extreme brutality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his regime, I could never have imagined we would so soon be reflecting on Jamal's death. Jamal was calm and deliberate as we spoke in great detail about Saudi Arabia's future and its recent past. "I don't see myself as an opposition," he said. He wanted only reform; he wanted "a better Saudi Arabia." He was almost mournful as he confessed how he had tried, in vain, to advise the young crown prince, known as MBS, to choose a different path and open up Saudi civil society. He maintained a sliver of hope that MBS, despite being "an old-fashioned tribal leader," could yet be steered toward reason. But he spoke frankly to me about the "thuggish" men around the crown prince. "You challenge them, you might end up in prison," he said. As someone who had been close to the Saudi royal court for decades, Jamal instinctively understood the limits of reform. He has been described as a dissident in the weeks following his disappearance. But until 18 months ago, he had been loyal to the official Saudi line on every major issue, from Yemen to Syria to state-sanctioned sectarianism inside the kingdom. Such loyalty did not spare him the repugnant fate—according to Turkish officials—of being tortured to death and dismembered in a Saudi consulate. In his final Al-Hayat column, Jamal was calling for political pluralism, at a time when MBS was preparing to tour the West, boasting about his "reforms" and posing as a young liberator. Jamal wrote that the word "extremism" had been weaponized by the Saudi regime to criminalize dissent. He arguably embraced the promise of the Arab Spring six years too late—by then, Saudi Arabia and its allies had succeeded in restoring a brutal authoritarian order in Egypt, Bahrain and elsewhere. Still, when Jamal added his voice to those calling for greater freedom and democracy, his words shook the Saudi regime. It's beyond irony that Saudi Arabia, whose chief exports are oil and extremism, is afforded the right in Washington to inform our government which democratic movements across the Arab world should be regarded as worthy allies or official enemies. Our addiction to oil, as well as to the tens of billions in annual orders by the largest customer of the U.S. arms industry, has led us to denial of the obvious. For decades, we've refused to listen to those inside the kingdom who have been the regime's victims—lawyers, liberal intellectuals, Shiite activists, women's rights campaigners, journalists. Jamal saw through the hype when many in Washington were willing to buy the fable the young prince was selling. After the execution in cold blood of a world-renowned Washington Post columnist for the crime of having an opinion, defense of the regime responsible is still permissible in polite society in the U.S. Canceling a few appearances or even a few defense contracts is not enough. It's time for the U.S. Treasury to place wide-ranging sanctions on the kingdom. Playtime is over for the crown prince of public relations. It's time for MBS to go. But not only MBS: It's time to end the whole system of monarchic despotism of which he has been the most extreme symptom. When asked if the international community could exert pressure on the crown prince, and protect the Saudi people from their ruthless leader, Jamal replied, "That is our only hope." I hope that everyone hears him now. A Conversation with Jamal Khashoggi I'm looking to understand the reforms that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is claiming to lead. Is he reforming Islam itself? I heard that the archbishop of Canterbury (in a private conversation with MBS when he visited the U.K.) asked, "If you really want to be seen as a reformist, why don't you allow minorities to open their places of worship… like a Christian church or something?" And MBS's answer was, "I could never allow that. This is the holy site of Islam, and it should stay as such." So this is a contradiction with the idea that there is no Wahhabism [the uncompromising version of Islam], because in historical Islam, we know that there were worship places for others. Jews were allowed to worship; Christians were allowed to worship. This is the same language of the past…. You have to choose. I'll open a cinema, or I allow Muslims to visit shrines. Most probably, the mufti would say, "OK, the cinema." Visiting of shrines and other Sufi practices—they come top of the list of the Wahhabi do and don't. [With] Mohammed bin Salman, it is Wahhabi reformation, not Islam reformation. This is important. You have to distinguish between both, OK? Is he really doing Wahhabi reformation— this is the question— or just cosmetic reformation? No, he is. To put aside the concept of the religious police, that is reformation. That is important. I'm sure the hardcore Wahhabis are not happy with that. The cinema, the entertainment, the music, the veil of the woman... So he is addressing the issues that relate to the people, the social level of the people. The judiciary is a significant reformation, and he could benefit from that. The society, trade would benefit from that. So those two things are important—the diversity of school of thought of Islam and the judiciary. If he does those two, I will hold him a reformer. So if he reformed the judiciary and the school of thought, meaning diversity... Diversity that Islam is a diverse religion. That will be important. The core principle of Wahhabism is anti-diverse. The thing with the Wahhabi is that they claim to be the owner, the sole owner of the truth. That's what makes the Wahhabi at odds with everybody else. I understand it's important for young people—especially women—and he is popular among women because of the veil, the cinema, the music, the freedom that they are gaining after a long time of oppression. However, I care about real judiciary reforms that can allow women to be independent from male guardianship laws, which I find are based only on religious interpretation and have nothing to do with actually Islamic laws, which granted women the right to marry for themselves and do other things. Rula, don't minimize the issue of judicial reform to women only, even though it is important…. Since the time of King Abdulaziz, they have refused codifying the laws. And they think codifying the laws is secular…. It is haram…. This is what I mean by reform, by true reform of the judiciary, is to codify the law, introduce due process in the court system and make judges [obey]—what is the word?—a codified law…. This is the reform that is needed. When MBS arrested all of those princes and others and put them at the Ritz-Carlton—I understand when somebody's this corrupt, he needs to be arrested. However, there was no due process, no evidence, no transparency. So if he really wants to be a reformist, why not bring evidence to the public? Why not bring transparency where you have really introduced the rule of law and due process? The people will be on his side if he would do that. I don't think that is in his—he doesn't see that. He doesn't see the need for that. He is still very much… Deep inside him, he is an old-fashioned tribal leader. Look at the Kuwaiti judiciary, which is like a Gulf state; the society is very much close to the Saudi society. But the Kuwaiti judiciary is way more advanced than the Saudi judiciary, way more transparent than the Saudi judiciary. Why does MBS not see that part of reform? Because it will limit his authoritarian rule, and he doesn't want that. He doesn't see the need for that.<doc-sep>Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy<doc-sep>ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE – President Donald Trump on Monday questioned the account Saudi officials have given him about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi but said he still believed it was “a plot gone awry.” In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, he indicated he would oppose efforts to cease arms sales to the kingdom in response. There are “many other” potential penalties, he said, saying he would be guided by consultations with key members of Congress in settling on the appropriate response, likening it to the discussions he had with Senate Republicans during the Supreme Court confirmation battle over Brett Kavanaugh. In characterizing the Khashoggi incident as a "plot gone awry," Trump indicated that he thought the journalist wasn’t deliberately lured into the consulate to be murdered. Saudi officials last week said Khashoggi's death followed a "brawl" inside the building, an explanation that drew skepticism from some on Capitol Hill. Trump questioned the validity of at least one detail that has emerged from the incident. Turkish officials have said Khashoggi’s body was cut up with a bone saw. Asked about that detail as a possible indication of wrongdoing, Trump sounded incredulous. “Do you know there was a bone saw?” he replied. Trump was expansive during an interview in his office aboard Air Force One as he flew to a rally in Houston for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, in a surprisingly competitive race for re-election. Occasionally watching himself on a wall-mounted TV tuned to Fox News, he expressed optimism about the midterm elections and discussed his agenda when the new Congress takes over. Trump said he had talked on the phone with both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and that more details about what happened inside the Saudi Consulate in Turkey would be known within a day or two. “He says he is not involved nor is the king,” Trump said of the Saudi crown prince, declining to answer whether he believed his denials. If their involvement was proven, “I would be very upset about it. We’ll have to see.” He called the killing of Khashoggi, a journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, “foolish and stupid.” But he said billions of dollars in U.S. arms sales to the Saudis were an economic boon to Americans and a transaction that Russian and Chinese companies would be delighted to make, if the United States ended them. “We have a very big picture we have to keep in mind,” he said, noting also Saudi Arabia’s role in countering Iran's influence in the Middle East. Critics, including some Republicans, have questioned the Trump’s administration’s response to what has become a global diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and a close ally in the Middle East. Some have suggested the incident could not have occurred without the crown prince's knowledge. Trump has vacillated between criticizing a rush to judgment over what happened and trying to pacify critics who think he should take a much stronger stance, potentially by imposing sanctions. Before boarding Air Force One, Trump told reporters at the White House that he was “not satisfied” with the Saudi response so far.<doc-sep>

Two days after Donald Trump’s election, Jamal Khashoggi returned to the Red Sea port city of Jeddah from Washington where he’d given a foreign-policy talk lightly critical of then president-elect Trump, when he received a phone call from the media adviser to the kingdom’s ascendent deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, better known by his initials M.B.S. “He said, ‘You’re not allowed to tweet or write your column or give comments to foreign journalists,’” Khashoggi recalled to me in March 2018. “I was ordered silent.” As a member of the Saudi elite for decades, Khashoggi understood that political expression had strict limits in the kingdom, but M.B.S.’s apparent determination to quell even mild dissent on foreign soil left Khashoggi unnerved. Ten months later, in September 2017, he fled to Washington. “I began to feel whatever narrow space I had in Saudi Arabia was getting narrower. I thought it would be better to get out and be safe,” he told me. I initially contacted Khashoggi for a prospective article about the young prince’s relationship to the White House, which I shelved because he was one of the few people who would speak openly. When he left Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi told me, he didn’t see himself in the mold of a dissident. He’d been editor-in-chief of the Saudi newspaper Al Watan and a media adviser to Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Britain. Moreover, he wanted M.B.S. to succeed. “He truly wants to make Saudi Arabia great again. But he is doing it the wrong way,” Khashoggi told me. But a month after his departure from the kingdom, Khashoggi’s view of M.B.S. fundamentally changed. Saudi security services arrested scores of prominent businessmen and imprisoned them inside the Ritz-Carlton under the guise of an “anti-corruption” crackdown. Khashoggi soon began hearing from friends in Saudi Arabia that prisoners were coerced, in some cases tortured, into turning over billions of dollars to the government. “It was tough. Some were insulted. Some were hit. Some claim they were electrocuted,” he said. The purge, which also included intellectuals, media personalities, and moderate clerics, convinced Khashoggi that M.B.S. had sold himself as a reformer when in fact he was a brutal authoritarian. “When the arrests started happening, I flipped. I decided it was time to speak,” he told me. Khashoggi subsequently landed a column in The Washington Post where he wrote critically about M.B.S.’s internal power grab; his reckless military intervention in neighboring Yemen, where he has created a humanitarian emergency; and the prince’s bizarre plot to kidnap Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri. “Saudi Arabia wasn’t a free society, but people weren’t being arrested like this,” he said. “The people M.B.S. arrested were not radicals. The majority were reformers for women’s rights and open society. He arrested them to spread fear. He is replacing religious intolerance with political closure.” An adviser to one prominent Saudi businessman who was arrested told me: “People are scared. It has become a bit of a police state.” Tragically, Khashoggi’s self-imposed exile didn’t keep him safe. Earlier this month, Khashoggi entered Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents he needed for his upcoming wedding and never emerged. Turkish officials have told Western journalists that a kill team of 15 Saudi agents detained Khashoggi inside the consulate, tortured him to death, and dismembered his body with a bone saw. M.B.S. and his father, King Salman, have denied their involvement in Khashoggi’s disappearance, but already the grisly episode has damaged M.B.S.’s ambitions to cultivate global elites. A parade of C.E.O.s including Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi, JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon, and BlackRock’s Larry Fink have canceled plans to attend an investment conference hosted by M.B.S. next week at the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton dubbed “Davos in the Desert,” though Fink, at least, has said he’ll maintain his business ties to the kingdom. Khashoggi and I spoke last March during M.B.S.’s three-week tour of the United States that was designed to cement M.B.S.’s image on the global stage as an avatar of a modern Middle East. In the Times, Tom Friedman wrote a column gushing that M.B.S. possessed a “fire hose of new ideas about transforming his country . . . who talks the language of tech, and whose biggest sin may be that he wants to go too fast.” One media C.E.O. who met with the prince on his visit praised the prince’s plans to allow women to drive and movie theaters to open. M.B.S.

"Teen Mom 2" cast member Jo Rivera married fiancee Vee Torres on Sunday, September 23 in Bloomfield, New Jersey surrounded by a number of family members and friends, including Rivera's former girlfriend, Kailyn Lowry, and her rumored girlfriend, Becky Hayter. According to a report shared by The Ashley's Reality Roundup later that day, the couple had a big group to celebrate with but, when it came to the MTV cameras, there were none. So, while fans may be hoping to see the couple's nuptials on the upcoming ninth season of "Teen Mom 2," that simply isn't going to happen. Rivera and Torres became engaged in April 2016 and share one daughter together, Vivi, who turns three years old on October 4. Rivera is also dad to an older son, eight-year-old Isaac, who he shares with Lowry. As fans well know, Lowry has three children, including four-year-old Lincoln, who she shares with ex-husband Javi Marroquin, and one-year-old Lux Russell, whose father is her former boyfriend Chris Lopez. While Kailyn Lowry has dated quite actively since her split from Rivera many years ago, she has not confirmed any new romances as of late. That said, fans will soon get to see more of what is happening in her personal life as she's continuing to film the ninth season of "Teen Mom 2." Throughout Jo Rivera and Vee Torres' ceremony and reception, Lowry, Hayter, and others shared tons of photos of the happy couple on their Instagram pages. In one photo, Rivera was seen posing with Lowry and their son, Isaac, who appeared to be thrilled to be a part of the exciting event. Why wasn't the wedding filmed for 'Teen Mom 2?' Although a number of cast members, including Leah Messer and Jenelle Evans, have gotten married with their productions crews in tow, Vee Torres made it clear she was not open to doing so after being asked about her filming plans by a fan on Twitter. “I don’t want it documented lol,” she told the follower on social media last year. “That’s why I said no. It’ll be between family and friends how we want it.” Jo Rivera and Vee Torres recently quit 'Teen Mom 2' Following an announcement about their exit several months ago, a source confirmed to The Ashley's Reality Roundup that both Rivera and Torres would be returning to the MTV reality show. “They renegotiated both of their contracts,” the source explained. “The producers had to reassure Jo that there would be no more violence on the show or around his kids. He was very upset after [the Reunion] and the producers spoke at length with him to try to make it right.” "Teen Mom 2" season nine is expected to return to MTV later this year or early next year.<doc-sep>Another Teen Mom 2 wedding! Kailyn Lowry's ex and first baby daddy, Jo Rivera, is a married man! The MTV dad married his second baby mama and longtime girlfriend, Vee Torres, over the weekend. Watch the clip above to get all of the details!<doc-sep>Another Teen Mom couple has tied the knot! Longtime loves Jo Rivera and Vee Torres said "I do" in Bloomfield, New Jersey on Sunday, September 23. Click through to find out who Kailyn Lowry brought as her date to her ex-boyfriend's wedding! For the latest Teen Mom news subscribe to our podcast 'Teen Mom Time' below! Article continues below advertisement Source: Instagram Cute couple! Rivera and Vee entered the gorgeous wedding hall to Bruno Mars' song "Marry You." Rivera even dipped and kissed his new bride! Source: Instagram Their first dance as husband and wife was to Ed Sheeran's "Perfect." Vee then danced with her stepson Isaac, as Jo took the floor with daughter Vivi to Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years." The children also participated in the wedding as a ring bearer and flower girl. Article continues below advertisement Lowry brought Becky Hayter as her date. As readers remember, Lowry had a girl-on-girl kiss with Hayter only weeks after announcing her divorce from ex-husband Javi Marroquin. Lowry also spent time with her son Isaac, 8. "Cannot believe how grown my baby is," she posted alongside a photo with her son. Article continues below advertisement In another photo with her baby daddy, she wrote, "What a great wedding." Source: Instagram The invite may come as a surprise to some fans. When Rivera and Torres first began dating, Lowry disapproved of her being around Isaac because of her then-party girl reputation. But the parents have patched things up since then, as Lowry tweeted, "Y'all really want me to still be bitter about Jo & Vee. We've come a long way since we were 18. I couldn't ask for a better stepmom for Isaac. Literally cried tears of happiness for them last night. That's fam." Source: Instagram Are you surprised Lowry brought Hayter as her date? Tell us in the comments! We pay for juicy info! Do you have a story for RadarOnline.com? Email us at tips@radaronline.com, or call us at (866) ON-RADAR (667-2327) any time, day or night.<doc-sep>Teen Mom 2 chronicled the bitter custody battle over their son. But Kailyn Lowry and Jo Rivera have clearly put that drama behind them, as Kailyn posed happily with her ex-boyfriend and his new bride Vee Torres at their wedding on Sunday. The reality TV stars were joined by their eight-year-old son Isaac for the New Jersey nuptials. Modern Family: Kailyn posed happily with her ex-boyfriend Jo Rivera and their son Isaac at Jo's wedding on Sunday The 26-year-old mother-of-three donned a black crop top with matching pants for the occasion, displaying her many tattoos. Her date for the wedding was BFF Rebecca Hayter, who looked dapper in black dress shirt and pants and a charcoal jacket. 'What a great wedding' commented Kailyn in one of her many social media posts about the event. No hard feelings: The 26-year-old mother-of-three donned a black crop top with matching pants for the occasion, displaying her many tattoos. Seen here with her ex's new wife, Vee Torres In the past: Teen Mom 2 chronicled the bitter custody battle between Kailyn and Jo over their son Lowry has previously denied she's in a relationship with Hayter. 'Becky and I are just friends. That’s it,' she told website therealmrhousewife.com in 2016. 'We are not in a romantic relationship at all.' The Teen Mom star earlier this year revealed she wants to date women now. In the MTV series, Kailyn admitted she is done with guys after the breakdown of her relationship with baby daddy number three, Chris Lopez. 'I just think that a girl would get me more — like they have more patience and whatever,' the 26-year-old said. 'But I also compare everyone to Chris, and right now, I just… every man is like Chris. I want nothing to do with you. The reality star pointed out that she 'had been with girls before Chris' — indeed in a podcast episode in November, she confirmed she was dating a woman at the time, whom fans speculated was her friend Dominique Potter. Dapper: Her date for the wedding was BFF Rebecca Hayter, who looked dapper in black dress shirt and pants and a charcoal jacket Just friends: Lowry has previously denied she's in a relationship with Hayter Platonic: 'We are not in a romantic relationship at all,' said Kailyn in 2016 When asked in June if she didn't want to be with a man just because of Lopez, she replied: 'I just want to stay far away from men right now.' Kailyn and Chris share ten-month-old son, Lux. She and her former longtime friend are now embroiled in a custody battle over the boy. Lowry already shares eight-year-old son Isaac with ex-boyfriend Jo Rivera, and four-year-old son Lincoln with ex-husband Javi Marroquin. In May, Kailyn revealed during her Coffee Convos podcast that she wanted one more child, and that she may use a sperm donor to get it.<doc-sep>

Teen Mom 2's Jo Rivera and Vee Torres Get Married — and His Ex Kailyn Lowry Attends the Wedding It was a Teen Mom 2 night to remember when MTV star Jo Rivera tied the knot with his girlfriend Vee Torres — as Rivera’s ex-girlfriend Kailyn Lowry looked on. Rivera and Torres, who have daughter Vivi together, got hitched in Bloomfield, New Jersey, on Sunday. On guest Rebecca Hayter’s Instagram Story, the couple danced to Ed Sheeran‘s “Perfect” and swayed to Christina Perri‘s “A Thousand Years” with their kids. kailyn-lowry-2 Vee Torres and Jo Rivera dance at their wedding | Credit: Rebecca Renee/Instagram kailyn-lowry-1 Kailyn Lowry’s Instagram from the wedding | Credit: Kailyn Lowry/Instagram Torres wore a formfitting white gown for her big day, while Lowry opted for a black jumpsuit with her blonde tresses down. Isaac looked dashing in a suit like his father’s. Lowry wrote of his look, “Cannot believe how grown my baby is.” Lowry, 26, had no hard feelings as she celebrated her ex’s marriage — even posing for happy photos with Torres and writing, “What a great wedding” alongside a group picture on Instagram. Lowry tweeted on Monday, “Y’all really want me to still be bitter about Jo & Vee. We’ve come a long way since we were 18. I couldn’t ask for a better stepmom for isaac. Literally cried tears of happiness for them last night.” With a heart, she added, “that’s fam.” Lowry attended the wedding with Hayter, whom she dubbed her “wedding date” on Instagram. She wrote on Twitter, “Thank you for being my BFF & date to this wedding. And wiping my tears as I bawled.” Though Lowry said in June that she was more interested in dating women after calling it quits with Lopez, Hayter told PEOPLE in December that she and Lowry are only friends — “against popular opinion.” On Lowry’s Instagram Story from the wedding ceremony, Hayter made Lowry laugh by joking, “Your life is a disaster. I don’t even know why I’m friends with you, honestly.” kailyn-lowry Credit: Kailyn Lowry/Instagram Rivera and Lowry have come a long way. In an episode of Teen Mom 2 that aired in September, Lowry was angry when Rivera asked for 50/50 custody of Isaac. She said, “I lost it. Like, I shouldn’t have lost my temper, but I was so furious.”

Send this page to someone via email More than 200 France supporters packed into The American bar on Vancouver’s Main Street, which was hosting the ultimate party for fans of Les Bleus. As the team scored one goal after another on Sunday morning towards their eventual 4-2 win, the squad’s second ever, the crowd erupted in cheers, with people hugging and jumping with abandon while singing the French national anthem. READ MORE: France kicks aside Croatia to claim second World Cup crown As the game wound to a close, the singing turned to “I Will Survive” as France held its ground against the Croatians. “This is going as good as it possibly could,” bar manager Joe Peters said, who only got a little more than an hour of sleep after working until 4 a.m. last night and preparing for the morning. Story continues below advertisement “It’s really something to be in here with a crowd,” he added as the crowd clapped and cheered behind him. “The energy’s really good, it’s looking good for [France] so I think we’re looking at a win here.” By the time that win came, the pub exploded in jubilation as the referee blew the final whistle. “France is once again champions of the world,” Guillaume yelled over the post-game celebrations. “It’s so beautiful to be here with everybody, and now it’ll be a big party for us!” Story continues below advertisement The bar served up croissants and French-inspired cocktails in honour of the team, which ended up winning its first title since 1998. Confidence for Croatia Meanwhile, dozens of fans and supporters were still waiting to get inside the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver minutes before Croatia kicked off their first-ever appearance at a World Cup final. Inside, hundreds of people were already making their presence felt. Loud chants of “Croatia! Croatia!” could be heard bleeding through the walls of the building, when normally even a loud band playing inside produces little more than a dull murmur. Massive crowds and heavy police presence at the Croatian Cultural Centre for the World Cup Final. Currently 4-2 France in the 71st minute. @CKNW pic.twitter.com/q8LRYx6Rs8 — Robyn Crawford (@rcrawford980) July 15, 2018 Joining the queuing fans were several more taking a smoke break after already gaining access inside, or otherwise getting one more gasp of fresh air before kickoff. What everyone shared was confidence Croatia could pull off a win. “I predict two goals,” Nikola said, before showing off two cigars tucked in his waistband behind him — one for each celebration. “I’m confident in it,” Matthew said. “Every 20 years there’s a new champion. This time it’ll be us.” Story continues below advertisement That was before France came out ahead to win it all, but inside the Cultural Centre fans were just happy to be a part of the historic finale for the first time. Breaking: France wins World Cup 4 to 2. Still nothing but smiling faces at the Croatian Cultural Centre. @CKNW pic.twitter.com/OLPEy2ZaU8 — Robyn Crawford (@rcrawford980) July 15, 2018 “Croatia has the best food, best lovers, we do it all,” Alton said with a laugh before the match. “And we win cups.” The team will now have to wait until 2022 to fulfill that promise, when the next World Cup debuts in Qatar. —With files from Simon Little and Robyn Crawford<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email Vancouver’s Croatian community is buzzing in the wake of the country’s World Cup semifinal victory against England on Wednesday. Croatia advanced to its first FIFA World Cup final by defeating England 2-1 in extra time in semi-final action in Moscow. In Vancouver, hundreds of fans packed two rooms of the Croatian Cultural Centre in hopes of seeing the country make history on nine large screens. The room erupted when Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic scored the game-winner in extra time, dashing England’s hopes of a shot at its first World Cup since 1966. “This is history in the making, we’ve been waiting for this for so long. This is huge for our country and the fans here,” one Croatia supporter told Global News. Story continues below advertisement The party spilled out into the street after the game wrapped up, where some fans lit off red, white and blue smoke flares as they sang popular chants. “I don’t think you can put it into words… the feeling this comes once in a lifetime, if not two lifetimes. We made it to the finals, no one believed in us, every pundit out there was thinking England but we showed the world,” another jubilant fan said. Local fans are now gearing up for the final match against France on Sunday. Before that, England will face Belgium on Saturday to determine who will finish in third place in the tournament.<doc-sep>

Where to watch the FIFA 2018 World Cup Final in Vancouver Article content The Croatian Cultural Centre on Commercial Drive will be the place to be if you’re a fan of the former member of the Yugoslavian federation, of the underdog or of just plain fun. About 1,000 soccer fans packed the Centre for Wednesday’s semifinal win against England and more are expected for Sunday’s 8 a.m. kickoff of the FIFA 2018 World Cup final against France. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Where to watch the FIFA 2018 World Cup Final in Vancouver Back to video Croatia became independent when Yugoslavia broke up in 1991 and has a population of about 4.3 million, a bit smaller than the population of British Columbia. The team entered the tournament ranked No. 20 in the world and has reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup final having won all its games (although two games went to shootouts and Wednesday’s semifinal win over England took extra time). France, on the other hand, has been a republic for 226 years, has a population of 67 million, was ranked No. 7 in the world heading into the tournament and had one draw on the road to the final. If you’re a France fan, the American at 926 Main St. has been unofficially renamed France House, even serving pain au chocolat and croissants. The Red Card Sports Bar at 560 Smithe attracts France supporters, as well. Most venues, such as the Rio Theatre, Vancouver Alpen Club and pubs that have been showing games throughout the tournament, plan to carry Sunday morning’s broadcast with bar service.

A longtime employee passed away after he was injured on Friday. Union members joined first responders on Monday to discuss the response and dispel rumors on social media. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – Union heads at General Electric’s Appliance Park are pledging full cooperation as investigators work to find out what led to the death of a longtime employee. West Buechel EMS received a call Friday just after 12:30 p.m. to respond to Steve Herring stuck in a machine. Family and friends said Herring was extremely loved by many. Since the incident, some have claimed that EMS wasn’t able to get to Herring in a timely manner and that refrigerators blocked the way. Union president Dino Driskell and Jefferson County Fire spokesman Jordan Yuodis were adamant that was not the case. “I personally met the fire department at the side door and escorted them in. There were a few obstacles but nothing like I've been hearing," Driskell said. Yuodis said, “Most of that stuff is just normal operation. They're in the refrigerator and dishwasher business so of course there's going to be those types of things in the way." Youdis said it may seem to an outsider that time was wasted but the response followed strict protocol. "There's barriers along the side of the walkway there and that's normal. Any time we go through for any type of medical emergency, those items are stationary, and they're not built for 12 firefighters or a stretcher to be back there and that's understandable so were used to operating in these circumstances when we respond to GE." It's something he said EMS goes through a few times a month at GE but said this case was not the norm. "We don't respond to incidents like this on a regular basis at GE," Yuodis said. Driskell said its protocol for GE employees to call the company's security department before 911 for logistical purposes but couldn't say if that was the case for Herring on Friday. GE employees in the building at the time say there were employees trying to help Herring when he was stuck in the machine. There's no official cause of death. Both LMPD and OSHA are investigating.<doc-sep>A union official spoke about the death of a GE Appliance Park worker who died Sunday after being pinned by a machine a couple of days earlier. Dino Driskell, president of the union representing GE workers, IUE-CWA Local 83761, spoke with reporters at a news conference Monday afternoon at the union headquarters. Friends and family identified the employee as 54-year-old Steve Herring. “Steve was a great co-worker, and more importantly, a great friend to many here at Appliance Park,” Union President Dino Driskell said. “His family will need support and prayers for a great while from each and every one of us.” Herring was a longtime employee at Appliance Park and was working on a refrigerator assembly line when the incident happened. GE said it has two certified EMTs and a registered nurse on site. It was them, GE confirmed, who reached Herring first. Buechel Fire and Okolona Fire both responded to the incident as well. When they arrived, Herring had already been removed from the machinery. Buechel Fire EMS transported Herring to the hospital, and told WAVE 3 News he was conscious and talking, but badly bruised. Herring died two days later. GE said it is investigating what caused the incident that killed him. Herring would have turned 55 in August.<doc-sep>A GE employee has died following a workplace accident at the GE Appliance Park.Emergency crews were called to the facility off Buechel Bank Road around 12:30 p.m. Friday after a worker became stuck in a machine.First responders were able to remove the worker from the machine, but he suffered critical injuries to his abdomen area.The man was working on the refrigerator door line at the time of the accident, a spokesperson with GE said. He was reportedly a 24-year employee of the company and was "extremely well-liked and respected by his colleagues. "Officials said the worker was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He died Sunday. "Unfortunately, we lost a member of our family," local GE union President Dino Driskell confirmed. "At this time, an investigation is underway to determine what happened and why. I'd ask that everyone keep his family and friends in their prayers during this difficult time. "The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation on the incident. The KY Labor Cabinet sent WLKY this statement:"Because this is an on-going investigation, the only comments that we can make is that we can confirm there was a work-related accident. We are deeply saddened to confirm this accident did result in death. Because of varying details among each investigation, we cannot give a specific timeline on when our investigation will be completed. "The employee's name has not been released. A GE employee has died following a workplace accident at the GE Appliance Park. Emergency crews were called to the facility off Buechel Bank Road around 12:30 p.m. Friday after a worker became stuck in a machine. Advertisement Related Content Family, co-workers honor GE employee killed in workplace accident First responders were able to remove the worker from the machine, but he suffered critical injuries to his abdomen area. The man was working on the refrigerator door line at the time of the accident, a spokesperson with GE said. He was reportedly a 24-year employee of the company and was "extremely well-liked and respected by his colleagues." Officials said the worker was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He died Sunday. "Unfortunately, we lost a member of our family," local GE union President Dino Driskell confirmed. "At this time, an investigation is underway to determine what happened and why. I'd ask that everyone keep his family and friends in their prayers during this difficult time." The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation on the incident. The KY Labor Cabinet sent WLKY this statement: "Because this is an on-going investigation, the only comments that we can make is that we can confirm there was a work-related accident. We are deeply saddened to confirm this accident did result in death. Because of varying details among each investigation, we cannot give a specific timeline on when our investigation will be completed." The employee's name has not been released.<doc-sep>

Family, co-workers honor GE employee killed in workplace accident Share Shares Copy Link Copy Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. HERE AT APPLIANCE PARK, STEVE HEARING WAS WELL KNOWN. >> GOOFY MAN. VERY GOOFY. ANYTIME YOU SEE HIM, HE WAS ALWAYS SO LOUD, OH MY GOD, YOU COULD HEAR HIM COMING A MILE AWAY. MARK: THAT’S HOW 55-YEAR-OLD REMEMBERED HIM. >> I TALKED TO HIM EVERYDAY. HE TEXTED ME EVERYDAY. HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO TEXT ME. GOOD MORNING, HAVE A GOOD DAY AT SCHOOL, OR HAVE A GOOD DAY AT WORK. AND THEN WE WOULD TALK LATER ON IN THE DA MARK: HERRING WORKED AT G.E. FOR 24 YEARS. HIS DAUGHTER, EX-WIFE AND MANY FAMILY MEMBERS WORKED THERE, TO >> MY DADA AND I ACTUALLY WORK IN THE SAME BUILDING, AP 5, EVERY MONDAY AND FRIDAY BECAUSE I’M ACTUALLY PART-TIME. HE WOULD COME OUT, I WOULD CALL HIM, HEY DAD, DON’T LEAVE, I WANT YOUR PARKING SPOT FOR A PARKING SPOT.’ HE’S LIKE, OK, I’M STAYING. I’M WALKING TO THE CAR NO >> STEVE WAS A GREAT CO-WORKER, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, A GREAT FRIEND, TO MANY HERE AT APPLIANCE PARK. MARK: HERRING WAS PINNED BY A MACHINE IN THE REFRIGERATOR DIVISION. UNION PRESIDENT DINO DRISKELL SAYS HE IS WORKING WITH OSHA TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT. >>YOU ALWAYS HAVE CONCERNS WITH SAFETY AT ANY MANUFACTURING FACILITY. YOU KNOW, IT’S A DAY TO DAY STRUGGLE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY STAYS SAFE. MARK: MANY SAY IT WON’T BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM. >>I WOKE UP TODAY AND LOOKED AT MY PHONE AND WAS JUST LIKE, MAN, WHERE’S THAT TEXT MESSAGE? SO, I’M GOING TO MISS HIM A LOT. MARK: WE’VE HEARD FROM MANY EMPLOYEES THAT THERE MAY HAV BEEN UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS BECAUSE OF A LARGE NUMBER OF REFRIGERATORS STORED IN AISLES WHERE THEY WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO BE. THERE ARE VIDEOS OF THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, TO I CAN TIE YOUR THAT A -- TELL YOU THAT A SPOKESPERSON FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY FIRE AND EMS TOLD ME THEY HAD NO ISSUES. AND THE UNION PRESIDENT ALSO SAID HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT WAS THE CASE. LIVE AT GE’S APPLIANCE PARK, MARK VANDERHOFF, WLKY NE GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Submit Privacy Notice

