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The New Japan Cup continues tonight with the last four first-round matches. The show will feature the continuation of Minoru Suzuki & Satoshi Kojima decade long rivalry, as well as the NJPW singles debut of Colt Cabana. The show is set to begin at 6am EST. It will air LIVE on NJPWWorld.com. The full card has yet to be announced. New Japan Cup First Round: Toru Yano vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. Toru Yano vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. New Japan Cup First Round: Satoshi Kojima vs. Minoru Suzuki Satoshi Kojima vs. Minoru Suzuki New Japan Cup First Round: Hirooki Goto vs. SANADA Hirooki Goto vs. SANADA New Japan Cup First Round: Togi Makabe vs. Colt Cabana<doc-sep>Show is available at NJPWWorld.com FIRST MATCH: YOSHI-HASHI, Yuya Uemura, Michael Elgin & Juice Robinson vs. Bullet Club (HIKULEO, Bad Luck Fale, Taiji Ishimori & Chase Owens) Good opener. YOSHI-HASHI and Chase Owens are brewing a mini-feud that is delightful. Yuya Uemura has star potential. HIKULEO is a pretty entertaining big man. Need To Watch Rating: (5.0) SECOND MATCH: Ren Narita, Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, BUSHI & Shingo Takagi) Hectic, fun match. The New Japan Dads kinda let Narita do the work. LIJ was cohesive, but one forgets how SANADA really holds the team together in the ring. Need To Watch Rating: (4.9) THIRD MATCH: Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku) Sabre and Ibushi have amazing chemistry, leading to a solid preview of their 2nd round match. TAKA and Ibushi have some fun exchanges too. Tomoaki Honma is also there. Need To Watch Rating: (4.5) FOURTH MATCH: CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Will Ospreay) vs. Suzuki-gun (Taichi & Lance Archer) Everyone in this match is good. Everyone. Great undercard tag. Give it a watch. Need To Watch Rating: (6.9)…nice FIFTH MATCH: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada & Shota Umino vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Mikey Nicholls & Toa Henare Tanahashi, Okada and Umino are the past, present, and future of New Japan. Taguchi, Nicholls & Henare are a damn effective version of Taguchi Japan. Nicholls continue to shine in his NJPW return. Need To Watch Rating: (6.0) SIXTH MATCH: New Japan Cup First Round: Toru Yano vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. I mean, this was technically a match…I guess. Need To Watch Rating: (5.0) SEVENTH MATCH: New Japan Cup First Round: Togi Makabe vs. Colt Cabana A way better version of the Yano/Davey match. Cabana brings out a hilariously deadpan side of Red Shoes Uno that is pretty delightful. Makabe is also a great straight-man to Cabana’s wacky antics. Need To Watch Rating: (7.05) EIGHTH MATCH: New Japan Cup First Round: Satoshi Kojima vs. Minoru Suzuki This is an absolute war. Definitely could’ve been longer, but a solid Dad Fight. Kojima has lately been on fire and Suzuki is not afraid to get burned. Need To Watch Rating: (8.0) MAIN EVENT: New Japan Cup First Round: Hirooki Goto vs. SANADA Match of the night by far. These two are so damn good together. Goto and SANADA have a very similar style and it leads to some pretty sensational one-upsmanship. Need To Watch Rating: (9.8)<doc-sep>We’re headed towards New Japan Pro Wrestling’s next huge show in the form of G1 Supercard, and that means only one thing— New Japan Cup! A thirty-two-man single elimination tournament spread across twelve shows, the winner earns a shot at a singles heavyweight-eligible title of his choice. All twelve shows, naturally, will air live and in full on NJPW World, so why not watch along with the best pro wrestling community on the internet? Today’s action takes place in Kagawa’s Takamatsu City General Gymnasium #1, kicking off at a brisk 6AM Eastern / 3AM Pacific, and features four of our first round matches, the winners of which will face off in two second round matches on March 17. Toru Yano over Davey Boy Smith, Jr. by pinfall with a side folding press. (New Japan Cup First Round Match) Colt Cabana over Togi Makabe with a Superman cradle. (New Japan Cup First Round Match) Minoru Suzuki over Satoshi Kojima by pinfall with the Gotch piledriver. (New Japan Cup First Round Match) SANADA over Hirooki Goto by pinfall with the diving moonsault. (New Japan Cup First Round Match) Enjoy the show!<doc-sep>

NJPW New Japan Cup first round ended earlier today with SANADA defeating Hirooki Goto in the main event to advance in the single elimination tournament. The winner will receive an opportunity against IWGP Heavyweight Champion Jay White at ROH / NJPW G1 Supercard on April 6 inside Madison Square Garden. Below are the full results: * Taiji Ishimori, Bad Luck Fale, Hikuleo and Chase Owens def. Juice Robinson, YOSHI-HASHI, Michael Elgin and Yuua Uemura * Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, BUSHI and Shingo Takagi def. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi and Ren Narita * Kota Ibushi and Tomoaki Honma def. Zack Zabre Jr. and Taka Michinoku * Will Ospreay and Tomohiro Ishii def. Lance Archer and Taichi * Mikey Nicholls, Toa Henare and Ryusuke Taguchi def. Shota Umino, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada New Japan Cup Matches * Toru Yano def. Davey Boy Smith Jr. * Colt Cabana def. Togi Makabe * Minoru Suzuki def. Satoshi Kojima * SANADA def. Hirooki Goto See Also: NJPW G1 Climax From Dallas To Air Live On AXS TV Round two of the New Japan Cup begins on March 13. The matches will then continue to take place on March 14, 16 and 17. Here are the matches for the second round: * Tomohiro Ishii v. Taichi * YOSHI-HASHI v. Chase Owens * Kazuchika Okada v. Mikey Nicholls * Will Ospreay v. Lance Archer * Hiroshi Tanahashi v. Ryusuke Taguchi * Kota Ibushi v. Zack Sabre Jr. * Colt Cabana v. Toru Yano * Minoru Suzuki v. SANADA

The Gators had beaten UK 31 times in a row, the country’s longest current streak by any team over another. And seemingly every year, UK had the Gators on the ropes, with shenanigous endings costing the Wildcats over and over. This time, though, the game’s biggest blooper went against the Gators, with a seemingly made UF field goal being ruled a miss. Still, the Gators made it a one-score game when Feleipe Franks found Freddie Swain for the wide-open TD, but missed basically the same play on the 2-point try. That made it 21-16. Touchdown Gators, the 2 point conversion is No Good!!!!!! ! Kentucky leads 21-16 with 3:43 left in the 4th Quarter pic.twitter.com/lo8W5cJs4W — NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) September 9, 2018 And then, during UF’s last-grasp drive, Florida seemed to think a Josh Allen strip-sack of Franks was an incompletion. The ball bounded around for a while before UK decided to just run the thing back to the end zone. The final score: 27-16. Cats beat Gators for the first time since Top Gun was in theaters. CHOMP CHOMP: Josh Allen with the Gator Chomp after the win pic.twitter.com/MjIvTPouTR — Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) September 9, 2018 This ends a long, long trail of frustration for UK. In 2017, UK lost because it ... literally forgot to cover receivers. Previously: In 1993, Kentucky held a 20-17 lead with less than 10 seconds left on the clock in Lexington. But Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who threw three picks that night, threw a touchdown to receiver Chris Doering with three seconds left. The touchdown sealed a 24-20 Florida win. Then 10 years later in 2003, the 14-year-old streak looked to be in danger. It was Rich Brooks’ first season, and his team was up 21-3 at halftime. But in the fourth quarter, true freshman quarterback Chris Leak took over, throwing two touchdown passes and a 2-point conversion to go up 24-21 with a little over three minutes left in the game. The Wildcats tried a 49-yard field goal with less than a minute left, but it was no good. The game in 2007 looked like one of Kentucky’s best shots, after a historic upset over No. 1 LSU the week prior, with the Wildcats hosting Florida in Lexington. The Wildcats went down to Tim Tebow and Florida’s offense 28-10 in the second half, but UK’s offense pulled within a score in the third quarter. A pair of Gator fourth-quarter touchdowns would seal Florida’s 45-37 victory, with Kentucky scoring a touchdown in the final seconds. In 2014 in Gainesville, Kentucky lost, 36-30, in triple overtime amid dubious officiating. During the game’s first overtime, Florida had the ball second and tied things up on a pass from Jeff Driskel to Demarcus Robinson on fourth down. But it looked like Driskel didn’t get the ball snapped before the play clock hit zero: The next season, the Wildcats held Florida’s offense to just 14 points the whole night, keeping them off the board entirely in the second half. But Kentucky could just score two field goals in the fourth quarter lost 14-9 to Florida then 14-9 at home in 2015. As for Florida, well — its own troubling run continues.<doc-sep>It’s a party in Lexington after Kentucky upset the 25th-ranked Florida Gators on Saturday. The first win over Florida in three decades was a program-changing moment, and it was something that players, coaches and fans are soaking up every bit of as they celebrate. Whether it was in Gainesville or down on State Street, Saturday was a very special night that many will remember for the rest of their lives. Here is a look at some of the best moments from the celebration taking place around the Big Blue Nation: Any recommendations for a clean up crew? We need them here at 6 am tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/nVlDHYokUE — KSBar and Grille (@KSBarAndGrille) September 9, 2018 Not all of the celebration was great, however, as some fans took it a little too far while partying down on State Street. This doesn’t even look real pic.twitter.com/Srpp3EjAbm — Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) September 9, 2018 Aftermath of car being flipped back over. Cop lights visible at the end of the street pic.twitter.com/kaWmBpn7ZS — Kentucky Kernel (@KyKernel) September 9, 2018 Be safe, party responsibly, and go Cats! A Sea of Blue comes loaded with the best Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and some other stuff, so be sure to go ‘like’ our Facebook page and then go follow our Twitter page.<doc-sep>For 32 long years, Kentucky football was on the wrong side of history vs. Florida. Since 1986, the Wildcats had played 31 games against the Gators and 31 straight times, had come away a loser. Whether it was the 73-7, 65-0 or 63-5 beatdowns in 1994, 1996 and 2008 or the soul-crushing defeats in 1993 (24-20), 2002 (41-34), 2003 (24-21) or 2014 (36-30), The Streak had become part of the UK football fan's collective psyche. That feeling of creeping dread, waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for the boogeyman to spring back to life for one last scare. Kentucky football took on the role of the lovable loser, where you had to laugh to keep from crying as the team seemingly invented new ways to lose games. For decades, Kentucky held the unfortunate distinction of holding two of the longest losing streaks in college football history to SEC East foes Tennessee and Florida. In 2011, Volunteers curse was lifted. Last season, another 29-26 win in Lexington made that streak feel like ancient history. Last season, Kentucky led 27-14 before surrendering a pair of touchdowns over the final eight minutes in a demoralizing 28-27 loss. The Wildcats were the better football team by every statistical measure except for the final score. In a lifetime of bad losses, 2017 was the nadir. Despite going on to win seven games and reach a second consecutive bowl game, UK football fans were seemingly shell shocked, living a nightmare they simply couldn't wake up from. Even by UK football standards, last season's loss to Florida was a bit much for one of the most resilient fan bases in all of sports. The 2017 Gators stole something from UK fans they'd never be able to get back. The Streak had become more than some could bear. Saturday night, all the familiar warning signs indicating danger ahead were once again there: two turnovers, two dropped interceptions. Like 2017, Kentucky took a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter. Like 2017, Darius West came up with a second half interception. Trailing 21-16, the Gators took the field for its final drive, where it would once again surely play the role of Lucy to the Wildcats' Charlie Brown. But when Josh Allen jarred the ball loose from Feleipe Franks and Davonte Robinson casually returned it for a touchdown as the clock hit 00:00, 32 years worth of demons dissipated into the thick Florida air in Gainesville Saturday night. Kentucky 27, Florida 16. The Streak was finally dead and buried. Mark Stoops, Benny Snell, Terry Wilson and Co. did it for Moe Williams. For Tim Couch and Craig Yeast. For Jared Lorenzen, Derek Abney and Artose Pinner. For Rich Brooks. For Andre Woodson, Jacob Tamme, Rafael Little, Keenan Burton and Wesley Woodyard. For Randall Cobb. For Stephen Johnson. For all of the Kentucky players since 1986 that never tasted victory over Florida. Afterward, a number of former Wildcats took to Twitter to share their thoughts, reactions and gratitude.<doc-sep>After 31 years of frustration, Kentucky was finally able to go into Gainesville and come away with a 27-16 win over the Florida. Despite being a two-touchdown underdog and having not won in Gainesville since 1979, the Wildcats were clearly the better team Saturday, and the final score told that very story. It’s a win still very fresh in all of our minds, and it’s something Big Blue Nation won’t want to stop celebrating anytime soon. Good news. We now have a behind the scenes look at what took place at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, both during the memorable win and a very special postgame celebration. Enjoy the latest work of Kentucky Wildcats TV: A Sea of Blue comes loaded with the latest and greatest Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and some other fun stuff, so be sure to go ‘like’ our Facebook page and then go follow our Twitter page. Go Cats!<doc-sep>

Saturday was a special night, and it won’t be forgotten anytime soon in the hearts of the Big Blue Nation. Saturday was the first time Kentucky beat the Florida Gators since the 1986 season. Making the 27-16 win even sweeter is that it was the first win in Gainesville since the 1979 season. That kind of history is fun to beat, but it also had taken its toll on the fanbase, former and current players, especially in recent years when Kentucky gave away games it should have won. As you can imagine, Twitter was quite the part when the game ended. Here’s a look at some of the best reactions from current and former players, as well as other members of the BBN: For the BBN, and most importantly for the STATE OF KENTUCKY... THIS IS FOR YOU! — Kash Daniel (@KashDaniel15) September 9, 2018 I’m crying in a bar in Baton Rouge. I love my Wildcats more than anything. So proud to have worn that jersey! #BBN #WeDidIt — Patrick Towles (@patty_ice_8) September 9, 2018 BBN!!! — Boom Williams (@boom_that_guy) September 9, 2018 Love being apart of this team!! Go Big Blue!!! — Courtney Love (@Courtney_Love51) September 9, 2018 Words cannot describe that feeling #BBN — Drake Jackson (@THE_DRAKE_52) September 9, 2018 What a feeling...Love this team!! — Tristan Yeomans (@TristanYeomans) September 9, 2018 We really made history ⚪️. I Love #BBN — _59 (@59_looney) September 9, 2018 Lost in all this partying is the genuine happiness I have for some friends who came so close to beating Florida and just fell short. Cheers to you @timcouchtv @JaredLorenzen22 @stephen_h_j @cp_walker16 @AMacGinnis8 ... I could tag 100 of you. The streak is over! — Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) September 9, 2018 Congrats to the Kentucky Wildcat football team. It’s been 32 yrs and u deserve it. U have been the FAR SUPERIOR team to Florida for the past 2 YEARS. Never thought I would hear my UK cheerleader wife gloat during the fall, in my lifetime. My how times have changed in G’ville! — Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) September 9, 2018 To every life long KENTUCKY fan, that was for you! — Chase Heuke (@ChaseHeuke) September 9, 2018 “How long is Kentucky’s win streak against Florida?” pic.twitter.com/D4pqb3yr37 — Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 9, 2018 WATCH HOW YOU SPEAK ON OUR NAME. pic.twitter.com/LGPzTEFdoT — Mr SNELL YA LATER (@benny_snell) September 9, 2018 Walking out of The Swamp like: pic.twitter.com/8ItTOtPTYG — SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 9, 2018 I will ride and die for this man. Love you coach! @UKCoachStoops #BBN pic.twitter.com/v4TYiXnP3v — Kash Daniel (@KashDaniel15) September 9, 2018 Sleep easy tonight, Kentucky. — Logan Stenberg (@LBStenberg) September 9, 2018 Sea of Blue comes loaded with the best Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and some other stuff, so be sure to go ‘like’ our Facebook page and then go follow our Twitter page.

Editors USA TODAY Authorities said the Pennsylvania man who killed 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday likely acted alone. Authorities identified the victims during a Sunday press conference. The victims' ages range from 54 to 97. The accused gunman, Robert Bowers, 46, was charged late Saturday with 29 federal counts, including hate crimes. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the charges “could lead to the death penalty.” Bowers was taken into custody after being wounded in a shootout with police at the scene of the "horrific" mass shooting, according to law enforcement officials. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday afternoon. The attack is the worst on worshiping Jewish people in American history, according to a Cincinnati professor and director of the American Jewish Archives. Here's what we know, so far: What happened? Bowers allegedly burst into the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh and screamed anti-Semitic epithets as he opened fire on the congregants, law enforcement officials said. Bowers shot and killed the 11 victims before being confronted by police. The call of a shooting at the synagogue came in at around 9:54 a.m. ET, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said at a Saturday news conference. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the shooting occurred at the synagogue during a baby-naming ceremony. How did police capture Bowers? As Bowers attempted to exit the synagogue, a gunfight erupted and two officers were injured, Pittsburgh bureau FBI Special Agent in Charge Bob Jones said. In a later exchange of gunfire, two SWAT team members were injured. Bowers was taken into custody and is in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said. Who is the suspect? Bowers, 46, was charged by federal prosecutors with 29 counts, including using a firearm to commit murder. Bowers was armed with an AR-15 assault rifle and three handguns and used all four in the attack. The Associated Press reported Sunday that Bowers owned the weapons legally and had a license to carry them. Posts believed to be from Bowers’ social media accounts show pictures of several Glock pistols in their cases and derogatory remarks about refugees, Jewish people and President Donald Trump. Among his recent posts, one read, "Daily Reminder: Diversity means chasing down the last white person." Another said, "welp, it's 8 bells and time to raid the kike group." Bowers told an officer while he was being treated for his injuries “that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people,” a federal affidavit said. More:Who is Robert Bowers? Accused Pittsburgh synagogue shooter left anti-semitic trail Who are the victims? Authorities released the names of the victims during a press conference Sunday. They include two brothers and a husband and wife. Joyce Fienberg, 75 Richard Gottfried,65 Jerry Rabinowitz, 66 Cecil Rosenthal, 59 David Rosenthal, 54 Bernice Simon, 84 Sylvan Simon, 86 Daniel Stein, 71 Melvin Waxn, 88 Rose Malinger, 97 Irving Younger, 69 One of the four police officers wounded in the attack was treated and released, and a second one was expected to be released Sunday. The other two injured officers were expected to stay in the hospital, and one of them, a 40-year-old man, remained in critical condition. Two other people in the synagogue were wounded by Bowers. A 61-year-old woman was listed in stable condition, and a 70-year-old man was in critical condition, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Authorities have established a hotline for family members of the victims: How have government officials responded? The President tweeted that the "evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity." Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto called Saturday the "darkest day in Pittsburgh's history.” Asked at a news conference whether it's time to discuss the notion of removing guns from American society, Peduto said the efforts should focus on eliminating irrational behavior. "I think the approach that we need to be looking at is how we take the guns, which is the common denominator of every mass shooting in America, out of the hands of those that are looking to express hatred through murder,” Peduto said. More:Pittsburgh synagogue attack worst on worshiping Jews in U.S. history, archivist says Contributing: The Associated Press<doc-sep>The Jewish congregants were there to celebrate life, but were met by death. Most never had a chance. Just before 10 a.m. Saturday, suspected gunman Robert Bowers, 46, burst into the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh and, yelling "All Jews must die," killed 11 before himself being wounded and taken into custody. The list of those killed Saturday included middle-aged brothers, an elderly husband and wife and a grandmother nearing 100. All were cherished members of a tight-knit Jewish community with deep roots in Pittsburgh history. Many of them had gathered for a naming ceremony, which marks the beginning of a baby's journey in the Jewish faith. Some arrived on this traditionally holy day, the sabbath, simply to worship, study and pray. All wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. On Sunday, Pittsburgh chief medical examiner Karl Williams read the names of the dead. "The families are in shock and grieving, please be respectful of their needs, their time and space as they deal with this tragedy," he said. Those killed were Daniel Stein, 71; Joyce Feinberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; brothers Cecil Rosenthal, 59, and David Rosenthal 54; husband and wife Bernice Simon, 84 and Sylvan Simon, 86; Melvin Wax, 88; and Irving Younger, 69. 'Infectious' laugh and gentle spirit The Rosenthal brothers, Cecil and David, were long-time members of the Tree of Life synagogue, according to J.E. Reich, who grew up in the neighborhood the brothers called home. Reich said the brothers were developmentally disabled and lived together. The two had Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder that often results in mild to moderate intellectual disability. Cecil Rosenthal loved to greet people at the door of the synagogue before services “not out of obligation, but out of joy,” said Reich, a reporter who has written for online websites such as Jezebel. Reich tweeted that due to the ongoing police investigation, which has involved cordoning off part of the cemetery at Tree of Life, all burials may be delayed. "This is heartbreaking: the map for the cemetery plots where the victims will be interred is still in Tree of Life Synagogue – still cordoned off as a crime scene – which might delay their burials," Reich wrote. "Synagogue admin is hoping that an FBI agent will be able to get the plot plan for them." Achieva, an area organization that helps the developmentally disabled, put out a statement Sunday that said both brothers had a deep love of community and life. “If they were here, they would tell you that is where they were supposed to be,” said Chris Schopf, Achieva's vice president of residential supports. “Cecil’s laugh was infectious," Schopf added. "David was so kind and had such a gentle spirit. Together, they looked out for one another. They were inseparable. Most of all, they were kind, good people with a strong faith and respect for everyone around.” Sylvan Simon, 86, and his wife, Bernice, 84, lived in Wilkinsburg, about six miles from Tree of Life. One of their sons, Martin, died in a motorcycle accident in 2010. Bernice Simon was a retired nurse who served for several years on the board of their townhouse community, according to Simon Reichbaum, who lived three doors down from the couple for more than two decades. “They were very nice people, I could not think of a bad word to say about them,” said Reichbaum, who described Bernice Sylvan as his “comrade-in-arms” on the townhouse board. She “wanted to do right for others,” Reichbaum said. Reichman said Sylvan Simon, who was also retired, liked to take walks around the neighborhood. He always exchanged a wave and a friendly hello. In 2008, Sylvan Simon was quoted in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about the popularity of the Nintendo Wii video game among senior citizens. The shooting “has struck us all very hard,” said Reichbaum, 74, whose children attended Hebrew school at Tree of Life when they were young. “I can’t even put it into words.” A 'basic goodness about him' Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, was a family doctor in Pittsburgh, where he shared a practice with Kenneth Ciesielka. Jerry and his wife Miri were devoted members of Dor Hadash, which is housed at the Tree of Life Synagogue, and he had served as past president of the Jewish reconstructionist congregation, friends said. As a kid, Rabinowitz attended Maple Avenue School in Newark, New Jersey, from grade school through middle school. Mark Sarver, who met Rabinowitz in grade school and later served as the best man in his wedding, said his best friend “never took my friendship for granted.” As a boy, "Jerry was a small version of the adult self that he became," said Sarver of Washington, D.C. "He was studious but brilliant. He was earnest but fun loving. He just had this basic goodness about him.” Rabinowitz earned bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in the 1970s and moved to Pittsburgh around 1980. Known for his signature bowtie and delightful bedside manner, Rabinowitz earned a reputation for faithfully tending to the needs of his patients, friends and family. “He was extremely caring (and) would always put everyone else’s needs before his own,” said Avishai Ostrin, his nephew, who spoke with USA TODAY from his home in Israel. “It was always about everyone else.” More:What is Gab, the fringe social network used by Pittsburgh shooting suspect? More:Design based on Steelers helmet honors synagogue dead Ostrin said his uncle was "just really, really funny, outgoing (with a) great, loud laugh. Always a smile on his face, always lending a hand.” Years ago, when Sarver’s mother had surgery in Pittsburgh, Rabinowitz made special arrangements to make sure his family was cared for. “We both knew that we were friends to the end, no matter what,” Sarver said. “We could talk about anything and everything.” Richard Gottfried, 65, not only was a longtime dentist, but was an avid golfer, runner and book lover. As an athlete, boasting on his website that he had completed 28 of one of Pittsburgh's biggest 10K events, the annual Great Race, according to the biography on his website. He practiced dentistry with his wife of 38 years, Margaret Duranchko. On Sunday, their practice’s answering machine said: "Our office is closed indefinitely due to the tragic death of our beloved Dr. Rich." Though he was a member of the Tree of Life synagogue, he and his wife volunteered their skills as dentists for the Catholic Charities Free Dental Clinic. Also as a couple, they were wedding counselors at St. Athanasius Catholic Church in the suburb of West View, where Duranchko is a parishioner. Their practice is also in West View. Gottfried had an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and received his dental degree there as well in 1980, the same year he married Durachko. Melvin Wax, 88, was a kind, simple man with a well-known presence in the synagogue, said Bill Cartiff, 56, who has been friends with Wax’s daughter for 30 years. The retired accountant went to the Tree of Life Synagogue three to four times a week and lived in Squirrel Hill. Although hard of hearing, Wax was in good health, ate well and didn’t even need a walker, said Cartiff. He also told jokes, was “with it” mentally and could hold good conversations. His daughter Jodi Kart, whom Cartiff is neighbors with in the South Hills, saw her father several times a week. One grandchild also survives Wax, whose wife died two years ago. Wax’s family will meet with the Jewish funeral home Monday, and the funeral will probably take place Tuesday or Wednesday, Cartiff said. “Yesterday was a day of waiting and stressful anticipation of what was happening and getting the official news, which we didn’t get until late in the day after dark,” Cartiff, 56, told USA TODAY. “Today is just a day to let the dust settle, meet with some family and make arrangements. Because the funeral home couldn’t meet with us until tomorrow, we’re kind of in limbo.” All of those who died leave behind grieving family and friends.<doc-sep>Members of a Facebook group for alumni of Baldwin High School in Pittsburgh said in postings that Bowers attended their high school in the late 1980s. One classmate recalled him as “troubled,” and another wrote that he was a loner who often wore a green military jacket. Others said they could not recall him. One posted a yearbook photo showing him with shoulder-length hair and a T-shirt.<doc-sep>

Pittsburgh shooting: Victims of synagogue attack named Published 28 October 2018 media caption "It's a horrific crime scene. One of the worst, and I've been on plane crashes" The names of the 11 people killed in Saturday's attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh have been released, with the oldest aged 97. Two brothers and a husband and wife were among those killed. Six people were injured, including four policemen. The suspect, Robert Bowers, 46, is in custody and faces 29 criminal counts in what is thought to be the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent US history. Mayor Bill Peduto said this was the "darkest day of Pittsburgh's history". President Donald Trump has called the attack a "wicked act of mass murder". Who are the victims? The ages of the 11 victims ranged from 54 to 97. They are: Joyce Fienberg , 75 , 75 Richard Gottfried, 65 65 Rose Mallinger, 97 97 Jerry Rabinowitz , 66 , 66 Cecil Rosenthal, 59 59 David Rosenthal, 54, brother of Cecil 54, brother of Cecil Bernice Simon , 84 , 84 Sylvan Simon, 86, husband of Bernice 86, husband of Bernice Daniel Stein, 71 71 Melvin Wax, 88 88 Irving Younger, 69 Tributes have been pouring in from those who knew the victims. Myron Snider described his friend Melvin Wax as a "sweet, sweet guy" and unfailingly generous. Ben Schmitt, a patient of Jerry Rabinowitz, said the family medical practitioner was "kind and funny... [he] completely personified the term 'bedside manner'". What have been the latest developments? The names of the victims were read out by officials at a press briefing on Sunday morning. Mayor Peduto said: "To the victims' families and friends - we will be here to help you through this horrific episode - the darkest day of Pittsburgh's history. We as a society are better than this, we know that hatred will never win out." media caption Crowds sing at a vigil in Pittsburgh Officials gave some details about the attack, revealing that the gun suspect used three Glock 57 handguns and an AR-15 assault rifle and made statements regarding genocide and a desire to kill Jewish people. The suspect is still in hospital, in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds, but is scheduled to make his first court appearance at 13:30 local time (17:30 GMT) on Monday. Officials said there was nothing to indicate he had any accomplices. One injured officer was released from hospital on Saturday, another should be released on Sunday, with the other two needing more treatment. The remaining two injured people are members of the congregation. What are the charges? The 29 charges were announced in a statement issued by the US Attorney's Office of the Western District of Pennsylvania: Eleven counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and 11 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence. These can carry the death penalty Four counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer Three counts of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence How did the shooting unfold? On Saturday morning, worshippers had gathered at the Tree of Life synagogue for a baby naming ceremony during the Sabbath. Squirrel Hill has one of the largest Jewish populations in Pennsylvania. media caption Police audio of the moment the suspect is captured Police said they received first calls about an active shooter at 09:54 local time (13:54 GMT), and sent officers to the scene a minute later. According to reports, Mr Bowers, a white male, entered the building during the morning service armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. The gunman had already shot dead 11 people and was leaving the synagogue after about 20 minutes when he encountered Swat officers and exchanged fire with them, FBI agent Robert Jones said. The attacker then moved back into the building to try to hide from the police. He surrendered after a shootout. image copyright Google image caption The Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh The crime scene was "horrific", Pittsburgh's Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich told reporters. "One of the worst I've seen, and I've [worked] on some plane crashes. It's very bad." What do we know about the gunman? US media said he had shouted "All Jews must die" as he carried out the attack.

Your Miami Dolphins will host the Detroit Lions today. The Lions come in to this week having won only two games but those two wins were over the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots. Their losses, which seems confusing given their wins have been against the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys, three teams that have not exactly wowed anyone this season. Our Dolphins of course are coming off an exciting win over the Chicago Bears. Miami of course started out the season hot, winning three straight, defeating the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and Oakland Raiders in order before dropping two in a row. The losses came to the New England Patriots, in a blow out and the Cincinnati Bengals in a heart-breaker where Miami started out the game strong before allowing the Bengals to charge back. Please use this live game thread to discuss this game. In doing so please remember to follow all Phinsider site rules. Also remember that there is no sharing, requesting or discussing of any illegal game streams on the Phinsider or any SBNation site. Detroit Lions (2-3) 4th NFC North @ Miami Dolphins (4-2) 2nd AFC East When: 1:00 PM EST 1:00 PM EST Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida TV: FOX FOX DirectTV NFL Sunday Ticket: 708 708 TV Announcers: Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth Radio Network: Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, WQAM 560 AM, WQBA 1140 AM (Spanish) Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, WQAM 560 AM, WQBA 1140 AM (Spanish) Online Streaming: Last year, SB Nation broke down all the cord-cutting options for NFL games and free trials are still available for most of these if you want to use them; NFL Sunday Ticket (paid DirecTV service - one-week trial); NFL Game Pass (paid service - shows preseason games live, replays of regular season games) Last year, SB Nation broke down all the and free trials are still available for most of these if you want to use them; (paid DirecTV service - one-week trial); (paid service - shows preseason games live, replays of regular season games) Weather: 86˚F; Cloudy 86˚F; Cloudy Odds: Lions -3 Lions -3 Over/Under: 46.5 46.5 All Time Record: Dolphins 7-4 (Regular Season) Dolphins 7-4 (Regular Season) Most Recent Meeting: Lions 20-16 @ Detroit (Week 10, 2014) Lions 20-16 @ Detroit (Week 10, 2014) Current Streaks: Lions 2 wins (2010, 2014); Dolphins 3-2 in last 5 (regular season) Lions 2 wins (2010, 2014); Dolphins 3-2 in last 5 (regular season) Lions SBNation Site: Pride of Detroit Pride Of Detroit Twitter: @PrideofDetroit Phinsider Twitter: @ThePhinsider Phinsider Facebook: www.facebook.com/thephinsider www.facebook.com/thephinsider Injuries Lions: Theo Riddick , RB (knee) - Out; Ezekiel Ansah , DE (shoulder) - Questionable; T.J. Lang , G (concussion) - Questionable; Michael Roberts , TE (knee) - Questionable , RB (knee) - Out; , DE (shoulder) - Questionable; , G (concussion) - Questionable; , TE (knee) - Questionable Injuries Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill , QB (Shoulder) - Out; Charles Harris , DE (Calf) - Out; Jonathan Woodard , DE (Concussion) - Out; A.J. Derby , TE (foot) - Questionable; Bobby McCain , QB (knee) - Questionable; T.J. McDonald , S (knee) - Questionable; DeVante Parker , WR (quadriceps) - Questionable; Cameron Wake , DE (knee) - Questionable Dolphins 2018 Schedule Week 1 (Sep 9) - vs. Tennessee Titans - W 27-20 Week 2 (Sep 16) - @ New York Jets - W 20-12 Week 3 (Sep 23) - vs. Oakland Raiders - W 28-20 Week 4 (Sep 30) - @ New England Patriots - L 38-7 Week 5 (Oct 7) - @ Cincinnati Bengals - L 27-17 Week 6 (Oct 14) - vs. Chicago Bears - W 31-28 Week 7 (Oct 21) - vs. Detroit Lions Week 8 (Oct 25) - @ Houston Texans (TNF) Week 9 (Nov 4) - vs. New York Jets Week 10 (Nov 11) - @ Green Bay Packers Week 11 - BYE Week 12 (Nov 25) - @ Indianapolis Colts Week 13 (Dec 2) - vs. Buffalo Bills Week 14 (Dec 9) - vs. New England Patriots Week 15 (Dec 16) - @ Minnesota Vikings Week 16 (Dec 23) - vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Week 17 (Dec 30) - @ Buffalo Bills<doc-sep>Detroit Lions (2-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (4-2) When: 1 p.m. Sunday. Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. TV: Fox. Radio: WJR-AM (760; other radio affiliates). Game notes: It's the Lions' first game since their bye week, and their facing one of the early surprise teams of the season. The Dolphins are tied with the Patriots atop the AFC East after last week's overtime win at home over the Bears. Miami will start backup QB Brock Osweiler as Ryan Tannehill remains injured. It's the Lions' third of four games this season against the AFC East: they dropped the season opener at home to the Jets and then defeated the Pats in Detroit. Analysis:Lions vs. Dolphins scouting report and prediction Staff picks:A Lions loss to Miami would further confuse us all More:Matt Patricia: Dolphins are Lions' 'toughest opponent to date' Twitter updates Live updates for mobile users. Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!<doc-sep>The Detroit News Justin Rogers, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News offer their predictions on the outcome of Sunday’s Lions-Dolphins game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (1 p.m., Fox/760). ►Justin Rogers: The benefits of the early bye should pay dividends this week, with the return of Ziggy Ansah and T.J. Lang to the lineup. Miami, meanwhile, will be playing with a historically erratic backup quarterback. Las Vegas is smarter than me and they have the Lions favored, despite the Dolphins' perfect record at home. With that in mind ... Lions, 24-20 More: Lions' conditioning to be put to test in sweltering Miami heat More:Lions mailbag: Picking apart the lack of picks More: View from the other side: Lions at Dolphins ►John Niyo: The Dolphins aren't much to look at, and that won't change with Brock Osweiler filling in at quarterback again this week. But the statistic that stands out is the reason Miami is sitting at 4-2 and on the margins in the AFC playoff picture. They've snagged a league-best 11 interceptions and won close games by winning the battle of field position with turnovers and terrific special-teams play. The Lions have done a good job hanging on to the football since the opener. Lions, 24-20 ►Bob Wojnowski: The Dolphins may be 4-2 and unbeaten at home, but they don’t scare anyone. OK, they scared the Bears last week, winning in overtime, but backup QB Brock Osweiler isn’t duplicating that 380-yard performance. Frank Gore is an ageless wonder, and against the Lions’ weak run defense, he could do damage. But the Lions’ run-pass balance should keep improving, and as long as Kerryon Johnson’s ankle is fine, this is a game they should win. Lions, 26-20<doc-sep>

Detroit Free Press staff Free Press columnists and staff writers predict Sunday's game in Miami between the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Jeff Seidel Lions 27, Dolphins 21: According to my weather app, it’s going to be in the high 80s on Sunday in Miami. That’s not exactly good news for the Lions, going into a stadium where the Dolphins are 3-0 this year. But the Lions will be rested, coming off their bye. This game will show the Lions have grown in one significant way — they have become mentally stronger. Shawn Windsor Lions 26, Dolphins 23: Unless coach Matt Patricia treated the bye week like training camp and ran his guys silly, I suspect the Lions improved during the off week, and built on their win over Green Bay. Carlos Monarrez Dolphins 26, Lions 20: After hearing Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Dave Birkett besmirch his good name, future Hall-of-Famer Frank Gore runs for 102 yards and makes the Freep scribe eat his words — or buy me lunch. Either is fine. Brock Osweiler throws two touchdown passes and the Lions further confound a fan base that doesn’t know what to believe. Dave Birkett Lions 20, Dolphins 17: Playing against a backup quarterback in Osweiler and with the Dolphins down two-fifths of their offensive line, there’s no reason the Lions shouldn’t win this game. Yes, Patricia did his best sell job this week, trying to convince players and the public the Dolphins are a dominant home team and the best group they’ve faced this year. But the Lions are a more talented team on paper, and coming off the bye, they should be rested and ready for a stretch of 11 straight weeks with a game. That said, this won’t be a cakewalk. The Dolphins have two capable running backs and an impact player or two on all three levels of their defense. But so long as Matthew Stafford takes care of the ball, the Lions should get to .500 with their second straight win. Keys to the game:Here's what Lions need to do to defeat Dolphins Lions vs. Dolphins:Scouting report and prediction Ziggy Ansah:I wouldn't wish what I've gone through on anybody Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!

It was a glorious performance from the fearless teenager ranked 87th in the world, as one of the pre-tournament favourites was taken out with a combination of devastating baseline hitting and serves in 65 minutes. Sabalenka's rise up the WTA rankings to 11th in the world has not encountered many roadblocks along the way, but she appeared lost in the first set in the face of a very good performance from the 2017 Junior US Open champion. WTA Madrid Fatigue a 'good problem' to have, says Barty 10/05/2021 AT 07:11 'You are kidding me!' - Unreal winner from teen sensation Anisimova Anisimova was handed three set points after a second successive double fault from her opponent, and the American held her nerve to draw first blood. Sabalenka looked short on ideas throughout, and had no answer to the depth and pace on the forehand coming from the opposite side of the net as she was broken with her first service game in the second set. The quality of points from Anisimova continued to flow and she will now face the winner of Petra Kvitova's clash with Belinda Bencic for a place in the quarter-finals. Anisimova can barely contain her joy after securing the win Image credit: Getty Images "It's an unreal feeling. I cannot believe this is happening right now," Anisimova told Eurosport. "I was expecting a really tough match, she's a great player, so I really can't believe I got through this round. 'I'm feeling great out here and I am really playing some good tennis." WTA Stuttgart Barty wins second clay title with comeback win over Sabalenka 25/04/2021 AT 14:47<doc-sep>“There isn’t a teenager who would have won the first round against Niculescu besides Amanda,” said her agent, Max Eisenbud. “That match, until today’s match, was her most impressive win. The way Niculescu slices and throws everything at you, it was getting tight, and she was able to perform. A crafty, experienced girl who threw everything at her, and she still won in straight sets.” Eisenbud also represents the player to whom Anisimova is most often compared: Maria Sharapova. While he said that comparisons between the two — blondes with Russian roots who stormed the tennis stage at a young age — were unfair to both, he observed that Anisimova and Sharapova did share a diligent work ethic and an ability not to be fazed in the biggest moments. Frances Tiafoe, who also reached the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time on Friday, gushed over Anisimova, in his own way. “It’s like she’s been a veteran,” Tiafoe said. “She’s going out here, and Sabalenka is playing great tennis — she routined her like it was nothing. It was barbecue chicken for her. It’s unbelievable.” In her news conference Friday, Anisimova said that her confidence was growing. “I believe in myself so much more than I ever did in this tournament,” she said. “It’s just trusting myself. That’s why I have been also playing really well.” That confidence leads her to hope she can follow in Sharapova’s footsteps in another way: by becoming a Grand Slam champion as a teenager. Asked what her dream was for her career, Anisimova expressed a desire for instant gratification. “I want to win this tournament — right now,” she said, smiling. Anisimova, who broke through at the junior level by winning the 2017 United States Open girls’ title, complements her desire for immediacy with an uncommon curiosity about the past, expressing her admiration for Billie Jean King, the pioneer who played a formative role in getting women’s professional tennis off the ground.<doc-sep>MELBOURNE, Australia — Amanda Anisimova upset 11th-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open, her best showing at a major tournament. Anisimova, a 17-year-old American, is the youngest player still in contention in the women’s draw at Melbourne Park and has dropped just seven games against seeded players in the last two rounds. She broke Sabalenka’s serve four times in the 65-minute match and fended off the only break point she faced. Anisimova, who beat No. 24 Lesia Tsurenko, 6-0, 6-2, in the second round, had first-round exits in her two previous appearances in the main draw of major tournaments. Sabalenka won the title at Shenzhen to start the season and reached the fourth round at last year’s U.S. Open.<doc-sep>The Telegraph Two of the surprise packages of this clay-court season have been British – initially Dan Evans, who made a deep run in Monte Carlo, and more lately Cameron Norrie, who played his second final in three weeks on Sunday. Unfortunately, Norrie wasn’t able to land a maiden ATP title in Lyon. But then he was up against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has been the dominant force of 2021 outside the slams, and now stands at No 1 in the table of most rankings points gained since January 1. Nevertheless, it had been a hugely creditable effort for Norrie to go this far, especially when you consider that he took out top seed Dominic Thiem on Thursday, and then trounced big-hitting Russian Karen Khachanov in Saturday’s semi-final, losing only two games in the process. Norrie has come to clay late in his career, but it feels like this is developing into his favourite surface. He has one of the heaviest left-handed forehands in the game, loaded with top-spin, and uses it like a miniature version of Rafael Nadal. The result has been a tally of 14 wins and only four losses since he began his European clay-court swing in Barcelona. So while the French Open, which starts next Sunday, has traditionally been a graveyard of British hopes, there are reasons to hope that this year’s event could deliver some more positive results. Norrie’s previous final in Estoril had been a nervewracking affair which he eventually lost on a deciding-set tie-break to the more experienced Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Sunday was more straightforward for Tsitsipas, who needed only 69 minutes to hammer home a 6-3, 6-3 victory. It was Tsitsipas’ second title of the clay-court sequence, after he won Monte Carlo in mid-April, taking out Evans in the semi-final along the way. He has become a serious contender to upset the establishment – specifically Nadal and Novak Djokovic – at Roland Garros over the next few weeks. “I felt in good shape from the beginning of the tournament,” said Tsitsipas afterwards. “I am proud of today’s match, I knew it would be a difficult one against Cameron, who has been showing great tennis this week. He has been winning against good players and showing what the left hand can do on clay. “It was not an easy match today. I had to handle the nerves and I am proud of my performance and the way I stayed focused towards my goal.” On this year’s results, meanwhile, both Evans and Norrie stand among the world’s 20 most successful men. Evans is at No 16 and Norrie No 14. The next challenge for them both is to convert that ATP Tour form into a deep run at a major.<doc-sep>

American teenager Amanda Anisimova upstaged 11th seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-2, hitting her way into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday. The fearless 17-year-old bullied her much higher ranked opponent who looked shell-shocked by the power being generated at the other end of the court. It was Anisimova's third consecutive straight sets win, which included a 6-0 6-2 destruction of 24th seed Lesia Tsurenko, signalling the arrival of a genuine new talent in the women's game. American teenager Amanda Anisimova pulled off a shock in the Margaret Court Arena Anisimova produced an impressive straight-sets win to beat 11th seed Aryna Sabalenka The Belarus competitor was bitterly disappointed having retained ambitions of pushing on Anisimova, the youngest competitor in the draw, will play the winner of Petra Kvitova and Belinda Bencic in the fourth round. In an emotional interview with Eurosport on court, the teenager said: 'It's an unreal feeling. I cannot believe this is happening right now. 'I was expecting a really tough match, she's a great player, so I really can't believe I got through this round. 'I'm feeling great out here and I am really playing some good tennis.' Anisimova unleashed a dominant serve and absorbed the energy from a buoyant support Pundits and experts had high hopes for Sabalenka but she had no answers on Friday afternoon Anisimova's win means she is now the youngest American to reach the fourth round of a major since Serena Williams in 1998, and the youngest in Melbourne since Jennifer Capriati back in 1993. But no teenager has gone on to win a Slam since Maria Sharapova in 2006 at the US Open. The Russian was 19 when she lifted the trophy in New York. Sharapova was in action later in the schedule as she took on defending champion Caroline Wozniacki but whether she progresses or not, the Russian remains a constant source of inspiration for the American teen. 'Maria is someone I have looked up to so much,' Anisimova added. 'I still look up to her this day. She's an amazing athlete and she's a great person to. She's definitely someone I look up to and I would like to be the second teenager to win a Slam!' Anisimova is aiming to become just the first teenager since 2006 to win a Grand Slam title

Rumors about the possibility of boy band One Direction reuniting swirled after Ticketmaster mistakenly listed a tour date for the group in 2020. The arrival of One Direction's concert listing on Ticketmaster first surfaced Sunday. This happened to be a day ahead of the band's eight-year anniversary. "#8YearsOfOneDirection Where has the time gone!?" fellow bandmate Louis Tomlinson, 26, wrote Monday via Twitter. "Thank you so much to every single person who's ever supported us. Big love!" Representatives for Live Nation, Ticketmaster's owner, did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment. The show's listing was seemingly pulled from the website. It was initially scheduled for December 31, 2020, at the Etihad Stadium in Australia. Many fans expressed their shock over the concert's listing. One fan claimed they were "shaking," whereas a second said they were "confused." Some fans took their excitement a step further, with one Twitter user suggesting they'd "fly to Australia in 2020 to see One Direction" if they had to. The world was first introduced to One Direction on The X Factor in 2010. The group consisted of Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne—prior to his exit in 2015—Zayn Malik. In August 2015, the pop group announced their plans to embark upon an extended hiatus to focus on solo music projects. The idea to part ways first came from Styles in 2014. "I didn't want to exhaust our fan base," Styles told Rolling Stone in April 2017. "If you're shortsighted, you can think, 'Let's just keep touring,' but we all thought too much of the group than to let that happen. You realize you're exhausted and you don't want to drain people's belief in you...I love the band, and would never rule out anything in the future. The band changed my life, gave me everything." Since breaking up, the members have unveiled solo music. The X Factor alums, however, have hinted at their interest in reuniting before. In May 2017, Horan suggested to The Sun how a reunion is "a conversation we haven't had and I'm sure the fans would love it and it would be great." Payne hasn't ruled out a comeback either. He told the Daily Star in June, "Hopefully one day soon, we get back together and have another great time of it." The likelihood of Malik returning to the group is slim. Since his departure, he's dissed his former band on several occasions. "I didn't feel good. Do you know what I mean? And if you don't feel good…You need to be able to express what it is that you are," Malik, 25, told Dazed in 2016. "I'm free at last."<doc-sep>Directioners, hope you’re sitting down for this one. There was briefly a concert listing for One Direction, scheduled years after the band decided on a hiatus, the Daily Mail reports. 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. Ticketmaster briefly showed a listing for December 31, 2020, at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Emphasis on “briefly,” because the listing was quickly taken down from Ticketmaster’s website. But fans noticed, especially since it popped up on Spotify under the group’s upcoming shows. Needless to say, fans started freaking out. The possible glitch happened to come around the same time as One Direction’s eighth anniversary. The band put out a new playlist on Spotify, and tweeted about the group’s milestone. Given the timing, and the new playlist, fans were sure there was a mystery to solve. 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. one direction: adds tour dates to several sites pic.twitter.com/At4QtKbYva — alena (@ZAPSG0LD) July 22, 2018 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. WTF ONE DIRECTION MIGHT ACTUALLY BE GOING ON TOUR IN DECEMBER 2020 and bitch i’ll be 19, but I WANNA BE 13 FOR A WHILE AND SING ALL THEIR SONGS JKDJD OMF — brijie 🤠 (@itsmebrijie) July 22, 2018 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. SO ONE DIRECTION HAVE TOUR DATES AND TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR 2021 AND APPARENTLY THERE’S NEW MUSIC COMING SOMETHING IS COMING MARK MY WORDS — 𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 (@icarusrem) July 22, 2018 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. Wait... why is @onedirection tweeting lyrics... and why are there tickets for a tour for sale... my heart can't handle this ❤😱😂 #8YearsOfOneDirection — Heartbreak weather and Walls ❤😍 (@Tommo_Horan13) July 23, 2018 But it may have been just a glitch all along. The stadium posted on Instagram the event was not in their schedule, and Ticketmaster told the Daily Mail they didn’t know anything about the event, and couldn’t give any more information. A representative for One Direction told the Evening Standard the sad truth: “There are no gigs planned for One Direction currently.” For now, all fans are getting is some nostalgic tweets from Liam Payne, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson. And some old-school song lyrics from the official One Direction account. It'll have to do for now. 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. #8YearsOfOneDirection what an incredible 8 years it’s been with my brothers! Thank you to all the fans that are still supporting and following our journeys. Love LP ❤ — Liam (@LiamPayne) July 23, 2018 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. #8YearsfOneDirection Wow! 8 years of amazing memories with the lads . Thank you so much for standing by us for all this time. — Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) July 23, 2018 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. #8YearsOfOneDirection Where has the time gone!? Thank you so much to every single person who’s ever supported us. Big love! — Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) July 23, 2018 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. Everybody wanna steal my girl, everybody wanna take her heart away #8YearsofOneDirection — One Direction (@onedirection) July 23, 2018 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. Baby you light up my world like nobody else #8YearsofOneDirection — One Direction (@onedirection) July 23, 2018 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>There's some exciting news for fans who have been wishing on every star and "Dreaming" of a One Direction reunion. As social media continues to celebrate, and even shed a few tears, over the band's recent anniversary, some amateur Internet detectives have spotted the first clue of a possible One Direction reunion. The band has been on a hiatus since 2015, but a recent Internet mistake has fueled fan speculation that a reunion tour could be coming. According to the Daily Mail fans of all things 1D are particularly excited after spotting a Ticketmaster link for a One Direction show scheduled on December 31, 2020 at Etihad Stadium in Australia. The link has reportedly since been removed, but it also supposedly appeared on the band's Spotify profile. Fans admitted to being "so confused" by the listing and some were even "shaking" with excitement over the possibility. One fan even theorized that perhaps it wasn't a show, but the start of something more, saying, "What if this isn’t actually a tour date/start of a tour?? What if it’s the day the band comes back together?? It would make sense because even Liam said he’d put all his money on one direction getting back together after 2020??" Despite the date's disappearing act, social media has been quick to start making their travel plans. "If @onedirection comes back in 2020 in australia catch me there in front row I‘m ready to sell my left leg to see them," one user joked. Another Twitter follower admitted they were even willing to make the journey, tweeting, "Is one direction expecting me to fly to Australia December 31 in 2020? Bc that’s a strong maybe." One local resident wasn't quite as convinced, though, writing, "ok but why would One Direction come all the way here to Australia i’m laughing." The news is definitely exciting, but it remains just speculation at this point. Members of the band have hinted at a possible reunion in the past, but it's probably best to hold off on packing your suitcase for a trip down under until an official announcement. In the meantime, fans can always relive the 1D excitement via their favorite music videos. Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email. Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: One Direction Are Celebrating the Band's Anniversary Despite Their Hiatus<doc-sep>

It's been over two years since One Direction went on a hiatus. And it looks like members Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan may be heading Down Under. Ticketmaster AU sent fans into a frenzy on Saturday after a comeback show at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium scheduled for December 31, 2020, appeared on the website – before the listing was quickly removed. Scroll down for video 'There's tickets online for a reunion show!' One Direction send fans into a frenzy after comeback concert appears on Ticketmaster... before it is quickly removed The concert listing also appeared on Spotify under One Direction's 'Upcoming Shows' tab - but was later removed. On Twitter, one fan shared a screenshot of Spotify's post before it was deleted and wrote: 'SO THIS POP [sic] UP THEY WILL BE HAVING A CONCERT THIS DECEMBER 31 2020 AT AUSTRALIA HOW TF TO CALM.' Another tweeted: 'There's tickets ON TICKETMASTER FOR DECEMBER 2020 ON THE ROAD AGAIN TOUR IN AUSTRALIA THIS IS NOT A DRILL.' Heading Down Under? The concert listing appeared on Ticketmaster AU before being removed from the website Big news: The concert listing also appeared on Spotify under One Direction's 'Upcoming Shows' tab - but was later removed The boys are back: Fans couldn't contain their excitement as they shared the news on Twitter Melbourne's Etihad stadium then caused even more confusion while responding to a barrage of comments from fans online. 'Sorry this is not in our event schedule,' the stadium wrote on Instagram. Daily Mail Australia has contacted One Direction's reps for comment. A representative at Ticketmaster told Daily Mail Australia on Monday they were unaware of the event and could not offer any further information. What's going on? Melbourne's Etihad stadium appeared to deny the concert was taking place by commenting 'this is not in our event schedule' on Instagram One Direction was formed on the X Factor in 2010 after members Harry, 24, Niall, 24, Louis, 26, Liam, 24, and Zayn Malik, 25, each auditioned as solo singers before being grouped together. They went on to achieve global success and toured Australia four times between 2012 and 2015. Recently discussing the possibility of a reunion, Liam told Daily Star in June that it'd likely be two years until the group reformed. 'My album comes out at the end of the year and then I'm going on tour in 2019,' he said. 'It's amazing that we're doing our own thing and then, hopefully one day soon, we get back together and have another great time of it, who knows?'

The Super Bowl has arrived, and with it the appearance of #ImWithKap on your Twitter feed. The hashtag is a reference to Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL star who took a knee during the National Anthem to protest racial inequality and police violence. Several prominent celebrities have tweeted #ImWithKap to offer their support of Kaepernick (who's been reportedly blackballed by the NFL), including Ava DuVernay, who wrote that she will “not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players." Her tweet, and other messages of support from celebs, below: 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 will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players. To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It’s not worth it. #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/fNEeke0crs — Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 3, 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’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I’m changing the things I cannot accept” Dr. Angela Davis. #ImWithKap https://t.co/FobilXc7J0 — COMMON (@common) February 3, 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. #ImWithKap #7Challenge! I am donating $7 to Colin’s Know Your Rights Camp. The number 7 symbolizes Kap’s jersey number. I challenge you to donate $7 to @YourRightsCamp and nominate 7 others to do the same. Go to https://t.co/Bonrfn2Jf2 and click donate. @Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/upSma6Hcxs — Nick Cannon (@NickCannon) February 3, 2019 This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. #ImWithKap and have been all season . And the below are just a few reasons why . @ava said it best ! Thank you . Cc: @Kaepernick7 ✊🏾 https://t.co/1MPPUfdiH1 — Janelle Monáe, Cindi Mayweather👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) February 3, 2019 This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This list will be updated with more celebs boycotting the Super Bowl, so stay tuned. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Mehera Bonner Mehera Bonner is a news writer who focuses on celebrities and royals. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>Ava DuVernay was among the first celebrities to announce Sunday that she will boycott Super Bowl 53 to protest what she described as the NFL's "racist treatment" of Colin Kaepernick. DuVernay explained in a tweet that she was not watching the event because of the NFL's "ongoing disregard for the health" and well-being of its players. "To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs," she said. "It’s not worth it." The film director ended her statement with the hashtag #ImWithKap, which was also used in tweets by Nick Cannon and rapper Common. Cannon tweeted that he was donating $7 to the Know Your Rights Camp, a free campaign for youth funded by Kaepernick, and urged his followers to do the same. Common meanwhile tweeted an image of himself and activist Angela Davis wearing a jersey with Kaepernick's number seven. "We are never assured of justice without a fight," he tweeted, quoting Davis. NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant were also photographed wearing Kaepernick jerseys this weekend. Kaepernick, a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, sparked debate in the league and across America in 2016 when he began kneeling during the national anthem before games to protest police brutality and racial inequality. Kaepernick has accused the league’s owners of colluding to keep him off the field because of the player protests during the "Star Spangled Banner."<doc-sep>Ava DuVerney is boycotting the Super Bowl. (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for the 2015 Tribeca film Festival) High-profile figures are announcing their intentions to sit out this Super Bowl Sunday. Following Cardi B’s refusal to perform during the halftime show alongside Maroon 5 — though she will star in a Super Bowl commercial for Pepsi — director Ava DuVernay has announced via Twitter that she’s tuning out. “To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs,” the Selma filmmaker said, adding the #ImWithKap hashtag to indicate her support of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. DuVernay also accused the NFL of subjecting Kaepernick — who has been without a team over outcry of his taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality against people of color — to “racist treatment.” I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players. To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It’s not worth it. #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/fNEeke0crs — Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 3, 2019 DuVernay’s protest comes weeks after Common voiced similar support for Kaepernick, saying the NFL “basically blackballed” the athlete. The Oscar winner is also sharing the #ImWithKap hashtag, with LeBron James, Angela David, Nick Cannon and Rosanna Arquette among those showing support. "You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time." Dr. Angela Davis. Much Love to @Kaepernick7! pic.twitter.com/YL20cowSz9 — Imagine Justice (@ImaginexJustice) February 3, 2019 Me too — Rosanna Arquette (@RoArquette) February 3, 2019 #ImWithKap #7Challenge! I am donating $7 to Colin’s Know Your Rights Camp. The number 7 symbolizes Kap’s jersey number. I challenge you to donate $7 to @YourRightsCamp and nominate 7 others to do the same. Go to https://t.co/Bonrfn2Jf2 and click donate. @Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/upSma6Hcxs — Nick Cannon (@NickCannon) February 3, 2019 We will not be supporting the #SuperBowl due to the NFL's racist treatment of Colin Kaepernick. A new report shows that the NFL polled fans to see if Kaepernick being on a team would hurt the brand: https://t.co/OQnHDMmdMi #TakeAKnee #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/zE2j8heXjU — The Root (@TheRoot) February 3, 2019 And what’s Super Bowl Sunday without the Super Bowl? For some, it’s Janet Jackson Appreciation Day, a nod to the pop star who was famously excoriated after her “wardrobe malfunction” — unfairly, many say — during the 2004 halftime show. Story continues Super Bowl, what's that? I rather celebrate #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay Queen finally got in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after years of haters trying to deny her effortless impact! pic.twitter.com/rKQkMNIPru — Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) February 3, 2019 Meanwhile, Maroon 5 band member PJ Morton spoke to People about fending off criticism for headlining this year’s halftime show. “I think there are plenty of people — a lot of the players, to be honest — who support Kap and also do their job for the NFL,” Morton said. “I think we’re doing the same thing. We can support being against police brutality against black and brown people and be in support of being able to peacefully protest and still do our jobs. We just want to have a good time and entertain people while understanding the important issues that are at hand. “You can get bogged down by those things; we’re not focusing on the negative now [while] being aware, being open and definitely not ignoring the voices,” he added. “But we’re definitely not focusing on the things that don’t help, that are counterproductive. We’re blocking out the noise. We’re just doing what we do. We look to have a good time.” Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:<doc-sep>Ex-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (No. 7) has remained unsigned since the 2016 season, when he began protesting inequality and racist police brutality by refusing to stand during the national anthem The hashtag #ImWithKap will be trending throughout Super Bowl Sunday as part of a social media awareness campaign to raise money for free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp. Comedian Nick Cannon, rapper Common, film director Ava Duvernay and many other celebrities posted Tweets with the hashtag, pledging to donate $7 to the youth camp while challenging seven others to do the same. Kaepernick also posted a picture of himself alongside singer/activist Harry Belafonte, who was wearing an '#ImWithKap' shirt as well. Some, like DuVernay, went further, saying they would boycott Super Bowl LIII entirely to protest the league's treatment of Kaeperenick, who has remained unsigned since the 2016 season, when he began protesting inequality and racist police brutality by refusing to stand during the national anthem. Colin Kaepernick also posted a picture of himself alongside singer/activist Harry Belafonte According to its website, the Know Your Rights Camp is 'a free campaign for youth founded by Colin Kaepernick to raise awareness on higher education, self empowerment, and instruction to properly interact with law enforcement in various scenarios.' The organization plans events with children and teenagers across the country Kevin Durant (left) and LeBron James both wore the No 7 limited edition jerseys Several NBA players have also weighed in recently. LeBron James and Kevin Durant both offered their support for Colin Kaepernick by wearing his limited edition #ImWithKap jerseys on Saturday, as did Chamillionaire, who was seen wearing his courtside at the Lakers-Warriors game in Oakland Some, like director Ava DuVernay and actress Jodie Turner-Smith, went so far as to say they would boycott Super Bowl LIII entirely to protest the league's treatment of Kaeperenick 'I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL's racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players,' DuVernay tweeted. 'To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It's not worth it. #ImWithKap.' Actress Jodie Turner-Smith responded with, 'SAME. #ImWithKap.' According to its website, the Know Your Rights Camp is 'a free campaign for youth founded by Colin Kaepernick to raise awareness on higher education, self empowerment, and instruction to properly interact with law enforcement in various scenarios.' The organization plans events with children and teenagers across the country. Several NBA players have also weighed in recently. LeBron James and Kevin Durant both offered their support for Colin Kaepernick by wearing his limited edition #ImWithKap jerseys on Saturday, as did Chamillionaire, who was seen wearing his courtside at the Lakers-Warriors game in Oakland. Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown arrived at Sunday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with the same jersey as well. Kaepernick became one of the faces of the modern civil rights movement in 2016 when he began the protests as a reaction to a series of killings of African-American men, many of whom were killed by police. Other players followed, sitting, taking a knee, or raising a fist during the anthem over the objections of many fans, owners, and, beginning during the 2017 season, President Donald Trump. Also in 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the league, accusing all 32 owners of colluding against him in retaliation for the demonstrations. The NFL reportedly used a Washington consulting firm to ask Americans if controversial free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick should be signed by one of the league's 32 teams. According to Yahoo Sports, the 2017 poll was conducted by The Glove Park Group, which was co-founded by former NFL communications chief Joe Lockhart. Kaepernick was the only player singled out by the poll, which also included general questions about fans' responses to domestic violence, gambling, player protests and player safety, according to Yahoo Sports. The results were reportedly dispersed to several high-ranking league officials, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Neither the Grover Park Group nor the NFL responded immediately to the Daily Mail's requests for comment. Specifically, the research was aimed at ascertaining whether Americans believed Kaepernick should be in the NFL, and whether or not Americans felt that he was being blackballed for his refusal to stand for the national anthem. The polling also attempted to illustrate fan opinions on the potential punishment for players who knelt in protest during the anthem. The data was reportedly split among several demographics, including race, political affiliation, and age. According to Yahoo, results were split along racial, political, and generational lines, with whites and Republicans heavily favouring disciplinary action against protesting players. The polling data was compiled in the summer of 2017, before Goodell sent a memo to teams in October of that year stating that the 'current dispute over the National Anthem is threatening to erode the unifying power of our game.' 'Like many of our fans,' read the memo, 'we believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem.' The NFL did not institute any rule requiring players to stand for the anthem during the 2017 season, which resulted in further criticism from President Donald Trump. In May, the NFL and Goodell changed course and announced a new policy: Players would no longer be required to be on the field during the anthem – a rule that began in 2009 – but anyone on the field of play would be required to stand. Teams could be fined for any personnel not standing, and they would have the right to fine players individually. However, the league changed course in July and decided to negotiate a resolution with the players association. No final decision has been announced. In speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl in Atlanta, Goodell suggested that teams made the decision to pass on Kaepernick individually, dismissing the notion of any collusion. Kaepernick has continued appearing in Nike ads, highlighting his political stance. However, An apparel company's commercial that appears to be directly criticizing Nike's Kaepernick campaign was allegedly rejected by CBS for its Super Bowl Sunday broadcast.<doc-sep>

Celebrities and activists in the United State and beyond are taking to social media and using their platforms to tell the world they will not be watching Super Bowl 53 where the Los Angeles Rams are taking on the New England Patriots in Atlanta. Hollywood director Ava DuVernay is one of the louder voices in the #ImWithKap campaign beginning to trend across the country. Activist Angela Davis as well as NBA stars like Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant and LeBron James have also taken to Twitter in support for quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who remains unsigned by any NFL team. Kaepernick has used his profile to highlight racial injustice in the US since 2016 when he took a knee during the national anthem and inspired protests across the NFL with several players doing the same. Kaepernick has alleged that NFL owners and commissioner Roger Goodell have colluded to keep him unsigned and out of the league despite being healthy and still able to play the game at a high level. The protests aimed at calling out inequality for people of color in the United States have drawn the ire of President Donald Trump, who has slammed the players for their protests and derided the league and it’s owners for allowing the players to protest prior to NFL games. Here’s a look at what celebrities and others around the country are saying about the #ImWithKap campaign: I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players. To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It’s not worth it. #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/fNEeke0crs — Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 3, 2019 #ImWithKap is trending in USA. Because some things are more important than a game. pic.twitter.com/0tOsGdOM1z — Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) February 3, 2019 LeBron James and Kevin Durant wear No 7 #ImWithKap jerseys in support of Colin Kaepernick on #SuperBowl weekend https://t.co/h0ELTnLP9t pic.twitter.com/j4oGoJeDn9 — MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) February 3, 2019 "You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time." Dr. Angela Davis. Much Love to @Kaepernick7! pic.twitter.com/YL20cowSz9 — Imagine Justice (@ImaginexJustice) February 3, 2019 "We are never assured of justice without a fight" Dr. Angela Davis. #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/DuhfELZrpz — COMMON (@common) February 3, 2019 Whatever you are doing today (or not doing today #ImWithKap) we can all agree on the fact that kids should have winter coats. If you can RT or support. 👇🏿 https://t.co/OKserJLFV5 — W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) February 3, 2019

ANAHEIM, Calif. – In Saturday's Elite Eight matchup between Gonzaga and Texas Tech, something's gotta give. No. 1seed Gonzaga has the single most impressive offense in college basketball this season. Its offensive rating, scoring an average of 125.0 points per 100 possessions this season, ranks No. 1 on KenPom.com. The Zags have scored 100 points on its opponents in seven games this season. No. 3 seed Texas Tech, on the other hand, has boasted the single most impressive defense in college basketball this season. Its defensive rating, allowing an average of only 84.4 points per 100 possessions this season, ranks No. 1 on KenPom.com, and is tied for the same defensive rating as the 2014-15 Kentucky team that went 38-1. No team in college hoops has posted a better defensive rating than that over the past decade. It was on display in Thursday's Sweet 16 victory vs. Michigan, where Texas Tech limited the Wolverines to only 44 points. That was 10 points fewer than Michigan's previous lowest-scoring game of the season – and typical of Texas Tech's defense, who have held opponents to nearly 25 points under their average scoring output. This Elite Eight game will be the college basketball version of Newton's Third Law of Motion: When two equal and opposite forces meet at the Honda Center in the West Regional finals, one force has got to give. But which one? Texas Tech's defense is aggressive and physical, turning over teams at a rate that ranks 11th in college hoops; 23.1 percent of the Red Raiders' defensive possessions end in their opponent turning the ball over. Their team mantra is an old quote from golfer Ben Hogan: "The secret is in the dirt." What that means is their secret ingredient isn't any special defensive scheme, isn't about recruiting the very top players; it's about working harder than their opponent, both on the court and off. At the pre-Elite Eight press conference on Friday afternoon, senior guard Matt Mooney, who is a graduate transfer from South Dakota, was wearing a T-shirt that read, "Never lose your chip." Sure, they're clichés – but they are clichés that Texas Tech's players have bought into from Day One. "We have a lot of guys who aren't five-star guys," Mooney said when I asked him about the team identity that's behind those slogans. "The coaching staff, coach (Chris) Beard, who came from a mid-major, who started out coaching random teams and has worked his way up. A lot of our guys are the same way. We just try to embrace that. We weren't the highest-recruited guys, but that doesn't mean we can't compete with the best in the country." After smothering Michigan on defense in the Sweet 16, senior wing Brandone Francis had a pretty succinct explanation for Texas Tech's performance: They wanted it more. It was hard to argue with that. They were aggressive from the tip, getting in the face of Michigan on the perimeter and playing them physical down low, forcing the Wolverines into a woeful 1-of-19 from beyond the arc as well as 14 turnovers. It's a defense-first culture that Beard focused on creating from the moment he took the job three years ago. "We try to recruit guys that understand: You are gonna play defense, we're gonna coach you, we're gonna hold you accountable," Beard said. "We do a lot of listening in recruiting, not just talking. Players will tell you what they want. Guys who are talking about me me me, the shots and the ball – not so much with us, they don't really succeed with us. Guys that want to win, guys that want to guard, guys that understand (what we do) – a great example of that is Zhaire Smith, a guy who goes from being a non-top-100 recruit to the 16th pick in the drafted." Texas Tech is in the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year. Getty Images "Defense is just who we are," Beard continued. "It's in our DNA." Not to say that Texas Tech can't score. Sophomore Jarrett Culver, the Big 12 Player of the Year, has been an offensive force, with his season averages of 18.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists vaulting him into the conversation as a potential top-five pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Just like Texas Tech is still a more-than-able offensive team, this Gonzaga team that's known for efficient scoring is plenty skilled on the defensive end, as they proved in the first three games of the tournament. ("Gonzaga plays defense, man," Beard marveled. "I'm telling you: It might not be their identity, but they are hard to score against. So many late shot-clock possessions. You gotta go get a basket if you're gonna beat Gonzaga.") Gonzaga ranks 13th in the nation in defensive efficiency. They're a complete team – only five other teams rank in the top 15 in both offensive and defensive efficiency – but it's the offensive end that comes more naturally to this group. "Our offense has been stellar all year long, but that hasn't been the case for our defense," said sophomore wing Corey Kispert. "From beginning to end we've had to work really hard to get our defense to the level we want it to. It's been a slow process, a slow build up to this point." The Gonzaga offense is one of the more beautiful offenses to watch in college basketball: Smooth and loose, with lots of movement of the players and of the ball. Its bread-and-butter has long been the high-low offense – bringing the ball in through the high post and working it down to the low post – but that's not always been the case. Early in Few's tenure he was a proponent of the flex offense, which puts and emphasis on the versatility of players, then he migrated toward the motion offense, which uses lots of movement off the ball and lots of cutting to maximize a team's quickness. More recently he's been using more ball screens, but it's always been with a basis in the high-low – and with a level of offensive flow and freedom that can be rare in the sometimes-clunky sport of college hoops. "It first came from watching some of our older teams," Few explained when I asked about the lineage of his offensive philosophy. "I was a young assistant at Gonzaga, and we were pretty rigid, pretty tight, look at the bench a lot after a missed shot or a mistake. I always thought, 'If I ever become a head coach, I want my guys to play with a bunch of confidence and a bunch of freedom.' Just drill them down in practice so they know what to look for and what to expect and how to react, and once we get to the game, just let it rip. Those are the hardest teams to guard." This year, on those principles and with the perfect players to execute them, Gonzaga has statistically been the hardest team in college basketball to guard. But now they face Texas Tech, the best team in college basketball at guarding. The Elite Eight game on Saturday will be a case of strength versus strength – and a test case of the state of which philosophy works best in today's college basketball.<doc-sep>Texas Tech and Gonzaga were victorious in their Sweet 16 matchups, which means they’ll meet in the Elite Eight. With both teams playing tremendous basketball of late, it’s possible this game comes down to the wire. Despite entering the NCAA Tournament fresh off an upset loss, the Red Raiders have been really impressive. They basically suffocated the Michigan Wolverines yesterday with stingy defense. As for the offense, superstar guard Jarrett Culver led the way with 22 points. Sharpshooting guard Davide Moretti was also huge for Texas Tech because he went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Gonzaga didn’t exactly blow out its opponent last night, but it pulled away late against Florida State. Four starters reached double digits in scoring, which includes Rui Hachimura, Brandon Clarke, Zach Norvell Jr. and Josh Perkins. The Red Raiders might be the hotter team entering this showdown, yet ESPN is leaning heavily in the Bulldogs’ favor. ESPN currently gives Gonzaga a 73.5 percent chance of defeating Texas Tech in its matchup predictor. Texas Tech is searching for its first Final Four appearance in program history, meanwhile Gonzaga is looking to get back for the second time in three years. Tipoff is set for 6:09 p.m. ET from the Honda Center. Which team do you believe will punch its ticket to the Final Four?<doc-sep>Defense really does win championships. Or quarterfinal games, at least. No. 3 Texas Tech limited Gonzaga and its top-ranked offense to its second-lowest scoring effort of the season as the Red Raiders held on to win 75-69 and advance to the school's first-ever Final Four. Texas Tech held the Bulldogs to just three field goals in the final 14 minutes to pull away in a back-and-forth game that featured nine lead changes in the first half. Gonzaga never found it rhythm offensively, shooting just 43 percent from the floor, down from its season average of 53. The Red Raider defense forced 15 Gonzaga turnovers, the second most this year for the Bulldogs. Rui Hachimura led Bulldog scorers with 22 points. MORE: Watch college basketball live with fuboTV (7-day trial) Chris Beard has the Red Raiders in the Final Four in just his third season in Lubbock. Jarrett Culver and Matt Mooney combined for 36 points while David Moretti hit a pair of crunchtime 3s to preserve the win. Texas Tech will await the winner of No. 1 Duke and No. 2 Michigan State for a Final Four meeting in Minneapolis on April 6. Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights as the Red Raiders defeated Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. Check out the updates below. Gonzaga vs. Texas Tech: Live score, highlights (All times Eastern) 8:24 p.m.: That'll do it! Texas Tech hangs on for a 75-69 win and are the first team to punch its ticket to the Final Four. 8:19 p.m.: Perkins called for a technical guarding the in-bounds pass. Tech now leads by four, with the ball and 11 seconds left. Josh Perkins gets called for the technical foul after reaching over the sideline on the inbounds pass. pic.twitter.com/izpYlBMXFe — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 31, 2019 8:14 p.m.: A steal and transition 3 by Josh Perkins! Bulldogs trail by just two with 22.1 seconds left. 8:13 p.m.: Gonzaga wins a jump ball, down five, with 41.1 seconds. 8:11 p.m.: Incredible block by Tariq Owens and hustle to save ball and protect the Tech lead. 8:09 p.m.: Another Moretti 3! Tech leads by six with 1:46 to play. This is the largest deficit Gonzaga has faced all tournament. 8:04 p.m.: A steal and Moretti 3 pushes the Texas Tech lead to five. 7:58 p.m.: A Perkins 3 for Gonzaga ties things up at 58 with 5:00 to go! 7:56 p.m.: Culver gets his own rebound and then ends a four minute dry spell for Texas Tech with a short layup. Red Raiders hold a four-point lead with 6:30 remaining. 7:50 p.m.: A huge momentum swing here. Red Raiders missed an opportunity for a breakaway dunk, that instead Gonzaga turned into a big slam. 7:43 p.m.: A 6-0 Red Raiders scoring run forces a Gonzaga timeout. Texas Tech holds a three-point lead. This assist is a thing of beauty. pic.twitter.com/JLM9UH6TSd — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 30, 2019 7:39 p.m.: Tech's Davide Moretti — who scored 15 in the last game versus Michigan — scores just his second bucket of the day to cut the Gonzaga lead to one at the under-12 timeout. 7:34 p.m.: Hachimura is up to 19 points, and the Gonzaga lead is four. 7:28 p.m.: Zach Norvell answers a Texas Tech 3 with a 3 of his own to keep the Bulldogs ahead with 15:18 to play. Make that 6️⃣ 3's for the Red Raiders & 5️⃣ for the Bulldogs! 😳💦#MarchMadness | #Elite8 pic.twitter.com/5edxg6ymnj — NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 30, 2019 7:23 p.m.: Second half action underway, and Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver knocks down a pair of free throws to tie things up. 6:59 p.m.: Gonzaga takes a two-point lead into the break. It's been back and forth with nine lead changes. Hachimura and Brandon Clarke have combined for 23 of Gonzaga's 37 points. 6:53 p.m.: Matt Mooney breaks a four minute span without a field goal for Texas Tech to tie things up. 6:45 p.m.: A Hachimura layup gives the Bulldogs their first lead in over four minutes. Gonzaga leads 33-31 with 3:50 left in the first half. 6:39 p.m.: Both teams are feeling it! Each teams trade 3s on four straight possessions. Texas Tech leads by two with 6:40 to go in the first. 6:35 p.m.: Two 3s in a row give the Red Raiders back the lead. 6:30 p.m.: Gonzaga and its top offense is struggling to heat up. Missed its last five shots, but Texas Tech only holds a two-point lead. 6:25 p.m.: Jarrett Culver hits the first 3 of the day to tie things at 11 with 12:35 in the first half. 6:19 p.m.: Both teams tied at eight. A nice start for Gonzaga's Rui Hachimura who has six points. 6:15 p.m.: Odiase is subbed out as he picks up his second foul in the first three minutes. 6:12 p.m.: Texas Tech and Norense Odiase get on the board first. 6:07 p.m.: The Elite Eight is here.<doc-sep>

Gonzaga’s season has come to an end with a 75-69 defeat to Texas Tech. In a battle of the best offense against the best defense, it was Texas Tech’s swarming defense that won the battle in the second half. Gonzaga led 37-35 at halftime and shot 50 percent, but were plagued by turnovers the entire night. They had nine in the first half and 16 for the game. Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke scored 23 in the first half, and Gonzaga generally had some success pounding the ball inside. In the second half, seemingly everything inside turned into a missed shot or a turnover thanks to the scrappy hands of Red Raider defenders. Gonzaga had no flow and went 7-for-26 from deep, including a 2-for-9 performance from Zach Norvell. Gonzaga had multiple wide open threes that they could not knock down in each half. On the other end, Texas Tech’s offense was hot. It has been hot for the final six weeks of the season, and it continued tonight. They got a huge game from Matt Mooney and two enormous threes Davide Moretti in the final few minutes to take over the game. Gonzaga had a last chance gasp after a Josh Perkins’ three cut the lead to two, but a technical foul on an inbounds play with 10 seconds to play ended the game. We will have more content to recap the season as the days go on, but this obviously hurts. This team had all the pieces to win a National Championship. They ran into a grind of a region, and could not solve the enigma of Texas Tech’s defense in the second half. For now, we mourn. I’m sure in time, we will look back fondly on a lot of things this season provided us. It’s the end of the Josh Perkins’ era. An era that spanned five years, all of them advancing to at least the second weekend. Assuming Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke leave for the NBA, Gonzaga is going to look very, very different next season. The last five years have been the glory years of Gonzaga basketball. They launched themselves into the upper echelon of college basketball programs. This team was fun to watch and it’s a shame it ended in tears. Go Zags forever.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (L) shakes hands with US President Donald Trump (R) after taking part in a signing ceremony at the end of their historic US-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore on June 12, 2018. North Korea leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump exchanged signed documents at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island Tuesday, June 12, 2018 in Singapore. Singapore summit: How did we get here? North Korea leader Kim Jong Un (L) and US President Donald Trump shake hands after their meetings at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island in Singapore on June 12, 2018. North Korea leader Kim Jong Un (L) and US President Donald Trump shake hands after their meetings at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island in Singapore on June 12, 2018. (CNN) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said there will be no sanctions relief for North Korea while it maintains nuclear weapons, contradicting North Korean state media who said it could take place “as progress is made.” Pompeo made the statement during a news conference with the South Korean and Japanese foreign ministers in Seoul Thursday, 24 hours after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un touched down in Pyongyang, triumphant after his meeting with US President Donald Trump. North Korean state media KCNA reported Wednesday that Trump had discussed lifting sanctions against Pyongyang during his talks with Kim in Singapore. “The President of the US expressed the possibility of suspending the US - South Korea joint military exercises … and, as progress is made from dialogue and negotiations, lifting sanctions against DPRK,” state media said. Today's Rodong Sinmun is out. When North Koreans get their newspapers, they will see this large photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walking away from an Air China jet having returned home from Singapore.. Headline describes the summit as success and announces Kim's return. pic.twitter.com/gypic2HRXY — Peter Ward, 워드 피터，皮得 (@rpcward89) June 13, 2018 But Pompeo said Thursday that Trump had been very clear there would only be sanctions relief after “complete denuclearization.” “He has said this from the very beginning, he said it again to Chairman Kim and he said it in his press conference following his meeting with Chairman Kim,” he told reporters. Pompeo is on a tour of East Asia visiting with US allies and diplomatic partners to brief them on Trump’s talks. From South Korea, he’ll fly to China for meetings with top officials in Beijing later Thursday. 02:35 - Source: CNN S. Korea security adviser: not up to Trump to end drills Canceling drills requires ‘consultations’: South Korea The Trump administration is expected to announce as soon as Thursday the formal suspension of planning for major multilateral military drills in August, US officials told CNN. Trump made the surprise announcement that military drills would be called off during a news conference after his summit with Kim on Tuesday. However speaking opposite Secretary Pompeo on Thursday, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said decisions to suspend the exercises would “require consultations.” “This is an issue that involves the Korea-US alliance and this requires consultations between the military authorities of the two countries the Korea and the United States and it will be the case in the future as well,” she told reporters. 01:21 - Source: CNN Trump: We will stop 'war games' It echoed comments made after Trump’s Tuesday announcement, when South Korea’s presidential office said they needed “to figure out president Trump’s accurate meaning and intention.” Pompeo also met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday, who again described the Trump-Kim summit as “very successful.” “There are various opinions about the meeting, but the most important thing is that the talks have made it possible for people around the world, including the people of the US, SK and Japan, to escape the threats of war, nuclear threats and the threats of long range missiles,” Moon said in a statement. Xi pushed Trump to suspend drills, source says Following his talks with Japan and South Korea, Pompeo will head to Beijing to brief the Chinese government on Trump’s meeting with Kim. He’s due to meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi before talks with President Xi Jinping at 9 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). A source familiar with the matter told CNN the idea to suspend military exercises with South Korea had been heavily pushed by President Xi in the lead up to the Singapore summit. The source added Xi had multiple direct conversations with Trump about the topic before the US President met with Kim. Experts said the decision to postpone the drills was a win for Beijing, who have long sought a way to drive a wedge between the US and its East Asian allies. Currently there are around 28,000 American troops in South Korea, as well as another 49,000 in Japan. “If they end these exercises then people in South Korea will begin to question why are US troops even there?” Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at CSIS, told CNN. But both the Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers were firm in their statements on Thursday that the US alliance was strong and US troops were there to stay. “Secretary Pompeo and I reaffirm that the South Korean US alliance … is robust as ever, that the US forces in Korea has played and will continue to play a crucial role for deterrence and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” Kang said. CNN’s Jake Kwon contributed to this article.<doc-sep>U.S. President Donald Trump walks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore in this picture released on June 12, 2018 by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via REUTERS SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean state media said on Wednesday U.S. President Donald Trump had agreed to lift sanctions against the North in addition to providing security guarantees in the summit with the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, the previous day. Trump was cited by North Korea’s official KCNA news agency as saying he made the promise after pledging to end joint military exercises with South Korea. There was no immediate comment about sanctions from the U.S. side.<doc-sep>Mr Trump had said after his meeting with the North Korean leader that sanctions - which place stringent restrictions on how North Korea can interact with the outside world - would remain in effect until "the nukes are no longer a factor", but it was unclear exactly what that meant.<doc-sep>

​A North Korean state-run media outlet on Wednesday claimed President Trump offered to lift sanctions against the regime — a claim that goes against the president’s comments after his historic summit with Kim Jong Un. The Korean Central News Agency listed a number of concessions that Trump made to Kim in Singapore, including a halt to joint military operations with South Korea, a vow to provide security guarantees and to “lift sanctions against it along with advance in improving the mutual relationship through dialogue and negotiation.” The KCNA report, published after Kim returned home, misrepresented remarks Trump made at a news conference after the summit when he said the sanctions will remain in place and credited the penalties with bringing North Korea to the negotiating table. ​”​The sanctions will come off when we are sure that the nukes are no longer a factor​,” the president told reporters Tuesday. “Sanctions played a big role, but they’ll come off at that point. I hope it’s going to be soon, but they’ll come off. As you know, and as I’ve said, the sanctions right now remain.​”​ ​KCNA also said both leaders “gladly accepted” each other’s invitation to visit their countries. It reported that Kim told Trump that it was “urgent” that the two countries halt “irritating and hostile military actions against each other” during the talks.​ Trump at the news conference suddenly announced that he would end “provocative” and “expensive” joint military operations between the US and South Korea, declaring, “I think it’s inappropriate to have war games” while negotiations were under way. The media outlet also said the two leaders agreed to follow a “step-by-step” process in future talks. ​​“Kim Jong Un and Trump had the shared recognition to the effect that it is important to abide by the principle of step-by-step and simultaneous action in achieving peace, stability and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” ​KCNA said. ​In a tweet Trump posted after landing in Washington, he called the talks with Kim “positive.”​ ​”​Just landed – a long trip, but everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office​,” he wrote on his Twitter account. “There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea. Meeting with Kim Jong Un was an interesting and very positive experience. North Korea has great potential for the future!​”​ ​​Kim’s ruling party’s ​newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, called the sitdown “the meeting of the century” on its front page Wednesday. It devoted half of its six pages to the meeting and splashed 33 photos of Kim and Trump ​shaking hands, attending a working lunch and sitting down to sign the agreement to denuclearize on the cover and on the inside pages. T​he KCNA report was also read on state television by Ri Chun Hee, a 75-year-old grandmother who usually announces major news — including North Korea’s largest nuclear test last September. She also went on air to report on the deaths of Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un’s father and grandfather. KCNA reported that after lunch, Kim and Trump walked together, “deepening friendly feelings,” and posed for a “meaningful photo session” to mark the signing of the agreement.

'Whoever Is Watching This, They're Going To Get A Thrill': Willy T. Ribbs, Paul Tracy, Ernie Francis Jr. Discuss Superstar Racing ExperienceThe Superstar Racing Experience inaugural season begins on June 12 at Stafford Speedway. 'Rugrats' Voice Actors E.G. Daily And Cheryl Chase Call New Animation Style 'Brilliant': 'Every Time They Would Show Us We Would Just Gasp''In the words of Chuckie Finster, "Looks like a giant step to me" as the 90's classic Rugrats returns with all-new episodes and a slick modern animation style on Paramount+. WATCH: Caroline D'Amore Discusses 'Surreal' MTV's 'The Hills: New Beginnings' Experience & Pizza Girl BusinessThe Los Angeles native discusses what it was like to join the cast of "The Hills: New Beginnings" and her new line of sauce. SEC Football: CBS Sports Announces 2021 Schedule Including Alabama At Florida On September 18The SEC on CBS kicks off on September 18 with an SEC Championship game rematch between the Crimson Tide and Gators. Mayweather Vs. Paul: Showtime Sports Announces Broadcast Team For June 6 EventThe network announced its plans for the broadcast of the pay-per-view exhibition bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Logan Paul. The 74th Annual 'Tony Awards' And 'The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back!' Come To CBS September 26thCBS and Tony Award Productions will celebrate Broadway’s highly anticipated return to live theatre with a multiplatform event The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back! Sunday, September 26th (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) broadcasting on CBS and available to stream live and on demand with Paramount+ or the CBS app.<doc-sep>Hide Transcript Show Transcript MIGHT CHALLENGE THE NEW GUN LAWS. >> OUR RESIDENTS HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE AND THAT OUTWEIGHS A GUNMAN EFFEXOR IS RIGHT. >> WITH THAT DECLARATION, HE SIGNED THREE GUN BILLS INTO LAW. USE OF THE SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE IS NOW BANNED INSIDE CITY LIMITS. >> RELATIVES OF THOSE WHO KILLED THINK HIM, SOME WITH TEARS STREAMING DOWN THEIR FACES. >> WE KNOW THE CAPACITY OF THESE GUNS, NOT SIMPLY THE AMOUNT OF BULLETS THEY HOLD, BUT THE BOEING AT WHICH THEY HOLD THE HUMAN BODY IS SOMETHING THEY CANNOT SELL OR FIX. IF YOU THINK THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE ELEMENT IN AN URB YOU’RE VERY, VERY WRONG. } WRONG. >> BUT A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT FILED THIS MORNING SAYS THE MAYOR’S NEW GUN LAWS ARE WRONG. IT SAYS THEY VIOLATE A STATE LAW THAT PROHIBITS MUNICIPALITIES FROM CREATING THEIR OWN GUN LAWS. IT’S A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT REPRESENTING THREE ORGANIZATIONS AND THREE CITIZENS. >> BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IS BUILDING BECAUSE CITIES AND STATES ARE C Advertisement Mayor Peduto signs Pittsburgh gun legislation; legal challenges are looming for city Share Shares Copy Link Copy Mayor Bill Peduto invoked an impassioned declaration to validate the city of Pittsburgh's new gun legislation before signing it into law Tuesday afternoon. It carried a blunt directive that will shape the city's fight against opposition groups. (Tap the video player above to watch the report. )"Our citizens have a constitutional right to life, and that outweighs a gun manufacturer's right to profit," Peduto said. "We know that the capacity of these guns -- not simply the amount of bullets they can hold, but the volume at which they can hit a human body -- is something that doctors will tell you they can't sew, they can't fix. "Lawsuits were filed against the city minutes after the bills were signed, stating that Pittsburgh is violating Pennsylvania laws that prohibit local municipalities from creating their own gun laws.Peduto indicated that the city is ready to take on the legal battles that await. "So what we're going to do is we're going to overturn this law, and then we're going to overturn this law in Florida, and then we're going to overturn this law in other states," he said. (SCROLL DOWN FOR A FULLER EXPLANATION OF WHAT'S IN THE GUN LEGISLATION. )_______OPPOSITION TO NEW GUN RESTRICTIONSA handful of gun rights activists arrived at Peduto's office late Tuesday morning, asking if they could get inside for the noontime signing of the legislation. "I want to witness the mayor breaking the law -- and where is the DA, where is the sheriff? Why ain't they over here to take care of my rights? That's why I'm down here," said David Haid, of Mount Washington.There was no scene or conflict with the uninvited visitors but they weren't allowed inside.Instead, they watched a livestream of the signing on the WTAE mobile app, making comments as they did. (Tap the video player below to watch the report. )"You see a criminal in action right there," said one man. "Yeah, lock him up," responded a woman. "It's official. The mayor and City Council are now criminals, worthy of prosecution in the state of Pennsylvania," said Val Finnel, of Kennedy Township. "We are going to file private criminal complaints on Friday. There are six (city) residents that are going to come forward and do that. "They are alleging the mayor, council and city solicitor are criminals for going against state law by regulating the use of guns. "We will not sit idly by while our constitutional rights and state law are violated by politicians who refuse to obey it when we are expected to obey the law," Finnell said. "Oppression and violations of the Uniform Firearms Act, and, you know, taking away rights of citizens," said Mary Konieczny, of the South Side. Konieczny is one of the city residents who say they will file the private criminal complaint at Municipal Court downtown on Friday morning.Meanwhile, an attorney representing Firearms Owners Against Crime and the Allegheny County Sportsmen's League, and other groups, said they were filing two lawsuits over the city's actions. "It is unfortunate that city's taxpayers will be burdened by the city's elected officials believing it is acceptable -- and even gloating -- that they are violating the Pennsylvania Constitution and Crimes Code," attorney Joshua Prince wrote.A group called Everytown for Gun Safety said its litigation team will help defend the city. "Everytown is proud to stand with the City of Pittsburgh as it acts to prevent future gun violence after the horrific massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue, " said Eric Tirschwell, director of litigation for Everytown for Gun Safety, in a release posted online.The statement said Everytown Law "will serve as co-counsel with the Pittsburgh City Solicitor's Office in defending the City of Pittsburgh in any litigation resulting from the city's passage of gun safety measures." Peduto had said previously that private attorneys were providing their services and support to the city for free._______WHAT ARE PITTSBURGH'S NEW GUN RESTRICTIONS?The gun safety legislation was passed by City Council last week in a 6-3 vote. There are three ordinances.The bill prohibits using assault-style weapons publicly in the city limits of Pittsburgh.That includes on the street and in public buildings, but does not include any businesses like gun ranges used for firearm training or practice.The bill says "using" includes brandishing, firing or pointing the weapon at a person or thing. It does not bar owning assault-style weapons, or transporting them outside the city. However, the weapons must be unloaded and not fitted with a magazine.It also bars using assault-style accessories with the same restrictions as the weapons.Additionally, an ordinance grants authority to the courts to temporarily seize guns from people who pose a danger to themselves or others, such as someone in the throes of a mental health crisis.Councilman Corey O'Connor said the council listened closely to critics and decided to soften the bills. He said a proposed ban on military-style assault rifles was reduced to a ban on the "use" of such weapons in public.The full definition of "use" is laid out as:§ 1102.02 PROHIBITION ON USE OF ASSAULT WEAPONSA. It shall be unlawful to use any assault weapon in any public place within the City of Pittsburgh.B. For purposes of this Section, "public place" shall include streets, parks, open spaces, public buildings, public accommodations, businesses and other locations to which the general public has a right to resort, but does not include a private home or residence or any duly established site for the sale or transfer of firearms or for firearm training, practice or competition.C. For purposes of this Section, "use" of an assault weapon does not include possession, ownership, transportation or transfer. "Use" of an assault weapon shall include, but is not limited to:1. Discharging or attempting to discharge an assault weapon;2. Loading an assault weapon with ammunition;3. Brandishing an assault weapon;4. Displaying a loaded assault weapon;5. Pointing an assault weapon at any person; and6. Employing an assault weapon for any purpose prohibited by the laws of Pennsylvania or of the United States.D. For purposes of this Section, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that an assault weapon is loaded if fitted with a magazine.<doc-sep>A Pennsylvania state representative said he was moving to have Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto impeached after the mayor signed new gun legislation in the city Tuesday. "I just asked our attorney to have a resolution drafted to IMPEACH the Mayor of Pittsburgh for his illegal gun control ordinances!" said a tweet from Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Cranberry Township Republican who represents the 12th District.Metcalfe's tweet drew this response from the Democrat Peduto:"Lost/Stolen Handgun Preemtion - Unconstitutional"Same Sex Marriage Ban - Unconstitutional"Voter Suppression Act - Unconstitutional"Fracking Zoning Preemption - Unconstitutional"Representative, do you really want to go 0-5? "PS: I met Parkland survivors. They're not actors!" A Pennsylvania state representative said he was moving to have Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto impeached after the mayor signed new gun legislation in the city Tuesday. "I just asked our attorney to have a resolution drafted to IMPEACH the Mayor of Pittsburgh for his illegal gun control ordinances!" said a tweet from Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Cranberry Township Republican who represents the 12th District. 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 just asked our attorney to have a resolution drafted to IMPEACH the Mayor of Pittsburgh for his illegal gun control ordinances! — Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (@RepMetcalfe) April 9, 2019 Metcalfe's tweet drew this response from the Democrat Peduto: "Lost/Stolen Handgun Preemtion - Unconstitutional "Same Sex Marriage Ban - Unconstitutional "Voter Suppression Act - Unconstitutional "Fracking Zoning Preemption - Unconstitutional "Representative, do you really want to go 0-5? "PS: I met Parkland survivors. They're not actors!" 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.<doc-sep>

Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) — Mayor Bill Peduto has signed into law a set of gun bills that have sparked much controversy among gun rights advocates and those in favor of gun control in the City of Pittsburgh and across Western Pennsylvania. “There was a lot of opposition,” Mayor Peduto said. “But more people in the community quietly showed their support.” Opponents immediately filed suit Tuesday to block it. The opposition is against restricting military-assault weapons, banning most uses of high-capacity magazines and allowing the temporary seizure of guns from people who are determined to be a danger to themselves or others. “To say large capacity is false,” said NRA spokesperson Amy Hunter. “That’s not the case. Anyone who knows firearms would not call them large capacity. That is very much political leverage. It’s a term applied by anti-gun activists.” Pittsburgh City Council passed the package of firearms bills by a vote of 6-3 last week. The legislation was introduced last year after the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill. Eleven people were killed when a gunman opened fire during services, and seven others were wounded. Some of those survivors were in attendance while the mayor signed the bills. Mayor Peduto said the community has come together “to say enough is enough.” “Change doesn’t happen on its own. Change only happens when you challenge the status quo,” said Peduto. WATCH: Mayor Bill Peduto Signs Legislation — RELATED STORIES: Pennsylvania law prohibits local regulation of guns and ammunition, and a coalition of gun-rights groups filed a lawsuit minutes after Peduto signed the bills. City Council members watered down the legislation before passing it in an effort to make it more likely to survive a court challenge. After the vote last week, Mayor Peduto said, “We’re not surprised by the lawsuit, we anticipated it. We look forward to the next part of the challenge, through the court system.” He offered assurances to city residents that they will be not be burdened with any lawsuit-related costs. “We will be represented by Everytown, a national organization that will be putting a team of lawyers in place for us,” Mayor Peduto said. On Friday morning, other city residents, including Dr. Val Finnell, plan on filing private criminal complaints, demanding the district attorney file charges. “I’m sick and tired of politicians violating the law and getting away with it,” said Dr. Finnell.

When will the game be released? FIFA 19 will be available in the UK on September 28. Huzzah! When is the demo out? The FIFA 19 demo will be released on Thursday, September 13 at 3pm BST. It's looking like there'll be 13 playable teams, including both Manchester clubs and Tottenham. Juventus, Real Madrid, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid are other clubs confirmed. It's also expected that there'll be a sneap peek of The Journey in in too: this year featuring three characters you can control in Alex Hunter, Danny Williams and Kim Hunter. Where can I pre-order the game? You can get the standard versions of FIFA 19 for PS4 from Amazon (£49.99); or on Xbox One (same price). Alternatively, grab it from EA's official site with three different options to purchase: Standard, Champions and Ultimate. With the Standard edition you'll get up to five Jumbo Premium Gold FUT packs, plus Cristiano Ronaldo on loan for seven FUT matches and special edition kits. Champions will give you three days' worth of early access, up to 20 Jumbo Premium Gold FUT packs, one Champions League Gold Player Pick (one of five 80 to 83-rated gold players from qualified teams), Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar on loan players for seven FUT matches and those special edition kits. FIFA 19's Ultimate edition gives you all of the above but up to 40 Jumbo Premium Gold FUT packs. So what's new? For that, check out Ben Wilson's excellent first playtest on the 7 things we learned from playing FIFA 19 for the first time. Find out the fresh details around Ultimate Team too: featuring new Icons, Division Rivals… and headers and volleys! More FIFA 19 • New features you'd love on FourFourTwo.com<doc-sep>FIFA 19: New features, Ultimate Team, player ratings, cost to buy & more! Goal pieces together all the information about the most anticipated football video game release of the year FIFA 19 is finally here! The game's developers launched a World Cup 2018 edition on FIFA 18 to accompany the tournament in Russia but gamers can now get their hands on the latest iteration of EA Sports' football game. With the game having been released on September 28, Goal has the complete guide to everything you need to know about the latest EA Sports FIFA game. When was FIFA 19 released? There had been talk that there might not even be a FIFA 19 release, with EA Sports chief executive Andrew Wilson stating in a recent interview with Bloomberg that the title could move to a Netflix-style subscription service . Released on September 28, like FIFA 18, there are three different editions: the standard edition, Champions edition and Ultimate edition. The latter two editions replace the 'Ronaldo' and 'Icons' editions of FIFA 18. Some gamers will have been playing the game already by virtue of pre-ordering either of the two special editions, which were released earlier than the standard version. What formats is it available on? FIFA 19 is available on all the big platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC and Nintendo Switch . However, it must be noted that the Ultimate edition of the game is only available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. How much does FIFA 19 cost? The new release is slightly more expensive than FIFA 18, with prices starting from £59.99 ($59.99) for the standard edition across all platforms. The Champions edition will cost £79.99 ($79.99) and the Ultimate edition will set gamers back £89.99 ($99.99). Only the standard and Champions editions are available on the Nintendo Switch, with the latter costing £69.99 in the United Kingdom and $79.99 in the United States. Console Standard Champions Ultimate PlayStation 4 £59.99 / $59.99 £79.99 / $79.99 £89.99 / $99.99 Xbox One £59.99 / $59.99 £79.99 / $79.99 £89.99 / $99.99 Nintendo Switch £54.99 / $59.99 £69.99 / $79.99 - Gamers who pre-ordered the game received some extra FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) player packs to bolster their new team on the popular game mode, with the more expensive editions yielding greater rewards. Standard edition Up to five Jumbo Premium Gold Packs Cristiano Ronaldo loan for seven FUT matches Special Edition FUT kits designed by FIFA soundtrack artists Champions edition Up to 20 FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs Play from September 25 (three days early access) UEFA Champions League Gold Player Pick Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar loan for seven FUT matches Special Edition FUT kits designed by FIFA soundtrack artists Ultimate edition Up to 40 FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs Play from September 25 (three days early access) UEFA Champions League Gold Player Pick Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr loan for seven FUT matches Special edition FUT kits designed by FIFA soundtrack artists Who is the FIFA 19 cover star? As mentioned, the cover of FIFA 19 features Ronaldo for the second year in a row, with the Portuguese heavily involved in the promotional content. However, the transfer of the 33-year-old to Juventus threw EA Sports a curveball, since the original imagery showed the forward in his Real Madrid kit. However, that was changed shortly afterwards. Ronaldo will share the spotlight in the new game as he is joined on the front of the Champions and Ultimate editions by PSG's Brazilian talisman Neymar . Having two players on the front cover is a slight reversion in style for the FIFA series, which preferred a single player on FIFA 17 and FIFA 18. What new leagues are in FIFA 19? After nearly a decade of jockeying, EA Sports has finally secured the rights to the UEFA Champions League, with the cherished competition set to be carefully integrated throughout FIFA 19. Released globally on September 28, FIFA 19 won't simply add the Champions League trophy to its cabinet, instead re-turfing the whole pitch to ensure the tournament is woven thoughtfully throughout the whole game. From Ultimate Team to the Journey, the Champions League is front and centre of FIFA 19 and as executive producer Aaron McHardy explains it’s an addition many years in the making. "This has been one of the most requested features from our players for over a decade, and for us the Champions League is so much more than a licence,” McHardy told Goal . "We’ve been working really hard to integrate the experience across the game in FIFA 19 and I don’t say that lightly. "We didn’t want to just bring in the licence teams so you can play with them in the right context, we really wanted to go over and beyond and add Champions League elements to every place we could in FIFA 19. "It’s been a whole lot of work and it’s not just a coat of paint. It’s really integrating meaningful features around the Champions League. We moved a lot of dirt bringing it to life." As well as the Champions League, FIFA 19 also includes the Europa League, UEFA's second-tier club competition. While it is not as glamorous as the Champions League, the Europa League has featured some of the best teams in the world, with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Sevilla competing in the 2018-19 edition. What are the game's new features? The new game has an 'active touch' feature, which changes the way players receive and strike the ball, as well as a 'reimagined tactical system' and 50/50 battles. I truly hope EA is building more servers for the weekend league #FIFA19 — Mike LaBelle (@MikeLaBelle) January 29, 2018 What people really want to see, however, is an improvement in server performance – even real life teams' eSports gamers such as New York Red Bull's Mike LaBelle have made their frustrations known. Since the release of FIFA 18, the gaming community has grumbled that the servers are too unstable, causing disconnections midway through games that result in a DNF (did not finish) modifier, which affects rewards from future matches - time will tell if anything's changed. There are also new game modes in FIFA 19, with gamers able to play matches that allow them to foul their opponents without being pulled up by the referee. There's also a 'headers and volleys' option, where players can only score with a headed goal or a volley, and also a 'long-range shot' mode. All of those options are available in the 'Kick Off' area of the game. What about Ultimate Team? The popular Ultimate Team mode continues in FIFA 19 and there are naturally some slight alterations. With the Champions League and Europa League featuring heavily in the new game, there will now be live content updates from those competitions in Ultimate Team. EA Sports will also disclose pack odds on certain packs so that gamers will have a better idea of what they are getting. "For Ultimate Team, when you buy a pack you know what you are getting," EA's vice-president Daryl Holt explained to Eurogamer . "You are getting a certain number of assets that are guaranteed - and we're going to start to do pack odds disclosures that'll show you the odds of what you might get. "That'll be in our product year 19 titles. So, at least that aspect of understanding what the chances are of getting X, Y and Z card." FIFA 19 Player Ratings Goal has compiled the list of the best 100 players in the game, and there's a tie at the top, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both receiving a 94 rating. If you're after Premier League ratings specifically, we've got you covered, with the top players from England's top flight all listed here. You can also take a look at all the players with five-star skills, the best dribblers in the game, and who has the highest top speed! FIFA 19 Icons EA Sports introduced 'Icons' to FIFA 18, with some of the greatest players in history gracing the game. The Icons concept replaced the earlier 'Legends' that had featured in previous instalments and the players became available in Ultimate Team, meaning squads could now blend the past and present. Among those to take their place in the FIFA series as Icons in FIFA 18 were Diego Maradona, Thierry Henry and Ronaldo. FIFA 19 features some new Icons, with the likes of former Italy and Juventus star Roberto Baggio joining the ranks alongside his compatriot, 2006 World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro. Other new Icons include Raul, Rivaldo, Steven Gerrard, Eusebio, Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele and Johan Cruyff. The Journey In FIFA 19 we see a return of hugely-popular mode The Journey, which makes its third appearance in a row. However, it is the final instalment in Alex Hunter's odyssey. The character made his first appearance in the game series in FIFA 17, in which the aim of the game is to make a breakthrough at a Premier League club. In FIFA 18, Hunter returns, but his journey takes him to Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy before he later returns to Europe. The FIFA 19 Alex Hunter story is called 'The Journey: Champions', in keeping with the game's new Champions League features and winning the biggest prize in club football is the aim. Click here to read more about the third and final instalment of The Journey. FIFA 19 Soundtrack The FIFA 19 soundtrack features some of the biggest artists in the music industry, including Gorrilaz, Logic and Childish Gambino, whose featured track 'Feels Like Summer' is a particular highlight. Washington alternative rock band Death Cab for Cutie are also among the line-up, as are electronic folk band Crystal Fighters and supergroup LSD (Labrinth, Sia and Diplo) The soundtrack aims to reflect a diverse array of music drawn from every corner of the globe and there are musicians from Germany, Australia, Scotland, France among others. EA Sports also enlisted the services of award-winning composer Hans Zimmer, along with rapper Vince Staples to come up with a new spin on the iconic Champions League Anthem The composer brought 68 "carefully picked" musicians to AIR Studios in London to record the new song, which is essentially a remix of Tony Britten's instantly recognisable original. Zimmer's Champions League song for FIFA 19 can be listened to in the trailer and in the video above. Watch the FIFA 19 trailer Fans of FIFA were able to get a first glance at this year's release at the EA Play event held on Saturday June 9. FIFA 19 | Official Reveal Trailer with UEFA Champions League HUGE! The Champions League is coming to FIFA 19. 🔥 (🎥 Trailer via EA SPORTS FIFA) Posted by Goal.com on Saturday, 9 June 2018 The new trailer for FIFA 19 featured an opening narration by cover star Ronaldo detailing his hopes of becoming a "champion" in football, following him on the path to his third successive Champions League trophy. Fans are also be treated to a FIFA rendering of his classic overhead kick fired against Juventus for Real Madrid in the quarter-final of the competition earlier this year. Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar also makes an appearance, as well as Paulo Dybala of Juventus and several Manchester City stars.<doc-sep>

Excitement is building for the release of FIFA 19 after EA Sports announced the arrival of the Champions League on their new game. European football's premier competition will be available to play on the latest release of the hugely-popular series. A new cover star has also emerged for FIFA 19 with Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo the face of the new game, alongside Neymar of PSG and Brazil. The usual features will again be in place, including FIFA Ultimate Team and online modes with improved gameplay and graphics likely to be introduced. But when is FIFA 19 released? Here is all you need to know. (Image: EA Sports) When is FIFA 19 released? The game will be available from September 28 2018. Cover stars As you've probably noticed FIFA 19 will have two footballers on its cover this year. Ronaldo is joined by world's most expensive footballer Neymar. Fitting, really. How much does it cost? The standard edition of FIFA 19 will set you back £59.99 on Amazon if you are to pre-order on Playstation and Xbox. If you want to get your hands on the Champion Edition, it will cost £79.99 while the Ultimate Edition will be a hefty £89.99. 365 games are the cheapest place to buy both games, with their standard edition currently £49.99 and their champions league edition £74.99. However, Quidco have wangled a deal with the retailer to get all new users to their site a free £15 discount on Fifa 19 - whichever edition you fancy. What is on the Champions League feature? You will be able to play a brand new standalone UEFA Champions League mode in FIFA 19. And it doesn't stop there with the Europa League and Super Cup also introduced. The competitions will also be available in Career Mode. What about FIFA Ultimate Team? (Image: AFP) EA have confirmed FIFA Ultimate Team will again be on offer in the new game. There is set to be a new mode in the ever-popular game mode but it is unclear what it will be. Plenty to get excited about, that's for sure. When will the FUT web app be out? FIFA 19's Web App will be available ahead of the game's release. The online companion tool lets users set up, access, and build their Ultimate Team before they've even laid their hands on the game. More importantly, the Web App allows gamers to buy and trade packs, giving them a chance to build their FUT empire early. The Web App launches on September 19, a day before FIFA 19 goes live on Early Access - an option for Xbox One and PC users. As well accessing it through your browser, the Web App will also be available on Andriod and iOS meaning gamers can trade on the go. However, the mobile app may not be available until at a later date. There has been no official release time for the Web App but it is expected to launch at around 6pm GMT. Which Premier League clubs will be on the game? Good news: All of them! Plus, you can play as any team from the Championship, League One and League Two. Player ratings FIFA tend to release their official player ratings in early September, a couple of weeks before the game's release - so watch this space. However, some ratings have been leaked through the demo. See which player ratings have been included in the demo here. What can I play it on? The game will be available on PS4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch. Official game review Brian Clough famously once said, “If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he’d have put grass up there.” But times have changed - and there is a completely new landscape ruling the way the 'Beautiful Game' is played. Step forward FIFA 19. The increasingly influential and ever-popular virtual video game is released in the UK next Thursday - and it has never been closer to reality. So much so, there is even a World Cup contested in its name backed by football’s official governing body. An incredible 24 million copies of the £50 game were shifted last year across Xbox One and PS4 with ardent gamers playing more than seven billion matches, scoring over 17 billion goals. Records are expected to tumble once again with the latest release as the EA Sports franchise delivers another masterpiece.

Drake has finally unleashed his double album Scorpion, and with it, we finally have confirmation that he is indeed the father to Sophie Brussaux's child, as Pusha-T already alluded to on "The Story of Adidon." While there are no overt shots fired back at the DAYTONA rapper, there are plenty of soon to be classic Drake-isms on his latest tracks. From heartbreak to fatherhood, Hennessy to champagne, we found the 12 most 'Drake' Drake lyrics on Scorpion so you can update that bio or post a fresh caption on your social media feeds before you've even finished listening to the album. Check them out below, and let us know if we're missing any in the comments section. On unexpected fatherhood: “Yesterday morning was crazy I had to come to terms with the fact that it's not a maybe That shit is in stone, sealed and signed She not my lover like Billie Jean but the kid is mine Sandi used to tell me all it takes is one time, and all it took was one time” - "March 14" On cognitive dissonance: “How can you be angry on a night in July And be warm with me when it's freezing outside” - "Summer Games" On deadbeats: "The only deadbeats is whatever beats I been rappin' to" - "8 out of 10" On himself as a monumental work of art: “My Mount Rushmore is me with four different expressions” - "Survival" On his secret son: “Look at the way we live / I wasn’t hiding my kid from the world, I was hiding the world from my kid.” -"Emotionless" On exhausting travel and exhausting social media comments: "Back and forth to Italy, my comment section killin' me" - "Can't Take a Joke" On not putting aside his pride: "And I gotta own the things I rap about just for my pride You know when it comes to pride, I can't put that shit aside" - "Can't Take a Joke" On Fashion Week and heredity: "I want my baby to have your eyes I'm going against my own advice Should I do New York I can't decide Fashion week is more your thing than mine" - “Finesse” On tough talk: “Talk used to be cheap, nowadays it's free People are only as tough as they phone allows them to be” - "Peak" On Jenny and Henny: “I buy you champagne but you love some Henny From the block like you Jenny I know you special girl 'cause I know too many” - "In My Feelings" On empty cribs: But this champagne toast is short-lived I got an empty crib in my empty crib - "March 14" On his complicated relationship with Spain: "Way this shit set up I live like Ronaldo But I never been in Madrid, woah" - "Blue Tint" Stream Scorpion below. For more on 'Scorpion,' see how Twitter is reacting to Drake's new album right here.<doc-sep>Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's been confirmed that Drake is indeed a Champagne Papi. In his new album, Scorpion, the rapper uses his poetic lyrics to address the circulating rumors that he is a father to son, Adonis. The question of his paternity inundated headlines after Pusha T released a diss track about Drake "hiding his son," and being a "deadbeat" dad, but Drake faces the truth head-on on his new album. The real question is whether Drake was planning on confirming the news before Pusha released the diss track, or if these four songs were late additions to his album. Regardless, read on to see the juiciest and most emotional lyrics about Drake's son and his new role as a father on Scorpion.<doc-sep>Drake has confirmed he's a father on his new double album Scorpion which has been released on Apple Music. The news - which was alleged in Pusha T diss track “The Story of Adidon” - arrives on “Emotionless” in which the 31-year-old Canadian rapper states: “I wasn’t hiding my kid from the world / I was hiding the world from my kid.” More details are revealed on the record's final track “March 14” in which he soberly discusses his issues with being a single father to the child, named Adonis. In the track, he suggests he has only met his son once - at Christmastime. “She’s not my lover like Billie Jean but the kid is mine," he raps, referencing the Michael Jackson song, later adding: "I only met you one time, introduced you to Saint Nick / I think he must've brought you like twenty gifts." He also mentions his mother, Sandi Graham, rapping: “Sandi used to tell me all it takes it one time, and all it took was one time / S***, we only met two times, two times.” He continues: “Single father, I hate when I hear it / I used to challenge my parents on every album / Now I’m embarrassed to tell them I ended up as a co-parent / Always promised the family unit / I wanted it to be different because I’ve been through it.” Drake then raps directly to his son. "I don't want you worry about whose house you live at / Or who loves you more, or who's not there / Who did what to who 'fore you got here / Now, look, I'm too proud to let that come between me and you now / Realise I got to think for two now, I gotta make it, I better make it / I promise if I'm not dead then I'm dedicated." Rumours that Drake had a son with Sophie Brussaux circulated following the release of Pusha T's “The Story of Adidon” which claimed the rapper has a secret love child he was trying to keep secret.<doc-sep>Last summer and fall, Drake and Bella Hadid were rumored to have had some sort of romance happening. Drake threw the model's 21st birthday party in October, and they were seen leaving a club together before in June. Us Weekly reported that Drake ultimately ghosted Hadid in November. “Things ended over text when he basically ghosted her,” a source told the outlet. One said they were just friends; another source told Us they were casually dating. Neither Drake nor Hadid commented on the romance rumors then, but Drake seemingly broke his silence on it now, on his new album Scorpion's track "Finesse." The song recollects Drake's fling with a fashion It girl who sounds a lot like Hadid. Here, the lyrics, via Genius, annotated with all the Hadid references. Note too that Hadid has publicly maintained she has been single since splitting with The Weeknd in November 2016, so a casual, private romance between them was entirely possible. Intro: Yeah Turn everything up Yeah, oh yeah Turn everything up a little more Verse 1: I want my baby to have your eyes Hadid of course has blue-green eyes. The baby Drake is referring to is likely the one he confessed to having with another woman, Sophie Brussaux: 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. I'm going against my own advice Should I do New York I can't decide Fashion week is more your thing than mine Hadid is a model who regularly walks shows during New York Fashion Week, which happens in February and September. Drake is debating whether he should attend any shows and sit front row or attend any fashion parties during the week. Given Hadid and Drake's alleged romance history, he's probably referring to September 2017's spring/summer fashion week. The month after, he'd throw Hadid's 21st birthday, after all. I can't even lie I'd rather stay inside I can't do suit and tie Can't be in a room with you and stand on different sides Possibly a hint that they didn't want to be public, especially since many fashion week events have heavy press attendance. One thing at a time I have to learn to hide One thing at a time Emotions running high I wish you felt alright Hadid may not have wanted the attention that came with another high-profile romance, especially one that did allegedly cause drama between her ex-boyfriend The Weeknd and Drake, both high-profile Canadian rappers. Page Six reported that the two were beefing over her in October. “They both hang in the same Toronto crew and now they’re having to pick sides," a source told Page Six. "The Weeknd performed and people on Drake’s side were like, ‘I can’t show up to that...Got to have allegiance.' They aren’t getting along right now...The groups are beefing because [Drake] broke the bro code. They 100 percent hooked up.” Pre-Chorus: Just hitting my line All the time, all the time, all the You stay on my mind All the time, all the time (yeah) Chorus: It takes some finesse I seen you finesse He can't know finesse The "he" is presumably Hadid's back-on ex The Weeknd. After The Weeknd and his then-girlfriend Selena Gomez split in October 2017, The Weeknd was spotted at Hadid's New York City apartment in November. They've since continued to ignite reconciliation rumors by kissing at a Cannes Film Festival party in May and most recently going on a PDA-filled dinner date in Paris this June. You stay on my mind Verse 2: You and your sister Too hot to handle Drake is referring to Hadid's model sister Gigi Hadid. Gigi and Bella Hadid Getty Images Things will get cancelled I would make time for you Commitment Going the distance I'm new to all of this Chorus: It takes some finesse I seen you finesse He can't know finesse You stay on my mind The phrase "you stay on my mind" may be a hint it's not fully over for Drake yet, though it may be for Hadid. 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>

After weeks of speculation and Pusha T drama, Drake has seemingly confirmed that he’s a father. The rapper addressed rumored news that he’d had a baby with former adult-film star Sophie Brussaux on his new album Scorpion, and the lyrics make things pretty damn clear. Take the song “Emotionless,” where Drake makes two references to his child: “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.” Meanwhile, in the song “March 14,” Drake references his baby again, saying: “Yesterday mornin’ was crazy / I had to come to terms with the fact that it’s not a maybe / That shit is in stone / Sealed and signed / She’s not my lover like Billie Jean / But the kid is mine / Sadie used to tell me all it takes is one time / And all it took was one time / Shit, we only met two times, two times / And both times were nothin’ like the new times / Now it’s rough times / I’m out here on front lines / Just tryna make sure that I see him sometimes.” AND! “It’s breakin’ my spirit / Single father, I hate when I hear it / I used to challenge my parents on every album / Now I’m embarrassed to tell ’em I ended up as a co-parent / Always promised a family unit / I wanted it to be different because I been through it / But this is the harsh truth now / Fairy tales are saved for the bedtime stories I tell you now.” FYI, Drake’s revelation comes after Pusha T’s diss track called “The Story of Adidon,” where he said, “You are hiding a child, let that boy come home.” Listen to Scorpion right this way. Mehera Bonner Contributor Mehera Bonner is a news writer who focuses on celebrities and royals.

Call it the Monday Afternoon Massacre. After firing Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen on Sunday, President Donald Trump purged the agency’s senior management on Monday. According to CBS News, Trump secured the resignation of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Lee Cissna, DHS Undersecretary for Management Claire Grady, and DHS General Counsel John Mitnick. He also fired U.S. Secret Service Director Randolph “Tex” Alles. Trump adviser Stephen Miller, an immigration hard-liner, reportedly masterminded the DHS purge as part of an effort to crack down on immigration at the southern border. Advertisement Just how much worse, though, can Trump’s immigration policies get? The president, after all, persuaded Nielsen to carry out Trump’s ghastly family separation policy at the southern border (while publicly claiming that the policy did not exist). During her tenure, Nielsen also designed a plan that strictly limited the number of asylum-seekers allowed to enter the United States. And she implemented what was ultimately ruled to be an unlawful policy to prevent immigrants from applying for asylum if they entered the country illegally. The New York Times reports that Nielsen drew the line at Trump’s “clearly illegal” demands, including “blocking all migrants from seeking asylum.” She also reportedly refused to resume family separations, despite Trump’s entreaties, because she did not want to violate a court order that currently prohibits the practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nielsen, in other words, carried Trump’s immigration crackdown as far as she could without risking contempt of court. Under her leadership, the agency engaged in horrific human rights abuses and violence against innocent migrants, including children. Nonetheless, it could, indeed, get worse. Trump’s “near-systematic purge” at “the nation’s second-largest national security agency,” as one senior administration official put it to CNN, is an ominous indication that Trump will now brook no independent judgment at DHS. He wants an agency that does exactly what he asks. And what he asks is frequently cruel, brutal, and lawless. Consider the coup that Miller allegedly engineered on Monday. Under federal law, the DHS undersecretary for management should have become acting DHS secretary when Nielsen resigns later this week. As of Monday morning, Claire Grady filled that position. A career civil servant who previously worked at the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard, Grady specializes in weapons acquisitions. She also served as acting deputy DHS secretary, working on immigration and counterterrorism issues. An apolitical defense expert, Grady was perfectly qualified to lead DHS until Congress confirmed a new secretary. Advertisement But Trump didn’t want Grady; he wanted Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. It’s easy to see why. Under McAleenan’s leadership, CBP repeatedly broke the law to implement Trump’s first travel ban, earning a rebuke from DHS’ Office of Inspector General. McAleenan is a strong proponent of a border wall as well as new laws to curb asylum-seekers’ entry into the country. He infamously failed to inform Congress that a 7-year-old girl died in CBP custody when he testified before the Senate just three days after her death. Advertisement To elevate McAleenan, Trump simply ousted Grady, then ignored the line of succession to leapfrog McAleenan to the head of DHS. (An Obama-era executive order allows him to do just that.) McAleenan appears eager to resume family separations, speaking vaguely of a “binary choice” that would let migrant parents either surrender their children to CBP or go into long-term detention as a family. This pseudo-compromise is really just an effort to get around a court order that has blocked family separations since June (though they have continued in smaller numbers). Advertisement Trump and Miller plainly expect that McAleenan will rubber-stamp illegal policies that Nielsen was unwilling to execute. Presumably, they hope McAleenan will approve Trump’s idea of expanded family separation, which CNN’s Jake Tapper reported on Monday. Tapper wrote that Trump wants families separated even if they enter the U.S. at a port of entry and are legally seeking asylum. (“He just wants to separate families,” a senior administration official said.) Nielsen refused to carry out this policy, which reportedly contributed to her termination. “At the end of the day,” the administration official told Tapper, “the President refuses to understand that the Department of Homeland Security is constrained by the laws.” Given that McAleenan refused to let CBP be constrained by the laws during the first travel ban, Trump may hope he will take the step that Nielsen would not and defy the courts to punish migrants. Advertisement Advertisement It’s more difficult to understand why Trump fired Cissna and Mitnick, aside from general dissatisfaction with the direction of the agency. (Similarly, no one seems to know why he fired Alles, the Secret Service chief.) Cissna, in particular, was an efficient hawk who successfully limited the number of immigrants allowed in the country. It was Cissna who gutted the U.S. refugee program and beefed up the denaturalization task force while making it easier for the government to initiate deportation proceedings and deny visas to foreign nationals. Cissna also spearheaded the “public charge” rule, which would deny green cards to immigrants if their family members use a public benefit, including food stamps. Shortly before his termination, Politico reported that Miller asked Cissna “to launch more experimentally and legally questionable policies,” but Cissna declined “to overstep legal boundaries.” His effective efforts to curb immigration and penalize immigrants could not spare him from the purge. If Nielsen and Cissna were not sufficiently extreme, it is alarming to consider what might come after them. Both bent the law as far as they could to implement hugely controversial and frequently vicious policies to further Trump’s nativist goals. It wasn’t enough for the president. With their ousters, DHS is entering a new era, one in which the agency will do whatever Donald Trump and Stephen Miller think it can get away with.<doc-sep>More top Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials are leaving the Trump administration, two senior administration officials said Monday, increasing the leadership vacuum at DHS as Washington grapples with the news of DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's resignation. U.S. Secret Service Director Randolph "Tex" Alles was fired Monday, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Lee Cissna, DHS undersecretary for management Claire Grady and DHS general counsel John Mitnick are also leaving the administration. The officials' departures are part of a system-wide purge of senior management at DHS as top Trump adviser Stephen Miller looks to overhaul immigration-related policy and personnel. Alles learned from the White House that he would be part of a mass overhaul of DHS leadership a few weeks ago. The notification came prior to the security incident at Mar-a-Lago on March 30, a law enforcement official told CBS News. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed in a statement that Alles will leave "shortly" and James M. Murray, a career Secret Service member, will take over in May. One Secret Service source described Murray as a "good pick." "United States Secret Service director Randolph 'Tex' Alles has done a great job at the agency over the last two years, and the president is thankful for his over 40 years of service to the country," Sanders said. "Mr. Alles will be leaving shortly and President Trump has selected James M. Murray, a career member of the USSS, to take over as director beginning in May." Alles' wife, Sarah Alles, told reporters, "We're very proud of the Secret Service. The agents are very professional, so pleased he was able to serve. They serve the nation well." Grady was the official standing in the way in December when the president wanted to oust Nielsen. The president would have had to place Grady in charge of DHS, given that she was the most senior Senate-confirmed official there. A source on the House Homeland Security Committee says Chairman Bennie Thompson, whose responsibility it is to oversee DHS, was given no heads up on the departures. It's unclear if the White House gave Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, a Republican, any heads up. These departures also come as Mr. Trump announced last week he wants to go in a "tougher" direction than his original pick for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Tom Vitiello. Mr. Trump has repeatedly expressed his frustration with the flow of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and his top officials' inability to fix the matter. In recent days, he has threatened to close the border, or at least large parts of it, if he doesn't get what he wants. Arden Farhi and Kathryn Watson contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Trump has suggested to aides in recent weeks that the administration’s previous policy of separating families at the border could be used to deter crossings and that a version of the policy could be reinstated, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions. Some aides have resisted the idea of family separations, citing the public backlash last summer and noting that Trump himself reversed it.<doc-sep>

U.S. Secret Service Director Randolph ‘Tex’ Alles is stepping down from his post, officials said Monday, in the latest shake-up at the Department of Homeland Security following outgoing Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s resignation. Sources told Fox News on Monday that Alles was notified 10 days ago to "prepare an exit plan," in a signal that a transition in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security was imminent. Alles was told that he should be prepared to leave his post as head of the Secret Service as part of that transition. “United States Secret Service director Randolph 'Tex' Alles has done a great job at the agency over the last two years, and the President is thankful for his over 40 years of service to the country," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a brief statement Monday. KIRSTJEN NIELSEN MAKES FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTS AFTER RESIGNATION AS DHS BOSS She said that Trump has picked career Secret Service member James M. Murray to take over the agency in May. Alles will remain in his role until then. A law enforcement official told Fox News that, inside the agency, the news of Alles' departure came as a surprise. Alles’ departure comes on the heels of Nielsen’s resignation and, according to a source, has nothing to do with the recent Mar-a-Lago incident, in which a woman was arrested at the president’s Florida property after allegedly carrying two Chinese passports and malware. KEVIN MCALEENAN, NEW ACTING DHS BOSS, HAS LONG RECORD IN BORDER SECURITY Nielsen and President Trump met at the White House on Sunday -- after which the president announced that Nielsen would leave her post as head of DHS. Trump also announced that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan would be appointed as acting DHS secretary. Later, Nielsen tweeted that she had submitted her resignation. “Its[sic] been an honor of a lifetime to serve with the brave men and women of @DHSgov. I could not be prouder of and more humbled by their service, dedication, and commitment to keep our country safe from all threats and hazards,” she tweeted with an image of the resignation letter. The letter, addressed to the president, said: “Despite our progress in reforming homeland security for a new age, I have determined that it is the right time for me to step aside.” Nielsen’s resignation came amid an influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Associated Press reported that Nielsen had been frustrated with the difficulty of getting other departments to help to deal with the growing number of families crossing the border. But administration officials told Fox News on Sunday that Nielsen’s background in cybersecurity made her a poor fit to handle border issues, while McAleenan best fits Trump’s requirement of being the “toughest cop” on the frontier. Sources told Fox News that Nielsen had been viewed as resistant to some of the immigration measures pushed by the president and his aides, specifically related to protected status for some refugees and policies at the border. A senior administration official told Fox News that National Security Adviser John Bolton long felt that Nielsen was not the right person for the job Nielsen served as the head of DHS for 16 months, following the appointment of former DHS Secretary John Kelly to be White House chief of staff. Kelly has since resigned from the administration. Nielsen's departure is the latest staffing shakeup in the department, which was founded to combat terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. On Friday, Trump confirmed he had withdrawn the nomination of acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Ron Vitiello to become the permanent head of the agency, telling reporters that "Ron’s a good man, but we’re going in a tougher direction, we want to go in a tougher direction." Administration sources tell Fox News that the withdrawal of Vitiello's nomination was the first step in Trump's plan to control the border crisis. The second step was asking for Nielsen's resignation. Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press The NFL seems so much easier from the comfort of your couch. Fans were quick to attack Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey, who missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt in the closing seconds of last week's playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears were eliminated and Parkey became enemy No. 1 in the greater Chicago area. But could any average fans do better after all their complaining? No. Goose Island held a challenge for anyone to try a 43-yard kick, and while the snow on Saturday made it more difficult, no one was able to make the kick: Some were hilariously bad and likely shut people up for some time: With a year's supply of beer on the line, some were at least close but still failed to make it through the uprights: Video Play Button Videos you might like Hopefully the Bears weren't using this as an open tryout to find a kicker for 2019.<doc-sep>The first of 100 kickers steps up at Goose Island Beer Company’s 43-yard field goal challenge. (Henry Bushnell/Yahoo Sports) CHICAGO — The first of many arrived before the sun did. Around 6:30 a.m. A kicker in high school, he was confident – just like the other 100-plus Chicagoans who flocked to the west side of a city still recovering from the most agonizing of NFL playoff losses. By around 9:30, with snow flurries beginning to sheathe the ground, the last of 100 spots in Goose Island Beer Company’s field goal challenge had been claimed. For hours thereafter, at least 100 more fans were turned away. All had come with the idea that they – former soccer players, out-of-shape middle-aged men, and everyone in between – could do what Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey couldn’t: Make a 43-yard field goal rather than double-doink it. And they were wrong. Very wrong. First kicker Cleats On his ass pic.twitter.com/WxiiPnP4g9 — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) January 12, 2019 “A 43-yard field goal, we really do believe, is much more difficult than the armchair kickers think it is,” Goose Island president Todd Ahsmann told Yahoo Sports on Friday. He, on the other hand, was very right. At least 100 tried. Fighting snow and a headwind, every single one failed. And many did so in hilarious fashion. . @GooseIsland bet fans free 🍻 for a year that they couldn't make Cody Parkey's 43-yard FG. They ALL failed 🤣 #CodyParkeyChallenge pic.twitter.com/hZhONcsEwL — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 12, 2019 Media members – including this one – stepped up as well, and suffered a similar fate: Story continues IT GOT TIPPED pic.twitter.com/s616rxMCS1 — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) January 12, 2019 Some had the accuracy, but nowhere near the distance. Many more failed to clear a fence designed to simulate an NFL defensive line. At least a dozen barely got the ball off the ground. Several met the ground themselves, having slipped on the slick turf mat, a lesson learned via embarrassment: A field goal is much harder than it looks from a couch. The Parkey-inspired field goal challenge When Parkey smacked the left upright, then the crossbar, last Sunday, Goose Island employee Zac Connelly was a few beers in. “Just the perfect amount,” he told Yahoo Sports Saturday as the Goose Island taproom filled with wannabe kickers. And while sipping the company’s Next Coast IPA, he began to see Chicago’s rage; the threats toward Parkey; the online bullying. He and his colleagues, as Ahsmann said, wanted to “stick up for our fellow Chicagoan” – and prove how difficult Parkey’s job really is. So on Monday morning, the team got to work. That afternoon, they looked into renting goalposts, or rolling in mobile ones. Instead, they fired up YouTube and taught themselves how to build a set. They bought necessary materials, and relied on a marketing employee with a carpentry background. Oh, and they themselves started practicing. In part, as Ahsmann said, because “we really thought 20 people would show up.” But then they teased free beer as a reward, and the story blew up. Thousands RSVP’d. Media outlets small and large covered it. Goose Island even reached out to Parkey’s representative to see if he’d be interesting in attending. The request went unanswered, but free beer was attractive enough to the masses. Unfortunately, Illinois lawmakers tried to ruin the fun. Free beer was against the law Per state law, associating free alcoholic drinks with a competition is prohibited. So a few days after Goose Island began promoting the field goal challenge, it received a call from “the powers that be,” who presumably referenced the following section of a Prohibition-era liquor control act: No retail licensee or employee or agent of such licensee shall: … 5. encourage or permit, on the licensed premises, any game or contest which involves drinking alcoholic liquor or the awarding of drinks of alcoholic liquor as prizes for such game or contest on the licensed premises. So the brewery had to adjust on the fly. They replaced free beer with an all-expenses-paid trip to an NFL game of a winner’s choice – no matter how many winners there were. They capped entry at 100. On Saturday morning, Ahsmann predicted 10 makes. He was waaaaay too optimistic. The scene About three-and-a-half hours before kickoff, there was a mad dash for the 100th spot. The 100th person just arrived. Spots filled! Going to be a great day. pic.twitter.com/4XpxfifvXB — Goose Island Beer Co (@GooseIsland) January 12, 2019 By 12:30, the lucky 100 had been ushered into the brewery’s garage. Meanwhile, a sizable crowd surrounded the kickers’ pen outside, even in intensifying snow and wind. They were given noisemakers. They were encouraged to heckle. They didn’t disappoint. There were even some rooftop viewers: (Henry Bushnell/Yahoo Sports) Inside the garage, there was legitimate tension. Some hopefuls tossed a football around. Others kicked a soccer ball. A frightening amount changed into cleats. Others stripped off pants to reveal shorts and tights. One man attached a faux-facemask to his winter hat. Most stretched. Some practiced their form. When the first dozen or two were led outside, the entire crowd paused and belted out the national anthem: It began with a stirring rendition of the national anthem pic.twitter.com/nuI1OszCgz — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) January 12, 2019 And then the schadenfreude began: The hilarious misses The first kicker, outfitted in a Fenwick High School practice jersey, had been practicing with a buddy in the suburbs during the week. But before he could hit the kick of his life, his plant foot gave way, and and he got the afternoon off to an inauspicious start: First kicker Cleats On his ass pic.twitter.com/WxiiPnP4g9 — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) January 12, 2019 Oh, but it would get worse … Even athletic-looking 20-somethings decked out in athletic-looking gear failed miserably: The most professional-looking dudes were often the worst pic.twitter.com/y2w9PaW9gu — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) January 12, 2019 Nobody reached the uprights. But we did have a doink of a different kind … A few ⁦@GooseIsland⁩ employees were in the line of fire… pic.twitter.com/RNzAbfT5jD — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) January 12, 2019 Ouch. There were heels who ripped off jackets to reveal Vikings or Packers apparel. But the crowd favorite was this Eagles fan: There was on-the-fly cleat swapping for traction, but to no avail: These dudes swapped left cleats for traction after the first one’s kick… pic.twitter.com/WklHmnouZ5 — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) January 12, 2019 Going shirtless didn’t work either: Not sure what the thinking was here… pic.twitter.com/dzz9gYJCfc — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) January 12, 2019 Neither did warmup routines: In all honesty, the snow really made this more difficult than it otherwise would’ve been. (There’s been talk of running it back later this winter or next year) pic.twitter.com/kQsIgRLnxy — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) January 12, 2019 The closest of the 100-plus came up several yards short: This was the closest anybody came pic.twitter.com/tYFIi0Zw1s — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) January 12, 2019 No kickers were successful. But it was a wildly successful afternoon for the brewery and all who came out, even as they trudged off into the afternoon with snow clinging to their hats, jackets and beards. And in lieu of a winner, Goose Island offered to donate $20,000 to the charity of Cody Parkey’s choosing. Per a spokesperson, that charity will be Lurie Children’s Hospital. As the event wound down, and as Connelly surveyed the scene, reflecting on a whirlwind week, there was only one questioned left unanswered: When will Goose Island run it back? – – – – – – – Henry Bushnell is a features writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at [email protected], or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell, and on Facebook. More from Yahoo Sports: • Curry moves into third place on all-time 3-point shooting list • Trump says Clemson will visit White House amid shutdown • Dolphins expected to offer Patriots’ Flores head coaching job • NFL divisional weekend picks against the spread<doc-sep>

Chicago brewery Goose Island was sick and tired of people clowning Cody Parkey for a 43-yard miss in the Bears' wild card game against the Eagles on Sunday, so it took matters into its own hands. The brewery had a challenge for people in the area to line up and kick a 43-yarder themselves. The results were about what you'd expect. Now, before we go into mocking these people, the situations are really apples and oranges. It was snowing in Chicago on Saturday -- the day of the challenge -- and Parkey is a professional NFL kicker. With that being said, there's also the key difference that the kick that these people are attempting is very low-stakes compared to what Parkey was facing, and the kick was tipped at the line. These would-be NFL kickers didn't have a rush. The first guy wore cleats, and the experience was ... Humbling. Here was another solid attempt, in which there was some contact by the defense. Then, there was the Packers fan who stepped into enemy territory -- which is actually a really gutsy move. It seemed possible that some random soccer player could come out and bury it, but when it was all said and done, Goose Island was vindicated for hosting the challenge. Obviously there will be those who say that this is Parkey's job, but you have to think anyone who came out Saturday will be biting their tongue. If nothing else, everyone there has video evidence that this isn't as easy as it looks.

