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Kalank actor Varun Dhawan heads off to Thailand for his birthday celebrations. His birthday is on April 24, 2019. Bollywood actor has been in the news currently with the release of his latest film Kalank. Varun plays the role of Zafar in this multi starrer movie which also stars Aditya Roy Kapur, , , and Sanjay Dutt in the lead roles. The film which has been produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, and Fox Star Studios, has been released on April 17, 2019. The movie happens to be the widest release in Bollywood so far in the year 2019. Recently, Varun Dhawan has been snapped by the paparazzi a few hours back as he heads off to Thailand prior to his upcoming birthday which happens to be on April 24, 2019. The actor looked dapper as he wore a multi coloured white vest teamed up with a yellow jacket and a pair of dark blue joggers. Varun completed his look by wearing a pair of casual shoes including a pair of spectacles and a black cap. Check out Varun's latest pictures below: On the work front, Varun will be next seen in the upcoming movie Street Dancer opposite actress . The movie has been produced by Bhushan Kumar and directed by Remo D'Souza. This much speculated movie of Varun Dhawan is going to be released on November 8, 2019. The film also stars Nora Fatehi, Shakti Mohan, Prabhu Deva, Aparshakti Khurana and many others in significant roles. (ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Varun Dhawan has exciting plans for his birthday this week; read details) Credits :Pinkvilla Read More<doc-sep>Kalank had better collections on Sunday when compared to the days before and in the process brought in Rs. 11.63 crores. In a way the mid-week release has helped the film because had the Abhishek Varman directed affair released on a regular Friday, this would have been the fifth day already and this kind of moolah wouldn't have come in. Of course, there were expectations of a much higher ground been covered, considering the fact the first day numbers were Rs. 21.60 crores. Nonetheless, the Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt starrer currently stands at Rs. 66.03 crores and all eyes are on how the film sustains during the weekdays. There are four more days for the film to earn moolah without any competition as Avengers: Endgame arrives on Friday and that would fetch quite some audience attention.<doc-sep>Kalank actor Varun Dhawan feels secure because he has people to fall back upon. (Photo: Varun Dhawan/ Instagram) Kalank actor Varun Dhawan feels secure because he has people to fall back upon. (Photo: Varun Dhawan/ Instagram) Varun Dhawan has deftly balanced his career between commercial and small scale projects, but the actor says a mega-budget multi-starrer like Kalank comes with a lot of pressure. His last two releases — October and Sui Dhaaga — had small budgets but a lot is on stake with Kalank, which he says is his most expensive film till date. “My last two films had really small budgets and the reach was bigger… There was no pressure of them doing well that much in monetary terms. In this film there is commercial pressure. This is a film for which I had prepared a lot … So I am more on the edge,” Varun told PTI in an interview. “A lot of eyeballs are there on this film because it is an ensemble and all this attention is making me anxious. Everyone is going to watch and and all I wanted to do is be good in it. Fear of failure makes me anxious.” Besides Varun, the Abhishek Varman-directed movie features Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit Nene and Kunal Kemmu. The actor said he believes in preparing a lot before taking on a role but this time Varman guided his performance. “For me, preparation is very important. But with this, Abhishek didn’t let me prepare too much. He doesn’t like that. I am playing a blacksmith in the film… So I knew I had to work on my body… But when I came on the set, he asked me to get the look in my eyes which shows I am in 1940s. He is a very fine director,” Varun said. Every film, Varun said, is like a baby and as an actor one feels responsible for its well-being but there is life beyond the box office. The actor said he feels secure because he has people to fall back upon. “Me being secure comes from my personal life. They give me the security and the confidence. I know if someday things do not work the way I want them to, they are going to have my back. “Initially, in my career, my priorities were my films but as you grow old, things change. But then, sometimes when my film is coming it becomes my priority. I take it as my responsibility to take my film to the finishing line. It is like a child, whom you are teaching to walk. You can’t leave it midway. It will fall.<doc-sep>	Kalank starring Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit released on Wednesday last week. Here’s how much the movie made over the extended weekend. One of the highly anticipated films of 2019, Kalank starring , , , Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanjay Dutt, and Kunal Kemmu released on Wednesday last week instead of Friday. The reason behind that was to take advantage of the extended weekend of Good Friday, Mahavir Jayanti and Easter. Amidst the hype and the aggressive promotions, the film was off to a massive start on Wednesday. Many people flocked to the theatres with their families and friends to watch Kalank. Many fans of ‘Varia’ aka Varun and Alia went they wanted to watch them on-screen again. However, the film received a mix response and post the first day, the business saw a drop of about 50% on day 2 itself. Over the weekend, Kalank’s box office collections were expected to grow, however that didn’t quite happen. Kalank has been doing fairly well in metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi and more. However, on Saturday there was a decline in the box office collections of the Varun and Alia starrer. On Sunday, the Varun Alia starrer picked up the pace and earned around Rs 11 crores at the box office. Coming to the box office collection for the weekend including Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt starrer has managed to earn Rs 31 crores in three days of the weekend. On the other hand, the overall five-day business in terms of the box office collection of Kalank till date is Rs 62.50 crores. The film might see a decline in the box office collection on Monday due to the week start. Also, one of the most highly anticipated Hollywood films, Avengers: Endgame is all set to release in theatres on April 26 and the advance booking has shattered all previous records. It will be interesting to see how Avengers: Endgame affects Kalank’s collections at the box office. Credits :Box Office India Read More
When “Papillon” initially landed in theaters in late 1973, expectations were inescapable. Based on the sensational, bestselling 1969 autobiography by Henri Charriere, the French convict who would successfully break out of Devil’s Island, the ambitious production co-starred Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, then ranked No. 8 and No. 9, respectively, on the annual Quigley Poll of Top Ten Money Making Stars. It also had a bankable director in Franklin J. Schaffner, who had previously delivered the crowd-pleasing goods with “Patton” and “Planet of the Apes.” That degree of marquee value is worth bearing in mind with this week’s arrival of a brand new “Papillon” that manages to be both meaner and leaner (by about 14 minutes), while drawing sturdy performances from leads Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek, two actors who had their breakthroughs on a pair of TV series, “Sons of Anarchy” and “Mr. Robot,” respectively. Advertisement But while it might have been assumed that Danish filmmaker Michael Noer, unencumbered by all that big studio baggage, would be freer to put his own stamp on the material, the end result feels routinely anonymous. Incorporating the original’s screenplay from Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple Jr. as well as a pair of Charriere memoirs as its blueprint, the new script by Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”) adds a pointless prologue set in Paris circa 1931 that portrays the glamorous, high-rolling life of safecracker Henri “Papillon” Charriere (Hunnam). Tracing the events leading to Charriere being framed for murder and handed a life sentence, the sequence ultimately serves to introduce a female character into this otherwise all-male mix, in the form