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's cricket star turned politician Imran Khan declared victory Thursday for his party in the country's general elections, promising a "new" Pakistan following a vote that was marred by allegations of fraud and militant violence. Khan, who aspires to be the country's next prime minister, said in a televised address to the nation that "thanks to God, we won and we were successful." "If God wills, we will set an example," he added. Pakistan's election commission has not yet released official, final results but Khan has maintained a commanding lead according to projections by many television stations, though it's unclear if his Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, would get a simple majority or have to form a coalition govrnment. Election officials said an official count confirming Pakistan's next government was expected later in the evening. Khan's message of a "new" Pakistan resonated with young voters in a country where 64 per cent of its 200 million people are below the age of 30, according to a United Nations report. Supporters of cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), celebrate outside his residence in Islamabad, Pakistan, a day after polling in the general election, July 26, 2018. REUTERS More than a dozen TV channels in Pakistan, based on official but partial counts, were projecting - using their own, undisclosed methodologies - that Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is getting as many as 119 seats of the 270 National Assembly seats that were contested. The remainder in the 342-seat Lower House of Parliament includes reserved seats for women and minorities. Voting for two seats was postponed after one candidate died during the campaign and another was disqualified. But before even half the votes were counted, Khan's leading rival Shahbaz Sharif, who heads the Pakistan Muslim League - the party of jailed ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif - rejected the vote, generating fears that disgruntled losers could delay the formation of the next government. Television projections give his party hardly 61 seats. In a tweet on his official page, Sharif said "our democratic process has been pushed back by decades," adding that "had the public mandate been delivered in a fair manner, we would have accepted it happily." Complaints have also emerged from the independent Human Rights Commission, which issued a statement saying that in some places women were not allowed to vote. In other areas, it said, "polling staff appeared to be biased toward a certain party," without naming the party. In the days before Wednesday's election, leading rights activist I.A. Rehman called the campaign "the dirtiest" in his country's troubled journey toward sustained democracy. Analysts have expressed concern that disgruntled losers could create instability for the incoming new government, which will face mounting challenges - including a crumbling economy, a crippling debt and a raging militancy. Pakistani security personnel gather at the site of a suicide attack near a polling station in Quetta, July 25, 2018. Getty As voting got underway on Wednesday in the southwestern city of Quetta, the Baluchistan provincial capital, militants sent a suicide bomber to a crowding polling station to carry out a deadly attack that killed 31 people. The election, in which Pakistanis voted for the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, and the four provincial assemblies, marked only the second time in Pakistan's 71-year history that one civilian government has handed power to another in the country of 200 million people. Yet there have been widespread concerns during the election campaign about manipulation by the military, which has directly or indirectly ruled Pakistan for most of its existence. The military had deployed 350,000 troops at the 85,000 polling stations. In a tweet on his official account, Pakistan's military spokesman Gen. Asif Ghafoor called accusations of interference "malicious propaganda." Baluchistan also saw the worst violence during campaigning earlier this month, when a suicide bomber struck at a political rally, killing 149 people, including the candidate Siraj Raisani. Another 400 were wounded. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for that attack. Baluchistan has been roiled by relentless attacks, both by the province's secessionists and Sunni militants who have killed hundreds of Shiites there. Throughout the night and into Thursday, Khan supporters celebrated outside party offices countrywide. Most of the revelers were young men, who danced to the sound of beating drums draped in Tehreek-e-Insaf party black and green-colored flags.<doc-sep>Those files, an avalanche of millions of leaked confidential documents from a law firm in Panama, included several pieces of information that incriminated Pakistan’s prime minister at the time, Nawaz Sharif. Evidence began to build that Mr. Sharif had stolen millions of dollars from public coffers in Pakistan to buy expensive apartments in London, under the names of his children. Mr. Khan capitalized on this and called for Mr. Sharif to resign. The Supreme Court removed Mr. Sharif from office, and just two weeks ago, right before the election, Mr. Sharif and his daughter were imprisoned. Few would disagree that corruption is out of control in Pakistan. But many observers here saw something in Mr. Sharif’s downfall that was more selective, possibly more sinister. The widespread suspicion was that Pakistan’s powerful military and intelligence services had pressured the judiciary to take out Mr. Sharif, clearing a path for Mr. Khan to take over. Mr. Sharif had clashed with the army chiefs, even some of those he had chosen, many times. He was a thorn in their side. Mr. Khan, on the other hand, was someone the military bosses seemed to think they could work with. Analysts said he shared their worldview, in which Pakistan would kowtow less to the United States and talk more with the Taliban and other extremist groups. In the prelude to the election, the military seemed to push even harder for Mr. Khan. Human rights groups, academics and members of other political parties said security officers threatened politicians to defect to Mr. Khan’s side. Several did. That does not mean that Mr. Khan was not genuinely popular. He was, especially among young men who lionized him as a sports hero. As elections loomed, a Khan wave swept Pakistan. His face was everywhere — on banners, lampposts and torn flags flying from the sputtering rickshaws that flit in and out of traffic. His supporters were the most energized and confident. His party’s symbol: a cricket bat.<doc-sep>Pakistan Election: Imran Khan boasts 'I am prepared the best' 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 former Pakistan cricket captain and ex-husband of Jemima Khan is a leading contender in his country's election. Born on October 5, 1952, Imran Khan was said to be a "quiet and shy boy in his youth”. He attended the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, before gaining an undergraduate degree in economics from Keble College, Oxford. Khan was captain of the Oxford University cricket team in 1974 before taking up the sport professionally. After captaining Pakistan's cricket squad when it won the world cup in 1992, he moved to politics, founding his party Tehreek-e-Insaf, the Movement for Justice, in 1995. The main focus of his party is to "bring justice to the people of Pakistan, largely via an independent judiciary". After retiring from cricket, Mr Khan founded the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore. In 2005, he married Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of the late Jewish financier James Goldsmith, who was 20 years his junior. Imran Khan: Could the former cricketer be the next Prime Minister of Pakistan? She converted to Islam when she married Khan, who was dubbed cricket's greatest playboy in the 1980s and 1990s and was a favourite with women. However, the couple divorced in 2004. Mr Khan, now 65, became increasingly devoted to leading his political party and cleaning up Pakistani politics. In 2007, he went on hunger strike to protest against emergency rule in Pakistan a week after being jailed as part of a continuing crackdown by president Pervez Musharraf on political opponents. Imran Khan: Crowds gather at one of his rallies in support of the former cricketer Imran Khan: He married Jemima Goldsmith in 2005 He was seized by hard-liners at a student demonstration in Lahore and handed over to police who charged him under anti-terrorism laws. Mr Khan has more than eight million Twitter followers, and tweeted on Tuesday encouraging people to vote. He wrote: "People of Pakistan must come out and vote tomorrow in this historic election. "This is the first time in 4 decades the nation has a chance to defeat the entrenched status quo. Don't miss this opportunity.” Pakistan election: Ecstatic Imran Khan supporters start to celebrate win Wed, July 25, 2018 Early projections suggest Mr Khan's PTI party will win the election by a landslide Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 10 Imran Khan's party was pitted against jailed ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif<doc-sep>The National Assembly, Pakistan’s parliament, has 272 contested seats and Mr. Khan’s party has done far better than all the others, winning 115 seats. But 115 seats is still short of an outright majority. Mr. Khan has been holding meeting after meeting, and his party leaders have been furiously making long and ingratiating phone calls to charm another 20 or so politicians to join their side. In Pakistan there are many smaller parties and independents, holding around 50 assembly seats. Moonis Elahi, a leader of another party, said that he had come to “an understanding” with Mr. Khan’s party and that he was trying to persuade other politicians to join as well. On Saturday, Mr. Khan’s party sounded supremely confident. “We already have the support of several winning candidates to form the federal government,’’ said Naeem-ul-Haq, a party official. He said that all Mr. Khan was waiting for was Pakistan’s president to call the next session of the National Assembly, which should happen by mid-August. The biggest loser in these elections has been the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the former governing party that saw its parliamentary power reduced to 64 seats. Its leader, Nawaz Sharif, a three-time prime minister, was thrown in jail less than two weeks before the election on corruption charges, damaging the party’s chances. Documents released through the Panama Papers leak helped build the case against Mr. Sharif. But analysts say that many Pakistani politicians are corrupt and that the security services selectively targeted Mr. Sharif, his family and some of his allies because their leaders had found Mr. Sharif difficult to work with.<doc-sep>

Imran Khan has promised a “new dawn for his country” after the elections saw bombings, violence and accusations of rigging. The PTI leader declared victory in a televised speech earlier this afternoon - despite just half of the results having yet been counted. After his self-proclaimed win, Khan addressed the nation from his home in Banigala, on the outskirts of Islamabad. He said he would feel ashamed to live in a palatial Prime Minister’s house when five per cent of the nation’s population lives under the poverty line. He said: "We will use all governor houses for public and will live a life with low expenses.” Khan added he would not spend taxpayers' money on “pomp and show” but would bring in austerity measures to improve expenditure. With about half the votes counted, Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), or Pakistan Movement for Justice, was in a commanding lead, the country's election commission said. "God has given me a chance to come to power to implement that ideology which I started 22 years ago," Khan, 65, said in a televised speech from his house this afternoon. Imran Khan: The PTI leader declared victory in a televised speech Pakistan election: Ecstatic Imran Khan supporters start to celebrate win Wed, July 25, 2018 Early projections suggest Mr Khan's PTI party will win the election by a landslide Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 10 Imran Khan's party was pitted against jailed ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif But supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the vote count was rigged, calling the result an assault on democracy. Who is Imran Khan? Imran Khan was born on October 5, 1952. He went to the Royal Grammar School, Worcester and graduated with a degree in economics from Keble College, Oxford. Imran Khan: A person reads a Pakistani newspaper with a picture of Imran Khan on the front page Imran Khan: The former cricketer was married to Jemima Goldsmith

Robin Leach, the celebrity journalist who made a career of ogling lavish living on TV's "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," died early Friday in Las Vegas, where he had been working for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He was 76. His death was reported by the Review-Journal Friday. The cause of death was not disclosed but Leach had suffered two strokes in recent months, including one on Monday, according to the paper. The Review-Journal quoted a family statement that said Leach died "peacefully at 1:50 a.m." “Despite the past 10 months, what a beautiful life he had. Our Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle and friend Robin Leach passed away peacefully last night at 1:50 a.m. Everyone’s support and love over the past, almost one year, has been incredible and we are so grateful. Memorial arrangements to follow,” said the statement from Leach’s sons Steven, Gregg and Rick Leach. Leach had been hospitalized since Nov. 21 after suffering a mini-stroke while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the Review-Journal said. After learning his father was unable to eat or walk without assistance, his son Steve arranged for a private flight to bring his father to Las Vegas the next day. He spent months recovering, much of that time at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio before returning to Las Vegas in June. The Review-Journal reported he suffered another stroke Monday. Leach moved to Las Vegas in 1999, and spent most of the last two decades chronicling star-studded events around town as a celebrity columnist, most recently for the Review-Journal but also for the Las Vegas Sun. On Friday, Clark County, Nevada, which includes Vegas, tweeted farewell to Leach. "Remembering #RobinLeach, he was British but adopted Las #Vegas. He loved it here, made his home here and was one of the biggest promoters of #LasVegas and the #LasVegasStrip. #RIP Robin and thank you," the tweet read. The London-born Leach began his career as an entertainment and celebrity reporter at age 18 at The Daily Mail, one of Britain's rowdiest tabloids keen on celebrity gossip. He was made Page One editor, the youngest ever at 18. In 1963, he moved to the U.S. where he worked for multiple publications, including the New York Daily News and just launching People magazine, where he wrote the first 11 cover stories for what has become the powerhouse celeb publication. He also worked in the U.S. as the show business editor of another British tabloid, The Star, and later joined CNN in 1980 on the network's "People Tonight” show. He also helped start the syndicated TV show “Entertainment Tonight.” But he really made his mark in 1984 with “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” which he co-created. His memorable sign-off after each episode: "Champagne wishes and caviar dreams." The syndicated show, which ran from 1984 to 1995, focused on celebrities’ lavish homes and favorite destinations, demonstrating there was widespread audience interest in celebrity-centric shows. In 1984, Leach was nominated for an Emmy, for Outstanding Information Special, for producing the show. In a 2007 interview with AskMen.com, Leach described his approach to picking the celebrity lifestyles he wanted to showcase. "It had to be very visual, as we were on TV. The more eye-popping and outrageous, the better, and the longer the subject matter would be," Leach said then. "We wanted to make your mouth drop. That was the main effect. One picture was worth a thousand words, so if you had more pictures, the less you would have to say." It was an approach that worked, for TV and for Leach himself, who became a multimillionaire from "Lifestyles" and later donated generously to charities. He received the ultimate compliment – being impersonated in a skit on "Saturday Night Live" – and appeared in several movies, including “She-Devil” in 1989. His name popped up in the late Notorious B.I.G.’s song “Juicy” and Britney Spears mentioned "Lifestyles" in her song "Piece of Me." Leach was a famous foodie who helped introduce the Food Network in 1993; promoting Las Vegas as a restaurant destination became one of his passions later in life – and got him a prime table anywhere he liked, according to a New York Times report in 2014 under the headline, "Robin Leach Rolls on in Las Vegas." “The support that Robin has given to the food scene here is immeasurable,” chef Rick Moonen, whose restaurants include RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay, told the paper. But he was down-to-earth and normal, he told The Times in 1990. “The cartoon character, that’s not who Robin Leach is,” he said. “And when I wake up in the morning, I wink at myself because I like me — I know who I am. And when it’s time to send the cartoon character off, I just send him on his way.”<doc-sep>Entertainment journalist Robin Leach died on Thursday, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The host of the popular Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous series was 76 years old. Leach's friend and colleague at the Review-Journal John Katsilometes confirmed the columnist's death in a statement on Twitter. "Sad to report the death of famed celeb reporter, friend and colleague #RobinLeach @ 1:50 a.m. in #LasVegas. He would have been 77 Wednesday, [August 29]. He suffered a second stroke Monday," Katsilometes wrote. Leach was hospitalized in November after suffering a stroke in Cabo San Lucas. He was under hospice care at the time of his death. Leach's family also issued a statement announcing his death, noting the "beautiful life he had" despite his ailing health over the last 10 months. "Everyone's support and love over the past, almost one year, has been incredible and we are so grateful. Memorial arrangements to follow. With love, Steven, Gregg and Rick Leach," the statement read. The English writer and reporter started out working for the London press dating back to his days in high school where he edited his school's magazine. He went on to land a position at the Daily Mail before he came across the pond in 1963. Although he contributed to a number of American publications like the New York Daily News and People magazine and appeared on news outlets like Entertainment Tonight and CNN, Leach was most recognized for his own show, Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous, which aired from 1984 to 1995. Leach narrated the profile series, which described the luxuries that came with being a Hollywood A-lister, including the type of cars, homes, designer goods and other lavish amenities their careers and wealth afforded them. Leach was known for ending each episode with his signature catchphrase, "Champagne wishes and caviar dreams."<doc-sep>

VideoVideo related to robin leach cause of death: how did he die? 2018-08-24T12:48:16-04:00 Celebrity columnist Robin Leach, best known for hosting “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” has died. According to a statement released by his family, Leach died on August 23rd at a hospital in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Cause of death was a stroke. Statement from #RobinLeach family: "Despite the past 10 months, what a beautiful life he had. Our Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle and friend Robin Leach passed away peacefully last night at 1:50 a.m." 1/2 — John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) August 24, 2018 Leach was hospitalized on August 21st, when the stroke first occurred while he was vacationing in Mexico. He was placed in hospice care soon after. According to his family, his health has been poor for the past 10 months, since he first suffered a stroke. Sad to report the death of famed celeb reporter, friend and colleague #RobinLeach @ 1:50 a.m. in #LasVegas. He would have been 77 Wednesday. He suffered a second stroke Monday. He in hospice care. He'd been hospitalized since Nov. 21, after suffering a stroke in Cabo San Lucas. — John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) August 24, 2018 Leach had a mini stroke last year in November, also while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas. He spent weeks recovering in a hospital in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, Leach’s son arranged for a private plane to take his father to Saint Rose Dominican Hospital when he realized his dad couldn’t eat or walk. “I started rehabilitation on my right side,” Leach told Daily Mail. “I need my right hand to type!” Leach was hospitalized for weeks as his lungs kept filling with blood following procedures. “My two brothers and I are extremely encouraged by Robin’s strength and determination to get back to journalism,” Leach’s son Steve said. More from #RobinLeach family: "Everyone’s support and love over the past, almost one year, has been incredible and we are so grateful. Memorial arrangements to follow. With love, Steven, Gregg and Rick Leach." — John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) August 24, 2018 Leach was born in London during World War II. Journalism became his passion at a young age. By 18, he was working for Daily Mail. He moved to the United States in the 60s and started writing for the New York Daily News, People magazine and Ladies Home Journal. He solely covered entertainment news and worked as a top tabloid editor for the Star. Leach’s television career started in the late 70s. He reported on air for KABC-TV Los Angeles, WABC-TV New York and CNN’s “People Tonight.” Leach was a part of the editorial team that launched “Entertainment Tonight,” which lead to the birth of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” He moved to Las Vegas in the 90s where he worked as an entertainment columnist at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. They were first to report his death.

One week after an exciting finish to the Round of 16 at Charlotte's ROVAL, the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs heads to Dover International Speedway for the start of the Round of 12. Stakes are high with a win propelling any of the 12 remaining playoff drivers in to the Round of 8 and that much closer to the Championship 4. Erik Jones, Jimmie Johnson, Austin Dillon and Denny Hamlin were eliminated as the checkered flag flew last week, with Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, race-winner Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Aric Almirola and Alex Bowman advancing to the next round. The playoff field is surely thanking their lucky stars that Johnson wrecked on the last lap, as the 11-time Dover winner would have proved to be a serious threat to start the Round of 12. Despite an elimination, Johnson still has motivation to win his record 12th race at the Monster Mile, with the hunt for a 2019 sponsor still on. Look for Johnson to potentially play spoiler this weekend. As for the drivers currently locked into the field, Harvick is the defending Dover winner. In addition to one other win there in his career, the No. 4 team has a series-best seven wins this season. Harvick has 16 top-10 finishes in 35 starts at the track and has earned his wins in the last six races. While we're at the top, let's move to Kyle Busch, who won this race last season. Rowdy is atop the playoff standings and will look to make a statement at the track this weekend. On top of last year's triumph, Busch has 2 more wins under his belt. And let's finish with the other "Big 3" member, hometown kid Martin Truex Jr. He won this race in 2016 and was on the cusp of a ROVAL win at Charlotte before wrecking with Johnson at the finish line. The reigning champion was fourth in the June race and fourth there in this race last year after starting from the pole. He had eight top-10 finishes in his last nine starts, including top-five finishes in his last four races at the track. Other winners in the playoff field include: Keselowski in 2012 and Kurt Busch in 2011. Blaney, Larson, Logano and Bowyer have won in the Xfinity Series. How to watch the Gander Outdoors 400 Location: Dover International Speedway Date: Sunday, October 7th Time: 2 p.m. ET Length: 400 miles/400 laps Stage 1: Ends on Lap 120 Stage 2: Ends on Lap 240 Final stage: Scheduled for Lap 400 TV: NBCSN Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)<doc-sep>Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) The Xfinity Series has its first elimination race of the season with four drivers facing the end of their playoff hopes. Austin Cindric, Ryan Truex, Ryan Reed and Brandon Jones enter the race below the cutoff line. Here is all the info for today’s race: (All times are Eastern) START: Mike Cote, Bar Harbor President and CEO, will give the command to start engines at 3:07 p.m. The green flag is scheduled to wave at 3:14 p.m. DISTANCE: The race is scheduled for 200 laps (200 miles) around the 1-mile oval. STAGES: Stage 1 ends on Lap 45. Stage 2 ends on Lap 90. PRERACE SCHEDULE: Garage opens at 8 a.m. Driver/crew chief meeting is at 1:15 p.m. Qualifying is at 12:05 p.m. Driver introductions are at 2:30 p.m. NATIONAL ANTHEM: Nikki Briar will perform the anthem at 3:01 p.m. TV/RADIO: NBCSN will broadcast the race beginning at 3 p.m. Coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. with Countdown to Green on NBCSN. Motor Racing Network’s radio broadcast begins at 2:30 p.m. and also can be heard at mrn.com. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will have MRN’s broadcast. FORECAST: wunderground.com calls for cloudy skies with a high of 72 degrees and a 6 percent chance of rain at the start of the race. LAST TIME: Ryan Blaney beat 2017 playoff contender Justin Allgaier by nearly five seconds. Allgaier is playoff eligible again in 2018, but Cup regulars will not compete. STARTING LINEUP: Click here for starting lineup<doc-sep>AJ Mast/Associated Press The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs waved goodbye to racing great Jimmie Johnson during the first wave of eliminations. Those left standing are headed to Dover International Speedway for the Gander Outdoors 400, a new wrinkle in the playoff journey after realignment. There, names like Martin Truex Jr. will try to overcome the after-effects of a major end-of-race wreck last time out as drivers attempted to stave off elimination. With only 12 drivers remaining and plenty of those on the outside looking in, aiming to play spoiler, Dover should once again hold one of the top events of the year. Here's everything to know about Sunday's affair. Viewing Details Where: Dover International Speedway Video Play Button Videos you might like When: Sunday, 2 p.m. ET Watch: NBCS Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Tickets: StubHub Gander Outdoors 400 1. Kyle Busch 2. Kevin Harvick 3. Martin Truex Jr. 4. Brad Keselowski Note: Qualifying rained out; full start list set by points. 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Standings 1. Kyle Busch 3090 2. Brad Keselowski 3040 3. Ryan Blaney 3018 4. Kevin Harvick 3085 5. Martin Truex Jr. 3058 6. Clint Bowyer 3025 7. Joey Logano 3019 8. Kurt Busch 3019 9. Chase Elliott 3013 10. Kyle Larson 3006 11. Aric Almirola 3001 12. Alex Bowman 3000 13.Jimmie Johnson 2097 14. Austin Dillon 2071 15. Denny Hamlin 2053 16. Erik Jones 2046 ESPN.com Drivers to Watch Martin Truex Jr. Mike McCarn/Associated Press Truex is angry heading into Sunday. The Furniture Row Racing driver seemed to have a shot at a checkered flag in the previous race before Johnson came out of nowhere and caused both men to wreck out. It should go without saying, but Truex wasn't exactly thrilled with the situation: Johnson's attempt to save his season was a polarizing move and resulted in Truex's 14th-placed finish at a time when he was finally starting to re-establish momentum. Before the odd finish, Truex had landed third at two consecutive events, breaking himself free of a downward trend that had seen him finish outside of the top 10 in four consecutive events. Now it is back to non-top-10 land for Truex, who has four wins but lost out on some serious playoff positioning as a result of the wreck. He will undoubtedly be motivated to get back on track in Dover, but an erratic couple of months could be hard to overcome with so much at stake for the entire field. Ryan Blaney Mike McCarn/Associated Press The big winner after the Johnson-Truex debacle, Ryan Blaney now has to find a way to keep the momentum going. After playing the points game well all year, Blaney was in the right place at the right time to capitalize on some chaos and grab his first checkered flag of the season. The outcome was a surprise to him as well. "But we put ourselves in a good spot, and it worked out for us," Blaney said, according to USA Today's Michelle Martinelli. "When I was running third, I was just thinking about points. We were good on points, and I was cool with just riding around in third. But then that situation happened, and we happened to be there." Winning in dominant fashion is something fans have been repeatedly hit over the head with this year thanks to the likes of Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, who have combined to tally 14 wins (seven apiece). But there should still be room in the hearts of fans for an opportunist like Blaney, who sits in a great position on the leaderboard, much like he has in most races this year. If he's picking and choosing his spots the rest of the way—like he has much of the season—he could sneak his way past a few more cut lines. The No. 12 Ford is one to keep in mind while the heavyweights soak up much of the attention on the broadcast. Kyle Busch Chuck Burton/Associated Press Busch made a devastating mistake in Charlotte last time out that saw him land 32nd. Just don't call it a rookie mistake. Most of the press ahead of the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval centered on the fact it was a great unknown because it was a rare road-course hybrid for a playoff event. Near the end of the race, Busch and other big names like Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski misjudged a turn and slammed into a barrier, ending their event. Busch spent the post-race media run explaining what happened, as Motorsport.com's Nick DeGroot shared: "We'd just been there the longest we had been on tires, and I guess all of us are just stupid and don't know where to brake for the corner considering what our tires look like, and so we just all drove off into a 90-degree wall for something to do because we had nothing else better to do." Unlike Truex, Busch wasn't hurting to keep a good streak going at least. He's sitting on seven wins, and over his four prior events, he had finished eighth or better, hitting Victory Lane in Richmond most recently. To top it all off, Busch won this race a year ago, so he's looking to make it two in a row as the series returns to a normal event—one he has to enter as the favorite.<doc-sep>

Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) The Gander Outdoors 400 at Dover International Speedway kicks off Round 2 of the playoffs and with Talladega looming next week, the stakes are high. Last year, Kyle Busch passed Chase Elliott coming to the white flag and punched his ticket to the next round. Here’s all the info you need for today’s race. (All times are Eastern) START: Tamara Ward, executive vice president of corporate development, Camping World Holdings, Inc. will give the command to start engines at 2:07 p.m. The green flag is scheduled to wave at 2:16 p.m. DISTANCE: The race is scheduled for 400 miles (400 Laps) around the 1-mile course. STAGES: Stage 1 ends on Lap 120. Stage 2 ends on Lap 240. PRERACE SCHEDULE: The garage opens at 8 a.m. The driver/crew chief meeting is at noon. Driver introductions are at 1:20 p.m. NATIONAL ANTHEM: The Calvary Baptist Choir from Dover will perform the anthem at 2 p.m. TV/RADIO: NBCSN will broadcast the race beginning at 2 p.m. Coverage begins with Countdown to Green at 1:30 p.m. on NBCSN. Motor Racing Network’s radio broadcast begins at 1 p.m. and also can be heard at mrn.com. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will have MRN’s broadcast. FORECAST: wunderground.com calls for a high of 80 degrees, partly cloudy skies and a 5 percent chance of rain at the start of the race. STARTING LINEUP: Click here for the complete lineup