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade left Friday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks with a hip injury late in the third quarter. [xyz-ihs snippet=”HN-300×250-Image”] The injury took place when Wade drove the basket and was knocked off balance. He landed awkwardly on his hip and stayed down for quite some time before walking off the court under his own power. He left the court shortly after and headed to the Heat locker room. While the Heat were up by a whopping 20 points at halftime, the Bucks have taken the lead early in the fourth quarter. If Wade is unable to return, it will up to the rest of the Heat roster to reclaim the lead and get a much-needed win versus the Eastern Conference’s top club. [xyz-ihs snippet=”HN-300×250-TextnImage”]<doc-sep>​Please don't let this be serious, D-Wade! In what has been a ​memorable victory lap for Dwyane Wade, no one wants to see No. 3 go down with an injury. On Friday night, though, Wade landed awkwardly on his hip and was down on the court for a while. He was able to walk off on his own, but in a ton of pain. Dwyane Wade went to the locker room after appearing to land awkwardly on hip pic.twitter.com/xEXCNvRGT2 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 16, 2019 ​​Even writing this story hurts. Wade has been one of the ​best basketball players over the past 10 years and fans across the globe love him. We don't want him injured in his final year of ball. Hopefully this isn't serious and he won't miss much action.<doc-sep>WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Tyler Wade felt some soreness in his hips Tuesday night when he woke up from napping during the Yankees’ four-hour bus ride Tampa to West Palm Beach. He wasn’t concerned. The next morning, the super utility infielder/outfielder felt it again lying in his hotel room bed. He wasn’t concerned. Get tickets to see the 2019 Yankees: StubHub, SeatGeek, PrimeSport, Ticketmaster When it happened again Wednesday afternoon while he was playing center field for the Yankees in a Grapefruit League game, Wade figured he better speak up to manager Aaron Boone. Wade still isn’t concerned, but he was pulled 4 ½ innings into the Yankees’ 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros and then sent back to Tampa to see a doctor instead playing against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday in Jupiter in the finale of a two-game Florida East Coast trip. “Opening Day is (a week) away,” Wade said after going 0-for-2 with a strikeout. “A lot of guys are hurt right now, so I didn’t want to keep pushing it, keep pushing it, keep pushing it. It’s just my hips are tight.” The Yankees are banged up to the point they’ll have six players beginning the season on the injured list, including starting center fielder Aaron Hicks. Wade is convinced there’s no chance he’ll join the list. “No, no, no, no, no!” he said. “Not at all. I just want to jump out in front of it and stretch it out make sure it’s good for (the season opener next) Thursday.” Hicks’ back injury probably will lead to the Yankees beginning the season with Wade, a natural infielder, as the squad’s only backup outfielder ... assuming his hip issue is no big deal. Wade has been playing some outfield since picking it up in the 2016 Arizona Fall League and feels comfortable at all three spots, but Hicks is expected back by week two. At the point, Wade is a good bet to stick with the Yankees optioning one of their first basemen – Luke Voit or Greg Bird – to free up a spot for Wade. Wade, however, might need to hit a little to keep his spot. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter is having a good spring for the third year in a row – he’s batting .318 in 17 Grapefruit League games – but his average over 124 career big-league at-bats in two seasons is just .161. “Continue to progress as a hitter … that’s the next thing,” Boone said. “That’s ultimately what is going to allow him to stay in the big leagues, to make the adjustment to hold his own offensively. The defensive skillset I believe will absolutely work. Obviously the speed and the way he runs the bases is a big deal. So if he can hold his own offensively, he’s a big leaguer.” Wade has looked the part this spring, as he’s been driving the ball more to the opposite field. He’s also hit a no-doubt homer to right. What’s been the secret? “Ah, it’s going to sound kind of ironic, but I’ve able to use my hips a little bit more,” Wade said with a laugh. “It’s more using my lower half and being aware of my body and using it correctly rather than muscling it up. Fluid and loose.” HIs approach has worked to the point that Wade seemingly was winning an Opening Day roster spot even before Hicks’ injury, and even though the Yankees signed two free agent infielders in the offseason with good to great resumes, Troy Tulowitzki and DJ LeMahieu. Wade says he never got bummed out. He dealt with the same thing in February 2018 when the Yankees signed second baseman Neil Walker early into spring training. “I kind of take it the same way,” Wade said. “These guys are coming into our team and helping us win a championship. So whatever I can do help that.” Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook<doc-sep>“You try to strike that balance between the need in the short term, especially a player of his potential and talent, you want to consider the long-term game as well. Those will be things that we consider, things that we talk through,” Boone said of Frazier. “What I’ve seen of him lately, a couple of well-hit balls yesterday, he’s working really hard on both sides of the ball. His defensive work, he continues to work real hard at. And he’s healthy and has been able to get a lot of reps. That’s a good thing too.<doc-sep>

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — With Jacoby Ellsbury likely starting the season on the injured list and Aaron Boone not inclined to keep both Luke Voit and Greg Bird, there is a reserve roster spot open that Clint Frazier and Tyler Wade both have a chance to win. Frazier provides a fifth outfielder, and Wade can play three infield spots and left field. “Certainly, they are all scenarios that I can see, but you are also sitting here in February,” Boone said Sunday before the Yankees’ 8-5 win over the Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. “So much has yet to unfold. Hopefully we are able to stay healthy and we are making those kind of decisions coming down to the wire.” Wade helped his case by going 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Frazier went hitless in four at-bats and struck out twice. Frazier was limited to 15 games last season due to concussion issues, so the Yankees might believe it would be better for his development if he opened the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He also hits from the right side, and the Yankees are top-heavy there. Wade, a left-handed hitter, made the Opening Day roster a year ago, when he hit .167 in 36 games four big-league stints. Boone didn’t say Wade hitting left-handed gave him an edge but did admit — without Didi Gregorius until at least June and possibly later as he recovers from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow — the lineup “isn’t perfect and not the most ideal thing.” But Boone believes if the lineup avoids injury, it will be very strong.

During Monday night's MTV Video Music Awards, Jennifer Lopez accepted the 2018 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, a prize given to powerhouses in music, and especially in music videos. In past years, the prizes have been given to stars like Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and Kanye West. Lopez accepted her speech after giving her first VMAs performance since 2001. She was also nominated for two other awards for her single "Dinero." Read the full transcript of her speech below: "I'm not gonna take too much time. You know, I grew up on MTV. This is really like, a tremendous honor for me. It has been an incredible journey of dreaming my wildest dreams, and then kind of watching them come true. Music, acting, performing, this career has always been kind of an obsession for me. When people have said, you know 'You're doing too much. You can only do one thing.' I always had it in my mind, I was always a person who was like, 'Why not? Why not?' So, I kind of had to to force my own path, make my own rules. And I was obsessed like that I liked it that way for a while. Just working and working and working. But it wasn't until I had two little angels come into my life, that everything changed. You know, I knew I had to be better. I knew I had to go higher, I knew I had to be stronger than I had been before. It was through that unconditional love that my career, that my whole life became clearer in every way. And now, today, I stand here stronger and better than ever. So thank you, Max and and Emme. There is so much more to do, and I know in my heart that the future is even brighter than anything I could have accomplished up to now because of you. There's so many people I gotta thank. For the last 20 years, my core people have been with me. These past few decades. My lovers, my dreamers, my friends, my family, who helped me to never lose focus. You have to stay focused. I have to say I love you, and I thank you, to Benny Medina. For 20 years! 20 years! Of fighting for me, and loving me. And believing in me. Every day since the day I played you that rickety demo of the first song I ever wrote. It would be not here if it wasn't for you. Elaine Goldsmith Thomas, my three-eyed crow, my touchstone, my twin. You lift me up every day. I never want to imagine this journey without you. You are priceless to me. I want to thank Tommy Mottola, and Corey Rooney. They taught me what it is to be an artist, to be a musician, what it is to be in a studio, to give everything that you have to music. I want to thank you for your love and support and even to this day, you are writing me today, both of you, you will never be forgotten to me. Thank you to everyone I work with, Kevin Huvane, Debbie, Tiana, Tabitha, Napoleon, Kyle, Kimbers, Kevin, Tiesley, Stevie, Macky, Beezy, my glam fam, Rob, Mariel, Scott, Chris, Tom. Jimmy, Tara, Natalie, all my dancers, my band, my whole crew backstage. Bruce, all of you. And to my girls, Anna, Lauren, Leah, Jay Ray, all of you. Thank you for this moment, MTV. And thank you, Bruce Gillmer, for believing in me. I went to give a quick shout out to the directors who helped me to make all these videos. Francis Lawrence, are you out there? Stand up, Francis Lawrence. There you are. Dave Meyers, I know are you out there, too, Dave. Paul Hunter, Jessy Terrero, Joseph Camp, and so many others, thank you for your artistry, and collaboration. Thank you for listening to a little girl who had crazy ideas. There is my mother, Lupe, the original dancing queen. Anybody who knows Lupe knows that that's where I get my skill from. My father, my rock, daddy, David. My sisters, Linda and Leslie, for their unending love and support. And Alex. You are like my twin soul. We are like mirror images of each other. My life is sweeter and better with you in it because tou make me realize that every day, the sky is not the limit. The universe is infinite, and so is what we can accomplish together, with love and trust and understanding. There so much more to do and to experience, and there is nobody I would rather do it with, baby. You are my macho, and I love you. And a special thank you to the fans, oh my God. You have touched my heart and my soul, and become a part of me. Loyalty is everything to me. Anybody who knows me knows that, you have won me over forever, thank you, I love you." 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>Jennifer Lopez had quite the night on Monday as she performed and received the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV VMAs in New York City. The multitalented artist was honored for her 20-year career of top hits and iconic music videos, and for her epic performance, which included a medley of "Waiting For Tonight," "Love Don't Cost a Thing" and "On the Floor," the brunette stunner delivered jaw-dropping fashion moments with multiple outfits changes. Because every single one was so good -- and we don't expect anything less from the superstar -- we're breaking down all of her show-stopping ensembles by none other than Versace, from her red carpet arrival to the custom pieces she shook her famous booty in. Feast your eyes on all the glamour ahead! First, Lopez graced the pink carpet in a sultry, sparkly, one-shoulder silver chainmail gown accented with Swarovski crystal mesh (with a high slit, obvi), finished off with matching clutch, platform sandals, Tiffany & Co. jewelry and long straight tresses. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images The time has come! Her highly anticipated performance started off with "Waiting For Tonight" in a glitzy gold plunging bondage-style strappy bodysuit adorned with Medusa medallion. It was topped off with an opulent floor-length chiffon cape rendered in Versace's signature pillow talk print, featuring mythical Greek statues, Barocco motifs and printed feline figures, encrusted with Swarovski crystals. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic She then switched the floaty regal piece for an oversize white faux-fur coat with pillow talk lining as she sang the 2002 hit "All I Have," reminiscent of the wintery scene in the music video featuring LL Cool J. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Lopez concluded the performance with "Jenny From the Block", "I'm Real" remix with Ja Rule and her latest single "Dinero" in an embellished cropped track jacket and pants made with Swarovski crystals layered over the bodysuit. Noam Galai/WireImage She accepted the Video Vanguard Award sans jacket and gave a heartfelt speech in which she thanked her kids and boyfriend Alex Rodriguez. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for MTV J.Lo ended the night in a breathtaking beaded strapless bustier belted number with a dramatic high-low layered laser-cut plexiglass skirt as she took home the award for best collaboration with Cardi B and DJ Khaled on "Dinero." She accessorized with matching ankle boots and a large statement bucket belt. Kevin Mazur/WireImage For the after-party at Beauty & Essex, the star sported pillow talk printed leggings and matching silk shirt cinched with a black leather belt. Getty Images See Lopez rock thigh-high denim boots: Jennifer Lopez Rocks Over-the-Top Thigh-High Denim Boots 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 CONTENT: All the Times Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Melted Our Hearts at 2018 MTV VMAs Jennifer Lopez Thanks Twins & Alex Rodriguez in Touching MTV VMAs Video Vanguard Speech Jennifer Lopez Puts on Epic Performance With Ja Rule & DJ Khaled Before Accepting MTV Video Vanguard Award<doc-sep>

Armed with an arsenal of hits, performative swagger, and show-stopping dance moves that have become synonymous with her multi-hyphenate career, pop icon Jennifer Lopez took the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards by storm with an electrifying — and golden — set during Monday night’s ceremony. Taking the VMAs stage at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall for the first time since 2001 for a fierce, elaborately choreographed set, Lopez blazed through a powerhouse medley of standout tunes from her robust discography, including old classics “Get Right” and “My Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” as well as new hits “Ain’t Your Momma” and “Booty.” In a mash-up reminiscent of her Vegas residency, her subway car performance for “Jenny From the Block” was also part of this 10-minute medley. Accompanied by a cadre of shimmering, sexy backup dancers, Lopez stayed true to her roots as a Fly Girl, making ample time to dance across the stage. Ever the collaborator, she brought out two surprise guests. Rapper Ja Rule appeared on stage to perform their 2001 hit “I’m Real,” while DJ Khaled joined to close out the medley with their newest single “Dinero.” Following the highly-anticipated performance, Shawn Mendes presented 49-year-old with this year’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, noting Lopez is a trailblazer, as the first Latino artist and seventh women to receive the show’s highest honor since the prize’s 1984 inauguration. “I grew up on MTV, and this is really like a tremendous honor for me,” Lopez said during her acceptance speech. “It has been an incredible journey of dreaming my wildest dreams and then kind of watching them come true.” 2018 MTV Video Music Awards - Show Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images One of Hollywood’s leading triple-threat performers, Lopez called her career an “obsession” and thought “why not?” whenever questioned about her workload. Then came along her two children with Marc Anthony, Max and Emme in 2008. “It was through that unconditional love that my career, my whole life became clearer,” she said. “Today I stand here stronger, better than ever.” Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include David Bowie, Kanye West, Tom Petty, and the accolade’s titular pop superstar (named for him in 1991). Madonna became the first woman to claim the prize in 1986, followed by Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Pink in subsequent years. RELATED VIDEO: VMAs by the Numbers Ahead of notching four No. 1 singles and several high-profile videos to her belt, Lopez first transitioned from acting to music with the release of her triple-platinum debut album On the 6 in 1999. She has since released eight full-length LPs, which have sold a combined 80 million worldwide units in addition to multiple theatrical successes with global box office grosses exceeding $2.9 billion. “Dinero,” reportedly lifted from an upcoming Spanish-language album, dropped earlier this year, peaking at No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 before scoring two nods at the 2018 MTV VMAs. Lopez’s next big-screen effort Second Act (which she also produced) hits theaters on Nov. 21. “I go back to my neighborhood at times, I still have friends who live there and people my mom hangs out with, I know that slice of life so well. It’s not something I’ve become disconnected from,” Lopez previously told EW of her humble roots, which laid the foundation for her pop cultural domination later in life. “I feel no matter how much I travel and where I go, I always feel so connected to the working class I grew up in with my mom and my dad. It so affected me to see my dad working nights for 20 years… I think that’s why I work so many jobs, still. I feel like a working woman, a working girl. That’s who I am.”

Aug 01, 2018 12:20 (IST) Meanwhile, National Register of Citizens (NRC) Coordinator Prateek Hajela submitted the compliance report in the court on publishing the final draft of the NRC on July 30 as per the direction of the Supreme Court. The bench noted from Hajela's report that the full draft will be available for people by August 7 and from August 8, people will get to know reasons of their non-inclusion in the NRC. The report added that those whose names are not included in the final draft will get the opportunity between August 30 and September 28 to file claims and objections before the registrar concerned and at NRC Seva Kendras.<doc-sep>Assam residents queue up Monday to to check if their names are in NRC. AP Assam residents queue up Monday to to check if their names are in NRC. AP The issue of citizenship has been dominating the public discourse since Monday, when Assam released the draft of an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) leaving out 40 lakh of 3.29 crore applicants for inclusion. What determines who is or is not a citizen of India? And what are the special circumstances in Assam, the only state with an NRC? How is citizenship determined in India? Indian citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent, registration and naturalisation. A person domiciled in India as on November 26, 1949 — the date when the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution — automatically became a citizen if he or either of his parents was born in India, or if he had been in India for at least five years until that date. For those born in India after the Constitution came into effect, the Citizenship Act, 1955, grants citizenship by birth based on birth dates. Anyone born between January 26, 1950 and July 1, 1987 is a citizen by birth; a person between July 1, 1987 and December 3, 2004 is a citizen by birth if either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time; those born on or after December 3, 2004 is a citizen by birth if both parents are citizens of India at the time, or if one parent is a citizen and the other is not an illegal migrant — defined as a foreigner who entered India without valid documents, or stayed beyond the allowed period Citizenship by registration can be acquired by persons of Indian origin who have lived in India for 7 years before applying, persons of Indian origin who live in any country outside undivided India, persons married to a citizen of India and who have lived in India for 7 years before the application. Any minor child can be registered as a citizen if the government is satisfied that there are special circumstances. Is it possible for a foreigner with no connection to India (marriage, descent etc) to become a citizen of India ? This is citizenship by naturalisation. Any foreigner, provided he is not an illegal migrant, can acquire citizenship, provided he has stayed in India for 12 consecutive months preceding the date of application, and for 11 years out of the preceding the 14 years. Is citizenship permanent? Under Section 9(1) of the 1955 Act, a person ceases to be a citizen if he or she voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country or renounces Indian citizenship. India does not allow dual citizenship. Under Section 10, anyone who has become a citizen of India by naturalisation or by registration due to marriage to an Indian citizen can be deprived of the citizenship by the Home Ministry for certain reasons. How is Assam different? Why a separate National Register of Citizens? This is because of a history of migration. During British rule, Assam was merged with Bengal Presidency for administrative purpose. From 1826 to 1947, the British continuously brought migrant workers to Assam for cheap labour in tea plantations. Two major waves of migration came after British rule — first after Partition, from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), and then in the aftermath of the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. This eventually led to an agitation during 1979-85, led by the All Assam Students’ Union. It culminated in the 1985 Assam Accord signed with the Rajiv Gandhi government, under which illegal migrants were to be identified and deported. Clause 6A was inserted in the Citizenship Act with special provisions for Assam. Express Explained | What it means to be out of NRC What are those provisions? These take into account two cutoff dates — January 1, 1966 and March 25, 1971. Anyone who was a resident of Assam before the first date is a citizen. Migrants who entered on any day between these two dates, and remained there, would need to register with a Foreigners Tribunal. For 10 years, they would have all rights of a citizen except the right to vote, which would be granted at the end of 10 years. Finally, migrants who entered Assam on or after March 25, 1971, are not eligible for citizenship. Is this not the cutoff date for NRC, too? Yes. For inclusion, applicants need to prove that they — or their parents, grandparents etc — were citizens before March 25, 1971. Those who could not prove this, as well as their offspring, have been excluded. Assam already has an NRC, prepared in 1951 with 80 lakh citizens, on the basis of that year’s Census. In 2003, the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules were amended for updating the NRC in order to identify genuine citizens. What was the mechanism for identifying migrants earlier? When Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister, the government introduced the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, applicable only to Assam. Against the Foreigners Act that was in force elsewhere, the IMDT Act was seen as ineffective as the burden of proof of someone being a foreigner was on the accuser and not on the state or the accused. In 2005, the Supreme Court struck down IMDT Act on a petition filed by Sarbananda Sonowal, then an AGP leader, now Assam Chief Minister and a BJP leader. Before the NRC update, Assam was witnessing protests over the Citizenship Amendment Bill. What was this about? In 2016, the Centre introduced amendments to the Citizenship Act to grant citizenship to religious minorities (mostly Hindus and including other non-Muslims) from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who took shelter in India. The Bill relaxes norms for granting them citizenship by decreasing the residency requirement from 11 years to six years. In Assam, where the agitation was against migrants irrespective of religion, this has led to protests. The Bill is currently pending with a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Is there a similar situation for migrants in any other state?<doc-sep>The Memorandum of Settlement on the Assam problem was signed between Central Government and the leaders of the Assam movement at the residence of Prime Minister of Rajiv Gandhi (Express Archive Photo) The Memorandum of Settlement on the Assam problem was signed between Central Government and the leaders of the Assam movement at the residence of Prime Minister of Rajiv Gandhi (Express Archive Photo) In the late 1970s, an extraordinary student movement had taken root in Assamese soil. The Mangaldoi constituency, which was voting in a bypoll after the death of its MP Hiralal Patwari, was under the spotlight. The seat, with a very high concentration of immigrants from East Bengal, drew national attention due to a sudden rise in the number of voters compared to the previous election two years earlier. Even as reports suggested a large-scale immigration from Bangladesh into the state, on June 8, 1979, the All Assam Students Union went on a 12-hour general strike demanding the ‘detention, disenfranchisement and deportation’ of all foreigners. What followed in the next few months and years was a spree of protest movements, several rounds of negotiations with the government and ultimately the signing of the Assam accord in 1985 that listed down a number of measures to be taken for the state to deal with the issue of immigration. Also read: 40 lakh not in register cannot be called illegal, says Assam official behind NRC It has taken 33 years for this crucial piece of the Assam Accord to finally fall into place. On Monday, when the final draft of the National Register of Citizens was released, close to 40 lakh residents of Assam were disappointed to find their names missing from the list. With the Opposition, especially West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slamming the move, BJP president Amit Shah reminded everyone that the accord was signed in 1985 under the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government. “Rajiv Gandhi signed the Assam Accord in 1985, which was similar to NRC. They did not have the courage to implement it, we did,” he said in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. What was the Assam movement? The issue of immigration had rankled ethnic relations in Assam since the years preceding Independence. American political scientist Myron Weiner, carrying out a census study in Assam, had noted – based on the projection of the 1891 census – that immigrants and their descendants would then number 8.5 million as opposed to locals and their descendants at 6.5 million. However, after free India was born the issue was brushed under the carpet until 1979, when the Assam movement began. What kept the immigration issue at bay was the centrality of language issue in defining the boundaries of ethnic conflicts for a long time. Also read: NRC poses a political and moral question While the immigration issue did come up once in a while, it was only in 1979 that it shook the state, defining the contours of ethnic and religious relations for years to come. “It ruptured carefully nurtured ethnic coalitions that were at the foundation of political stability in the state, setting the stage for a prolonged period of political turmoil,” writes political scientist Sanjib Baruah in his article ‘Immigration, ethnic conflict and political turmoil- Assam 1979-1985’. The 12-hour strike of June 8 was soon followed by the formation of the Assam Gana Sangam Parishad (AGSP) for conducting a coordinated statewide movement. “An unprecedented mass popular upsurge followed in the form of sit-ins, picketings in front of government offices, strikes, and symbolic disobedience of the law,” writes Baruah. Between 1980 and 1982, close to 23 rounds of negotiations took place between the movement’s leaders and the central government. Even though the Assam movement had sufficient support, there were many against it as well, considering the size of the immigrant population in Assam and the political cost of agreeing to the demands of the movement. By the end of 1982, however, an agreement was reached between the Centre and the movement’s leaders that all those who made it within the Indian borders between 1951 and 1961 would be given citizenship status, while those who came after 1971 would be deported. But the status of those who entered between 1961 and 1971 was not resolved. Also, there was no agreement on the procedures to be used in order to conclude the status of a resident. In the meantime, the movement had gained sufficient momentum to be able to disrupt the functioning of the government including the 1980 parliamentary elections, and the Assembly elections of 1983. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Home Minister S.B. Chavan with a delegation of Assam Gan Prishad leader headed by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Bhrigu Kumar Phukan (Express archive photo) Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Home Minister S.B. Chavan with a delegation of Assam Gan Prishad leader headed by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Bhrigu Kumar Phukan (Express archive photo) Negotiations between the movement’s leaders and the central government were once again initiated in 1984. By this time the Janata Party was no longer in power, and the government lay in the hands of Rajiv Gandhi. Consequently, an accord was signed on August 15, 1985, according to which, all illegal aliens who entered the state between January 1966 and March 1971 would be disenfranchised for 10 years, and those who came after March 1971 would be deported. Once the accord was signed, the state government was dissolved as fresh elections were held based on revised electoral rolls in December 1985. What is the Assam Accord? The Assam Accord of 1985 began with the assurance that the “government has all along been most anxious to find a satisfactory resolution to the problem of foreigners in Assam.” Consequently, it put together a list of resolutions to be implemented in order to solve the immigration issue in Assam. As per the accord, all people who came to Assam prior to January 1, 1966, would be given citizenship. Those who moved in between January 1, 1966, and March 24, 1971, would be “detected in accordance with the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order 1964”.<doc-sep>India was braced for unrest in its north eastern Assam state on Monday after the authorities declared some four million residents to be foreigners, effectively stripping them of their citizenship and raising fears of deportation. The residents, mostly Muslims of Bangladeshi origin, were deemed ‘stateless’ as India published its draft list of citizens deemed to have entered the country before 1971, when millions fled Bangladesh's war of independence into the state. The government released its final draft of Assam’s National Registrar of Citizens (NRC) in what many claim is as an effort by Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, to target Muslims hostile to his BJP nationalist party ahead of elections next year. But in a bid to quell growing unrest officials insisted no one would face immediate deportation to Bangladesh from where they had migrated decades ago and that all those deemed foreigners had the right to appeal. The authorities on Monday also placed the Indian Army on standby and deployed over 40,000 state police and paramilitary personnel across the state. “This is just a draft and not the final list” India’s census commissioner Sailesh, who uses only one name, told reporters in Guwahati, the state’s principal city. “Based on the draft there is no question of anyone being taken to detention centres”, he stated adding that the four-week long appeal process would begin on 30 August and last till 28 September.<doc-sep>

The first NRC was prepared in 1951 and included all those who were mentioned in the 1951 Census of India. The Assam NRC issue has become such a widely debated topic in India that even international media has taken note of the fact that there are over 40 lakh people who are now at risk of losing Indian citizenship. While the Opposition has accused the BJP-led central government of playing vote-bank politics over this issue, the government has responded by saying that the demand for the NRC being updated is a very old one. Here is all you need to know about this issue: What is NRC? The National Register of Citizens is a list of all the legal citizens of a state. It is governed by The Citizenship Act, 1955, and The Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 (amended in 2009) and a 2010 order of the Ministry of Home Affairs, published in the Gazette of India. When was the first NRC done? The first NRC was prepared in 1951 and included all those who were mentioned in the 1951 Census of India. Why is the NRC being updated in Assam right now? The idea of updating the NRC in Assam stems from the demand to identify illegal migrants from the state from Bangladesh, something which the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) demanded during the six-year-long Assam Movement. The movement culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985. Even though the Assam Accord does not mandate updation of the NRC, it does talk about the deletion of foreigners' names from the electoral rolls. A formal decision to update the NRC was first taken by the Centre in 1999, but the work did not begin. In a tripartite meeting among the central government, the Assam government and AASU on 5 May, 2005, it was decided to update the NRC. But nothing much progressed beyond talks. In July 2009, Assam Public Works — an NGO — filed a case in the Supreme Court, demanding updation of the NRC. In 2010, the government decided to hold pilot projects of NRC updation in two blocks in the state. But violence in Barpeta district stalled the work yet again. It was only after the Supreme Court directed the government to update the NRC in 2014 that work on updating the list began in full swing. The court also fixed a cut-off date of 1971, meaning that anyone who came to Assam after 1971 would be considered a foreigner. Thus, the demand to update the NRC has existed for a long time. Who are eligible to register for the NRC? As The Telegraph explains, people whose names appear on the 1951 NRC and those who appear on any voter list in Assam up to midnight of 24 March, 1971, and the descendants of the above are eligible to register for the NRC. Moreover, people who came to Assam from Bangladesh between 1 January, 1966 and 24 March, 1971, registered themselves with the Foreigner Regional Registration Office, and were declared by the Foreigner Tribunal as Indian citizens are also eligible. Indian citizens who moved to Assam after 24 March, 1971 will need to provide proof of residence in another part of the country as on 24 March, 1971. Has the final NRC been published? No. The second and final draft of the NRC was published on Monday. The first draft of the NRC was published during the intervening night of 31 December and 1 January this year, containing 1.9 crore names. The final NRC will be published later during the year, after a process of claims and objections has ended. According to News18, the final NRC is expected to be published in December this year. What is the political controversy surrounding the final NRC draft? The names of 40.07 lakh applicants did not find a place in the second and final NRC draft. This fact caused all the political outrage over the NRC, with the Opposition disrupting Parliament proceedings over the exclusion of such a large number of applicants. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the BJP over the draft NRC, accusing the party of playing vote-bank politics, while also warning that the issue will "destroy" India's relationship with Bangladesh.

The Pittsburgh Steelers won their first game of the season last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but their work is far from finished. They still gave up quite a bit of ground in the AFC by losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, and after tieing with the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, the Steelers find themselves in a suddenly very competitive AFC North. The Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens all look to have made major improvements this season. The Ravens are their opponent in this game, and that means one thing: tough, physical football. That is what happens when the Steelers and Ravens share a football field. No matter how dynamic the offenses are, you can always bet on heavy hits and the stronger team having a major advantage in this matchup. That will be especially important in this game, as both teams are dealing with several injuries. Neither is close to 100 percent, and both had to leave some very important players off of their roster for this game. Here are the inactive choices for both teams on Sunday Night Football.<doc-sep>The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers get their AFC North rivalry in Week 4. The first of two matchups between these teams each season, the Ravens are coming off quite the laundry list of an injury report. Already beat up to start the season, the hope was we’d see some players for the first time this week. But alas, that isn’t the case as rookie tight end Hayden Hurst is still inactive with a foot injury. But he was out on the field working out ahead of the game, giving some good hope he’ll return for next week. The Ravens will get back linebacker C.J. Mosley for this game, which is a huge benefit for a defense that has looked lost at times without him. Check out below to see the full list of who isn’t playing in this Week 4 matchup. Baltimore Ravens inactives: Player Position Hayden Hurst TE Robert Griffin III QB Jordan Lasley WR Anthony Averett CB Hroniss Grasu C Willie Henry DT Zach Sieler DT Pittsburgh Steelers inactives:<doc-sep>All week, there had been encouraging signs that Hurst might make his first appearance since undergoing surgery Aug. 24 to repair a stress fracture in his foot. He practiced all three days albeit on a limited basis and was designated on the team’s final injury report as questionable. And the organization’s first of two first-round choices in April’s NFL draft had worked out vigorously about two hours before the game.<doc-sep>While defensive tackle Willie Henry (abdomen) and corner Anthony Averett (hamstring) have been ruled out since Friday, there was hope that Hayden Hurst, the 25th overall pick in the 2018 draft, would make his regular season debut tonight. However he is still recovering from foot surgery. Look for third round pick, and fellow rookie tight end, Mark Andrews to continue to produce in his absence. Ravens Inactives Henry has also not played in 2018, after undergoing surgery to repair an umbilical hernia in August. Averett, a 2018 fourth round pick out of Alabama, is off to a frustrating start to his rookie season, missing his second consecutive game. As noted yesterday by The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, Averett’s injury leaves Baltimore without depth at the corner position. Ravens don’t announce any roster moves by today’s 4 pm deadline. Means they’ll go into Steelers game with 4 healthy corners: Humphrey, Carr, Young and Darious Williams. — Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) September 29, 2018 Noticeably absent from Baltimore’s inactives list is linebacker C.J. Mosley, who missed last week’s game against Denver due to a bone bruise in his knee that he suffered against the Bengals in Week 2. The Ravens defensive leader will return to the lineup tonight. Half man. Half amazing. Linebacker C.J. Mosley is active tonight after missing last week’s game. pic.twitter.com/TQP24cbq3x — Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 30, 2018 For the Steelers, corner Mike Hilton (elbow) and safety Morgan Burnett (groin) are both inactive. As anticipated, offensive linemen David DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert have returned for Pittsburgh. Steelers Inactives No. 2 QB Mason Rudolph No. 11 WR Justin Hunter No. 27 S Marcus Allen No. 28 CB Mike Hilton No. 42 S Morgan Burnett No. 72 OT Zach Banner No. 96 DE L.T. Walton Through three games, Hilton has 11 combined tackles, one interception and three passes defensed. Burnett also missed the Steelers Week 3 game against the Buccaneers. He was replaced by Virginia Tech rookie Terrell Edmunds, who intercepted Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Nat Berhe, who recorded his first two tackles on the season.<doc-sep>

Given the way the Pittsburgh Steelers’ injury report has impacted game day participation so far this season, their official list of inactive players for Week 4 is very much as expected. Any players listed as doubtful on Friday have missed the game that follows each week, and it should come as no surprise to see the Steelers have included both Morgan Burnett and Mike Hilton among the inactives for their game against the Baltimore Ravens. An elbow injury for Hilton will cost him his first game of the season, while a groin injury for Burnett will sideline him for the second time this year. Cameron Sutton is expected to see snaps as the nickel cornerback in place of Hilton and Burnett will be replaced by a combination of Terrell Edmunds and Nat Berhe as he was in Week 3. Marcus Allen also gets his first chance to dress for a game in 2018 with both defensive backs out. The return of Ramon Foster and David DeCastro sends Zach Banner back to the ranks of the inactives this Sunday, but interestingly, Pittsburgh will keep an extra offensive lineman on the active roster against the Ravens in Matt Feiler. Perhaps as a preventative measure. Banner rejoins some familiar faces who have made this list their home for most of the season. Mason Rudolph and Marcus Allen are the only players on the roster yet to dress on game day, with L.T. Walton and Justin Hunter each only having suited up once this year.

The score wound up against the Dallas Cowboys as they lost the San Francisco 49ers 24-21 in the preseason opener. But that was not the real story. What was important was that Dallas got out of the game reasonably healthy, and saw a lot more good than bad from the players - especially those that are sure to be on the team this year. It felt a little worrisome at first to find out that the starters (with a few notable exceptions) would be playing a “series or two”, but that feeling is largely just paranoia about preseason injuries. And it didn’t take long for the first string offense to inject a little confidence, as the Cowboys took the opening possession and marched 75 yards in 10 plays, capping it all with a really beautiful 30-yard touchdown pass from Dak Pescott to Michael Gallup. The defender seemed to give up on the play for a moment, but it doesn’t take anything away from what may be a glimpse of the future of the WR1 position in Dallas. Along the way, the team showed that the run game was still strong even without Ezekiel Elliott, as Prescott and Rod Smith combined for 41 yards rushing. Oh, and Dak left the game with a perfect 158.3 passer rating. Not a bad start. The starting defense had a good first series as well. They gave up a couple of first downs, both on third down completions by Jimmy Garappolo, but a tackle for a loss of six yards put the 49ers behind the sticks, and they got off the field. The flow to the ball was what you wanted to see, and Jaylon Smith looked particularly good. And Joe Thomas, filling in for Sean Lee, showed he was quite ready, notching three tackles on the way. Things were crisp on both sides of the ball to start the game for Dallas, but most of the starters exited the field after that. (Not all, however, as Connor Williams and the starters in the secondary stayed out there, and the wide receivers were rotated.) As generally happens, things were, shall we say, spotty from then on. But there were still a lot of things to take note of. One thing that became evident throughout the first half was the penetration of the defensive line. They were getting up field, and not just to chase the quarterback. There were multiple tackles behind the line. Antwaun Woods and Datone Jones were making their presence known, and Jihad Ward had a pass deflection. Brian Price would show up later chasing a screen pass down from behind. Suddenly the interior of the defensive line doesn’t look nearly as shaky. But the best play along the line may have come from Taco Charlton. On more than one play, he was chasing the QB and really disrupting things. And Dorance Armstrong also was making himself a pain for the opponents. Charles Tapper didn’t get in the game until the third quarter, but promptly came up with a fumble recovery. There were some encroachment penalties, but the actual play of the rushmen was very encouraging. In the battle of the backups, Cooper Rush had a bit of a rough start, but put together a nice drive in the second quarter. He hooked up with both Tavon Austin and Blake Jarwin on the drive. And Bo Scarbrough had a big 28 yard power run, where he broke through a tackle near the line and got rumbling downfield. He wound up capping the drive off with a hard fought run from inside the 1 yard line. Add in the fact he was being used in kick coverage, and he may be staking a solid claim to that last running back spot. That score put the Cowboys up 14-0, but it also had one of the more negative plays of the game, as rookie TE Dalton Shultz was driven back and almost wound up ruining the play. Anthony Brown also wound up drawing a couple of flags, including a pass interference call inside the two minute warning that set up a touchdown run to get the 49ers on the board. It was a breakdown in technique, as he appeared to be in perfect position to defend the pass, but never looked back for the ball. However, the dreaded helmet rule did not rear its head in the first half. That was something of a relief. It finally showed up late in the third quarter, and was called against the other guys, so it must not be such a bad thing after all, right? The defense also got turnovers, including when Kavon Frazier came on a blitz and went up to deflect the pass, which Joe Thomas grabbed. There have been a lot of questions about just what Dallas has for receivers, but during the first half that did not look like a problem at all. In addition to the Gallup TD, there were receptions by a lot of players, and one name that cropped up was Jamize Olawale. He has been touted as being much more of an offensive weapon than your average fullback, and it certainly looks like that is the plan. He was targeted twice, and caught both balls. One, however, was called back on a penalty. And Lance Lenoir had a toe-tap touchdown catch in the second half, plus he was back fielding punts, and looked to be doing well at it. That extra value on special teams just reinforces his case to make the 53 man roster. You expect to see a lot of different players get receptions in a preseason game, but there were at least eight players that are sure to make the roster that caught balls, a couple more who have a good shot, and the team did not have Cole Beasley or Deonte Thompson on the field. And the ball went to wide receivers, tight ends, running backs, and the fullback. The plan to spread the ball around seems alive and well.<doc-sep>Click HERE if you’re having trouble viewing the gallery on your mobile device. SANTA CLARA – Thursday’s exhibition opener provided the first clues as to who might make and miss the 49ers final cuts. Here’s a press-box evaluation from the 24-21 comeback win against the Dallas Cowboys: THREE STUDS 1. Linebacker Reuben Foster: Besieged by legal issues this offseason, linebacker Reuben Foster was a positive presence. His best play: leaping to make a one-handed breakup of a 20-yard pass intended for speedster Tavon Austin. Foster also broke down the 49ers pregame huddle, showing he’s the same, energetic leader he was last year as a rookie. 2. Wide receiver Richie James: He capped his pro debut with a 7-yard, go-ahead touchdown catch with 18 seconds remaining. Filling in as the starting slot receiver, he ran a crossing route to nab a 9-yard pass from Garoppolo on third-and-8 on the opening series. James, a seventh-round pick from Middle Tennessee state, later had a 21-yard catch into Cowboys territory on the 49ers’ only touchdown drive before halftime. “I just really have to give credit to Nick. That was a good ball,” James said of the touchdown. “It was in the right window. He did a really good job.” 3. Defensive tackle Jullian Taylor: A seventh-round pick and the last member of this year’s draft class, Taylor started at the “big end” spot, played well throughout and produced a fourth-quarter sack. “It’s refreshing,” Taylor said. “I’m taking everything in, and I’m out of words.” THREE DUDS 1. Cornerback Jimmie Ward: Richard Sherman’s temp did not have a stellar return to cornerback, having been switched last season to free safety. Ward got beat down the sideline for a 30-yard touchdown catch by a rookie (Michael Gallup) and later gave up a third-down conversion to a proven vet (Allen Hurns). Shanahan said it looked like Ward stopped his feet expecting a different route on the touchdown. 2. Linebacker Malcolm Smith: His long-awaited debut in a 49ers uniform lasted only six snaps. He hobbled off with a hamstring injury, adding to a medical chart that included a season-ending pectoral tear last training camp and a heel injury prior to this camp. Backups Elijah Lee and Korey Toomer didn’t fare too favorably after Smith and Foster exited.<doc-sep>Many preseason games are unwatchable, but the 49ers’ exhibition opener Thursday night at Levi’s Stadium was particularly hard to witness. At least it was for those in attendance eager to have the home team reach the regular season in one piece. In a 24-21 win over the Cowboys, the 49ers sustained notable losses: Six players, including four starters and two key backups, were lost to injuries in the first half. Those hurt included tight end George Kittle (shoulder), inside linebacker Malcolm Smith (hamstring), defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (concussion), backup running back Matt Breida (shoulder), outside linebacker Eli Harold (knee) and offensive tackle Garry Gilliam (concussion). Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo termed the rash of injuries “crazy.” “It’s what scares you about training camp; it’s what scares you about the preseason,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “You kind of just want the game to end when those things start happening because you want those guys when the season starts. But we also need to practice and get better. So it’s just something you have to deal with.” Of that group, Breida, the only player who didn’t exit to the locker room, was only briefly examined by the medical staff. And Harold briefly returned to game before he was forced to exit again. Shanahan said Kittle and Breida would miss “some time” and he didn’t expect them to practice next week or play when the 49ers visit Houston on Aug. 18. Kittle, whose strong training camp has suggested he’s ready to build on his promising 2017 rookie season, had his right shoulder examined on the sideline. He then headed to the locker room with his right arm pinned to his midsection. Kittle stayed on the ground for a few moments after he was hit trying to corral a deep pass over the middle from Garoppolo on the 49ers’ opening drive. For Smith, his hamstring injury was the latest medical setback of his brief 49ers tenure. After signing a five-year deal last year, Smith missed the 2017 season with a torn pectoral sustained early in training camp. After missing the first four training-camp practices this year with an unspecified lower leg injury, he said this week he was eager to see his first game action Thursday since January 2017 when he was with the Raiders. His long-awaited return was short-lived: Smith was injured on the game’s opening drive and was in the locker room by the time the Cowboys finished it with a touchdown. In his only series, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott directed a 75-yard march capped by a 30-yard pass to wideout Michael Gallup. On the score, Gallup beat cornerback Jimmie Ward, who was replacing Richard Sherman (hamstring), on a streak down the right sideline. As expected, most of the 49ers’ biggest names barely broke a sweat. ALSO: 49ers rookie DT Taylor finishes strong debut with flourish On offense, rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey and right guard Mike Person were the only starters to play after their nine-play first drive ended with a punt. Garoppolo completed 3 of 6 passes for 34 yards and running back Jerick McKinnon (three carries, minus-4 yards) received woeful run blocking. On defense, tackle DeForest Buckner, nose tackle Earl Mitchell and safety Jaquiski Tartt exited after one series. Many other starters played through the first quarter, including inside linebacker Reuben Foster, who sprinted about 20 yards downfield to break up a sideline pass to wideout Tavon Austin. Backup quarterback C.J. Beathard rebounded from a miserable start in which he completed 2 of 8 passes for 51 yards with an interception in the red zone. Beathard finished by completing 8 of 12 passes for 130 yards, including a 53-yard rainbow to rookie wideout Dante Pettis, who easily slipped behind the Cowboys’ coverage. With the 49ers trailing 21-16 at the two-minute warning, third-string QB Nick Mullens led a six-play, 77-yard drive he capped with a 7-yard pass to rookie wideout Richie James with 18 seconds left. Mullens added a two-point conversion pass to tight end Wes Saxton. Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @Eric_Branch<doc-sep>It happened. The Dallas Cowboys played a football game, and it was beautiful. The San Francisco 49ers edged out a win late, but as we all know scores and records don’t matter in the preseason. What’s important is what we saw from the team, and that’s what we’re here to discuss. We learned a lot about the Cowboys from tonight’s game. Here are 10 takeaways. Michael Gallup looks very promising off of a very small sample size If your first catch ever (even in preseason) is for a touchdown, you’ve got to be doing something right. Such was the case for Michael Gallup who caught a 30-yard pass from Dak Prescott for the first score of the evening. Gallup looked great on the opening drive and he would have had another big gain later on if Cooper Rush (we’ll get there) didn’t sail it over his head. The hype is justified for now. The first-team offense looked great as a whole There was no Ezekiel Elliott nor Cole Beasley for the Cowboys in San Francisco, but they still managed to move the ball quite smoothly on their opening drive. Over the course of the night Michael Gallup, Allen Hurns, and Tavon Austin all got work and even did so together for a bit. At one point early on Tavon and Gallup lined up outside with Hurns at the slot. Scott Linehan is feeling wild. Jaylon Smith might be really good It’s one preseason game and not even a whole contest for him, but Jaylon Smith honestly looked incredible in the limited action we saw him in on Thursday. Jaylon’s movement has been heralded by various Cowboys staffers over the offseason, the brace-less life must really be a good one. Jaylon flew around the 49ers offense early and often. He wasn’t the only Cowboys defender to play well, and he wasn’t even the only linebacker. The Cowboys might have known what they were doing getting Joe Thomas While there were, thankfully, a few good plays to choose from, the second quarter might have provided the most exciting play on the night for the Cowboys. Kavon Frazier tipped a pass and Joe Thomas dove to snatch it. Kavon Frazier with the tip, Joe Thomas with the interception! : @NFL pic.twitter.com/Fvoue2q3Lw — Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) August 10, 2018 Thomas had a great game all night long and is a welcome extra linebacker among the unit we’ve been discussing for a few weeks. He finished with five total tackles, one TFL, one pass defense and the INT, that’s quite a night. The defense looked great, especially the linebackers, in a game without Sean Lee. Think about that. Anthony Brown didn’t have his best game ever, and that’s okay Many have been dismayed about Anthony Brown being given slot duties over Jourdan Lewis and while Brown has justified that through training camp, he didn’t have his best game ever in San Francisco. Brown didn’t exactly play terribly, but he’s had better games. We know that talent is there, but we also know Jourdan Lewis is sitting behind him. Did Thursday open the door for more of a competition? We’ll have to wait and see. Cooper Rush struggled early, but he came back somewhat strong The first half was not too great for the second-year quarterback, but he settled into the game in the third quarter. Cooper has fought off Mike White so far through camp, and he really showed why in the third quarter. Cooper has an ability to adjust to games as he’s playing through them that can only be obtained by NFL experience, and he doesn’t have a lot of that. It’s a quality that makes him such a great option, and one that likely keeps him as the primary back up. He finished the game 15 of 23 for 145 yards, one TD and a 97.2 rating. Lance Lenoir should definitely be on the 53-man roster Part of what Cooper Rush did well was find Lance Lenoir for a score. He rolled right, launched on the run, and found a toe-dragging Lenoir near the out-of-bounds marker. Lenoir also got in some work on returns which plagued him a preseason ago; he didn’t set the world on fire but he did just fine. Lenoir is making the receiver position a much-debated one, but something that is almost universally agreed upon is that he should be a part of it. The third running back is going to be difficult to determine Even though Darius Jackson was listed ahead of him on the depth chart early in the week, Bo Scarbrough got the first level of work after Rod Smith. Bo made an awful lot out of his carries, including this big-time one. He’d go on to score on a nice short-yardage run later in the game, too. Scarbrough had nine carries for 33 yards and one TD, while catching two passes for 19 yards. There’s no denying that Bo looked good, but Darius Jackson came in later and looked great as well finishing with 21 yards on six carries. It’s hard to analyze the Cowboys running back group because of Tavon Austin and how exactly the Cowboys will qualify him, but for now the competition between Bo and Darius is close, but Scarbrough had the edge tonight Dorance Armstrong looked great yet again Perhaps the MVP of training camp so far has been rookie pass rusher Dorance Armstrong. Armstrong came out in San Francisco and cemented the fact that he’s changing jersey numbers because he’s making the 53-man roster and there’s no way he’s doing it as #74. He only had two tackles but was creating pressure and disruption. Dorance is a welcome find for the Cowboys along the defensive line, and the fact that he keeps impressing is extremely positive. He’s now doing it against the Cowboys offensive line and against other NFL competition. That’s impressive stuff. Turnovers might actually be a thing this season It was just one preseason game, but the Cowboys forced a hat trick of turnovers. Joe Thomas and Duke Thomas each had interceptions while Charles Tapper recovered a fumble.<doc-sep>

The first preseason game is in the books as the San Francisco 49ers defeated our beloved Dallas Cowboys 24-21 on Thursday night. We got a little taste of the starters with a good dose of action from the new guys. Despite the sloppiness that usually accompanies preseason ball, the offense didn’t turn the ball over (except for that last Hail Mary) and the team survived without any costly injuries. There was a lot to digest in game no. 1 and here are this week’s winners and losers. WINNERS Dak Prescott In typical Dak Prescott fashion, the Cowboys young quarterback followed up a very uninspiring training camp performance with some great play in preseason football. He only played in one series, but he made it count. He finished 3/3 for 39 yards and a touchdown. He also took off and ran once for 12 yards, helping the offense keep the chains moving. The preseason marvel continues. In 2016, Dak completed 78% of his passes and had a 137.8 passer rating. Last year, he improved to 82% and 138.4 passer rating. He’s off to a good start, completing 100% of his passes with a perfect 158.3 passer rating. Joe Thomas The free agent linebacker was all over the field last night. He finished the game with five tackles (three solo), including one behind the line of scrimmage. He also had one pass break-up as well as being the benefactor of Kavon Frazier’s tipped pass where Thomas was able to come down with the interception. He was brought to Dallas to give them a solid coverage linebacker and so far, he’s as good as advertised. Michael Gallup What a great start for the Cowboys rookie wide receiver. On the game’s first drive, Gallup would catch a 30-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott. It was his only catch of the night, however, it shouldn’t have been. Gallup would also beat his man deep, but unfortunately Cooper Rush was way short on his throw, allowing the defender to catch up to Gallup. A good throw and the rookie is off to the races. Bo Scarbrough Fans got a good look at what a tired defense looks like when they try to arm tackle Scarbrough as the rookie running back got loose for a 28-yard run to set up the offense inside the red zone. Scarbrough got plenty of chances to show his skill as he carried the ball nine times for a total of 33 yards (3.7 yards per carry). While he didn’t have a lot room to run at times, he would power his way in short-yardage situations. He scored a touchdown at the goal line and could’ve had another one in the second half had he not slipped. But more than just his thumping running style, Scarbrough demonstrated that he can be an asset in the passing game, hauling in two catches for 19 yards. Lance Lenoir With each new day, there becomes more and more to love about this “long-shot” receiver. And Thursday’s game was no exception as Lenoir would come down with a nice toe-drag touchdown pass to help the team go up 21-10 in the third quarter. Not only is he playing his way on to the team, but I’m to the point where I’m looking forward to what type of plays he’s going to make in the regular season. The guy has worked so hard and the amount of improvement he’s shown this season is commendable. Sign up for the newsletter Rise ’n Grind Want NFL news and interesting links in your inbox every weekday morning? Rise ’n grind with us. Email (required) By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice and European users agree to the data transfer policy. Subscribe LOSERS The Corners The 49ers receiving group shouldn’t cause defenses a lot of problems, but the Cowboys young corners found themselves out of position a few times. Chidobe Awuzie surrendered a couple receptions that resulted in first downs. Anthony Brown got called for a pass interference penalty that set up a 49ers touchdown. And Jourdan Lewis got beat deep for the longest reception of the game. And the depth guys completely collapsed, allowing the 49ers to charge down the field and score two touchdowns in the final five minutes of the game. I had no idea who 49ers’ 8th-string quarterback Nate Mullins was before tonight and I would have preferred to have kept it that way.

Best answer: Battery life on the Core i5 model is substantially better than the last Surface Pro while also running cooler. Significant improvement on the previous model During the course of our Surface Pro 6 review battery life was one of the key metrics we benchmarked. Using the PC Mark 8 Home Battery test, the Surface Pro 6 came away with a score of 5 hours and 25 minutes. The Core i5 2017 model Surface Pro, by comparison, scored only 4 hours and 30 minutes. Not only is the Surface Pro 6 better, it's significantly better, with more than 20 percent longer life. Don't be alarmed by the benchmark It's easy to look at the figures above and be a little alarmed. But you shouldn't be. The PC Mark test is designed to leverage both the CPU and GPU, and so it will always come out lower than you'd expect to see in day to day life. Indeed, more regular computing, such as web browsing, media consumption and work inside apps like Microsoft Office will yield a much stronger battery life. What can be taken away, though, is that you can expect at least one hour more from the Surface Pro 6 over the older model.<doc-sep>Microsoft’s Surface Pro has long been the flagship of the company’s increasingly diverse range of Surface hardware. It’s the tablet that can also be a laptop, and the byproduct of refinement since the original Surface RT that launched six years ago. When you think of Surface, you immediately think of Surface Pro. It’s the most popular Surface device and Apple, Google, HP, Dell, and Lenovo have all copied elements of the Surface Pro. While Microsoft ditched its numbering scheme for the Surface Pro last year, this time the number is back. The numbers you really need to care about this year are: it’s a Surface Pro 6, there’s 8GB RAM by default inside, it has 8th Gen quad-core Intel processors, and it’s now available in #000000 (black). Aside from these important digits, the Surface Pro 6 looks a lot like the Surface Pro from last year. If you sat a Surface Pro 4, Surface Pro 5 (let’s just call it that), and Surface Pro 6 down together side by side it would be difficult to tell them apart. The big new change this year is a matte black finish, but that doesn’t mask the fact Microsoft has kept the same design for three generations and the same dated selection of ports as the Pro 3 from four years ago. This is a relatively minor refresh of the Surface Pro, and it’s probably time for Microsoft to overhaul this tablet / laptop hybrid with more modern hardware and ports. The new Surface Pro 6 starts at $899 with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. That’s a $100 price increase from the base model of last year’s Surface Pro, but you’re getting a better processor and more RAM for that extra cash as there’s no Core m3 option this time around (at least not at launch). For most people, the base model should be enough thanks to the RAM improvement and cloud storage, but if you want the new matte black option then it’s only available on the $1,199 model with 256GB of storage. I’ve been testing the matte black Surface Pro 6 with a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. The color and the additional storage might be enough to tempt you to spend the extra $200 here, but don’t forget that you’ll have to pay at least $129.99 for a Surface Type Cover. Without this keyboard the Surface Pro 6 is just a tablet (and not a very good tablet, at that). Microsoft also sells covers with Alcantara fabric for $159.99, but the company strangely doesn’t have a black Alcantara version to match its new hardware. Instead, you’ll have to opt for blue, red, or silver keyboards if you want the soft-touch Alcantara. A matching black Surface Pen is also available for $99. Either way, you’re looking at spending at least $1,030 to get a Surface Pro 6 with a keyboard. The Surface Pro 6 looks and feels the same as last year’s model Microsoft’s hardware choices on the Surface Pro 6 are largely identical to last year. There’s the same 12.3-inch PixelSense display, same cameras, and same port selection. Despite both the Surface Book 2 and Surface Go now offering USB-C ports, Microsoft has kept the ancient Mini DisplayPort, a single USB 3.0 port, a microSD card reader, and Surface Connector for charging. There’s no USB-C here, and no ThunderBolt 3 support. That means you can’t charge your phone with the same charger as the Surface Pro 6, and you can’t connect an external GPU to transform it into a gaming rig. Other PC makers have embraced ThunderBolt 3 even across Surface competitors, and Microsoft’s disappointing port selection is now in desperate need of an overhaul. The only external design change is the new matte black finish. I like it a lot, and paired with a burgundy Type Cover it’s a great looking device. Microsoft thankfully went for matte over glossy for the finish, so I haven’t noticed it picking up ugly fingerprint marks or stains. I just wish the black Type Cover was Alcantara, too. Fortunately, Microsoft has tweaked the internals of the Surface Pro 6 to compensate for the lack of external hardware changes. Inside, there’s 8th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, and they’re the latest quad-core variants. During my testing, I didn’t notice huge performance boosts for regular tasks, but I did notice the Surface Pro 6 felt a lot more snappier than the previous model for launching apps and multitasking. I’m impressed that Microsoft managed to squeeze an Intel Core i7-8650U processor inside a relatively silent machine. I never noticed the fans spin up during my testing. Surface Pro 6 specs Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD: $899 Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: $1,199 Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: $1,899 Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD: $2,299 Accessories Surface Pro Type Cover (black): $129 Surface Pro Signature Type Cover (Alcantara, red, blue, or silver): $159 Surface Pen: $99 Battery life has also been solid. I’ve averaged around eight hours of battery life for my daily workload of browsing on Chrome with around 10 desktop apps also running. That’s not the 13.5 hours of battery life that Microsoft claims, but that’s based on local video playback and it’s not how most people will use this device. The battery life will be enough for a day of work, or to play Netflix videos and some games. Like most Surface Pro devices, you won’t be playing high-end games on this due to the built-in Intel graphics, but casual games from the Microsoft Store will run just fine. One particular change Microsoft has also made to Windows 10 with the Surface Pro 6 is that it’s now the Home edition of the operating system, rather than the Pro version. If you need the features in the Pro version, like BitLocker encryption and Remote Desktop, then you’ll need to pay to upgrade to it. The Surface Pro needs a refresh with modern ports<doc-sep>Following the release of a new Microsoft device, the inevitable teardown has arrived from iFixit – and the verdict on the Surface Pro 6 is predictably not good, with the hybrid scoring just 1/10 for repairability. As ever, one of the main criticisms dragging down that score is the liberal use of glue, and the fact that any repair necessitates the removal of the display assembly first – and that is ‘stubbornly’ glued in place, and could be prone to shattering as it’s prized out. The battery is also firmly glued into the device, and its connector is underneath the motherboard, meaning any technician will be looking at a lot of work – a “near total disassembly“ in iFixit’s words – if it needs attention. Incidentally, the quad-cell battery is the same capacity as last year’s model at 45Wh (we noted in our hands-on Surface Pro 6 review that the claimed battery life remains the same as its predecessor, at 13.5 hours). Same old story The Surface Pro 6 also comes under fire for not having removable storage, and iFixit concludes that, overall, the complex construction of the hybrid makes any repair work very fiddly compared to other tablets, and the device is “just as un-upgradable and un-repairable as ever”. So yes, there are no real surprises in the low score, with Microsoft’s hardware traditionally doing very poorly in terms of these repairability ratings. And if you think a score of 1/10 is bad, then other Surface products have actually done worse, with the original Surface Laptop managing to achieve an impressive 0/10 in its teardown. The recent Surface Go also only hit 1/10, with Microsoft again criticized for the overuse of glue in securing the various components inside the tablet, and for the fact that replacing any part again necessitates the removal of the display, a tricky task. Microsoft isn’t the only repairability offender, mind you, with Apple’s tablets also traditionally scoring badly when it comes to iFixit’s ratings. One of the main compromises in the construction of these sort of thin-and-sleek premium devices is the trampling over any possibility of easy (or DIY) repairs.<doc-sep>The changing face of Microsoft's Surface Pro tablet Watch Now Microsoft has rolled out a new Battery Limit feature for Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4 devices to help give their lithium-ion batteries a longer life. The new feature is available in UEFI firmware updates for the two devices, and once Battery Limit is enabled, the battery will only charge to 50 percent of its maximum capacity. If a device is already charged beyond 50 percent and then plugged in with Battery Limited enabled, the battery will discharge until it reaches 50 percent. For now, the update is only available for the Surface Pro 3 and Pro 4, but future firmware updates with Battery Limit will be made available for the Surface 3, Surface Book, Surface Laptop, Surface Pro Model 1796 and Surface Pro with Advanced LTE Model 1807, Surface Book 2, and Surface Go, according to this support document. It's a feature that many Surface owners may probably never use. As Microsoft notes, the feature is aimed at devices that are plugged in for extended periods of time, and points specifically to cases when the Surface is part of a kiosk setup, meaning they're probably rarely used in an unplugged state. SEE: 20 pro tips to make Windows 10 work the way you want (free PDF) "Battery Limit option is a UEFI setting that changes how the Surface device battery is charged and may prolong its longevity," Microsoft notes in a page about Battery Limit. "This setting is recommended in cases in which the device is continuously connected to power, for example when devices are integrated into kiosk solutions." As it is a Surface EUFI feature, Battery Limit needs to be configured by booting into Surface UEFI by pressing the Power and Volume Up buttons when switching on the device. On a Surface Pro 4 it can be toggled on within Advanced Options after choosing boot configuration. On a Surface Pro 3, after booting into Surface UEFI, users need to select Kiosk Mode and then select Battery Limit enabled. Previous and related coverage Microsoft will sell consumer and business versions of Surface Pro 6, Laptop 2 Microsoft is making available different consumer and business versions of its newly announced Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2. Microsoft's refreshed Surface Pro, Laptop and Studio: New specs, pricing, availability Microsoft is rolling out its Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2 and Surface Studio 2 this fall. Here's what to expect. Windows 10 mobile desktop: Transform your Surface Pro with this portable stand You can now add desktop mode to your Surface Pro with this carbon-fiber kickstand add-on. Microsoft to replace for free Surface Pro 4s with screen-flicker problems Microsoft is instituting a Surface Pro 4 replacement and warranty-refund program for those with continued screen-flickering issues. New Surface Pro models available: $999 for Core i5, $1,449 with built-in LTE Microsoft is now selling the Surface Pro with LTE Advanced and a new Surface Pro Core i5 model with 8GB of RAM via its store. Extend your mobile battery life with Windows 10's Battery Saver TechRepublic Windows 10 offers a new feature to help you monitor and conserve your mobile device batteries. This rundown explains how it works. Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2, Surface Studio 2 and Surface Headphones: Everything Microsoft just announced CNET Plus: Windows 10 October 2018 Update is now available.<doc-sep>

Microsoft's first crack at a dedicated notebook nailed the most important aspects of any thin and light laptop with a class leading battery life, excellent keyboard and the most responsive Windows touchpad in the business. However, its clean design aesthetic along with unique touches such as the use of alcantara fabric material and speakers that emanate punchy sound from beneath the keyboard are what really set the Surface Laptop apart, and the design remains unchanged for the sequel. The Surface Laptop 2 is virtually identical to last year's model on the outside, except for its new colour option. Aside from an all new jet-black matte finish, most of the changes this year are under the hood. Considering Microsoft largely knocked it out of the park with their predecessors last year, an iterative upgrade isn't necessarily a bad thing. At the same time, competition from the likes of Dell, HP, Lenovo and newcomer Huawei has increased significantly this year. So has Microsoft done enough with this year's models to ward off the competition? Fresh from breaking into the top five PC makers in the US for the first time, Microsoft's hardware division is looking to continue its momentum with the release of the Surface Laptop 2 and Surface Pro 6. The new matte black colour option which we reviewed looks really nice, and details such as the way the dark finish extends all the way to the inside of the ports shows how much attention Microsoft is paying to design. There are a couple of caveats to the black model that are worth noting. For one, it is not as resistant to fingerprints as lighter colours and we also found that, during testing, any kind of contact with hard material has a high chance of leaving some sort of scratch or mark which is all the more noticeable on a dark finish like this. You may have to pay a small premium for the new black colour as well; on Microsoft’s Australian site at least, the least expensive black Laptop seems to be the $1999 model with 256GB storage, not the starter 128GB model at $1499. At least the silver, red and blue colour options from last year all make a return so there's no shortage of colours to choose from. Careful not to scratch the finish. Microsoft has done some optimisation work with the instant-on feature, so lifting the lid of the Surface Laptop 2 and logging in via Windows Hello feels, well, instant. This is a benefit you don't get from a 2-in-1 like the Surface Pro 6, which performs more like a tablet where you need to physically tap the power button for it to wake up from sleep before you can get going. The biggest change here is the bump up from Intel's 7th generation dual-core processors to 8th-gen quad-core which, in our Geekbench tests, almost double the performance in multi-threaded applications. Single core performance remains largely the same. This means that while you won't see any improvement in basic day-to-day tasks such as web browsing, checking email and social media, performing more taxing duties such as photo or video editing will feel much snappier.

NEW YORK — The Mets tend to be synonymous with the words “chaos” and bizarre” at times. One of those times was Saturday at Yankee Stadium when chaos took center stage in a bizarre Subway Series game. The Yankees came out on top in a 7-6 win to even the series. Sonny Gray (7-7) was granted a temporary reprieve from his 2018 slide when he limited the Mets to three runs (two earned) over 5 1/3 innings, earning his second win in a row, but the focus was less on Gray and the Yankees and more on the visitors' side. The forecast didn’t call for a storm system until about 5 p.m., but it’s impossible to forecast the Mets. A walking storm all on their own, this one hit about 10:30 a.m., when manager Mickey Callaway gave a pregame press conference that SNY broadcaster and former Mets great Ron Darling said was the most uncomfortable he had ever been in. The story continues below the gallery. It only got worse once the game started and his hitting coach and designated hitter were ejected, his starting pitcher lit up and his center fielder unable to field. After going down 4-1 in the fourth, the Mets scored twice in the sixth to make it 4-3 and chased Gray from the game, but the Yankees scored in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Aroldis Chapman gave the Mets a chance when he melted down in the ninth inning. He failed to get an out, walking in a run and hitting Brandon Nimmo with the bases loaded to make it 7-5. Chasen Shreve got Devin Mesoraco to ground into a run-scoring double play. Down to their last out, Wilmer Flores hit a slow roller to Shreve to end the game. "I just think it's one of those hiccups that happen over the course of the year," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Chapman. "We'll certainly check with him and monitor him closely." The Mets had a 1-0 lead after Michael Conforto led off the second inning with a home run off Gray, but it was brief. At the end of the third, hitting coach Pat Roessler was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Larry Vanover. A big fourth inning by the Yankees did in Steven Matz and the Mets and the Yankees went up 4-1. Frustrations boiled over for the visitors in the fifth and Asdrubal Cabrera was tossed after striking out to end the inning. Cabrera wanted a checked swing. The umpires wanted him out of the game. "They’re grown men," Callaway said. "They had to say what they had to say and do what they had to do. I think they’re just fighting to try to win a game." With Jeurys Familia on his way out the door to Oakland and Yoenis Cespedes in a standoff with the organization regarding heel surgery, Mesoraco took his spot in the lineup as the designated hitter, sparing any further chaos. Den Dekker The fourth inning was where the game was won for the Yankees and lost for the Mets. The ultra-deep Yankees’ lineup smoked balls off Matz and sent them to center, where Matt den Dekker misplayed three of them. With one on and one out, Didi Gregorius tripled past two diving outfielders, den Dekker and Brandon Nimmo in right field to score Giancarlo Stanton and tie the game at 1. Den Dekker got a bad read and took an even worse route. "I thought the angle just didn't do him any favors," Callaway said. "And all the running around kind of took its toll, I think, especially on that last one. He was trying to come in on that blooper and just didn't quite get to it." Miguel Andujar's ground-rule double to right field was caught by a fan and the Yankees scored one more. Greg Bird then hit one over den Dekker's head and two batters later, den Dekker came up short in pursuit of shallow hit by Austin Romine. The reserve center fielder, up from Triple-A because of injuries to Cespedes and Juan Lagares, also went 0-for-3 at the plate to extend his hitless streak to 17 at-bats. Matz The Mets lefty was dealt his third straight loss, allowing five earned runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out three. More:Mets deal Jeurys Familia to Oakland for pair of prospects Yankees:NY Yankees bring up Domingo Acevedo while NY Mets can't make roster decision Popper:Yoenis Cespedes saga goes south again on Mets Gray skies Lost in the Mets' drama was the performances of Gray and Shreve, two pitchers the Yankees would not only like to see get on track in the second half of the season but need to see get on track. Gray kept the Mets at bay while Shreve picked up Chapman in a big way. “I thought he was in a pretty good rhythm early and he made some pretty good pitches. I didn’t think he was necessarily great today but that’s the encouraging outing you want to see," Boone said. "When Sonny isn’t at his best, he should still go out and pitch like he did today into the sixth inning. He was probably a pitch or two from getting through six innings unscathed.” More Mets and Yankees news Yankees:Domingo German exposes Yankees' rotation needs in narrow loss to the Mets Sports:Yoenis Cespedes returns with home run to help NY Mets beat Yankees Popper:Noah Syndergaard focused on health, not trades in Brooklyn test<doc-sep>Cespedes (heel) is out of the lineup for the second straight game Monday against the Padres. Cespedes returned from a hip injury Friday but was held out of Saturday's game after revealing that he may need surgery to deal with calcification in his heels. He was not in Sunday's lineup either, though that game ended up being rained out. He is expected to visit a specialist early this week, at which point a clearer timeline should emerge.<doc-sep>

Al Bello/Getty Images It was just a couple of weeks ago that New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman was named to his fifth All-Star team, but playing in the Bronx means he lives in a "What have you done for me lately?" world. If he didn't know that before this weekend, he certainly does now. Chapman entered Saturday's game against the New York Mets with a four-run lead in the ninth. He faced a total of five batters, throwing 19 pitches, with only three finding the strike zone. His final line? 0.0 innings pitched, one hit, three walks, one hit by pitch and three runs allowed. That ugly outing led to him getting booed off the mound. For as many strikeouts as the hard-throwing southpaw piles up, he has always been prone to wildness. He has walked 4.0 batters per nine frames in his career and now has 19 in 40 innings this season. Chapman pulled out of Tuesday's All-Star game due to tendinitis in his left knee. Rather than blame the injury for his struggles, the 30-year-old called it "just a bad day," via the Yes Network: Video Play Button Videos you might like After all, he entered the day with a 1.35 ERA, a 0.825 WHIP and 26 saves in 27 opportunities. He had not allowed a run since July 1. As a result of his latest outing, his earned run average ballooned above 2.00 (2.03, to be exact) for the first time since April. Fortunately for Chapman, Chasen Shreve was able to come in and save the day for the Yankees on Saturday, closing the door on a 7-6 victory. That helped minimize the impact of the rough outing. Yankees manager Aaron Boone will need to keep an eye on Chapman for the time being. While it was only an exhibition that the reliever missed because of the knee injury, this was his first outing of the second half. If the Yankees are going to raise banner No. 28, having their shutdown closer healthy and effective will be key. New York (63-34) currently sits five games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, but it also has an 8.5-game lead in the wild-card race. That means the Yankees could take a cautious approach if it means getting Chapman healthy, should his struggles continue.

Notch, teardrop, hole-punch; there are loads of smartphone designs in 2019, but very few of them boast a true all-screen design. Enter the Samsung A80, whose display takes up the whole face of the phone. But that doesn’t mean there’s no front-facing camera. In a novel (literal) twist, the top of the phone raises up when it’s selfie-time, and the rear camera module turns 180-degrees to face you. This means that you get to retain 100 per cent of phone screen real estate, plus you get the same lens that you use to take landscape shots for livestreams and video calls. Otherwise, the A80 is packed with the sort of tech we’re coming to expect from a mid-ranger: an AMOLED display, in-screen fingerprint reader and 3D depth camera for bokeh photos and video. Is there anything in this single, rotating camera module lark? Or is it just a gimmick? We went hands on to find out.<doc-sep>Samsung has taken the wraps off its brand-new Galaxy A80 – not the A90 as many thought. It's the first Galaxy smartphone with a truly all-screen design, enabled by a very innovative camera system. Samsung has gradually been shrinking the size of the bezels around its screens throughout the last year, starting with the thinner borders on the Galaxy S9, followed by the hole-pinch Infinity-O design on the Galaxy A8s and Galaxy S10 range. This, however, is a step up again. The 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED screen on the Galaxy A80 covers the entire front of the handset. Samsung says there are 'no distractions' when you watch video, look through photos, or run multiple apps simultaneously – which seems like a bit of a kick in the teeth if you've recently splurged on an S10, especially the pricier Galaxy S10 Plus which has a bigger, more unsightly, pill-shaped cut-out for the dual front-facing selfie cameras. The A80's display isn't even interrupted by a speaker grill, since the sound is emitted through the glass itself. Rival Huawei used the same technique in its flagship P30 Pro. When it comes to the front-facing camera, the element that typically takes up the most space in the notch or hole-punch on the front of a smartphone, Samsung has a genuinely unique solution. The Galaxy A80 slides down to reveal a separate drawer behind the screen, but rather than housing a separate selfie set-up like we've seen on the likes of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 and Honor Magic 2, Samsung simply rotates the rear-mounted camera system, so you get the fully-featured array pointed straight at your visage. That means you're able to use a number of features that, until now, were reserved solely for the rear-mounted camera, including ultra-wide angle shots, an LED flash, OIS video capture, and the depth-effect Live Focus image. You'll also be able to enable this bokeh-style blur to the background of videos with the Galaxy A80 – a feature we first heard about for the Galaxy S10 5G, something we had thought would be exclusive to this handset, which has six cameras to enable this effect on the front- and rear-mounted cameras. The rear-cum-front-facing camera array on the Galaxy A80 is made-up of a 48MP main camera, coupled with a 3D Depth camera that offers Live Focus videos by scanning objects for measurement and depth. There's also an 8MP camera with an ultra-wide lens with 'the same viewing angle as the human eye' – so you shouldn't miss anything out of the viewfinder that you're able to see when framing up your shot. From left to right: First image shows the front of the Galaxy A80 with the camera facing backward, second image shows the back of the A80 with the camera facing backwards, and then facing forwards with the sliding drawer extended in the final image Samsung is committed to offering the highest possible screen-to-body ratio. Until now, we thought its Infinity-O display design, as seen on the S10e, S10 and S10 Plus, was the best way of reaching that goal – at least until it manages to seamlessly embed the selfie cameras beneath the screen, something it has previously revealed will take at least another two years to achieve. However, it's possible the Galaxy A80 is the first glimpse at the design we can expect to see roll out to the next batch of flagship smartphones from Samsung. If you're wondering why Samsung would unveil the latest and greatest innovations to its mid-range handsets before the priciest devices in its portfolio, it's because Samsung mobile chief DJ Koh believes this is the key to keeping ahead of the intensifying competition from the likes of Huawei and Xiaomi. Mobile division boss DJ Koh has previously said: 'In the past, I brought the new technology and differentiation to the flagship model and then moved to the mid-end. But I have changed my strategy from this year to bring technology and differentiation points starting from the mid-end.' Elsewhere, the Galaxy A80 has a 3,700mAh battery that works with fast wired charging at 25W, which should mean you don't have to be tethered to the wall socket for too long when the smartphone finally runs out of juice. Samsung says it has built-in an intelligent battery system into the A80 that learns your daily routine and app usage patterns to optimise power consumption too. Unfortunately, there's no 3.5mm headphone port here, so you'll be forced to use a USB-C wired headphones, Bluetooth, or a 3.5mm-to-USB-C dongle. There's also no expandable storage via microSD card – a staple on most other Galaxy handsets – so make sure you buy the correct amount of storage, as you can't increase it later on after you've snapped a few hundred high-resolution selfies with that stellar camera. The Galaxy A80 is available in three colour finishes: Angel Gold, Ghost White and Phantom Black. The Angel Gold colour includes elements of pink, while the Ghost White option has a few shades of blue hidden in there. Like the P30 series, these graduated finishes really only sparkle and reveal all their shades in direct sunlight. 'Consumers are at the centre of everything we do and they search for devices personalised to their specific lifestyle. Armed with our expertise, global capabilities and rich consumer insights, Samsung is uniquely positioned to provide innovations for everyone,' added DJ Koh who sadly, despite a lot of musical performances at the A80 launch, did not at any point do any DJing. 'The Galaxy A Series provides a range of models so everyone can choose a device that fits their unique needs and enables them to pursue their passions. The Galaxy A80 offers premium features for digital natives who want to fully engage in the Era of Live.' • The Galaxy A80 will launch on May 29, 2019. There's no word on UK pricing or pre-orders just yet but stay tuned…<doc-sep>Not a fan of the Galaxy S10's Infinity-O display and hole punch treatment for the front-facing camera? Tired of notches and other obstructions impeding your screen real estate? Then does Samsung have a phone for you. It's called the Galaxy A80, and rather than utilizing a pop-out selfie camera or one module of lenses that flips around to capture forward- and backward-facing images, the A80 combines both mechanisms for what is undoubtedly the most wild imaging setup — in terms of mechanics, anyway — that we've ever seen. First, the cameras slide out from the top, in a style similar to Oppo's Find X. But then, within that panel, the phone's trio of lenses — one of which captures 48 MP, and another being a depth-aware time-of-flight sensor — actually flips around, so it can take photos in either direction. Personally, while I appreciate Samsung's willingness to take design risks, I think the A80's mechanism is a silly, over-engineered and failure-prone solution to a perceived problem that most people either don't care about, or can live with. That said, even I can recognize that there are certainly functional purposes for this approach. The advantages here, beyond the lack of a notch of hole-punch front-facing camera, is that the A80 gets to leverage the very same cameras it uses for the back as it does for selfies. And that's a huge benefit, because practically all phone makers downgrade the front sensor in relation to the ones on the back in an effort to keep costs down and save space. If you're not familiar with Samsung's Galaxy A-series products, these are the firm's midrange handsets that are sold selectively in certain parts of the world. In fact, out of last year's big batch of A-series phones, Samsung only brought the relatively uninspiring Galaxy A6 to the U.S., while customers elsewhere received much more exciting options, like the quad lens-toting Galaxy A9. In recent years, Samsung has elected to use the top of the A-series range as its testbed for innovations. The Infinity-O display actually premiered in the Galaxy A8, even though many more customers likely encountered it first in the recently-released Galaxy S10 line. And although the A80's cameras almost assuredly won't be able to capture the same quality of images as the S10 family, it does give Samsung an opportunity to experiment in terms of design and packaging. MORE: Galaxy S10 Plus vs. S10 vs. S10e: Which Should You Buy? Cameras aside, the Galaxy A80 boasts a gigantic 6.7-inch, full-HD+ AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. That panel is backed by a generous 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, along with a respectably-sized 3,700-mAh battery. The A80 is scheduled to launch May 29, alongside the Galaxy A10, A20, A30, A50 and A70 (told you the A-series was a big family). At this moment, it's still unclear how much the device will cost or where it will be sold. Credit: Samsung<doc-sep>

The Samsung Galaxy A80 is the perfect embodiment of the new “Era of Live” design philosophy for the revamped A-series. It does that with a motorized pop-up and a spring-loaded rotate mechanism that turn the rear camera to face forward for your selfie needs. This phone promises to deliver the best quality selfie photos and videos. To do that, the Galaxy A80 brings the highest resolution sensor of any Galaxy phone – a 48MP module with an f/2.0 lens. It features the Super Steady mode from the Galaxy S10 for videos. You see, the “Era of Live” leaves static selfie photos behind and moves towards videos, which could be streamed to a global crowd. Samsung Galaxy A80 in Angel Gold This module is joined by an 8MP ultra-wide angle camera with 123° field of video. It allows you to get more of your friends into the shot (even at arm’s length). The third module is a 3D ToF sensor, which enables Live Focus for shots and even videos (it simulates a shallow depth of field, which you control with a single tap). Samsung Galaxy A80 in Ghost White The way that the camera tucks behind the back means that there’s no need for a notch or a hole. The roomy 6.7” Super AMOLED screen is completely unblemished. It has 1,080 x 2,400px resolution and an in-display fingerprint reader. Samsung Galaxy A80 in Phantom Black The Samsung Galaxy A80 is built on a metal frame with curved glass on either side. It packs a 3,700mAh battery with 25W Super Fast Charging (like the A70 there’s no wireless charging). The phone comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There are no higher capacity options and no microSD slot either. The phone will run Android 9 Pie with One UI out of the box. The Galaxy A80 will be available in three colors; Phantom Black, Angel Gold and Ghost White. The latter two change slightly depending on how light reflects off them, bringing in a touch of pink and blue, respectively. Samsung Galaxy A80 color options The Samsung Galaxy A80 will cost €649 ($730) and will go on sale starting May 29.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the NBA regular season nears an end, the Cleveland Cavaliers are right where pretty much everybody expected them to be without LeBron James — out of the playoff picture, which is also where LeBron’s new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, will finish. While the Cavs’ finish was expected, the Lakers’ finish was a bit of a surprise, especially after they rose as high as No. 4 in the Western Conference and destroyed Golden State on Christmas. The same game a groin injury to LeBron started a slide from which the team did not recover. Even when James returned from the injury, the Lakers’ young guys were in a funk over a botched trade attempt for New Orleans’ super star Anthony Davis, in which virtually everybody but LeBron was considered trade bait. The Cavs have had their problems without LeBron, but they haven’t been quite the wreck the Lakers have been this season. Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com.<doc-sep>And it appears he will soon have to stomach that it’s going on his ledger in the most permanent ink that he was unable to bring a halt to the longest postseason drought in Lakers history — barring an unforeseen resurrection from a fractured group that sits four and a half games out of a Western Conference playoff berth with 19 games to go. No matter how much culpability you wish to assign James for what is poised to go down as the Lakers’ franchise-record sixth successive trip to the draft lottery, he’s going to have to own this as much as the front-office tandem of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka as well as the under-fire coach Luke Walton. The LeBron Way, for years and years, has worked something like this: He inevitably gets most of the credit when his team flourishes; his teammates absorb the bulk of the blame when things unravel. But this is different. This would be the jarring sight of James, fresh off his eighth consecutive finals appearance, actually missing out on the N.B.A. postseason for the first time since his second professional season in 2004-5, when he was just 20. Even though he can rightly point to his recent groin strain as the biggest standings-altering disruption these Lakers have endured, James surely understands that his maiden campaign in Los Angeles is bound to be recorded in many precincts as a failure to make the playoffs that belongs to him.<doc-sep>Back in July, the NBA seemed to have struck gold, as LeBron James — the most famous athlete in North America and maybe the world — joined the league’s premier franchise in the entertainment capital of the world at or near the peak of his powers. The NBA should have retweeted the news with a money bag emoji. Alas. The Lakers’ post-Kobe malaise was stronger than an aging LeBron’s ability to extract LA from mediocrity. LA fell out of the playoff race in February and found itself eliminated in March. Not only is the NBA left with a moribund Lakers franchise, but for the first time in a long time, the league will have a postseason without its bigger star. To be sure, this is an absolute disaster for the league, the Lakers, and LeBron. James, for his part, came to LA to give his young family everything they desired and to build his second act as an entertainment mogul. Space Jam 2 is coming. LeBron’s Spring Hill Entertainment is producing projects left and right. Bronny James will possibly be the most famous high school player since his dad. But LA was also about returning glory to a storied, but broken franchise. It was about growing James’ personal legend in an already legendary jersey, joining the pantheon of Mikan, Baylor, West, Kareem, Magic, Van Exel, Shaq, and, yes, Kobe. It was about bashing up against the Warriors from another angle, maybe with another star partner. It wasn’t about winning 35 games and being on a beach by Easter. LeBron’s status as a Lakers legend is currently somewhere between Karl Malone and Gary Payton. This is a nightmare. No one needs to explain why this is such a dark twist for the Lakers, who can’t seem to climb out of a pit of their own making. They finally recruited a major free agent — the biggest free agent of all! — and this is the result. It’s like saving up for years to afford a new car and smashing it on the way home. What an incredible letdown. As for the NBA, not only did it not get to see the full potential of a star as bright as LeBron under lights as bright as they are for the Lakers in LA, but the league now doesn’t even get its biggest star in the playoffs at all. The Eastern Conference playoffs haven’t always been super compelling in the past decade and a half, but the league could always sell fans and casual viewers on the presence of LeBron. Just watch, and you could be a witness to something glorious. That promise will be unfulfilled this spring. In fact, if the ratings go sour through the playoffs, this could show the NBA the perils of relying on one star for so much. It shouldn’t be lost on anyone that this league suffered mightily when Michael Jordan retired for the second time after the 1997-98 season. So much of the league’s success in the ‘90s was wrapped up in Jordan and the Bulls’ dominance. When that ended, the league (and the one shoe company so heavily intertwined with the league, Jordan, and, not coincidentally, LeBron) didn’t really have a quick pivot in their arsenal. The NBA has other exciting superstars to put on a pedestal. Many of those exciting superstars will be in the playoffs. Perhaps this postseason without LeBron can be — instead of a drag on profits — an opportunity to continue to build up the next LeBrons. Giannis Antetokounmpo, given his incredible talent, shocking physicality, and golden personality, seems to be the obvious successor for LeBron’s Golden Boy of the NBA title. Giannis plays for the East’s top-seeded Bucks, a team without a ton of recent success, but one with a fairly storied history in the earlier decades of the league. Antetokounmpo has a global fan base, and he’s much like LeBron in the sense that he has captured the hearts of the casual fans who experience him as well as the hardcore basketball fanatics. Like LeBron, Giannis is for everyone (except the haters in Boston or Philly). The NBA put Giannis and the Bucks on Christmas Day ... in the noon game against the Knicks. If Giannis is the next LeBron in a marketing sense, the league needs to make marketing him a bigger priority. That can start now in the LeBron vacuum, with the Bucks looking like a legit NBA Finals threat and Giannis potentially winning MVP. Assuming the Bucks don’t exit early, this postseason should be all about making sure every kid in this country moderately interested in basketball spends the entire summer emulating Giannis on the court and asks for an Antetokounmpo jersey and his shoes (the Nike Freak 1s reportedly hit this summer) for their next birthday. Zion Williamson, of course, will be a huge opportunity for post-LeBron marketing largess. Luka Doncic, Trae Young, a redeemed and post-burner Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell, the young and smiley Kings, Joel Embiid, the leftover Warriors, maybe someday Anthony Davis, maybe someday Karl-Anthony Towns — there are options. But the NBA and Nike need to start investing in the players to get anything of them in a position to capitalize on true global fame when the opportunity strikes. Otherwise, I suppose we’ll all just wait for Bronny.<doc-sep>

With 7 minutes 51 seconds left in the third quarter of the Lakers’ stunning win over the back-to-back NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Christmas night, LeBron James strained his left groin to create the turning point on what was shaping up as a promising season. In an interview with Spectrum Sports on Friday night, James indicated that his injury and the 17 games he was sidelined over five weeks sent the Lakers to the abyss of which they were never able to recover. On that same fateful night, Lakers veteran point guard Rajon Rondo sustained a sprained right ringer finger that required surgery for a ligament tear, leaving him out for four weeks. The Lakers now were down their two leaders. Rondo returned to play Jan. 24, but the Lakers continued to spiral. “So, now you take the two masterminds that we brought here to help lead these young guys off the floor for 11 weeks collectively, that’s the disappointing [thing],” James said. “That’s disappointing for me because I knew exactly where we were at that point. And we’ve just never been able to get it back from after that.” The Lakers will miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, leaving James frustrated that his body didn’t hold up so he could carry his team to the postseason. James, who had played in eight consecutive NBA Finals and had not missed the playoffs since the 2004-05 season, was disappointed he could not lead the Lakers the way he has been accustomed to because he was sitting on the bench out of uniform. “And me being the leader I am, yes, you can lead a little bit,” said James, who the Lakers decided would sit out the rest of the season after the game against Charlotte on March 30. “You can be like, ‘Yo, I saw that right there, you can make that play.’ Or, ‘Maybe you should have did this.’ Or, ‘Hey, yo, we should …’ But, like, being in the foxhole, like me being in uniform, me being on the floor, I know I can command my guys more than that. You can only say so much in a suit as a player. … “But I know what I can do for the franchise. I know what I can do for the team. So I’m basically trying to speed up my body to get back on the floor, but also my mind is kind of shot because I just want to be out there for my guys.” UP NEXT VS. UTAH When: 6:30 p.m., Sunday. On the air. TV: Spectrum SportsNet; Radio: 710, 1330. Update: The Jazz are in fifth place in the Western Conference, one game behind the fourth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers, so Utah has a shot at home-court advantage in the playoffs. Utah is led in scoring by second-year guard Donovan Mitchell (23.5 points per game) and is led in rebounding by center Rudy Gobert (12.9), who is second on the team in scoring (15.7). [email protected] Twitter: @BA_Turner

[What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] The Connecticut Supreme Court dealt a major blow to the firearms industry on Thursday, clearing the way for a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured and sold the semiautomatic rifle used by the gunman in the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The lawsuit mounted a direct challenge to the immunity that Congress granted gun companies to shield them from litigation when their weapons are used in a crime. The ruling allows the case, brought by victims’ families, to maneuver around the federal shield, creating a potential opening to bring claims to trial and hold the companies, including Remington, which made the rifle, liable for the attack. The decision represents a significant development in the long-running battle between gun control advocates and the gun lobby. And it stands to have wider ramifications, experts said, by charting a possible legal road map for victims’ relatives and survivors from other mass shootings who want to sue gun companies. In the lawsuit, the families seized upon the marketing for the AR-15-style Bushmaster used in the 2012 attack, which invoked the violence of combat and used slogans like “Consider your man card reissued.”<doc-sep>The gun industry suffered a potentially significant legal setback Thursday when the Connecticut Supreme Court said a leading maker of AR-15 rifles could be held legally responsible for marketing practices that allegedly made the semiautomatic gun the weapon of choice for mass shooters. In a 4-3 ruling, the court overturned the dismissal of a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by families of victims killed in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The suit was brought against Remington Outdoor Co., the maker of the weapon Adam Lanza used to kill 26 people, most of them young children. The ruling allows the plaintiffs to move forward with claims that Remington’s marketing campaigns violated Connecticut’s consumer-protection law, which prohibits advertising and marketing that is “immoral and unscrupulous.” The plaintiffs alleged that Remington unlawfully promoted the rifle to young, civilian men as a weapon with awesome power and ideal for combat. A representative for Remington didn’t respond to requests for comment. Remington had argued the claims were barred by a 2005 federal law that grants the gun industry expansive immunity from liability claims over gun violence. That law, however, has an exception, under which manufacturers may be liable for injuries resulting from violations of state laws dealing with the marketing of their products. The trade association for the firearms industry called the ruling a disappointment. “The majority’s decision today is at odds with all other state and federal appellate courts that have interpreted the scope of the exception,” the National Shooting Sports Foundation said in a statement. Legal experts said the outcome could have broad ramifications. The decision could give victims of other shootings a legal road map for establishing liability against an industry that has faced little legal threat for more than a decade. “This ruling has basically blown a very large hole in federal immunity for firearms manufacturers in lawsuits against them that arise out of the criminal misuse of the weapons they sell,” said Georgia State University law professor Timothy Lytton, author of a book about gun litigation. The plaintiffs might now also be able to use the lawsuit’s discovery process to pull the curtain back on Remington’s internal marketing strategy. In recent years, courts have largely thwarted such efforts. Josh Koskoff, a lawyer for the Sandy Hook families, said Thursday’s decision was a “critical step” toward shedding light on “Remington’s calculated and profit-driven strategy to expand the AR-15 market and court high-risk users.” In its ruling, the court upheld the dismissal of several claims brought by the plaintiffs, finding them barred by the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. But the court found the marketing claim to fall outside the reach of the law. “[T]here is no indication…that Congress intended to restrict the power of the states to regulate wrongful advertising, particularly advertising that encourages consumers to engage in egregious criminal conduct,” wrote Connecticut Justice Richard Palmer for the majority; Justice Palmer was nominated to the court by former Republican Gov. Lowell Weicker. Barring an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the case now goes back to a trial court to determine the merits of the lawsuit’s wrongful marketing claims. Lanza, who acquired a Bushmaster XM15-E2S from his mother, killed 20 school children and six educators in the shooting at the school on Dec. 14, 2012. He shot himself to death as first responders arrived at the school. AR-15-style rifles have been used in several mass shootings in recent years, including Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Texas, Parkland, Fla., and Pittsburgh. First developed in the 1950s, AR-15-style rifles are light, gas-powered, semiautomatic weapons that can be fired rapidly with ease. The gun was marketed initially as a military weapon, and the military renamed it the M16, which can fire automatic and semiautomatic. While no one keeps records of exactly how many AR-15 and similar rifles are sold in the U.S., the National Shooting Sports Foundation estimated that from 1990 to 2016 more than 11.4 million were produced to be sold domestically. Plaintiffs alleged that Remington’s marketing campaigns were geared toward young video-game playing, military-obsessed young men and linked the AR-15 to macho vigilantism and military-style insurrection. The company, the lawsuit claims, touted the gun’s “military-proven performance” and declared it “the ultimate combat weapons system.” “Remington may never have known Adam Lanza, but they had been courting him for years,” a lawyer for the plaintiffs told the Connecticut high court during oral arguments in November 2017. Legal experts say the most controversial part of the decision is the judges’ interpretation of the 2005 immunity law. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, particularly after the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., the gun industry faced a wave of lawsuits from shooting victims and municipalities alleging criminal misuse of its products. Gun groups who lobbied for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act trumpeted its passage as a death knell for such lawsuits. But the Connecticut high court concluded that the immunity spelled out in the law wasn’t broad enough to throw out the Sandy Hook lawsuit. Central in the dispute is an exception in the statute that says manufacturers can be liable for actions that violate state statutes “applicable to the sale or marketing of the product.” The Connecticut Supreme Court said the immunity exception can cover a general consumer-protection law that’s not specifically about firearms. Judges also rejected defendant arguments that the lawsuit was time-barred by statute of limitations and that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue because they lacked a business relationship with Remington. Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Robinson, nominated to the court by former Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy, wrote a dissenting opinion. He said Congress intended for the exception in the 2005 law to cover state laws that “relate specifically to the sale and manufacture of firearms.” Other states have consumer-protection laws like Connecticut’s. Mr. Lytton, the Georgia State University law professor, said the precedent in Connecticut could help victims of other shooting sprees persuade courts that the manufacturing, distribution, advertising and sales practices of firearms manufacturers constitute unfair trade practices.<doc-sep>HARTFORD, Conn. — Gun maker Remington can be sued over how it marketed the Bushmaster rifle used to kill 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, a divided Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Thursday. Justices issued a 4-3 decision that reinstated a wrongful death lawsuit and overturned a lower court ruling that the lawsuit was prohibited by a 2005 federal law that shields gun manufacturers from liability in most cases when their products are used in crimes. The plaintiffs include a survivor and relatives of nine people killed in the massacre. They argue the AR-15-style rifle used by shooter Adam Lanza is too dangerous for the public and Remington glorified the weapon in marketing it to young people. Remington has denied wrongdoing and previously insisted it can't be sued under the federal law. The majority of the high court agreed with most of the lower court's ruling and dismissed most of the lawsuit's allegations, but allowed a wrongful marketing claim to proceed. "The regulation of advertising that threatens the public's health, safety, and morals has long been considered a core exercise of the states' police powers," Justice Richard Palmer wrote for the majority. Lanza, 20, shot his way into the locked school in Newtown on Dec. 14, 2012, and killed 20 first-graders and six educators with a Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle, similar to an AR-15. He shot his mother to death in their Newtown home beforehand, and killed himself as police arrived at the school. Connecticut's child advocate said Lanza's severe and deteriorating mental health problems, his preoccupation with violence and access to his mother's legal weapons "proved a recipe for mass murder." Joshua Koskoff, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told the state Supreme Court during arguments in November 2017 the Bushmaster rifle and other AR-15-style rifles were designed as military killing machines and should never have been sold to the public. "The families' goal has always been to shed light on Remington's calculated and profit-driven strategy to expand the AR-15 market and court high-risk users, all at the expense of Americans' safety," Koskoff said Thursday. "Today's decision is a critical step toward achieving that goal." Military-style rifles have been used in many other mass shootings, including in Las Vegas in October 2017 when 58 people were killed and hundreds more injured. The case was watched by gun rights supporters and gun control advocates across the country as one that could affect other cases accusing gun-makers of being responsible for mass shootings. Several groups, ranging from the National Rifle Association to emergency room doctors, submitted briefs to the court. The 2005 federal law, named the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, has been cited by other courts that rejected lawsuits against gun makers and dealers in other high-profile shooting attacks, including the 2012 Colorado movie theater shooting and the Washington, D.C., sniper shootings in 2002. James Vogts, a lawyer for Remington, has cited the 2005 federal law and previously said the Bushmaster rifle is a legal firearm used by millions of people for hunting, self-defense and target shooting. Remington, based in Madison, North Carolina, filed for bankruptcy reorganization last year amid years of slumping sales and legal and financial pressure over the Sandy Hook school massacre.<doc-sep>On Thursday, the Connecticut Supreme Court put the gun industry on notice: If you advertise your weapons as alluring tools for mass slaughter, you will face consequences—at least in this state. By a 4–3 vote, the court revived a lawsuit by the families of Sandy Hook victims alleging that Remington recklessly marketed its Bushmaster AR-15–style weapon for “illegal, offensive purposes,” contributing to Adam Lanza’s murder of 26 people at their elementary school. The majority ruled that a federal law does not shield Remington from liability for wrongful advertising, permitting a jury to determine whether Remington can be held liable. Its decision is a stunning blow to the firearms industry, which has long claimed near-absolute immunity from such lawsuits. And it allows the plaintiffs to uncover private, potentially damning communications that will reveal how Remington peddles its lethal products to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday’s ruling in Soto v. Bushmaster revolves around two laws: the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) and the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). CUTPA is a straightforward state regulation that prohibits wrongful advertising—marketing a product in an unfair, unethical, or dangerous manner. The PLCAA, by contrast, is a highly unusual federal statute that limits Americans’ ability to sue gun manufacturers and sellers. Under this law, the gun industry is largely immune from suit in cases when its products are used illegally, even when its own negligence leads to firearm injuries and deaths. Passed in 2005, the PLCAA was designed to shield the gun industry from the kind of lawsuits filed against tobacco companies in the 1990s. These suits accused cigarette manufacturers of creating a public health crisis by violating consumer protection statutes. The National Rifle Association, which described PLCAA as its No. 1 legislative priority, did not want the firearm industry subject to similar liability. The organization hoped that courts would interpret the law as a sweeping grant of immunity from the liability that every other industry, even nonlethal ones, must guard against. For instance, car companies include disclaimers in commercials advising viewers not to try various dangerous stunts themselves. Pharmaceutical companies list possible side effects in each ad. But firearm advertisements rarely, if ever, warn viewers against unsafe use of weapons because they believe federal law absolves them of their obligations to consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Because of the PLCAA, families of the Sandy Hook massacre and other mass shootings cannot sue gun shops and manufacturers for negligently making or selling assault weapons. But the Sandy Hook families pursued a different legal theory: They argued that Remington’s advertisements for the AR-15–style weapon ran afoul of CUTPA by promoting unethical and illegal use of the weapon. Their lawsuit cited multiple ads that depicted the gun not as a tool of home defense, hunting, or sport, but as a weapon of war meant to kill a large number of people in a small amount of time. Remington advertised the gun as “the ultimate combat weapons system” used by the armed forces in theaters of war. It depicted a close-up of the gun with the slogan “Forces of opposition, bow down. You are single-handedly outnumbered.” It touted the weapon as an “uncompromising choice” with “military proven performance.” As the Connecticut Supreme Court explained, the thrust of Remington’s ads was that the gun would “enable a shooter to inflict unparalleled carnage.” Advertisement The lawsuit cited multiple ads that depicted the gun not as a tool of home defense, hunting, or sport, but as a weapon of war. The plaintiffs relied on CUTPA in an effort to work around the PLCAA, because the federal statute includes an important exception. While it bars most negligence suits, the PLCAA permits claims alleging that a gun manufacturer or seller “knowingly violated a State or Federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the [firearm], and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought.” If CUTPA is “applicable” to the sale of firearms, then, the plaintiffs’ wrongful advertising suit is not prohibited by the PLCAA. Advertisement Federal judges have been divided on the question of whether a broad regulation of trade and public safety is “applicable” to the “sale or marketing” of guns. Some have held that a law must be designed to regulate firearms in order to qualify; others assert that any law that can be reasonably interpreted to regulate the gun trade counts as “applicable.” The Connecticut Supreme Court chose this latter interpretation, finding that the word’s “ordinary, dictionary meaning” is simply “capable of being applied.” Advertisement From there, the majority easily concluded that CUTPA is “applicable” to gun marketing by forbidding the advertisement of weapons for “illegal, offensive purposes.” This wrongful advertising, moreover, may have been “a causal factor in increasing the casualties of the Sandy Hook massacre.” As the majority explained, the plaintiffs allege that Remington sought to “expand the market for [its] assault weapons through advertising campaigns that encouraged consumers … to launch offensive assaults against their perceived enemies.” PLCAA does not stop these plaintiffs from asking a jury to hold Remington “accountable for the injuries wrought by such unscrupulous marketing practices.” As the Sandy Hook families’ attorney said at oral arguments, “Remington may never have known Adam Lanza, but they had been courting him for years.” Advertisement Advertisement What happens now? As the court repeatedly pointed out, the plaintiffs have not actually won their lawsuit; they’ve merely secured the ability to make their case to a Connecticut jury. In the process, they will seek extensive discovery from Remington, poring over its strategy for selling guns. The company has fought to keep its internal communications secret, and gun rights advocates have long hoped to expose the industry’s alleged disregard for life and safety when marketing weapons. Now, at long last, the Sandy Hook families may reveal its tactics in court. There remains, however, a possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court could first intervene. Would the court’s conservatives dare deny justice to the grieving families of a notorious massacre? It seems possible, though Chief Justice John Roberts must recognize the atrocious optics of the court’s intervention.<doc-sep>

Image : Getty Images The Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled by a 4-3 decision to revive a lawsuit brought by the families of Sandy Hook alleging that firearm manufacturer Remington recklessly marketed its Bushmaster AR-15-style weapon for “illegal, offensive purposes.” Remington’s gun was used by Adam Lanza to murder 26 faculty and children at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A majority ruled in Soto v. Bushmaster that federal law failed to prohibit Remington from liability for wrongful advertising, thereby permitting a jury to determine whether or not the manufacturer can be held liable. The decision is doubtlessly stunning to the firearm industry, which has long claimed immunity from such suits. Thursday’s ruling centered on the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act along with the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms. CUTPA, the more straightforward of the two, prohibits wrongful advertising, defined in part as marketing a product in an unethical, dangerous or otherwise unfair manner. The PLCAA, passed in 2005, limits the ability of Americans to sue manufacturers and sellers, guarding the industry against cases when its products are used illegally, even when their own negligence leads to injury or death. Due to the PLCAA, Sandy Hook families and loved ones of other mass shooting victims cannot sue gun sellers or manufacturers for negligent marketing or selling firearms. Soto, however, revolved around a different legal theory, in which Sandy Hook families argued that Remington’s advertisements for their weapon ran afoul of CUTPA by promoting illegal use of their product. The families cited multiple ads that depicted the gun as a weapon of war meant to kill multiple targets in a small window of time. According to Slate, Remington advertised its Bushmaster as “the ultimate combat weapons system” used by armed forces, depicting its weapon alongside the slogan “Forces of opposition, bow down. You are single-handedly outnumbered.” Connecticut’s Supreme Court agreed with the Sandy Hook families, stating in its decision that Remington’s ads pitched a weapon that would “enable a shooter to inflict unparalleled carnage.” While the PLCAA bars most negligence suits, it permits claims which allege that manufactures or sellers knowingly violated state or federal statutes applicable to the sale or marketing of firearms in which the violation was the proximate cause of harm. In short, if CUTPA applies, PLCAA would not prohibit suit. While federal judges remain split on which laws apply to firearm manufacturers, Connecticut judges have drawn a line in the sand. While U.S. Supreme Court intervention on behalf of Remington is a distinct possibility, Connecticut’s decision could inspire lawmakers and lawyers to take a hard look at PLCAA. The quicker it can be repealed, the better.

The day Los Angeles Lakers struck a deal ahead of the NBA trade deadline. But it just wasn’t the one everyone had hoped. Instead, the team made a deal that left many people scratching their heads. With possible Anthony Davis trade talks dead until the offseason, the Lakers traded Ivica Zubac to the Los Angeles Clippers. But the return is what opened a few eyes. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the deal, which will send Zubac and Michael Beasley to the Clippers in exchange for Mike Muscala, who was recently acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers. The Clippers are trading Mike Muscala to the Lakers for Michael Beasley and Ivica Zubac, league sources tell ESPN. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2019 The deal is surprising, considering the level Zubac has played at as of late. He’s by far looked like the Lakers’ best center to this point but it seems the team has opted to free up a roster spot instead moving forward. Lakers Roster & Lineup Post-Trade Position Expected Starter Backup Center JaVale McGee Tyson Chandler Power Forward Kyle Kuzma Mike Muscala Moritz Wagner Small Forward LeBron James Josh Hart Lance Stephenson Shooting Guard Brandon Ingram Reggie Bullock Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Point Guard Rajon Rondo Lonzo Ball (injured) Isaac Bonga After Math of Lakers’ Ivica Zubac Trade The plan moving forward is to tack on one of the players who has been/will be bought out of their deal. And in turn, this could lead to the Lakers making the decision to bring Carmelo Anthony to town, as Wojnarowski revealed. The Lakers plan to evaluate the full buyout market once it takes shape, but Carmelo Anthony is expected to be among the considerations too, league sources tell ESPN. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2019 It’s not all that surprising, but there are bound to be a few intriguing targets available on the open market. More than likely, it’s tough to envision the final move not being the addition of Anthony. With LeBron James and Anthony having a close relationship, adding the veteran forward to the group for the homestretch makes sense. One key thing that stands out from the Zubac situation is that he was originally expected to be part of an Anthony Davis trade. He’s going to be a free agent after the year, though, so it seems the Lakers opted to just pick up something in exchange for him as opposed to losing him in the offseason. READ NEXT: Nets Trade Talk: Best Jimmy Butler Offers to Entice Sixers<doc-sep>Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Credit Suisse Group AG executives ignored warnings from colleagues about troubled steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta as they channeled $1.2 billion of client funds to his businesses, according to people familiar with the matter.Bankers in Credit Suisse’s commodity trade-finance unit blacklisted Gupta’s Liberty Commodities Ltd. in 2016 because they suspected some of its deals weren’t legitimate, the people said. When they learned about two years later that the bank was lending to his companies through a suite of investment funds, which eventually grew to $10 billion, they flagged their worries to leaders in compliance and the division that housed the loans, one of the people said.The disclosure that Credit Suisse may have put clients at risk despite internal concerns over Gupta’s businesses adds a new twist to the debacle stemming from the March implosion of Greensill Capital, the finance firm at the center of the three-way relationship.Investigations, LawsuitsThe U.K. Serious Fraud Office is now investigating Gupta’s group of companies for suspected fraud, including in its financing deals with Greensill, according to a May 14 statement. Credit Suisse has sued to force Gupta’s Liberty Commodities into insolvency and has since shut the funds that made the loans and launched an internal investigation. Investors are staring at losses as the bank confronts embarrassing lawsuits.“We are currently focusing our efforts on recovering our investors’ money,” Will Bowen, a spokesman for Credit Suisse in London, said in an emailed statement, adding that the bank’s internal probe will focus on “all of the issues” linked to the funds. “We are committed to learning the lessons and will share the relevant lessons learnt at the appropriate time.”Andrew Mitchell, a spokesman for the Gupta Family Group Alliance, or GFG Alliance, a collective of businesses linked to Gupta including Liberty Commodities, denied any wrongdoing.The Greensill saga represents just one of the two disasters that rocked Credit Suisse in the first half of 2021. Since Greensill began unraveling, the bank has announced a $5.5 billion hit from the blowup at Archegos Capital Management.ApologiesFormer Chairman Urs Rohner apologized to shareholders and his successor, Antonio Horta-Osorio, who arrived at the end of April, has promised a sweeping strategy review.Chief Executive Officer Thomas Gottstein, who was head of the division that oversaw trade finance, wasn’t aware of the internal concerns about Gupta that had prompted the bank to cut him off, according to a person familiar with the matter.Employees at the trade-finance unit, which lends money for the buying and selling of commodities, cut ties with Gupta in 2016 after becoming skeptical toward his Liberty Commodities, the people said. They distrusted the documents the company provided, triggering doubts about its transactions, they said. In one example reported by Bloomberg, the company had presented another bank with what seemed to be duplicate shipping receipts. A spokesman for Gupta has denied any wrongdoing.Banking TiesLiberty Commodities pledged assets to Credit Suisse as security for borrowings in 2013 but by early 2016, all such commitments had been extinguished, indicating that the financing relationship had ceased, U.K. Companies House filings show. And while Gupta’s company listed the Swiss bank as one of its lenders in its 2014 annual report, it didn’t in the following year’s report, which is dated May 2016, according to the filings.Their counterparts at other banks, including Macquarie Group Ltd. and Sberbank PJSC, halted trading with Liberty Commodities around the same time because of similar concerns; Goldman Sachs Group Inc. also stopped in 2016, Bloomberg has reported.Nevertheless, executives at Credit Suisse’s asset-management division -- which creates investment products for clients and charges a fee for overseeing them -- began arranging a suite of funds focused on supply-chain finance in 2017. The entities bought securitized loans packaged by Greensill, a firm created by Australian businessman Lex Greensill. Much of the debts were linked to Gupta’s businesses.WarningsOfficials at the commodity trade-finance unit were concerned when they found out about the funds’ links to Gupta and took their fears to Thomas Grotzer, general counsel for the bank’s Swiss division. They also warned Luc Mathys and Lukas Haas, the bankers who helped oversee the trades at the asset-management unit.Grotzer was promoted last month to interim global head of compliance at Credit Suisse. He didn’t respond to requests for comment. Mathys, head of fixed-income at the asset-management division, and Haas, a portfolio manager, were put on temporary leave in March. Neither responded to requests for comment.The bank pushed ahead with the funds and marketed them to investors as being made up of short-term debt secured on invoices, assets considered so safe that Credit Suisse gave the largest vehicle its lowest rating for risk. Yet part of the loans were linked to mere possible future revenues.Other parts of the bank continued working with Gupta as well. Credit Suisse’s investment bankers were due to lead an initial public offering for Liberty’s U.S. steel arm, which was ultimately pulled, according to a statement from the company. Gupta also announced that the Swiss bank would finance his planned acquisition of Thyssenkrupp AG’s steel unit, which fell apart earlier this year.Credit Suisse has so far recouped about $5.9 billion of the $10 billion in these supply-chain funds, but it remains unclear how much will be returned ultimately to investors. Loans to Gupta’s businesses are among a batch of debts that are the “principal sources of valuation uncertainty,” the bank said earlier this month.Liberty Commodities’s external legal advisors investigated “alleged rumors concerning the paperwork” it used in 2019, according to Mitchell, the spokesman for GFG Alliance. They found no evidence to substantiate the rumors, nor was the company “ever subject to further complaints or proceedings,” he said.“LCL has ongoing banking relationships with separate financial institutions,” Mitchell said, referring to Liberty Commodities. “The trade-finance market has been hugely challenging for all but the very largest commodities traders in recent years. Nevertheless, no financial institution has been left out of pocket as a result of lending money to LCL. On the contrary, they have received substantial commercial returns.”More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.<doc-sep>

The Los Angeles Lakers finally made a trade, just not for Anthony Davis. The Lakers added more shooting by acquiring Reggie Bullock in a trade with the Pistons, per ESPN. Los Angeles traded Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and a second-round draft pick for Bullock. The move does little to impact the Lakers making a trade for Davis, but it does give LeBron James another three-point shooter to help him on the perimeter. Bullock is shooting 38.8 percent from behind the three-point line this season and is likely to come off the bench for the Lakers. Here’s a look at the Lakers updated roster with Bullock now in the mix. Lakers Roster & Starting Lineup After Reggie Bullock Trade C- Ivica Zubac, JaVale McGee, Tyson Chandler PF- Kyle Kuzma, Michael Beasley, Johnathan Williams, Moritz Wagner SF- LeBron James, Reggie Bullock, Lance Stephenson SG- Brandon Ingram, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Josh Hart, Isaac Bonga PG- Rajon Rondo, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso The Reggie Bullock Trade Has Little to Do With Anthony Davis Depending on who you ask, the Lakers have either walked away from the negotiation table with the Pelicans or are awaiting New Orleans next move. What is clear is that the Bullock deal will have little impact on the Lakers acquiring Davis. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Lakers made a major offer and are awaiting the Pelicans to counteroffer. What could complicate a potential Lakers-Pelicans deal is the Celtics. Boston cannot trade for Davis because of the “Rose Rule”, but the Celtics could be interested in making a move for Davis this summer. The Athletic reported Jayson Tatum has been mentioned in a potential deal. This latest Lakers-Celtics subplot would be dead by now if Ainge had been scared off, but sources say Boston — which can’t trade for Davis until this summer because of the well-chronicled “Rose Rule” — is continuing its complicated pursuit of the five-time All-Star in spite of the message being sent through various channels that he doesn’t want to play there. A source with knowledge of the talks said the potential centerpiece in a Pelicans package, 20-year-old Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum, has been discussed extensively by the two teams and is expected to be a major part of the talks when June rolls around. Trade Rumors Continue to Be a Major Distraction in Lakers Locker Room While the rumors continue to swirl around the Lakers, the trade talks appear to be having a negative impact on the team. The Lakers lost by 42 points to the Pacers, and it is hard to believe the trade rumors have not impacted L.A.’s play on the court. The Pacers crowd chanted “LeBron’s gonna trade you” at Brandon Ingram during the game. Brandon Ingram steps to line as “LeBron’s gonna trade you” chants rain upon him pic.twitter.com/aiG4NCy3Ex — Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 6, 2019 “I know it has to be tough on a lot of our guys, especially our young guys,” James told ESPN. “Right now, they’ve just never been a part of it and they’re hearing it every single day — and I know that the worst thing that you can do right now is be on social media. And I know all young guys love social media. So, that definitely can’t help.”

After missing Wednesday’s practice session and working off to the side, the status of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette remained the same Thursday. The second-year running back continued to nurse the hamstring injury in which he sustained in the second quarter of Week 1’s game against the New York Giants. Thursday injury report for #Jaguars and Patriots pic.twitter.com/rDNS0LgdF1 — Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) September 13, 2018 The good news about Thursday’s session was that center Brandon Linder (knee) was upgraded to limited participation, while rookie linebacker Leon Jacobs (ankle) and receiver Jaydon Mickens (knee) were take off the report entirely. As we previously reported, Linder’s injury was sustained Week 2 of the preseason and the staff looks to just be taking it easy with him on a week to week basis. Lastly, linebacker Telvin Smith (back), offensive tackle Jermey Parnell (knee) and Austin Seferian-Jenkins (core) all remained limited Thursday. Smith was a new addition to the report this week, while Parnell and Seferian-Jenkins were on last week’s report, but were able to play Week 1.<doc-sep>As expected, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be making a game-time decision on running back Leonard Fournette who was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report for Week 2’s game against the New England Patriots. The news comes after Fournette sustained a hamstring injury in the second quarter of the Jaguars’ regular season opener against the New York Giants. Though they struggled a bit offensively after his injury, the Jags were able to prevail by a score of 20-15. If Fournette is unable to go, the Jags will start T.J. Yeldon in his place as they did upon his injury Sunday. While the offense struggled as a whole, Yeldon was solid against the Giants and managed to accumulate 14 carries for 51 yards. He also had three receptions for 18 yards against the Giants, one of which was a touchdown. Behind Yeldon will be speedster Corey Grant, who had a pretty solid game in the Jags’ last meeting against the Patriots, accumulating three receptions for 59 receiving yards. The team also has fullback Tommy Bohanon on the roster if needed, or they could also call up running back Brandon Wilds from their practice squad.<doc-sep>EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 09: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs with the ball against Janoris Jenkins #20 of the New York Giants in the first quarter at MetLife Stadium on September 9, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) The Jaguars Must Decide Who Goes After Addition of Dante Fowler on Monday The Jaguars Must Decide Who Goes After Addition of Dante Fowler on Monday by David Levin Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone told the media on Monday that running back Leonard Fournette has a “minor” hamstring injury and is list as day-to-day. The buzz with Jacksonville Jaguars this week should be about the New England Patriots coming to town in a rematch of the AFC Championship game. Instead, it might be about the status of star running back Leonard Fournette, who is dealing with a “minor” hamstring injury, according to head coach Doug Marrone. Fournette, who led the Jaguars with 1,040 yards rushing last season, left the game in the second quarter and did not return. It was reported that the former LSU star would try to give it a go in the second half of the 20-15 win over the New York Giants, but that did not happen. Now, with the team’s biggest game of the season (so far) in front of them, Fournette’s status is up in the air. “Doc said it’s a minor hamstring injury so we’re just going to treat it during the week,” Marrone said. “We’ve got a lot of time and see where it is, but you guys saw him in the locker room walking around.” Per Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com and other local sports reports, Fournette was seen walking around the locker room on Monday with a sleeve on his hamstring. DiRocco also said the 2017 first-round draft pick “politely” declined to talk about the injury. The Jaguars have both T.J. Yeldon and Corey Grant on the roster and no other replacement. Losing the power game Fournette possesses would be a huge blow to the Jaguars game plan of using the running game to set up the pass. Yeldon has replaced Fournette in the lineup before, the first time being the seventh game of the 2017 season against the Indianapolis Colts where he ran for 122 yards and a touchdown. Grant is a change of pace type of back who got a few touches on Sunday. The goal is to ease Fournette back into practice this week with further injuring his hamstring. He told Marrone it is something he had in high school and feels like it is the same kind of situation. “It’s unclear on which play Fournette suffered the injury, but he caught a screen pass for no gain on third-and-long and then went to the sideline while the Jaguars kicked a field goal to take a 6-3 lead midway through the second quarter,” DiRocco wrote. “Trainers worked on Fournette’s hamstring for several minutes before taking him to the locker room with 5 minutes, 18 seconds remaining in the first half.” This is by far the biggest game on the Jaguars schedule this season. The offense did not produce much in the second half of last weekend’s win in New York. The defense once again came up with a touchdown on an interception return by Myles Jack to preserve the win. Want your voice heard? Join the Black And Teal team! Write for us! Jacksonville managed just 305 yards of total offense and 137 yards rushing against the Giants.<doc-sep>

Leonard Fournette looked good early in the Jaguars’ season-opening win over the Giants in New York, but the star running back suffered a hamstring injury and was forced to sit for most of the contest. Will Fournette be playing this weekend? Here is the latest injury update for the star tailback. Fournette, who entered the 2018 season with major expectations, is still dealing with a minor hamstring strain. He’s not expected to practice today. Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone says the team continues to plan to take Fournette and his injury day by day. We’ll see where things stand come Sunday afternoon. “We’re just going to give it some time and see where we are and when it’s time we’ll start testing it,” Marrone said. NFL.com has more on Fournette and who could be replacing him: The bruising back went down in the first half of the Jaguars’ 20-15 win against the Giants last week. Fournette carried the ball 14 times for 41 yards and caught three passes for 14 yards before exiting in the second quarter. He was primarily relieved by T.J. Yeldon, who finished with 51 yards. The Jaguars’ offense scored on three of their first four possessions with Fournette but was shut out in the second half. Yeldon and Fournette are built similarly but Jacksonville has set its hopes on the latter blossoming into one of the league’s premier backs after selecting him No. 4 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Patriots slowed Fournette last January to the tune of 3.2 yards per carry over the course of 24 handoffs. Fournette had told ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he plans on playing on Sunday against the Patriots. He reportedly also said that he could’ve re-entered the game against the Giants, but was being cautious. “Leonard Fournette told me repeatedly off camera too that he feels his hamstring is “good” and that he felt he could’ve come back in the game. Stayed out because ‘they were being cautious’ he said,” she tweeted. Leonard Fournette told me repeatedly off camera too that he feels his hamstring is “good” and that he felt he could’ve come back in the game. Stayed out because “they were being cautious” he said. https://t.co/YdjuwjIwaa — ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 9, 2018 Fournette not being able to play would be a major blow for the Jaguars as they host the Patriots. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. E.T. on CBS.

(CNN) — Looking for a dose of instant sunshine to help you through the winter? This latest deal out of Italy could be just the warm jolt of vitamin D you need. As of right now, you can buy a house on southern Italy's beautiful island of Sicily for less than the cost of an espresso. Sambuca, a hilltop town with views over the Mediterranean island and nearby beaches, has placed dozens of dwellings on the market for €1, or just over a dollar. The deal is aimed at reviving a community that, like many other rural spots in Italy, has suffered from depopulation in recent years as residents move to bigger cities. It's not the first Italian town to lure in outsiders with tempting offers but, say local officials, Sambuca is scrapping red tape to make sure anyone interested can more or less make their purchase right away. "As opposed to other towns that have merely done this for propaganda, this city hall owns all €1 houses on sale," says Giuseppe Cacioppo, Sambuca's deputy mayor and tourist councilor. "We're not intermediaries who liaise between old and new owners. You want that house, you'll get it no time." City of Splendor l e v a r t But there's a catch. The new owners must commit to refurbish their choice of the crumbling 40- to 150-square meter dwellings within three years, at a cost starting from €15,000 (about $17,200). They'll also need to cough up a €5,000 security deposit that will be returned once the restyle is complete. Buyers won't be disappointed, says Cacioppo. "Sambuca is known as the City of Splendor," he adds. "This fertile patch of land is dubbed the Earthly Paradise. We're located inside a natural reserve, packed with history. Gorgeous beaches, woods and mountains surround us. It's silent and peaceful, an idyllic retreat for a detox stay." With the population dwindling, Cacioppo says the town needs outsiders to prevent it falling into ruin. "We can't afford to lose our lovely Arab heritage. Luckily, foreigners are lending a hand in this rescue crusade." Founded by the Ancient Greeks, Sambuca was later conquered by Saracens who turned it into a flourishing trade center. The town is named after the Emir Al Zabut, aka the Splendid One. It's an open-air museum, a patchwork of contrasting architectural styles. Churches with round Arab-looking domes sit next to Baroque palazzos with glazed tile floors, decorated with smiling cherubs, fearsome gargoyles, twisted columns, allegorical statues and coats of arms. This is where Sicily's Arab soul lies. Most houses on sale are located within the "Saracen District," a kasbah maze of arcaded stone portals and winding narrow alleys (less than a meter wide) through which people squeeze. Guardian of the valley The countryside around Sambuca is dotted with ancient ruins. Silvia Marchetti The two-story Moorish dwellings, built with pink-reddish stones that glow at sunset, feature inner courtyards, lavish palm gardens with orange and mandarin trees, arcaded entrances, flowery majolica staircases, typical Sicilian tile roofs and terraces overlooking the stunning scenery. On clear days it's possible to see Sicily's Mt. Etna volcano and the distant island of Pantelleria from the Belvedere Terrace, where Al Zabut's lavish palace once stood as the "guardian of the valley." Zabut's legacy is strong. Streets and local surnames are Arab-sounding. There are couscous cooking classes and Moorish costume parties. Related content 33 amazing places to visit in Italy Sambuca's charm lies also underground, in its "sunken city," Cacioppo organizes guided tours through the labyrinth of purrere, the holes and caves of old sandstone quarries. Most houses come with private grotto access. The ghosts of Saracen soldiers slaughtered by the Christians are said to haunt the caves and district at night -- there's even one street called The Phantom -- but so far there've been no spooky sightings. There's already been some interest in the town, says Cacioppo. "Foreigners are flocking here, flabbergasted by all this beauty," he says. "Some 10 houses have already been sold. Dozens of others are available but badly in need of a makeover. We've been contacted by people from Switzerland, France and Spain and are receiving many requests." He hopes newcomers will help breathe new life into the town, boosting the local economy and preserving the architectural jewels. It'll take some work, though. The abandoned houses on offer are filled with piles of broken stones and forgotten furniture, covered in cobwebs. 'Special place' The town's deputy mayor says Sambuca is an "idyllic retreat." Courtesy Franco Alloro Susanna Heinson, from Germany, has already purchased a house and is restyling it, anxious to move in. "I can't wait to spend next summer in Sambuca," she says. "It's a lovely, special place. The people are very open-minded and friendly. Good restaurants, great wineries. We feel at home." She says she's happy the recovery of the Saracen neighborhood will help to preserve the original face of Sicily and feels "proud to be a part of this." The revival is already underway. Sambuca was nominated in the 2016 Italy's Most Beautiful Towns contest and there are plans to open a "diffuse," scattered hotel to help newcomers experience the thrill of blending in with local village life and mingling with residents. Related content The 25 most beautiful hotels in Italy Sambuca's prime location is one of the biggest selling points. The countryside is dotted with ruins of pagan temples and Arab lookout towers. Trekking routes lead up to the rocky peak of the nearby Genuardo mountain and its Greek necropolis of Adranon, a hotspot for mushroom foraging. The mesmerizing archaeological site of Selinunte and the Valley of the Temples are also just a stone's throw away. Food and wine Sambuca's architecture is a patchwork of Arab and Baroque styles. Courtesy Proloco/Cacioppo And then there's the wine. Made in the area since the time of the ancient Greeks, Sambuca now has vast vineyards stretching all the way to the sea. This is where the renaissance of elite Sicilian wine started. Niche red grapevines -- mainly Nero d'Avola -- are grown in estates surrounding Lago Arancio, an artificial lake where low water levels in summer sometimes expose the ruins of an Arab fortress. Non-local grapes such as Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay have recently been planted to make premium bottles exported worldwide. This being Italy, there's also the attraction of the local food. Anyone staying here should be prepared to stretch their waistline. Sambuca is called "Sicily's barn" for its huge amount of grain production. Old millstones still make bread and pasta using traditional methods and ancient Saracen black wheat varieties, such as sweet-flavored Tumminia. Related content Italian feast: 9 places to destroy your waistline Signature dishes include busiate short pasta with qualeddu (a wild large leaf yellow flower), sausages and breadcrumbs, and macco di fave dried beans soup with wild fennel. Cucciddatu is a doughnut with pepper, cheese and sausages. Grandmother-recipe omelettes are made with blue borage flowers and lemon. Vastedda is a special string cheese of sheep milk, flat as a pizza. The sweet-toothed can indulge in almond cupcakes and cassateddi, fried sweet ricotta-filled ravioli covered in sprinkled sugar. "Imagine having breakfast each morning with one of these cakes: who wouldn't drool at the simple thought?" says Cacioppo.<doc-sep>If the thought of views of the Mediterranean, wine vineyards and sunny beaches off the Italian coast sounds appealing, the town of Sambuca may be the perfect destination – as homes are selling for just €1. Although it may sound too good to be true, local officials are offering the homes on the hilltop town in an effort to repopulate the rural city. And buyers will more than get their money’s worth as the dozens of homes for sale are built on land referred to as the “Earthly Paradise” on the southern island of Sicily. According to city officials, the goal is to bring people back to Sambuca after an exodus of locals to larger cities. However, the deal does have one condition – new owners must invest €15,000 ($17,000, £13,000) into refurbishing their new home within three years, as most of the abandoned homes are run down and dilapidated. Recommended The 8 London areas home buyers should have on their radar right now There is also a €5,000 ($5,700, £4,400) security deposit to consider, which will be returned once the renovations on the houses, ranging from 40 to 150 sq metres, have been completed. The deal is similar to past ones offered by Italian cities, but the difference is Sambuca’s homes are up for grabs for anyone – as city officials told CNN they are owned by city hall. ✕ Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events “As opposed to other towns that have merely done this for propaganda, this city hall owns all €1 houses on sale,” said Sambuca’s deputy mayor and tourist councillor Giuseppe Cacioppo. “We’re not intermediaries who liaise between old and new owners. You want the house, you’ll get it in no time.” If you’re interested in living in one of the houses surrounded by “gorgeous beaches, woods and mountains,” you should act fast, as 10 have already sold, according to Cacioppo. Those interested can email: [email protected]<doc-sep>

If you want your dream Italian retreat, all you need is some pocket change. According to CNN, Sambuca, an idyllic town in Sicily, Italy, is selling off dozens of old homes for the mere pittance of €1, just over $1 USD. Several other Italian towns have opted for this kind of deal as well, from Sardinia, which also sold off homes for a dollar, to Candela, which offered to pay potential residents to move there. And much like these other towns, Sambuca has suffered from a dwindling population since residents have either passed away or moved to big cities. However, the town officials of Sambuca claim that their deal is better than the rest because if you want a house, you’ve got a house. “As opposed to other towns that have merely done this for propaganda, this city hall owns all €1 houses on sale. We're not intermediaries who liaise between old and new owners. You want that house, you'll get it no time,” Giuseppe Cacioppo, Sambuca's deputy mayor and tourist counselor, told CNN. But much like the other towns mentioned, there’s a few rules you must follow. First, all new homeowners must agree to refurbish their new homes. And as you might have guessed, they are in dire need of some TLC. According to CNN, the “crumbling” homes can range from anywhere between 40 and 150 square meters (430 to 1,614 square feet). In case you’re wondering, 430 square feet is about the size of an 11-by-39-foot room — which is about the size of a spacious New York City studio. Plus, the cost of renovating these places costs about €15,000 (about $17,200 USD) to start, CNN reported. In addition, the new homeowners must pay a €5,000 (about $5,700 USD) security deposit, which is fully refundable once renovations are complete. So, your $1 investment just became about a $22,901 investment. But Cacioppo says it’ll be worth it, since Sambuca is known as the “City of Splendor” and an “Earthly Paradise.” “We're located inside a natural reserve, packed with history. Gorgeous beaches, woods and mountains surround us. It's silent and peaceful, an idyllic retreat for a detox stay,” Cacioppo told CNN. Among the highlights of Sambuca include views of the volcano Mt. Etna in the distance, tours of ancient ruins, beautiful Arab architecture, excellent local wines, and delicious food.