of Charriere’s girlfriend Nenette (Eve Hewson). As with the 1973 version, the story really begins on a barge carrying prisoners to the brutal penal colony where Charriere meets timid currency forger Louis Dega (Malek) and the two form a bond predicated on a business proposition: Charrier will offer the vulnerable Dega protection in return for him bankrolling an escape plan with his hidden stash of funds. Turns out both the funds and protection will come in awfully handy at the notorious Camp de la Transportation presided over by sadistic warden Barrot (an effectively steely Yorick van Wageningen). Noer, who first attracted attention with his 2010 prison drama, “R,” choreographs the various beatings and beheadings with a fierce efficiency. What’s missing is a more personal directorial imprint. The original film aside, many of the incarceration scenes echo those in Martin Scorsese’s “Silence,” while an escape aboard a leaky boat brings to mind one aboard an inflatable raft in Angelina Jolie’s “Unbroken” and a fight sequence in an outdoor shower can’t help but invite comparisons to that naked Viggo Mortensen Russian bathhouse scene in David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises.” The actors prove more successful at making the characters their own, with Hunnam, though lacking the sort of casual swagger that rightfully earned McQueen his “King of Cool” status, possessing sufficient Chris Hemsworth-type tough guy likability to keep his ordeal involving. Advertisement Malek, who’ll get a chance to show his impressive range as the decidedly more extroverted Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the upcoming “Bohemian Rhapsody,” conceals an intense take-no-prisoners survival instinct beneath Dega’s meek demeanor while affectionately throwing in the occasional inflection that is pure Hoffman. But by the time the film reaches its new 1969 coda, during which Hunnam — and a lot of unconvincing old age makeup — attempts to get his life story published, those extra details end up adding little of value. Despite the efforts to give “Papillon” a broader wingspan, it seldom engagingly takes flight. ------------- Advertisement ‘Papillon’ Rated: R, for violence including bloody images, language, nudity and some sexual material Running time: 2 hours, 16 minutes Playing: In general release<doc-sep>Basically, what we’ve got in “Papillon” is a guy who looks a lot like Steve McQueen hanging out with a guy who looks a lot like Dustin Hoffman, in between getting beaten, thrown into solitary confinement and tortured. This is a remake of the original 1973 “Papillon,” starring McQueen and Hoffman — and the thing to wonder is, did the old one feel like the new one does? You know, like you’re in prison, too, and you can’t get out, either? Perhaps the novelty and topicality of the original film made it easier to take or just more interesting the first time around. Both “Papillon” screen adaptations are based on the memoirs of Henri “Papillon” Charriere, which were published in 1970 and which detailed the cruelty of the French penal system in the first decades of the 20th century. Charriere, innocent of the crime for which he was convicted, was given a life sentence in 1933 and subjected to punishments that should have killed him. That he not only survived but thrived is close to a miracle and a testimony to human will and the desire to be free. It’s easy enough to think of the story in this way, and appreciate it for its humane values, and even imagine how it might be interesting to spend an hour or so flipping through Charriere’s book. What’s harder, much harder, is to be willing to share in the vicarious experience of that confinement for more than two hours of screen time, especially when you can pretty much guess how it’s all going to end, and that it’s really just a matter of when. Papillon Drama. Starring Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek. Directed by Michael Noer. (R. 133 minutes.) See More Collapse One problem of “Papillon” might have been a conscious strategy: It makes us see and appreciate all that he’s missing out on. What makes this as much a problem as a virtue is that everything he’s missing we’re missing, too. It’s as if Papillon (Charlie Hunnam) wants to get back to his old life, just as we want to go back to the movie about his old life. That life is active and vivid, full of people, commotion and entertainment. It’s Paris, 1931, and Papillon is a smooth wise guy making the scene. He’s a crook, working for a ruthless gangster (Christopher Fairbank, in a chilling one-scene performance) and skimming off the top. He also has a great girlfriend (Eve Hewson), who makes smart suggestions, like he should quit the rackets immediately and move to the country. But Papillon thinks he’s going to be making a killing over the next few months. The police think so, too, but in a different way: They arrest him for murder, in a gangland frame-up, and he’s convicted and sent to prison at hard labor in French Guyana. There he meets Dega, an odd little guy played by Rami Malek, who has one of the two things needed to survive prison: money. Papillon has the other: muscle. The two forge a partnership based, at first, on mutual self-interest and later on genuine friendship. That describes perhaps the first 20 minutes of “Papillon.” The rest you can guess: Just think of everything that can happen in a prison — as in, lots of incident, but ultimately, it’s still prison. The one overarching and mildly interesting thing — this, too, is revealed in the first 20 minutes — is that Papillon never for one minute entertains the idea of working through the system, of appealing his case, of relying on the courts. Perhaps because he’s a crook, he has an informed appreciation of what he’s up against: No matter the odds, he has to escape. There’s no other option. Hunnam makes a strong impression as a tough guy in the title role, but there’s something about either him or the filmmaking or the subject matter that allows viewers to resist making his problems our problems. We want him to get out, not because his incarceration is a desperate injustice, even though it is. We want him to get out because solitary confinement is boring. And as for solitary confinement in the dark — that happens, too — well, that isn’t any better. Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicle’s film critic. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @MickLaSalle<doc-sep>Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy<doc-sep>	There’s no escaping 1973’s “Papillon,” even during the most dire moments of director Michael Noer’s ambitious remake, which stars Charlie Hunnam (“Sons of Anarchy”) and Rami Malek (“Mr. Robot) and does its damnedest to separate itself from the original. Yes, it reimagines the story of the French convict, memoirist and inveterate flight risk Henri Charrière in brutal, gritty, naturalistic fashion. But despite its virtues—and there are several—what it does best is illuminate our relationship with movie stars. Steve McQueen, the original Papillon (as Charrière was known, thanks to his butterfly tattoo), was among the last of a species cultivated by classic Hollywood, an icon of cool and a performer who enjoyed an ineffable on-screen charisma that translated into an intimacy with his audience—they were all in on this joke called movies. Cary Grant was the same. George Clooney, too. McQueen was the furthest thing from a Method actor. In fact, he wasn’t even considered a great performer—his efforts to attain gravity as he got older, with such projects as “An Enemy of the People,” were gently dismissed. (McQueen died at age 50, in 1980.) But his particular kind of stardom made it possible to actually enjoy something like “Papillon,” with its bleakness and violence, its constant reversals of fortune, and the injustice at its center. “Welcome to the penal colony of French Guiana,” the welcoming warden memorably drones, “whose prisoners you are, and from which there is no escape.” With McQueen, audiences knew this wasn’t damnation. It was merely a challenge. The same cannot quite be said for “Papillon” a la Mr. Noer, which is a much more intimate film, dramatically and visually, and one in which the fate of its prisoners is genuinely grotesque, even Dantesque. Mr. Hunnam plays Papillon with a certain fierceness and swagger, but his psyche is largely impenetrable. And that’s a loss: As the story goes, Papillon, a thief, is framed for a murder in Paris and, as per the French criminal justice system of 1933, shipped off with hundreds of others to his country’s infamous South American prison, where inmates were forced to spend as many years as colonists as they were sentenced for their crimes. Papillon refuses to accept guilt, incarceration or exile: From the minute he embarks for the Southern Atlantic he is determined to escape, and his unquenchable desire to free himself has been the nut of the story ever since Mr. Charrière published his book in 1969. Mr. Hunnam, however, makes that impulse inaccessible. Charlie Hunnam (center) stars as Henri Charrière in ‘Papillon’ Photo: Bleecker Street His Papillon does have the good fortune to be shipmates with the forger and counterfeiter Louis Dega (Mr. Malek), whose life Papillon saves, and whose very real money backs their various escape plans. Mr. Malek gives an eccentric performance, but he won’t make anyone forget Dustin Hoffman, whose original Dega was an endearing coward, a fatalist and a masterpiece. The “Papillon” of 1973 was an epic, at the tail end of an epic era. The barbarity of the jailers was largely caricature, a suggestion of cruelty rather than something more graphic. Mr. Noer goes for realism, and the horror is, yes, far more real. And much less amusing.