The major rule changes NASCAR has implemented for its Monster Energy Cup Series in 2019 can be described with one well-known phrase: Less is more. Or so NASCAR hopes. Chief among the changes for 2019 is a new aerodynamics package that will reduce horsepower and slow down the cars in the majority of races on the Cup Series schedule. The idea is to create more chances for passing and drafting at oval tracks longer than 1.2 miles. MORE: Full 2019 Cup Series race schedule "From an aero standpoint, I think you’ll see a pretty similar package to what we had in the (2018) All-Star Race and what we’ve seen in the Xfinity Series," NASCAR chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell said in October, when the changes were announced. "Where we looked to make a little bit of a change was around the horsepower and that was, after discussions with the drivers, discussions with the engine builders as well, as what would be something that would produce a little more on-throttle time and have a good relationship with the aero package that we put together. So we made a tweak to that. "We think that’ll put it more in the drivers' hands, especially as we go to some of the intermediate tracks, and are excited to see how that plays out." Below are more details on NASCAR's push for what it hopes will be better racing in the Cup Series, plus other rule changes for 2019. New aero package With its new aero package for 2019, NASCAR wants to increase drag and downforce while decreasing horsepower in its Cup cars at certain tracks. This comes after NASCAR had spent several years trying to decrease downforce, making the cars tougher to handle. In theory, the cars in 2019 will be easier to drive on intermediate tracks with the new aero package, which has been described as similar to, but not exactly the same as, the package Cup cars ran in the 2018 All-Star Race. That event featured an unprecedented amount of drafting and pack racing at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway. The new aero package that will be run in every Cup race in 2019 consists of the following: Taller spoiler (from 2.375 inches to 8 inches) Longer front splitter (from 0.25 inches to 2 inches) Wider radiator pan (now 37 inches wide) In addition, at tracks longer than 1.2 miles, the new aero package will include both air ducts and a smaller tapered spacer. Among those tracks, Atlanta, Pocono, Darlington and Homestead are exceptions; cars in those races will feature the smaller tapered spacer, but not the air ducts. The smaller tapered spacer (from 1.17 inches in diameter to 0.922 inches in diameter) will restrict more air flow and decrease horsepower from a target of 750 to a target of 550. The air ducts will increase drag and downforce. NASCAR 2019 rules/aero package schedule Date Track Horsepower Aero ducts 2/27 Daytona 2018 rules 2018 rules 2/24 Atlanta 550 No 3/3 Las Vegas 550 Yes 3/10 Phoenix 750 No 3/17 Auto Club 550 Yes 3/24 Martinsville 750 No 3/31 Texas 550 Yes 4/7 Bristol 750 No 4/13 Richmond 750 No 4/28 Talladega 550 Yes 5/5 Dover 750 No 5/11 Kansas 550 Yes 5/18 Charlotte (All-Star) 550 Yes 5/26 Charlotte 550 Yes 6/2 Pocono 550 No 6/9 Michigan 550 Yes 6/23 Sonoma 750 No 6/30 Chicagoland 550 Yes 7/6 Daytona 550 Yes 7/13 Kentucky 550 Yes 7/21 New Hampshire 750 No 7/28 Pocono 550 No 8/4 Watkins Glen 750 No 8/11 Michigan 550 Yes 8/17 Bristol 750 No 9/1 Darlington 550 No 9/8 Indianapolis 550 Yes 9/15 Las Vegas 550 Yes 9/21 Richmond 750 No 9/29 Charlotte (ROVAL) 550 Yes 10/6 Dover 750 No 10/13 Talladega 550 Yes 10/20 Kansas 550 Yes 10/27 Martinsville 750 No 11/3 Texas 550 Yes 11/10 Phoenix 750 No 11/17 Homestead 550 No At those intermediate tracks — mile-and-a-halves, in particular — the racing should be tighter thanks to new aero package, but not too tight. "Let me dispel the myth that NASCAR is interested in pack racing everywhere," O'Donnell said in October, via ESPN. "That is not at all what this package is. This package is to take the best from the short tracks, the best from the superspeedways, and meet in between. "Do we want more cars on the lead lap? Absolutely. Do we want tighter racing? Absolutely. Do we expect three-wide every lap? No. The best drivers and the best teams are still going to win the race." No restrictor plates This one might be a bummer for fans and TV networks, but it’s a relief for drivers and race teams. With the exception of the Daytona 500, gone are the restrictor plates NASCAR started using at superspeedways in 1987 to slow down the cars and, in turn, produce the pack racing we've grown to know at Daytona and Talladega. Instead, NASCAR will use only the aforementioned modified tapered spacers to keep speed under control at those tracks. The idea is to preserve the element of drafting but allow for more passing. Without restrictor plates, drivers will get a better throttle response, yet a similar style of pack racing is expected. New postrace inspection rule The new aero package has received mixed reactions ahead of the 2019 season, but the new postrace inspection rule is almost unanimously approved by fans and race teams alike. In February, NASCAR announced a rule change that will have race winners disqualified if they fail postrace inspection with L1 or L2 infractions. The new rule will be enforced in all three national series, not just Cup. Previously, offending race winners were penalized by fines, suspensions or points deductions, but their victories stood. In the new system, the first- and second-place finishers (and at least one randomly selected car) will undergo a postrace inspection at the track. If one of those cars fails inspection, the driver and team will receive last-place points and earnings, and the rest of the finishing order will move up one spot.<doc-sep>NASCAR competition officials announced Monday that post-race inspection for all three national series will have a new model for 2019, introducing a system where race-winning teams found in violation of the rule book would be disqualified. The rules change signals a shift in a long-standing tradition of penalizing an offending race winner with fines, suspensions and/or points deductions, but allowing victories to stand. The new system also accelerates the timetable for thorough post-race technical inspections, which will now be conducted at the track soon after the checkered flag instead of midweek at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina. “I think for us, we’re really looking at a total culture change,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer. “We’ve been through a deterrence model where we’ve really worked with the race teams at the track and probably been more lenient than we should in terms of the number of times teams can go through inspection and pass, fail and there’s almost incentive to try to get something by NASCAR, so we want to really reverse that trend. “We’re going to put it on the teams to bring their equipment right. When they come to the track, we’ll be much less lenient as they go through technical inspection with stiffer penalties in terms of qualifying, and then ultimately during the race, obviously we want everyone to be racing straight up.” RELATED: More competition tweaks for ’19 The cars of the first-place and second-place finishers, plus at least one randomly selected car, will undergo post-race inspection at the track. Competition officials said they are targeting a time frame of approximately 90 minutes to two hours to complete the inspection and confirm the race winner. Should one of those cars fail the post-race inspection, the driver and team would receive last-place points and the rest of the finishing order would move up. Disqualified teams also would be stripped of the benefits of playoff points, stage points and automatic postseason berths and playoff advancement. The shift in rules marks a distinct break from a longstanding, unwritten company policy. Series organizers have avoided taking wins away for decades, adhering to a belief that fans should leave the race track with an assurance that the first finisher was indeed the winner. Current-day officials acknowledged that break in tradition, saying that a goal of the new procedures was to accelerate the inspection process and avoid the potential pall that midweek penalties can cast over both the previous week’s result and the following week’s race. RELATED: Target date for Gen-7 set “Times have changed. We’ve moved forward with a lot of things,” said Jay Fabian, who was named the new Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series managing director on Jan. 16. “There’s always been different thoughts on what the right way is to do it and it’s migrated to saying, hey, we really need to do this as more of a real-time thing and make sure it’s right post-race and move on with it from the weekend. “We want to be able to avoid the Tuesday, Wednesday announcements of penalties. We want to take that story line away and we’ve got to be rid of all that. So it’s up to the teams to behave the right way and if they don’t, they’ll get a DQ and we’ll move forward from that on a Sunday or Saturday whenever we race instead of a Tuesday or Wednesday.” Said O’Donnell: “I think it’s evolved over time as you look at it. Certainly we wanted to declare a winner at the track, but what was happening was a potential negative story line that just stayed with the sport and really for the fan base for too long. So with the ability now with Jay Fabian coming into the director’s seat, and we have the capabilities to conduct a thorough post-race inspection at track and do it in a somewhat efficient timeline and still be able to declare that winner that night, put it to bed, celebrate that winner and go on from there.” NASCAR’s history of disqualifying drivers can be traced all the way back to the first race for the Monster Energy Series (then called Strictly Stock) in 1949. Jim Roper was declared the winner at the old Charlotte Speedway after the car of apparent first-place driver Glenn Dunaway was found with illegal springs. Last year, a rash of five penalties in the first three months of the season were issued for rear-window modifications. That outbreak prompted Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, to indicate that the sanctioning body was exploring harsher punishment for such violations. The Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 team drew the heaviest penalty of last season after an illegal rear spoiler was found on Kevin Harvick’s race-winning car from Texas. That infraction became a headline-grabbing story line with two races left in the playoffs, something Miller said the sanctioning body hopes to avoid this season. RELATED: Recapping No. 4 penalty “I don’t know that our hand was necessarily forced,” Miller says, “but really and truly a lot of the team owners, we have this culture of playing these cat-and-mouse games between us and the teams, and that’s really kind of a lot of wasted energy on both sides of the fence and I think that the best way for us to get our arms around that is to have a little bit stiffer deterrent. “Then there was also, I think every time we had a penalty on Wednesday, there seemed to be an outcry from a lot of the fans about how can you not take the win away if there was something wrong with the car, so I think there’s a lot of factors that went into us moving in this direction for this season. But I think it’s been, as you’ve probably seen, it seems to be pretty well received so far with most all of the industry. “They kind of asked for it, and it was time.<doc-sep>DAYTONA BEACH — The real celebration for Tampa-born Denny Hamlin’s second Daytona 500 victory hadn’t even begun when his team began thinking about the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series season. “I can tell you the unfortunate truth is we probably just lost the day preparing because we’re going to be here putting a car in a museum,” crew chief Chris Gabehart. If Gabehart sounds like Alabama coach Nick Saban — grumbling over a national title because it cost him precious recruiting time — it’s because no team has any idea what to make of the rules packages that make their formal debut in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. A day spent savoring the biggest win of the year is a day not spent trying to figure out what might happen in Atlanta and everywhere else in what should be an unpredictable season. “Everybody is trying to figure it out, and every racetrack is going to be a little bit different,” Gabehart said. “There’s going to be a lot of comers and goers to start the season.” The transitions will take place because NASCAR has instituted a series of tweaks to the cars. The rear spoilers are bigger (8 inches) to increase downforce and stabilize handling. The other details will be track-specific, with some tapered spacers to reduce horsepower and aero ducts to help keep the racing tight at larger speedways. NASCAR’s overarching goals are to keep the cars closer together and prevent one driver from pulling away from the pack. RELATED: Tampa Bay ties remain strong for defending Daytona champ Denny Hamlin “If you’re into 3-4 wide racing and that revolving door, you’re really going to enjoy that kind of racing,” seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson said. NASCAR is counting on it as the series continues to try to recover its fan base. Fox reportedly drew a 5.5 TV rating for Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500; that’s up from 5.1 last year but half of what it was in 2008. This week will be an interesting test for the new packages, because of what happened last year. Kevin Harvick dominated, leading 181 of the 325 laps and winning by more than 2.6 seconds. Anything closer than that will be a positive step. If the changes do create closer packs, drivers envision an expensive side effect. “I totally expect to crash more cars,” reigning series champion Joey Logano said. “As cars are closer and drivers are more aggressive, a mistake will create a bigger crash. You can’t get away from that.” Aside from the extra crashes (and ensuing driver-on-driver conflict), it’s unclear what else the new packages will create. Kyle Busch said he could see one team discovering some tiny advantages that push it ahead of everybody else early. Martin Truex Jr. agreed, but any secrets won’t last long. That’s why the 2017 Cup champion doesn’t expect a repeat of last year, when the triumvirate he formed with Harvick and Busch combined to win 20 of the 36 races. “I feel like we’re going to have more surprises,” Truex said. “I feel like it’s going to be a little more all over the place, a little wild and crazy at times.” NASCAR certainly hopes so. Contact Matt Baker at mbaker@tampabay.com. Follow @MBakerTBTimes.<doc-sep>Busch isn’t happy with the rules direction from a driver’s perspective; Also knows NASCAR needs more excitement Kyle Busch: “When you have a guy leading the race by 6 seconds, that’s not exciting. I get and understand where we’re going and what we’re doing. It’s just frustrating as a driver to know that’s what we’re doing and anticipate how all these mile and a half and above races will play out.” NASCAR has seen so many shifts in recent years. The biggest of all those shifts will come this year with the new rules package. But, outside of rules, there’s a different direction from a manufactures standpoint. Previously, the more popular four-door production bodies made their way to the NASCAR tracks. That made no sense. The manufactures have shifted direction. Last year, Chevrolet introduced the Camaro to the Cup Series. This year, Ford is bringing the mustang. Soon, Toyota will likely be bringing the Supra to the Cup Series. 2019 NASCAR Toyota Supra Kyle Busch on the Toyota Supra on NASCAR body shape rules “I don’t think the Supra is going to be that different from what the Camry was. With the composite bodies, the way the rules are and the overall shape of how the body’s gotta be between the makes — There’s really not a lot of difference from the old one,” Kyle Busch stated during Daytona 500 media day. “Just the nose is going to be the biggest thing. The nose and how it separates the air from the vehicle in the beginning and going over the car. That will be a learning curve.” “I love the opportunities that Chevy has done with the Camaro, Ford with the Mustang and that Toyota has done with the Supra.” “I certainly wish now though, now that all of them are kinda that fastback look. That NASCAR would have taken the step and gone farther with the bodies on all three makes.” “Be like, ‘Alright boys, this is where we’re at, let’s fastback these things.’ Lets make them look more like they are on the street. Rather than the big curvature rear glass.” PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 11: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway on November 11, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) Kyle Busch on the tapered spacer NASCAR is bringing big changes to the NASCAR Cup Series season. You won’t see a bulk of those changes at Daytona. But, when the series heads to Atlanta, everything changes. Overall, the cars will see more downforce and less horsepower. That’s a sweeping change from the direction of years past. “Tapered spacers are still restrictor plates,” Kyle Busch says of the new rules. “I wish we didn’t have to deal with those things. But, I certainly understand where back in the 70’s they were at 500-600 horsepower.” “Now, we’re pushing 900-950. I understand that we could go too fast. How fast is too fast? I don’t know.” “What we’ve all been unaccustomed to, now we’re taking a step back and going back in time a little bit. I say that because you’ve got tapered spacers on Cup, Xfinity and Trucks. We’re reducing horsepower across the board to slow these things down.” Kyle Busch on more downforce in NASCAR “But, the mechanical grip and the aero grip are so great that some of those tracks we go to, you’re wide open. You’re able to just cruise around there.” The tracks are too big. The idea is to slow the cars down and make aerodynamics less important. The faster the cars go, the more the air is compressed on the bodies and the bigger hole they punch for the next guy. That creates an aero push and brings the inability to pass to the surface. That’s exactly what they’re trying to fix. They’re getting closer, but not quite… “Obviously, what we’re all looking for is not the 6 second separation between 1st and 2nd. It’s too big, too great of a distance to create any sort of excitement.” “If you can see a guys within 2-3 car lengths then there might be an opportunity to get that guy. Somehow, some way. We’ll have to see how all that transpires.” LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 31: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers take to the track during testing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 31, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) Kyle Busch talks the test of the package in Las Vegas “I’d like to think that the good drivers, teams and cars will be able to excel. Eventually, we’ll kinda figure it out.” “With our test in Vegas, it as just a matter of who got out front. And who was able to get single file and pull the train fast enough. Once that settled out, that’s kinda what you had.” “It’s interesting 2nd and 3rd on back. But, 1st to 2nd is still that bubble that we can’t break.” How much do drivers have a say in NASCAR rules? “We’re just race car drivers, so we don’t know anything. We just drive what we’re given to drive. What the rules are, the rules are.” “Our teams gotta go to work and build around that. That’s how I look at it. It’s not that it’s fallen on deaf ears. The problem is creating something that’s viable for the fans to see excitement.” “When you have a guy leading the race by 6 seconds, that’s not exciting. I get and understand where we’re going and what we’re doing. It’s just frustrating as a driver to know that’s what we’re doing and anticipate how all these mile and a half and above races will play out.” “From all of this, we’ve gotta get better. We’ve gotta put on a show and do a good job of creating excitement that’s on the race track.” Outside of the racing, many tracks have stepped up in the entertainment department. Monster Energy has been a big part of that.<doc-sep>

NASCAR announced Monday that it will disqualify race-winning cars that break the rules this season, confronting its longtime culture of cheating with a stringent new penalty system. "If you are illegal, you don't win the race," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's chief racing development officer. "We cannot allow inspection and penalties to continue to be a prolonged storyline. Race vehicles are expected to adhere to the rule book from the opening of the garage to the checkered flag." The new approach is a seismic shift for NASCAR because it traditionally wanted fans to leave the event knowing who won the race. If a car failed inspection, either at the track or in a more thorough secondary teardown at NASCAR's Research and Development Center in the days following the race, driver and team were usually docked points, fined or in some cases had crew members suspended. The penalties were typically not announced until several days after the race. Inspections will now be completed at the track, a process that should take about 90 minutes, and the winning team will lose its victory if it fails. Disqualified cars will now lose points, purse money and even the trophy. DALE JR. TO RACE AGAIN Kevin Harvick's race-winning car failed inspection twice last season and both instances led to fines, suspensions and the loss of points. He won at Texas Motor Speedway in November to earn an automatic berth into the championship finale, but that was stripped when his car failed the R&D inspection days after the race. Under the new system, the runner-up will be declared the winner and the team with the illegal car will receive only one championship point. "We're really looking at a total culture change," O'Donnell said. The last driver believed to have been stripped outright of a national series victory was Dale Jarrett following a 1995 race in NASCAR's second-tier series at Michigan. He was dropped to 42nd when his Ford was found to have an illegally modified intake manifold two hours after the race. NASCAR will also change its process for cars that fail inspection prior to qualifying and the race. NASCAR BANS DRIVERS, STAFF FROM GAMBLING ON SPORT It had devolved into comedy at times last season as teams used multiple attempts to get through inspection. NASCAR said it will now eject team members, dock practice time and, in an enhanced penalty, bar a car from trying to qualify for the race if it fails three times. A car that twice fails pre-race inspection will be sent to the back of the field at the start; a third failure will require a pass-through penalty at the start. "We've been through a deterrence model where we've really worked with the race teams at the track and probably been more lenient than we should in terms of the number of times teams can go through inspection and pass, fail and there's almost incentive to try to get something by NASCAR, so we want to really reverse that trend," O'Donnell said. "We're going to put it on the teams to bring their equipment right. When they come to the track, we'll be much less lenient as they go through technical inspection with stiffer penalties in terms of qualifying, and then ultimately during the race, obviously we want everyone to be racing straight up." QUALIFYING NASCAR will not go to a single-car qualifying format this season despite a new racing rules package that will likely bunch the field into a pack. NASCAR even took a step toward ensuring the qualifying sessions are entertaining by shortening the first round at short tracks and intermediate speedways from 15 minutes to 10. That will force drivers to get on the track and make their qualifying attempt rather than idling on pit road and trying to nail a fast lap as the clock expired. The break between rounds will be trimmed from seven minutes to five. Qualifying at superspeedways will remain two untimed rounds of single-lap qualifying. Road-course qualifying will continue to be two rounds at 25 minutes followed by a 10-minute final round. NEW CAR The seventh-generation stock car is on schedule to compete in 2021. A key goal in development is to strengthen the correlation between race cars and the model available to customers. NASCAR is courting additional manufacturers to join the sport and the Gen-7 car will aim to increase brand identity. NASCAR said it was near certain the new car will have a composite body.

Devil May Cry is known for many things: great combat, cheesy one-liners, devils that rarely, if ever, actually cry. But it’s not known for nudity. That’s made the occasional flashes of forbidden flesh all the more noticeable in Devil May Cry 5, especially given that how much nudity you see is determined by the platform you’re playing on. Advertisement The latest game in the long-running series of instructional tapes on how to use a motorcycle as a sword features a scene in which Dante rescues his longtime partner Trish from inside an enemy. She falls from the belly of the beast, naked, and Dante catches her and lays her on the ground. Camera angles largely obscure any actual nudity, but players have discovered that in the Western PlayStation 4 version of the game, this scene is mildly censored, with lens flare from Dante’s motorcycle blotting out Trish’s butt. However, in the Xbox One, PC, and Japanese PS4 versions, this scene remains uncensored. Here’s a video demonstrating the two different versions of the scene from Naughty Gaming (warning: NSFW and contains slight spoilers): Even more strangely, there’s another scene in the game—again featuring a butt, the most obscene of crevices we all share—that’s censored in every version and territory. In this scene, another character, Lady, briefly appears naked, viewed from behind. Here, reports Eurogamer, lens flare censors her backside no matter what version you’re playing. Some people are, of course, up in arms about this relatively minor change that happens to involve female nudity, but many are just bewildered. Why the consistently inconsistent handling of butts? Why one particular scene and not another? Why this game, when other recent PS4 games like Metro Exodus have featured more explicit nudity? Kotaku reached out to both Sony and Capcom to find out more, but neither replied. For now, then, it’s impossible to say, though it could have something to do with an alleged new Sony policy that affected the more overtly sexually-charged Senran Kagura last year. Until we know more, I feel that we should at least lament the fact that a) there’s no comparable male nudity on display in Devil May Cry 5, and b) unlike in DmC: Devil May Cry, no slices of pizza are used to cover up dicks. Not even one! Come on, Capcom. At least get creative with your censorship.<doc-sep>(Pocket-lint) - Gamers of a more gothic persuasion will surely have encountered at least one of Capcom's Devil May Cry games, although it will have been a while. The core thread of the action hack-n-slash franchise loosely inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy has been on hiatus since 2008's Devil May Cry 4 - with 2013's alternate-universe reboot by British Developer Ninja Theory, DMC, merely sparked fears among the fanbase that Devil May Cry may have run its course. However, Devil May Cry 5 offers a return which could not be more triumphant. This time around, the action takes place years after Devil May Cry 4's events, in a city called Red Grave (DMC geeks will note that Tony Redgrave is one of Dante's aliases), which appears to be in America, although it is studded with very British red phone boxes and buses. It's also in a bit of a state: a demonic tree has ripped it apart, sucking all the blood out of any inhabitants who failed to flee, in which the mega-powerful demon Urizen has taken up residence. Luckily, Nero (Devil May Cry 4's protagonist) is on hand to do something about that. Capcom He has assistance too. Series protagonist Dante - now a distinctly washed-up demon-hunter - makes a cameo as a playable character, along with a new addition to the gang, the mysterious V, who has a distinctly emo air to him and somewhat resembles the actor Adam Driver. Demon-hunters Trish and Lady also appear. Nero also has a sidekick, Nico, a chain-smoking, tattooed figure who creates weapons in her camper van. Those are crucial for Nero, who has had his demon arm ripped off (by a demon, naturally), so instead, Nico crafts Devil Breaker attachments for his stump, with a wide range of abilities. Some pack a massive punch, while others slow down time, provide whirling blades or act as giant whips. One even lets Nero ride it like a hoverboard. It's possible to equip several at once, which automatically cycle when they break (which they do frequently - luckily, you can pick up new ones scattered around the levels, or call in Nico for a fresh set whenever you see a phone box). The interplay between the Devil Breakers, Nero's gun, his sword and his growing array of moves (which you can purchase with the red orbs you pick up after defeating enemies) breeds an almost infinite set of spectacular combos. And that's what Devil May Cry 5 is all about: as with its predecessors, it rates your stylishness in every bout of combat, from D (for Dismal) right up to SSS. The abilities you're given in Devil May Cry 5 - no matter who you're playing as - to execute outrageous attacks and combos are glorious enough in themselves, but the dopamine hit an SSS rating provides is right up there among the most satisfying experiences you will ever encounter when playing a videogame. Playing as V is great, too, and very different to playing as Nero or Dante (the latter kicks major ass, as ever). Because he's a bit weedy, he stands back from the action, only moving in for finishing moves, but instead controls attacks by two demonic familiars, a griffon and a panther. Plus he can summon Nightmare - a huge, lumbering, destructive creature which he can ride. Devil May Cry 5, then, is all about the action, although its character-led storyline is pretty great, too. The way in which that fractures late on, mixing unexpected flashbacks with repeated versions of a particular event from different perspectives, is clever and original. Previous iterations of the franchise have thrown some platforming and puzzle-solving into the mix, but this time around, Capcom has dialled those right back (although the timed, hidden Secret Missions have made a welcome return) in favour of taking down demons as spectacularly as possible. It does pay to explore any corridors into which you're allowed, though. Capcom has also let its imagination run riot as far as the demon enemies are concerned: they are more gruesomely outlandish than ever, rendered in glisteningly repulsive detail by the same engine that powered Resident Evil 7 and The Resident Evil 2 remake. Naturally, bosses abound - requiring a heavily tactical approach, although Capcom has been uncharacteristically forgiving in its generous distribution of gold orbs, which revive you when you're down. Determined modernists would point out that DMC5 is a linear game and it's also not the longest - although the quest to earn those SSS ratings, the ability to replay individual missions and the addition of a super-hard difficulty mode after your first play-through add vast amounts of replayability. And trophy-hunters will want to unlock all the various characters' moves, upgrades and weapons. Verdict Devil May Cry 5 is such an extreme joy to play - and is built on such a logical, focused structure - that you'll find yourself returning to it again and again, whenever you feel the need for a blast of cathartic, cobweb-blowing, spectacularly stylish action. Anyone who dares to label it a throwback clearly has no appreciation of what truly makes games irresistible. It's the polar opposite of all those games-as-a-service that are currently being shoved down everyone's throats, and vastly more enjoyable than many of them. Devil May Cry 5 is exactly how games should be made: focused and spectacular. It's a triumph. Writing by Steve Boxer.<doc-sep>

One scene in Devil May Cry 5 was deemed a little too risque for its Western release – but strangely, the scene has only been edited on one platform’s version of the game. Devil May Cry 5 is a brilliant return for Capcom’s action series and is something of a must-play, though fans of the series have discovered an interesting discrepancy between the various versions: and it all involves an arse crack. Of course. Keeping it spoiler-free for a moment, in one story scene of the game a character appears naked, and certain shots of that scene have been censored – but only on one platform and only in certain regions. Censorship of Japanese games as they make their way West is fairly common – sometimes in small ways, sometimes with more significant edits, often a response to differences in cultural sensibilities. What’s interesting about this, however, is that the Western censorship isn’t across the board. On Xbox One and PC, the arse is entirely visible just as it is in all versions of DMC5 in Japan. The PS4 version gets the censorship treatment, however – but only in the West, with the Japanese PS4 version remaining uncensored. To talk a little about the scene, we’re now going to get into Spoiler Territory for the scene, which takes place several missions into DMC5. Don’t read on if you’re spoiler-averse. Here’s a video of the multiple versions of the scene comparing them – which, given the presence of a bare bottom, is probably NSFW depending on where you work. Watch on YouTube This video, provided by youtube channel ‘Naughty Gaming’ (indeed) showcases exactly what happens. In DMC5 there’s a few powerful enemies that are possessing classic characters from the series’ past – and in this instance upon one boss being downed by Dante series mainstay Trish comes tumbling out of its bleeding body half-naked. Dante then picks up Trish and lays her back down – and in the process there’s a clear shot of her rear. In the Xbox One and PC versions plus the Japanese PS4 version there’s no censorship – but on PS4, an aggressive lens flare from Dante’s motorcycle headlamp reduces the amount the player can see. What’s unclear is why this only applies to one version in Western territories – but given the circumstances it seems fair to assume it might be something the Western arms of Sony requested to be changed. You can see the comparison for yourself in the video above – but be warned – Spoilers and NSFW.

Typhoon Maria path LIVE update: 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. Typhoon Maria: Japan suffers mass FLOODING Typhoon Maria is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday bringing heavy rains to several parts of the country. The storm will trigger monsoon rains over the region of Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and Panay Island until Tuesday. Maria has maximum speeds of 190 km/h near the centre and gustiness of up to 235 kph and Maria is currently moving north-west at a speed of 23 kph. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Atmospheric (PAGASA) said the typhoon was last seen 1,625 kilometres east of northern Luzon, remaining outside of PAR. Meteorologists said Maria would remain a powerful super typhoon through the beginning of the week as it churns north-west ward over the Philippine Sea. Lives and property are at threat when Maria plummels through Japan’s Ryukyu Islands on Tuesday (local time) before tracking past Taiwan and making landfall in eastern China early on Wednesday. Tuesday, July 10 11.30am update: Typhoon Maria is now smashing Taiwan The Central Weather Bureau is tracking Typhoon Maria as it makes its way across the Pacific Ocean, measuring the speed with which it moves towards land. Predictions currently are that Typhoon Maria will reach Taiwan at 5pm local time (10am BST). Typhoon Maria is expected to crash through parts of Southern Japan, Taiwan and China threatening to unleash heavy rains and powerful gusts of winds. Weather Channel meteorologist Kait Parker said: "Where we are watching are some of these islands between Okinawa and Taipei because some of them will take a direct hit from the storm. "It was a super typhoon, it’s weakened just a bit, now it’s just a typhoon but still remarkably strong. The bigger concern here yes, winds and waves, but also the rain. "As it makes its way north of Taiwan, maybe skirting right across Taipei with the strongest winds, it’s also going to be leaving behind a lot of rain, eight to 12 inches in some spots, maybe a foot and a half in some parts of Taiwan which could cause flooding and mudslides." Typhoon Maria map: The typhoon will crash into Taiwan and China today 9.12am update: Northern Taiwan to be hit hard by typhoon Maria The weather bureau in Taiwan is warning of landslides and flash floods on the heavily industrialized island. As of Tuesday morning, Maria was 490 km east of Yilan, moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 30 km per hour. The typhoon is expected to hit the north of Taiwan the hardest, the Central Weather Bureau said. Troops were deployed in some areas, with heavy rain and winds expected later on Tuesday and early on Wednesday. 7.37am update: Schools and offices in Taiwan will close Tuesday and flights have been cancelled as Typhoon Maria churns towards Taiwan Maria was 310 miles east of the northeastern coastal town of Yilan with gusts of up to 190 kilometres an hour as of 3am BST. The typhoon's impact is expected to be the strongest from late Tuesday to early Wednesday, with downpours up to 20 inches forecast. Officials have warned of possible floods and mudslides. As the swirling vortex approaches, farmers in Yilan have been rushing to harvest their produce while fishermen in coastal Keeling also brought in their catch and secured their boats ahead of the storm. Taiwan's UNI Air cancelled around 70 domestic flights on Tuesday while two other airlines have cancelled flights to the Japanese island of Okinawa. Typhoon Maria map: The typhoon is picking up speed Tuesday July 10 5:24am update: Taiwan braced for impact Taiwan is bracing for Maria's landfall at around 5pm local time. (10am UK time). As of 9:15 a.m., the CWB reports that Super Typhoon Maria was located 530 kilometers east of Yilan and is moving northwest at a speed of 28 kilometers per hour. It has a radius of 280 kilometers and is packing maximum sustained winds of 190 kilometers per hour with wind gusts of 234 kilometers per hour. 4:14am update: Schools and offices are announcing closures Schools and offices in Taiwan are announcing closures as they prepare for high winds and rain. 3:00am update: Taiwan preparing for Tuesday storm The main impact of the storm is expected in Taiwan on Tuesday evening, with expected landfall earlier that day. The super typhoon, which has a storm radius of 280 kilometers, is carrying maximum sustained winds of 198 kph, with gusts of up to 245 kph. 1:04am update: Residents warned of threat to life Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau (CWB) has issued a warning as the periphery of the storm looks set to sweep across Taiwan bringing 130km gusts of wind. Accuweather’s forecast warns that “anyone in Maria’s path should now make necessary preparations and heed any evacuation orders.” 00:06am update: Weather Bureau issues warning for Taiwan The Central Weather Bureau issued a land warning for Super Typhoon Maria in Taiwan as the storm looks to make landfall in less than 18 hours. The storm is expected to make landfall at around 5:30pm local time on Tuesday. Typhoon Maria path LIVE update: The storm could now miss Taiwan Monday July 9 9.20pm: Weather forecasting maps predict Maria will 'narrowly miss' Taiwan The eye of the storm is predicted to bypass Taiwan on its way to China, according to the latest weather forecasting models. Satellite images, provided by WeatherBELL, show the eye of the storm swirling just north of the Republic of China state in the next 30 hours. WeatherBELL tweeted just before 8.30pm BST: “The Just-upgraded HWRF 12z shows the eye of powerful Typhoon #Maria narrowly missing northern Taiwan en route to Wed AM China landfall. Higher elevations on the island nearer to the eye are prone to stronger winds.” The prediction should come as welcome news to Taiwan’s 23.5m population. 8.40pm: Miitary planes diverted to Tokyo to avoid Typhoon Maria Jet fighter planes have been forced to land in Tokyo in order to escape Typhoon Maria, according to news site military.com. Fifteen F-15 Eagle fighters and eight F-22 Raptor fighter bypassed the storm by touching down in the Japanese capital from Okinawa’s Kadena Air Base. 7pm: What are the latest updates on Maria's path? Maria continues to head west-northwestward over the Northern Philippine Sea, according to the latest update from PAGASA. The typhoon’s wind speeds were 185km/h (114mph) at 11pm local time with gustiness up to 225km/h (139mph) suggesting it has weakened somewhat. Some residents in low-lying and mountainous areas could be at risk of landslides and flooding due to heavy rains. Areas at risk include Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Zambales, Bataan and Aurora. PAGASA also warned Maria could “enhance” the southwest monsoon (Habitat) bringing rains to Western Visayas and Mimaropa within the next 48 hours. Typhoon Maria is expected to exit PAR between July 10 and Wednesday early morning (local time) on July 11. Typhoon Maria path LIVE update: NASA said Maria appeared as a 'well-organized storm' 6.30pm: Typhoon Maria appears as 'well-organized storm' says NASA NASA has released satellite imagery showing the ferocity of Typhoon Maria as it heads towards Japan. The scientific agency captured the storm at 3pm BST when Maria’s winds were nearly at 231km/ph (143.8mph). At this point the typhoon was centred about 255 nautical miles south-southeast of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. NASA said Maria was moving to the west-northwest at 17.2 mph (15 knots/27.7 kph). 5.55pm: Land warning issued for Keelung and Taiwan states The Central Weather Bureau issued a land warning for Keelung, Yilan County, New Taipei City and Taipei City for the super typhoon at 11pm local time (4pm BST). The storm was located at 860km East Northeast of Basco, Batanes at 10pm local time (3pm BST).<doc-sep>Now, less than one year later, another major storm named Maria has formed in a completely different ocean basin. Per meteorologist Bob Henson of Weather Underground, only five storms with the same name have reached Category 5 status in different ocean basins. However, all of the other same-named storms were separated by at least seven years. The short time frame between two major storms named Maria is nothing if not noteworthy.<doc-sep>A typhoon is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday, the government’s weather agency said. Typhoon “Maria” is not likely to make landfall but will enhance the southwest monsoon and dump moderate to heavy rains over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas, said weather forecaster Ezra Bulquerin. ADVERTISEMENT Once the typhoon enters PAR, it will be locally named “Gardo”, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said. Maria was last spotted 1,965 kilometers east of Southern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 125 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 155 kph, according to Pagasa. The typhoon moved in a north-northwest direction at 10 kph. Meanwhile, Pagasa said southwest monsoon continues to affect the western sections of Luzon and Visayas. Overcast skies with a chance of rain and thunderstorms is likely to occur Friday over Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula as well as in the provinces of Palawan and Mindoro. Pagasa also said Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain and thunderstorms this Friday. /kga Click here for more weather related news. Read Next<doc-sep>

Typhoon Maria: Japan suffers mass FLOODING Maria is expected wreak havoc across Japan’s Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and eastern China as a dangerous super typhoon from Tuesday to Thursday, according to Accuweather. The powerful super typhoon will churns northwestward over the Philippine Sea during the beginning of the week. Although no land masses will be directly affected, the typhoon will stir dangerous seas and result in ships altering their courses. Residents and tourists in Maria’s path have been warned to follow any evacuation orders. Will super typhoon Maria hit Taiwan? After Maria plows through Japan’s Ryukyu Islands on Tuesday (local time), the typhoon will track past Taiwan and make landfall in eastern China on Wednesday. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said: ”Maria's excessive rainfall can lead to significant flooding. “Mudslides are a serious concern in the higher terrain." Typhoon Maria path and tracking: Maria has killed people in Japan and caused flooding Maria is anticipated to pass dangerously close or make a direct hit on one of the southern Ryukyu Islands with its strength equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane in the eastern Pacific or Atlantic oceans. The southern Ryukyu Islands, the Miyako Islands are inline to feel the full brunt of what Maria has to offer during the day on Tuesday. After lashing the Ryukyu Islands, Maria is expected to pass by the tip of northern Taiwan during Tuesday night into Wednesday. While the super typhoon may not make landfall on the island, it is expected to be close enough to bring rain and wind. Typhoon Maria path and tracking: map hows where the storm is heading Typhoon Maria path and tracking: Maria is causing extreme weather This could be enough to cause significant transportation delays in Taipei and surrounding communities. There may also be flooding and power outages. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk added: "The northern part of Taiwan should be spared the worst impacts from Maria, but we will have to continue to monitor the track for signs of a more southward path." Maria is expected to make landfall in eastern China in the middle of next week too, with northern Fujian and southern Zhejiang Provinces feeling the full force of the storm. Pictures show devastating scenes from deadly floods in Japan Sun, July 8, 2018 At least 38 people are dead and many missing in heavy rains that have lashed western Japan since July 3, triggering landslides and flooding in wide areas Play slideshow EPA 1 of 20 JR railway train is derailed due to heavy rain in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture

College football's unpredictability leaves viewers on the edge of their seats and Saturday's rash of upsets inside the Top 25 captivated millions in Week 6. Several Top 10 teams and notable unbeatens fell this weekend, including Oklahoma's wild last-second loss to Texas at the Cotton Bowl and Kentucky's nail-biting finish in College Station against Jimbo Fisher's Aggies. Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger posted five touchdowns and helped Texas on a 9-play march to win the game in the final minute, 48-45, after the Sooners had erased a three-touchdown deficit. "The first three quarters were very impressive. But maybe that last drive was the most impressive to me because when we had really given up a lot of the energy and certainly in a tie ballgame, to let them back in," Texas coach Tom Herman said of Ehlinger. "For him to go shut the door, with his teammates, that says a lot about his grit." Florida took out previously fifth-ranked LSU in Gainesville, the biggest win during Dan Mullen's first season and one that should catapult the Gators several spots in the new rankings. Here's our best guess at Sunday's Week 7 Associated Press Top 25:<doc-sep>Now that we’re seven weeks into the season it’s time to start thinking about the College Football Playoff. The first set of official playoff rankings don’t come out until Oct. 30 but that’s not stopping us from trying to envision what the playoff field would currently look like. Below is our best guess of the four teams that would be in the playoff if it started today — we’re happy it doesn’t — and then a breakdown of the teams outside the field who have the opportunity to move into the real top four by the end of the season. In the playoff right now Alabama (7-0): The Crimson Tide would be nothing but the top seed if the playoff started today. Yes, you can quibble with Alabama’s schedule to date but Texas A&M has emerged as a top 25 team and Louisville was expected to be a lot better than it is. If there’s a minor concern it’s the knee of QB Tua Tagovailoa. He’s been dealing with a sprain and tweaked it in Alabama’s 39-10 win over Missouri Saturday night. All indications are that he’ll be good to go, but if Tagovailoa misses some time, Alabama’s offense becomes less dynamic. Ohio State (7-0): The Buckeyes’ offense is legit. It’s second in the country to Alabama’s at this point. Dwayne Haskins has been a revelation in his first year as a starter and running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber are a potent combination. The defense keeps Ohio State from challenging for the top spot, especially without star defensive end Nick Bosa. But with or without Bosa the Buckeyes have to figure out how to stop giving up big plays. Clemson (6-0): The Tigers were off on Saturday and will move up a spot in Sunday’s AP Top 25 as a result. Clemson’s set at quarterback with Trevor Lawrence now the undisputed starter and running back Travis Etienne has emerged as one of the best backs in the country. The defensive line is still perhaps the most talented in the country and the Tigers have a key road win over Texas A&M in Week 2. LSU (6-1): Let’s get a little controversial for the fourth team. The Tigers now have wins over Georgia, Miami and Auburn — back when Auburn was able to run the ball and playing good football. The Tigers’ only loss is on the road to a Florida team that could be in the top 10 on Sunday. Story continues Is that enough to put LSU in the playoff if it started right now? It very well could be. The Tigers’ offense still has question marks — Joe Burrow hasn’t been spectacular in any of the big victories — but the defense has been exceptional. If you’re looking for a chaos playoff scenario, look no further than an LSU win over Alabama on Nov. 3 that sends the Tigers to the SEC championship game and leaves Alabama out of the league title game for a second-straight year with an 11-1 record. Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) scores a touchdown as Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton (32) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) On the outside, but with a key to get in Notre Dame (7-0): The Irish are in this group only because we’re picking the playoff at this current moment. There’s plenty of time for Notre Dame to play its way into the top four. As long as Notre Dame keeps winning the Irish are in a great position for the playoff. The committee won’t pass over a 12-0 Notre Dame team. Georgia (6-1): The Bulldogs still control their destiny in the playoff race. Wins over Kentucky and Florida are resume boosters and a win over Alabama or LSU in the SEC championship game is good enough for a 12-1 Georgia team to make the playoff. But after losing handily to LSU on Saturday, it’s easy to wonder if Georgia can accomplish that. Michigan (6-1): The Wolverines still have a tough schedule ahead with games against Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State. But a convincing win over Wisconsin does a lot to boost Michigan’s ranking in the near term. UM has bounced back nicely from a loss to Notre Dame in Week 1 and looks like the formidable team we thought it would be. Oklahoma (5-1), Texas (6-1), and West Virginia (6-1): The three Big 12 teams are all grouped together because they’re inseparable at this point. The Big 12 needs one of them to run the table the rest of the way and beat another team from this group of three in the Big 12 championship game. Otherwise the conference probably isn’t going to get a team in the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma was off Saturday, Texas beat Baylor 23-17 to move to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference and West Virginia fell to 5-1 with a loss to Iowa State. Oregon (5-1): You could be the Pac-12’s only hope, Ducks. After beating Washington in overtime on Saturday the Ducks have the signature win they should have gotten against Stanford. Oregon doesn’t entirely control its own Pac-12 North destiny; it needs help from Stanford. But with a win over Washington and a potential Pac-12 title, Oregon may be the conference’s only conceivable playoff hope. Things need to get crazy Colorado (5-1): The Buffs really needed Washington to beat Oregon. The Huskies are the only team currently ranked that’s remaining on Colorado’s schedule. A win over a then-top-5 Washington next week would be a big boost for Colorado. Now Washington will be closer to No. 15 than 5. Colorado just needs to keep winning. Florida (6-1) and Kentucky (5-1): The two SEC East rivals each have one loss and Kentucky has the head-to-head victory. Kentucky is in the SEC title game with a win over Georgia and no other SEC losses and Florida gets in with a win over Georgia, no losses and some help from Kentucky. Add in an SEC title and we’ve got ourselves a playoff contender. Yeah, it’s a long shot. NC State (5-0): The Wolfpack are 5-0 and have Clemson on Oct. 20. If NC State wins that game then they vault into the second tier. But they reside here for now, especially as we mourn the cancellation of a matchup with West Virginia because of Hurricane Florence. That would have been a fun game. Central Florida (6-0): The Knights’ win streak survived by a point in a 31-30 win over Memphis on Saturday. UCF is in the driver’s seat for another New Year’s Six bowl game and we don’t envy the Power Five team that draws UCF in that game. South Florida and Cincinnati are also undefeated in the American Athletic Conference and both get to play UCF at the end of the season. If any of the three teams finish the season undefeated they’re going to a prime bowl game. But not the playoff. The committee showed last year that an undefeated season wasn’t enough for UCF to get a sniff. Why would it be any different in 2018? Eliminated from contention Saturday Miami, Penn State, Wisconsin: All three teams suffered a second loss. Sorry y’all. You’re out. Winners Kliff Kingsbury: Kingsbury, now in his sixth season as coach at Texas Tech, has been on the proverbial hot seat for some time now. Things looked dicey last year before the Red Raiders beat Texas in Austin to clinch a bowl berth. And after Friday night’s win over TCU, Kingsbury’s Red Raiders have now won three straight road conference games. TTU, now 4-2 (2-1 Big 12), upset Oklahoma State 41-17 earlier this season in Stillwater. The defense shut out the Cowboys in the second half that night. On Friday, the much-maligned unit forced three TCU turnovers in a 17-14 win. KJ Hill: It took a while for Ohio State to pull away from Minnesota in an eventual 30-14 win, but wideout K.J. Hill did his part. The junior caught nine passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns.<doc-sep>Three more unbeatens washed away and several other elite-level teams were pushed to the brink during a wild Saturday in college football's Week 7. How did LSU's win over Georgia, West Virginia's loss at Iowa State and Oregon's overtime triumph over Washington affect this week's ESPN Top 25 FPI rankings? The Football Power Index (FPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season. FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule. Ratings and projections update daily. From Nos. 25 to 1, here are the changes in ESPN's Top 25 after Week 7:<doc-sep>