A student from Covington Catholic High School appeared on Fox & Friends Wednesday to defend some students’ use of blackface at sporting events. Featured Video Hide Two white boys in matching white button-down shirts and blue-and-white striped ties were interviewed by host Steve Doocy, who asked senior Sam Schroder, “Something like five years ago, there was a pep rally where one of the members of the school body appeared to have blackface on. People even ask you to explain that. How do you explain that?” Advertisement Hide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtfVCrZ_lFk&t=1239s Schroder told host Steve Doocy that the blackface was just “school spirit.” “We have many themes. Like nerd, business, whiteout, blueout, blackout—as you’ve seen in the video. Ever since I’ve gone to CovCath, we haven’t been able to wear black paint because of the video, but I know the kids meant nothing by it, it’s just showing school spirit.” The video in question actually shows four students in blackface, screaming around a Black basketball player of an opposing team. The video has been deleted from Covington Catholic’s YouTube channel, but screenshots are still widely available on Twitter. Advertisement Hide https://twitter.com/RealAndyHaines/status/1088107162033893377 https://twitter.com/Plantflowes/status/1088098413416202245 America’s history of using blackface goes back to the 1830s, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. White performers would blacken their faces and perform in so-called minstrel shows, the purpose of which was to mock Black people for the entertainment of whites. “These performances characterized blacks as lazy, ignorant, superstitious, hypersexual, and prone to thievery and cowardice,” according to the museum’s website. “Blackface performances grew particularly popular between the end of the Civil War and the turn of the century in Northern and Midwestern cities, where regular interaction with African Americans was limited. White racial animus grew following Emancipation when antebellum stereotypes collided with actual African Americans and their demands for full citizenship including the right to vote,” the museum explains. Advertisement Hide In recent popular culture, former Fox News host Megyn Kelly was fired from her position at NBC last year, in part due to controversy over blackface. Kelly defended the use of blackface in Halloween costumes. “Back when I was a kid, that was OK, as long as you were dressing up as a character,” she said on her morning show, which was canceled shortly thereafter. H/T the Daily Beast<doc-sep>Screenshot : Today Show, NBC No matter how many times we go through it, it’s always a wonder to witness a spin job in real time. And make no mistake—this latest series of media appearances by the Covington Catholic High School students, who went viral last weekend after their confrontation with a Native American elder and veteran, is exactly that. Advertisement It’s easy to explain why the viral interaction has been so compelling for people throughout the political spectrum. It’s like someone compiled all the Infinity Rings of racist, stupid shit and gathered them together in one ongoing fiasco. There’s a gaggle of white Catholic school students, gleefully mocking a Native American elder. There’s Hebrew Israelites in Washington, D.C., being Hebrew Israelites in Washington, D.C. There’s a staunch defense of the innocent white racists from the commander in chief and what seems to be a pending White House invitation (once the government shutdown ends—don’t want to serve these young lads Wendy’s by candlelight). There’s a bevy of handwringing, chastened journalists who have—willfully or otherwise—lost the plot in order to maintain a semblance of “objectivity” (a word, we’ll remind you, is as loaded when it comes to matters of race as “PC culture” or “neutral”). Oh, and there’s a PR firm to mop this mess up. For now, let’s zero in on that final aspect of this slow-moving debacle: the clean-up job. We’ll start with the centerpiece of all mea culpas that are not, in fact, actual mea culpas: the morning talk show. In this case, the Today Show, which featured an interview between co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and Nick Sandmann—the Covington Catholic student seen smirking in the face of tribal elder Nathan Phillips. As Guthrie explains, Phillips had been interviewed several times by various news outlets. After his parents hired a PR firm, it was now Sandmann’s turn to tell the firm’s carefully constructed his version of events. Advertisement Bereft of any visible emotion, Sandmann told Guthrie that he had “every right” to stand in front of Phillips, and that he didn’t walk away from the Native American man—who had walked over and bega n chanting in an attempt to calm down tensions between the massive group of students and a handful of Hebrew Israelites—because he didn’t want to be “disrespectful.” And because he was acting out of respect, Sandmann felt that neither he, nor the dozens of his classmates gleefully mocking Phillips and doing tomahawk chops at him, owed Phillips an apology. Advertisement “My position is that I was not disrespectful to Mr. Phillips. I respect him. I’d like to talk to him. I mean, in hindsight, I wish we could have walked away and avoided the whole thing, but I can’t say that I’m sorry for listening to him and standing there,” he said. Notably, Sandmann also attempts to place the blame for his peers’ racist taunting of a Native American man on the Hebrew Israelites who were at the Lincoln Memorial—a group of four or five black men who were throwing insults at passersby because...Well, have you ever walked by a Hebrew Israelite? It’s kind of their thing. Advertisement And if you’ve walked by Hebrew Israelites, you also know that the best way to deal with their bullshit is to literally walk past it. But that option apparently was not available to the dozens and dozens of Covington students at the Lincoln Memorial that day, who chose to escalate the situation by chanting and taunting back. Or, as Sandmann referred to it, “being positive.” Sandmann also confirmed that he felt “threatened” by the handful of men, despite the fact that he and his classmates vastly outnumbered them. When Guthrie pressed him on this, Sandmann replied, “There were a group of adults and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next.” Advertisement Ah, a veiled insinuation that a black man, or a small group of them, somehow posed a real threat of violence, even in the absence of any evidence to support the claim. It was only a matter of time before we arrived here. Guthrie also asked Sandmann if he and his classmates shouted any insults or racial slurs back to the Israelites before Phillips attempted to intervene. Advertisement “We’re a Catholic school and it’s not tolerated,” Sandmann said, referring to racist behavior. “They don’t tolerate racism and none of my classmates are racist people.” Fascinating. Because that’s certainly not what one would believe from images and video of Covington students wearing head-to-toe blackface during basketball games (the videos have been deleted, but the screenshots remain). Advertisement In one particularly troubling still from a 2012 basketball game, a crowd of white kids can be seen aggressively yelling at a black player from an opposing team about to inbound the ball. On either side of him, a white student in blackface can be seen yelling. According to Snopes, some Covington community members defended the practice as part of “black out” games, where supporters wear all black. Advertisement Neither Guthrie nor Sandmann addressed the culture at Covington Catholic—though additional reporting about the school has revealed that the school has had issues with race for years. It was a pair of Covington boys—also at the Lincoln Memorial that day—that summed it up best in an interview with Steve Doocy on Fox News. When asked to explain the “black out” image, one of the students defended his school by saying “the kids meant nothing by it, it’s just showing school spirit.” Advertisement Of course, Covington’s interpretation of “school spirit” was very much on display in D.C. last weekend too. Advertisement Here’s what’s certain: The half-baked, over-glazed answers these kids have given to the media will certainly be sufficient to all the people who were going to hand the Covington Catholic students the benefit of the doubt anyway—that these kids are gauche, but understandable. Idiots, perhaps, as teen boys are wont to be, but certainly not dangerous. For those who believed what they saw the first time, and the second time, and the 12th time, this may be what’s most troubling about watching another predictable spin cycle: In papering over a racist incident of Covington’s own making, the elite school—its kids, its parents, and its administrators—only had to do the bare minimum to wipe their hands clean. Which is what they did, and all that we can expect them to do. Advertisement It is all that’s ever required of them.<doc-sep>

Two students from Covington High School addressed the photos and videos circulating on social media of students wearing blackface during basketball pep rallies, claiming the kids in the video "meant nothing by it" because they were "just showing school spirit." During an episode of Fox & Friends on Wednesday, host Steve Doocy asked Covington students Sam Schroder and Grant Hillmann about the photo that was taken five years ago circulating on social media. In the photo, there are students in blackface who appear to be yelling at a black basketball player during a game. Doocy asked the students to explain the photos and videos circulating through social media. Schroder explained that the students participate in different themes during pep rallies like "nerd, business, white-out, blue-out, and black-out" days to show their school spirit. "I know ever since we've gone to Cov Catholic we haven't been able to wear black paint because of the video, but I know the kids meant nothing by it," said Schroder. "It's just showing school spirit." Doocy then asked Hillmann if he's worried that the school's reputation would prohibit him from continuing onto college following the controversy over the video of a teen from the Catholic school wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat confronting a Native American beating a drum at an Indigenous Peoples Rally. The teen said he is not worried anymore since there is more information out about the video, but he said it was worrisome when the initial video came out without any context. "Ever since the truth has been circulating I think [all] have been accounted for," said Hillmann. "So right now I'm not as worried as I was." The viral video has sparked controversy after a Twitter account posted a partial clip of the incident. In the clip, student Nicholas Sandmann wearing a MAGA hat smiling smugly while a Native American elder played on the drum. Many suggested that Sandmann and the teens surrounding the elder were mocking him. Following the clip, other videos emerged showing different sides of the story. Sandmann said in a statement on Sunday that the video was spreading "misinformation" about the incident at the march. He also claimed that African-American protestors, who identified as Black Hebrew Israelites, were saying "hateful things" to him and his classmates. The Catholic school canceled classes on Tuesday because the school had been receiving threats. "I cannot speak for everyone, only for myself," Sandmann wrote in his statement. "But I can tell you my experience with Covington Catholic is that students are respectful of all races and cultures." The Twitter account that only showed a portion of the scene at the rally was suspended by Twitter. President Donald Trump has shown support for the teens and the other students at the Kentucky Catholic school. "Nick Sandmann and the students of Covington have become symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be. They have captivated the attention of the world, and I know they will use it for the good - maybe even to bring people together. It started off unpleasant, but can end in a dream!" Trump tweeted on Tuesday.

ANTHONY JOSHUA has trolled Tyson Fury after revealing the Gypsy King had blocked him on social media. AJ tweeted a screenshot which showed his fellow British heavyweight had blocked him from seeing Fury's account. 5 Anthony Joshua has trolled Tyson Fury after being blocked by the Mancunian Credit: Reuters 5 AJ posted an image of a screenshot showing Fury had blocked him Credit: Twitter Along with a clown emoji, Josh tweeted: "Why so serious" It comes just hours after Fury labelled Joshua and his team a "pack of s***houses" after the WBA, WBO and IBF world champion beat Alexander Povetkin. Joshua saw off Russian drug cheat Povetkin with a blistering seventh-round TKO, but hours later Fury was venting his anger. The Gypsy King - who also threatened to punch AJ's "head off" - claims the world heavyweight champion is running scared and will not meet him in the ring. Angry Tyson Fury reacts to the Anthony Joshua v Alexander Povetkin fight 5 Fury vented his anger on social media hours after AJ's win Credit: Getty Images - Getty LATEST BOXING NEWS BOSH Boxing schedule 2021: EVERY major fight including Fury vs Wilder & Mayweather vs Paul Pictured LOVED UP Tyson and Paris Fury pack on PDA with intimate kiss as pair soak up Miami sun Video 'MAYBE IN THE FUTURE' Lomachenko teases UFC switch after being gifted personalised gear NUR WAY Khabib Nurmagomedov turned down $100M offer to box Floyd Mayweather, says agent CASH BACK AJ wants to know where Fury's £7m charity donation is before bare-knuckle fight PIECE OF CAKE Fury preparing for 'cheesecake' Wilder by wolfing down ice cream desserts TO BE FRANK Frank Warren slams Hearn and blames his motormouth on Fury vs Joshua collapse FIGHT OR FLIGHT Fears grow that Joshua vs Fury will not happen until at least 2023 Fury's next fight will come on December 1 after confirming he will take on WBC champion Deontay Wilder. AJ had suggested the next time he enters the ring will be against the American. And a poll he released on his Twitter page showed fans wanted to see him fight Wilder, too. Some 186,000 fans had voted within two hours, with 53 per cent wanting Wilder, 42 per cent choosing Fury and just five per cent looking to see him take on Dillian Whyte. Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn talk about Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury after Alexander Povetkin win 5 Former world champion Fury will take on Deontay Wilder on December 1 Credit: Reuters 5 AJ has already begun his recovery as he considers his next fight Credit: Instagram Fury claimed Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn and robbing the British boxing fans of the country's "biggest fight". He said: "Think it's now safe to say AJ and his team are a pack of s***houses and will rob the British boxing fans of Britons [sic] biggest fight."<doc-sep>Anthony Joshua: 'Instinct' told me it was time to knock Povetkin out Anthony Joshua will face the winner of December's fight between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury "subject to terms, without a problem in the world", says Matchroom Sport chairman Barry Hearn. Joshua retained his world heavyweight titles with a seventh-round stoppage of Russian Alexander Povetkin on Saturday. He will return to Wembley in April to face a yet to be named opponent, with Dillian Whyte also in the frame. WBC champion Wilder takes on Briton Fury on 1 December. IBF, WBO and WBA champion Joshua confirmed after beating Povetkin that his "number one choice would be Wilder". "We have sent Wilder a signed contract already to fight on 13 April. We will agree terms with Wilder to fight on 13 April if he beats Tyson Fury - if he does not beat Tyson Fury, we have got to look around as we have got a business to run," Hearn told Sportsweek on BBC Radio 5 live. "Tyson Fury will not be in a position to fight on 13 April in my opinion. If he is, I would love to see it." Fury's promoter Frank Warren refused to confirm whether there was a rematch clause in the contract with Wilder, leading Hearn, whose son Eddie promotes Joshua, to say: "There has to be a rematch clause. Deontay Wilder is not going to risk his title without a rematch clause. "I know Anthony Joshua has made his shopping list of who he would like to fight next and that is Deontay Wilder, but that is not to say the deal can be done." Warren insisted former champion Fury would demand a 50-50 split of the purse for a fight with Joshua. "It is subject to terms because you [Warren] will ask for a ridiculous amount of money and it won't be made," responded Hearn. "It is not a 50-50 split against the number one heavyweight in the world - you can forget that completely." 'If I was you Joshua, I would avoid me' Fury has fought, and won, twice since making his comeback in June after two and a half years out of the ring. During his spell on the sidelines, he gave up his world titles and focused on mental health issues. He has vowed to regain the titles "which are rightfully mine" having outpointed Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko to become WBA, IBF and WBO champion in November 2015. "I think it is safe to say that neither Team Joshua or Matchroom will fight the Gypsy King. They mentioned if it is not Wilder, it will be Whyte, but there was no mention of Tyson Fury, the lineal champion of the world," Fury said in a video on social media. "It is all right fighting men 39-year-old and half your size. [This] is the best evidence that I am fighting the best heavyweight out there in Deontay Wilder, Joshua is not even close. He is slow, methodical, ponderous at times, powerful yes, but they all are." Fury, Wilder or Whyte? - analysis BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello: "13 April back at Wembley is an absolute definite. We still don't know who's going to be in the opposite corner. It was interesting what Eddie Hearn was saying that if Fury wins there will be a rematch because that will be in the clause - but if Wilder wins, he can sail on and that might mean Joshua [at Wembley] and this place won't be big enough. "It was interesting that Eddie said Joshua versus Wilder is a bigger fight than Joshua versus Fury. If Fury beats Wilder, that fight against Joshua becomes even bigger than we're talking about." BBC Radio 5 live boxing expert Steve Bunce: "According to AJ and Eddie, they have to agree the Wilder fight in the next couple of weeks. No-one wants to wait until December because it takes a long time to negotiate with Wilder's people. "I don't think Dillian Whyte against Anthony Joshua on 13 April is a bad fight, but people might because they are used to something different. They want Wilder. People who have never heard of Wilder want Wilder. "What if Fury goes and does a job on Wilder? The Gypsy King, the Dance Master…can you imagine? Three fights into a comeback. "Joshua against either of those two is as good as it can get. It's going to set gate receipt, pay-per-view and endorsement records."<doc-sep>

Naturally, Tyson Fury immediately reacted to Anthony Joshua beating Alexander Povetkin, and the unified heavyweight world champion didn't take long to respond. Joshua successfully defended his world titles against Povetkin, stopping the Russian fighter in the 7th round in devastating fashion at Wembley Stadium. After recording his 22nd professional victory, the WBA (super), IBF and WBO heavyweight kingpin now looks to his outing in April 2019. Advert 10 Who's next for 'AJ'? Well, a bunch of names have been mentioned including WBC holder Deontay Wilder not to mention former reigning world champion Fury. But the self-proclaimed 'Gyspy King' believes Joshua will never fight him. "Think it's now safe to say AJ and his team are a pack of s***houses and will rob the British boxing fans of Britons biggest fight," Fury said in an explosive rant on social media. Advert 10 Tyson Fury has a message for AJ #JoshuaPovetkin ''You're a bum-dosser. I would jab your head off, easy night's work for me, never seen a bigger bum in my life'' pic.twitter.com/cAlrC6b3UW - Against The Ropes (@ATRboxinguk) September 22, 2018 Fury added: "They will never fight me ever! Way too slow and ponderous. Can't box eggs! Contact me when you grow a pair. "I'm 27/0/9 KO and the lineal heavyweight champion of the world! Can't say I blame team Joshua." "Continuing his tirade, Fury said: "It's safe to say now that they will never fight the Gypsy King. Never. Advert 10 "They mentioned if it's not Wilder, it's [Dillian] Whyte. There's no mention of Tyson Fury, the lineal heavyweight champion of the world. "It's all right fighting men 39 years old, half your size. Tonight is pure evidence I'm fighting the best heavyweight out there in Deontay Wilder. Joshua is not even close. "He's slow, methodical, ponderous at times. Powerful? Yes. But they all are. Very, very clear to see, avoid me at all costs. If I was Joshua, I would avoid me, I'd jab your head off. You're a bum. Can't box, jab your nut in. Easy night's work." Joshua has fired back. Advert 10 "I'll fight Fury if he's ready, but, as I've said, he's not," said the 28-year-old in his post-fight press conference. "So good luck to him in his fight with Wilder. If he changes his mind in the future he knows where we are." Fury is slated to fight Wilder on December 1st with Team Joshua still keen on negotiating a unification with the American for a showdown next year. Dillian Whyte and Oleksandr Usyk are also touted as potential opponents. Advert 10 Who do you want to see Joshua face next?

“There is always an argument for staying, which is that the United States will be in a better position to help defend Israel,” Mr. Abrams said. “But this council is hopelessly compromised, so leaving is the right choice.” The withdrawal comes as the Trump administration faces condemnation by rights groups and governments worldwide for its decision to separate children from their families at the border. On Monday, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for human rights, called for an immediate end to the practice, describing such a tactic as inflicting “abuse on children” and “unconscionable.” Mr. Trump has turned decades of American foreign policy on its head by attacking or undermining much of the rules-based order that the United States established after World War II. Previous administrations viewed the interlocking network of alliances, trade rules and international organizations as beneficial to the United States. But Mr. Trump has ripped up the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal — both of which were negotiated under the strong influence of world powers. He has also imposed tariffs on the United States’ closest allies and left the Group of 7 summit meeting this month in chaos and recriminations after he denounced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada as “very dishonest & weak.” The Trump administration has made clear that it will not countenance the level of criticism and what it describes as slanted resolutions by the Human Rights Council that have historically been directed at the United States and Israel. On her first day as ambassador, Ms. Haley warned that “for those who don’t have our back, we’re taking names.” Rob Berschinski, a senior vice president at Human Rights First, another nonprofit organization, conceded that no one believed the human rights council was perfect. But, he said, leaving it is a mistake. “Countries like China, Russia and Venezuela will applaud this decision because we are freely giving up leverage over them that we previously had,” Mr. Berschinski said.<doc-sep>The US withdrew after threatening to do so for more than a year. The U.S. will withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley announced Tuesday. The decision to exit the U.N. body comes after more than a year of threatening to do so, calling for reform, and accusing it of an anti-Israel bias -- but it also follows one day after its High Commissioner criticized the U.S. over President Donald Trump's immigration policies, especially the one that has led to separating of families at the U.S.-Mexican border. Haley blasted the U.N. body as a "hypocritical and self-serving organization that makes a mockery of human rights" and "is not worthy of its name," while Pompeo slammed it as "an exercise in shameless hypocrisy" and said it had become "an obstacle to progress and an impediment to change" by providing cover for repressive regimes. After repeated warnings by the Trump administration, Haley said, "Regrettably, it is now clear that our call for reform was not heeded." The administration has argued that the body, which issues a report on Israel at every session, is inherently biased against the U.S. ally. But it's also criticized it for including repressive regimes among its ranks and not speaking out against member states. In her remarks Tuesday, Haley specifically cited countries like Venezuela and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, both of which are members of the body. "When a so-called Human Rights Council cannot bring itself to address the massive abuses in Venezuela and Iran and it welcomes the Democratic Republic of Congo as a new member, the Council ceases to be worthy of its name," she said. She lamented that no country would publicly join U.S. efforts to reform the body, even while many expressed support, she said. Specifically, she called out Russia, China, Cuba, and Egypt for blocking reform efforts, saying they'd done so to protect their own bad behavior. The Human Rights Council was created in 2006 after its precursor, the Human Rights Commission, was disbanded by then-Secretary General Kofi Annan because of a "credibility deficit." The body consists of 47 member states, with a specific number of seats given to each region of the world. Members are elected by the U.N. General Assembly for three-year terms and cannot serve more than two terms in a row. When it began, President George W. Bush's administration boycotted it because its membership included countries with poor human rights records. It was only in 2009 that the U.S. joined the organization under President Barack Obama, whose administration argued that U.S. membership could better steer it. But since Trump came into office, his administration has threatened to withdraw if it did not reform: "If the Human Rights Council is going to be an organization we entrust to protect and promote human rights, it must change. If it fails to change, then we must pursue the advancement of human rights outside of the Council," Haley said at a speech in Geneva last year. The Human Rights Council opened its latest three-week session Monday, and the High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein blasted the U.S. in his opening remarks for its "unconscionable" immigration policy of separating migrant parents from their children at the border, calling it "government-sanctioned child abuse." Neither Haley nor Pompeo referenced Al Hussein's remarks or answered a reporter's shouted question about them, but Haley accused the body of "attack[ing] countries that uphold human rights and shield[ing] countries that abuse human rights." Pompeo also seemed to take a shot at Al Hussein's criticism, saying, "When organizations undermine our national interests and our allies, we will not be complicit. When they seek to infringe on our national sovereignty, we will not be silent." A State Department official said prior to their address that the withdrawal was something long under consideration: "You don't make those decisions in reaction to one person's comments," they said. Haley added that the U.S. would rejoin if the reforms it has called for were made, but the withdrawal is effective immediately. The decision was criticized by human rights groups, who argued it was part of a pattern by the Trump administration of undermining human rights protections. "Once again President Trump is showing his complete disregard for the fundamental rights and freedoms the U.S. claims to uphold," said Amnesty International's Secretary General Salil Shetty in a statement. The U.S. "is willfully choosing to undermine the human rights of all people everywhere and their struggles for justice." Some even questioned whether the U.S. departure would negatively affect ongoing investigations into human rights abuses. "A decision to withdraw from this vital body undermines the international community’s ability to take collective action against grave human rights abuses," said Dr. Homer Venters, Physicians for Human Rights' director of programs. "With current investigations into alleged atrocities in Myanmar against the Rohingya, a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, and assaults on health care and civilians in Syria, including chemical attacks, there is no time more pressing than the present for nations to redouble their efforts to unite in defending human rights around the world." Foreign leaders, too, expressed disappointment with the move, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying through a spokesperson that he "would have much preferred for the United States to remain in the Human Rights Council. The U.N.'s Human Rights architecture plays a very important role in the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide." But the administration did get one vocal and almost immediate response in support of its decision. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted just minutes after the announcement, "Israel thanks President Trump, Secretary of State Pompeo, and Ambassador Haley for their decision against the hypocrisy and lies of the U.N. Human Rights Council. For years, the Council has proved itself to be a biased, hostile and anti-Israeli body that is betraying its mission to protect human rights."<doc-sep>Many allies have tried to convince the United States to remain in the council. Even many who agree with Washington's long standing criticisms of the body believe the United States should actively work to reform it from within, rather than disengaging.<doc-sep>DONALD Trump has withdrawn the US from the United Nations Human Rights Council as his envoy last night called it a "cesspool" which is "not worthy of its name". America's UN ambassador, Nikki Haley, slammed the body as "hypocritical and self-serving", claiming it "makes a mockery of human rights". 11 Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the US withdrawal Credit: Reuters She threatened the US would pull out a year ago unless "essential reforms were achieved" but said it was now clear those calls for change weren't heeded. Making the announcement alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, she accused the organisation of a "chronic bias against Israel". She said: "For too long, the Human Rights Council has been a protector of human rights abusers, and a cesspool of political bias." Haley went on to criticise Russia, China, Cuba and Egypt for thwarting US efforts to reform the council - formed in 2006 to replace the UN's Human Rights Commission. 11 Donald Trump's envoy Nikki Haley has confirmed the US has withdrawn from the UN Human Rights Council Credit: EPA 11 Nikki Haley slammed the council, formed in 2006, as 'hypocritical and self-serving' Credit: Reuters 11 The Human Rights Council at the European headquarters of the United Nations (UNOG) in Geneva, Switzerland Credit: EPA Vice President Mike Pence later tweeted a statement: "Today the US took a stand against some of the world's worst human rights violators by withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council. "By elevating and protecting human rights violators and engaging in smear campaigns against democratic nations, the UNHRC makes a mockery of itself, its members, and the mission it was founded on. "For years, the UNHRC has engaged in ever more virulent anti-American, and anti-Israel invective and the days of US participation are over." The move also came just one day after the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights slammed the separation of children from their parents at the US-Mexico border as "unconscionable." 11 Families inside a United States Border Patrol Processing Center, in McAllen, Texas Credit: EPA So why is the US pulling out? The US has long called for the body to reform, saying it is made up of members that have been regularly accused of human rights violations. Ms Haley pointed to the involvement of countries like China, Cuba and Venezuela in her speech on Tuesday. She said: "Look at the council membership, and you see an appalling disrespect for the most basic rights." Haley also said the "disproportionate focus and unending hostility toward Israel is clear proof that the council is motivated by political bias, not by human rights." Among reforms the United States had been seeking was to make it easier to kick out member state with abhorrent rights records. 11 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers remarks together with Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley Credit: Reuters 11 Haley threatened the US would pull out a year ago unless 'essential reforms were achieved' Credit: Reuters Are there any other reasons? Haley also cited longstanding US complaints that the 47-member council is biased against long-standing ally Israel. Britain has also urged the UN Human Rights Council to reform its treatment of Israel. On Monday, it joined the United States in demanding an end to what it sees as the body’s bias against the Jewish state. Addressing the opening of the 38th council session, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson criticised the council’s controversial Agenda Item 7, a permanent fixture on the schedule exclusively devoted to discussing rights abuses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel is the only country with a dedicated council item. Item 7 on “Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories” has been part of the council’s regular business 2007, almost as long as it has existed. 11 She accused the organisation of a 'chronic bias against Israel' Credit: Reuters 11 Trump arrives to Capitol Hill to address the house Republican conference about immigration Credit: Getty Images - Getty Washington has sided with Israel in condemning Item 7 as prejudiced, noting that countries with worse rights records in recent years, like Syria, are spared such intense scrutiny. While previous US administrations have criticised Item 7, Trump’s government did raise the prospect of withdrawing from the council unless it was scrapped. What has been the reaction? The UN has not surprisingly expressed its disappointment at the drastic move by Trump's administration. "The Secretary-General would have much preferred for the United States to remain in the Human Rights Council," a spokesman for António Guterres, said in response to the US announcement. "The UN's Human Rights architecture plays a very important role in the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide." What is the UN Human Rights Council? The United Nations set up the council in 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights. The old body faced mounting criticism for letting countries with poor human rights records join. A group of 47 chosen countries from various global regions serve for three-year terms on the council. It meets three times a year, and reviews the current human rights records of all UN members. The council gives countries under scrutiny the chance to say what they have done to improve human rights. It also sends out independent experts and has set up commissions of inquiry to report on human rights violations in countries including Syria, North Korea and South Sudan. The UNHRC's current president, Slovenian ambassador Vojislav Suc, said the body was the only one "responding to human rights issues and situations worldwide". After the US decision to quit, he said, "it is essential that we uphold a strong and vibrant council". The UN human rights commissioner, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said it was "disappointing, if not really surprising, news." Writing on Twitter, he added: "Given the state of #HumanRights in today's world, the US should be stepping up, not stepping back." UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the decision was "regrettable", arguing that while reforms are needed, the UNHRC is "crucial to holding states to account".<doc-sep>

The United States withdrew from a “hypocritical and self-serving” United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday over what it called chronic bias against Israel and a lack of reform, a move activists warned would make advancing human rights globally even more difficult. Standing with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley slammed Russia, China, Cuba and Egypt for thwarting US efforts to reform the council. She also criticised countries which shared US values and encouraged Washington to remain, but “were unwilling to seriously challenge the status quo.” Washington’s withdrawal is the latest US rejection of multilateral engagement after it pulled out of the Paris climate agreement and the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. It also comes as the United States faces intense criticism for detaining children separated from their immigrant parents at the US-Mexico border. UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein on Monday called on Washington to halt its “unconscionable” policy. “Look at the council membership, and you see an appalling disrespect for the most basic rights,” said Haley, citing Venezuela, China, Cuba and Democratic Republic of Congo. She did not mention Saudi Arabia, which rights groups pushed to be suspended in 2016 over killings of civilians in the Yemen war. Among reforms the United States had pushed for was to make it easier to kick out member states with egregious rights records. Currently a two-thirds majority vote by the 193-member UN General Assembly is needed to suspend a member state. Haley also said the “disproportionate focus and unending hostility towards Israel is clear proof that the council is motivated by political bias, not by human rights.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the U.S. decision. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley delivers remarks to the press together with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (not pictured), announcing the US’ withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council. (Reuters Photo) The United States has long shielded its ally Israel at the United Nations. In citing what it says is bias against Israel, the administration of President Donald Trump could further fuel Palestinian arguments that Washington cannot be a neutral mediator as it prepares to roll out a Middle East peace plan. Washington also relocated its embassy to Jerusalem after recognising it as the capital of Israel, reversing decades of US policy. The United States is half-way through a three-year term on the 47-member Geneva-based body and the Trump administration had long threatened to quit if it was not overhauled. ‘Misguided policy’ Rights groups have criticised the Trump administration for not making human rights a priority in its foreign policy. Critics say this sends a message that the administration turns a blind eye to human rights abuses in some parts of the world. “Given the state of human rights in today’s world, the US should be stepping up, not stepping back,” Zeid said after Haley announced the US withdrawal. Reuters reported last week that talks on reforming the council had failed to meet Washington’s demands, suggesting the Trump administration would quit. “The Human Rights Council enables abuses by absolving wrongdoers through silence and falsely condemning those that committed no offence,” Pompeo said. Diplomats have said the US withdrawal could bolster countries such as Cuba, Russia, Egypt and Pakistan, which resist what they see as UN interference in sovereign issues. Haley said the withdrawal “is not a retreat from our human rights commitments”. Twelve rights and aid groups, including Human Rights First, Save the Children and CARE, warned Pompeo the US withdrawal would “make it more difficult to advance human rights priorities and aid victims of abuse around the world”. Jamil Dakwar, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Human Rights Program, said Trump’s “misguided policy of isolationism only harms American interests”. The EU said Washington’s decision “risks undermining the role of the US as a champion and supporter of democracy on the world stage.” British foreign secretary Boris Johnson said it was regrettable and that the council was the “best tool the international community has to address impunity”. First member to withdraw The Human Rights Council meets three times a year to examine human rights violations worldwide. It has mandated independent investigators to look at situations including Syria, North Korea, Myanmar and South Sudan. Its resolutions are not legally binding but carry moral authority. When the Council was created in 2006, US President George W Bush’s administration shunned the body.

Spoiler alert: Thirteen episodes are too many episodes. [Editor’s note: The following review contains spoilers for “Marvel’s Luke Cage” Season 2.] Like the changing of the seasons, another new superhero tale from the folks at Marvel and Netflix has arrived, continuing to expand upon the street-level action of New York City, far far away from any cosmic drama and snapping fingers. “Luke Cage” is extremely earthbound, in fact, focusing on the titular Harlem’s Hero (the always delightful Mike Colter) attempting to navigate his role as a very public superhero (his Power Man alias from the comics does come up, but it’s always Luke’s story) with all the complications of the modern world. Should he accept that endorsement deal? How should he handle the people he knows are up to no good in his neighborhood? And how do his actions affect the people around him? The series comes in with an established world and very little catching up to do following the events of “The Defenders” (his release from prison is the only major plot point that Season 2 viewers might not be aware of, and that’s quickly established), most importantly continuing the reign of Mariah (Alfre Woodard, having so very much fun playing the villain) as the crime queen she thinks Harlem needs. The only major new wrinkle is the introduction of Bushmaster (Mustafa Shakir), who humiliates Luke before his true intentions are revealed. At this point, one way to evaluate the Marvel/Netflix shows is to appreciate what they add to the format established initially by that first season of “Daredevil.” “Luke Cage” has always stood out in this respect, with its ballsy invocation of real-world issues affecting the black community and some of hip-hop’s greatest acts performing as themselves at Harlem’s Paradise. (Some of the artists booked this season include Faith Evans & Jadakiss, Ghostface Killah, Joi, D-Nice, and Rakim.) However, it can’t escape the inherent flaws of that format, which have become more and more clear after eight full seasons of these series. As we’ve said more than once: Marvel shows do not need to be 13 episodes a season anymore, especially with later seasons that don’t have the heavy lifting of establishing origin stories and new characters. The show is, to be clear, worth admiring for the way it deeply cares about its ensemble and their journeys — Misty (Simone Missick) in particular is well-served with plenty to do. But that’s where most of the bloat lies: long scenes, with pretty quick emotional conclusions. Her struggle to recover from her injury is given plenty of attention, not to mention a few key interactions with Claire (Rosario Dawson) and Colleen (Jessica Henwick), but what if she’d gotten her robot arm earlier? A newly introduced rivalry with another officer gives Misty something else to do, but while her eventual betrayal does eventually connect back to the main narrative, so many scenes lack for surprise. “Luke Cage” might be an action drama, but it’s also damn talky at times, and those dialogue-heavy scenes always feel twice as long as necessary. It’s incredibly cool that “Luke Cage” has defined itself as a show where three professional black women can share a scene together, and it feels not just normal but right. But the way things drag on can be a frustration. It’s actually shocking to say this, in fact, but when Danny Rand (Finn Jones) strolls in for a one-episode guest appearance, it’s almost a relief. Danny’s outsider status lets him engage in some real talk with Luke — though Luke doesn’t pull back when it comes to his own thoughts about Danny’s own privilege — and the duo prove to be a strong pairing, establishing both some cool new moves (including “pattycake” and a more low-key spin on the Fastball Special) and advancing the dynamic born in “The Defenders.” And this is because Luke’s journey in this season is the sort of story we don’t see superhero narratives on screen tackle that often. So much of Season 2 is about Luke just trying to be a guy doing the best he can, a double-edged sword for the character and the way the show treats him. Because of course, on a physical level, Luke’s “the best he can” is extraordinary, as shown in one of the season’s most joyful scenes, a demonstration of his abilities led by New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles (just one of the season’s notable cameos). But while in some ways, Luke is allowed to be one of the Marvel Universe’s most complicated, flawed, and sexual characters, sometimes the way the show chooses to prove it is by letting him make some big mistakes. He screws up his relationship with Claire (which leads to her subsequent absence from the rest of the season — in general, underusing Rosario Dawson is one of the Marvel/Netflix series’ greatest crimes), disappoints the people of Harlem, and eventually begins a path towards what could be real darkness. Which is why the best part of “Luke Cage” Season 2 is how it ends, with a daring declaration about where Season 3 might go that practically dares Netflix not to renew the Marvel superhero drama for another round of episodes. Mariah’s decision to leave possession of Harlem’s Paradise in the hands of Luke gives the season finale a dark edge, with the final moments invoking not just memories of Season 1 big bad Cottonmouth (Mahershala Ali), gazing upon his kingdom, but the iconic scene at the end of “The Godfather,” when the door shuts on Kay Corleone. (Showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker told IndieWire in an interview that the “Godfather” homage was most definitely not an accident.) Luke Cage’s real nadir might come before he inherits the club, though, in a confrontation with D.W. (Jeremiah Craft), who begins the season so devoted to Luke that he’s literally selling T-shirts with Luke’s face on them. However, in the finale, D.W. confronts Luke over abusing his power to bring more order to Harlem, and when Luke says that he wants to “make Harlem great again,” D.W. doesn’t just call him “Luke Corleone” — he reminds Luke of who exactly he sounds like. For a show that otherwise has been so smart about the way it incorporates reality into a show about a man with superpowers, the moment is jarring, too obvious in its messaging. But the way it then blends into the final sequence makes it clear that what comes next may be the show’s defining arc. It takes a season for Luke to find some sense of certainty, for better or for worse. The next step of his journey may be the most fascinating. But it could have come a whole lot sooner. Grade: B “Marvel’s Luke Cage” Season 2 is now available to stream on Netflix. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.<doc-sep>Luke Cage season 2 follows the Marvel hero in the aftermath of The Defenders. Greg breaks down season 2, dives into the best Easter Eggs and references, and tells you what it all means for season 3. Warning: SPOILERS! Season 2 of Luke Cage dropped June 22, and we think it's a pretty solid sequel to the first season. Many were skeptical because the other Marvel shows on Netflix have had questionable second seasons, but they did pretty well with this one. Heads up, spoilers for season 2 of Luke Cage to follow. In this season, Cage takes on some increasingly dangerous crime groups as well as Mariah, Shades, and the new villain Bushmaster. His new challenges force him to confront how far he can go while still being able to call himself a hero. The villain arc in this season was a vast improvement on season one which was not very well paced. Despite the absence of Mahershala Ali, the cast did a great job this season, with Mustafa Shakir bringing an entirely different villain vibe to the table. Some of our favorite parts were Danny Rand featuring in episode 10 and watching Tilda evolve into Nightshade. There were also loads of references to the comics which were fun to unpack. If you'd like to hear an in depth account of the easter eggs from season two of Luke Cage, or hear our predictions for season three, check out Greg's video above.<doc-sep>

The bulletproof Defender of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is back in Season 2 of Marvel’s Luke Cage, but the final episode leaves a really uncertain future for the MCU. Maybe not as much as Thanos’ snap in Avengers: Infinity War, but it’s pretty darn apocalyptic, at least for the New York heroes. So just what happened at the end of Luke Cage Season 2? Because it’s such a shocker, let’s recap the final moments and predict what might happen in the future of the MCU’s New York City. Major spoilers for Marvel’s Luke Cage Season 2 ahead. In the final episode of Luke Cage Season 2, Bushmaster (played by Mustafa Shakir) has escaped into the wind. But Mariah Stokes-Dillard (Alfre Woodard) is caught and arrested for her role in the “Rum-Punch Massacre” where she absolutely, definitely burned Bushmaster’s entire family alive in their Jamaican restaurant. It was a really nasty one, folks. Mariah is then sentenced to Riker’s Island, where she quickly rises to the top of the women’s prison. However, it’s not long before Mariah gets her comeuppance, from who else but her own daughter, Tilda (Gabrielle Dennis). Using a special poison, Tilda kills her mother, leaving her to die in the arms of Luke Cage. Good night, Queen. Netflix In her will, Mariah leaves Cottonmouth’s keyboard to Tilda and gives Harlem’s Paradise to Luke Cage. “The club, the deed, the name,” Mariah’s lawyer explains. Whether it’s a gift from a friend, or the final insult from an arch-enemy, Luke reluctantly accepts the offer. Hoping to use his abilities in a different way, Luke aims to intimidate Harlem’s undying criminal networks directly. But it’s not a popular decision from his biggest fan and self-proclaimed brand manager, D.W., leading D-Dub to kick Harlem’s Hero out of Pop’s Barbershop. Exchanging his hoodie for a tailored suit, Luke now controls Harlem’s Paradise. His friends — including Misty Knight (Simone Missick) — are now his enemies, and his enemies are now his army. This may very well pit Luke Cage against all of his allies, including the other Defenders. Following the awesome “Heroes for Hire” team-up with Danny Rand (Finn Jones), it seems unlikely if Danny would ever agree to work with Luke again, at least while he’s calling all the shots. Luke Cage, what have you done? Netflix Will Luke Cage bend Harlem to submission? Or will Harlem swallow Luke Cage alive? Time will tell in a third season, if that ever happens. Marvel’s Luke Cage Season 2 is streaming now on Netflix.

Black Panther and Stranger Things dominated the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards with widespread Wakanda pride and '80s nostalgia as Black Panther won the most film awards and Stranger Things took home the most prizes in television. Black Panther took home four awards, including Best Movie, and actor Chadwick Boseman earned two trophies for Best Hero and Best Movie Performance. Boseman even gave his Best Hero award to real-life hero James Shaw Jr., who fought off a gunman at the Tennessee Waffle House shooting earlier this year. Actor Michael B. Jordan also took home a golden popcorn bucket after being honoured as Best Villain in the film. Stranger Things won three awards including Best Show, and actress Millie Bobby Brown and actor Noah Schnapp took home trophies as well. Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish hosted The MTV Movie & TV Awards, which aired Monday night on MTV, but were recorded in Santa Monica on Saturday night. Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Show all 27 1 /27 Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Zendaya The actor and singer paired a bespoke August Getty gown with slicked back hair Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Tiffany Haddish The host of the evening wore Galia Lahav Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Chloe x Halle Recording artists Chloe and Halle Bailey both donned floral Marc Jacobs dresses Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Romeo Miller The rapper worked head to toe millennial pink Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Olivia Munn The actor stunned in a plunging, emerald, velvet jumpsuit Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Noah Schnapp and Sadie Sink The young stars of Stranger Things were naturals on the red carpet Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Nick Jonas The singer looked suave in black leather Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Michael B Jordan The Black Panther actor wore Dsquared 2 Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Mandy Moore The actor and singer wore a studded Carolina Herrera dress Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Lili Reinhart The Riverdale star wore Izeta Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Kristen Bell The actor wore a Julien Macdonald mini Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Manny MUA The make-up artist and online influencer looked fierce in leather and flawless makeup Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Halsey The singer matched her outfit to the carpet with this Julien Macdonald number Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Boots Riley The rapper and director wore a matching plaid tracksuit - and made it work Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Christ Pratt The actor suited up for the occasion Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Camila Mendes The Riverdale actress wore an Elisabetta Franchi floorlength dress Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Alison Brie The actor wowed in a Sandy Liang dress and Sophia Webster shoes Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Ajiona Alexus It was all white on the night for the actor and singer Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Madeleine Petsch The Riverdale star wore pink Prada as she was accompanied down the red carpet by fellow actor Travis Mills Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Cristin Milioti and Betty Gilpin Gilpin wore tailored Zac Posen while fellow actor Milioti was seeing stripes Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Yara Shahidi The actor was pastel perfection in Tory Burch and Christian Louboutin Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Steven Silver The 13 Reasons Why star donned a burnt orange suit Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Ross Butler The actor looked casual and cool in his open-collar shirt Getty Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Dacre Montgomery and model Liv Pollock The actor and model co-ordinated outfits Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Chadwick Boseman The Black Panther star wore statement double denim Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Arielle Vandenberg The actor and model wore Zhivago Getty Images for MTV Best-dressed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2018 Quincy Brown The actor took to the red carpet in a striking Michael Cinco suit Getty Although she was presenting the show, Haddish won the award for Best Comedic Performance for her role in Girls Trip. The highest honours of the night were given to actress and writer Lena Waithe (The Trailblazer Award) and actor Chris Pratt (The Generation Award). In case you missed the ceremony, you can see the full list of winners below. BEST MOVIE (Presented by Toyota) Avengers: Infinity War (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Black Panther (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) - WINNER Girls Trip (Universal Pictures) IT (New Line Cinema) Wonder Woman (Warner Bros. Pictures) BEST SHOW 13 Reasons Why (Netflix) Game of Thrones (HBO) grown-ish (Freeform) Riverdale (The CW) Stranger Things (Netflix) - WINNER BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MOVIE Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther - WINNER Timothée Chalamet – Call Me by Your Name Ansel Elgort – Baby Driver Daisy Ridley – Star Wars: The Last Jedi Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHOW Millie Bobby Brown – Stranger Things - WINNER Darren Criss – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Katherine Langford – 13 Reasons Why Issa Rae – Insecure Maisie Williams – Game of Thrones BEST HERO Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/Black Panther) – Black Panther - WINNER Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) – Game of Thrones Gal Gadot (Diana Prince/Wonder Woman) – Wonder Woman Grant Gustin (Barry Allen/The Flash) – The Flash Daisy Ridley (Rey) – Star Wars: The Last Jedi BEST VILLAIN Josh Brolin (Thanos) – Avengers: Infinity War Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) – Star Wars: The Last Jedi Michael B. Jordan (N’Jadaka/Erik Killmonger) – Black Panther - WINNER Aubrey Plaza (Lenny Busker) – Legion Bill Skarsgard (Pennywise) – IT BEST KISS Jane the Virgin – Gina Rodriguez (Jane) and Justin Baldoni (Rafael) Love, Simon – Nick Robinson (Simon) and Keiynan Lonsdale (Bram) - WINNER Ready Player One – Olivia Cooke (Sam) and Tye Sheridan (Wade) Riverdale – KJ Apa (Archie) and Camila Mendes (Veronica) Stranger Things – Finn Wolfhard (Mike) and Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) MOST FRIGHTENED PERFORMANCE Talitha Bateman (Janice) – Annabelle: Creation Emily Blunt (Evelyn Abbott) – A Quiet Place Sophia Lillis (Beverly Marsh) – IT Cristin Milioti (Nanette Cole) – Black Mirror Noah Schnapp (Will Byers) – Stranger Things - WINNER BEST ON-SCREEN TEAM Black Panther – Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/ Black Panther), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Letitia Wright (Shuri) IT – Finn Wolfhard (Richie), Sophia Lillis (Beverly), Jaeden Lieberher (Bill), Jack Dylan Grazer (Eddie), Wyatt Oleff (Stanley), Jeremy Ray Taylor (Ben), Chosen Jacobs (Mike) - WINNER Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – Dwayne Johnson (Smolder), Kevin Hart (Mouse), Jack Black (Shelly), Karen Gillan (Ruby), Nick Jonas (Seaplane) Ready Player One – Tye Sheridan (Wade), Olivia Cooke (Samantha), Philip Zhao (Sho), Win Morisaki (Daito), Lena Waithe (Aech) Stranger Things – Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will), Sadie Sink (Max) BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE Jack Black – Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Tiffany Haddish – Girls Trip - WINNER Dan Levy – Schitt’s Creek Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live Amy Schumer – I Feel Pretty SCENE STEALER Tiffany Haddish (Dina) – Girls Trip Dacre Montgomery (Billy Hargrove) – Stranger Things<doc-sep>It was a huge night for Black Panther at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards, with the Marvel flick winning best movie while star Chadwick Boseman took home two prizes and Michael B. Jordan won for his super good supervillain performance. See all the big winners -- including host Tiffany Haddish taking home best comedic performance for Girls Trip! -- below.<doc-sep>After sitting through countless bloated awards shows indulging themselves for three or four hours at a time, the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards were a genuine relief — and in a delightful twist, even genuinely heartwarming. Airing Monday night after taping Saturday, the edited ceremony ran just two hours long but managed to squeeze in 15 awards, two musical performances, and several pre-taped sketches featuring host Tiffany Haddish. (The best: a take on “Black Panther’s” throne challenge scene featuring “Get Out’s” Lil Rel Howry and Haddish’s “Girl’s Trip” costars Jada Pinkett-Smith and Queen Latifah, and Haddish telepathically communicating with Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren from “The Last Jedi,” complete with a tense standoff over a vibrator she tried to pass off as a back massager.) Speeches were largely short and sweet; the biggest exception was generation award winner Chris Pratt, who accidentally proved the power of short speeches by delivering a confusing list of life rules ranging from “learn to pray” to “learn to poop better at parties.” With an ever-effervescent (and unapologetically thirsty) Haddish at the helm, people were at the awards for a good time, not a long time. By the night’s end, it was hard to understand why other awards show don’t follow suit more often. It was also easy to understand why MTV reportedly tapped Haddish to host earlier than they usually would; not only is she one of Hollywood’s fastest rising stars, but as the show’s opening song proved, she apparently can rap the hell out of a Cardi B beat. But even if the awards ceremony felt breezy, it was far from weightless. Haddish began her monologue by pointing out with a mixture of pride and disbelief that she’s the first black woman to host the ceremony; she closed by snarking that she better wrap it up, because “when a black girl talks this much on MTV, she usually just got catfished.” During one of his three(!) acceptance speeches for “Black Panther,” star Chadwick Boseman shouted out guest of honor James Shaw Jr., the “Waffle House hero” who helped stop a mass shooting. Keiynan Lonsdale, accepting best kiss for his part in gay teen movie “Love, Simon” wearing a glitter-spackled face and flowing dress, declared that “you can achieve your dreams and be yourself.” Lena Waithe dedicated her trailblazer award to the cast of seminal documentary “Paris Is Burning,” reminding the younger audience that slang like “werk” and “slay” is rooted in drag ball culture and thanking her queer predecessors for “strutt[ing] through a brick wall so we wouldn’t have to.” If it hasn’t become obvious by now, the night’s biggest and best moments belonged to its black and/or queer honorees. Throughout the night, they underlined some key shifts in the entertainment industry and celebrated progress in ways both casual and poignant. In a time when many awards shows feel like they’re reaching to make sure they include enough Political Moments to stay relevant, it was incredibly refreshing to see this one do it without breaking a sweat thanks to actual, meaningful inclusion.<doc-sep>

With seven nominations each, "Black Panther" and "Stranger Things" are the titles to beat at the Tiffany Haddish-hosted ceremony. The MTV Movie & TV Awards broadcast is underway. Known as the MTV Movie Awards until 2017, the ceremony commingled tentpole, network, Netflix, and reality stars this weekend at Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hangar. Host Tiffany Haddish also vied for a pair of Golden Popcorns for her breakout performance in “Girls Trip”: Scene Stealer and Best Comedic Performance. “Black Panther” and “Stranger Things” led the nominations with seven apiece. Winners were announced in 14 categories, and the evening also featured musical duets from Mustard and Nick Jonas, plus Chloe x Halle, who will open for Beyoncé and Jay-Z on their OTR II tour this summer. Special superlatives also went to Chris Pratt and Emmy-winning writer Lena Waithe. After experimenting with genderless categories in the mid-aughts, the award show abandoned the male/female distinctions for good following the soirée’s 25th year. When the change was announced, MTV President Chris McCarthy referred to traditional Best Actor and Best Actress honors “antiquated.” Four of the five Best Performance in a Show nominees tonight are women, while the movie counterpart includes three men and two women. Read on for the full list of winners.

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The opinions and information provided on this site are original editorial content of Sneaker News. Update 3/19/19: Nike has univeled the specifics of the Give Fresh Air initiative. Update 3/12/19: Alongside the “Give Fresh Air” initiative, a shoe will still be releasing on Air Max Day: the Air Max 180 BLN is slated to drop exclusively in Berlin, Germany. Since 2014, Nike has celebrated Air Max Day on March 26th — the day that the OG Air Max 1 first debuted in 1987 — with special drops, unique events, and plenty of history lessons, but 2019’s festivities will be a little different: no new shoes will be releasing. Previous years saw the revival of everything from the atmos Air Max 1 “Elephant” to new releases like the very first Vapormax colorway in 2017 and Sean Wotherspoon’s Air Max 97/1 in 2018, but this year Nike is instead opting to focus on their new “Give Fresh Air” initiative in support of local community-focused organizations. The Swoosh Brand’s official statement is as follows: “With the launch of the Air Max 1 in 1987, a revolution began. In the years since, Nike and “Air” have become synonymous while expanding its loyal following. Although March 26, 1987, marks the beginning of the epic Air Max journey, this Air Max Day launches a new chapter focused on taking action. We know that change happens when people come together. Give Fresh Air is a rally cry to unify sneaker culture around a shared passion to ignite change. Nike and our partners will create ways to give “Air” to support local organizations and champion the power of community. Since its inception in 2014, Nike’s Air Max Day has served as a celebration of all things Air — but unlike years past, 2019’s iteration of Air Max Day will not include any new releases.” Shoes that were slated to release on the 26th will now likely be dispersed across the impending spring months — so be sure to check our Sneaker Release Dates page to see when you’ll be able to secure your preferred upcoming Air Max drops. via Sole Collector<doc-sep>The six final shoes from the "Nike: On Air" design contest. While sneakerheads patiently await the shoes Nike will drop for Air Max Day, which takes place every March 26, the brand has revealed what is slated to hit stores after and delivered styles you could wear on the day itself. According to the Swoosh, six Air Max styles are slated to hit stores in April. The looks are the results of last year’s “Nike: On Air” design contest, where contestants reimagined Air Max styles using their city as inspiration. The shoes are inspired by New York City, London, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. New imagery of one of the six styles is circulating on social media, the Nike Air Max 97 “Neon Seoul” designed by Gwang Shin. The bold take on the classic silhouette is inspired by the city’s neon signs. The other five styles to hit retail in April are the NYC-inspired Air Max 98 La Mezcla by Gabrielle Serrano, the Shanghai-themed Air Max 97 SH Kaleidoscope by Cash Ru, the Air Max 97 London Summer of Love by Jasmine Lasode, the Air Max 1 Tokyo Maze by Yuta Takuman and the Air VaporMax Plus Paris Works in Progress by Lou Matheron. The six final “Nike: On Air” design contest sneakers. CREDIT: Nike But if you can’t wait to pick up a new Air Max look, the Swoosh released several “Have a Nike Day” styles on Friday. The shoes employ black, white, hyper jade and bleached coral hues and feature Nike swoosh smiley face logo lace locks. Included in the mix — and available now — are new colorful takes on the Air Max 270 ($150), Air Max 95 ($170) and the Air Max 97 ($170). The styles can be picked up via Nike.com and at select retailers such as Foot Locker. The brand also released the Air Max 1 “Have a Nike Day” that quickly sold out. Nike Air Max 97 “Have a Nike Day” CREDIT: Foot Locker Nike Air Max 270 “Have a Nike Day” CREDIT: Foot Locker Nike Air Max 95 “Have a Nike Day” CREDIT: Foot Locker If Nike delivers anything as impactful as it did last year on Air Max Day, sneaker fans are in for a real treat. As a refresher, the brand released the Sean Wotherspoon-designed Air Max 1/97 worldwide on the day. Sean Wotherspoon x Nike Air Max 1/97 CREDIT: Nike Want more? Why Nike’s Stock Just Hit an All-Time High Nike Air Max 95 Crab Shoes Look Good Enough to Eat Nike Tops List of Most Valuable Fashion Brands, but Adidas Is Gaining Ground<doc-sep>According to reports, Nike recently announced that it will not be releasing any sneakers for Air Max Day 2019. Since launching the annual March 26 Air Max celebration back in 2014, the event has served as an avenue for introducing the latest silhouettes and delivering new releases. But this year Nike has decided to take Air Max Day into a new chapter, with a focused on taking action for positive change. Rescheduling all of its planned drops, Nike will be launching the “Give Fresh Air” initiative in partnership with local organizations to build a stronger sense of community. Releases originally planned for Air Max Day will now be dropping over the next few months. Take a look at Nike’s official statement regarding its “Give Fresh Air” initiative below. In case you missed it, the UNDERCOVER x Nike SFB Mountain surfaces in “Dark Obsidian/University Red.”<doc-sep>Brand: Nike Model: Air Max Plus, Air Max 95, Air Max 97, Air Max 270, VaporMax '19, VaporMax Run Utility, Air Max Dia, Air Max 720 Key Features: Iridescent colorways, black detail, Swoosh branding, Max Air tooling. Release Date: March 21 Price: TBC Buy: Nike.com and at select retailers Editor’s Notes: With Air Max day just weeks away, Nike announces a celebratory release with the Air Max "Throwback Future" pack. Nike's "Throwback Future" capsule consists of various Air Max silhouettes decked out in iridescent colorways. The range includes the Air Max Plus, Air Max 95, Air Max 97, Air Max 270, VaporMax '19, VaporMax Run Utility, Air Max Dia and Air Max 720, while the matte-finished Air Max 720 is a Greater China-exclusive. “Our more expressive Air Max models shine with more expressive colorways,” says Courtney Dailey, Nike VP of Color Design. “We use color to show off a shoe’s technology and balance that with foundational grays and blacks.” You can get a look at each sneaker from Nike's Air Max "Throwback Future" pack via the gallery above. The collection launches on Nike.com and at select retailers on March 21. Hit the comments to let us know your favorite sneaker from the collection. To stay updated on everything happening in the sneaker world, follow @Highsnobietysneakers on Instagram, check our sneaker release date calendar, and subscribe to our sneaker chatbot on Facebook to receive lightning quick updates to your inbox.<doc-sep>

Since it began in 2014, Air Max Day has been an opportunity for Nike to drop new products – March 26 last year saw the introduction of Sean Wotherspoon's Air Max 1/97. However, for Air Max Day 2019, Nike's doing things a little differently. The brand is using Air Max Day 2019 to launch its "Give Fresh Air" campaign, aimed at giving back to the community through influencers and retailers. Nike released the following statement about the campaign: “With the launch of the Air Max 1 in 1987, a revolution began. In the years since, Nike and 'Air' have become synonymous while expanding its loyal following. Although March 26, 1987, marks the beginning of the epic Air Max journey, this Air Max Day launches a new chapter focused on taking action. We know that change happens when people come together. Give Fresh Air is a rally cry to unify sneaker culture around a shared passion to ignite change. Nike and our partners will create ways to give 'Air' to support local organizations and champion the power of community. Our launch this Air Max Day won't be a shoe but a call to action to pay it forward. 3.26.19 will not be about buying sneakers, it will be about giving them to others. We will leverage the power of the Nike network to elevate and heroize these stories and in the process champion one of the largest sneaker drives in modern history. This Air Max Day, don't buy. Give." According to Sole Collector, “releases originally planned for Air Max Day will instead be dropping over the upcoming months.”

The NHL will have regular-season action overseas for a third straight season, the league announced Thursday. Stockholm, Sweden's Ericsson Globe arena will play host to the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning for a pair of games on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9, offering Swedish fans an opportunity to see two of the country's star defensemen - Victor Hedman and Rasmus Dahlin - in meaningful NHL action. The Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers will play their 2019-20 season opener against each other in Prague, Czech Republic on Oct. 4 at O2 Arena. The contest will mark a homecoming for Jakub Voracek and Radko Gudas of the Flyers and David Kampf of the Blackhawks. Chicago will also complete their training camp in Germany and face Eisbären Berlin in an exhibition match on Sept. 29. Meanwhile, the Flyers will finish off training camp in Switzerland and play an exhibition game against Lausanne HC on Sept. 30.<doc-sep>The Headline Sneaking in a quick early morning edit, it was just announced that the Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing against the Buffalo Sabres in November as part of the NHL Global Series. The games will take place in Stockholm, Sweden. Woooo! [Raw Charge] At the crack of dawn on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that the team has been selected to play in the 2019 NHL Global Series against the Buffalo Sabres. The games will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Ericsson Globe. The Bolts The Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals showed off playoff-calibre hockey on Wednesday night. After a nerve-wracking game, the Bolts came out on top 5-4 in overtime. Victor Hedman the hero in the 3v3 contest. [Raw Charge] The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Washington Capitals 5-4 in a wild overtime game. Andrei Vasilevskiy was unreal making 54 saves breaking the team record for saves in a game that he previously shared with Ben Bishop. Nikita Kucherov scored two goals bringing his point total to 119 and now sits on the verge of reaching another milestone. With two PPGs in the 2nd period, NHL power-play scoring leader Nikita Kucherov has set a Lightning franchise record for most power-play points in a season (47), passing the old mark of 46 PP pts. set by Brad Richards in 2005-06. #TBLvsWSH #Bolts — Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) March 21, 2019 Also in the win, Andrei Vasilevskiy set the franchise record for saves in a game with 54. Ben Bishop had the previous record at 48. Andrei Vasilevskiy registered 54 saves to establish a @TBLightning franchise record for the most in a game, a mark previously set by Ben Bishop (48 saves on Jan. 19, 2014) and matched by Vasilevskiy himself earlier this season (Dec. 13). #NHLStats #TBLvsWSH pic.twitter.com/10CVA0igQH — NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 21, 2019 Do NOT try this at home! pic.twitter.com/rNL9WHrlBx — NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) March 21, 2019 But I think you’ll agree with me in thinking that this goal was the main takeaway from last night. Holy mama! In defense news, Dan Girardi will be out “indefinitely” with a lower body injury. As unfortunate the injury is, Girardi spent the vast majority of his icetime this season with Hedman, and Hedman away from Girardi has been much better this season than when they play together. At the end of the day, I think the main thing we should focus on is how grateful we should be at the emergence of Erik Cernak. Hey! I did two link lead-ins in one paragraph! How would I format this now? Uhh...how about this? Girardi injury news. [Raw Charge] For the immediate future, this removes some of the depth that has been so valuable all season. What was once a seven-player rotation on defense now has a clear top six when Stralman returns. Jan Rutta looks to be the clear seventh now and will likely remain in Tampa until Girardi is healthy. The emergence of Erik Cernak. [Raw Charge] The Slovak defender came to the Lightning in exchange for Ben Bishop at the 2017 trade deadline. At the time, the trade was underwhelming. Bishop had been nominated for the Vezina Trophy as one of the best goaltenders in the league the previous season and rumors at the 2016 draft suggested he might be able to fetch a first-round pick. Jon Cooper and his boys want a Stanley Cup. "Not one person in the room has a #StanleyCup." - Head Coach @CoopersLaw on what's driving the @TBLightning in their historic season and push for the ultimate prize. Watch the full #NHLTonight interview here: https://t.co/ROVwB0XIfD pic.twitter.com/TsFlVo3dDr — NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) March 20, 2019 The Prospects The Syracuse Crunch lost 4-2 to the Charlotte Checkers on a milestone night for a trio of Crunchers. It was also not a good night for goaltender Martin Ouellette, who got ran into by a pair of skaters and had to be rushed to the hospital. We will update y’all on his status when it becomes available. [Raw Charge] The loss of Ouellette, should it be long term, may be the break Connor Ingram needs to get back onto the Crunch’s roster. Whatever the reason for his exile to Orlando, he may now have the chance to contribute to the Crunch’s playoff push once again. Getting back to those milestones, congratulations to Hubert Labrie, Cory Conacher, and Carter Verhaeghe on their successful pro hockey careers. Not many people get to a fraction of where they are. Milestones? Oh, we have @BurdickFord milestones. Defenseman Hubert Labrie is skating in @TheAHL game No. 400 tonight. pic.twitter.com/Hc989AaNtx — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) March 21, 2019 The AHL is doing a mascot bracket challenge. Seriously. If you haven’t already filled in your bracket, what’s wrong with you? #MascotMadness is right around the corner! Our first round of voting starts tomorrow at 2 ET. To tide you over until then, here are our six preliminary groups: https://t.co/JNjPl4iFkL — AHL (@TheAHL) March 20, 2019 The Game The NHL is hiring more officials. They’re looking all over the world for experienced amateur referees, strong athletes with good eyes, men, women, everyone. The NHL is still accepting applications for its officiating combine in August. More women than ever have applied. The NHL needs athletes from Usport or the NCAA or the pro leagues to step forward. There will be women officiating in the NHL. — Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 20, 2019 Detroit Red Wings forward Jacob De La Rose had to be hospitalized with an accelerated heart rate. Here’s hoping everything is okay. [Sportsnet] “We hope everything is fine,” said Blashill, who was informed of the situation during the second period (quotes via NHL.com). “He’ll spend the night here, go home and see a specialist and make sure everything is good. We want to be extra cautious with it.” Brad Marchand had a busy night on Twitter a few days ago. He tweeted a lot of stuff, including a racist tweet about brown people being terrorists that he has since taken down. Took him approximately 15 hours to do so, but the brainiac finally figured it out. [NESN] The Carolina Hurricanes put all their Storm Surges on Youtube. Brilliant move. You can now view every #Canes Storm Surge in one place! » https://t.co/EpLthIp1Yn pic.twitter.com/gUqgajTieW — Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) March 20, 2019 And finally, Highlight of the Night: Honestly, how couldn’t it be this goal again.<doc-sep>Flyers will open the regular season against the Blackhawks in Prague on Oct. 4, while the Sabres and Lightning will place twice in Stockholm in November. Jakub Voracek was psyched at the mere suggestion the Philadelphia Flyers might play an NHL game in his native Czech Republic. ''I'm not going to lie to you, it would be great,'' Voracek said with a smile. ''Obviously to play an NHL game in your home country, it'd be awesome.'' Voracek will get that chance next season when the Flyers open the regular season against the Chicago Blackhawks in Prague on Oct. 4. The NHL on Thursday announced that matchup and two games between the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning in Stockholm in November as part of its now-annual Global Series. It's the third consecutive year the NHL is staging regular-season games in Europe and eighth overall. This will be Philadelphia's first appearance as part of the series. The games in Stockholm on Nov. 8-9 should feature a handful of Swedes, including Sabres 2018 top pick Rasmus Dahlin and 2018 Lightning Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman. ''Yes!'' was how Dahlin described his first reaction to learning the news. ''I was so happy. I wanted to have it, but I wasn't expecting it in my second year,'' the 18-year-old following a 4-2 loss to Toronto. ''It's great for me, but I also think it's going to be amazing for my family and friends, too, to be able to see a live NHL game,'' Dahlin said. ''And me playing there, a lot of them will never have a chance to see me play hockey.'' Dahlin noted it could also be a homecoming for several teammates in a Sabres organization stocked with Swedish-born players. Goalie Linus Ullmark and Johan Larsson are from Sweden, as are minor-league prospects and Victor Olofsson, Rasmus Asplund and Lawrence Pilut. Forward Alexander Nylander was born in Canada, but has represented Sweden on the international stage. ''It's so fun to share it with other Swedes,'' Dahlin said. ''It's probably the best thing that could happen.'' The Sabres opened the 2011-12 season playing Anaheim at Helsinki, Finland, and then Los Angeles at Berlin, Germany. This season, the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers opened the regular season in Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets played twice in Helsinki. Like the Devils and Oilers, the Blackhawks and Flyers will finish training camp in Europe and play an exhibition game against a local team. The Blackhawks will go to Germany and face Eisbaren Berlin on Sept. 29, and the Flyers will go to Switzerland and face HC Lausanne on Sept. 30. The NHL is also expected to have more exhibition games in China, but that matchup has not yet been announced.<doc-sep>

At the crack of dawn on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that the team has been selected to play in the 2019 NHL Global Series against the Buffalo Sabres. The games will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Ericsson Globe. From the press release, Tickets and VIP hospitality packages to the Nov. 8 and Nov. 9 NHL Global Series games between the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning at Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden, will go on sale at 9 a.m. CET on Wednesday, March 27 at www.livenation.se. The last time the Lightning played in Europe was in 2008, vs. the New York Rangers in two games held in Prague, Czech Republic. They lost both games by scores of 2-1, so here’s hoping for a better outcome. The Swede count for the Tampa Bay Lightning is currently two. The Swede count for the Buffalo Sabres is currently four, with a sad Alex Nylander looking on from the AHL. If the rosters stay stable, Victor Hedman, Anton Stralman, Rasmus Dahlin, Johan Larsson, Lawrence Pilut and Linus Ullmark will be making a homecoming trip to share Sweden with their NHL buddies. In a feature written by Bryan Burns, Hedman has already threatened his teammates with a “mystery” food, which we immediately identified as pickled herring: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has a surprise for his teammates when they visit his home country next fall. Exactly what that surprise is, Hedman’s not divulging, at least on the record. And we’re not telling because, hey, who wants to get the hulking 6-foot-6 blueliner on their bad side? ”It’s going to smell, I can tell you that much,” Hedman said with a grin. “And it’s food. It’s a specialty in Sweden. I don’t like it personally.” The series will also feature two exhibition games, with the Chicago Blackhawks playing Eisbären on Sunday, September 29 in Berlin, Germany after holding training camp overseas; and the Philadelphia Flyers playing Lausanne HC in Switzerland on Monday, September 30, also after holding training camp overseas. The two NHL teams will play each other in their season openers on Friday, October 4 in Prague. Ondrej Palat will just have to attend the Prague game as a hockey fan. So, are you making the trip?

SON HEUNG-MIN will look to edge closer to avoiding military service when South Korea take on Vietnam at the Asian Games. The Tottenham forward is two wins away from escaping the compulsory service, having played his part in a dramatic quarter-final victory over Uzbekistan on Monday. 2 Son Heung-min has scored just once at the Asian Games but is on track to avoid military service Credit: Getty - Contributor What time does South Korea vs Vietnam kick off? This semi-final takes place on Wednesday, August 29. South Korea vs Vietnam kicks off at 10am UK time. Which TV channel can I watch it on? UNFORTUNATELY this one won't be shown by any TV channel in the UK. You can stay with us here on SunSport for reports and reaction from this crucial clash. 2 Hwang Ui-jo scored his second hat-trick of the tournament against Uzbekistan to keep their gold medal hopes alive Credit: AFP or licensors What is team news? South Korea's Hwang Ui-jo netted a hat-trick in the 4-3 win against Uzbekistan and will be expected to lead the line once again. Hwang Hee-chan could start from the bench again, despite netting the winning penalty in extra-time. Son will likely continue as South Korea's main creative outlet, heading into the game as favourites to reach the final.<doc-sep>Kim Do-hyon says he has fallen in love with the team and so it is an individual’s decision, not an envoy’s. Kim spoke with journalists in Hanoi ahead of Vietnam’s semi-final against South Korea in the Asian Games on Wednesday. South Korean ambassador to Vietnam Kim Do-hyon. Photo by VnExpress/Viet Anh What is your feeling before the match? I expected Vietnam and South Korea to meet each other in the final of the Asiad, but now we're in a tricky situation. When Vietnam beat Syria on August 27, Vietnamese swarmed into the streets to celebrate, blowing their horns everywhere. I couldn't sleep all night wondering uneasily which team to support in the semi-final. After that night I made my decision: I will support Vietnam. I also feel guilty with Son Heung-min, South Korea’s key player, because if Vietnam win, he will have to do military service. How do you feel about publicly supporting the Vietnamese team when you are South Korea’s ambassador to Vietnam? This is not the decision of an ambassador representing the government of South Korea; it's the decision of an individual who loves football and was charmed by the Vietnamese team’s style. There are many South Koreans who love Vietnam and feel pride that the head coach of Vietnam is a South Korean, Mr Park Hang-seo. I think I am not the only one confused about which team to back this afternoon; many other South Koreans do too. I want to emphasize that I will be very happy whoever wins: South Korea is my country and Vietnam is my home. If Vietnam win, I will be very glad because I love the Vietnamese team and Park Hang-seo is my close friend. Their victory will enhance the friendship between South Korea and Vietnam. What about the Vietnamese team's style that attracted you? In their match against Syria, the Vietnamese showed that victory is not gained by luck but by perfect defending and using every opportunity to attack and score, revealing the determination of the team in particular and Vietnamese in general. In Vietnam’s recent matches, I realized your players use catenaccio, the strategy used by Italy in 1982, which helped them became the World Cup champion that year. I think Vietnam has written a new page in Asian football history. What we need to do now is support them with all our heart in the semi-final and possibly final. I am a big fan of football. When I was studying in Cambridge University in the U.K. at a young age, I watched almost all matches there. After coming to Vietnam, my love for football was revived thanks to the love of the Vietnamese team and Vietnamese people. I so admire Vietnamese people’s love for football and seeing them flock into the streets to celebrate the victory of their U23 team at the Asian Football Confederation Under-23 Championship in China at the beginning of this year. The Vietnamese team has been in my heart since then. Who do you like most in the Vietnamese team? I was so impressed by Quang Hai at the AFC U23. Overall, young Vietnamese players have the traits of trying their hardest until the end of the match, collaborating perfect and selflessness. Park Hang-seo told me that young people around the world are now individualistic, so making players in a team understand each other and work together well is a very difficult task. However, the Vietnamese team has proven it is feasible and that precisely is their attraction. The Vietnam team has sent a message to young people around the world that we need to give up individualism. Vietnamese players celebrated their victory over Syria on August 27. Photo by VnExpress Which team will win the Asiad title? Nothing is impossible in football. It's very hard to predict but I think we will have an unexpected result. One month ago Park told me that the Vietnamese team would try their best to win Japan and I did not believe that much. But now we know the result. Since South Korea have played in the Asiad many times and won, I think now it's Vietnam's turn. How will you celebrate if Vietnam win? I plan to go out to absorb the atmosphere on the streets. I want to wear the yellow-starred Vietnam flag T-shirt but it's not convenient for me. I think the winner of the semi-final will be the Asiad champion. Do you have plans with Park Hang-seo? We're close friends, often hang out together and talk about football. I do not play football but I read a lot and we discussed a lot before Vietnam went to the Asiad. Park has a football school in Lao Cai (in northern Vietnam) and wants to have two more in the central and southern parts of Vietnam. We are exchanging views on that and wish to make a contribution to the development of society in the region using football as a tool. We want to help poor Vietnamese children nourish their dreams of becoming football stars.<doc-sep>

Incredible Vietnam comes unstuck against Korea Son Heung-min and South Korea advanced to the gold medal match of the 2018 Asian Games at the expense of last ASEAN hopeful, Vietnam. South Korea moved one step closer to retaining their Asian Games gold medal after defeating Vietnam 3-1 in the semi-final match played at Pakansari Stadium on Wednesday evening. The match was controlled by the Koreans right from the first whistle and they got into an early lead through Lee Seung-woo's shot inside the Vietname's penalty box in the 7th minute of the match. The reigning Asian Games champions continued their assault on Vietnam's defence and quickly doubled their lead two minutes before the half hour mark. This time, Hwang Ui-jo reacting quickest to Son's pass. Article continues below Such was Korea's control on the first half, that Vietnam did not get a shot at goal to trouble one of Korea's 2018 World Cup stars in goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo. It was a similar affair in the second half with Korea continuing to press on their advantage and it only took Lee another 10 minutes after the restart to claim his second goal in the match. Even though they trailed by three clear goals, Vietnam showed some fighting spirit to at least reduce the deficit when Tran Minh Vuong's free kick in the 72nd minute made it 3-1. Vietnam tried to find the next goal but it just wouldn't come even though chances did fall to star men in Nguyen Cong Phuong and Nguyen Van Quyet. Korea closed out the game and will await the victors between Japan and United Arab Emirates.

The tragic death of a 3-year-old girl who was locked inside a burning car in Queens has been ruled a homicide, police said Monday. Little Zoey Pereira was inside the 2008 Audi sedan — which was chained shut — when it went up in flames shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday near Baisley Boulevard and 155th Street. She was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center but could not be saved. Her 39-year-old father, from Valley Stream, was on fire as he ran from the scene, according to police sources and witnesses. He jumped into Baisley Pond to extinguish the flames. The dad also was taken to Jamaica Hospital with second- and third-degree burns, sources said. The father, whose name was not immediately released, was later taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan and is now in police custody. Officials had received a 911 call about a car stopped in the middle of the intersection. When authorities arrived, they noticed the inside of the car was on fire — and the windows on the fully engulfed sedan were closed, Deputy Chief Joseph Gallucci said at the scene. Investigators discovered one gas canister in the street and another in the back seat, sources said. The incident, which is still under investigation, appears to have been related to a custody dispute.<doc-sep>An NYPD source says the manner of 3-year-old Zoey Pereira's death has been ruled a homicide 3-Year-Old Girl Dies After Being Found in Burning Car With Doors Chained Shut A 3-year-old girl died Sunday night in New York City after being pulled from a burning car authorities allege was set ablaze by the child’s father, who is now in police custody. An NYPD source tells PEOPLE that by the time officers were able to extract Zoey Pereira from the backseat of a torched 2008 Audi parked in the Queens section of the city, she was still alive but had sustained severe burns. Get push notifications with news, features and more. The first call about the fire was received shortly after 9 p.m. Zoey, in critical condition, was rushed by ambulance to the closest hospital. But soon after arriving at the emergency room, doctors pronounced her dead, says the source. The NYPD source confirms the manner of death has been determined to be a homicide. The source further indicates the Audi’s doors had been chained shut from the inside, trapping the toddler inside. The windows were also rolled up. Gas canisters and a fuel tank were found outside the vehicle. According to the source, investigators have since learned Zoey was at the center of an alleged custody dispute between her estranged parents, who live on Long Island. At the moment, a 39-year-old man described by authorities as Zoey’s biological father is in the hospital recovering from burns. He was taken into custody soon after police arrived on the scene, but Newsday reports he has not been questioned yet. The source tells PEOPLE the man, on fire, ran into a nearby park, where he jumped into a pond to extinguish the flames. No charges have been filed against the man at this point, and police have yet to release his name to the media. • Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.<doc-sep>A Valley Stream man whose 3-year-old daughter died in a Queens car fire was in NYPD custody Monday as investigators considered charging him in connection with the child’s death, police said. Martin Pereira, 39, also suffered burns in the Sunday night fire, which consumed a 2008 Audi sedan at 154th Street and Baisley Boulevard and killed his daughter, Zoey, who had been living with her mother in nearby Rochdale, according to the NYPD. As the fire burned, first responders pulled Zoey from the car and performed CPR before they took her to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where she died from severe burns, police said. Investigators were treating the case as a homicide stemming from a possible custody dispute over Zoey involving Pereira and the child’s mother. As of early Monday night, no charges had been filed against Pereira, according to an NYPD spokesman. The Queens district attorney’s office also had received no notification of any charges, a spokeswoman said. Pereira was discovered at about 8:52 p.m. a short distance from the burning Audi at Baisley Pond Park after police officers responded to a 911 call. Pereira had reportedly run into the pond with his clothes on fire and told Good Samaritans who doused the flames with a blanket that his daughter was still in the sedan. Investigators arrived to find a gasoline can and gasoline by the car as well as what appeared to be a butane canister, an NYPD spokesman said. Police disputed earlier reports that the car doors had been chained shut. Pereira, who suffered burns over most of his body, was first taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, then transferred to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan. He was in serious but stable condition, officials said. Sign up to get the latest updates Get Newsday's Breaking News alerts in your inbox. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. Neighbors of Pereira in Valley Stream described the residents of his home as quiet and friendly, but a bit reserved. Police didn’t have information about Pereira’s employment status. Zoey’s mother, whose name wasn’t officially released by the NYPD, couldn’t be reached for comment. Cases of child homicide, particularly those involving fire, are rare, said one seasoned NYPD investigator who didn’t want to be named. The last major New York City case of note came to light on a Sunday afternoon in August 2018 when tourists found the body of 7-month-old Jason Saldana in the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge. The baby’s 37-year-old father, after being taken into custody in by the NYPD in Thailand, was charged with concealment of a corpse. The case is pending in Manhattan State Supreme Court, records show. With Chau Lam and Michael O’Keeffe<doc-sep>A monstrous dad allegedly left his 3-year-old daughter to burn alive near a Queens park — strapped to her baby seat inside a chained-shut, gasoline-covered car that was set ablaze Sunday, police sources said. The full horror of Zoey Pereira’s final moments emerged Monday as cops ruled her death a homicide — and sources say 39-year-old Martin Pereira is “absolutely” the prime suspect in the tot’s death. “He killed a baby. He burned her alive. He did that to her. That’s not even human, that’s an animal. That’s a coward,” Zoey’s aunt told The Post. The dad was locked in a bitter custody dispute with the girl’s mom — and had been threatening to hurt their angelic toddler right before he allegedly left her burning inside the car that had been rigged up as a fiery prison, sources said. Zoey never had a chance. The little girl was strapped into a infant seat in the back of an Audi A6, and its rear doors were chained shut from the inside — one to the other so neither could be opened — in an apparent bid to frustrate attempts to rescue her, sources said. The vehicle had been doused in gasoline, and a propane tank in the trunk was set up to feed into the back seat via a tube, sources said. A second tank was found outside the car, sources added. A good Samaritan saw a flaming Martin flee the car when he pulled over at 155th Street and Baisley Boulevard, and used a blanket to help put out his burning clothes. Martin told him his baby was in the car — but while the Samaritan called 911, the father fled, according to police sources. The dad doused himself in nearby Baisley Pond Park — then tried to hide from cops as rescue workers fought to wrest his daughter from the wreckage. “The dad was down by the water,” the source said. “The only reason they found him was that a piece of his clothing was on fire.” The flaming scrap drew investigators’ eyes over toward the water, where they found Martin “stripped down to his underwear,” the source added. Police handcuffed him and connected him to an oxygen tank while FDNY members struggled to perform CPR on Zoey, the source said. First responders were able to extricate the girl — but only after the door handles that the chains were affixed to had melted, sources said. Zoey was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center but could not be saved. Martin Pereira, 39, suffered second- and third-degree burns, and was being treated at Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan. He was in police custody at the hospital, but had not been charged as of Monday evening. “He’s probably going to be charged with murder,” a police source told The Post. Another of Zoey’s aunts said Monday: “I hope he f–king dies.” “I’m just being honest. I hope he dies,” she said outside her sister Cherone Coleman’s Queens home Monday. Cherone Coleman and Pereira have been fighting over custody of their daughter Zoey, according to relatives and police sources. They were engaged, but Coleman, 36, broke it off about a month ago, police sources said. “He was acting kind of crazy lately since the breakup,” Cherone’s sister added. “And with his behavior, it did cross my mind that he may do something to harm my sister. But it did not cross my mind that he would do anything to harm a child, my niece, his daughter.” Martin had weekend visitation rights and picked up the child from Coleman on Saturday, police sources said. He later called her to discuss their relationship, but she told him to get lost. On Sunday, Martin phoned one of Coleman’s cousins in California and threatened to hurt the baby, prompting the cousin to call Coleman around 8 p.m. to warn her, sources said. The frantic mom called police in Nassau County — where Martin lives — then tried the NYPD, sources said. Coleman was at the 113th Precinct station when calls about the fire came in. Martin has a history of violence, according to family and police. He was arrested once for criminal contempt and twice for aggravated harassment against a different woman in 2013, sources said. Both parents had reported each other to various children’s protective agencies for maltreatment of Zoey this year, according to police sources. The city’s Administration for Children’s Services was investigating the mother, sources added. An ACS spokeswoman confirmed the agency is investigating the case along with the NYPD. It wasn’t clear why it was not probing Martin, but reps added that they only conduct investigations at the behest of the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. Reps for that state agency would not comment on why the dad wasn’t investigated. The grim family portrait painted by investigators stands in stark contrast to the image Martin put forth online. The dad’s Facebook page is dominated by photos of Zoey, including a profile picture depicting the two of them. “I missing her so much [sic],” the dad commented on a photo of the girl posted three weeks ago. Sunday was just his second weekend alone with the child since splitting with her mom, one of Coleman’s sisters said. An older snap shows Martin, Zoey and Coleman smiling happily together. Bizarrely, Martin posted a photo of the girl just hours before she was killed — showing her sitting with freshly styled hair in what appears to be a salon with balloons in the background. “She was adorable,” Coleman’s sister said of Zoey. “She liked her kitchen set, her tea set. She liked cooking for her mom, for her grandmother. She was just I guess what you would call a normal 3-year-old girl.” Additional reporting by Craig McCarthy and Sarah Trefethen<doc-sep>

The father of a 3-year-old found burned to death in a chained-shut car in Queens Sunday tried to hide from cops as his daughter was consumed by flames, according to police sources. Martin Pereira, 39, was found stripped down to his underwear and hiding near Baisley Park Pond — while a tan Audi A6 containing his 3-year-old daughter Zoey Pereira smoldered hundreds of feet away near Baisley Boulevard and 155th Street, the source said. “The only reason [cops] found him was that a piece of his clothing was on fire. He was stripped down to his underwear,” the source said, adding that Pereira was trying to hide from police. Pereira was taken into custody but has not been charged in Zoey’s death — which was ruled a homicide Monday. Doctors were treating him for second- and third-degree burns at Weill-Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan on Monday. Cops believe the dad was embroiled in a custody dispute with Zoey’s mom and was supposed to be returning the child to the mother Sunday night, another law enforcement source said. The frantic mom called 911 to report her child missing around the same time Zoey was burning, the source added. Two of the girl’s aunts raged about Pereira outside the tot’s mother’s house Monday. “He did that to her. That’s not even human, that’s an animal,” said one of the aunts. “Hopefully he dies. I’m just being honest. I hope he dies,” the other added. It was Pereira’s second weekend with the child since he split with Zoey’s mom, the second aunt added. “His behavior recently has been very erratic,” she said. Pierera posted a photo of Zoey to Facebook just hours before she was killed. The portrait shows the little girl with freshly styled hair sitting in what appears to be a hair salon with balloons in the background. Additional reporting by Larry Celona and Craig McCarthy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his newly elected Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday, beginning the second leg of his five-day tour of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. “The two leaders had a productive exchange of views on strengthening our strategic partnership,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. “Malaysia is a strategic partner and a priority country in our Act East Policy.” The two leaders discussed ways to boost economic and cultural relations between the two countries, PTI reported. Modi is among the first leaders to meet Mohamad, who became the world’s oldest elected leader earlier this month. Glad to have met Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. I thank him for the warm welcome. We had productive discussions on further cementing India-Malaysia ties. @chedetofficial pic.twitter.com/o8n7aMMS7e — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2018 Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Wan Azizah called on PM @narendramodi during PM's brief stop over in Kuala Lumpur. Good discussion took place to take our relationship to newer heights. Former DPM Anwar Ibrahim was also present. pic.twitter.com/2wssbFOf3i — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 31, 2018 PM @narendramodi met Malaysian PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur. The two leaders had a productive exchange of views on strengthening our strategic partnership. PM congratulated Dr. Mahathir on assuming the post of Prime Minister of Malaysia. @chedetofficial @hcikl pic.twitter.com/Y1YjZWSqDL — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 31, 2018 After a brief stopover, Modi left for Singapore. He is expected to deliver a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security summit, on Friday. At a business event in Singapore, Modi launched three Indian mobile payment apps – RuPay, BHIM and State Bank of India. The Indian prime minister met Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta on Wednesday. The two leaders signed 15 memoranda of understanding in fields such as defence, scientific and technological cooperation, railways and health. Modi also visited the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery and the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta. In an address to the Indian diaspora, Modi announced 30-day free visas for Indonesian citizens and invited Indians expatriates to visit their country of origin to experience the “New India”.<doc-sep>After a brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur, PM @narendramodi departs for Singapore. He was seen off at the airport by M… https://t.co/lQoApWCkCb — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) 1527751187000 KUALA LUMPUR: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi left to deliver the keynote address at a high-powered security summit in Singapore following his meeting with the senior-most political leader of Asean, Mahathir Mohamad in Malaysia , sources here hinted at a very significant outcome culminating in the Shangri-La Dialogue, the last leg of Modi’s south-east Asia tour.Modi is expected to make a big announcement on the Regional Security Architecture, officials and experts in the know of Asean matters said.Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore are all three key strategic partners for India and the signal that is coming through, specially after the high-yielding bilateral agreements with Indonesia, is that India is keen to engage with each of these countries, while keeping the Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) centrality intact.The focus this time is clearly on defence, maritime security and strategic access to ports. Indonesia has already agreed to provide India access to the strategic island of Sabang, close to the Malacca Straits. And the safety and security of sea lanes in the Indo Pacific region has been a recurring theme in PM Modi’s parleys with all Asean counterparts.Earlier visits of the PM during Asean summits and presence at ministerial level discussions, put in place the mechanism for all 10 Asean leaders to gather at India’s Republic Day celebrations, thereby signaling India’s position as a stakeholder in the region. This visit takes it up a notch further.In his discussions with Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad, while giving a personal touch to his congratulatory call, Modi talked defence and trade, besides cyber security. He also focused on enhancing the India Malaysia historical and cultural ties which have recently drawn in the local Malay population too towards yoga and holistic and ancient health systems like ayurveda.“Glad to have met Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. I thank him for the warm welcome. We had productive discussions on further cementing India-Malaysia ties,” Modi tweeted in Malay.MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Malaysia was a strategic partner and a priority country in India's Act East Policy.Talking to TOI, Indian High Commissioner Mridul Kumar said, “Defence is emerging as a key element in our partnership with Malaysia and for the past few months there has been a spurt in the defence-related engagement with Malaysia. After a long gap, India and Malaysia will be holding the Malaysia India Defence Cooperation Committee Meeting, in July this year.”PM Modi and Mahathir Mohamad spent over an hour discussing issues of mutual interest.Later, PM also met Malaysia’s newly-elected Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her spouse Anwar Ibrahim, who both then saw PM off at the airport.“Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Wan Azizah called on PM @narendramodi during PM’s brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur. Good discussion took place to take our relationship to newer heights. Former DPM Anwar Ibrahim was also present,” Kumar tweeted.<doc-sep>

Glad to have met Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. I thank him for the warm welcome. We had productive discussions on furth… https://t.co/4l5PU4FwWw — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1527741336000 KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met his newly-elected Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohammad and the two leaders had a productive exchange of views on strengthening the strategic partnership.Modi, who arrived here today on the second leg of his three-nation tour, met 92-year-old Mahathir in his office at Perdana Putra Complex, Putrajaya. "Glad to have met Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. I thank him for the warm welcome. We had productive discussions on further cementing India-Malaysia ties," Modi tweeted in both Malay and English.The two leaders discussed ways to boost economic and cultural relations between India and Malaysia .Modi is among the first world leaders to meet Mahathir, who became the world's oldest elected leader when his opposition alliance registered a stunning victory over the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which had ruled Malaysia since 1957. Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysia's prime minister on May 10.This is the first meeting between the two leaders. Modi last visited Malaysia in November 2015.External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the two leaders had a productive exchange of views on strengthening the strategic partnership.Prime Minister Modi congratulated Dr. Mahathir on assuming the post of Prime Minister of Malaysia, he added.During his brief stopover, Modi also met with Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her husband Anwar Ibrahim. "Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Wan Azizah called on PM @narendramodi during PM's brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur . Good discussion took place to take our relationship to newer heights. Former DPM Anwar Ibrahim was also present," Kumar tweeted.Malaysia and India have close ties with culture and history as well as in various key areas, particularly infrastructure development, education, tourism and defense.India is Malaysia's largest trading partner in South Asia with total turnover of RM 61.43 billion (USD 15.44 billion) in 2017.Earlier, the Prime Minister's Office said that Modi will be discussing aspects relating to India-Malaysia cooperation with Mahathir. "Malaysia is a strategic partner and a priority country in our Act East Policy," Kumar said.Modi had announced in New Delhi that on his way to Singapore, he will make a brief halt in Malaysia to meet Mahathir and congratulate the new Malaysian leadership.After concluding his whirlwind trip, Modi left for Singapore where he will deliver a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security meet, tomorrow.

Meghan Markle's 37th birthday—and very first birthday as a royal—is today. And to mark the occasion, the royal family pulled out all the stops across its Twitter and Instagram accounts to make sure Meghan gets a birthday post on each and every account. It's a very public embracing and show of support to their newest member. Kensington Palace, which represents Meghan, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton, naturally shared a tweet and Insta in Meghan's honor, thanking everyone for the birthday wises. The team pulled a pretty event photo of her, so no fancy new royal portrait or personal photo this time: This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Thank you everyone for your lovely messages on The Duchess of Sussex's birthday! #HappyBirthdayHRH pic.twitter.com/kECGU6fnl0 — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) August 4, 2018 So did the Royal Family Twitter and Instagram, which represents Buckingham Palace—and particularly Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan's good friend, and her husband Prince Philip. Of course a photo of Meghan and the Queen looking like BFFs was the natural choice: This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Happy Birthday to HRH The Duchess of Sussex! #HappyBirthdayHRH pic.twitter.com/qId94pYuNo — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) August 4, 2018 Clarence House, which represents Meghan's parents-in-law Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, also shared a birthday tribute featuring a photo with the three of them together: This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Wishing HRH The Duchess of Sussex a very Happy Birthday 🎂 pic.twitter.com/mjvSETqaqF — The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) August 4, 2018 A united, cross-platform front—and a way of saying, in the midst of the Thomas Markle drama, they remain firmly behind Meghan. Meghan and the royal family are on vacation this month, but Meghan and Harry are expected to make a public appearance at the wedding of Harry's good friend Charlie van Straubenzee later today. 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. 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>MEGHAN Markle will mark her 37th birthday today, her first in the royal family, having no contact with her father. The Duchess of Sussex will be considering the best way to respond to her father Thhomas Markle’s tirades that have shocked the world, and worried royal minders who fear he will continue to cause problems. Richard Fitzwilliams, a commentator for many years on royal events on TV and radio, including CNN, the BBC, and Sky News, told news.com.au he had never seen anything like the current Markle situation. And that included the scandals that previously engulfed the Windsors, because as headline-grabbing as they were, there was not a figure like Mr Markle who broke royal confidences and protocol. The Duchess of Sussex will celebrate her birthday this weekend at the wedding of friends of Prince Harry. Back when she was allowed social media, the Suits actress wrote on her blog her mum used to say a birthday was like “your own personal New Year”. In 2016 she wrote birthdays were “your own chance to make resolutions just for yourself and what you prognosticate for the year ahead” and told readers of her blog she always wished for “more inspiration, always more inspiration”. Given her current situation, this year will be no different. Mr Fitzwilliams said the duchess’ birthday came at a difficult time. “It’s in a period for Meghan Markle that has been most successful in wowing crowds and the charitable aspect of her work. There is no question she and Harry have plans...to Fiji, Tonga, Australia and New Zealand in October and there is a lot of speculation that they will be going to the United States, but there’s no question she is popular - but there is the problem of the family. And the father.” Mr Fitzwilliams said the situation was “unfortunate”. The focus for Meghan should be ramping up her charity work and promote causes that she felt strongly about, as well as getting to know the UK and Commonwealth. “The last few weeks have been clouded by this because it has been unprecedented, but remember how successful she is, how in control she is. Unlike Harry’s other girlfriends she knows how to deal with the attention. Unlike her father.” This week Mr Markle said he wanted to send Meghan a card but he doubted she would ever see it. In this regard there was a lot to celebrate this weekend, but it would be a subdued affair. As for Mr Markle, he had to be brought under control before it was too late. “This is absolutely unprecedented it’s awful for the people to try and cope with it and it is uncontained at the moment. How you do that with someone who is not predictable, I don’t know, no wonder courtiers are concerned.” It would all come to an end one way or the other. “It must be stopped but how it is stopped I don’t know.” “He’s a person who is completely unused to the media frenzy over anything and he’s 74 and in poor health - having said that once he opened the door to Piers Morgan and Good Morning Britain for half an hour, that was very, very unwise. He started repeating things Prince Harry had said to him. It doesn’t matter it wasn’t exactly what he said, the point is you can’t have a loose cannon. You cannot trust someone (like that).” He told news.com.au no one knew how it would all end. “In theory there is no way of controlling him. Harry has never met him, he’s complaining Meghan has cut him off, no doubt because he’s giving these interviews...” Asked about persistent rumours in London that Meghan was about to make a solo trip to the US, he said it could allow a meeting with her father or at least with an intermediary. “In some way Thomas Markle has to appreciate if he is to be in any contact with Meghan in a way he would wish he must not do what he is currently doing.” Part of the problem for the public was the palace rarely gave any comments, so it was difficult to know what exactly happened behind the scenes to bring Mr Markle into the fold before the wedding. Royal watchers spoken to by news.com.au this week said Meghan and Harry may have had their reasons to keep him at arms length. “It’s messy and we aren’t aware how it all might play out. But there is one thing for sure, he has to stop. Thomas Markle is acting like a loose cannon...his behaviour is unpredictable and that’s fatal in royal affairs,” Mr Fitzwilliams said. Half-sister Samantha had attacked Meghan repeatedly with “appalling” and “poisonous” comments, and entering the Celebrity Big Brother house - as has been rumoured - would be a “tasteless” move, Mr Fitzwilliams said. In an interview this week, Mr Markle claimed Meghan changed her phone number and was sending him “mixed messages”, dismissed the royals as a “Monty Python sketch” and accused his daughter of having a “sense of superiority”. He suggested it would be better for Meghan if he died, and that Princess Diana would be disgusted with how he was being treated. Veteran royal watcher Phil Dampier, author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan in their Own Words, told news.com.au: “Harry and Meghan have tried ignoring the Markles, but it’s not working. Before things get even more embarrassing for the royal family, they must try to build bridges. Meghan is considered to be a major asset for the royal family and someone who can help modernise the monarchy, and if anything, her family woes seem to have boosted her popularity even more. Royalty Inc author Stephen Bates said she made the royals “less stuffy”. “She broadens the gene pool really, she brings a different perspective and also a different appearance, beyond the obvious, to the Royal Family. She is bound to make them appear less stuffy and to inject different ideas into their gene pool. I think it’s very good for the monarchy.” [email protected]<doc-sep>Meghan Markle‘s 37th birthday on August 4 is a big day for the royal family. Not only does it mark Meghan’s first official birthday as the Duchess of Sussex, it’s also the birthday of another important royal: the late Queen Mum, Queen Elizabeth‘s beloved mother. The Queen Mum, born Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon on August 4, 1900, was an important member of the royal family. One of nine children, she was intelligent and well-educated, and spoke French fluently by age 10 after receiving home-schooling lessons, according to the royal family’s official website. She met her husband, then Prince Albert, in her late teens and they married in 1923. The couple’s first daughter, Princess Elizabeth was born in 1926, and their second, Princess Margaret, in 1930. Get push notifications with news, features and more. The Queen Mum and her husband unexpectedly claimed the throne (following the abdication of Prince Edward over his marriage to American divorcée Wallis Simpson) in 1937, and she immediately made it the central duty of her and her family. Politics - World Leaders at Buckingham Palace, London The Queen Mum and Queen Elizabeth | Credit: PA Images via Getty She was so dedicated that when World War II began and officials suggested she move with her children to North America, she famously responded, “The children will not leave unless I do. I shall not leave unless their father does, and the King will not leave the country in any circumstances whatsoever.” 1926. The Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) pictured with their daughter (later, Queen Elizabeth II) as she sleeps in a precious christening robe, which has been used in the Royal Family for generations. The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth as a baby | Credit: Popperfoto/Getty As a new mother, the Queen Mum was attached to baby Elizabeth and spoke openly about how hard it was to leave her to fulfill her royal duties. When she and Albert had to travel to Australia in 1927, she wrote in her diary that she felt “very miserable at leaving the baby,” according to the biography, The Queen Mother. Grab Cut Insert Cut F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox32705#getty50679438.jpg The Queen Mother | Credit: Time Life Pictures/Getty When her husband died in 1952, many thought the Queen Mum would become a recluse since she was so devoted to her husband — but she stayed active because of her obligations to her family and the people. She was also especially close with her grandson Prince Charles. Q Mother Diana William The Queen Mother, Prince William and Princess Diana | Credit: Tim Graham/Getty The Queen Mum also cared deeply about her great-grandchildren. According to The Guardian, she placed £19 million in trusts for them to be passed on after she died in March 2002. She left the bulk of her estate, between £50 and £70 million to Queen Elizabeth. (Princess Margaret died less than two months before her mother.) The Duchess Of Sussex Undertakes Her First Official Engagement With Queen Elizabeth II Meghan Markle and Queen Elizabeth | Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images The Queen Mum’s primary legacy is that she was one of the most popular members of the monarchy, according to Ipsos, and probably played a big role in how beloved the family is today. Sentebale Polo 2018 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images<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. Meghan Markle celebrates her 37th birthday today alongside husband Prince Harry. The slender Duchess of Sussex has long kept up her healthy eating habits in order to stay slim. Her love of green juice and salads has been documented on her now-deleted lifestyle website, The Tig. However, Meghan, who is also a foodie, has her vices just like the rest of us – and will no doubt enjoy these on her birthday. Her favourite foodie vice is French fries, or chips as they are more commonly known in the UK.<doc-sep>

Meghan Markle to attend friend's wedding on her birthday The American royal will mark turning 37 by the side of her husband Prince Harry at his best friend Charlie van Straubenzee’s wedding to Daisy Jenks in Surrey. But Harry is likely to spoil his wife today as this birthday is extra special because it marks Meghan’s first birthday as an official member of the Royal Family. Meghan Markle’s birthday is also a special day for the Queen, whose mother, the Queen Mother, was born on the same day in 1900. It comes after Prince Harry, 33, whisked Meghan off for a romantic getaway in Africa to celebrate her birthday last year, a year after they started dating. The smitten prince is said to have organised a surprise BBQ under the stars for his new girlfriend. And one year later, Meghan is now an official member of the firm after the pair married in a spectacular Royal Wedding back in May. The pair met in July 2016 and announced their engagement in in November 2017, barely two years after meeting for the very first time. But the royal couple, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, haven’t looked back and are busy committing themselves to public engagements and their charitable endeavours. Meghan Markle will celebrate her 37th birthday on Saturday Meghan Markle’s first royal moments in pictures Thu, August 2, 2018 View the Duchess of Sussex’s first royal moments in pictures from her first official international engagement to her first solo outing with the Queen Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 10 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first public kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel after they exchanged vows Meghan Markle will mark turning 37 by the side of her husband Prince Harry So much so, Meghan undertook 17 royal duties before the wedding and her first official post-wedding duty was just three days after the big day. We are yet to see Meghan carry out her first solo engagement alone, but as a pair she and Harry have charmed the nation, young and old alike, and proved very popular on their recent visit diplomatic trip to Ireland. Meghan previously told how she was keen to get stuck in and “hit the ground running”. The pair will carry out their first official overseas tour as a married couple this year when they fly out to Australia, Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga and New Zealand this autumn. Meghan Markle is marking her first birthday as a royal on Saturdy Meghan Markle's birthday will be marked at Harry's close friend's wedding

In a press conference in New Delhi, Honor announced the launch of its latest smartphone, the Honor Play. First unveiled as a gaming smartphone in China a couple of months ago, the Honor Play boasts of top-of-the-line Kirin 970 processor that is made from 10nm manufacturing process and packs in onboard AI capability (via built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU)) as well as the company’s new GPU Turbo technology to increase processing efficiency and reduce power consumption when playing games. The Honor Play comes in two memory variants – 4GB as well as 6GB RAM – while the internal storage on both variants is the same – 64GB. It sports a large 6.3-inch Full HD+ display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio – yes, there’s a notch. Honor Play Specifications Honor Play Display 6.3-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD 2340 x 1080 resolution 19.5:9 aspect ratio 2.5D curved glass display SoC Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 970 octa-core (4 x 2.4GHz A73 + 4 x 1.8GHz A53), 10nm Dedicated NPU GPU Mali-G72 MP12 GPU Turbo RAM 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X Storage 64GB (UFS 2.1) Expandable up to 256GB with microSD Cameras Rear cameras: Primary: 16MP with LED flash, f/2.2 aperture, PDAF Secondary: 2MP secondary camera with f/2.4 aperture Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) Front camera: 16MP, f/2.0 aperture Audio 3.5mm headphone jack Single bottom-firing speaker Battery 3,750mAh IP rating None Sensors Fingerprint sensor Digital compass Ambient light sensor Gravity sensor Gyroscope Proximity sensor Network 4G LTE TDD: B38/B40/B41 4G LTE FDD: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20 3G WCDMA: B1/B2/B5/B8 2G GSM: B2/B3/B5/B8 Connectivity USB Type-C (USB 2.0) Wi-Fi 2.4GHz: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi 5GHz: 802.11 a/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 GPS/AGPS/Glonass SIM Nano-SIM Software Android 8.1 Oreo EMUI 8.2 Dimensions and weight 157.91 × 74.27 × 7.84mm 176g Colors ultra violet, navy blue, midnight black, player edition red/black GPU Turbo Honor Play is the first smartphone from the company to pack GPU Turbo out of the box. The graphics processing technology is an integrated hardware-software graphics processing acceleration technology that reconstructs the traditional graphics processing framework at the lower layer system, greatly improving the efficiency of GPU graphics processing and user gaming experience. According to the company, it allows improving graphics processing efficiency by 60% and reducing SoC (System on Chip) energy consumption by 30% on Honor Play thereby delivering improved smartphone performance with energy consumption balance. At the launch though, the GPU Turbo supports only PUBG Mobile, the widely popular ‘Player Unknown’s Battlerounds’ game. Pricing and Availability The Honor Play is available in two color variants – Midnight Black and Navy Blue – and includes a 9V/2A fast charger as well as a TPU protective case bundled in the box. Priced at 19,999 rupees ($291) for the 4GB variant and 23,999 rupees ($349) for the 6GB variant, the Honor Play will go on sale exclusively on Amazon.in starting August 6 at 4PM India time. Honor Play packs in flagship-grade specifications in a good looking chassis while sporting a mid-range price-tag. What are your thoughts on Honor’s new device, and would you like to pick one up? Tell us in the comments! Buy Honor Play on Amazon<doc-sep>Close on the heels of the launch of the Nova 3 Series in India, Huawei, the Chinese smartphone giant has decided to launch a new smartphone in India. The new handset will be sold under Huawei’s sub-brand Honor and is known as the Honor Play. The Honor Play is a rather unique handset owing to the price range it finds itself in. The launch of the Honor Play also brings down the cost of a flagship class processor to unbelievable levels. Let us take a closer look at the handset now, shall we? Honor Play: Specifications, Hardware The Honor Play is powered by the powerful Kirin 970 processor from Huawei that is also found doing duty on the likes of the Huawei P20 Pro, the Honor 10 and the Nova 3. The handset ships in two versions – a base 4GB RAM version and a 6GB RAM version. Both the versions come with 64GB of internal storage with the provision to expand the memory further using microSD cards. For graphics, the Kirin 970 SoC integrates the Mali-G72 MP12 GPU. As you might be already aware, the Kirin 970 also integrates a Neural Processing Unit that helps the phone deal with several AI features. The display used on the Honor Play is a large 6.3-inch IPS LCD panel in the 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Prima facie, looks like this is the same panel that the Nova 3 also uses. The phone also gets a large 3750 mAh battery which seems to be identical to the one we saw on the Nova 3. Honor Play: Hands-On, First Impressions Like the Nova 3, the Honor Play also supports the new GPU Turbo technology from Huawei. This feature claims to improve the graphics processing efficiency of the handset by as much as 60% while also reducing the energy consumption of the SoC by over 30%. I will only be able to comment on this after I start using the phone though. Honor Play: Camera and Imaging setup Being a scaled down version of its flagship brethren, the Honor Play expectedly sports a scaled-down camera spec sheet as well. The primary camera on the device is a 16-megapixel unit that is mated to the now common 2-megapixel depth sensing secondary camera. At the front, there is a single 16-megapixel unit for selfies and video calls. The primary rear camera can also capture 4K videos at 30fps. The front camera is however restricted to just 720p video capture. The highlight of the camera is, of course, the AI features that it sports and from what I have seen so far, the camera UI and the options are identical to the ones found on more expensive Huawei and Honor products. Honor Play: Price in India, First Sale date The Honor Play as mentioned earlier comes in two versions in India. The base version has been priced at Rs.19,999 while the higher end 6GB RAM version will set you back by Rs.23,990. The handset goes on sale today and will be available via Amazon and the Honor India store.<doc-sep>Honor Play India Launch highlights: The Honor Play will go on sale from 4pm through Amazon and Honor India. Honor Play India Launch highlights: The Honor Play will go on sale from 4pm through Amazon and Honor India. Honor Play launch in India; price, specifications and features highlights: Honor Play has officially launched in India at an event in New Delhi. Honor Play offers many features for smartphone gamers, and packs the company’s high-end Kirin 970 processor, and comes with a new GPU technology as well. Read more: Honor Play first impressions: At price of Rs 19,999 packs some great features Honor Play has a price tag of Rs 19,999 for the base variant which has 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, while the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage comes with a price tag of Rs 23,999. Honor Play will go on sale from today itself on the Amazon India website. Sale for Honor Play will start at 4 pm IST.<doc-sep>

Huawei brand Honor on Monday launched the Honor Play smartphone in India, and the event has now ended. The Honor Play price in India has been set at Rs. 19,999 for the 4GB RAM variant, and Rs. 23,999 for the 6GB RAM variant. Sales start today itself at 4pm IST via Amazon India and the HiHonorStore. A Vodafone launch offer will provide 10GB of data additional per month for a year, along with an Amazon Prime subscription, and more. The company at the event detailed the GPU Turbo technology, which was originally unveiled at the China launch of the Honor Play. The company announced that the Honor Play will get an AI Gaming update in the near future, bringing features like 4D Gaming (with intelligent vibrations based on the game being played) and 3D Gaming Audio with surround sound. The Honor Play also features a 'Gaming Suite', which will allow users to manage calls and other notifications to prevent interruptions to their gaming session. Honor is also touting the AI camera features of the Honor Play, including scene and object detection, apart from 3D facial recognition. The smartphone also comes with EIS for video stabilisation, Honor said at the event. The company reiterated that the smartphone's dual rear camera setup has a 16-megapixel primary lens with f/2.2 aperture and PDAF, and a 2-megapixel secondary lens with f/2.4 aperture. At the front, the smartphone has a 16-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture. Honor is also boasting of an AI Gallery app, that can classify and group photos. There is also an AR Mode. The Honor Play bears a 3750mAh battery, the company revealed at the event, while also talking about its AI-based Face Unlock feature and Notification Safety feature. The EMUI 8.2-based smartphone has several AI features, including Hi Touch - an AI-based shopping experience that can find products on Amazon online simply by taking their photo. There is also a Party Mode on board, which allows users to sync music playback across 7 devices. At the launch event, Honor revealed that the Honor Play has a unibody metal design, and despite being quite slim at 7.48mm, still bears a 3.5mm headphone jack. In India, the smartphone will be available in Navy Blue and Midnight Black colour variants. Honor Play specifications The dual-SIM (Nano) Honor Play runs EMUI 8.2 based on Android 8.1. The smartphone sports a 6.3-inch full-HD+ (1080x2340 pixels) with 85 percent NTSC colour gamut. It is powered by the octa-core Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 970 SoC along with Mali-G72 GPU and the built in NPU (neural processor unit). The handset comes in 4GB and 6GB RAM variants. Honor Play First Impressions In terms of optics, the Honor Play sports a dual camera setup with AI features. It has a 16-megapixel primary lens with f/2.2 aperture and PDAF, and a 2-megapixel secondary lens with f/2.4 aperture. At the front, the smartphone has a 16-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture. The Honor Play is equipped with 64GB of inbuilt storage, expandable via microSD card (up to 256GB). Connectivity options include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, and USB Type-C. Sensors onboard the smartphone are an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, and proximity sensor. Meanwhile, the Honor Play is fuelled by a 3750mAh battery with fast charging support. The dimensions of the Honor Play are 157.91x74.27x7.48mm and weighs 176 grams.

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow and never miss the top F1 stories again Portland Trail Blazers point guard Lillard has been linked with a trade to the Lakers this week after hinting he would be happy to play alongside LeBron James in Los Angeles during a Twitter Q&A with fans. Leonard, meanwhile, is believed to be the Lakers’ top target after informing Spurs officials of his desire to be traded last month, with Los Angeles his preferred destination. The Spurs are believed to be playing hardball in negotiations however, demanding the Lakers give up a large part of their young core packaged with a raft of future draft picks in order to get their hands on the 27-year-old. As such, the Lakers are said to be considering waiting until the summer of 2019, when Leonard becomes an unrestricted free agent, to continue their pursuit of the 2014 Finals MVP.<doc-sep>Getting LeBron James to join your team is a boost to your organization in so many ways. First, you get one of the best players -- possibly the best player -- to ever grace the basketball court. But another benefit is that having LeBron on your roster tends to attract other stars who want to play alongside him for the chance to win titles. The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping this is the case for them, which makes All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard's tweet on Wednesday morning even more interesting. A fan asked Lillard how he would feel if the Portland Trail Blazers traded him to Los Angeles to play with LeBron James. There are many answers that would have been typical: "I don't think about those things, I just play basketball." "I'm a Blazer until someone tells me otherwise." "I want to finish what I've started here in Portland." Also an option: not replying. Instead, Lillard raised some eyebrows. This response might seem harmless, just a player telling his fans that he tries not to get worked up about situations out of his control, like being traded to another team. But there is more than meets the eye with this potentially innocuous tweet. Lillard had a mysterious meeting with Blazers owner Paul Allen in January, reportedly to discuss the team's direction. From ESPN's Chris Haynes: In the weeks leading up to the meeting, Allen feared Lillard would request a trade, sources said, but a trade request was not made. The two-time All-Star made it clear, though, that he has championship aspirations and wanted to fulfill those lofty goals during the remaining years of his prime window. After a strong finish to the season, the Blazers secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, but suffered an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, leaving many to question whether the combination of Lillard and backcourt-mate CJ McCollum can ever lead Portland to playoff success. Also, Lillard was clearly upset that the Blazers allowed former teammate Ed Davis to agree to a deal with the Nets on the first night of free agency. Lillard called Davis a friend and a "comfort blanket" back around the trade deadline, and tweeted a broken heart emoji when the news broke early Sunday morning. All this to say, sometimes a tweet is not just a tweet. Lillard could have ignored the question about LeBron and the Lakers, but he willingly let it be known that he'd be a "happy camper" if the Blazers traded him. Portland clearly has some question marks about its future, and owes Lillard nearly $90 million over the next three seasons. The Blazers have been swept in the first round of the playoffs each of the last two years, so it will be interesting to see if they consider moving Lillard or McCollum.<doc-sep>

Damian Lillard doesn’t want to be traded to LeBron James’ Lakers. But he isn’t exactly shooting the idea down. When asked on Twitter on Wednesday if he would be happy should the Blazers deal him to LA, Lillard replied, “I’m typically a happy camper.” Lillard has played his entire six-year career in Portland, where he’s been an All-Star three times, but never made significant headway in the playoffs. In January, according to ESPN, he had a meeting with owner Paul Allen, who feared Lillard would request a trade because of his title aspirations. Lillard never did. Asked about DeMarcus Cousins joining the super powers in Golden State, he said: “People can do what they want. Its not about loyalty because this is business…it’s just not my style.” Whether Lillard’s thoughts of going to the Lakers mean anything of course, is an entirely different conversation. The Lakers just signed Rajon Rondo at point guard and have Lonzo Ball — the No. 2-overall pick in the draft just a year ago — to boot. Though they do have the cap space to afford a Lillard trade, there’s scant evidence suggesting that the Blazers would trade Lillard or that the Lakers are looking to get him, so for now, this is all fun and games. As for whether Lillard wants to be a Laker or was merely entertaining the possibility, he seemed to address that in a follow-up tweet. “Everything is a stretch,” he said. “Oh well.” But it’s the time of year when anything can happen and any stars can unite. The Lakers are building something interesting around James. Hoping they are open to ideas, Kyle Kuzma threw another name into the mix Thursday morning: Dwyane Wade.

Trump: It’s really too bad, because nobody told me about it, and I would’ve loved to have spoken to you. You know I’m very open to you. I think you’ve always been fair. We’ll see what happens. But all I can say is the country is doing very well. We’re doing better economically just about than at any time. We’re doing better on unemployment maybe than ever. You know, I mean, if you look at the unemployment numbers, you’ve heard me say it. And we’re doing better on unemployment than just about ever. We’re having a lot of — a lot of companies are moving back into our country, which would’ve been unheard of two years ago. If the other administration or representatives of it had kept going, had kept — you know, if the other group had won, I will tell you, that you would have, I think you’d have a GDP of less than zero. I think we would’ve been going in the wrong direction. Because regulations are such a big part of what we’ve done, Bob.<doc-sep>(CNN) — President Donald Trump called journalist Bob Woodward on August 14, apparently because the President was alarmed by reports that Woodward is publishing a new book about him. Woodward recorded the call with Trump’s permission and CNN obtained a full transcript of the conversation. The Washington Post first reported on the 11-minute call. Here is the transcript:<doc-sep>WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 08: U.S. President Donald Trump announces his decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in the Diplomatic Room at the White House May 8, 2018 in Washington, DC. After two and a half years of negotiations, Iran agreed in 2015 to end its nuclear program in exchange for Western countries, including the United States, lifting decades of economic sanctions. Since then international inspectors have not found any violations of the terms by Iran. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (CNN) — Last month, President Donald Trump called The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward. Trump had heard Woodward was working on a book and called to ask why Woodward had never reached out to him. Woodward told Trump he had repeatedly tried to reach him through official and unofficial channels and been rebuffed. He also informed the President that the book – “Fear: Trump in the White House” – was done (it comes out on September 11) and that Trump was too late. Woodward also recorded the conversation – and informed Trump he was doing so. The transcript of the call, which the Post released earlier Tuesday, is, um, wild. I picked out the most fascinating parts of the call. They’re below. 1. “It’s really too bad, because nobody told me about it, and I would’ve loved to have spoken to you. You know I’m very open to you. I think you’ve always been fair.” Trump is right – Woodward is fair – but the President saying this on tape(!) makes what undoubtedly will be the White House’s attempt to discredit Woodward that much tougher. Also, it becomes clear time and time again in this phone call that people – including White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham – did talk to Trump (or his scheduling team) about sitting down with Woodward, even if the President says he didn’t know it. 2. “Madeleine is the key. She’s the secret. Because she’s the person….” Trump is talking about Madeleine Westerhout, his personal assistant. And her being “the key” is no longer much of a secret. 3. “Well, a lot of them are afraid to come and talk, or – you know, they are busy. I’m busy. But I don’t mind talking to you. I would’ve spoken to you.” The President of the United States is acknowledging that many of his aides are afraid of him! That. Is. Nuts. Also, Trump reiterates here that he would have been more than happy to talk to Woodward. 4. “And I certainly don’t mind talking to you, and I wish I could’ve spoken to you. But nobody called my office. I mean, you went through, I guess, different people. …” Put a pin in this. We’ll come back to it. 5. “Who were the senators? No, they never called me about it. … Senator Graham actually mentioned it quickly in one meeting.” In between Trump saying no senator mentioned it and him admitting Graham mentioned it comes this line from Woodward: “Senator Graham said he had talked to you about talking to me. Now, is that not true?” What happened is this: Trump made a sweeping statement. Woodward called him on it with a fact. Trump acknowledged his previous statement (seconds before) was inaccurate. Good times. (Also, see No. 4.) 6. “So I have another bad book coming out. Big deal.” This can be read either as false bravado (Trump is trying to convince Woodward that nothing can really hurt him with his supporters) or actual bravado (Trump is convinced that nothing can really hurt him with his supporters). I’m honestly not sure which it is. 7. “I mean, you do know I’m doing a great job for the country. You do know that NATO now is going to pay billions and billions of dollars more, as an example, than anybody thought possible, that other presidents were unable to get more?” This line from Trump comes DIRECTLY after Woodward describes the way in which he used sources and described meeting in the White House. It’s almost as if Trump turned on some sort of autopilot function. Because in the context of the conversation, the decision to tout your work on NATO makes a total of 0% sense. 8. “Well, other than Lindsey [Graham], who did quickly mention it, nobody mentioned it.” Um, no. Scroll down. (Also, see No. 4.) 9. “Nobody told me about it. Well, let me ask her. Why don’t you speak to Kellyanne. Ask her. She never told me about it.” Trump hands the phone to Conway at this point. (I told you this was an amazing phone call!) Conway, with Trump listening, says this: “I put in the request. But you know, they – it was rejected. I can only take it so far. I guess I can bring it right to the president next time.” Then she adds: “I try to follow all the protocols, or else I’m accused of being somebody who doesn’t follow protocol.” Conway’s shade here at the team who handles Trump interview requests is truly epic. Look, I asked. They said no. Talk to them. 10. “If you would’ve called directly – a lot of people are afraid … Raj, I hardly have … I don’t speak to Raj.” Raj Shah is the principal deputy communications director at the White House. He’s running point for the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. He’s also likely had better days than today. 11. “She should’ve come to me. She does have access to me. Absolutely. She has direct access, but she didn’t come to me.” That thud was Trump pushing Conway under the bus while on a taped phone conversation with a political reporter. 12. “I’m just hearing about it. And I heard – I did hear from Lindsey, but I’m just hearing about it. So we’re going to have a very inaccurate book, and that’s too bad. But I don’t blame you entirely.” Here’s where you begin to see Trump formulating what will be his spin about “Fear.” I didn’t even know about the book.<doc-sep>When renowned Washington Post editor Bob Woodward was doing research for his forthcoming book, "Fear: Trump in the White House," the author tried repeatedly to speak directly with President Donald Trump. The interview never happened. But in a taped phone call from early August, released on Tuesday, Trump blamed White House staff, saying they failed to tell him about the requests, even as the president admitted that he knew Woodward had asked for an interview. "Nobody called my office," Trump told Woodward during the call, as the president struggled to explain why the author was never granted an interview. "It's really too bad, because nobody told me about it, and I would've loved to have spoken to you," Trump said, according to a tape of the phone call obtained by The Washington Post. Over the course of nearly 12 minutes, Trump repeatedly claimed that he would have liked to have spoken to Woodward but that the reason he never did was simply that he never knew Woodward was trying to reach him. Yet during that same call, Trump admitted that Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told him that Woodward had been trying to reach him for an interview. He also told Woodward, "you know I'm very open to you. I think you've always been fair,." Given Woodward's stature as one of the country's foremost presidential biographers, it seems unlikely that, for more than two months, no one in the White House mentioned to the president that Woodward wanted to interview him. The phone call did not provide real answers as to what exactly happened to Woodward's requests. But it did provide a window into the breakdown of key parts of the chain of command in the West Wing in recent months. The chaos in the White House has been exacerbated by the president's reported decision to sideline his chief of staff, John Kelly, and his decision to act as his own de facto White House communications director following the departure of Hope Hicks, his most trusted aide, in March. The bizarre phone call between Trump and Woodward also seemed to illustrate the portrait of the Trump White House that is emerging from excerpts of Woodward's book. "Fear" paints a picture of Trump as an uncontrollable and unstable leader, whose closest aides, including Kelly, consider him to be a pathological liar and a threat to national security. The book, to be released Sept. 11, also describes how top White House officials reportedly disparaged the president, undermined his policy directives, and even removed documents from his desk to keep him from signing them.<doc-sep>

(CNN) — President Donald Trump called journalist Bob Woodward on August 14, CNN has learned, apparently because the President was alarmed by reports that Woodward is publishing a new book about him. Woodward recorded the call with Trump’s permission and CNN obtained a full transcript of the conversation. The Washington Post first reported on the 11-minute call. Trump has been complimentary of Woodward in the past, and initially his manner was friendly. Woodward explained that he’s disappointed Trump didn’t sit down for an interview for the book and said he put in several requests. At first, Trump said he didn’t know anything about it. “It’s really too bad, because nobody told me about it,” Trump said. “You know I’m very open to you. I think you’ve always been fair.” Woodward then told the President he requested an interview through about six people, including aides and Republican senators. “I’m sorry we missed the opportunity to talk for the book,” Woodward said, later adding, “I maximized my effort.” “They don’t tell me,” Trump replied, indicating no one relayed the request. But within a few minutes, Trump changed his story. An extraordinary exchange followed as Trump asked Woodward to name the people he contacted. “I talked to Kellyanne (Conway) about it two-and-a-half months ago,” Woodward responded, saying he discussed the book with the White House counselor over lunch. Woodward also said he put in a request through White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah, but never heard back. “Well, a lot of them are afraid to come and talk – or, you know, they are busy. I’m busy,” Trump answered. After several more minutes, including a long tangent from the President taking credit for the strong economy, Trump asked, “Who were the senators?” “Sen. (Lindsey) Graham said he had talked to you about talking to me,” Woodward replied, then asked, “Now, is that not true?” In an about-face, Trump then made a critical admission: “Senator Graham actually mentioned it quickly in one meeting,” he said. “That is true. That is true.” Woodward explained his method of reporting to Trump, including meeting with White House sources and getting documentation. Then, he told the President directly that the book is “a tough look at the world and your administration and you.” Trump began to bristle but tried to joke. “Well, I assume that means it’s going to be a negative book,” he said. “But you know, I’m sort of 50% used to that.” As the conversation continued, Trump revealed Conway had walked into the Oval Office. He put her on the phone with Woodward. “Why don’t you speak to Kellyanne. Ask her. She never told me about it,” Trump said. Conway acknowledged, “I put in the request. But you know, they – it was rejected. I can only take it so far.” It was a surreal moment, since Conway has direct access to the President. “I presented it to the people here who make those decisions, but …” Conway added. “Who are the people?” Woodward interrupted. Conway didn’t answer. “Anyway, I’ll give you back to the President.” Trump got back on the phone and complained that Woodward didn’t contact him directly. “It would’ve been nice, Bob, if you called for me, in my office. I mean, I have a secretary. I have two, three secretaries.” Woodward repeated that he made multiple requests, as Trump’s annoyance appeared to increase. “We’re going to have a very inaccurate book, and that’s too bad,” Trump said. Woodward immediately responded, “No, it’s going to be accurate, I promise.” “Yeah, OK,” Trump replied. “Well, accurate is that nobody’s ever done a better job than I’m doing as President. That I can tell you. So that’s – And that’s the way a lot of people feel that know what’s going on, and you’ll see that over the years. But a lot of people feel that, Bob.” “I believe in our country,” Woodward said. “And because you’re our President, I wish you good luck.” “OK,” Trump concluded. “Thank you very much, Bob. I appreciate it. Bye.” Woodward’s book relies on hundreds of hours of taped confidential background interviews and dozens of sources in Trump’s inner circle, as well as documents, files, diaries and memos, including a note handwritten by Trump himself. Woodward’s reporting brings a credibility that distinguishes this book from previous efforts on Trump. The author and Washington Post journalist has won two Pulitzer Prizes, including one for his coverage of the Watergate scandal that led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation.