Lady Gaga and Madonna end feud with embrace at Oscars party Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content Lady Gaga and Madonna ended their eight-year feud with a friendly embrace at an Oscars party on Sunday night. The two singers have been at odds ever since critics suggested Gaga’s hit Born This Way was heavily inspired by Madonna’s Express Yourself – and the Material Girl agreed. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Lady Gaga and Madonna end feud with embrace at Oscars party Back to video The Poker Face singer made matters worse in 2016 by insisting the comparisons were “ridiculous” and then pointing out that she played her own instruments, while Madonna didn’t. “Madonna and I are very different,” she said. “I wouldn’t make that comparison at all. I don’t mean to disrespect Madonna… She’s the biggest pop star of all time… But I play a lot of instruments. I write all my own music. I spend hours and hours a day in the studio. I’m a producer. I’m a writer. What I do is different.” We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Madonna responded by sharing a meme of former U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton looking at her phone with the text reading: “Can’t hear you. Too busy being awesome.”<doc-sep>Pop stars Lady Gaga and Madonna were snapped embracing one another, a sign that the two may have ended their yearslong feud. The photograph showed Madonna hugging a smiling Lady Gaga as she held her Oscar. The snap was taken at Madonna’s post-Academy Awards party. Madonna shared another photo of the two on her Twitter congratulating the “A Star is Born” actress. LADY GAGA POSTS ABOUT ‘SPECIAL’ MOMENT WITH COOPER DURING ACADEMY AWARDS “Don’t mess with Italian girls @ladygaga #winner,” she captioned the post. The beef between the two pop stars began in 2011, when Madonna accused Lady Gaga of ripping off her hit “Express Yourself” in her hit single “Born This Way.” Lady Gaga denied the accusation. LADY GAGA, BRADLEY COOPER’S STEAMY OSCARS PERFORMANCE GETS REACTION FROM ACTOR’S EX-WIFE JENNIFER ESPOSITO In her documentary “Gaga: Five Foot Two,” Lady Gaga spoke about the “Vogue” singer. “So the thing with me and Madonna, for example, is that I admired her always. And I still admire her, no matter what she might think of me,” she said, according to Vanity Fair. “She wouldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that I was reductive or whatever… Telling me you think I’m a piece of s--- through the media? It’s like a guy passing me a note through his friend.” Lady Gaga took home the Oscar for Best Original Song for “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born” on Sunday.<doc-sep>In it, the politician is solemnly sitting down and checking her phone with dark sunglasses on with the text, "Can't hear you. Too busy being awesome." She captioned the photo, "Like a boss! LOL." Still, that wouldn't be the end of the duo's dalliance with In her critically acclaimed Netflix documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two, Gaga once again sounded off on Madonna's criticism of "Born This Way," addressing that whole "reductive" comment directly. "She wouldn't look me in the eye and tell me that I was reductive," she said. "Telling me you think I'm a piece of s—t through the media? It's like a guy passing me a note through his friend." Still, the Oscar winner went on to say, "I admired her always, and I still admire her no matter what she might think of me. I just want Madonna to push me up against the wall and kiss me and tell me I'm a piece of s--t."<doc-sep>Madonna and Lady Gaga's apparent feud stretches all the way back to 2009 It seems Madonna and Lady Gaga have kissed and made up. The Material Girl herself and the newly-minted Oscar winner were photographed snuggling up close at Madonna’s post-Oscars party, hinting that any past beef between the two is old news. Get push notifications with news, features and more. In the photo, the two lay atop what appears to be crumpled white paper as Madonna cradles a grinning Gaga’s face in her arms. Gaga, meanwhile, is holding her new hardware, which she picked up for Best Original Song for A Star Is Born’s “Shallow.” Madge herself shared an alternate version of the sweet pic a short time later on Monday afternoon, captioning the image: “Don’t mess with Italian girls……..” capped off with a black heart emoji. It was only in December that Madonna, 60, appeared to take a dig at Gaga’s oft-quoted press tour line, in which she said of costar Bradley Cooper, “There can be 100 people in a room and 99 of them don’t believe in you, but all it takes is one.” According to Page Six, Madonna posted to her Instagram story in December a video of herself being interviewed in the 1980s saying a near-identical quote. madonna Madonna, Lady Gaga \| Credit: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty; Michael Loccisano/Getty She followed that post with an Instagram that read, “Don’t f—k with me Monday.” The Grammy winners have had what has occasionally been a tense relationship over the last decade, but they’re usually quick to make light of it. In 2009 they both appeared on Saturday Night Live and their joint performance jokingly devolved into an all-out brawl before Kenan Thompson stepped in to mediate. RELATED VIDEO: Madonna Is ‘Seeking No Ones Approval’ After Fans Buzz About Alleged Butt Implants In 2011, Gaga was forced to deny accusations that she’d ripped off Madonna’s 1989 hit “Express Yourself” for her track “Born This Way.” Madonna expressed her feelings on the tune year later, telling ABC News the song “feels reductive.” “I said, ‘That sounds familiar,’” Madge said. “I certainly think she references me a lot in her work… Obviously, I’ve influenced her.” By 2015, the “Like a Virgin” singer was back to playing nice, as she told Rolling Stone that she wanted to embrace “other females who are doing what I’m doing” instead of pitting herself against them. kw4_3039_2019022472727436.jpg Lady Gaga accepting the Oscar for Best Original Song \| Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty “The only time I ever criticized Lady Gaga was when I felt like she blatantly ripped off one of my songs,” Madonna said. “It’s got nothing to do with ‘She’s taking my crown,’ or ‘She’s in some space of mine.’ She has her thing. I do think she’s a very talented singer and songwriter.” As for Lady Gaga, 32, she rejected comparisons between herself and Madonna in a 2016 interview, saying that while Madonna is a “nice lady,” Gaga is a more well-rounded musician. “I wouldn’t make that comparison at all. I don’t mean to disrespect Madonna…she’s a nice lady. And she’s had a fantastic, huge career,” Gaga told Zane Lowe on his Beats 1 radio show. “But I play a lot of instruments. I write all my own music. I spend hours and hours a day in the studio. I’m a producer. I’m a writer. What I do is different.” Despite the apparent dig, Gaga insisted the two were friendly in her 2017 Netflix documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two. “So the thing with me and Madonna for example, is that I admired her always. And I still admire her, no matter what she might think of me,” the singer says. “She wouldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that I was reductive or whatever… Telling me you think I’m a piece of s—t through the media? It’s like a guy passing me a note through his friend.”