Chuck Burton/Associated Press On paper, the majority of the teams in the AP Top 25 have easy matchups in Week 7, but nothing can be taken for granted in college football. No. 23 South Florida became the first of the 11 remaining unbeaten teams to move into Week 8 without a blemish on its record, as it fended off a challenge from Tulsa on Friday night. Among the College Football Playoff contenders, No. 2 Georgia, No. 6 West Virginia and No. 7 Washington are all on the road and face the most difficult tests. The CFP will come into focus throughout Week 7, especially during the night slate, as the Big 12 and Pac-12 have plenty at stake in two of Saturday's top games. Week 7 AP Top 25 1. Alabama (6-0) Video Play Button Videos you might like 2. Georgia (6-0) 3. Ohio State (6-0) 4. Clemson (6-0) 5. Notre Dame (6-0) 6. West Virginia (5-0) 7. Washington (5-1) 8. Penn State (4-1) 9. Texas (5-1) 10. UCF (5-0) 11. Oklahoma (5-1) 12. Michigan (5-1) 13. LSU (5-1) 14. Florida (5-1) 15. Wisconsin (4-1) 16. Miami (5-1) 17. Oregon (4-1) 18. Kentucky (5-1) 19. Colorado (5-0) 20. NC State (5-0) 21. Auburn (4-2) 22. Texas A&M (4-2) 23. South Florida (6-0) 24. Mississippi State (4-2) 25. Cincinnati (6-0) Big 12, Pac-12 Have Plenty on the Line in Playoff Discussion The Big 12 and Pac-12 are already in less-than-ideal situations when it comes to the College Football Playoff, but it could get worse for both conferences if West Virginia and Washington fall in Week 7. With No. 11 Oklahoma losing to No. 9 Texas in Week 6, the Big 12 has one undefeated team left. But the Mountaineers are going up against a pesky Iowa State side that isn't afraid of facing the top programs in the conference. If West Virginia falls to an unranked foe, the Big 12's best team would be Texas. But despite winning five in a row, the Longhorns have a blotch on their resume in the form of a loss to Maryland. The situation is a bit more dire in the Pac-12 since Washington is the league's only team ranked inside the top 15. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press No. 17 Oregon is an ideal situation to boost its resume if it knocks off the Huskies on Saturday, but the Ducks' home loss to Stanford is looking worse by the week. After the Huskies and Ducks, No. 19 Colorado is the only other ranked team out of the Pac-12, which causes concern about the quality of the conference regardless of whether Washington earns its sixth win of the season. Even if the Huskies run the table, it might be hard to include them because of the Week 1 loss to Auburn and the SEC's strength compared to that of the Pac-12. Another SEC Shakeup Expected SEC teams have been all over the Top 25 this season, and a few of them have fluctuated in and out of the rankings. Another shift in the ranking of SEC teams could occur after Week 7, as three ranked teams hit the road, including No. 2 Georgia's trip to No. 13 LSU. No. 14 Florida must focus on the road at Vanderbilt after riding the wave of an emotional home win over LSU. Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press No. 22 Texas A&M heads to South Carolina to face a Gamecocks team with a dangerous deep threat in Deebo Samuel. As for No. 1 Alabama and No, 21 Auburn, they should be able to take care of business. And if a few teams in front of them fall in Week 7, the Tigers could be back near the top 15. The change in the league standings would be significant if upsets occur. Georgia would be level with Florida in the SEC East with a loss, and LSU would keep the pressure on Alabama in the SEC West. If Georgia and South Carolina come out on top, Alabama's path to the SEC Championship becomes clearer, as the Crimson Tide would have a two-game division lead with a win over Missouri. Although most conferences go through changes in the standings, the SEC is more in focus because of the potential to grab two playoff positions. Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Dr. Pimple Popper type TV Show network TLC genre Reality The idea that dermatologists could save lives was once so laughable, Seinfeld did a whole episode about it. (“The whole profession is, ‘Eh, just put some aloe on it,’” Jerry cracked to Elaine in “The Slicer.”) You might think that a show called Dr. Pimple Popper wouldn’t do much to bolster dermatology’s image, but with her new TLC series, Dr. Sandra Lee aims to prove she’s more than just a whitehead warrior. Having built an epidermic empire with her pimple-popping, cyst-lancing, blackhead-extracting videos on YouTube and Instagram, Lee now has a bustling practice in the suburbs of Los Angeles. It’s there we meet her patients-of-the-week, people who are saddled with disfiguring skin conditions that go way beyond blackheads and breakouts. Melissa has a cantaloupe-sized lipoma (a benign tumor made of fat tissue) on her shoulder, which she hides by wearing hooded sweatshirts all year round. Tyler from New Hampshire is very reluctant to get the large lump on his forehead checked out because cancer runs in his family, but he’s finally ready to face his fears after the birth of his daughter. Amber hides the painful keloids (growths of scar tissue) on her ears with ever-present headbands, and Tahj is tired of the 60-plus boils (the result of steatocystoma multiplex) covering his torso. Like E!’s plastic-surgery-gone-wrong series Botched, Dr. Pimple Popper takes our natural — if not exactly admirable — tendency to gawk at the grotesque and wraps it in a gauzy blanket of human interest. Getting to know the men and women behind the troublesome bumps, boils, and blobs makes it all the more satisfying when Dr. Lee — who takes on every challenge with a brisk but approachable bedside manner — vanquishes the offending growths with her scalpel. A note of warning: Pimple Popper is spectacularly graphic. White ribbons of pus shoot from a newly lanced boil; the camera closes in as a pair of tweezers pulls a “calcified” substance from a cyst; Lee wrests handfuls of something that looks like raw chicken from a freshly opened lump. If reading that last sentence sent your gag reflex into spasms, this is not the show for you. For Dr. Lee’s millions of followers, though, seeing these disgusting procedures play out is weirdly cathartic. To put it in TV terms, watching Dr. Pimple Popper at work is the dermatological equivalent of a procedural crime drama: Bad guy (hideous skin growth) commits terrible act; victim turns to a highly trained team of experts (Dr. Lee and her staff) for help; and by the end of the hour, the criminal has been sent away (in this case, to the medical waste bin)… hopefully for life. And Pimple Popper delivers that blast of feel-good warmth you want from a makeover show, as the patients offer tearful post-procedural testimonials about how Dr. Lee changed their life for the better. Those warm-fuzzies just happen to come with a heaping helping of pus. B<doc-sep>Whether you're a Popaholic or not, Dr. Sandra Lee, thinks you'll find something to love about Dr. Pimple Popper's new show. The doctor made a name for herself when her educational dermatology videos began to go viral, and while Lee's Dr. Pimple Popper YouTube videos are focused on the popping of pimples, extraction of blackheads, and removal of cysts, her TLC series Dr. Pimple Popper wants to focus on the patients and their stories. In an exclusive clip from the new series published by Entertainment Weekly, a patient named Tyler comes to Dr. Lee's office in the hopes that she can do something about two bumps on his forehead. Especially, one that is rather large above his left eyebrow. While the bumps are a health concern, Tyler says, "The biggest reason I'm here is to get my face back." When Dr. Lee sees him she can't help but compliment his red beard, but notes that the bump is hard to ignore. Her hope is that she can figure out what the bumps are, specifically the smaller one right above Tyler's right eyebrow, which he's had for five years or so and doesn't look like a "typical cyst" to her. "It's in the way of your life," she says. Tyler agrees, later telling the camera if he can't have it removed it would be a "heartbreak." Dr. Lee's goal in the clip isn't just to remove the bump with as little scarring as possible, but to also figure out what it is, a goal fans will recognize from her videos. While many have enjoyed watching Dr. Pimple Popper's YouTube videos of her popping pimples, which, don't worry, she will continue to do on this show, there's a more serious side to what she does that this show aims to cover. In her videos a patients face isn't visible, it's all about the popping. With this show, it puts a face to the popping. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dr. Lee explains: "In the series, we follow the patients. I don’t really see this in my practice. I don’t really see how a bump on someone really affects his or her life. So it’s really nice to see this go full circle. Even though, to some people, it might be considered kind of gruesome or gross, it’s actually a really happy thing, a feel-good thing. It is an amazing process. I’m kind of freaked out, though, because…I mean, this is crazy to me. It’s pimple popping." She's right, it's a little crazy that pimple popping has earned her over a million views. In just three years, she's become a viral sensation thanks to videos that some people may think are gross, but others find satisfying — psychologists say those pimple popping videos help raise our happiness levels. But just because the show will focus more on Dr. Lee's patients and their stories than whatever they're hoping to have the doctor treat, that doesn't mean that Dr. Lee's fans, who have named themselves the Popaholics, will be disappointed. In her interview with EW, she promised she's going to tackle some big cases, including the biggest cyst and the biggest lipoma — a fatty lump that lies between the skin and the muscle — she's ever seen. But, she is looking to pick some new fans who might be a little turned off by her very graphic videos. "They’re going to realize that it’s not about the grossness," she told EW. "It’s about real people and trying to make them better. Sometimes they will want to avert their eyes, but it’s going to pull them in emotionally." Dr. Pimple Popper is also hoping to educate people about their skin and what to look out for through the show. "It’s so much more than popping," she said. "Even though the pops are the big draw, you really see what we do as dermatologists." Most of all, though, Dr. Lee wants to make sure everyone who's watching knows there's no reason to be ashamed of their skin, nor is there a reason to shame others for theirs. "Our skin is our armor, this is how we present ourselves to the world. If your skin looks different, it’s very hard to cope," she said. "We want to show how people live with these conditions that you might not see every day. You don’t realize the sort of burdens some people have to bear." Now with Dr. Pimple Popper, she's hoping people finally will by getting to know the people she treats. The people, in other words, behind the pops.<doc-sep>"We watch what she's doing and some of it may be too graphic for some members of our audience and we were very well aware of that," he added. He said "maybe there's a factor where some viewers are just turned off by it and yet, oddly, the other half of the audience is compelled by it."<doc-sep>

Are you ready, Popaholics? Instagram and YouTube sensation Dr. Pimple Popper is getting her own show! Here’s what you need to know about the series and the woman behind the pimple popping! 1. Dr. Sandra Lee, Dr. Pimple Popper, rose to fame on YouTube and social media. Her Dr. Pimple Popper page has nearly 3 million followers on Instagram, while her YouTube page has almost 4 million subscribers. Fans (or Popaholics) flock to her pages to watch her perform extractions of lipomas, blackheads and more on patients. Not only does she have her own show now, she has her own skincare line! 2. The show comes after a very popular special. Dr. Pimple Popper: This Is Zit became such a hit when it aired in Jan. 2018 that the doctor got her own 6-episode series! “Dr. Pimple Popper provides a complete window into my world as a busy dermatologist,” Dr. Lee, 47, said. “The TLC viewer goes on a journey with my patients during this series; first you meet the patients in their hometown, and see how their skin condition affects their life and the people around them. You understand how devastating their condition really is, how it affects their everyday life, and how they interact with others and the world. I evaluate every patient and decide on a treatment course to help their skin conditions – and afterward, we see how we have really transformed their lives!” Dr. Pimple Popper premieres July 11 at 10 p.m. on TLC. 3. Dr. Sandra Lee isn’t just a dermatologist. She’s also a skin cancer surgeon and cosmetic surgeon. She’s based out of Upland, California. 4. Kim Kardashian is a fan of Dr. Pimple Popper! During an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim talked with mom Kris Jenner about watching Dr. Pimple Popper videos. Dr. Lee reposted the clip from the show on Instagram and wrote, “Presently hyperventilating.” 5. The show is going to different from her YouTube channel. The show isn’t going to be a pop and done type of show. “In the series, we follow the patients,” Dr. Lee told EW. “I don’t really see this in my practice. I don’t really see how a bump on someone really affects his or her life. So it’s really nice to see this go full circle.”

Although the logo on the ball notes the presence of the chip, it’s not clear whether the device was “removed, replaced with actual spy gear, or, even more remotely, whether the entire ball itself was fabricated for the event and only resembled the Adidas model in question,” according to Bloomberg.<doc-sep>Surprise! That very innocent soccer ball Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted Donald Trump during their Helsinki summit last week (yes, that was just last week, folks) may not be so innocent. Bloomberg is reporting that the soccer ball may contain an embedded NFC (Near Field Communication) chip. The ball, which is produced by Adidas, is typically embedded with a chip that allows it to communicate with nearby devices, such as phones and tablets. Once connected with a device, the chip allows fans to access "exclusive information about the product, Adidas football content, special competitions and challenges, etc," according to Adidas. Image: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP/REX/Shutterstock While it's unclear if this exact ball contained the chip or was tampered with by the Russians in any way, photos from the event clearly show the chip's logo, which is where it is placed inside the ball. Adidas declined to comment to Bloomberg on whether or not the NFC chip could be used by the Russians to hack nearby devices, such as Trump's reportedly risky phones. The White House also declined to say if the ball was modified, or where the gift would be kept. The ball did undergo a routine security screening by the U.S. Secret Service, the AP reports. While Adidas notes on its website that the chip is "passive," it's probably just not worth the risk. It was, after all, given to the president by the leader of Russia, a country who is no stranger to all sorts of hacking — including the 2016 U.S. election. However, as Bloomberg notes and Forbes reported in 2015, "an engineer used an NFC chip to send a nearby Android phone a request to open a link that — if the user agreed to open it — installed a malicious file that took over the phone." Sorry, but I don't trust anyone in government to be tech savvy enough to not fall for such an attack. Hell, they're falling left and right for pranks from Sacha Baron Cohen.<doc-sep>While lawmakers and news pundits speculated about the possibility of the soccer ball gifted to President Donald Trump by Russian President Vladimir Putin being bugged, it turns out that, in a way, it was – by Adidas. The soccer ball is one of the company's models that comes with a tiny transmitter chip already embedded under the outer layer of the ball, as first reported by Bloomberg, giving it the ability for "two devices to exchange data." Vladimir Putin passed a soccer ball to President Trump in Finland on Monday. It's unclear what the goal was. That said, many Americans didn't exactly get a kick of the gesture, and in the eyes of most, Russia was the day's big winner ⚽️ https://t.co/LFF0pgGFWq pic.twitter.com/bIFP6NcC5h — OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) July 17, 2018 According to Adidas' website, the digital technology is called "Near Field Communication" (NFC) which enables a phone or tablet to send "radio frequency signals" that interacts with the NFC chip. It allows players to access special information and games online after connecting. Adidas says the NFC tag cannot be modified and can only send information, not receive it. "It is not possible to delete or rewrite the encoded parameters," Adidas says. The chip, which is placed underneath a logo on the ball, is made by a Netherlands technology company, Smartrac. According to its website, NFC tags can "carry significantly more data, are more secure and can be password protected." It is also the same type of technology used in the 2018 FIFA World Cup ball. Adidas declined to comment Thursday morning. Smartrac did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment Wednesday and whether the device is susceptible to hacking. In 2015, a hacker used the technology to send an Android phone a link that, when clicked on, installed a virus to take over the phone. The White House declined to tell Bloomberg whether the chip had been removed from the ball or where it was being kept. "The security screening process that is done for all gifts was done for the soccer ball," press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Bloomberg. "We are not going to comment further on security procedures." Putin gave the ball to Trump during a press conference in Helsinki earlier this month following the two leaders' 2-hour-long one-on-one meeting that has since sparked significant bipartisan backlash. Despite being told Putin likely personally ordered cyberattacks on the U.S. elections, Trump refused to acknowledge Russian meddling while standing next to the Russian leader. Lawmakers from both parties expressed pause about the ball, suggesting it could likely contain listening devices. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina expressed his discontent with Trump's meeting, adding that he would "never allow [the soccer ball] in the White House" because it was probably bugged. Finally, if it were me, I’d check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House. — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 16, 2018 I just saw a US Secret Service agent put the soccer ball Putin gave Trump through a security scanner outside the Pres. Palace. He didn’t smile when I joked about it. — Bill Neely (@BillNeelyNBC) July 16, 2018 If Putin had implanted a listening device, it would be far from the first time the Russians have bugged the Americans. In 1952, it was discovered a U.S. replica seal, given by the Russians as a gift years before, contained a listening device. At one point during the Cold War, the U.S. embassy in Moscow was home to 120 Soviet-era bugs. The same day the transmitter chip was discovered in the soccer ball, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was grilled by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about Trump's past meetings with North Korea and Russia. During numerous contentious back-and-forth exchanges with senators, Pompeo defended the president's private meetings with both countries and tried to reassure lawmakers Trump believes top intelligence officials' assessments that Putin interfered in the 2016 elections, despite past denials. For the first time since President Trump met with leaders from North Korea and Russia, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo faced questions from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. @nickschifrin reports. pic.twitter.com/PqNnKN52Ym — PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) July 25, 2018 This story has been updated to include Adidas' decline to comment and Pompeo's testimony to senators on Wednesday.<doc-sep>Putin gives Trump a soccer ball at a conference in Helsinki, Finland this week. Photo : Alexander Zemlianichenko ( AP ) While at a conference alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a high-profile conference in Helsinki this month, Donald Trump took some time out of relentlessly praising his counterpart—a former KGB foreign intelligence officer and currently suspected U.S. election-meddler—to accept a gift of one Adidas AG soccer ball. Turns out that model of soccer ball has a chip in it. Advertisement Per a report in Bloomberg, said soccer ball carries markings identifying it as part of a line with a built-in “chip with a tiny antenna,” albeit one ostensibly designed by Adidas, not a basement lab at GRU headquarters. The contained NFC chip is “passive and only sends out information,” according to the Adidas website, and is marketed as allowing fans who bring their mobile devices close to the ball access to premium content like exclusive videos, competitions, and challenges. Bloomberg writes: But rather than a spy device, the chip is an advertised feature of the Adidas AG ball. Photographs from the news conference in Helsinki, where Putin handed the ball to Trump, show it bore a logo for a near-field communication tag. During manufacturing, the NFC chip is placed inside the ball under that logo, which resembles the icon for a WiFi signal, according to the Adidas website. The chip allows fans to access player videos, competitions and other content by bringing their mobile devices close to the ball. The feature is included in the 2018 FIFA World Cup match ball that’s sold on the Adidas website for $165 (reduced to $83 in the past week). In other words, this isn’t necessarily an indication of anything nefarious. Putin may well have simply given the president an off-the-shelf Adidas ball that does nothing more than transmit a code unlocking dumb premium content that, in all likelihood, neither the president or anyone else has an interest in unlocking. Per CNN, cybersecurity expert Scott Schober noted that any mobile device would likely need to be “within a couple of centimeters” of the ball to even register the code, while Adidas claims the encoded tag is impossible to interfere with. However, that is assuming that the ball was not surreptitiously fiddled with, such as by replacing the NFC transmitter with a near visually identical device of Russian origin, somehow modifying it, or just creating a fake ball. As Bloomberg helpfully noted, it “it couldn’t be determined from the photos” whether the ball was modified, because duh. That would be brash by intelligence standards. As Schober told CNN, any device brought into close proximity to the president would be examined by the Secret Service or counterintelligence officials to see if it emitted “any radio frequency”—and even given Trump’s suspiciously friendly relationship with Putin, it seems like a massive stretch the latter leader would be so brazen as to hand the president a bugged device personally. So cue the cries of “fake news!” and all that. That said, the Cold War is rife with stories of Soviet intelligence ingenuity, including a replica Great Seal of the United States containing a sophisticated, pencil-sized resonating device they gave U.S. Ambassador George Kennan in 1952. Dubbed “The Thing,” its operation—powered by KGB technicians in a nearby building who targeted it with microwaves—was only discovered when a British radio operator heard Kennan’s conversations being broadcast on an open channel. Advertisement Bloomberg concluded that one kind of attack, in which the NFC chip could be modified or replaced to redirect a user to a malicious URL, is probably not happening: However, such a multi-stepped attack via a soccer ball seems unlikely, said Linus Neumann, a spokesman for the Hamburg-based Chaos Computer Club, a hacker collective that for decades has exposed weaknesses in German banking, government and other computer systems. “Trump would have to ignore multiple security warnings and intentionally install a malware on his device,” Neumann said, adding that such a hack working would depend on the president, “falling for a silly attack like this.” Advertisement In one sense, that’s ominous, given the president does not know how cybersecurity works and is basically the number one guy who would fall for something “silly.” But in another sense, it’s reassuring, given the near certainty Trump does not know how to install an app on his phone. Melania Trump, however... First lady Melania Trump holding the ball after it was tossed to her by her husband. Photo : Pablo Martinez Monsivais ( AP ) Advertisement Hmm. [Bloomberg]<doc-sep>

The soccer ball that Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted to President Donald Trump during their controversial meeting in Helsinki last week may have contained a transmitter chip, according to a new report from Bloomberg Soccer Ball Putin Gave Donald Trump May Have a Transmitter Chip — But It’s Not What You Think The soccer ball that Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted to President Donald Trump during their controversial meeting in Helsinki last week may have contained a transmitter chip, according to a new report from Bloomberg. But while some have speculated — both in seriousness and in jest — that the ball may have been bugged, the chip is not a spy tool but rather a technological feature of the Adidas AG soccer ball that’s designed to connect fans to player videos, competitions and other content through their mobile devices. Bloomberg was the first to report that the soccer ball featured a logo resembling the icon for a WiFi signal. According to the Adidas website, this logo indicates that near-field communication chip that transmits information to nearby phones is embedded in the ball. The feature is included in the company’s 2018 FIFA World Cup match ball. Bloomberg suggested it’s technically possible that the chip may have been removed from the ball given to President Trump and replaced with a spy device. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told the outlet, “The security screening process that is done for all gifts was done for the soccer ball. We are not going to comment further on security procedures.” She declined to say whether the ball had been modified or where it would be kept. The Associated Press reported last week that the ball was undergoing a routine security screening. President Trump And President Putin Hold A Joint Press Conference After Summit Donald Trump (left) and Vladimir Putin | Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Putin’s gift to Trump last week sparked social media speculation that the World Cup souvenir could be bugged. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted, “I’d check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House.”

Who is capable of challenging Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and Clemson in the College Football Playoff race? After four weeks, the answer remains unclear following a wild Saturday of upsets nationally as seven Top 25 teams went down, including Virginia Tech, TCU and Mississippi State on the road. One of the big dogs will be tested on Saturday as the Buckeyes travel to Penn State in the College GameDay primetime showdown. A win for the Nittany Lions shakes everything up at the top. Another interesting storyline to watch the rest of the way is Jalen Hurts' future at Alabama. After playing in Saturday's blowout vs. Texas A&M, Hurts will now be unable to redshirt if he appears in another game. Perhaps that's what he wants to do as Tua Tagovailoa's primary backup — continue to develop at the quarterback position for college football's best team. ESPN has updated its Top 25 power rankings heading into Week 5:<doc-sep>Ron Schwane/Associated Press Thursday Night Football in Week 4 was destined to tell us much about the NFC playoff picture. The Los Angeles Rams played host to the Minnesota Vikings and escaped with a 38-31 victory behind five touchdowns from breakout star Jared Goff, an outburst the visitors couldn't match despite running more plays. Outside of those season-long implications, a handful of other Week 4 games will provide similar ripple effects. New England is on the ropes coming up against Miami, Pittsburgh is flirting with danger against Baltimore and Kansas City and Denver both have an eye on a divisional crown. Before the rest of the slate unfolds, here is where the league stands after Thursday's result. 2018 NFL Power Rankings Rank Team 1 Kansas City Chiefs 2 Los Angeles Rams 3 Miami Dolphins 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5 Philadelphia Eagles 6 Carolina Panthers 7 Jacksonville Jaguars 8 Cincinnati Bengals 9 New England Patriots 10 Tennessee Titans 11 Green Bay Packers 12 Baltimore Ravens 13 Denver Broncos 14 New Orleans Saints 15 Washington Redskins 16 Atlanta Falcons 17 Chicago Bears 18 Minnesota Vikings 19 Seattle Seahawks 20 Indianapolis Colts 21 Dallas Cowboys 22 Cleveland Browns 23 Pittsburgh Steelers 24 Los Angeles Chargers 25 San Francisco 49ers 26 New York Giants 27 Detroit Lions 28 Houston Texans 29 New York Jets 30 Oakland Raiders 31 Buffalo Bills 32 Arizona Cardinals author's opinion Miami Dolphins Video Play Button OBJ's Trade to Cleveland Has the Browns Hyped Le'Veon's Power Move Pays Off After Signing Massive Deal with Jets Friends to Foes, Ex-UGA Teammates Meet in Super Bowl Cooks Gave a Super Gift to This Rams Employee Mahomes Loves Ketchup as Much as Torching Defenses Bears Hoping to Ride Club Dub to the Super Bowl The Worst Fantasy Football Punishments for Last Place NFL Players Bring Soccer Traditions to the NFL JuJu Is a Man of the People Bills Superfan 'Pancho Billa' Continues to Inspire Happy 26th Birthday to OBJ 🎉 Mahomes Is 'Showtime' Off the Field Too Thielen's Ride from Underdog to Record-Breaking WR Shanahan and His Son Carter Are Hyped for Carter V Browns Winning Off the Field with Community Service Conner's Journey from Beating Cancer to Starting RB Does Donovan McNabb Deserve Your 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Vote? B/R Fantasy Expert Matt Camp Gives His Picks for Keep or Release After Week 2 Does Hines Ward Deserve Your 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Vote? Shaquem Griffin Starting for Seahawks in Week 1 Right Arrow Icon The New England Patriots are in trouble because the rest of the NFL can't seem to figure out the undefeated Miami Dolphins. Miami has Ryan Tannehill back under center, and he's back to playing like his 2015 breakout self when he threw for 4,045 yards, 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions—he's already sitting on 687 yards with seven scores and two picks. Tannehill continues to toss one of the prettier deep balls in the NFL and has three different receivers with at least two touchdowns. He certainly has Bill Belichick paying attention: Miami's turnaround is a testament to its coaching considering it lost a top offensive weapon when Jarvis Landry left. The offensive approach has been well complemented by a defense only permitting 17.3 points per game on average, a top-six mark. The result is a win over Tennessee, a divisional win over New York and a win over Oakland, all by seven or more points. It hasn't always been pretty, but this is the sort of Dolphins team that doesn't need a gimmick like the Wildcat to go into Foxborough and steal a win from the Patriots. And if the Dolphins do that in Week 4, it's going to be hard to ignore them. Chicago Bears Rick Scuteri/Associated Press Unlike the Dolphins, the Chicago Bears are one solid quarterback away from serious contention. But that hasn't stopped them from winning. The Bears are 2-1 despite Mitchell Trubisky struggling somewhat under center, with the 2017 No. 2 pick throwing for 591 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions. But any reactions are premature at this point—it isn't shocking in any way that a guy who only attempted 571 passes in college before spending his rookie pro season. In other words, Bears fans can crawl back from the ledge, as Trubisky will need a few years to realize his potential. Until then, a defense permitting less than 19 points per game on average with 14 sacks over all of three contests could have them winning an NFC North crown. The Bears were already good defensively before Khalil Mack arrived, but he's clearly still had a major impact: Chicago's lone loss so far this year was going on the road and losing to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers by a point in the season opener. In Week 4, Mack and the Bears will get a visit from a floundering Tampa Bay team on a short week. Should the defense shutter an elite cast of weapons at the skill positions, making it three wins in a row, the Bears could be the biggest power-rankings riser of the week. Cleveland Browns Video Play Button OBJ's Trade to Cleveland Has the Browns Hyped Le'Veon's Power Move Pays Off After Signing Massive Deal with Jets Friends to Foes, Ex-UGA Teammates Meet in Super Bowl Cooks Gave a Super Gift to This Rams Employee Mahomes Loves Ketchup as Much as Torching Defenses Bears Hoping to Ride Club Dub to the Super Bowl The Worst Fantasy Football Punishments for Last Place NFL Players Bring Soccer Traditions to the NFL JuJu Is a Man of the People Bills Superfan 'Pancho Billa' Continues to Inspire Happy 26th Birthday to OBJ 🎉 Mahomes Is 'Showtime' Off the Field Too Thielen's Ride from Underdog to Record-Breaking WR Shanahan and His Son Carter Are Hyped for Carter V Browns Winning Off the Field with Community Service Conner's Journey from Beating Cancer to Starting RB Does Donovan McNabb Deserve Your 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Vote? B/R Fantasy Expert Matt Camp Gives His Picks for Keep or Release After Week 2 Does Hines Ward Deserve Your 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Vote? Shaquem Griffin Starting for Seahawks in Week 1 Right Arrow Icon Don't be surprised if the Cleveland Browns are another fast-riser candidate after Week 4. The Browns broke the miserable losing streak on Thursday Night Football last week. As most even non-NFL fans know, the 2018 No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield threw for 201 yards and keyed the comeback. The effect on a team that was as low as the Browns isn't hard to figure out: But what really gets lost in the noise right now is one of the NFL's best defenses. This has been budding on paper for a while now, but Cleveland has finally become a defensive powerhouse like the rest of the AFC North. The Browns allow fewer than 20 points per game and not only held the Pittsburgh Steelers to 21 points in a tie, but then turned around and held Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints to 21. Pittsburgh has scored 37 and 30 in its other two games, New Orleans 40 and 43. Holding the Jets to 17 points in Week 3 was the first time the elite defense didn't have to counteract one of the NFL's best offenses. The idea moving forward is to slow lesser offenses while Mayfield provides a bigger spark than Tyrod Taylor for the offense. The first test is a road game against the winless, rebuilding Oakland Raiders, so don't be surprised if the owners of one of the biggest winning droughts in sports history now cobbles together a streak and climbs further north on the power rankings.<doc-sep>For the first time this season, the Los Angeles Rams have claimed the top spot in USA TODAY’s weekly power rankings. They were No. 1 on many lists last week, but for USA TODAY, the Jaguars looked like the better team. Not anymore, though. The Rams jumped one spot to No. 1, while the Jaguars tumbled all the way to No. 8 after losing to the Titans 9-6. The Chiefs stayed close behind at No. 2, while the Saints made a huge leap forward from No. 12 to 9. The Eagles and Buccaneers – who rose despite losing Monday night – round out the top five. They’re on pace to outscore opponents by 352 points (22 per game), though that could change with Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib on pace to miss a few games. The Rams obviously won’t keep up that pace and beat their remaining opponents by 22 points per game, but they certainly look like the best team in the NFL right now – especially with many of the perceived Super Bowl contenders struggling. The Patriots dropped 16 spots to No. 24, the Vikings slid 14 spots to 19, and the Packers dropped all the way from No. 4 to 17. Week 3 was a wild one in the NFL, but one thing held true: The Rams won by double-digits and looked like the best team in the league.<doc-sep>

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press The Cleveland Browns, coming off their first win since 2016, have a better record than the New England Patriots. That just about sums up the craziness of the first three weeks of the NFL season. After Sunday's action, only four teams remain undefeated, and they're quarterbacked by Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Tannehill, Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff. Perhaps aside from Goff, it's safe to say few expected that to be the remaining crew with unblemished records. Much has changed in the power rankings through three weeks, but here's an attempt to sort through all the early-season upsets and rank the teams entering tonight's Monday Night Football action between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1. Los Angeles Rams (3-0) 2. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) Video Play Button Videos you might like 3. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) 4. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) 5. Minnesota Vikings (1-1-1) 6. Carolina Panthers (2-1) 7. Green Bay Packers (1-1-1) 8. New England Patriots (1-2) 9. New Orleans Saints (2-1) 10. Atlanta Falcons (1-2) 11. Los Angeles Chargers (1-2) 12. Washington Redskins (2-1) 13. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) 14. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1-1) 15. Miami Dolphins (3-0) 16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) 17. Denver Broncos (2-1) 18. Chicago Bears (2-1) 19. Tennessee Titans (2-1) 20. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) 21. Seattle Seahawks (1-2) 22. Dallas Cowboys (1-2) 23. Cleveland Browns (1-1-1) 24. Indianapolis Colts (1-2) 25. San Francisco 49ers (1-2) 26. New York Jets (1-2) 27. Detroit Lions (1-2) 28. New York Giants (1-2) 29. Oakland Raiders (0-3) 30. Houston Texans (0-3) 31. Buffalo Bills (1-2) 32. Arizona Cardinals (0-3) 1. Los Angeles Rams (3-0) Harry How/Getty Images The Rams aren't the only undefeated team, but given their dominance, it would be foolish to place any other team atop the power rankings right now. Through the first three weeks, the Rams' scoring differential (plus-66) is 20 points higher than the next team on the list (Ravens, plus-46) and 40 points ahead of third place (Chiefs, plus-26). Perhaps there was reason to remain skeptical of the Rams through the first two weeks after wins over the lowly Raiders and Cardinals. Sunday's convincing victory over the Chargers, however, should remove all doubt that this team is ready to contend for a deep playoff run. Not only did the Rams cruise to a 35-23 victory, but they also outgained the Chargers 521 yards to 356 and more than doubled their first down total (33 to 16). Having scored the third most points in the league, while allowing the fewest points, there's little doubt that this Rams team deserves the top spot. 12. Washington Redskins Todd Olszewski/Getty Images It was hard to get excited about the Redskins' prospects this season after they parted ways with Kirk Cousins in the offseason. After three weeks, however, it looks like this roster might be more competitive than many initially expected. Despite facing Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers the past two weeks, the Redskins have allowed the second fewest points this season (44). If the Redskins defense can continue to play at this level, Alex Smith could prove to be the perfect quarterback for this team. While he doesn't usually light up the scoreboard the way Cousins is occasionally capable, Smith's ability to protect the football is ideal for a team built around the defense. Another encouraging development on Sunday was the breakout performance of Adrian Peterson. With a season-high 120 yards on 19 carries, Peterson looked like he still has plenty of juice left in the tank. 31. Buffalo Bills (1-2) Adam Bettcher/Getty Images The Bills were the undisputed worst team in the league through the first two weeks, which made their Week 3 upset of the Vikings one of the most shocking results in recent NFL history. According to OddsShark, it was also the league's biggest upset since before Bills quarterback Josh Allen was born: So how do we reconcile Sunday's result with the inept Bills team that took the field during the first two weeks? Taking a deeper look at the stats, it appears as though this was probably a lucky performance by the Bills, and a regression back to their early-season woes is likely. Buffalo put 27 points on the scoreboard but managed just 292 total yards—the exact same total as the Vikings, who scored just six points. That's a rare scoring outburst for a team that was otherwise struggling to move the ball.