President Trump visited North Carolina, which was devastated by Hurricane Florence, and thanked officials for handling the crisis in a Twitter video Trump Visits North Carolina, Calls Florence 'One of the Wettest ... from the Standpoint of Water’ As the death toll from Hurricane Florence grew to at least 37, President Donald Trump arrived in North Carolina on Wednesday to survey the wreckage that has also displaced thousands. Ahead of his visit, the president tweeted a video Tuesday night thanking those involved in the relief efforts. Get push notifications with news, features and more. “I just want to thank all of the men and women who’ve done such a great job in helping with Florence. This is a tough hurricane, one of the wettest we’ve ever seen from the standpoint of water,” said the commander in chief, 72. The president continued: “Rarely have we had an experience like it, and it certainly is not good. But the people of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, all of the areas affected, you’ve been incredible. There’s been a loss of life. May God be with them and their families. That’s a tough one — it’s tough to understand, but this has been a really difficult period of time for a lot of people.” Tropical Weather Trump, New Bern, USA - 19 Sep 2018 Donald Trump | Credit: Evan Vucci/AP/REX/Shutterstock Trump went on to praise the work of FEMA, the coast guard and law enforcement, who’ve saved “so many lives” since the storm made landfall on Friday. He also advised residents in the area to continue listening to state and local authorities and to “be patient and alert” because “the waters are still rising.” During Wednesday’s visit to North Carolina, the president spoke at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in the eastern part of the state, near New Bern, one of the towns most devastated by Florence, The L.A. Times reports. US-WEATHER-ENVIRONMENT-HURRICANE-TRUMP Donald Trump | Credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty He received a briefing from state and local officials and gave another statement about relief efforts, according to National Public Radio. Trump, Havelock, USA - 19 Sep 2018 Donald Trump | Credit: Evan Vucci/AP/REX/Shutterstock “We’re ready … to do whatever we have to do to make this perfect,” the president said, adding, “Nearly 20,000 federal and military personnel are supporting response efforts… More than 1.6 million meals have been delivered.” RELATED: 3-Month-Old Baby Dies After Tree Falls on Mobile Home During Hurricane Florence Trump continued: “People don’t realize how a very difficult phase is beginning today, with the beautiful sunshine… We’ll have it all taken care of.” Tropical Weather Trump, New Bern, USA - 19 Sep 2018 Donald Trump | Credit: Evan Vucci/AP/REX/Shutterstock According to the Los Angeles Times‘ Jackie Calmes, Trump reportedly asked an official during the briefing, “How is Lake Norman doing?” After he was told it was fine, the president reportedly responded, “I love that area. I can’t tell you why, but I love that area.” As Calmes noted, there is a Trump National Golf Club on the lake. Also at Cherry Point, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper spoke of a state in deep mourning, according to CNN. “Our people are still reeling,” Cooper said. “We have lost 27 lives officially so far, and more are under investigation. We mourn their loss.” Tropical Weather Trump, New Bern, USA - 19 Sep 2018 Donald Trump | Credit: Evan Vucci/AP/REX/Shutterstock The governor continued, “We have weathered storms before in our state. Mr. President, [but] we have never seen one like this. This one has been epic. It has been disastrous. And it has been widespread.”<doc-sep>(CNN) — President Donald Trump arrived in flood-ravaged North and South Carolina on Wednesday to assess the federal response to Hurricane Florence, which drenched the state last week. Inside an airplane hangar at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, situated along the bloated Neuse River, Trump lauded emergency workers in North Carolina even as he predicted a costly clean up. “The job you’ve done has been incredible. They’re talking about it all over the world,” Trump said. “We want to keep it going that way. Some of the hard work is now.” “Even though it’s nice and beautiful and sunny,” there are still dangerous conditions for Carolinians, Trump said. At least 36 people have died as a result of Florence, which made landfall in the Carolinas on Friday. He told those who lost loved ones that the country was in mourning with them. “America grieves with you and our hearts break for you. God bless you. We will never forget your loss,” Trump said. “To all those impacted by this terrible storm, our entire American family is with you and ready to help. You will recover.” After presentations from local authorities, the President made a personal inquiry, asking about conditions in the area around Lake Norman, near Charlotte. The Trump National Golf Club is situated on the shores of Lake Norman. “I love that area. I can’t tell you why, but I love that area,” Trump said. Lake Norman was not affected in a major way by Hurricane Florence. Trump also traveled to Conway, South Carolina, where floodwaters are expected to rise again as early as Friday. He surveyed flooding and received briefings from local officials. “It’s going to get rough for South Carolina,” Trump warned ahead of the expected flooding, speaking to first responders at the Horry County Emergency Operations Center. “You’re going to have a rebuilding process and we are behind you from day one,” Trump said, calling this the “calm before the storm because you’re going to have a lot of water.” Joined by a group of local and state officials, Trump promised the full support of the federal government. “Washington is with you, Trump is with you, we are all with you 100% and we’ll get through it,” the President said, adding, “Anything you need, you know how to call me.” A day earlier, the President reiterated the strength of the federal response, though imbued his statement with a sense of political grievance. “Right now, everybody is saying what a great job we are doing with Hurricane Florence – and they are 100% correct,” he tweeted. “But don’t be fooled, at some point in the near future the Democrats will start ranting that FEMA, our Military, and our First Responders, who are all unbelievable, are a disaster and not doing a good job. This will be a total lie, but that’s what they do, and everybody knows it!” After storms last year, Trump made quick visits to the damage zones in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. He was accused at moments of appearing overly congratulatory, even as conditions remained dire. On his first visit to Texas after Hurricane Harvey flooded parts of Houston, Trump met with no storm victims, choosing instead to receive high-level briefings from state officials. He later returned to the state to meet with displaced families. When he visited San Juan after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, Trump lobbed rolls of paper towels into a crowd at a church – an image that has since come to illustrate what his critics say was a lackluster approach to the island’s destruction. Presidents have long sought to use natural disasters as a way to project executive leadership, often in a setting where politics are set aside. But pitfalls have abounded, including in 2005 when President George W. Bush faced intense criticism for his response to Hurricane Katrina. CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed to this report.<doc-sep>When Mabrey Smith heard on Wednesday that President Trump might pass by the used-car dealership he runs with his girlfriend here, he dug through his belongings and emerged with two lawn signs from the 2016 campaign — “Trump-Pence.” Then Smith placed them along the road and waited for Trump’s motorcade to head to New Bern so the president could view damage from Hurricane Florence. While Trump has continued to face criticism for his administration’s flawed response to Hurricanes Maria and Irma in Puerto Rico last year — and more recently for his false claims that the island’s 2,975 death toll has been exaggerated by Democrats to damage him politically — Smith, 57, had no doubts about the president’s dedication to the Carolinas. “He would walk through fire for us,” Smith said. Florence has killed at least 37 people in North and South Carolina since making landfall on Friday, and officials have urged evacuees to stay away from damaged areas while the emergency response continues. Some neighborhoods remain flooded and rivers are expected to rise even more in the coming days. Advertisement Trump arrived on Air Force One at a North Carolina military base, where he got a briefing from state and federal officials. He praised the recovery efforts as “incredible” and then lapsed into his typical hyperbole: “They’re talking about it all over the world,” he said. Trump appeared to have his business on his mind as well. At one point, he asked a state official about the status of Lake Norman, which is near Charlotte, more than 200 miles away. “I love that area. I can’t tell you why, but I love that area,” the president said. His company owns the Trump National Golf Club on the lake. After leaving the military base in his motorcade, Trump’s first stop was a church near downtown New Bern. Accompanied by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, Trump handed out packages containing hot dogs, peas and apple sauce to people affected by the storm who slowly drove by for the free meals. “Hi, everybody, how’s your house?” he said to people in one car. Mabrey Smith, 57, watches President Trump’s motorcade speed past in New Bern, N.C., on Wednesday. (Chris Megerian / Los Angeles Times) The city of 30,000 was one of the hardest hit by Florence, and repairing the damage promises to be an arduous process. At a law office downtown, workers have been ripping out wood flooring that was damaged from water that bubbled up from below when the sump pumps failed. The office manager, Sissy Chesnutt, 61, fears crucial paper records could become moldy, adding to the storm’s toll. “It’s more loss and more loss,” she said. Advertisement Trump’s motorcade headed toward a neighborhood near the Neuse River, which spilled over its banks during the storm. The contents of people’s flooded homes have been dumped in mounds on sidewalks — candy-colored carpet padding, wooden furniture, upholstered chairs, electronics, mattresses. Trump hugged one woman and spoke to a man who told the president he named his dog after him. “That’s nice,” said Trump, who famously doesn’t like pets. The visit was not without its awkward moments. At one point he gazed at a yacht that had washed ashore onto an older man’s property. Trump said to the man with a smile, “At least you got a nice boat out of the deal.” “They don’t know whose boat that is,” Trump said afterward to reporters. “What’s the law? Maybe it becomes theirs.” Advertisement<doc-sep>At a briefing in Conway, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster thanked President Trump for coming, and warned that the danger was not yet over. “We have not had a disaster like this before,” McMaster said. “The rain and the water that you see out there now is just the beginning. The worst is yet to come.” Pool President Trump also warned that the flooding would likely continue, noting that "you've broken all records -- this is going to add 4, 5, 6 feet of water all over the state." The President praised the “absolutely incredible” response efforts and coordination, and promised his support in the "exciting" rebuilding process.<doc-sep>

President Donald Trump has visited North and South Carolina to reassure residents that the government is doing everything it can to help following the devastation brought by Hurricane Florence, which hit the coast last week and brought torrential rains to the region which has caused major flooding Mr Trump promised after landing on Wednesday to make sure that officials in North Carolina have all of the support that they need to continue their rescue and response operations, and that he would make sure the state continues to receive help as it begins to rebuild. “We’re ready … To do whatever we have to do to make this perfect,” Mr Trump said during a briefing with state and local officials at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in eastern North Carolina. “Nearly 20,000 federal and military personnel are supporting response efforts. More than 1.6 million meals have been delivered.” Recommended Tornadoes reported in North Carolina as Florence brings major rains The president said that Florence – which made landfall on Friday in North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane before coming to a virtual stall over the US east cost – was “one of the most powerful and devastating storms ever to hit our country”. “Our hearts break for you. God bless you. We will never forget your loss. We will never leave your side,” Mr Trump said. “We are with you all the way. And to all those impacted by this terrible storm our entire American family is with you and ready to help and you will recover.” Since landfall, Florence has dropped torrential rains, leading to hundreds of emergency rescues in places like New Bern, which was one of the first parts of North Carolina to be hit hard by the storm. The official death toll from the hurricane has reached at least 37 . As this week progressed, heavy flooding persisted – and officials on Wednesday continued to warn that flooded rivers continue to crest – and sunshine found its way to the state. What it showed was lingering debris from the storm, and the floodwaters that surrounded homes and businesses in the area. “Our state took a gut punch, Mr President, and our people are still reeling,” North Carolina governor Roy Cooper said during the briefing in eastern North Carolina. He continued to note the magnitude of the challenge ahead of his state. “We have a lot of power that has been restored but there are thousands of people that are still waiting to get their power back. I know that this state has a great economy, a great education,” Mr Cooper said. “We are a beacon in the south and we have weathered storms before in our state but Mr President we have never seen one like this. This one has been epic, it has been disastrous, and it has been widespread. It is a storm like no other.” Workers in the state are rushing to get power back in the state for the quarter of a million people who lost their connections last week. It may be a while before the total cost of the storm is known – and, of course, how long the recovery process may extend. In South Carolina, Mr Trump said the state is in for a “rough few days” in the aftermath of Florence. The president spoke at an emergency management centre in the city of Conway, near Myrtle Beach. He told South Carolina residents that “all that water is coming your way.” Soon after the storm hit into the Carolinas, Moody’s Analytics estimated that the storm could leave an estimated $17bn to $22bn in damages, or higher. That firm indicated that Florence was likely to be one of the top 10 costliest hurricanes in US history. Reports from North Carolina indicate that residents view the president’s trip to the state as a sign that he is taking the storm seriously, and that he is prepared for a hands-on approach to righting the ship now that Florence is in the rearview mirror. In New Bern, NPR reported that residents largely viewed Mr Trump’s visit in a positive light. Truck drivers told that radio station’s reporters that the trip shows that Mr Trump is on top of his efforts, and that he is going to be there with help when needed.

All season long, we’ve talked about how weak of a conference the Pac-12 has been this year. We anticipated that the only way the Pac-12 would get more than one team in would be to have a team other than the Washington Huskies win the Pac-12 Tournament. Well, obviously, the Oregon Ducks defeated Washington in last night’s championship game to earn the conference’s automatic bid. But there was one more surprise today when the NCAA Tournament bracket was announced. A third Pac-12 team was actually selected. No, don’t get your hopes up. Murry Bartow still isn’t taking this year’s UCLA Bruins to the Big Dance. The surprise was the selection of the Arizona State Sun Devils for one of the First Four play-in games. As far as other conferences go, the Big Ten has eight teams while both the ACC and the SEC each have seven. The Big 12 is sending six teams and the American and the Big East are both sending four teams. Of the Power Six conferences, the Pac-12 has the fewest teams in this year’s tournament and even the American Conference, which isn’t one of the Power Six, has more than the Pac-12. Well, at least the Pac-12 presidents and chancellors have decided that it’s time to reign in Larry Scott by establishing a board of presidents and an Athletic Directors’ Council, headed by Arizona AD Dave Heeke, has been created. Greg Hansen of the Arizona Daily Star explains: When Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott held his annual press conference Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, he was accompanied by Colorado chancellor Phil DiStefano. It was a long overdue change. Scott has always gone solo. It has always been about Larry. But Pac-12’s presidents and athletic directors have finally changed that course. This is no longer The League of Larry. Eight of the presidents who hired Scott in 2009 and essentially allowed him to bypass the ADs, have since been replaced. Now the ADs, not Scott, are in charge of setting policy; Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke is the new chairman of the ADs’ council. Well, that sounds like a good first step towards fixing the Pac-12’s problems. But, for now, it doesn’t change the fact that, in this year’s NCAA Tournament, it’s going to be a little hard to “Back the Pac.” Here is this year’s full NCAA Tournament bracket. Go Bruins!<doc-sep>Oregon will go dancing again. The No. 6 seed Ducks will be in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in seven years after defeating No. 1 seed Washington in the Pac-12 Championship. Junior guard Payton Pritchard led the way for the Ducks. He had 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the 68-48 win. Before Saturday's games Jerry Palm projected Washington will be a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Oregon was not projected to be in the tournament before winning the title. 2019 Pac-12 Tournament schedule, scores Location: T-Mobile Arena -- Las Vegas Stream: fuboTV (Try for free) | Follow live: CBS Sports App All times Eastern; some start times approximated Check out the updated Pac-12 Tournament bracket here. 2019 Pac-12 Tournament live updates, highlights If you are unable to view the live updates below, simply click here. Thanks for stopping by. 2019 Pac-12 Tournament scores, results Pac-12 Tournament Championship Game -- Saturday, March 16 Game 11 -- No. 6 Oregon 68, No. 1 Washington 48 Semifinals -- Friday, March 15 Game 9: No. 1 Washington 66, No. 5 Colorado 61 Game 10: No. 6 Oregon 79, No. 2 Arizona State 75 (OT) Quarterfinals -- Thursday, March 14 Game 5: No. 1 Washington 78, No. 8 USC 75 Game 6: No. 5 Colorado 73, No. 4 Oregon State 58 Game 7: No. 2 Arizona State 83, No. 7 UCLA 72 Game 8: No. 6 Oregon 66, No. 3 Utah 54 First Round -- Wednesday, March 13 Game 1: No. 8 USC 78, No. 9 Arizona 65 Game 2: No. 5 Colorado 56, No. 12 Cal, 51 Game 3: No. 7 UCLA 79, No. 10 Stanford 72 Game 4: No. 6 Oregon 84, 11 Washington State 51<doc-sep>Jaylen Nowell and Nahziah Carter scored 14 points each, and Washington held off a late Colorado rally for a 66-61 victory in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals Saturday night. The top-seeded Huskies led by 14 before the Buffaloes cut the lead to 60-56 with 1:01 left. McKinley Wright hit a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left to cut Washington’s lead to three, but the Buffaloes let David Crisp get behind them for a breakaway layup to seal it. After struggling in the first half, Washington (26-7) kicked its long-armed, swarming defense into a faster gear and the fifth-seeded Buffaloes (21-12) had trouble handling it. Colorado shot 2 of 16 from 3-point range in the second half and had 18 turnovers overall, leading to 24 Huskies points. Advertisement Washington had 13 steals and held the Buffaloes to 32 percent shooting to earn a spot in Saturday night’s title game against Oregon or Arizona State. Tyler Bey had 22 points and 11 rebounds, but Wright was held to seven points on 1-of-10 shooting. The Buffaloes were looking to recapture the magic of 2012, when they won four games in four days to win the Pac-12 title. Colorado climbed the first two rungs in Las Vegas, grinding out a low-scoring win over California, outlasting Oregon State after blowing most of a 21-point lead. Washington’s zone gave the Buffaloes all kinds of trouble in two regular-season meetings. The Huskies opened with 12 straight points in a seven-point win in Boulder and led by up to 15 in a nine-point win in Seattle. The Buffaloes got off to a much better start in Round 3. Colorado handled Washington’s defensive pressure without much trouble and used a pair of 8-0 runs to lead 33-27 at halftime. Washington missed its first five shots and went 4 for 15 from the 3-point arc, but held Colorado scoreless for a nearly four-minute stretch to keep the Buffaloes close. Advertisement The Huskies kept their defensive mojo going into the second half. Contesting shots and jumping into passing lanes, Washington shut the Buffaloes down, going on a 10-0 run to go up 43-35. Colorado missed its first nine shots of the second half and had four turnovers against Washington’s pressure. Oregon 79, Arizona State 75, OT: Louis King scored 19 points, Payton Pritchard added 18 and Oregon outlasted Arizona State 79-75 in overtime Friday night in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals. The sixth-seeded Ducks (22-12) dominated early, went into a second-half funk and fought their way back in a foul-filled second half. Advertisement Oregon’s Ehab Amin hit a corner 3-pointer with 1:32 left in regulation to tie the game at 67 and neither team could score again, sending the game to overtime. The Ducks scored the first eight points of overtime, but the Sun Devils rallied to tie it on Rob Edwards’ three free throws with 58 seconds left. Arizona State’s Luguentz Dort missed a potential tying 3-pointer and King made one of two free throws with 8.8 seconds left to seal it. Oregon moves to Saturday night’s title game against top-seeded Washington. Advertisement Listless in the first half, the second-seeded Sun Devils (22-10) seemed to take control with an 18-1 run that turned a seven-point halftime deficit into an eight-point lead. Dort had 16 points and Edwards 15 for the Sun Devils, who could have a second straight anxious wait on Selection Sunday. The Ducks have been at their high-flying defensive best since coach Dana Altman switched to a lineup with three 6-foot-9 players. Oregon held five straight teams to 61 points or less, a program first since 1982-83, and locked down its first two Pac-12 tournament opponents to reach the semifinals. Arizona State blew most of a 23-point, second-half lead before pulling away from UCLA 83-72 in the quarterfinals. Advertisement The Sun Devils were out of sorts early in the semifinals, frustrating coach Bobby Hurley by playing almost exclusively 1 on 1 instead of running the offense. Arizona State missed its first six shots and point guard Remy Martin went off early with an injury. Martin returned, though wasn’t much of a factor and the Sun Devils only got marginally better against Oregon’s defense. The Ducks blocked seven of Arizona State’s shots, changed several others and scored 15 points off seven turnovers to lead 35-28 at halftime. Fortunate to be down just seven, the Sun Devils were the aggressors early in the second half. Behind its defense and two long Martin 3-pointers, Arizona State went an 18-1 run to go up 46-38 and held the Ducks without a field goal for nearly seven minutes. Advertisement Oregon finally righted itself and created a few turnovers that led to easy baskets, pulling within one and keeping the Sun Devils within reach.<doc-sep>What an up-and-down season it has been for the Ducks. Countless injuries, blown leads, and bad losses. That all changed once Dana Altman (who just recently signed a contract extension through the 2024-2025 season) plugged in Francis Okoro into the starting lineup and forced Payton Pritchard to be the only guard amongst a bunch of big men. Now, after 4 wins in 4 days in the Sin City, the Oregon Ducks are named the PAC-12 Tournament champions and steal a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Oregon Ducks: (Starters) Louis King - 15 Points Paul White - 14 Points, 6-10 FG Francis Okoro - 2 Points Kenny Wooten - 4 Points, 7 Rebounds, 4 Blocks Payton Pritchard - 20 Points, 7 Assists, 6 Rebounds, 4 Steals, 7-9 FG (Reserves) Will Richardson - 8 Points Ehab Amin - 2 Points Miles Norris - 0 Points Victor Bailey Jr. - 3 Points, 4 Rebounds Washington Huskies: (Starters) Noah Dickerson - 6 Points, 6 Rebounds, 4 Turnovers Hameir Wright - 5 Points Jaylen Nowell - 8 Points Matisse Thybulle - 4 Points David Crisp - 5 Points, 6 Assists (Reserves) Jamal Bey - 7 Points Tonight’s Observations: Oregon and Washington have played each other 306 times and this is the first time the two programs have met up in a tournament championship game. Payton Pritchard has been playing out of his mind in the PAC-12 Tournament. He has averaged 16.3 PPG, 4.3 APG, and 2.0 SPG in 4 games. 9 turnovers in the 1st half didn’t make Dana Altman too happy going into the locker room. Kenny Wooten was seen punching himself in the head after starting the game 0-3 from the field and missing several alley-oop finishes. Washington struggled from three-point land in the 1st half (2-11 3PT). The Ducks are up by two points over Washington headed into halftime of the Pac-12 Tournament Championship. #GoDucks | #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/2gnDaMMwoB — Oregon Men's Basketball (@OregonMBB) March 17, 2019 Matisse Thybulle became the all-time career steals leader in PAC-12 history (322). He passed Gary Payton and is now considered to be one of the best defenders in NCAA history. He should be a lock for the Naismith Defense Player of the Year. Jaylen Nowell, the PAC-12 Player of the Year, was in foul trouble early on in the 2nd half and struggled throughout the game. Once Wooten got his first block, the momentum completely shifted towards the Ducks. Oregon was on 14-0 run for about 6 minutes and they didn’t look back. Did you know Payton could dunk? With his left?? I didn’t! Payton Pritchard "THROWS IT DOWN" pic.twitter.com/0U8BwKM5kV — Kevin Wade (@KwadeSays) March 17, 2019 Oregon has held Washington to their season-low in points twice this season with 48 tonight and 47 back on March 9th. Washington struggled mightily scoring the ball on the big stage. The Huskies only made 18 field goals and got to the free throw line an extremely sad 8 times. QUACK ATTACK! The Oregon Ducks are DANCING after blasting top-seeded Washington by 20 in the Pac-12 title game! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Xaw0yeYjjj — NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 17, 2019 On a side note, I loved hearing the crowd chant “JUST LIKE FOOTBALL”. The University of Oregon has had the University of Washington’s numbers this school year. Looking forward to next week, the Oregon Ducks are going to be a tough team to knock off in March Madness. They are extremely hot entering the tournament as they are on a 8-game winning streak and I expect Oregon to be a 12-seed. What a special night for U of O basketball. Go Ducks! NCAA Tournament Selection Show - March 17th on CBS @ 6 PM ET *Arden Cravalho is a senior at Gonzaga University... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho<doc-sep>

Thanks to the Oregon Ducks’ tear through the conference tourney, the Pac-12 will be sending three teams to the NCAA tournament. The Ducks, Arizona State Sun Devils and Washington Huskies all had their names called on Selection Sunday, though none has a particularly easy road based on the seeds they earned. Oregon (23-12) earned a No. 12 seed in the South Region after winning four games in four days in Las Vegas to claim the Pac-12’s automatic bid. The Ducks will take on No. 5 Wisconsin (23-10) on Friday in San Jose, Calif., and if they win that game they’d take on either No. 4 Kansas State or No. 13 UC-Irvine. Regular-season champ Washington (26-8) earned a No. 9 seed in the Midwest Region and a Friday meeting with No. 8 Utah State (28-6) in Columbus, Ohio. The Huskies, who lost four of their last 11 games after a 19-4 start, including the Pac-12 final against Oregon, could face either No. 1 North Carolina or No. 16 Iona in the second round if they get past the Mountain West-champion Aggies. ASU (22-10) is in the NCAA tourney in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1980-81, but like a year ago the Sun Devils have to play in the First Four in order to advance to the main field. ASU takes on St. John’s (21-12) on Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio, with the winner taking on No. 6 Buffalo (31-3) on Friday in Tulsa, Okla. The Arizona Wildcats and UCLA Bruins, the conference’s usual flagships, were not even close to receiving an at-large bid. It is the first time since 2009-10 that neither team reached the NCAA Tournament. The last time Arizona was omitted was the 2011-12 season when it went on to lose to Bucknell in the first round of the NIT. And with ASU getting in, this marks the first time since 1981 that the NCAA tournament will feature the Sun Devils and not the Wildcats.

The time has come for the Longhorns to put the non-conference games in the past and look ahead to Big 12 play. Texas looks to continue its win-streak Saturday afternoon, but will face a difficult opponent in No. 17 ranked TCU. The Longhorns have fallen to the Horned Frogs in four consecutive games, and have only beaten Gary Patterson's team once since TCU joined the Big 12. With the Big 12 home game right around the corner, the Horns247 has all of the details, including television broadcast info for Texas vs. TCU. Texas vs. TCU — Saturday, Sept. 22 Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. CT Location: Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas) TV: FOX Local Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network, 104.9 FM in Austin. Check other local affiliates here. Satellite Radio: Sirius 132, XM 199, and Online Ch. 953 Audio Stream: TexasSports.com Live Stats: Side Arm Stats Longhorn Network Pre-Game: Longhorn Network will begin its live coverage with Texas GameDay two hours prior to kickoff, at 1:30 p.m. CT. LHN will return immediately following the game for Texas GameDay Final. Game Storylines Horns247 Staff Predictions: Will Texas snap its four-game losing streak? Texas Football Injury Update Part 1: Roach out 6 to 8 weeks with broken foot Texas Football Injury Update Part 2: Key RB could return for TCU game Complete Look at Texas Depth Chart: The Longhorns will see some players return to the mix for TCU Defensive Starters Request Fans to Show Support in Numbers: Sterns, Omenihu hope to see a packed house Saturday afternoon Tale of the Tape: How Texas stacks up against No. 17 ranked USC OddsShark.com Spread: TCU -3 (as of 4 p.m. Friday) OddsShark.com Predicted Score: TCU 28.6, Texas 25.8 (As of 4 p.m. Friday) Inside the All-Time Series Texas vs. TCU All-Time Record ... Saturday will mark meeting No. 89 between the Longhorns and the Horned Frogs, with Texas holding a 62-25-1 all-time record over TCU. Texas vs. TCU in Big 12 ... While Texas holds a commanding overall record, the Horned Frogs have had the Longhorns' number since joining the Big 12, as Texas is 1-5 vs. TCU and have dropped the last four-straight games. Herman's Record against TCU ... Head coach Tom Herman is 0-1 in his career against TCU, with last season's loss marking the first time Herman faced the Horned Frogs. Patterson's Record against Texas ... TCU head coach Gary Patterson is 5-2 in his career against Texas. A win would mean ... If Texas can pull the upset over TCU, the Longhorns would have won three-straight games, which has not been accomplished since 2014. Gameday Schedule Texas implemented a "Clear Bag Policy" this season, which limits what you're able to bring into DKR. Full details here. 7 a.m. — Parking lots open 10:30 a.m. — Bevo Blvd. opens along San Jacinto Blvd. 10:30 a.m. — Photo ops with Heisman winner Ricky Williams at Bevo Blvd. 11 a.m. — Gameday ticket office opens outside Gate 8 on the northwest corner of DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium 11:30 a.m. — Longhorn City Limits opens on the LBJ Lawn 12 p.m. — Jackie Venson concert on the Longhorn City Limits stage 12:30 p.m. — Bevo's arrival parade at the south entrance to Bevo Blvd (San Jacinto and E. 20th St.). Bevo enters the stadium at Gate 1. 12:30 p.m. — Autographs from Texas Men's Swimming and Diving on Bevo Blvd. 1 p.m. — Champions Club and east entrance to the Longhorn Corral Club open 1:20 p.m. — Stadium Stampede: Join the official pregame stadium walk as Texas Football arrives at the north entrance to Bevo Blvd. 1:30 p.m. — Aloe Blacc concert on the Longhorn City Limits stage 1:30 p.m. — All stadium gates and Longhorn Foundation hospitality areas open 1:45 p.m. — Cameran Nelson concert on the Coors Light Silver Bullet Stage inside Gate 25 3 p.m. — Bevo Blvd. closes 3:19 p.m. — The Hook 'Em Herd runs from north tunnel to south tunnel of stadium 3:20 p.m. — Longhorn Band pregame show 3:23 p.m. — National Anthem 3:26 p.m. — "The Eyes of Texas" featuring Bevo's entrance to the field 3:30 p.m. — Team intro video 3:31 p.m. — Texas enters the field 3:32 p.m. — Coin toss 3:35 p.m. — Kickoff<doc-sep>TCU looks to improve upon their current four-game winning streak over the Longhorns with a win in Austin Saturday. There are several stoylines heading into this one - “rejects” vs. blue chips, is Texas really back, etc. We know you’ll want to follow along. Here’s how you can. Time: 3:30pm TV: FOX | Live stream: FOX Sports GO Radio 88.7 KTCU WBAP AM820/99.5HD2 You can also stream the live broadcast on your smartphone anywhere in the world with the TUNEIN App, then search TCU Sports Network or online at tunein.com/tcu. Watch Party There are tons of watch parties all over the country, if you can’t get the game at home, or want to be with other Frogs. Just check out the list on the TCU Alumni website, and there’s probably one near you! Odds TCU is currently a 2.5-point favorite heading into Saturday’s matchup, according to Bovada.com. The Over/Under is set at 62.<doc-sep>TCU didn’t have the juice to hold on and topple Ohio State in Week 3. Have the Horned Frogs recovered enough to handle Texas on the road? Gary Patterson’s team overcame early mistakes to take a 21-13 third quarter lead over OSU in one of the season’s most-anticipated games, then watched the fourth-ranked Buckeyes assert their will in the second half of a 40-28 loss. That put a chip on the Frogs’ shoulders — and likely put them one loss away from missing out on their shot at a College Football Playoff bid. The Longhorns would love to be the team to ruin that dream. Texas’ 2018 started much like its 2017 — with an upset loss to a not-very-good Maryland team. The two weeks since have featured back-to-back wins, including a Week 3 triumph over then-No. 23 USC in a rematch of the 2006 Rose Bowl. If they can roll that momentum into another big home win, it could be the key to regaining UT’s spot in the top 25. Time, TV channel, and streaming info Time : 4:30 p.m. ET : 4:30 p.m. ET Location : Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX : Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX TV : FOX : FOX Streaming : FOX Sports Go, fuboTV : FOX Sports Go, fuboTV Odds: TCU is favored by 3 points. TCU vs. Texas news: Robinson ’s performance in last week’s big showdown was enough to prove he’s TCU’s future. On the biggest stage, with the brightest lights, Robinson put forth the best effort of his fledgling career, matching the Buckeyes blow for blow and proving he can play at a high level. Though a trio of mistakes will be what many remember, it was his response to those moments that stood out to me, and to his coach. “Well, the best thing that I saw, sometimes young players, they get glazed over. When things bad happen to them, their eyes glaze over. That never happened to Shawn.” And it didn’t. What does Shawn Robinson have in store for Texas? TCU’s first-year quarterback had flashes of brilliance in last week’s loss to Ohio State, but underwhelmed in big moments against the best defense he’s seen as a starter. He finished the game with 308 passing yards, but also threw a pair of interceptions — including a backbreaking pick-six that gave the Buckeyes a lead they wouldn’t relinquish — and ran for only seven yards on eight carries. He’ll need to be better against a Texas team that kept USC passer JT Daniels out of the end zone last week. Daniels eventually got to 322 yards, but he needed 48 passes to get there. A similarly inefficient performance from Robinson could make it two straight losses for the Frogs. TCU vs. Texas prediction: This is a tight one, especially with Robinson’s performance remaining unpredictable. S&P+’s preseason pick tagged TCU for a 0.7 point loss. If a rebounding Longhorn team can perform up to expectations, TCU-Texas could be the best game of the entire Week 4 slate.<doc-sep>

Saturday marks a key meeting for the Big 12 as No. 17 TCU and Texas square off in Austin. The Horned Frogs have dominated this series over the past four years, and in doing so, they have unearthed an uncomfortable truth about the Longhorns. As the state's flagship institution, Texas has clearly fallen behind other rival programs and stayed behind for them some time now. Will Texas change that narrative on Saturday, or will the Horned Frogs take a step forward in getting back to the Big 12 Championship Game? Gary Patterson's team gave Ohio State a heck of a fight in Week 3, and even in a loss, proved they can at least hang with just about anybody in the country. This game has a lot of implications for the rest of the season, not only for the Big 12 but for Texas and coach Tom Herman in the short-term. Let's take a look at what's ahead. Viewing information Date: Saturday, Sept. 22 | Time: 4:30 p.m. ET Location: Royal Texas Memorial Stadium -- Austin, Texas TV: FOX | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) Storylines Texas: The Longhorns finally got their big name brand win against USC, but beating TCU would undoubtedly be the better sign that second-year coach Tom Herman has this thing actually moving in the right direction. The Horns have lost four straight to TCU by an average of 30 points. Thirty. A win would not only give more validation to Herman, it would get a huge burden off of his back. TCU: So the Horned Frogs gave Ohio State everything it could handle. Moral victories aren't a thing, but there's no real shame in coming up short against a team that could win the national championship. Another Big 12 Championship Game appearance is still very much a possibility. In fact, you could argue that following the Ohio State game, TCU looks like one of the strongest contenders to Oklahoma in the conference title race. Handling Texas would keep up those appearances. Game prediction, picks It makes sense why the spread is what it is. TCU lost by 12 points to Ohio State and Texas pummeled the Trojans by 23. But those scores can misrepresent which team actually looked more impressive. Yes, Texas doling out the harshness in the second half of its game was a positive step. However, the Trojans had a pitiful -5 yards rushing when the Horns have allowed Maryland and Tulsa to run on them. And Texas is still a feast-or-famine offense. TCU's well-coached defense comes up big here. Pick: TCU -3.5 Dennis Dodd Jerry Palm Tom Fornelli Chip Patterson Barton Simmons Barrett Sallee Ben Kercheval TEXAS +3.5 TCU TCU Texas TCU TCU TCU TCU S/U TCU TCU TCU TCU TCU TCU TCU So what college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 4? And what title contender gets the scare of a lifetime? Visit SportsLine to see which teams are winning more than 50 percent of simulations, all from a proven computer model that has returned over $4,000 in profit over the past three seasons and was all over BYU's stunning upset of Wisconsin in Week 3.

Season eight’s week-one challenges are live in “Fortnite,” and that means new ways to earn Battle Stars and experience. By collecting more Battle Stars and upping their tier, up to a season maximum of 100, players can earn limited-time rewards like cosmetic outfits and XP boosts. (Collecting 10 Battle Stars will unlock one additional tier.) All weekly challenges are available for anyone who earned or purchased the Season 8 Battle Pass, which can be had for 950 in-game “V-Bucks,” or roughly $10. (The first three challenges are available to everyone for free.) Here’s what you have to do this week: Complete any four challenges to earn the reward item (4) Visit all Pirate Camps (7) Search Chests at Retail Row or Junk Junction (7) Stage 1 of 3: Deal damage with a Shotgun and an Explosive Weapon in a single match (2) Visit a giant face in the desert, the jungle, and the snow (3) Use a Volcano Vent in different matches (5) Get an elimination with a Shotgun, Assault Rifle, and Explosive Weapon (3) Deal Damage to a vehicle driven by an opponent (200 damage) To find specific named locations, the pirate camps, and the hidden Battle Star, head to the spots marked on this handy all-in-one cheat sheet by Reddit user “thesquatingdog.” The cheat sheet also lets you know what to expect from each stage of the multi-step challenges. As always, remember to finish out the match you’re in once you’ve completed one or more challenges in order to be sure you get credit for them. Finish all of them to earn as many Battle Stars as possible — which will give you maximum value, in terms of loot, for your Battle Pass. RETWEET & TAG-A-FRIEND who needs the SEASON 8, WEEK 1, CHEAT SHEET for Fortnite Battle Royale’s Battlepass by @thesquatingdog If you like this content use "squatingdog" as your support a creator! https://t.co/DqbMtqIzX6 #fortnite #fortnitebr #fortnitecheatsheet @fortnitegame pic.twitter.com/m3aWLSmHDu — Squatingdog (@thesquatingdog) February 28, 2019 Find out what changes the game delivered with the latest patch here.<doc-sep>Battle Pass owner or not, Fortnite‘s shopping list-length of weekly challenges to complete at the commencement of every new season is always great fun. With Season 8 all about peg-legged pirates and their beloved pastime of searching for buried treasure, it’s with little surprise that the battle royale’s current Battle Pass has a suitably swashbuckling theme to match. So far, Battle Island regulars have been tasked with visiting pirate camps and locating heavy-duty cannons all while evading the path of other players, but now week 2 has arrived, and we all know what that entails. Reliable as always, Fortnite Insider has put together a brand new cheat sheet to coincide with the fresh set of week 2 challenges, handily marking those tasks that require seeking out specific items or journeying to far-out parts of the map. See for yourself below and thank us later. Here's Your Cheat Sheet For Fortnite Season 8, Week 2 Challenges 1 of 2 Click to skip MORE FROM THE WEB Click to zoom The two specific challenges you’ll be wanting to reference the map for this time around are dealing damage to other players with a pirate cannon and visiting the furthest north, south, east and west points of Battle Island. It’s worthwhile to note that completing the former challenge doesn’t require using a specific cannon, so your best course of action will be to seek out one which is outside the circle’s proximity as a means of avoiding competition (and taking a cannonball to the face yourself). In regards to the challenges not noted on the cheat sheet, most are self-explanatory (e.g. eliminate players at X location) and only require a skilled trigger finger to complete. That about wraps up everything you need to know about Fortnite Season 8’s second round of challenges, but there are certainly plenty more reasons to keep playing beyond the weekly Battle Pass commitment. After all, as part of yesterday’s update, Epic introduced the mysterious treasure maps, as well as a new limited-time mode, and you can see here for all the details.<doc-sep>

Season eight’s week-two challenges are live in “Fortnite,” and that means new ways to earn Battle Stars and experience. By collecting more Battle Stars and upping their tier, up to a season maximum of 100, players can earn limited-time rewards like cosmetic outfits and XP boosts. (Collecting 10 Battle Stars will unlock one additional tier.) All weekly challenges are available for anyone who earned or purchased the Season 8 Battle Pass, which can be had for 950 in-game “V-Bucks,” or roughly $10. (The first three challenges are available to everyone for free.) Here’s what you have to do this week: Stage 1 of 5: Land at The Block (1) Deal damage to descending Supply Drops (200 damage) Eliminations at Salty Springs or Haunted Hills (3) Stage 1 of 3: Gain health from Apples (25) Visit the furthest North, South, East, and West points of the island (4) Deal damage to opponents with a Pirate Cannon (100 damage) Search a Chest in different Named Locations in a single match (3) To find specific named locations, key objectives, and the Hidden Banner, head to the spots marked on this handy all-in-one cheat sheet by Twitter user “PoshJDC.” The cheat sheet also lets you know what to expect from each stage of the multi-step challenges. As always, remember to finish out the match you’re in once you’ve completed one or more challenges in order to be sure you get credit for them. Finish all of them to earn as many Battle Stars as possible — which will give you maximum value, in terms of loot, for your Battle Pass. https://twitter.com/PoshJDC/status/1103660187066478592 Find out what changes the game delivered with the latest patch here.

It was a jumbo lineup night for the Milwaukee Bucks as Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon sat the game out, but they weren’t able to secure a win as the Utah Jazz took them down on the road. The Bucks may have been without their backcourt, but they were ready to take the lead in the first with a 26-23 advantage. Utah got the best of Milwaukee in the second, entering halftime up 53-46. The Bucks had steady second half quarters, but it wasn’t enough to take down the Jazz on their home court, as they prevailed 115-111. Giannis Antetokounmpo got his time to shine in just 31 minutes tonight and Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon out for the evening. He put forth 43 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in a measly 31 minutes. An impressive feat by the Greek Freak. For his partners, Khris Middleton had 29 points, nine boards and six assists. Brook Lopez also had 16 points on an efficient 6/8 from the field to go along with seven blocks on the defensive end. Unfortunately, beyond that, there wasn’t much help from the Bucks squad, as everyone else was in single digits scoring and the bench managed just 15 points total for the evening. On the Utah front, Donovan Mitchell hit his career high, notching 46 points to help propel the Jazz to victory. His 15/32 night from the field was impressive volume, but going 5/10 from deep helped him hit decent efficiency. Beyond him, Derrick Favors also had 23 points for the Jazz to muster a loss for the Bucks. Stat that Stood Out Milwaukee often dominates in the paint if they can’t do it from outside, but tonight, the Jazz were able to snuff out the Bucks inside looks by holding them to just 42 points within the paint while scoring 50 of their own. The Bucks being without two of their best paint finishers in Bledsoe and Brogdon certainly hurt them tonight in that regard.<doc-sep>Another game, another victory for the Milwaukee Bucks after toppling the Los Angeles Lakers. They didn’t have much time to celebrate (sorry, LA nightclub budgets) as less than 24 hours later the Bucks are in Salt Lake City for the second game in a back-to-back against the Utah Jazz. Bucks Update It nearly doesn’t matter the opponent, the location, the injury situation, or the way entire first halves of basketball go: The Milwaukee Bucks will find a way to get one over on you. That means 10 straight road wins, a 9-1 record in the last 10 against Western Conference teams, and a guaranteed playoff berth on March 2nd. Beyond the on-court action the Bucks have been involved in plenty of transaction drama over the past 24 hours. GM Jon Horst began his Friday by sealing a commitment to bring Pau Gasol to Milwaukee after agreeing to a buyout with the San Antonio Spurs. Horst closed the business day finalizing a four-year, $70 million contract extension for Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe responded to his newly-secure future by stringing together a team-high 31 points, nine rebounds, and five assists to carry the day against LA. His ability to pace Milwaukee on both ends of the court when co-stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are off punctuates his current and probable future value to a team that will need to wring every drop of production from non-Giannises. On the injury front it appears George Hill (adductor), Sterling Brown (wrist), and Donte DiVincenzo (heel) are likely to remain out. Player to Watch: Isaiah Canaan A little gallows humor-esque, yes, but still valid with this being Canaan’s probable last game before he’s cut to make room for Pau Gasol on Sunday. With the guard rotation still a bit thin due to injury we may see an extended farewell appearance from Isaiah to help soak up the minute load on the starters. Hopefully he’ll go out with a bang and add to his appearance against the Bulls to remember him by: Jazz Update Winners of six of their last nine, a defensive force to be reckoned with, and seemingly always one offensive weapon away from being a nightmare: Your Utah Jazz, ladies and gentlemen! There’s a lot to like (read: be wary of) when evaluating the Jazz’s profile. Their top-five defensive rating nabs headlines, but it gets more interesting beneath the surface. You’ve got a top-two DReb% mark (80.3, just behind Milwaukee’s 80.6), the fifth-lowest opponent eFG% (.511), a marked focus on preventing opposing takes and makes from three (10.0 3PM & 28.1 3PA v. Milwaukee’s 12.6 3PM & 35.3 3PA), and the ability to staunch opponent fast-break scoring (11.1 FBPts allowed). Grinding through the high-flying West on defensive laurels doesn’t make for easy going, but the Jazz have maintained playoff position as a six seed and sit three games behind the third seeded Thunder. On the downside for Utah they’re dealing with injuries that have forced coach Quinn Snyder to get creative with lineups. Guard Ricky Rubio is probable after dealing with hamstring tightness, but Raul Neto (also hamstring), Dante Exum (ankle sprain), and Tony Bradley (knee) are all out. Player to Watch: Rudy Gobert Donovan Mitchell draws attention thanks to his standout rookie season and an embattled second year, but the spotlight will be on Giannis Antetokounmpo v. Rudy Gobert when these teams meet. Gobert continues to impress with career-highs in scoring (15.5 PPG), rebounding (12.8 TRB), and assists (2.2 APG) even with his lowest minute average in four years. In four games since All-Star weekend he’s gone above and beyond with 19.3 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks. That won’t stop Giannis from trying to repeat this, though:<doc-sep>Fresh off the biggest win of the season, the Utah Jazz return home to face the NBA’s best team in the league, the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks, who are coming off a big win of their own in Los Angeles against the Lakers, won the last contest against Utah in Milwaukee (114-102). That game happened at the beginning of January and was the beginning of Utah’s point guard-less stretch as they would lose Rubio four minutes into that game and rely upon Donovan Mitchell and Raul Neto at the point. Looking back at that game, it was a bit of a turning point for Utah. Although they lost that game, they began to find things that worked. Royce O’Neale was 2 for 2 from three and was a positive force off the bench. Since then he’s been a net positive in most of his minutes. Rudy Gobert dominated the paint and guarded Giannis for much of the night. Donovan Mitchell started to find his rhythm from three as he went 6 of 12 for the game. Utah actually led that game going into the 4th quarter only to fall in the fourth quarter due to fatigue with it being their last game on their four game road trip. Since that game, Utah—then only 20-21—has only lost 5 games and is now 35-26, trailing the 5th place Rockets by 1.5 games and the 4th place Portland Trail Blazers by 2.5 games. The Bucks will be facing a surging Utah Jazz team led by Donovan Mitchell who is averaging 29.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists on 45/42/83 splits since All-Star break. Utah Jazz has come flying out the gate since the break and is only a 1 point 2OT loss from being 4-0 in that stretch. The Milwaukee Bucks are no slouches since that time as well. Since playing the Jazz the Bucks have only lost three times. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 22.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.5 steals, and 2.3 blocks since All-Star break. Eric Bledsoe fresh off a contract extension yesterday is averaging 17.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6 assists since the break. This team is a buzzsaw. Luckily for Utah the Bucks are coming off a game in Los Angeles last night. Milwaukee will be on the second night of a back to back and coming to play in the high altitude mountain air. Three out of Milwaukee’s last five losses came on the second end of a back to back. This has the makings of a scheduled loss for Milwaukee, but it won’t come easy for Utah. They are facing the possible NBA Finals Eastern Conference representative, they gotta show up and play as hard as they did against Denver, if not more. Additionally, Milwaukee is feeling the effects of injuries. Giannis might be out. Malcolm Brogdon is doubtful for tonight’s game. George Hill is day to day. The Jazz may have been gifted a win from the basketball gods if—IF—they don’t play down to their competition which they have done all season long. Utah might be without Ricky Rubio again tonight so they will be short on possible help for Donovan in the backcourt. That is both a good and bad thing if you’re a Jazz fan. Donovan Mitchell has been playing out of his mind without Rubio. While the workload is brutal for Mitchell with Rubio out, he is a beast without Rubio out there. He’s undefeated when starting at point guard—coincidentally, that means Utah is undefeated when Royce O’Neale starts as well. Before the Denver game, Donovan Mitchell averaged 30.3 points on 47.5% shooting and 40.3% from three when Rubio was out. Against Denver, that trend continued as he scored 24 points on 47.4% shooting and 50% from three. He had 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Game Info When: Saturday, March 2, 2019 • 7:00 PM MT Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena • Salt Lake City, UT TV: ATTSN-RM / NBA League Pass Radio: 97.5 FM | 1280 AM The Zone Injuries: Utah Jazz: Dante Exum — Left Ankle Sprain — OUT Tony Bradley — Right Knee Surgery — OUT Ricky Rubio — Hamstring Tightness — Probable Raul Neto — Hamstring Tightness — OUT Milwaukee Bucks: Sterling Brown — Wrist — Day to Day George Hill — Groin — Day to Day Donte Divencenzo — Heel — OUT Giannis Antetokounmpo — Knee — Questionable Malcolm Brogdon — Heel — Doubtful Does Rubio start or come off the bench? If Rubio is out against the Bucks tonight—he’s listed as probable right now—the Bucks won’t get to have a free safety against Utah. That’s a scary thought as the Bucks could hide Giannis on Rubio on the defensive end. That would allow Giannis to get a breather defensively AND allow him to wreck havoc as he spies weakside on every play. Utah would employ this technique with Andrei Kirilenko back in the day, and it could be weaponized against them tonight. But there’s a way around this. Since it is Rubio’s first game back from injury, Utah could do what they did last time when Rubio was returning from injury and have him come off the bench. He would conceivably play with Joe Ingles, Royce O’Neale, Jae Crowder, and Derrick Favors that would punish the Bucks defense if they slouch off as Utah has three shooters ready to fire off a three around him versus only two—Donovan and Joe—if he starts. Rubio is better when he has spot up shooters and a good roll man with passing ability—and Favors is a damn good roll man. At this point, Snyder has to know that Rubio is a good point guard, but when placed in the backcourt with Donovan, he’s facing a similar situation as Favors paired with Gobert. Snyder can certainly scheme the hell out of his system and get it to work, but there’s an option out there that allows both Rubio and Mitchell to reach higher results if he splits them up a lot more just like he does with Favors and Gobert. Rudy Gobert guarding the point guard I know, I know.<doc-sep>MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 07: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Rudy Gobert #27 and Kyle Korver #26 of the Utah Jazz during a game at Fiserv Forum on January 07, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) The Utah Jazz should enter the playoffs red hot due to an unbelievably favorable 20-game stretch to close out the year. Early in the season, one of the most often mentioned themes among Utah Jazz fans was the team’s difficult schedule. With several road games and consecutive bouts against tough opponents, the Jazz floundered in 2018-19’s early stretch. However, since the turn of the calendar year, the schedule has lightened up significantly, and as a result their record has improved as well to the tune of finding themselves at nine games above .500 and solidly in sixth place in the Western Conference. But if you thought things had been smooth of late, you’re in for a nice surprise regarding what lies ahead. All the while during the tough early-season slate, there was the lingering promise that things would balance out for the Utah Jazz as they faced a much easier schedule to close out the year. Just how easy you ask? Well, following Saturday evening’s contest against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Jazz will have just 20 games remaining. Of those 20, 18 will be against teams with worse records than the Jazz, including 14 straight. Of those 18 contests, 15 are against opponents that find themselves currently outside of the playoff mix, and 11 are essentially guaranteed lottery teams. Even if all Utah did was win those 11 games against teams with little motivation to win, that would put them at 46 wins, likely enough for a low playoff seed. However, considering how well they’ve fared of late against inferior opponents (they’ve won 16 straight against teams with worse records), I expect them to do much better than that. All 18 contests remaining against teams with worse records are extremely winnable and 50 wins is definitely right within their grasp. Friendly reminder that the Jazz play the Bucks on Saturday, then they play 18 of their last 20 against teams that have a worse record than them. Jazz have won 16 straight against teams with a record worse than them. At 35-26, fifty wins almost seems likely. — Riley Gisseman (@rgiss11) March 1, 2019 Even Saturday’s bout against the daunting Milwaukee Bucks could easily turn in Utah’s favor considering that Giannis Antetokounmpo and company will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back after a late contest in Los Angeles on Friday. If Utah can steal that victory, that would leave just two games – March 11th against OKC and April 9th against Denver – versus better teams. On the bright side, both of those contests are within the friendly confines of Vivint Smart Home Arena, neither is on the back end of a back-to-back (which has been the case against these foes earlier in the year) and in the contest against the Nuggets, it’s entirely possible that they’ll be resting players at that point should their playoff seed be set in stone. In other words, even those tough games are under about as favorable of circumstances as they could be. So despite an initially tough 62 games through this Saturday, the Jazz are now staring down an extremely bright and promising light at the end of the tunnel. The contest against Milwaukee will be challenging, but after that, expect a determined Utah team to catch fire and surge their way up the standings and into the playoffs. These final 20 games should be an incredible ride where we’ll see a red hot Jazz team prove their worth. Based on what we’ve seen in recent contests, particularly in the 16 straight wins over teams with worse records, I’m optimistic about the show the Jazz have in store for us. Get ready, Jazz fans, the next month and a half of regular season action is going to be a thrilling ride.<doc-sep>

Bucks vs. Jazz Prediction The Bucks remain the best team in the NBA and flexed their muscle on Friday night in a come-from-behind win over the Lakers at Staples Center. Listed as a small dog tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET in Utah, will the Bucks prevail over the Jazz playing the second game of a back-to-back? Game Snapshot 569 Milwaukee Bucks at 570 Utah Jazz 9:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 2, 2019 Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah Our NBA Live Odds page pulls spreads and totals from multiple different online sportsbooks so you can compare betting odds to ensure you’re getting the best line. Public Betting Trends According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook BetNow.eu, the Jazz are 3-point favorites to beat the Bucks. The total, meanwhile, sits at 225 points and as of this writing, 60% of the public betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Bucks to cover the point spread. Milwaukee Bucks Fantasy Spin Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) scored 16 points with 15 rebounds, six assists and three blocks in a 131-120 win over the Lakers on Friday. He played 33 minutes in the win, so coach Mike Budenholzer kept his word about Giannis not having restrictions after he played 24 minutes on Wednesday. Coach Bud said Giannis is feeling good and that the management in recent games isn’t expected to be like that the rest of the season, so it will be interesting to see how he handles things on Saturday vs. the Jazz. Fantasy owners should get in the habit of checking Giannis' status prior to every back-to-back. Utah Jazz Fantasy Spin Donovan Mitchell made another start at point guard during a 111-104 win over the Nuggets on Thursday, scoring 24 points with eight rebounds, five assists and four 3-pointers in 36 minutes. What a win for the Jazz on a back-to-back set in altitude. Mitchell scored six straight Jazz points in the final two minutes just when the Nuggets were making their late run. He did take a shot to his left hip and had the trainers check him out on the bench in the second half, but he returned and didn't even mention it in his post-game interview. In 2019, Mitchell is sixth in the NBA for points with the Jazz going 17-7 in that span. The Jazz look dangerous and Mitchell's slow start is a distant memory. NBA Betting Trends Milwaukee The Bucks are 13-3 against the spread in their last 16 games coming off a win of more than 10 points. Utah The Jazz are 6-1 against the number in their last seven games when their opponent scored 100 points or more in its previous game. Prediction The Bucks are playing on zero rest and on the road for a second consecutive night but it’s hard to fade them right now, especially when they’re getting four points. The Jazz are 20-10 at home this year and 16-13 against the spread in Utah, but Milwaukee is talented and deep. Even if the Bucks choose to rest some players tonight, I like them to keep the game close. They’re 15-4-2 against the number in their last 21 road games and are 10-4 against the spread in their last 14 games overall. Saturday NBA Prediction: Milwaukee Bucks +4

Seattle The biggest story in Seattle soccer remains Clint Dempsey retiring. Clint Dempsey retires: Full coverage - Sounder At Heart His six seasons with the Sounders earned three major trophies. Clint Dempsey Testimonial Match - Summer 2019 versus Fulham - Sounder At Heart Let's rally and make this happen. A charity Testimonial next summer during the Premier League preseason would be a great time to send Clint off in style. He played most of his matches with Fulham. Up Close: Seattle Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock – Equalizer Soccer Boo England... rattle them - Jess Fishlock's message to Wales fans - BBC Sport Wales record cap holder Jess Fishlock urges Wales fans to make life difficult for England in their crucial World Cup qualifier in Newport on Friday. Reign FC's Theresa Nielsen and Denmark draw with Croatia, keeping their World Cup dreams alive 2018 GM Vote | Seattle Sounders FC The 2018 General Manager Vote is the right for Alliance Members to vote on the retention of Garth Lagerwey as the GM of Seattle Sounders FC. Dylan Teves with his first collegiate goal, a blast from 20 yards out which takes a deflection and finds the back of the goal!#GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/uhrf3NolQi — Washington Men's Soccer (@UW_MSoccer) August 31, 2018 Culture Little League Ratings: Title Game Hits High - Sports Media Watch Little League ratings hit a three-year high on Sunday, as Hawaii's win in the championship game delivered the largest baseball audience of 2018. Bringing ancient scrolls into the touchscreen age with MagicScreen The Engineer Canadian researchers unveil MagicScreen, the first rollable touchscreen tablet that combines flexible display technology with gesture control W.N.B.A. Frenemies Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi Save the Trash Talk for Bowling - The New York Times The on-court rivalry of Bird and Taurasi has defined a generation of guard play in women’s basketball. Amazon suspends reviews of US Open coverage after deluge of complaints | Sport | The Guardian Amazon has been slammed amid its first exclusive broadcast of a sports event, with the picture and sound quality and lack of a recording option criticised Toronto built a better green bin and — oops — maybe a smarter raccoon | The Star After the city unveiled its ‘raccoon-resistant’ bins, some feared the animals would be starved out. Journalist Amy Dempsey was examining just that when her reporting took an unexpected path — down her own garbage-strewn laneway. Had raccoons finally figured out how to defeat the greatest human effort in our “war” against their kind? An accidental investigation finds answers amid the scraps. #SaH10 Our birthday was earlier in the week. The party is Sunday from Noon until 3:30 PM at Cheney Stadium. You’re invited. Tickets are $33 dollars using the code SAH. S2 Coach John Hutchinson and assistant Coach Wade Webber will stop by our event. I will be broadcasting from the event as well. Our birthday stories got bumped by the Dempsey news. Here they are again. It’s taken a village to build this community - Sounder At Heart This thank you letter feels a bit like an Oscars speech. We asked people around Seattle soccer about their impression of Sounder at Heart - Sounder At Heart Leading up to the birthday of Sounder at Heart Dave (Founder and Managing Editor), Jeremiah (Managing Editor) and Susie (Deputy Editor SaH, Editor-in-Chief Ride of the Valkyries) reached out to... Sounder at Heart’s history told through some of our favorite stories - Sounder At Heart From expansion to analytics, from the Reign to an MLS Cup we have many thousands of tales. We tried to keep it to ten. We failed. MLS Former Orlando City goalie Talmon 'Tally' Hall is now a cop | Blogs The Orlando Police Department swore in 12 new officers today, one of which many Orlando City fans may be familiar with. Former Orlando City goalie... Sporting KC’s Diego Rubio called up for Chile matches - The Blue Testament Sporting KC forward Diego Rubio to join Chile Men’s National Team for friendlies in Asia Sporting KC’s Cameron: From MLS league office to MLS club - The Blue Testament Excitement, a new urgency, and time dominate in new role. Wayne Rooney signs media & commercial rights deal with Octagon, Triple S Major League Soccer (MLS) club D.C. United have inked deals with sports marketing firms Octagon and Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group NWSL Wales women footballers hope to inspire future players - BBC News Wales winger Natasha Harding says the current team hopes to inspire the next generation of footballers. Swedish legend Lotta Schelin announces retirement due to ongoing pain – Equalizer Soccer Whitecaps FC President discusses why team won’t join NWSL – Equalizer Soccer Scotland 2-1 Switzerland: Scots still have it all to play for - The Scotsman Shelley Kerr couldn’t have asked for any more from her players as they gave their best performance of the World Cup qualifying campaign to beat Group 2 top seeds Switzerland at the Simple Digital Arena. Former Reign FC players Kim Little, Rachel Corsie lead Scotland to victory over Switzerland in Women's World Cup qualifier Scotland Women's World Cup hopes were dealt a blow after Shelley Kerr's side defeated Switzerland by just a single goal. US National Team USMNT: Eight uncapped players who could get a shot in September 08/30/2018 USMNT: Eight uncapped players who could get a shot in September - 08/30/2018 Will American soccer even look for the next Clint Dempsey? - SBNation.com Dempsey is one of a kind. Mostly because soccer is for rich kids who get their love for the game coached out of them. Michael Arace | Clint Dempsey added to his soccer legacy in Columbus - Sports - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH Clint Dempsey, America’s most important soccer player, retired suddenly on Wednesday. Here in Columbus, the spiritual home of the men’s national team, the news loosed a torrent of appreciation. It also conjured a vivid recollection of a singular penalty kick, which whistled wide of the Mexican net, gloriously. World soccer South American Football In Dire Straits | Tim Vickery - World Soccer South American Football In Dire Straits | Tim Vickery - Tim Vickery addresses the significant problems in South American football right now in this piece. Stuttgart wanted Alphonso Davies, but then Bayern Munich happened - Bavarian Football Works Ever wonder why he was so expensive? Looks like our Canadian starlet was more sought after than we thought. Usain Bolt made his pro soccer debut Friday in Australia. It went ...ok - SBNation.com The fastest man in the the world is now the fastest man on the pitch. Spurs' Son Heung-Min has alternative routes to South Korean military exemption - source South Korea's government rewards Asian Games gold medal winners with exemption from compulsory 21-month national service. Canada Soccer announces squad for Concacaf Nations League Qualifying | Canada Soccer<doc-sep>Photo : Cameron Spencer ( Getty ) Usain Bolt may have retired from track, but he hasn’t given up sports entirely. He is currently signed to a trial contract with the Central Coast Mariners, an Australia A-League team, trying to realize his dream of becoming a pro soccer player. He made his official debut in a preseason friendly last night, and surprisingly he wasn’t complete garbage: His performance wasn’t exactly good, of course—his first touch is bumpy as hell—and he currently has and probably never will attain the skill necessary to be a legitimate pro player. He does seem extremely serious about making it in soccer, though, and as the highlight comp above shows, he doesn’t look totally lost out there. Advertisement And there is an even bigger reason to hope his dream becomes reality. While his gifts with the ball might not amount to much, Bolt’s enormous fame and the attention it commands could very well earn him a roster spot with CCM. In the friendly match—played against the Central Coast Select, which is a one-off all-star team of sorts assembled from players in a local amateur league—CCM drew 10,000 fans to the stadium for a match broadcasted in 47 countries. Considering the Mariners’ regular season attendance average was only 7,000, the paying customers Bolt’s presence would pile up might make his minuscule goal haul more than worth it.<doc-sep>

Usain Bolt, professional footballer: the Olympic sprinter made his debut with an Australian club on Friday. (Getty) Usain Bolt, the greatest sprinter in track and field history, retired last year at the IAAF World Championships, heartbreakingly pulling up in his final race, the 4×100 meter relay, with a hamstring injury. But once he healed, Bolt turned his attention to another favorite sport: soccer. On Friday, he made his professional debut, as a trialist with the Central Coast Mariners of the Hyundai A-League, the top level in Australia. Nineteen minutes, one shot Bolt came on in the 71st minute of a game the Mariners were dominating; they were playing a preseason friendly with Central Coast Select and were up 6-0 when Bolt came on. The 32-year-old Jamaican has been training with the Mariners since Aug. 18, and there is no timetable on how long he’ll be with the club. A moment in sporting history is made. @usainbolt, the footballer, steps onto the pitch in Yellow & Navy. ⚡️ #CCMFC #ALeague pic.twitter.com/3j9ZuEvTsf — Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) August 31, 2018 The crowd of just under 10,000 gave him a loud ovation when he stepped onto the pitch, an uneasy smile on his often-beaming face. Bolt made the sign of the cross on his chest, and ran into position at left wing. Wearing No. 95, a nod to his 100-meter world record time of 9.58 seconds, Bolt played the final 19 minutes and he had seven possessions and one shot. ‘I was a little bit nervous’ The world-record holder in the 100- and 200-meters, Bolt said in a post-match interview that he had some butterflies. “It was good; it was what I expected,” Bolt said. “The crowd really gave me a good ovation, I really appreciated that. Story continues “I was a little bit nervous, but as soon as I got on the field I think the nerves kind of went. I wish I had more touches but I’m not fit yet. I just got to put in the work, get up to speed, and I’m looking forward to a great season.” Bolt said he thinks it will take two months for his fitness level to be where it needs to be, but at least twice that long for him to get to where he needs to be in terms of knowing his teammates, improving his touches and “playing like one of the guys.” Bolt believes in Mariners An eight-time Olympic gold medalist and 11-time World Championships gold medalist, Bolt wasn’t quite ready to compared his Mariners experience to, say, his incredible performance at the 2008 Summer Games. “It’s hard to compare; it’s my first one,” he said with a chuckle. “It was a great feeling, but right now I’m just trying to get used to the guys. It’s a wonderful moment to actually get to play at a high level, to play professional football, so that’s what I’m happy about. I think along the line when I start winning championships with this team, because I really believe in them, the moment will be higher and higher. But right now, I’m just happy to be here.” Bolt agreed with one of the interviewers that it will be helpful for him now that the coaching staff has him on tape, so they can break down areas where he needs to improve. The Mariners finished 10th in the 10-team A-League last season. More from Yahoo Sports: • 32 breakout star candidates for 2018 NFL season • Terez Paylor: Caylin Newton, the younger brother of Cam, already has a legacy as king of underdogs • Yankees get another big bat in deal for Andrew McCutchen • Usain Bolt makes his soccer debut

"This Is Us" asks viewers to believe in miracles during a time-jumping Season 3 premiere. [Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for the “This Is Us” Season 3 premiere, Episode 1, “Nine Bucks.”] During the hourlong return of “This Is Us,” two scenes stand out in terms of what’s working and what’s not. On the heartening side — surprise, surprise — it’s Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Deja (Lyric Ross). Using his birthday as reason for reflection, the fan and family favorite drives his prospective daughter to his father’s old home. There, he tells her his life has been defined by being adopted, and he asks her to choose whether or not she would like to officially be made a part of his family. It’s a great speech, one Randall later admits to rehearsing, but it doesn’t go as planned. Deja isn’t honored or moved by Randall letting her choose; she’s pissed that he’s reducing her story to mimic his own. “Don’t tell me we’re the same,” she says. “Don’t tell me I have a choice in anything.” She storms off, and Randall is left to process what he’s learned from the whipsmart young lady. To take a step back and look at the scene from a narrative standpoint, this is a big, manufactured moment of sentimentality. If Deja went along with Randall’s plan, there would’ve been a big hug and two people crying onscreen amid a sea of folks weeping off of it. But that would’ve been false. That wouldn’t have felt authentic to Deja’s journey, and really, it would’ve been lazy writing to reduce her journey to Randall’s. (Lyric Ross is a stellar addition to the cast, putting out more great, understated work here.) Along with great use of humor throughout Randall and Deja’s journey — the birthday gift reveal later on is a cherry on top of their sundae — the scene resonates because Deja pops Randall’s bubble. Ron Batzdorff/NBC Unfortunately, no one does Kate the same favor. Later on, Kate (Chrissy Metz) can’t contain her sorrow anymore, even though she’s stuck at her own birthday party. You can’t blame her: She’s just been told no doctor will ever help her have a baby, and that’s pretty rough news given she lost a baby the year prior. But when and how she has her big confessional moment is phony and forced. Presented a carrot cake made of nothing but raw carrots, Kate tells Madison (Caitlin Thompson) and all her friends gathered around her some very personal, long-repressed feelings. Kate isn’t exactly a gregarious person in general, so to have her spill so much in the form of a speech just doesn’t sit right. The framing tries to hide it with a lot of close-ups and cuts between just Kate and Toby (Chris Sullivan) — to emphasize their intimacy — but it’s not enough to hide that this is an obligatory bit of feelings; that “This Is Us” is hitting its hourly quota of tearjerking moments. Even the jokes meant to temper the scene’s self-seriousness fall flat, with Madison’s acknowledgment of the carrot cake feeling just as forced as the speech preceding it. Framing both scenes and the hour overall is the story of Pittsburgh Steelers’ fullback Franco Harris and his Immaculate Reception. The end-of-episode narration (courtesy of a sports reporter) frames each character’s arc as a “remarkable comeback,” from Jack and Rebecca’s (Mandy Moore) first date, to the doctor reversing her decision to help Kate get pregnant, to Kevin (Justin Hartley) dating Zoe (Melanie Liburd) despite Beth’s (Susan Kelechi Watson) disapproval, to Deja accepting Randall’s invitation to adopt her. Similarly, the audience is again asked to believe in miracles; to go along with all of these slight and vast narrative stretches for the sake of the show’s greater goal: mining tears. OK, OK, Dan Fogelman’s drama has more on its mind than that, but it’s an intriguing query given recent developments in the series. Ron Batzdorff/NBC After back-to-back Emmy-winning seasons, the high-rated NBC drama has earned acclaim for its cast and disdain for its morose mysteries. Season 2, especially, faced backlash for how long it teased the question, “How does Jack die?” After all, for a series claiming to be about the many moments that make life great, it seems a bit trite (to put it mildly) to dwell on the specific end point instead of better exploring what made his life so special. Season 3 is moving in the right direction with Jack, as the original Pearson family patriarch (played by Milo Ventimiglia) digs into his past — specifically, his time in the war and the loss of his brother. And yet because viewers again know someone is dead and again don’t know how, whether or not the episodes recreate the same morbid puzzle as before could define whether or not “This Is Us” learns from its past and improves as a whole. (Not to mention the whole Future Randall storyline and it’s long, slow walk to the truth.) Based on the premiere, it’s hard to say if “This Is Us” wants to change at all. Mistakes are made, but hearts are warmed. The Randall Show is alive and well — providing so many more reasons why Susan Kelechi Watson is the sneaky pick for ensemble MVP — while just about every other arc is very much under a “wait and see” status. (Toby ditching his meds to protect Kate is going to walk a delicate line, but it’s off to a sound start as the basis for charged, relationship-shaking drama.) Will Season 3 slide toward the Randall side of earning its sentimentality or Kate’s? With no fresh reason to abandon ship, audiences will likely stick around to find out. Here’s hoping the miracle is memorable for the right reasons. Grade: B- “This Is Us” airs new episodes Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.<doc-sep>This Is Us season 3 premiere ends with two twists This Is Us Close this dialog window Streaming Options After a six-month wait, viewers finally got their hands on the season 3 premiere of This Is Us on Tuesday, and all their lingering questions from those season 2 finale flash-forwards and mysteries were quickly and fully ans— oh, who are we kidding? This is This Is Us. Let the mysteries build! Toward the end of the season premiere — which brought us the Big Three’s 38th birthdays in the present and the first date between Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) in 1972 — we went back to the distant future to rejoin Old Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Adult Tess (Iantha Richardson). As you recall, father and daughter were last seen in the season 2 finale in an ominous moment, with Randall telling Tess that “it was time to see her,” and they both shared with each other that neither was looking forward to that prospect. The next clue was dropped here in “Nine Bucks.” Randall dialed… Old Toby, who was… in bed, looking depressed. “You coming down?” Randall asked Toby (Chris Sullivan). “I don’t know if I should,” he responded. “She wants you to be there,” said Randall. That was enough to motivate his brother-in-law to leave his bed (with no Kate on the other side), seemingly also on his way to see “her.” And so the possibilities of the identity of “her” expanded into the Toby-verse: Is “her”… Kate (Chrissy Metz)? Is he still married to Kate? Why wouldn’t Tess want to see Kate? What’s the connection between Tess and Toby, besides tangential familial? This Is Us Ep. 214 (screen grab) CR: NBC Credit: NBC The road did not straighten out from there, though; more curves ahead. The episode ended by dipping back into the past and showing Jack — fresh off an awkward first date with Rebecca that ended promisingly with an against-all-odds kiss — driving over to her house with flowers. She opened the door with a smile… but unfortunately, it was another suitor who was standing on her doorstep. She did not seem thrilled to see him — or maybe she was just surprised? — but the two kissed and our mystery man went into the house with her, leaving Jack watching sadly from his car. If this were the Terry Bradshaw-to-Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception play in the 1972 NFL playoffs that bookended the episode, the ball just ricocheted off the wrong guy. We know, of course, that Jack ultimately will wind up with the ball, but for the time being, Jack looks like he’s been returned to the sidelines. Meanwhile, in other plot developments: Kate and Toby, recommitted to having a baby, have enlisted a fertility doctor (and Toby is secretly ditching his antidepressants in hopes of giving them an edge); Deja (Lyric Ross) visited her absentee father at the sporting goods store where he worked to buy a birthday gift for Randall, and agreed to be officially adopted by the Pearsons; and Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) figured out that Kevin (Justin Hartley) and her cousin Zoe (Melanie Liburd) were dating, and she voiced her opposition of this union to Kevin, noting that Zoe had something of a man-eating past, which he will seemingly ignore, because Kevin’s going to Kevin. Of course, we know that the two will last long enough to fly to Vietnam (see: the season 2 finale flash-forward), so buckle up, because there’s sure to be plenty of turbulence in the Pearson household in season 3. To read what Mandy Moore said about Rebecca’s mystery man, head over here. To find out what Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, and Chris Sullivan revealed about the latest clue in the ‘Who is ‘Her’?’ mystery, click here. To read what else that TIU creator Dan Fogelman had to say about season 3, click here.<doc-sep>It’s hard to believe that exactly a year ago today, we were all flipping out over the season two premiere of This Is Us—specifically the game-changing final moments, in which it was revealed for the first time that Jack Pearson died in a house fire. There’s nothing quite as devastating in the first installment of season 3, but "Nine Bucks" is still a pretty thrilling reintroduction to the Pearsons, and came packed with easter eggs, subtle references, and lots of tear-jerking moments for fans. Here are six things we're still talking about from Tuesday's return. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. 1. The Big Three’s birthday always falls on the season premiere. Three times officially makes a pattern: The season one, two, and three premieres have seen the trio turn 36, 37, and 38 respectively, on their birthday of August 31. While there was a pretty sad lack of Pearson sibling interaction in this episode, they were at least symbolically connected by their joint day. Of course, there’s always a bittersweet extra resonance to this date, because the Pearson kids’ birthday is also Jack’s birthday. Had he lived, he would have turned 74 in this episode. 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. SO I PAUSED THE SHOW AND WHY ISN'T TOBY WEARING HIS RING? Are they divorced? Did Kate die? WHATS HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE? !#ThisIsUs pic.twitter.com/Zgp4dqAGWz — Fareeda (@FareedaSays) September 26, 2018 2. Toby is not wearing his ring in the flash-forward. It has not even been one episode since Toby and Kate tied the knot, and we’re already being given reason to panic about their future. Right at the end of the episode, when Future Randall calls Future Toby (more on that in a second! ), Toby is very clearly not wearing a ring, in a moment screengrabbed by an eagle-eyed Twitter user. Are they divorced? Is Kate dead? Is Kate the mysterious “she” who Randall and Tess are reluctantly visiting in the flash-forward? Or did Toby maybe just take his ring off while doing the dishes and forget to put it back on before getting into bed? We. Need. Answers. 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. NBC 3. Deja’s visit to her biological father parallels Randall’s visit to William in the pilot episode. Though things between Deja and the Pearsons have improved moderately since the season two finale—which, if you’ll recall, ended with Deja smashing the heck out of Randall’s car in a fit of rage—the relationship remains strained through most of this episode. Deja is struggling to accept her mother’s decision to give up custody, and despite Randall’s heartbreakingly sweet best efforts, she can’t just assimilate into this new family like he did with his own adoption. As Deja rightly points out to Randall, he had one family for his entire life, and he had two fathers who loved him; Deja has lacked stability in her home life for years, and has now been abandoned by not one, but two parents. “It was lame of me to compare our situations,” Randall admits. But when Deja tracks down her biological father, a parallel does end up arising between she and Randall. Exactly two years ago in the show’s timeline, in the pilot episode, Randall came face to face with William for the first time, and tells him he was raised by an incredible family and has a spectacular life despite being abandoned: “I came here today so I could look you in the eye, say that to you, and then get back in my fancy-ass car and finally prove to myself, and to you, and to my family who loves me, that I didn’t need a damn thing from you, even after I knew who you were.” Randall’s hurt and rejection is palpable in that scene, just as it is when Deja tells her father how Randall and Beth call her “exceptional” and treat her like their daughter. Both Randall and Deja felt the need to prove themselves to the parent who abandoned them—but where Randall developed an ongoing relationship with William, it doesn’t look as though the same is likely to happen for Deja. NBC 4. Jack’s answer to Rebecca’s pet question has major significance in the show. “Cats or dogs?” Rebecca asks Jack, and seems disappointed when he answers the latter—Rebecca, at least at this stage in her life, is a cat person, while Jack is allergic. But who could forget that the reason Jack runs back into the Pearson house fire, years after this first date at the carnival with Rebecca, is to save Kate’s dog Louie? Given all the emphasis that was put on that dog last season, and on Kate’s residual trauma around dogs in the present day, this can’t possibly be a coincidence. NBC 5. Randall and Beth swearing on Oprah might be a reference to Sterling K. Brown’s real-life Oprah fandom. Okay, so arguably the fact that Randall and Sterling K Brown are both Oprah fans is not that notable, because who isn’t? But when Randall asked Beth to promise that she wouldn’t confront Kevin and Zoe about their relationship, swear on Oprah, it was hard not to think about Sterling’s real-life Oprah fandom, which is well-documented—he even texted Oprah after his historic Golden Globes win earlier this year. 6. We’ve already seen a glimpse of the show’s next devastating death scene. If you were too distracted by the adorable awkwardness of Jack and Rebecca’s first date to notice anything else, who could blame you? But right in the middle of their first big scene at the fair, Rebecca questions Jack about his time in Vietnam, asking whether it was “awful.” Jack downplays it, telling her he was just a mechanic, but a quick cut to flashback tells us otherwise: in that flashback Jack is cradling someone bloodied in his arms, looking scared. Since Jack already mentioned that his brother Nicky died during the war, and since we know Nicky will be introduced as a major character this season (played by Michael Angarano), it’s safe to bet this is our first glimpse of what will undoubtedly become a gut-wrenching scene further down the line. So, you know, prepare accordingly. Emma Dibdin Emma Dibdin is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles who writes about culture, mental health, and true crime. 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>

Season 3 of This Is Us premiered Tuesday night, and writer Dan Fogelman and his team did not disappoint. Social media is already flooded with fan theories over what could happen the rest of the season. Fortunately, Fogelman has given some clues that might help viewers figure things out before major plot twists are revealed. ** Warning: The rest of this post contains spoilers for season 3, episode 1. ** Amazon This is Us amazon.com Watch Now First, here are a few of the burning questions many fans have about the show: Will Zoe break Kevin's heart? Why is Franco Harris highlighted so much throughout the episode? Will Toby spiral after dumping his anti-depressants down the toilet? Why is Toby in a bed alone when Randall and Tess go to see the infamous "her"?! Yes, we want answers, and we want them now. But we're not getting them until more episodes air, so in the meantime, here's a recap of the moments that you might have missed from last night's "Nine Bucks" episode: 1. Zoe brushes off Kevin at the dinner table. NBC Last night, we learned Zoe and Kevin are officially hooking up — or as Beth likes to call it "knocking boots." At first, Beth seemed overly protective of Zoe for most of the episode, seemingly because of Kevin's womanizer past. But, it's later revealed that she is actually concerned Zoe will hurt Kevin. "She eats men up and spits them out," Beth tells her brother-in-law. In a scene when they're at the dinner table, Beth's concerns seem justified when Kevin tries to touch Zoe's back, and she moves away. At this point, the secret of them dating has already been revealed, so there's no reason for her to be dismissive. 2. Toby isn't wearing his wedding ring at the end. SO I PAUSED THE SHOW AND WHY ISN'T TOBY WEARING HIS RING? Are they divorced? Did Kate die? WHATS HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE? !#ThisIsUs pic.twitter.com/Zgp4dqAGWz — Fareeda (@FareedaSays) September 26, 2018 The Season 2 finale left fans' heads spinning when an adult Tess told Randall she didn't want to go see "her." In this episode, the timeline of the scene advances even further. Randall calls up Toby, who is alone, to come downstairs and meet them. Toby says that the "her" Tess and Randall are referring to in an earlier scene doesn't want to see him, leaving many fans to believe that he and Kate are split up. This theory would also make sense because Toby dumped his anti-depressants down the toilet when he and Kate were trying to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization. This sequence of events could lead to problems for the couple down the road. 3. Franco Harris's miracle play is dubbed "Immaculate Reception." In "Nine Bucks," viewers are introduced to real-life Pittsburgh Steelers halfback Franco Harris. An actual football game airs during the episode, and in the final seconds of the game, Harris scores a touchdown. Broadcasters called it the "Immaculate Reception" — a play on the biblical term "Immaculate Conception." Since the episode also shows that Kate is trying to beat the odds and get pregnant — knowing there's a 90% chance of failure — Harris's play may be a hint that miracles are about to happen. 4. Jack teases a devastating storyline about his brother Nicky. NBC After their carnival date, Jack opens up to Rebecca in the car and reveals that he "doesn't like talking about the war or his brother." He tells her that "it makes him sad and angry." Ahead of Season 3, several of the actors have teased that this season will dive deeper into Jack's Vietnam war past. This scene foreshadowed something bad that possibly happened to Nicky in the war. 5. Rebecca leaves her jacket behind in Jack's car. NBC After their date, Rebecca confesses to Jack that her girlfriends told her she's supposed to pretend to forget something in the car if she likes a guy so that he can come back and return it. She tells him she won't do that with him because they had a "pretty bad first date," but she ends up leaving her jacket anyway. This prompts Jack to return later with a bouquet of flowers. 6. Kate's carrot cake is made of actual carrots. NBC Kate's health struggles have been a constant theme in her life.

London (AFP) - Marin Cilic suffered a shock Wimbledon second round exit as last year's runner-up blew a two-set lead in his 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 loss to Argentina's Guido Pella on Thursday. When rain forced the tie to be postponed on Wednesday evening, third seed Cilic was leading by two sets against an unheralded opponent who had never won a match at Wimbledon before this year. But the Croatian, who lost to Roger Federer in the 2017 final, collapsed once the match resumed on Court One and world number 82 Pella took full advantage to set up a third round clash with Mackenzie McDonald. Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, had been expected to mount a strong challenge for the Wimbledon title after winning the grass-court warm-up at Queen's Club two weeks ago. The big-serving 29-year-old had only once before lost to a player ranked as low as Pella at Wimbledon, when he was beaten by world number 145 Arnaud Clement 10 years ago. But after reaching the Australian Open final and French Open quarter-finals earlier this year, Cilic suffered one of the worst results of his career. Pella is into the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time. The 28-year-old admitted the over-night rain delay had been a huge boost as it allowed him to change his tactics and pull off a sensational fightback. "Yesterday he was playing so good, hitting the ball so hard that I couldn't do anything," Pella said. "So the rain helped me a lot. Today I played differently, tried to be more aggressive, he started to feel uncomfortable. "I tried to hit the ball hard and fight for every ball and I think in the end that's why I won. "I felt much more confident, served better and was so calm until the end. I'm very happy."<doc-sep>It was another fine day for Roger Federer, even though he spent it relaxing with his young family. A cheer must have gone up in the household when news of Marin Cilic’s demise filtered through on Thursday afternoon. There is a sense of calm in the Swiss veteran’s kingdom, where the outlook could hardly look more serene after another would-be champion met a grisly end. The challengers to Federer’s reign are teetering like Neymar at his theatrical worst, with one of the main obstacles blocking the No 1 seed’s path to a ninth Wimbledon title removed after Cilic succumbed to a second-round defeat by Guido Pella, an Argentinian who took advantage of a rain delay to fight back from two sets down. Here was proof that Federer, who plays Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff on Friday, does not always have to pick up a racket in order to prosper on these lawns. The Swiss has already seen Borna Coric, who defeated him in the Halle final last month, and Grigor Dimitrov depart from his side of the draw and the 36-year-old’s route to a 12th final looks even more inviting now Cilic no longer stands in his way. The caveat is that dangers still lurk. A quarter-final against the No 8 seed Kevin Anderson, who reached the third round with a four-set win over Italy’s Andreas Seppi, would be awkward for Federer, who could also be inconvenienced by Milos Raonic, the 13th seed. But Cilic was the main threat. The No 3 seed was a possible semi-final opponent and many had tipped him to gain revenge for his humiliation in last year’s final. Instead the affable Croat tripped himself up, losing 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-5 to a 28-year-old who had never tasted victory at Wimbledon before this week. Sign up to The Recap, our weekly email of editors’ picks It was a dreadful disappointment for Cilic, who was cruising at 6-3, 6-1, 3-2 before being held up by a rain delay on Wednesday evening. That was the turning point. While play had been called off on the outside courts because of slippery conditions, they were more optimistic on No 1 Court. Cilic must have thought he had time to finish the job against the world No 82. Yet when play resumed after a long and slightly farcical inspection of the grass, it was Pella who seized control, breaking to lead 4-3 after a Cilic slip. “It’s no good,” Cilic told the umpire, who decided to call it a night. Guido Pella makes a return during his second round victory over Marin Cilic. Photograph: Tom Jenkins Guardian They returned on Thursday and Pella took the third set, dominated a tie-break and held his nerve in the decider. Cilic, by contrast, was riddled with anxiety near the end. The former US Open champion’s footwork deserted him and he had to save two match points with some excellent serving in the 10th game. Pella, who faces Mackenzie Macdonald of the US next, kept pushing. A third opportunity went begging when he hit long off a second serve, but there was no escape for Cilic, who folded after netting a tight forehand. Cilic, who beat Novak Djokovic in the final at Queen’s last month, did not criticise the All England Club for Wednesday’s return. “We were waiting just behind the court,” he said. “When we came back it was not raining. When we warmed up, it started to rain again. The court was not as dry. We were talking with the referees. They said if we want to keep on we can. We decided to give it a try. But the court was still quite slippery. It was a bit unfortunate to finish the day like that. We had the choice. We just gave it a try.” Pella’s reward for giving it a go was the biggest win of his career. “It’s not my favourite surface but I am trying to improve,” he said. “The rain came and today I felt much more confident.” There is hope for the underdogs, then, and there was another upset when Thomas Fabbiano, an Italian qualifier, rounded off a 7-6 (7), 6-3, 7-6 (6) over Stan Wawrinka, who was not quite as fortunate as Switzerland’s other maestro.<doc-sep>Federer has been in fine form (Picture: TPN/Getty) Roger Federer admitted he was surprised to see Marin Cilic crash out of Wimbledon as he assessed how his half of the draw had opened up. The top seed has made light work of his opponents thus far, with Jan-Lennard Struff the latest casualty of the Swiss’ brilliance on Centre Court. Beaten 2017 finalist Cilic suffered arguably the most stunning exit of either the men’s or women’s draws, with the Queen’s champion falling to Guido Pella having led by two sets to love. Cilic had been due to face the eight-time Wimbledon champion in the semi-finals, with few players truly expected to stand in their way as they looked to set up a rematch of last year’s final. Cilic fell (Picture: AFP/Getty Images) But while Federer is still standing, he now faces the prospect of a different opponent in the last-four – should he reach that stage himself – and he views 2016 runner-up Milos Raonic as the favourite. ‘Yeah, so with Cilic, clearly we’re not there yet,’ he said after his 6-3 7-5 6-2 win over Struff. ‘I’m disappointed for him because he’s a good guy. ‘I really also expected him to go deep. I played Pella, as well, before in Stuttgart on the grass. I really favored Marin in that match. Will Raonic reach the semi-finals? (Picture: AFP/Getty) ‘But Pella did very well to fight back. It was played over two days. It was not just, like, one match. It felt like two matches, maybe also for him. Different conditions. Once he lost his rhythm, I guess he really struggled. ‘Yeah, I’m not thinking that far ahead. It’s true, I favoured him in that section together with maybe Raonic. I don’t know who else is in that section.’ The Canadian is still yet to book his spot in round four, with his match against Dennis Novak delayed with the pair locked at one set all. Federer, meanwhile, will take on Adrian Mannarino on Monday.<doc-sep>Cilic and Wawrinka were the only two former Grand Slam champions, apart from Federer, in the top half. Their departure guarantees a shake-up in that half of the draw, which, led by Federer, is now a delectable mix of greenhorns, ace kings and journeymen. The string of upsets at Wimbledon continued, this time on the men’s side, as Marin Cilic and Stanislas Wawrinka joined the scrapheap on Thursday. Third seed and last year’s finalist Cilic, one of the favourites going into the tournament, suffered a shock 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-7(3), 5-7 defeat at the hands of Argentine Guido Pella. A little earlier in the evening, Wawrinka, who had raised hopes of a comeback by dismissing Grigor Dimitrov in the opening round, fell 7-6(7), 6-3, 7-6(6) to Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano. While Wimbledon lost some of its star power, the defeats may have further cleared Roger Federer’s path to the final. Not that the eight-time champion needs any favours from his rivals. But Cilic and Wawrinka were the only two former Grand Slam champions, apart from Federer, in the top half. Their departure guarantees a shake-up in that half of the draw, which, led by Federer, is now a delectable mix of greenhorns (Stafanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Mackenzie Macdonald), ace kings (John Isner, Kevin Anderson, Milos Raonic, Sam Querrey) and journeymen (Fabbiano, Pella, Radu Albot, Adrian Mannarino). In one of the biggest slip-ups on the slick Wimbledon grass, Cilic went out in the second round after being two sets up. The match had started on Wednesday and the big-hitting Croat looked right at home on the green turf, unfurling his massive wingspan to drive home winners. His 28-year-old opponent after all was playing only his third main draw match at the Major and was in the second round at Wimbledon for the very first time. The clouds of uncertainty had begun to gather for Cilic after the second rain delay on Wednesday. Play resumed on Court No 1, even though the other courts were deemed far too slippery, with the third set level at 3-3. The Croat struggled to find his footing, even slipped once, literally, at break point down, to eventually lose the rally and the game. Play was called off for the day, but the left-handed Pella had the tiniest foothold. Cilic’s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, had once said: “In every game I play there are three players in me that could surface anytime, Good Goran, Bad Goran and Crazy Goran! They can all serve aces.” While Cilic is hardly as mercurial as his fellow Croat, the good Cilic, who had been way too good for Pella on Wednesday, failed to turn up the next day. He still served aces, 27 in total, and hit unreturnable serves to dig himself out of a hole. But an unsure, nervy Cilic couldn’t finish the job he had started so brightly. “I was just not feeling as comfortable as yesterday with my hitting. I was not as accurate and I was just missing some easy balls, giving him a chance to come back," 2014 US Open champion Cilic later said. "It was not just the pressure. It was me not executing my shots on the court well enough.” The Argentine, meanwhile, was getting more used to the surface and stage. He dug deep, ran hard and produced some splendid tennis under pressure. Pella quashed a hint of a comeback from Cilic in the fourth set — when he went up 3-1 — by breaking him back in the next game. In a crafty rally on varied pace and spin, Pella chased down a drop shot and scooped it for a forehand winner to go level 3-3. The Argentine struck a forehand pass to go set point up at 6-2 in the tie-breaker, and then another one to bag the set. Having done all the hard work, Pella refused to give in in the decider. He saved three points from Cilic. And even when the seasoned Cilic saved two break points of his own at 4-5 down, Pella persisted. He got more chances on the Croat’s next service game. Though Cilic saved one more with an ace, Pella kept badgering Cilic’s forehand, usually his stronger wing. Two successive forehand errors from Cilic handed Pella the biggest victory of his 11-year pro career. In all, Cilic hit 37 unforced errors off the forehand in the match that lasted three hours and 13 minutes. “Today, I started to play more aggressively and fight for every ball and that is why I won,” the 28-year-old Pella said. “Grass isn't my favourite surface but I started to feel more confident and served a lot better.” The Argentine wasn’t the only one to upstage a former Major champion on the day. Italy’s Fabbiano, who had beaten India’s Yuki Bhambri in the opening round, put the finishing touches on his victory over Wawrinka after being 7-6, 7-6, 5-6 up on Wednesday evening. Playing only his fifth tour match on grass, the 5’8” Fabbiano slayed three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka. While Wawrinka has struggled for top-form since returning from a knee surgery last year and slipped to 224 in the rankings, he showed he still has the game to beat some of the better players. “I'm really disappointed to lose the match,” said Wawrinka, who has never gone beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. “During the match, I was a (trying to find) my game a little bit. I was not aggressive enough and not moving well enough.” He had fought back from a set down against sixth seed Dimitrov to score an unlikely victory in the first round. But his comeback was nipped in the bud by a determined Fabbiano, who was completely unfazed by the Swiss’ reputation or repertoire of shots. Wawrinka, for his part, held set points in both the tie-breaks but just could not deliver the knockout blow.<doc-sep>

Last updated on .From the section Tennis Wimbledon 2018 on the BBC Venue: All England Club, Wimbledon Dates: 2-15 July Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs and the BBC Sport website and app; Live Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra commentary; Text commentary online. Third seed Marin Cilic squandered a two-set lead as he was stunned by Argentina's Guido Pella in the second round of Wimbledon. The Croat - one of the leading title contenders after reaching last year's final - was well in control before rain stopped play on Wednesday evening. However, Pella held firm to force a deciding fifth set on Thursday. The world number 82 converted his fourth match point to complete a surprise 3-6 1-6 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 win. It is the biggest win of Pella's career and he is now in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. "The rain coming helped me a lot," the 28-year-old, who had not won a match at Wimbledon in his two previous visits, told BBC Sport. "Yesterday he was playing so, so well and I couldn't do anything. Pella was playing in a five-set match for only the eighth time "Today, I started to play more aggressively and fight for every ball and that is why I won. Grass isn't my favourite surface but I started to feel more confident and served a lot better." On Friday, Pella will play American world number 103 Mackenzie Mcdonald who will also be making his first appearance in the last 32 of a major. "Every time you win a match in a Grand Slam it is a good feeling," he added. "Tomorrow is a different match and we will both have pressure so it will be a tense match but I will try to be calm and win." Cilic told BBC Sport that he struggled to find his fluency in the final two sets of the match. "Yesterday I played great, today not so and that is a big disappointment," he said. "In the fourth I was struggling to find my rhythm, missing balls I hadn't been missing earlier and not serving as well. "I was not as accurate and he was starting to play and serve better. I was giving him chances to keep going and he was also raising his level." Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka was another to be eliminated. The Swiss, who has dropped to 224 in the world after a series of injuries, lost 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 7-6 (8-6) to Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano. And fourth seed Alexander Zverev is in trouble in his match against American Taylor Fritz. Play was suspended late on due to bad light on court one with the German trailing 6-4 5-7 6-7. But there were no problems for Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro who only needed one hour and 34 minutes to beat Feliciano Lopez 6-4 6-1 6-2, winning 31 out of the 32 points behind a successful first serve (97%). US Open finalist and eighth seed Kevin Anderson advanced after a 6-3 6-7 6-3 6-4 victory over Fabbiano's compatriot Andreas Seppi. American ninth seed John Isner sent down 64 aces in his five-set success against Belgian qualifier Ruben Bemelmans - the third-highest number of aces in a match at Wimbledon after the 113 and 110 managed by Isner and Nicolas Mahut respectively in their record-breaking marathon encounter in 2010. And Australian Nick Kyrgios was warned for swearing in his straight-sets win over Dutchman Robin Haase. The 15th seed treated the crowd to some clever strokeplay and some trick shots on his way to a 6-3 6-4 7-5 triumph.

It’s the day all Nottingham Forest fans have been waiting for following the 3-2 defeat at Bolton Wanderers on the final day of the last Championship season. As the new campaign edges ever closer, the fixtures for the new season have been revealed today, with Aitor Karanka's men heading to Bristol City on opening day. Fans will also be keen to put the meetings with arch-rivals Derby County in their diaries, along with those over Christmas and towards the end of a season which they’ll hope will end in promotion to the Premier League. Our Forest writers Sarah Clapson and Barry Cooper will also be going live on Facebook to discuss the new fixtures, and they’ll welcome your thoughts. Away from the fixtures, we’ll keep tabs on the latest transfer developments at the City Ground, with Aitor Karanka’s players returning for pre-season training on Monday morning at St George’s Park, and of course, all the news from the World Cup in Russia. Stick with us throughout the day. You can also get involved by tweeting @NFFC_Live or by joining the Facebook community here .<doc-sep>Hello and welcome to the Bristol City Championship fixtures live blog. It's Thursday June 21 and the Robins are set to learn their schedule for the 2018/19 season at 9am today. Last season Bristol City took on Lee Johnson's former club Barnsley and secured a 3-1 victory as they started the campaign in style. They will hope for a repeat as the fixtures are revealed for the upcoming season. We will have all the latest news and reaction to the fixtures, including the festive schedule and the run-in as Johnson's men prepare for the new season. The club will also be revealing the new kit for the 2018/19 season and you can follow developments here. Join the Bristol Live team for all the latest from Ashton Gate.<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news 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 Leeds United and Stoke City face off on an exciting opening weekend to the Championship football season. Relegated Stoke will travel to Elland Road, where both sides have never managers. Marcelo Bielsa is something of a coop for the Yorkshire side, while Gary Rowett will be hoping to build on his excellent Championship reputation. Elsewhere, Frank Lampard's first senior game in management will see him travel to Reading on Friday 3 August to open the campaign. Sheffield United take on Swansea, West Brom host Bolton and Hull welcome Aston Villa on a stacked opening weekend. On the final day, Villa vs Norwich looks to be the key fixture. Scroll down to see the fixtures* for the season in full. (Image: Birmingham Mail) (Image: Stoke Sentinel) AUGUST 3rd Reading v Derby County 4th Birmingham City v Norwich City Brentford v Rotherham United Bristol City v Nottingham Forest Ipswich Town v Blackburn Rovers Millwall v Middlesbrough Preston North End v Queens Park Rangers Sheffield United v Swansea City West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers Wigan Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday 5th Leeds United v Stoke City 6th Hull City v Aston Villa 7th Nottingham Forest v West Bromwich Albion 11th Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic Blackburn Rovers v Millwall Bolton Wanderers v Bristol City Derby County v Leeds United Middlesbrough v Birmingham City Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion Nottingham Forest v Reading Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United Rotherham United v Ipswich Town Sheffield Wednesday v Hull City Stoke City v Brentford Swansea City v Preston North End 18th Birmingham City v Swansea City Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday Bristol City v Middlesbrough Hull City v Blackburn Rovers Ipswich Town v Aston Villa Leeds United v Rotherham United Millwall v Derby County Preston North End v Stoke City Reading v Bolton Wanderers Sheffield United v Norwich City West Bromwich Albion v Queens Park Rangers Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest 21st Aston Villa v Brentford Derby County v Ipswich Town Middlesbrough v Sheffield United Queens Park Rangers v Bristol City Rotherham United v Hull City Sheffield Wednesday v Millwall 22nd Blackburn Rovers v Reading Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City Norwich City v Preston North End Stoke City v Wigan Athletic Swansea City v Leeds United 25th Aston Villa v Reading Blackburn Rovers v Brentford Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield United Derby County v Preston North End Middlesbrough v West Bromwich Albion Norwich City v Leeds United Nottingham Forest v Birmingham City Queens Park Rangers v Wigan Athletic Rotherham United v Millwall Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich Town Stoke City v Hull City Swansea City v Bristol City (Image: PA) SEPTEMBER 1st Birmingham City v Queens Park Rangers Brentford v Nottingham Forest Bristol City v Blackburn Rovers Hull City v Derby County Ipswich Town v Norwich City Leeds United v Middlesbrough Millwall v Swansea City Preston North End v Bolton Wanderers Reading v Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield United v Aston Villa West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City Wigan Athletic v Rotherham United 15th Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa Bolton Wanderers v Queens Park Rangers Brentford v Wigan Athletic Bristol City v Sheffield United Hull City v Ipswich Town Millwall v Leeds United Norwich City v Middlesbrough Preston North End v Reading Rotherham United v Derby County Sheffield Wednesday v Stoke City Swansea City v Nottingham Forest 18th Derby County v Blackburn Rovers Leeds United v Preston North End Stoke City v Swansea City West Bromwich Albion v Bristol City Wigan Athletic v Hull City 19th Aston Villa v Rotherham United Ipswich Town v Brentford Middlesbrough v Bolton Wanderers Nottingham Forest v Sheffield Wednesday Queens Park Rangers v Millwall Reading v Norwich City Sheffield United v Birmingham City 22nd Aston Villa v Sheffield Wednesday Derby County v Brentford Ipswich Town v Bolton Wanderers Leeds United v Birmingham City Middlesbrough v Swansea City Nottingham Forest v Rotherham United Queens Park Rangers v Norwich City Reading v Hull City Sheffield United v Preston North End Stoke City v Blackburn Rovers West Bromwich Albion v Millwall Wigan Athletic v Bristol City 29th Birmingham City v Ipswich Town Blackburn Rovers v Nottingham Forest Bolton Wanderers v Derby County Brentford v Reading Bristol City v Aston Villa Hull City v Middlesbrough Millwall v Sheffield United Norwich City v Wigan Athletic Preston North End v West Bromwich Albion Rotherham United v Stoke City Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United Swansea City v Queens Park Rangers (Image: Evening Gazette) OCTOBER 2nd Aston Villa v Preston North End Brentford v Birmingham City Ipswich Town v Middlesbrough Reading v Queens Park Rangers Stoke City v Bolton Wanderers Wigan Athletic v Swansea City 3rd Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United Derby County v Norwich City Hull City v Leeds United Nottingham Forest v Millwall Rotherham United v Bristol City Sheffield Wednesday v West Bromwich Albion 6th Birmingham City v Rotherham United Bolton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers Bristol City v Sheffield Wednesday Leeds United v Brentford Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest Millwall v Aston Villa Norwich City v Stoke City Preston North End v Wigan Athletic Queens Park Rangers v Derby County Sheffield United v Hull City Swansea City v Ipswich Town West Bromwich Albion v Reading 20th Aston Villa v Swansea City Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United Brentford v Bristol City Derby County v Sheffield United Hull City v Preston North End Ipswich Town v Queens Park Rangers Nottingham Forest v Norwich City Reading v Millwall Rotherham United v Bolton Wanderers Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough Stoke City v Birmingham City Wigan Athletic v West Bromwich Albion 23rd Middlesbrough v Rotherham United Millwall v Wigan Athletic Norwich City v Aston Villa Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield United v Stoke City Swansea City v Blackburn Rovers 24th Birmingham City v Reading Bolton Wanderers v Nottingham Forest Bristol City v Hull City Leeds United v Ipswich Town Preston North End v Brentford<doc-sep>Sign up NOW for the latest Reds news and views direct 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 Nottingham Forest can approach the new season with optimism because of the man who will be in the dugout, according to Reds legend Kenny Burns. Having replaced Mark Warburton at the turn of the year, Aitor Karanka is heading into his first full campaign in charge at the City Ground – and a promotion challenge is very much the target. The release of the Championship fixtures today sees Forest set for a trip to face Bristol City on the opening day, with a visit from West Brom their first home game of the 2018/19 term. Burns says both matches can offer an early yardstick for Karanka’s men, with the Robins having at one stage been pushing for the play-offs last season and the Baggies newly-relegated from the Premier League. “It should give us a bit of a feel of where we’re at and what we’re up against,” said Burns. “Bristol City had a good season last year. They did well, just fading away a bit at the end. But that game should give us a good feeling of what we can do. “The pressure will be more on Bristol City than Forest in that game because they are the ones at home. That might work in Forest’s favour. (Image: Getty) “Then it’s West Brom. You’d look at it and think that might be a hard game, but it can go the other way, too. It might be that they are a bit cocky, having come down from the Premier League, and go into it thinking, ‘it’s only the Championship’. “If we can get a point against Bristol City, at least, and then three against West Brom, that would be a great start.” The Reds are likely to field a very different line-up to the one which faced Millwall in the first match last year – a clash which ended in a 1-0 win for the hosts at the City Ground. Boss Karanka is looking to overhaul his squad this summer, with as many as 10 new additions expected and a number of players heading in the opposite direction. Michael Dawson, Joao Carvalho and Diogo Goncalves are the only new arrivals so far, but Burns believes the signs are largely looking good. And that is mostly down to the man in the hotseat, with Karanka having previously guided Middlesbrough to the Premier League. “What makes me optimistic is the manager. I’ve got confidence in Aitor Karanka. I’m optimistic about next season because of him,” said Burns. “We’re all hoping it’s going to be a good season, but at the moment we can’t say it’s going to be a great season because we don’t know what the squad’s going to look like. “But I think we can be optimistic.”<doc-sep>

The planning for the 2018-19 Championship campaign can begin in earnest as the new season fixtures are released. And Bristol City will kick off their season with a game against Nottingham Forest. Aitor Karanka's side will visit Ashton Gate on the opening weekend - with the balloon fiesta the weekend after ensuring that the Robins are then away from home in round two as per normal. Following the visit of the Tricky Trees it's on the road to Bolton before Middlesbrough come visit. Trips to London - for the first mid-week game - to take on QPR and over the Bridge to Swansea City then await the Robins before the first international break. Brentford will visit BS3 on Boxing Day. But it's away to Stoke to see in the new year. The season rounds off with a trip to Hull, with City having to go to Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday in their two prior final games on the road. Villa visit Ashton Gate on 29 September and Leeds come over on 9 March. Bristol City should be pleased with their start to the season, with two games against bottom half sides from last season to begin on the road before a tasty-looking fixture in Wales. It all kicks off again on 4 August and we can't wait. All game dates and times subject to change, of course. City have also released details of their new kits today too. Full fixtures 04/08/2018 Bristol City v Nottingham Forest 11/08/2018 Bolton Wanderers v Bristol City 14/08/2018 Plymouth Argyle (7.45pm, Carabao Cup) 18/08/2018 Bristol City v Middlesbrough 21/08/2018 Queens Park Rangers v Bristol City (7.45pm) 25/08/2018 Swansea City v Bristol City 02/09/2018 Bristol City v Blackburn Rovers (Sunday) 15/09/2018 Bristol City v Sheffield United 18/09/2018 West Bromwich Albion v Bristol City (8pm) 21/09/2018 Wigan Athletic v Bristol City (Friday) 28/09/2018 Bristol City v Aston Villa (Friday) 03/10/2018 Rotherham United v Bristol City (7.45pm) 07/10/2018 Bristol City v Sheffield Wednesday (Sunday) 20/10/2018 Brentford v Bristol City 24/10/2018 Bristol City v Hull City (7.45pm) 27/10/2018 Bristol City v Stoke City 03/11/2018 Reading v Bristol City 10/11/2018 Bristol City v Preston North End 24/11/2018 Leeds United v Bristol City 28/11/2018 Ipswich Town v Bristol City (7.45pm) 02/12/2018 Bristol City v Millwall (Sunday) 08/12/2018 Birmingham City v Bristol City 15/12/2018 Bristol City v Norwich City 22/12/2018 Derby County v Bristol City 26/12/2018 Bristol City v Brentford 29/12/2018 Bristol City v Rotherham United 01/01/2019 Stoke City v Bristol City 12/01/2019 Bristol City v Bolton Wanderers 19/01/2019 Nottingham Forest v Bristol City 26/01/2019 Middlesbrough v Bristol City 02/02/2019 Bristol City v Swansea City 09/02/2019 Blackburn Rovers v Bristol City 13/02/2019 Bristol City v Queens Park Rangers (7.45pm) 16/02/2019 Bristol City v Birmingham City 23/02/2019 Norwich City v Bristol City 02/03/2019 Preston North End v Bristol City 09/03/2019 Bristol City v Leeds United 12/03/2019 Bristol City v Ipswich Town (7.45pm) 16/03/2019 Millwall v Bristol City 30/03/2019 Sheffield United v Bristol City 06/04/2019 Bristol City v Wigan Athletic 09/04/2019 Bristol City v West Bromwich Albion (7.45pm) 13/04/2019 Aston Villa v Bristol City 19/04/2019 Bristol City v Reading (12pm) 22/04/2019 Sheffield Wednesday v Bristol City 27/04/2019 Bristol City v Derby County 05/05/2019 Hull City v Bristol City (12.30pm) You can see the full Championship fixtures here.

Angels 35-28 Twins 27-32 Last time the Twins and Angels squared off, they split a 4 game series at the Big A. Coincidently enough, all 6 pitchers in this upcoming series pitched in that early May series. The Twins are 5 for their last 10 and and have lost 9 out of their last 14. The Angels are off to a good start in June and have gone 5-1 (thanks in part to playing bad teams, but shhhhh). Honestly, the teams are probably semi evenly matched. The Angels are going to have to put runs on the board and have only scored 27 over their last 7 games, compared to the Twins who have logged 37 runs over their past 7 games. Know your foe: Twins - who’s hot (last 7 days): Eduardo Escobar .500 OBP, 4 home runs, 11 RBIs Brian Dozier .448 OBP, 1 home run Eddie Rosario .424 OBP, 4 home runs, 8 RBIs Weather Forecast GAME 1 Garrett Richards (3.25 ERA) v. Lance Lynn (5.46 ERA) Friday, June 8th @ 5:10PM Pitcher vs. Batters Notable Stats Summary: Richards gave up 3 runs on 5 hits over 5.1 innings last time he faced the Twins. It was the ONLY game so far this year in which he has not given up a walk. In his last 4 starts, Richards hasn’t made it out of the 6th inning and he has a 3.60 ERA with 24 Ks and 15 walks over 20 innings. Seriously, cut down on those walks dude! Pitch Arsenal: Lance Lynn gave up 4 runs on 8 hits in 4.2 innings when he last faced the Angels. Aside from a scoreless start against Houston 2 starts back, he’s had a rough time this year and has given up 5 or 6 runs in 5 of his last 6 starts. Pitch Arsenal: Verdict: Richards did alright against the Twins last time and should be sharper in this outing. Lynn has been terrible yet somehow held the Astros scoreless. Anything can happen but this should lean Angels. GAME 2 Tyler Skaggs (3.27 ERA) v. Kyle Gibson (3.54 ERA) Saturday, June 9th @ 11:10AM Pitcher vs. Batters Notable Stats Summary: Tyler Skaggs is at or near a career best in WHIP, ERA, walks allowed, K rate, etc. You get the drift. He’s having a good season. Skaggs got a no decision thanks to a Jim Johnson blown save back in May after throwing 6 innings with 7 Ks and allowing only 2 runs (solo shots to Dozier and Rosario). Pitch Arsenal: Gibson was good agains the Angels last time around. How good? He only allowed 3 hits over 6 innings and one of those was against Simmons who is sitting this one out. Gibson has been pretty good this year and like Skaggs, is currently sitting at the lowest ERA of his career. He’s been walking A TON though and allows a walk about every other inning. Pitch Arsenal: Verdict: It’s a good pitching matchup. Let’s hope the Angels take advantage of some walks (seriously - Gibson has them in EVERY game), and Skaggs can keep doing Skaggsy things. GAME 3 Nick Tropeano (4.35 ERA) v. Fernando Romero (3.96 ERA) Sunday, June 10th @ 11:10AM Pitcher vs. Batters Summary: Nick Tropeano has 2 wins in his last 3 starts but also a 5.40 ERA over his last 4 starts. He’s pretty much been the epitome of a 5th starter (or 6th in the Angels case). He’s been pretty average most games with two great starts and a few bad ones. Against the Twins he threw 6 innings and gave up 3 runs on 5 hits. I’ll take that kind of performance from him to anchor this series. Pitch Arsenal: Romero is good and has some impressive stuff but he did have a hiccup against the Royals where he allowed 8 runs over 1.2 innings. They were just teeing off on him. Outside of that game he has a 2.10 ERA this season over his other 6 games. Romero held the Angels to just 1 run on 5 hits over 5 innings but they squeaked out a 2-1 victory thanks to a pitching gem by Ohtani. Pitch Arsenal: Verdict: Tropeano v. the young rookie Romero doesn’t exactly give me warm fuzzies. Might be the game we need the bullpen the most. Overall Verdict: The Angels could win this series but the Twins have been hard to predict this year. They really need to pull off at least 2 games before they head to Seattle. Current Standings<doc-sep>A rain delay forced the Angels to idle for four hours Saturday. Turns out it also was pouring inside. “I had like four Red Bulls,” pitcher Tyler Skaggs said. “I was ready to go.” Heavily caffeinated and sufficiently armed, the left-hander produced seven solid-and-then-some innings as the Angels won their sixth game in a row, beating Minnesota 2-1. Advertisement Skaggs arrived at Target Field early Saturday, taking the first of two buses from the team’s hotel like he usually does. He then waited more than seven hours to pitch, passing the time by with sugar and vitamin B, 12 ounces at a time. “I knew it was going to rain,” said Skaggs, who routinely checks the weather forecast. “But I didn’t know it was going to be that long.” When the game finally began, he didn’t appear to be the least bit inconvenienced. Skaggs had a 1-2-3 first inning, overcame a 26-pitch second that included a double and a walk, then had another 1-2-3 inning in the third. In the third, he retired Bobby Wilson, Brian Dozier and Eddie Rosario with a fastball, a changeup and a curve. Then, in the fourth, he struck out Robbie Grossman during an at-bat that featured a 71-mph strike one (curve) and a 93-mph strike three (fastball). “It’s not easy to sit around for four hours and wonder are you going to pitch or not pitch,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “When we got a definitive (start) time, you could see him go into overdrive and just get ready.” After giving up a leadoff double to start the fifth, Skaggs retired the next three hitters on eight pitches, including a foul tip that catcher Jose Briceno secured for strikeout of Dozier. Advertisement The only run the Twins scored came on a double play that helped end a sixth-inning threat. Then came the seventh, when Skaggs supplied what he called the “exclamation point.” On his 100th pitch of the day, he struck out Miguel Sano. On his 108th pitch, he struck out Ehire Adrianza. On his 112th and final pitch, he struck out Ryan LaMarre. “He went to the auxiliary tank,” Scioscia said, “and just finished strong.” Skaggs (5-4, 3.08 ERA) matched rookie Jaime Barria for the team lead in victories, doing so by holding the Twins hitless in five at-bats with runners in scoring position. Advertisement The Angels’ runs came on home runs by Ian Kinsler — who has homered in three straight and hit six in his past 11 games — and Albert Pujols. After Kinsler’s home run in the third, Mike Trout and Justin Upton walked. Pujols thought he drew a walk, too, but umpire Jim Reynolds disagreed. He called him out on a full-count strike three that, upon review, appeared to be outside. Pujols demonstratively reacted but avoided saying anything that would get him ejected. Good thing because Pujols hit his homer in his next at-bat. Advertisement The RBI was the 1,951st of his career, tying Pujols for sixth all-time with Stan Musial, a Hall of Famer he got to know during his time in St. Louis. For a player whose name appears routinely on lists with baseball’s greatest ever, matching Musial brought something extra for Pujols. After the game, he said he would be giving his jersey and his bat and the ball to the Musial family. A day that began with the Angels doing a lot of nothing ended up with them doing plenty.<doc-sep>

Mike Trout on Sunday had a batting average of .000, “Trout” and a string of zeroes rarely appearing in the same sentence. Of course, that was over only a single game, a sample size comically small but also fully representative on a day of lost chances and a lost game, the Angels falling to Minnesota 7-5. “Mike’s never that far off,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Occasionally, you’re going to have some stretches where hits aren’t falling in.” This stretch included all nine innings against the Twins, Trout going hitless in five at-bats, each of which came with runners on base. Before Sunday, he was batting .317 this season under such circumstances, with a 1.037 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. So Trout stranding eight runners as the team was three for 15 with men in scoring position was the sort of development the Angels aren’t used to seeing. This is especially true during a season in which he’s threatening to break Babe Ruth’s all-time record for WAR, a rough but revered measure of a player’s overall value. “His approach is good,” Scioscia said of Trout, who has two hits in his last 19 at-bats. “His process is good. He’ll be fine.” The Angels won two of three games against Minnesota but scored only 10 runs and batted .212 (21 for 99, 23 strikeouts). Of particular note other than Trout, Luis Valbuena was hitless in 11 at-bats with six strikeouts and Justin Upton was one for nine. Still, the Angels had an opportunity in the ninth inning against closer Fernando Rodney after Albert Pujols’ two-out, two-run single. With the tying run on first base, Zack Cozart popped out. “There’s no doubt we had chances,” Scisocia said. “We kept pressuring them early in the game. We just couldn’t keep building on that.” Before Pujols’ ninth-inning hit, the Angels scattered a trail of empty moments. Here, presented in chronological order, are the results of their other at-bats with two runners on base: Single, strike out, fly out, pop out, pop out, line out, single, sacrifice fly, strike out, ground out, strike out, ground out, pop out, pop out. Lost, too, was the chance given Nick Tropeano, the Angels starter who surrendered two early runs but then watched his teammates come back to take a 3-2 lead after four innings. “When the offense puts up runs, it’s my job to go out there and throw up zeroes,” Tropeano said. “I just didn’t do that today.” Things went to pieces for him when the first five Twins to bat in the fifth inning reached base, three of them eventually scoring. Tropeano (3-4) gave up two walks, a single, a double and a triple before being relieved by Cam Bedrosian, who gave up a run-scoring double. The inning was a stark turn for Tropeano, who began the fifth having retired 10 batters in a row. “I just got to do a better job of executing pitches with runners in scoring position,” he said. “That’s on me. Overall, not a good day.” The Angels head to Seattle for three games against one of baseball’s most surprising stories. The Mariners not only sit atop the American League West but have risen to that perch without Robinson Cano. In fact, Seattle greatly improved in mid-May after Cano was suspended for 80 games because of a failed drug test. The Angels and Mariners last met May 6, a day that ended with the Angels leading the division and 1½ games ahead of third-place Seattle. Since then, the Mariners are 22-10 and the Angels 16-16. But that’s baseball, where fortunes can change quickly, even for someone like Mike Trout. [email protected]

EMMANUEL DUNAND/Getty Images Lewis Hamilton has pole position for the 2018 Belgian Formula One Grand Prix after finishing fastest in qualifying on Saturday. Hamilton was quickest in a rain-soaked Q3 on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with Sebastian Vettel unable to better his rival's time despite a late push. It means Hamilton is on pole for the sixth time this calendar year, as well as the fifth time at this race. There was a pleasant surprise for Force India, as Esteban Ocon took P3 just ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez: Qualifying Hamilton was left to marvel at the difficulty of an unpredictable and demanding session: Meanwhile, Vettel remains bullish about his chances in the race: Vettel's confidence is well-founded since Ferrari had been in control earlier in the day. After finishing fastest in all three practice sessions, Ferrari still held sway over Mercedes at the end of Q1, as Kimi Raikkonen paced Hamilton and Bottas: Video Play Button Videos you might like Raikonnen made the most of his first timed lap: A shock saw both McLaren vehicles in the elimination zone as Q1 unfolded, and that's where Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne stayed. Surprisingly, they were joined by Renault's Carlos Sainz, who struggled to deal with the track: Q2 saw Raikkonen continue to impress, as the Finn made history at Hamilton's expense as rain clouds hovered above Spa: Nico Hulkenberg was among the next group to be eliminated once Q2 was in the books. Sauber's Marcus Ericsson joined him, while Vettel battled back to be quicker than team-mate Raikkonen, with Hamilton third-fastest as the rain began to fall heavily. It set up a dramatic shootout for pole between the top 10. Things were stymied somewhat by a downpour that put cars on the slicks in jeopardy, with Mercedes man Valtteri Bottas the first to slide off the circuit: While the rain sent drivers scurrying to the pits for a change to intermediates, Perez and Ocan stayed out. Verstappen was taking advantage of the absentees and appeared set for pole, until Raikkonen returned to the track to take provisional. Another wild card came from the rain easing off and the track beginning to dry out, causing the intermediates to heat up. It didn't matter to Vettel, who briefly seized pole, while Hamilton encountered problems: Hamilton soon recovered, though, and snatched pole from his championship challenger late on. Vettel settled for P2, while Force India will rejoice after Ocon did enough for P3. FP3 Vettel made it three from three for Ferrari by finishing quickest in the third and final practice session. He was quicker than Raikkonen and Hamilton: He was also fastest in FP1 on Friday, before Raikkonen topped the timesheets in FP2. Ferrari's intent to set the pace was obvious when Vettel made his first foray on to the track on supersoft tyres. Yet it was Raikkonen driving quicker following the first runs: Bottas soon became third-fastest, and the Finn's effort was the cue for team-mate Hamilton to announce himself: Mercedes' decision to start on the softs didn't look a bad one as Hamilton continued to test Raikkonen and Ferrari's speed. Soon, though, all four drivers from the top two teams had switched to supersofts, offering an ideal chance for comparison. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen had clocked a respectable first run for Red Bull, with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo slower but still in touch with the big names: Vettel promptly reasserted himself with another swift lap. He was now quicker than Bottas and Hamilton and soon went faster than Raikkonen. A red flag brought the final session to a close after Vandoorne was left facing the wrong way after spinning onto the grass. He was angered with Bottas: However, not everybody felt the Mercedes man was at fault: The red flag meant drivers had little time to get a qualifying simulation lap timed and in the books. Ultimately, though, Ferrari had done what was needed to offer a reminder of the speed and power of the car before qualifying.<doc-sep>Lewis Hamilton proved himself the master of the wet yet again by conjuring a lap from nowhere to take pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix. The world champion, who moments earlier had slipped off the track at Turn One as rain fell in the final 15 minutes of qualifying, was surefooted in the crucial final lap. He ended up seven-tenths quicker than championship rival Sebastian Vettel in second. Esteban Ocon was third for Force India - a brilliant performance by him and the team that has come back from administration under new owner Lawrence Stroll. FULL QUALIFYING REPORT<doc-sep>Max Verstappen was pleased with Red Bull’s recovery from a disappointing Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix qualifying as he recorded his first podium at Spa-Francorchamps. The Dutchman, starting seventh on the grid after Red Bull’s gamble to run early on in a wet Q3 failed to pay off, made early progress and quickly demoted the Racing Point Force India duo to move into third. Verstappen held the position throughout to claim his first rostrum appearance in Belgium, delighting the large numbers of travelling Dutch fans. Belgian GP - Memorable Moments Video of Belgian GP - Memorable Moments “There was no extra pressure. I just enjoy driving here in Spa in general, it’s nothing to do with the fans,” he said. “They just give you extra motivation. “Today was a good recovery after yesterday where we were unlucky in qualifying. So happy to be on the podium here. It was also great to see on the last lap all the fans cheering you on, so really happy about that.” Having avoided a huge start crash at La Source, Verstappen surged past Esteban Ocon with a brilliant pass into Les Combes and pulled off a similar move on Sergio Perez soon after. He admitted he was surprised by the pace of the Force India duo. “It was a bit of chaos at the start with a lot of things happening there, from there I passed Grosjean up the hill so that was good for the race,” Verstappen explained. “I knew I just had to be patient with the Force India’s, because we had the pace. But still they were bloody quick on the straights. “I thought as soon as I opened the DRS I would just drive by but it was still harder than I expected, but it was still enjoyable.”<doc-sep>The Ardennes has its own micro-climate in late summer, a time when the peace of the forest can be broken without warning by a sopping cloudburst. So it proved on Saturday, as a qualifying shoot-out that began under picture-perfect skies ended in a spell of rain-lashed chaos through which Lewis Hamilton, drawing upon all his mastery in the wet, swept to a record fifth pole at the Belgian Grand Prix. “That was,” he said, still catching his breath, “the toughest session I can remember doing.” Such is the sprawl of the Spa layout, snaking its sinuous path through the trees, it sometimes compels drivers to master several weather patterns at once. This was one of those occasions, with Hamilton and his rivals navigating a track that changed from bone-dry to slippery so imperceptibly that Valtteri Bottas spun his car hurtling down a straight. Hamilton, though, had his Mercedes on a string, finding the line of least resistance in another captivating rain dance.<doc-sep>

Max Verstappen doubts Red Bull can take the fight to Formula 1 rivals Mercedes and Ferrari at the front of the pack during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday, but is hopeful of an improved showing over the long runs in the race. Verstappen led Red Bull’s charge by finishing fourth in second practice at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on Friday, albeit a distant six-tenths of a second back from pace-setter Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari. Power circuits similar to Spa have tended not to favour Red Bull through the 2018 season given Mercedes and Ferrari’s engine advantage, leaving Verstappen sceptical of the team’s chances over one lap in qualifying tomorrow. Verstappen said he thought Red Bull would be “in qualifying, realistically fifth and sixth” behind the two Mercedes and two Ferraris. “But in the race, you never know what is going to happen,” the Dutchman added. “The long run pace was not too bad, so I’m actually quite happy with that. Just need to find a bit more grip. “ The last sector, we seemed pretty quick. But with the rear wing we have on the car, you expect to be like that. It’s just not easy to be in the second sector where you lose a lot of rear downforce and sliding around a bit more. We’re still trying to optimise that.” Verstappen was left flying the flag solo for Red Bull for much of the opening practice session on Friday after teammate Daniel Ricciardo suffered an engine issue, limiting him to only four laps in FP1. While Ricciardo had no issues through FP2 later in the day, the Australian struggled to sixth place in the final stands, a further two-tenths of a second back from Verstappen, and he echoed his teammate’s thoughts when speaking after the session. “We weren’t quick enough today. Short and long runs, we still need to find some pace,” Ricciardo said. “We need to try and figure out how to do that. We did make changes through this afternoon session. I feel we improved one thing but created another problem so we didn’t find the optimum set-up through the changes we made. “That’s Friday, we’ll try and go better tomorrow.”

Meghan Trainor is a married woman! The "Dear Future Husband" singer now officially has one, as she tied the knot with Daryl Sabara on Saturday, Dec. 22, ET can confirm. The couple got engaged while celebrating Trainor's 24th birthday in December 2017. They had been dating since July 2016. The pair exchanged vows on the songstress' 25th birthday, at an intimate ceremony in front of 100 friends and family members in the backyard of the couple's home in Los Angeles. Meghan Trainor Is Planning a Christmas-Time Backyard Wedding (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. Meghan Trainor Is Planning a Christmas-Time Backyard Wedding (Exclusive) Trainor teased that she and Sabara were getting ready to walk down the aisle while speaking with ET in October. "I'm definitely going to get married soon," she promised, sharing that she hadn't yet "said yes" to a dress, but had an idea of what she wanted to wear. "I'm thinking definitely a cape. I don't know why. I've never worn a cape, ever. But I'm thinking like, the big gown," she revealed. "And I need something to show my curves." The singer told ET in June that she wanted to have a winter wedding because Christmastime was "my favorite, and it's my birthday." She also said that she was hoping Sabara would surprise her with a song. "I've asked him to," Trainor confessed. "I think he'll surprise me at least with a dance or something. Like, blow my mind that day because I get to perform for him all the time. I'm like, 'It's your turn. I want you to go up there.'" As for whether she'd get emotional on her wedding day, Trainor said it was pretty much a given. "Oh my god, it's going to be over. I'm going to be like, 'Get your pictures now, because we're going to cry, and we're going to be done.'" See more on the sweet couple in the video below. RELATED CONTENT: Meghan Trainor's Fiance Daryl Sabara Gifts Her With Huge New Ring for 2-Year Anniversary Meghan Trainor Is Planning a Winter Wedding Meghan Trainor Reveals How Upcoming Album Helped Her Fight Depression and Panic Attacks (Exclusive) Meghan Trainor Says She's Definitely Going to 'Get Married Soon' (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>Trainor walked down the aisle to "Marry Me," an original song she wrote inspired by Sabara. "My father started bawling as soon as he was done handing me off to Daryl," she says of dad Gary Trainor. "That's when I almost lost it — it took all of me not to cry tears of joy because I wanted to look good for the pictures!"<doc-sep>Meghan Trainor had such a beautiful wedding day, she's sharing her memories with fans! The 25-year-old Grammy winner took to Instagram over the weekend to share several galleries of sweet photos from her Dec. 22 backyard wedding ceremony with actor Daryl Sabara, 26. "Can’t believe I found you again ... never letting you go," Trainor wrote to her new husband in the caption of one gallery, which begins with a pic of the newlyweds posing in their wedding duds. Trainor wore a stunning white Berta gown with Badgley Mischka heels and Norman Silverman jewelry, while "Spy Kids" star Sabara opted for a classic black tuxedo. In the next pic, which you can see by clicking or swiping right, the bride and groom share an adorable smooch. Keep clicking to see photos of the sweethearts enjoying a slow dance together. Trainor can be seen beaming with joy as she holds her head up so her lips can meet Sabara's lips. The "All About That Bass" singer also treated fans to a gallery of glamorous behind-the-scenes pics of her stylists readying her for the ceremony, which took place on her 25th birthday. "Felt like a princess," she captioned the gorgeous shots. The lovebirds, who met in 2014, were set up by mutual friend Chloe Grace Moretz two years later and got engaged in December 2017 in front of Trainor's family in Palm Springs. Congrats again, Meghan and Daryl!<doc-sep>The groom surprised his new bride with a choreographed dance to their favorite love songs! On Dec. 22, Meghan Trainor and Daryl Sabara tied the knot in an intimate backyard bash with a few tears, lots of tunes — and a ton of dancing! For the new issue of PEOPLE, the pop star, 25, and the actor, 26, opened up exclusively about their “dreamy” evening. Get push notifications with news, features and more. About 100 of their closest friends and family gathered in the couple’s L.A.-area backyard for the wedding. For the big day, the bride (with the help of her stylist Hayley Atkin) chose to wear a stunning Berta gown, complete with a dramatic veil; the groom opted for Armani. “I didn’t want to look like a glam pop star — I just looked like a really beautiful woman that I’ve always wanted to look like since I was my uncomfortable 13-year-old self,” Trainor says of the dress, which she paired with Badgley Mischka heels and Norman Silverman jewels. megan-wedding Daryl Sabara and Meghan Trainor | Credit: Joe Buissink Photography She walked down the aisle to “Marry Me,” an original song she wrote inspired by Sabara, with her dad Gary Trainor. “My father started bawling as soon as he was done handing me off to Daryl,” Trainor says. “That’s when I almost lost it — it took all of me not to cry tears of joy because I wanted to look good for the pictures!” The personal touches continued when the pair recited vows they wrote themselves before their officiant, Trainor’s manager Tommy Bruce. Despite her expertise as a Grammy-winning songwriter, Trainor says she was “really nervous” to write vows. “I YouTubed ‘How do you write vows? '” she says. “It was really helpful!” Once they exchanged weddings bands (titanium for him, and hers a platinum, diamond-encrusted anniversary style to complement her 1-carat engagement ring), Bruce pronounced them husband and wife. meghan-trainor Daryl Sabara and Meghan Trainor | Credit: Joe Buissink Photography Following the ceremony, Trainor slipped into a Rita Vinieris lace suit and Aldo sneakers for the reception, where speeches were delivered by Trainor’s father, her brothers Ryan and Justin, Sabara’s best man Aaron Burns and Trainor’s maid of honor Jordan “JoJo” Federman. Guests noshed on an array of comfort foods from The Kitchen for Exploring Foods, including pizza, tacos, chicken and waffles and Trainor’s mom Kelli’s mini hot dogs. For dessert, they served a four-tier vanilla wedding cake and a red velvet-Oreo cookie ice cream cake — and Trainor’s family even surprised her with a birthday cake, as she turned 25 the same day she tied the knot. Then, Sabara (decked in Tom Ford shades) really got the party started with a surprise performance, delivering a choreographed dance to a medley of some of their favorite love songs (Chet Baker’s “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Pop! Goes My Heart” from Music and Lyrics and “Suit & Tie” by Justin Timberlake) with four backup dancers. “I’m always like, ‘I’m giving you guys a show all the time; put on a show for me! '” says Trainor of her husband’s surprise performance, which he secretly planned with her choreographer, Charm La’Donna. “I fell in love all over again. I thought I was going to pass out with joy.” Season Finale Viewing Party of "The Four: Battle for Stardom", West Hollywood, USA - 08 Feb 2018 Daryl Sabara and Meghan Trainor | Credit: Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock After another quick-change (Trainor and Sabara got comfy in some “Just Married” hoodies, a gift from her mom), the newlyweds and their guests stayed on the dance floor late into the night. In addition to classic wedding jams, the party got down to some of Trainor’s hits, including “All the Ways,” “Let You Be Right” and a new, unreleased track called “Genetics.” “I’ll never forget having everyone I love in one place and dancing my heart out till I got so sweaty and nauseous,” Trainor says of the wedding.<doc-sep>

Meghan Trainor Marries Daryl Sabara in Backyard Wedding: 'I Got Way More Than I Ever Wished For' Meghan Trainor is a married woman! The Grammy winner wed actor Daryl Sabara on Saturday — her 25th birthday — in front of 100 close friends and family in an intimate backyard ceremony at their L.A. home, PEOPLE confirms exclusively. “It’s the beginning of an awesome, whole new life,” says Trainor. “I got way more than I ever wished for.” “I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” adds Spy Kids star Sabara, 26. To walk down the aisle, the bride wore an elegant Berta gown, Badgley Mischka heels and Norman Silverman jewels. Then for the reception, where guests noshed on an assortment of comfort foods, Trainor slipped into a lace suit by Rita Vinieris and Aldo sneakers to get the party started. As for what the newlyweds are looking forward to most in marriage? “Just rockin’ them rings!” says Trainor, who exchanged bands with Sabara after reciting hand-written vows during the ceremony, which was coordinated by the wedding planners at Sacks Productions. “I’m really excited to say ‘hubby’ and ‘husband. '” Indeed, “I’m no longer the ‘future hubby’ — I get to just be the hubby, which I’m excited about!” adds Sabara, alluding to Trainor’s 2015 hit single “Dear Future Husband.” meghan-trainor-3 Daryl Sabara and Meghan Trainor | Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty Trainor first met Sabara in 2014 at an L.A. house party before her rise to fame later that year. Then in 2016, their mutual friend, actress Chloë Grace Moretz, played matchmaker, setting them up. Sparks flew, and after a year of dating, Sabara proposed to Trainor in front of her family during a trip to Palm Springs in December 2017. Trainor’s relationship with Sabara inspired her upcoming third album, Treat Myself, due in 2019.