<doc-sep>	It appears Madonna and Lady Gaga have buried the hatchet. The Queen of Pop and the newly minted Academy Award winner embraced at Madonna's post-Oscars celebration Sunday, signaling an end to their years-long feud. In the Time portrait, Madonna nestles Lady Gaga's face as the actress triumphantly holds the Oscar statuette she won for best original song for the "A Star Is Born" anthem "Shallow." The iconic image was taken at Madonna's star-studded bash, simply dubbed "The Party." Oscars 2019:Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper's 'Shallow' performance stuns, makes Mel B 'uncomfortable' More: Lady Gaga shines in 128-carat diamond necklace last worn by Audrey Hepburn Madonna shared a similar image on Twitter and Instagram Monday, captioning the shot: "Don’t Mess with Italian Girls." Related: Best accessories of the 2019 Oscars, from Lady Gaga's jewels to Jason Momoa's scrunchie Madonna and Lady Gaga's on-and-off feuding started in 2011 after Gaga was accused of ripping off Madonna’s 1989 song "Express Yourself" in her single "Born This Way." The Material Girl sounded off on the charges a year later, telling ABC News that Gaga's hit song "feels reductive" before quite literally sipping some tea. Gaga responded to Madonna's shade in her 2017 Netflix documentary, "Gaga: Five Foot Two." Gaga criticized Madonna for not voicing her issues directly. "The only thing that really bothers me about her is that I'm Italian and from New York …so if I have a problem with somebody I'm going to (expletive) tell you to your face," Gaga said candidly in the film. She continued: "No matter how much respect I have for her as a performer, I could never wrap my head around the fact that she wouldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that I was reductive or whatever. … Telling me you think I’m a piece of (expletive) through the media?" But based on Sunday's post-Oscar's moment, that's all water under the bridge now. Related: Lady Gaga and Christian Carino call off their engagement ahead of the Academy Awards
WARR Hyperloop has done it again. The engineering students from the Technical University of Munich won SpaceX’s hyperloop pod competition on Sunday for the third time. This year, WARR Hyperloop pulled off the win when their self-propelled pod reached a top speed of more than 290 miles per hour, a new record for the competition. The pod traveled 50% faster than WARR Hyperloop’s winning entry in the previous SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition held in August 2017. In the first competition, held in January 2017, WARR’s winning pod traveled just 58 mph. That’s progress. The event was hosted, as it has since the beginning, by SpaceX and its founder Elon Musk at the company’s Hawthorne, California headquarters. The Boring Company, another Musk business pursuit, provided additional support this year. The competition this year illustrates the evolution and advancements in hyperloop technology. For instance, in the previous two Hyperloop Pod competitions, student teams had the option of accelerating their pod down the test track with support from a SpaceX-made vehicle called a “pusher.” This year, all pods had to be self-propelled. SpaceX also added another sub-competition focused on levitation technology. In this challenge the pods had to maintain alignment with the test track while hovering above it for an extended period of time. We're excited to announce that our team WARR Hyperloop is the winner of the 2018 SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition!!!!! We managed to go almost 50% faster than last year, reaching a final speed of 467 km/h (290 mph)! We'd like to sincerely thank all our sponsors! pic.twitter.com/YpPTURnHp5 — WARR Hyperloop (@WARR_Hyperloop) July 23, 2018 WARR Hyperloop was one of three teams to make it to the finals—a 1.25-kilometer Hyperloop test track adjacent to SpaceX’s headquarters. Delft University from the Netherlands and EPFLoop of Switzerland also made it to the finals. The competition accepted 20 student teams from more than 40 countries to showcase their pods at SpaceX’s third Hyperloop Pod Competition. Student teams had to demonstrate their pod’s ability to pass key tests and safety inspections. Each team’s pod also had to undergo testing inside a 26-foot long vacuum chamber and along a 150-foot long external test track built by SpaceX. SpaceX isn’t working on or connected to any of the startups currently pursuing Hyperloop technology. But Musk is still involved in supporting the idea of a system of reduced-pressure tubes that would theoretically hurtle people and packages long distances at super speeds that he proposed in a nearly 60-page public white paper back in 2013.<doc-sep>Hyperloop just took a huge step to becoming the transport system of the future. WARR Hyperloop claimed the top prize at SpaceX’s third hyperloop competition on Sunday, beating out two other approved teams to record a final speed of 290 mph — even faster than the 240 mph record set by Richard Branson-backed Virgin Hyperloop One in December 2017. “We’d like to sincerely thank all our sponsors!” the student-based team from the Technical University of Munich wrote on its website after the competition. “This journey wouldn’t have been possible without you!” The competition, held at SpaceX’s 0.8-mile test track in Hawthorne, California, saw 18 teams compete to accelerate and brake their pod while achieving maximum top speed. Rigorous safety checks meant only three teams sent their pods through the test tube: WARR, Delft Hyperloop (which came second with a top speed of 88 mph), and EPFL Hyperloop (which came third with a top speed of 53 mph). WARR Hyperloop group photo. WARR Hyperloop SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, whose 2013 white paper first outlined the vacuum-sealed transit system, congratulated the teams on his victory. The Verge reports that Musk attended with girlfriend Grimes and his five sons, declaring that the competition was about “things that could radically transform cities and the way people get around.” Musk’s podium was constructed from interlocking bricks made from The Boring Company’s excavated tunnel dirt — a company aiming to build a public hyperloop running between New York City and Washington, D.C. This competition was a marked change from the competitions held in January 2017 and August 2017, where contestants were judged on a range of criteria including construction and teams were able to use SpaceX-built drives to launch their pods. WARR set the top speed in the first competition of 56 mph, but lost out the overall prize to Delft Hyperloop. The second competition saw a big improvement over the first, with WARR claiming the top prize and reaching a speed of 201 mph. The 176-pound pod used in the second competition used a carbon fiber construction with a 50-kilowatt electric motor to reach a potential top speed of 224 mph, with 36 internal sensors to regulate travel. For the third competition, WARR built on this design by replacing the 50-kilowatt single motor with eight smaller motors to individually drive each wheel. The total performance jumped to 240 kilowatts, or approximately 320 horsepower. The new version also measures less than seven feet in length and less than a foot high, making it shorter than its predecessor. The team calculated that this new design could reach a top speed of up to 370 mph. While these speeds seem a far cry from the 700 mph top speeds in the white paper, both WARR and Delft noted prior to the competition that the participants are limited by the length of the track. The latter team told Inverse last week that the hyperloop could comfortably reach its top speed over a distance of around 45 miles, gradually accelerating to maintain passenger comfort. WARR claims that the team’s pod accelerates along the test track five times faster than an airplane during takeoff. Delft Hyperloop claimed prior to the competition that it could beat Virgin Hyperloop One to achieve the top speed, despite only starting work as a reformed team in September 2017 after most of the original team left to form a startup called Hardt Hyperloop. Nonetheless, the 37-strong team celebrated its second place victory with a group photo: EPFL Hyperloop reacted positively to the third-place victory, having never competed in a hyperloop competition before. The team claims that a communications issue prevented the pod from reaching higher speeds. “Being one of three teams to qualify for the final stage of the competition is an incredible performance,” Martin Vetterli, president of the team’s university of École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, said in a statement at the end of the race. “The stakes were high, and the students pushed the equipment to its limits. We can be proud of these results – especially since this was our school’s first foray into such a high-profile international competition. Great job by a fantastic team!” Alongside the winning pod design, WARR also produced a second prototype to further development of alternative systems like levitation and frictionless drive. These efforts are aimed at helping to develop a pod capable of supporting larger passenger compartments. The Verge reports that SpaceX awarded WARR a special innovation prize for these extra efforts, alongside prizes awarded to the University of Washington and Eirloop teams. “The technology is still in the development phase and our prototypes are built with the initial objective of testing various technologies,” team leader Gabriele Semino said in a statement prior to the event. “However, this way we can contribute to making the hyperloop vision a reality one day.”