We’re on to Day 2 of the 2018 MLB Draft. The Oakland A’s made three selections on Monday, one each in the first two rounds and the Competitive Balance B round (click here for full Day 1 analysis): No. 6: OF Kyler Murray , Oklahoma (full coverage) , Oklahoma (full coverage) No. 50: OF Jameson Hannah , Dallas Baptist (full coverage) , Dallas Baptist (full coverage) No. 70: SS Jeremy Eierman, Missouri State (full coverage) Now they’ll make eight more selections on Tuesday, covering the 3rd round through the 10th round. This section of the draft doesn’t have the same level of hype, but there are still top prospects to be found: Ryon Healy, Bobby Wahl, Max Muncy, Sean Murphy, Tyler Ramirez, Nick Allen, Parker Dunshee, and Brian Howard are all names the A’s have recently plucked from this range. This post will be updated throughout the day as the picks are announced. 3rd round (No. 85): Hogan Harris, LHP University of Louisiana-Lafayette Here’s a full scouting report from MLB Pipeline, where he ranked No. 110 on their big board: Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 Scouts noticed Harris at St. Thomas More High (Lafayette, La.) while scouting eventual Royals supplemental first-rounder Chase Vallot in 2014, and he developed into the state’s best prep prospect for 2015. He went undrafted, however, because he wanted to attend his local college. Three years later, he should become the first Louisiana-Lafayette pitcher selected in the first five rounds since the turn of the century. Harris created a stir by hitting 98 mph in mid-March after missing a month with an oblique injury, though he usually pitches at 91-94 with some run and angle on his fastball. He has aptitude for spin, throwing a curveball with power and depth and morphing it into a slider at times. He also has an effective changeup to combat right-handers. While he possesses four pitches, Harris also has a lot of work to do to remain a starter at the next level. He lacks reliable command, and he loses velocity and location on his fastball at times when he falls in love with his breaking pitches. He also has a history of nagging injuries, leading to questions about his durability. Here’s another report about the 6’3 hurler reaching 98 mph. He was a college teammate of Wyatt Marks, who was drafted by the A’s last year and is now performing well in Single-A Beloit. 4th round (No. 113): Alfonso Rivas, 1B University of Arizona Here’s a full scouting report from MLB Pipeline, where he ranked No. 132 on their big board: Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 Rivas went undrafted after a solid high school career in La Jolla, Calif., but a lot has changed in his three years at Arizona. A three-year starter, two spent as a two-way player, Rivas’ bat really started coming around as a sophomore. Focusing solely on his hitting as a junior, he’s been an outstanding performer putting him into top-five-round consideration. The left-handed hitter’s calling card is his bat. He can flat-out hit and makes a ton of contact at the plate while showing solid on-base skills, both for the Wildcats and last summer in the Cape Cod League. The one knock on him offensively has been his power, which hasn’t shown up consistently from his solid 5-foot-11 frame, but some think more can come. That will be important for him to profile at a corner position. He’s playing first base currently, and has good footwork, solid hands and an above-average arm there, but he’s also played the outfield and might prefer playing right field if given the choice. In either spot, his ability to be a run producer will be important for him to profile as an everyday player there. If it does, a team taking him early on Day 2 of the Draft could be getting an outstanding bargain. 5th round (No. 143): Brady Feigl, RHP University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Feigl was not ranked in the Top 200 on the MLB Pipeline pre-draft board. Here’s a scouting report from 247Sports, who noted that he was elected as a team captain this season: Ole Miss junior Pitcher Brady Feigl’s shock of red hair and bushy red beard screams “temper,” but he breaks the stereotype of “tempestuous redhead.” Feigl is softspoken, at least with the media, intelligent and thoughtful. If he weren’t 6-4, 230-pounds, one might believe him to be on the chess team rather than the Saturday starter - in the opening series against Winthrop this weekend at the very minimum- for the Rebels. ... “He pitched this fall like a Friday starter,” said [his coach]. “Going into spring, I even had thoughts of him being the Friday guy. His stuff has always been electric. Brady is a three-pitch guy - fastball around 92-95, a slider and a change - and the difference between him last year and this fall is that he’s become way more consistent throwing all three pitches for strikes.” Although he was technically a junior this year, Feigl is really the age of a senior pick. He redshirted his first year of college in 2015 due to Tommy John surgery before returning to pitch for three years at Ole Miss. As chance would have it, pro baseball already has a pitcher named Brady Feigl. He’s a lefty in the Rangers system, currently in Triple-A. To make the coincidence even more amazing, the other Fiegl also had TJS in 2015, which may have cost him his first chance at the bigs (then with the Braves). Eat your hearts out Jeff D’Amico, both of you. 6th round (No. 173): Lawrence Butler, OF Westlake High School (Georgia) Butler was not ranked in the Top 200 on the MLB Pipeline pre-draft board. Here’s a brief scouting report from Perfect Game, who noted him as a “riser” among the high school ranks:<doc-sep>After 78 picks through two rounds on Monday, Day 2 of the 2018 MLB Draft brings us rounds three through 10, with 236 picks being made today. The Mets had the 6th and 48th overall picks in the draft last night, and selected outfielder Jarred Kelenic and right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods-Richardson. Today, they will be making their third through tenth round selections, making picks at 83, 110, 140, 170, 200, 230, 260, and 290. There were four-minute intervals between picks on Monday, but the pace of selections will increase, and now there will be just one minute between picks. The remainder of the draft will not be televised, but MLB.com will provide online coverage of the final two days, with coverage today beginning at 1 o’clock.<doc-sep>Monday night at the MLB Network studios in New Jersey, the 2018 MLB draft opened with the first 78 picks. The Detroit Tigers held the No. 1 pick and selected Auburn right-hander Casey Mize. He is the first player taken No. 1 overall out of college after going undrafted out of high school since the Washington Nationals selected Stephen Strasburg with the No. 1 pick in 2009. Here is our pick-by-pick analysis of the first round of the 2018 draft. The MLB draft is a three-day event covering 40 rounds and over 1,200 picks. The draft continues with rounds 3-10 on Tuesday and concludes with rounds 11-40 on Wednesday. Here are six takeaways from the first day of the 2018 MLB draft. College players dominated top of the draft Thanks to the talent available in this year's draft class and the draft tendencies and preferences of the clubs picking early, five straight college players came off the board to begin the 2018 draft. Here are the top five picks: Detroit Tigers: Auburn RHP Casey Mize San Francisco Giants: Georgia Tech C Joey Bart Philadelphia Phillies: Wichita State 3B Alex Bohm Chicago White Sox: Oregon State 2B Nick Madrigal Cincinnati Reds: Florida 3B Jonathan India The New York Mets ended the run of college players when they selected Wisconsin high school outfielder Jarred Kelenic with the No. 6 pick. The 2018 draft is the first time five college players were selected with the top five picks since 2006, when the top six picks were college players. The top six picks that year: There is a caveat here, however. Hochevar did not actually attend Tennessee in the spring of 2006. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 40th overall pick in 2005 and the two sides were unable to reach a contract agreement. So, to maintain his signing eligibility, Hochevar pitched in an independent league in 2006 rather than pitch for the Volunteers. That allowed him to continue negotiating with the Dodgers right up until the 2006 draft. For the last time five true college players were selected with the top five picks, you have to go all the way back to 1992. The top five picks that year: Houston Astros: Cal State Fullerton 3B Phil Nevin Cleveland Indians: North Carolina RHP Paul Shuey Montreal Expos: Mississippi State LHP B.J. Wallace Baltimore Orioles: Stanford OF Jeffrey Hammonds Cincinnati Reds: Central Florida C Chad Mottola The two high schoolers who ended the run of college players in 1992 and 2006? Just a couple of nobodies named Derek Jeter (sixth overall in 1992) and Clayton Kershaw (seventh overall in 2006). I guess that means good things -- very good things -- are on the horizon for Kelenic. A once projected No. 1 pick fell to No. 18 At one point earlier this year, Florida RHP Brady Singer was projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. He has the stuff and the pedigree, and this spring he threw 88 innings with a 2.25 ERA and a 92/18 K/BB. I projected him to go fourth overall in my final mock draft. Despite all that, Singer did not go No. 1 overall. He didn't even go in the top five. Nor the top 10 for that matter. Singer slipped all the way to the Royals with the No. 18 pick. Why? Two reasons. One is money. The general belief is Singer wants a bonus commensurate with a top of the draft talent and, once he got outside the top 5-10 picks, not many teams could afford to pay him that. Teams these days are given a bonus pool -- it is effectively a hard spending cap for draft picks -- and Singer didn't fit in the bonus pool for many teams. The Royals, however, have multiple extra picks this season thanks to the free agent defections of Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain. Extra picks means extra bonus pool space, and, sure enough, Kansas City has the largest bonus pool this year at $12,781,900. They're one of the few teams that can afford to pay Singer top of the draft dollars without blowing up their bonus pool. So, once he fell into their laps, they pounced. The second reason Singer slipped to the Royals is likely his unorthodox delivery and low arm slot, which can make it tough for him to turn over a changeup properly. Here's some video: Unorthodox doesn't mean bad. It just means different and sometimes teams get scared away by different. There were enough concerns about Singer's unorthodox delivery and his "signability" that he went from projected No. 1 pick to projected top five pick to the 18th overall selection. Singer's fall is the Royals' gain, and they're likely to hand him a bonus on par with a top five pick anyway, so it's hard to say Singer lost out Monday. The A's are letting their top pick play football Kyler Murray, who backed up quarterback Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 pick in this year's NFL draft, was selected with the No. 9 pick by the Oakland Athletics on Monday. Murray plays baseball for Oklahoma as well -- he hit .296/.398/.556 with 10 home runs in 226 plate appearances this year -- and he's a premium athlete with explosive tools. He is raw, however, which is not surprising for a kid who's split his time between two sports. Murray is slated to replace Mayfield as Oklahoma's starting quarterback later this year and that really complicated his baseball draft stock. Would he sign or would he turn stick with football? Selecting Murray and not signing him would mean forfeiting the bonus pool money associated with his draft pick, and teams these days don't risk those precious bonus pool dollars. They take players they know they can sign. The A's, who have emphasized acquiring young players with star-caliber upside in recent drafts and trades -- they simply can't afford players like that in free agency, so they have to develop their own -- are willing to compromise to bring Murray into the organization.<doc-sep>After completing the first two rounds—plus the competitive balance rounds—on Monday night, the draft resumes at 11 a.m. MT Tuesday, with Rounds 3-10. The Rockies will make eight more picks before the day is done. You can follow MLB’s live updating tracker, or you can stream all the action on MLB.com. Then on Wednesday, the final few rounds (Rounds 11-40) will take place. Today’s schedule begins at 11 am MT; the Tigers are on the clock for the first pick of Round 3, 79th overall. The Rockies had three picks yesterday. Their first round pick came at 22nd overall, LHP Ryan Rolison out of the University of Mississippi. He projects as a “high-floor” college arm, with a low-90’s fastball and a big curveball. Next came their Competitive Balance Round A selection at 42nd overall, a prep first baseman Grant Lavigne from New Hampshire, then their third round pick, 76th overall: RHP Mitchell Kilkenny from Texas A&M. The Rockies will have the 18th pick in Round 3 and the 22nd pick in each subsequent round. Their next pick will be 96th overall. You can follow all of this live on MLB.com or on Twitter @MLBDraft. If you want every pick dropped right into your Twitter feed as it happens, you can follow @MLBDraftTracker. You can find everything else you need to know about the Rockies’ draft here. Follow along as we track the draft and signing status of the Class of 2018.<doc-sep>

The Detroit Tigers had a strong first day of the 2018 MLB draft, grabbing top prospect Casey Mize and talented prep outfielder Parker Meadows. While some fans hoped for other players at No. 1 overall, few are truly disappointed with the team’s strategy so far. Other national pundits have praised their efforts so far, including ESPN’s Keith Law. But there is still work to be done. The Tigers have 38 more picks remaining in the 2018 MLB draft, including the first pick of the Day 2 proceedings, which kick off at 1:00 p.m. on MLB.com. The Tigers have a number of different ways they can go with this particular pick, and are still looking at several players we were hoping they could draft in Round 2. No matter the reason these players fell, let’s look at some of the talented players we could see the Tigers pick up with their third round pick (or beyond) on Day 2. RHP Kumar Rocker Rocker is a big-bodied righthander that many expected to be long gone by this point. He is the No. 23 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s draft board, and No. 29 on FanGraphs’ version. He is absolutely huge, at 6’5 and 250 pounds, and sports a fastball to match. He sits anywhere from 92-96 miles per hour with the heater, and can touch as high as 98 mph. His mechanics need a little work, but he’s a great athlete, and should be able to smooth out those inconsistencies with professional instruction. His slider is the better of two off-speed offerings, but as you might expect with a prep arm, both that and the changeup need work. The issue here isn’t talent, but rather signability. Rocker reportedly wants a big payday to forego his commitment to Vanderbilt, and we might be past the point where any team can generate enough bonus money to woo him to the pros. Taking Rocker here would be a big risk, but after a night to negotiate, also an indication that the team is confident a deal will get done. RHP Cole Wilcox You could copy and paste most of Rocker’s profile here for Wilcox. Both are prep arms from Georgia — Wilcox out-dueled Rocker in a high-profile playoff game in May — and both can reach as high as 98 miles per hour. Wilcox isn’t build like a house, but still stands 6’5. His changeup is a bit better than his slider, but he has a good chance to develop a solid three-pitch mix. His delivery isn’t quite as smooth as some others, though, and there isn’t much physical projection remaining. But also like Rocker, Wilcox is probably headed to school at this point. He is committed to Georgia, and was probably expecting a payday in the $3 million range after getting so much love throughout the draft cycle. But if the Tigers grab him, it means they think they can sign him. RHP Tristan Beck The industry is split on Beck, who missed significant time at Stanford this season due to injury. The draft-eligible sophomore had an excellent freshman season in 2016, but redshirted in 2017 after a stress fracture in his back. He has been solid this season, with a 2.98 ERA in 90 2⁄ 3 innings, but he only struck out 73 batters. Beck doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but sits 91-92 mph with the fastball and has an excellent changeup. He is the No. 35 prospect at MLB Pipeline, but No. 70 on FanGraphs because his “fastball is straight and doesn’t miss bats.” OF Tristan Pompey Few would have batted an eye if the Tigers had grabbed Pompey with their second round pick. He’s a big, athletic outfielder who should hit for both average and power, but isn’t as speedy as his brother Dalton, an outfielder in the Blue Jays system. Tristan is a switch hitter that has displayed some power and patience from both sides of the plate. He is the No. 51 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s board, but has dropped due to a recent injury (nothing serious, from what I gather) and an uptick in strikeouts. His defensive profile is likely limited to left field as well because of a below-average arm. OF Mike Siani A surefire center fielder at the next level, Siani is another prep player who will likely head to college. He stands a solid 6’1 and weighs 180 pounds, but scouts are worried about his ability to hit for power at the next level.

“I need you to get him into U.S.C., and then I need you to cure cancer and [make peace] in the Middle East,” Ms. Buckingham said. “I can do that,” Mr. Singer replied. [Read the full list of who has been charged here.] Yet even the chairman of the university’s board of trustees, Rick J. Caruso, a Los Angeles real estate developer, emerged with a personal connection: As prosecutors announced that the Hollywood star Lori Loughlin was being charged with bribing her daughter’s way into U.S.C., the daughter was on Mr. Caruso’s yacht, sharing a spring break vacation in the Bahamas with Mr. Caruso’s daughter. “My daughter and a group of students left for spring break prior to the government’s announcement yesterday,” Mr. Caruso said in a statement. “Once we became aware of the investigation, the young woman decided it would be in her best interest to return home.” The bribery allegations, he said, were “just unthinkable.” Mark Piccirillo, who was visiting the campus from Dallas this week with his daughter, a high school junior, said he was disappointed but not surprised to learn about the bribes. He said the case affirmed his long-held belief that the system was rigged in favor of the rich and privileged. “The one thing that bothers me about the whole thing is it’s hard enough to get in regularly,” he said. “My guess is this is the tip of the iceberg.” The center of the scandal swirled around the school’s athletics department, which over the years has been the most visible way the school presents itself to the world. As the bribery case made clear, the system to recruit student athletes — who are already sometimes held to lesser academic standards than other students — can be subject to manipulation. “The fact that there is this entirely separate system for athletes’ admission and recruitment that frankly lends itself to corruption and abuse is really disturbing,” said Ariela Gross, a law professor at the university. “There’s the broader class issue of wealthy people buying access or stacking the deck in normal, legal ways.”<doc-sep>LOS ANGELES -- Roy Nwaisser has four degrees from the University of Southern California and is a superfan of its storied football squad -- he hasn't missed a home or away game in 27 years. But his devotion has been tested by a series of scandals culminating with the school's starring role in a massive college admissions bribery case that is the latest disgrace threatening to tarnish USC's hard-fought reputation as an academic, as well as athletic, powerhouse. Hours after that news broke Tuesday, Nwaisser turned down a request to speak at an alumni fundraiser in Nevada. "I can't in good conscience promote the university until they clean up their act," Nwaisser wrote to the group. "If people want to donate their money they should give it to institutions with fewer scandals and less corruption." It's been a bruising two years for the university in the heart of Los Angeles. The president who helped boost the school's endowment by raising $7 billion stepped down amid investigations into a medical school dean accused of smoking methamphetamine with a woman who overdosed, and reports the school ignored complaints of widespread sexual misconduct by the longtime campus gynecologist. Meantime, an assistant men's basketball coach pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a wide-ranging FBI probe of corruption in college hoops. This week's announcement of federal criminal charges over admissions cheating also targeted prestigious schools such as Stanford, Georgetown and Yale, but no other institution was implicated as much as USC. Prosecutors say wealthy parents either paid bribes to have a college counsellor rig standardized tests or get their children admitted as recruits of sports they didn't play. More than half of the 32 parents charged were trying to bribe their children's way into USC. One of those parents, Homayoun Zadeh, is a USC dentistry professor now facing termination. To gain access for their two daughters, actress Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, paid $500,000 to have them labeled as crew team recruits at USC, even though neither is a rower, prosecutors said. The school fired senior associate athletic director Donna Heinel and water polo coach Jovan Vavic, who won 16 national titles. Both were accused of taking bribes. Two former USC coaches also were named in the scheme. In a letter to the campus, interim President Wanda Austin twice emphasized that prosecutors alleged the school was a victim of employees who purposely deceived it. In a follow-up, Austin did not use the word victim and said the school was co-operating with prosecutors and conducting its own investigation that could lead to further discipline. USC plans to redirect donations that were part of the scheme toward scholarships for needy students, Austin said. It would also deny admission to applicants accepted through the scheme and review the cases of students and graduates who fraudulently gained admission. A university spokesman declined requests for interviews. Jeff Hunt, a crisis management expert who helped Penn State after a child sex abuse scandal involving assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, said USC's damage control must include disclosing everything it can no matter how embarrassing. "This is a crude way of saying it, but all of this could be kind of packaged together by saying that we had a period of time where culturally we weren't really where we need to be, want to be, or should be," said Hunt, author of "Brand Under Fire." Some faculty have put the blame on former President C.L. Max Nikias, who was lauded for amassing a huge endowment, but criticized for not acting quickly when scandals hit. Nikias stepped down last summer as a chorus of faculty called for his resignation after hundreds of women accused Dr. George Tyndall of misconduct ranging from sexual abuse to conducting unnecessary examinations and taking photos of genitalia for no medical purpose. Tyndall has not been charged and has denied the allegations. The university recently agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit by paying $215 million to potentially thousands of women he examined. William G. Tierney, a professor of higher education, said the current crisis is tied to Nikias' "stage-managed" hiring of football Hall of Famer Lynn Swann, an alumnus, as athletic director. He said Swann has been asleep at the wheel. Tierney said disruption from recent scandals will lead some faculty to retire early or go to more stable institutions. "The vast majority of us are not interested in drama and intrigue," Tierney said. "The last 18 months has been a constant barrage of horrific news that occurred because of a Board of Trustees acting as a rubber stamp, an ineffective Faculty Senate, and a president who charged ahead without listening to anyone else. The outcome is a constant environment of chaos." USC has shed its one-time reputation as a country club for rich kids and has steadily risen to academic prominence over several decades. It ranks 22nd in U.S. News rankings of national universities, tied with the University of California, Berkeley and Georgetown. There are 20,000 undergrads and 27,000 graduate students. Nearly a quarter of students come from abroad -- the vast majority from China. Tuition is $55,000. The pay-to-play scandal has renewed some of the school's past reputation. Heather Newgen, a freelance journalist, was the first in her family to go to college and worked two jobs and took care of her grandmother on weekends while going to USC in the early 2000s. She said she was disgusted that admission was denied to some to make room for kids who paid their way in. "Everyone says that USC is the University of Spoiled Children," Newgen said. "That definitely wasn't my case, but when I went there everyone was driving BMWs and didn't have to work and just seemed more excited to hang out and party." Kelly Jiang, 18, a sophomore from Kunming, China, whose parents pay $74,000 a year for tuition and expenses, said she feared the scandal would taint her degree. "It really diminishes the value of USC," Jiang said. "If someone can just pay $500,000 to get into USC and get a diploma, what are we as USC graduates, or people hiring USC graduates, supposed to think?" Nwaisser said friends and fellow football fans he knows have cancelled season tickets at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and withheld donations out of protest. He said he's heartbroken and hopes his school chooses a new president based on values rather than ability to raise money. Despite his disappointment with USC leadership, he will continue to follow the Trojans around the country and keep his attendance streak alive. "I'll still be going to football games long after all these people are gone and after they've righted the ship," he said.<doc-sep>

When federal prosecutors revealed a national investigation into fraudulent college admissions, it probably shouldn’t have come as a surprise that USC was at the epicenter of the scheme. This is, after all, the university rocked in recent years by a series of revelations about scandals and cover-ups, including a medical school dean who partied with criminals and did illegal drugs, a campus gynecologist accused by students of decades of improprieties and a former assistant basketball coach who pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from a sports management firm. In the latest episode, half of the 32 parents accused by the FBI of breaking the law to get their kids into elite schools had allegedly cheated or bribed their kids’ way to becoming Trojans. Of the dozen coaches and individuals involved in running the scheme, four were current and former USC employees — including Donna Heinel, a senior associate athletic director who allegedly accepted $1.3 million in bribes to get kids into the school as fake recruits for the university’s famed sports programs. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute » USC promptly fired Heinel and the school’s water polo coach, Jovan Vavic, who was also accused of accepting bribes. In a letter to the university, interim President Wanda Austin said the scheme was perpetrated by just a few employees — unbeknownst to senior administrators and admissions employees — and that USC was a victim of their deceit. Sure, it may prove to be true that no other USC administrators knew that coaches were selling admission to parents wealthy and shameless enough to pass their mediocre progeny off as star athletes. But USC cannot be called blameless. There have been too many examples now of self-dealing, outright corruption and willful ignorance of misconduct to dismiss the latest controversy on campus as the result of a few bad apples. In earlier scandals, the university let serious complaints go ignored and hid bad behavior, rather than forcing it out into the open. Problem employees were allowed to quietly exit, and the priority was protecting the university’s reputation, rather than fixing the problems. That’s why USC needs to conduct a full and transparent investigation into how such bribery and corruption could occur in the admissions process. Did no one in the athletic department think something was fishy when a kid with no record of having played football in high school was recruited to play for one of the country’s most renowned college football teams? And if someone did suspect something was awry, were there sufficient outlets for employees to report ethical or criminal violations, and to have those concerns taken seriously? Austin and Board of Trustees Chairman Rick Caruso have been trying valiantly to change the institutional culture and set USC on a path forward, sometimes in the face of opposition from alumni and donors. Austin gets credit for her work so far, but it would be a mistake to dismiss the college admission fraud as an isolated incident and crime committed upon the university. This is one in a series of scandals that illustrate how much work still needs to be done to reform USC. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

Rep. Steve King Steven (Steve) Arnold KingFormer Steve King challenger on rural voters in GOP states: 'They hate Democrats' First Democrat announces Senate bid against Iowa's Grassley Democrats warn Waters censure move opens floodgates MORE (R-Iowa) is questioning how terms such as "white nationalist" and "white supremacist" became offensive in the U.S. “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” King asked in an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday. “Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?” King later on Thursday, responding to the Times article, said he is not a white nationalist or white supremacist. "I want to make one thing abundantly clear; I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define. Further, I condemn anyone that supports this evil and bigoted ideology which saw in its ultimate expression the systematic murder of 6 million innocent Jewish lives," he said in a statement. "It's true that like the Founding Fathers I am an advocate for Western Civilization's values, and that I profoundly believe that America is the greatest tangible expression of these ideals the World has ever seen. Under any fair political definition, I am simply a Nationalist." ADVERTISEMENT The comments came as part of an expansive report from the newspaper on King’s hard-line views on immigration and how they mirror much of what 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 has pushed for during his presidency. King, for example, once went on the House floor to showcase a 12-foot wall for the southern border that he designed, the Times notes. Trump is now demanding $5.7 billion for a steel barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border to be included in a government spending bill, a campaign promise Democrats oppose. The impasse has led to a partial government shutdown that is nearing its fourth week. The Times notes that Trump invited King to the Oval Office early in his presidency. King told the newspaper that the president boasted of raising more for King’s campaigns than anyone else. “Yes, Mr. President,” King replied. “But I market-tested your immigration policy for 14 years, and that ought to be worth something.” King’s divisive comments about immigration have led to scrutiny in past years. He once tweeted that diversity is not America's strength. In 2018, he also defended his association with a far-right Austrian group with links to the Nazi Party and hard-line views on immigration. “If they were in America pushing the platform that they push, they would be Republicans,” King told The Washington Post last October. His public comments led a number of corporations, such as AT&T and Intel, to announce last year they would not make campaign contributions to the congressman. King dismissed his critics in November as "uninformed," saying, "if you attack someone and you don’t cite anything, you’re just a cannibal." Despite making headlines right before the midterms, King beat the Democratic challenger by 3 points. King, who has represented Iowa’s 4th Congressional District since 2013, told the Times that he did not consider himself a racist. He argued that his Twitter timeline showing him greeting Iowa residents of all backgrounds proves his argument. He added that he supports legal immigrants fully assimilating because “the culture of America” matters more than race, according to the newspaper. -Updated 2 p.m.<doc-sep>Rep. Steve King's statements drew denunciations from across the political divide. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo Congress Steve King under fire after embrace of white supremacy Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) faces a potential censure motion from congressional Democrats and splintering support among Republicans after using racist language in a New York Times interview, questioning when the terms “white nationalist, white supremacist and western civilization” became “offensive.” The statements drew denunciations from across the political divide, including from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. King later issued a statement rejecting the labels of “white nationalism and white supremacy” and calling himself a “nationalist.” King said the fact that he is “an advocate for Western Civilization values” does not mean he subscribes to the “evil ideology” of white supremacy. But King has used language aiming at Latinos, Asians and African-Americans in the past, and many Republicans appear to be done trying to defend him. An Iowa state senator, Randy Feenstra, launched a primary challenge against King this week, arguing that King’s “caustic nature” has left residents of Iowa’s 4th Congressional District “without a seat at the table.” Former National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers withdrew support for King at the end of the 2018 elections — when King barely won another term despite his district’s heavily Republican leanings — and new NRCC Chairman Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) also denounced King’s latest comments. On Friday, King repeated much of his original statement on the House floor, claiming he's "never been anti-immigrant" but is an "American nationalist." "I made a freshman mistake a week ago today when i took a call from a reporter from the New York Times," King said, adding that the word "racists" is worn out" and overused." POLITICO Playbook newsletter Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletter in politics Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or updates from POLITICO and you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service. You can unsubscribe at any time and you can contact us here. This sign-up form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. But King's attempt to quell the growing anger among his colleagues appears to be failing. Moments after King spoke on the floor, Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina released an op-ed in the Washington Post, blasting King and the Republican Party's lackluster response. "When people with opinions similar to King’s open their mouths, they damage not only the Republican Party and the conservative brand but also our nation as a whole," said Scott. "Some in our party wonder why Republicans are constantly accused of racism — it is because of our silence when things like this are said." Meanwhile, Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) said King's latest comments exhibit a “pattern of behavior” that was worthy of censure. The Ohio Democrat is now drafting a censure resolution to condemn King’s actions and worked to gain support for a motion with colleagues during floor votes in the day since King's interview became public. He's spoken to Republicans as well and is hoping to release the resolution as early as next week. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was “not prepared to make any announcement” Friday about whether the House would censure King or take some other action against him. “But needless to say there’s interest in doing something,” she said. “We’ll see what we do about Steve King but nonetheless, nothing is shocking around here, right?” Pelosi added. “The new normal around here is to praise white supremacists, nationalists as something that shouldn’t be shunned.” Democrats, including Reps. Filemon Vela of Texas and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, voiced interest in censuring King. “Oh my goodness,” Ocasio-Cortez said, as a reporter read King’s comments. “It’s extremely disturbing. That’s extremely disturbing. I’m looking forward to having a conversation with Congressman Ryan about what next steps are.” They were joined by Michigan Republican Rep. Justin Amash, who called King’s interview an “embrace of racism” on Twitter. “That’s reasonable under the circumstances,” Amash said of a censure. “It would depend on the language of the censure, but I think it’s a reasonable response.” Emmer, the new NRCC chair, criticized King’s statements — but he wouldn’t comment about whether the House should take action against the Iowa Republican. "I disagree with his statements as they've been characterized, and as I understand them," Emmer said to POLITICO. "It's not helpful." NRCC spokesperson Bob Salera later added that the campaign arm doesn’t weigh in on primaries. “The NRCC does not get involved in primaries and we aren’t going to comment further on a hypothetical election two years away on the eighth day of the new Congress,” Salera said. “Everything about white supremacy and white nationalism goes against who we are as a nation,” said McCarthy. “Steve’s language is reckless, wrong and has no place in our society.” Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), who is the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, also blasted the Iowa Republican. “There’s no room in American values for the language that Steve King used," Collins said in a statement. “Racism and white supremacy are wicked. They’re incompatible with what we know to be true, that every person is made with untold dignity and value.” One of King’s longtime political allies, the Club for Growth, left the door open to backing King’s primary challenger — though not explicitly over his latest comments. The anti-tax group has endorsed King in the past and funneled money to his campaigns, but the group’s spokesperson noted that King has voted with the group less often in recent years. In that time, King has become more closely identified with in the United States and Europe. “It’s fair to say we are certainly watching this race closely due to King’s declining score on our scorecard,” said Club for Growth spokesperson Rachael Slobodien. Zach Montellaro contributed reporting.<doc-sep>“And it looked like this: 10 feet wide, 13 and 1/2 feet tall. It’d construct itself to be a 12-foot finished wall, just like that.” That’s Representative Steve King — “We do that with livestock all the time.” — pitching the idea of building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, more than a decade before it became President Donald Trump’s central immigration policy. “The wall’s going to get built folks, just in case anybody has any question. The wall’s going to get built.” King has been a Republican member of Congress from Iowa for the past 16 years. “The gentleman from Iowa is recognized.” He’s made a name for himself as a hard-line opponent of illegal immigration and for his inflammatory, sometimes racist, statements — “We are the immigrants!” — like when he disparaged so-called “Dreamers,” children brought by their parents as undocumented immigrants, in 2013. “For every one who’s a valedictorian, there’s another hundred out there that — they weigh 130 pounds and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.” King was an early and fervent supporter of Donald Trump. “He’s a quick study. He’s an astute study. And if you explain something to Donald Trump, he’s listening carefully, and you need to get it right.” And the feeling has been mutual. “He may be the world’s most conservative human being.” [cheering] Trump’s election in 2016 gave King a staunch ally in the White House. These days, the president’s statements sound like echoes of things King said years earlier. “It’s our job, here in this Congress, to decide who will be citizens, not someone in a foreign country that can sneak into the United States and have a baby and then go home with a birth certificate.” King’s ideas and public statements, which once seemed fringe, now appear in the national discourse. His views are central to the white identity politics that heavily influence the Trump administration. The Iowa congressman’s ultra-conservative ideas have been a long time in the making. “Preventing babies to be — from being born is not medicine. That’s not constructive to our culture and our civilization. If we let our birth rate get down below the replacement rate, we’re a dying civilization. And right now —” King has denied that his statements are racist and often invokes the idea of protecting our civilization. It’s a concept of national identity and racial superiority that’s a common talking point among white nationalists. In an interview on MSNBC, King himself explained. “Where did any other subgroup of people contribute more to civilization?” “Than white people?” “Than Western civilization itself, that’s rooted in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the United States of America and every place where the footprint of Christianity —” “What about Africa?” “— settled the world.” “What about Asia?” “That’s all of Western civilization.” “But what about Africa? And what about Asia?” He’s even gotten close to white nationalists outside of the U.S., appearing with far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders. King has also been to Austria several times since 2013, where he’s cozied up to the far-right Freedom Party. Back at home, King has been re-elected eight times and is considered a party kingmaker in Iowa. But the 2018 midterms were his toughest contest yet. He won by just three points. And days before the election, a member of his own party called King out as a white supremacist. After more than a decade in Congress, his rhetoric may be finally catching up with him.<doc-sep>Representative Steve King of Iowa, who was stripped of his House committee seats on Monday night after making remarks defending white supremacy, has a long history of racist comments and insults about immigrants. Republicans rarely rebuked him until recently, with some suggesting that Mr. King’s language and views were new to them. “This just popped up on Friday,” Representative Steve Scalise, the second-ranking House Republican, said on Sunday, when asked if the party would penalize Mr. King for saying, in an interview with The Times, “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” National Republicans courted his political support in Iowa: He was a national co-chairman of Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential effort and of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ 2018 election. House leadership appointed him chairman of the subcommittee on the Constitution and civil justice. And President Trump boasted in the Oval Office that he raised more money for Mr. King than for anyone else.<doc-sep>