Apple iPhone XR serves as the cheapest way to get the iPhone X-like features. Apple iPhone XR serves as the cheapest way to get the iPhone X-like features. It was only last week that Apple opened pre-orders for the iPhone XR. Now, the smartphone has finally gone on sale through both offline and online stores in India. With the iPhone XR, Apple is bringing some of the iPhone X’s most important features like its full-screen design, Face ID and A12 Bionic chipset to affordable price points. At Rs 76,900, the iPhone XR isn’t a budget device. However, it is priced less than the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max priced Rs 99,900 and Rs 1,09,900, respectively. Here’s all you need to know about the iPhone XR including its release date, pricing in India, availability, specifications, and more. Apple iPhone XR price in India and launch date Apple iPhone XR goes on sale in India on Friday, October 26. The iPhone XR can be purchased from a number of offline retailers and Apple Authorised resellers including Imagine, Unicorn, Croma, Reliance Digital, etc. It can also be purchased from online channels like Flipkart, PayTM Mall, Amazon, Airtel, and Jio. The biggest reason why the user picks up the iPhone XR over the iPhone XS is the price. The handset starts at Rs 76,900 for the 64GB model. The 128GB variant will cost Rs 81,900 in India. The 256GB model of the iPhone XR is priced at Rs 91,900. The iPhone XR comes in multiple colour options: white, black, blue, yellow, coral and Product (RED). Also read: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR to iPhone 6s: Full list of Apple iPhone prices in India Apple iPhone XR Launch offers The iPhone XR is listed on both Amazon India and PayTM Mall. Amazon is offering no-cost EMIs from several financial institutions including ICICI, Citi, Amazon Pay, and Bajaj Finserv EMI cards. Additionally, users are eligible to get up to ₹2000 back on MakeMyTrip, Swiggy, Freshmenu, and EazyDiner. PayTM Mall is offering Rs 7,000 exchange bonus over and above regular exchange. Meanwhile, Airtel Online Store is offering the iPhone XR at a down payment starting at Rs 14,999. Also read: Apple iPhone XR review video Apple iPhone XR specifications The iPhone XR sports a 6.1-inch LCD display with a 1792×828 display with True Tone Technology which Apple is calling ‘Liquid Retina’. The display, however, lacks 3D Touch. Instead Apple opts for a ‘Haptic Touch’ feature. It is powered by Apple’s A12 Bionic chipset, the same processor found inside the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. On the rear side, it gets a single camera, which uses software algorithms to create Portrait mode images. You will also get wireless charging support.<doc-sep>From losing key executives to losing the top spot in the premium smartphone market, 2018 has been a difficult year for Apple in India. But with the “most affordable” new iPhone of the year launching in India and elsewhere on Friday, the Cupertino giant will hope to entice buyers — new and old — in the market. The new model features an iPhone X-like display notch that includes the TrueDepth camera system, the technology that enables facial recognition feature Face ID. It also has the same A12 Bionic SoC that is powering the more premium iPhone XS Max and iPhone XS. Despite the similarities with last year's iPhone X and the latest and the greatest iPhone models, the iPhone XR starts at Rs. 76,900, making it the most affordable phone that looks like the iPhone X. The price, however, is still higher than even premium Android smartphones that have much better specifications on paper. Market analysts believe that it won't be the spec-sheet that will persuade customers to pick the iPhone XR over a top-of-the-line Android smartphone. “As compared to premium Android smartphones, the iPhone XR will fare poorly on a spec-to-spec comparison, including imaging or display,” observes Rushabh Doshi, Research Manager, Canalys. “However, Apple's appeal is not in the internals or specs. Its stickiness is high, and users who wish to remain in the ecosystem will buy an iPhone XR.” Tarun Pathak of Counterpoint Research echoes Doshi's belief, pointing out that the iPhone XR could be a good upgrade for iPhone users who have skipped the previous-generation iPhone models. “Hardcore Apple and rich affluent users will be willing to shell that price since it's a status symbol for them, but then that section of users is small,” Pathak, Associate Director of Counterpoint Research, tells Gadgets 360. “However, we believe that Apple strategy in India should be to sell more iPhones rather than new iPhones. Given the stickiness of the iOS ecosystem, these older iPhone users are likely to upgrade to iPhone only.” While the iPhone XR looks similar to the iPhone X and the iPhone XS models from the front, it packs an LCD display compared to the premium OLED panel on the more expensive iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. It also has a single camera sensor at the back as well as the colourful back panel that comes in Black, Blue, Coral, White, and Yellow colour options. There is also a PRODUCT (RED) colour variant to attract customers, the first time it's been available for an iPhone on launch day. Another first in the history of iPhone is the fact that Apple has added dual-SIM support. This could entice Indian customers who often use a secondary carrier either to distance their personal life from work life or to get cost-effective data benefits on one network and better network coverage on another. “Display is definitely one of the things on the iPhone XR that pulls a buyer, including Indians,” says Faisal Kawoosa, Founder of research firm TechARC. “Also, the dual-SIM functionality will let users buy it for now and be future ready when the operators could offer services through eSIMs.” “The iPhone XR is not only focusing on the the design and looks but also on the speed and technologies like the Face ID that all will push its sales in the country,” says Mumbai-based retailer Manish Khatri of Mahesh Telecom fame. “The ease of use, iOS, and brand also plays an important role.” Photo Credit: Counterpoint Research Having said that, IHS Markit's Senior Analyst for Mobile Handsets Gerrit Schneemann says that Apple still needs to justify its raised price for the entry-level iPhone XR. The most affordable new iPhone of the year is exactly Rs. 9,000 more than the price of the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung's most expensive offering. “Apple is further pushing into super-premium pricing territory, a segment where no other OEM has been able to compete,” Schneemann explains. Gagandeep Singh, who works as a store manager at iGlobal, one of Apple's Authorised Resellers in New Delhi, told Gadgets 360 that at leat five-six customers were enquiring about the successor to the iPhone X on a daily basis, ever since the launch event in Cupertino last month. He, however, considers that with the arrival of the iPhone XR in India, customers could pick it up as compared to the iPhone XS or the iPhone XS Max due to the lower price and similar design aesthetics. Khatri of Mahesh Telecom, which sells a mix of Android smartphones and different iPhone models, underlines that the people who were initially anticipating the launch of a budget iPhone this year are not likely to opt for the iPhone XR. But the retailer believes that it is Apple's brand value that will generate the demand for the upcoming model. “A five-year-old iPhone with low memory and fewer features is still selling in the market is a perfect example,” he adds. Globally, TF Industries analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had predicted right after Apple's September event that the iPhone XR will capture about 55 to 60 percent of the overall new model shipments this year, with a more recent report pegging it to be a similar success. Older iPhone models have so far been a major attraction among customers in India. Pathak of Counterpoint says that the previous-generation models capture somewhere between half to two-thirds of the total iPhone sales in the country. Thanks to regular software updates, Apple offers a similar experience across new and old iPhone models. The company also has a trend of reducing the price of its old models after announcing the new offerings. “As custom duties make the new iPhones costlier, Apple can go for a steep price cut of older generation iPhones to draw sales in India. The iPhone 7 can be the new iPhone 6 for Apple in India,” says Pathak. According to Counterpoint Research, Apple had one percent share in the overall smartphone market in India in the second quarter of this year, a number that's expected to reach two percent for the entire year. There are some key obstacles for Apple in India that could limit the sales of not just the older iPhone models but also the iPhone XR. “From a design and even hardware perspective, the iPhone XR — which looks a lot similar to the XS series — is an attractive option,” says Kiranjeet Kaur, Senior Research Manager, IDC. “But for Apple to be able to increase its market share in India, there are a lot of challenges ahead including managing its channel strategy and dealing with the higher import duties as these new models are all likely to be imported.” Kaur also states that the bigger issue for Apple is to manage its share in the $500 (roughly Rs. 36,000) range where Chinese players such as OnePlus have started to take share away from the older iPhones selling at that price point. “The iPhone 7 now and probably the iPhone XR in future (once its price drops) will likely be positioned against these growing threat from the Chinese vendors,” she concludes.<doc-sep>Apple just unveiled another trio of iPhones but this time all are deriving from the original iPhone X. They are called iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS and the iPhone XR and we are now going to compare their prices across various markets. Pricing Here's what the base 64GB models will cost you depending on where you live. Country iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhone XR US $999 $1,099 $750 Canada CAD 1,379 CAD 1,519 CAD 1,029 Australia AUD 1,629 AUD 1,799 AUD 1,229 Germany €1,149 €1,249 €849 Italy €1,189 €1,289 €889 UK £999 £1,099 £749 Russia RUB 87,990 RUB 96,990 RUB 64,990 UAE AED 4,229 AED 4,649 AED 3,179 Hong Kong HKD 8,599 HKD 9,499 HKD 6,499 If you are looking to upgrade the storage for the XS and XS Max, you will have to spend $150 more to go to 256GB and $350 more for the 512GB model in the US, while in Germany, for example, the price jumps are €170 and €400, respectively. In the UK, Apple asks £150 and £350 on top of the regular price. And as for the XR, it comes in 64, 128 and 256GB flavors - in the US an upgrade to 128GB will cost you $50 while $150 will get you to 256GB. In Germany, the same upgrades will set you back €60 and €170 while in the UK, these storage variants are £50 and £150 more. Availability The premium iPhone XS and XS Max models go on pre-order on September 14 and will be made available starting September 21 with the first wave including 30 countries - Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, US and US Virgin Islands. The second wave consists of 29 countries will be getting the phones a week later on September 28 - Andorra, Armenia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa. And as for the budget iPhone XR, the rumors about delayed availability turned out to be true and the handset will start selling on October 26.<doc-sep>

iPhone XR has gone on sale in countries such as Japan and Australia, and will go on sale in India post 6pm IST today via both offline and online stores. The phone will also go on sale in the US, Canada, and major European markets, among others, for the first time on Friday. To recall, the iPhone XR release date was announced at the company's keynote last month. This comes a week after the iPhone XR pre-orders began on October 19. The smartphone can be bought via offline resellers including iWorld, Unicorn, Imagine, and the likes. The iPhone XR can also be purchased online via several platforms including Flipkart, Jio, and Airtel. The most affordable offering in this year's iPhone lineup, the iPhone XR features the latest A12 Bionic SoC, a 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina display, several colour options, and a single rear camera. It is placed at a price point significantly lower than that of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in India. iPhone XR launch offer To recall, IndiaiStore, Apple's official offline partner in India, lists offers for the iPhone XR including no-cost EMI plans with Bajaj FinServ; 5 percent cashback on EMI plans with Citibank credit cards or Axis Bank credit and debit cards; and 5x reward points on non-EMI, regular payments with Citibank or Axis Bank credit cards. As for the online space, Airtel Online Store is offering the new iPhone XR in India with down payments starting at Rs. 14,999. Bundled postpaid plans are also available for customers looking to reduce their monthly tariff plans. All pre-ordering customers are expected to receive their units by today, October 26. Jio also had the iPhone XR up for pre-orders last week with the same 5 percent cashback on Axis Bank or Citibank credit cards, and 5X reward points as well. Both Vodafone and Idea Cellular also announced availability of the iPhone XR for today, with offers for Vodafone Red and Idea Nirvana customers. Customers with a rental plan of Rs. 499 and above can buy the new iPhone on Vodafone.in & Ideacellular.com and avail a 48-hour home delivery in select cities post the sales start and 20 percent rental discount for 1 year. iPhone XR price in India The iPhone XR price in India was announced at the launch event held in Cupertino, California last month. The base 64GB storage variant comes in at Rs. 76,900, the 128GB storage model has been priced at Rs. 81,900, while the top-end 256GB storage version will set you back by Rs. 91,900. The smartphone goes on sale in India today in multiple colour options — Black, Blue, Coral, PRODUCT (RED), White, and Yellow. Not just India, the iPhone XR will go on sale for the first time today in several markets including Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UAE, UK, US, and US Virgin Islands. Will iPhone XR Be the Perfect iPhone for India in 2018? iPhone XR specifications The iPhone XR runs iOS 12 out-of-the-box, and sports a 6.1-inch (828x1792 pixels) LCD Liquid Retina panel with a notch on top of the TrueDepth camera and Face ID. The phone is powered by the latest six-core Apple A12 Bionic 7nm SoC, coupled with a quad-core GPU, 3GB of RAM, and 64GB/ 128GB/ 256GB of inbuilt storage. In the camera department, the iPhone XR houses a single 12-megapixel rear camera sensor with f/1.8 aperture, Focus Pixels, a 6P lens, and a quad-LED True Tone flash. The front of the handset gets a 7-megapixel selfie camera with improved Portrait Mode, f/2.2 aperture, and and a faster Face ID sensor. It has a 2,942mAh battery under the hood, with a bundled 5W charger in the box. The iPhone XR will get dual-SIM support via an eSIM at a later stage.

The Tennessee Titans travel to Miami on Saturday for Sunday's season opener vs. the Miami Dolphins. Here's a look at the final injury report for the Titans vs. the Dolphins. Outside Linebacker-Derrick Morgan Morgan practiced fully for the second day in a row on Friday. Coach Vrabel declared Morgan as a go for Sunday's opener vs. the Dolphins. Morgan proved to be a quick healer. He torn his menicus in the Week 2 preseason game vs. the Buccaneers. Look for Morgan to start opposite veteran Brian Orakpo at outside linebacker on Sunday vs. the Dolphins. Right tackle-Jack Conklin Coach Vrabel declared Conklin out for Sunday's opener vs. the Dolphins. Conklin was activated off the PUP list last Saturday. His rehab from the torn ACL that he suffered in January's divisional playoff to the Patriots has gone well. He practiced on a limited basis on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and today. No word on when Conklin will be able to go. Conklin will likely need to practice fully a couple of days in a row to have the possibility of playing in a regular season game. Veteran Dennis Kelly will get the start for Conklin at right tackle on Sunday. Outside Linebacker-Harold Landry Coach Vrabel declared Landry out for Sunday's opener vs. the Dolphins. Landry suffered an ankle sprain in the Week 3 preseason game vs. the Steelers. He returned to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday. He did not practice Thursday or today. No word yet on when he'll be able to return to practice. Inside Linebacker-Rashaan Evans Coach Vrabel declared Evans out for Sunday's opener vs. the Dolphins. Evans suffered a hamstring injury in the third training camp practice. He was able to practice on limited basis this week. Evans will likely need to practice fully a couple of days in a row to have the possibility in playing in a regular season game. Safety-Kendrick Lewis Coach Vrabel declared Lewis out for Sunday's opener vs. the Dolphins. Lewis suffered a foot injury in the Week 2 preseason game vs. the Buccaneers. He has not been able to practice since the injury. No word on the severity of the injury or when he'll be able to return to practice. For the Dolphins, wide receiver DaVante Parker is doubtful for Sunday's matchup against the Titans with a finger injury. Quarterback Brock Osweiler (knee) was added to the injury report Friday, but was a full participant in practice. He should be available on Sunday. RB Frank Gore (Achilles/Not Injury Related), WR Jakeem Grant (shoulder), G Ted Larsen (knee) and G Josh Sitton (shoulder) were all listed as full participants in practice Friday. All should be available for Sunday's game. Kickoff is set for 12 PM Central on Sunday on FOX.<doc-sep>First weekend of NFL football: Predicting who will win and who will lose by William Levenson The start of this season begins with the Dolphins playing at home against the Titans. The first injury report finds six Dolphins and five Titans on the list. On the Miami Dolphins, the only player that sat out practice was DeVante Parker (finger). Parker, who broke his middle finger in practice on Aug. 12, is still on the mend and is not expected to play in the opener. This will be the fourth season that Parker has missed the season opener. With the team being one starting wide receiver short, the tight ends could see more action, throwing Mike Gesicki right into the fire. (Do you have an update on WR DeVante Parker?) – “We’re still kind of waiting to see how he feels as far as catching balls and stuff like that. He’s doing a lot of cardio stuff. He’s doing a lot of individual drill type things with our training staff. Once we get the green light, we’ll go at it.” (But he can’t catch anything yet?) – “Not yet. I mean we haven’t tried yet.” Adam Gase via miamidolphins.com The two players who were limited in practice were G Ted Larsen (knee) and TE Marqueis Gray (foot). Full participants were G Josh Sitton (shoulder), RB Frank Gore (Achilles) and WR Jakeem Grant (concussion). On the other side, S Kendrick Lewis (foot) of the Tennessee Titans was the lone holdout in practice. The four players listed as limited in participants at practice were the Titans first two picks of this year’s draft LB Rashaan Evans (hamstring) and OLB Harold Landry (ankle), along with OLB Derrick Morgan (knee) and T Jack Conklin (knee). Coach Vrabel mentioned his concern about the OLB position with Landry and Morgan in question. Earlier this week the Titans traded for Kamalei Correa to help bolster that area of the defense. With S Johnathan Cyprien out for the season and Kendrick Lewis possibly being questionable, that could also be a weakness where the Dolphins to take advantage “What you have to do with each and every injury – and they are all different – is you assess where the player is, what the risk factor is for him injuring himself further if he were to come back,” Vrabel said. “And at that point and time you say: Can you protect yourself against another football player? And if you can, then you start checking off the boxes and … give them pieces to see if they can handle it.” Mike Vrabel via Titansonline.com We will know more when the final injury report is released on Friday. UPDATE: The Dolphins placed TE MarQueis Gray on IR with an Achilles tear. He will miss the 2018 season.<doc-sep>The Tennessee Titans are dealing with a few important injuries as they head to Miami to take on the Dolphins on Sunday. Though first-year head coach Mike Vrabel played it coy when discussing his players’ injuries through the entire offseason and preseason, he is forced to give an injury report throughout the regular season. The report for Week 1 is out and four Titans will not be able to play against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, though the team will get a boost by the return of a key defensive starter. Players That Are Officially Out RT Jack Conklin (knee) Conklin avoided the PUP list to start the season, which means the Titans believe he will be ready for game action within the first six weeks of the year, but the team is smartly being cautious with their All-Pro right tackle. Conklin tore his ACL in January of this year and needs time to fully heal and regain confidence in the knee. The good news is that Conklin was a limited participant in Friday’s practice, which signals that he’s nearing a return. Dennis Kelly will hold down the fort in his place. Want your voice heard? Join the Titan Sized team! Write for us! OLB Harold Landry (ankle) Landry injured himself during the preseason and hasn’t been able to get fully healthy, but he has shed his walking boot and doesn’t seem to be too far away from returning. The concerning aspect of his injury is that it’s to the same ankle that hampered him for all of his final season at Boston College. Kamalei Correa, Sharif Finch and Aaron Wallace will be the direct backups to Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan on Sunday. LB Rashaan Evans (hamstring) Evans has rarely practiced all offseason, and we didn’t find out until this week that his lengthy absence was due to a hamstring injury. While not quite a “heat-related” injury, hamstring injuries are tricky, tend to linger and require meticulous care and rehab. As we saw with Corey Davis and Johnathan Cyprien last season, it’s important for the Titans to not rush Evans back unless he is completely past the injury. Wesley Woodyard and Jayon Brown were slated to start whether Evans was available against the Dolphins or not, but Will Compton will likely be used in obvious running situations on Sunday. S Kendrick Lewis (foot) It’s unclear when Lewis picked up a foot injury, but he has been out of practice for a week and will not suit up on Sunday. Lewis is strictly a depth piece, so he won’t be sorely missed on Sunday. Rookie Dane Cruikshank will serve as Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro’s backup, with special teams ace Brynden Trawick the secondary option in a pinch. Players Likely to Play OLB Derrick Morgan (knee) Morgan is the only other Titans player who is currently banged up, as he has been working his way back from a minor knee surgery. While Morgan’s outlook for Week 1 was initially glum, he has quickly recovered and looks all set to line up opposite Brian Orakpo at OLB on Sunday in Miami.<doc-sep>Mike Vrabel said after practice that Jack Conklin, Harold Landry, Rashaan Evans and Kendrick Lewis are all out for the Titans. This isn’t great news, but we expected it. Terry and I predicted that last night on Locked on Titans (listen here). The good news is that Derrick Morgan was a full go at practice and is expected to play. Here is what he said about being available to play: Derrick Morgan after practice says it remains to be seen how much he’ll play Sunday. “However I can be available, that’s what I’m going to do.” — Travis Haney (@travhaney) September 7, 2018 The Titans are going to be thin at OLB with Morgan being, presumably, on a pitch count. Brian Orakpo is healthy, and Kamalei Correa will have a huge role in this one, but behind those guys you only have Sharif Finch and Aaron Wallace. How do you feel about those guys in a real game? It sounds like Evans has a real chance to be ready for the Texans game next week. There is a chance Landry could be ready, but he seems like more of a long-shot.<doc-sep>

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 31: DeVante Parker #11 of the Miami Dolphins during pregame against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) This is the final injury report for the Miami Dolphins’ home opener against the Tennessee Titans. The Dolphins had only one player with an injury status designation while Tennessee listed four. Wide receiver DeVante Parker (finger) has been designated as doubtful on the final injury report for the Miami Dolphins’ season opener, but he was labeled a limited participant in today after a stint of not participating in practice. Going into his fourth season of his career, Parker has yet to complete a full season without missing one or more games and it seems that will be the case again this year. On the other hand, Parker was the only Miami Dolphin on the 53 man roster with an injury status designation. Running back Frank Gore (achilles/not injury related), WR Jakeem Grant (shoulder), G Josh Sitton (shoulder) and G Ted Larsen (knee) were all full participants in practice today. Quarterback Brock Osweiler (knee) was new on the list, but still fully participated in practice. The bad news is that TE Marqueis Gray has been lost for the season, placed in the injured reserve list Thursday, due to an achilles tear during a one on one drill. Gray was on top of the depth chart for tight ends and was expected to get a much larger role on the offense this year. Gavin Escobar has been resigned to replace Gray. Escobar showed a lot of promise in the preseason and will keep the tight end compliment at four on the roster. The news wasn’t very encouraging for the Tennessee Titans. Four players, LB Rashaan Evans (hamstring), OT Jack Conklin (knee), OLB Harold Landry (ankle) and S Kendrick Lewis (foot) have all been ruled out for Sunday’s game. The only bright side for the Titans was the fact that LB Derrick Morgan (knee) was a full participant in practice for the second day in a row and had no injury status. Miami is starting out the season on somewhat of a good note, with 52 of the 53 men on the roster healthy and able to play in the opener. A much more reassuring way to begin after last year’s start.

Before any of the football action got underway on Sunday, the state of Minnesota lost a truly legendary football coach. John Gagliardi, who spent six decades at St. John’s University in Minnesota as the school’s football coach, passed away on Sunday at the age of 91. Gagliardi too over the football program at St. John’s in 1953, and was the head coach of the Johnnies until the 2012 season, when he finally hung up his whistle. In 2003, he passed the legendary Eddie Robinson as the winningest coach in the history of college football (at any level), and finished his college coaching career with a record of 489-138-11. He also won four Division III national championships along the way, and the trophy that the outstanding player in Division III football takes home every year (their equivalent to the Heisman Trophy) was named for Gagliardi in 1993. Gagliardi had an unusual coaching style, from all accounts. This comes from the story that ESPN did on him after his passing was announced earlier on Sunday. Gagliardi used an unconventional coaching style that included no tackling in practice or lengthy calisthenics. No whistles or wind sprints. There were no team captains, either, unless you count the honor shared by the seniors. He insisted that his players just call him John, not Coach, at a school that doesn’t offer scholarships. ”John also felt great pride in his own children and his 3,000 football players,” his daughter wrote. “John honestly believed every one of his players were wonderful and he spoke often about how proud he was of them all. Not just how well they played football, but the things that mattered most to John: being hard working, successful, good men. ”When asked if he ever had a player he didn’t like, he’d say, ‘No, for some reason St John’s only draws great guys. They were great kids, all of them. From great families. I was lucky to be around them every day. They made me look good.’ And when he talked about their successes he’d say, ‘I don’t think there’s a single one who hasn’t gone on to do great things in whatever field they chose.’” Gagliardi’s coaching career actually went all the way back to his high school, Trinidad High School in Colorado, when he was hired as the coach of the football team at the age of 16. Yes, a sixteen-year old coach. What happened was the team’s regular coach was drafted into military service (for World War II), and was a player-coach in his senior year. He continued coaching high school football while getting his college degree as well. Legendary Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Bud Grant paid tribute to Gagliardi just a short time ago with one simple picture on his Twitter account. I’m not sure how many St. John’s alumni we have out there among our readers, but I think that if you’ve spent any time in the state of Minnesota watching football, you know who John Gagliardi was. He had a unique style, and he produced a lot of upstanding young men that went on to do big things after their football careers were done. Our thoughts prayers go out to the family and friends of John Gagliardi in light of John Gagliardi’s passing.<doc-sep>FILE - In a Nov. 19, 2012 file photo, St. John's University head football coach John Gagliardi addresses the media after announcing his retirement in his 60th season as coach in Collegeville, Minn. Gagliardi died Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, according to St. Johns University. He was 91. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- John Gagliardi was ahead of his time as a football coach, believing he did not need to make his players suffer for them to succeed. Using unconventional methods at a small private university in Minnesota, Gagliardi won more football games than anybody who has ever coached in college. Gagliardi died Sunday at the age of 91, according to St. John's University. ''John was a winner in so many ways, but mostly in his ability to connect with others,'' Gina Gagliardi Benson, the coach's daughter, posted on Facebook. ''His appreciation of others ran so deep that it was the core of who John was.'' Gagliardi retired in 2012 after a record 64 seasons as a head coach, with 60 of those at St. John's, an all-male private school in Collegeville. He finished with 489 victories, 138 losses and 11 ties, winning four national championships with the Johnnies. But he drew as much national attention to a school with fewer than 2,000 students with his laid-back approaches to the sport. His policy was to not cut any players from the roster and guide nonstrenuous practices that never exceeded 90 minutes. ''John Gagliardi was not only an extraordinary coach, he was also an educator of young men and builder of character,'' St. John's President Michael Hemesath said in a statement. ''John inspired deep and enduring loyalty and passion among his players across the decades because he taught them lessons through the medium of football that served them well in their personal and professional lives long after graduating from St. John's University. His is a legacy any educator would be extremely proud of.'' Where Gagliardi truly made his mark was with the word ''no.'' His entire coaching philosophy was based on a list of ''nos,'' a rejection of football's sometimes-sadistic rituals that he detested as a player. Gagliardi hated it when people called him ''coach,'' preferring John instead. Long before football became safety conscious at all levels, Gagliardi was terrified of injuries, so contact in practice was kept to a minimum and tackling was prohibited. Everybody who wanted to be on the team could make it, often leaving a roster of more than 150 players. Story continues Grueling calisthenics? No way. Same for hazing, screaming, whistles, superstitions and even practicing in extreme conditions. If the mosquitos were swarming? Forget it. ''We have one rule with our players - the golden rule,'' Gagliardi said in the 2003 interview with The Associated Press. ''Treat everybody the way you would want to be treated. We get the right guys. The ones that don't need any rules. ... We just hope they can play football.'' Gagliardi passed Grambling's Eddie Robinson for all-time coaching victories with No. 409 in 2003 and again for all-time games coached with No. 588 in 2008. The major-college leader in wins is the late Joe Paterno, who finished with 409 at Penn State from 1966-2011. The journey for Gagliardi began at Carroll College in Montana in 1949 when three conference titles in four years changed that school's mind about dropping the sport. He then moved east to St. John's, a Catholic institution founded in 1857 by Benedictine monks who came to minister to the influx of German immigrants in central Minnesota. Though Gagliardi - born in the mining town of Trinidad, Colorado - knew little about the school when he showed up, he soon found his niche. During the hiring process, the monks asked him if he could beat rival St. Thomas and another conference foe, Gustavus. ''I had never heard of them,'' Gagliardi said. ''But I said, 'Sure.''' St. John's went 6-2 and won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in his first season, his first of 27 MIAC titles. ''When I came to Minnesota ... I'd never seen television,'' Gagliardi said in the 2003 interview. ''I was unmarried at the time, living in the dorms. I asked them if I could have a TV set. They weren't so sure at first. But after we beat St. Thomas and Gustavus, they were like, 'You still want that TV?''' Saturdays eventually became an event on the serene, secluded campus as the Johnnies thrived under Gagliardi's leadership. Red-clad fans have routinely packed Clemens Stadium, a natural bowl field carved into the woods where 7,500 people watch from the seats and more still sit along the grassy slopes beneath the orange hues of autumn. As he built a power at the NCAA's non-scholarship Division III level, Gagliardi was quick to shrug off his success with self-deprecating humor. One of Gags' favorite gags was to pluck a time-worn, dog-eared book off the shelf in his office and point to the title on the cover: ''Everything I know about coaching football for 35 years.'' Inside, every page was blank. Gagliardi, however, was fiercely proud of his longevity, openly speaking about outlasting Amos Alonzo Stagg, who was 84 in his last season as the head coach at Pacific in 1946. Stagg's career lasted a mere 57 years. The first active coach to be elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, in 2006, Gagliardi wasn't always revered by his peers. Opponents sometimes accused his teams of running up the score. In 1991, St. John's beat Coe College of Iowa 75-2. The Johnnies started their 2003 championship season with a 74-7 win at Hamline. Their defense, though, was that their fourth-stringers were often just as good as some of the opponents' starters, especially in the top-heavy MIAC. ''John honestly believed every one of his players were wonderful and he spoke often about how proud he was of them all. Not just how well they played football, but the things that mattered most to John: being hard-working, successful, good men,'' Gagliardi Benson wrote. Gagliardi is survived by his wife, Peg, two daughters, two sons and numerous grandchildren.<doc-sep>MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) — One of the greatest coaches in college football history, who Minnesotans know better than most, has died. John Gagliardi died Sunday morning at 91 years old. The local legend spent 60 years as the head coach of the St. John’s University football team. With a list of accolades and NCAA records almost as long as his illustrious coaching career, it’s almost impossible to think of St. John’s University football without including coach Gagliardi. “John has this aura of success that might be intimidating and what I would tell you is if you spend two minutes with him, that immediately goes way,” said Blake Elliott. Elliott was one of thousands of players who donned a Johnnie’s jersey under Gagliardi. An All-American wide receiver who led his team to a D-III national championship in 2003, Elliot said his esteemed coach created a culture his teammates coveted. Gagliardi was known for never cutting players, making the rosters balloon to 200 players. “It was the expectation that if you’re gonna beat out 17 or 18 other kids to start, that you were going to be a good student. That you were gonna work out and lift weights. That you were going to practice hard and watch films and be respectful, and do the right thing all the time,” said Elliott. “And if you didn’t, somebody else was gonna play.” Gagliardi’s accomplishments are staggering. He has 489 wins, the most in NCAA history. He led St. John’s to five D-III national championship games, winning four of them (1963, 1965, 1976 and 2003). He won 27 conference titles at St. John’s. But he also well known for his “No’s,” such as no whistles and no tackling in practice. “It wasn’t because of some sort of medical knowledge that he had, it was because he cared about his players,” said Elliott. “And he knew that they had a life after football and you wanted them to be safe and healthy. He also wanted them to be healthy on Saturdays so they could be effective.” For more than six decades, Gagliardi coached young men on the field and in life. And Elliot feels the lessons they learned will continue having an impact even with their beloved coach gone. “In terms of creating great husbands and great doctors and great people in their profession, that is John’s true legacy,” he said. Last week, Gagliardi was the first inductee into the St. John’s Hall of Honor. His family, along with former players such as Elliott, were there for the ceremony. Elliot said he was thankful they were all able to share that moment, knowing their time with Gagliardi was short. Gagliardi is survived by his wife, Peg, two daughters, two sons and numerous grandchildren. “There will never be another John,” said Bob Alpers, who has been golf coach at SJU for 26 years and athletic director since 2016. “We are forever grateful for his contributions to Saint John’s, our student-athletes and the fans of Johnnie football.” (© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)<doc-sep>The college football world has lost a coaching icon. Legendary Saint John's University (Minnesota) football coach John Gagliardi, who gained national notoriety for an unconventional coaching style that didn't include tackling in practice or require players to participate in strength and conditioning workouts, passed away Sunday at 91. Gagliardi, college football's all-time winningest coach with 489 victories, won four national titles at Division III Saint John's (1963, 1965, 1976 and 2003) in his 60-year tenure. The Johnnies won 27 conference titles and made the postseason 24 times. "I offer my deepest condolences to John's wife, Peggy, his family and friends and the thousands of Saint John's alumni who played for him," said SJU President Michael Hemesath in a school statement. "John Gagliardi was not only an extraordinary coach, he was also an educator of young men and builder of character. John inspired deep and enduring loyalty and passion among his players across the decades because he taught them lessons through the medium of football that served them well in their personal and professional lives long after graduating from Saint John's University. "His is a legacy any educator would be extremely proud of." More:Why John Gagliardi was so important Gagliardi was the first active coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006, and retired in 2012. During his time at SJU, he also coached track and field and hockey, as well as serving as the athletic director from 1976-94. Gagliardi produced 113 All-Americans, as well as 22 Academic All-Americans. Since 1993, the Gagliardi Trophy has been awarded to the best Division III player in the nation.<doc-sep>

John Gagliardi, the winningest coach in college football history, has died at the age of 91. Gagliardi's daughter Gina Gagliardi Benson announced the former coach's death Sunday morning on Facebook. "John was a winner in so many ways, but mostly in his ability to connect with others," she wrote. "His appreciation of others ran so deep that it was the core of who John was." Gagliardi began his coaching career in 1949 and spent six decades (1953-2012) at Division III Saint John's University in Minnesota. He retired with a record of 489-138-11 and surpassed Eddie Robinson for the career wins record in 2003, piling up four national titles at Saint John's along the way. Saint John's president Michael Hemesath offered condolences to Gagliardi's wife, Peggy, as well as his family, friends and former players. "John Gagliardi was not only an extraordinary coach, he was also an educator of young men and builder of character" Hemesath said in a statement. "John inspired deep and enduring loyalty and passion among his players across the decades because he taught them lessons through the medium of football that served them well in their personal and professional lives long after graduating from Saint John's University. His is a legacy any educator would be extremely proud of." Saint John's athletic director Bob Alpers said "there will never be another John" in a statement and that the school is "forever grateful for his contributions." Gagliardi used an unconventional coaching style that included no tackling in practice or lengthy calisthenics. No whistles or wind sprints. There were no team captains, either, unless you count the honor shared by the seniors. He insisted that his players just call him John, not Coach, at a school that doesn't offer scholarships. "John also felt great pride in his own children and his 3,000 football players," his daughter wrote. "John honestly believed every one of his players were wonderful and he spoke often about how proud he was of them all. Not just how well they played football, but the things that mattered most to John: being hard working, successful, good men. "When asked if he ever had a player he didn't like, he'd say, 'No, for some reason St John's only draws great guys. They were great kids, all of them. From great families. I was lucky to be around them every day. They made me look good.' And when he talked about their successes he'd say, 'I don't think there's a single one who hasn't gone on to do great things in whatever field they chose.'" Gagliardi began his college coaching career at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, from 1949 to 1952. He also served as Carroll's basketball coach and had a stint as ice hockey coach at Saint John's. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Since 1993, Division III's outstanding player of the year has taken home the Gagliardi Trophy. "In honor of John, today make an effort to do what was effortless for John: Compliment your spouse many, many times today; listen intently to others; and 'Be interested, not interesting.' See the best in others," Gina Gagliardi Benson wrote. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Need Fantasy Football lineup advice? Talk to CBS Sports on your Google Assistant to get insights on the best sleepers and to help decide between players. Just start with, "Hey Google, talk to CBS Sports." The Trade Chart is designed to help guide you in making fair trades in your standard-scoring, PPR and two-quarterback leagues. The values assigned to the players below are a long-term measurement of their Fantasy value. By adding two players' values you could determine what one player you should be able to get in return. This list also works as a "Rest of Season" rankings. Also, any player not on the chart should be considered valued at no more than four points. Note: The Trade Values Chart has been updated to reflect running back situations in Cleveland, Oakland and Jacksonville, along with a couple of small corrections involving other running backs. Running backs Non PPR Todd Gurley, LAR 51 54 Melvin Gordon, LAC 48 51 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL 43 44 Saquon Barkley, NYG 42 45 Kareem Hunt, KC 40 41 Alvin Kamara, NO 39 44 Joe Mixon, CIN 37 40 Christian McCaffrey, CAR 33 37 Sony Michel, NE 32 33 David Johnson, ARI 31 33 Mark Ingram, NO 28 30 James Conner, PIT 24 26 James White, NE 18 21 Dalvin Cook, MIN 16 18 Tarik Cohen, CHI 15 18 Le'Veon Bell, PIT 15 18 Kerryon Johnson, DET 15 17 Alex Collins, BAL 14 15 Chris Carson, SEA 14 15 Nick Chubb, CLE 14 15 Adrian Peterson, WAS 14 15 Tevin Coleman, ATL 13 15 Matt Breida, SF 13 15 LeSean McCoy, BUF 13 15 Corey Clement, PHI 12 14 Matt Breida, SF 12 14 Jordan Howard, CHI 11 13 Phillip Lindsay, DEN 10 12 Aaron Jones, GB 10 12 Austin Ekeler, LAC 10 12 Peyton Barber, TB 10 12 Leonard Fournette, JAC 10 11 Wendell Smallwood, PHI 9 11 Royce Freeman, DEN 9 10 Chris Thompson, WAS 8 11 Kenyan Drake, MIA 7 8 Isaiah Crowell, NYJ 7 8 Ito Smith, ATL 7 8 Nyheim Hines, IND 6 9 Marlon Mack, IND 6 8 Bilal Powell, NYJ 6 8 Jalen Richard, OAK 6 8 Duke Johnson, CLE 5 8 T.J. Yeldon, JAC 5 7 Carlos Hyde, JAC 5 6 Javorius Allen, BAL 5 6 Lamar Miller, HOU 5 6 Marshawn Lynch, OAK 5 5 Wide receivers Non PPR Antonio Brown, PIT 35 39 Adam Thielen, MIN 34 38 A.J. Green, CIN 33 37 Davante Adams, GB 33 37 DeAndre Hopkins, HOU 32 36 Michael Thomas, NO 32 36 Stefon Diggs, MIN 28 32 Odell Beckham, NYG 27 31 Mike Evans, TB 27 31 Julio Jones, ATL 26 30 JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT 25 29 Tyreek Hill, KC 23 26 Cooper Kupp, LAR 19 22 T.Y. Hilton, IND 18 21 Kenny Golladay, DET 17 20 Brandin Cooks, LAR 17 20 Emmanuel Sanders, DEN 16 19 Golden Tate, DET 16 19 Robert Woods, LAR 16 19 Alshon Jeffery, PHI 16 19 Tyler Boyd, CIN 15 18 Josh Gordon, NE 15 18 Keenan Allen, LAC 14 17 Will Fuller, HOU 11 13 Julian Edelman, NE 9 13 Allen Robinson, CHI 9 11 Amari Cooper, OAK 9 11 Jarvis Landry, CLE 9 11 Chris Godwin, TB 9 11 Demaryius Thomas, DEN 8 11 John Brown, BAL 8 10 Tyler Lockett, SEA 8 10 Doug Baldwin, SEA 8 10 Calvin Ridley, ATL 7 9 Marvin Jones, DET 7 9 Geronimo Allison, GB 7 9 Sammy Watkins, KC 7 9 Marquise Goodwin, SF 7 9 Taylor Gabriel, CHI 6 9 Michael Crabtree, BAL 6 8 Devin Funchess, CAR 6 8 DeSean Jackson, TB 6 8 Tight ends Non PPR Travis Kelce, KC 23 26 Zach Ertz, PHI 22 26 Rob Gronkowski, NE 18 21 Eric Ebron, IND 14 17 Jimmy Graham, GB 10 12 Trey Burton, CHI 9 11 Kyle Rudolph, MIN 9 11 George Kittle, SF 9 11 Austin Hooper, ATL 8 11 David Njoku, CLE 7 10 Jordan Reed, WAS 7 10 Evan Engram, NYG 7 9 Greg Olsen, CAR 7 9 O.J. Howard, TB 7 9 Jared Cook, OAK 6 8 Quarterbacks 1QB 2QB Aaron Rodgers, GB 17 34 Patrick Mahomes, KC 17 34 Tom Brady, NE 17 34 Drew Brees, NO 17 34 Matt Ryan, ATL 16 32 Andrew Luck, IND 16 32 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT 16 32 Cam Newton, CAR 14 28 Philip Rivers, LAC 14 28 Jared Goff, LAR 14 28 Carson Wentz, PHI 14 28 Jameis Winston, TB 14 28 Kirk Cousins, MIN 13 26 Deshaun Watson, HOU 12 24 Andy Dalton, CIN 9 18 Russell Wilson, SEA 9 18 Matthew Stafford, DET 8 16 DSTs<doc-sep>After six weeks of NFL action, how do our algorithms value each player in fantasy football? Fantasy football draft season is long over with, and by now, you know whether you have a contender or you need to make some changes to your squad to avoid a lost season. You can panic. You can gloat. You can wallow in self doubt. But one thing is certain: it's never time during fantasy season to get complacent with your teams. You work the waiver wire hard, and you ponder start-sit questions all week. You should be just as active in the trade market. That can be tricky, of course, as not every fantasy player values the same football player the same way. Plus, sending an insultingly low-ball deal to initiate the back-and-forth is never a good idea. (Seriously, don't do that.) To help, we'll be offering up our updated trade values to help you figure out whether or not you should accept a trade. Keep in mind that these are based on rest-of-season projections rather than gut feel or upside. Players with defined roles, frankly, can have more value than players we just hope break out. The algorithms are here to remind us of that. Also, players who served their byes naturally get a boost. With all that said, here is how our algorithms value players the rest of the season in a 12-team league.<doc-sep>The Fantasy 32 analyzes the NFL from a fantasy perspective, with at least one mention of each of the league's 32 teams. Though efficiency will be discussed plenty, the column will lean heavily on usage data, as volume is king (by far) in fantasy football. Use these tidbits to make the best waiver-wire, trade and lineup decisions for the upcoming week and beyond. Be sure to check back each week of the season for a new version of the Fantasy 32. It's Not Too Late to Sign Up and Play! The 2020-21 NBA season may have already started, but you can create or join an ESPN Fantasy Basketball league at any time and start your season from when you draft your team. Sign up for free! Note that data from Monday Night Football may not be reflected in charts in the article until Tuesday afternoon. The infirmary Falcons WRs Calvin Ridley (ankle) and Mohamed Sanu (hip) both left Sunday's game with injuries. Justin Hardy was the biggest benefactor, drawing seven targets on 24 of a possible 42 pass routes in the game. If one of Ridley or Sanu is out this week, Hardy is safe to ignore, but if both are out, Hardy will certainly jump into the flex discussion, especially with Janoris Jenkins likely to shadow Julio Jones. Jets WR Quincy Enunwa went down with a right ankle injury on Sunday and is expected to miss some time. Enunwa had been handling a hefty target share, but it was starting to dip a bit with Jermaine Kearse healthy and taking over as the team's primary slot receiver. Kearse led the Jets' passing attack on Sunday with nine catches and 94 yards on 10 targets (four more than any other Jet). Kearse, fantasy's No. 26 wideout in 2017, had only registered 71 yards on seven catches during his first four games, but an expanded role -- coupled with Enunwa's absence -- puts him in the flex discussion in 12-team leagues. Robby Anderson (five targets on Sunday) and Terrelle Pryor Sr. (six) are too risky to start. Raiders WR Amari Cooper went down with a concussion after only nine snaps and only hours after trade rumors began to circulate. In Cooper's absence, Jordy Nelson (36 of 37 possible routes) and Martavis Bryant (29) worked the perimeter with Seth Roberts (31) in the slot. Oakland is headed to its bye, but if Cooper misses time or is traded, Nelson's stock will rise enough to place him in the WR3 discussion most weeks. Bryant's playing time would increase significantly and his downfield ability would be enough to land him in the flex discussion. Roberts is only worth a look in deep PPR leagues. Rams WR Cooper Kupp's knee injury doesn't appear to be serious considering he returned (albeit briefly) to Sunday's game. However, should he miss time, Josh Reynolds needs to be on your radar in an offense that ranks third in touchdowns per game (3.5) and first in three-plus wide receiver sets when passing (98 percent). Reynolds was held to two targets on Sunday, but was on the field for 20 of the team's 33 pass plays (Kupp ran 13 routes and was targeted once). Reynolds, a 2017 fourth-round pick, showed flashes as a rookie and Kupp's absence would bump him into the flex discussion. Gerald Everett -- who doubled up Tyler Higbee in pass routes on Sunday -- would join the TE2 mix. Jaguars TE Niles Paul went down with a leg injury on Sunday just one week after Jacksonville lost Austin Seferian-Jenkins for the season. Paul went down on his fourth snap, which led to James O'Shaughnessy running 24 of 29 possible routes. Unless the Jaguars make an impact acquisition, this is a situation to ignore except in the deepest of two tight end leagues. Opportunity alert Throughout this piece, I'll be referencing "OFP" and "OTD." OFP stands for opportunity-adjusted fantasy points. Imagine a league in which players are created equal. "OFP" is a statistic that weighs every pass/carry/target and converts the data into one number that indicates a player's opportunity to score fantasy points, or his "expected" fantasy point total. For example, if a player has an OFP of 14.5, it means that a league average player who saw the same workload in the same area of the field would have scored 14.5 fantasy points. "OTD" works the same way, except instead of fantasy points, it's touchdowns. That said, here is the Week 6 OFP Leaderboard: *Complete positional leaderboards will be posted at ESPN+ this week Vikings WR Adam Thielen's record-setting early-season pace is likely unsustainable, but OFP tells us that he can afford a drop-off in efficiency and still manage elite numbers. Thielen's full-season FORP sits at 31, meaning his 31 fantasy points above his expected total. Still, his 123 OFP is second highest, behind only DeAndre Hopkins at wide receiver. Thielen is a legitimate top-5 fantasy wide receiver moving forward and you shouldn't feel the need to try and trade him at his ceiling. Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston entered his first 2018 start as a solid QB1 play and that's how you should view him moving forward. Granted it was a light matchup against Atlanta's injury-plagued defense, but Winston delivered ... and then some. He completed 30 of 41 passes for 395 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 31 yards with his legs. Remember, Winston posted a top-10 fantasy week in 46 percent of his starts last season, which was ninth best at the position. Surrounded by a terrific group of skill position players, Winston should be in lineups against Cleveland on Sunday and most weeks going forward. Falcons WR Julio Jones has yet to score a touchdown this season, but his 116 fantasy points are actually higher than his 113 OFP. Jones is no longer getting much work near the goal line (one end zone target during his past five games), but he's still seeing so much volume that he's fantasy's No. 5 scoring wide receiver.<doc-sep>Need Fantasy Football lineup advice? Talk to CBS Sports on your Google Assistant to get insights on the best sleepers and to help decide between players. Just start with, "Hey Google, talk to CBS Sports." What is the Cut List? The Cut List is our baseline guide for who you can drop off your Fantasy rosters. We've arranged the cut candidates by position, then by how deep of leagues a player is cut-able in. This will help you in small leagues (10 teams or less), large leagues (14-plus teams) and the more commonly known 12-team formats. Players owned in less than 20 percent of CBS Sports leagues are typically not included on the list. Please note: It's never a good idea to cut a player for no reason. Fantasy owners should only cut players they don't envision themselves using in exchange for players they think they will eventually start. Just because a player you have is on this list does not mean he should immediately be cut. Finally, always assume that any player you cut will be considered by everyone else in your league. If you think the player you're cutting is for sure going to get picked up, maybe you shouldn't cut that player. Running backs Player 10-team 12-team 14+team C.J. Anderson, CAR X X X LeGarrette Blount, DET X X X Jamaal Charles, JAC X X X Rashaad Penny, SEA X X X Theo Riddick, DET X X X Spencer Ware, KC X X X Jordan Wilkins, IND X X X Derrick Henry, TEN X X Ronald Jones, TB X X Ty Montgomery, GB X X Alfred Morris, SF X X Dion Lewis, TEN X Jamaal Williams, GB X Wide receivers Player 10-team 12-team 14+team Robby Anderson, NYJ X X X Kelvin Benjamin, BUF X X X Dez Bryant, FA X X X Jamison Crowder, WAS X X X Quincy Enunwa, NYJ X X X Larry Fitzgerald, ARI X X X Pierre Garcon, SF X X X Chris Hogan, NE X X X Brandon Marshall, SEA X X X DeVante Parker, MIA X X X Kenny Stills, MIA X X X Courtland Sutton, DEN X X X Tyrell Williams, LAC X X X Randall Cobb, GB X X Keelan Cole, JAC X X Corey Davis, TEN X X Ted Ginn, NO X X D.J. Moore, CAR X X Mike Williams, LAC X X Jordy Nelson, OAK X Tight ends Player 10-team 12-team 14+team Jesse James, PIT X X X Benjamin Watson, NO X X X Ricky Seals-Jones, ARI X Quarterbacks Player 10-team 12-team 14+team Derek Carr, OAK X X X Sam Darnold, NYJ X X X Marcus Mariota, TEN X X X Ryan Tannehill, MIA X X X Case Keenum, DEN X X Eli Manning, NYG X X Dak Prescott, DAL X X Alex Smith, WAS X X Blake Bortles, JAC X So who should you sit and start? And what shocking QB could win you Week 7? Visit SportsLine now to get Fantasy football rankings for every single position, and see which shocking QB finishes in the top 5 this week, all from the model that out-performed experts big time last season.<doc-sep>

Need Fantasy Football lineup advice? Talk to CBS Sports on your Google Assistant to get insights on the best sleepers and to help decide between players. Just start with, "Hey Google, talk to CBS Sports." Welcome to the first big bye week of 2018. With the Packers, Raiders, Steelers, and Seahawks all off this week, Fantasy players are stuck without some of their key contributors, including: Three must-start QBs Four starting-caliber RBs Three must-start WRs — and at least four more we're considering starting every week Two starting tight ends This may be the shallowest the player pool for Fantasy ends up all season, which means we all need extra help to set our lineups for Week 7. Here are Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath Cummings' thoughts on some of the key questions facing Fantasy players heading into Week 7. 1. With Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Ben Roethlisberger off, who is the best bye-week replacement at QB? Jamey Eisenberg: "Baker Mayfield is No. 1 for me if available with his matchup at Tampa Bay, and he's at 68 percent ownership on CBS Sports. Mitchell Trubisky is right behind him at 59 percent with his matchup against New England. And then, as icky as it sounds, look at Eli Manning with his matchup at Atlanta. He's at 42 percent." Dave Richard: "I think it's Trubisky. He's played fairly well over his last two games and has a favorable matchup at home against the Patriots on Sunday. It's actually not a bad spot for him. Joe Flacco is a close second, with C.J. Beathard and Mayfield also in the discussion. Trubisky's displayed upside sets him apart." Heath Cummings: "It's Manning. I know this didn't work well last time, but I'm going back to him. The Falcons defense is banged up and pretty terrible. Between Odell Beckham, Saquon Barkley and Sterling Shepard Manning should be able to find success. If you just can't stomach Eli, Trubisky would be my second choice." 2. How are you handling Le'Veon Bell/James Conner? Jamey: "I'm holding both Bell and Conner for now, but I expect Bell to report for Pittsburgh's next game in Week 8 against Cleveland. I'll still start Conner as a No. 2 running back that week and use Bell as a flex if he's active. And then moving forward, I expect Bell to become the Steelers' primary running back. I still consider him someone you want to acquire in all Fantasy leagues if available via trade, and he should be a difference maker in the Fantasy playoffs if healthy. Dave: "Le'Veon is a bench decoration, Conner is a must-start. Until Bell reports, that's how this situation is. And even after Bell reports (which WILL happen, just a matter of when), I'm not certain he'll get a ton of touches unless Conner suddenly turns into a dud. In a perfect world I'd like to have both on the same team." Heath: "I'm holding Conner and planning on starting him Week 8. I'm also holding Bell unless someone offers me the moon for him. We still know little more than we did two months ago. We'll see." 3. Is there any hope for the Titans' offense? Jamey: "Not much. You can certainly stash guys like Derrick Henry, Dion Lewis and Corey Davis, but you're not starting them any time soon. In 10-team leagues or smaller, I'm looking for other options." Dave: "Yes, there's hope. Marcus Mariota is playing with an injured hand, and his O-line is letting him down. Not a good combination, especially when the run game can't provide much. The Titans need to re-tool, but that probably won't happen until their Week 8 bye. It's totally fine to cut any Titans players (but not the DST) and then come back for them off waivers in a couple of weeks." Heath: "I'm not ready to call them hopeless, but I'm not sure they figure it out this week. I have very little hope for Mariota being more than a streamer, and it's hard see a path to Henry being more than a TD-dependent flex. I do still have some hope for Davis and Lewis." 4. Who is your top sell-high candidate right now? Jamey: "Adrian Peterson. He's been good so far this year when healthy, but how long will he stay healthy with a robust workload at 33 years old? Get something now while you can."

The House of Representatives under the leadership of newly elected Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has so far only processed two items in plenary—one for each of the two session days of the Third Regular Session. During the First and Second Regular Sessions, the House processed an average of 16 measures per day, totaling to 2,929 by the end of the period. On Tuesday, however, the supposedly productive chamber was only able to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law, which was not even part of its 52-page Order of Business for that day. The ratification even came a day late, as it was supposed to have been done on the day of President Rodrigo Duterte's third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. That session was abruptly adjourned, supposedly to prevent the brewing coup d'etat at that time from blowing up. The slow-paced performance of the House appears to have continued on Wednesday, when the lawmakers were only able to adopt the resolution seeking to enter into the records the proceedings of Monday's post-SONA session electing Arroyo as Speaker. Wednesday's plenary session, in fact, did not end without drama, as ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio aggressively tried, but failed, to block the adoption of the said resolution. Apart from the plenary sessions, committee meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday also took a step back. Two of the four scheduled committee meetings on Tuesday were cancelled, while only three of the nine committee meetings on Wednesday pushed through. But Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya, who presided over the first two House plenary sessions, argued that the change in leadership did not affect the legislative work of the chamber. In a phone interview, Andaya claimed that the committee meetings were cancelled even before Arroyo took office. "Kung meron man naantala, it would be the reorganization of the House, nothing affecting our legislative agenda," he said. "Growing pains lang ito, rearrangement ng furniture. Kapag nakuha na yan, tuloy tuloy na yan. Getting to know you stage [pa lang]," he added. Andaya believes that by Monday, when all things have been ironed out, the pacing of the House as regards its legislative duties will become smoother. "I think Monday, mas mabilis na pace. Nakita naman, we help each other out. Alam na namin terrain. It will be smoother on Monday," he said. Arroyo on Wednesday directed chairpersons of various committees to continue their duties. “The dust has settled. Nag-usap na si former Speaker [Pantaleon] Alvarez at Speaker Arroyo. And Speaker Arroyo has met committee chairpersons and gave the instructions to continue their work. Back to normal po, back to work,” House Committee on Housing and Urban Development chair Alfredo Benitez told reporters in a press conference. “Basically po, ang Congress is balik-trabaho,” he added. Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro even said that House members can work beyond schedule to make up for the cancelled committee hearings. "If there is a cancellation of hearing, we can also [work] double-time and triple-time in order to gain the lost opportunity," he said. In the coming days, the House is expected to take up the budget proposal for 2019 submitted by the President and commence the budget deliberations. Also in its plate is the consideration of the draft federal charter from the presidential Consultative Committee, which is part of the proposed shift to a federal form of government. — BM, GMA News<doc-sep>This year’s State of the Nation Address has evoked several stories, but the biggest so far was former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s installation as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. ADVERTISEMENT In 2010, before Arroyo’s term ended, several analysts have considered her career in national politics over, after her administration was consistently plagued by corruption issues. After eight years and several years of medical treatment, she made her comeback to head the 17th Congress. One of the country’s top economic minds, Arroyo, daughter of the late former president Diosdado Macapagal, graduated valedictorian from the Assumption Convent School in 1964. She later studied at the Georgetown University, where she was a dean’s lister while being in a class that featured former United States President Bill Clinton. When she got her Economics degree from the Assumption College, she was magna cum laude. Her postgraduate economic degrees were from the Ateneo de Manila University (Master’s, 1978) and the University of the Philippines (Doctorate, 1985) — two universities where she also taught. After the Edsa People Power Revolution, Arroyo was appointed by former president Corazon Aquino as Assistant Secretary, and later as Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry. Arroyo made her senatorial bid in 1992 and was re-elected in 1995, garnering over 16 million votes. In 1998, she was the running mate of presidential candidate Joe de Venecia, who lost to eventual President Joseph Estrada. Arroyo won, with one of the largest vote differentials in Philippine elections. When Estrada stepped down from office in 2001, Arroyo was sworn into office during the so-called Edsa 2 rally. In one of the most controversial presidential elections after the Edsa 1, Arroyo outlasted late actor Fernando Poe Jr. Arroyo won, but not without issues: the legitimacy of her presidency was questioned, after wiretapped tapes of her conversation with Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano on the security of votes in Mindanao. Before her term ended, Arroyo ran as the representative of the second district of Pampanga. Over a year after her term, she was placed on hospital arrest over corruption charges during her nine-year stint. Read Next<doc-sep>The House of Representatives on Monday officially elected former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as its new Speaker. Arroyo's election came after what appeared to be an informal voting among House members to install her as their new leader moments before President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA). Her election also effectively removes Davao Del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez from his position. A special session after the SONA was called to make a formal election, with 238 members present in the session. One hundred eighty-four members of the chamber voted for Arroyo's speakership and 12 abstained. Before Arroyo's election as speaker, Malacañang maintained that it does not meddle in the internal affairs of the House, a co-equal branch of government. "It is for the House to decide who ultimately will be its leader and when the House is ready then of course the Executive, because we are a co-equal branch of government, has no choice but to recognize kung sino 'yung kikilalanin na mayorya ng members ng Kongreso as hinalal na Speaker," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters. Duterte's address was delayed by more than an hour as he held separate meetings with Alvarez and Arroyo over the leadership row. Missing mace During the session, Nueva Ecija Representative Magnolia Antonino moved to produce the mace, the symbol of the House's authority, before they proceed to their agenda. Presiding officer Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya, acting upon Antonino's objection-less motion, ordered the mace to be produced from the House's archives. The session was suspended for this purpose. But even before the mace was produced, Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro moved to resume the session, saying that the mace is "merely symbolic," and that its presence cannot take precedence of the authority of the House majority present in the session. Upon resumption of the session, Antonino moved to declare the position of the Speaker vacant, which received no objection from the body. Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu then nominated Arroyo for the position, which was not contested by any other member. No other nomination was made. The House then proceeded to a nominal voting and elected Arroyo as the new Speaker. Rumors of Alvarez's ouster have been spreading since earlier this year. A news report, citing an unnamed lawmaker, said that some lawmakers from Mindanao are going around Northern Luzon to gather support to install former Arroyo as Speaker. Meanwhile, Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Jay Velasco is reportedly being eyed to replace Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinas. Arroyo previously held the position of deputy speaker until she was removed from her post in March last year following her vote against the controversial death penalty bill. —with Virgil Lopez/JST, GMA News<doc-sep>It was a movie-worthy twist. Former president of the Philippines and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has become the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. She took her oath today, before the start of President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address. She replaced Congressperson Pantaleon Alvarez, the representative of the first district of Davao del Norte. Arroyo was seen speaking to the members of Congress from the rostrum then later took her oath with the microphone turned off. Before Alvarez was ousted, his allies adjourned the session this morning to prevent his removal, Rappler reported. But members of the House returned to the hall early in the afternoon, with Deputy Speaker Rolando Andya speaking at the plenary, saying that the morning session should not have adjourned that early. Andaya continued speaking even after his microphone started malfunctioning. Davao City 1st District Representative Karlo Nograles then appeared and looked like he was calling the roll. After several congresspersons stood up, Arroyo proceeded to walk up the podium to take her oath. She is the first woman to become Speaker of the House. However, it was Alvarez who welcomed President Duterte when he arrived at the hall to deliver his SONA. He also remained seated at the rostrum as Duterte delivered his speech. His allies are expected to contest Arroyo’s oath-taking. Several reports have said that Alvarez’s ousting was led by Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Duterte-Carpio had a public feud with Alvarez, whom she called “an insecure fat sleaze” after the latter reportedly said she was part of the opposition and was not in good terms with the president. Arroyo was the country’s president from 2001 — 2010. She was arrested from her hospital room in 2011 on charges of election fraud and corruption but was freed from hospital arrest in 2016 after the Supreme Court declared the evidence as insufficient. The post UPDATED: Former PH President Arroyo becomes new House Speaker appeared first on Coconuts.<doc-sep>

PAMPANGA Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo officially became the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Monday after her colleagues convened in a session following the third State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte. With 184 lawmakers voting for her installation, the former president became the first female House Speaker of the Philippines, ousting Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez. Talk of Arroyo taking over the Speakership from Alvarez broke out just before the opening of the session at 10 a.m. But the House adjourned the session without the expected change in leadership. Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. was supposed to raise his objection to the adjournment of the session earlier when the audio of the livestream was turned off. House plenary was temporarily off-limits to media. “The session was adjourned despite objections raised loudly on the floor, objecting the motion to adjourn. While the motion to adjourn is not debatable, there was an objection. In that case, the motion should be put to a vote,” Andaya earlier said. Members of the House returned to the session hall by early afternoon, and signed a manifesto calling for Alvarez’s ouster as Speaker. At past 3 p.m., Arroyo was then sworn in as House Speaker even as the microphone at the podium was notably turned off. While Arroyo was at the podium, Alvarez was seen welcoming Duterte to the House. Despite Arroyo being sworn in, it was Alvarez who took the Speaker’s seat during the Sona. President Duterte had a talk with Alvarez and Arroyo after the House voted to oust Alvarez. Afterwards, Alvarez emerged and took the Speaker’s seat. Abellanosa, Salimbangon back Arroyo Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa of Cebu City’s south district was among those who signed the manifesto to oust Alvarez. “I signed the manifesto and voted for GMA to take over the House leadership from Speaker Alvarez. His pronouncements against the Cebu City Bus Rapid Transit project and his support to the opposition group in Cebu City are key points that influenced my vote for GMA as Speaker,” he said in a text message to Cebu Daily News. For his part, Rep. Benhur Salimbangon said the National Unity Party (NUP) where he belongs supported Alvarez’s removal as House Speaker. “The endorsement was signed by the party. It was a party’s decision,” he said, explaining why he also signed the manifesto. Cebu Daily News also tried to contact other Cebuano members of the House but they did not answer the calls. In 2010, before Arroyo’s term ended, several analysts have considered her career in national politics over, after her administration was consistently plagued by corruption issues. After eight years and several years of medical treatment, she made her comeback to head the 17th Congress. In 1998, Arroyo was the running mate of presidential candidate Joe de Venecia, who lost to eventual President Joseph Estrada. Arroyo won, with one of the largest vote differentials in Philippine elections. When Estrada stepped down from office in 2001, Arroyo was sworn into office during the so-called Edsa 2 rally. / with reports from Morexette Marie B. Erram and Jessa Mae O. Sotto

On Sunday night’s episode of American Idol, the remaining 40 contestants competed for their spots in the top 20 while performing in front of a live audience at Disney’s Aulani resort in Honolulu, Hawaii. One contestant in particular proved why he deserves his spot. Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon took to the stage to perform a simple, emotional rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s classic track “Landslide.” As the star performed the number, the show cut back to a conversation he had with in-house mentor Bobby Bones about his relationship with his parents since the 26-year-old came out. “It has been a really difficult past few months for me,” Harmon said in an earlier part of the show. “My parents still have not been able to accept me being gay. … I decided to move out and that was a difficult choice to make. I felt like it was the healthiest thing for me to do. Being a part of this show has been good for me in one way, but it has also been a big challenge for me. I’m just being very public about my story and it’s causing a lot of change in my life right now.”<doc-sep>After reducing the contestants in half from the Top 40 to the Top 20 in Hawaii on Sunday, 'American Idol' season 17 was back on Monday night and showcased the Top 20 perform their solos. We saw contestants perform their best for the judges and the best part was that there were no eliminations. But on the coming Sunday, the 20 will team up with celebrities and perform duets. And after that, the judges will take into consideration the solo and the duet performances and eliminate six contestants and the Top 14 will head on to the live shows where they will compete for America's votes. On Monday during the Top 20 solos, we witnessed that more than the girls, it was the guys who were looking really strong this year. While we wait in anticipation for the All-Star duet episode to air Sunday, let's take a look at the performances that stood out during the Top 20 solos on Monday. As usual, the one contestant that stood out the most is current frontrunner, Alejandro Aranda. He performed his version of “I Fall Apart” by Post Malone. He sure is one of the most talented contestants to walk through Idol doors. His solo performance was so delicate it felt effortless. After his performance, Luke Bryan revealed there was no one like him in the competition. After Aranda, the next contestant to impress judges the most was Wade Cota. He performed his version of “All I Want” by Kodaline. This performance of his was next level, unlike any other we have seen of him. After his performance, the judges were nothing less than impressed as Bryan revealed "A star is born." He made a lasting impression no one would forget. Laci Kaye Booth performed “I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick. And she brought in her own tweaks to it with her guitar. Booth was already a fan-favorite and this performance would have surely gained her more fans because that's how flawless it was. “You just showed us a whole other level of confidence,” Katy Perry said. Ashley Hess wasn't less flawless with her performance either. We might not have seen many of her performances to date, but we will surely get to see more of her if she continues to perform the same way. After her performance, Perry said, "I thought I was at your show. I was literally lost in your performance.” One contestant that made his mark during the Top 40 performance in Hawaii rocked the stage once again during his Top 20 solo. That was none other than Uche. He performed “Figures” by Jessie Reyez and just like his previous performance, this was a fun one to watch as he showed his vocal range which was spellbound. “Just keep finessing it,” Katy Perry told Uche after his performance. The final contestant who stood out was the contestant to perform first in the Top 20 solos. Madison VanDenburg performed her version of “Domino” by Jessie J. It was a really good song selection and after her performance, the judges once again compared her to Kelly Clarkson. What better remark to get than to be compared to a former Idol winner? 'American Idol' airs every Sunday and Monday on ABC. Check your local listings for more information. Disclaimer : The views expressed in this article belong to the writer and are not necessarily shared by MEAWW.<doc-sep>The "American Idol" top 20 performed for the first time Monday night. And a pair of Houston-area singers were among the best. Uché from Sugar Land channeled the likes of Frank Ocean and Maxwell with a stunning rendition of "Figures" by Jessie Reyez. Uché not only sounds like a star, he looks like one, too.<doc-sep>

"American Idol" front-runners have emerged as the competition continues its Top 20 round. During Sunday's first episode of celebrity duets, the sprightly Uche electrified as he danced and belted his way through Shaggy's "I Need Your Love" alongside the Jamaican singer. And Madison VanDenburg pulled off no easy feat, matching Pat Benatar's powerful vocals as they performed "We Belong" with guitarist Neil Giraldo. But once again, it was Texas native Laci Kaye Booth who stole the show, after flooring the judges just last week with her country spin on Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me." Paired with country star Brett Young, the two sang a sizzling rendition of his breakup ballad "Mercy," all while sitting on stools center stage and accompanied by just a piano. "Laci has this very smoky, interesting voice that almost looks like it doesn't come out of her, but once it does, it also seems so natural," Young said of his singing partner in a pretaped interview. The judges were similarly complimentary of Booth's emotional performance. "It was so believable," Lionel Richie said after. "I actually thought I was watching a serious love affair on that stage because it was delivered so well." "From the moment you walk onstage, you sprinkle stardust everywhere," Katy Perry said. "I thought I was watching something on the Grammys, like 'best new artist,' I don't know." "I don't want to play favorites," she added, shrugging and grinning. "But fill in the blank." When judge Luke Bryan joked that Perry was won over by a country artist, Perry responded, "It's not about genre, it's about feeling." The episode ended with the elimination of three contestants: Bumbly, Shawn Robinson and Kate Barnette. "Idol" duets continue during Monday's episode (ABC, 8 EDT/PDT), which will reveal the full Top 14.

File- This Aug. 9, 2018, file photo shows San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (69) blocking Dallas Cowboys defensive end Taco Charlton (97) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Santa Clara, Calif. McGlinchey's first test as an NFL tackle came against one of the NFL's top pass rushers in Dallas' DeMarcus Lawrence. Things will only get tougher this week when McGlinchey must contend with three-time former AP Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney when the 49ers travel to Houston for two days of practice against the Texans before an exhibition game on Saturday. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File) SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Mike McGlinchey's first test as an NFL tackle came against one of the league's top pass rushers in Dallas' DeMarcus Lawrence. Things will only get tougher this week when McGlinchey must contend with three-time former AP Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney when the 49ers travel to Houston for two days of practice against the Texans before an exhibition game on Saturday. ''It's going to be fun. It's definitely going to be fun,'' McGlinchey said. ''That's why you play in the NFL, to play against the biggest and the baddest dudes and they have three or four of them. It's going to be pretty fun. I'm more worried about the heat monster than those guys. As long as I can stay upright and not lose 15 pounds in practice, I'll come out a winner.'' McGlinchey and the 49ers were pleased with his exhibition debut against the Cowboys when he was matched up with Lawrence - who tied for second in the NFL with 14 1/2 sacks last year - on the first drive and stayed for two more to get as much experience as possible before the start of the regular season. McGlinchey mostly held his own, although he was upset about his technique on a bull rush move by Lawrence that led to a hit on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. ''I was really happy with Mike,'' coach Kyle Shanahan said. ''First game for him. That's why we left him in there a little bit longer. By no means was it perfect, but it was very easy to see that the game is not too big for him. He's very comfortable out there. He looks like the player he looked in college when we studied him, how he's looked in practice. He got out there and didn't change. He's a guy who I think gets better as the game goes on because he is talented, but he also is very smart and doesn't get overwhelmed with things. When he does make a mistake, he usually learns from it.'' Story continues The 49ers are counting on big things this season from McGlinchey after drafting him ninth overall out of Notre Dame in April and then trading last year's starter at right tackle, Trent Brown, to New England. San Francisco immediately put McGlinchey in the starting lineup in the offseason and is grooming him to eventually take over for stalwart Joe Staley on the left side. The two have struck up an immediate friendship based in part on a shared history. Staley's college coach at Central Michigan was Brian Kelly, who later took over at Notre Dame. Several of Kelly's assistants coached Staley in college and used him as an example at Notre Dame. McGlinchey said that because the two approach the game in a similar way, he has peppered Staley with 20 to 30 questions each day about how to excel as a tackle in the NFL. ''It's been great,'' he said. ''I really can't think of myself being any luckier than I am because I do ask a lot of questions. I don't really leave him alone. He doesn't ever turn me away. He doesn't ever say shut up or anything like that so he's there for me. He's there to help me with anything I see.'' It's become a bit of a running joke how close the two have become the past few months with Staley calling McGlinchey his best friend and little brother. ''The reason why is I see so much potential,'' Staley said. ''He has the absolute right mindset to succeed in the NFL. The guy is really hungry to learn every single day. He comes to meetings and asks the right questions and picks up the playbook really well. I just see all the potential he has. I think he has nothing but great things ahead in his career. I look forward to being a mentor to a younger guy and teaching him things I've learned and hopefully he can surpass me some day.'' NOTES: The 49ers signed RB Alfred Morris to a one-year deal to add depth with Jerick McKinnon (calf) and Matt Breida (shoulder) injured. ... OL Alan Knott was waived to make room on the roster. --- More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFLfootball and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL<doc-sep>HOUSTON — Why was 49ers rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey nearly impaled in the ground on his first snap against Houston defensive end J.J. Watt on Wednesday? Well, as it turns out, there was a reason beyond the fact that Watt is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. On Thursday, left tackle Joe Staley provided a bit of context. Staley said Houston’s coaches had the 49ers’ offensive linemen and Texans’ defensive linemen run one-on-one run-blocking drills. Those were foreign to McGlinchey, who had engaged only in one-on-one pass-blocking drills during his first training camp. As Staley explained, McGlinchey’s inexperience, combined with his opponent, made for a painful moment. “I don’t think guys were expecting that,” Staley said. “I know Mike had no idea. (He said) ‘One-on-one run? What do you do here?’ I was like, ‘Just come off the ball as hard as you can, like (an) Oklahoma drill, old-school.’ He’s like, ‘All right.’” “It didn’t go well for him the first rep — you could see that. But he told me after that ‘I was just trying to focus and (not) get embarrassed because he’s pretty strong. I was like ‘J.J.’s one of the best in the NFL, so he’s going to be pretty strong.’” Staley, 33, said he intentionally didn’t give McGlinchey any pre-practice pointers for facing Watt. “I think that’s good,” Staley said. “If it was game situation, obviously, you’re going to do a lot more studying. But I think it’s good for him to go in and figure that stuff out on (his) own. Try to correct what you’re doing on the practice field because it’s practice — it’s the time to do all that stuff. You’re not going to go out there and have a perfect day. You’re going to see what works, what doesn’t work.” McGlinchey, the No. 9 pick, appeared to learn from his first snap against Watt. McGlinchey had five more one-on-one reps against Watt during the course of the two joint practices and largely held his own on each. On guards: Right guard Joshua Garnett, who returned to practice Sunday after missing two weeks with a knee injury, took first-team snaps in practice and is expected to make his preseason debut when the 49ers meet the Texans on Saturday. “He looked good on tape yesterday,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He definitely looked healthy yesterday. The test will be after fatigue sets in. Today was his second day in a row. We upped his reps, so I’m looking forward to watching the tape when I get in.” Meanwhile, right guard Jonathan Cooper, who has been eased back in after undergoing offseason knee surgery, also will make his summer debut Saturday. Cooper worked with the second team in practice. Garnett and Cooper are competing for the starting spot that was assumed by Mike Person in the preseason opener. Person was the second-team center Thursday. Injury report: Undrafted rookie safety Terrell Williams was carted off the field with a knee injury after colliding with a cement wall during a one-on-one drill. In addition, linebacker Mark Nzeocha also left practice on a cart with an unspecified injury, and tight end Cole Wick exited, apparently because of heat-related issues. Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.<doc-sep>The San Francisco 49ers subjected everyone to some bad football on Thursday evening and have a bevy of injuries to show for it. One of the players that was somewhat quiet was tackle Mike McGlinchey. McGlinchey got a bit of extended playing time when the ones were off the field and there’s not much to say about him. And for a tackle, no news is good news. Well, except for this: Cowboys rookie 4th rd pick Dorance Armstrong. Really nice rep. Good hands. Wow. #DALvsSF pic.twitter.com/YVKid7afSx — Josh Cohen (@jco3215) August 10, 2018 There’s our first round pick! McGlinchey (No. 69) is right there punching Cowboys defensive lineman Taco Charlton to the ground. Who wants to watch Dorance Armstrong when you can watch McGlinchey go stonewall and make not let anyone by him? There hasn’t been anything to suggest McGlinchey is a bust, yet. He’s had his off days and struggles but nothing that has been in the realm of A.J. Jenkins territory. The 49ers are smart to give him more playing time in the preseason and it will be interesting to watch that side of the line with his presence. But this video, enjoy your morning watching this.<doc-sep>

The San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans held their first joint practice session of the week Wednesday, and as has already been mentioned, things got a bit feisty in the early going when Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward got in a scuffle that resulted in both of them getting taken out of practice. But there was more going on than just that, including some competition between rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey and Texans defensive end J.J. Watt. McGlinchey, who was selected by the 49ers with their first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft, has been fortunate to get some significant tests early in his first NFL preseason. He faced off against Demarcus Lawrence of the Dallas Cowboys in the preseason opener and this week gets to face off with Watt and possibly Jadeveon Clowney, who has been limited at practice as he recovers from offseason knee surgery. Clowney wasn't a full participant at practice Wednesday, but McGlinchey did get his first reps against Watt. Here are a couple videos of Watt and McGlinchey facing off, via Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group and Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Watt takes McGlinchey to the ground in the first video, while McGlinchey holds his own in the second video. Early action between #49ers #Texans: Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins fights Jimmie Ward, Hopkins kicked off field but shakes Ward’s hand on way out Mike McGlichey MET Texans J.J. Watt. “Welcome to the NFL” pic.twitter.com/3DK8CfTK3p — Cam Inman (@CamInman) August 15, 2018 Rookie RT Mike McGlinchey holds his own vs. J.J. Watt. #49ers pic.twitter.com/BYXP9Pd27a — Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) August 15, 2018 Neither Watt nor Clowney played in Houston's preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs last week, but perhaps at least one of them will be on the field when the Texans and 49ers play Saturday evening (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). By the time the week ends, McGlinchey will probably have had more than his share of chances against Watt. “It’s going to be fun,” McGlinchey said earlier in the week about facing Watt and Clowney, per 49ers.com. “That’s why you play in the NFL. You play against the biggest and baddest dudes and they’ve got three or four of them. So it’s going to be pretty fun.” If Watt plays Saturday night, it'll be the first time he's been on the field since suffering a tibial plateau fracture in Week 5 of the 2017 season. After establishing himself as the NFL's best defensive player earlier in his career, Watt has missed the majority of the past two seasons due to injury and faces some doubters who think he might not be able to return to his old form. To this point, however, Watt seems to be well on his way back to becoming an impact player once again. "I feel great. I feel great. It's been great to be back out here with the guys on the field playing the game," Watt told CBS Sports this week. "Just take it one day at a time. I feel really good and the trainers did a really good job this offseason helping me get my body back to where it needs to be. And it's just playing football."

A new report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo details Apple’s entire product roundup for 2019. And there is some very big news in the literal and figurative sense. TF International Securities via MacRumors 16-inch MacBook Pro, New 13-inch First of all, Kuo claims in the report that Tim Cook and his minions will release a new giant MacBook Pro with a 16 to 16.5-inch display. The analyst, who has a reputation for accuracy, says that the new laptop will be an “all-new design”. Apple will also re-focus on the professional market with a display that is so big it can serve as a TV: a 31.6-inch monitor with 6K resolution. This matches a claim made in 2017 by Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, that it is not leaving the pro market, with the company actively working on a display to match yet another Mac Pro redesign. The computer news doesn’t stop there: a new 13-inch MacBook Pro will have the option to hold up to 32GB of RAM. iPhone 11 Kuo also goes through the new 2019 iPhones. Contrary to previous reports, the lineup will not ditch the LCD panels. Kuo says that there will be a regular 5.8-inch and large 6.5-inch iPhone XI with OLED panels, while the low end will have a 6.1-inch LCD. (Image credit: OnLeaks) His report also contradicts previous rumors of Apple ditching the Lightning port in favor of USB-C. The notch will not change either, maintaining the same shape as the current models. The new phones will have an upgraded FaceID though, and one them will incorporate a triple sensor camera module which may look weird and ugly. While the all-OLED all-redesigned line up will have to wait till 2020, the new models will have a sightly different new look thanks to a new finish: Apple will use sandblasting to texture the iPhone glass back panel just like the Pixel 3. Previous rumors say that the new AirPods 2 will have a similar finish to improve grip. Other features are upgraded batteries (at last!) with bi-directional wireless charging so the iPhone can charge itself and charge other devices, like your AirPods 2 or Apple Watch. Lastly, the iPhone XI will get a new feature called ultra-wideband radio, which works to improve indoor navigation. MORE: Apple’s March 25 Event Could Bring the Big Bundle That Beats Netflix The second coming of the iPod Touch Kuo claims that Apple will release a completely redesigned iPod touch, which reflects previous rumors about a non-cellphone device designed for gaming. This would compete with the Nintendo Switch, and also grab some extra users who want to get into the iOS world without having to pay the premium price for an iPhone. It’s a valiant effort, but it remains to be seen if people would like to buy an expensive really-small-tablet for gaming when Apple has no exclusive games whatsoever, and certainly nothing even near the quality of the Switch’s titles. Even with the rumored Apple’s “Netflix for games” all-you-can-eat subscription service, it will be a hard sell. Especially when Apple has such a dismal record when it comes to gaming. Upgraded iPads and Apple Watch 5 Apple is also planning to bump up the size of the iPad from 9.7-inches to 10.2 inches, Kuo says. The iPad Mini’s internals will be upgraded too. The Watch will see small upgrades, like a new ceramic casing design. Its electrocardiogram capability will become available in new countries too, as Apple closes authorization deals with the nations’ health authorities. AirPower at last, plus AirPods 2 Finally, Kuo claims that we will at last see “mass shipments of AirPower and AirPods [2] start in [the first half of 2019]”. This also matches repeated rumors in the last month, which point out at a new generation of earbuds and the much-anticipated and many-times-delayed release of the AirPower mats, which will reportedly come with new “exclusive features”. And that’s it. Other than the new giant MacBook Pro or the display, Kuo didn’t mention any other really new product introductions for 2019. No mention of augmented reality glasses or any other surprises.<doc-sep>Apple is anticipated to update nearly every line of hardware it has in 2019. AppleInsider shows you what we're expecting to see, including the "AirPods 2," 2019 Mac Pro, Apple Pro displays, new iPhones, the "iPad mini 5," and more. As happens every year, Apple makes a large number of changes to its product portfolio, and 2019 is shaping up to feature a considerable amount of major upgrades. Practically all corners of Apple's hardware empire will see changes, including the iOS-based iPhone and iPad ranges, MacBook Pro and Mac Pro, and accessories such as AirPods and the long-awaited AirPower. Custom-painted black first-generation AirPods AirPods 2 Anticipated to launch in the first half of 2019, or at latest, the fall. Health-related features reminiscent of the Apple Watch's functions are touted, monitoring inside the ear for the user's heart rate. While similar in appearance to the originals, the second generation may ship with a black color option alongside white. Extra grip in the ear is expected, via a change in its coating rather than by physical design alterations. The current 15-inch MacBook Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro A larger model of MacBook Pro is tipped for launch, with a 16 to 16.5-inch display. Apple's last 17-inch MacBook Pro shipped in late 2011. It is presently considered an obsolete product, and Apple isn't offering service for it any longer. The fourth-generation iPad mini iPad Mini 5 International regulatory filings indicate new models are on the way, potentially including the iPad mini and could arrive early in the year. An early-2019 launch for the new fifth-generation iPad mini is expected. The update is thought to be relatively similar to its previous form, including a headphone jack, 7.9-inch display, and the continued use of Touch ID instead of shifting to Face ID. One big change is the possible addition of Smart Keyboard support, along with the Apple Pencil. Render of what the 2019 iPhone could look like with a triple rear camera 2019 iPhone Apple is expected to release three iPhones this fall, following a similar pattern to the 2018 releases, with two OLED models joined by a cheaper iPhone XR-style LCD model. This could be the last generation to use LCD before Apple moves completely over to OLED in 2020, though it is also possible the shift could happen this year. A triple camera setup is tipped to appear on the rear, which could include the ability to produce depth maps similar to the front-facing TrueDepth camera in current-generation models. The front TrueDepth camera could get an upgrade, making it capable of producing a 10-megapixel image. It is suggested there could be bilateral wireless charging, allowing an iPhone to provide charge to another device. Other new additions could be larger batteries, a frosted glass casing, and support for UWB (ultra-wide band) for indoor positioning and navigation. There have been some debate about whether Apple will stick to Lightning or shift to USB-C, just like the iPad Pro. The current model of Mac Pro 2019 Mac Pro Expected for launch sometime in 2019, but it is unclear when in the year it will take place. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that it will be easy to upgrade, but Apple has only said that this model will be modular in design. What that "modular" specifically means for the end-user isn't clear at present. LG's UltraFine 5K monitor, built in collaboration with Apple. Apple Professional 6K Display Anticipated to launch alongside the new Mac Pro, though it is unknown when that will be during the year. Expected to be a 31.6-inch 6K3K display (6,144 x 3,072 resolution) and will use a "mini LED-like backlight design" to deliver outstanding picture quality. After decades of continuous monitor production, Apple's last display was the 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display. It was discontinued on June 23, 2016. The 2018 iPad Seventh generation iPad An early 2019 launch is expected for the model, based on rumors and the existence of regulatory model number filings. A design refresh is tipped to take place, possibly borrowing elements from the iPad Pro design. The well-known 9.7-inch display is expected to increase in size, possibly measuring 10.2 inches, though it is likely the overall device size won't grow as much. Smart Keyboard support is touted for the model, allowing the accessory to connect in a similar way to the iPad Pro range. Even with the changes, it is probable that the iPad will continue to use Touch ID, not Face ID. The 2018 iPad Pro iPad Pro Following the previous model updates, Apple is thought to ship two models of the iPad Pro as part of its usual refresh, with upgraded processors. Apple last updated the iPad Pro in October 2018 with a new exterior design, and Face ID. AirPower charging mat AirPower Originally slated for launch in 2018, but now expected to ship in the first half of 2019. Allows up to three devices to wirelessly charge at the same time, such as an iPhone, Apple Watch, and an AirPods charging case Apple Watch Series 4 Apple Watch Series 5 At present, there are few rumors discussing the Apple Watch — save one from Ming Chi Kuo. The Apple Watch "Series 5" is thought to reintroduce the option for a ceramic body, after being dropped from the Series 4 roster. iPod Touch iPod Touch Tipped for launch at some point in 2019, but with no indication as to when the seventh-generation iPod Touch will make an appearance. No details about changes have emerged, except for speculation it will have an upgraded processor. All quiet regarding the Apple TV, the iMac, and the Mac mini Very little has emerged on the Apple TV since the 4K version was launched. Similarly, the iMac 4K and iMac 5K are likely to get an update, but there hasn't been anything of any substance in from the supply chain regarding the topic.<doc-sep>Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, smiles during a demonstration of the newly released Apple products following the launch event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, September 12, 2018. A top Apple analyst who has correctly outlined the company's product launches in the past has a new forecast for Apple's 2019 releases. TF Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo predicts Apple will launch "three all-new design products," including a new MacBook Pro laptop with either a 16-inch or 16.5-inch display, a new 31.6-inch 6k3k monitor and a Mac Pro, according to the Feb. 17 note. Apple has already confirmed that it's building a new Mac Pro desktop computer, so that's not too much of a surprise. Kuo reiterated that he believes Apple will release two new iPad Pros this year, a new regular iPad to replace the 9.7-inch model but with a larger 10.2-inch screen and a new iPad mini. He also predicted Apple will unveil three new iPhones. Two will have OLED screens that measure 5.8 inches and 6.5 inches, while a third will have a 6.1-inch LCD, Kuo thinks. That's similar to Apple's 2018 strategy. The iPhones may have bigger batteries, improved Face ID and a "frosted glass" casing, which is something we haven't seen before. They're said to pack ultra-wide band wireless for improved navigation indoors. Kuo believes Apple has a few products coming in the first half of this year, including the long-awaited AirPower charger that was supposed to launch in 2018. Apple completely removed all mention of AirPower from its site, suggesting the product might have been scrapped entirely. It would allow customers to charge an iPhone, an Apple Watch and AirPods at the same time. And speaking of AirPods, Kuo predicts Apple will launch a new model with wireless charging and improved Bluetooth in the first half of 2019, too.<doc-sep>

Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is out with a wide-reaching new investor note this evening. Kuo says that Apple will release new iPads, a new 16-inch MacBook Pro, a 31-inch 6K monitor, iPhones with bilateral charging, and more in 2019. First and foremost, Kuo says that the 2019 iPhone models will retain the same screen sizes as the iPhone XS and iPhone XR. This means we’ll get 6.5-inch, 5.8-inch, and 6.1-inch iPhones. Kuo says that all three will retain Lightning connectivity instead of USB-C. According to Kuo, the 2019 iPhones will feature ultra-wide band connectivity for indoor positioning and navigation, frosted glass casing, bilateral wireless charging for charging other devices, upgraded Face ID with a higher power flood illuminator, larger batteries, and a triple camera design. Kuo doesn’t explicitly say which model will get what features, but past reports have suggested only the iPhone 11 Max will have three cameras. As for the iPad lineup, Kuo says Apple will release two new iPad Pro models this year with upgraded processors. The current 9.7-inch iPad will increase in size to 10.2-inches, suggesting a reduction in bezels. Further, Kuo corroborates reports of a new iPad mini and says it will feature an upgraded processor. Perhaps most notable are Kuo’s claims about the Mac lineup. According to the analyst, Apple will release a new MacBook Pro between 16-inches and 16.5-inches with an all-new design. Further, Kuo says Apple will return to the display market with a 31.6-inch 6k3k monitor. This display is said to feature a Mini LED-like backlight design, giving it “outstanding picture quality.” Additionally, Kuo adds that Apple will release a new Mac Pro with “easy to upgrade components” in 2019. He also says the 13-inch MacBook Pro “may” add a 32GB RAM option. Currently, the 13-inch MacBook Pro maxes out at 16GB of RAM, while the 15-inch does support 32GB. Apple previously teased that it would release a “modular” Mac Pro in 2019, and today’s Kuo report seemingly indicates that Apple is still on schedule to do just that. Apple also teased its return to the professional display market alongside that Mac Pro launch. Kuo adds that the Apple Watch ECG function will come to additional countries this year, while Apple will also release a new ceramic casing design. Apple offered a ceramic casing option with the Apple Watch Series 3, but did not continue that design with the Series 4. Lastly, Kuo says AirPods 2 will support wireless charging and upgraded Bluetooth connectivity. He says AirPower will ship during the first half of 2019, while there will also be a new iPod touch with an upgraded processor. Bilateral wireless charging on the 2019 iPhones would allow you to charge other devices wirelessly through your iPhone, which means AirPods 2 could be charged through your iPhone. It certainly looks like Apple has a busy 2019 ahead. It’s unclear when we might see these products, but it wouldn’t be surprising for the first announcements to come in March. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

One of the bigger pieces to the Dodgers World Series run has been rookie right-handed starter Walker Buehler. It’s probably fair to say LA probably wouldn’t be playing tomorrow night without the contributions they’ve received from him. They might not have even played a game in October. With the Dodgers down 2-0 quickly, Buehler will play a big role in the swing of their championship odds in his Game Three start tomorrow night. Buehler had one of the more dominant debuts among all rookies this year, especially on the pitching side. He led all 39 qualified rooking starting pitchers in ERA, FIP, xFIP, and fWAR. He’s carried that over past game 162, leading the Dodgers to a game 163 win over the Rockies, along with pitching well in the crucial NLCS Game Seven. Now he’ll play a big role in whether the Dodgers go down to the daunting series score of 3-0. He’s now set to face the Red Sox potent lineup, which is perhaps the best lineup in baseball, a team he has never pitched against in his short career. Boston led baseball in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and wOBA. Singling out their splits against right-handers, they’re even better hitters. Diving in deeper, it isn’t hard to see how the Red Sox could present a matchup problem for Buehler. Looking at pitch values, you’ll see that Buehler’s prime secondary reliance is his slider. Results-wise, it was his best offering this year. Minimum 100 innings, only Blake Snell and Miles Mikolas threw a better one this year. Top 10 Slider Pitch Values in 2018 Name Team wSL/C Name Team wSL/C Blake Snell Rays 4.05 Miles Mikolas Cardinals 3.11 Walker Buehler Dodgers 3.10 Trevor Bauer Indians 2.89 Mike Foltynewicz Braves 2.80 Tanner Roark Nationals 2.65 German Marquez Rockies 2.25 Chris Sale Red Sox 2.21 Jaime Barria Angels 2.21 Patrick Corbin Diamondbacks 2.15 Using the league-average xwOBA against sliders as a benchmark (.253), we find that the Red Sox have plenty of their regular hitters sitting above-average on the pitch. As a team, they had the third best xwOBA against sliders. They were the best team against sliders from right-handers. Red Sox hitters against the slider Player xwOBA Player xwOBA J.D. Martinez 0.335 Mookie Betts 0.334 Xander Bogaerts 0.317 Steve Pearce 0.31 Mitch Moreland 0.308 Rafael Devers 0.303 Andrew Benintendi 0.299 Hanley Ramirez 0.289 Jackie Bradley Jr. 0.28 Sandy Leon 0.266 LEAGUE AVERAGE 0.253 Eduardo Nunez 0.236 Christian Vazquez 0.214 Brock Holt 0.191 Ian Kinsler 0.136 Narrowing it down to the tendencies of Buehler’s slider, we find that he throws his slider in the zone more than almost any pitcher in baseball. Among 140 pitchers with at least 300 sliders thrown this year, his 55.4 percent zone-percentage is the sixth highest. Highest Slider Zone% Player Results Total Pitches % of Pitches Player Results Total Pitches % of Pitches Jameson Taillon 328 550 59.6 Michael Lorenzen 242 419 57.8 Vidal Nuno 189 333 56.8 Jake Arrieta 368 652 56.4 Max Scherzer 320 568 56.3 Walker Buehler 190 343 55.4 Michael Fulmer 277 522 53.1 Zach Eflin 268 507 52.9 Shane Bieber 212 406 52.2 Andrew Miller 165 316 52.2 And guess what the Red Sox are predictably good at...hitting sliders in the zone. Only the Indians were better at that as a team this season. Team results against in-zone sliders Rank Player xwOBA Rank Player xwOBA 1 CLE 0.329 2 BOS 0.317 3 OAK 0.314 4 MIL 0.313 5 PIT 0.311 6 CWS 0.309 7 NYY 0.309 8 TOR 0.308 9 BAL 0.305 10 LAD 0.303 11 SEA 0.303 12 CIN 0.303 13 LAA 0.302 14 ARI 0.299 15 CHC 0.295 16 DET 0.295 17 COL 0.292 18 STL 0.288 19 ATL 0.286 20 HOU 0.284 21 TB 0.278 22 KC 0.277 23 MIN 0.276 24 WSH 0.275 25 MIA 0.272 26 PHI 0.271 27 SD 0.269 28 TEX 0.265 29 NYM 0.258 30 SF 0.251 I try to not overrate and look too much into single game analysis, but there is plenty to suggest that Buehler could have his issues with the Red Sox lineup, which a lot of pitchers do anyway. But even with the tough task of facing the Red Sox, the Dodgers will need him to out-duel Rick Porcello. In an almost-must-win matchup, expect the Dodgers to have the short leash in play, probably to a further extent than they had with Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu in the first two games. With all this being said, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Walker Buehler and the Dodgers rose to the occasion tomorrow night. LA has made it this far, walking off a slow start, dealing with injuries to star players, fighting to the end for a division title, and pushing their way to a second straight pennant. At the moment, the odds are stacked against them. Patrick Brennan loves to research pitchers and minor leaguers with data. You can find additional work of his at Royals Review and Royals Farm Report. You can also find him on Twitter @paintingcorner.<doc-sep>LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers have seen the future and it’s ace-in-the-making Walker Buehler. Except they need him to deliver now. Buehler will try to yank Los Angeles out of a 2-0 deficit against the Red Sox when the World Series shifts to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Friday. Clearly, the Dodgers trust their 24-year-old rookie. He led them to a victory over Colorado in Game 163 that clinched Los Angeles’ sixth straight NL West title. The right-hander also pitched well in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series against Milwaukee. Now, the pressure is on the kid from Kentucky to keep them from falling into a 3-0 hole. “It’s a little bit different than a Game 7 tomorrow,” Buehler said Thursday, “but at the same time, there’s a little bit of backs-against-the-wall-type of scenario.” Since starting the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Buehler has impressed as the heir apparent to three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who could opt out of the final two years of his contract after the World Series. “Walker is a tremendous talent,” Kershaw said after the NL tiebreaker game. “His competitiveness is off the charts, his ability is off the charts.” Buehler was 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 24 regular-season appearances, including one in relief. He was especially good down the stretch, with a 1.55 ERA over his last 12 starts. Schedule DODGERS vs. Red Sox Boston leads series 2-0 Game 1: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4 Game 2: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2 Friday: at L.A., 5:09 p.m. Saturday: at L.A., 5:09 p.m. Sunday: at L.A., 5:15 p.m.* Tuesday: at Boston, 5:09 p.m.* Wed.: at Boston, 5:09 p.m.* *if necessary; Games on Channel: 2Channel: 40 See More Collapse He has been the Dodgers’ strongest pitcher in the postseason, even if his numbers don’t support that. He’s 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and at least seven strikeouts in each of his three starts, with three home runs doing much of the damage to his ERA. Buehler said he is excited about pitching at Dodger Stadium. “You know how everything is going to be here, so I think most guys are better at home,” he said. In Game 163 at home, Buehler tossed one-hit ball into the seventh inning and didn’t allow anyone past second base against the Rockies in 90-degree heat. Similar conditions are expected Friday. Buehler’s had one bad inning: Game 3 of the NL Division Series at Atlanta. With Braves fans getting rowdy, he served up a grand slam to Ronald Acuña Jr. in the second inning. Buehler didn’t allow a runner over the next three innings to help preserve the bullpen. In all, he gave up five runs on two hits and three walks in five innings. “Anytime you’re in situations like that, the more that you can get there and live it yourself, I think does nothing but help you,” he said. Buehler was cool on the road in Game 7 of the NLCS. He allowed a homer to Christian Yelich but didn’t walk anyone in 42/3 innings as the Dodgers won 5-1. “To be in a hostile, really boisterous crowd in Milwaukee and for him to keep his composure and to execute pitches speaks a lot to him, not only to compete but to eliminate kind of the outside noise and still stay within a game plan,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It just shows a lot of moxie.” The Red Sox counter with right-hander Rick Porcello, who is 1-0 in two starts this postseason. He also has appeared twice as a reliever, with Boston winning in each of his appearances. The Dodgers could use some innings out of Buehler after neither Kershaw nor Hyun-Jin Ryu made it out of the fifth in the first two games of the Series. “We expect Walker to go out there and pitch well and keep us in the game,” Roberts said, “and offensively, we’ve got to go out there and get a lead.” Back in a National League ballpark, Buehler will be batting, too. He already has his first professional RBI, having singled in the NL tiebreaker game. Buehler and his fastball that touches the high 90s will be taking on a big-hitting Boston lineup for the first time in his career. “He’s got weapons to attack a particular hitter’s weakness and also go to his strengths,” Roberts said. “But the No. 1 thing with Walker is that when he’s good, he’s got good fastball command.” Buehler has been through a lot in his young career. Drafted by Pittsburgh in 2012, he instead chose to attend Vanderbilt and helped the Commodores to the 2014 College World Series title. The Dodgers drafted him the following year and he received a $1.7 million signing bonus. Soon after, he had Tommy John surgery and was sidelined for 1½ years. He finally made his pro debut in August 2016 and quickly was promoted through the minors. The Dodgers called him up in September 2017 and he earned his first major-league victory two weeks later in relief in Philadelphia. In May, Buehler had a no-hitter through six innings against San Diego but Roberts pulled him after 93 pitches. Still, Buehler was part of the first combined no-hitter in franchise history. In June, he briefly went on the disabled list after taking a comebacker in the ribs. Buehler didn’t stay down for long. He came back less than a week later to make his lone relief appearance. The Dodgers have played from behind all season, and the World Series is proving to be no different. “Now it’s time to get back to where we need to be,” Buehler said. •Boston manager Alex Cora said he will not move Mookie Betts from right field to second base to get open a spot in the outfield for designated hitter J.D. Martinez for the games at Dodger Stadium. Betts made 14 starts at second as a rookie in 2014. He played there once this year, for six innings in August after Ian Kinsler was hurt. “Mookie Betts at second? No, he’s not playing second base,” Cora said. “Well, he’s not starting at second base.” •Roberts said left-hander Rich Hill will be the Dodgers’ starter in Game 4 on Saturday. It would be Hill’s third career Series start. He opened two games last year against the Astros, allowing two earned runs in 82/3 innings without getting a decision. He walked four and struck out 12. Hill has made three appearances this year in the postseason, including one in relief, posting a 0-0 record with a 2.61 ERA.<doc-sep>LOS ANGELES — Everyone gets it: The guy who’s been in this precise predicament before, the guy in his first full big-league season and all the guys in between. In this World Series, the Dodgers have looked helpless and defeated. But others have appeared equally lost and recovered. Just not in a while. Can the Dodgers buck the recent trend and revive not only themselves but wider interest in this one-sided Fall Classic, which the dominant Red Sox lead by a 2-0 count? The answer, a sizable part of which will be revealed in Friday night’s Game 3 here at Dodger Stadium, will come largely from a rookie — and partly from a manager who helped author the greatest comeback ever. “For us, right now, it’s a game that we really need to win,” Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts said Thursday at his home ballpark, where both clubs opted not to work out after flying across the country. Los Angeles will turn to freshman Walker Buehler, whose last start came on Oct. 20 in Game 7 of the NLCS at Miller Park, where he allowed just one run in 4 ²/₃ innings to help the Dodgers claim their second NL pennant in two seasons. “It’s probably pretty similar,” Buehler said Thursday, in comparing the intensity and pressure of his last assignment to his next one. “I don’t think tomorrow is do-or-die quite the way Game 7 is obviously, but being down 2-0 in the Series going into it, there’s definitely some pressure there. “But we train for this, this is why we play. I guess [it’s] good pressure.” A Vanderbilt product like Game 2 winner David Price of the Red Sox, Buehler would aid his team greatly by providing more length than did his veteran rotation mates Clayton Kershaw (four-plus innings in Game 1) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (4 ²/₃ innings in Game 2), which would thereby empower Roberts to go to his bullpen less — in particular veteran Ryan Madson, who has inherited five runners so far and let all of them score. Maybe it won’t matter with the way these Red Sox are hitting overall and in clutch situations in particular. “They got some big hits when they needed them,” Roberts said, in a dramatic understatement. Something must change, though. While it could be the location, this is where it must be pointed out that the Red Sox are 5-0 on the road (2-0 at Yankee Stadium, 3-0 at Minute Maid Park) so far this postseason. Perhaps the Red Sox starting veteran right-hander Rick Porcello, after going with southpaws Chris Sale and Price in the first two games, will provide a spark, as the Dodgers figure to field a dramatically different lineup. Their ultra-deep roster gave the Dodgers an all-righty-hitting lineup versus the lefties, yet that didn’t lead to victories. This time, lefty swingers such as Cody Bellinger (the NLCS MVP), Max Muncy and Joc Pederson figure to start. Or maybe these Dodgers, as advanced analytically as any team in the industry, will find a way to tap into Roberts’ memories of being a member of the 2004 Red Sox, who wiped out not just a 2-0 deficit but a 3-0 hole — the only baseball team ever to pull that off — to the Yankees in that ALCS. No team has prevailed after falling behind 2-0 in a best-of-seven series since then, and overall, 68 of 81 teams that have won the first two games have proceeded to win the series. “I think that it’s something where I have lived it, that situation, being down and still coming back,” said Roberts, who famously pinch-ran for Kevin Millar and stole second base in the ninth inning of ALCS Game 4, coming around to score the tying run and sparking the turnaround. “I think the big takeaway is you can’t win four games in one night. Just the focus on one game at a time mentality. That’s as simple as you can put it. … I know that’s echoed in our clubhouse.” If that echo doesn’t stick, then this Series and this season will end with a thud.<doc-sep>

No team in World Series history has come back from a 3-0 deficit. If the visiting Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 on Friday night, that's exactly what L.A. would be facing: a Hollywood ending -- just one that the home team very much won't enjoy. MLB Postseason on ESPN Radio From the first pitch of every series to the last out of Game 7, you can catch the entire MLB postseason on ESPN Radio. Listen » The most important thing of the day: Dodgers star rookie Walker Buehler came within one-third of an inning of being credited with the win in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Brewers. It would have been his first postseason victory; he lost his other NLCS start and surrendered a Ronald Acuna grand slam in L.A.'s only Division Series defeat in Atlanta, for which he got a no-decision. You can't fault the 24-year-old for being inconsistent in his first October, but his team needs him to build off his most recent outing -- and come through in another high-stakes start. Harry How/Getty Images World Series Game 3: Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers Rick Porcello (17-7, 4.28 ERA in the regular season) vs. Walker Buehler (8-5, 2.62 ERA), 8:09 p.m. ET, Fox and ESPN Radio The stakes: See above. If the Red Sox win: Get out the brooms; it could be a Saturday night sweep. Sweep or no sweep, though, the Red Sox would very likely return to Boston not to play, but for a parade. Going in to Game 3, history is in their favor: Home teams that win the first two games of a best-of-seven World Series have gone on to win the series 81.6 percent of the time (31-7). And, if they win to go up 3-0, well, we know the percentage on that. Good night and good luck, Los Angeles. If the Dodgers win: It wouldn't be exactly a whole new ballgame, but a convincing comeback in the first of three games at home could shift the momentum enough to make this a series. One key stat to know: Two-out production has been a big story so far -- for both lineups. All four of Boston's runs in Game 2 came with two outs, as have nine of their 12 runs in the Fall Classic. The Red Sox have excelled in this area all postseason, scoring 53 percent (36 of 68) of their playoff runs with two down. The Dodgers? They're just 2-for-20 (.100) with one RBI this series in such situations. Another key stat to know: Sox slugger J.D. Martinez is attempting to become just the sixth player to lead the majors in regular-season RBIs and postseason RBIs, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado is right on his heels, though, with 12 October RBIs. If Martinez manages it, he'd join some pretty elite company: Lou Gehrig, Hank Aaron ... J.D. Martinez? Year Player Team Regular-Season RBIs Postseason RBIs 2018 J.D. Martinez Boston Red Sox 130 13 1988 Jose Canseco Oakland A's 124 9 1957 Hank Aaron Milwaukee Braves 132 7 1955 Duke Snider Brooklyn Dodgers 136 7 1940 Hank Greenberg Detroit Tigers 150 6 1928 Lou Gehrig New York Yankees 147 9 Note: Since RBIs became an official stat in 1920 The matchup that matters most: Buehler & Co. vs. Mookie Betts. It's a small sample size, but the presumptive American League MVP is starting to look like himself again in the World Series -- which is bad news for the National League champs. In just two games, Betts is halfway to his hits total in the ALDS and ALCS combined (when he produced eight hits in nine games). He's hitting .500 and slugging .625 in the World Series after hitting .205 and slugging .282 in the first two rounds of the playoffs. That, plus winning all of America a taco with his Game 1 stolen base, means L.A. has its hands full facing a lineup that's plenty potent -- even when Betts isn't at his best. The story on social media: Everything came up rainbows for the Red Sox in Boston, while L.A. fans are seeking (or in some cases creating) encouraging signs of their own.

Today BioWare’s demo for their upcoming online coop shooter Anthem went live, sort of. An apparent problem on the back end and some weird infinite load screen bug have made it difficult to actually explore the game for any sustained period of time. At the time of writing, the game still isn’t accessible for a lot of the EA Access and Origin Premier subscribers who can play this weekend. Fortunately, I was able to spend close to two hours with the game before getting booted. I came away excited but skeptical. Advertisement I first got a chance to play Anthem at E3 last year. I hadn’t expected the game to look or feel as good as it did. Intuitive movement and controls aren’t something I normally associate with BioWare, though I’ve enjoyed the studio’s past action role-playing games despite their clunkiness. After seeing how different it felt to move in fight in Anthem, it quickly became my most anticipated game of 2019. Returning to Anthem’s world today has cooled my enthusiasm slightly. The demo, which BioWare has gone to great lengths to note is a separate slice of the game and balanced somewhat differently when it comes to the in-game economy and leveling, starts in Fort Tarsis, Anthem’s main narrative hub. From there players have the option to embark on a few different types of missions, solo or with up to three other people, to achieve specific story objectives or just to explore and grind for loot and XP. Playing on an Xbox One X, the game doesn’t look as visually striking as when I played it on a high end PC at E3. The natural lighting effects on my first outing through the mountainous jungles outside the base, for instance, aren’t as impressive as what I’ve become accustomed to in games like Destiny 2 and even Fallout 76. The interior of a temple was brown and ugly. (The diegetic music in Fort Tarsis’ open air market whips, though.) I also encountered multiple, lengthy load screens when entering different parts of the map, as well as between missions and respawning from death, though it’s hard to know how much of that is a result of the game’s current server-side maladies. Combat is more visually interesting, bordering on effervescent. Anthem’s particle effects help give each fight a little zing. Ice attacks, fiery explosions, and shield effects collapsing fill the immediate vicinity with a ton of satisfying visual details. Despite the visual flair, aiming is a bit stiff. Numbers indicating damage pour over enemies rather than having the enemies physically react, but the sound effects of each bullet leaving the chamber make me want to keep shooting everything I can find. Being able to fly is wonderful, and moving around Anthem in general feels phenomenal, but I find myself falling into a strict rhythm of fighting enemies from behind bits of cover, moving to a new place, and then taking cover to fight more enemies. So far I haven’t come across many encounters that really require or reward using the verticality my suit affords me to try to outmaneuver my opponents. There are a ton of options to customize the look of the Javelins, the mech suits you wear when adventuring out in the world. There are options for switching up the colors and textures of several layers of the suits’ metallic and cloth components, as well as your gun. I’m excited for possibilities when it comes to bedazzling them in the coming months. At the same time, I didn’t stumble upon that many interesting items in my initial outings outside of a few components to augment some of my Javelin’s defense and melee damage. Anthem doesn’t seem like the type of shooter where new equipment is constantly dropping from dead enemies. Advertisement Though I was dubious about another online multiplayer game with NPCs, so far Anthem’s characters seem like real people with fully-formed personalities. Matthias, who I recovered an artifact for, is both incredibly knowledgeable but also unsure himself, a dichotomy he oscillates between during conversations in subtle ways rather than remaining one note. I’ve only chatted up a handful of characters, but none of them seem like stilted, one dimensional personas who only exist to add lines to your to-do list. The residents of Fort Tarsis look like Final Fantasy X’s Al-Bhed in their skin-tight cutoffs and high-tech surgeon masks. (The jury’s still out on whether that’s a good thing or not.) Advertisement Anthem’s current demo period runs through the weekend. I plan to play a bunch more of it during that time, leveling up to unlock other Javelins and exploring some of the missions on tougher difficulties with a full party—assuming the servers are working at least. The game’s next demo period, which runs the weekend of February 1, will be open to all players, and the complete game launches on February 22.<doc-sep>Mark Darrah, executive producer of BioWare’s upcoming Anthem , has given some details on how Anthem’s beta that kicks off later this week will differ from the final game. Have you played Anthem? YES NO So how’s the Anthem demo different from the game? - we start you in the middle - no tutorials - no pilot picker - balance is super different - economy is completely different - 6 weeks less bug fixes ... — Mark Darrah (@BioMarkDarrah) January 19, 2019 Loading In a series of responses on Twitter (via Kotaku ), Darrah explained many of these differences. The demo will not place players at the beginning of the game, but at some point in the middle instead. There won’t be tutorials (or at least not like there will be in the main game) or the “pilot picker” - the game’s character creator. The game’s economy and overall balance will reportedly be much different in the final game as well.Because the team branched off development on this demo and the main game back in December, the demo will be somewhat of a “snapshot” of what the game was at the end of last year. Because of this, there will be six weeks worth of less bug fixes, only one story arc, the mission/stronghold/freeplay balance will be off, the PC controls (specifically flight controls) will be less nuanced, and things will have been renamed for clarity in the main game.When responding to various questions on Twitter, Darrah claimed the microtransactions that will be present in the game will be for vanity items that can also be earned using in-game currency, that the demo would be easier than the final game in general, and that loot will be instanced, so what players earn at the end of a mission will all be of the same rarity, but won’t all be the exact same loot.According to BioWare , those who have either preordered Anthem or are members of EA or Origin Access will be able to play the VIP demo from Friday, January 25, 9am PT - Sunday, January 27, 6pm PT. An identical open demo, which will naturally be available to all players the following week, will be open from Friday, February 1, 9am PT - Sunday February 3, 6pm PT. For console players, the demo will require a PlayStation Plus subscription on PS4 and an Xbox Live subscription on Xbox One.For more on Anthem, which is the IGN First game for January , check out over 45 minutes of gameplay footage and new info on the game , and read about how every activity in Anthem will have matchmaking. Anthem is coming to PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on February 22, 2019. Colin Stevens is a news writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter<doc-sep>It's no secret the Anthem game demo was having trouble over the weekend. Beset by infinite loading screens, latency hiccups, and server downtime, BioWare and EA were working round the clock to get players into the second demo for its open world multiplayer shooter, which has now gone offline before opening up to everyone again later this week. Naturally, many of those who pre-ordered the game or subscribed to EA Access to enter the demo weren't happy with what they ended up with, but BioWare has already come out bearing gifts as an apology for those affected by the technical problems. In an update from Chad Robertson, BioWare's Head of Live Service, the studio announced that VIP demo players would be receiving a second, free Vinyl skin for their Javelin to wear in the full game, in addition to the sexy blue Vinyl that early adopters already knew they'd be receiving as a thank you. Read more The best new games of 2019 (and beyond) On top of this, BioWare unlocked all four Javelin classes to VIP players in the demo yesterday, where previously each one besides the Ranger had to be earned in-game through personal progression. If you weren't able to try out the other Javelins before the demo closed, don't worry, they'll all still be available to you in the open demo, which runs from February 1 - 3. It seems as though most of the critical issues prevent players from getting into the Anthem demo have now been sorted, though we'll see if EA's servers can manage under the weight of an even larger influx of players on Friday. You can keep up to date with the latest fixes and bug discussions on the EA Anwser's Anthem page. Tide over the wait to Anthem by checking out the best open world games that you can pick up and play right now.<doc-sep>What’s going on with Anthem? Why can’t I get into this “VIP Demo”? BioWare’s head of live service sought to answer those questions and reassure players that the studio knows exactly what the problems are as it works to resolve them. There are three main problems, Chad Robertson wrote yesterday evening: The spike of players entering Anthem’s demo on Friday; problems with some accounts being blocked from the demo because of how they had been flagged internally, and “infinite loads” caused by some interactions between internet service providers and players’ home networks. In all three cases, Robertson said, BioWare is working toward solutions, with the “infinite loading” problem being the toughest to address. It’s “something we may not resolve during this weekend,” he said. “Many players are not seeing this issue and the last thing we want to do is destabilize the experience for everyone.” The problem with account flags is tied to their entitlements — that is, things such as access to the demo and pre-order bonus content. “During the demo weekend, we identified a bug where VIP players with a specific combination of entitlements were being blocked from accessing the demo,” Robertson wrote. “We believe we’ve resolved most of these, but have additional cases we are addressing.” The problem caused by players surging into the demo on Friday is not because of server capacity, Robertson said. The issues that spike caused “did not present themselves during our internal testing,” he said. Fixes for these issues will be applied throughout the weekend. “I want to dispel one comment we’ve seen: that we under-planned for server capacity,” Robertson said. “To ensure stability, we intended to manage our servers to match the player population as it grew. Overall, we had excess capacity prepared for population increases, and continue to do so.” But Robertson acknowledged that the game did not work as designed to meet players’ expectations, whatever the specific problem may be. Anthem, BioWare’s open-world MMO shooter, is due to launch Feb. 22, 2019 on PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One. Friday it kicked off an early access demo for players who had pre-ordered the game or subscribed to Electronic Arts’ two premium Access services. Almost immediately, many had problems either getting into the game or launching a mission from the hub world. The surge also seemed to affect getting into all other Electronic Arts games and services. The game’s official Twitter feed said late yesterday that players on all three platforms “should not have issues accessing the VIP demo” though engineers were still “working hard to resolve some known issues.” From what I was able to observe, this is technically correct. I had no problem accessing Anthem and walking around the Fort Tarsis hub world. But trying to launch my first expedition resulted in the infinite load problem described, and I gave up on that after three tries. The “VIP Demo” was offered as an incentive for pre-ordering the $59.99 game or subscribing to EA’s Origin Access or EA Access programs, which are $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year. That offers one week of play ahead of the demo’s free launch to the rest of the public on Feb. 1. Robertson did not say anything about extending either the demo or the VIP period in light of the problems playing Anthem. But players who were entitled to the VIP Demo will get an additional armor skin when the game launches. Robertson said that Anthem has still had “many players enjoying the game,” and said it was “incredibly humbling” to see more than 300,000 concurrent viewers on Twitch, and more than 100 million minutes watched. “Those are Fortnite-type numbers!” he added. “We believe we’ve created an amazing game and we’re doing everything we can to ensure our entire community can enjoy it,” he said.<doc-sep>

UPDATE: The Anthem demo is now live! Get ready to fly around in your Javelin exosuits. Anthem is getting ready to release it's second demo to the public at large. Fans of high-flying robots and Destiny -style combat have been waiting for their chance to try BioWare's latest. Only a few fans had access to the VIP demo from last week, and even fewer got to play due to server issues and bugs that plagued the game. When Does Anthem Demo Start? The demo for Anthem will start on February 1 at noon EST and end on February 3 at 11 p.m. EST. In order to play, you'll need an Xbox, PS4 or PC that is strong enough to run the flight simulator. How to Download Anthem Demo On PC, you'll also need to register an account on EA's Origin site. Xbox and PS4 users can go on the Xbox store or PSN Store and download the game from there (to play on console, you will also need an Xbox Live or PSN subscription). The demo size is 23.6 GBs on PS4 and Xbox and 44 GBs on PC (if it's the same as the VIP demo). Like the VIP demo, players will get to experience the Javelins unique powers. You'll wield the elemental Storm, tank Colossus, swift Interceptor or the balanced Ranger. You'll also start with a fairly strong Javelin that's equipped with powerful weapons and abilities. The BioWare team didn't want to start players at the beginning and have them grind since they only have three days to play. There will also be something unique happening at the end of the final hours on Sunday, according to a blog post by BioWare's Chad Robertson. One of Anthem's lead producers, Ben Irving, told Newsweek that there won't be a open beta, so this demo will be the last chance we get to play before the game goes live. "We have all these programs where we invite people in, so we've been getting people to come in and play the game every month for a year, or year and a half," Irving said. "So we've done a lot of that stuff, and then we have things that we do with EA, because EA has lots of employees. We have lots of people play servers in-house and play the game. So not doing that, but we've done other things to get the same feedback."

The Falcons hired former Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter as their offensive coordinator. The Falcons hired former Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter as their offensive coordinator, the team announced Tuesday. "We are fired up to have Dirk join our staff as our offensive coordinator," head coach Dan Quinn said in a release. "His experience and familiarity with our division will also pay dividends as we move forward." The announcement came the same day Tampa Bay reportedly hired former Cardinals coach Bruce Arians as their top man. Koetter was fired by the Buccaneers after the team's season-ending 34–32 loss to the Falcons. Atlanta fired all three of its coordinators a day after their season-ending victory over Tampa Bay. Koetter was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach after Lovie Smith was fired following the 2015 season. During his three-season tenure, Koetter guided the Bucs to a record of 19–29. Tampa Bay went 5–11 this season. The 59-year-old was the Falcons coordinator from 2012–14. The Falcons also hired Mike Mularkey as the new tight ends coach.<doc-sep>Atlanta Falcons: Dan Quinn knows he the clock is ticking and is betting on himself Atlanta Falcons: Dan Quinn knows he the clock is ticking and is betting on himself by Austin Williams The Atlanta Falcons welcomed a familiar face to the brotherhood by hiring former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to resume the same position with the franchise. We take a look at Dirk’s resume and why the move is a risk. Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter made a name for himself as a college head coach, coaching Boise State and Arizona State universities. He is credited with the beginning of Boise State becoming a highly regarded College football program. After being let go at Arizona State, Dirk Koetter got his first chance to call plays in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, being hired as offensive coordinator in 2007. In his first year with Jacksonville, Koetter called played for the NFL’s number six scoring offense. The Jags were led by running back Fred Taylor and quarterback David Garrard. As Fred Taylor began to decline, so did the Jaguars offense. They dropped to number 24 in 2008. The team also ranked number 24 in 2009, their first year without Fred. Dirk Koetter’s offense improved slightly in 2010, ranking number 18 in the league in scoring, as Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for over 1300 yards for the second straight season. 2011 saw the Jaguars slip to number 28 in scoring, their lowest ranking under Dirk Koetter. Despite the low scoring season running back Maurice Jones-Drew had a phenomenal season. He was the NFL’s leading rusher with 1606 yards and eight touchdowns. Dirk Koetter’s contract expired after the 2011 season and he accepted a job as the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator for the 2012 season. Under Dirk Koetter, Matt Ryan transformed from a game manager to one of the top passers in the NFL. In Dirk Koetter’s first year with Atlanta, Matt Ryan set new career highs in several categories. He jumped in passing yards from 4177 to 4719. That season is still the third best passing yardage total of Ryan’s career thus far. In that 2012 season, Matt Ryan also completed 68.6 percent of his passes and threw 32 touchdown passes, both career highs at the time. In fact Ryan threw for at least 45000 yards, threw at least 26 touchdowns and completed at least 66 percent of his passes, in each of the three seasons Koetter was his play caller. The Atlanta Falcons seemed to give Matt Ryan more freedom to audible at the line of scrimmage, when Dirk Koetter was the offensive coordinator. The no-huddle offense was also used as a change of pace strategy much more under Dirk Koetter than in recent years. During the three seasons that Dirk Koetter was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, the offense was ranked number seven, number 20 and number 12. The Falcons had several key injuries in 2013 and 2014 including multiple wide receivers and offensive linemen. The number seven ranking in 2012 is more indicative of the type of offense that Koetter can run when he has the talent. When Dan Quinn was hired he hand-picked Kyle Shanahan to run the offense, that ended Dirk Koetter’s first stint with the Atlanta Falcons. Dirk Koetter moved on and accepted the offensive coordinator position with the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015. Tampa Bay finished with the number 20 offense in Koetter’s first year. The Buccaneers were coming off the worse record in the NFL, in which they drafted quarterback Jameis Winston with the number one overall pick. Head coach Lovie Smith was fired after the 2015 season and Dirk Koetter was elevated to the head coaching position. The Buccaneers saw a marginal improvement in scoring in 2016 and 2017, ranking number 18 in both years. This past season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense improved six spots in scoring to number 12. They were a top offense in terms of yards produced, ranking number three in the entire NFL. Despite that fact, Koetter and his staff were fired and now here we are with Dirk back in Atlanta. Dirk Koetter’s Average Scoring Rank: 17.25 Rehiring Dirk Koetter was a risk, but a calculated one. One thing that may concern many people is the fact that Tampa Bay ranked number 22 in rushing this past season. Dan Quinn has stated multiple times this offseason that he want to run the ball more than the 35% the team ran last season. He also wants to run the ball more effectively. This associated press article published in USA Today details Quinn wanting more from the running game. Personally I’m not concerned about Koetter not running the ball much in Tampa. The Buccaneers don’t have a great running back or offensive line. Dirk Koetter showed in Jacksonville that he will run the ball with a good back and a good offensive line. Maurice Jones-Drew having three consecutive seasons of more than 1300 yards is evidence that he is not adverse to the running game. The main concern is, that the Atlanta Falcons zone blocking scheme is typically not a part of Dirk Koetter’s offense. He generally emphasizes a power blocking scheme. With Jake Mathews and Alex Mack firmly entrenched as starters, the Atlanta Falcons may not be willing to change the blocking scheme forcing Dirk to adapt. The concern of Dirk Koetter adapting to the blocking scheme is minor compared to the benefit of having an offensive coordinator that Matt Ryan knows and is comfortable with. This should eliminate the typical one year learning curve that it typically takes Matt Ryan to learn a new offense. Short of hiring Gary Kubiak who the Falcons were denied permission to talk to, there wasn’t a candidate that made more sense than this for Atlanta at this stage of Matt Ryan’s career. If general manager Thomas Dimitroff can shore up the offense line, Dirk Koetter can keep a good run pass balance and Matt Ryan is allowed more freedom to run the no huddle offense, the Atlanta Falcons will return to the playoffs next season. If Dirk Koetter and Matt Ryan can pick up where they left off, the Dirty Birds just might hoist the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl Champions. ATL All Day Grade: B+ How would you grade the Falcons hire of Dirk Koetter? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below. Atl All Day will continue to cover the Atlanta Falcons offseason. We will also have coverage on all of your favorite Atlanta area sports teams. Please download the FanSided app and favorite All Atlanta Sports for notifications on new articles. Thank you for your support. We appreciate all of our readers.<doc-sep>When the Falcons announced the hiring of Dirk Koetter to replace the recently-fired Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator, I was fairly indifferent. Anyone who has been following my thoughts on the OC search would know that I was a big proponent of trying to free Gary Kubiak from Denver. With Elway and the Broncos blocking Kubiak from interviewing elsewhere, my first choice—and the first choice of many fans—had been erased from contention. It now appears that Kubiak will become the offensive coordinator for the Broncos, who are hiring Bears’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio as their new head coach. With Kubiak gone, attention then turned to three possible candidates: ex-Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, ex-Bucs’ head coach Dirk Koetter, and ex-Titans’ head coach Mike Mularkey. It was later announced that the team might also consider ex-Dolphins’ head coach Adam Gase as well. Between all these candidates, the one that made the most sense to me—and apparently to the Falcons’ brain trust—was Dirk Koetter. Mike Mularkey also ended up here in Atlanta, but as the TEs coach. In case you only recently became a Falcons fan, both Koetter and Mularkey have pretty extensive histories in Atlanta. Both served as OC for several years, and both have a lot of experience as head coaches. Neither has been overwhelmingly successful on their other coaching stops, but they do have existing relationships and comfort with both GM Thomas Dimitroff and QB Matt Ryan. When fans think of Dirk Koetter’s history in Atlanta, the shining achievement would have to be that magical 2012 season that nearly ended in a Super Bowl berth. Of course, like most things related to the Falcons, it ultimately ended in disappointment. Still, Koetter’s 2012 offense ranked 8th in total yards and 7th in total points scored and carried the team a long way—though one could certainly make the argument that the combo of Ryan, Julio, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzalez had more to do with that than the scheme. Outside of 2012, Koetter had a down year in 2013 (when the Falcons were ravaged by injuries) and an above-average one in 2014 (8th in yards, 12th in points). Still, even a statistically good season couldn’t save Koetter’s job when Mike Smith was fired after the 2014 season, and Dan Quinn decided to bring in his own choice at OC. I remember the fanbase being fairly divided on whether or not Quinn should’ve kept Koetter around, but hindsight tells us that going with Kyle Shanahan was the right decision. Things have now come full circle, with Koetter getting his chance to return to the Falcons and work with Dan Quinn. The question is, does Koetter really move the needle for Atlanta in a meaningful way? Will he provide any sort of upgrade over Steve Sarkisian? We obviously don’t know the answer to that yet, but in my mind, this hire says a few things about the Falcons and their mindset going into 2019. The Falcons want more consistency on offense One thing Sarkisian never really demonstrated was an ability to gameplan consistently. Some weeks, he’d come out with a great scheme and the Falcons would level the opposing defense. Other weeks it seemed like the team was clueless: trying to “establish the run” against teams with strong run defenses, and failing to take advantage of obvious mismatches in the passing game. Koetter’s scheme certainly has some weaknesses: he’s never been great at generating a rushing attack, and I myself have criticized him in the past for being too predictable. That predictability also lends itself to more consistent offensive performances, however, and that seems to be more important to the Falcons at this point. If Quinn can coordinate the defense to a top-10 level, the team would probably benefit more from an offense that consistently scores 24 or more every week than an offense that might score 30+ sometimes but less than 20 at other times. Atlanta wants Matt Ryan to be comfortable and happy While I’m not sure how much the Falcons actually consult with Matt Ryan, you have to believe his comfort and happiness with decisions—particularly with a position as important as offensive coordinator—are considered. Bringing in someone like Dirk Koetter, who Ryan has a lot of history with, makes a lot of sense if keeping Ryan comfortable and happy is a priority. I know many fans have noticed that Ryan has gone through a ton of offensive scheme changes throughout his career. Ryan, for his part, always manages to learn the new system and execute it at a high level. But there is almost always a “transition” season, and with Ryan and Julio firmly in their prime, wasting a year with another scheme change just doesn’t make any sense. With Koetter, Ryan gets to go back to a scheme that he’s clearly very comfortable in. Will that translate to a good or even great offensive season in 2019? That’s still TBD, but there should be a much easier “transition” time than there has been in seasons like 2015 and 2017. Does Koetter provide an upgrade over Sark? This one is hard to answer, and we won’t know for sure until we start seeing results on the field. My take is that Koetter is less of an obvious upgrade and more of a “side-grade”. That’s a term I discovered in video games, where an object—say, a piece of armor—isn’t necessarily better or worse overall than another object, but better in certain areas and worse in others. I think that’s what Koetter will end up being for the Falcons. Under Koetter, I expect a more consistent offensive approach with fewer peaks and valleys than we saw with Sark. That means we might be less likely to see the explosive outputs, but also less likely to see the terrible showings against tougher competition. Hopefully, with an improved defense, that more consistent style will lend itself to more wins for the Falcons in 2019 and beyond. That’s certainly what Dan Quinn is hoping for with this hire. What are your thoughts on the hiring of Dirk Koetter? Do you think he will be an upgrade over Sark, more of a “side-grade”, or even a downgrade when it’s all said and done?<doc-sep>

“Mike brings over 20 years of experience in our league as a former play-caller, head coach and as a player, and we are pleased to have him join our staff,” Quinn said. “He has a good feel for our offense, both in the run game and the pass game, and we feel he will be able to add to the strengths of our tight ends group as we head into 2019.” Koetter’s ability to adapt and blend offenses was attractive to the Falcons. When he was hired in 2012 to lead the offense, he had a similar task. He had to blend the best of his vertical Air Coryell passing attack with the Falcons’ power attack that Mularkey ran. He also came in and used the same terminology for quarterback Matt Ryan, who said that made it a smooth transition. Quinn said adaptability would be key for the new offensive coordinator. Also, he said he didn’t want to hire a first-time coordinator who would have to learn on a job. “We're not having wholesale changes on how we play in terms of a system,” Quinn said last week. “Not only is it important for the players and the staff, but also for Thomas (Dimitroff) and his staff as well in terms of the players that we're scouting for, to fit the system. I think adaptability is probably the top factor going in.” The Falcons’ running game fell off last season, while the passing attack continued at a high level. Fixing the offensive line is a major priority this offseason. The Falcons passed for 290.8 yards per game, which ranked fourth in the NFL this season. They rushed for 98.3 yards per game, which ranked 27th in the league. “We’ll have both outside and inside zone for sure,” Quinn said. “And what ways we can feature the guys best. So, it will definitely be still heavy in the zone, but definitely new ideas, new ways to do things, that’s definitely a part of it. “But not a wholesale change in terms of the philosophy. But as far as new schemes, new wrinkle part of it, adjustments, yes. (But no) wholesale changes to the scheme.” Quinn said there was a lot of league-wide interest in the position. Before the Koetter interview, Quinn said he had interviewed two candidates, which reportedly were former Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Mularkey. Also, according to a ESPN report, the Falcons and the Bengals were blocked by the Denver Broncos from interviewing Gary Kubiak. The Falcons would not confirm the report, but according to a person familiar with the situation, the team was not allowed to speak to Kubiak. Although Kubiak did not coach last season, he remains under contract with the Broncos. The Falcons fired all three coordinators last week, a day following the regular-season finale and a 7-9 campaign. The Falcons’ running game fell off last season, while the passing attack continued at a high level. Fixing the offensive line is a major priority this offseason. The Falcons passed for 290.8 yards per game, which ranked fourth in the league last season. They rushed for 98.3 yards per game, which ranked 27th in the league. The Falcons apparently did not want Ryan to have to start over again with new coordinator for the third time in five seasons. The next coordinator will Ryan’s fifth -- Koetter twice -- over 12 seasons. In Koetter’s first season with the Falcons, the team reached the NFC title game and held a 17-0 lead before losing to Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers. The next two season, the offense slipped behind a porous offensive line. Under Koetter, Ryan posted several single-season career and franchise records including passing yards, touchdowns, and completion percentage. The combination of Koetter and Ryan over three seasons guided the Falcons offense to the fourth-ranked passing attack (292.0 ypg) and the 10th ranked scoring offense (24.0 ppg) in the NFL from 2012-14. Wide receiver Julio Jones also experienced a breakout year in 2012 under Koetter, setting career-bests – at the time – in receptions (79), receiving yards (1,198) and touchdowns (10) in only his second season.