<doc-sep>	The Hyperloop has a need for speed and a team of students from the Technical University of Munich is providing it. At the third SpaceX pod contest on Sunday, Germany’s WARR Hyperloop team pulled off a hat-trick of wins for the fastest self-propelled pod ride by taking its design to an impressive 290 mph (466 kph). Congratulations to @WARR_Hyperloop for winning the 2018 Hyperloop Pod Competition with a peak speed of 290 mph! — Hyperloop (@Hyperloop) July 22, 2018 As well as beating its own previous best of 201 mph, WARR’s effort also smashed the existing Hyperloop speed record set by Virgin Hyperloop in December, when its pod hit 240 mph. It posted a video (below) of the winning ride on Twitter. We’re excited to announce that our team WARR Hyperloop is the winner of the 2018 SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition!!!!! We managed to go almost 50% faster than last year, reaching a final speed of 467 km/h (290 mph)! We’d like to sincerely thank all our sponsors! pic.twitter.com/YpPTURnHp5 — WARR Hyperloop (@WARR_Hyperloop) July 23, 2018 WARR faced off against more than 15 rivals from around the world, including second-place Delft Hyperloop from the Netherlands, and third-place EPFLoop from Switzerland. Technical difficulties scuppered both teams’ chances of victory, leaving Delft Hyperloop with a top speed of 88 mph, while EPFLoop’s effort reached only 53 mph. The teams’ unmanned vehicles were sent along a 0.8-mile (1.5 km) ground-level test track at the SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk first proposed the Hyperloop idea for an ultra-fast transportation system five years ago, and since then he’s been using the regular contests to give students the opportunity to develop the pods. If the ambitious plan one day becomes a viable transportation option, it’ll carry people inside a near-vacuum environment at speeds of up to 760 mph. At that rate, a journey between Los Angeles and San Francisco would take a mere half hour as opposed to six hours by car. While several firms are currently working on developing the track technology for the Hyperloop, it is engineering students who are being encouraged to design the pods that passengers could one day ride in. WARR is making serious progress, as its first effort scored it a speed win at the debut contest in January 2017, when its design reached just 58 mph. In another indication of how the pod technology is advancing, this latest contest was also the first where teams no longer had the option to propel their pod with a so-called “pusher” vehicle, meaning that all the pods had to be self-propelled. Musk made an appearance at Sunday’s event, taking time to encourage the participants and congratulate the winners. He commented that the skill and ingenuity displayed by those taking part in the contest “kinda blows my mind.” A number of countries are interested in using the Hyperloop technology for domestic transportation projects. Talks are already taking place with two of the biggest companies that have ambitions for developing large-scale Hyperloop systems, namely Virgin Hyperloop and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies. Editors' Recommendations
WASHINGTON – Before taking off Monday for Minnesota, President Donald Trump again attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minneapolis and one of the first two Muslim-American women to serve in the U.S. Congress. On Twitter, Trump also criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for defending Omar, saying she "should look at the anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and ungrateful U.S. HATE statements Omar has made. She is out of control, except for her control of Nancy!" Omar, Pelosi and other Democrats said Trump's frequent attacks on the freshman congresswoman from Minnesota smack of being anti-Muslim, and are spiking death threats against Omar. Who is Rep. Ilhan Omar?What to know about the Muslim lawmaker Donald Trump loves to attack Saying threats have escalated since Trump backers used her comments in a 2020 campaign video, Omar tweeted this weekend: "We are all Americans. This is endangering lives. It has to stop." Trump's latest attacks came hours before he left for Minnesota, where he is scheduled to hold an economic policy event related Monday's deadline for tax filings. Trump narrowly lost Minnesota to Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Trump aides see it as a state he can wrest from the Democrats in 2020. 9/11 video: AOC, others blast Trump over 9/11 video, comments about Rep. Omar 'Endangering lives':Ilhan Omar says Trump tweet caused spike in death threats Last week, Trump posted a 43-second campaign video that included footage of the World Trade Center after hijacked planes slammed into it on Sept. 11, 2001, linking it to Omar's comments describing the attack as "something" done by "some people." Omar's colleagues said she was differentiating terrorists from nearly all other Muslims. They condemned Trump for turning the trauma of 9/11 into a political attack. The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is planning a protest outside the venue for Trump's event, a trucking and equipment company in Burnsville, near the Twin Cities. Pelosi, meanwhile, said "the president’s words weigh a ton, and his hateful and inflammatory rhetoric creates real danger ... President Trump must take down his disrespectful and dangerous video.”<doc-sep>In his State of the Union address the president said he would save America from Socialism. As 'radical' 'progressive' Democrats become ever more vocal - whether on the environment, Israel, raising taxes, pushing socialised medicine - so the president sees this as a way of peeling away 'moderate' Democrats and independents. The political centre of gravity in the US is way to the right of what it is in Europe.<doc-sep>President Donald Trump arrived in Minnesota Monday amid an escalating feud with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and continued the acrimony, saying the congresswoman doesn’t understand “real life.” Omar accused Trump on Sunday of prompting an increase in death threats against her via his Twitter feed, an allegation backed up by Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “This is endangering lives,” Omar said Sunday. “It has to stop.” The feud between the two polarizing figures seemed likely to escalate Monday morning, when the president attacked the freshman Democrat from Minneapolis on Twitter, while a major Islamic group organized a protest at Trump’s event. During interview w/ KSTP TV in Minnesota, Trump defended his reprehensible tweet about @IlhanMN: "She's been very disrespectful to this country… she is somebody that doesn't really understand life, real life… she's got a way about her that's very very bad for our country." pic.twitter.com/wiSNptg0F3 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 16, 2019 Then he came to Burnsville and made no mention of her during public remarks. Then, he did an interview with KSTP-TV, in which said he had no second thoughts about the controversial tweet and described Omar as “extremely unpatriotic and extremely disrespectful to our country.” And it continued. Here’s how we got here. CONSERVATIVES JUMP ON OMAR 9/11 QUOTE Last week, conservatives and Republicans