Republican Congressman Steve King took to the floor of the U.S. House today to respond to a New York Times story in which he’s quoted talking about the terms white nationalist, white supremacy and western civilization. King, a Republican from the western Iowa community of Kiron, said he is an “American nationalist” and rejects the ideology of white supremacy and white nationalism. “I regret the heartburn that has poured forth upon this congress and this country and especially in my state and in my congressional district, but the people who know me know I wouldn’t even have to make this statement because they know me,” King said. “They know my life. They know my history.” King, a former state senator, was first elected to the U.S. House in 2002. King said today that he “made a freshman mistake” in talking to the New York Times. “Under any fair political definition, I am simply an American nationalist,” King said during his House floor speech. The newspaper quoted King asking rhetorically why the terms white nationalism, white supremacy and western civilization had developed negative connotations. “The New York Times is suggesting that I’m an advocate for white nationalism and white supremacy. I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define,” King said, reading from a written statement similar to one he issued Thursday. “Further, I condemn anyone that supports this evil and bigoted ideology which saw in its ultimate expression the systematic murder of six million Jewish lives.” King said he is an advocate for the values of western civilization. The top three Republican in the U.S. House have denounced King in the past 24 hours. Republican Tim Scott, an African American who represents South Carolina in the U.S Senate, said in The Washington Post that “silence is no longer acceptable” when it comes to the things King says. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is urging Republicans to “actively support” King’s primary opponent, Republican State Senator Randy Feenstra. Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann has called Feenstra a “legitimate” challenger, but Kaufmann said the party will be neutral in the race. “The one thing I will not comment on because I cannot and that is I can’t tell you what is in Steve King’s heart,” Kaufmann told reporters this afternoon. “I think everyone deserves to be heard and to have an apology sincerely considered. I mean, that’s what the voters of the 4th district are going to do.” Kaufmann said he wants to make it clear there are some phrases that do not represent “the American spirit” and Kaufmann puts “white supremacy” in that category. “If you said ‘white supremacy’ in reconstruction days, it would essentially have about the same connotation that it does today,” Kaufmann said after taping IPTV’s “Iowa Press” program. “And I’m telling you that the Republican Party in 1870 did not support that and I’m telling you that the Republican Party in 2019 doesn’t support that.” Iowa Democratic Party chairman Troy Price has repeatedly called King an embarrassment to the state of Iowa. “You can’t have it both ways and the fact is that the Republican Party has always stood by Steve King,” Price said during tape of IPTV’s “Iowa Press” program. “This rhetoric, the latest rhetoric, is not anything new from Steve King. We’ve heard this for years and years and years.” Feenstra, the state senator who’s stepped forward to challenge King, is using the hashtag #retireSteveKing” on twitter and this afternoon Feenstra tweeted a link to a National Review opinion piece titled, “Steve King’s Bigotry Is the Antithesis of American Ideals.”

FACEBOOK is rating users based on how "trustworthy" it thinks they are. Users receive a score on a scale from zero to one that determines if they have a good or bad reputation – but it's completely hidden. 3 Your Facebook usage is being monitored, and may be converted in a trustworthiness score Credit: Alamy The rating system was revealed in a report by the Washington Post – and later confirmed by Facebook to The Sun – which says it's in place to "help identify malicious actors". Facebook tracks your behaviour across its site and uses that info to assign you a rating. Tessa Lyons, who heads up Facebook's fight against fake news, said: "One of the signals we use is how people interact with articles. "For example, if someone previously gave us feedback that an article was false and the article was confirmed false by a fact-checker, then we might weight that person’s future false news feedback more than someone who indiscriminately provides false news feedback on lots of articles, including ones that end up being rated as true." 3 Facebook can see everything you do on the site – which helps build a highly detailed picture of who you are Credit: PA:Press Association Earlier this year, Facebook admitted it was rolling out trust ratings for media outlets. This involved ranking news websites based on the quality of the news they were reporting. This rating would then be used to decide which posts should be promoted higher in users' News Feeds. User ratings are employed in a similar way – helping Facebook make a judgement about the quality of their post reports. Mark Zuckerberg apologises for data breach by says he's 'sure someone's trying' to use Facebook to meddle with US mid-term election According to Lyons, a user's rating "isn't meant to be an absolute indicator of a person's credibility". Instead, it's intended as a measurement of working out how risky a user's actions may be. How does Facebook's user rating system work? Facebook told The Sun that this is how the system works... Facebook works to fight fake news by using machine learning systems These automated systems predict articles that its human fact-checkers should review Facebook developed a process that protects against people "indiscriminately flagging news as fake", attempting to game the system One of the indicators used in this process is how people report articles as false For instance, if someone previously gave Facebook feedback that an article was false, and then that article was confirmed false by a fact-checker, that person's future feedback would be weighted more positively This is reflected in an invisible score or rating, which changes depending on the quality of a person's ratings So if someone reports news as false regularly, and that news is rated as true, that person's future reports will be rated lower than someone with a higher score Facebook says this is an effective way to fight misinformation Facebook says that people often report something as false because they disagree with a story, or are trying to target a particular publisher Attempts to game this feedback are why Facebook can't rely on the reporting system as a totally accurate indicator Facebook told The Sun that the rating is specific to its fake news team, and that there's no unified score that is like a credit rating used everywhere A Facebook spokesperson told The Sun: "The idea that we have a centralised 'reputation' score for people that use Facebook is just plain wrong and the headline in the Washington Post is misleading. "What we're actually doing: we developed a process to protect against people indiscriminately flagging news as fake and attempting to game the system. "The reason we do this is to make sure that our fight against misinformation is as effective as possible." Online commentators are already comparing the system to China's creepy "social credit" system. The Chinese government analyses users' social media habits and online shopping purchases, assigning citizens a score. Jaywalking or skipping train fares can result in you getting a lower score. This score is then used to determine whether people can take loans, and even travel on public transport. 3 China has a social credit system that blacklists low-rated people who get into debt, don't recycle or commit traffic offences Credit: GETTY - CONTRIBUTOR Some citizens with very low ratings become "blacklisted", making it impossible to book a plane flight, rent or buy a property or stay in a luxury hotel. The system is currently being piloted, but will become mandatory in China by 2020. Facebook's own rating system is the latest drive in its bid to tackle fake news, a growing problem for the social network. The site, which sees 2.23billion users log on every single month, has become a hot-bed for falsified news coverage. Earlier this year, billionaire Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg vowed to fight fake news. "The world feels anxious and divided, and Facebook has a lot of work to do," the 34-year-old Harvard drop-out explained. Who is Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook? Here's what you need to know... Mark Zuckerberg is the chairman, CEO and co-founder of social networking giant Facebook Born in New York in 1984, Zuckerberg already had a "reputation as a programming prodigy" when he started college While at Harvard, Zuckerberg launched a site called Face Mash, on which students ranked the attractiveness of their classmates Harvard shut the site down after its popularity crashed a network and Zuckerberg later apologised saying it was "completely improper" The following term he began working on an early version of Facebook The 33-year-old launched the social network from his dorm room on February 4, 20o4 with the help of fellow students The friends would end up embroiled in legal disputes as they challenged Zuckerberg for shares in the company Zuckerberg also faced action from Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, as well as Divya Narendra who claimed he had stolen their idea - the disagreement was later turned into the film, The Social Network The tech prodigy dropped out of Harvard to focus on Facebook, but received an honorary degree in 2017 Speaking about the site to Wired magazine in 2010 he said: "The thing I really care about is the mission, making the world open" By 2012 Facebook had one billion users. By June 2017 it had reached two billion users every month Facebook has admitted that its site has been the subject of political fakery campaigns from Russia. After initially denying any complacency on its part, the social network admitted more than 126 million US users had viewed some form of Russian propaganda. A congressional hearing followed, with Facebook, Twitter, and Google in the dock. And Facebook's been grappling with the problem ever since. Trailer for Nosedive social status episode of Black Mirror with Bryce Dallas Howard MOST READ IN TECH BOUNCE BACK Dogecoin founder thanks Elon Musk for tweet as crypto market stages comeback Live Blog LOOK UP Lunar eclipse 2021 LIVE: Blood Moon and total eclipse happening NOW PHENOMENON Lunar eclipse 2021: Why the Super Blood Moon isn't visible in the UK LOST & FOUND New Google Maps feature means you'll NEVER get lost again OPEN WINDOW Microsoft boss reveals NEW 'next-gen' Windows coming six years after Windows 10 BLOOMING Super Flower Moon will fill skies tonight – how to see stunning lunar spectacle Speaking in January, Samidh Chakrabarti, who heads up civic engagement at Facebook, said: "Even a handful of deliberately misleading stories can have dangerous consequences. "We're committed to this issue of transparency because it goes beyond Russia. "Without transparency, it can be hard to hold politicians accountable for their own words. "Democracy then suffers because we don't get the full picture of what our leaders are promising us," he wrote, in what looks like a subtle snipe at US President Donald Trump. "This is an even more pernicious problem than foreign interference. "But we hope that by setting a new bar for transparency, we can tackle both of these challenges simultaneously." Chakrabarti said that the misinformation campaigns targeting Facebook users are "professionalised, and constantly try to game the system". "We will always have more work to do," he added.<doc-sep>Lyons said she soon realized that many people were reporting posts as false simply because they did not agree with the content. Because Facebook forwards posts that are marked as false to third-party fact-checkers, she said it was important to build systems to assess whether the posts were likely to be false to make efficient use of fact-checkers’ time. That led her team to develop ways to assess whether the people who were flagging posts as false were themselves trustworthy.<doc-sep>It reported that she said it had been developed to improve a fact-checking scheme begun in 2016, in which posts that Facebook users flag as being false are sent to third-party organisations to decide if they should appear lower in people's news feeds.<doc-sep>

Facebook has started evaluating the trustworthiness of its users by assigning them with reputation scores from zero to one when they report news articles as being false. • Why? The idea is to root out people who routinely make false claims about news articles. This is a new weapon Facebook is using in the online information wars to thwart Facebook users who band together to flag a piece of content or a news publisher they disagree with to reduce the visibility of that content or publisher, Facebook says. It's part of a broader effort by the social media giant to go after malicious actors. "The Washington Post" first reported on the trust scores. • How do the trust scores work? Facebook sends news articles reported as false to third-party fact checkers to verify. Over the past year, it began using this trustworthiness rating to help judge the reliability of the person flagging the disputed news articles. If someone routinely falsely flags news articles later found to be accurate, it reduces their credibility the next time they dispute an article. If a Facebook user routinely accurately flags false news, that person's score improves. Other signals are used to evaluate users when they flag articles as false, but Facebook won't say what they are because it does not want people to game the system. • What is your Facebook trustworthiness score? It's a mystery. You can't see your score or anyone else's. But it's important to remember: this is a score for misinformation, not for anything else on Facebook. And this is just one in a number of indicators that Facebook relies on. • What's Facebook saying? "We developed a process to protect against people indiscriminately flagging news as fake and attempting to game the system," the company said in a statement. "The reason we do this is to make sure that our fight against misinformation is as effective as possible.” Earlier this year, Facebook said it would introduce trust ratings for media outlets, which would help determine which news articles get higher ranking in people's News Feeds. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to crack down on the spread of false news, which is a growing problem for Facebook. • What do you think? Facebook judging our credibility feels uncomfortable to some, who are airing concerns that the trustworthiness score will unfairly target specific groups such as conservatives. Others drew parallels to China's invasive and creepy "social credit" system, which analyzes online habits and assigns citizens a score.

Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) is dealing with way more than any 14-year-old should have to, and her troubles are only set to get worse when she keeps a huge secret from her parents in Coronation Street. Amy has been stuck in a war between her parents Tracy (Kate Ford) and Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) and her baby’s father Tyler (Will Barnett), whose mum is not about to give up the fight for the baby. Desperate and out of options given that their plan is to raise the baby as their own, Tracy pinned Tyler against a wall and offered him £5,000 to stay away from Amy and the baby. She was caught by Robert, who walked in on the exchange before she maimed his privates with a pair of secateurs. The police then arrived to question Amy and though she told them the sex was entirely consensual the officer explained she was underage and therefore it was still an offence. Amy was horrified by Steve and Tracy’s actions, and ran off. Later, Tyler found her in the urban garden and told her he’ll have nothing to do with the baby. Amy arrived home to find her parents at each other’s throats and when Tracy asked her for some mother daughter time, she refused, fed up with the entire situation and heads instead to find Bethany. Later, Amy receives a letter from the hospital about her next scan while Steve reveals to Tracy he’s upped their offer on the house after being gazumped by Claudia in the hope of securing their dream family home where they can raise the baby. The trio head to Speed Daal to celebrate the new place, but Amy’s left squirming when they tell her they want to find out the sex of the baby at the scan. What is she hiding from them? Tracy takes time off work so they can spend time together ahead of the scan and Amy tries hard to get out of it. When Tracy drops her at the salon for some pampering, Bethany urges her to tell Tracy the truth. Back home, Amy locks herself in the bathroom and refuses to go to the scan. What is it that she’s too afraid to tell them?<doc-sep>Don't miss out on the biggest soaps gossip! Get a daily email direct to your inbox with our newsletter 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 Coronation Street fans were left gobsmacked tonight as Amy Barlow revealed her plans to have an abortion - without telling her parents. The 14-year-old, played by Elle Mulvaney, opened up to Bethany Platt and said that she had booked the procedure for next day. Asked about her meeting with Tyler, she said: "It doesn't matter." "What do you mean?" Bethany asked in concern. (Image: ITV) (Image: ITV) "I'm not keeping it," Amy said, insisting that she was sure about her decision. "I've been to the clinic, I've had the counselling. Everything's booked for tomorrow." "You know that is a really big decision Amy," Bethany warned her. "What have your mum and dad said?" (Image: ITV) Amy admitted that she hadn't told her parents, to which Bethany suggested that she talk to them. "No," Amy said, adamant. "I don't want to. I'm scared about what they'll say." Will Amy go through with her decision? And how will her parents react? *Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Don't miss out on the biggest soaps gossip! Get a daily email direct to your inbox with our newsletter 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 Fans of the ITV soap appeared to spot a major plot hole in the Amy Barlow's abortion storyline in Coronation Street this evening. Tonight, Amy went ahead with the secret abortion, despite a worried Bethany Platt suggested that she talk to her family first. Returning home, Amy was about to tell her parents but found that she couldn't and kept quiet. But fans were confused about the fact that Amy could have the procedure at 14 years old without her parents' consent. (Image: ITV) One tweeted: "Amy age 14 wouldn't be allowed to go a head with the abortion without her parents consent or am i wrong? " While another commented: "Surely they wouldn’t do the abortion on Amy at her age without her parents being there." A third remarked: "Don’t understand how underage Amy is able to have an abortion without her parent’s consent? #Corrie #CoronationStreet." However the soap didn't actually make a blunder because Amy can have the surgery without her parents' consent. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service says on their website: "Although we won't talk with your parents against your wishes, we will encourage you involve a parent or other trusted adult who can support you through the treatment process. We don't force young people to tell their parents or carers. "Our staff will make sure that you are fully aware of what is involved with abortion treatment. "If you are sure that you want an abortion, and you understand the procedure and the possible risks and complications of treatment, you can agree to the treatment yourself." The decision is set to play on Amy's mind as she struggles to come to terms with everything. When will she tell Tracy and Steve the truth? *Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV<doc-sep>

Tracy McDonald’s (Kate Ford) meddling will have huge consequences for her family when Amy Barlow (Elle Mullvaney) takes matters into her own hands over her teenage pregnancy in Coronation Street. Tracy first tried to warn Tyler (Will Barnett) off, afraid he’d put a stop to her and Steve (Simon Gregson) adopting the baby, offering him £5,000 to stay well clear. When that didn’t work, she threatened to cut his whatsits off with a pair of secateurs. Unfortunately for her, not only did it not work, but Amy saw the whole charade and got angry at her parents. Tracy then went one better, calling the police in an attempt to get Tyler done for rape. That backfired too as Amy refused to go into the police station and make a statement. Instead she ran off and found solace in Victoria gardens. Tyler found her, and in a moment of compassion apologised for everything he’d put her through – and given that the lad hadn’t taken the £5,000, he must have really meant it. But he told her he didn’t want anything to do with the baby, and that comment got her mind whirring. She then admitted to him she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. Later, she went to see Bethany (Lucy Fallon) for a heart to heart and told her what Tyler said. But Bethany was shocked when she made a huge confession – she’d decided she’s not keeping it and has a termination booked for the following day. Having already gone through the counselling, she’s ready to go through with it, but doesn’t want her parents to know. Will she have an abortion without telling them? Or will Bethany blab leading them to stop her before she goes ahead with it?

Several court documents made public Thursday allegedly show that the father of 2020 presidential candidate and Democratic New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand worked on behalf of a sex cult. Documents obtained by Big League Politics seem to confirm past rumors that Gillibrand’s father Doug Rutnik worked for NXIVM, a sex cult in Albany, New York, that allegedly trafficked women. Rutnik reportedly worked for the organization for four months in 2004, at a monthly rate of $25,000. (RELATED: Gillibrand’s Office Hit With Sexual Allegations, Aide Resigns In Protest) “Her father Doug Rutnik came to work as a consultant for NXIVM. … He was fired, they sued him, and they had to pay him $100,000,” alleged former NXIVM employee Frank Parlato told Big League Politics. “Her father’s wife, her stepmother, was also a member of NXIVM … Doug got her into the cult, Gillibrand’s father got Gillibrand’s future stepmother into the cult. Doug left the cult because he was sued. Clare Bronfman, after her father was sued, donated money to Gillibrand. Gillibrand accepted it.” Fox News, The Washington Free Beacon, and Slate all previously reported on Gillibrand’s father and his alleged work. An unnamed source also reportedly told the website that Gillibrand once sat at an NXIVM table at a fundraising event for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. (RELATED: Kirsten Gillibrand Campaigns In Iowa City But This Woman Just Wants Some Ranch) NXIVM has been accused by former members of, among other things, beating and branding sex workers. Gillibrand has been a major proponent of the #MeToo movement and has sought to frame her campaign as very committed to women’s rights. Gillibrand came under fire from several big figures in her party for leading the charge to oust former Democratic Minnesota Sen. Al Franken after several sexual misconduct allegations were levied against him. However, Gillibrand’s own actions regarding sexual abuse have come under scrutiny since the start of her campaign. A complaint was filed against Gillibrand’s chief of staff last year for treatment of a female employee, who quit weeks after the issue was officially brought up. Gillibrand has staunchly defended her office’s handling of the situation. The senator has consistently lagged behind other Democratic presidential contenders in the polls and is widely considered a long-shot to take home the nomination next year. Follow William Davis on Twitter<doc-sep>Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Paul Sancya/AP Images Who is Kirsten Gillibrand? Current job: US Senator from New York. Ran for president of the United States as a Democratic candidate and dropped out of the primary on August 28, 2019. Age: 52 Family: Gillibrand is married to venture capitalist Jonathan Gillibrand and has two children, Theodore and Henry. Hometown: Albany, New York Political party: Democratic Previous jobs: Congresswoman representing New York's 20th congressional district from 2007-2009. Corporate lawyer from 1991-2005. Who is Gillibrand's direct competition for the nomination? Based on a recurring series of national surveys we conduct, we can figure out who the other candidates competing in Kirsten Gillibrand's lane are, and who the broader opponents are within the party. Without question, Sen. Kamala Harris poses the largest immediate threat to Gillibrand's candidacy . Of those respondents who would be satisfied with the senator from New York as nominee, about three quarters would also be satisfied with Harris as nominee . That's a breathtaking 24 percentage points higher than Harris' overall performance among Democrats, indicating Gillibrand could have difficulty assembling a base if Harris woos those voters. Business Insider Former Vice President Joe Biden is the frontrunner in this context, and typically about 70 percent of those satisfied with Gillibrand as nominee would also be satisfied with Biden. That's a little higher than Biden's overall satisfaction. Senate colleagues Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker , like Harris, also outperform considerably among those satisfied with Gillibrand. About two thirds of those satisfied with Gillibrand are also satisfied with Warren. Though he comes in lower, that's about the same for Booker. Those numbers are more than 20 percentage points above their general satisfaction rates , which is very high. INSIDER has been conducting a recurring poll through SurveyMonkey Audience on a national sample to find out how different candidate's constituencies overlap. We ask people whether they are familiar with a candidate, whether they would be satisfied or unsatisfied with that candidate as nominee, and sometimes we also ask whether they think that person would win or lose in a general election against President Donald Trump. Read more about how we're polling this here. What are Kirsten Gillibrand's policy positions? What are Kirsten Gillibrand's political successes? How much money did Kirsten Gillibrand raise? Gillibrand's campaign raised $3 million in the first quarter of 2019 and $2.3 million in the second quarter. How is Kirsten Gillibrand viewed by voters compared to the competition? INSIDER has conducted a number of other polls to check in on how these candidates are perceived in comparison to one another. When we asked respondents to one poll to rank how far to the left or to the right they considered the candidates, Gillibrand was generally considered to be one of the more left-leaning candidates in the field. Gillibrand was in the middle of the pack when we asked respondents to rank the candidates based on how prepared they are for the rigors of the presidency given what they knew about their history of public service and experience with government. And when asked how likable or personable respondents perceived the candidates to be, Gillibrand beat just over half of her rivals. Could Kirsten Gillibrand beat President Trump? Referring back to INSIDER's recurring poll, Kirsten Gillibrand overall is believed to be a weaker candidate in a general election against Donald Trump compared to the whole field, but a large majority of respondents are still unsure about how she'd perform so there's plenty of opportunity to change perceptions. Based on responses from Democratic primary voters, for a typical candidate surveyed about a third think they'll win, just shy of a third think they'll lose, and about 40 percent are unsure. While it's early, Gillibrand isn't performing at that level among respondents: Only 15% think she'd beat Trump, nearly 40 percent think she'd lose, and half are unsure. How do Democratic voters feel about Kirsten Gillibrand's qualifications? INSIDER has conducted polling about how voters feel about candidate attributes or qualifications. We asked respondents about a list of possible qualifications and if they made them more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate for president. For example, among respondents who said they'd vote in the Democratic primary, 19% said a candidate being a college professor made them likelier to support them, while 4% said it made them less likely to, for a +15% net favorability. We can then see how different candidates' resumes stack up compared to those preferences. Attributes perceived as most valuable include her released tax returns (+43%), her position in the Senate (+40%), that she is multi-lingual (+25%), has an Ivy league education (+7%), and was a lawyer (+3%). Attributes considered to be a liability based on the preferences of self-reported Democratic voters include her past as a corporate lawyer (-33%) who grew up wealthy (-42%). Read more of our best stories on Kirsten Gillibrand:<doc-sep>A new report says New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s father once worked for an Upstate New York group accused of being a “sex cult,” but tried to distance himself from the organization over a decade ago. Court documents obtained by political blog Big League Politics show Doug Rutnik worked as a consultant and lobbyist for NXIVM (pronounced “nexium”) for four months in 2004. He was hired by Keith Raniere, who founded the Capital Region-based group accused of sex trafficking, branding women and allegedly forcing members to have sex with Raniere. According to Fox News, Rutnik was paid $25,000 per month but was later sued when he tried to distance himself from the group; NXIVM ended up paying Rutnik a settlement of $100,000. The 2006 settlement is signed by Rutnik and several NXIVM members, including wealthy Seagram’s heiresses Clare and Sara Bronfman and NXIVM President Nancy Salzman. Salzman pleaded guilty to a charge of racketeering conspiracy last month. Her daughter, Lauren Salzman, pleaded guilty last week as well and admitted to keeping a slave locked in a room for two years. According to Frank Parlato, a former NXIVM employee who helped expose the group to a federal investigation in 2017, Rutnik also got his future wife -- Gillibrand’s stepmother -- and a second cousin into NXIVM. It’s unclear if either continued to be alleged members after Rutnik left. “[Gillibrand’s] father Doug Rutnik came to work as a consultant for NXIVM... He was fired, they sued him, and they had to pay him $100,000,” Parlato told Big League Politics. “Her father’s wife, her stepmother, was also a member of NXIVM. ... Doug got her into the cult, Gillibrand’s father got Gillibrand’s future stepmother into the cult. Doug left the cult because he was sued. Clare Bronfman, after her father was sued, donated money to Gillibrand. Gillibrand accepted it.” Parlato said Rutnik, whose daughter Gillibrand is running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, allegedly signed a confidentiality agreement in the settlement. According to The New York Post Gillibrand said she didn’t know anything about NXIVM until the group made national headlines in 2017 when former member Sarah Edmondson filed a complaint, saying she was branded with Raniere’s initials, “KR.” The Justice Department began a federal investigation of NXIVM later that year. “Senator Gillibrand had never heard of this group until she recently read about them in the newspaper,” a spokesman told the Post in 2018. “She is glad that federal and state prosecutors have taken action in this case." Raniere, “Smallville” actress Allison Mack, Clare Bronfman, the Salzmans and others were arrested last year for their involvement with NXIVM, based in Colonie, N.Y. Charges include sex trafficking, wire fraud, extortion, identity theft, money laundering, and forced labor conspiracy. Mack was allegedly the leader of a women’s only group within NXIVM called “DOS,” a “secret sorority” that allegedly brainwashes members, puts them on starvation diets and beats them if they don’t recruit enough “slaves.” DOS stands for “dominus obsequious sororium,” Latin for “master over the slave women.” Members are also allegedly required to give their “master” or recruiter, naked photos of themselves and other blackmail material before joining. NXIVM claimed to be a self-help group, with DOS focusing on women’s empowerment. Federal authorities say DOS instead groomed female members to have sex with Raniere. A criminal trial is scheduled to begin April 29 in Brooklyn. NXIVM claimed to have over 16,000 members in chapters nationwide, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Until the Salzmans’ guilty pleas, officials and associates had repeatedly denied all wrongdoing and disputed allegations that it is a cult.<doc-sep>

Court documents revealed this week confirmed that the father of 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand once worked as a lobbyist for a secretive sex cult, but left after the upstate New York group sued him, according to a report. The documents backed up previous accounts that the New York Democrat's father, Doug Rutnik, worked for Albany-based Nxivm for four months in 2004 at a rate of $25,000 per month, Big League Politics reported. Rutnik was sued when he attempted to distance himself from the group before reaching a settlement. “Her father Doug Rutnik came to work as a consultant for NXIVM. ... He was fired, they sued him, and they had to pay him $100,000,” former NXIVM employee Frank Parlato told Big League Politics. “Her father’s wife, her stepmother, was also a member of NXIVM. ... Doug got her into the cult, Gillibrand’s father got Gillibrand’s future stepmother into the cult. Doug left the cult because he was sued. Clare Bronfman, after her father was sued, donated money to Gillibrand. Gillibrand accepted it.” SEAGRAM HEIRESS SECRETLY PAYING SEX CULT’S LEGAL FEES: PROSECUTORS An unnamed witness described how Gillibrand once sat at a Nxivm table at a Hillary Clinton fundraiser, according to the political news site. “Yeah the three front VIP tables were all brought by NXIVM and she was sitting with Nancy Salzman,” court documents said, referring to the former Nxivm co-founder who pleaded guilty in March to a single racketeering charge. Gillibrand has sometimes been called a #MeToo champion for her advocacy on gender equality and women’s issues. She has denied having a connection to Nxivm and said she first heard of it through extensive media coverage. "Senator Gillibrand had never heard of this group until she recently read about them in the newspaper," a spokesman for Gillibrand told the Washington Free Beacon in March 2018. "She is glad that federal and state prosecutors have taken action in this case." NXIVM-INSPIRED SEX CULT TV SERIES IN THE WORKS FOLLOWING ALLISON MACK ARREST The group and its leader Keith Raniere, known as Vanguard, have been accused by former members of forcing women to become sex slaves and branding women like cattle with Raniere’s initials. Some women said they were forced to hand over nude photos of themselves in case they disobeyed him and were forced to perform manual labor, according to the Post. Other former members have described Nxivm as a “cult” centered around Raniere. Salzman admitted to a federal judge to spying on Nxivm’s perceived enemies and hacking into email accounts. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Her daughter Laura Salzman, 42, also entered a guilty plea last month to keeping her own personal female slave locked in a room for two years and threatening to deport her back to Mexico, court transcripts said. Raniere was arrested in Mexico last year and is expected to go on trial in late April on multiple charges, including forced labor and possession of child pornography.