CEO of ADL: Seeing a 'blitzkrieg of anti-Jewish' acts across US Dana Bash: This is so telling about where the Republican party is NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 24: Trump Tower stands on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on August 24, 2018 in New York City. Following new allegations over hush money that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen paid to an adult-film actress, the Manhattan district attorneyÕs office in New York City may seek criminal charges against the Trump Organization in the coming days. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Why GOP is standing in the way of Capitol riot investigation WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 08: US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R-VA) remarks on the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the US Capitol November 8, 2006 in Washington, DC. Warner said he supports President George W. Bush's nomination of former CIA Director Robert Gates for Secretary of Defense. Warner said he anticipates Gates' confirmation before the end of the year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), joined by Senate Assistant Minority Leader John Thune (R-SD) (L) and Senate Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), speaks following a Senate Republican Policy luncheon at the Russell Senate Office Building on May 18, 2021 in Washington, DC. Hear what Matt Gaetz said about Paul Ryan before his speech Former GOP senator: If McConnell said this, 'it's shameful' 'Some people have no shame': Biden calls out GOP lawmakers with list OGDEN, UT - JANUARY 10: A demonstrator holds a sign protesting the government shutdown at the James V. Hansen Federal Building on January 10, 2019 in Ogden, Utah. As the shutdown nears the three week mark, many federal employees will not receive a paycheck tomorrow. (CNN) — The government is finally open – at least for now. As the shutdown drags on, more federal employees are being called back to work – without pay, at least for the foreseeable future – to keep key things running smoothly. Even so, plenty of operations are affected, and keeping track can be tough. So, what happens next? We’ve got some answers. How long is the government opening for? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Your guess is as good as ours. Your guess is as good as ours. President Donald Trump and lawmakers are still locked in a standoff over Trump’s demand that Congress allocate $5.7 billion to build a wall at the US-Mexico border. Trump has said he’s considering declaring a national emergency to get the money but he’d prefer to strike a deal with Congress. Saturday, the President proposed extending protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and individuals with Temporary Protected Status in exchange for wall funding. Trump’s latest proposal is unlikely to change anything. Pelosi and other Democrats rejected the offer, maintaining the President must open the government before negotiations begin. Should I be worried about my health? The US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday resumed some food safety inspections that had been halted since the shutdown began. But even with inspectors back at work – without pay – some experts still have safety concerns and recommend avoiding certain foods. Is it safe to travel? Yes. While agencies like the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration are understaffed because of the shutdown, experts say there’s no reason to believe safety is compromised. Security at airport checkpoints across the country is just as effective as ever, and average wait times are within TSA standards, an agency spokesman said. But as the shutdown drags on, passengers could experience longer security lines or flight delays, and workers could quit over greater workloads and no pay. Meantime, investigations into significant vehicle, plane and rail incidents are on hold as National Transportation Safety Board workers also are furloughed. Is the military affected? Most of the military isn’t affected because a bill funding the Defense Department passed in September. However, the US Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, and thousands of active duty service members who had been working through the shutdown went without a paycheck on Tuesday. It was the first time members of the Armed Forces weren’t paid during a shutdown, the Coast Guard’s top official said. The Department of Veterans Affairs is fully funded for the 2019 fiscal year, and all operations will continue as normal during the shutdown. Are US diplomatic outposts safe? Yes. The State Department ordered employees to return to work this week, saying it needs US embassies, consulates and domestic offices fully staffed to ensure national security. The department said it would find money to pay workers for a time despite the shutdown. Staffers had been furloughed because officials thought the shutdown would end sooner, they said. And though operations will now continue, bureaus and posts are expected to stick to a tight budget for spending on contracts, travel and other needs. What about weather forecasting? The longer the shutdown continues, the more vulnerable the country is to the next hurricane season and other extreme weather. Hurricane season doesn’t start until June, but forecasters and researchers use the off-season to refine and improve storm-predicting models, methods and techniques. Now, much of that research is in jeopardy. Will I get my mail? Yes. The Postal Service doesn’t use federal appropriations for operations, relying instead on sales of postage, products and services. Will I get my tax refund? Yes. The Trump administration confirmed that this week. It’s a departure from the Internal Revenue Service’s policy not to pay tax refunds while the government is closed. Will I get my food stamps? Food stamps are funded through February. The Department of Agriculture says it’s working with states to issue February benefits earlier than usual, by January 20. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, is also funded through February. Child nutrition programs, including school breakfasts, lunches and after-school meals, are funded through March. Is Social Security affected? No, Social Security services aren’t affected, and benefits will continue to arrive on time. How are Native American tribes affected? Tribes that rely on federal funds for services, such as health clinics and food pantries, are affected.<doc-sep>The government shutdown, now in its fourth miserable week, shows few signs of ending. Donald Trump, obsessed with curtailing immigration at all costs, wants money for a border wall House Democrats won’t give to him. Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate majority leader, has been content to do Trump’s bidding, twice blocking Democratic bills to reopen the government. This is now the longest shutdown ever and it’s striking how little Trump and the Republican Senate majority care. McConnell has turned into a political phantom. Trump gloats about ordering fast food for football players because the cooks in the White House have been furloughed. It’s easy to see the shutdown as another symptom of Trump’s instability and hatred of Mexican immigrants – and it is. The lack of alarm from his Republican peers is, just as importantly, revelatory of another disturbing truth: the rightwing, anti-government forces which first took root in the GOP more than 40 years ago are now in full bloom and Trump is their willing avatar. Republican party leaders have long talked about slashing the size of government, reducing the social safety net, and privatizing whatever they can. Paul Ryan, the former House speaker, called social security a “Ponzi scheme”. It has long been the dream of movement conservatives to bring to the knees a federal government that grew dramatically in scope under the Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal and Lyndon B Johnson’s anti-poverty programs. About 800,000 federal workers are currently furloughed. Many of them have the kind of job protections and benefits rightwing intellectuals have long demonized. For many people of color, a government job has been the path to a middle-class existence, with healthcare, a pension and paid time off. It was Ronald Reagan’s administration that once spoke of “starving the beast” of the federal government to achieve his desired policy outcomes. The idea was simple: deprive the government of tax revenue, reduce its ability to function, and cut spending on as many programs as possible. Nothing domestically should be spared: Medicare, Medicaid, social security, housing programs and welfare. While Trump appears incapable of reading a book, he has absorbed – through osmosis, as well as through cabinet members such as the vice-president, Mike Pence, and acting the chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, – the philosophies of hardline conservative economists, especially Milton Friedman, Friedrich von Hayek and James Buchanan. All three men were the godfathers of modern conservatism, which sought to purge the remnants of the Republican party’s liberalism and its taste for a certain element of noblesse oblige. The growing federal government, with its programs for the poor and its ossifying bureaucracy, was the true enemy of liberty in their eyes, and a total war must be waged against it. Trump’s declaration in early January that he could keep the government shutdown going “months or even years” was taken as a sign, in most circles, of his usual recklessness and his commitment to a farcical border wall. It should also be viewed through another lens: a Republican leader telling the American people the shutdown just doesn’t mean very much to him. One could imagine a President Ted Cruz saying something similar. The Texas senator was the architect of the last shutdown in 2013, willing to temporarily kneecap the federal government over his hatred of the Affordable Care Act. Cruz and Trump share an equal disdain for a healthcare law that is market-based and anything but socialism. It was their willingness to shred it at all costs that was another reminder of how extreme Republican party leaders have become. If you believe an expansive federal government is ultimately illegitimate and an impingement on liberty, what difference does a shutdown make? Though it’s unlikely the shutdown will last as long as Trump said it could, what if federal workers, tired of being at home without a paycheck or working without getting paid, simply walked away and hunted for other jobs? Reagan infamously fired striking air traffic controllers, presaging the long, successful war against once powerful labor unions. In the fantasies of the most fevered rightwing thinkers, Trump could have his own Reagan moment. Conservative columnists are already arguing that “the temporary shutdown of parts of the federal government is a good argument for the permanent shutdown of parts of the federal government”, in the words of the National Review’s Kevin Williamson. Remember: the conservatives in Trump’s corner have no incentive for government to work well. Ineffective, pared down bureaucracy is merely a further argument for its inability to help people, and the vicious cycle spins on. Starve it so it can’t be of use to anyone. And then hope Americans lose any loyalty to the services it provided. This chilling vision still may not come to pass. Anti-government fervor is not a mainstream position. Even Republican voters like getting their social security checks and Medicare. Universal healthcare polls well. This has always been a source of frustration for the most committed fundamentalists of an unfettered free market. Beyond unrestrained capitalism and business owners being left to their own devices, they can’t really offer much else. Most Americans implicitly understand “freedom” doesn’t mean the reduction of healthcare coverage, poorly funded schools or the end of protections for consumers. It will be up to the next Democratic president to undo the damage Trump has done. Until then, we can only hope somehow, someway, Trump and his allies decide it’s not fun any more to lock hundreds of thousands of people out of work.<doc-sep>“It’s very hard. It’s hard to go in there and do my job 100 percent like I’m supposed to, knowing that I’m not going to get paid.” “Having to go back to work is going to be an expense that I simply can’t afford. It’s going to require, you know, getting gas for my car to go to work. I can’t afford that right now.” “I’ve got to try to keep the lights on or keep the water on and I got to keep my phone on and I don’t know how I’m going to be able to do all of that.” “Like, It’s not our fault. We’ve done our job up to this point. You know, we were working overtime before all this, to be able to meet the taxpayers’ needs.” “I’m under the impression that we are not eligible for unemployment because we are still working. And my employees, many of them are struggling to have money for fuel to come to work.” “You know, I just bought a house. Nov. 13, 2018, and five weeks later, we have a shutdown. So, you know, I was able to make my first payment. We didn’t ask for any of this. We didn’t want to be — we just wanted to go to work and do our job. Period.” “Well, there’s all of this coverage about people in the D.C. area who are getting free lunches and going to food banks and that there is some level of community support there. But out here in, you know, sort of Middle America, out here in Mississippi, we don’t have that network.” “I think to secure the border is important. I guess I can understand where the president’s coming from. But at the expense of 800,000 people’s livelihood? I don’t.” “I think a lot of people just don’t realize that the food that’s on their table, you know, for the most part is inspected by one or another governmental regulatory agency. And so this really is having an impact on everyone’s life, just not on these 800,000 federal employees.” “Get us back to work. Get us our paycheck, and you guys continue your issues. You know, it shouldn’t affect the smaller people in this.”<doc-sep>The federal government’s partial shutdown is now the longest in history, with President Donald Trump refusing to sign a spending deal that reopens the government as long as it doesn’t include $5 billion for his wall at the US-Mexico border. As the shutdown continues and as tax filing season nears, many people may wonder: How is the government shutdown affecting tax returns and refunds? The short answer: Despite previous concerns, the Trump administration is trying to ensure tax returns and refunds aren’t noticeably affected by the shutdown — calling back IRS employees to make sure all the paperwork and filings are processed. So once tax filing season starts on January 28, taxpayers should expect to get their money back on time, according to the IRS’s contingency plan. But there’s some uncertainty, especially as the shutdown drags on. To get tax refunds processed, the IRS is forcing employees to work without pay, with the promise of back pay once the government reopens. It’s unclear, though, if the IRS is calling back enough employees to do this work as quickly as it’s historically been done, and whether IRS employees will really tolerate working without pay for long. If workers stop showing up, that could mean delays, or worse, for tax refunds. Join the Vox Video Lab Go behind the scenes. Chat with creators. Support Vox video. Become a member of the Vox Video Lab on YouTube today. (Heads up: You might be asked to sign in to Google first.) The longer answer: As part of the government shutdown, the IRS has retained more than 46,000 workers, or 57.4 percent of the IRS workforce. The majority of those employees are working without pay, though they’ll get back pay once the government reopens. The staffing will let the IRS continue some operations for now, particularly functions that are automatic (and require limited to no workers) and those deemed “necessary for the safety of human life or protection of government property.” Some examples: processing electronic returns, processing returns with payments, mailing tax forms, appeals, criminal law enforcement and investigations, and technical work to make sure computer systems remain up and running. In the past, these activities didn’t include processing tax refunds. But the IRS is calling back tens of thousands of employees to handle tax refunds, citing a 2011 memo to argue that it’s allowed to do so. So taxpayers will be able to mail in tax returns or submit them online, and get their refunds, even if the shutdown continues on. One major caveat to all this: It’s unclear how long IRS employees will tolerate working without pay. Already, some federal employees have sued the Trump administration over uncompensated labor. If employees eventually get fed up — and perhaps go on strike, or stop showing up to work for other reasons — that could delay tax refunds no matter what the IRS does. Another concern is whether the IRS is calling back enough workers to process tax refunds as quickly as it has in the past. If not, there could be delays in refunds, even if they get out eventually. Meanwhile, the IRS has stopped several other functions: audits, return examinations, non-automated collections, and legal counsel, among other operations. (For a full list, read the IRS’s contingency plan.) Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, the IRS may opt to restart some of these functions no matter what — but the employees carrying out this work may not be paid for it until Trump and Congress agree to a spending deal. One other area in which the IRS may have problems is the continuing implementation of the 2017 tax law passed by Republicans in Congress and signed by Trump. As the IRS’s contingency plan noted, the law’s implementation “requires creating or revising hundreds of tax products including worksheets and tax forms, form instructions and publications as well as changes to current IRS policies and procedures.” That work is likely to be stalled by a shutdown. At least for now, though, taxpayers can expect to be able to file their returns and get their refunds.<doc-sep>

WASHINGTON – Tuesday marks one month date since the partial government shutdown began and each day that goes by the strain on the country increases, especially for the 800,000 federal employees who will miss their second paycheck this week. To help pay the bills, some have resorted to part-time jobs or soliciting donations through crowdsourcing websites. At airports across the country, passengers are facing sporadic crowding that could grow worse this week with the announcement Monday by the TSA that sickouts by security screeners had reached 10 percent, compared to 3.1 percent at the same time in 2018. The agency acknowledged that “many employees are reporting that they are not able to report to work due to financial limitations.” In addition, some national parks and monuments are either closed or in bad shape because the trash isn't being picked up and bathrooms not cleaned. President Donald Trump's own economists said last week that the impact of the shutdown on economic growth is twice as bad as originally projected. The Council of Economic Advisers now say that each week of the shutdown shaves 0.13 percentage points off of economic growth, mostly from the lost spending and investment by those federal employees not being paid. Fairly soon, that could stall economic growth and begin a contraction. Despite this grim outlook, many Americans have yet to feel much impact from the shutdown in part because the Trump administration has selectively recalled workers in various agencies to make sure that critical services continue. Those efforts provide a pressure valve that may be relieving some public anger. But the political tension surrounding the shutdown has increased and turned it into a personal duel between Trump and Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. This week the GOP-controlled Senate is expected to take up legislation that contains the proposal offered by Trump on Friday, which was quickly rejected by Democrats. It includes $5.7 billion for the wall along the southern border but also $12.7 billion in disaster funding and temporary protection for people brought into the country illegally by their parents, known as Dreamers. The Democratic-controlled House, meanwhile, is expected to take its own legislation to reopen government. Elaine Kamarck, with the Brookings Institution, said the moves by the Trump administration are a sign they are planning for the shutdown to continue for a long time. "They clearly want their cake and eat it too," said Kamarck, director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the institution who is also a member of the Democratic National Committee. "They want to play the shutdown game but they want to have the government operating." Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said efforts to mute the impact of the shutdown mask its broader meaning. "This is far more about the crisis of governance that we are in the midst of," MacGuineas said. "Our government is crumbling. The ability of our leaders to lead the country during a really important time is called into question." She acknowledges that the shutdown is causing suffering, especially for federal employees. "But many of the points made to illustrate the impact of a federal shutdown are quite easily dismissed. If the worst thing we have is overflowing toilets in national parks, it’s not exactly a national crisis." Who's most affected Besides federal employees, those facing the greatest hardship – now and in the future – are those in need. Every week hundreds of contracts between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and landlords renting to low-income families expire, leaving thousands in limbo. The landlords are left to either subsidize the rent with the hopes of being reimbursed when the shutdown ends or evicting people who may have nowhere else to live. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as food stamps, has sent out its February payment early to the more than 40 million recipients nationwide asking that they not spend the money all at once because it may be the last they receive until the shutdown ends. Women, Infants, and Children benefits also are set to expire next month although some states say they can stretch theirs for another month or two. Immigrants trying to renew a work permit or a driver's license or seek asylum face longer delays because already 63,000 hearings have been canceled because of the shutdown and the backlog in immigration courts has grown to 800,000 cases.

Some iPhone XS owners are reporting issues with charging their new iPhones. Affected iPhones won't begin charging when the screen is turned off. It'll only start charging when the iPhone is awakened. Some users said they need to unplug and replug the Lightning cable into their new iPhones. YouTube channel Unbox Therapy seemingly confirmed that some of the nine iPhones it tested had issues charging. Some iPhone XS owners are reporting on the MacRumors forum and the Apple support forum that their new smartphones have charging issues. Specifically, some say their new iPhones don't charge when plugged in, and when the screen is off. The affected iPhones only start charging when the screen is on, or after repeated attempts to unplug and replug the charging cable into the iPhone. Some users said they plugged in their new iPhones at bedtime, only to realize in the morning that their phone wasn't charging overnight. Lewis Hilsenteger of the popular Unbox Therapy YouTube channel tested the claims, and seemingly confirmed that some of the nine iPhone XS and XS Max phones he tested had issues with charging. The issue is more prevalent on the iPhone XS Max model. Hilsenteger went as far as to call the issue "ChargeGate." YouTube/Unbox Therapy The iPhone X, last year's new iPhone model, didn't run into any charging issues during Hilsenteger's test in the Unbox Therapy video. Some have suggested that the charging issue could have something to do with the USB device protection feature that Apple included in iOS 11.4.1 and iOS 12. Apple's USB device protection feature is designed to protect your iPhone when it's plugged into a USB device, like a laptop, if the phone has been locked for an hour or more. However, affected iPhone users reported that turning the feature off has no effect. Whether the issue is related to software that can be fixed with an update, or whether it's a hardware issue that could result in a call-back event, is unclear. Business Insider reached out to Apple about the charging issue, but the company did not respond by the time of publication. This "ChargeGate" issue — if we're going to call it that — is the third major issue that's affected the new iPhone XS. So far, poor WiFi/cell reception and performance, as well as a selfie camera that seemingly automatically smooths out facial details without the option to turn off the smoothing effect, have been reported. You can watch the Unbox Therapy video about the charging issues with the iPhone XS below:<doc-sep>iPhone users are reporting a bug that means their devices do not charge when plugged in, with the new XS and XS Max handsets among those said to be affected. According to accounts on social media as well as Apple's own forums, some devices will not charge if plugged in when in 'sleep' mode, meaning the screen is off. Some only work if the screen is turned on and the device 'woken up'. According to accounts on social media as well as Apple's own forums, some devices will not charge if plugged in when in 'sleep' mode, meaning the screen is off. Apple has not commented on the issue, which comes after claims from users that the new camera system in the XS and XS Max was 'beautifying' photos. Some users have suggested the charging issue may have been caused by a security update. As part of a software update earlier this year to combat potential hacking of Apple devices via USB, the firm introduced a feature that can disable the charging port on iPhone devices when the phone has been idle for a period of time. The feature was introduced to prevent anyone hacking into a device without a passcode, and at the time Apple acknowledged its introduction could affect charging. 'Starting with iOS 11.4.1, if you use USB accessories with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or if you connect your device to a Mac or PC, you might need to unlock your device for it to recognise and use the accessory. Your accessory then remains connected, even if your device is subsequently locked,' the firm's website says. 'If you don't first unlock your password-protected iOS device — or you haven't unlocked and connected it to a USB accessory within the past hour — your iOS device won't communicate with the accessory or computer, and in some cases, it might not charge. 'You might also see an alert asking you to unlock your device to use accessories.' Users on the official Apple forums have suggested the issue can be fixed in some cases by going to the Settings app and enabling the USB Accessories feature in the Face ID and Passcode section.<doc-sep>tech2 News Staff Apple's iPhone XS and XS Max have just recently begun selling and despite coming with a very heavy price tag, a number of people are beginning to report a peculiar issue while charging the two phones. As per a discussion thread on Apple's support page, as many as 108 users so far, have come forward and stated that their phones do not automatically start charging when the Lightning cable is connected. Users either need to tap and wake the display for the charging to begin or in some cases, unplug the cable and plug it back it to start charging. A YouTube channel named Unbox Therapy also carried out a test on video showing multiple iPhone XS and XS Max units suffering from the problem. While some might claim that it is a software issue which can be easily rectified with a small update, the issue does not seem to affect any other model other than the XS and XS Max. Apple is yet to issue a statement, but with the sheer number of complaints picking up pace, the trillion-dollar tech giant may be forced to issue one, since the iPhone XS and XS Max are the company's flagship offerings. @Apple why am I having to explain to customers why their brand new #iPhoneXs & #iPhoneXsMax phones aren't charging? This is pathetic and unacceptable. People payed over a thousand dollars for these devices. #Chargegate is real. Fix this ASAP. I'm disappointed. — 🅱️ouston (@HoustonSeth) September 29, 2018 Users facing the problem are also waging war against Apple on Twitter with #chargegate quickly becoming a popular hashtag.<doc-sep>

Some new iPhone XS and XS Max buyers have reported poor cellular reception with Apple’s latest phones, and now there’s another issue that might result in you waking up with an uncharged device in the morning. Dozens of users have reported charging issues with their iPhone XS and XS Max devices, and shared their experiences on the MacRumors forums and Apple’s support forums. Specifically, users are experiencing issues where phones will not charge if the Lightning cable is plugged in while the device is asleep. The problem appears to be a software bug — perhaps related to the phone’s USB accessory settings — and requires iPhones to be unlocked (or at least have the screen lit up) in order to begin charging. Tech vlogger Lewis Hilsenteger demonstrated the issues on nine different iPhone X, XS, and XS Max devices on his YouTube channel Unbox Therapy. Some iPhones respond immediately to being plugged into a charger, while others have to be tapped to awaken, and others freeze up. Users experiencing the issues have come up with workarounds, including upgrading to iOS 12.1 beta, which apparently eliminates the problem entirely. So whenever Apple releases that to everyone, it shouldn’t be an issue anymore. For now, others suggest going into Settings, FaceID and Passcode, scrolling down to “Allow access when locked” and turning on USB Accessories. Apple has yet to respond to the poor cell reception issue, but we’ve also reached out for a comment on the charging issues, and will update when we hear back.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s 10th win in 12 Premier League games did not come without a scare – Manchester United trailed at the interval to Yan Valery’s stunning strike and had to overcome spirited resistance when Southampton fought back to 2-2 late in the second half – but two goals from a rejuvenated Romelu Lukaku kept their revival on the road. Paul Pogba missed the chance to give the scoreline a flattering gloss when he saw a stoppage-time penalty saved, though going down to four goals would have been very hard on a spirited Southampton. “Romelu is a quality striker with a goalscorer’s instincts,” Solskjær said. “He knows what he wants to do and he has the ability to deliver it.” Lukaku nevertheless needed time to warm up. United began as if they intended to have the game wrapped up by half-time and Southampton were indebted to Angus Gunn for three saves in the first six minutes that prevented the home side taking an early lead. The Saints goalkeeper tipped a Lukaku shot round a post, did well to react to a cheeky attempt from distance by Andreas Pereira and then saved at close range from Lukaku again when the striker should really have scored. After surviving that initial onslaught Southampton began to push their opponents back and grow into the game, gradually asserting authority over a fairly callow United midfield. They could have taken the lead after 12 minutes when Jannik Vestergaard climbed unchallenged to meet a James Ward-Prowse corner and headed wastefully over the bar, and might have had a penalty when Chris Smalling got away with a blatant tug on Ryan Bertrand’s shirt. In an effort to break the Southampton press Paul Pogba made a length-of-the-field break up the left, helped by Lukaku on the halfway line, but held on to the ball a fraction too long for his intended target Marcus Rashford to stay onside. Pogba was possibly at fault, however, when Southampton took the lead a few minutes later – at least, there was no one in his position on the left side of midfield when Charlie Austin found Valery in miles of space. Taking advantage of Luke Shaw backing off with his hands behind his back, the Southampton wing-back advanced a couple of paces before unleashing a ferocious shot that beat David de Gea from a good five yards outside the area. The goalkeeper managed to get hands to the ball but could not keep it out, only succeeding in pushing it into his top-left corner. It was the 20-year-old’s first goal in English football and he is unlikely to ever score a better one. When the already ineffective Alexis Sánchez departed injured five minutes into the second half it appeared United might be struggling for an attacking replacement when the full-back Diogo Dalot took his place. The opposite proved to be the case. With his first touch of the afternoon Dalot produced a cross to the far post from which Rashford should have hit the target, and with his second he teed up Pereira for the game’s second goal-of-the-month contender. Andreas Pereira curls home United’s equaliser to make it 1-1. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters The midfielder made the most of the space he was given to beat Gunn with a rising shot from just outside the area for his first Premier League goal, but what was noticeable was that Dalot had produced more in a couple of minutes than the laboured Sánchez had managed in almost an hour. Certainly either the equaliser or the substitution seemed to perk up the home side, for in another five minutes they were in front, Lukaku neatly eluding Jan Bednarek in the area to give himself room for a low shot beyond Gunn. Just for a moment it appeared United might overrun Southampton as the chances began to pile up at the Stretford End, but though they were stretched the visiting defence held out until the next spectacular goal arrived, courtesy of Ward-Prowse. There might have been some doubt over whether Ashley Young actually fouled Stuart Armstrong to give away a free-kick – it was more of a collision that left both players on the floor – but there was no debating the accuracy and power summoned by Ward-Prowse to beat De Gea from outside the area for a second time. Quick Guide Follow Guardian sport on social media Show Twitter: follow us at @guardian_sport Facebook: like our football and sport pages Instagram: our favourite photos, films and stories YouTube: subscribe to our football and sport channels Photograph: Chesnot/Getty Images Europe Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. Were points awarded for the quality of goals Southampton might not have left Old Trafford empty handed, though in reality United are always dangerous in the closing minutes of a game and the visitors paid the penalty for a late lapse of concentration when Lukaku was allowed to turn on the edge of the area to take a short pass from Fred. Though Gunn was beaten for a third time, he did manage to keep out Pogba’s penalty, awarded after Armstrong had fouled Rashford. It’s tough at the bottom but the Saints contributed greatly to an entertaining afternoon.<doc-sep>Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Manchester United went above Arsenal into fourth place in the Premier League after beating Southampton 3-2 at Old Trafford on Saturday. Romelu Lukaku scored twice, including netting the winner two minutes from time, while Andreas Pereira also scored for the Red Devils, who took advantage of the Gunners dropping two points in a 1-1 draw against north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day. Southampton had gone in front thanks to a wonder strike from Yan Valery midway through the first half. Pereira equalised just after half-time, and Lukaku gave United the lead after 59 minutes. A stunning free-kick from James Ward-Prowse made it 2-2 with 15 minutes to go, but United went back in front with Lukaku's curling effort on the 88th minute. It should have been even better for United, but Paul Pogba saw a penalty saved by Angus Gunn deep into stoppage time after Stuart Armstrong had fouled Marcus Rashford in the box. Solskjaer Wrong to Waste Rashford on the Wing Video Play Button Videos you might like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had found the formula to get Rashford back on track, simply by playing him through the middle. Yet it's only taken a few goals from Lukaku for United's caretaker boss to fall into the trap of predecessor Jose Mourinho, namely wasting Rashford on the wing. Shaun Botterill/Getty Images The England international cut a frustrated figure throughout the opening 45 minutes against a well-organised Saints team. He tried to rotate fluidly with Lukaku and Sanchez, but the timing of his runs was just a little off, while the movement wasn't always synchronised precisely along United's front three. Rashford also played with the handbrake on because of the extra defensive responsibilities inherent in a wide role. The increased workload took away the sudden pace and unerring instincts he's been showcasing when played in his natural position as a centre-forward. If there was one moment that vividly illustrated how much Rashford wanted to be in more familiar territory, it came when he got in the way of the man who had taken his preferred spot: Things hardly improved after the break, even though Rashford won the late spot-kick Pogba wasted. Rashford is a different player when he starts through the middle. Solskjaer doesn't need to make things so complicated; just play the 21-year-old where he's at his best. United's Potent Attack Won't Be Enough to Overcome Defensive Woes in Top-4 Hunt United should count their blessings their attack is one of the most potent in the division. Without it, Solskjaer's men would have no chance of reaching the top four thanks to a jittery defence still too generous in allowing chances. Even a team as goal-shy as the Saints, who had only scored 30 top-flight goals before today, found opportunities easy to come by. Had referee Stuart Atwell been in better positions and been braver with his decisions, Southampton would have been awarded two penalties in the first half. The lucky escapes masked the nerves and indecisiveness at the back for the hosts. Nerves often spread, and even United's most dependable denier of goals fell victim: Panic was still obvious even after United had fought back to take the lead at 2-1. It was no surprise when Southampton found the net again, courtesy of Ward-Prowse. In terms of depth and quality in the final third, United's squad is as good as any in Europe. Yet if the Red Devils miss out on a place in next season's Champions League, Solskjaerand Co. won't need to look beyond a weak defence for the reason why. What's Next? United are in action in the Champions League on Wednesday when Solskjaer's men travel to the French capital to face Paris Saint-Germain. The Reds trail 2-0 on aggregate ahead of the second leg in the last 16. Meanwhile, Southampton will host Spurs on Saturday, March 9.<doc-sep>Romelu Lukaku scored a terrific late winner as Manchester United beat Southampton 3-2 at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon to move into the top four in the Premier League. Two stunning goals seemed like they had earned Southampton a deserved draw, but Lukaku’s bending right-footed shot from the edge of the box earned United a win that moves them into fourth and within three points of Tottenham Hotspur. Yan Valery opened the scoring for Southampton with a cracking strike, but two goals in five minutes just after half-time put Manchester United ahead, with Andreas Pereira and Lukaku finding the net. Europa League Parker: Solskjaer's preparation for Europa League final was wrong YESTERDAY AT 12:04 James Ward-Prowse’s spectacular free-kick pulled the scores level, but Lukaku had other ideas. Paul Pogba could have added gloss to the scoreline with a penalty in stoppage time, only to be denied by the feet of Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn. James Ward-Prowse of Southampton celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton and Nathan Redmond of Southampton during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton FC at Old Trafford on Ma Image credit: Getty Images TALKING POINT - Lukaku to the rescue, as spirited United win again After a frustrating and fruitless first-half in which the Belgian squandered a number of opportunities, Lukaku produced the goods after the restart, scoring his eighth and ninth career goals against the Saints. And how pivotal could his match-winning strike prove to be come May? Forget about 'Fergie Time'; United netted the winner in 'Ole Time'. With that stirring late comeback against Burnley still in fresh in the mind, the Norwegian produced the goods again, as United extended their unbeaten league run to 12 games and move into the top four. An amazing position really, considering the Red Devils were 11 points adrift of the Champions League spot back in December. Just give him the job now. MAN OF THE MATCH - Romelu Lukaku (Man United) The match changed on 51 minutes when Alexis Sanchez went off injured, to be replaced by Diogo Dalot. Within 10 minutes, the Portuguese had helped to turn the game on its head, making more of an impact than Alexis had in the entire contest. And it was Lukaku who benefited most from the youngster's pace and energy, scoring two instinctive goals. If only he had taken the last-minute penalty instead of Pogba, he may have had his hat-trick. Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton FC at Old Trafford on March 02, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Image credit: Getty Images PLAYER RATINGS Manchester United: De Gea 5, Shaw 6, Lindelof 6, Smalling 6, Young 6, Pogba 5, Pereira 7, McTominay 6, Alexis 6, Lukaku 8, Rashford 7. Subs: Fred N/A, Dalot 8, Chong N/A. Southampton: Gunn 8, Yoshida 6, Vestergaard 7, Bednarek 6, Valery 7, Bertrand 6, Romeu 6, Hojbjerg 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Redmond 7, Austin 6. Subs: Gallagher N/A, Armstrong 5. KEY MOMENTS 26' - GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Southampton: VALERY SCORES! The Saints are ahead! And what a strike it is. Twenty-five yards out, Valery catches a shot clean as you like and De Gea gets a touch to it but can't keep it out! 54' - GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Southampton: You don't save those! Oh my, you won't see many better goals this season! Dalot releases Pereira. The midfielder curls one from 25 yards and he bends it all the way into the top corner. Gunn doesn't get anywhere near it! 59' - GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Southampton: United have turned this game on its head! Lukaku with the goal, his third in just two games! The ball comes to Pereira just outside the box, he looks like he was fouled but he stays on his field to thread it through for the Belgian. He finds an angle and his right-footed shot nestles into the bottom corner. 75' - GOAL! Manchester United 2-2 Southampton: Oh my, it's another quality strike! Ward-Prowse curls the ball up and wall over the wall, the ball carries so much pace on it and De Gea is left stranded. 89' - GOAL! Manchester United 3-2 Southampton: LUKAKU SCORES! The Belgian pounces on a loose ball on the edge of the box and his finish is deadly! Late drama at Old Trafford, and surely now United have won the game! 90'+4 - GUNN SAVES THE PENALTY! Pogba goes down the middle and the Southampton goalkeeper saves with his trailing leg! What if Lukaku, on a hat-trick, had taken it? ! Paul Pogba of Manchester United reacts after his penalty is saved during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton FC at Old Trafford on March 02, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Image credit: Getty Images KEY STATS Romelu Lukaku has been involved in 11 goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances against Southampton (9 goals, 2 assists). Against no side has Lukaku scored more Premier League goals than he has versus Southampton (9 - level with West Ham). James Ward-Prowse has scored five Premier League goals this season, more than in any other campaign in the competition. Europa League 'Absolutely impeccable' - Emery lauds Villarreal for making history YESTERDAY AT 07:46<doc-sep>PLAYER RATINGS: Scores as high as NINE for Manchester United after sensational 3-2 comeback against Southampton at Old Trafford PLAYER RATINGS: Scores as high as NINE for Manchester United after sensational 3-2 comeback against Southampton at Old Trafford by Ali Akbar Manchester United have found their new right winger – Diogo Dalot by Ali Akbar Romelu Lukaku has just scored back-to-back braces for Manchester United in the Premier League, cementing his place as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s number nine of choice. When Romelu Lukaku tore his shirt off after scoring the winner in Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Southampton on Saturday, he was sending a very clear message to the media: “I’m good enough to be playing for this club.” Indeed, much has been said about Lukaku’s weight gain upon returning from the World Cup last year as well as his poor touch more generally. However, in celebrating that late winner at Old Trafford, the Belgian was letting his haters know that that kind of talk doesn’t phase him. Lukaku was phenomenal against the Saints. His first goal was a neat finish into the bottom right corner from inside the box with his weak foot to give United a 2-1 lead. When Southampton managed to equalise with a terrific free-kick from James Ward-Prowse into the top left corner, the 25-year-old looked determined to get on the scoresheet once more to ensure United left Old Trafford with all three points. And he did it in style: that powerful shot from outside the box this time around but still with his weaker right foot is arguably the greatest goal he has scored in a United shirt. That makes it two Premier League braces in a row for Lukaku, as he also put two crucial goals past Crystal Place at Selhurst Park last gameweek. His recent performances have shown that he is easily the best natural finisher at the club, and deserves to be starting up top for the crucial games to come against Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal. So sorry, Marcus Rashford, but you may have to play on the wings for a little while longer because, right now, Lukaku is looking like a truly £75m striker.<doc-sep>

Manchester United moved back into the Premier League's top four after Romelu Lukaku's late winner eventually saw off Southampton. The visitors had lost just twice at Old Trafford since their return to the top flight in 2012 and it looked for a long time as if they would extend that run until Lukaku scored the winner in the 88th minute. The Belgian striker had scored earlier to put Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side 2-1 up after Andreas Pereira's curling effort from outside the box cancelled out Yan Valery's stunning opener for Southampton. In a game that could have been its own goal of the season competition, James Ward-Prowse scored a free kick from 25 yards to make it 2-2 before Lukaku sealed it. Even then, there was time for Paul Pogba to see a stoppage-time penalty saved by Angus Gunn. Positives Pereira was exceptional. He was substituted after an hour when he last started a league game, vs. Burnley in January, but if that was a low point of his time at Old Trafford, this was the highlight. His goal to equalise oozed technique and his run to set up Lukaku's first was all about skill and balance. It was Pereira's best performance in a United shirt and he has surely played his way into the team to face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. Negatives The injury list is growing. Already without Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, Matteo Darmian and Antonio Valencia, Solskjaer saw Alexis Sanchez hobble off in the second half. He will also be without the suspended Pogba against PSG and could be forced to take a threadbare squad to Paris. Manager rating out of 10 6 -- Solskjaer did not have many options with his team selection, but bringing in Pereira to replace Fred proved to be a good decision when the 23-year-old's second-half performance inspired United's fightback. Andreas Pereira scored one and made another to inspire Manchester United's comeback win. Clive Mason/Getty Images Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating.) GK, David De Gea, 5 -- On his 350th appearance for United, he might feel be could have done better with Valery's strike after getting both hands on it. DF, Ashley Young, 6 -- Got away with pulling Ryan Bertrand's shirt dangerously close to his own penalty area and gave away the free kick from which Ward-Prowse scored. DF, Luke Shaw, 6 -- Started the game despite being a booking away from a suspension. His best moment was a brave diving header under his own crossbar as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg steamed in. DF, Victor Lindelof, 6 -- Won his fair share in the air but was not in a position to do anything about two Southampton goals that were scored from long distance. DF, Chris Smalling, 6 -- Survived a penalty appeal when Bertrand got the wrong side and went down under pressure. Almost equalised with a header from Young's corner when the score was 1-0.

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) 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) 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) 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) (CNN) — The US has charged a former Air Force intelligence specialist with spying for Iran, according to an indictment unsealed in federal court Wednesday. Monica Witt, who was also a former counterintelligence officer for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, defected to Iran in 2013, according to the indictment, and remains at large. DOJ alleges that Witt was targeted and recruited by Iran, and that after she defected, she allegedly revealed to Iran the existence of a “highly classified intelligence collection program” and the identify of a US intelligence officer, “thereby risking the life of this individual,” Assistant Attorney General John Demers said Wednesday. “It is a sad day for America when one of its citizens betrays our country,” Demers told reporters. “It is sadder still when this person, as a member of the American armed forces, previously invoked the aid of God to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and to defend her country against foreign enemies. Monica Witt is alleged to have done just this.” FBI From around January 2012 to around May 2015, in Iran and elsewhere outside the US, Witt conspired with Iranians to provide “documents and information relating to the national defense of the United States, with the intent and reason to believe that the same would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of Iran,” the indictment reads. Witt, 39, also “created target packages for use by Iran” against US government agents and counterintelligence officers, the indictment alleges. Iranian government officials provided Witt with “goods and services, including housing and computer equipment,” in order to facilitate her work on behalf of the government of Iran after her defection, the indictment said. The indictment also charges four Iranians with conspiracy, attempts to commit computer intrusion and aggravated identity theft as part of a 2014 - 2015 effort to target “through and other cyber-enabled means, at least eight US government agents, all of whom at one time worked or interacted with Monica Witt,” Demers said. ’Cyber conspirators’ The Iranians, whom the indictment calls the “cyber conspirators” worked on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the powerful branch of the military founded by Ayatollah Khomeini after Iran’s 1979 revolution. Demers told reporters today that Witt allegedly worked with Iran to research and “create target packages” that “enabled the Government of Iran to identify, track, and neutralize US counterintelligence agents.” Using phishing emails and fake Facebook accounts created in the name of one of Witt’s former colleagues, these Iranian agents sent friend requests to some of her other former colleagues. Their goal was to lure them into clicking on malware links that “would have provided the Cyber Conspirators with covert, persistent access” to the target’s computer and any associated network, the indictment said. Another phishing effort involved sending Witt’s former colleagues messages containing a link that appeared to be to an international news outlet and a short note asking if the article was about the recipient. If clicked, the link would lead to a page controlled by the “Cyber Conspirators.” Frustrated with ‘Iranian suspicion’ The indictment gives the barest sketch of Witt’s path from Air Force special agent to alleged traitor, but it reproduces email messages that show she considered approaching Russia as well. “I am starting to get frustrated at the level of Iranian suspicion,” she wrote at one point to her Iranian contact. Witt was sworn in as a special agent around August 1997 and continuously held the position until in or around March 2008, when she became a government contractor for the intelligence community until about August 2010, according to the indictment. She was trained in the Persian language Farsi and granted access to top-secret and “sensitive compartmented” national defense information that included the United States’ foreign intelligence and counter intelligence operations and the true names of its intelligence agents and its sources overseas. From 2003 and 2008, Witt’s work involved counterintelligence assignments that took her to the Middle East. The indictment doesn’t specify the countries where Witt was assigned to work, but it lays out some of her contacts with Iran in recent years, including her email exchanges with a dual American-Iranian citizen, identified only as “Individual A.” Described as a “spotter and assessor,” Individual A worked for the IRGC to identify people who may have access to intelligence and counterintelligence and determine their potential value as sources. ’u were well trained’ The indictment quotes one exchange on or about October 17, 2012, when Individual A wrote to Witt saying, “should i thank the sec of defense . . u were well trained.” Witt replies, “LOL thank the sec of defense? For me? Well, I loved the work, and I am endeavoring to put the training I received to good use instead of evil. Thanks for giving me the opportunity.” The indictment also details her travel to Iran in February 2012, where she took part in a “Hollywoodism” conference, an IRGC-sponsored event aimed at condemning US moral standards and promoting anti-US propaganda. Witt also appeared in one or more videos, in which she was identified as a US veteran and made comments critical of the US government, knowing the videos would be broadcast on Iranian TV. That same month, the ceremony marking Witt’s conversion to Islam was broadcast on Iranian television. In May 2012, the FBI warned Witt that she was a target for recruitment by Iranian intelligence services.<doc-sep>A former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran has been charged with revealing classified information as well as research about her former colleagues to representatives of the Tehran government, prosecutors said Wednesday. This 2012 photo released by the Department of Justice shows Monica Elfriede Witt. The Justice Department on Wednesday announced an indictment against Witt, who defected to Iran in 2013 and is currently at-large. (Department of Justice via AP) WASHINGTON — A former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran has been charged with revealing classified information as well as research about her former colleagues to representatives of the Tehran government, prosecutors said Wednesday. A Justice Department indictment charges Monica Elfriede Witt, who defected in 2013 and is currently at-large, along with four Iranian hackers who, prosecutors say, used the information she provided to target former colleagues in the U.S. intelligence community. The indictment says the four Iranians were acting on behalf of the government-linked Iranian Revolutionary Guard. All remain at large. “It is a sad day for America when one of its citizens betrays our country,” said Assistant Attorney General John Demers, the head of the Justice Department’s national security division. Jay Tabb, the FBI’s top national security official, said the FBI had warned Witt before her defection that she was a vulnerable target for recruitment by Iranian intelligence but that Witt had ignored those warnings.<doc-sep>Witt’s alleged betrayal, officials said, was as personal as it was damaging — threatening a sensitive operation that to this day authorities will not detail, and putting her former co-workers squarely in the crosshairs of a foreign adversary. Witt, according to the indictment, was desperate to share the information she had and get away from the United States. Text messages, disclosed as part of the indictment, show her contemplating approaching the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks and Russia after Iran, apparently skeptical of her motives or credibility, was slow to accept her alleged overture.<doc-sep>

A former Air Force intelligence specialist who defected to Iran has been charged with conspiring to provide U.S. defense information to representatives of that country’s government, including the code name and mission of a highly classified program, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. Monica Elfriede Witt, 39, a former counterintelligence officer, is accused of revealing the Defense Department program, the details of which are unclear, as well as helping Iranian intelligence services direct hacking and identity theft attempts at her military co-workers. She defected to Iran in 2013 and was believed to be there now. The Justice Department also charged four Iranian nationals with attempting to commit computer intrusion and aggravated identity theft in the case. “It is a sad day for America when one of its citizens betrays our country,” Assistant Atty. Gen. John Demers said at a briefing announcing the charges. The announcement came just as Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Vice President Pence prepared to welcome representatives from about 60 countries for a conference in Poland that was originally billed as a meeting to pressure Iran on its missile testing and terrorism. The event, though, has received a tepid response abroad, as some objected to the its anti-Iran focus. Law enforcement officials insisted there was no connection between the timing of the charges and the conference. Jay Tabb, the FBI’s executive assistant director for national security, said investigators believe Witt shared information that “could cause serious damage to national security,” though he declined to provide specific details of the operations she allegedly disclosed. Witt, who served in the Air Force from August 1997 to March 2008 and worked from 2008 to 2010 as a government contractor on classified projects, had access to sensitive government materials, officials said. According to the indictment, she had access to secret and top secret national defense information, including the names of intelligence sources and clandestine agents, and had been deployed between 1999 and 2003 overseas to collect electronic intelligence. The Justice Department alleges she shared with Iran packages of information about her former colleagues so they could be targeted, as well as the code name and mission of a Defense Department Special Access Program, which was highly classified. Tabb said investigators believe Witt’s motive was “ideological,” and the indictment against her alleges that, before she defected, she appeared in videos that she knew would be broadcast by Iranian media outlets and “made statements that were critical of the U.S. government.” In 2012, after Witt traveled to Iran for a conference, the FBI warned her that she could be targeted for recruitment by that country’s government, and Witt told the bureau she would refuse to provide information about her military work, according to the indictment. The next year, she went to another Iranian conference and soon arranged to defect, according to the indictment. Asked if the bureau should have done more after the initial warning, Tabb said, “I don’t think so.” “We followed a procedure that we do, known as a defensive briefing. We went to Witt and we told her that she might be targeted by intelligence officers in travel to Iran. She chose not to heed our warning,” he said.

There’s a story going around about the Super Bowl that isn’t supported by data. Every year, some iteration of the claim that the Super Bowl is the number one hot spot for human trafficking is credulously repeated by journalists, law enforcement and politicians. Each and every year, however, that claim is entirely false, according to experts in the field. Kate D’Adamo is a longtime sex workers’ rights advocate who has worked with various sex worker advocacy groups over the years. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Woodhull Freedom Foundation. Law&Crime reached out to D’Adamo for comment on the enduring sex trafficking claim viz. Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. “Every year, we see the same misinformation used as an excuse to increase policing and surveillance despite constant myth busting,” she said via email. “In Atlanta they’ve already said they’re engaged in sting operations involving more than 40 law enforcement agencies–in a city which has the greatest income disparity in America.” The Super Bowl sex trafficking myth, it appears, is one of the few things that all sides of the ongoing sex work vs. sex trafficking debate actually agree upon. A bit context is necessary here: there is currently an international struggle effectively pitting most law enforcement and western politicians against organized sex workers and almost all public health authorities and public health advocacy groups. The basic issue is that lawmakers and their allies want to keep or make sex work a crime while most sex workers and public health experts believe it should be legalized or decriminalized. Many sex workers want their jobs to be treated more or less like other forms of employment under the law. “Criminalization and the severe stigma attached to sex work gives license to those who commit crimes of violence against sex workers and deny their humanity,” the Red Umbrella Fund notes. “Sex workers would not be at such high risk of violence if they were respected as people and as workers, and if they felt free to seek help and protection without fear of being stigmatized [and] jailed.” Public health experts are largely in agreement. A near-consensus of the available research and official statements from public health organizations argue that the best way to make sex work safer for workers, clients and society at large is some form of legal sanction. “[A]ll countries should work toward decriminalization of sex work and elimination of the unjust application of non-criminal laws and regulations against sex workers,” the World Health Organization noted in 2012. Anti-sex trafficking groups variously come down on either side of this debate–depending on how they view the basic nature of sex work. The Polaris Project is one of the most prominent anti-sex trafficking groups in the world; they maintain the National Human Trafficking Hotline–which is funded in part by the U.S. public through governmental grants. Polaris makes no distinction between voluntary sex work and coerced sex trafficking–a position heavily criticized by sex workers and public health advocates alike. But even Polaris doesn’t buy the Super Bowl sex-trafficking story line and a blog entry on their website describes that narrative as one of the “the myths and misconceptions surrounding human trafficking.” Oppositely, the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) is a coalition of over 80 non-governmental organizations across the world that views trafficking through a human rights lens and doesn’t prioritize law enforcement solutions. GAATW explicitly distinguishes between coerced and voluntary sex work and works with sex worker organizing groups on the ground. In 2011, GAATW published an extensive debunking of the Super Bowl sex trafficking myth: Hyperbolic claims about floods or invasions of 10,000 to 100,000 sex workers to the Super Bowl has been widely repeated by American media, as has Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s unfounded claim that “the Super Bowl is one of the biggest human trafficking events in the United States.” GAATW’s 75-page report actually found that cities hosting the Super Bowl tend to arrest around the same number of prostitutes as usual–even though such cities heavily increase their law enforcement attention to prostitution in the weeks leading up to the big game. The largest victim-services non-profit in the United States is SafeHorizon. They don’t officially take sides in the ongoing sex work debate. And they’re fed up with the Super Bowl sex trafficking myth as well. “The Super Bowl is often referred to as the single largest human trafficking incident in the United States,” SafeHorizon notes. “This simply isn’t true. The Super Bowl sex trafficking hype is just that. It’s a myth based on speculation and not hard numbers.” SafeHorizon’s criticism continues [italics in original]: One of the most common [claims] is that in 2010, allegedly more than 10,000 exploited women and girls were trafficked to Miami for the Super Bowl. This number is false. It has been incorrectly attributed to The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children which denied the statistic in a statement, noting that “No one knows with certainty the exact number of children exploited through sex trafficking in the United States or during events like the Super Bowl.” Kate D’Adamo also expanded her earlier critique to catalogue broader labor rights issues: But this doesn’t just harm people who trade sex–it lets everyone ignore that this event is run on temporary, precarious and exploitative labor. It says that anti trafficking work is a sting operation and [ignores] the hospitality workers, striking metro workers and concession sellers whose sweat will be exploited over the next week for an event that will make the NFL hundreds of millions of dollars. [image via Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images] Have a tip we should know? [email protected]<doc-sep>ATLANTA – Sierra Thompson was 18 when she was flown to Houston by a man she met on Instagram. The man had flaunted a flashy lifestyle of fancy cars, expensive jewelry and designer clothes. Their first day together consisted of conversation, drugs and sex. On the second day, she says, the man lured her to a small Houston strip club to dance for money. So began a three-year ordeal of being sold to strangers for sex in cities around the country – including Honolulu during the 2016 NFL Pro Bowl. "A messed-up person messed me up," Thompson says. She eventually broke away from her pimp and returned to Atlanta. As more than 1 million people descend on the city for Super Bowl LIII on Sunday, she's working with victim advocates, law enforcement officers, former NFL players and others to help break up the sex trafficking they say the event attracts. "It's not necessarily about football or the NFL," says Courtney Dow, an outreach coordinator for the Atlanta-based nonprofit Dream Center. "It's just about when groups of men get together, usually trafficking and exploitation increases. "They're on vacation, their wives and girlfriends aren't with them, and it's also a boys' club, and it's time for boys to be boys." Organizers are telling airport staff, hotel managers and retail workers how to spot traffickers and victims, and to intervene when necessary. Visitors arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this week heard an anti-trafficking public service announcement on the terminal train. Volunteers, meanwhile, are visiting hotels, strip clubs, bus stations and convenience stores to give out information about services to victims. It's part of a larger effort to get bystanders to recognize trafficking, and to stop it when it occurs. Different campaigns have focused on spreading awareness among air crews, hotel workers and long-haul truckers. Others have sprung up around major events: The North American International Auto Show in Detroit, NBA All-Star Weekend and the FIFA World Cup have also sparked campaigns to fight sex trafficking. Some say the effort is misguided. Annalee Lepp, founder of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women Canada, says research shows little increase in trafficking around large events. Lepp, a professor of gender studies at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, says fans attend major sporting events primarily to watch the game. She says sex traffickers generally avoid such events because they bring a heightened police presence. Bradley Miles, CEO of the nonprofit Polaris, says focusing on large events obscures a larger problem. "We actually think that trafficking is a major issue 365 days a year," Miles said. "There are no new traffickers (at the Super Bowl). The same 20,000 pimps are moving around to where the action is." More:Branson man caught in Super Bowl sex trafficking sting, Minnesota authorities say More:Group unveils $1M plan to address Super Bowl sex trafficking More:Ahead of the game on sex trafficking during Super Bowl Law enforcement officials say sex trafficking is a concern around Super Bowl festivities. The Atlanta Police Department has trained officers on identifying victims. The department is also setting up an operations center to monitor human trafficking. Eric Pauley, supervisor of the FBI's Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force, says authorities here rescue 75 to 100 child sex trafficking victims each year. Pauley says he expects many sex traffickers to travel to Atlanta this week to capitalize on the influx of visitors. He said the greatest surge during major events comes from online solicitation. There are an estimated 40.3 million victims of human trafficking globally, according to the International Labour Organization. Thompson, now 23, earned a GED through Wellspring Living, an organization that serves sex trafficking victims. She now works as an administrative assistant for a law firm. Wellspring Living is among the organizations working with the Dream Center. Wellspring Living founder Mary Frances Bowley said her team has been visiting convenience stores and putting stickers on bathroom stalls with emergency hotline numbers for victims. She's advising store and hotel workers to look out for older men who appear to be controlling children. “This is a platform to help people understand what trafficking is, so even when the Super Bowl is not here, people know what to look for," Bowley said. Former NFL players have recorded an anti-trafficking video now on YouTube. "The simple fact of bringing awareness to human trafficking is a priority," said DJ Shockley, a former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. "Many people have no idea this is happening really close to them." "The mission is to rescue and restore," former Falcon Alge Crumpler said.<doc-sep>Over 30 people have been arrested on sex-trafficking charges during a planned operation in the lead-up to the Super Bowl. Federal law enforcement officials announced Wednesday they have arrested 33 people in metro Atlanta for sex trafficking. Authorities said they had also rescued four victims as part of the operation, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Campaigners have warned that large sporting events such as the Super Bowl are attractive to those in the sex trafficking trade. Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of Homeland Security, (pictured) outlined security plans for Super Bowl 53 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta Sex crimes can surge when lots of free-spending travelers are around and in one concentrated area. The arrests were made over the past four days, according to Nick Annan, Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge. He declined to give further details on the arrests and said ongoing efforts will continue throughout the week. 'We plan to continue what we’re doing,' Annan said. Homeland Security assisted in a joint operation in Douglas County using undercover officers, social media sites and local hotel rooms on January 23 and 24, the Douglasville Police Department said. Sixteen people were arrested, according to police, and the youngest person involved was 17. Nick Annan, Homeland Security Investigations special agent, (pictured), said 33 arrests were made over four days The timing of the crackdown was related to the Super Bowl, police said. More than 40 local and state law enforcement agencies, along with 25 federal agencies, are assisting with security for the Super Bowl. Officers and security members have been visible throughout downtown Atlanta where events have been held, and those efforts will continue until hours after the big game. Police have warned fans about fake tickets being sold and investigators have also found more than 2,000 counterfeit items, according to Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of Homeland Security. Cops warned ticket-buyers to purchase only from a reputable source. They also explained that it may be difficult for fans to distinguish real tickets from counterfeit ones even though legitimate tickets contain a special NFL hologram. Shields encouraged those heading to the game or other Super Bowl events to plan ahead and rely on public transportation. For those who insist on driving, secure valuables ahead of time, she said. Call 911 or alert an officer to anything suspicious. But above all, Shields encouraged fans to have fun. The Superbowl game featuring the New England Patriots against the Los Angeles Rams will take place in the Mercedes Benz Stadium (pictured) on Sunday 'This is a fantastic city. We really want people to come and just have a great time.' Atlanta police Chief Erika Shields outlined their security plans during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon at the Georgia World Congress Center. Shields said security planning for the Super Bowl began over two years ago, and so far everything is going according to plan.<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) 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) 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) 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) Memorial Day weekend will bring rain and cool air for much of the East The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the Mercedes-Benz stadium from Friday until after the game on Sunday. Editor’s Note: March 14 is #MyFreedomDay, when schools around the world will raise awareness of modern slavery. Find out more at cnn.com/myfreedom (CNN) — The 2019 Super Bowl has drawn thousands of people to the host city of Atlanta, but not everyone’s in town to join in on the festivities. Volunteers and outreach services from across the country are working with city agencies to use the biggest sporting event in the United States to open the public’s eyes to human trafficking, the crime of forcing someone to perform sex or labor for profit. Some groups claim that the influx of crowds for the Super Bowl contributes to an increase in sex trafficking. But leading anti-trafficking groups, such as Polaris Project and the International Human Trafficking Institute, say no evidence supports the claim. Trafficking occurs year-round in communities around the country, they say, and that’s where prevention efforts are most needed. But that’s not stopping outreach groups or the city of Atlanta from raising the issue during Super Bowl. January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, which is why the issue is already more prominent now than at any other time of the year. And, with the Super Bowl drawing large crowds to Atlanta, city officials, outreach groups and activists say they see an opportunity for a widescale public awareness initiative. The campaigns coincide with law enforcement efforts to step up patrols as crowds descend upon a city that its mayor says ranks third in the country for reports of human trafficking. Sarah Morgan/AP A line of school buses with new decals to draw attention to human trafficking make their way on a road in Atlanta on January 2. The nature of human trafficking – be it for labor or sex – is complex, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told the CNN Freedom Project. That’s why the city is spreading the message now, when they have the public’s attention. “The Super Bowl is an opportunity for us to talk about it, but it’s something we have to be vigilant about 12 months out of the year,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN. “It’s about making sure that the thousands of men and women who work in our hotels understand what the signs are. It’s about making sure our police officers understand what the signs are. It’s about making sure the public is informed.” What the groups are doing The extra dose of messaging is all over the city. Posters in the airport, convenience stores and gas stations list the warning signs of trafficking and a hotline number. Delta Air Lines’ inflight videos carry the message, too. In churches in Atlanta throughout January, groups held public information sessions on how to spot trafficking in communities. Volunteers went into hotels to share the signs with employees. Theresa Flores arrived in Atlanta in mid-January with more than 60,000 bars of soap. On each, a message: “Are you being forced to do anything you do not want to do? Have you been threatened if you try to leave? Text HELP to BE FREE 233733.”<doc-sep>

Normer Adams, a man I’ve known for decades and who deals with battered and abused kids, wrote: “I am glad someone had the courage to reveal the truth about this myth. I have been hearing about it for years and, yes, any child sold for sex is a tragedy, but exaggerating the extent of it harms the credibility of all child advocates. For years, it has been whispered behind the scenes by child advocates that the numbers were just not there.” He said too much attention and too many resources are focused on the crime, but “child sex trafficking is often the result of child abuse and neglect. Attack it, and you will attack child sex trafficking.” I also wrote that an AJC colleague years ago debunked the well-worn story that Atlanta was a hub of child sex trafficking. (Atlanta police Chief Erica Shields said this week, "That label is really unfairly applied to the city.") The column ended by citing reports that Super Bowl cities in the past decade had vice arrests ranging from 40 to 200. Now, Super Bowl LIII's sordid tally is in: According to the FBI, a sex-trafficking law enforcement operation in the region brought in 169 arrests during the 11 days leading up to the game. That puts Atlanta on the high end of the scale compared to arrests in other Super Bowl cities. The FBI said 26 “traffickers” were arrested, which outnumbers those who were allegedly being trafficked — nine adult women and nine minors. Law enforcement people said they can’t talk about the victims, so it’s nearly impossible to ascertain their circumstances and situations. The only other number released was 34 — the number of men arrested for allegedly trying to engage in sex acts with minors. This is a now-common sting where a creepy guy goes on the internet to line up a “date” with a girl, not a woman, and instead ends up in the arms of burly cops. In these crimes there is no “victim” per se, just willing offenders. “Thankfully, there’s not a victim because law enforcement is intervening,” said Eric Pauley, an FBI supervisor who heads the local trafficking task force. The repeated occurrence of such arrests “clearly demonstrates that this exists.” Or at least that there’s a demand. FBI sources I spoke with after the official news release said 21 of the 34 suspects arrested as alleged Johns were nabbed in a sting set up in Brookhaven — one that had gone on for months with 22 agencies involved, and that was sprung to coincide with the Super Bowl for maximum publicity impact. If the world is watching and expecting this kind of behavior, then law enforcement must deliver. Plus, it sends a message to potential perverts. The alleged Johns in the Brookhaven roundup were a motley crew evenly spread from black to white to brown, ranging from age 20 to 55. Their photos and job IDs debunk the storyline of high-rollers coming to town for exploitative sex. These guys were mostly local mopes working regular and low-level jobs. This image provided by the Department of Homeland Security shows a poster that’s part of the Blue Campaign to raise public awareness of human trafficking. The government’s numbers leave more than 100 arrests unaccounted for, but a quick check of local jails shows most of those will be prostitution related. “Sex trafficking is embedded in prostitution,” said Pauley. “That’s where you find it.” A check of DeKalb County’s jail found 28 women arrested for prostitution in the 11 days preceding the game and 12 arrests for pimping. I could find none for solicitation (being a John), other than the Brookhaven bunch. Nineteen of the prostitution arrests in DeKalb and nine of the pimping arrests were made in Dunwoody. Seven of the alleged prostitutes were from out of state but almost all the pimps were Georgians. Douglasville police and a Homeland Security crew rounded up 16 people. A check of the jail log shows that most were prostitutes, although there was an alleged pimp, a panderer and an alleged trafficker. All locals. In the old days, these would be called vice roundups, but the term “human trafficking” delivers a stronger emotional punch and mobilizes activists and law enforcement agencies to jump into the fray. Prostitution arrests, including those of girls under 18, have dropped for years.

Dozens of graves at a Jewish cemetery in Massachusetts were recently vandalized, prompting police to open a hate crime investigation. Police found swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti at the Fall River cemetery and believe the incident occurred on March 16 or early March 17, according to a Tuesday social media post. Gravestones were defaced using a black marker and some were pushed over, police said. On Tuesday, police estimated that 25 gravestones were vandalized, but that estimate more than doubled on Wednesday to 59, The (Fall River, Mass.) Herald News reports. The paper previously reported the graves were marked with words such as "heil Hitler" and "Hitler was right." One was reportedly tagged with "Oy vey! This is MAGA country." A unique kind of hate:After Tree of Life attack, don't tell Jews all hate crimes & bigoted attacks are the same 'No one left to kill':15,000 murders a day: August-October 1942 were the Holocaust's deadliest months The Anti-Defamation League New England issued a statement on Facebook condemning the crime: "The desecration of The Hebrew Cemetery of Fall River is an inexcusable act of antisemitic hatred in the place where we honor and remember the lives of our community members." The ADL has previously documented a recent rise in incidents motivated by anti-Jewish bias. An October 2018 report found an alarming increase in the amount of anti-Semitic content on social media in the lead-up to last year's midterm elections. Louis Gitlan, who has relatives buried at the cemetery, surveyed the damage and commented that many of the people buried at the Fall River cemetery faced persecution during their lives, the Herald News reports. “What did they go through to get to this place, and finally be free? Then realize that they can’t escape it,” he told the newspaper. Contributing: Aamer Madhani, Ryan W. Miller and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY; The Associated Press<doc-sep>Authorities are investigating a possible hate crime after dozens of graves were vandalized at a Jewish cemetery in Fall River, Massachusetts. Police found more than 20 gravestones defaced at the Hebrew Cemetery with swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti on Sunday. Authorities made the discovery after responding to call from a resident who lives close to the cemetery, according to a statement on the department’s Facebook page. Some of the gravestones had also been pushed over. "Desecration of a religious or holy place, it's just something that’s not acceptable," Fall River resident Lewis Brooks told NBC Boston after finding several of his relative’s graves vandalized. The Anti-Defamation League tweeted that the crime is “an inexcusable act of anti-Semitic hatred where we honor & remember the lives of community members.” “There are many Jewish immigrants who came to this country decades ago even centuries ago buried there," Robert Trestan, regional director of the New England region of the Anti-Defamation League, told NBC News. “It’s scary because - we know - history has taught us what happens when hate goes unchecked. So, we have a responsibility now to stand up and put a stop to it," Trestan added. The incident has also disturbed some residents in the area who are wary that anti-Semitic acts are becoming more prevalent in the United States. "It just seems to be getting worse and there’s a lot better things that I think people could do with their lives than desecrate other people’s rights to religion," local resident Carl Superior told NBC Boston. Superior has family buried at the cemetery, but their graves were not disturbed. This incident comes during a time when anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. have spiked. In October 2018, 11 people were killed in a shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. The following month, a Jewish professor at Columbia University found large swastikas spray-painted on the walls of her office. Hate crimes in general have been on the rise the past three years with a 17 percent increase in 2017, a FBI report shows. The Anti-Defamation League is offering a $1,500 reward, in addition to a reward from the police department, to anyone that provides information that helps police capture the suspects in the Fall River incident.<doc-sep>Dozens of gravestones at a Jewish cemetery in Massachusetts have been defaced with anti-Semitic messages and swastikas — including references to Adolf Hitler, according to reports. A groundskeeper at the Hebrew Cemetery in Fall River discovered the desecration on Sunday and reported it to police, who launched a hate crime investigation. According to the Fall River-based Herald News, the scrawls ranged from “heil Hitler” to “expel the Jews” to “Oy vey! This is MAGA country,” a reference to President Trump’s signature slogan, “Make America Great Again.” Two gravestones also were defaced with the words “Day of the Rope,” an apparent reference to the novel “The Turner Diaries,” about a white supremacist army that overthrows the US government. Police said they believe the cemetery was vandalized on Saturday. “Approximately 25 gravestones were marked with Anti-Semitic words, phrases and some stones were also pushed over,” police said in a statement. “The stones were marked using black magic marker. A full canvas of the cemetery is being conducted to identify all areas of vandalism and calculate a more accurate number.” Police released a photo showing one of the gravestones that had been defaced with anti-Semitic slurs. “Our intention is not [to] further offend the Jewish community but to accurately depict the seriousness of the photos,” they wrote in a caption Lewis Brooks was devastated to find out that one of the targeted headstones belongs to his family. “My great-aunt used to take me here, she’s over there with her family,” Brooks said, gesturing to an area of the cemetery, according to the local CBS station. “It has a lot of memories.” Another man who stopped by found his family’s gravestones had not been marked. “But I will spend a little time to take some of the demeaning words off of some of the gravestones if I can,” he said. In addition to an award of an undisclosed amount being offered by police, the Anti-Defamation League of New England is offering a $1,500 reward for information that leads to an arrest. A $12,500 reward also is being offered by an anonymous donor, CBS reported. Robert Trestan, the ADL’s regional director, said the group is “grateful for the priority that this apparent hate crime is being given by the Fall River Police Department,” according to the Boston Globe. “The desecration of The Hebrew Cemetery of Fall River is an inexcusable act of anti-Semitic hatred in the place where we honor and remember the lives of our community members,” Trestan said in a statement to Boston.com. The cemetery, which was established in the late 1800s, is among the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts. There were 90 reported anti-Jewish hate crimes in Massachusetts in 2017, a nearly 50 percent increase compared to 2016, as well as any other year dating back to 2004, according to the ADL’s most recent data. Rabbi Jacqueline Romm Satlow, who oversees the UMass Dartmouth Center For Jewish Culture, told the Herald that while it is difficult to pinpoint one reason for the spike, it’s clear that “people who hate, for some reason, feel empowered, more empowered than they did a few years ago.”<doc-sep>

Fifty-nine gravesites at a Jewish cemetery in Fall River, Massachusetts, were desecrated with swastikas and anti-Semitic phrases, police said. (CNN) — Nearly five dozen gravesites at a Jewish cemetery in Massachusetts were vandalized with anti-Semitic phrases and images, police said. Fifty-nine gravestones at the Hebrew Cemetery were marked with swastikas and derogatory phrases in black magic marker, the Fall River Police Department said. Some phrases praised Hitler. In addition, some gravestones were pushed over, police said. Police are investigating the vandalism as a hate crime with the FBI’s assistance. Fall River Police Department Some gravestones were knocked over. A maintenance worker spotted the damage on March 17. Police believe it occurred the day before or early that morning. Officials said they do not have any solid suspects as of Thursday morning. The Anti-Defamation League of New England has offered a $1,500 reward for information on the incident. The regional director, Robert Trestan, condemned the vandalism in a statement. “The desecration of The Hebrew Cemetery of Fall River is an inexcusable act of antisemitic hatred in the place where we honor and remember the lives of our community members,” Trestan said. Jewish leader warns against rising hate group activity Fall River Police Department Stephen Silverman, president of the Temple Beth El synagogue in Fall River, said the cemetery workers will try to restore the gravestones. Stephen Silverman, the president of Temple Beth El synagogue in Fall River, said the Jewish community is remaining resilient. “The ugly head of anti-Semitism has raised its head again,” Silverman said. “Being Jews, we will survive and persevere, and we’ll get this all squared away.” He said the community has been “greatly upset” and “everybody wants to help out.” The cemetery caretaker plans to restore the affected gravestones to their original state, Silverman said. He said the incident is part of a growing problem of hate group activity in America. “America has got to be aware of all the situations going on – it’s getting worse and worse,” Silverman said. “I hope for the safety of everyone in this country we get to the bottom of these hate groups and start preaching and educating people at schools and home.”

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham says President Donald Trump’s history of attacks on the late Arizona Sen. John McCain bother him “greatly.” “It pisses me off to no end, and I let the president know it,” Graham, McCain’s longtime friend, said on CBS This Morning. Trump and McCain had a long running feud that extended past the Arizona Republican’s death. Trump in 2015 said McCain, who was a prisoner of war for more than five years during the Vietnam War, was “not a war hero.” As the nation mourned McCain’s passing, Trump remained mostly silent, only recognizing the Senator’s “service to our country” and re-lowering the White House flag on Monday after flying it at full staff earlier in the day. Graham, a Republican, said that while he’s still open to working with Trump, he’s bothered by the way the president has dealt McCain’s death. “The way he’s handled the passing of John is just, was disturbing,” he said. “I am not going to give up on the idea of working with this president. The best way I can honor John McCain is help my country.” Get our Politics Newsletter. The headlines out of Washington never seem to slow. Subscribe to The D.C. Brief to make sense of what matters most. Please enter a valid email address. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Please attempt to sign up again. Sign Up Now An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thank you! For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Write to Mahita Gajanan at [email protected].<doc-sep>Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Hedge funds often measure their investments in minutes, not decades; but for Anchorage Capital Group, its long-held stake in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. is proving that patience can also be profitable.The New York-based money manager stands to make roughly $2 billion on its investment in the film and TV producer, one that began almost 11 years ago with MGM in bankruptcy court. Amazon.com Inc. agreed to buy the company for $8.45 billion Wednesday, a price that includes just under $2 billion in debt.The deal is in many ways a vindication for Kevin Ulrich, the former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. trader who co-founded Anchorage in 2003 and was part of a group of distressed debt investors that took control of MGM as it went through the restructuring process. In recent years the stake looked to be an albatross for the fund, one that came with significant drama in its own right.Ulrich brought in and later fired a high-profile chief executive officer, resisted efforts by activist investor Carl Icahn to take control, and held out for a bigger payday after years of considering various exit strategies. By selling now, as demand for media content from entertainment and technology companies alike is booming, he’s proving his long-held faith in the investment was justified.“There was a lot of maneuvering, a lot of financial engineering,” said Steven Azarbad, chief investment officer at New York’s Maglan Capital, an MGM investor who sold his shares four years ago. “But they’ve done great.”A representative for Anchorage declined to comment.When Ulrich first invested in MGM, he was new to Hollywood. He helped pick Gary Barber, a South African-born producer of films such as “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” as chief executive officer of the storied but debt-laden studio. Barber brought to the table a shrewd business sense, and connections into a world Ulrich long admired from afar.Barber shepherded MGM’s development of “The Hobbit” franchise, a co-production with Warner Bros., that became a global smash hit. He helmed the release of the James Bond film, “Skyfall,” which generated over $1 billion at the box office, and he revived the studio’s work in television. Barber also brokered a deal to bring on TV super producer Mark Burnett, which gave MGM access to reality show hits like “Survivor” and “The Apprentice,” but would ultimately become personally troublesome.In 2012 the company bought back Icahn’s stock for $590 million. It also filed paperwork for a possible public offering of shares, and considered other options, such as a sale.As Barber boosted MGM’s film and TV pipeline, Ulrich was increasingly entranced by the allure of Hollywood. He became a regular at movie premieres in Los Angeles and New York, and frequented industry parties in the Hamptons and elsewhere. He became active in creative decisions after becoming chair of MGM’s board -- somewhat unusual for a non-executive lacking Hollywood experience -- even getting involved with business granularities like casting.Growing RiftBut over the following years a rift began to open up between Barber and Ulrich. When it was time to renew Barber’s contract in 2017, Ulrich conducted an extensive search for a new CEO. When it ended, he ultimately chose to sign Barber to a new five-year deal. Yet around the same time, the pair split on whether to sell the company, with Ulrich wanting to hang on to the studio and Barber saying it was time to find a buyer.The company would hold buyout talks with Apple Inc. as well as Chinese investors that would ultimately prove fruitless.Only months after renewing Barber’s deal, Ulrich fired him. The shock departure meant the company had to pay Barber for five years of salary and buy out his equity, a package totaling $260 million. In the three years since Barber left, Ulrich hasn’t replaced him, instead operating an “office of the chief executive officer,” comprised of various people that each have their personal vision for MGM.Barber declined to comment via his spokesperson.Bounce BackAfter the initial period of success following the restructuring, the gains became harder to come by, as they did in Anchorage’s overall credit-focused business. Two senior managers left the firm in January 2020, and another in November. Anchorage’s flagship strategy, with about $8.5 billion under management, returned just 0.6% in 2018, 1.5% in 2019 and 4.4% in 2020, according to people familiar with the matter.In December, MGM hired investment bankers for a potential sale.MGM only released one film in theaters in 2020. Its biggest potential hit, the latest Bond film, “No Time to Die,” was pushed from last year to this October as a result of the pandemic.Yet the value of MGM’s library rose as everyone from media companies to technology giants have sought to build video streaming platforms that can compete with industry leader Netflix Inc. Earnings jumped 48% last year, to about $307 million, even as sales declined.Anchorage holds a roughly 30% stake in MGM, worth about $2.5 billion in the sale, said people with knowledge of the matter. Anchorage invested around $500 million in the company more than a decade ago. Including the MGM stake, Anchorage’s flagship fund is up 18% this year, the people added. The fund has gained about 8% in 2021 not counting the studio.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.<doc-sep>“You’ve got a lot of people you think are treating you unfairly. Fight back,” Graham said. “But you’re going to have to be a big man in a big office. McCain was a big man, worthy of a big country. Mr. President, you need to be the big man that the presidency requires.”<doc-sep>

Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission Police reform fight hinges on qualified immunity On The Money: White House counters with .7 trillion infrastructure proposal, GOP unimpressed | USDA to start loan forgiveness for thousands of minority farmers MORE (R-S.C.) said Wednesday that President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE called him the previous day following his emotional speech on the Senate floor honoring the late Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainHannity tells Santorum he helped prevent Joy Reid from being fired Richard Hanania sees Trump as 2024 GOP nominee Why Republican politicians are sticking with Trump MORE (R-Ariz.) and told him he “did right” by McCain. “He called yesterday after my speech and he couldn’t have been nicer. He said, ‘That was very sad, I just want to let you know that you did right by your friend,’” Graham said on CNN’s “Inside Politics.” Sen. Lindsey Graham on President Trump and John McCain’s strained relationship: “When he says something bad about John, it pisses me off. [Trump] called yesterday after my speech... He said, ‘That was very sad, I just want to let you know that you did right by your friend.’” pic.twitter.com/wfHSh8M6TM — CNN (@CNN) August 29, 2018 Graham, who has sometimes been an ally to Trump, was asked during the interview how he’s able to support the president despite his close friendship with McCain, who long had an adversarial relationship with Trump. ADVERTISEMENT “I want to make sure this president, who I [didn't] vote for and ran against, is successful,” the 2016 presidential candidate responded. “I regret the relationship between the two. John is my dearest friend in the world and I’m going to try to help President Trump, and I will, because I think country first means that,” Graham added. Graham also said that he doesn’t agree with those who “say that the only way you can honor John McCain is to fight Donald Trump and try to kick him out of office. “I’m going to do what I think is best for the country using what John taught me about the country,” Graham said. Trump faced some criticism for being slow to honor McCain following his death on Saturday at the age of 81. McCain had been diagnosed with brain cancer a little more than a year prior. Multiple media outlets reported that Trump rejected a laudatory statement from the White House praising McCain as a "hero,” and the president faced bipartisan criticism when flags over the White House returned to full-staff Monday after being lowered for just more than a day following McCain’s death. Trump later ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until McCain's burial on Sunday and issued a statement expressing "respect" for the late senator. Graham told reporters on Tuesday that before his death McCain had advised him to help Trump "where you can, just don't get sucked into all of this bullshit."

As the "Unite the Right 2" rally approaches in Washington, shaping up as a spectacle of racial tension if not hatred at the least, it's worth assessing the counter-protest – its role and effectiveness in such events. In Washington, on Sunday some 400 white nationalists are expected in Lafayette Park for their "Unite the Right 2" rally, a follow up to last year's deadly, tense Charlottesville rally. At the same time, about 1,500 counter protestors are expected at various downtown Washington locations, including the same park where the white nationalists will be. Washington police and officials have been planning for the event for months, with safety strategies planned, including dozens of blocked streets and cordoned off sections of the Lafayette Square Park. Officials understand that the closer two sides get, the more chances of violence increase. "We have seen in the past where these two groups have been in the same area at the same time, it leads to violent confrontations," Peter Newsham, chief of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, said at a press briefing Thursday. That's why the counter-protest, though well-intentioned, can become part of the problem if posed as direct, up-close and personal taunts at racist demonstrators – it's giving them exactly what they want, after all. That's what's happened two times this year in Portland, and authorities there are still trying to explain police action while citizens are trying to understand it. Some counter-protestors were so upset by last weekend's rally-gone-bad that they stormed Portland City Hall to complain about the police, injuring a guard. And we know what happened in Charlottesville last year, where wounds remain raw after one of the largest gatherings of white nationalists and far-right extremists in years gathered. Some were dressed offensively, others shouted racial slurs. Counter protestors clashed with them in response as tensions raged and cameras rolled. The nightmare ended when a white nationalist plowed into peaceful protestors. The white nationalist protestors were so offensive they only wanted to elicit one response: Inflame counter protestors to confrontation, giving oxygen to their simmering violence. Check. So, Washington, consider what one expert with the Southern Poverty Law Center said as words of wisdom for counter protestors in advance of the "Unite the Right 2" rally scheduled in the city on Sunday. "One of the things that people who are considering counter-protesting need to think about is that if they do hold an event, whether it's in the immediate vicinity of the other rally that's planned, frequently it's counterproductive because it inflames the situation and it may put you at risk of danger," Keegan Hankes, who's researched right-wing extremism for five years for the SPLC, told The Washingtonian. In other words, a protestor may be offensive, but yelling and screaming directly at them only provokes the situation. "For instance, if you're one of the white supremacists who are going to be protesting with Jason Kessler (Unite the Right 2 organizer), it will definitely escalate the situation if you are confronted by a counter-protester and there's a yelling-and-screaming match involved," Hankes said. Easier said than done, of course. Most people could not have stood by in Charlottesville watching racists parade, hurling insults. Maybe that's why when the KKK visited my small Southern community in the 1980s most everybody stayed home. The white supremacists were upset that the University of Mississippi was disassociated with the Confederate battle flag, so they planned a march. Other than some journalists and a few curious onlookers, a small group of KKK marched and went home. Today, the Confederate battle flag is decades removed from the university and it is not an issue whatsoever. We didn't give them oxygen, snuffing them out. Hate doesn't hurt so much when you don't see it, or hear it. This isn't to say that the counter-protest isn't productive. It is valuable, without question, standing up for core principles of humanity, like equality. But how the counter-protest is done, and where can make all the difference. Those KKK members from the 1980s revealed themselves as irrelevant when nobody showed. This Sunday in Washington, officials are expecting that counter-protestors will outnumber protesters by three-to-one. It's hard to turn the other cheek or to angrily respond in another location, of course. America is deeply divided and hate incidents involving race seem to be on the rise in frequency and intensity in recent years. It's just that despite temptation, or deliberate provocation, counter-protestors best serve their cause by keeping a safe distance. "My go-to response for these kind of things is that it does tend to take the oxygen out of these kinds of events if you don't directly confront them," Hankes said. It's worth a try Washington. Don't give hate the air it craves. David Magee is a contributing editor, a former newspaper publisher, and the author of a dozen books including The Education of Mr. Mayfield.<doc-sep>A year after the deadly "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Va., white nationalist groups are treading cautiously into the anniversary weekend. The violence in Charlottesville sparked damaging lawsuits against the organizers and a crackdown from tech companies that has complicated recruitment and fundraising efforts, splintering the movement just as it's trying to show solidarity heading into Sunday's "Unite the Right 2" demonstration in Washington. Jason Kessler, a lead organizer of both events, is discouraging participation by the more hard-core elements of the white supremacist movement, and some are happy to sit this one out. ADVERTISEMENT “These post-Charlottesville marches have no purpose, other than to make anyone who supports white self-determination look like a fringe lunatic,” Andrew Anglin, publisher of the Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website, wrote this month in a blog post disavowing Sunday’s rally. “We do not want the image of being a bunch of weird losers who march around like assholes while completely outnumbered and get mocked by the entire planet.” Richard Spencer, a key organizer of the Charlottesville rally, is even steering clear and urging others to do the same. “I know that many have good intentions in going, but a rally like this [doesn't] make sense at this time. I don't know exactly what will happen, but it probably will not be good,” tweeted Spencer, head of the National Policy Institute, which aims to “give voice to the interests of white peoples." The long-term effect of the Charlottesville violence on the larger white nationalist movement is still unknown. But the initial consequence, experts say, has been a new degree of internal discord that’s expected to dampen turnout at Sunday’s rally across the street from the White House. “I don’t know that’s it’s substantially grown or shrunk,” said Keegan Hankes, senior research analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project, which tracks hate groups around the country. “What I can say is, since the previous Unite the Right, it is far more disorganized.” “Every one of these groups is afraid they’re going to be associated with any potential violence, but also be further associated with the violence last year,” he added. Don Black, founder of Stormfront, a white nationalist website, said the reverberations of Charlottesville — financially and strategically — are still being felt a year later. “A lot of people have reevaluated the tactic,” Black told The Hill on Saturday in a phone call. "I don’t have a problem with Jason Kessler. … But some other people do because he’s a … very recent convert to our side and they feel that … his events haven’t been properly planned." “Most of the organization leaders who supported the Charlottesville event are not supporting this one,” he added. The division and infighting suggests a movement still licking its wounds in the aftermath of last year’s demonstration, when hundreds of white supremacists gathered to protest the city’s removal of a Robert E. Lee statue — the largest march of its kind in decades. The event quickly devolved into a series of violent clashes between marchers and counterprotesters. Amid the tumult, a car sped into a group of counterprotesters, injuring dozens and killing Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal. James Alex Fields Jr., a then-20-year-old white nationalist from Ohio, has been charged with first degree murder. Separately, two Virginia state police officers monitoring events from the air were killed when their helicopter crashed. The backlash came quickly. Numerous lawsuits, still pending, were filed against the organizers, including Kessler and Spencer, who are accused of promoting violence. And the giants of the technology world — Facebook, Google, Twitter and YouTube — also intervened in an effort to cull racist voices from their platforms. “That’s probably been one of the most damaging things that’s happened to the movement in the last couple years,” said Hankes. “They can’t disseminate propaganda as easily [and] it’s a lot harder to raise money.” Black, of Stormfront, confirmed the trend. After Charlottesville, his website was frozen for a month, and in December he was kicked off Twitter — an event he called “the great purge.” “A lot of people depended on social media, and they still use it but it’s always iffy. Their accounts are regularly canceled and posts deleted,” he said. “It’s hard to even find a credit card processor now." “We’re more under siege than we’ve ever been," Black said. Kessler had initially sought to stage the anniversary rally in Charlottesville. The city denied his petition, and last week he dropped a lawsuit seeking reconsideration, saying he would focus instead on the demonstration in Washington. It’s unclear how many people will attend Sunday’s march, which will follow Pennsylvania Avenue from Foggy Bottom to Lafayette Square. Kessler has taken steps to avoid a repeat of last year’s violence, prohibiting shields, weapons of any kind and “non-approved flags,” all of which were featured elements of the Charlottesville marches. American and Confederate flags, however, are welcome. Torches, another prominent feature of the Charlottesville marches, are also forbidden, given the National Park Service’s ban on fire in Lafayette Square. “No fire allowed,” Kessler wrote on Facebook in May, in a post obtained by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). “We need to forget about the torch thing.” Peter Montgomery, an expert on right-wing extremism at the liberal advocacy group People For the American Way, said the changes reflect a rebranding effort on the part of some white nationalists following “a real blow to their public relations” with the death of Heyer. “You had people who wanted to disassociate themselves from who they saw as more embarrassing manifestations — people who come to these rallies holding Nazi signs and swastikas,” he said. “There’s a part of the movement that wants to be a kinder gentler face of the alt-right, but as a result it’s kind of splintered.” Unite the Right 2 organizers did not respond to questions posed through the rally’s website. Questions sent directly to Spencer and Anglin also went unanswered. The Charlottesville violence shone a bright light on a white nationalist debate that was already percolating with the rise of 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 in 2016 — a victory cheered by racist leaders who see the president as a vindication of their own views, particularly on issues such as guns and immigration. Trump’s inner circle has featured figures like Stephen Bannon — the Breitbart News executive who has boasted of using the conservative news site as “a platform for the alt-right.” And the president’s equivocal response to the Charlottesville violence — there were “very fine people” on both sides, he said at the time — only fueled the view among white nationalists that they have an ally in the White House. In its annual census of hate groups, released in February, SPLC identified 954 such organizations across the country in 2017, marking a 4 percent increase over the previous year and a 20 percent jump over 2014. More than 600 of those were associated with the white nationalist movement. Anti-hate groups are quick to warn that whatever troubles white nationalists are facing, those political conditions remain. Indeed, a number of Republican candidates with nationalistic, if not outwardly racist views, are running for House and Senate seats this cycle, including Arthur Jones in Illinois, Seth Grossman in New Jersey and Paul Nehlen in Wisconsin. GOP campaign leaders are not backing any of them. Trump has endorsed Virginia Senate GOP nominee Corey Stewart, a controversial figure who is a vocal supporter of Confederate heritage and has said the Civil War was not ultimately fought over slavery. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has not pledged support for Stewart. “In that big-picture sense, Trump’s campaign really electrified and energized white nationalists who had been quite marginalized in American political discourse,” Montgomery said. “He really opened up space for them to move more into the political conversation. And they’ve taken advantage of that.” Sophie Bjork-James, an anthropologist at Vanderbilt University who has researched the white supremacist movement, agreed, saying “both sides have been galvanized” since the Charlottesville clashes.<doc-sep>The "Unite the Right 2" rally today in Washington had a low turnout from white nationalists, some 10 to 15 as opposed to 400 once expected, causing counter-protesters to celebrate and taunt with chants of "go home." "Unite the Right Rally members have now all left," tweeted WUSA reporter Arielle Buchmann at 5:12 p.m ET. "#ShutDownDC members continue to stand in the rain." "LATEST -- Kessler is OUT of the White House perimeter and back in the Metro system," tweeted WUSA 9 reporter Mike Valerio at 5:20 p.m. ET. The 'Unite the Right 2' counter-protest got underway this afternoon in Washington, D.C, hours before a white civil rights rally was scheduled for the city at 5:30 p.m. (ET) – one year after the deadly Charlottesville incident. But the white nationalist rally had little momentum, leaving before 5:30 with rain falling. The white nationalists' protest was expected to last until 7:30 p.m. (ET) Sunday. Members have been arriving in the city later this afternoon, making their way to Lafayette Square park but the gathering is sparse -- with the AP reporting that "a contingent of about 30 white nationalists" marched down a Washington street toward the White House "surrounded by a protective bubble of police officers and vehicles" while counter-protesters taunted and shouted at them. "It doesn't matter if we have 14 people or, or 1,400 today," white nationalist rally organizer Jason Kessler told WUSA today. "We're going to have a great rally." Live stream information and updates are below in this story. The Washington, D.C. protest and counter-protest also comes one day after tensions flared in Charlottesville and on the University of Virginia campus on the one year anniversary of the deadly Charlottesville protest. The Associated Press Press is reporting that the number of counter-protesters is "expected to dwarf" white nationalists protesters. The protest was scheduled for Lafayette Square Park while the counter-protest is nearby though the counter-protestors "plan to march to Lafayette Square in front of the White House, just before the arrival of the white nationalists," according to the AP. Police have erected a maze of barricades to keep the two sides apart, the news agency reports. You can watch a live stream of Washington D.C.s "Unite the Right 2" protest and counter protest here, provided by Fox 5 TV station. Here is a live feed link from WUSA in Washington. You can see updates on the latest from Washington below. Jason Kessler is the organizer of today's Washington white nationalists protest. He was involved in last year's Charlottesville protest and got the permit approved for the Washington rally. Officials expect about as many as 400 white nationalists, but at least three times that number for the counter-protest. Also, The Associated Press reported that "Kessler's event could be lower than his estimate and likely will be dwarfed by counter-protests. "Some leading figures in the U.S. white nationalist movement have said they won't attend or have encouraged supporters to stay away," the AP reported. UPDATES: *5:04 p.m. ET WUSA reporter Andrea McCarren tweets that, "The 10-15 #UniteTheRight2 demonstrators have left Lafayette Park, under police escort. The thousands of #ShutDownDC demonstrators cheered upon their exit and are still chanting." *4:45 p.m. ET From the AP: "A group of about 30 white nationalists has marched to a park near the White House for what they call a rally in favor of white civil rights. "Thousands of counterprotesters are in the area, too, and jeered and heckled the white nationalists as they made their way down the street surrounded by police." *4:30 p.m. ET "Far more media in Lafayette Park than #UniteTheRight2 demonstraters," tweeted Andrea McCarren, WUSA investigative reporter in Washington. *3:45 p.m. ET White nationalist protesters are inside Lafayette Square Park and Washington, D.C. police are blocking the entrance to the park, keeping counter-protesters at a distance, according to WUSA. *2:30 p.m ET More than 1,000 counter protesters have gathered near the White House, rallying against the planned white nationalist rally that's supposed to begin at 5:30 p.m. ET.<doc-sep>

WASHINGTON — A handful of members of right wing, white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups holding a rally near the White House on Sunday were vastly outnumbered by crowds of counterprotesters. Dubbed Unite the Right 2, the white supremacist rally was organized by Jason Kessler, a self-described “white civil rights” activist who held a similar event in Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 12 last year. While that rally sparked massive clashes that brought attention to emboldened right-wing groups, Kessler’s second event failed to draw a sizable crowd of supporters. A young woman named Heather Heyer died during the Charlottesville rally when a neo-Nazi sympathizer drove his car into a crowd of protesters. Many others were injured and two police officers also died in a helicopter crash while they were patroling the event. Because of the past violence, Washington braced for a similar situation on Sunday, with numerous local businesses closing and officials developing a plan for rally participants to be escorted to the event’s location in Lafayette Park with police protection. Protestors march against the far-right’s rally in Washington on Aug. 12 — the one-year anniversary of a similar protest in Charlottesville, Va., that turned deadly. (Photo: Daniel Slim/AFP/Getty Images) But Sunday’s rally did not generate the turnout Kessler might have envisioned, with only about 20 allies joining him. Traveling to the event on the Metro train from suburban Vienna, Va., Kessler’s group arrived in downtown D.C. at about 2:30 p.m. They were flanked by police as they walked a few blocks to the park, which is across the street from the White House. Demonstrators march near the White House on the one-year anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va. (Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Slideshow: Unite the Right protesters a few – Anti-facists a many >>> Large crowds of counterprotesters encircled the group and tossed objects at them as they marched from the train. At Lafayette Park, police kept Kessler and his followers far from the protesters, who had them surrounded. The counterprotesters included members of a wide variety of groups, including socialists and Black Lives Matter organizations. Maurice Cook, co-founder of March for Racial Justice, which helped plan the counterprotests, told Yahoo News that turnout was “more than we expected. Story continues “This is beautiful,” Cook said. “There’s many more than a thousand people here that have participated in this event today. … Everyone has been just beautiful and a wonderful celebration of our love for each other, just a wonderful expression of what this country is supposed to be.” White nationalist leader Jason Kessler speaks during the Unite the Right 2 event in Washington. (Photo: Jim Urquhart/Reuters) Many of the counterprotesters didn’t even get a glimpse of Kessler and his contingent because the police kept them so far away. A man named Ksreem said he saw them only with the help of a pair of binoculars. A woman named Gavi sat on a friend’s shoulders to peer at members of the group and wave a cardboard sign that said “F*** NAZIS.” “I got up here to see how many people are there, and there really are not that many people,” Gavi said of Kessler’s group. Her friend, who said his name was Charlie, described the counterprotests as “overwhelming.” “It’s such an easy cause to be behind, such senseless hate,” Charlie said. “I don’t see how you can’t be a part of this. … I was nervous coming in, honestly, but I just felt really supported by the whole crowd.” A counterprotester holds a sign at the white nationalist rally in Washington. (Photo: Jim Urquhart/Reuters) Signs and chants criticizing President Trump featured prominently in the counterprotests. Following the clashes in Charlottesville, Trump provoked outrage by saying there were “fine people” on both sides of the protests. It was one of multiple occasions when Trump has avoided denouncing white nationalists, some of whom ardently support him. Cook accused the president of being “one of the motivators” for such groups. “Folks have felt emboldened by the policies and the rhetoric of that faux president sitting there in our house,” said Cook pointing toward the White House. Cook said he was present for last year’s violence in Charlottesville but that he was “not concerned” about similar chaos unfolding Sunday. “I knew that our love was strong for each other and that we would protect one another,” Cook said.

Cardi B is bracing herself now that she’s turned herself in to police after allegedly being involved in a strip club attack, and she fears a jail time sentence will take her away from her baby daughter, Kulture. Cardi B, 25, tried to do the right thing when she turned herself in to the New York Police Department after allegedly being involved in an attack on two bartenders at a strip club, but now she’s fearing it will lead to incarceration and time away from her two-month old daughter Kulture. “Cardi is confident she’ll beat these charges and be proven innocent but it’s still really scary that jail could be on the table,” a source close to Cardi EXCLUSIVELY told HollywoodLife. “The thought of that is really terrifying for her, especially because it would mean she’d be separated from her baby girl which would be heartbreaking. Cardi can’t stand to spend even one night away from Kulture so the idea of being behind bars, away from Kulture is enough to make her cry, it’s devastating.” Cardi’s fears are understandable considering some of the serious charges she’s facing. Back in Aug. 2018, she attended Angels Strip Club in the Big Apple and after hearing that one of the two female bartenders may have slept with her husband Offset, the rapper allegedly got her crew to injure the women with bottles and chairs. We spoke with three New York attorneys who EXCLUSIVELY told us that Cardi could face up to one-two years in jail depending on how things go in court. She could also be sued for a lot of money but if she doesn’t have a troubled track record, she may be able to avoid maximum punishment. Cardi’s had quite the year when it comes to fighting. In addition to the strip club incident, the new mom made headlines when she tried to fight Nicki Minaj at the Harper’s Bazaar ICONS party during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 7. Although she didn’t get to Nicki in the crowd, she did leave the party with a huge knot on her head for trying. Cardi later took to social media to explain that she acted the way she did because she had heard that Nicki was talking ill of her daughter and like any protective mother, she did what she could to defend her baby girl. Nicki had her own explanations when she later took to her radio show to deny the claim and call Cardi a liar.<doc-sep>Cardi B turned herself in to police in New York City on Monday in connection to an alleged incident at a Queens strip club in August Will She Face Jail Time? What Cardi B's Assault and Reckless Endangerment Charges Could Mean Cardi B’s recent arrest has caused many fans to wonder: will it lead to jail time? On Monday, the “I Like It” rapper, 25, was charged with one Class A misdemeanor count of third-degree assault and two Class A misdemeanor counts of second-degree reckless endangerment stemming from a fight that took place at a strip club in Queens, New York, back in August. Get push notifications with news, features and more. According to FindLaw, the penalty for third-degree assault in New York is up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000, while Stephen Bilkis & Associates reports that misdemeanor second-degree reckless endangerment can lead to time in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to three years of probation. In accordance with the New York State penal code, individuals face a count of assault in the third degree if they are found guilty of one of the following: intending to cause physical injury to another person or inadvertently injuring a third party; recklessly causing physical injury to another person; acting with criminal negligence, they cause “physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument.” Cardi B Strip Club Fracas, New York, USA - 01 Oct 2018 Credit: Mark Lennihan/AP/REX/Shutterstock The terms “deadly weapon” and “dangerous instrument” are vague enough to include anything from traditional weapons to fists in a physical altercation. However, an individual also must be found guilty of “physical injury” which, according to New York legal firm Crotty and Saland, equates to “substantial pain.” While third-degree assault carries an intent to harm, reckless endangerment occurs when an individual acts irresponsibly, creating what the New York penal code defines as “a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person.” So what exactly did Cardi do that landed her in court? Cardi was “throwing chairs, bottles and hookahs in the club at 3 a.m.,” a police spokesman told CNN. The mother of 3-month old Kulture Kiari was arrested after surrendering to police on Monday and will be arraigned on Oct. 29, PEOPLE confirmed. Cardi B Strip Club Fracas, New York, USA - 01 Oct 2018 Cardi B | Credit: Mark Lennihan/AP/REX/Shutterstock In order for Cardi to face jail time, she must be found guilty of third-degree assault and receive among the strictest sentences from the presiding judge. In order for this to occur, there must be proof that she physically injured the two women during the altercation at the strip club. Sources close to Cardi previously denied that she was involved in the attack, according to TMZ. While the bartenders were reportedly injured during the brawl, both women declined to receive medical treatment. “We’re aware of no evidence that she caused anybody any harm on that night,” the rapper’s attorney Jeff Kern told press outside the police station on Monday. “We expect that the matter is going to be resolved expeditiously.” A lawyer for the alleged victims begs to differ. “Cardi B ordered and committed violent assaults against my clients, and is being called to justice for her crimes,” Joe Tacopina, an attorney for the alleged victims, said in a statement to PEOPLE. “Apparently, she thinks her celebrity status puts her above the law, since she has bragged to multiple people and on social media that she orchestrated these vicious attacks.”<doc-sep>Cardi B Could Face Up To “One Year In Jail” After Being Arrested Over Strip Club Fight Cardi B. Picture: PA Cardi was arrested by New York police... Cardi B may face up to one year in jail after being arrested over an alleged strip club fight – weeks after her altercation with Nicki Minaj. The ‘Bodak Yellow’ rapper, who surrendered to New York police officers yesterday, was officially arrested and charged with two criminal misdemeanours, assault and reckless endangerment. The New York rapper also reportedly had a mug shot taken and was required to provide her fingerprints. “Whether she’s a famous rapper or a common street hood, she’s got to be held accountable for her criminal actions,” said Joseph Tacopino, an attorney for Jade and Baddie G, the women who were assaulted. “It’s as simple as that: She ordered the beating after threatening my clients and later participated in an assault against them.” According to reports, Cardi B may potentially face that maximum punishment of jail time for allegedly ordering her crew to assault two bartenders over her husband Offset. Cardi B. Picture: PA However this will only happen if she is convicted of the crime and already has prior contacts with the criminal system, which is extremely unlikely. She could also potentially face one to three years of probation if found guilty. Cardi B is set to be arraigned on 29th October.<doc-sep>

Cardi B Could Go To Prison After She's Charged With Assault Cardi B has denied allegations she ordered an attack on two barmaids at a New York strip club. Picture: PA Cardi B was charged with assault following allegations that she'd ordered an attack on two people at a New York strip club in August 2018. Cardi B handed herself into police recently and has now been charged with assault and reckless endangerment followng claims she organised an attack on two barmaids at New York strip club Angels, just weeks after getting into a fight with Nicki Minaj at New York Fashion Week. > Cardi B's Sister Has Savagely Dragged Nicki Minaj On Instagram The 'I Like It' rapper is set to appear in court later this year and faces a trial to prove her innocence with many fans worried that Cardi could be sent to prison if she's found guilty. Cardi B was charged with assault after handing herslef in to police recently. Picture: PA The two barmaids who claim they were assaulted were sisters Jade and Baddie Gi and reports have suggested that Cardi ordered the attack because she believed that Jade had slept with her husband, Migos star Offset. Migos had been performing a show at the club and Cardi B was in attendance watching her husband when the alleged assault took place. A police spokesman claimed Cardi was "throwing chairs, bottles and hookahs [smoking pipes] in the club at 3 a.m." Cardi B's attourney Jeff Kern told waiting press outside the police station, "We're aware of no evidence that she caused anybody any harm on that night. We expect that the matter is going to be resolved expeditiously." Speaking out on behalf of the alleged victims, attourney Joe Tacopina said, "Cardi B ordered and committed violent assaults against my clients, and is being called to justice for her crimes. Apparently, she thinks her celebrity status puts her above the law, since she has bragged to multiple people and on social media that she orchestrated these vicious attacks." He went on to add, "But reality is setting in, as justice does not care whether her name is Cardi B or Carly B, and she will now answer for her crimes." The assault charge comes just weeks after Cardi B was caught on camera getting into a fight with Nicki Minaj at New York Fashion Week, which ended with Cardi throwing a shoe at the 'Queen' rapper. Cardi B could end up in prison after being charged with assault and reckless endangerment. Picture: PA Cardi B only gave birth to daughter Kulture back in July 2018 and only released her debut album in April, so it's been a rollercoaster year for the 'Bodak Yellow' star. Currently no date has been set for Cardi B's assault trial. > Download Our Free App For All The Latest Cardi B News!

Pakistan election: Ballot boxes are being emptied and counted 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. About 371,000 soldiers were stationed at polling stations yesterday to prevent attacks, nearly five times the number deployed at the last election in 2013. Violence erupted across the country, with at least 31 dead in the worst attack, a suspected suicide bomb in the city if Quetta. The election battle was predominantly between the parties of ex-cricket star Imran Khan (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI) and the disgraced former PM Nawaz Sharif (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N). Sharif's brother, Shehbaz, now leads the PML-N. According to the latest opinion polls, neither Khan nor Sharif were likely to win a clear majority in the election. Khan has emerged as victorious, but the official count has been marred by corruption allegations, and a victory speech was made while only 50 percent of votes had been officially declared. Here is the latest news and live updates on the Pakistan election and results. All times in BST, which is four hours behind Pakistan. Friday July 27 5.50am update: Imran Khan has won but will need COALITION to form government Official results give cricket star win. But will need a coalition to form government. 4:58am update: Still no result two days after election The official result of the election has still not been announced, as Pakistan wakes up to its second full day following its election. Yesterday, Imran Khan claimed victory, but this still hasn't been confirmed by authorities. 3:55am update: Khan wants more 'equal' relationship with America Khan said he would work for a more equal “more balanced relationship” with the US. He said he wanted better ties with Iran and would use his power to play a reconciliatory role in the Middle East. 1:37am update: Khan promises to address all vote rigging allegations In his victory speech, Imran Khan said his government would facilitate investigations into rigging complaints. He ended by saying: “I thank all Pakistanis again... pray for me that Allah gives me the strength to fulfil all the promises I have made to you.” 0:03am update: Will Khan's leadership cause problems for women? Some analysts have predicted that the new leadership of Imran Khan could cause problems for women in Pakistan. In one recent interview, the former cricketer described western feminist as an impediment to motherhood. He has also promised to transform Pakistan into an Islamic State - something which could lead to restrictions on women. Caitlin Doherty takes over reporting from Kate Whitfield Thursday July 26 9.52pm update: Not too much longer to go now The current count is as follows: PTI - 103 PML-N - 53 PPP - 27 Other - 29 There are 60 more seats to be declared until we have the full tally on 272. If PTI hit 137, they will have an outright majority in a stunning defeat. 9pm update: Who is Imran Khan, Pakistan's next leader? While we wait for more results to be announced, here’s a look at the enigmatic future leader’s life till now. Khan was born Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi in Lahore in 1952. The cricket star, now 65, was best known in the 70s as an Oxford-educated playboy. He was spotted out at London’s nightclubs with a bevvy of beautiful women on his arm. This glamorous image peaked in 1992, when Khan led Pakistan's cricket team to a World Cup win Things changed in 1995, when he married Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of late Jewish financier Sir James Goldsmith. A devout Muslim, he founded his PTI party shortly after his marriage to Jemima, and he became increasingly devoted to a political career. The main focus of his party is to "bring justice to the people of Pakistan, largely via an independent judiciary". Khan and Jemima had two sons, but their marriage ended in 2004. However, he continued his relentless devotion to politics. In 2007, Khan went on hunger strike to protest against emergency rule in Pakistan a week after being jailed as part of a continuing crackdown on political opponents. He was also charged under anti-terrorism laws after being seized by hard-liners at a student demonstration in Lahore. Today, he is no doubt celebrating that his sacrifices paid off. Earlier today, his ex-wife Jemima tweeted: “22 years later, after humiliations, hurdles and sacrifices, my sons’ father is Pakistan’s next PM. It’s an incredible lesson in tenacity, belief & refusal to accept defeat. The challenge now is to remember why he entered politics in the 1st place. Congratulations @ImranKhanPTI” Khan married 39-year-old faith healer Bushra Maneka in February this year. 8pm upate: RECAP Nothing much has changed over the past hour, and the results declared remain. What is evident now is that Imran Khan's PTI party will have the majority, but whether it's enough to gain an overall majority to form a government remains to be seen. It has long been expected that a coalition government with PPP and PLM-N. We will bring you the result as they are officially declared throughout the night. 7pm update: PTI supporters celebrate into the night Pakistan election: A PTI supporter Pakistan election: PTI is enjoying a comfortable lead Pakistan election: Supporters set of fireworks in celebration 6.45pm update: Khan's cricket fraternity tweet their congrats Former cricketer Wasim Akram wrote: "It was in your leadership skip @ImrankhanPTI that we became world champions in 1992. It is in your leadership that we can again become a great democratic country." Sana Mir wrote: "Congratulations @ImranKhanPTI for your tremendous struggle of 22 years for the people of Pakistan." 6pm update: A few more results trickle in Khan's PTI is still enjoying a comfortable lead, but it is not yet clear whether they will gain an outright majority or have to form a coalition. PTI - 86 PML-N - 46 PPP - 21 Other - 25 4.45pm update: Latest official results PTI - 72 PML-N - 32 PPP - 14 Other - 19 137 seats are needed for an overall majority 3.30pm update: A new age dawns in Pakistan Imran Khan, a former cricketer, playboy, and well-known personality, appears to have done the impossible. Khan has no experience whatsoever in government, yet his rise to the cusp of being named Pakistan's 19th Prime Minister has been meteoric. In a political sphere which has long been dominated by the wealthy Bhutto and Sharif families, this marks the dawn of a new age in Pakistan. This religiously conservative country will view Khan's success as a symbol of the end of corruption and cronyism, and hopes will be highly pinned on the new leader to hit the ground running. 2.19pm update: Pakistanis react to Khan's victory speech While Pakistan takes in the long-awaited results of the general election, people are beginning to react. The tone is mostly positive, if a little cautious. Pakistan election: Reactions are beginning to come in Pakistan election: People tweet their reactions Pakistan election: Reactions are cautiously positive Kate Whitfield taking overlive reporting from Vickiie Oliphant 1.26pm update: I thank Allah for this victory, says Imran Khan Khan addressed the nation from his home in Banigala, on the outskirts of Islamabad. “Today, at this moment, I want all of Pakistan to unite,” he said. “My government will not take vengeful action against anyone.” Imran Khan claimed victory this afternoon 1.19pm update: BREAKING - Imran Khan claims victory in press conference as PTI party leads He told reporters: "I came into politics 22 years ago because I believe that the potential of our country was not being realised. “The Pakistan that I saw growing up deteriorated in front of my very eyes.<doc-sep>Imran Khan’s PTI is in the lead for Pakistan’s National Assembly seats, according to unofficial results. The entire process suffered a set-back when the Election Commission’s electronic system developed a glitch that led to a two-hour delay in the announcement of the results on Wednesday night, July 25. The PPP, MQM and PML-N have all held press conferences, saying that there were irregularities. Analysts said it would not be surprising if protests would be the next step. The Karachi Stock Exchange rose by 750 points as the results began pouring in July 26. There are 272 seats in the National Assembly but polling was done on 270 seats because polling was delayed in two. The Election Commission of Pakistan will release the official results much later. An earlier version of this story had results as they were emerging. They were not exit poll results as SAMAA TV ran them. This story has been updated with the official ECP results on Friday. NA-1: Chitral: Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali of the MMA has won with 48,616 votes. NA-2 Swat-I: Haider Ali Khan of the PTI has won with 61,687 votes. NA-3: Swat: Saleem Rehman of the PTI has won with 68,162 votes. NA-4: Swat: Murad Saeed of the PTI has won with 71,600 votes. NA-5: Upper Dir: Sahibzada Sibghatullah of the PTI has won with 66,545 votes. NA-6: Lower Dir: Mehboob Shah of the PTI has won with 63,440 votes. NA-7: Lower Dir: Muhammad Bashir Khan of the PTI has won with 63,017 votes. NA-8: Malakand: Junaid Akbar of the PTI has won with 81,310 votes. NA-9: Buner: Sher Akbar Khan of the PTI has won with 58,037 votes. NA-10: Shangla: Ibadullah Khan of the PML-N has won with 34,070 votes. NA-11: Kohistan: Afreen Khan of the MMA has won with 15,859 votes. NA-12: Battgram: Muhammad Nawaz Khan of the PTI has won with 34,270 votes. NA-13: Mansehra: Independent candidate Saleh Muhammad has won with 109,262 votes. NA-14: (Mansehra-Tor Ghar): Muhammad Sajjad of the PML-N has won with 74,889 votes. NA-15: Abbottabad: Murtaza Javed Abbasi of the PML-N has won with 95,340 votes. NA-16: Abbottabad: Ali Khan Jadoon of the PTI has won with 85,203 votes. NA-17: Haripur: Omar Ayub Khan of the PTI has won with 172,609 votes. NA-18: Swabi: Asad Qaiser of the PTI has won with 78,970 votes. NA-19: Usman Khan of the PTI has won with 83903 votes. NA-20: Mujahid Ali of the PTI has won with 78140 votes. NA-21: Amir Haider Azam Khan of the ANP has won with 78911 votes. NA-22: Ali Muhammad of the PTI has won with 58577 votes. NA-23: Anwar Taj of the PTI has won with 59371 votes. NA-24: Fazal Muhammad Khan of the PTI has won with 83495 votes. NA-25: Pervez Khattak of the PTI has won with 82118 votes. NA-26: Imran Khattak of the PTI has won with 90256 votes. NA-27: Noor Alam Khan of the PTI has won with 71158 votes. NA-28: Arbab Amir Ayub of the PTI has won with 74414 votes. NA-29: Nasir Khan of the PTI has won with 49762 votes. NA-30: Sher Ali Arbab of the PTI has won with 73781 votes. NA-31: Shaukat Ali (s/o) Liaqat Ali of the PTI has won with 87895 votes. NA-32: Results are awaited. Kohat Shehryar Afridi of the PTI was leading over the MMA’s Gohar Muhammad in initial and unofficial results. NA-33: Khial Zaman of the PTI has won with 28819 votes. NA-34: Shahid Ahmad of the PTI has won with 77181 votes. NA-35: Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi of the PTI has won with 113822 votes. NA-36: Muhammad Anwar of the MMA has won with 91065 votes. NA-37 Tank: Results are awaited. At last count, MMA’s Asad Mehmood was leading against independent Dawar Khan Kundi… NA-38: Ali Amin Khan of the PTI has won with 80236 votes. NA-39: Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh of the PTI has won with 79334 votes. NA-40: Gul Dad Khan of the PTI has won with 34616 votes. NA-41: Gul Zafar Khan of the PTI has won with 22730 votes. NA-42: Sajid Khan of the PTI has won with 22717 votes. NA-43: Noor Ul Haq Al Qadri of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaniat has won with 33243 votes. NA-44: Mohammad Iqbal Khan of the PTI has won with 12537 votes. NA-45: Munir Khan Orakzai of the MMA has won with 16353 votes. NA-46: Sajid Hussain Turi of the PPP has won with 21461 votes. NA-47: Jawad Hussain of the PTI has won with 11102 votes. NA-48: Independent candidate Mohsin Javed has won with 16496 votes. NA-49: Muhammad Jamal Ud Din of the MMA has won with 7794 votes. NA-50: Independent candidate Muhammad Ali has won with 23530 votes. NA-51: Abdul Shakoor of the MMA has won with 21896 votes. NA-52: Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz of the PTI has won with 64690 votes. NA-53: Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi of the PTI has won with 92891 votes. NA-54: Asad Umer of the PTI has won with 56945 votes. NA-55: Tahir Sadiq of the PTI has won with 145168 votes. NA-56: Tahir Sadiq of the PTI has won with 163325 votes. NA-57: Sadaqat Ali Khan of the PTI has won with 136249 votes. NA-58: Raja Pervaiz Ashraf of the PPP has won with 125090 votes. NA-59: Ghulam Sarwar Khan of the PTI has won with 89055 votes. NA-60: Postponed. NA-61: Aamir Mehmood Kiani of the PTI has won with 105,000 votes. NA-62: Sheikh Rashid Ahmed of the AML has won with 117719 votes. NA-63: Ghulam Sarwar Khan of the PTI has won with 100986 votes. NA-64: Zulfiqar Ali Khan of the PTI has won with 155214 votes. NA-65: Parvez Elahi of the PML-Q has won with 157497 votes. NA-66: Chaudhry Farrukh Altaf of the PTI has won with 112356 votes. NA-67: Fawad Ahmed of the PTI has won with 93102 votes. NA-68: Hussain Elahi of the PML-Q has won with 104678 votes. NA-69: Parvez Elahi of the PML-Q has won with 122336 votes. NA-70: Syed Faiz ul Hassan of the PTI has won with 95168 votes. NA-71: Chaudhry Abid Raza of the PML-N has won with 88588 votes. NA-72: Chaudhry Armghan Subhani of the PML-N has won with 129041 votes. NA-73: Khawaja Muhammad Asif of the PML-N has won with 116957 votes. NA-74: Ali Zahid of the PML-N has won with 97235 votes. NA-75: Syed Iftikhar Ul Hassan of the PML-N has won with 101617 votes. NA-76: Rana Shamim Ahmed Khan of the PML-N has won with 133664 votes. NA-77: Mehnaz Akber Aziz of the PML-N has won with 106366 votes. NA-78: Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary of the PML-N has won with 159651 votes. NA-79: Nisar Ahmed Cheema of the PML-N has won with 142545 votes. NA-80: Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk of the PML-N has won with 108653 votes. NA-81: Khurram Dastgir Khan of the PML-N has won with 130837 votes. NA-82: Usman Ibrahim (s/o) Muhammad Ibrahim of the PML-N has won with 117520 votes. NA-83: Zulfiqar Ahmad of the PML-N has won with 139235 votes. NA-84: Azhar Qayyum Nahra of the PML-N has won with 119612 votes. NA-85: Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Choudhary of the PTI has won with 99996 votes. NA-86: Nasir Iqbal Bosal of the PML-N has won with 147105 votes. NA-87: Ch. Shoukat Ali Bhatti of the PTI has won with 165618 votes. NA-88: Mukhtar Ahmad Malik of the PML-N has won with 129615 votes. NA-89: Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha of the PML-N has won with 114245 votes. NA-90: Ch. Muhammad Hamid Hameed of the PML-N has won with 93948 votes. NA-91: Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti of the PML-N has won with 110525 votes. NA-92: Syed Javed Husnain of the PML-N has won with 97013 votes. NA-93: Umar Aslam Khan of the PTI has won with 100448 votes. NA-94: Malik Muhammad Ehsan Ullah Tiwana of the PTI has won with 93864 votes. NA-95: Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi of the PTI has won with 163538 votes. NA-96: AMJID ALI KHAN of the PTI has won with 157422 votes. NA-97: Independent candidate MUHAMMAD SANA ULLAH KHAN MASTI KHEL has won with 120729 votes. NA-98: Muhammad Afzal Khan of the PTI has won with 138307 votes. NA-99: GHULAM MUHAMMAD of the PTI has won with 81330 votes.<doc-sep>Pakistan's 5 Biggest Post-Election Challenges Pakistan's next government will face myriad challenges, from unsustainable population growth to simmering extremism, all complicated by the decades-long tussle between civilian and military leadership. No matter who is voted into office after today's polls, the new rulers will have to make hard choices, and quickly. Here is a rundown of the biggest hurdles Pakistan is facing: - Terrorism - Pakistan has been battling terrorism which has originated from its own soil. Over the years, it has become a victim of its own creation. While terror originating from Pakistan is a massive threat to the rest of the world, security within the country has improved in recent times. Analysts, however, have long warned that Pakistan is not tackling the root causes of extremism, and terrorists can still carry out attacks at will. That includes during this election season, with a string of bombings at political events killing more than 180 people, including the second-deadliest terror attack in Pakistan's history. Analysts have warned that terrorists may be regrouping and seeking to reassert themselves after years of setbacks. - Economy - Pakistan's next government faces growing fears of a balance of payments crisis, with speculation mounting it will have to seek its second bailout in five years from the International Monetary Fund. The central bank is burning through foreign exchange reserves and devaluing the Pakistani rupee, including another five-percent dive this month, in a bid to bridge a widening trade deficit. Pakistan, which has long relied heavily on imports, increased its procurement of materials to help build a string of Chinese-backed infrastructure projects under a multi-billion-dollar investment package with Beijing. The terms of the projects are opaque, leading to fears about Islamabad's ability to pay for them. The economy has also been stung by higher oil prices. Meanwhile, meagre exports such as textiles have taken a hit from cheaper products by regional competitors, including China, while foreign remittances -- a major contributor to the economy -- have also slowed. The winner of the election will have "limited time" to act, Fitch ratings agency warned earlier this month. - Population growth - Conservative Pakistan, with its limited family planning, has one of the highest birth rates in Asia at around three children per woman, according to the World Bank and government figures. That has led to a fivefold increase of the population since 1960, now touching 207 million, draft results from last year's census show. The boom is negating hard-won economic and social progress in the developing country, experts have warned. To add to the problem, discussing contraception in public is taboo in Pakistan. Analysts say unless more is done to slow growth, the country's natural resources -- particularly drinking water -- will not be enough to support the population. - Water shortages - Pakistan is on the verge of an ecological disaster if authorities do not urgently address looming water shortages, experts say. Official estimates show that by 2025 the country will be facing an "absolute scarcity" of water, with less than 500 cubic metres available per person -- just one-third of the water available in parched Somalia, according to the UN. Pakistan has just three major water storage basins, compared with more than a thousand in South Africa or Canada. As such, any surplus water is quickly lost. Political initiative will be essential to building infrastructure to reverse the course of the impending crisis. There is also little in the way of public education on water conservation. - Civil-military relations - Pakistan has spent roughly half its nearly 70-year history under military rule, and the imbalance of power in between civilian governments and the armed forces has long been seen as an impediment to democracy and progress. Hope surged in 2013 as the country saw its first-ever transition of power from one democratically-elected government to another. But since then, experts have warned of a "creeping coup", fuelled by tensions between the generals and the government of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif, largely attributed to his desire to assert civilian supremacy and seek warmer relations with India. Nawaz Sharif, ousted in 2017 and arrested for corruption earlier this month, says he and his party are being targeted by the military. Activists and several prominent journalists have also accused the military of trying to install a pliant civilian government through pressure on politicians and the media. It denies the allegations. The next government will be tasked with meeting the country's challenges without upsetting this delicate balance of power. (Courtesy: AFP)<doc-sep>

Pakistan’s general election has been plunged into chaos after the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) said it would reject the result amid widespread allegations that the military was rigging the ballot in favour of the party led by the former cricketer Imran Khan. With only a third of the vote counted by 3am – an hour after the result was officially due – Khan’s Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led in 110 seats, with the PMLN trailing on 68. Results continued to trickle in slowly on Thursday, hours after Khan’s supporters took to the streets to celebrate victory. Election authorities have not yet confirmed when they expect to announce the results. Some reports suggested it would not be until Thursday evening at the earliest. More than a dozen domestic TV channels projected that the PTI would get as many as 119 seats out of a total 272 in the lower-house, exceeding expectations and delivering the role of prime minister to Khan for the first time. Quick Guide Pakistan elections: who are three main parties? Show Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Also known as the Justice party, it is led by the former cricketer Imran Khan, and has had some success at provincial level but has never been able to convert it into national power. Khan has been accused both of lacking a coherent political philosophy and of sympathising with extremists. He has described the Taliban’s fight in Afghanistan as a holy war, and accused “liberals” who support Nato’s war on the group of being “thirsty for blood”. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Hopes to win control of parliament again, even though its leader, Nawaz Sharif, is in prison for corruption. Tried and sentenced in absentia, he returned to the country this month to serve his sentence, hoping to revitalise the campaign before the election. Now led by Sharif’s brother Shahbaz, the party is focusing on its economic success and promises of energy and infrastructure investment from China. However, efforts to increase tax revenues have faltered. Pakistan People’s party (PPP) Led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of the assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The party lost ground after Benazir was killed in 2007 but the family name still carries considerable weight. The third-generation leader appears to be playing a long game, rebuilding support in its heartland with an eye on future elections. If it does well in this vote, the PPP could potentially serve as a junior partner in a coalition. Photograph: Aamir Qureshi/AFP Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), an independent body, blamed the delay in announcing the result on a breakdown in the Results Transmission Software it purchased from a British company. “There’s no conspiracy, nor any pressure in delay of the results,” the ECP secretary, Babar Yaqoob, told reporters. “The delay is being caused because the result transmission system has collapsed.” But Shehbaz Sharif, the leader of the PMLN, said his party “wholly rejects” the result of the election, telling a press conference that his party’s polling agents had been evicted from dozens of stations by security officials before a final tally was reached, leaving them unable to monitor potential tampering. “The mandate of millions of people who came out to vote has been humiliated. Our democratic process has been pushed back by decades,” said Sharif. The PMLN, which tried to curb the power of the military while in office, has claimed for months that the establishment was “engineering” the vote against it. The party’s former leader Nawaz Sharif, who on 13 July began a legally-dubious 10-year prison sentence for corruption, has accused the deputy head of the country’s all-powerful ISI spy agency of leadinga campaign against the PMLN. He said it included pressure on its candidates to defect, a spate of court cases and the silencing of supportive media channels. Supporters of Imran Khan, who is head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, celebrate on a street during general election in Islamabad. Photograph: Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images As election workers sorted through massive piles of paper ballots, almost all the parties – except the PTI – alleged that their polling agents had been excluded from polling stations. Bilawal Bhutto, the leader of the liberal Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – the country’s third-largest party – tweeted it was “inexcusable and outrageous” that his activists had been excluded “across the country”. It’s now past midnight & I haven’t received official results from any constituency I am contesting my myself.