seized on remarks Omar made in March to a California gathering of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “For far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and, frankly, I’m tired of it, and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it,” she said, according to a video of the speech posted online. “CAIR was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.” That last bit — “some people did something” — was the part that some criticized as callous. Throughout her political career, Omar has condemned the attacks, as has CAIR, and she claimed she was being criticized for her phrasing only because she’s Muslim. TRUMP TWEETS 9/11 VIDEO On Friday, Trump tweeted a video circulated on the Internet that replayed that quote by Omar amid images of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. For a time, the video was pinned to the top of his feed. PELOSI DEMANDS VIDEO COME DOWN A slew of Democrats came to Omar’s defense and said the video incited violence. Over the weekend, Pelosi escalated the condemnation, saying she had spoken with congressional authorities “to ensure that Capitol Police are conducting a security assessment to safeguard Congresswoman Omar, her family and her staff.” “President Trump must take down his disrespectful and dangerous video,” she said. He didn’t. Soon after, the video was unpinned from the top of his feed, but it remained up Monday, having been viewed 10.3 million times. OMAR: I’M GETTING MORE DEATH THREATS Later on Sunday, Omar said Trump is fomenting extremists with violent intentions. Since his tweet, she’s an increase in death threats, many of them specifically mentioning the video. “Violent crimes and other acts of hate by right-wing extremists and white nationalists are on the rise in this country and around the world,” she said. “We can no longer ignore that they are being encouraged by the occupant of the highest office in the land.” Since taking office in January, Omar has quickly become a political flashpoint for members of both parties. Twice, she’s made statements criticizing U.S. support for Israel that in both parties, including many Democratic Jews, found anti-Semitic. However, many of those same Democrats that criticized her then came to her defense this time. TRUMP DOESN’T BACK DOWN But Trump didn’t back off. On Monday morning, he tweeted this: “Before Nancy, who has lost all control of Congress and is getting nothing done, decides to defend her leader, Rep. Omar, she should look at the anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and ungrateful U.S. HATE statements Omar has made. She is out of control, except for her control of Nancy!” Before Nancy, who has lost all control of Congress and is getting nothing done, decides to defend her leader, Rep. Omar, she should look at the anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and ungrateful U.S. HATE statements Omar has made. She is out of control, except for her control of Nancy! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 15, 2019 When Air Force One was en route, he tweeted, “Heading to the Great State of Minnesota!” and Omar quickly replied, “The Great State of Minnesota, where we don’t only welcome immigrants, we send them to Washington.” The Great State of Minnesota, where we don’t only welcome immigrants, we send them to Washington 🙏🏾🙌🏽#NoBanAct https://t.co/c2BrPxT41n — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 15, 2019 His motorcade passed through a gauntlet of both supporters of him and of Omar. They straddled opposite sides of DuPont Avenue in the Burnsville industrial park. “Stand with Ihan” read a huge banner on the side of Omar’s defenders, in a presence organized by the Minnesota chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. “CAIR is Hamas” read one across the street, referring to the Palestinian group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. But then, during the roughly hour-long event in which the national and international media was captivated by the burning Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, he never mentioned her. Until the KSTP-TV interview afterward. ‘SHE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND LIFE’ Trump was asked about whether he had any second thoughts about the tweet. Here’s how he responded and described Omar, whose family fled her native Somalia when the country descended into civil war and spent years in a refugee camp before being granted refugee status in America: “No not at all. Look, she’s been very disrespectful to this country. She’s been very disrespectful, frankly to Israel. She is somebody that doesn’t really understand, I think, life — real life, what it’s all about. All she does is criticize people. Take a look at her. Take a real good look at her. She’s gotta respect what’s happened in this country.<doc-sep>“Violent crimes and other acts of hate by right-wing extremists and white nationalists are on the rise in this country and around the world. We can no longer ignore that they are being encouraged by the occupant of the highest office in the land,” Omar said. She thanked Pelosi, the Capitol Police, the FBI and the House sergeant at arms for taking the threats against her seriously.<doc-sep>	Rep. Ilhan Omar said late Sunday that she’s faced increased death threats since President Trump spread around a video that purports to show her being dismissive of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “This is endangering lives,” she said, accusing Trump of fomenting right-wing extremism. “It has to stop.” Her statement followed an announcement by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that she has taken steps to ensure the safety of the Minnesota Democrat, and the speaker’s call for Trump to take down the video. Soon after Pelosi’s statement, the video disappeared as a pinned tweet at the top of Trump’s Twitter feed, but it was not deleted. Trump further escalated the situation Monday morning, tweeting: “Before Nancy, who has lost all control of Congress and is getting nothing done, decides to defend her leader, Rep. Omar, she should look at the anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and ungrateful U.S. HATE statements Omar has made” “She is out of control, except for her control of Nancy!” Trump added. Pelosi was among Democrats who had criticized Trump over the tweet, with some accusing him of trying to incite violence against the Muslim lawmaker. An upstate New York man recently was charged with making death threats against her. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended Trump earlier Sunday, saying the president has a duty to highlight Omar’s history of making comments that others deem anti-Semitic or otherwise offensive and that he wished no “ill will” on the first-term lawmaker. But Omar said that since Trump retweeted the video Friday night, she’s received many threats on her life that referred or replied to the posted video. “Violent crimes and other acts of hate by right-wing extremists and white nationalists are on the rise in this country and around the world,” she said. “We can no longer ignore that they are being encouraged by the occupant of the highest office in the land.” She said: “We are all Americans.” Earlier, Pelosi issued a statement while traveling in London saying she had spoken with congressional authorities “to ensure that Capitol Police are conducting a security assessment to safeguard Congresswoman Omar, her family and her staff.” Pelosi said officials will continue to monitor and assess threats against Omar and called on Trump to discourage such behavior. “The President’s words weigh a ton, and his hateful and inflammatory rhetoric creates real danger,” Pelosi said. “President Trump must take down his disrespectful and dangerous video.” The video in Trump’s tweet included a snippet from a recent speech Omar gave to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, in which she described the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as “some people did something,” along with news video of the hijacked airplanes hitting the World Trade Center in New York. Trump captioned his tweet with: “WE WILL NEVER FORGET!” Critics accuse Omar of being flippant in describing the perpetrators of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. She later sought to defend herself by tweeting a quote from President George W. Bush, in which the Republican president referred to the attackers as “people” just days after 9/11. Neither Trump’s tweet nor the video included Omar’s full quote