Matt Slocum/Associated Press The Denver Nuggets reached an agreement Tuesday to trade small forward Wilson Chandler to the Philadelphia 76ers. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the Sixers will also receive draft considerations, while the Nuggets clear Chandler's $12.8 million contract in an effort to dodge the luxury tax. Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated provided further details: TNT's David Aldridge noted the current plan is for Chandler to remain with Philadelphia: Meanwhile, Denver ends up saving $49.8 million by taking the forward's salary off its books and reducing its luxury-tax total from $51.3 million to $14.3 million, per ESPN's Bobby Marks. The 31-year-old is coming off a down year with the Nuggets during which he averaged 10.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists across 74 appearances. His scoring dropped 5.7 points per game from the 2016-17 season. The DePaul product struggled to handle an inconsistent role, especially in terms of his offensive touches, and spoke ominously about the situation in January. "Just not feeling like myself, that's all," Chandler told reporters. "Maybe my rhythm's off. I don't know." When asked how he could salvage the season, he added, "I have no idea, to be honest." 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 While he did play better in the second half, averaging 11.5 points after the All-Star break, it still wasn't a complete return to form for the veteran forward. Chandler has been mentioned in rumors dating back to the 2017 trade deadline. That's when Sam Amick of USA Today reported the Michigan native wanted to get dealt because of "inconsistency with his role." While he ended up staying in Denver for an additional season-and-a-half, the issue lingered and ultimately led to his departure. Chandler will be under pressure following his trade to the Sixers. Not only will he need to establish himself with a new team, but he's also entering the final year of his contract after exercising his 2018-19 player option. He'll want to put together a strong bounce-back campaign in Philly before hitting the free-agent market next offseason. Expect him to split time with Robert Covington at the 3 to open the regular season.<doc-sep>The 76ers and Nuggets have agreed to a trade that should benefit both teams. Wilson Chandler, the 6-8 wing, will be heading from Denver to the Philadelphia 76ers after the two sides agreed to a trade on Tuesday, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The 76ers were in need of some help on the perimeter after losing players to free agency. The Nuggets, on the other hand, needed cap space. Denver will also send over a second-round NBA Draft pick, with the option to swap 2022 second-round picks. The Nuggets will be receiving cash considerations in the deal, according to Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated. By doing this deal, the Nuggets will save money on the luxury tax and also create the space necessary to give Will Barton his new four-year, $54 million contract. For them, the money saved may be worth more than what Wilson Chandler was bringing to them at this point. Wilson Chandler SF • PPG 10.0 RPG 5.4 BPG .5 Chandler isn't a knock-down shooter, which can make him difficult to fit into a modern NBA offense, but his size and quickness allow him to guard multiple positions. The Nuggets were always creative enough to make him work, but in an era where teams are looking for more 3-point shooting, it's not surprising that Denver would choose to give him up to save some money. With only one year left on his deal, it seems unlikely that he was going to return after the 2018-19 NBA season. The 76ers, on the other hand, gain a versatile wing that should fit right into their culture just fine. He can play many different roles for a team filled with ball-dominant players. All Chandler will need to do is attack the rim and make the occasional 3-pointer on offense. His defensive versatility is where he will make the most of his money.<doc-sep>DENVER, July 6, 2018 – The Denver Nuggets have traded forward Wilson Chandler and a future second round draft pick to Philadelphia in exchange for cash considerations, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today. “We want to thank Wilson for seven years in Denver,” said Connelly. “As good as a player as he is, he’s an even better person. He will be a great addition in Philly and we will certainly all be rooting for him.” Chandler, 31, spent seven seasons with Denver, averaging 13.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 357 games (267 starts). Overall he has appeared in 590 career games (447 starts) with New York and Denver, averaging 13.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.<doc-sep>The 76ers utilized cap space to acquire Wilson Chandler from the Nuggets, bringing in another 3-and-D option to help their efforts to win the East. Wilson Chandler is headed back east. Desperate to shed salary with a rising payroll, Denver will send Chandler and 2021 second-round pick to the 76ers, reports SI’s Jake Fischer. Philly will also be able to swap second round picks in 2022, while sending back cash considerations to Denver. The Nuggets skyrocketed into the luxury tax this summer, signing Will Barton and Nikola Jokic to new deals the same year Gary Harris’s extension will kick in. Denver’s preference to shed salary is the Sixers’ gain, as Philly picks up a 3-and-D swingman who slots nicely into their open cap space. Chandler averaged 10.0 points per game in 74 games last season. Let’s grade the move for each team. Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images 76ers With the big names off the free-agent market, Philly was forced to look into the margins as the summer continued. After re-signing J.J. Redick, picking up Chandler is another very solid move. Chandler shot 35.8% on threes for Denver last season, so he gives back the Sixers some of the three-point pop they lost in Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova. He’s also a capable defender. As we saw in Philly’s series against Boston, no team can have too many lengthy, 3-and-D types on its roster for the playoffs. Grades: Sharpshooter J.J. Redick Returns to the Rising Sixers Chandler as a bench piece will be useful in a future series with the Celtics, and he should fit nicely on the wing alongside any combo of Redick, Robert Covington, and Dario Saric. Philly is giving up nothing of note in the transaction, which means Chandler is essentially coming in on one of the many one-year deals being handed out this summer. He’ll be great to have this season, and the Sixers will still have flexibility to star hunt next July. Oh, and don’t sleep on the 2021 pick! That could be used as part of a Kawhi package, a future trade, or kept for what could be a loaded draft class if the NBA gets rid of the one-and-done rule. Grade: A Nuggets Denver was in a position of little leverage, looking to move excess salary to teams who have no reason to help out. Dumping Chandler without giving up a first-round pick is a win. The move saves the Nuggets about $50 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, factoring in the luxury tax cost on Chandler’s contract. While Chandler is a useful player, the Nuggets are betting on the younger Barton to slide into his place without much drop off. It’s unclear how much rookie Michael Porter Jr. can offer physically this season, be he also potentially stands to gain from the trade. It will be a short-term hit for Denver losing Chandler, but it makes sense for the front office to hand over bigger roles to its younger players. The Nuggets aren’t out of the woods yet—ideally they’d still find a way to dump the contracts of Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur. Even after the Chandler move, Denver is about $10 million over the tax line, according to Zach Lowe. Moving Chandler is just a start, but it’s a sensible one. Grade: B<doc-sep>

The Denver Nuggets traded Wilson Chandler and what’s likely to be a second-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday afternoon, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Sports Illustrated’s Jake Fischer is reporting that the Sixers won’t send a player back in return, instead merely shipping cash considerations. This deal makes a lot of sense for both sides, even if it looks like Denver’s getting ripped off by getting close to nothing in return. As always, this is a move made to save money. Why did the Nuggets trade Wilson Chandler for nobody? The Nuggets are way over the salary cap to the point where they’ve reached what’s called the luxury tax. The luxury tax is paid by high-spending teams whose payroll goes over a pre-determined number each year. The higher a team is over the luxury tax, the more money they have to pay. With Denver agreeing to two big contracts this week: Nikola Jokic’s five-year $148 million deal and Will Barton’s four-year $54 million one, they were well over the luxury tax, which gets extremely costly. The Nuggets needed to shed Chandler’s $12 million contract without bringing on another to save as much as $50 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Few teams in the league had the cap space to pull off such a move, which is probably why the team had to throw in an extra pick to seal the deal with Philly. Why did the Sixers trade for Wilson Chandler? Philly’s had a disappointing summer, striking out on LeBron James and Paul George. Nobody great is left on the market, and Chandler is the next-best choice. Adding Chandler also brings another wing presence at a time when they’re becoming one of the most important positions in basketball. Chandler can shoot from deep, and maybe more importantly has the size to switch on to defend multiple positions. Trading for Chandler comes with little risk, because his contract is set to expire after next season. And, Philly gets a pick asset it may want to use in a subsequent trade. Maybe for Kawhi Leonard? It was a cheap price for the Nuggets to pay losing a low-value asset to save a large sum of money, and a cheap investment for the Sixers to pay because they had the salary space anyway. Overall, this trade makes sense for both sides.

There has been no political reform. Internal critics have been harshly repressed, including women who urged a faster pace of change. Even this could be explained within the enlightened-despot model. The defense was that the modernization steps MBS is undertaking are radical and face many internal enemies, so gauging the right pace of change is a delicate and fateful decision. He must keep it in his hands and cannot permit public pressure either to go faster or to slow down. His detention of many very rich Saudis in the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton hotel until they paid ransoms was apparently fairly popular in the kingdom, because it was widely believed few of those men had gained their fortunes legitimately. Those ransoms were equivalent to the taxes they had never paid.<doc-sep>But Mohammed bin Salman was hardly Khashoggi’s first target. He was picking fights with the Saudi leadership 25 years ago. He was named editor of the reform newspaper Al Watan in 2003, got fired two months later for publishing criticism of the Saudi religious leadership, got rehired four years after that, and then was forced to resign in 2010 after publishing another controversial piece criticizing Salafist extremism. He was one of those journalists who simply wouldn’t back down when convinced he was right.<doc-sep>On Tuesday, Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi walked into his country's consulate in Istanbul. Turkish officials say he died there at the hands of a "murder squad" flown from Riyadh to kill him and dispose of his body. Saudi Arabia has denied the accusations. But Khashoggi is not the first critic of the Saudi government to disappear under mysterious circumstances. In the last few years, at least three other Saudi nationals – all relatives of the royal family, all outspoken critics of Saudi leadership and all living in Europe – have been kidnapped. Friends and allies say they were thrown into prison in Saudi Arabia – or worse. "Despite the denials, the oil-rich Kingdom is an absolute monarchy and has a track record of refusing to tolerate dissent by its citizens – both domestically and abroad," wrote Middle East Eye. Here's what happened to those dissidents: Sultan bin Turki Sultan bin Turki, a Saudi prince living in Geneva, became an outspoken critic of the kingdom's leadership after he left the country in 2002. Mr Sultan said he was invited to breakfast the next year by Abdulaziz bin Fahd, a son of then-Saudi ruler King Fahd. Over breakfast, Mr Abdulaziz asked Mr Sultan to return to Saudi Arabia to "resolve" some of his issues. He refused. A couple of minutes later, Mr Abdulaziz stepped out to make a phone call. Then, Mr Sultan said, masked men surrounded him. They beat him, handcuffed him and plunged a needle into his neck. When Mr Sultan awoke, he said, he was on a plane back to Saudi Arabia. Mr Sultan said he spent seven years in prison or under house arrest in Saudi Arabia before being granted permission to fly to Boston in 2010 for a medical procedure. While there, he filed a complaint in Swiss court accusing Mr Abdulaziz of kidnapping him, but little came of the case. In 2016, he agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to fly him from Paris to Cairo to visit his father. Friends say Mr Sultan was assured that he would be safe. He was allowed to bring his medical team, along with Western bodyguards. Instead, the plane took him to Riyadh. Witnesses say soldiers dragged Mr Sultan from the plane, where a team of armed guards gathered. He has not been allowed to leave the country since. 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.<doc-sep>

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called on Saudi Arabia to investigate the strange disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose case has sparked international outcry over the extent of the kingdom’s crackdown on dissent. “We call on the government of Saudi Arabia to support a thorough investigation of Khashoggi’s disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation,” Pompeo said in a statement. A Washington Post columnist and prominent newspaper editor in Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi mysteriously vanished last week. He has not been heard from since Oct. 2, when he entered a Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey to receive marriage paperwork. Allegations have since swirled over the whereabouts of Khashoggi, who is a well-known critic of the Saudi government and lives in exile. Friends and officials have blamed Riyadh for the dissident journalist’s disappearance and alleged murder. Turkish investigators on Saturday concluded Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate, the Post reports. The Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Khalid bin Salman, who is also the brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, denies these claims. In a letter sent Monday evening, the prince said it is “absolutely false, and baseless,” to accuse the kingdom of killing or detaining Khashoggi, according to NBC news. The prince emphasized Saudi Arabia is taking “extraordinary” measures to locate Khashoggi, “just as we would if it were any other Saudi citizen.” “Jamal has many friends in the Kingdom, including myself,” Khalid wrote. Khashoggi’s sudden disappearance has tested U.S.-Saudi ties. The U.S., where Khashoggi has been living since fleeing the kingdom last year, largely kept silent on the diplomatic imbroglio until Monday, when President Donald Trump said he was “concerned” about the case. Contact us at letters@time.com.

(CNN) Less than 24 hours after the unexpected announcement that Spain manager Julen Lopetegui would take over at Real Madrid next season, the Spaniard has been sacked by the country's football federation. Lopetegui's dismissal comes just two days before Spain's opening World Cup game against Euro 2016 winners Portugal on Friday. "We have been forced to make this decision," Spanish Football Association President, Luis Rubiales said according to a series of tweets from the official Royal Spanish Football Federation's official twitter account (RFEF). Former Spain and Real Madrid captain Fernando Hierro, who was part of four Spanish World Cup squads between 1990 and 2002, will lead the team through the tournament. "RFEF cannot be sitting on the sidelines whilst someone negotiates with one of its employees and then find out five minutes later before the news is made public," added Rubiales.<doc-sep>Spain’s squad have been plunged into crisis after the coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked just two days before their opening World Cup game against Portugal in Sochi, with the director of football, Fernando Hierro, named as his replacement. The president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, insisted that he had little choice but to terminate Lopetegui’s contract as a matter of principle after the coach negotiated with Real Madrid behind the federation’s back. The sacking comes in response to the news, released on Tuesday afternoon, that Lopetegui had agreed to take over at Real Madrid after the World Cup ends. That came as a huge surprise. Neither the players nor Hierro nor the president knew of the decision until moments before it was made public. Rubiales said that he had received a phone call from Madrid five minutes before they issued a statement announcing the appointment. He flew from Moscow to Krasnodar on Tuesday night, leaving the Fifa congress to head to the national team’s HQ to discuss how best to resolve the situation. Just after 1pm on Wednesday afternoon, after discussions with the players, he announced the decision to sack the coach, describing it as an “obligation” on a “sad day”. The announcement that Hierro would be his replacement followed three hours later. “It is a nice challenge. I could not say no: I would not have forgiven myself,” Hierro said. “We are in an extremely difficult situation; this is very, very hard,” Rubiales had said earlier. He and Lopetegui were due to appear before the media the following morning but that was put back and when Rubiales eventually appeared, an hour and a half later than scheduled, he did so alone. Another planned press conference with Lopetegui, subsequently pencilled in to follow that of the federation president, was cancelled. Julen Lopetegui leads a training session in Krasnodar on Tuesday before his departure was confirmed. Photograph: Javier Etxezarreta/EPA Rubiales had spent the morning talking to players, led by Sergio Ramos, who argued for the coach to continue. Ultimately, though, he chose to sack Lopetegui with immediate effect. “There are decisions that we are obliged to take based on an understanding of how you should behave and on ethics,” he said. He added that it was legitimate for Lopetegui to negotiate with Real Madrid but not for the federation to find out just five minutes before a formal announcement was made, a matter of hours before the beginning of the tournament. Although he sought not to point the finger directly at Madrid or Lopetegui, insisting that “if it was up to the coach I am sure he would have done things differently”, Rubiales was furious. He has been the president of the federation for less than a month and has already been forced to manage his first great crisis. He said that there was no negotiation with Real Madrid and that his request that the announcement be delayed was ignored, with the deal made public before he could respond. He attempted to contact Lopetegui to speak to him but was unable to do so as the coach was telling his news to the players. Madrid released the statement “five minutes” later, he said. The Fiver “The national team belongs to everyone and we have to send a clear message to all employees at the federation that there is a way of behaving, that there are ethics,” he said. “Julen has worked phenomenally well; I have nothing at all to complain about there. But the way that this has happened obliged me to take this decision. This is a very hard day and now we have decisions to make just two days before the World Cup starts.” It was later confirmed that Hierro, who won 89 caps for Spain, would take charge of the team for the duration of the World Cup. “I am grateful that Fernando said yes,” Rubiales said. “This [episode] has not left a good taste but we will overcome this.” Hierro said: “We’ve come to fight for the World Cup. The team is excited. We have a great opportunity and that should be the focus. The message from the team was fantastic. If I were not convinced of our aspirations, I would not be here. The key will be to change as little as possible.” The Juventus manager Max Allegri, meanwhile, has claimed he turned down an offer from Real Madrid to take over from Zinedine Zidane. Speaking to Sky Italia, he said: “Real Madrid and Chelsea? Let’s say I said yes to Juventus. I spoke with the president and it was right for me to stay at Juventus. It was a decision I had already made.” “I decided to stay at Juve and I respected what I said, I thank the president of Real who gave me the chance to go. Chelsea? The decision to remain at Juventus had been taken and it was right to confirm the word given to Juventus.”<doc-sep>Julen Lopetegui has been sacked as Spain's national team coach on the eve of the World Cup, one day after he agreed to take over at Real Madrid after the tournament. In a news conference at Spain's training base in Krasnodar, Russia, Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales said Lopetegui's fate was sealed just two days ahead of the team's World Cup opening game, as Rubiales could not accept an Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) employee having negotiated his next job without informing his employers. The RFEF announced afterward that Fernando Hierro will assume the role of coach for the tournament. Hierro, the national team's sporting director, told reporters that he would try to change as little as possible. Rubiales, who was elected as RFEF chief last month, was in Moscow for the vote on the World Cup 2026 host country, but he flew back to Krasnodar on Tuesday for an emergency meeting with Lopetegui. The coach's decision was announced at a news conference thereafter. "We have been obliged to fire the national coach," Rubiales said Wednesday. "We wish him the best, he has done an excellent job in getting us to the tournament. But the federation cannot be left outside the negotiation of one of its employees, and find out just five minutes before a public announcement. If anybody wants to talk to one of our employees, they have to speak to us, too. That is basic, as this is the team of all Spaniards. The national team is the most important we have; the World Cup is the biggest of all." World Cup 2018 must-reads - Make your picks with ESPN FC Match Predictor 2018! - Welcome to the Alternative 2018 World Cup Fans' Guide - ESPN FC's experts make their picks - Marvel's amazing World Cup spoilers - Revealed: World Cup 2018 Ultimate XI - Fixtures, results and full coverage - Team-by-team previews of all 32 nations Lopetegui told reporters at the airport in Krasnodar on his way back to Madrid: "I am very sad, but I hope that we play a magnificent World Cup and we win. We have a magnificent team and I hope that we win the World Cup." Hierro was a defender for Spain's national team and Real Madrid and will coach the team starting with Friday night's game against Portugal. "What we will do is touch as little as possible the national camp," Rubiales said. "We are working on it. When we know, we will tell you. We are all affected by this, but we must think about the best for the federation and the team. All this is a big blow, but we are training again this afternoon, will stick together and move forward. The players are very focused, and they have told me they are fully committed, and will give 100 percent." Lopetegui is a surprising choice to take over at Real Madrid but his work with the Spain national team on the foundation and fundamentals make him an intriguing choice at the Bernabeu. PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images Rubiales suggested he had taken the decision personally, as the behaviour of both Lopetegui and Real Madrid had not met the level expected of those involved in Spanish football. "I took a plane, came back from Moscow, missed the vote on the next World Cup to be here," he said. "We had to react, I know that whatever I do, I will be criticised. I accept that. But the values of the federation come first. I am sure Julen would have preferred it another way, and we wish him the best. He is a top coach for me, which made the decision very difficult. To win is very important, to have the best coach very important, but above everything is acting in the right way. Maybe this is tough now, but in the end it will make us stronger." Spain's players, led by national team and Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, were reportedly in favour of Lopetegui staying on for the tournament. Rubiales repeatedly dodged questions over whether he had taken their advice before making the decision to fire the coach. "I've a very close relationship with the players, also with Julen," he said. "It has been a very difficult decision, the most difficult for me. I have spoken with the players, and I can guarantee they will do everything, along with the new coach, to take the team as far as possible [at this World Cup]." Ramos later said on Twitter: "We are the national team, we represent the shield, the colors, the fans and a country. The responsibility and the obligation is with us. Yesterday, today and tomorrow: #Let'sGoSpain" Reports in Spain said Lopetegui, a former Madrid and Barcelona goalkeeper whose representative Carlos Bucero works closely with Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes, will triple his salary with the move.<doc-sep>The Spanish football federation sensationally sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup finals on Tuesday, furious that their unbeaten coach had done a deal behind its back to join Real Madrid. The president of the Spanish FA (RFEF) Luis Rubiales went head to head with Madrid and is understood to have faced down attempts by the club’s players in the national team to save the job of Lopetegui, a former Under-21s manager and friend of Gareth Southgate. In one of the most extraordinary pre-tournament rows in the history of the World Cup finals, Rubiales, a former head of the Spanish players’ union, cited Madrid’s lack of respect shown to the RFEF. He said he was told of Lopetegui’s decision to join Madrid after the World Cup just five minutes before the club made the announcement on Tuesday. Rubiales said that he had become aware that while negotiations between Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and Lopetegui had progressed, senior players were kept in the loop but the RFEF was neither informed by the club nor their erstwhile coach. Speaking about the matter Rubiales said: “Who was contacting them? It’s obvious isn’t it?” The episode is an embarrassment for Pérez, who put the interests of his own club before the national team and badly misjudged the mood at the RFEF. Lopetegui was immediately replaced by Fernando Hierro, 50, the former Madrid and Spain captain and the RFEF sporting director who takes charge for Friday’s game against Portugal in Sochi.<doc-sep>

Julen Lopetegui has been sacked as Spain boss just two days ahead of their opening World Cup fixture. The Spanish Football Federation made its announcement at around 11am on Wednesday ahead of a news conference at which president Luis Rubiales said: "We have been forced to dispense with the national coach. We wish him the greatest of luck." It was announced on Tuesday the 51-year-old, who was in charge of the national team for two years, had agreed a three-year contract at Real Madrid to replace Zinedine Zidane. However, the decision angered the Spanish FA with Rubiales adding: "I don't want to get into how Real Madrid should go about things. The Spanish team is the team of all of Spain. "If it had been up to Julen it wouldn't have happened in this way and I wouldn't have found out five minutes beforehand. "The negotiations have occurred without any information to the Spanish FA and we were informed just five minutes before the press release. We have a way of behaving that needs to be adhered to. "You can't do things this way, two or three days before the World Cup. We have been obliged to make this decision. "Obviously there was some sort of problem with communication but we can't be expected to find out about something like this five minutes [before the announcement] and not take the necessary decisions." According to Sky Sports' Guillem Balague, the players, including Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, did all they could to try and keep their head coach in his position. Spain delayed a press conference at the Krasnodar Stadium by more than an hour before Rubiales, who played for Hamilton Academical in 2009, announced the decision. The U21 manager Albert Celades, who is part of the coaching staff with the senior squad in Russia, and director of football Fernando Hierro are two of the possible replacements as head coach heading into the World Cup.

In the main event of DOMINION 6.9 in OSAKA-JO HALL, Kazuchika Okada's record-breaking title reign finally came to an end. In one of the most highly anticipated rematches of 2018, Kenny Omega defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship two falls to one. The match began with Omega as the aggressor and Okada on the defensive early on in their fight. Omega hit two tope con-hilos and multiple V-Triggers on Okada, but the champion continued to kick out. Okada eventually regained control and attempted a Rainmaker, but Omega tried to counter the move into a Crucifix pin. Okada countered the Crucifix pin into a sit out pin to win the first fall. After the two minute break, Okada would turn into the aggressor and hit several devastating Omega with a DDT to the floor and threw him head first into a guardrail. Eventually, Omega would regain control with a V-Trigger and followed it up with the One-Winged Angel to win the second fall. Omega and Okada continued to hit each other with every move in their arsenal with Omega hitting a Styles Clash and attempting Kota Ibushi's Phoenix Splash. As they hit the one-hour mark, both men struggled to hit their signatures with both Omega and Okada collapsing at various points in the match. With Okada stood on his knees, Omega hit the champion with two V-Triggers before Okada countered the third and landed two Rainmakers. Omega and Okada traded German Suplexes until Okada finally landed his third Rainmaker, but was unable to attempt the pin. Omega finally got back to his feet and hit another V-Trigger and One-Winged Angel combo to bring Okada's 720 day championship reign to an end. After winning the belt, The Young Bucks came to the ring to embrace Omega and Ibushi as they celebrated the crowning of a new champion. Cody Rhodes came down to the ramp, but turned around before getting to ringside. Omega and Okada's rivalry dates back to their initial title bout at Wrestle Kingdom 11 when Okada first defeated Omega to retain his title. Their second match took place months later at Dominion when they fought to a draw. Their third match took place in the semi-finals of the 2017 G1 Climax where Omega finally defeated Okada. With their fourth match ending in Omega's victory, Omega joins Vader, Scott Norton, Brock Lesnar and AJ Styles as one of the few North American wrestlers to win NJPW's holy grail. Sportskeeda is the one-stop destination for latest WWE rumors and wrestling news.<doc-sep>NJPW1972.com On 4 January 2017, Kazuchika Okada retained the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the expense of Kenny Omega at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom XI. The match was one of the greatest ever performed. Throughout the course of a pure 45-minute epic, both champion and challenger set new standards for drama and athleticism. Dangerous and intoxicatingly dramatic, the sheer degree of content was exhausting; even before that jaw-dropping reversal-strewn finishing sequence, Omega had half-killed Okada with a top rope dragon suplex and, with no exaggeration, narrowly escaped actual death when taking a psychotic bump through the legendarily stubborn Japanese table at a misjudged angle. The match, for all of its everything, left one incredibly narrative hook dangling: the undetonated One Winged-Angel. Many deemed the 11 June 2017 Dominion sequel something of a risk; surely, it was too soon to revisit a match of that magnitude. This match was only worth the Wrestle Kingdom stage. Omega did detonate this notion, at least, by taking Okada to his storyline limit in a one-hour draw that, somehow, was even better. He also detonated the One-Winged Angel, but subverted its impact to create yet another question. Okada could only drape his leg to the bottom rope, saved only by positioning compromised by Omega’s spent physical condition. The theme of exhaustion, the deeply authentic struggle of the selling, the timing of the comebacks calibrated perfectly to inspire hope beyond the hope: there was something unparalleled in how special that Dominion match was in its absolute obfuscation of artifice. Yet more became concerned when New Japan announced the G1 Climax Blocks. In a monumental shocker, Okada and Omega found themselves tiered together in Block B. This felt unnecessary - even wasteful - at the time. Beyond that, the 30 minute limit imposed something other than time. The magic of the Okada and Omega pairing was in its sheer physical impossibility, its exhaustive duration. They were a new version of the wrestling athlete. Surely, any result beyond a draw would diminish its aura. A draw itself would represent a literally diminished return. Through the magic of long-term storytelling, booker Gedo, Okada and Omega wrestled a completely different match - a super-charged short-form sprint that somehow did not materialise as a spot-fest in their genius hands. With Okada rendered vulnerable as a result of a storyline neck injury, Omega took the scalp in a breathless, breathtaking battle in beautiful, coherent contrast to their wars. And still, a question remained. Omega defeated a compromised, injured version of the Ace. Could he defeat Okada, at his most powerful, with no caveat? On 9 June 2018, Omega finally dethroned Okada in the greatest wrestling match in history. Crucially, this was Okada at his most powerful. He entered Dominion having ammassed the greatest Heavyweight Title reign in wrestling history, the lessons learned from a succession of classic victories reinforcing his aura and informing his in-ring arsenal. In parallel, the detonation of the Bullet Club inspired Omega to become a better, more valiant version of himself - a Kenny Omega driven by love. This was a new, more gripping dynamic of pro wrestling’s best-ever pairing. This was now a programme powered through pathos. CONT'D...<doc-sep>Dave Meltzer did it again, once again breaking his five-star rating scale for a match between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada by awarding their match from Dominion seven stars. Over the four matches the men have had, Meltzer has not gone lower than six stars (twice), but the seven stars is a new record high his rating scale. This, of course, has a portion of the wrestling fandom shook. See, Meltzer ratings fuel so much online discussion while being simultaneously declared entirely unnecessary by many involved. The thing is, I’d go seven stars too, were I the type to award numerical ratings to matches. The combination of drama, action and the continuation of existing storytelling between the two was unparalleled by any match I’ve ever seen. And, in an effort to establish this to a wider audience used to seeing a standard “five star” scale, awarding seven stars is an efficient and valid way to go about it. And, if you need further reasoning on why it’s valid to rate something so far above the “top possible rating,” here’s a little something for you: it’s one man’s admittedly subjective system with which he can do as he sees fit. Just as you can do with whatever system of ranking or rating matches you use, if you use one at all. It seems a little crazy to waste an ounce of emotional energy or a second of what little time we’re given on this earth being mad that someone rated a match a way you don’t like. So, yeah, I’d go seven stars too. And my scale is A to F. Happy Thursday, here’s Jushin Liger beating up a baseball mascot.<doc-sep>Kenny Omega challenged Kazuchika Okada in a 2 out of 3 falls match at Dominion for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship earlier today. Despite losing the first fall to Okada, Omega came back to win the match after a grueling battle. As it dawned on Omega that he’d finally done it, his friends The Young Bucks came down to the ring to embrace Omega. https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1005413555313790977 https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1005413953336430594 In the post-match press conference, Omega announced the beginning of the new era. He said that he’d been with The Elite and the Golden Lovers but now, it was time for the Golden Elite. https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1005418808159428608<doc-sep>

NJPW1972.com So inextricably linked is the venerable Dave Meltzer to New Japan Pro Wrestling that, as soon as Kazuchika Okada dropped the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the memes dropped all over Twitter. Dave Meltzer is going to break the scale again. Except he isn’t, because the match took place in Osaka-jo Hall and not the Tokyo Dome! Dave Meltzer is going to rate this ******* out of *****. Dave Meltzer is going to rate this ********************* out of ***** - seven stars for all three falls. As it happens, Dave Meltzer has officially shattered his ratings scale by rating the match a mere ******* (SEVEN) in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter. And who can blame him? This wasn’t a mere classic wrestling match, nor merely the best match by far in a year of incredible in-ring action. This was an incredible convergence of all that is wonderful about the art of professional wrestling. Omega, wrestling the match with a rousing humility, entered an all-time great babyface performance in a programme that was superb enough without this timeless, emotional dimension. Finding a downright magical sweet spot of pacing - they went over an hour without labouring nor betraying logic by over-compensating with content - Okada and Omega crafted a classic of drama, suspense, next-level athleticism, storytelling, continuity, physicality and psychology that rewarded those who paid attention for at least two genius calendar years. All who watched - as opposed to those who didn’t but still saw fit to write it off - experienced an immediate and potent endorphin rush stretched out to over an hour, at the end of which pure happiness engulfed the New Japan fandom. And, on the evidence of the Observer rating, a certain spot in California. For an in-depth review of the match itself, please click here.

The baby has been returned to his family. A baby who was discovered crawling across a street in New Jersey was returned to his family unharmed after a driver spotted him and took him off the road. Cory Cannon, 43, was on his way to work when he saw an infant crawling across Joe Parker Road just before 6 p.m. on Saturday in Lakewood, New Jersey. “I thought, ‘It’s a bag or a toy,’” Cannon told ABC News, recalling the incident. When he got closer, Cannon realized that the “toy” was in fact a real baby. He stopped his truck and took a photo as evidence, "In case anyone said I was lying about what I saw," said Cannon. Cannon helped get the baby out of the street, while a nearby neighbor came out to help him. They both then returned the baby to his family, who lived nearby. The Lakewood Police Department said that they sent officers to the area after receiving a report of an infant crawling across the roadway. “Further investigation revealed that the infant may have left through a door that was left unsecured by an older sibling,” police said in a statement. “The family of the child was unaware that he had left until the neighbor returned him.” Authorities have not revealed the identity of the baby’s parents. Lakewood police say they are still investigating the incident with the help of the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency.<doc-sep>LAKEWOOD, N.J. — A man said he stopped traffic on Saturday when he saw something almost unbelievable — a baby crawling across the street. Cory M. Cannon, 41, of Eatontown, New Jersey, said he was driving to work after 5 p.m. ET Saturday when he spotted something on Joe Parker Road in Lakewood. "I thought it was a toy or something until she moved," he wrote in a message to the Asbury Park (New Jersey) Press. "I knew I needed to get some sort of proof and my GPS was open on my phone, so I used my work vehicle to slow down traffic behind me and took the pic as I was exiting the vehicle and halting oncoming cars." He said he called Lakewood police after finding the baby and gave them the address. Police confirmed the incident, and as of Monday morning, said no arrests have been made. "It was an accident," a woman at the home where the baby lived told an Asbury Park Press reporter who knocked on the door. While not opening the door, the woman thanked the reporter for the opportunity to comment, but added that she was busy taking care of the baby and couldn't talk. Lakewood Police Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said the investigation revealed the baby may have left through a door that was left open by an older sibling, and that the family was unaware the child was gone until a neighbor returned the child, who wasn't harmed. Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles said state child welfare workers had been in contact with the baby's family. "Anytime you have a child that’s endangered they get involved to make sure the child is safe," Coles said. The police investigation is also ongoing, Staffordsmith said. The speed limit on the road is 40 mph. Cannon said a neighbor came out to the street at the same time he did to retrieve the baby, before police arrived. He followed the neighbor back to the baby's house. A young child answered the door, which was ajar, he said. "I believe she crawled right out of the front door," Cannon said. By Sunday evening, Cannon's photo and Facebook post about the baby had gone viral, garnering more than 500 comments and over 2,000 shares. The post has since been removed. Cannon, who has a four-month-old daughter and multiple nieces and nephews, said he was shocked by the ordeal. Afterward, "I couldn’t wait to see my daughter and give her a big bear hug," he said.<doc-sep>LAKEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Authorities say a baby girl found crawling across a busy New Jersey street was unharmed after a neighbor and passing motorist came to her aid. The child was spotted around 5 p.m. Saturday in Lakewood, in southern New Jersey. The motorist, 41-year-old Cory Cannon of Eatontown, said he saw the girl on Joe Parker Road and initially thought she was a toy. The toddler somehow managed to leave her home through an unsecured screen door and started crossing the busy road. “I wasn’t actually sure what it was or what was going on, but once I saw the baby move, just, my heart stopped, and I knew I had to do something,” Cannon told CBS2’s Meg Baker. “Hopefully I did the right thing.” Cannon hopped out of his car while another car stopped traffic coming from the other direction. “I yelled for the neighbors that I saw that were in their yard playing with their children. Someone actually came over, picked the child up, said it wasn’t her child. So we walked her over to the adjacent house, knocked on the door, the door was wide open. A toddler came and answered the door initially. Then the adult came. We explained to him what was going on and gave him his daughter back,” Cannon said. “Hopefully it doesn’t happen again.” Cannon has a 4-month-old of his own at home and said the sight was alarming. “It was like a shock to the system. You have to be more aware of your surroundings and be able to pay a little more attention to your children. That’s basically what it comes down to,” Cannon said. The New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency is assisting in the investigation. (© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)<doc-sep>

A man saw an unattended baby crawling across a street in Lakewood, New Jersey, on Friday and he snapped two photos of the outrageous sight before getting out of his car to help, he wrote in a Facebook post that has since been deleted. Cory Black Cannon was driving on Joe Parker Road when he spotted the baby girl crawling across the asphalt road. "Parenting at its absolute worse," he wrote in the Facebook post, which included two photos of the baby crawling in the middle of a multi-lane street. "I thought about my baby girl," Cannon wrote. The post went viral and received over 2,000 shares, but Cannon deleted it on Monday. Cannon said he and another driver stopped to block traffic, and got out of his car to help, CBS New York reports. "I wasn't actually sure what it was or what was going on, but once I saw the baby move, just, my heart stopped, and I knew I had to do something," Cannon told CBS New York. "Hopefully I did the right thing." Cannon, who has a 4-month-old daughter, said he started yelling for neighbors who were outside to come and help. "Someone actually came over, picked the child up, said it wasn't her child," he said. "So we walked her over to the adjacent house, knocked on the door, the door was wide open. A toddler came and answered the door initially. Then the adult came. We explained to him what was going on and gave him his daughter back." "Hopefully it doesn't happen again," Cannon said. "It was like a shock to the system. You have to be more aware of your surroundings and be able to pay a little more attention to your children. That's basically what it comes down to." Authorities say the baby girl was unharmed. The New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency is assisting in the investigation, according to CBS New York.