PUBG Update 15 Patch Notes Changes Map Selection To Playlists & Adds Sanhok To Rotation The new island map is the only one in one of the playlists, so it is possible the snow map will be joining it this year. In addition to the long-awaited release of the new Sanhok island map, which aims to deliver shorter and more consistently exciting matches via the smaller play area, PUBG's update #15 includes some additional significant changes to the game. Update #15 goes live on June 22, 2018, and we've got some of the highlights down below, including the new weapon: The QBZ95 assault rifle. The QBZ95, which you can see in action in the trailer above, uses 5.56mm rounds and holds 30 rounds per standard magazine. An extension changes the capacity to 40. In Sanhok only, the QBZ95 completely replaces the SCAR-L in the weapon spawn pool. With Sanhok now in the mix, PUBG Corp devs have decided to change the map selection option to a playlist option. The two options are Battle Royale and Mini Royale. Battle includes Erangel and Miramar. Mini only has Sanhok, so it's entirely possible the upcoming snow map will be slotted into that playlist. If it isn't, it is clear that smaller maps are in the plans. Additional performance, UI, and Sanhok feature updates can be found in the PUBG steam page post sharing all the patch notes for update #15. Stay tuned to Shacknews for additional updates and be sure to download update 15 on June 22, 2018.<doc-sep>PUBG just got a massive 13.4GB update on its Test Server, officially bringing Sanhok one step closer to its full release. The patch also includes our first look at a brand-new gun, the QBZ95. Learn all about it in the official patch notes. 'PUBG' UPDATE 15 PATCH NOTES Sanhok Added a new map: Sanhok (pronounced "sah-nok") Sanhok is a 4km x 4km map (one fourth the size of Erangel or Miramar). Although games tend to end a little more quickly on this tiny island, battles are still massive. Every game still features 100 players. Certain settings have been customized specifically for Sanhok to better fit its unique design. Details are below. Performance Faraway players and vehicles aren't rendered the same way on Sanhok, resulting in some server performance improvements. Gameplay Weather in Sanhok changes dynamically. Players can throw apples while waiting to board the plane in the in-game lobby. Redzone The redzone is smaller and shorter-lasting on Sanhok. The center of the redzone appears outside of the playzone (the white circle). This means players are more at risk when outside of the playzone. Bluezone Bluezone on Sanhok has shorter waiting times and longer travel times. The bluezone is also dynamic. It checks remaining player numbers before deciding the next circle, adjusting the waiting time and travel time accordingly (this doesn't affect circle size). Spawn Balance The item spawn rules have been customized on Sanhok to get you equipped for battle faster. ARs, SMGs and DMRs are spawned more often. The total item spawn rate has been increased five percent compared to that found in the fourth round of Sanhok testing. 8x scopes and 15x scopes don't spawn on Sanhok. However, they may still be obtained from care packages. Performance We've optimized the way servers handle many nearby objects to improve performance. This includes optimizations for: Characters models Vehicles Weapons World Added advertisement banners for PGI (PUBG Global Invitational) to buildings, billboards and the default parachute skin on Erangel and Miramar The Bengal Tiger parachute skin is unchanged and when equipped will replace the default skin. Items Added the QBZ95, a Sanhok-exclusive weapon The QBZ is an AR that uses 5.56mm rounds. It can hold 30 rounds per magazine, and can be extended to 40 rounds. The QBZ replaces the SCAR-L in Sanhok's item spawn pool (meaning the SCAR-L no longer spawns on Sanhok). The QBZ95 spawns about 1.4x as often as the SCAR-L used to spawn on Sanhok. Gameplay Accuracy modifiers applied from moving, changing movement stances or aiming modes are no longer applied instantly. This means that, for example, when aiming down the sight, you won't gain the full accuracy improvements from ADS until your sights are aligned. The winning player or team will now be given approximately eight seconds to celebrate their victory before the match ends and results are displayed. Spectators can also watch the winning player or team celebrate. UI With three maps now in the game, you'll choose between two "playlists" instead of two maps. The Battle Royale playlist contains both Erangel and Miramar. Selecting it will randomly drop you into one of the two. The Mini Royale playlist contains only Sanhok for now. Select both playlists to be randomly dropped into one of the three maps currently in the game. Many game UI elements have been updated The friend list UI has been updated Leaderboard and Replay UI has been improved Pop ups in the lobby and game sessions have been visually enhanced Pop up window showing matchmaking status has been improved In-game UI elements such as inventory, map, results window have been improved Improved the in-game minimap The mini map now dynamically zooms in or out depending on the character's movement speed, enhancing your ability to see what's around you. The 'Minimap Dynamic Zoom' option can be turned on/off in the options menu. The minimap can now be expanded Minimap expansion can be toggled on/off using the 'N' key To improve visibility of the Blue Zone in the map, areas under the Blue Zone are now colored blue. The Blue Zone indicator bar located above the minimap has been improved Added universal scope sensitivity setting, with the ability to individually set scope sensitivities if desired Sensitivity levels now apply properly for scopes with a variable zoom A new option to adjust crosshair color using RGBA values has been added under the options menu The loading screen has been modified to display game-related tips Sound Plane engine sound volume when beginning the match has been decreased The volume of sounds made by bodies of water (oceans, rivers) has been decreased Care package plane's volume attenuation curve is now steeper. This means the distance at which the plane can be heard is the same, but the distance at which the plane's maximum sound can be heard has been decreased All weapon sounds have been remastered for better quality The sound effect made when throwables impact water has been improved Crates Aviator crate is now included in weekly random crates, its drop rate has been updated. Aviator: 20 percent Eguinox: 15 percent Triumph: 10 percent Raider: 15 percent Fever: 2.5 percent Militia: 15 percent Biker: 10 percent Desperado: 2.5 percent Survivor: five percent Wander: five percent Effects We've improved visual effects when bullets strike ground or water The splash effect shown when throwables impact water has been made more realistic Bug Fixes Fixed an issue where characters got stuck in certain areas of Erangel and Miramar Removed a few objects from Erangel and Miramar which obstructed movement Fixed an issue where certain plants in Miramar were floating above the ground Fixed an issue where the sound when using an adrenaline syringe was longer than the associated animation Fixed an issue preventing the Mirado from taking damage from grenades. Fixed an issue where players inside vehicles didn't take damage from unarmed melee attacks Fixed an issue where grenade status effects (flash, burning) would sometimes not disappear after their intended duration. Fixed an issue with pistol recoil animations not being played correctly in ADS after exiting a vehicle. Fixed an issue where parts of the sidecar's wheel were missing when the tire was destroyed. Improved the vaulting interaction between some objects and windows. Fixed an issue when spectating or watching replays where parts of weapons would disappear in certain situations (only weapons with high scope-mounting positions). Overall, the changes in PUBG Test Server 15 are pretty extensive. The Sanhok map has been a known factor for quite some time, but on the performance and UI side, the numerous tweaks in this patch intend to offer a cleaner, more optimized experience on PC. Performance has been an especially sore subject amongst the PUBG community as of late, so hopefully the overhaul to rendering nearby objects cuts back on crashes, glitches and lost frames. In terms of gameplay, the biggest things to note are Sanhok, the QBZ95 and the slight adjustment to accuracy modifiers. In short, PUBG Update 15 has lots of new content to explore and a few helpful fixes. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is available now on PC and in Game Preview on Xbox One. Aside from today's Test Server update, Sanhok is expected to make its public debut June 22. Most of the changes listed above will arrive alongside it. Has your performance increased since installing PUBG Update 15? Are you satisfied with the nearly final version of Sanhok? Tell us in the comments section!<doc-sep>PUBG just got another performance update on Xbox One, but don't expect a sweeping list of changes. The hotfix addresses a few bugs and patches a memory leak triggered by character models. Read the full patch notes below courtesy of a post on the game's official subreddit. 'PUBG' Xbox Hotfix June 20 - Patch Notes A memory leak was fixed regarding character renders, increasing efficiency of the process and reducing crashes. This will help with reducing crashes when playing for a long duration. We've made improvements to level streaming logic which will reduce crashes. Fixed a bug where vehicles would sometimes lift off the ground and spin rapidly The source post goes into greater detail to explain the cause of the issues, but the short version of the story is that the amount of cached memory for character models wasn't being released while players transitioned from the title screen to a lobby and to in-game scenarios. As such, the longer one played, the more likely it became that all available memory would be used up. During extensive sessions, this prompted a crash. While today's update goes a long way toward satisfying recent discontent with PUBG's Xbox version, its developers also caution that not every crash or stability problem has been resolved. In an effort to fix such shortcomings as quickly as possible, smaller patches like this will be released on a more frequent basis. Considering a similar hotfix was dispatched earlier this month, the team seems committed to the shift in development. Prior blog posts said Xbox players can expect a performance patch on June 26 as well. It's unclear if today's update is the same one or if another is already in the works. To make things a little more interesting, the update arrives alongside a new Community Event called Head Hunter. If players work together to get 4 million headshots through June 28 at 3 a.m. EDT, they'll unlock free Body Shirt and Fingerless Glove cosmetics. The process is a bit more challenging than downloading the free E3 Tracksuit, but at least there's some action involved. PUBG is available now on PC and in Game Preview on Xbox One. The update described above is exclusive to Xbox One. What are your thoughts on PUBG's Xbox performance after this update? Are you experiencing fewer crashes? Tell us in the comments section!<doc-sep>

The newest update for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is on the way, and it brings the game’s latest map along with it. The new map, Sanhok, is ready to go after four rounds of testing. The new location is themed like an east Asian island, complete with caves, ruins, a sprawling hotel and resort, and small villages. The map is half the size of PUBG’s first two maps, Erangel and Miramar, offering a more action-packed close quarters experience. When Sanhok goes live on June 22, it will also come with a brand new weapon. The QBZ95 is a Sanhok-exclusive, replacing the SCAR-L in the map’s loot pool. The new gun will use 5.56 rounds, and it will spawn about 1.4 times as often as the SCAR-L used to spawn in the new locale. With three maps now in the game, there are two separate playlists to choose from. The first playlist, Battle Royale, features Erangel and Miramar. The second playlist, called Mini Royale, will feature only Sanhok for now. Image via Bluehole, Inc. The update also includes a number of changes to the UI including an update to the friends list, leaderboard and replay UI improvements, enhancements to pop-ups in the lobby and game sessions, and improvements to the in-game minimap. The minimap will now dynamically zoom in or out depending on your character’s movement speed, allowing you to better see what’s around you. The blue zone indicator above the map has also received improvements. In an effort to spread the word about next month’s PUBG Global Invitational, key art has been added around the map, as well as the default parachute skin on Erangel and Miramar. PGI 2018 takes place from July 25 to 29 in Berlin, Germany. PUBG’s update 15 should be made available on PC some time within the next few days, just in time for the launch of Sanhok on Friday, June 22.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is making a push for a seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, according to people familiar with her decision. It’s a panel whose jurisdiction over taxes and revenue puts most of the economy within its mandate. For that reason, freshmen are almost never given spots on the panel, but the midterm elections upset the balance of power in the House. Sixty-three new representatives have joined the Democratic caucus, and some 43 Republicans either lost their seats or retired — so there is an unusually large number of vacancies to fill. By custom, New York City effectively has at least one reserved seat on Ways and Means, and Ocasio-Cortez is looking to claim it. Its former occupant was Rep. Joe Crowley, whom Ocasio-Cortez beat in a primary election. Any major piece of legislation — whether it’s “Medicare for All,” a “Green New Deal,” or free public college — would involve some level of revenue, putting it squarely in the domain of Ways and Means, which makes it a key spot for a legislator looking to have an impact. Ocasio-Cortez is routinely asked how she plans to pay for her aggressive economic agenda, and the first answer begins with securing a spot on the House’s key tax-writing committee. Traditionally, the seat is sought after for its fundraising potential, as every industry in the country is concerned with federal tax policy, meaning that members of the committee are more likely to get their fundraising calls returned. That makes the decision of who to give the seat to a tricky one for incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has the final say on committee assignments. Placing a lawmaker who refuses corporate PAC contributions on the Ways and Means Committee could be seen by some elements of the party as leaving money on the table. But giving it to the other New York applicant presents its own problems. Ocasio-Cortez is competing with Rep. Tom Suozzi, who represents the North Shore of Long Island, a district not far from Ocasio-Cortez’s Bronx and Queens — but a world away in terms of wealth and privilege. He would no doubt make efficient fundraising use of the seat, but he also took part in a recent assault on Pelosi’s power as speaker. The contrast between how Ocasio-Cortez and Suozzi have approached the incoming Congress has been stark. Ocasio-Cortez began by joining a sit-in at Pelosi’s office to demand an empowered select committee to focus on legislating a Green New Deal. It was a risky move, but one that ended with Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez praising one another, and the issue of climate change was elevated on the agenda. Ocasio-Cortez then threw her support behind an embattled Pelosi for speaker of the House. Pelosi’s bid for speakership was threatened by the so-called Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of lawmakers funded by the dark-money group No Labels, which threatened to withhold voting for Pelosi unless she agreed to a suite of rule changes that would largely empower Republicans. Suozzi was one of the nine signatories on that letter. Pelosi ultimately ceded to some of their demands. Suozzi is a vice chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, as well as a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a bloc of Wall Street-friendly Democrats that dramatically expanded its membership with the 2018 elections. Suozzi said that he had no interest in Ways and Means as a tool for fundraising, but argued that his training as a certified public accountant and attorney made him ideally suited for it. He also represents, he noted, a district that was hit very hard by the GOP tax bill, which tightened the state and local tax deduction. Because he represents part of Queens, he qualifies for the New York City spot. “I’m not interested in this seat for fundraising purposes,” he told The Intercept, noting that he was first elected as mayor 25 years ago. “I don’t need a committee to raise money.” Asked about the political contrast between him and Ocasio-Cortez, he acknowledged some differences, but said there was also common ground. “I’m very progressive on a lot of different issues, in support of the Green New Deal, immigration, both those issues, as well as on issues related to poverty,” he said. “Am I fiscally conservative? Yes, I’m fiscally conservative.” A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez declined to comment.<doc-sep>Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez missed out on a crucial committee appointment on Thursday. The spot on the House Ways and Means Committee went to Rep. Tom Suozzi, a more fiscally conservative Democrat than Ocasio-Cortez. The committee oversees many parts of US economic policy, including Medicare funding, a key part of Ocasio-Cortez's platform. Ocasio-Cortez's representative said she "hoped to be on it, but we're excited to see what committees she does get." Top Democrats in Congress have kept Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York off a prominent committee she had hoped to use to advance her progressive agenda. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Steering and Policy Committee on Thursday gave the spot on the House Ways and Means Committee to Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York, 56, a more fiscally conservative Democrat than Ocasio-Cortez, 29. Ocasio-Cortez's representative, Corbin Trent, told Fox News and the New York Post in a statement that Ocasio-Cortez "hoped to be on it, but we're excited to see what committees she does get." He added that she was "certainly not" upset by the decision. Read more: The inside story of how, in just one year, Sandy the bartender became a lawmaker who triggers both parties Ocasio-Cortez was "certainly not upset" by the decision, her representative said. J. Scott Applewhite/AP The committee oversees many parts of US economic policy, including spending, taxes, and revenue. It would have been a high-profile arena for Ocasio-Cortez to advocate her progressive agenda, which includes "Medicare for All," the proposal to move the US toward universal coverage through an expansion of government-sponsored healthcare. Two key parts of Ocasio-Cortez's platform, Medicare for All and the "Green New Deal," would need the committee's approval to become law. First-year members of Congress are rarely given seats on high-ranking committees. But representatives from New York usually have at least one seat reserved on the Ways and Means Committee. Ocasio-Cortez's representative said she "hoped to be on it, but we're excited to see what committees she does get." Hollis Johnson/Business Insider A petition championing Ocasio-Cortez for the role reached 90,000 signatures before the committee appointments were announced. Progressive groups like the Justice Democrats, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and the Democratic Socialists of America supported her appointment, The Hill reported. Read more: Meet Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the millennial, socialist political novice who's now the youngest woman ever elected to Congress<doc-sep>House Democratic leaders this week passed over New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and other new progressive firebrands for memberships on powerful committees, despite a viral campaign by liberal activists. Although it is historically rare for freshmen members of Congress to obtain sought-after seats on top committees, progressive groups said they saw the news as a setback, as they hope to enact sweeping environmental and economic reforms in the coming years. The Steering and Policy Committee, chaired by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, formally assigns members to committees. The new Democrats have arrived with more than a little fanfare. Ocasio-Cortez, a 29-year-old self-described Democratic socialist, has repeatedly come up short in her efforts to tangle with senior Democrats in her first days in office -- even as her social media following and positive media coverage remain virtually unmatched. As for Tlaib, 42, she apologized earlier this week for causing a "distraction" by calling President Trump a "motherf---er" and promising to impeach him. Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, announced this week that 10 new returing Democrats had been selected to join the panel, including five members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus: Reps. Dwight Evans, Don Beyer, Gwen Moore, Jimmy Panetta and Steven Horsford. The Ways and Means Committee has vast authority over taxation, as well as Social Security and Medicare. New York Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi was named to the panel instead of Ocasio-Cortez. “Our new members hail from states across the country and bring a diverse array of backgrounds and experiences to our new majority," Neal said in a news release. "Their input will strengthen our work in the coming years to improve Americans’ retirement security, lower health care costs, cut taxes for middle-class families, and modernize our nation’s infrastructure." The far-left advocacy group Justice Democrats had called for Ocasio-Cortez, as well as California Rep. Ro Khanna, to be seated on Ways and Means. Responding to the snub by the committee, Ocasio-Cortez spokesman Corbin Trent said that "she hoped to be on it, but we're excited to see what committees she does get." GROWING NUMBER OF 2020 DEMOCRATS SUPPORTING RADICAL 'GREEN NEW DEAL' Khanna had also personally sought membership on that panel, and advocated for more freshmen representatives to be seated on powerful committees in general. "Progressive representation on key House committees will decide whether or not we get Medicare For All, free college, a Green New Deal, and end to mass deportation and mass incarceration," Jusice Democrats said in a statement on their website. The statement continued: "Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leaders of the most powerful Congressional Committees are going to decide whether progressives or corporate-backed centrists will represent us in the fight for economic, racial, social and environmental justice." Last week, over the last-minute objections of Ocasio-Cortez and Khanna, House Democrats overwhelmingly approved most of a sweeping new rules package that effectively placed restrictions on some new spending. Progressive groups said the limitation would hinder them from realizing some of their more aggressive goals. Ocasio-Cortez had voted with Khanna to oppose the so-called "pay-go" rule included in the rules package, supported by Pelosi. That rule requires that any new mandatory spending for entitlements or tax cuts be offset by other separate revenue increases (such as tax hikes) or budget-cutting measures so that the new spending does not expand the federal deficit. The pay-go principle, Ocasio-Cortez charged in a tweet Wednesday, was a "dark political maneuver designed to hamstring progress on healthcare" and other legislation. Also shot down was Justice Democrats' bid to have Tlaib placed on the Appropriations Committee, which announced a list of new members on Thursday that did not include Tlaib. The critical committee handles government expenditures. “In my 12 years here, I don’t think there’s ever been a freshman on Approps, Ways and Means or Energy and Commerce," Kentucky Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth, who chairs the Budget committee, told Politico. Democratic Reps. Ed Case and Ann Kirkpatrick are expected to join Appropriations instead. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Tlaib, just days after drawing the ire of some top Democrats for her tirade against Trump, attracted negative press attention again by suggesting that some Republicans have a "dual loyalty" to the U.S. and Israel. "They forgot what country they represent," Tlaib, a Palestinian-American who made history by becoming one of the first two Muslim women to ever serve in Congress, wrote on Twitter, referring to Senate Republicans pushing a pro-Israel bill during the ongoing partial federal government shutdown. Justice Democrats has also campaigned for progressive California Rep. Katie Porter to join the financial services committee. Despite the setbacks, there is some reason for optimism among progressive groups. A growing number of Democrats considering a presidential bid have signaled support for the sweeping "Green New Deal" pushed by Ocasio-Cortez and other liberal lawmakers, underscoring how the 2020 field is being pulled further left by the influential progressive wing. An analysis by Fox News shows at least eight potential Democratic candidates have voiced support for or touted aspects of the proposal, which amounts to a drastic overhaul of the economy and government benefit system. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., 37, who says he is looking at a 2020 presidential run, told Fox News he was “excited” to support the proposal and be a part of the process. “When it comes to climate change, we need to advance policies that don’t ask Americans to choose between their jobs and clean air and water,” Swalwell told Fox News this week. “We can do that by greening the grid with investments in renewable energy and a wage and skills guarantee for any displaced worker.” Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.<doc-sep>

Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has not yet been sworn into Congress, but she’s already eyeing a seat at one of the most powerful House committees in charge of taxation laws. The Democratic Socialist’s spokesperson confirmed to Vice News that she will seek a seat on the House Ways and Means committee, which is traditionally packed with seasoned legislators with experience in writing tax code. Rep. Joe Crawley, the top Democrat who was unseated by Ocasio-Cortez this year, was among the members of the committee. She is eyeing the exact same seat that is customarily reserved for New York City. The effort to get on the committee indicates the progressive Democrats’ growing ambition to bring forward actual progressive bills to the vote, as the committee is instrumental in making that happen. Ocasio-Cortez, together with other freshmen Democrats, has been pushing for grand policies, including Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Both measures would need to go through the committee before it could be subjected to a vote. But the Democratic leadership may not be so quick to embrace the rising star of the party and instead opt out for a centrist Democrat who would utilize the membership of the committee better. Rep. Tom Suozzi, who represents New York’s 3rd district, is also eyeing for the seat, the Intercept reported. He’s deemed a more conservative Democrat, who doesn’t share the hostility of corporations with the progressive wing of the party. “I’m very progressive on a lot of different issues, in support of the Green New Deal, immigration, both those issues, as well as on issues related to poverty,” he told the outlet. “Am I fiscally conservative? Yes, I’m fiscally conservative.” OCASIO-CORTEZ CALLED OUT FOR CLAIMING PENTAGON $$ ERROR COULD FUND MEDICARE FOR ALL Ocasio-Cortez's bid for a seat at the committee may also raise some eyebrows following a number of blunders concerning policies she’s advocating. She was recently called out by various fact checkers for suggesting that a reported $21 trillion in Pentagon accounting errors could fund most of her proposed “Medicare for all” health care program. Multiple fact-checkers and even liberal publications that provide sympathetic coverage of the New York Democrat, slammed her suggestion, noting that The Pentagon’s accounting errors aren’t actual sums of money that could be spent on other programs. The Washington Post said the comment was “swing and a miss!” and awarded her claim “four Pinnochios.” For House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi, the struggle between Ocasio-Cortez and Souzzi will pose a challenge, as she ultimately decides the committee assignments. Members of Ways and Means typically attracts large donations from industries, according to Intercept, yet this wouldn’t be the case with Ocasio-Cortez because she doesn’t accept donations from corporations, thus putting Democrats at a disadvantage in future elections. OCASIO-CORTEZ: 'MEDICARE FOR ALL' WOULD SAVE 'VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY,' DESPITE STUDIES SHOWING $30T COST At the same time, Suozzi is a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus that threatened to derail Pelosi’s speakership bid if she doesn’t give in to their demands, while Ocasio-Cortez supported Pelosi. The group ultimately supported Pelosi but only after she agreed to legislative rule changes that will give priority to bipartisan measures, while limiting the influence of the far-right and far-left in Congress. Ocasio-Cortez also previously criticized the caucus, saying they are advocating for “GOP-friendly rules that will hamstring healthcare efforts from the get-go.”

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 7: Rashawn Thomas #40 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 7, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) The OKC Thunder’s NBA Summer League roster is a talented one that could provide players that can provide depth for the bench in the upcoming season. The Oklahoma City Thunder were not a good team when Carmelo Anthony, Paul George and Russell Westbrook were not in the game. In the 2018 NBA Draft, the OKC Thunder decided to get players that could help them with that problem. Those players, combined with the players that were primary players with the OKC Blue, the Thunder’s G-League team, are giving the Thunder the opportunity to fix the team’s depth problems from within. The first player is Daniel Hamilton. Hamilton likes to bring the ball up and go coast to coast. He has good ball-handling for a small forward and he has a quick first step. Hamilton cannot shoot 3s very well. In the G League last season, he shot 28 percent from downtown but he was still able to average 16.1 points per game, 9.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. His ability to fill up the stat sheet is Hamilton’s best quality that he brings to a basketball team. In the team’s first Summer League game against the Charlotte Hornets, he put up 11 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. In the second game against the Brooklyn Nets he put up 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Hamilton can be a good two-way player also. He averaged 1.1 steals a game in the G League last year. The next player is Dakari Johnson. Last year Johnson averaged 20 and 10 in 10 games in the G League. His exact numbers were 23.3 points per game with 10.3 rebounds per game, and he also averaged 1.3 blocks per game during his time with the Blue. Johnson has showed no signs of slowing down in the Summer League. His strength and bulldozing post moves proved to be a force to be reckoned with. In the game against Charlotte, he scored 20 points and recorded eight rebounds. In the second game against Brooklyn, he put up 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. If the Thunder are looking for an offensive option at center or if Nerlens Noel goes down at any point in the season, which is always a possibility, Johnson could be a great backup option. The next player is Rashawn Thomas. He is a face-up post player that plays the power forward position. he has good ball control when he puts the ball on the floor in the post, which is hard to do. He can put points up in bunches with his quick first step and this has been the case in Summer League in the first two games. Last season in the G League, he put up 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He also averaged 1.5 steals per game, which helps his case for being a two-way player. In the first game against Charlotte, he put up 23 points and four steals. In the second game, he was not needed as much as the Thunder blew out the Nets 90-76. Thomas only scored eight points, but had 11 rebounds. Another player that impressed in the game against the Nets was Hamidou Diallo. The most impressive thing he did was shoot the 3 and shoot it efficiently. Diallo is known as an athlete, but he made both of his attempts from 3-point range. Diallo had 19 points and eight rebounds in the blowout win against Brooklyn. Diallo could be a player to watch for the Thunder with his ability to drive and cut for easy baskets. The first round pick of 2017, Terrance Ferguson, has not been able to have a great game yet, but there are still opportunities for him to bounce back. Ferguson is starting, so that means the Thunder are trying to get him the best opportunity and as many chances as possible to develop.<doc-sep>The OKC Thunder fell in their opening game of the NBA Summer League tournament round sending them to the consolation game tomorrow. The NBA summer League tournament portion kicked off Wednesday, July 11th. With eight games already in the books the OKC Thunder joined the 15 squads participating on Thursday, July 12th to complete the first round of the tournament. OKC entered the day seeded 6th facing their opponent the 27th seeded Memphis Grizzlies. As noted in the game day preview the Grizzlies would likely have their young stud Jaren Jackson Jr. back in the lineup after he sat the past few games (more on this later). Memphis Grizzlies 92 Oklahoma City Thunder 85 The Summer Thunder got off to a sluggish start. The Thunder went down by 21-points at one time tonight. The Thunder could not hit a shot in the second quarter, scoring just 8-points as a team in that quarter. A common trend in Vegas was these summer iterations often emulate their varsity squads. This game was a prime example of that dynamic as the summer Thunder couldn’t stop giving free opportunities so that foes. Case in point, turnovers again killed Oklahoma City, as the Thunder logged 18 giveaways. The Oklahoma City Thunder led this game once, it was with a two point lead to start the game. A poor performance that was worse than the scoreboard indicates. The Thunder allowed three Grizzlies to score over 15-points. Oklahoma City did not produce one performance of 15-points. The OKC Thunder will now fall to the losers bracket. That means after the next game, their summer league is over.<doc-sep>The OKC Thunder enter the tournament round of NBA Summer League facing a familiar foe the Memphis Grizzlies. So much for predictions right? The oddsmakers placed the OKC Thunder at the bottom of the ladder entering NBA Summer League. Mind you the team will need to continue performing, but so far they’ve surpassed expectations. This stage of the tournament raises the stakes precisely like the regular season into the playoffs do with the varsity squads. And, this is also the point where teams can surprise by stepping up their games and effort. Case in point, the same Toronto Raptors (0-3) who the OKC Thunder beat this past week took out the 3-0 Nuggets in the tournament round. Still, as much as OKC may want to win the tournament there are more important tasks at hand. Despite the Thunder working to move on from Carmelo Anthony’s albatross salary there will still be salary limitations. Retaining Grant and Felton provides depth and consistency. However, the Thunder are in desperate need of adding serviceable depth to the squad. And, that needs to be of the economic variety. With that let’s look at the keys to watching the game.<doc-sep>The players on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2018 NBA Summer League team proved they are talented and could be players that help the varsity squad down the road. The Oklahoma City Thunder‘s 2018 NBA Summer League squad showed that it is talented. With multiple players reaching double digits every game, certain guys proved why — if the Thunder need some backup help — they deserve a look. Players like Daniel Hamilton, Dakari Johnson, Deonte Burton and Rashawn Thomas all showed up for the Thunder, while the rookies Devon Hall, Kevin Hervey and Hamidou Diallo all had solid first experiences in Summer League. The Thunder’s best players in Summer League were the ones that were able to play both sides of the ball. A few players on this roster really proved its ability to dominate on both ends of the floor. For those guys, it will remains to be seen how this experience translates to each of their respective seasons in the NBA, but for now, here are five takeaways from the Thunder’s time in Summer League.<doc-sep>

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: the the Oklahoma City Thunder huddle against the Toronto Raptors during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) The tournament stage of the NBA Summer League in Vegas is set with the OKC Thunder seeded sixth and playing Thursday July 12 versus the Grizzlies. All 30 teams completed the first segment of the NBA Summer League tournament in Vegas. Although figuring the seeding is akin to guessing how many jellybeans are in a jar, I’m fairly confident the OKC Thunder are ranked sixth. The math which led me to this summation is five teams were unbeaten and OKC fell into the next tier of eight squads who finished with a 2-1 record. Tiebreakers to determine rank are based on quarter points and point differential. A look at the chart would seemingly indicate the Thunder ranked 12th. However, the Lakers finished first because their 10.5 point differential was the best of the five squads. Likewise, the Thunder’s 8.0 differential ranks best among the 2-1 squads. Schedule: Eight games and 16 squads will play today (Wednesday, July 11). Losers from those games (and from Thursday’s games) will automatically play in consolation games on Friday. Winners will get a day off and advance to play their next bracketed winner on Saturday July 14th. OKC’s first contest (Game 57) is Thursday, July 12th versus the Memphis Grizzlies at 6:00 PM ET (5:00 CT) at the Cox Pavilion. If OKC win they’ll play the winner of the Jazz vs.Magic match (Game 60). That match (Game 75) will take place on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center at 10:30 PM EST (9:30 PM CT). Should the Thunder lose they will play in a consolation game vs. the loser of the same above match on Friday in the Thomas and Mack Center at 8:30 PM ET (7:30 CT). Since this portion of the tournament is the elimination round other than the Friday consolation games a loss results in the end of a team’s tourny. Quarters, Semis and Finals: In terms of game times, if the Thunder win out their quarter final match would occur Sunday July 15 at 10:00 PM (9:00 CT), the semi on 10:30 PM (9:30 CT) Monday and the finals on Tuesday at 10 PM (9PM CT). Plan on grabbing a nap if the Thunder progress since all their games are so late. Funny the team who were expected to be the third worst in the tournament have fared so well. Although it would be great for players like Terrance Ferguson and the Thunder rookies to gain winning experience it’s not the top priority. Rather assessing the talent on the roster is far more essential. Sam Presti and the brain trust will need to decide where to assign each of their rookies. One two-way contract remains to be awarded and several spots on the OKC Blue are up for grabs. Several players have produced stand out performances such as Rashawn Thomas, Daniel Hamilton and rookie Hamidou Diallo. The 2-way contract awarded to Deonte Burton was somewhat surprising given Thomas and Hamilton’s consistent production. TI will provide more details leading up to and after the matches. For the full schedule visit nba.com. Want to get a better overview of the Thunder rookies and tournament participants check out TI’s prospect previews. We’ll have a game day preview for the Thunder – Grizzlies match tomorrow morning and post game grades afterward as well.

Grab your coziest blanket, fanciest takeout menu and most favorite bottle of wine because Queer Eye Season 3 is streaming on Netflix right now. You may also need a box of tissues next to you. Fans of the show know the term "Netflix and cry" is real. You actually might be here because you watched the season already, your tears have already dried and you need to know if there will be a Season 4 of Queer Eye. First of all, take a deep breath. You deserve it, watching a whole season of TV in a day is hard work. The truth is, I don't know if there will be a Season 4, because Netflix hasn't confirmed one yet. But, I'm really not worried about it, especially because I know the new Fab Five love each other and love their jobs. As Karamo Brown told Bustle in June, if it were up to him, he'd come back for Season 15, and hopefully 16 and 17 and on and on. Because Brown wants to be on Queer Eye for a lifetime. "It’s the first show I’ve been on where I am actually in love with my cast mates. Like, we’re genuinely best friends," he said. "So, yes, to work with my friends and do something that’s impactful for the world? Sign me up for the rest of my life." Brown is the culture expert on the show, and he's not new to the TV business. Some of you may know him from his season of The Real World Philadelphia. But I have a confession to make. I remember that season of The Real World and I had a hard time believing that the Brown I was watching in 2018 was the same guy who came out on MTV. He seems so much happier now, it's literally transformed him into a different person than he was so long ago. At the risk of sounding cheesy, he's so wonderfully different now because he's being his authentic self. "I was like, I just gotta be real with who I am. I am the guy that has motivational quotes all through his house. I’m just that guy," Brown told Bustle. Christopher Smith/Netflix Brown's co-star Tan France, the Fab Five's fashion expert, came from a completely different world than his friend Brown professionally, culturally, and religiously. He was a fashion businessman before starting his own line of modest clothing that meets Mormon guidelines for modesty, Kingdom & State “These girls were cute and wanted to be fashionable. I wanted to create a London look for them that just so happened to cover the areas of their bodies they had to cover as Mormon women," he told The Guardian in March 2019. Though Vulture critic Jen Chaney wanted more depth and political conversations out of the first four episodes of Season 3, the Fab Five are transforming more women heroines than they have in previous seasons, and that means emotional depth was easier to reach. "Women are just more comfortable saying, ‘This is what I’m going through right now.’ Men are taught to shut it down and ‘man up’: don’t talk about the things that are hurting or hindering them," France said in The Guardian interview. So yes, the Fab Five may have perfected the feel-good formula, but like I said, you are still going to need tissues and comfort food. You may be hungry for Season 4 already, but don't deprive yourself of the treats you deserve. Queer Eye's food expert Antoni Porowski would not approve.<doc-sep>The series remains unchanged by fame — but the Fab Five get a mascot. It’s only been 13 months since the world met Karamo, Jonathan, Tan, Antoni, and Bobby, but it almost feels like they’ve been a part of pop culture forever. There are no shortage of reasons for that, including the previously established legacy of the “Queer Eye” franchise, the significant press blitz for the series that never seemed to end, and the charming personalities of the men themselves, who manage to maintain those good vibes for a third season. An important detail about what Netflix is calling Season 3 is that all the episodes of Seasons 1 and 2, set in Georgia, were shot at the same time and then later assembled into two separate seasons (even the Fab 5 didn’t know what order they’d appear in eventually). This filming occurred well before the show premiered in February 2018, which meant that for the first 16 episodes, the Fab Five were an unknown quantity to the people whose lives they were invading. The biggest question for Season 3 became, then, whether their newfound fame dramatically change the established dynamic. Season 3 opens with a montage of the Fab Five “road-tripping” from Georgia to their new home in Kansas City, Missouri (asking us to lean into the magic of television, and the illusion that this show exists in a place outside of space and time, and that the guys went straight from finishing Season 2 to filming Season 3). The sequence ends with them being greeted by waves from the locals as they enter. Christopher Smith/Netflix But after that point, there’s no noticeable shift in how the guys interact with their heroes, at least in regards to how their newfound fame has changed things. That said, there are more female subjects than ever before — which is to say, three episodes featuring a prison guard, a young black gay woman, and two sisters who run a barbecue joint. Plus, there are some narrative experiments that are fun to see in the framework of a reality show, including a “When Harry Met Sally”–inspired episode that brings in the stories of others. But the innate humanity of the show’s stories remains consistent. The most notably important change for the show: the French bulldog Bruley, who lives with a neighbor to the Fab Five’s new Kansas City loft, and proves to be an important addition to the crew. (Okay, all Bruley really does is show up every episode to scavenge food and get pets, but he is a good boy.) Season 3 also tones down one of the most problematic elements of Seasons 1 and 2, which would sometimes be uncomfortable when the guys put too much emphasis on the heroes’ romantic status. Sometimes it would lead to wonderful stories (for example, AJ from the Season 1 episode “To Gay or Not Too Gay” got married last year), but other times it would come off as an easy way to get a happy ending out of the episode. In this season, many of the heroes are already in relationships, and those who aren’t are just allowed to focus on their personal journeys (which is meant to be the point, anyway). The message is much more focused on self-care as a result, as well as really pushing at the concept of gender roles, encouraging the heroes to challenge what defines them as male versus female, and breaking free of those conventions. This was always a thread of the series, but rises to prominence here: It’s not a question of queerness, but encouraging each person to find their own individual place in the world. Christopher Smith/Netflix As always, emotions run high — there are at least two episodes in particular that, if you’re coping with the recent loss of a parent, might be triggering and/or healing for you. And as culturally sensitive as the show aims to be, it’s not flawless: One episode makes a poor choice by emphasizing the idea of having a “spirit animal,” a term which, when used by non-Native people, falls into the category of cultural appropriation. As Twitter speaks out on that issue, it feels like another learning opportunity for all involved — all part of the show’s message about growing,and advancing. So much of “Queer Eye” is about the battle against inertia, one of the greatest enemies of major life changes. It’s easy to watch this show and think to yourself, “Well, it’d be simple enough to fix my life if the Fab Five would just come to my house.” But the real message is that even without Bobby’s seemingly limitless budget for rebuilding homes and Tan’s ability to fill a closet with new clothes, change is possible for everyone. And when “Queer Eye” is at its best, it inspires the spark to do better. “Queer Eye” Seasons 1-3 are streaming now on Netflix. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.<doc-sep>"They didn't try to put me into a house that they thought would look cool," he said. "[They] found out a lot of things about my relationship with my son...and then kind of tried to model the apartment after that."<doc-sep>

Hi, it’s time to grab the ripest avocado you can find, because Queer Eye season 4 is on its way. The newest season of the most heartwarming television show to ever exist will strut into your Netflix queue in a few short weeks. Yes, the Fab Five found time to change a few lives even while they were busy flying all over the world and starring in Taylor Swift music videos. Here’s everything you need to know about season 4! Season 4 takes place in Kansas City. If you feel like you’re finally over the pulled pork craving you’ve had since season 3, I have some bad news for you. The next season of Queer Eye will be in the barbecue capital of the world. Netflix The episodes will be available July 19. Netflix announced the news through a supercute video of the Fab Five dancing. It’s so soon! There will be eight heroes. Eight heroes probably means we’ll get eight episodes, unless they’re planning to double up and help a duo like they did with the Jones Sisters last season. But most QE seasons have eight episodes, so Netflix probably won’t short us. Giphy The trailer is ridiculously adorable. I know it’s not surprising that this season of Queer Eye will be emotional because they all are, but seriously, guys. They’re pulling out all the stops for this one. One of the heroes is Jonathan’s orchestra teacher! I cannot! There’s going to be a four-episode special at some point too. We will also be getting a four-episode special called Queer Eye: We’re in Japan! this year. Remember when the Fab Five was serving looks all over Tokyo in February and we were all wondering what they were up to? They were filming new episodes, thankfully. Oh, and we’re getting a fifth season. Netflix has even confirmed that it’ll hook us up with a fifth season in Philadelphia sometime in 2020. There’s no date yet, but this is obviously amazing news. Hopefully, this show goes on forever. If it’s up to Karamo...it probably will. “It’s the first show I’ve been on where I am actually in love with my castmates. Like, we’re genuinely best friends,” Karamo told Bustle after the first season. “So, yes, to work with my friends and do something that’s impactful for the world? Sign me up for the rest of my life.” Hannah Chambers Hannah Chambers is an entertainment editor at Cosmopolitan.

The Koch political network remains generally opposed to many Democratic policies and does not want to see leaders like Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, return to power if the Democrats triumph in the midterms. But those who know Mr. Koch’s thinking said that his criticism of Mr. Trump reflects the vast political and personal gulf between the two men. They also echo the widely held beliefs of many conservatives who worry that Mr. Trump is inflicting long-term damage on their cause, and on the country. Mr. Koch’s unease is a reflection of the wider discomfort and disorientation inside the Republican Party since Mr. Trump stormed the presidential primaries in 2016 and knocked out every candidate the Koch network had supported. Mr. Trump all but ran against elements of the Koch agenda in 2016, promising support for entitlements, infrastructure and the military. In some ways he has governed like a conventional pro-Koch Republican, especially with some of his cabinet picks like Scott Pruitt, his former chief at the Environmental Protection Agency. But his language on trade and immigration ran counter to the Kochs. And like some other right-leaning organizations and intellectuals, Mr. Koch and his organizations have struggled to find their place in a political party they barely recognize and whose political fortune is now wedded, for better or worse, to Mr. Trump’s. Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars that the Koch network has spent on politics in recent years, Mr. Koch has always been unnerved at seeing portrayals of himself as a Republican kingmaker, people close to him have said. And over the last few years the Koch brothers, two of the world’s wealthiest men, have tried to cultivate a worldly, civic-oriented image to counter the Democratic Party’s attacks on them as self-interested corporatist puppet masters. Koch Industries, the global energy conglomerate, also began a national marketing campaign to try to soften its image.<doc-sep>The political network funded by billionaire industrialist Charles Koch is unveiling the latest phase in a multi million dollar campaign against import tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump, CNBC has learned. Freedom Partners, one of the groups that is part of the larger network, is announcing a six-figure television ad campaign entitled "Trade not aid," which describes that importance of trade and the harm tariffs have on the farming community. The news was announced on the second day of the Koch network donor summit in Colorado Springs. Beyond the ad's attempt to highlight the vital role of the agricultural sector, it also questions Trump's recently announced $12 billion aid package to help farmers. "American farmers work hard to put food on our tables but because of new tariffs our farmers livelihoods are at risks," the ad states. It later concludes by saying: "Farmers want trade, not aid." Trump recently announced import tariffs on a variety of goods coming from China, the European Union, Canada and Mexico. Many of those critical trading partners have retaliated with billions of dollars' worth of trade barriers of their own against exports coming out of the United States. In addition, Freedom Partners, along with two other network organizations in Americans for Prosperity and The LIBRE Initiative, sent a letter to Trump. The groups called on him to rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), while congratulating the administration's economic policy achievements of tax reform, reducing financial regulations and inching toward an agreement with EU President Jean-Claude Juncker about removing the tariffs. The groups argued, however, that if the U.S. doesn't agree to go back into the TPP, the 11 other original countries who are still part of it will forge ahead with their rebranded Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Such a move could put American businesses at a disadvantage, it added. "As a practical matter, once the CPTPP is in full effect American businesses will be at a distinct competitive disadvantage when trying to sell in these markets and our consumers will miss out on lower-priced goods," the letter stated. The new ad buy and letter to the president comes the same day as Koch admitted in a rare press briefing that a full blown trade war could be on the horizon. "If it's severe enough it could," Koch said when asked about whether Trump's protectionist policies could result in a trade war.<doc-sep>"If you are a Democrat and stand up to [Senator] Elizabeth Warren to corral enough votes for financial reform that breaks barriers for community banks and families, you're darn right we will work with you." "I know this is uncomfortable," Seidel told a group of donors and at least two GOP lawmakers who were sitting in the crowd. Koch network officials estimate there are approximately 500 donors attending this year's conference. During a seminar on Sunday titled "Transforming the network's effectiveness" at the Koch network's summit in Colorado Springs, Emily Seidel, the CEO of Americans for Prosperity, made it clear that working with Democrats will be on the table going forward — especially when it comes to reducing government spending and cutting back on financial regulations. Leaders of the political network financed by billionaire industrialist Charles Koch called on their top donors to back them in a new initiative: Supporting Democratic lawmakers on issues the organization believe reflect its priorities. Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat who's been floated as a potential 2020 presidential contender, has been a strong proponent of increasing regulation on the banking industry. She cheered on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau when it was first created under President Barrack Obama. Seidel then gave a stern warning to Republicans who voted for a $1.3 trillion spending bill that was passed in March. "If you are a Republican who sits on the committee that wrote the worst spending bill in our country's history and you voted for it, you're darn right we will hold you accountable," Seidel said. Two Republicans who voted for the spending package, Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Congressman Doug Collins, R-GA, were in attendance. Koch himself, in a rare briefing with reporters on Sunday, also distanced himself from the idea of solely backing Republican lawmakers. He was asked by reporters if he would be OK if Democrats took over the House of Representatives during the 2018 Congressional midterm elections. Koch replied that he hopes to see people in power who will back policies that will "move toward a society, mutual benefit, equal rights, where everybody has the opportunity to realize their full potential," he said. "I don't care what initials are in front or after somebody's name." The public turn by the billionaire and his network against a few of the latest Republican initiatives on Sunday, including President Donald Trump's decision to implement import tariffs, is the latest in a sharp reversal by Koch away from backing candidates, and toward a policy based agenda. In July, Americans for Prosperity unleashed a digital advertising campaign in support of North Dakota Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp, thanking her for co-sponsoring the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protect Act, a bill that rolls back Dodd-Frank Act regulations mainly on community banks, or those with less than $100 billion in assets. It recently passed in Congress with bipartisan support. In May, the group unveiled a six figure advertisement onslaught targeting Democratic and Republican lawmakers who backed the trillion dollar spending package — but the majority of the ads were against GOP congressmen. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., was among the Republicans, although he decided not to seek re-election this year. The others were Reps. Hal Rogers of Kentucky; Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Bob Casey this fall; Mike Bishop of Michigan; Mike Simpson of Idaho; John Carter of Texas; Robert Aderholt of Alabama; Mark Amodei of Nevada; Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska; and Ken Calvert of California. As for Trump's tariff policy, Koch acknowledged that tensions between the United States and their trading partners such as the European Union and China, could turn into a full scale trade war. "If it's severe enough it could," Koch said. CORRECTION: This article has been updated to reflect Sen. Tim Scott represents South Carolina.<doc-sep>

“We’re going to more directly deal with that and hold people responsible for these commitments," billionaire industrialist Charles Koch said. Charles Koch says he'd work with Democrats who share his values COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Billionaire industrialist Charles Koch extended an olive branch to Democrats during a weekend donor confab, saying Sunday that he wants to work with lawmakers regardless of party — so long as they work on issues he cares about — and admitting he has regrets about politicians his powerful network supported in the past. “I don’t care what initials are in front or after somebody’s name — I’d like there to be many more politicians who would embrace and have the courage to run on a platform” that embraces the values he espouses, Koch told reporters when asked how he would feel about Democrats flipping the House of Representatives. Koch officials spent much of the first half of the donor gathering at a five-star hotel touting themselves as dealmakers on policy issues such as criminal justice reform and “Right to Try” legislation, which lets terminally ill patients use experimental treatments that don't have regulatory approval. The Kochs' political network has been bombarding the 2018 midterm elections with millions of dollars to help Republicans keep their seats in Congress, but the tone of the weekend was a departure from previous years, when the Kochs engineered tea party opposition to Obamacare and positioned themselves as the archnemesis of the Democratic Party. Charles Koch said he has sometimes regretted his network’s financial support for Republican lawmakers in the past and will be more careful with how he spends money going forward. “They say they’re going to be for these principles that we espouse and then they aren’t,” Koch said. “We’re going to more directly deal with that and hold people responsible for these commitments.” Some Koch network officials privately fumed for months after the Republican Congress approved a $1.3 trillion government spending measure in March that they said was packed with giveaways. And one top Koch aide on Saturday dinged lawmakers for “following” President Donald Trump’s lead on tariffs. During rare on-the-record remarks, Charles Koch said the network is only political insofar as politics serves its goals. “We’ll engage in politics to the degree in which it’s really moving our overall agenda,” he said. The Koch network also spends millions of dollars a year on education, philanthropy and other work. Koch did not support Trump during the 2016 election and is known to be skeptical of the president. But asked whether he thinks Trump is to blame for the divisiveness of U.S. politics — to which the Koch network tried to paint itself as an antidote over the weekend — Koch said the blame should be shared widely. “We’re all part of that,” Koch replied. “We’ve had divisiveness long before Trump became president.” “I’m into hating the sin, not the sinner,” Koch added.

U.S. financial markets will be closed on Monday, in observance of Washington's Birthday. The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will resume normal trading hours on Tuesday. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association also recommends that the U.S. bond market close Monday. The next market holiday is Good Friday on April 19.<doc-sep>Presidents Day means changes to what services are available and what offices are open on Feb. 18. Here’s what you need to know to plan for the federal holiday. WASHINGTON — Happy Birthday, George Washington, as well as other presidents! In observance of Washington’s Birthday, Presidents Day is celebrated every year on the third Monday in February. The federal holiday brings about changes to what services are available and what offices are open on Feb. 18. Most government offices, courts and banks are closed. Here’s what you need to know to plan for the federal holiday. Traffic and transit Related: Presidents Day weekend Metro work on all lines includes Yellow Line shutdown High occupancy vehicle restrictions are lifted on Interstate 395 and Interstate 66 in Northern Virginia and on Interstate 270 in Montgomery County on Monday. The I-395 HOV Lanes will be closed for roadwork through early Monday morning but are expected to be open by 4 a.m. The express lanes will follow the normal reversal schedule, open to northbound traffic through late morning and open to southbound traffic by about noon. Tolls will not be in effect on I-66 inside the Beltway on Monday. Metrorail and Metrobus will operate from 5 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Presidents Day. Metrorail will operate on a Saturday schedule, and Metrobus will operate on a Saturday and supplemental schedule. But, watch out for track work that might affect your travel plans. The MARC Train will operate the R schedule on the Penn and Camden Lines only; there will be no Brunswick Line service. The Virginia Railway Express will not operate on Presidents Day. The Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule. The free King Street Trolley will operate on its regular schedule. The Trolley and certain DASH routes around City Hall and lower King Street will be modified. In Arlington, ART routes 41, 42, 43, 45, 51, 55, 77 and 87 will operate on Saturday schedules. All other ART routes will not operate. Fairfax Connector will operate on holiday weekday service. The City of Fairfax’s CUE Bus will operate on a modified weekday schedule. Loudoun County Transit bus services operate a significantly reduced schedule on Presidents Day. There will be no Premium Commuter Bus and no Metro Connection Bus Services except for routes 72, 84 and 985. Howard County’s Regional Transportation Agency will operate on a regular weekday schedule. All parking regulations will be in effect in Howard County. Montgomery County’s Ride On will run a modified holiday schedule. The TRiPS Commuter Store in Silver Spring and Friendship Heights will close. PRTC’s OmniRide will not operate on Presidents Day. The STAR Call Center will be closed and standing orders will not be provided. Customers should call beforehand to request a trip on the holiday or the day after. There will be no Calvert County bus service on Presidents Day. In Prince George’s County, TheBus will operate on a regular service schedule except for Route 51. Call-A-Bus will resume on Feb. 19. Parking In D.C., meter fees are not enforced on Presidents Day. All parking regulations and fees will be in effect in Howard County. Parking restrictions will not be enforced in Alexandria’s metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits. Metered areas in Arlington will not be enforced. Parking at public garages, lots and curbside meters are free in Montgomery County. D.C. Trash and recycling collection will slide to Tuesday, Feb. 19. One library in each ward will be open on Presidents Day from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Maryland Anne Arundel County All county offices will close Monday. Normal curbside trash collection will occur, but landfill and recycling centers will close. Calvert County County library locations will close on Monday, but online services and electronic checkouts will be available. The three county senior centers will close Monday and Meals on Wheels will not be delivered; participants will be provided shelf-stable meals in advance. All community centers will also close. All recreation parks will be operate on their normal hours. All nature parks will open on their normal hours. The Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center and the Chesapeake Hills Golf Course will be open normal hours. The Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter will be closed Monday. The Appeal Landfill and county convenience stores will be open with regular hours. The Water & Sewage billing and customer service office and the Solomons Septage Receiving Facility will be closed. Charles County County government offices will close Monday. Library locations will close on Presidents Day. Howard County All government offices, courts, 50+ centers and animal shelters will be closed Monday. Regular trash, recycling and food scrap services will be in effect. The Alpha Ridge Landfill will be open. County parks, community centers, Meadowbrook Athletic Complex, Kiwanis-Wallas Hall and Cedar Lane and Schooley Mill Park Activity Rooms will be open. Robinson Nature Center will be closed. County historic sites are all closed for the season and will reopen in April. Montgomery County All county offices, state offices and courts as well as libraries will close Monday. Department of Liquor Control retail stores will open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Senior centers and administrative offices are closed. Recreation and aquatics programs and facilities. County-provided refuse and recycling pickup is canceled. Collection will slide by one day with the last pickup on Saturday, Feb. 26. Prince George’s County All county offices are closed except public safety agencies. The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System will close on Sunday, Feb. 17 and Monday, Feb. 18. The Animal Service Facility, Electronics Recycling Acceptance Site, Household Hazardous Waste Acceptance Site and CountyClick 311 will close on Monday. CountyClick 311 will remain available online. There will be no trash, curbside recycling, bulky trash or yard trim collections on Monday. Virginia Alexandria All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed Monday. All Alexandria Library branches and the Alexandria Law Library will close on Monday. Trash and recycling will not be collected on Monday and will be delayed by one day during the week. The Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collection Drop-Off Center will also close. The Alexandria Health Department, Flora Krause Casey Health Center and the Teen Wellness Center at T.C. Williams High School will close. The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum will open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission. The Friendship Firehouse Museum, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and also have free admission. All other Historic Alexandria facilities will close. The Chinquapin Park Recreation Center and Aquatics Facility will open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; the Charles Houston Recreation Center and the Patrick Henry Recreation Center will open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and the Torpedo Factory Art Center will open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All other recreation and arts centers will be closed Monday. Arlington All Arlington County courts, libraries and schools will close Monday. DMV, DMV Select, Human Services and the treasurer’s office will also be closed. Park grounds will remain open but parks and recreation admin offices, classes/leagues and centers will not operate. Trash, recycling, yard waste curbside routes will operate on a regular schedule. The customer contact center will close, and there will be no mulch delivery Monday. Fairfax County Libraries will close Monday. All RECenters will operate at their regular hours. Colvin Run Mill Sully Historic Site and the Green Spring Gardens Historic House will be closed on Monday. See the full list of holiday hours. There will be no trash collection. Prince William County All county government buildings, libraries and courts will be closed on Monday. The landfill will open at its regular hours. Stafford County All Stafford offices, departments, facilities and courts will close on Presidents Day. All offices of the Rappahannock Area Health District will also close.<doc-sep>

U.S. financial markets will pause Monday in observance of Presidents Day — which, technically, is not the name of the holiday. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will shutter on Feb. 18. And the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, or Sifma, is recommending no trading in dollar-denominated securities, meaning the closely watched 10-year Treasury note TMUBMUSD10Y, 1.572% — as well as interest rates for money markets and certificates of deposit — joins the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.03% , the S&P 500 index SPX, +0.19% and the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +0.59% in a static state. And trading in futures and options on CME Group exchanges will also be halted on Monday. In other words, there will be no settlements in trading in gold futures US:GCJ9 or crude oil US:CLH9. However, traders will be able to deal in commodities on the Globex platform, with a pause starting after 1 p.m. Eastern time. So, here’s the skinny on so-called Presidents Day. Congress declared Washington’s Birthday a holiday in 1879, according to the Library of Congress. The republic’s first president was born on Feb. 22, 1732. A number of sources indicate that the holiday was at first only celebrated within the District of Columbia but became widely recognized as a federal holiday in 1885, marking the first time an American individual was memorialized via a bank holiday. The Uniform Holidays Act of 1968 changed the day of commemoration to the third Monday of February. The Library of Congress’s website says that the day’s designation was never changed to Presidents Day formally but is often referred to by that name because Feb. 12 is the birthday of the 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln. The holiday is still often referred to as Washington’s Birthday, and it is recognized by that name at the NYSE. It is that history of recognizing, initially, one president and then, later, two presidents, or the presidency in general, that may be to blame for the style variations that tend to occur in written references to Presidents Day — or alternately, President’s Day or Presidents’ Day. Presidents Day is the preferred style for such journalistic standard setters as the Associated Press Stylebook (whose Twitter account tends to tweet a reminder annually) and the Wall Street Journal’s style guide.

The U.S. is the largest and fastest-growing cannabis market in the world. The plant is approved for medical use in 33 states and Washington, D.C., and 10 states including the district have fully legalized marijuana. Efforts to legalize weed to some degree are ongoing in a number of other states. Yet cannabis remains a banned substance on a federal level, and despite support for legalization being at an all-time high — 61 percent of Americans approve of legalization, according to the the General Social Survey)— the federal government seems reluctant to move forward. The illegality of cannabis on a federal level creates many issues for cannabis businesses that prevent them from developing and forces them to incur higher operating costs that are then are carried over to consumers through higher prices. The Cannabis Capital Conference is coming back to Toronto! Click here to learn how you can join Tim Seymour, Jon Najarian, Danny Moses, Alan Brochstein and many others. Cannabis And Banking A central issue is the inability of cannabis companies to work with banks. Thousands of businesses are forced to operate with cash only, resulting in many unnecessary difficulties, such as the necessity for enhanced security at dispensaries and hiring specialized businesses to move cash around. It's not just the businesses that are suffering. In 2017, the IRS collected around $4.7 billion in taxes from cannabis businesses that were paid in cash. To process these cash payments, the tax authority awarded a $1.7-million contract to The Mitre Corporation for “large cash payments for processing cannabis federal taxes.” The U.S. government has some guidelines in place for banks to operate with cannabis businesses, and there are several banks that do so. Most banks refuse to get involved due to the high compliance costs and regulatory uncertainty. Some members of Congress have tried to address the issue of cannabis and banks, though the bills that were introduced didn’t even get past the introduction step. This year might be a breakthrough one, as The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2019 was introduced earlier this month following a February hearing in the House Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions Subcommittee, a first for this type of legislation. The SAFE Banking Act Of 2019 The SAFE Banking Act of 2019 was authored by Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat from Colorado, and Rep. Denny Heck, a Democrat from Washington, and cosponsored by Rep. Warren Davidson and Rep. Steve Stivers, both Republicans from Ohio. The main point of the bill is to create protections for banks that provide financial services to legal cannabis businesses. It also covers ancillary service providers such as real estate owners, accountants, lawyers and others that work with cannabis companies but are not directly involved with the cannabis plant. The bill has 143 co-sponsors, although only 12 are Republicans. On Tuesday, the legislation will receive the full committee markup, where amendments will be proposed and voted on before the bill heads to the House floor. Many Supporters, But Skepticism Remains The SAFE Banking Act bill has received the support of a number of stakeholders, including the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), as well as representatives from the banking industry, law enforcement, and government officials. The NCIA is optimistic the bill will pass given the bipartisan support it currently enjoys and the historic milestones reached over the past two months. Still, there are only 12 Republican co-sponsors of the bill, and the Republican Party seems still far from embracing the notion of cannabis legalization — even though a majority of its electorate is in support of such a measure. To get a better idea about the SAFE Banking Act and its potential fate in Congress, we asked the opinion of a number of U.S. companies that provide point-of-sale, compliance software and payment processing solutions to the cannabis industry about the the legislation. Read on to see what Flowhub, Helix TCS Inc (OTC:HLIX)-owned BioTrackTHC, Zodaka and Green Bits think about the bill, its shortcomings and how it could change the way these companies operate. Unlikely To Pass? Some payment processing solution providers like the bill due to the problem it tries to address. “Right now the act has four stipulations that are meant to protect the financial institutions currently serving the cannabis industry and to protect and encourage new banks to start serving the industry. These changes are needed and would be extremely positive. The SAFE Act would be a tremendous and very necessary milestone for cannabis,” Zodaka CEO Jordan Friedman told Benzinga. The execs Benzinga spoke with still view the bill as unlikely to pass, with one reason being insufficient support from the GOP. “While the SAFE Banking Act has positive intentions to protect cannabis businesses, it's unlikely to pass because it doesn't address federal legality and lacks bipartisan support,” said Flowhub founder and CEO Kyle Sherman. Sherman’s opinion is echoed by Friedman, who also agrees that the bill is unlikely to reach President Donald Trump's desk. “Even though the Republican Party's ideas and feelings on the cannabis industry are evolving, there is still a large portion of their party who feels cannabis should remain an illegal schedule one substance." Drug's Federal Status Left Unaddressed One major shortcoming of the bill is that while it tries to launch a system that would allow banks to work with the cannabis industry, it will keep the plant illegal on a federal level. “Until cannabis is descheduled, the United States will grapple with a legal incongruity of enforcing federal law in a country where 33 states have legalized cannabis for medical or recreational use, with more states on the way,” said Ben Curren, CEO and Founder of Green Bits. BioTrack THC CEO Patrick Vo said this means banks might continue to find it risky to do business with cannabis companies. “ … It would be unreasonable to expect banks to risk their entire portfolio of customers on the hope that their bankers make defensible determinations of cannabis business’ compliance with state and local laws while knowing that that business remains unambiguously illegal at the federal level," Vo said. How Could Legislation Change Landscape For Payment Solutions Providers? Providers of POS, compliance solutions and payment processing services expect that if the SAFE Banking Act passes, it won’t have a negative effect on their business and might even help them improve their operations. On the one hand, offering more businesses the ability to open bank accounts would simplify POS providers’ business. “Moving the cannabis sector away from a cash-driven status would simplify several aspects to running a cannabis retailer, making it even easier for legal cannabis businesses to use point-of-sale and auto-compliance platforms to power their store,” said Green Bits’ Curren. At the same time, businesses would still be required to remain compliant with state and local regulations, and the only way to ensure this compliance is through the use of specialized software, said BioTrack THC's Vo. “One of the most difficult hurdles for banks to overcome in working with cannabis businesses is validating the legitimacy of their financial and historical records," he said. "Ensuring that a given business’ revenue has not come from black market diversion and that black market product has not made its way into the legitimate supply chain is very difficult to do, but is possible with proper seed-to-sale tracking." Related Links: Fed Chair Powell Says Banks In 'Very Difficult Position' With Cannabis National Cannabis Industry Association Comments On Marijuana Banking Hearing In Congress<doc-sep>With the House expected to vote on the SAFE Banking Act as early as next week, the American Bankers Association today joined three financial trade associations in urging lawmakers to pass the bill, which would allow depository institutions to serve the needs of customers in states where cannabis is legal. Introduced by Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), Denny Heck (D-Wash.) and Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), the bipartisan bill is supported by more than 200 cosponsors. “The SAFE Banking Act of 2019 provides a mechanism for the cannabis industry and its service providers to deposit their cash in regulated financial institutions, which allows our members to meet the needs of their communities and helps those communities reduce cash-motivated crimes, increase the efficiency of tax collections and improve the financial transparency of the cannabis industry,” the groups wrote. With cannabis now legal in some form in 33 states, ABA continues to urge its members to contact their lawmakers in support of the SAFE Banking Act.<doc-sep>Federal protection may be on the way for institutions that work with state-authorized marijuana and cannabis-related businesses, bringing hope that the long-standing cash hassle for these businesses and payments, such as quarterly taxes, will be resolved in a satisfactory manner. The Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act, or SAFE Act, saw a vote of 45-15 in favour from the House Financial Services Committee on March 28. From there, the SAFE Act will move to the full House voting schedule, and it is expected to see a vote within the next few weeks. Legislators believe the full House will also see a favourable vote, and relief for these banking institutions to allow them to serve cannabis businesses effectively. Cannabis businesses, in addition to having a means to handle large transactions without cash on hand, will also have the opportunity to apply for loans. This has previously been a non-starter due to federal prohibition of marijuana and the banking industry’s hesitancy to serve businesses handling a federally prohibited drug. The bill currently has 152 co-sponsors with both Democrats and Republicans backing the measure. This bill was first introduced six years ago, but it had not received a hearing in front of a committee until the end of March 2019. The bill at that time was co-sponsored by two Democrats and two Republicans, showing bipartisan support at its introduction and still not gaining any traction. The bill stipulates that financial institutions are protected from federal punishment for serving cannabis businesses. Meanwhile, requirements for regulations to handle funds for these businesses would need to be complete within 180 days, and an annual report will be required for submission to Congress on financial service availability to cannabis businesses and the potential means of expanding those services. JoEllen Wankel JoEllen Wankel is a freelance writer who has covered various topics from politics and education to healthcare and alternative energy. Wankel has written for The Bradford Era and Art of Handtools and has been published in a Chicken Soup for the Soul Compilation. See author's posts The opinions provided in this article are those of the author and do not constitute investment advice. Readers should assume that the author and/or employees of Grizzle hold positions in the company or companies mentioned in the article. For more information, please see our Content Disclaimer.<doc-sep>

Proponents say it'll prevent financial fraud while also making communities safer. New NORML Despite cannabis now being decriminalized or even legal in some form or another in the majority of states, many banks and financial institutions are reluctant to do business with state-legal marijuana operations due to the plant’s federal status as a Schedule I controlled substance. On Thursday, a key congressional committee voted to send an act that would ease those worries on to the House of Representatives for a vote — and if it becomes law, the impact of the act could extend far beyond your local dispensary. Playing Catch-Up The Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act is designed to assure financial institutions that they won’t face federal charges such as money laundering for working with marijuana–related businesses. After two days of debate and the consideration of multiple amendments, the House Financial Services Committee voted 45 to 15 Thursday morning to advance the act to the House of Representatives for a vote. A date for that vote has not been scheduled, but if the House passes the legislation, it will then move on to the Senate. “Our federal banking laws were designed to prevent illicit activity and help law enforcement do their jobs,” Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said in a statement, reported by NORML. “These laws need to be applied to legitimate marijuana businesses and employees in order to improve transparency and accountability and help root out illegal transactions.” Safer Streets Perlmutter and other proponents of the SAFE Banking Act argue that financial institutions’ current reluctance to work with cannabis businesses isn’t just a matter of finances — because it forces many of the businesses to operate as cash-only, it makes both the businesses and their customers a worthwhile target for criminals. “[T]he SAFE Banking Act will get cash off our streets, reducing the risk of violent crime and making our communities safer,” Perlmutter added in his statement. “While Congress has stuck its head in the sand on this issue for many years, this Committee showed leadership today and I want to thank my cosponsors and members of the Committee for their support.” READ MORE: Marijuana Banking Passes Critical Committee [NORML] More on cannabis: New Senate Bill Would Legalize Marijuana Nationwide As a Futurism reader, we invite you join the Singularity Global Community, our parent company’s forum to discuss futuristic science & technology with like-minded people from all over the world. It’s free to join, sign up now!

Hollywood actor Seth Rogen has accused Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey of protecting “white supremacists” using the social media platform. Seth Rogen, the actor known for his roles in films such as Knocked Up and The Interview, took to Twitter recently to accuse the CEO of the social media platform, Jack Dorsey, of failing to crack down on users Rogen considers white supremacists using the website, and verifying some of them with a blue Twitter checkmark – which has transitioned from a way to denote that an account is authentic into a badge of approval from Twitter staff. Twitter has slowed down their verification process massively, verifying very few new accounts over the past year. In a tweet, Rogen claimed to have been direct messaging with Jack Dorsey over the past 8 months. Rogen decided after messaging with Dorsey for some time about the need to crack down on white supremacists that Dorsey was failing to do so as “the dude simply does not seem to give a fuck.” I’ve been DMing with @jack about his bizarre need to verify white supremacists on his platform for the last 8 months or so, and after all the exchanges, I’ve reached a conclusion: the dude simply does not seem to give a fuck. — Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) July 3, 2018 Many leftists replied to Rogen’s tweet including outspoken feminist Zoe Quinn and “diversity consultant” Mikki Kendall. Replying to Rogan’s tweet, Kendall claimed that Jack Dorsey doesn’t care about the issues raised by Rogen but that Twitter staff members do care. He doesn't. I have talked to his staff, worked with them & they care. He doesn't. He has some bizarre idea that this platform isn't supposed to consider the harm it can enable. But only in one direction. — ❄Mikki Kendall❄ (@Karnythia) July 3, 2018 Far-left feminist Zoe Quinn also claimed to have spoken to “higher ups” at Twitter, saying that they are “just as bad” as Dorsey. Quinn derided these “higher ups” at Twitter for telling her that they “like to let the community decide” what is acceptable on the platform. Tried for years with them, the rest of the higher ups are just as bad. “We like to let the community decide”. It was funny that before trump one of the other excuses they were giving to not do their jobs was “what if the president blocked someone? Isnt that a free speech issue?” — ℤoë “deep thot” ℚuinn (@UnburntWitch) July 3, 2018 Seth Rogen has been a vocal critic of Presiden Trump and conservatives in general for some time now. Rogen famously compared the film American Sniper — based on the life of American war hero Chris Kyle — to “the movie that’s showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds.” The movie watched by characters during the third act of Inglorious Basterds is a Nazi propaganda film. American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds. — Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 18, 2015 At the time, Twitter users took issue with Rogen’s tweet: @Sethrogen Insulting my dead hero friend isn't going to win you any more fans. -Brandon Webb — Brandon Webb (@BrandonTWebb) January 20, 2015 In October of 2017, Rogen told Donald Trump Jr. that his father, President Trump, was a “sexual predator” in a private DM that he then tweeted a screenshot of: Sliding in to @DonaldJTrumpJr DMs to remind him his father is a sexual predator like: pic.twitter.com/a1vW3A4YCk — Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) October 12, 2017<doc-sep>Seth Rogen may finally help us understand how a handful of white supremacists got to be verified on Twitter. On Tuesday, the actor tweeted that he’s been DMing with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey about the matter, with frustrating results: I’ve been DMing with @jack about his bizarre need to verify white supremacists on his platform for the last 8 months or so, and after all the exchanges, I’ve reached a conclusion: the dude simply does not seem to give a fuck. — Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) July 3, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The background: Twitter has long “verified” an account so that users will know it belongs to the person who says it’s theirs, often a celebrity, journalist, well-known organization, or other notable entity. (Verified accounts also have extra filtering tools that nonverified users don’t get.) The problem, of course, is that the blue check mark that verified accounts have looks like an institutional endorsement. In November 2017, Twitter verified the account of Jason Kessler, one of the main organizers of the violent Unite the Right rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia—an act on the social network’s part that led to a slew of criticism over how Twitter was enabling people like Kessler to spread their message. As a result of the uproar, Twitter revoked Kessler’s verification and the verifications of other well-known white supremacists; it also announced that it was pressing pause on the entire verification program to reassess its purpose. Basically nothing has changed since last November, and there haven’t been any developments regarding how the policy will be updated or when public submissions for verification will start up again. Advertisement 4 / We're working on a new authentication and verification program. In the meantime, we are not accepting any public submissions for verification and have introduced new guidelines for the program. https://t.co/j6P0HGXIVq — Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) November 15, 2017 Advertisement But those check marks are still adorning some pretty odious accounts. The Twitter account of the Proud Boys, a self-described “Western Chauvinist” organization that has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is still verified, for example. Advertisement As for new verifications, Twitter has made an exception for some candidates running for public office in the midterm elections, as well as for a certain celebrity baby. We don’t know much beyond that about what Twitter is thinking about verifications, and how a new system would go about excluding hateful accounts. If Rogan thinks Dorsey “does not seem to give a fuck,” that would seem to be information a lot of us would like to know. Certainly, a lot of people replying to Rogen’s tweets thinks he should make those DMs public. post screenshots — lifelong blazers fan (@pblest) July 3, 2018 How about it, Seth?<doc-sep>

Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic Seth Rogen is best known for stoner comedy, but he may not be joking about this -- today, the actor/producer/comedian called out Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey for his stance on white supremacists. I’ve been DMing with @jack about his bizarre need to verify white supremacists on his platform for the last 8 months or so, and after all the exchanges, I’ve reached a conclusion: the dude simply does not seem to give a fuck. — Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) July 3, 2018 The tweet kinda speaks for itself, but just in case you can't see the embed (or if it gets deleted), here it is in plain text: I've been DMing with @jack about his bizarre need to verify white supremacists on his platform for the last 8 months or so, and after all the exchanges, I've reached a conclusion: the dude simply does not seem to give a fuck. Apparently, Rogen had a direct line to the head of Twitter for the past 8 months to chat about Twitter's hate problem. Wow, to say the least. Mind you, it's not like Twitter is doing nothing about its toxicity problem -- in December, it started banning notable white nationalist and nazi groups, and the company's currently fighting in court to keep them banned. But Twitter is also facing pressure from the right, claiming that the social network is trying to suppress conservative viewpoints -- reportedly, Dorsey has been holding secret dinners with conservative leaders who believe the tech industry is biased. Now, Rogen seems to be suggesting @Jack doesn't care as much as he lets on. That's something that feminist Mikki Kendall seems to agree with: He doesn't. I have talked to his staff, worked with them & they care. He doesn't. He has some bizarre idea that this platform isn't supposed to consider the harm it can enable. But only in one direction. — ❄Mikki Kendall❄ (@Karnythia) July 3, 2018 But we can't say for sure that Rogen isn't just frustrated with Twitter's slow progress. (Show us the receipts, Seth!) Twitter declined to comment. Rogen didn't immediately reply to requests for comment. Rogen also tweeted at Donald Trump Jr. last year, asking him if he could convince his dad to quit.

The weather bureau has issued an ‘extremely heavy’ rainfall alert for the city from June 9 to 11 (Saturday to Monday), and has asked citizens to stay indoors as much as possible on these three days. Under the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) classification, 15.6mm to 64.4mm of rainfall in 24 hours is considered moderate, 64.5mm to 115.5mm is heavy, 115.6mm to 204.4mm is very heavy and more than 204.5mm qualities as extreme. “Widespread rainfall activity with over 75% of weather stations reporting heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over south Konkan and Goa from June 7 onwards. Weather systems will gradually extend over north Konkan, including Mumbai, from Friday onwards, and continue till June 12 [Tuesday],” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, IMD. “Between Saturday and Monday, the maximum intensity of rainfall is expected over Mumbai and the surrounding areas, with heavy to very heavy rain; the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas cannot be ruled out.” The advisory released by the IMD reads: “Active to vigorous monsoon conditions are likely to prevail, leading to persistent very heavy rainfall along the west coast, especially between June 10 and 11. In view of intense rainfall forecast, people are advised to abstain from outdoor activities as much as possible during the period and also watch for weather updates from Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai.” Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also forecast in central Maharashtra between Thursday and Friday, as well as heavy showers in some parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha, the weather bureau said. Last year, IMD had issued similar rainfall alerts on August 29 and September 19 — two days when rain brought the city to a standstill, with over 300mm rainfall recorded over 24 hours. Till Wednesday, the city had witnessed two bouts of pre-monsoon showers, both of which affected flight operations and caused water-logging in parts of the island city as well as the suburbs. IMD officials said the southwest monsoon has now reached parts of Karnataka, and is gradually moving towards the Konkan coast. Hosalikar said it is still not clear when the monsoon will arrive in Mumbai, but conditions appear favourable for between June 9 and 10. Previously, the IMD had said that monsoon was expected over the city by June 7, three days before its normal onset date. The city recorded no rainfall on Tuesday, but the weather bureau has issued a forecast for rain or thundershowers over north Konkan, including Mumbai, on Wednesday and Thursday.<doc-sep>Rains in Mumbai | Photo Credit: BCCL Mumbai: The country's financial capital Mumbai is on alert for sustained and heavy rainfall this week starting Thursday, when the Southwest Monsoon is expected to arrive. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the city could even witness flooding starting June 10 (Sunday) Southwest Monsoon gains strength. However, it is the private weather forecaster Skymet Weather that has issued a stark warning for Mumbaikars. Mumbai has been witnessing pre-Monsoon showers for the past few days. The showers have disrupted normal life, delaying train and flight movement. The IMD said that Monsoon was likely to arrive in Mumbai, Goa and other parts of Maharashtra by Thursday, bringing with it heavy rains. "Our forecast for the next 48 hours says that the Monsoon will reach southern Konkan, Goa, and Mumbai by 7 June and then move towards northern parts of Maharashtra," an IMD official said. "After the onset of the Monsoon, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in the areas in the next 24 hours - that is from June 8," he added. However, Skymet has warned that Mumbai could witness heavy to very heavy rains between June 6 and 12. In fact, the spell could be worse than the one experienced by Mumbai since July 26, 2005, when the city recorded 900 mm of rain in a day. ‘Heavy rainfall, flooding’ warning for Mumbai, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka this week as Monsoon gains strength Skymet Weather CEO Jatin Singh tweeted: “The period between June 6th and June 12, could be the worst spell since 26 July 2005, when Mumbai recorded 900mm in a day.” The private forecaster said that a cyclonic circulation over South Konkan and Goa region was likely to cause very heavy rains in Mumbai. "As the system is still prevailing, we expect Mumbai to continue to record some more good rains today as well," it said on its website. “The intensity of rains would keep on increasing over Mumbai and by June 8, we expect a significant increase in the rains leading to few heavy to very heavy spells. These heavy rains may lead to flash floods and may cause traffic snarls and chaos in the day to day life. Thus, people are advised to take adequate measures and precautions to avoid struggling with the chaotic situation,” it added. Skymet has also predicted heavy to very heavy rains in Mumbai’s adjoining districts and coastal Konkan from June 6 to 10. "Mumbai, Dahanu, Thane, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg could witness heavy to very heavy rains and extremely heavy rains from 6-10 June. From 10-11 June, Surat, Valsad and adjoining districts of south Gujarat will also receive heavy to very heavy rains," it said.<doc-sep>Intense showers are expected in Mumbai in the upcoming days (Photo: Twitter/JournoVidya) Normal life in Mumbai has begun to see minor disruptions as heavy rains lashed the Maximum City today ahead of the southwest monsoon's arrival. The Indian Meteorological Department has warned of rain and thunder across Mumbai over the next 24 hours and has advised residents to stay indoors. Monsoon, which has currently reached south Goa, is expected to reach Mumbai in the next 48 to 72 hours, the IMD said. The IMD has also issued heavy rain warning for June 8 to June 10 in Mumbai and Thane area. Following the IMD's alert, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation cancelled the Saturday and Sunday holidays of its officers, putting them on standby to deal with any possible disruptions over the weekend. Local trains in Mumbai were affected earlier today. Trains running on Mumbai's suburban railway Central line were delayed by at least 20 minutes. A Jet Airways London to Mumbai flight was also been diverted today due to heavy rain in Mumbai. Flight 9W-117 was diverted to Ahmedabad airport and will land there at around 1pm. Private weather forecast agency Skymet Weather said on Wednesday that the intensity of the rain is likely to increase today. Skymet predicted heavy to very heavy rains in Mumbai, its adjoining districts and coastal Konkan till June 10. It added that visibility has reduced in Mumbai to 500 meters with dense low clouds over the city. Wind speed in the coastal city is likely to exceed 50 kmph, private weather forecast agency Skymet said. Water is reportedly logged in Powai and Hindmata while Lower Parel also witnessed downpour today. Heavy rain lashes Mumbai leaving streets water-logged in several parts of the city. Visuals from Hindmata area. Photo: ANI Our correspondent Mustafa Shaikh today posted a video from Mumbai's Powai. Goregaon saw the highest rainfall in the city today with 26mm of rain recorded while it was the lowest in Chembur with 13mm. Due to very heavy rainfall forecast in Mumbai and advance of the southwest monsoon causing tidal waves, there is a likelihood of a few areas of the metropolis being inundated. Visuals from Hindmata in Mumbai, which is a low-lying area that gets flooded each year However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has claimed that they are prepared for the heavy downpour. The civic body has given strict instructions to all ward officers regarding opening manholes during heavy rain. Last year, Mumbai-based Dr Amrapurkar died after slipping into a manhole who could not be located due to heavy downpour and water logging. BMC has also asked all its ward officers to use sign boards and nets at the manholes so that people can locate it easily. On the steps being taken, the BMC said three teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be stationed at Parel, Mankhurd (for eastern suburbs) and Andheri Sports Complex (for western suburbs). They are equipped with walkie-talkies and flood rescue material. Besides, Navy personnel will be deployed in Colaba, Worli, Ghatkopar, Trombay, Malad for flood rescue if required, the BMC release said. In addition to this, six Flood Rescue Teams of Mumbai Fire Brigade will be posted at the Regional Command Centres and emergency support functions like BEST (bus transport system), police, traffic police and education officers have been alerted. Monsoon hits Mumbai. Photo: JournoVidya/Twitter The monsoon, which made an onset in Kerala on May 29, three days before its scheduled arrival, has advanced in parts of Tamil Nadu, southwest, west-central, east-central, northeast of Bay of Bengal and most of the northeastern states. (With inputs from Mayuresh Ganapatye and Divyesh Singh) Also read: Chennai streets waterlogged after heavy rains lash parts of city Also read: 6 places in India under Rs 10k you can visit this monsoon WATCH | Heavy rain causes waterlogging in Mumbai and suburbs<doc-sep>Skymet heavy rain Juhu MET Department Private agencypredicts “very heavy rain” from June 8-10 even as pre-monsoon showers lashed the city again, bringing along waterlogging, traffic snarls, and flight diversions.Most parts of the city witnessed yet another round of pre-monsoon showers on Monday, which brought along the usual problems of waterlogging and traffic snarls. The city received an average of 42mm rainfall yesterday even as private agency Skymet predicted verybetween June 8 and 10. There were also reports of at least 18 flights being diverted due to inclement weather and congestion at the Mumbai Airport.Just like Saturday, the pre-monsoon showers, accompanied with lightning and gusty winds, lashed several parts of Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai around 7 pm, bringing relief from stifling weather all through the day. While the JJ Flyover witnessed flooding, and massive traffic snarls were reported at Mohammad Ali Road, where the Ramzan festivities are on, waterlogging was also reported in parts of Mira Road, Borivali, and Mulund.Scores of citizens took to social networking sites to report waterlogging and traffic jams. Film producerdirector Mahesh Bhatt, who was stuck in a traffic jam in, tweeted: “It’s raining in Mumbai (Juhu) and as always one is stuck in a traffic jam. If a 5-minute downpour has unleashed this I dread to imagine what may be in store for us this monsoon.” Thesaid monsoon was likely to reach Maharashtra and Goa in the next two days. Monsoon, which made an onset in Kerala on May 29, three days before its scheduled arrival, has advanced already in parts of Tamil Nadu, and southwest, west-central, east-central, northeast of Bay of Bengal, and in most of the northeastern states, the MET Department said. “Rainfall is likely to increase over parts of Maharashtra and Goa from June 6, leading to advance of southwest monsoon over these areas during June 6 to June 8,” a MET Department bulletin said.Mumbai was likely to witness its first spell of heavy rains during the weekend, according to Skymet, which advised citizens to stay indoors. “Sustained heavy raining coming for a week starting on the 6th of June. (June) 8/9/10 can be extremely heavy. Warnings should be issued now. Just stay indoors,” Skymet CEO Jatin Singh tweeted.A cyclonic circulation is forming over Konkan and Goa, and it will gradually move north along the Maharashtra coast, Mahesh Palawat, vice-president, Skymet, said.“Mumbai, Dahanu, Thane, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg could witness heavy to very heavy rains and extremely heavy rains from June 6-10. From June 10-11, Surat, Valsad and adjoining districts of south Gujarat will also receive heavy to very rains,” Palawat said.Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, M Rajeevan, said monsoon was “strengthening”, and Kerala, coastal Karnataka, the Konkan belt, including Mumbai, and Goa were likely to witness “very heavy rains” and “possible flooding” from June 10.“Monsoon is strengthening. Increased rains expected from 7 June Kerala Coastal Karnataka Konkan & Goa coasts Very heavy rains & possible flooding from 10th onwards especially coastal Karnataka Konkan & Goa including Mumbai. Watch out,” he said in a tweet.<doc-sep>

Rainfall activity is likely to increase over parts of Maharashtra. (File) Monsoon is likely to reach Maharashtra and Goa in the next two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said today, with a private weather forecasting agency predicting sustained heavy rains later this week.Rain over the western coast, especially in Mumbai, is likely to peak between June 8 and 10, private agency Skymet said.However, the government said as monsoon is strengthening, increased rains were expected from June 7 in Kerala, coastal Karnataka, Konkan belt and Goa. It also warned of "possible flooding" from June 10 onwards in these areas.Monsoon, which made an onset in Kerala on May 29, three days before its scheduled arrival, has advanced in some parts of Tamil Nadu, and southwest, west-central, east-central, northeast of Bay of Bengal, and in most of the northeastern states, the weather office said. "Conditions are likely to become favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of south peninsula, Bay of Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and remaining parts of Tripura and some parts of Meghalaya, and sub-Himalayan West Bengal during next 2-3 days with the likely development of favourable circulation features and strengthening of cross equatorial winds. "Rainfall activity is likely to increase over parts of Maharashtra and Goa states from June 6, leading to advance of southwest monsoon over these areas during June 6 to June 8," the IMD said in its bulletin.Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, M Rajeevan, said monsoon is "strengthening" from June 7 and Kerala, coastal Karnataka, the Konkan belt, including Mumbai, and Goa are likely to witness "very heavy rains" and "possible flooding" from June 10 onwards. "Monsoon is strengthening. Increased rains expected from 7 June Kerala Coastal Karnataka Konkan & Goa coasts Very heavy rains & possible flooding from 10th onwards especially coastal Karnataka Konkan & Goa including Mumbai Details of IMD forecasts .Watch out," he said in a tweet.Mumbai is likely to witness its first spell of heavy rains during the period and Skymet has asked people to stay indoors. "Sustained heavy raining coming for a week starting on the 6th of June. (June) 8/9/10 can be extremely heavy. Warnings should be issued now. Just stay indoors," Skymet CEO Jatin Singh said on Twitter.A cyclonic circulation is forming over Konkan and Goa, and it will gradually move north along the Maharahstra coast, Mahesh Palawat, vice-president, Skymet, said. "Mumbai, Dahanu, Thane, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg could witness heavy to very heavy rains and extremely heavy rains from June 6-10. From June 10-11, Surat, Valsad and adjoining districts of south Gujarat will also receive heavy to very rains," Palwat said. On Saturday, three people, including two children, died due to electrocution as pre-monsoon showers hit Mumbai.The mega-city and the western coast are prone to very heavy rains.

(CNN) — Surrounded by G7 leaders, President Donald Trump, and Trump alone, can be seen sitting – arms crossed. The scene was captured in a photo during the G7 summit, and the seemingly tense moment did not go unnoticed. Twitter/Steffen Seibert/German Federal Press Office Prior to Trump’s departure for Singapore, international leaders met in Quebec over the weekend for the G7 conference. However, following the summit, Trump tweeted that he was going not going to support the communique, leaving many of the United States’ closest allies aghast. At the moment the photo was being taken, according to two senior diplomatic sources, there was a difficult conversation taking place regarding the communique and the several issues the US had leading up to it. A senior diplomatic source with knowledge of the discussions also said the photo captured an argument on the trade section of the communique. There were two issues of contention between the US and the others, according to the senior diplomatic source. The first issue involved the World Trade Organization. The Trump administration doesn’t like the WTO and didn’t want it mentioned, the source said. Eventually, a compromise was reached for the text, which reads: “We underline the crucial role of a rules-based international trading system.” The second issue was United States’ insistence on “reciprocal” trade, the source said. The compromise on that issue resulted in language that said “free, fair, and mutually beneficial trade and investment, while creating reciprocal benefits, are key engines for growth and job creation.” Diplomatic sources tell CNN that once the final language was agreed upon, it was seen as an achievement since the discussions with Trump were “very intense” and “difficult.” So US allies were much surprised when Trump suddenly began attacking Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for comments at a news conference and rescinded his support of the joint statement by the G7. According to one senior European diplomat, “The whole thing doesn’t make sense.” The G7 is made up of seven nations: Canada, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Italy. The communique is a final agreement among the countries that details various shared priorities. Trudeau said during a news conference Saturday that Canada will “move forward with retaliatory measures” on July 1 in response to the Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, the European Union and Mexico. “I have made it very clear to the President that it is not something we relish doing, but it something that we absolutely will do,” Trudeau said. “Canadians, we’re polite, we’re reasonable, but we also will not be pushed around.” In response, Trump lashed out on Twitter after the summit, tweeting: “Based on Justin’s false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our U.S. Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!” “PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, ‘US Tariffs were kind of insulting’ and he ‘will not be pushed around.’ Very dishonest & weak. Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!,” Trump wrote in a second tweet.<doc-sep>Group of 7, or G7, leaders gathered in Canada on Saturday to hash out a statement they all could agree to. Donald Trump ultimately dashed those hopes, but it was that session that produced the summit’s iconic image—or rather, images. German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office released a photo (top) that showed her leaning over a table to confront Trump. A White House version (above, left) showed Trump with his arms crossed, smiling as everyone gathered around him. View Full Image Photo: twitter@fabreinbold Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s take was released with a wider frame, making sure the host, absent from most other images, was visible. The G7’s power equation, it seems, lies in the angle of the beholder. View Full Image Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and G7 leaders Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump discuss the joint statement following a breakfast meeting on the second day of the G7 meeting. Photo: Reuters Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.<doc-sep>A viral photo of Angela Merkel and other world leaders standing over a seated Donald Trump at Friday’s G7 summit has been given the meme treatment on social media, with Twitter users quick to liken the image to everything from renaissance art to a scene from the Apprentice. The G7 summit, which brought together world leaders from Germany, Japan, Canada, the US, Italy, France and the UK, was held in Charlevoix, Quebec, in Canada, over the weekend. This year’s summit had a particular focus on trade. However, the enduring image from the summit was one in which divisions between the group were clear. The German chancellor’s office posted the striking picture to Instagram on Saturday with the caption: “Day two of the G7 summit in Canada: spontaneous meeting between two working sessions.” The photograph, which was taken by the German cabinet’s official photographer Jesco Denze, was quickly singled out for its uncanny resemblance to a classical painting. When Art History comes for you. pic.twitter.com/kCeq9nLqiy — Cameron Bailey (@cameron_tiff) June 10, 2018 Ok, because I'm feeling pedantic as fuck, I need to point out that this photo does not look like a Renaissance painting. It looks like a Baroque painting. pic.twitter.com/LvlvcSZjmu — The internet proudly presents: Palle Hoffstein (@Palle_Hoffstein) June 10, 2018 Some Twitter users alluded to the overshadowing tensions between the two world leaders. After Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and recent tariffs on trade, the summit had been renamed by many journalists as the ‘G6 plus one’. Today, as on many days, I would pay hard cash for access to Angela Merkel’s inner monologue. https://t.co/I3w4oOruyT — Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) June 9, 2018 To whomever did this G7 photo-edit - bravo! pic.twitter.com/Bi1lo2kcll — Mark Kermode (@KermodeMovie) June 10, 2018 “Just tell us what Vladimir has on you. Maybe we can help.” pic.twitter.com/DLc7YJFXqT — Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) June 10, 2018 Anyone is having a better weekend than Angela Merkel right now. #G7Summit pic.twitter.com/K9QmWxHxaP — Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) June 9, 2018 While others just jumped at the chance to have a little fun. This looks like an episode of Celebrity Apprentice where Trump is about to fire Angela Merkel because her strudel marketing plan fell through. pic.twitter.com/ZLYlaDrNts — Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) June 10, 2018 Leader of the free world meets president of the United States https://t.co/q65rYOoDuE — Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) June 9, 2018 After a calamitous G7 summit, Donald Trump has arrived in Singapore ahead of his historic meeting with Kim Jong-un. The pair plan to discuss the fate of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.<doc-sep>

(CNN) — Everyone, by now, has seen this photo from the weekend – picturing President Donald Trump surrounded by the leaders of other G7 countries. Twitter/Steffen Seibert/German Federal Press Office And literally everyone knows the whole “a picture is worth 1,000 words” cliche. What’s fascinating to me about the photo above is that it speaks volumes – not necessarily in and of itself, but in how people react to it. It speaks 1,000 words – but those words are totally different depending on what you think of Trump. The picture amounts to a Trump Rohrshach test. If you loathe the President (or have deep concerns about his tendency to fight with our allies and meet with our enemies) photo of Trump, arms crossed and scowling, surrounded by a perplexed world community, is your nightmare. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the face of this frustration – hands splayed on the table, staring at Trump in something that can be rightly described as amazed disbelief. (Merkel’s office sent out the photo, making clear they believe it paints her in a positive – and forceful – light.) Some will identify with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who stands to Trump’s right with a look on his face that reminds me of how I look when I walk in to a pharmacy to fill a prescription and there are 15 people in front of me in line and one cashier. Abe, of course, is no stranger to amazing facial reactions when in the presence of Trump. Let us never forget how he reacted to the classic Trumpian “tug and pull” handshake back in 2017: If you love the President, the G7 photo encapsulates everything you hoped he might be on the world stage. Unlike President Barack Obama – or even President George W. Bush – Trump isn’t hamming it up with a bunch of world leaders. He’s sticking by his guns. He doesn’t care if these people like him or not. He ran to make America great again, not to make Canada/France/Germany great again. Finally, we have a President who is more interested in doing what’s right for his country than doing things that ensure he is well received in European capitals. This photo, for Trump backers, is the visual representation of the President’s famous/infamous pledge when he pulled the US out of the Paris climate accords: “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” Like all great art, what this photo means depends on the person looking at it.

A photo of the White House summer 2018 interns, with US President Donald Trump (centre), has again placed his administration under scrutiny over its commitment to diversity, or lack thereof. Photo: White House<doc-sep>Past group photos of White House interns under President Donald Trump have drawn criticism for showing a group of overwhelmingly white young people. This summer, the White House didn’t make much progress on diversity — they just didn’t release the photo. A group picture with President Donald Trump showed the summer 2017 class was very white and very male. In the fall 2017 picture, observers pointed out one of the interns seemed to be making a white power gesture. (He denied it.) And the spring 2018 class was, again, very white (although with more female interns represented). The White House appears not to be in a hurry to put out its summer 2018 intern picture, but Vox obtained a copy. The photo of 128 summer interns surrounding President Trump gives an overall impression of a sea of white faces, with those who appear to be people of color dramatically outnumbered. That’s despite the fact that almost half of millennials in the United States are minorities. The White House’s summer internship program this year ran from May 30 to August 10, and the photo, which has appeared on at least one now-former intern’s Instagram account, has yet to be released. Last year, members of the media were invited into the summer 2017 photo op, with the Associated Press capturing video of the picture being taken. This year, the spring 2018 class picture was distributed by the White House as one of its photos of the week. But the summer internship program has been over for two and a half weeks, and the White House has yet to distribute it, as its photo of the week or otherwise. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment on the photo, its release, and the diversity of its intern class. Instead of fixing its diversity problem, the White House would rather just keep it under wraps Earlier this month, Kellyanne Conway, senior counselor to the president, was stumped in an appearance on ABC’s This Week when host Jonathan Karl asked her to name a high-level black person serving on Trump’s White House staff now that Omarosa Manigault-Newman, who was fired in December, is out. Trump’s Cabinet is the whitest, most male-dominated group since Ronald Reagan’s. There were seven women and 10 people of color in President Barack Obama’s first 22-member Cabinet; in Trump’s 24-member cabinet, there were four women and four people of color, according to Business Insider. Conway first pointed to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, who Karl pointed out isn’t on White House staff. She then arrived at Ja’Ron Smith, special assistant to the president for domestic policy. He doesn’t work in the West Wing, though, and there are no black staffers listed as making the $179,700 maximum annual salary for White House employees. Staff photos suggest that the diversity problem starts at the bottom: Vice President Mike Pence’s photo in January with the fall 2017 White House page class did not have a single person of color. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) was criticized in 2016 when he tweeted out a picture and a group of interns that was, again, heavily white. You can draw a line between the lack of diversity among interns and the lack of diversity in the White House and, more broadly, among Republican leadership. Internships are part of the pipeline to higher positions in the GOP, and if people of color aren’t getting them, it’s harder for them to advance. That’s how you end up with all-white, all-male groups holding federal government health care debates or discussing family separation and immigration. A lack of staff diversity isn’t only a Republican problem: a 2017 study found that most Senate Democratic staffers are white (and mostly women). Trump has low approval ratings among millennials and nonwhites, and the White House internship program requires participants to be committed to the Trump administration’s mission. So, it’s likely the pool of applicants the White House is pulling from isn’t a particularly diverse one in the first place. Trump also has a history of making racist remarks: earlier this year, for example, he referred to Haiti, El Salvador, and African countries as “shithole countries,” and last week he sent out a tweet echoing white nationalist propaganda about South African farmers. He said both sides were to blame for racist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year. But rather than grapple with why it consistently fails to attract nonwhite interns, the White House apparently decided to keep the picture to itself.<doc-sep>White House, white interns. That appears to be the going trend for the Trump administration, which is getting some flak for its nearly all-white class of summer interns. While it hasn’t yet released this summer’s group photo, as would usually happen, Vox’s Emily Stewart got hold of it, revealing it in an article Wednesday. As might have been expected, Twitter immediately took note, brewing a firestorm of controversy. Users began sharing the photo and adding captions suggesting others take a look to see if they noticed anything peculiar, much like like a game of iSpy, except less fun. While there are a few non-white faces in the crowd, they are surrounded by a virtual sea of apparent homogeneity, which prompted a slew of remarks on the administration’s non-diverse selection from a country in which nearly half of millennials are minorities, as Vox noted. One writer at the outlet cautioned anyone viewing the photo to “use a hole punched in a shoe box, or a special pair of glasses.” “This much whiteness can burn the retinas,” he tweeted. Check out the reactions below: Here is the official White House photo of the Summer 2018 Intern Class, which the White House refused to release to the press. (You can see Trump standing in the center.) Go ahead, enlarge it. See if you can find a single non-white person in the photo. pic.twitter.com/DwbWw9Oh0o — Mike Sington (@MikeSington) August 29, 2018 Having taken heat in the past for its photos of all-white groups of White House interns, the White House opted this year to … not release a photo. https://t.co/Uh8jvgc3IP — Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) August 29, 2018 What is wrong with this photograph of the Summer 2018 White House intern class? pic.twitter.com/jIpTUIBFmU — Jeffrey Guterman, Ph.D. (@JeffreyGuterman) August 29, 2018 When you look at this picture of this year’s White House interns, use a hole punched in a shoe box, or a special pair of glasses. This much whiteness can burn the retinas. https://t.co/I1W3Ke4b6x — David Roberts (@drvox) August 29, 2018 Vox: “Almost half of millennials in the United States are minorities.”https://t.co/0D7fnY1kf0 — Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) August 29, 2018 Oops. The @WhiteHouse seems to have forgotten to release this year’s especially #MAGA intern photo. I wonder why. Lucky for us, @voxdotcom obtained a leaked copy.#whitesplosion pic.twitter.com/vqeVZk4L6j — Todd Breasseale (@TBreassealeDHS) August 29, 2018 [Featured image via Getty, header via white White House] Have a tip we should know? [email protected]<doc-sep>

A photo of the summer 2018 White House intern class appears to show just a handful of people of color in the mostly white group of 128 interns. The photo has not yet been released by the White House Photo Office. A copy was obtained by Vox after former interns posted the picture on Instagram once their internship ended August 10. The president can be seen standing in the middle. Exclusive: here’s the photo of a very white summer intern class the White House didn’t release https://t.co/mNyjsZlTrC — Vox (@voxdotcom) August 29, 2018 This isn't the first time Trump has hired a White House intern class that is predominately white. The White House has faced past criticism for its intern class photos that repeatedly appear to show a lack of diversity when it comes to race. In March, the White House released the spring intern class photo. Featured as one of the White House's "Photos of the Week," it too showed a nearly entirely white intern class. The White House intern photo is like a Where’s Waldo for a non-white person—in a country that is about 40% non-white. pic.twitter.com/UiBLewAurE — Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) March 31, 2018 Vice President Mike Pence received backlash after posing for a photo with the fall 2017 White House page class interns, all of whom were white. Great work by the Fall 2017 Page Class, who graduate this week and will return to their homes across the country. Spoke with them about their work on the Hill and what they plan to do to help our Nation in the future. Inspiring group! pic.twitter.com/ym9oVE41rH — Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) January 24, 2018 The summer 2017 class was also predominately white, showing most of the interns as males. Nearly half of millennials are people of color. Trump's White House interns: pic.twitter.com/WLXNCA5TVj — Be Reasonable (@LOLBeReasonable) July 24, 2017 Differences have been pointed out between the current White House intern classes compared to those under President Barack Obama that featured more young people of color. The continuing practice of choosing overwhelmingly white intern classes highlights the lack of people of color in the current administration, whether it be as interns or as official employees. After the dismissal of White-House-aide-turned-Trump-critic Omarosa Manigault Newman, a CNN review of 48 senior White House officials found there were zero black officials remaining. Only a handful of senior staff members were of Latino, Asian or Arab descent. In Obama's first 22-member cabinet, there were 10 people of color. Seven of them were women. But in Trump's first cabinet of 24 people, there were four people of color and four women, according to Business Insider. Those statistics made Trump's first cabinet the most white and male since President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, according to The New York Times. Gina Loudon, a member of Trump's 2020 Advisory Council, defended the president's lack of diversity in the White House earlier this month when she said presidents have done "amazing" things for black people without including them in the past. "You look back at our history, we have a pretty amazing history of overcoming slavery, of expanding civil rights, of women's rights, and a lot of those things happened under American presidents who didn't have any minorities at all in their White Houses," Loudon said on CNN.

Associated Press SRINAGAR, India – India’s prime minister warned Friday of a “crushing response” to the suicide bombing of a paramilitary convoy in Indian-controlled Kashmir which killed 41 people and was the deadliest in the divided region’s volatile history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed the blame for Thursday’s bombing squarely on neighboring Pakistan, which India accuses of supporting rebels in Kashmir. “Our neighboring country thinks such terror attacks can weaken us, but their plans will not materialize,” he said, adding that government forces have been “given total freedom” to deal with the militants. “Security forces have been given permission to take decisions about the timing, place and nature of their response,” he said. Pakistan’s ruling party rejected Modi’s allegation, saying India’s ruling party was blaming Pakistan for the attack for political gains in the upcoming national election. “The Indian allegations against Pakistan over yesterday’s incident are part of the election campaign,” said Naeemul Haq, a senior leader of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which came to power in last year’s parliamentary election. He said the violence in Kashmir was “the result of the brutalities of Indian occupied forces in Kashmir.” The attack has ratcheted up already high tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, who both administer parts of the disputed territory but each claim it entirely. Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced Friday that New Delhi was withdrawing the most-favored nation trade status given to Pakistan and would take all possible diplomatic steps “to ensure the complete isolation from international community of Pakistan of which incontrovertible evidence is available of having a direct hand in this gruesome terrorist incident.” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the country condemns acts of violence anywhere in the world and denied any involvement. “We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian media and government that seek to link the attack to Pakistan without investigations,” it said in a statement. Rebels, many of whom want Kashmir united with Pakistan, have been fighting Indian control since 1989. But the Muslim-majority region has experienced renewed attacks and repeated public protests in recent years as a new generation of Kashmiri rebels, especially in the southern parts of the region, has challenged New Delhi’s rule with a mixture of violence and social media. In Thursday’s attack, a local Kashmiri militant rammed an explosive-laden van into a bus traveling in the paramilitary convoy. In addition to the dead, the attack wounded nearly two dozen other soldiers, India’s paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force spokesman Sanjay Sharma said. Police said the bus was destroyed and at least five other vehicles were damaged. The Greater Kashmir newspaper reported that militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility. A pre-recorded video circulated on social media sites showed the purported attacker in combat clothes and surrounded by guns and grenades. Authorities suspended movement of security convoys in the Kashmir valley on Friday and Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Srinagar to review the security situation. The attack has raised tensions elsewhere in Hindu-majority India. Hundreds of residents carrying India’s national flag in Hindu-dominated Jammu city in the Muslim-majority state burned vehicles and hurled rocks at homes in Muslim neighborhoods, officials said. Authorities imposed a curfew and appealed for restraint. Some people were reported injured in the mob attacks. Nearly 100 protesters chanting slogans such as “Pakistan down, down!” and “Attack Pakistan, Attack,” burned an effigy of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in a park close to India’s Parliament in New Delhi. They later dispersed. The U.S. singled out Pakistan in a statement condemning the attack. “The United States calls on Pakistan to end immediately the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos, violence, and terror in the region,” the statement from the White House press secretary’s office said. It said the attack strengthened U.S. resolve to bolster counterterrorism cooperation with India. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947 and regularly exchange fire along their highly militarized border in Kashmir. Indian soldiers are ubiquitous in Kashmir and local residents make little secret of their fury toward their presence in the Himalayan region. Most Kashmiris support the rebels’ demand that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country, while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian control. Since 1989, about 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian crackdown. Last year’s death toll was the highest since 2009, with at least 260 militants, 160 civilians and 150 government forces killed.<doc-sep>The Pulwama terror attack on a CRPF convoy on February 14 in Jammu and Kashmir was the biggest terrorist incident in India in the past five years. (Photo: The Associated Press) The attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district that killed at least 40 jawans on Thursday (February 14) is the biggest terror attack in the past five years. However, data released by the Narendra Modi government on February 5, 2019 reveal that Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing regular terror attacks in the past five years. The data recently released by the Ministry of Home Affairs shows that between 2014 and 2018, there has been a 93 per cent rise in the number of security personnel killed in terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides this, these five years also saw a 176 per cent rise in the number of terrorist incidents in the state. In this period, the state suffered a total of 1,708 terrorist incidents (on an average, the 28 terrorist incidents every month for five years), the government data reveal. This information was released in the Lok Sabha in a written reply by the Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir. The home ministry said that in 2014, there were 222 terrorist incidents in the state. This figure saw a marginal decrease the next year (2015) when there were 208 such incidents. However, since 2016, the number of terrorist incidents has seen an upward trend. For example, the number of terrorist incidents in Jammu & Kashmir rose by 54.8 per cent in 2016, six per cent (342 incidents) in 2017, and 79.53 per cent (614 incidents) in 2018. In fact, the year 2018 saw nearly 51 terrorist incidents every month. A rising trend was also observed in the number of people who were killed in terrorism-related activities in Jammu & Kashmir in these five years. Between 2014 and 2018, a total of 1,315 people were killed in the state due to terrorism. Of these, 138 (10.49 per cent) were civilians, 339 (25 per cent) security personnel, and 838 (63.72 per cent) were terrorists. The home ministry’s reply reveals that there has been a rise in deaths in all three categories (civilians, security personnel and terrorists). Between 2014 and 2018, the number of civilians killed in Jammu & Kashmir has risen by 35.71 per cent; number of security persons killed has increased by 93 per cent; and the number of terrorists killed has seen a rise of 133.63 per cent. 11 terrorists infiltrate into J&K every month In another written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Union home ministry on February 13 said that between 2016 and 2018, close to 400 terrorists infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir. On an average, this breaks down to 11 terrorists infiltrating into the state every month in the past three years. According to the government data, the highest number of infiltrations into Jammu and Kashmir took place in June 2018 when 38 terrorists were estimated to have entered the state. This was followed by September 2016 and May 2017, the two months when 25 terrorists infiltrated into J&K. Between January 2016 and December 2018, there were only three months when no infiltrations took place in the state. In the same reply, the government also said that it was able to arrest 56 terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. (Note: The earlier version of this report said the death toll in Pulwama attack was 37. As per the official figures, the death toll now has increased to 40. The report has been accordingly updated.) ALSO READ | Pulwama attack: Intel warned of a Syria-style car bomber, but no one knew how to stop him ALSO READ | Pro-Pakistan Twitter handles say How's the Jaish after Kashmir terror attack ALSO READ | Jaish-e-Mohammed claims responsibility with video of suicide bomber Adil Dar IN PICS | Photos capture devastating aftermath of Kashmir terror attack ALSO WATCH | Pulwama terror attack: Adil Ahmad Dar was newbie terrorist, became militant a year ago<doc-sep>

The ghastly terrorist attack on Indian soil has left the world shocked and Pakistan was condemned unanimously by global leaders. | Photo Credit: IANS New Delhi: The Pakistan backed terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on Thursday claimed lives of at least 37 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers in in Jammu and Kashmir’s Awantipora, Pulwama district. The ghastly terrorist attack on Indian soil has left the world shocked and Pakistan was condemned unanimously by global leaders. Meanwhile at home, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting with the Cabinet Committee on Security (CSS) comprising of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj among others to chalk out a befitting reply to the shameful assault on India. Here are the 5 key developments in the Pulwama Terrorist Attack: United States of America condemns Pakistan White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders condemned the dastardly attack on the CRPF soldiers in Pulwama and said that Pakistan was supporting terrorist groups and providing them safe haven – a practise that it should end with immediate effect. According to news agency PTI Sanders said, “This attack only strengthens our resolve to bolster counterterrorism cooperation and coordination between the United States and India.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs CSS meeting The Cabinet Committee on Security (CSS), the most powerful body of the government on matters pertaining to India’s security, met on Friday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself being at the helm. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were among the decision-makers in the meeting that mulled over a befitting response to terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). PM Modi put all his political events on hold for the day in the aftermath of the cowardly attack in Jammu and Kashmir that saw at least 37 soldiers being martyred. Terrorist Adil Ahmad Dar lived barely 10 kilometres from attack site Terrorist Adil Ahmad Dar, the bomber who orchestrated and executed the attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy, was also known as ‘Adil Ahmad Gaadi Takranewala’. The 22-year-old resident of Pulwama’s Kakapora area was radicalised by the JeM after he got influenced by Taliban ideologies. He had dropped out of school after Class 12 in 2017 and was well aware of the surroundings of the attack site as he lived around 10 kilometres from there. Pakistan continues to provoke; another ceasefire violation on Friday Provoking India further, Pakistan on Friday violated ceasefire along the border in Mendhar sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. This is even more alarming as Pak-supported JeM has swiftly claimed the responsibility of Thursday's Pulwama terrorist attack, daring India to take action. In such sensitive environment, the ceasefire violation is not been taken lightly by the Indian Army. Pakistan Prime Minster Imran Khan in the dock The terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir has also raised eyebrows over the role of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the premier Pakistan spy agency. Moreover, Pakistan Prime Minister is under tremendous pressure from world community to stop harbouring terrorists on its soil. "The self-proclaimed involvement of JeM in the attack raises serious questions about the role of the ISI in supporting the masterminds of this operation," Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst, told PTI. Even though Pakistan has termed the terrorist attack an issue of ‘grave concern’, it has so far not done anything substantial to hold the perpetrators accountable for the dastardly attack.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard announced Friday she will run for president in 2020, becoming the latest Democrat to enter what is shaping up to be a crowded primary field. Gabbard, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, has represented Hawaii in the House of Representatives since 2013. She sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where she has staked out a position as one of the most vocal non-interventionists in Congress. "There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision," Gabbard told CNN's Van Jones during an interview set to air at 7 p.m. ET Saturday. "There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve." "There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace," Gabbard added. "I look forward to being able to get into this and to talk about it in depth when we make our announcement." Gabbard, 37, is widely known for her unorthodox positions within the Democratic caucus. She was one of the few lawmakers to back Sen. Bernie Sanders' insurgent candidate against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary. Gabbard also faced intense criticism, including from members of her own party, for meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a trip to Syria in 2017. Some foreign policy commentators accused Gabbard of legitimizing Assad, who has been accused of war crimes against civilians, but she defended the meeting as an opportunity to discuss bringing an end to Syria's seven-year civil war. "When the opportunity arose to meet with him, I did so because I felt it's important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then we've got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we could achieve peace, and that's exactly what we talked about," Gabbard told CNN's Jake Tapper in January 2017. More recently, Gabbard stirred controversy among fellow Democrats when she issued a statement accusing some of them of "religious bigotry" for questioning whether a judicial nominee's membership in a Catholic fraternal organization would affect his ability to apply the law. Though she didn't call out any lawmakers by name, Gabbard's statement was likely referring to Democratic Sens. Mazie Hirono and Kamala Harris, who aggressively questioned the nominee, Brian Buescher, about his religious beliefs. Gabbard joins a growing contingent of Democrats looking to unseat President Donald Trump. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced on New Year's Eve that she was forming an exploratory committee for a potential run, and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro did the same earlier this week. Other prominent Democrats seen as potential candidates include Harris, Sanders, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and former Vice President Joe Biden.<doc-sep>Well, it looks like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Washington Governor Jay Inslee have company. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard announced she’s running for president (via Politico): Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said Friday that she is running for president. “I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week,” she said during an interview on CNN's "The Van Jones Show." Gabbard, a 37-year old combat veteran, has done little to hide her presidential ambitions. She recently made stops in both Iowa and New Hampshire and looked into hiring digital staff and speechwriters. She has also authored a memoir set to be released in May. Warren was the first to make her 2020 intentions known. Inslee reportedly thinks he can win on global warming. Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who also served as HUD secretary under Obama, is likely to run as well. Oh, and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) has been making the stops and releases a book ahead of her expected 2020 announcement. Gabbard made some noise shooting inside the ship when she accused fellow Hawaii Democrat Mazie Hirono, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, of anti-Catholic bigotry: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is criticizing a fellow Hawaii Democrat, Sen. Mazie Hirono, for her aggressive questioning of a Trump administration judicial nominee over his membership in a fraternal Catholic charitable organization. In a Hill op-ed published Tuesday, Gabbard warned against “religious bigotry” in considering the nomination of U.S. District Court judge nominee Brian Buescher. At a Dec. 21 hearing, Hirono and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., questioned whether Buescher could rule impartially on issues related to abortion and same-sex marriage, which the Knights of Columbus has taken public stands on. “While I oppose the nomination of Brian Buescher to the U.S. District Court in Nebraska, I stand strongly against those who are fomenting religious bigotry, citing as disqualifiers Buescher’s Catholicism and his affiliation with the Knights of Columbus,” wrote Gabbard, a potential 2020 presidential candidate. Oh, you can already see that the 2020 Democratic primaries are going to be insane.<doc-sep>Another Democrat is jumping into the quickly forming 2020 Democratic presidential primary contest. Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said in an interview on Friday that she has decided to run for the White House and will be make a formal announcement over the next week. "There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision,” Gabbard told CNN. “There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve.” She also tweeted to announce the launch of a campaign website, https://www.tulsi2020.com. Gabbard, 37, was elected in 2012. She was a major in the Hawaii Army National Guard and served two tours of duty in the Middle East. She has visited early primary and caucus states New Hampshire and Iowa in recent months and has written a memoir that's due to be published in May. GABBARD ACCUSES FELLOW DEMS OF STOKING ‘BIGOTRY’ Gabbard first emerged on the national stage as one of the few lawmakers in Washington to back Bernie Sanders' underdog candidacy in 2016 against Hillary Clinton during the last presidential primary campaign. Her endorsement came in dramatic fashion, with her resigning as a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee to express her support. Indeed, Gabbard has rankled some in her party for her unorthodox moves. After Donald Trump was elected, she met with the then president-elect to discuss the war in Syria. Last year, Gabbard came under intense criticism -- including from some Democrats - for traveling to that country and meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose government lawmakers have accused of war crimes and even genocide during that country's brutal civil war. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Gabbard has also made headlines for referring to President Trump as "Saudi Arabia's b----," after the president argued for the importance of a strong U.S-Saudi relationship amid calls for him to take a tougher stance on the kingdom in response to the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi. Republicans wasted no time Friday in going after her. “Tulsi Gabbard has an even bigger problem than her lack of experience – it’s that she has no base of support,” Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Ahrens said. “Liberals think she’s too conservative, conservatives think she’s too liberal, and just about everyone thinks her coziness with Bashar al-Assad is disturbing.” In recent weeks, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro have both announced exploratory committees. Gabbard would likely fight for attention in the race with other big names in the party, like former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and California Sen. Kamala Harris. Former Maryland Rep. John Delaney has already announced a campaign. Fox News’ Amy Lieu and The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), an Iraq War veteran who made history in 2012 as the first Hindu elected to Congress, said Friday she will run for president in 2020. “I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week,” Gabbard told CNN’s Van Jones during an interview to air Saturday. “There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I’m concerned about and that I want to help solve.” Tulsi, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said her campaign platform will address health care, climate change, and criminal justice reform. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard says she will run for president in 2020. "I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week," the Hawaii Democrat and Iraq War veteran told CNN's @VanJones68 https://t.co/5BzVi2JMFq pic.twitter.com/nNNmGCED5C — CNN (@CNN) January 11, 2019 “There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace,” she continued. “I look forward to being able to get into this and to talk about it in depth when we make our announcement.” Gabbard’s announcement comes after the progressive congresswoman was the headline speaker at a December meet-and-greet with Democrat activists in Exeter, New Hampshire, where she told local reporters that a White House bid was on the table. “I’m seriously thinking of how I can best be of service to our country,” she told Concord Monitor News reporter Paul Steinhauser before meeting with Rockingham County Democrats. She endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for president in 2016. In November, the Hawaii Democrat garnered headlines for criticizing President Donald Trump’s decision not to further punish Saudi Arabia over the murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi. “It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event,” President Trump said of the killing. “Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t.” In response, Gabbard wrote on Twitter that “being Saudi Arabia’s bitch is not ‘America First.’” A staunch anti-war voice in Congress, Gabbard has called for the U.S. to halt further involvement in Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Yemen, describing the civil war as a humanitarian crisis. “It is long overdue that we end U.S. complicity in Saudi Arabia’s atrocities,” Gabbard said of the hot button issue. “We must end all U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s genocidal war in Yemen now.” Last year, Gabbard came under fire for an impromptu meeting with Syrian President Bashar Hafez al-Assad during what she described as a fact-finding trip to discuss possible solutions to end the war in Syria. Gabbard enters a 2020 Democrat primary field which will likely go into double-digits. On New Year’s Eve, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) was the first serious Democrat presidential contender to launch a White House exploratory committee. Former Vice President Joe Biden and former Rep. Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke (D-TX) are also reportedly considering running for president. Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Ahrens dismissed Gabbard’s White House announcement, saying that the Hawaii Democrat has no voter base. “Tulsi Gabbard has an even bigger problem than her lack of experience – it’s that she has no base of support. Liberals think she’s too conservative, conservatives think she’s too liberal, and just about everyone thinks her coziness with Bashar al-Assad is disturbing,” said Ahrens.<doc-sep>

Corrections and clarifications: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the first American-Samoan elected to Congress. WASHINGTON – Democrat Tulsi Gabbard announced on Friday that she would run for president in 2020, entering what is expected to be a crowded field of liberal contenders. "I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week," the Hawaii congresswoman said on CNN in an interview that's slated to air tonight on "The Van Jones Show." Gabbard, 37, was elected in 2012, becoming the first Hindu member of Congress. She served in Iraq and sits on the House Armed Services Committee as well as the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She previously served as the vice-chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee but resigned to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders during the 2016 campaign. "There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve," she said, according to CNN. Gabbard was criticized in 2016 for traveling to Syria and meeting with President Bashar Assad, who has been accused of war crimes. She says it's important to meet with adversaries if "you are serious about pursuing peace." The Republican National Committee, shortly after Gabbard's announcement, sent out a "cheat sheet" attacking the meeting and her bid for the White House. Already, the pool of Democrats looking to take on President Donald Trump in 2020 is getting crowded. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., announced the start of an exploratory committee to run for president and held rallies in Iowa last week to talk with voters in the state that's the first to vote in the presidential primary. Julian Castro, Barack Obama's former Housing chief, is expected to announce his 2020 bid on Saturday in Texas. Others, including former vice president Joe Biden, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Kamala Harris and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke are also said to be considering a White House run in 2020.

— Pastor J.D. Greear of The Summit Church in Durham was elected on Tuesday as the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention. According to The Associated Press, J.D. Greear is among numerous SBC leaders saying the doctrine needs to be observed in a way that is respectful of women and encourages them to play an active role in church affairs. In a recent video posted on Facebook, Greear said the church has hurt itself by excluding women from top leadership posts. "This afternoon the Southern Baptist Convention voted to elect me as its 62nd president," Greear wrote on Tuesday in a Facebook post. "I am at once honored and humbled to step into this role, which I will do, officially, tomorrow afternoon. As a reminder, the position of SBC president is a volunteer role that will not take away from my responsibilities at the Summit. Our church is, and will always be, my top priority." Greear, 45-years-old, narrowly lost the election for president in 2016.<doc-sep>The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) voted on Monday to keep Vice President Pence as a speaker at its annual gathering in Dallas this week after a Virginia pastor voiced objections to the address. Pastor Garrett Kell expressed concerns that a speech from Pence could make it seem like the denomination is aligned with one political party more than another. ADVERTISEMENT "We must do all that we can to preserve the purity of the gospel, and this invitation works against it," Kell said, according to The Tennessean. The pastor's request did not garner enough votes to do away with the vice president's address. “As a committee, we feel to not show hospitality to those in authority would be a bad testimony for Southern Baptists,” Grant Ethridge, the chairman of the convention's committee on order of business, told The Tennessean, addressing Kell's concerns. "I believe we respect the position regardless of whether or not you supported or voted for the person," he continued. The convention announced on Monday that the vice president, who is an evangelical, would speak the event on Wednesday. "We are excited to announce Vice President Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PenceFilibuster fight looms over Jan. 6 commission White House briefing room opens to 50 percent capacity Bipartisanship is dead — Republicans killed it MORE will be attending this year's SBC annual meeting to express appreciation to Southern Baptists for the contributions we make to the moral fabric of our nation," SBC President Steve Gaines said in a statement. The address comes as the Christian denomination faces backlash for comments from former Southern Baptist leader Paige Patterson in which he said women who are abused by their husbands should pray for them and that women should “be submissive in every way that you can.” The board of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary voted to remove Patterson as the leader of the Forth Worth, Texas, institution. “After much prayer and a more than 13-hour discussion regarding challenges facing the institution, including those of enrollment, financial, leadership and institutional identity, the Board determined to move in the direction of new leadership,” the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary board said in a statement on Tuesday. The board did not reference Patterson’s comments or criticism of him in its statement. Patterson will be named president emeritus and will reside on campus as a “theologian-in-residence” for a new Baptist Heritage Center. He reportedly will be compensated for the role.<doc-sep>This year was always going to be a controversial one for the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, which takes place Tuesday and Wednesday in Dallas. From the public outcry surrounding former president Paige Patterson, who was fired from his post as head of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary after making a series of remarks that appeared to justify spousal abuse, to the numerous clashes within the evangelical community centered on the Trump presidency, the 2018 meeting of America’s largest evangelical denomination was already set to be fraught. Now, Vice President Mike Pence is planning to speak at the event. Pence will speak on Wednesday, the second day of the conference, the SBC announced on Monday. “We are excited to announce Vice President Mike Pence will be attending this year’s SBC annual meeting to express appreciation to Southern Baptists for the contributions we make to the moral fabric of our nation,” said current SBC president Steve Gaines. Pence is the highest-ranking government official to attend an SBC convention in person. (George W. Bush gave a speech via video link in 2005.) Attending and endorsing explicitly religious organizations is, however, something Pence has a history of doing. He spoke at last year’s Focus on the Family anniversary and attended the anti-abortion March for Life. His presence at the annual meeting, furthermore, strengthens the existing bonds between the evangelical community and the White House, which has increasingly focused on white evangelicals as its support base. (Eighty-one percent of white evangelicals voted for Trump in 2016, and 75 percent continue to support him as of spring 2018.) Symbolic Trump administration moves like transferring the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and working to repeal the Johnson Amendment have served to bolster and support that evangelical base. In return, members of the evangelical “old guard” — from Jerry Falwell Jr. to Tony Perkins — have continued to vociferously support Trump, even going so far as to suggest his presidency was preordained by God, despite the protestations of an increasingly vocal evangelical minority. (Meanwhile, some younger evangelical leaders, like Russell Moore, president of the SBC’s public policy outreach arm, have been longstanding and vocal Trump opponents.) Within that context, Pence’s decision to speak at the SBC convention seems like yet another conflation of Christianity and Trumpism: a political alliance between the GOP apparatus and the evangelical old guard that may overshadow the wider story of the SBC. When an entire religious community is dealing with the fallout of #MeToo, what does it mean to give a platform to the second-in-command of one of the most unrepentant “pussy grabbers” of all? Likewise, the Trump administration stance on racial justice, particularly in the wake of the Charlottesville, Virginia, attacks, makes a Trump administration representative an uncomfortable choice. In recent years, the SBC has been actively moving away from its historic association with white supremacy. (The denomination has historic links with slaveholders.) In 2015, it passed a resolution for racial reconciliation; in 2016, it condemned the Confederate flag; and in 2017 it condemned the “alt-right.” Pence’s role may appear to re-cement the historic, deeply politicized affiliation between white evangelicalism and the GOP, what the Religion News Service’s Jack Jenkins called “Christian Nationalism.” Very disappointing news. Sends the wrong message and reinforces the perception that SBC = Republican. The gospel of King Jesus is not tied to any American political party. This confuses that.#SBC18https://t.co/BQ8sObAxjb — Matt Smethurst (@MattSmethurst) June 11, 2018 Seriously?! Southern Baptist leaders have not been paying attention to the concerns of people of color, women, immigrants, and Muslims. Despite their words of contrition and reconciliation, this action is contradictory to those sentiments. We remember the 81 percent! #SBC18 https://t.co/IYRcloXbJh — Jemar Tisby (@JemarTisby) June 11, 2018 As Baptist pastor and blogger Brent Hobbs wrote for SBC Voices: “I can’t see any way for a member of a President’s administration to address the convention without our convention being seen as supportive and politically tied. “When Mike Pence enters, he’ll receive a standing ovation from a (likely vast) majority of the messengers. This will alienate those in our own family who by conviction do not or cannot support this administration. Instead of standing together in unity over the gospel, our political differences will be put on display for an extended ovation.” John Fea, a historian of religion at Messiah College and the author of Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump, echoed Hobbs’s sentiments, telling me in an email: At a time when the Southern Baptist Convention needs to come together to repent of its past misogynistic behavior it has chosen instead to welcome the chief surrogate of one of the most divisive presidential administrations in recent memory with a well-documented track record of degrading women in public. Can the SBC think of any more ways to shoot itself in the foot? Updated to include a quote from John Fea.<doc-sep>

The Southern Baptist Convention voted Monday to keep Mike Pence as the group's speaker at an upcoming gathering after a Virginia pastor objected to hosting the vice president. "We must do all that we can to preserve the purity of the gospel, and this invitation works against it," Pastor Garrett Kell said, according to The Tennessean. Kell argued Pence's speech slot should be replaced with prayer in order to avoid the optics of the evangelical church aligned with a political party. The pastor's call to remove Pence as speaker fell short. Grant Ethridge, the chairman of the convention's committee on order of business said, "As a committee, we feel to not show hospitality to those in authority would be a bad testimony for Southern Baptists." He added, "I believe we respect the position regardless of whether or not you supported or voted for the person." Steven Gaines, the Southern Baptist Convention president said in a press release Monday that his group announced Pence as the group's speaker. "We are excited to announce Vice President Mike Pence will be attending this year's SBC annual meeting to express appreciation to Southern Baptists for the contributions we make to the moral fabric of our nation," Gaines said. Pence's appearances serve to strengthen the connection between the White House and the evangelical community. In the 2016 election, then-GOP Candidate Donald Trump, with Pence on the ticket, captured 80 percent of the white evangelical vote, according to FiveThirtyEight. In April of this year, a Public Religion Research Institute poll found that support for Trump remained at an all-time high with 75 percent of white evangelicals, holding a "favorable view" of the president. The Southern Baptist community drew attention last month when Paige Patterson, a former leader of the church, was removed as president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary after accusations of mishandling two instances of students coming to him to say they had been raped. Patterson denied any wrongdoing. "After much prayer and a more than 13-hour discussion regarding challenges facing the institution, including those of enrollment, financial, leadership and institutional identity, the Board determined to move in the direction of new leadership," the church said in a statement about Patterson's removal. In April, audio surfaced on which Patterson said abused wives should "be submissive in every way that you can."

The board of trustees at Michigan State University named a new interim president on Thursday to replace John Engler, a day after he resigned amid widespread criticism over his remarks that some victims of Lawrence G. Nassar, the former university and U.S.A. Gymnastics doctor, appeared to be enjoying “the spotlight.” The trustees appointed a top university administrator, Satish Udpa, as the interim leader on Thursday morning at a hastily scheduled board meeting, where they roundly condemned Mr. Engler’s comments and accepted his resignation, effective immediately, by a vote of 7 to 0 with one trustee absent. The swift upheaval, nearly a year after a high-profile sentencing hearing for Dr. Nassar where more than 150 young women told stories of sexual abuse, underscored the challenges still facing Michigan State in the wake of the scandal. Many of the abuse charges stemmed from Dr. Nassar’s time at the university, where he had been a faculty member and the team physician for two female varsity squads, in addition to his role with the American gymnastics team. The university’s longtime president, Lou Anna K. Simon, stepped down under intense pressure the same day, Jan. 24, that Dr. Nassar was sentenced to prison last year.<doc-sep>The interim president of Michigan State University resigned Wednesday amid criticism of remarks he made last week about victims of sexual abuse by ex-sports doctor Larry Nassar. In an 11-page resignation letter, John Engler said he would step down effective Jan. 23. The letter made no mention of the outcry over his comments and instead listed what Engler considered to be his accomplishments in just under one year of service, describing the university as a "dramatically better, stronger institution." Engler submitted his resignation the day before a special meeting of the university's board of trustees was to convene to discuss his future. Board of Trustees Chair Dianne Byrum confirmed on Twitter that she had received Engler's resignation letter and said it "will be discussed and acted upon at the BOT meeting [Thursday] morning." In a Jan. 11 editorial board meeting with The Detroit News, Engler said women sexually assaulted by Nassar have been in the "spotlight" and were "still enjoying that moment at times, you know, the awards and recognition." Nassar, who molested hundreds of girls and women while employed at Michigan State and USA Gymnastics, is now serving decades-long prison sentences for sexually assaulting patients and possessing child pornography. The university fired Nassar in 2016, two years after he was the subject of a sexual assault investigation. LARRY NASSAR HIT WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES IN TEXAS Engler was hired as interim president in February of last year to replace Lou Anna Simon, who resigned over the fallout from the Nassar scandal and was charged in November with two felony counts of lying to police about the case. After Engler's hiring, Michigan State agreed to a $500 million settlement with 332 women and girls who said they were sexually assaulted by Nassar. Future claims, of which Engler said 172 were under consideration, are to be covered by $75 million of that sum. "We are really thinking about that 172," Engler told the Detriot News last week. "The people who got the $425 million are probably OK." In April, Engler told another university official in emails that Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to go public with her accusations about Nassar, was probably getting a "kickback" from her attorney. Denhollander told The Associated Press on Wednesday it "was no secret" who Engler was and how he operated. The former board -- five members remain and three are gone -- picked Engler "for a reason," she said, and it "needs to take responsibility for what they did." MSU PAID HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO 'SPY' ON VICTIMS OF LARRY NASSAR, REPORT SAYS Her biggest concern with Engler's tenure has been what he has "communicated about abuse," Denhollander said. "What he has communicated is that survivors who speak up will be attacked and blamed and shamed, that those who push for change are going to be accused of enjoying the spotlight, that they will be lied about." The current board has five Democrats, two Republicans and an appointee who was named last month by then-Gov. Rick Snyder. The board's makeup became more Democratic in the November election. A special prosecutor appointed by Michigan's then-attorney general to investigate Michigan State's handling of Nassar accused the university last month of stonewalling his probe. Bill Forsyth released a report that said the school fought the release of certain relevant documents and released others that were heavily redacted or irrelevant. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Their biggest concern was the reputation of the university," Forsyth said at a news conference. Denhollander said Wednesday that Michigan State, including the board, should waive attorney-client privilege and release documents to law enforcement. She also renewed her call for MSU to conduct a truly independent investigation of its actions. Click for more from The Detroit News. The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Engler wrote that he arrived at a university in crisis and moved with urgency and determination to stabilize the institution, come to grips with the impact of the cascading scandal and change the culture to ensure accountability, safety and respect. He listed changes implemented during his tenure, such as expanding access to mental health counseling, strengthening oversight and swiftly reaching the settlement agreement with Nassar’s victims. Tuition for undergraduates was frozen during his tenure, and he helped the university set enrollment records for this school year’s freshman class, he wrote. “The bottom line is that MSU is a dramatically better, stronger institution than it was one year ago,” Engler said.<doc-sep>

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Latest on the resignation of interim Michigan State University President John Engler (all times local): 9:30 a.m. Michigan State University trustees garnered applause after voting to force the immediate resignation of the university’s interim president. John Engler submitted his resignation letter Wednesday, saying he’d resign next week after making controversial comments about some victims of former sports doctor and convicted sexual abuser Larry Nassar. The Board of Trustees voted Thursday to make the resignation immediate. Trustee Kelly Tebay says “a wrong has been righted today. I’m sorry it took so long.” The former Michigan governor was brought in to help the university following the Nassar scandal. Engler had resisted past calls to step down. But the final straw came last week when he said Nassar’s victims had been in the “spotlight” and were at times “still enjoying ... the awards and recognition.” Hundreds of women and girls have accused Nassar of molesting them when they sought treatment during his time working for Michigan State and USA Gymnastics. The victims included Olympic gymnasts. ___ 8:20 a.m. Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees has voted to accept interim president John Engler’s resignation, but is making his departure effective immediately. The board acted Thursday, a day after Engler said he’d step down next week . Engler’s resignation comes amid fallout from remarks he made about some victims of former sports doctor and convicted sexual abuser Larry Nassar. The board appointed Satish Udpa as the new interim president. He currently serves as the school’s executive vice president for administration and is a distinguished professor. ___ 12 a.m. Michigan State University plans to announce a new interim president following the forced resignation of John Engler amid backlash over his comments about some of convicted sex abuser Larry Nassar’s victims. The Board of Trustees will meet Thursday. The former Michigan governor, who was brought in almost a year ago to help the school recover from the scandal, announced his resignation Wednesday rather than be fired at the meeting. It’s effective Jan. 23. Engler told The Detroit News last week that Nassar’s victims in the “spotlight” are “still enjoying that moment at times, you know, the awards and recognition.” Engler previously was criticized for sending emails that suggested the first woman to go public with her accusations was probably getting a “kickback” from her attorney. The university plans to name a permanent president in June.

New Brunswick's debt was the main talking point from Tuesday's provincial budget announcement. The provincial government will pay down part of the accumulated debt for the first time in 13 years, Finance Minister Ernie Steeves said. And the CBC News team was there to offer comprehensive coverage of the big news. Our stories examined the debt and the projected $23 million surplus. They considered the lowered expectations for the New Brunswick economy. They touched on some major changes to financial assistance for post-secondary education. They described the effect of increasing the auditor general's budget. The 2019 provincial government budget distilled CBC News 1:11 These are the key takeaways. 1:11 But budgets are big, and there are plenty of nuggets that may be overlooked. Here are seven items worth considering: So long, front licence plate The People's Alliance can check this one off its to-do list. The Tory government announced Tuesday it will be eliminating the front licence plate on motor vehicles. The decision comes into effect in April. The Tories reached into the Alliance's playbook when making this campaign pledge in September. "It's good to see the government is acting on this recommendation," said People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin in a statement Tuesday. People’s Alliance Leader Kris Austin said he was pleased to see the front licence plate will be eliminated. (CBC) "However, we feel more can be done, including biannual vehicle inspections and a one-time vehicle registration for all personal motor vehicles." Premier Blaine Higgs said during a September campaign stop that the party would allow for vehicle registration every two years, but that didn't appear in Tuesday's budget. Women's Council budget cut The budget revealed a massive cut to the New Brunswick Women's Council funding. The council, which furthers gender-equality in the province, saw last year's $821,000 budget reduced to $429,000 for the upcoming fiscal year. Steeves said the council's 2018-19 budget was double what was typically allocated. "It really didn't seem to be used as much as it should, and so we decided to move it back to where it was two years ago," said Steeves. The council spent $671,000 of the $821,000 budget. "But certainly we value all the work of the Women's Council," he added. Higgs's 2011 budget, when he was finance minister, eliminated the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women. In 2013, the Tories introduced the Voices of New Brunswick Women Consensus-Building Forum, which was criticized for being a shell of the former arm's-length agency. The Liberal government passed legislation in 2016 to create the stronger, more independent Women's Council. Beth Lyons, executive director of the New Brunswick Women's Council, is wondering if the province performed a gender-based analysis on the provincial budget. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) Beth Lyons, the council's executive director, declined to comment on the budget cut until being able to speak with council members. Lyons said she has many questions for the government on other issues, including whether the budget underwent a gender-based analysis and, if so, was it used to inform decision-making. The council also wants to find out the status of funding for the implementation of a new sexual violence framework. In August 2018, the Liberals announced $1.425 million over two years (and $1.6 million in 2020-21) in funding for the framework to examine prevention and response strategies. Climate change fund New Brunswick's ill-fated carbon pricing plan proposed redirecting 2.3 cents of the existing 15.5-cent-per-litre gas tax revenue into a fund for climate change projects. The plan, which was geared to avoid passing the cost to consumers, was ultimately rejected by Ottawa and the federal backstop was imposed. Consumers will see increased costs at the pumps in April, though the provincial government is fighting the federal carbon tax along with Saskatchewan and Ontario. Since April 1, 2018, gas revenue of $37.4 million was directed into the provincial climate change fund. But that's going to stop. According to the 2019-20 provincial budget, no more revenue will be allocated to the fund. The fund was roundly criticized for being no more than an accounting exercise. The vast majority of the fund was not going to be spent on new climate programs. Nurse practitioner pilot The pilot nurse practitioner clinic in the Moncton area could serve as a model for other regions where patients don't have primary caregivers, the finance minister said. (CBC) The provincial government is creating a new primary health-care clinic in the Moncton area staffed mainly by nurse practitioners. The clinic, which will fall under the Horizon Health Network, will be a pilot project for service delivery in a province where thousands of New Brunswickers don't have access to family doctors or nurse practitioners. "Hopefully, this will be a model going forward," said Steeves, who could not provide a firm cost or timeline for the project on Tuesday. The clinic will have the capacity to take on up to 6,000 patients once fully operational, he said. If successful, the province will open more of the centres. Wage increases Minimum-wage workers, early-childhood educators and home-support workers are in line for a pay bump in the upcoming fiscal year. The provincial budget earmarked $16.1 million to increase wages for home-support workers, and $1 million for trained early-childhood educators. The New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity said the money for educators isn't enough to achieve pay equity and a far cry from the $28 million over four years pledged by the previous Liberal government. "It is clear that at this rate, early childhood educators will not achieve pay equity for decades," said coalition president Frances LeBlanc in a statement. "Social and community services are the social infrastructure on which rely families and the broader New Brunswick economy. These services are critical to support women and men's full and equal participation in the labour market." And on April 1, the minimum wage will increase 25 cents to $11.50 per hour. That would place New Brunswick ninth out of the 13 provinces and territories, according to the Retail Council of Canada. By April 1, only Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan and Manitoba will have a lower minimum wage.<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email The Saskatchewan government said it will be investing in new schools and hospitals as part of its infrastructure funding announcement in the 2019-20 budget. Preconstruction design will start on a new Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert, and for the planning and design of a new hospital in Weyburn. Greg Dionne, the mayor of Prince Albert, says the funding is an exciting and long-awaited announcement. “[Prince Albert Victoria Hospital] is always at capacity,” Dionne said. “We service the north for recreation, health and education. We are the service centre so we get quite a few people from the north.” Story continues below advertisement A combined $5 million will go towards the two projects as both enter the final stages of approval. A new long-term care facility is planned for Meadow Lake to replace the Northland Pioneers Lodge. Officials said once complete, capacity will increase from 55 to 72 beds. The province is allocating $12 million to start construction on the project in spring 2020. Planning will start on consolidating and replacing École St. Puis X and Argyle elementary schools in Regina with a joint-use school. “It is nice to see that some of the oldest and [most tired] facilities are being recognized in today’s budget,” said Shawn Davidson, Saskatchewan School Boards Association president. Also in the planning stage will be one new joint-use schools in Moose Jaw to replace Scared Heart, St. Mary’s, Empire and Westmount. Story continues below advertisement Education minister Gordon Wyant says the government followed the school division’s lead when it came to the new build. “The school division thought that a four-school amalgamation, given the numbers in those schools, made the most sense as opposed to building two facilities,” Wyant said. Funding is also allocated to determine the scope of a replacement for St. Frances Elementary school in Saskatoon. The province also said $29 million will go towards ongoing major school consolidation projects in Rosthern and Weyburn. “We’ve seen the government continue to invest in our existing facilities as they continue to enhance preventative maintenance and renewal funding in each budget,” said Davidson, adding it’s encouraging to see the new infrastructure projects announced. Overall, the government said it is delivering $2.7 billion in infrastructure funding for 2019-20. SaskPower plans on spending $873 million on capital investments, and will continue to renew its distribution and transmission lines with a goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. SaskTel will be investing $321 million during 2019-20, which will including upgrades to its wireless and wireline networks, and enhancements to rural service. Story continues below advertisement SaskEnergy said it will make $340 million in capital investments to meet growing customer demand, and ensure the integrity of its distribution system.<doc-sep>FREDERICTON -- New Brunswick Finance Minister Ernie Steeves has tabled a $9.8-billion budget for 2019-20 on Tuesday. Here are some highlights: A projected surplus of $23 million, while the current net debt of $14.1 billion is expected to decline by $49 million -- the first drop in the debt in 13 years. The budget contains no new taxes or fee increases. The front licence plate on vehicles will be eliminated, as will the fee paid by volunteer firefighters for their licence plates. The government will spend more than $16 million to increase wages for home support workers. About $2.4 million will be spent in 2019-20 to recruit and retain more nurses. The province will ask the federal government to allow for a reduction in the scope of work to improve Route 11.<doc-sep>Saskatchewan's government is putting $30 million more toward mental health and addictions in 2019-20. About half of that money — $13.7 million — is going toward North Battleford's new Saskatchewan Hospital, which offers long term psychiatric rehabilitation. The federal government has also contributed $6.25 million, bringing the Ministry of Health's total dollars for mental health and addictions to $402 million in 2019-20. "We just think we need to do better on the whole mental health front and this is, I would say, a huge step forward," Health Minister Jim Reiter said. He said the budget includes "the largest commitment ever to mental health services in our province." Reiter highlighted more beds, extra staff and new mental health clinics as some of the province's key areas of spending. The province has also sectioned off $1 million for harm reduction initiatives. The government outlined the plans for new beds in its release: About 75 new residential support beds for people transitioning from hospital back into the community About 50 pre and post-addiction treatment beds for people moving between detox and in-patient treatment or back to the community and in-patient treatment or back to the community 10 new in-patient addiction treatment beds at Pine Lodge in Indian Head Six new inpatient addiction treatment beds at Calder Centre in Saskatoon Centre in Saskatoon Six new in-patient addictions beds for youth in southern Saskatchewan Opposition says dollars don't go the distance NDP finance critic Trent Wotherspoon welcomed the "smart investment," but said this is just a start. "It's certainly not going the distance to the level that Sask people need and deserve," Wotherspoon said. He said the province still has a long way to go when it comes to closing the gaps for timely supports and services. ​"We need to realize that ​we have a crystal meth crisis across this province that's ravaging people's lives and families and communities," he said. "The kind of detox and rehab that's needed there is a longer duration." Temporary unit becomes permanent The province is putting $1.5 million in funding to turn the temporary Mental Health Assessment Unit in Saskatoon permanent as a Mental Health Short Stay Unit. It has seven beds and will provide people with acute mental health care needs up to seven days of care. The province had previously indicated it intended to close the temporary unit, causing concern amongst mental health advocates. The new budget also allots $1.6 million to start up three "Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine Clinics" in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Sask. seeking new hires The province said it is looking to hire more staff to provide mental health and addictions treatment. The province hopes to use $1.1 million to hire up to 12 full-time staff to help kids and youth who need mental health care. It is also allotting $650,000 to hire up to seven primary care counsellors. More than 139,000 people in the province seek care every year from counsellors like this, often for anxiety and depression. It alloted $515,000 to hire an unspecified number of pediatric nurses and social workers at the not-yet-open Jim Pattison Children's Hospital emergency department. The province is putting $300,000 to help the La Ronge Detox Centre provide 24/7 nursing support. Funding for targeted mental health and addictions initiatives is increasing by nearly $30 million in this budget. (CBC) Boosting existing services The government is also putting money toward existing organizations: $1.2 million for 18 mental health walk-in counseling clinics across through province through Family Services Saskatchewan $420,000 for vocational programming for people with mental health needs through Canadian Mental Health Association of Saskatchewan $200,000 split between the Autism Resource Centre in Regina and Autism Services of Saskatoon $250,000 for Mental Health Commission of Canada's Roots of Hope Suicide Prevention Initiative in Buffalo Narrows $600,000 annually for Sanctum 1.5, a 10 bed unit to help pregnant women with HIV and substance abuse issues (in partnership with the Ministry of Social Services) More Saskatchewan budget stories<doc-sep>

The Saskatchewan Party government says it has kept its promise to balance the budget within three years. On Wednesday, Minister of Finance Donna Harpauer released her second budget, which projects a $34.4-million surplus this year with surpluses increasing to $82 million in 2022-23. "This year's budget provides the right balance by increasing support for mental health and vulnerable families," Harpauer said. "It increases funding to classrooms and it improves highway safety." Revenue is forecast at $15 billion, a 5.5 per cent increase from last year. Expenses are projected at $14.9 billion, a 2.6 per cent increase. The province points to an increasing tax base and a strengthening economy — partly thanks to potash — as reasons for the increase in revenue. Tax revenue is budgeted at $7.6 billion, or 51 per cent of total revenue. PST revenue accounts for $2.3 billion, an increase of $75 million from the 2018-19 forecast. (CBC) Harpauer said the decision to expand and raise the PST in 2017 has given the government a "solid footing in order to get to balance." "It was difficult. I want to thank the Saskatchewan people because they stuck with us. I feel very proud to be able to say to them we are not increasing any taxes in this budget, we are increasing services." Non-renewable resource revenue is budgeted at $1.8 billion or 12 per cent of total revenue. (CBC) Saskatchewan's public debt is projected to be at $21.7 billion on March 31, 2020, an increase of $1.8 billion year-over-year. Budget Projections The government based its budget on the following predictions: GDP - to grow 1.2 per cent Oil price - $59.75/barrel Potash - $221/tonne Canadian dollar - US$77.19 Harpauer said the government will make changes to its Potash Production Tax. "The base component of the tax is intended to provide a simple flat payment per tonne of potash sales. However it has gradually been eroded by currently allowable deductions. Effective April 1, the calculation of the potash Production Tax will be simplified by eliminating these deductions," Harpauer said. The change is projected to net the government $117 million in additional tax revenue this year. (CBC) Mental health spending up, organ donor registry launching The health budget is increasing by $123 million, or 2.1 per cent, in 2019-20. Part of this is what the government is calling "the largest commitment ever to mental health services," an increase of $30 million for a total of $402 million. Part of the new money will go toward 140 new beds for mental health and addictions treatment. The province is spending $1.6 million to launch three Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinics in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. In addition, $1.5 million in new money will allow the temporary Mental Health Assessment Unit in Saskatoon — which closed recently — to re-open permanently. The province is also launching an organ donor registry. It will spend $558,000 on the registry and is hoping to launch it by the end of March 2020. The budget contains $2.5 million for pre-construction design for both Prince Albert's Victoria Hospital and a new hospital in Weyburn. The government will also replace Northlands Pioneer Lodge in Meadow Lake. The temporary Mental Health and Assessment Unit at Royal University Hospital will become permanent. (Don Somers/CBC News) K-12 education sees 1.4 per cent increase The K-12 education budget is increasing by $26 million for a total of $2.4 billion. This is a 1.4 per cent increase over last year. The province is spending $3 million for planning and design for a joint-use replacement of Regina's Ecole St. Pius X and Argyle School and joint-use and consolidation projects for four schools in Moose Jaw. Saskatchewan's libraries are receiving a one per cent increase of $128,000. Advanced education funding remains flat for the second straight year, with the exception of the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine receiving an additional $88 million. Record spend in social services The province is spending $55.5 million in new money in the Ministry of Social Services, including $27 million to support at-risk children and families. The total is a record $1.23 billion. Community-based organizations that support and provide services for children with intellectual disabilities and their families will receive an additional $5.9 million There is also a $6.3 million increase for the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program. Highway safety, pot revenue and tax refunds for emergency workers The province is committing $20 million to enhance intersection safety on highways.