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. That is according to legendary Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, who was captain of the Red Devils at the time. Ronaldo joined United for just over £12million and went on to score 118 goals in all competitions. He scored six times in 40 appearances in his debut season as a raw teenager. But Keane has revealed how it could have been different had he chose to stay at Sporting for 12 more months.<doc-sep>Roy Keane weighs in on the Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi debate Roy Keane has had his say on the debate that looks set to run for several more years. Cristiano Ronaldo has done his reputation no harm whatsoever with the way that he's started the current World Cup campaign. Ronaldo has scored four goals in two games for Portugal in Russia as he looks to guide his country to consecutive triumphs at major tournaments. A hat-trick for the Portugal captain in their group opener against Spain last Friday was followed by a terrific header against Morocco on Wednesday afternoon, giving him the lead in the race for the Golden Boot, as well as the contest for the next Ballon d'Or award. It's looking increasingly likely that Ronaldo will be able to hold off any challenge from perennial rival Lionel Messi this year and if he keeps up his level of performances for the remainder of the World Cup, Ronaldo could well gain an insurmountable advantage over Messi in the argument about who is the greatest footballer of all time. Advertisement Speaking on ITV on Wednesday evening, Ronaldo's former Manchester United teammate Roy Keane had his say on the debate that has captured the football world and the Irishman revealed that he believes Ronaldo currently has an edge over the Argentine. "There's been a great debate over the last few years between him and Messi, but I think over the last six months, I think he's gone up to another level," Keane said. "He's up there on his own. The way he started the World Cup, the way he finished last season. How many times can we say it about him? His improvement, his attitude... A lot of it - it's not natural ability for Ronaldo. As brilliant as he is, I think it's just sheer hard work, determination, desire. He's got a lot of courage, wants to get in there, he's brave. I've said it before, the guy's a genius. "I think given his form at the moment, the way he's started the World Cup, I'd have him ahead of Messi. and I never thought I'd say that because I love Messi as well."<doc-sep>Roy Keane has entered the enduring debate comparing the respective merits of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi and he has no doubt who deserves to be hailed as the best player of this generation. Argentina talisman Messi has generally been saluted for being a step or two ahead of Portugal superstar Ronaldo, but Keane has an alternative view as he talked up the qualities of his former Manchester United team-mate. "I think there has been a great debate about him (Ronaldo) and Messi but over the last six months I think he's on a new level – Ronaldo's out there on his own," Keane said on ITV. "It's not natural ability, as brilliant as he is, it's sheer hard work. He's got a lot of courage, he's brave and the guy is a genius. "I think his form over the last few months I'd have him above of Messi." Expand Close Lionel Messi turns 31 during this summer's World Cup in Russia (Martin Rickett/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lionel Messi turns 31 during this summer's World Cup in Russia (Martin Rickett/PA) Keane's fellow panelist Ian Wright also backed Ronaldo in his long-running battle with Messi, as he took his goal tally at Russia 2018 to four after his winner against Morocco on Wednesday. "What he has proven going into the World Cup with the pressure he's under, this is his fourth World Cup, the way he's started, he has shown it's not just ability, its hard work. He's getting the fruits of all that work over the years," stated the former Arsenal striker. "I think that with Ronaldo he's been in different leagues, out of his comfort zone. Ronaldo when he left Portugal, even at Manchester United, I remember he had a year where they said he can go back (but he wanted to stay and fight at Old Trafford).' "I think in years to come, we've been fortunate to watch both at the height of their powers, but in years to come I think Ronaldo will pinch it for me." Online Editors<doc-sep>Once you have subscribed we will use the email you provided to send you the newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter email. As the second round of fixtures gets underway at the World Cup it's starting to look like the tournament could end up belonging to Cristiano Ronaldo. Four goals in two games makes the 33-year-old the top goalscorer in Russia at the moment, one ahead of Spain's Diego Costa and Russia's Denis Cheryshev. His hat-trick in Portugal's opening game against Spain was stunning, especially the last-minute free-kick, and he was once again the hero in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Morocco. Portugal next face Iran in five days' time - a fixture Ronaldo will be licking his lips at in his current goalscoring form. Winning the World Cup would be a dream come true for the Real Madrid man and would all but guarantee a SIXTH Ballon d'Or at the end of the year. And doing that, of course, would see Ronaldo go one ahead of long-term rival Lionel Messi. Ronaldo and Messi are both in their 30s yet their rivalry is as fierce as ever and it's still debated who exactly is number one. THE GREATEST RIVALRY For years it was thought Messi was top dog, but it's hard to ignore what Ronaldo has achieved in recent times. He's probably more deserving of the crown on that basis. But what does Roy Keane think? Well, speaking on ITV on Wednesday, the ex-Manchester United captain said something he never thought he would say about Ronaldo and Messi. Keane is a huge fan of Messi but he now claims he would have Ronaldo over the Argentine because Ronaldo has "gone onto another level". "I think there's been great debate over the last few years with him (Ronaldo) and Messi," he said on ITV. "But over the last six months I think he's gone onto another level. "I think he's out there on his own, the way he's started the World Cup, the way he finished last season. "How many times can we say it about him? His improvement, his attitude, and I think a lot of it is not natural ability for Cristiano Ronaldo. "As brilliant as he is, I think it's just sheer hard work, determination, desire. Today for the goal [against Morocco], courage, he's got a lot of courage, wants to get in there, he's brave. "I've said it before, the guy's a genius. In this form at the moment, over the last few months, the way he's started the World Cup, I'd have him ahead of Messi. "I never thought I'd say that because I love Messi as well. It's a good debate to have, but his form at the moment, he has just taken a step ahead of everyone, including Messi." News Now - Sport News<doc-sep>

Roy Keane believes Cristiano Ronaldo has gone a level above Lionel Messi , which is something he thought he would never say. The Real Madrid star proved to be the hero once again as Portugal beat Morocco 1-0 at the World Cup on Wednesday. His goal follows his stunning hat-trick against Spain on Friday, meaning he's now found the back of the net four times in two games in Russia. Lionel Messi has had a somewhat different World Cup so far. The Barcelona star missed a penalty as Argentina limped to a 1-1 draw against Iceland. (Image: Getty Images Europe) (Image: ITV) Following Ronaldo's most recent heroics, former Manchester United team-mate Keane believes he's now edged himself in front of Messi in terms of who is better. "I think there's been great debate over the last few years with him (Ronaldo) and Messi," said Keane on ITV. "But over the last six months I think he's gone onto another level. "I think he's out there on his own, the way he's started the World Cup, the way he finished last season. "How many times can we say it about him? His improvement, his attitude, and I think a lot of it is not natural ability for Cristiano Ronaldo. (Image: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock) (Image: Reuters) "As brilliant as he is, I think it's just sheer hard work, determination, desire. Today for the goal [against Morocco], courage, he's got a lot of courage, wants to get in there, he's brave. "I've said it before, the guy's a genius. In this form at the moment, over the last few months, the way he's started the World Cup, I'd have him ahead of Messi. "I never thought I'd say that because I love Messi as well. It's a good debate to have, but his form at the moment, he has just taken a step ahead of everyone, including Messi."

The drone attack on President Nicolás Maduro during a speech at a military parade on Aug. 4 was shrouded in intrigue: Who did it? How did it happen? That was partly because the state TV channel that was broadcasting it didn’t offer a complete picture. The livestream cut away at a key time, and audio of the explosions was hard to hear or discern. Moments later, the broadcast showed a panicked crowd fleeing the area, but we’re not sure why. In short, there was a dearth of material to help us understand whether a sitting president was the target of a hit job. This was complicated by the severe restrictions on independent media and freedom of expression in the country, which create major challenges for reporting. So how can journalists piece together a visual investigation in a place where it is exceedingly hard to get footage or talk to sources? One strategy is to scour both social media and official news wires for every piece of visual content, scrutinize it and create a basic timeline and map. In our research, we were able to find a video that contained the sounds of explosions and helped us confirm the timing and locations of them. Features from this new footage, like buildings or street lamps, can be matched with satellite images on Google Earth to identify locations. We can then create a simple crime scene reconstruction.<doc-sep>However, Hasler Inglesias, a youth leader with the opposition Voluntad Popular Party, told the BBC: "We didn't know what was happening. It's hard to believe that the opposition is going to make an attempt when they have never made an attempt in this way in 20 years."<doc-sep>Two explosive-laden drones were used to attack Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month. The attack failed, and it was expected to prompt a new crackdown from the government. Maduro reportedly hinted at what may be another purge during a weekend meeting. The days since an August 4 drone attack on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro have yielded few solid details about the perpetrators, but Maduro's government appears to be moving ahead with efforts to consolidate power and neutralize rivals. During the attack, two drones, each carrying 2.2 pounds of C-4 explosive, flew over an event marking the 81st anniversary of the national guard, where Maduro was speaking. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said one was electronically diverted by security forces, while the other crashed into an apartment building nearby. The commotion and blast scattered the crowd assembled there. Seven national guardsmen were injured. Maduro and other officials were unharmed, and it appears to be the first time drones were used to target a head of state. The Venezuelan government cast blame widely. Venezuelan National Guard soldiers scatter after an incident at an event in Caracas on August 4, 2018. Venezuelan government/ via Reuters Maduro — who blames a foreign-led "economic war" for Venezuela's problems — blamed the "far right" for the attack, working with former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos as well as with plotters in Miami. Maduro called on President Donald Trump to hold the "terrorist group" responsible. The US and Colombian governments have both denied involvement. Santos left office on August 7, but he told The New Yorker earlier this year he was aware of groups within the Venezuelan military plotting coups and said he was not averse to such a move. A group called "Soldiers in T-shirts" appeared to claim involvement, saying on Twitter that, "We have shown [the government] is vulnerable." Some also suspect the group of involvement in a 2017 attack in which a police officer dropped grenades on government buildings in Caracas from a helicopter. A former police chief and opposition member also claimed that he helped organize the attack, and a Miami radio host has said he was aware of the plot and that there are more coming. Several arrests have been made. One had a warrant out for him in relation to an attack on a military barracks in late 2017. Opposition legislator Juan Requesens was arrested, and the arrest was ordered of former National Assembly leader and opposition leader Julio Borges. The government has offered little evidence against the lawmakers Former members of the military have also been accused of involvement. On August 10, Information and Communication Minister Jorge Rodriguez said that 19 people have been detained and 18 more were wanted. Press members wait to get access to an apartment complex where an allegedly armed drone crashed, causing a fire, in Caracas, August 5, 2018. AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos Maduro was seen as likely to use the attack as a pretext for another crackdown on political rivals and to purge the security forces to further consolidate his power. In a weekend meeting with senior military officials, Maduro appeared to preface such a purge, reiterating his claim of Colombian and US involvement and saying that members of the armed forces should distance themselves from family members opposed to the government. "I understand that in the military family there may exist, in your households, people who do not agree with the government ... but I ask you all for complete loyalty," Maduro said, according to Venezuelan news site Runrunes. "It is preferable that a military member, and excuse me for saying so, that a military member stop visiting or avoid that part of the family" in order to avoid losing one's career "through an imprudence." "I'm going to be very strict with this, and I have given precise instructions in order to avoid us being infiltrated" by fifth columns, Maduro reportedly said. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at a military parade during Army Day celebrations in Caracas, June 24, 2017. AP/Fernando Llano An effort to cull disloyal elements within Venezuela's armed forces would not be a new development, said Geoff Ramsey, the assistant director for Venezuela at the Washington Office on Latin America. "Maduro has been carrying out a near-constant purge of the armed forces over the last two years," Ramsey added. "This has ramped up in recent months in the aftermath of a confirmed coup attempt in March and will continue to accelerate in light of the involvement of former National Guard officials in the recent assassination attempt." Scores of personnel from various branches of the Venezuelan military have already been arrested and charged with treason so far this year, Ramsey said, but the government may see this case differently. "I do think that there is more urgency in this latest purge," he said. "The government knows that the optics of the drone incident — the guardsmen running in the opposite direction of the explosions as Maduro is escorted offstage mid-speech — do not paint him in a strong light, and is trying to dissuade anyone from getting any creative ideas." Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro takes part in a military drill in Charallave, Venezuela, January 14, 2017. Miraflores Palace/Handout Maduro's government has sought to keep members of the military from straying through perks and benefits, like higher pay and preferential access to housing and food. Some officers have used their position to pursue corruption or drug-trafficking schemes and now rely on the government to shield them from prosecution. (During the weekend meeting, Maduro also announced new benefits for military personnel, part of an effort to grow the force.) Not all members of the military have benefited from those perks, however, and discontent has grown as the country frays. Despite changing sentiment, the latest crackdown seems unlikely to provoke a successful revolt. "I think the Maduro government has proven to be quite skillful in marginalizing and eliminating internal threats. They’ve dismantled every attempted military uprising so far, resisting tremendous pressure," Ramsey said. "I think this is a sign that the top brass is simply not at a point where they feel their interests are being threatened enough that they are willing to risk standing up to the government."<doc-sep>

WASHINGTON – Two drones packed with explosives reportedly flew toward Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday night in what the government has described as a failed assassination attempt. Here's a look at the details: What happened? Assailants launched two drones filled with a total of more than 4 pounds of plastic explosives toward Maduro, his wife and other top Venezuelan leaders, according to the Associated Press. The attack occurred while Maduro was making a speech at a huge outdoor event in Caracas to celebrate the 81st anniversary of the country's national guard. One of the drones was set to explode above the president while the second was set to detonate in front of him, according to Interior Minister Nestor Reverol. The Venezuelan military knocked one of the drones off-course electronically. The second drone crashed into an apartment building about two blocks from where Maduro was speaking to hundreds of troops, Reverol said. Photos taken at the event showed security officers surrounding Maduro with some sort of large black shields as they escorted him away. "That drone came after me," Maduro said. "But there was a shield of love that always protects us. I’m sure I’ll live for many more years." Who launched the drone attack? The Venezuelan government alleges that Maduro's political opponents conspired with individuals in Miami and Bogota, Colombia, to try to kill Maduro. They have so far offered no real proof to support this claim, and opposition leaders charge that Maduro is using the attack as an excuse to crack down on his critics. Government authorities said Sunday that they have detained six people – whom they described as "terrorists and assassins" – in connection with the attack. Among those detained: a man who took part in 2014 protests against the government and a man who had a warrant out for his arrest for attacking a military barracks. Maduro accused the “far right,” working with conspirators in Miami and Bogota –including Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos – of launching the attack. Colombia’s government has denied any role in the violence. Maduro, who accuses the U.S. of supporting his opponents, called on President Donald Trump to hold the "terrorist group" accountable. John Bolton, Trump's national security adviser, said Sunday he would like to see solid evidence to support Maduro's claims. "If the government of Venezuela has hard information that they want to present to us that would show a potential violation of U.S. criminal law, we’ll take a serious look at it," Bolton said on "Fox News Sunday." What is the political and economic situation in Venezuela? Venezuela is in the midst of an economic crisis that has been described as worse than the Great Depression that devastated the United States and much of the rest of the world in the 1930s. The inflation rate is set to hit a stunning 13,000 percent this year. There are shortages of food and medicine and a soaring crime rate, spurring refugees to flee into neighboring countries. More than 600,000 Venezuelans have crossed into Colombia, and Brazil has declared a state of emergency because of all the Venezuelans sweeping into that nation. Maduro is viewed by the United States and other democratic countries as a corrupt, left-wing dictator who imposes strict controls on his people and on the press. He won re-election to a six-year term in May, but the process was widely viewed as a rigged farce. The Trump administration imposed new economic sanctions on Venezuela immediately after the election in an effort to stop Maduro from selling off government debt to enrich himself. What could happen next? Reverol said there could be more arrests. Critics fear an even greater government crackdown on Maduro's political opponents. "The investigation will get to the bottom of this," Maduro said. "No matter who falls." More:Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says drone attack was 'attempt to kill me' More:Venezuelan opposition leaders taken from their homes by state security agents

Adventure Time Close this dialog window Streaming Options Try to keep it short. Adventure Time always did. Two hundred eighty-some episodes across eight-plus years, a near-decade of candy-colored mythbusting musical tragicomedy, Final Fantasy plus H.P Lovecraft times Philip K. Dick divided by Mystery Science Theater 3000 raised to the Charlie Brownth power, but funnier, but sadder, but weirder. And every episode still, what, 11-and-a-half minutes? Less, with an opening credits sequence only a heartless streaming service would ever skip? Sans commercials, Monday’s “giantsized” final episode clocked 44 minutes, 47 seconds, the precise length of time it takes your average prestige drama to burp. The series finale — variously titled “The Ultimate Adventure” or “Come Along With Me” — found time for two epic showdowns, three epic kisses, two musical numbers, one gigantic personification of universal chaos. This was a last explosion of imagination, every millisecond a subreddit waiting to happen. Eight years is a healthy run, but the propulsive energy suggested a brilliant-but-canceled oddity, an epic saga with an episode order cut halfway through season 3, an “ending” crammed with ideas that could’ve engine-fueled another five seasons. The new opening sequence introduced a far-future landscape, with creatures familiar yet unknowable. (Who was that strange traveler with a telescope?) The closing montage subplotted outwards, a princess ascended to monarch-hood, a marriage, the tantalizing possibility that the major female characters are trending toward an ’80s mallrat makeover. In the background, for like five seconds, we saw a grown-up skyscraper-sized Sweet P, rocking an indie rock beard and a busy-looking sword. Take it away, FanFiction! All yours, academia! There was always the spinal possibility that Adventure Time was a coming-of-age story for Finn. He was the initial, apparent hero. And Jeremy Shada voiced the human boy through the squeaks of adolescence, aging with his audience like last decade’s Harry Potter kids. If you were tracking this thread, it’s fascinating to realize how little Finn actually did in the finale. His big suggestion was that fighting solves nothing. He worried about the impending war between Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch) and her uncle/creation Gumbald (Fred Melamed). And his big plan for stopping the battle was…making everyone dream! And even then, he outsourced the action part of this inaction to Jake (John DiMaggio), handing the special knockout dream gem thing to his older brother. “You guys have to hash this out in the unconscious world,” Finn said, sounding like one of those Jim Starlin protagonists who rescue their multiverse by weaponizing good vibes. The dreamscape was one last showcase for Adventure Time‘s grotesquery, a High Weird version of kids’ animation that went out of style when Walt Disney lost money on Fantasia. There was an underground balloon mall storing repressed memories, Lady Rainicorn cooking Jake’s kids in a pot, a toothbrush duel inside the chomping mouth of an inconceivable dream beast. Eyeballs everywhere, everywhere eyeballs. And the goofs, man, the goofs! “We need love, not war!” said Finn. “Good idea,” said Bubblegum, conjuring a “LOVE BAZOOKA!” Finn begged Jake for assistance, but the yellow stretchy dog was lost in a banal nightmare: “I wanna help you,” he said all apologetic, “But I can’t lose this job,” dressed as a waiter balancing a dozen plates. The big battle never happened, which makes sense. Adventure Time loved to zigzag towards anticlimax. A heavier read on this show would explore how it mixed familiar science-fiction and fantasy together, unpacking or exploding the usual pop tropes. Mysterious biological fathers turned out to be shysters. The evil wizard was an emotionally distressed basket case, lobotomized toward a toxic princess fixation. The last human on Earth was actually just one of many, many, many humans scattered around the world. Bubblegum initially came off like some variant Nintendo-Disney Princess, and by season 4 you realized her Wikipedia character summary required a seven-volume biography. The finale was sweet in many ways, and cute. But there was acid in these veins, too. (SMASH CUT TO: One of the Gumball Guardians, mumbling “sorry” as his glass face shattered into candy droppings.) Gumbald was promising peace, but he would’ve attacked Bubblegum if not for the unexpected arrival of Lolly (Maria Bamford). “He was never the epiphany type,” Lolly explained. Not hard to draw one key lesson here: The very worst sort of being is a creature incapable of changing their mind. And then all literal Hell broke loose. Out of the sky appeared a great red monstrosity, GOLB, an entity whose arrival has been teased for awhile now, a big red baby with Rocky Horror gumlips. Finn was sidelined. “How do I stop this?” he asked Normal Man (Tom Kenny). And Normal Man… stepped past him, to Ice King (also Kenny! ), declaring “You are the only one who can stop this!” Finn’s big climactic physical action was jumping into the belly of a monstrosity he was powerless to defeat. “I always figured I’d go out saving somebody,” he said, defeated. (A thousand years hence, the great climactic story of Finn’s time of adventuring was the stuff of misremembered legend. His very good friend couldn’t recall properly remember his name: Fred? No, Phil!) Was Ice King the real hero all along? He got a big romantic moment, devolved backwards into his old self again, granted one last moment in GOLB’s digestive system with his long-lost love Betty (Felicia Day). Or no, wait, the real heroes were Bubblegum and Marceline (Olivia Olson). I think we will have to explain to the next generation why it was such an emotional supernova watching two cartoon women kiss onscreen. But Adventure Time began in 2010, in the brutal age of Proposition 8, when Mitch and Cam were the one Modern Family couple that never kissed, like, the super liberal President could only ever state publicly how his perspective on gay marriage was evolving. This year feels more brutal. But scan a newspaper (or a newsfeed) and notice the marvelous new regularity of certain phrases, his husband, her wife, the universal “they.” So run back the whole series and ponder if this was a long tangential tale of love regained, Mary and Bonnie Ross-and-Racheling themselves toward reunion. “I don’t want to lose you again!” said Marceline, the real star of Adventure Time for the tormented romantics in the audience. This show built off pop culture history. I’ve made so many comparisons in this review — a critical crutch, I know. I wish I had a newer language, like ideograms or whatevs. And this was a decade so lousy with genre fiction, space-knights and wizards. (The most popular TV shows were, in order, the one with the zombies and the one with the dragons.) But you watched Adventure Time and you realized how, well, old all those other stories felt: Microwaved reheatings of intellectual property from the 20th century, old ideas dressed up with new faces swearing religious fealty to the holy toxic fandom. Myths reprinted with bigger budget, two Spider-Men, Harrison Ford sequelized toward oblivion, God-emperor Bezos promising infinite Tolkien in the content cloud. I dunno, man, Adventure Time beats all that. Hang your nostalgia, this was the new nowness. Don’t get bogged down in the details; Finn could be Fionna, and that’s totally math. More sensible to compare Adventure Time to Wicked or Sex and the City or Sopranos, these great cultural notions of (respectively) the good-evil paradigm or romance or masculinity deconstructed. “They’ll be talking about this fight for years!” declared Jake with superhero braggadocio, right before giant creatures pulped him flat with one smash. And then those same creatures flattened his beloved treehouse: Adventure Time‘s central notion of Home or Headquarters, obliterated as collateral damage, victim not of purposeful evil but from a total uncaring lack of awareness, destruction by drone. Hope came from an unlikely source. This was in the show’s design all along, of course, that democratic (communistic?) attention to all the little people, focal episodes for Tree Trunks, the crucial adventures of Root Beer Guy. BMO (Niki Yang) appeared, scarred, in the wreckage. All was lost, but BMO wasn’t scared. It was time, in fact, for the little Game Boy thing to sing a song…<doc-sep>This post contains spoilers for the entire series of Adventure Time, including the Season 9 finale Adventure Time redefined what it meant to go on a journey. The finale of the 10-year-long adventure, which aired at 6 p.m. ET on Sept. 3, could not have made that more clear: We have moved so far beyond where we started. We could never have imagined the twists along the path. We can't believe it's over. But somewhere along the way, we learned to be OK with seeing it go. The finale reiterated that good things might need to come to an end. But what we learn from them doesn't have to. In its more simple (yet always revolutionary) original form, creator Pendleton Ward imagined Adventure Time as an animated TV series in the spirit of a Dungeons & Dragons game. The sense of random, unpredictable questing is built into the name itself. But what was perhaps more unforeseeable was what it came to mean to us, as an endless source of heartfelt journeys. An unexpected moral compass, Adventure Time is the closest equivalent the internet era has to what Mr. Rogers meant for so many previous generations. Through its oddities, rituals, sincerity, and never-too-soap-boxy lessons, it taught us the invaluable lessons of growing up — both for the show's younger audiences and the older online fanbase that took to it like moths to a meme. The Land of Ooo is not the same as Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. But it was still our place of unadulterated childhood imagination and community, where the scary and beautiful lived side by side, the achingly sad and unrelentingly hopeful sang in harmony together. We watched so much about the world change. Adventure Time dared to go places that few other children's shows were even allowed to. Our own place of unadulterated childhood imagination and community, where the scary and beautiful lived side by side. As a universe set in aftermath of total annihilation (aka the nuclear fallout of the Mushrooms Wars), the show has always in some ways been about living with the end. But the ephemeral nature of life is also embedded into its most notable storylines. Like the Ice King, for example. A character we assumed to be a prototypical villain turns out to have been a scientist, loving husband, and caretaker to a little girl in need — but then tragically corrupted by the magic he needed to protect them in the post-apocalypse. The princess who needed saving now more often does the rescuing herself. She's also revealed, however indirectly, to be in an on-and-off again romance with Marceline the Vampire Queen. A seemingly simplistic protagonist goes through the awkward and excruciating pain of losing love and wrestling with the discovery that the dad he'd put on a pedestal was actually just a huge jerk. The "Adventure Time" finale take place in a backdrop of war and destruction Image: Cartoon network Finn began as a falsetto-ed boy with reductive ideals of violent heroism. But by the end of the series in Season 9's "Gumbaldia" and "Come Along With Me," he has transformed into a peace treaty-seeking mediator. In the finale, his immutable shadow self Fern the Human disintegrates and is reborn as the new treehouse. Betty merges with the horrifying chaos god Golb. I mean, for Glob's sake, we thought Tree Trunks literally died for much of the earlier seasons. Adventure Time has been preparing us for how to say goodbye for a long time now. And it pushed those lessons even more in the ambitious, hour-long finale. From the opening minutes, the audience is further forced face the end as just the natural process of change. Because the episode begins not with Finn and Jake, as we've come to expect. Instead, its end begins with a whole new duo, Shermy and Beth, who look like some sort of mutated futuristic evolutions of Finn and Jake. The plot of the finale is even framed as a story being told by the king of Ooo, BMO, looking back a thousand years after everything we knew and love has been gone forever. Adventure Time knows that life is not always fair or just. Everything stays, yet always changes. Bad things happen to good people. Good things don't last forever. And that's exactly as it should be. Or, to put it in the words of the finale song, written by one of the formative creative minds behind the show (who went on to spread its revolutionary spirit with Steven Universe), Rebecca Sugar: It seems unforgiving when a good thing ends. But you and I will always be back then. ... That's why You and I will always be best friends Saying goodbye to Aventure Time is hard, especially when it feels like we need a show that can find peace amid the chaos now more than ever. But it's a testament to what it gave us that we've learned how to let go. We came along with you. We'll be here for you always. And always be for you.<doc-sep>On Monday, Adventure Time came to an end as finale episode "Come Along With Me," capped the show's tenth and final season. Now, just a day later, the ending can be rewatched thanks to the release of Adventure Time: The Final Seasons on DVD. The DVD release (as with the seventh season, no Blu-ray release has been announced) of Seasons 8, 9 and 10 finally offers an alternative to the frustratingly sporadic release schedule Adventure Time suffered in its later seasons. For example, Season 10 ran on Cartoon Network in 4-episode chunks, spaced months apart. With its snackable cartoon episodes, Adventure Time is a blast to binge, particularly the run-up to "Come Along With Me." The final seasons DVD includes a handful of special features, including animatics, a character gallery, song demos and a behind-the-scenes featurette. While not unwelcome, the special features on The Final Seasons DVD are a bit barebones, particularly for the end of a series. The featurette, an "Adventure Time Yearbook," is the only real celebration of Adventure Time 's eight-year run, with showrunner Adam Muto and notable contributors like Rebecca Sugar and Ian Jones-Quartey reminiscing on the Adventure Time legacy (sadly, creator Pendleton Ward is nowhere to be seen). But really, it's all about the episodes. The Final Seasons DVD includes a grand total of 53 episodes of Adventure Time. This includes both 8-part miniseries arcs, " Islands " and "Elements," with the former ranking among the best continuity-heavy episodes ("Elements" doesn't fare as well and is the worst of the several Adventure Time miniseries). Aside from the miniseries, the final seasons of Adventure Time include a number of fantastic episodes, including the Susan Strong two-parter "Preboot" and "Reboot"; the terrifying return of the Lich in "Whispers"; the reveal of the truth behind Jake's stretchy powers in "Jake the Starchild"; and "High Strangeness," which pits Tree Trunks against a UFO. Also included, of course, is the Adventure Time series finale, which is as heartbreaking, adventurous and inventive a conclusion as the show deserves. Adventure Time: The Final Seasons DVD is a lot of great material at a reasonable price, but it's a little disappointing the end of the series isn't treated with a little more fanfare. Instead of a lavish celebration of everything Adventure Time meant to so many fans, The Final Seasons feels like an afterthought, with special features that just aren't that special. But if you're looking for a convenient way to watch the conclusion to one of the best animated shows of all time, The Final Seasons will do the trick. Adventure Time: The Final Seasons DVD is out now. The finale soundtrack is also available, for digital download or streaming.<doc-sep>

In retrospect, the thought that Adventure Time might have had an actual, definitive ending feels silly. By its fourth season, the show had rapidly lost interest in telling a single story about its central quartet of Finn, Jake, Princess Bubblegum and Ice King, and sprawled outward to the point where no single episode could possibly wrap up every ongoing thread. Would Ice King ever find his way back to being the unmutated scientist Simon Petrikov? Would Finn and Princess Bubblegum ever get together? (Or, more importantly, would Finn ever be in a healthy relationship, period?) Was Sweet P ever going to need to do battle with The Lich dwelling inside of him? The final season of Adventure Time does have a valedictory feeling in that it addresses a few of these running plots, but the show was never leading to a real “conclusion,” at least not narratively. So it makes sense that while “Come Along With Me,” the four-part series finale, engages with a few of these questions, it’s content to leave many of them unanswered, which feels like the right choice. Here’s what actually happens in “Come Along With Me”: Princess Bubblegum’s war with her Uncle Gumbald reaches a fever pitch, until some dream-based struggle allows the pair of candy people to realize they don’t need to resolve their differences through violence. Betty’s attempt to cure Ice King dovetails with Maja the Sky Witch to summon GOLB, the closest thing Adventure Time has to an evil god. Led by BMO and the power of song, the heroes prevail and avert the apocalypse. There are slightly higher stakes than normal, but Adventure Time had done a “fate of the world” type plot before. For the most part, the finale was just another adventure. From one perspective, that story seems a bit small, especially for a goodbye. Princess Bubblegum’s war with Uncle Gumbald is a decent fantasy conflict, but it doesn’t have anything approaching the sweep of Finn’s battle with The Lich, or the apocalyptic sense of the catalyst comet. Though he’s mentioned as early as the second season, Gumbald isn’t fully introduced as an antagonist until the season eight finale, with only 15 episodes left to go. There’s just no way he could carry the weight of the entire show’s history, and “Come Along With Me” doesn’t ask him to. The Gumball War is transitory, like the sort of plot that would come in the penultimate season before the real showdown. That’s the whole point. Some fans might feel shorted by this approach, understandably — they’ve been promised a story about the end of Ooo. The frame device of “Come Alone With Me” puts the viewer in the paws of Beth and Shermy, two new characters in a future version of Ooo who have taken on the adventuring mantle of Finn and Jake. (Beth, nicknamed the “Pup Princess,” is almost certainly intended to be a descendant of Jake and Lady Rainicorn.) Early in the finale, the pair meet the King of Ooo: BMO, who agrees to tell them about the end of everything. But everyone should know better than to take BMO at their word. That’s never really what the story was about; after all, Beth and Shermy are there, in Ooo. The payoff isn’t a cataclysm, it’s that stuff just kind of kept happening, and eventually Beth and Shermy got to do their own junk. At every turn, Adventure Time went bigger with the world-building. If a side character showed up for one episode — say, a quasi-human named Susan Strong or a guy made out of Root Beet — they would come back in unexpected ways, because they were part of the fabric of Ooo. Any time Finn and Jake were out killing monsters, Princess Bubblegum was somewhere doing science, Peppermint Butler was experimenting with dark magic, and Lumpy Space Princess was off shaking her lumps. At any time, any of those characters could pop in without suggesting that their lives were only important when they were in the spotlight. Adventure Time was never a serial story with an endpoint. In fact, it was never really about Finn and Jake; at least not in the sense that the show needed them around to continue. By the end of the show’s run, almost any side character could carry an episode of Adventure Time, a fact the show underlined with several one-off episodes about other characters and surprising groupings.