PENTICTON, B.C.—A wildfire blazing on Mt. Eneas south of Peachland in the Okanagan doubled in size over the last 24 hours, prompting a wave of overnight evacuation notices and a declaration of a state of emergency in the district of Peachland. The fire, which blazed throughout the day Thursday at a size of approximately 500 hectares as crews of firefighters fended it off with air-dropped flame retardant and water, measured 1,000 hectares late Thursday night. A notice from B.C. Wildfire says it is only four kilometres away from Peachland. About 1,490 residents of the town were issued evacuation alerts Thursday night — meaning they are not yet required to leave their properties, but should be prepared to pack up and go on short notice should the Mt. Eneas blaze spread further. A separate evacuation alert was issued to 495 residents in the Glenrosa area of West Kelowna. The 198 properties included in the alert are in proximity to the Law Creek wildfire, which is much smaller than the Mt. Eneas fire at only eight hectares. The Law Creek fire is about six kilometres southwest of West Kelowna. The overnight evacuation alerts followed a spate of alerts and orders issued throughout the day Thursday, when dozens of lakeside residents with homes between Peachland and Summerland, as well as Summerland residents to the southwest of Mt. Eneas, were told to prepare to leave their homes. Some of those located on the water refused to leave midday Thursday against the advice of emergency crews, saying they could always choose to flee flames by way of boats. But many of the residents of Garnet Valley Road in Summerland were packing their bags before police delivered evacuation alerts to their doors. The valley road is just one way in, one way out, a precarious position that led a number of residents to decide on their own to pack up and prepare to leave. Read more: While dozens evacuate due to B.C. wildfires, some choose to stay put B.C. unprepared, under-resourced for wildfire and flood threat, review finds Family of eagles avoided flames but still at risk from wildfire smoke Resident Leon Rumpf, 75, watched the blaze crest over Mt. Eneas Wednesday night with his daughter Leona. Leon grew up on the small farm on Garnet Valley road, and purchased the property from his parents in 1990. Thursday afternoon, before an evacuation alert was issued for the property, Leona said the family had already begun packing up a car. “Now they’re aging but they’re still stubborn because they have stuff that they don’t want to lose,” Leona said. “It’s the family farm.” They’ve prepared irrigation devices to try to keep the property wet and protected. But it’s still too close for comfort, so Leona said her parents would come stay with her and her husband in town. “If the fire comes up the backside this way, it’s just not worth it,” she said. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Kelly Campbell, who has lived on Garnet Valley Road for 10 years, said she’s never seen a fire come this close before. “I’m a little frazzled and freaked out,” she said minutes after the police knocked on her door to deliver an evacuation alert. “It hasn’t been this scary except the last two years.” Campbell, along with her husband and their little dog Juliette, began packing up their valuables Wednesday night in anticipation of an evacuation. Tina Martin and her family packed up for the second year in a row — having received an evacuation alert last year for another nearby fire. “That’s just how it goes,” Martin said. “We’ll stick around here are long as we can.” Martin watched air crews bombing Mt. Eneas early Thursday, and thought the fire may slow down at that point. But by the early afternoon that seemed impossible. “Within 15 minutes I probably saw a dozen trees candling,” she said — meaning the fire sprouted from the forest ground up the length of some trees, marking the severity of the fire. “So it’s fast. It’s still a ways from us, but it’s close enough.” Read more about:<doc-sep>Fire crews conducted controlled burns Sunday around Peachland, B.C., to burn off dry trees and brush in between a large wildfire known as the Mount Eneas fire and another nearby blaze. Glen Burgess with the B.C. Wildfire Service says it was important to conduct the burns in current weather conditions, which have been cooler, "rather than allowing Mother Nature to do it when we didn't want it to occur." Crews dropped ping-pong balls full of combustible fuel into the area, which ignited when they hit the ground. Aircraft then dropped fire retardant around the perimeter of the burn to keep it in place. It resulted in a plume of smoke that some locals may assume is increased fire activity. "Obviously it can be unnerving," said Burgess. "That plume of smoke was most likely to occur, we'd just rather do it on our terms." The planned ignitions that took place this afternoon on the Mount Eneas and Munroe Lakes #BCwildfire were successful. They are now combined and will be referred to as the Mount Eneas wildfire moving forward. As a result of these 2 fires merging, this fire is now ~1,516 has. pic.twitter.com/czzpJ0WZdJ —@BCGovFireInfo Though many of the fires burning through B.C. 's Okanagan stabilized on Saturday thanks to cooler conditions, officials are expecting they could ramp up again as temperatures rise. "The situation is definitely stabilized from where we were at, say, 72 hours ago," said fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek. "Having said that though we are expecting, starting today and really for the foreseeable future, we are rebounding right back into a fairly typical summer pattern — fairly warm days certainly here in the Interior, probably north of 30 [C] most days, and no real significant rain in sight." Glen Burgess with the B.C. Wildfire Service explains the current wildfire situation near Peachland, B.C., on Sunday. (CBC) 35 properties remain under evacuation order Within the regional district of Okanagan-Similkameen, five properties remain on evacuation order and 92 properties remain under evacuation alert due to the Mount Eneas wildfire along Highway 97 north of Summerland and the Meadow Valley area northwest of Summerland. Within the district of Summerland, 30 properties remain on evacuation order in the northern portion of Garnet Valley due to the Mount Eneas wildfire. An additional 108 properties remain on evacuation alert within the district of Summerland. A special air quality statement is in effect for parts of B.C. 's Interior warning of poor air quality due to smoke.<doc-sep>It’s not officially out, but one of the seven wildfires still burning in the Okanagan this week is no longer considered a serious threat. On Friday, the B.C. Wildfire Service said the Law Creek fire, located near West Kelowna, has been pulled from its ‘wildfires of note’ category. On Thursday, the Law Creek fire was estimated to be at 15.5 hectares in size, though it was classified as being under control. BCWS information officer Noelle Kekula said patrols are still being done on the Law Creek fire, as they search for and extinguish hot spots. A heat scan is also being scheduled for hidden hot spots. READ MORE: Richmond firefighters battle stubborn bog fire “We will scan it, looking for hot spots, and a map is created,” Kekula explained. “Crews go and take those maps where hot spots have been found and extinguish them.” Story continues below advertisement Heat scans have also been ordered for the Mount Conkle and Peachland Creek fires, which means they also be rubbed off the ‘wildfires of note’ category. The remaining fires in the Okanagan are the Mount Eneas fire near Peachland; the Goode’s Creek fire in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park; the Glenfir Road fire above Naramata; and the Frederick Creek fire, burning in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, though it’s not considered a wildfire of note despite it being 55 hectares in size. READ MORE: One killed in California wildfire as thousands flee “Last week, we had 16 fires,” said Kekula, adding the fight isn’t over yet. “The Glenfir and Goode’s Creek are tough ones, with that terrain and the rock and the winds. The crews are challenged and those aren’t easy fires to fight.” Overall, there are 320 firefighters in the Okanagan. Temperatures are expected to soar well above 30 C today and throughout the weekend, meaning firefighters will also be battling sweltering heat in addition to the fires. Here’s a look at the remaining fires in the Okanagan, from north to south: Peachland Creek Location: 2.5 kilometres west of Peachland. Size: 23 hectares Cause: Lightning. Status: Classified as being held; no further growth anticipated due to weather conditions and suppression tactics. Goode’s Creek Location: 21 kilometres south of Kelowna, in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park. Size: 577 hectares. Cause: Lightning. Status: Classified as out of control. Fifty-five personnel on site with air support available as necessary. BCWS notes: “Ground crews on this wildfire will patrol the area and extinguish any hot spots. Crews are also working on strengthening containment lines on the north flank and (are) continuing to extinguish hot spots and patrol in that area. Ground crews are performing a direct attack today on the large spot on the southern end of this wildfire. Mount Eneas Location: Four kilometres south of Peachland, immediately west of Highway 97. Size: 1,793 hectares. Cause: Lightning. Status: Classified as being held. Eighty-seven personnel on site. BCWS notes: “Good progress is being made, as some sections have been blacklined into the perimeter.” Note: Blackline is a condition where no fuels remain between a fire line and the main fire. Frederick Creek Location: Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park. Size: 55 hectares. Glenfir Road Location: 10 kilometres northwest of Naramata. Size: 32 hectares. Cause: Lightning. Status: Classified as out of control. Forty-four personnel on site and air support as needed. BCWS notes: “Today’s objectives for ground crews include patrol and extinguishing hot spots. Crews will also continue to progress from the southeast corner to the north, extinguishing hot spots in this area as well along the way.” Mount Conkle Location: Approximately six kilometres southwest of Summerland. Size: 118 hectares. Cause: Lightning. Status: Classified as being held.<doc-sep>Though the fire danger rating remains "high" for most of the southern half of B.C., as 123 known fires continue to burn across the province, many evacuation orders are being downgraded to alerts. Forty-one of those fires are in the Okanagan region, a wine growing region that includes the cities of Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon. According to the BC Wildfire Service, the highest level of activity is in the Okanagan, Prince George and southeastern regions. On Friday, the Mount Eneas fire near Peachland was estimated to be the largest, covering around 10 square kilometres, and is considered to be burning out of control. The Goode's creek fire on the other side of the lake covers an estimated 400 hectares. The highest level of fire activity is in the Okanagan, Prince George and southeastern regions. (CBC) Multiple fires were sparked earlier this week after a lightning storm hit the popular tourist area. ​Meanwhile on Saturday, a small fire, which officials believed was human caused, forced the closure of Highway 4 near Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. Traffic was at a standstill on Highway 4 outside of Port Alberni on Saturday after a small brush fire began. Officials believe it is human caused. (Ryan Deasley) Alerts and orders Forty-three evacuation orders in place in the Okanagan-Similkameen district have now been rescinded. All evacuation orders in the Central Okanagan district, have have now been downgraded to evacuation alerts meaning residents have to be prepared to leave at a moments notice. According to an update from the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, the evacuation alert for the Dog Creek Trail wildfire has been rescinded in its entirety. This affects the areas east of Dog Creek Forest Service Road to Geernaert Road, south of the Barlow Forest Service Road to the Nechako River, Westwood Road and Braeside Road. 'A very different fire season' Fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek said that though the fires are causing major concern in the Okanagan, the situation isn't as bad as it was at this time last year. "Things are quite busy right now. We are definitely fully engaged down there, but comparing it to where we were at, at this time in 2017, definitely a very different fire season," he said. "You know at this stage last year the entire city of Williams Lake was evacuated, tens of thousands of people displaced. We had many massive fire burning out of control throughout the Interior."<doc-sep>

The B.C. Wildfire Service is continuing to fight numerous wildfires across the province while expecting some new fire starts as a result of the high fire danger rating, combined with heat and lightning in the forecast. Though nearby wildfires are still wreaking havoc on the area, boaters on B.C. 's Okanagan Lake continue to enjoy the best of a B.C. summer — and that's causing problems for firefighters working in the area. Glen Burgess of the B.C. Wildfire Service said the boaters are impeding the response of firefighters' support aircraft, which use the lake as a bucketing tool and water source. Burgess said the wildfire had spread down to the shoreline but was not keeping boaters away from well-known recreational hot spots, and the RCMP was eventually called in to help keep the public away. The wildfire in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park has grown to nearly 14 square kilometres and is classified as out of control by the B.C. Wildfire Service. A fire in Kelowna, near Yates Road, is considered "held." The evacuation alert for over 900 properties in the Glenmore area of Kelowna has been lifted. Crews believe the fire is not likely to spread beyond the existing boundaries in the current weather conditions. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre (RDOS EOC) is issuing an evacuation alert for two properties due to the threat of the Snowy Mountain protected area wildfire, and for one property at Cathedral Lakes Lodge due to the threat of the Placer Mountain wildfire. In Metro Vancouver, a fire near the Richmond Nature Park is now at 10 to 12 hectares. Nearly 60 firefighters — including members from B.C. 's Wildfire Service — have been battling the fire for three days, although Richmond Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Kevin Gray says progress is being made to contain it. An air quality advisory remains in place for eastern parts of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley — specifically Maple Ridge, Langley, Pitt Meadows and eastern parts of Surrey — due to ground-level ozone and haze from wildfire smoke. The B.C. Wildfire Service is also responding to a new 291-hectare fire near Fraser Lake in Northern B.C. It says smoke is highly visible throughout the Fraser Lake area and from the B.C. Highway 16 corridor. The Mount Eneas, Goode's Creek and Glenfir Road fires are still active, although held. The B.C. Wildfire Service issued a warning reminding the public to stay away from the areas. Current evacuation alerts and orders: For the latest wildfire information, visit: Read more from CBC British Columbia

Spain vs Switzerland: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview La Roja will be looking for revenge when they take on the Swiss as the two sides begin their World Cup preparations on Sunday Spain and Switzerland will be determined to get their World Cup preparations off to a strong start when they meet in Sunday's friendly. The sides play just two friendlies each before they travel to Russia to begin their campaign, and coaches Julen Lopetegui and Vladimir Petkovic will get the chance to see what shape their sides are in the game in Villarreal. Both teams picked up big wins in their most recent games, however, as La Roja beat Argentina 6-1 in March, while Switzerland beat Panama 6-0. Article continues below Julen Lopetegui's men will be high in confidence as the big favourites, but Switzerland will be determined to rise to the challenge before they take on Brazil, Costa Rica and Serbia. Game Spain vs Switzerland Date Sunday, June 3 Time 8:00pm BST / 3:00pm ET TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch In the United States (US), the game can be watched on the Spanish language channel ESPN Deportes and online via WatchESPN. US TV channel Online stream ESPN Deportes WatchESPN In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on Sky Sports Football. UK TV channel Online stream Sky Sports Football Sky Sports Go Squads & Team News Position Spain players Goalkeepers De Gea, Kepa, Reina Defenders Odriozola, Azpilicueta, Ramos, Pique, Alba, Nacho, Monreal, Carvajal Midfielders Iniesta, Koke, Thiago, Isco, Asensio, Busquets, Saul, Lucas Vazquez, Forwards Rodrigo, Diego Costa, Aspas, Silva Mikel Oyarzabal, Inaki Williams and Unai Nunez were dropped from the Roja's training camp on Friday and will not be travelling to Russia. More worryingly for Spain, Dani Carvajal is unavailable after picking up an injury in the Champions League final. Potential Spain starting XI: De Gea, Odriozola, Ramos, Pique, Alba, Thiago, Isco, Busquets, Vazquez, Asensio, Costa. Position Switzerland players Goalkeepers Burki, Kobel, Mvoho, Sommer Defenders Akanji, Djourou, Elvedi, Lang, Lichtsteinder, Moubandje, Rodriguez, Schar, Widmer Midfielders Behrami, Dzemaili, E. Fernandes, G Fernandes, Freuler, Xhaka, Zakaria, Zuber Forwards Gavranovic, Seferovic, Embolo, Drmic, Shaqiri After the revelation that Admir Mehmedi will miss the World Cup, Granit Xhaka's injury during training on Thursday raised grave concerns over the midfielder's campaign. However, the Swiss breathed a sigh of relief the following day when an MRI scan revealed it is not serious, though he is unlikely to start on Sunday. Potential Switzerland starting XI: Burki, Lang, Elvedi, Djourou, Moubandje, Schar, G Fernandes, Embolo, Dzemaili, Zuber, Gavranovic. Betting & Match Odds Spain are 3/10 favourites to win the match with dabblebet while Switzerland are 9/1 and a draw is available at 7/2. Click here to see all of dabblebet's offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more. Match Preview Spain will be hoping to ride the wave of enthusiasm generated from the release of their official World Cup song on Friday. Julen Lopetegui's men have underwhelmed in recent competitions as their golden era has come to an end, but they hope they have turned a corner under their current boss. La Roja have not lost a game since the 2-0 defeat to Italy that saw them crash out of Euro 2016, but will be wary of a repeat of their last game against Switzerland. The Nati won the last meeting 1-0 as Spain went crashing out four years ago and they, too, have been in excellent form since then, finishing level on points with Portugal in their World Cup qualifying group this year and the European champions are the only team to get the better of them since mid-2016. The two teams have just one more friendly to contend with after Sunday's match before the competition begins in Russia, meaning the players will be desperate to impress and enhance their chances of starting in the big tournament.<doc-sep>Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images Switzerland held Spain to a 1-1 draw at the Estadio de la Ceramica in Villarreal on Sunday. La Roja took the lead in the first half through Alvaro Odriozola's sensational volley, but Ricardo Rodriguez capitalised on a mistake from David de Gea to grab an equaliser in the 62nd minute. The goalkeeper failed to deal with a routine shot from Stephan Lichtsteiner and spilled the ball into Rodriguez's path. Don't Put Stock in FIFA Rankings According to FIFA's official rankings, Switzerland are the sixth-best team in the world, two places ahead of Spain. While the Swiss may have snatched a draw thanks to De Gea's error, there was a clear gulf in class between the two sides throughout as Spain dominated the possession and chances. Football writer Simon Harrison wasn't impressed with Switzerland: Video Play Button Videos you might like The visitors only really had any joy later in the second half, when substitutions disrupted the flow of the match, so while they grabbed a draw here, it may not have given them much of a blueprint to work with when they take on Brazil in their first group game at the World Cup. Spain, meanwhile, will be left to rue the mistake that cost them the win, but on another day, they would have won comfortably. Spain Will Be Fine if Dani Carvajal Can't Play Real Madrid fans won't have been the only ones to despair at seeing Dani Carvajal limp out of the UEFA Champions League final—La Roja boss Julen Lopetegui will also have been upset to see one of his likely starters at the World Cup injured so close to the tournament. For many, Carvajal would be in Spain's strongest XI and he may yet feature at the World Cup, but Odriozola showed they have a fine replacement to call upon if he can't. JOSE JORDAN/Getty Images The Real Sociedad star was making just his third appearance for Spain, but he shone in his 70 minutes on the pitch. Football journalist Rik Sharma delighted in his goal, as he volleyed in a high ball from the edge of the area, as did Carvajal himself: The goal capped an excellent performance in which he offered a constant threat on the right flank with his pacey, marauding runs forward and his willingness to burst into the box or get to the byline. The Independent's Ed Malyon and Bleacher Report's Gianni Verschueren feel he makes a strong fit under Lopetegui: Odriozola's defensive capabilities may not be as reliable as Carvajal's, but with his pace and offensive threat, he'll make a superb alternative. You Don't Need to Worry About De Gea JOSE JORDAN/Getty Images It's hardly ideal for your first-choice goalkeeper to be giving away goals so cheaply ahead of the World Cup. As ESPN FC's Robbie Dunne and former 'keeper David Preece noted, it is not like De Geato make such mistakes: Sports writer Andy West was concerned: West raises a fair point—he's called into action much more at Manchester United, and he'll need to get used to a different way of operating with Spain. De Gea is an elite goalkeeper, though. Even players of his calibre aren't immune to the occasional mistake, but it's unlikely to affect his confidence too much. If anything, it may only serve to sharpen his focus, and it's better he get it out of his system now than in Russia. What Next Spain take on Tunisia on Saturday, June 9, before opening their World Cup campaign against Portugal on June 15. Meanwhile, Switzerland face Japan on Friday, June 8, ahead of a clash with Brazil in the World Cup on June 17.<doc-sep>2 Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole 's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below. Odriozola's strike had sent the home side ahead in the 29th minute, but Rodriguez levelled in the 62nd minute following a mistake from David de Gea as the spoils were shared in Villarreal. Ricardo Rodriguez cancelled out a wonderful volley from Alvaro Odriozola as Switzerland came from behind to draw 1-1 with Spain in Sunday night's international friendly at the Estadio de la Ceramica. Sports Mole's live international friendly coverage continues from Villarreal as Evening all! 's live international friendly coverage continues from Villarreal as Spain welcome Switzerland . Both of these teams will be present at the finals of the 2018 World Cup, and tonight we have the chance to see how they are shaping up! Spain are fancied to make a strong play for the crown in Russia, but it will be tough for Switzerland despite their talent. Spain have only ever lost once to Switzerland, but that defeat occurred in their last meeting at the 2010 World Cup. These two nations have actually not locked horns in an international friendly since December 1989, and it was Spain that recorded a 2-1 win on that occasion. Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Villarreal. Are all of the big guns on show tonight? Let's have a look at the two XIs here... TEAMS! SPAIN: De Gea; Odriozola, Pique, Azpilicueta, Alba; Koke, D.Silva, Thiago, Iniesta; Costa, Aspas SWITZERLAND: Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Behrami, Zakaria; Shaqiri, Dzemaili, Zuber; Seferovic Alvaro Odriozola starts at right-back for Spain tonight, while Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta is in at centre-back alongside Gerard Pique, with Sergio Ramos unavailable due to his involvement in the Champions League final. Diego Costa and Iago Aspas will line up in the final third of the field, while Andres Iniesta plays for the first time since his move to Japan was confirmed. 1 - Spain have only lost one of their 19 games against Switzerland (W15 D3), 1-0 in Durban in the first group game at the 2010 World Cup. Test. pic.twitter.com/td34mQYXPS — OptaJose (@OptaJose) June 3, 2018 As for Switzerland, Stoke City's Xherdan Shaqiri will start in a wide position, with Benfica's Haris Seferovic picked to lead the line. Experienced midfielder Blerim Dzemaili also starts for the visitors here, but West Ham United's Edimilson Fernandes is only on the bench. The skipper Stephan Lichtsteiner, who continues to be linked with a move to Arsenal, is in at right-back. So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff tonight. I shall speak about Switzerland a little bit later, but let's start with the home side Spain. There is no question that Julen Lopetegui's side are among the favourites to triumph in Russia. Spain have not actually lost a match since suffering a 2-0 defeat to Italy in the last-16 stage of Euro 2016. They have played four friendlies since booking their spot at the 2018 World Cup - starting with a 5-0 win over Costa Rica before drawing back-to-back games with Russia and Germany. Spain thumped Argentina 6-1 last time out, meanwhile, with that incredible success coming back in March. La Roja won the World Cup back in 2010, but struggled at the 2014 competition in Brazil as they were eliminated in the group stage. This summer they will expect to challenge. 📷 ¡Así luce nuestro vestuario en el Estadio de la Cerámica! #VamosEspaña 💪🏻🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/of2LtJ0qOc — Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) June 3, 2018 Spain will face Switzerland tonight before tackling Tunisia next weekend in their final international friendly before this summer's tournament begins. Spain's World Cup opener is against Portugal on June 15, before taking on Iran and Morocco in their final two group matches. That clash with Portugal on the Friday night is shaping up to be a stunning game. Switzerland, meanwhile, will open their World Cup group campaign against Brazil on June 17, before taking on Serbia and Costa Rica in their final two group matches. Brazil will surely advance from that particular section as the winners, but second position is very much open. Switzerland reached the last-16 stage of the 2018 World Cup, and they have not actually been past that round in any World Cup since 1954 - when they made the quarter-finals on home soil. There is a lot of talent in the Swiss squad, but it would take some effort for them to challenge for the crown in Russia. That said, stranger things have certainly happened! In terms of what is ahead for Switzerland, they will take on Spain tonight before facing Japan next Friday in their final match before this summer's competition begins. It will be very interesting to see what kind of shape Vladimir Petkovic's side are in ahead of the tournament. Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is only on the bench for Switzerland tonight, but there is no question that he will be in the team for the clash with Brazil. Stoke's Shaqiri does feature in the starting XI here, however, and he will support leading forward Seferovic, who has 11 international goals. Here we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff in Villarreal. Once the national anthems have been sung and the pre-match handshakes have been exchanged, we will be just about ready to get things underway. Stay tuned for the action! KICKOFF! Spain kick things off in Villarreal... ... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight; let's hope for an entertaining game. As expected, Spain have taken control of the early possession here. SAVE! Super save from Sommer to keep out a strike from Thiago as Spain impress in the early exchanges. Koke also had an effort blocked in the build-up. Switzerland are struggling to get the ball at the moment as Spain continue to pass and probe. Lopetegui's side look keen to put on another show following their mauling of Argentina. It does appear that Spain are playing a 4-3-3 formation tonight, with David Silva and Aspas either side of Costa, who had already had a couple of run-ins with the Swiss defence here. Aspas has been nice and bright for Spain in the first eight minutes of this match, and the former Liverpool forward will be keen to make an impression. Switzerland manage to venture forward through Lichtsteiner, but Seferovic is in an offside position in the middle. Still goalless with 10 minutes on the clock, but it has been all Spain in terms of possession and attacking intent. Just a reminder that Isco is also among the Spain absentees tonight due to his involvement in the Champions League final; Sergio Ramos misses out for the same reason. Aspas wins a corner from Akanji as Spain look to pick their way through the Swiss defence once again. The resulting set piece is worked into Iniesta, but the visitors manage to clear. A lot of Spain's work is coming down the left as Alba, Iniesta and David Silva combine. Switzerland have been pretty solid at the back, however, as they clear time and time again. Alba hits the deck for Spain following a late challenge on Shaqiri, but the Barcelona defender does return to his feet. Any injury tonight would be an absolute nightmare. Quite a bitty game at the moment due to the number of late challenges. Half-chance for Spain, but Costa heads a David Silva cross well wide of the post. CLOSE! Spain's best chance of the match comes to David Silva following good work from Costa, but the Manchester City midfielder just misses the far post! CHANCE! Big chance for Switzerland as Dzemaili finds himself free inside the Spain box, but the number 15 misses the crossbar. Might have done better from there! Costa continues to get himself involved in little scraps. No such thing as a friendly for Costa! Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and Spain have been the better team without really threatening on too many occasions. Switzerland will be pretty content.<doc-sep>

Switzerland has equalised against Spain in their ongoing international friendly. Spain had scored a goal in its international friendly against Switzerland, taking place at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica, Spain. The Spain goal was scored in the 29th minute by Alvaro Odriozola. Switzerland leveled the scores in the 62nd minute as Rodriguez smashed home from close range following a mistake from De Gea, who failed to deal with a weak effort from Lichtsteiner. Spain face Switzerland tonight before taking on Tunisia next weekend ahead of their mouthwatering 2018 World Cup opener against Portugal on June 15. Switzerland, meanwhile, will face Spain and Japan before taking on Brazil in their World Cup opener on June 17. This is the blow-blow account of the friendly, courtesy, sportsmole: 86 minHalf-chance for Thiago, but the midfielder’s header was always moving wide of the post. 84 min SAVE! Wonderful save from Sommer to keep out a strike from Lucas Vazquez, who had combined with Rodrigo in a dangerous position. Great stuff from Sommer. 82 min You do get the feeling that there is another goal in this match as Spain continue to move the ball in the final third of the field. Not too much from Switzerland at the moment here. 80 min Little over 10 minutes of football remaining, and Spain currently have possession here. 78 min SPAIN SUB! Monreal replaces Alba for the home side. 78 min SWITZERLAND SUB! Rodriguez is replaced by Moubandje. 76 min Smart goalkeeping from Sommer to punch clear a cross from Asensio as Spain start to move the ball with more pace in the final third of the field. Still 1-1 with 76 minutes on the clock. 74 min Rodrigo just cannot fashion a shooting chance having met a long pass from Asensio. Not too much to report in terms of opportunities at the moment as we head for the final 15 minutes. 72 min Little under 20 minutes of football remaining, and we are locked at 1-1 in Villarreal. 70 min SPAIN SUB! Nacho replaces Odriozola for the home side. 69 min Spain are preparing to make two more changes, with Nacho and Monreal waiting. 67 min Rodriguez has just signalled to the bench that he might not be able to continue here. 65 min Little over 25 minutes of football remaining, and Switzerland might well fancy their chances of winning this during a period where both managers are preparing more changes here. 63 min SWITZERLAND SUBS! G Fernandes and Lang replace Behrami and Lichtsteiner. 63 min Wow! Switzerland level the scores in the 62nd minute as Rodriguez smashes home from close range following a mistake from De Gea, who failed to deal with a weak effort from Lichtsteiner! 62 min GOAL! Spain 1-1 Switzerland (Rodriguez) 60 min SPAIN SUBS! Rodrigo and Asensio replace Costa and David Silva. 59 min MISS! Alba just misses the goal with an effort from close range. 58 min BOOKING! Saul (Spain) is booked for a poor tackle on Shaqiri. 57 min Little over 30 minutes remaining in Villarreal, and the tempo of the match has certainly been impacted by the changes that have been made. I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals, however, as both defences do not exactly look secure at the moment. 55 min SPAIN SUB! Saul Niguez replaces Iniesta for the home side. 53 min CLOSE! Iniesta just misses the Switzerland post with a low strike! 52 min Koke has a strike blocked on the edge of the Switzerland box as Spain threaten to score a second. There is plenty happening at the moment as both teams concede possession. 50 min Possession football from Spain as they look to work their way through once again. 48 min Iniesta is back on his feet, which is excellent news. It has been a lively start to the second period, with both defences taking some chances. Surely there are more goals to come. 47 min Iniesta looks to have a problem here following a collision with Embolo. 46 min SWITZERLAND SUB! Embolo has also replaced Dzemaili. 46 min SWITZERLAND SUB! Djourou has replaced Akanji for the away side. 46 min… SPAIN SUB! Lucas Vazquez has replaced Aspas for the home side. 46 min RESTART! Switzerland resume the action here… 8.56pm BENCH WATCH! Drmic, Embolo, Gelson Fernandes, Lang and Edimilson Fernandes are among those on the Switzerland bench tonight, and will be hoping to feature in the second period.

One player who has gone under-the-radar in conversations surrounding the best defensive players in the league has been Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks. Maybe we're starting to see that shift a bit. Sam Monson over at Pro Football Focus ranked Kendricks as his third-best linebacker heading into the 2021 season. Here's what Monson wrote about Kendricks: Showing there is more than one way to get it done, Eric Kendricks played a more conventional college position than (Fred) Warner but has been the other superstar linebacker in coverage over the past couple of years. Including the playoffs, Kendricks has 17 pass breakups and the...<doc-sep>The Minnesota Vikings released their first unofficial depth chart on Tuesday evening ahead of the preseason game against the Denver Broncos this weekend, which gives fans their first taste of what the team will look like in waves when they hit the field on Saturday night. Often times, these depth charts do not wind up being all that accurate with coaches not wanting to give everything away as an advantage, but there are a few takeaways here. Here is what we will be keeping an eye on when the Vikings hit the field in Denver on Saturday night. Wide Receiver Battle There is nothing too unpredictable here for anyone that has been following the offseason so far. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs make up the top two spots as the 1a and 1b of the wide receiver room and Laquon Treadwell is right behind Thielen and has been working as the No. 3 in training camp. Kendall Wright is still sitting in the No. 4 slot, but has not taken many snaps with the first team. Look for a guy like Brandon Zylstra, who is waiting and lurking right behind him, to potentially surpass him in the coming weeks. Interior Offensive Line Nick Easton is all but officially done for the season and Pat Elflein (still on the PUP list) and Mike Remmers, who appears is being prepared as the team's right guard after playing most of last year at tackle, are banged up right now as well. This is where Danny Isidora has a chance to prove he can crack the starting lineup and perhaps be a piece that kicks Remmers back over to tackle. Whomever is the better player between him and Rashod Hill, who is listed as the starter now at right tackle, should wind up starting when the opener rolls around. Keep an eye on rookie Brian O'Neill, as well. He is one snap away from being the starting right tackle, at least according to the chart below. No. 3 RB and TE The battle for the third running back and tight end spots will be one of the more intriguing storylines of the preseason and the depth chart gives us a taste of where things could be at there. Mack Brown is currently ahead of undrafted rookies Roc Thomas and Mike Boone, in that order, but Boone has provided the most buzz of the three since he was brought into the team. It has been said here before, but the running backs may make the second half of these preseason games worth watching alone. At tight end, Blake Bell and rookie Tyler Conklin are listed right next to each other as options for that third spot. Conklin could have more upside, but Bell has experience and those two should be interesting to watch, as well. Defensive Line Depth There is not a whole lot of drama on the defense with many of those spots already filled in with Sharpie, but the second wave of defenders still has a fair amount of jostling around for position. Stephen Weatherly and Tashawn Bower are listed as neck and neck behind Everson Griffen and rookie Ade Aruna is behind Danielle Hunter and Brian Robison. Those names may not jump off the page, but the Vikings have said they want to cut back on snaps for guys like Griffen, so there is an opportunity to jump into the rotation. There is not much of a surprise at how things look at defensive tackle, but Ifeadi Odenigbo is listed as the backup to Sheldon Richardson ahead of rookie Jalyn Holmes. Jaleel Johnson is currently the backup at nose tackle behind Linval Joseph. Cornerback Rotation Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes predictably take the top two spots at cornerback, but things behind them are far from set in stone. Mackensie Alexander has been getting first-team work in the slot, but Terence Newman and Marcus Sherels are still listed high on the depth chart over rookies Mike Hughes and Holton Hill, who have been two of the stars in camp. Their chance to prove they belong comes this weekend and nobody will be surprised if they wind up higher on later depth charts that emerge. Special Teams Roles Things are pretty cut and dry here. We know that Kai Forbath and rookie Daniel Carlson are battling it out for the starting kicker job and Forbath has the early nod as the veteran. Special teams coordinator Mike Preifer did say that Hughes was expected to be the starting kick returner, but Sherels is listed there and punt returner. This can point to these depth charts being a bit misleading, but it is a notable mention anyways. Here is a look at the full depth chart that was released by the team on Tuesday night: OFFENSE Wide Receiver 19 Adam Thielen 11 Laquon Treadwell 13 Stacy Coley 12 Tavarres King / 18 Korey Robertson / 9 Jake Wieneke Left Tackle 71 Riley Reiff 76 Aviante Collins 78 Dieugot Joseph Left Guard 62 Nick Easton (out injured, to be placed on IR) 79 Tom Compton 64 Josh Andrews 68 Cedrick Lang Center 65 Pat Elflein 67 Cornelius Edison 59 J.P. Quinn Right Guard 74 Mike Remmers 63 Danny Isidora 73 Colby Gossett Right Tackle 69 Rashod Hill 75 Brian O'Neill 72 Storm Norton Tight End 82 Kyle Rudolph 89 David Morgan 81 Blake Bell / 83 Tyler Conklin 87 Josiah Price / 86 Tyler Hoppes Wide Receiver 14 Stefon Diggs 17 Kendall Wright 15 Brandon Zylstra 16 Cayleb Jones 85 Jeff Badet / 84 Chad Beebe Quarterback 8 Kirk Cousins 3 Trevor Siemian 1 Kyle Sloter 6 Peter Pujals Fullback 30 C.J. Ham 48 Johnny Stanton Halfback 33 Dalvin Cook 25 Latavius Murray 31 Mack Brown 32 Roc Thomas 44 Mike Boone DEFENSE Left End 99 Danielle Hunter 96 Brian Robison 61 Ade Aruna 78 Jonathan Wynn Defensive Tackle 93 Sheldon Richardson 95 Ifeadi Odenigbo 92 Jalyn Holmes Nose Tackle 98 Linval Joseph 94 Jaleel Johnson 60 David Parry 66 Curtis Cothran Right End 97 Everson Griffen 91 Stephen Weatherly / 90 Tashawn Bower Weak-side Linebacker 42 Ben Gedeon 50 Eric Wilson 43 Reshard Cliett 49 Mike Needham Middle Linebacker 54 Eric Kendricks 40 Kentrell Brothers 57 Devante Downs 45 Brett Taylor Strong-side Linebacker 55 Anthony Barr 56 Antwione Williams 58 Garret Dooley Left Cornerback 26 Trae Waynes 23 Terence Newman 21 Mike Hughes 24 Horace Richardson 46 Trevon Mathis Right Cornerback 29 Xavier Rhodes 20 Mackensie Alexander 35 Marcus Sherels 37 Holton Hill 36 Craig James Strong Safety 34 Andrew Sendejo 27 Jayron Kearse 38 Tray Matthews Free Safety 22 Harrison Smith 41 Anthony Harris 39 Jack Tocho SPECIAL TEAMS Punter 4 Ryan Quigley Kicker 2 Kai Forbath / 7 Daniel Carlson Long Snapper 47 Kevin McDermott Kick Returner 35 Marcus Sherels 21 Mike Hughes 13 Stacy Coley Punt Returner 35 Marcus Sherels 21 Mike Hughes 13 Stacy Coley<doc-sep>UPDATE: I now see that Brandon Zylstra might not play this evening because of an injury he suffered in practice on Wednesday. We’ll have to see how the Vikings roll with that. If he doesn’t play. . .well, I guess that means I only really have two players to watch, eh? -Chris We’re just a few hours away from the Minnesota Vikings making their 2018 preseason debut as they travel west to take on the Denver Broncos. With this being the first preseason game, we know that the starters for both teams will see very limited action. However, this is the first opportunity for those of us that haven’t been able to see Training Camp or anything up close to get a look at some of the guys that are fighting for spots towards the bottom of the 53-man roster. I know we’re all interested in seeing Kirk Cousins lead the Vikings’ offense or how Dalvin Cook looks after almost a year on the shelf. But the preseason, and particularly the first couple of games, aren’t really about guys like that. It’s about finding depth guys, and with that in mind I’ve got a few players that I’ll be keeping an eye on this evening. Brandon Zylstra, WR - While the first three spots on the depth chart for the Vikings are occupied by Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and the (apparently) resurgent Laquon Treadwell, the spots behind those three are wide open. Thus far, based on what I’ve seen on social media and in a few brief highlights, Zylstra seems to be garnering a lot more attention that any of the other receivers the Vikings currently have in camp. I don’t think it’s entirely because of the opportunity for another “local kid does good” story, though I’m sure that doesn’t hurt. Zylstra led the CFL in receiving last season, and appears to have a really solid chance of making the big roster. He probably won’t get to work much with Cousins, so it will be interesting to see how he operates with Trevor Siemian, Kyle Sloter, or Peter Pujals behind center. Aviante Collins, OL - Collins was on the team last season and saw some action as a sixth offensive lineman in “jumbo” sets. Word coming out of camp is that he’s gotten significantly better this season, and with the injury to Nick Easton, could potentially figure more heavily into the mix on the offensive line this season. Right now he’s being used primarily at tackle, but I’d really like to see him get a shot at guard. One of the knocks on him coming out of college was his arm length, and on the inside that issue could potentially be mitigated a bit. Will the Vikings give him a go there? With the issues they’ve had on the offensive line, I’m hoping that they haven’t ruled it out. Holton Hill, CB - Another potential undrafted steal for the Vikings, Hill has been drawing the praise of his teammates on both sides of the ball thus far in camp. The Vikings’ cornerback depth chart is already ridiculously talented, so Hill is certainly going to have his work cut out for him. Still, there hasn’t been any indication that Hill is letting the off-field habits that dropped him from a Day 2 draft prospect to the undrafted free agent ranks affect his play in Minnesota. If that continues to be the case, there’s no reason that Hill can’t find himself in the mix for a spot on the big roster. Those are three players that I’m going to be attempting to keep an extra close eye on during tonight’s preseason opener. Who are some of the players that you’re interested in seeing?<doc-sep>

Who else is on the offensive line? Checking out the Vikings’ backups Who else is on the offensive line? Checking out the Vikings’ backups by Mike Greitzer The Minnesota Vikings released their first unofficial depth chart of 2018 on Tuesday and their decisions were pretty predictable. There are moments that go on in each year for the Minnesota Vikings that signify the regular season is getting closer and closer. On Tuesday, the latest moment came when the Vikings released their first unofficial depth chart of 2018. With this depth chart, it’s easier to get an idea on who Minnesota plans to roll out on the field together in their preseason matchup against the Denver Broncos on Saturday. Except for the fact that most of the Vikings’ first-string offensive line is injured at this point in time (fun…). Below is how Minnesota’s first unofficial depth chart looks for now. Offense : Defense : Special Teams : On the offensive side of the ball for the Vikings, the only real surprise is Brandon Zylstra being listed as a third-string wide receiver. But at the same time, Zylstra has been receiving a bunch of praise from coaches and teammates this offseason, so his current standing is actually not that surprising for those who have been keeping up with his progress this year. On defense, the starting lineup is basically the same as last season except for the fact that Sheldon Richardson is now one of Minnesota’s two starting defensive tackles. Terence Newman over Mike Hughes on the cornerback depth chart is a little interesting considering how much people have been raving about Hughes at training camp this year. However, the rookie still has plenty of time to improve his standing on the depth chart before the regular season begins in September. Speaking of Hughes, he is also listed as the backup behind Marcus Sherels for both kick returner and punt returner. The rookie is expected to have a good chance to open the season as the Vikings’ kick returner and with a good preseason, he could possibly take over Sherels’ duties as the team’s punt returner as well. Do not expect Minnesota’s starting lineup to change much when the regular season begins. But their depth could definitely see some significant shuffling over the next month.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took the podium at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, where he denounced the "aggression" of the US towards his country, but also offered President Donald Trump the opportunity to meet. "Venezuela comes here to tell its truth. I bring the truth of a fighting, heroic and revolutionary people," Maduro said in a 45-minute, rambling speech at the UN General Assembly. The embattled president blamed the country's current economic crisis on US policies. Earlier that day, Trump said he would "certainly be open" to a meeting with the Venezuelan president. "Anytime I can save lives and help people — if it's one life, I'm certainly willing to meet," Trump told reporters earlier on Wednesday. Maduro responded in kind. "I stand ready to talk with an open agenda about anything that Trump might wish to talk about ... openly, sincerely, honestly," he said. It remains unclear, however, whether Maduro and Trump will meet. Maduro: Venezuela is 'like Iraq' Both leaders may have expressed openness to dialogue, but at the same time they stuck to their hard lines. The US president also told reporters that "all options are on the table," when it came to Venezuela. "The strong ones and the less than strong ones. Every option. And you know what I mean by strong," he said, suggesting force could be used against Maduro. Read more: Multilateral approach needed to contain Venezuela’s refugee crisis, experts warn Likewise, the Venezuelan president went on the defensive, blaming most of the country's problems on the US and alleging that "the same blueprint of weapons of mass destruction used in Iraq" was being employed to depose him. Maduro repeated his claim that Washington had "prepared and funded" the August 4 drone attack on him in Caracas, calling on the UN to carry out a special investigation of the incident. He also accused the US of "financial persecution" and of imposing "illegal sanctions" on Venezuela. ICC proceedings The Venezuelan leader is facing mounting pressure from neighboring nations. Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru submitted a request on Wednesday to the ICC to investigate alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela. This is the first time that countries in the Americas have filed complaints against another member country at The Hague. Read more: Displaced Venezuelans fear for their lives in Brazil The ICC request said crimes against humanity, including torture and extrajudicial killings, had been committed in Venezuela since February 2014. While the complaint will not automatically lead to an investigation, it could help speed up an ongoing examination that the court was already processing. jcg/ng (EFE, dpa) Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.<doc-sep>Donald Trump has said he is willing to meet Nicolás Maduro if it would help ease suffering in Venezuela. Trump’s remarks as he arrived for meetings at the United Nations came just hours before Maduro arrived at the last minute in New York to deliver his speech to the general assembly. He had earlier threatened to skip the summit. “I’m willing to meet with anybody anytime I can [to] save lives, help people,” Trump said as he was asked whether the US would ever intervene militarily to remove Maduro. Later on Wednesday, Maduro tweeted that he had arrived in New York to address the general assembly. “I bring the voice of my people, I come charged with patriotic passion to defend the truth,” he said. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders later said that no meeting with Maduro was planned. Trump’s comments came just a day after Trump suggested Maduro could easily be toppled in a military coup, echoing comments first floated last year that some sort of “military solution” may be needed to restore Venezuela’s democracy. Earlier on Tuesday, the US imposed financial sanctions on four members of Maduro’s inner circle, including his wife and the nation’s vice-president, on allegations of corruption. Maduro has been seeking a meeting with Trump for almost two years and has watched with frustration as the US leader has talked with American adversaries such as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian president Vladimir Putin while shunning Venezuelan entreaties. On Wednesday Maduro said he is willing to meet with Trump and to speak about anything the US government wants to discuss. Citgo, a subsidiary of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, was a major corporate donor to Trump’s inaugural committee. Maduro also this year freed a former Utah missionary jailed for more than two years on weapons charges in a bid to draw close to the White House. Profile Who is Nicolás Maduro? Show Political career Nicolás Maduro has ruled Venezuela without two of the greatest assets possessed by his mentor and predecessor, Hugo Chávez. He has not been lucky. And he has no charisma. Chávez enjoyed an oil bounty and sublime political talents that secured his power at home and reputation abroad. Maduro, in contrast, inherited a wobbling economy addicted to high oil prices and a system of authoritarian populism dependent on showmanship and patronage. Oil prices tumbled and Maduro proved to be a fumbling showman, exposing the financial ineptitude and ideological hollowness of the “Bolivarian revolution”. This could have doomed his presidency, which began in 2013 after Chávez died, but the former bus driver, a hulking bear of a man who rose up trade union ranks, turned out to be tenacious and ruthless. Born into a working class family in Caracas in 1962, he left school without graduating and drove buses for the Caracas metro. He became a union organiser and early supporter of Chávez, who, after leading a failed coup, led a leftwing coalition to an electoral landslide in 1998. Maduro was the speaker of the assembly before serving as Chávez’s foreign minister from 2006 to 2013, a visible if largely silent presence as the comandante held court on the world stage. Chávez anointed Maduro as his heir before succumbing to cancer. The story of his rule – and Venezuela’s agony – is a determination to keep power amid economic collapse, humanitarian disaster and international condemnation. Since January 2019 his presidency has been disputed, with Juan Guaidó being sworn in as interim president, and recognised as Venezuela’s ruler by some international powers. Crisis after crisis has buffeted his government – hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages, power blackouts, mass protests, drone attacks, defections, US-led sanctions – and Maduro has remained standing, resolute, implacable. It is a remarkable position for a man who, in a 2014 Guardian interview, described himself as a bit of a hippy and a fan of Led Zeppelin and John Lennon. “I never aspired to be president,” he said. “I always honour something that commander Chávez told us: that while we were in these posts we must be clothed in humility and understand that we are here to protect the man and woman of the streets.” Rory Carroll Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. But his desire for some sort of reconciliation with the US has increased as international pressure has been building on his socialist government at a time of hyperinflation and widespread food and medicine shortages. On Wednesday, presidents from several conservative Latin American governments are expected to meet in New York to sign a complaint with the International Criminal Court asking it to investigate Maduro on charges of crimes against humanity. Maduro has not attended the UN general assembly since 2015 and said last week he may have to suspend his participation this year out of concerns his opponents would try to kill him if he travels abroad. Maduro is probably on the plane from Caracas to NY after hearing this. Dream come true. https://t.co/aAyyDqafmy — Eva Golinger (@evagolinger) September 26, 2018 Trump said on Wednesday that all US options are on the table to help end the political, economic and humanitarian chaos in Venezuela – even the “strong ones”. “I just want to see Venezuela straightened out. I want the people to be safe. We’re going to take care of Venezuela,” he said, calling Venezuela’s situation a “disgrace”. “If he [Maduro] is here and he wants to meet – it was not on my mind, it was not on my plate, but if I can help people, that’s what I’m here for,” he added.<doc-sep>

UNITED NATIONS — Embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro traveled to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday to "defend his country" as six nations accused him of crimes against humanity and President Donald Trump hinted at taking strong action. The surprise visit came after Maduro had earlier threatened to skip the global gathering, citing fears for his personal safety as his once-wealthy OPEC nation spirals into a brutal crisis and international pressure mounts for the socialist leader to step down. Maduro confirmed in a video broadcast on Venezuelan state television that he was on his way to defend Venezuela, giving voice to his country on the global stage. "Today we're stronger than ever," a buoyant Maduro said on a flight from Caracas. "I come filled with emotion, passion." It appeared unlikely, however, that Maduro would cross paths with Trump, despite the U.S. president's comments earlier in the day that he was willing to meet with his Venezuelan counterpart if it would help ease suffering in the South American nation. "I'm willing to meet with anybody anytime I can (to) save lives, help people," Trump said as he was pummeled by reporters' questions about whether the U.S. would ever intervene military to remove Maduro. On Wednesday, presidents from five conservative Latin American governments and Canada's prime minister met in New York and signed a complaint with the International Criminal Court asking it to investigate Maduro on charges of crimes against humanity. It's the first time that member countries have referred another country to the Netherlands-based U.N. court. They point to a human rights report accusing Venezuelan security forces of carrying out arbitrary arrests, murders, extrajudicial executions, torture, sexual abuse and rape on orders from Maduro's government. "To remain indifferent or speculative in front of this reality could be perceived as being complicit with the regime," said Paraguayan Foreign Minister Andres Rodriguez Pedotti. "We are not going to be complicit." Venezuela's ousted chief prosecutor, Luisa Ortega, meanwhile, called on the United States to advantage of Maduro's visit to arrest him on charges of organized crime, corruption and genocide. Maduro's trip came a day after the Trump administration imposed financial sanctions on four members of his inner circle, including his wife and Venezuela's vice president, on allegations of corruption. Trump also suggested Maduro could be easily toppled in a military coup, echoing comments first floated last year that some sort of "military solution" might be needed to restore Venezuela's democracy. The newly sanctioned first lady, Cilia Flores, accompanied Maduro to New York. Maduro has been seeking a meeting with Trump for almost two years and has watched with frustration as the U.S. leader has talked with American adversaries like North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin while shunning Venezuelan entreaties. Citgo, a subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, was a major corporate donor to Trump's inaugural committee. Maduro also this year freed a former Utah missionary jailed for more than two years on weapons charges in a bid to improve relations with the White House. His desire for some sort of reconciliation with the U.S. has increased as international pressure has been building on his socialist government at a time of hyperinflation and widespread food and medicine shortages. An estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled into neighboring countries in the last four years, threatening to upset regional stability. Maduro has not attended the U.N. General Assembly since 2015 and said last week that he might have to suspend his participation this year out of concerns his opponents would try to kill him if he traveled abroad. Trump said Wednesday that all U.S. options are on the table to help end the political, economic and humanitarian chaos in Venezuela — even the "strong ones." "I just want to see Venezuela straightened out. I want the people to be safe. We're going to take care of Venezuela," he said, calling Venezuela's situation a disgrace.

Chuck Burton/Associated Press The Final Four for the 2019 NCAA women's basketball tournament is set with the conclusion of the Elite Eight on Monday. The UConn Huskies and Oregon Ducks are already through to the national semifinals, two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum historically speaking. UConn is through to the Final Four for the 12th consecutive year, while Oregon is making its first trip. In Monday's first game, the second-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes were matched up with the No. 1 overall seed Baylor Lady Bears. The reigning national champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish and No. 2 Stanford Cardinal would close the curtain on the regional finals. Here are the scores from Monday and a recap of the action. 2019 NCAA Women's Tournament Schedule/Results (Elite Eight) Video Play Button Videos you might like No. 1 Baylor def. No. 2 Iowa, 85-53 No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 2 Stanford, 84-68 Bracket The full bracket for the 2019 women's NCAA tournament can be viewed at NCAA.com. No. 1 Baylor 85, No. 2 Iowa 53 Megan Gustafson has been excellent throughout the 2018-19 regular season and into the NCAA tournament. The Hawkeyes star needed to be superhuman for her team to have any shot of upsetting Baylor. The Lady Bears rolled over the Hawkeyes 85-53, with Baylor's depth and defense simply overwhelming Iowa. Gustafson had 23 points and nine rebounds and hit a significant benchmark in the second half. She reached 1,000 points for the season, joining Kelsey Plum, Odyssey Sims and Jackie Stiles as the only players to reach that mark. Gustafson was the outlier for Iowa. The Lady Bears were content to let the senior forward enjoy success inside while stifling her supporting cast. The Hawkeyes shot 32.1 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers. The Iowa defense didn't have much of an answer for Baylor's efficient post-centric offense, either. Lauren Cox had a team-high 22 points, adding 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks to a great all-around night. DiDi Richards (16 points, 10 rebounds) had a double-double as well. Together, Cox and Richards nearly out-rebounded Iowa on their own, with the Hawkeyes collecting 26 boards. Baylor has won its four tournament games by an average of 38.3 points. The Lady Bears are firing on all cylinders, which is bad news for Oregon. No. 1 Notre Dame 84, No. 2 Stanford 68 Winning ugly was Stanford's approach in the last two rounds, and the strategy was working for the Cardinal through the first half Monday. They led Notre Dame 33-26 heading into the locker room, with the Fighting Irish well below the 89.2-point-per-game pace they've set this season. The plan unraveled in the third quarter. Notre Dame closed the quarter on an 11-2 run and outscored Stanford 26-13 over the 10-minute period. The Fighting Irish continued to pour it on in the fourth, scoring 32 points and putting the game out of reach. Jackie Young was a big reason for Notre Dame's second-half turnaround. Nineteen of her 25 points came after halftime. Young also grabbed 10 rebounds to earn her 11th double-double of the season. Jessica Shepard also had her third double-double (11 points, 14 rebounds) of the tournament. Arike Ogunbowale, last year's Final Four hero, didn't have an efficient night, shooting 6-of-19 from the floor. She still finished with 21 points and helped to provide an offensive spark in the third and fourth quarters. The stage is now set for a rematch between Notre Dame and Connecticut. The two teams delivered an instant classic in last year's semifinals, and this year will likely be no different.<doc-sep>PORTLAND -- With the clock ticking with under 1:20 remaining and the Oregon Ducks clinging to a three-point lead over the Mississippi State Bulldogs with a spot in the Women's Final Four on the line, there was only one option for who should have the ball: Pac-12 player of the year and espnW first-team All-American Sabrina Ionescu. Coming off a Ruthy Hebard screen, Ionescu first darted toward the basket, then stepped back to create space and fire over Mississippi State guard Jordan Danberry. The ultra-confident Ionescu wasn't surprised when her shot nestled through the net to push Oregon's lead to six and all but assure the Ducks' eventual 88-84 victory in the Portland Regional final. "That was going in regardless," Ionescu said after the game. "No other way to say it. I wanted to finish this game off the right way. We've come so far. We played so hard that entire game. I knew it was my time to hit a big-time shot. Ruthy set a great screen, the spacing was great. Women's Tournament Challenge Check out Tournament Challenge for live updates with a chance to win $5,000 in Amazon.com gift cards! "At that moment in time, I didn't want it to go to overtime. I didn't want to give them any more opportunities to score. I was also pretty tired. Let me hit this and walk off to the Final Four." That's just what Ionescu did, her key shot helping send Oregon to Tampa for the first Women's Final Four appearance in program history after the Ducks lost in the Elite Eight in each of Ionescu's first two seasons. Although he recognized the significance of getting that far once again, Oregon coach Kelly Graves had bigger goals in mind. "We want to break through that ceiling," Graves said Saturday. "We don't want to be just an Elite Eight program, we want to be a Final Four and perhaps a national championship program." Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu celebrates a Portland Regional final victory over No. 1 seed Mississippi State after scoring a game-high 31 points. AP Photo/Steve Dipaola The Ducks were backed in that effort Sunday by a crowd of more than 11,500 at the Moda Center, the vast majority of them wearing Oregon green and yellow. Between the setting and the efficient offense on both sides -- the Ducks made 13 of 26 3-pointers, Mississippi State went 8-of-13 and the teams combined for just 14 turnovers -- Graves called Sunday the best-played game he ever coached. "It kind of reminded me of that Virginia game last night against Purdue," he said, referring to Saturday's South regional final in the men's NCAA tournament. "Two really good teams. They were making shots. It was like a heavyweight fight. We just kept getting back up off the canvas and battling some more. "This was a great showcase for women's basketball today. I thought the crowd was amazing. That was as well-played a basketball game as I think you're going to find anywhere. I thought that is about as good as women's basketball can get." At times during the second half, Oregon appeared poised to open up a lead. The Ducks, who took a two-point lead to the locker room, scored the first four points of the second half to draw a timeout by Bulldogs coach Vic Schaefer. Early in the fourth quarter, Oregon went back up five and had an Erin Boley 3-point attempt in transition that could have pushed the margin to eight but missed. Each time, Mississippi State rallied. Schaefer praised his team, which fell just short of a third consecutive trip to the Final Four after losing in the national championship game each of the past two seasons, for its fight. "I just can't be prouder of my team today," Schaefer said. "You talk about competitive, tough. I just thought my team just fought tooth and nail today in a really hostile environment. Credit to the community, for the people that came out supporting women's basketball. A great crowd out there today. It's great for our game. "I just thought my team was just phenomenal. I mean, I couldn't be prouder of them for how hard they played, how hard they fought against a really good team. I've watched a ton of film. I've not seen them make that many 3s in a while. They made shots today. You've got to take your hat off to them. When you make shots in a big game like that, you've got to tip your hat to them." Mississippi State's Teaira McCowan finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds for her 31st double-double this season. AP Photo/Steve Dipaola The Ducks' shot making wasn't solely driven by Ionescu. During the third quarter, it was Hebard and Satou Sabally who took center stage. Hebard, taking advantage of the attention the Bulldogs were paying to Oregon's shooters, scored 10 of her 14 points in the period after battling foul trouble in the first half. Sabally, who said Friday she was hoping for a rematch against Mississippi State after a quiet performance in the Ducks' December win in Eugene, responded with 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting and seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks. For much of the game, however, the Bulldogs matched Oregon shot for shot. Center Teaira McCowan, who suffered through one of her worst performances of the season in Eugene, had a double-double by halftime and finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds despite the Ducks regularly sending three defenders at her. Mississippi State's guards took advantage of the open shots afforded by the attention on McCowan, with all five starters scoring double-figures. Ultimately, the back-and-forth nature of a game in which neither team led by more than seven points and there were 11 ties and 15 lead changes just set the stage of Ionescu to take over late. She scored 14 of her 31 points (the most ever for an Oregon player in an NCAA tournament game) in the final quarter, making key shots time and again -- none bigger than her stepback 3. "I think Sabrina made some really tough shots tonight," said Schaefer. "Obviously, she's a heck of a player. But I thought she made some really tough shots at the shot clock. That's what great players do. They're going to make shots when your team needs it. I thought she was really, really hard to guard." Now, with Oregon headed to Tampa, defending Ionescu will be somebody else's problem. The Ducks move on to face the winner of Monday's Greensboro Regional final between Baylor and Iowa. And though reaching the Final Four is a milestone for Oregon, one they got a chance to enjoy celebrating in front of their fans, the Ducks want to keep going. "All I've got to say is we're not done yet," Ionescu said. "Of course, we're going to be happy, but we're not going to be pleased with how far we've gotten. I think that's one of the reasons we didn't necessarily set one goal before the season. I know we got a lot of critiques for that. "Our goals are further than one game, a Final Four, something that you can really pinpoint. I think our goals are things that we can control, and everything else will take care of itself."<doc-sep>

Alika Jenner/Getty Images Three of the most consistent women's basketball programs in the nation and a newcomer to the sport's biggest stage advanced to the 2019 Women's Final Four. UConn is back at the Final Four, which takes place in Tampa this year, for the 12th consecutive season, but the Huskies haven't won a title since 2016. Notre Dame is making its second straight trip to Final Four, as it looks to conjure up the same late-game magic it used to win the 2018 title. Baylor is back at the Final Four for the first time since it won the championship in 2012, while Oregon is making its first-ever appearance. 2019 Women's Final Four Schedule Friday, April 5 Video Play Button Videos you might like No. 1 Baylor (-4.5) vs. No. 2 Oregon (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2) No. 1 Notre Dame (-2.5) vs. No. 2 UConn (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2) Odds obtained from 5Dimes. UConn, Notre Dame Renew Rivalry in Tampa The marquee game of the women's Final Four is the second one on the schedule, as old rivals UConn and Notre Dame face off for the 50th time. Although UConn has a significant edge in the rivalry, Notre Dame has had the Huskies' number in the NCAA tournament. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Notre Dame is the only school to beat UConn more than twice in the NCAA tournament: Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish are the favored team as the defending champion, and they have a pair of guards in Arike Ogunbowale and Jackie Young that wreak havoc on any opposing defense. Expect to hear a lot from Notre Dame's guards as they get to the basket in a hurry to spearhead the nation's top scoring offense. The Fighting Irish are averaging 88.5 points per game in the NCAA tournament, and they only gave up 80 points once. Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press However, UConn possesses a similar explosiveness on offense, as it comes into Tampa with the fourth-best scoring offense in Division 1. The Huskies reached the 80-point mark in three of their four tournament games, with the lone exception being the Sweet 16 win over UCLA. Katie Lou Samuelson is the key on offense for UConn, as she comes into Tampa off a 29-point performance against Louisville. But if Samuelson struggles as she did against UCLA, and the Huskies can't keep pace with Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish will get to defend their title in Sunday's national championship. Ionescu Gets Opportunity to Shine on Final Four Stage Triple-double machine Sabrina Ionescu gets her chance to shine on the sport's biggest stage Friday night, as she leads the Oregon Ducks into a semifinal matchup against Baylor. Ionescu was one of the main reasons why the Ducks got past perennial power Mississippi State in the Elite Eight, as she produced 31 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Steve Dipaola/Associated Press In order for the Ducks to upset Baylor in Friday's opener, Ionescu once again has to be at her best, as she has been all season. Ionescu has a triple-double and a double-double so far in the NCAA tournament, and it wouldn't be a surprise if she takes her game to another level with a standout performance against the top-seeded Bears. The key for Oregon is to stay close with Baylor, who has blown out each of its four opponents in the Big Dance. Since the Bears come into Friday with most of the pressure on their shoulders, Ionescu and the Ducks should be able to play free and challenge Kim Mulkey's team on every possession. Ionescu will be in the spotlight, but she isn't the only Oregon player capable of doing damage on offense, as Ruthy Hebard and Satou Sabally have been key contributors throughout the tournament. If Oregon puts the pressure on Baylor from the start, it could be able to spring an upset and become the first Pac-12 team since Stanford in 2010 to make the national championship. Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from ESPN.com and NCAA.com.

A Mumbai-based casting director on Tuesday accused Malayalam actor Mukesh on Twitter of sexual harassment. She said the incident took place 19 years ago. Mukesh is now a Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA and represents Kollam constituency. I was 20 years old quiz directing #koteeswaran when the mallu host #mukeshkumar called my room multiple times and then changed my room to beside his on the next sch. My then boss @derekobrienmp spoke to me for an hour & got me out on the next flight. 19 yrs on thank you Derek. — Tess Joseph (@Tesselmania) October 9, 2018 The woman claimed that during her time as director of a Malayalam television show, Mukesh had called her hotel room a number of times. She was the only woman in the crew, which was stationed in Chennai’s Le Meridien Hotel. Mukesh, who was hosting the show, asked hotel authorities to change her room to one next to his, she claimed. The woman said she immediately contacted her then boss Derek O’Brien, who is now a Trinamool Congress leader. Thanking him for “timely intervention”, she said O’Brien arranged an air ticket after which she returned to Mumbai the same night. On Wednesday, Mukesh told reporters that he did not remember nor would he be able to recognise the complainant in a photograph. “I never misbehaved with anyone over phone,” Mukesh said. “I am not that type of a person [who misbehaves with women]. Someone may have misguided the complainant. Someone named Mukesh may have called her [while she was working on the shoot] but it was not me.” The Kerala MLA said he was from a “family of artistes” and that he supports the #MeToo campaign. “Women should respond immediately if they face sexual harassment,” Mukesh said. “Then only we will get more women artistes.” Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary, told Scroll.in that the party will legally examine the allegations against the actor. “All allegations must not be true,” the party official said. I want to say this to every hotel, every crew member who has allowed and been party to enabling predators - you are a huge part of this is #TimesUp — Tess Joseph (@Tesselmania) October 9, 2018 The allegations against the actor-turned-politician come at a time when several women, including journalists, have taken to social media to give detailed accounts of the sexual harassment and misconduct they faced. The campaign, being dubbed as the #MeToo movement in India, has taken the media fraternity by storm as several senior journalists, writers and media professionals have been accused of misconduct. On Monday, writer, director and producer Vinta Nanda alleged that actor Alok Nath raped her at her home nearly two decades ago after he was sacked from the 1990s popular television show Tara for misbehaving with its lead actress, Navneet Nishan. Later, Nishan confirmed sthe actor in question had harassed her. “I dealt with the four-year harassment by slapping the man in question and it is done and dusted,” said Nishan, without naming Nath. Four journalists also made allegations of sexual harassment against veteran journalist and now the Minister of State for External Affairs, MJ Akbar. Several Twitter users on Monday accused Tamil poet-lyricist Vairamuthu of inappropriate conduct and sexual abuse. Singer Chinmayi Sripaada later backed the allegations of sexual harassment against him. Director Vikas Bahl, former Hindustan Times political editor Prashant Jha, actor Rajat Kapoor, Kashmiri journalist Fahad Shah, stand-up comedian Utsav Chakraborty and author Chetan Bhagat are among those who have been accused of sexual misconduct in the past few days. DISCLOSURE: In view of the statements of women who have made public their experiences of journalist Mayank Jain’s misconduct, we at Scroll in the spirit of fair disclosure would like to state that Mayank Jain worked for Scroll from October 15, 2014 to October 30, 2016, and then from June 12, 2017 to December 31, 2017. A woman employee informally and verbally brought to the attention of a member of the internal complaints committee (ICC) at Scroll an instance of sexually inappropriate online behaviour by Mayank Jain in 2017. The employee, however, did not want to pursue the matter through a formal written complaint, without which no formal inquiry can be initiated. Despite this, the ICC took serious note of the matter and served a written warning to Mayank Jain, reminding him of Scroll’s strict policies prohibiting sexual harassment. We, at Scroll, commit to continuing to better understand women’s experiences at the workplace and evolve further processes that may be required to prevent, acknowledge and respond to work cultures that are not enabling for women. NOTE: This article includes only those accounts in which the women have chosen to name themselves and their alleged harassers or in cases which there have been multiple accusations against one person. Scroll.in reporters are continuing to report the story, including efforts to corroborate and cover the cases where the women have chosen to be anonymous.<doc-sep>CPI-M legislator Mukesh, a popular Malayalam actor, was on Tuesday accused by a woman of harassment. He has denied the allegation. The woman revealed her experience on Twitter, claiming she was 20 years old and was quiz directing Koteeswaran when host Mukesh Kumar telephoned her room multiple times and then had her room changed besides his own. She said her then boss, Derek O'Brien, spoke to her for an hour and got her out on the next flight. "19 years on, thank you Derek," read the tweet. When a Twitter user asked her if the person was actor-politician Mukesh, she confirmed it was him. I was 20 years old quiz directing #koteeswaran when the mallu host #mukeshkumar called my room multiple times and then changed my room to beside his on the next sch. My then boss @derekobrienmp spoke to me for an hour & got me out on the next flight. 19 yrs on thank you Derek.— Tess Joseph (@Tesselmania) October 9, 2018 Mukesh, who won the 2016 Assembly elections for the first time on CPI-M ticket, has said he does not remember such a woman and denied the allegation. "Maybe this could be a conspiracy against me to see I resign as MLA," said Mukesh. Kollam district Congress President M. Bindukrishna has demanded Mukesh's resignation from the Assembly. CPI-M State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the matter must be examined according to the law while P.K. Sreemathy, the Kannur CPI-M Lok Sabha member, said she will react once she finds out more details.<doc-sep>I left the place worried, didn't work on 'Koteeswaran' again: Tess Joseph on Mukesh Tess Joseph said that there was more scope to take action against sexual harassment now. news Me Too On Tuesday morning, Tess Joseph, a casting director, joined the #MeToo campaign and shared her experience from two decades ago. It was for the first time that an actor from the Malayalam film industry had been named ever since the wave of #MeToo hit social media in India. Mukesh Kumar is an actor, a CPI (M) MLA from Kollam district and the Vice President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). “I was 20 years old quiz directing #koteeswaran when the mallu host #mukeshkumar called my room multiple times and then changed my room to beside his on the next sch. My then boss @derekobrienmp spoke to me for an hour & got me out on the next flight. 19 yrs on thank you Derek,” she wrote. Tess wrote about how she stayed in her colleague’s room when the calls were never-ending. Speaking to TNM, Tess says that the reason she spoke about the issue was to point out how the system has been broken for a long time, and that this was the time to fix it. Detailing what happened 19 years ago, Tess said that she had started working with Derek O'Brien Associates, and was part of the control room of the popular game show ‘Koteeswaran’ (Millionaire) in Malayalam. “Since I was in the control room, I was the person who interacted with him over the prompter and the head-set when needed. During one recording he had introduced the show in an impressive manner. When the show got over, I spoke to him and congratulated him. He asked me how I understood what he said and I told him that I was a Malayali and could understand Malayalam,” Tess recalled. Mukesh then told her that it was a pity that she could not speak Malayalam well, and after a friendly chat of the crew meeting for dinner, they parted. “He messaged me later saying he has dinner in his room and invited me. But I told him that I eat dinner with my crew in the restaurant,” she said. The crew was staying at Hotel Le Meridian in Chennai. “My room phone kept ringing post that and I refused to pick up. I stayed in my colleague’s room for many hours after that as I felt jittery,” she added. Tess then went back home after the schedule, and when she came back for the next schedule, she realised that her room had been changed. On her return, she discovered that her room had been changed to a different floor. “When I asked the reception why, they nonchalantly said that I could be closer to Mukesh,” she said. Shocked that the actor had asked the hotel to change her room, Tess called Derek. “Those days, not everyone had cell phones. I somehow got in touch with Derek from my cell phone. I was upset; he spoke to me for a while, calmed me down and then got me on a flight. Maybe we could have gone back to the issue and inspected it. But at that time, Derek did what he could. But now there is scope to do more, to have standard practices and have better systems,,” she said. Tess stresses on the need for Internal Complaints Committees in the every profession, and especially hers. “This happened a long time ago, people who were close to me knew about it. When #MeToo started, I had spoken about how the film industry needs sensitisation. An Internal Complaints Committee doesn’t come to play in our industry. The system is broken now and we have a chance to fix it,” she said. Ever since her revelation, Mukesh’s political rivals in Kerala have lined up against him and Tess is disappointed with the way things are panning out. "I am bothered by the politicisation of the issue, this is my story, not their politics. How can any political party talk as if they are holier than thou?” she asks. Tess adds that she left the 'Koteeswaran' set worried and never returned to the show. “I, too, lost something by that incident. My opportunity to quiz-direct a show at a time where there were so few women in my industry.” she concludes.<doc-sep>Me Too: Parties protest against actor-MLA Mukesh in Kerala, demand his arrest Opposition parties in Kerala staged protests near and outside CPI(M) MLA Mukesh’s office at Anandavalleswaram in Kollam on Tuesday. news Me Too Ever since casting director Tess Joseph came out with her #MeToo allegation of inappropriate workplace behaviour against Kerala actor and CPI(M) MLA Mukesh, multiple groups in Kerala have taken out protests demanding his resignation and arrest. Opposition parties in Kerala staged protests near and outside Mukesh’s office at Anandavalleswaram in Kollam. On Tuesday, Youth Congress members blocked the National Highway near Anandavalleswaram and burnt an effigy of Mukesh. Police arrested 10 protesting members of the Youth Congress for obstructing public pathways. Bearing signs that read “Peedana ‘Veeran’ Mukesh MLA Arrest Cheyuka” (Arrest the Harassment ‘Braveheart’ MLA Mukesh), members of the BJP Mahila Morcha marched to Mukesh’s office, while BJP Yuva Morcha members also clashed with police during their protest against the actor. However, Kollam police told TNM that no Yuva Morcha members were arrested. Under the aegis of the District Congress Committee, Kollam, the Congress party also took out a march to Mukesh’s house in Kollam on Wednesday morning, demanding his resignation from the party post and police action against him. Anticipating these protests, security has been increased around his home and office. Police say no arrests have been made in these protests on Wednesday. Mukesh addressed reporters at around 12 PM on Wednesday to address the allegations against him. He began his statement by saying that he is a strong supporter of the #MeToo movement. He said that he supported an environment where women could enter the arts without any gender discrimination. He went on to say that he had no recollection of the events encapsulated in Tess Joseph’s #MeToo account and that he would never have bothered any person on the phone. He said that he did remember staying at the Le Meridien hotel while shooting for Koteeswaran show 19 years ago, but was not aware that crew members were also staying there and that he never called or bothered anyone as described in Tess’ account. He said that it was likely there was some confusion, that it perhaps could have been another Mukesh Kumar. He also attempted to discredit Tess’ account, saying that a few years later, Derek O’Brien had invited him to meet during a shoot in Kerala. Mukesh said that he was the only person Derek knew in Kerala and was a friend and that Mukesh hastened to meet him. “If Derek knew I was a harasser, he would not have invited me; so there must have been some confusion,” he said. Mukesh then pointed out that Tess herself had mentioned that she did not come out with her account in order to politicise the issue or inspire groups to march to Mukesh’s house or office.<doc-sep>

Read Also Though sexual allegations have been levelled against top actors, directors and producers in the Malayalam film industry over the years, they have all been passed around in hushed whispers, in closed groups. For the first time probably, a woman has now come out against a Malayalam actor in public. Twitter user Tess Joseph, a casting director based in Mumbai, has posted publicly that actor Mukesh once behaved inappropriately with her, 19 years ago.It took 19 years but here is my story, tweeted Tess, with the hashtags #MeTooIndia #TimesUp #Metoo.The incident occurred when she was 20 years old, during the shoot of the TV show Kodeeswaran of which Mukesh was the host. Mukesh called her hotel room multiple times, and then changed her room to the one beside his on the next schedule, she wrote. “My then boss Derek O’Brien spoke to me for an hour and got me out on the next flight. Nineteen years on, thank you Derek,” read her tweet.Confirming that it is actor-politician Mukesh, she goes on to elaborate: “I was the only woman in a crew of men. One night when the calls were never ending I stayed in my colleague’s room. And Le Meridien Chennai, you are the worst for being enablers when I asked you why my room floor was different. So nonchalantly I was told Mukesh asked for it.”Tess also says that the film fraternity should be “open to conducting a sensitisation session for all cast and crew, on every set, in every office henceforth”. “Can this become mandatory like a censor certificate is and can there be a sexual harassment cell opened?”Attempts to reach out to Mukesh were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.Meanwhile, on a separate thread, a girl has accused a South Indian music director, the screenshots of which have been shared by the Twitter handle India Protests with the hashtag #MeToo. The post has been made anonymously though.In the screenshots, the girl says that when she was a teenager, a “senior musician who was then 32 or 34 years old”, said he wanted to have a relationship with her. She was still in school and he kept on trying for years, she writes. Once he asked her if she was a virgin and also made other indecent proposals, despite her saying she was not interested multiple times.The #MeToo movement started off in Hollywood and slowly ripples have reached Bollywood, with actress Tanushree Dutta revealing that Nana Patekar had behaved inappropriately with her during the shoot of the film Horn Ok Pleassss. The allegations have snowballed into a movement in Bollywood now.In Malayalam, no major actor has been accused yet as part of the #MeToo movement, though actress Parvathy last year revealed publicly that casting couch exists in the Malayalam film industry.

(Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp SHLD.O is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the coming days following years of declining sales, sources said on Wednesday, casting doubt over the survival of what was once the world's largest retailer. The bankruptcy filing would end a standoff between Chief Executive Officer Eddie Lampert, the retailer’s biggest shareholder and lender, and a special board committee the company has formed to consider a rescue plan proposed by Lampert that would involve asset sales and a debt restructuring. The committee has been resisting the plan amid concerns that creditors and shareholders would sue over it being too favorable for Lampert. His history of financial engineering at Sears for more than a decade through deals tied to his hedge fund ESL Investments Inc could now be subjected to new scrutiny by Sears’ creditors in bankruptcy court, according to the sources. Both Lampert and the Sears special committee now accept that only a court-supervised process can determine the company’s future, one of the sources said. Talks are under way to arrange debtor-in-possession financing for a bankruptcy filing that could come in the next few days, the sources added. CNBC first reported on the debtor-in-possession financing talks, while the Wall Street Journal first reported on Sears’ bankruptcy preparations. A $134-million debt payment that Sears has to meet on Monday has added pressure on both Lampert and the special committee to find a resolution. Lampert had told the special committee he would not help the company fund that obligation unless it agreed to his plan, the sources said. The sources asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential. Spokespeople for Lampert and Sears declined to comment. “For whatever reason, Sears’ board said enough is enough,” said Chad Brand, president of Peridot Capital Management, which holds Sears bonds. Brand added that he had significantly cut down on his Sears bond holdings earlier this year amid concerns from his clients. At its peak in the 1960s, Sears sold everything from toys and auto parts to mail-order homes, and was a key tenant in almost every big mall across the United States. But it has struggled to reinvent itself in the face of online competition from companies such as Amazon.com Inc AMZN.O, as well as from other brick-and-mortar retailers, including Walmart IncWMT.N. IN THE SHADOW OF TOYS ‘R’ US Slideshow ( 8 images ) It is not clear whether Sears would survive a bankruptcy process. When Toys ‘R’ Us, the largest specialty toy retailer, filed for bankruptcy protection last September, it sought to emerge from it after restructuring its debt and shutting stores. Instead, it was forced to liquidate last March, after creditors balked at providing a new lifeline to the company. If Sears were to file for bankruptcy, its financial performance during the upcoming holiday season could prove crucial in determining its future, according to the sources. Toys ‘R’ Us’ creditors lost faith in the retailer after revenue during last year’s holiday season failed to meet their expectations. Retaining the confidence of vendors is also key to Sears remaining operational. Victor Sandy, who helps suppliers hedge the risk of nonpayment for goods at Michigan-based Global Commercial Credit LLC, said vendors will be looking to see if Sears can secure enough financing to see it through bankruptcy. “The risk is a formal reorganization turns into a liquidation if things do not go well. That is a real risk that we saw happen with Toys ‘R’ Us,” said Sandy. Sears shares were down 31 percent at 40.5 cents in afternoon trading in New York, giving the company a market capitalization of just $40 million. The stock, which traded above $100 a decade ago, has fallen to less than $1 in the past year. Sears’ borrowings totaled $5 billion as of Aug. 4. The Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based retailer has posted seven straight years of losses and its sales have not grown since the 2008 financial crisis. The retailer warned last month it may go out of business if the deals proposed by Lampert were not approved. LAMPERT’S DEALS Lampert, who created Sears in its current form in 2005 by acquiring it in a $11 billion deal and merging it with his discount retailer Kmart, proposed deals to reduce the company’s debt load to $1.2 billion from $5.6 billion in September. The Sears special committee had also been weighing a prior offer from Lampert to acquire the retailer’s Kenmore appliances brand and its home services business for as much as $480 million. Slideshow ( 8 images ) Lampert has invested and lent to Sears many times over the years, making him and his hedge fund the company’s largest shareholders with a stake just shy of 50 percent, as well as its biggest creditor, with about $2.5 billion owed to him or funds he controls. Lambert became Land End's Inc LE.O biggest shareholder when the clothing manufacturer was spun out of Sears in 2014. In 2015, Sears sold 235 of its best stores for $2.7 billion to Seritage Growth Properties SRG.N, a company he created. Such prolific dealmaking has made it difficult to assess whether Lampert has made a profit or loss on Sears over the years. In an earlier attempt to avoid bankruptcy, Sears last year sold its Craftsman tool brand to power tool maker Stanley Black & Decker SWK.N for $900 million. It also signed a deal to sell Kenmore appliances on e-commerce site Amazon.com. Shares of real estate investment trusts (REIT) exposed to Sears properties also fell Wednesday. Seritage slid 5.9 percent, CBL & Associates Properties CBL.N lost 1.1 percent and Pennsylvania REIT PEI.N was down 0.5 percent.<doc-sep>Sears Holdings Corp. could file for bankruptcy as early as this week as the company assesses how to manage its more than $130 million in debt, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The news outlet reported that Sears has $134 million in debt due on Monday. While chairman Edward Lampert could make the payment, the company has hired M-III Partners, a boutique advisory firm, to put together a possible bankruptcy filing. The Wall Street Journal reported that Lampert, whose hedgefund owns a majority of Sears's shares, is hoping to secure a restructuring of the company's debt, which would include the company divesting from its Kenmore appliance brand. ADVERTISEMENT Sears has accrued more than $11 billion in losses since 2011, and the Journal reported that the company must raise more than $1 billion a year to stay in business. The once-prominent retailer has seen scores of its brick-and-mortar locations close in recent years as it faces growing financial losses. The Wall Street Journal reported that Sears still has nearly 900 stores in business. The company acknowledged earlier this year that it was a victim of a hack that affected fewer than 100,000 of its customers. The hackers likely accessed credit card information belonging to customers who made online purchases at Sears and Kmart stores between late September and October of last year, the company said.<doc-sep>If Sears files for bankruptcy, it is likely the beginning of what has been the long, drawn-out ending to one of the most renowned sagas in retail. Sears is likely to announce as soon as Sunday that it will file for bankruptcy protection, with plans to push through the holiday season, then seek a buyer soon after, says a person familiar with the discussions but not authorized to speak about them. The beleaguered retailer, which has stayed afloat by closing stores and borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars from a hedge fund helmed by its own CEO, is leaning toward a Chapter 11 filing, which would provide it protection to restructure versus having to immediately liquidate. It is trying to secure $300 million to $500 million to continue functioning through the holidays, keeping a winnowed number of locations open, says the person familiar with what is being considered. As of an Aug. 4 public filing, Sears Holdings, the parent company of Sears and Kmart, still had 506 Sears stores and 360 Kmart locations. Also see | Tacoma Sears among 63 Kmart and Sears stores to close If the bankruptcy filing occurs, it is likely the beginning of what has been the long, drawn-out ending to one of the most renowned sagas in retail. Sears, once the nation's largest retailer, has been on the ropes for years, struggling to remain relevant amid a shopping landscape transformed by the rise of e-commerce competitors such as Amazon, big-box giants such as Walmart and specialized chains such as Best Buy, which offer similar products with a more appealing experience. Now, Sears is facing a critical Monday deadline to make a $134 million debt payment. Reports this week by the Wall Street Journal and CNBC said Sears had begun consulting with advisers to prepare a possible bankruptcy filing. Sears CEO Eddie Lampert said last month in a letter that the company "must act immediately'' on his most recent proposal to sell more assets and slash debt. Lampert had offered to buy Sears' popular Kenmore appliance brand for $400 million.<doc-sep>

All retail bankruptcies are not the same. Here's what you need to know NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 2020/07/08: People wearing face masks shopping inside a retail store in Manhattan as the city enters phase 3 of reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic As New York City enters phase 3 of reopening retail stores for indoor shopping, restaurants have been postponed for indoor dinning. The U.S. Department of Health recorded a total of 3,219,999 infections, 135,822 death and 1,426,428 recovered since the beginning of the outbreak. (Photo by Braulio Jatar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 19: A view of the window display as Macy's Herald Square unveils Give, Love, Believe 2020 Holiday Windows on November 19, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy's) One of many large boxes of returned products that fill the warehouse. The returned products in this box will eventually be sorted and categorized. This airplane-shaped bag is selling for more than some actual planes (CNN Business) — Sears has to come up with $134 million very quickly. Sears Holdings (SHLD), the parent company of Sears and Kmart, faces a Monday deadline to pay that much in debt. The most recent filing from Sears showed it had only $193 million in cash on hand as of August 4, the end of its last fiscal quarter. The company also has $269 million available to it from lenders, according to figures it released on September 13. Having so little cash available would make it very difficult for Sears to pay back $134 million in debt due on Monday. Plus, Sears also has to pay its current vendors and employees and stock up inventory before the holidays. All signs point to a bankruptcy filing in the next few days. Sears’ stock has fallen more than 50% in the last five trading days to around 35 cents a share. Three companies that sell items at Sears told Reuters this week that Sears had missed payments to them over the past few weeks. One of Sears’ major shareholders recently dumped a chunk of his stock for pennies on his original investment. The company added a new director this week who is familiar with bankruptcies and restructuring. And reports are swirling that the company is talking to advisers and banks in preparation for a bankruptcy filing. According to the Wall Street Journal, Sears has hired M-III Partners, a boutique advisory firm specializing in seeing companies through bankruptcies and restructuring, The company is also talking to lenders about providing it with debtor-in-possession financing, CNBC reported. That kind of loan is used by companies that file for bankruptcy to fund operations during the process. Usually, funding is secured well before the final days. Companies that file for bankruptcy typically negotiate a special kind of loan to stay in business while they go through the bankruptcy process. There are several reports that Sears is in talks for that kind of financing, but negotiations don’t appear to be going well. The company’s lenders are encouraging Sears to shut down and liquidate, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Sears’ management has reportedly said it hopes to use Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy law to stay in business rather than Chapter 7, which leads to closing. If Sears does file for Chapter 11, the company could try to stay in business, using the court process to shed debt and unaffordable leases. It could attempt to emerge as a profitable company. But the retail landscape is littered with brands that tried to reorganize in the bankruptcy process and liquidated their businesses instead, such as RadioShack, Toys “R” Us and Sports Authority. Sears and Kmart merged to form Sears Holdings in 2005, when they had 3,500 US stores between them. A long series of store closings has left it with under 900 today. In July Sears closed its last store in Chicago, once its hometown. The company recently announced another 46 store closings that will take place just before the start of the holiday shopping period. Sears and Kmart had 89,000 employees as of February 3 of this year, according to a company filing.

German keeper Manuel Neuer couldn't save his team from falling 2-0 to South Korea in the Russia 2018 Group Stage. Where does the loss rank among all-time World Cup upsets? Photo by Steindy (wikimedia commons). The defending champions are going home. Germany needed a win over South Korea in their final game of the Group Stage in order to advance to the Knockout Round of Russia 2018. Instead, they lost 2-0, despite controlling 70% of possession, winning three-times as many corners, and firing 26 shots toward the Korean goal. Does Korea’s massive upset instantly crack the top-five biggest upsets in World Cup history? Let’s count them down. 5. Germany 7-1 Brazil (2014) When and where did it take place? Brazil 2014 Group Stage. What were the consequences? Host nation and tournament favorite Brazil was eliminated (and massively embarrassed) in the semifinals. Why does it make the top-five? Brazil makes its first of two appearances on the list thanks to a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Germany. While this game wasn’t the massive mismatch that the rest are – Germany (no. 2 in the world) was actually ranked higher than Brazil (no. 3) at the time – the blowout nature and the fact that it came in Rio de Janeiro make it worthy. All set to party through the night, the home crowd had plenty of time to cancel their plans and schedule a post-mortem instead as Thomas Muller scored just 11 minutes into the game and Germany extended the lead to 5-0 before the game was even 30 minutes old. It was 7-0 before a late consolation marker by Oscar, a goal which didn’t live up to its name, offering little solace to the 58,000 fans in attendance. Germany’s four-goal outburst from minute 24-29 left indelible scars on Brazil’s national identity. Germany “pierc[ed] piercing Brazil’s defence with such frequency and brutality and engendering such horror among onlookers that footage really should be viewed through an opaque shower curtain,” wrote The Guardian’s Simon Burnton. So take your computer to the banheiro before watching the clip below … 4. Germany 3-2 Hungary (1954) When and where did it take place? Switzerland 1954 Final. What were the consequences? The unstoppable force that was Hungary was denied its first-ever World Cup. Why does it make the top-five? If you weren’t alive in the 50s, you’re probably surprised to see Germany beating Hungary listed as an upset. But in 1954, Hungary was unquestionably the team to beat. They were pretty much the Steph Curry/Kevin Durant-era Golden State Warriors of soccer. From 1950-56, the “Golden Team” lost just one game, compiling a 42-7-1 record. In the 1954 World Cup, alone, they amassed a tournament-record 27 goals in just five games. [I]n 1954, Hungary was … pretty much the Steph Curry/Kevin Durant-era Golden State Warriors of soccer. From 1950-56, the “Golden Team” lost just one game. Germany, on the other hand, had yet to win any of its four World Cup titles in 1954 and had only recently been reinstated by FIFA post-WWII. The teams actually first met in the Group Stage and Germany, fielding a team of mostly reserves, was obliterated 8-3. A similar result seemed to be a fait accompli in the finals when Hungary took an early 2-0 lead, scoring twice in the first eight minutes. But a crucial answer from Max Morlock in the 10th minute gave Germany hope. Then Helmut Rahn equalised in the 18th minute before scoring the late winner in the 84th. As you can see in the old-timey highlight reel below, the “beautiful game” wasn’t quite as beautiful back then, but that doesn’t make the result any less improbable. 3. Korea 2-0 Germany (2018) When and where did it take place? Russia 2018 Group Stage. What were the consequences? Defending champion Germany was knocked out of World Cup. Why does it make the top-five? Germany, the victors in our first two upsets, become the vanquished in number three. Not only were the Germans the defending champs in 2018, they were also the #1 ranked team in the world at the time. Korea, meanwhile, was a lowly 57th, fourth-lowest in the entire tournament, and were 500/1 longshots to win the World Cup. They were also 0-0-2 entering the game, already falling to Mexico and Sweden. After a win and a loss in the first two Group Stage games, Germany sat tied for second in their quartet (behind Mexico, level with Sweden). They absolutely needed a win to boost their chances of moving on. Indeed, thanks to complicated tie-breaking scenarios, winning didn’t even guarantee they would advance. They needed to pile on and win by multiple goals to truly feel safe. That’s why sportsbooks had the spread at an almost unprecedented Germany -3 heading into the match. Sportsbooks had the spread at an almost unprecedented Germany -3 heading into the match [with South Korea]. But right from the opening kick, the champs looked nervous and out of sorts. While they generated a few good chances over the course of 90 minutes, they were routinely turned back by a previously underwhelming Korean defense. And then, in the third minute of stoppage time, disaster struck (or jubilation, depending on your allegiances). 2. Uruguay 2-1 Brazil (1950) When and where did it take place? Brazil 1950 Final Round. What were the consequences? Uruguay won the World Cup over host Brazil. Why does it make the top-five? Uruguay was a good team, make no mistake. They were ranked 18th in the world entering the 1950 World Cup. But Uruguay was also a nation of roughly 2.5 million people and basically received a free pass to the final round: they were originally placed in just a three-team group, and that was trimmed to just two after France withdrew. All they needed to do to reach the final four was beat Bolivia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, which they did handily (8-0). An upset of Sweden (3-2) and a draw with Spain (2-2) in the final round robin set-up a match with host Brazil, who had themselves walloped both the Swedes (7-1) and Spaniards (6-1), for the title.<doc-sep>Soccer Football – World Cup – Round of 16 – Spain vs Russia – Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia – July 1, 2018 Russia players celebrate winning the penalty shootout REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Soccer Football – World Cup – Round of 16 – Spain vs Russia – Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia – July 1, 2018 Russia players celebrate winning the penalty shootout REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY With a spirited home crowd cheering on, Russia made a memorable contribution to the World Cup’s history of upsets. The Russians beat Spain on penalty kicks in the round of 16 on Sunday, eliminating the 2010 champions and overcoming seemingly nonstop possession by the Spaniards. Russia is No. 70 in the FIFA ranking and Spain is No. 10, and the Spanish were considered serious contenders to win the tournament. The FIFA ranking may have underrated Russia because as the host country, it didn’t have to play any qualifiers. Still, this upset was a significant one, especially since it occurred in the knockout phase and put the Russians through to the quarterfinals. Here’s a look back through World Cup history at some of the event’s other famous upsets: SENEGAL’S RUN (2002) France was the defending World Cup and European champion when it was eliminated in the group stage in a dismal showing in 2002. The French never recovered from their 1-0 loss to Senegal in the tournament opener in Seoul. This was a wild World Cup in which South Korea and Turkey both reached the semifinals. The United States made it to the quarterfinals _ and Senegal did as well, beating Sweden 2-1 in the round of 16 on a goal by Henri Camara. GERMANY STUMBLES (1994 and 1998) Arguably the most consistent contender in World Cup history, Germany dropped a pair of quarterfinals against unheralded European challengers. Bulgaria knocked the Germans out 2-1 in 1994 in New Jersey. Four years later in France, the Germans lost 3-0 to Croatia . ARGENTINA’S ROLLER COASTER (1990) Defending champion Argentina rarely looked impressive in Italy in 1990, but Diego Maradona’s team managed a runner-up showing anyway. Cameroon shocked Argentina 1-0 in the opener despite two red cards, but from that point on, the Argentinians kept advancing _ barely _ even when up against seemingly superior opponents. They beat Brazil 1-0 in the round of 16 and edged host Italy in the semifinals on penalties. The Italians hadn’t allowed a goal all tournament before Argentina’s Claudio Caniggia scored in the second half of the semifinal. ALL FOR NAUGHT (1982) Algeria shook up the 1982 World Cup in Spain with a 2-1 victory over West Germany at the start of the initial group stage. The Germans advanced anyway under controversial circumstances. Heading into the group’s final match between West Germany and Austria, a 1-0 win by the Germans would allow both those teams to advance at Algeria’s expense. That’s exactly what happened in a timid match that became known as the “Disgrace of Gijon.” OUT OF NOWHERE (1966) For a brief moment in England in 1966, it appeared North Korea _ yes, North Korea _ might reach the semifinals of the World Cup. The North Koreans had already beaten Italy 1-0 in the group stage. Then they raced out to a 3-0 lead over Portugal in the quarterfinals before eventually falling 5-3. TURNING THE TABLES (1954) The biggest upset in a World Cup final may have been West Germany’s “Miracle of Bern” in 1954. Hungary had run roughshod through this tournament in Switzerland, scoring 25 goals in four matches before the final _ including an 8-3 win over the Germans in group play. Ferenc Puskas and the Hungarians led 2-0 early in the final before West Germany rallied for a 3-2 victory . MARACANAZO (1950) There was no winner-take all final in 1950, only a final group stage, but the climactic match between Brazil and Uruguay decided the title. The host Brazilians had won their previous two games by a combined 13-2 and needed only a draw against Uruguay to win the World Cup. But the visitors rallied in the second half for a 2-1 victory at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. The match is known as the “Maracanazo.” BELO HORIZONTE (1950) Earlier in that 1950 tournament, England endured its own massive upset, losing 1-0 to the U.S. in Belo Horizonte. A goal by Joe Gaetjens in the first half held up until the end. Neither team made it out of that group. The U.S. would not win another World Cup match until 1994.<doc-sep>Bookie’s update No. 3: The World Cup has moved on to the round of 16, and we have one big upset thus far. Host nation Russia stunned title favorite Spain in penalty kicks to advance to the quarterfinals. Spain entered the game installed at -170 to win the game in regulation. Russia was a heavy underdog at +525, while a draw in regulation was +225. If you bet Russia, congrats, and if you bet draw in regulation, congrats as well! Bookie’s update No. 2: Group F has the second huge upset of the World Cup. Two weeks after Mexico knocked off Germany, South Korea sprung an even more unexpected upset of the German squad. South Korea scored in the second minute of final stoppage time to take a 1-0 lead, and added a second goal in the sixth minute of final stoppage time to walk away with a 2-0 victory. South Korea entered the game as much as a +1800 underdog, according to Odds Shark. That means, if you bet $100 on South Korea to beat Germany, you won $1,800. By comparison, Mexico was “only” +600 over Germany. South Korea will not advance thanks to Sweden’s win over Mexico, but they did knock Germany out of the tournament. And they scored the biggest upset of the tournament thus far. Bookie’s update: We have our biggest “unexpected” draw of the World Cup thus far. Switzerland scored an equalizer against Brazil in the 50th minute, and held on to earn a 1-1 draw in their World Cup opener. Brazil was installed at -315 to win, while Switzerland was a +1050 underdog. A draw was going off at +360, which exceeded the odds for Iceland’s draw against Argentina. The 2018 World Cup is off to a crazy start, with four unexpected results — including an Iran win over Morocco, Iceland’s draw against Argentina, and Portugal playing to a draw against Spain — the craziest of which happened on Sunday. Mexico’s goal at the 35 minute mark held up in a wild 1-0 victory over Germany. Of course, as this game and three others showed us, things are always unpredictable in tournament format: Mexico fans should not count their chickens about advancing out of the group stage quite yet. Mexico entered the game as a huge underdog to Germany, with the moneyline at +600 when the match started. That means, if you bet $100 on Mexico to win the game outright, you won $600 (plus your $100 bet). This is the biggest upset of the tournament thus far, but we’ve seen three other upsets from a gambling perspective. Saturday saw Iceland secure a draw against Argentina. Iceland was a big underdog to win, and even just tying was set as high as +385. The craziness got started on Friday, however, when Iran at +320 beat Morocco, and Portugal and Spain played to a draw (+220). Mexico will be favored over their remaining two opponents, but as the first week of the World Cup has shown us, upsets could abound. If you’re betting on World Cup matches the next few weeks, don’t expect the wins to come easy!<doc-sep>Russia defeated Spain in the knockout stage of the World Cup, 4-3, on penalty kicks. Russia's goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev, made an incredible save with his foot on Spain's final kick. It is the biggest upset ever in the knockout stage and the third biggest upset overall in World Cup history. Russia pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when they defeated Spain on PKs. The two sides were still tied, 1-1, after 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of extra time, with Spain scoring on a Russian own goal and Russia converting a penalty after Spain committed a handball in the box. It was the first match of the tournament to go to penalty kicks. After both teams converted their first two PKs, Russia took the lead in the third round when Igor Akinfeev stopped Koke's attempt. In the fifth round, Iago Aspas needed to convert his try to keep Spain alive. Akinfeev made an incredible save, kicking the attempt down the middle away with his boot and sending the host nation on to the quarterfinals. Based on Russia's ranking of 70th in the world, this match was the biggest upset ever in the knockout stage of the World Cup, and the third biggest upset overall. Spain entered the knockout stage as one of the favorites to reach the final as the best team on the weaker side of the bracket. Instead, this side of the bracket is now wide open. More World Cup coverage:<doc-sep>

Just like every other World Cup, this one was no short of surprises as the defending champions Germany were knocked out in the group stage. One of the tournament favorites, Argentina were decimated 0-3 by Luka Modric’s Croatia and they could not manage to proceed beyond the round of 16. Hosts Russia also shocked everyone when they knocked Spain out in the round of 16. ALSO READ: 2018 FIFA World Cup | The Dream XI from quarter-finals Before we proceed to the semi-finals, these are the five biggest upsets from this World Cup, which was full of them. Germany vs South Korea (0-2) This was easily the biggest shock of the World Cup as defending champions Germany were knocked out at the hands of Asian giants South Korea. Germany had lost their first match to Mexico and needed a win to go through to the next round. The score remained 0-0 till the 90th minute and Germany kept on pushing for the winner. To everyone’s surprise, South Korea scored at the other end with a brisk counter-attack as the mighty Germans were sent packing after their first ever defeat against an Asian team. Spain vs Russia (3-4 on penalties) Spain never looked convincing throughout the World Cup. They drew against Portugal and Morocco and barely managed to win against Iran. They topped their group and got a comparatively easy passage through to the finals but they still managed to somehow lose to Russia in the round of 16. Spain took an early lead but Russia bounced back with an equaliser by Artem Dzyuba. The score remained 1-1 till the end of extra-time and Russia won 4-3 on penalties as Iago Aspas and Koke missed their shots. Argentina vs Croatia (0-3) Argentina were one of the favorites to win the World Cup but they criminally underperformed. They drew their opening match 1-1 against Iceland and Leo Messi even missed a penalty. They faced Croatia in their next match in a must win scenario but they were destroyed by a dynamic Croatian side as they lost 0-3. Real Madrid’s Luka Modric was the star for Croatia as they pulled one of the biggest upsets ever at the World Cup. Japan vs Colombia (2-1) Japan were easily the best Asian side in this World Cup and they proved their might by defeating Colombia 2-1 in their opening match. Japan ultimately went down fighting against a very strong Belgium side, but their players went home with their heads held high. Colombia got a red card in the third minute as Carlos Sanchez was sent off for a handball inside the box and Shinji Kagawa converted from the spot. Colombia equalised but Yuya Osako scored the winner for Japan in the 73rd minute as Japan became one of the very few Asian teams to defeat a South American one. Brazil Vs Belgium (1-2) This is considered to be Belgium’s golden generation and they finally proved their might as they knocked Brazil out of the World Cup with a comprehensive 2-1 win. Fernandinho opened the scoring for Belgium with an own goal early in the first half. Kevin De Bryune extended Belgium’s lead with a thunderous strike from outside the box as Belgium went 2-0 up.

**UPDATE** Durham officials confirmed that the victim of Wednesday’s gas leak explosion is 61-year-old Kong Lee, the owner of the Kaffeinate coffee shop. One person has died in an explosion that shook downtown Durham on Wednesday morning. Emergency crews are on the scene on North Duke Street attempting to put out the fire that has started in the building. Durham Police said in a media briefing that a contractor was digging and hit a pipe, which caused a gas leak explosion. I climbed to the top of our parking garage to get this footage of a reported gas leak in Durham @WRAL pic.twitter.com/0whWsfU4s1 — Christian Leonard (@ChristianLnrd) April 10, 2019 One firefighter was also injured and 15 people have been taken to the hospital. Buildings around the area have been evacuated. UNC Medical Center tweeted that they had received one patient from the explosion and were on standby to possibly receive additional victims. People quickly responded to the explosion on social media, saying they could feel the shock from blocks away. Several store windows in the local area were also blown out. Durham Public Schools announced on Twitter that students and staff were safe in place at Durham School of the Arts and that early dismissal was in process. The coffee shop Kaffeinate, which is located on Duke Street, posted on Instagram that they would be closed for the rest of the day Wednesday. Photos and videos from the scene of the explosion indicate that Kaffeinate was among the businesses caught in the explosion. A spokesperson from the Town of Chapel Hill confirmed that the town sent fire trucks to Durham for normal mutual aid as Durham emergency crews deal with the explosion. Officials are asking everyone to avoid the area. Latest update from @DurhamPoliceNC & @durhamcityfire regarding today’s explosion & fire near @BrightleafSq. Please continue to avoid this area while our first responders work this scene. pic.twitter.com/xZARkQ0fUO — CityofDurhamNC (@CityofDurhamNC) April 10, 2019 I’m closely monitoring the dangerous fire and explosion reported in Durham. My heart is with the first responders and entire Durham community as we await more details. — David E. Price (@RepDavidEPrice) April 10, 2019 My heart is with Durham today. #onecommunity — Lydia Lavelle (@lydialavelle) April 10, 2019 This post will be updated with more information as it becomes available. Featured image via Alert Durham<doc-sep>— A sign read “We will miss you,” and the message was felt by those who attended a customer organized vigil to honor the Durham coffee shop owner killed in a downtown explosion. “It’s really hard to describe. When it was happening, we did smell gas and we did evacuate, but the last thing on our mind was that it was going to explode,” Rich Bond said. It’s been almost a week since a gas leak caused an explosion that shook Durham. Some, like Bond, made it out in time. One man, Kong Lee, did not. Lee, 61, was the only person killed in the explosion that injured more than a dozen others. Family members said he was preparing to close the shop because of the gas leak when the explosion occurred. On Tuesday night, the community remembered Lee as a father, friend and owner of Kaffienate, the community’s beloved coffee shop. “We were all part of the same building. He was a very good guy and he cared about his beautiful business. He cared about his community and that’s really probably why he was in the building to begin with, because he cared about all that,” Bond said. For others at the vigil, Lee was their first introduction to Durham. Lee was one of the first people Tai Renwei Chung met when he moved to the Bull City. “I lost my father five years ago and, instantly, he felt like a father figure to me,” Chung said. The void Lee left behind could be felt among the candlelight along Morgan Street Tuesday night. “In times of a lot of change, he was a constant, so to see something that was such a pillar of the community go down, I think it just feels so real and raw still trying to deal with it,” Bond said. The Lee family said they’re grieving in private, but community members want them to know they are loved and supported. In a social media post last week, Lee's family said that Kaffienate will remain closed indefinitely.<doc-sep>A massive explosion in Durham, North Carolina, on Wednesday turned the popular coffee shop Kaffeinate into rubble while killing its owner, 61-year-old Kong Lee. Lee was the only person killed following the explosion, which was caused by a gas leak. The fire injured at least 25 people, including nine firefighters, two of whom remain in critical condition, the Durham Fire Department said yesterday. According to a report from The News & Observer, firefighters were called to the scene of the reported leak at 9:38 a.m. At 10:04 a.m., firefighters entered the coffee shop, ordering approximately 10 staff members and customers to evacuate. One minute later, at 10:05 a.m., the shop’s Facebook page issued the following post, which is believed to have been written by Lee just before his death: “Due to circumstances beyond our control- we are CLOSED today. We will keep you updated on tomorrow. Thanks for understanding!” The explosion occurred two minutes after that post, at 10:07 p.m. “The last we heard from our dad, he called us to tell us there was a gas leak outside and to let our staff and customers know we would be closed for the day,” Lee’s children, Diana and Raymond, wrote on the company’s Facebook page this morning. “He was going to close up and make a sign to put on our door in case anybody came by later. He took such good care of the shop and was so proud of it.” Durham Fire Chief Robert Zoldos told the News & Observer that firefighters were on their way back to Kaffeinate to evacuate Lee as the explosion occurred. One witness reported seeing Lee flipping the “open” sign to “closed” at the moment of the explosion. Since the tragedy, the Lee family has received an outpouring of support from the Durham community, where Lee reportedly has run several small businesses over the years. The Korean-born Lee owned a dry cleaning shop and a mortgage business before opening Kaffeinate, a no-frills coffee and waffles cafe near Durham’s city center, Duke’s East Campus, and the Durham School of the Arts. Diana and Raymond said their father always wanted to open a cafe, in order to serve people and help build a stronger local community. “This is our dad. He had the biggest, purest heart out of anyone we know. He always wanted a cafe because he loved to serve people, and we were finally able to build him one,” they wrote. “He loved being able to bring people something that would make them smile. The family we created at Kaffeinate made him so happy. We watched your smiles give him strength and joy. Thank you. Above all, he valued family, and he did everything to give us the best life he could. That means he often worked 12-13 hour days doing jobs no one else wanted to do. He never complained because he never wanted us to worry. That was our dad.” A friend of Diana Lee has set up a Go Fund Me page for the Lee family.<doc-sep>EMBED >More News Videos 15 buildings damaged in Durham gas explosion Wednesday DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- The gas explosion in downtown Durham did more than break windows, topple buildings and damage Porsches -- it damaged lives.Kong Lee, the owner of Kaffeinate coffee shop, died in the explosion, leaving his family, friends and patrons at a loss. "He's real friendly, real nice. He's always happy. You could see him. He was just always smiling. He always greeted everybody. He was a real nice guy," Kaffeinate patron Crystal Abauta told ABC11.She was one of the people in the area who evacuated when she smelled gas Wednesday. She got away just before the blast. "It sounded like a bomb exploding, really. That's what it pretty much sounded like. It was just really loud. It shook and vibrated everything," Abauta said.Lee was inside his coffee shop when the blast happenedDurham firefighters were dispatched to the area for a gas leak around 9:38 a.m. When they arrived, they called for backup and began evacuating the area. "Eight to 10 people were in the coffee shop and without the incredible work of our firefighters to get them out immediately, they would have also perished inside the building," Durham Fire Chief Robert Zoldos said.The building exploded at 10:07 a.m. with Lee still inside.Zoldos said Lee was previously evacuated but decided to go back inside. Firefighters had just asked a police officer to come enforce the evacuation order at the coffee shop to get Lee to leave when the building exploded. "I saw him put the sign--he was putting a sign in the window, and It said 'closed due to gas leak,'" Abauta said. "That's what I'm thinking: He was just going to put the sign and just go, but before he could get out it happened. "Tim Scales, a loyal Kaffeinate customer, says he's heartbroken. He was just two blocks away at work during Wednesday's gas explosion. "As soon as we heard that there was a fatality my heart just sank," Scales said. "It just felt almost certain that it would be him. He was just such a fixture of that place that I associated that coffee shop with him. "So in tribute, Scales posted an image on Facebook that Lee snapped last summer of him and his son Emerson at Kaffeinate. Lee offered to capture the special moment as a keepsake. "I just thought that was just such a sweet gesture and as soon as I learned the news I went straight back to that photo and it was a very touching memory of him and the kindness that he brought into the world," he said.Molly Gehirng lived across the street from Kaffeinate in West Village and tells ABC11 she visited the shop frequently when she worked from home. "He was just the most welcoming presence," Gehirng said.On top of the loss of Kong, the explosion displaced Gehirng from her apartment. "Minor inconvenience," she said. "My heart really goes out to the Lee family. The community is here for them when they are ready for help."<doc-sep>

× Expand Photo via GoFundMe The family of Kong Lee, center, the owner of a Durham coffee shop killed in an explosion on April 10. The children of a coffee shop owner killed in an explosion this week in Durham are remembering Kong Lee as the “best dad we could have ever asked for.” Diana and Raymond Lee posted on Instagram last night that Kaffeinate coffee shop, which had occupied the first floor of the now-destroyed building at 115 North Duke Street, was closing indefinitely. In the post, they thanked first responders who responded to a gas leak and explosion at the shop Wednesday morning, and customers who had supported the family business. “The family we created at Kaffeinate made him so happy,” they wrote. “We watched your smiles give him strength and joy. Thank you. Above all, he valued family, and he did everything to give us the best life he could. That means he often worked 12-13 hour days doing jobs no one else wanted to do. He never complained because he never wanted us to worry. That was our dad.” In addition to losing a man with the “biggest, purest heart out of anyone we know,” the family lost their sole source of income. Kaffeinate baristas are in need of work, they wrote. “Kaffeinate is closed indefinitely. It always was and always will be for our dad,” they wrote. “We've been discussing it and hope one day to be able to rebuild and reopen and bring his memory back to life.” Firefighters were called to North Duke Street at about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday in response to a gas leak and immediately began evacuating Kaffeinate. Fire Chief Robert Zoldos said earlier this week that eight to ten people who “would have also perished inside the building” were evacuated prior to the blast. Firefighters instructed Lee – last seen in the doorway of the business - to leave as well, but he didn’t immediately heed to order and moments later the building collapsed. What sparked the explosion – which injured at least twenty-five people and damaged at least fifteen buildings - is still under investigation, though city officials have said a contractor installing fiber cables struck an underground gas line. “The last we heard from our dad, he called us to tell us there was a gas leak outside and to let our staff and customers know we would be closed for the day,” the Lees wrote. “He was going to close up and make a sign to put on our door in case anybody came by later.” The family asked anyone with memories of Lee to share them on Kaffeinate’s Instagram. The shared an online fundraiser to support the family. In addition to 115 North Duke Street, 806 West Main Street - home to St. James Seafood - has been condemned, Zoldos said Thursday. Torreros, the former Triangle Brewing and a Duke office at 710 West Main Street do not have occupancy permits. Other fundraising sites have been set up to help families, businesses, and restaurant workers impacted by the explosion. A celebration of the 150th anniversary of Durham’s founding will take place as planned on Saturday, but “will serve as a way for the community to be with one another in solidarity and commend the heroic actions of first responders,” according to Discover Durham.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Sidney Crosby now has one more reason to have good memories of the Shark Tank. Crosby had two goals and three assists to win the All-Star MVP, and Henrik Lundqvist pitched a first-half shutout to lead the Metropolitan Division to a 10-5 victory over the Central Division in the championship round of the NHL All-Star Game on Saturday night. Crosby finished the night with four goals and four assists in two games on the same ice where he won the Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup three years ago for Pittsburgh. "I have some great memories here for sure,'' he said. "It's always been a tough place to play. Obviously, when you win in a rink and have those memories, it's something you think about every time you go there. Being in that dressing room, it's automatic to bring you back to some of those moments.'' The memories aren't nearly as sweet for the Sharks fans, who booed Crosby when he won the award, joining Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, Joe Sakic and Jean Beliveau as the only players to win the Conn Smythe, the Hart Trophy and All-Star MVP. "It's cool,'' Crosby said. "You play, and you watch as a kid growing up, and you see that presentation, so it's pretty cool. I had a lot of fun today.'' Lundqvist stopped 11 of 13 shots in his two games to give the Metropolitan Division its second title in four years of the 3-on-3 All-Star format and the $1 million prize shared by the winners of the four-team divisional tournament. Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders added two goals and three assists in the final game. Mikko Rantanen had two goals, and Colorado teammate Gabriel Landeskog added one for the Central. Landeskog finished with four goals and three assists, while Rantanen had four goals and two assists. "There's more pace, obviously, when it's the final and there's a million dollars on the line. A lot of guys were going a little bit harder, but it's good for the fans,'' Rantanen said. "Just too bad that we were not that ready to play.'' Crosby assisted on Barzal's goal against Devan Dubnyk just 22 seconds into the championship game and then made it 5-0 in the closing seconds of the first half off a pass from Barzal. Crosby also assisted on Pittsburgh teammate Kris Letang's goal in the first half and then helped seal the game with a goal in the second half that made it 6-2. Sidney Crosby finished the night with four goals and four assists -- including two goals and three assists in the championship round -- to lead the Metropolitan Division to victory in the NHL All-Star Game. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Lundqvist made big saves against Landeskog and Claude Giroux in the period one night after winning the save streak competition in the skills challenge. "It was good defense, good structure,'' Lundqvist said. "That helps, especially 3-on-3. Honestly, I thought we had pretty good structure, so much skill up front, so many goals. You don't get surprised; you get impressed.'' The first time the All-Star Game came to San Jose in 1997, hometown favorite Owen Nolan capped the night by calling his shot and pointing to the spot where he completed a hat trick that delighted the Shark Tank. Sharks fans didn't have as much to cheer for in the return, even though their three All-Stars started the night on the ice together for the Pacific. The Central blitzed the Pacific early for its first win in four years in this format, scoring seven goals on nine shots against John Gibson in the first half of the period in a 10-4 victory. Gibson, who plays for the rival Anaheim Ducks, drew derisive chants from the fans who later called for Vegas' Marc-Andre Fleury to take over. "Anytime you play it's a rivalry, and the fans take it personally. That's what makes it fun,'' Gibson said. "You're still at [the] All-Star Game and you're out there with some of the best players in the league. Stuff's going to happen.'' Landeskog had a hat trick and an assist, and Roman Josi had three assists and a goal for the Central. Pekka Rinne and Dubnyk combined to stop 23 of 27 shots, with Dubnyk providing one of the biggest highlights with a glove save that robbed Connor McDavid on a breakaway. The Metropolitan Division won the second semifinal 7-4 thanks to a tiebreaking goal by Letang with 3:38 to play. Sebastian Aho added an insurance goal seconds after Braden Holtby stopped John Tavares in close.<doc-sep>When you talk Sidney Crosby you talk a three time Stanley Cup champion, a two time Olympic gold medalist, a World Cup of Hockey champion and MVP, a multiple Conn Smythe, Hart and Art Ross winner. And now you can add the 2019 NHL All Star game MVP to the list as well. Crosby scored four goals and four assists in the two games of the 2019 NHL ASG to lead the Metropolitan Division team to two wins and the $1 million dollar championship. It came just one day after Crosby had to bow out of the skills competition with illness. Defenseman Kris Letang put up two goals and three assists in the two 3-on-3 All-Star games as well. It was a sterling day for the boys from Pittsburgh. The players who have won the Conn Smythe, Hart Trophy and NHL All Star MVP are Bobby Orr, Joe Sakic, Mario Lemieux and now Sid. Quite the list of all time greats right there and just another feather in the cap of the greatest active player right now. For Sidney Crosby, it’s all about celebrating the game. pic.twitter.com/3rM4zuG1Ss — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 27, 2019 The best goal was probably Kris Letang passing one over for Crosby to chip in from point blank range. It's almost like these two have played together before.#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/v9jYhj7YmN — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 27, 2019 The All Star game is always fun and just a bunch of the best players just having a good time and showing off their skill. And on this night, no one showed out more than Letang and Crosby just doing their thing and being great at hockey. The Penguins are back at it on Monday night at home against New Jersey. The stretch run is about to begin.<doc-sep>CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device SAN JOSE — Sidney Crosby will never be considered a fan favorite inside the walls of SAP Center, not after he hoisted the Stanley Cup on the arena’s ice surface less than three years ago when the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Sharks in six games for hockey’s holy grail. Saturday, he was given another award in front of thousands of fans in teal, a new car, as he was named the NHL All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player for leading the Metropolitan Division All-Stars to the 3-on-3 tournament title. After recording two goals and an assist for the Metropolitan Division in its 7-4 win over the Atlantic Division in one semifinal, Crosby added two goals and three assists in the final, a 10-5 win over the Central Division. It’s the second time in three years the Metropolitan Division won the tournament, as they won a $1 million prize for the victory. For complete Sharks coverage follow us on Flipboard. Crosby sat out Friday’s skills competition due to illness, and local fans noticed. He was one of a handful of players Saturday — including Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson and Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares — that were soundly booed by the capacity crowd of 17,562. “I heard a few boos, but they’re great fans,” Crosby said on the ice right after the game. “It was a lot of fun today.” After he picked up the MVP award at one end of the ice, in nearly the same location in 2016 when he grabbed the Stanley Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Crosby again heard boos along with a smattering of applause. Crosby is the sixth NHL player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, Hart Trophy and All-Star MVP, joining Joe Sakic, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr and Jean Beliveau. “I have some great memories here, for sure,” Crosby said. “When you win in a rink, it’s something you think about every time you go to it. That was the same when I played here a week and a half ago and again today.” Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation. Still, if anyone was looking for a signature moment from the game, like Owen Nolan’s in 1997, they might have been left wanting, especially since the local players were bounced from the tournament early on. The Pacific Division’s stay in the 3-on-3 tournament was a short one. In the first semifinal, the Central Division built up a six-goal lead in the first of the two 10-minute halves and cruised to a 10-4 win over the Pacific team, which included Sharks players Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson, in the first semifinal game. Karlsson scored twice and Burns scored once for the Pacific team, which was down 7-1 after 10 minutes, as the Central team, and the capacity crowd, showed no mercy on Gibson. Pavelski added two assists. “It’s just a celebration,” Pavelski said. “A lot of great players coming together in a game. It’s fun playing in the city you play for. Every time our names got announced when we stepped on the ice, you hear the little extra roars. It was pretty cool to be a part of.” Gibson was booed often by the partisan Sharks crowd, as he allowed seven goals on nine shots, with Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen and Chicago’s Patrick Kane both scoring twice. The Avalanche’s Gabriel Landeskog added three goals and one assist. “I think any time you play a rival and their fans, obviously they don’t love you,” Gibson said afterward. “So, it is what it is. I think it’s just California teams. Us, San Jose, L.A., anytime you play it’s a rivalry and the fans take it personally, so I think that’s what makes it fun.” Tavares, who elected to sign a seven-year contract with the Maple Leafs last summer, instead of the Sharks, also heard it from the crowd. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but it’s obviously a very proud fanbase,” Tavares said. “They love their Sharks. I wasn’t the only one, so I guess it wasn’t too lonely.” It was the first time since the NHL introduced the 3-on-3 tournament format for the All-Star Game in 2016 that the Central Division team had beaten the Pacific team. The Pacific Division team had been 3-0 in semifinal games, winning the tournament in 2016 and 2018. Related Articles San Jose Sharks reach last-minute settlement over Google’s downtown development NHL Draft Lottery: San Jose Sharks now know their chances of winning San Jose Sharks final grades: Too many key players fell short of expectations Items from Patrick Marleau’s historic night to be on display Bob Boughner believes associate coach will be an NHL bench boss soon Minnesota’s Devan Dubnyk and Nashville’s Pekka Rinne combined to make 23 saves against the Pacific team. In the 1997 NHL All-Star Game in San Jose, then-Sharks forward Nolan called his shot for the Western Conference All-Stars and scored on Eastern Conference goalie Dominik Hasek, high glove side, Nolan, who played eight seasons with the Sharks and remains one of the team’s most beloved alumni, was given a warm ovation by those in attendance when he was shown on the JumboTron early in the first semifinal game. Evgeni Nabokov, the winningest goalie in Sharks history and himself a two-time all-star, was given the same treatment when he was shown.<doc-sep>Tony Avelar/Associated Press The Metropolitan team earned an All-Star tournament victory on Saturday at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, as it defeated the Atlantic side 7-4 and then the Central Division 10-5 in the four-team competition. The Central Division crushed the Pacific team 10-4 in the semifinals to set up the championship matchup. Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, who sat out the All-Star Skills Competition with an illness on Friday, looked perfectly healthy on Saturday. He had four goals and four assists for the tournament, with this score occurring just 15 seconds into the semifinal: Crosby saved his best for the final, however, as he had one goal and two assists in the first period to catapult the Metropolitan team to a 5-0 intermission advantage. He added another goal and assist in the second en route to his All-Star Game MVP, which is the first of his decorated 14-year career. He and his team will split $1 million for the tournament win. The 31-year-old was naturally booed by the San Jose crowd during introductions, as Crosby and the Pens beat the hometown Sharks in the 2015-16 Stanley Cup. He did make at least one friend before the game though: The moment of the night occurred when the NHL announced that it was donating $25,000 each to the "charities or hockey programs of choice" for Canadian women's hockey stars Rebecca Johnston and Renata Fast and United States women's hockey stars Brianna Decker and Kendall Coyne Schofield. Video Play Button Videos you might like The quartet participated during the NHL All-Star Skills Challenge. Coyne Schofield competed and finished seventh in the "Fastest Skater" event, while Johnston, Decker and Fast demonstrated in puck control, premier passer and accuracy shooting, respectively. Although Decker didn't officially take part in her contest, an unofficial time clocked her at 1:12 or 1:13, per Sportsnet hockey reporter Elliotte Friedman, which would have netted her second. The Atlantic vs. Metropolitan semifinal matchup was the game of the night. The matchup was tied at four with 3:37 remaining in the second period, but three straight Metropolitan goals put the game away. The goal of the evening occurred in this contest, with Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos performing some on-ice sorcery for one of the filthier goals of the year: Here's another look in slow motion: The Central vs. Pacific matchup was characterized by a remarkable stat: Central only took 18 shots on goal but scored 55.5 percent of the time. Pacific had four goals on 31 shots on net. The Central team scored five goals in a 3:03 span in the first period to take a 7-1 lead. Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog had three goals during the game, including this one from the top shelf: Despite the high scoring, the play of the night came via a goalie, Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators (unintentionally): Rinne didn't receive an assist for his efforts on the scoresheet, although he deserved one. Next year's All-Star tournament will take place on Sunday, January 26, 2020 in St. Louis. Where to Watch: NHL broadcasts are available through fuboTV.<doc-sep>

Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Sidney Crosby had two goals and three assists, and Henrik Lundqvist pitched a first-half shutout to lead the Metropolitan Division to a 10-5 victory over the Central Division in the championship round of the NHL All-Star game Saturday night. Selected the MVP, Crosby finished the night with four goals and four assists in two games on the same ice where he won the Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup three years ago for Pittsburgh. Lundqvist stopped 11 of 13 shots in his two games to give the Metropolitan Division its second title in four years of the three-on-three All-Star format and the $1 million prize shared by the winners of the four-team divisional tournament. Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders added two goals and three assists in the final game. Mikko Rantanen had two goals and Colorado teammate Gabriel Landeskog added one for the Central. Landeskog finished with four goals and three assists, while Rantanen had four goals and two assists. Crosby assisted on Barzal’s goal against Devan Dubnyk just 22 seconds into the championship game and then made it 5-0 in the closing seconds of the first half off a pass from Barzal. Crosby also assisted on Pittsburgh teammate Kris Letang’s goal in the first half and then helped seal the game with a goal in the second half that made it 6-2. Lundqvist made big saves against Landeskog and Claude Giroux in the period one night after winning the save streak competition in the skills challenge. The first time the All-Star game came to San Jose in 1997, hometown favorite Owen Nolan capped the night by calling his shot and pointing to the spot where he completed a hat trick that delighted the Shark Tank. Sharks fans didn’t have as much to cheer for in the return, even though their three All-Stars started the night on the ice together for the Pacific. The Central blitzed the Pacific early for its first win in four years in this format, scoring seven goals on nine shots against John Gibson in the first half of the period in a 10-4 victory. Gibson, who plays for the rival Anaheim Ducks, drew derisive chants from the fans who later called for Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury to take over. “Anytime you play it’s a rivalry and the fans take it personally. That’s what makes it fun,” Gibson said. “You’re still at All-Star game and you’re out there with some of the best players in the league. Stuff’s going to happen.” Minutes played for the Metropolitan: 30 Points scored for Crosby and Letang: 10 NBD. pic.twitter.com/DPVXBpJkt9 — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 27, 2019 Landeskog had a hat trick and an assist and Roman Josi had three assists and a goal for the Central. Pekka Rinne and Dubnyk combined to stop 23 of 27 shots with Dubnyk providing one of the biggest highlights with a glove save that robbed Connor McDavid on a breakaway. The Metropolitan Division won the second semifinal 7-4 thanks to a tiebreaking goal by Letang with 3:38 to play. Sebastian Aho added an insurance goal seconds after Braden Holtby stopped John Tavares in close. To the sound of boos in San Jose… Your 2019 #NHLAllStar MVP is… SIDNEY CROSBY! pic.twitter.com/LPo7Wm1tm3 — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 27, 2019 NOTES: The NHL honored four women’s hockey players who participated in All-Star weekend, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Brianna Decker of the United States, and Rebecca Johnston and Renata Fast of Canada. The four women got a standing ovation and a $25,000 donation in their name to a hockey charity of their choice. Coyne Schofield was the first woman to compete in the skills competition on Friday night, finishing seventh in the fastest skater competition. (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)