or the context of her comments, which were about Muslims feeling that their civil liberties had eroded after the attacks. The tweet was posted atop Trump’s Twitter feed for much of Sunday, with more than 9 million views. It remained lower in the feed after Pelosi requested that the video be pulled. Sanders questioned why Democrats weren’t following Trump’s example and calling out Omar too. Democrats who criticized the president over the tweet defended Omar, with some noting their past disagreements with her. “Certainly the president is wishing no ill will and certainly not violence towards anyone, but the president is absolutely and should be calling out the congresswoman for her — not only one time — but history of anti-Semitic comments,” Sanders said. “The bigger question is why aren’t Democrats doing the same thing? It’s absolutely abhorrent the comments that she continues to make and has made and they look the other way.” Omar repeatedly has pushed fellow Democrats into uncomfortable territory with comments about Israel and the strength of the Jewish state’s influence in Washington. She apologized for suggesting that lawmakers support Israel for pay and said she isn’t criticizing Jews. But she refused to take back a tweet in which she suggested American supporters of Israel “pledge allegiance” to a foreign country.
MARC Marquez mastered not only the Phillip Island circuit but all the weather that was thrown at him to capture pole position for Sunday’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. UPDATE: MARC Marquez mastered not only the Phillip Island circuit but all the weather that was thrown at him to capture pole position for Sunday’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Gusting winds and passing showers threatened to sabotage Saturday’s qualifying session but the world champion piloted his Honda to the front of the grid. Aussie Jack Miller also gave it everything he had, putting his Ducati on the second row in sixth place. The 23-year-old Queenslander believes a good result on Sunday afternoon is now within “touching distance”. Marc Marquez on his way to securing pole for the Australian MotoGP on Saturday. Picture: AFP Marquez, who slid off at Turn 4 in morning practice, said he was alarmed at seeing water on his visor when he was going into turns at 200km/h. “You are riding very fast and you see more drops, more rain on your visor and you don’t know if it is slippery.’’ Marc Marquez crashes during free practice. Picture: Mark Stewart The Spaniard secured his fifth consecutive pole in Australia, recording his fastest run (1 min 29.199 seconds) when the showers were heaviest during his third run. He will start alongside Yamahas of Maverick Vinales and Johann Zarco. Marc Marquez signs autographs at Phillip Island after qualifying. Picture: Mark Stewart Vinales believes his factory Yamaha has more to give. “We can improve quite a lot especially on the electronics so I’m really happy,’’ he said. Miller was the first rider out in qualifying, hoping to beat the rain which swept in in patches. “She was a bit scary. I had a couple of big moments there but I was happy to keep it on two wheels. “I would have liked to be further up the grid but we’ll take it.’’ Miller was the best-placed Ducati and will start next to Suzuki factory riders Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins. His Alma Pramac teammate Danilo Petrucci was eighth behind Valentino Rossi. Australia’s Jack Miller will start from the second row on Sunday. Picture: AAP Friday’s quickest man Iannone was fastest again during the short and final free practice session held just before qualifying. Miller slid off at Turn 4 on the first practice lap but picked his Ducati and resumed after a pit check but could only manage 19th position. Brit Cal Crutchlow will likely miss the rest of the season after breaking his right ankle on Friday when he tumbled off the LCR Honda and into the gravel on Turn 1. He had surgery in Melbourne and will have further operations in the coming days. Aussie Remy Gardner qualified in 15th place in Moto2, 0.813 seconds behind pole-sitter Italian Mattia Pasini. In Moto3, Spaniard Jorge Martin will start from pole on the Honda, sharing the front row with Darryn Binder (KTM) and Ayumu Sasaki (Honda). An estimated 26,950 fans turned up, the second-best crowd since Casey Stoner’s farewell year in 2012. THIRD PRACTICE SESSION REPORT WORLD champion Marc Marquez was the fastest man in the third MotoGP practice session as strong winds caused havoc at Phillip Island. The Spaniard steered his factory Honda to a 1min 29.714 second lap, despite sliding off at Turn 4 earlier in the session. Maverick Vinales on the Yamaha was second, 0.042 seconds behind and just ahead of Aussie Jack Miller’s Ducati. MOTOGP: ‘THE MANIAC’ SHINES IN PHILLIP ISLAND PRACTICE SESSION But a gusting wind kept times down and Andrea Iannone’s time from Friday afternoon on his Suzuki remains the fastest overall. Most riders were unable to improve their Friday times with many up to a second slower on the 4.45km circuit. Marc Marquez was the fastest man in qualifying in the third practice session. Hafizh Syahrin was taken to the medical centre after a tumbling crash off his Yamaha and into the gravel at Turn 1. Jordi Torres (Ducati) and Bradley Smith (KTM) also went down as riders struggled with the conditions. Valentino Rossi, who was also pushed off track at Turn 4 by the wind, remained in the top 10 that make up Qualifying 2 session later today. Brit Cal Crutchlow was officially ruled out of the race after breaking his ankle during a Turn 1 crash on Friday. It is now feared that the Honda rider may miss the rest of the season. In Moto2 practice, Australian Remy Gardner improved after yesterday’s nasty crash and was 12th fastest, 0.866 seconds behind pacesetter German Marcel Schrotter. Every ODI and T20I ad-break free during play exclusively in 4K on Foxtel this November. Get Foxtel Sport. T&C’s Apply.<doc-sep>The 2018 MotoGP Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island is LIVE and AD-BREAK FREE all weekend on FOX SPORTS. FOX SPORTS will be trackside at Phillip Island this weekend to bring you all the action from the 17th round of the 2018 MotoGP World Championship, the Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. In addition to every session of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 LIVE in HD and AD-FREE across the weekend, FOX SPORTS will be broadcasting live from Phillip Island throughout Saturday and Sunday. Host Chris Stubbs will be joined by MotoGP race winners Kevin Magee and Chris Vermeulen, and fellow Australian two-wheel racing legend Steve Martin to bring you the latest news and rumours straight from the paddock and pit lane. Along with exclusive sit-down feature interviews with newly-crowned world champion Marc Marquez and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, we’ll speak with Australian hope Jack Miller across the weekend as he looks to build on the form that took him to the front row of the grid at last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, and Australian Moto2 racer Remy Gardner who looks to carry a strong 2018 season to his home race. Watch every practice, qualifying session and race of the Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix LIVE and ad-break free. SIGN UP TODAY! We’ll also keep tabs on Australian replacement riders Mike Jones (MotoGP) and Bryan Staring (Moto2) who have received the call-up this weekend to replace injured riders. You can also access exclusive extra video feeds online with FOX SPORTS MotoGP Race Centre during MotoGP FP4, Qualifying 1 and 2, and the Race, where you can watch live on-board cameras, helicopter camera, plus live timing and rider tracker. Race Centre will also show live timing and final results for every MotoGP session throughout the weekend. Here’s the schedule for this weekend. All times AEDT on FOX SPORTS 506. FRIDAY 9:55am - Moto3 Free Practice 1 10:55am - Moto2 Free Practice 1 11:55am - MotoGP Free Practice 1 2:05pm - Moto3 Free Practice 2 3:05pm - Moto2 Free Practice 2 4:05pm - MotoGP Free Practice 2 SATURDAY 9:45am - Qualifying Day coverage begins 10:00am - Moto3 Free Practice 3 10:55am - Moto2 Free Practice 3 11:55am - MotoGP Free Practice 3 12:45pm - MotoGP Paddock Show LIVE from Phillip Island 1:35pm - Moto3 Qualifying 2:30pm - Moto2 Qualifying 3:30pm - MotoGP Free Practice 4 4:10pm - MotoGP Qualifying 1 4:35pm - MotoGP Qualifying 2 SUNDAY 10:30am - Sunday coverage begins 10:40am - Moto3 Warm Up 11:10am - Moto2 Warm Up 11:40am - MotoGP Warm Up 12:05pm - MotoGP Paddock Show LIVE from Phillip Island 1:00pm - Moto3 Race 2:20pm - Moto2 Race 4:00pm - MotoGP Race<doc-sep>Jack Miller led for seven laps of last year’s Australian GP. AUSTRALIAN MotoGP rider Jack Miller is confident he can challenge for a podium finish and perhaps even break through for a first-ever home grand prix win at Phillip Island this weekend. The Queenslander has fond memories of last year’s race at the famed island circuit where he stormed to an early lead on his Marc VDS Honda before settling for seventh. However, Miller has enjoyed mixed fortunes this season after switching to Ducati with Pramac Racing. Get every round of MotoGP LIVE with no-ad breaks during racing. SIGN UP TODAY! He qualified on the front row in third at last week’s Japanese MotoGP, but crashed out with 13 laps remaining in the race. Marc Marquez took the chequered flag first to claim his seventh world title. with Miller currently back in 13th in the championship standings with three races to go. “Coming into Phillip Island I’m on a better machine than I was last year and we lead for seven of laps,” he said. “Hopefully this year we can turn it into 27 (laps). “I’m excited and nervous. I know what I did wrong last year in terms of tyre consumption, so I can take what I learnt and use that knowledge here, especially in my tyre choice and race strategy. Australia's rider Jack Miller steers his Alma Pramac during the free practice session for the MotoGP Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Motegi, north of Tokyo, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) Source: AP Miller claimed a surprise maiden MotoGP win in the rain at Assen in 2016 but hasn’t managed a podium finish at all this year. “If we didn’t go out there thinking we had a chance of winning we wouldn’t go out there,” he said.<doc-sep>Unbeatable at Phillip Island? The coastal circuit's capricious microclimate, which chose the very moment qualifying started for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix on Saturday to sprinkle intermittent rain onto one of the fastest and most challenging tracks in all of motorsport. And Marc Marquez, who took his fifth pole position in a row at the Island after finding the right mix of bravery and skill to assert himself when it mattered most. Honda rider Marquez, who won his fifth MotoGP world title last weekend when he was victorious in the Japanese Grand Prix, made light of his relatively pedestrian practice pace to deliver a lap of 1 minute 29.199 seconds with six minutes remaining in Saturday afternoon's 15-minute qualifying session, the Spaniard beating compatriot Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) by three-tenths of a second to take his 51st MotoGP pole. Marc Marquez was fastest in qualifying at Phillip Island. Credit:AAP Frenchman Johann Zarco (Yamaha) rounded out the front row, while Australia's Jack Miller pushed his Ducati to the very edge of its limits in "scary" conditions, nearly crashing at the final corner on his final lap of the session as the rain intensified to qualify sixth. Marquez came into qualifying after setting just the sixth-fastest time in the opening three practice sessions, and after a scrappy opening day of practice on Friday when he fell at the treacherous downhill turn 10 and ran off at turn 6 as he attempted to find the limits of a skittish Honda. But he took control of qualifying after Suzuki's Andrea Iannone made the early running, making the most of a lap on the limit where the drizzle briefly abated to take his sixth pole of 2018, and third in succession after topping qualifying in Thailand and Japan.<doc-sep>	Marc Marquez crashes out of MotoGP Practice 1 at Phillip Island for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. JACK Miller has ended the opening MotoGP practice session at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in second place, while new world champion Marc Marquez ended it in the gravel. Miller finished the 45-minute Free Practice 1 just 0.037 of a second shy of pacesetting Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales, with the Australian’s Pramac Ducati teammate Danilo Petrucci a similar distance adrift in third. Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow rounded out the top five ahead of Marquez, who looked poised to pip Vinales at the time of the crash. Watch every practice, qualifying session and race of the Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix LIVE and ad-break free. SIGN UP TODAY! RESULTS: Click here for full results from Practice 1, Phillip Island LIVE: Follow all the MotoGP action from Friday at the Australian GP TV TIMES: Watch the Australian MotoGP LIVE on FOX SPORTS Marquez was quicker to the second split but had dropped a tenth by the third when he went down under braking for MG. Although unhurt, he didn’t return to the track before the chequered flag waved on the session. The session was a bruising one for the factory Repsol Honda squad, having already seen Dani Pedrosa crash at high speed at Doohan Corner near the mid-point of FP1. Andrea Iannone was seventh fastest from Johann Zarco, with Karel Abraham an impressive ninth and second-quickest of all through the third sector. Perennial favourite Valentino Rossi ended the session at the foot of the top 10, almost nine tenths off his factory Yamaha teammate. Other notable results include Pol Esparagaro an impressive 11th, one place ahead of rookie Hafizh Syahrin. Alvaro Bautista concluded his first session aboard the second factory GP18 Ducati in 14th, pushing his bike home after an unseen incident as the chequered flag waved. Scott Redding was the best of the Aprilias in 19th ahead of teammate Aleix Espargaro in 22nd, a stark fall from when the latter topped the second session 12 months ago. Late call-up Mike Jones kept a good account of himself in his first ride of a MotoGP bike in two years, finishing five seconds off the pace in last place.
Crime & Safety Boston Police Officer Shot In South End, 3 In Custody The officer was shot in the leg Sunday afternoon while on a routine patrol, police said. Reply BOSTON, MA —Three men are in custody after a Boston Police officer was shot Sunday afternoon in the city's South End. Police said the officer was taken to Brigham and Women's with a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the calf. "We're highly upset at this," said Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, who described getting the news that one of his officers was shot as "heart-wrenching." UPDATE>> 2 Arrested After Boston Officer Shot The shooting happened before 2 p.m. near 89 West Springfield St. Gross told reporters at a press conference that officers were on a regular patrol when they stopped to check out a car that was double-parked with music blaring. The officers saw three young men sitting on a stoop nearby. They made eye contact and the men got up, clutched at their waists and started to leave, according to the commissioner. "These officers are trained: characteristics of an armed gunman, you get up, you clutch [at] your waist; usually it's a gun," said the commissioner. "Unfortunately it was true. It was definitely a firearm." The commissioner said it's unclear how many shots were fired, but at least one bullet struck the officer. The SWAT team and hostage negotiators were called in when the men went into an apartment. "Thankfully, it came to a peaceful resolution with the suspect taken into custody with no injuries, no further shots fired... beyond our officer getting shot," said Gross.<doc-sep>BOSTON, MA — Boston police were back in the South End Monday investigating a shooting in the South End a day after a police officer was shot in the leg. Early Monday, Police were investigating the area of Shawmut Avenue. Police told reporters the person who was shot was described as having non-life threatening injuries. According to city statistics, there have been 44 fewer non-fatal shootings than there were to this point in 2017 and arrests are down by 11 percent over last year.<doc-sep>Officers from the department’s Youth Violence Strike Force were patrolling West Springfield Street shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday when they noticed a double-parked car playing loud music, Gross said. “It’s a non-life-threatening injury, thank God,” Police Commissioner William Gross told reporters at the scene. “He was transported to a local area hospital where he’s being treated for that wound.” A Boston police officer is expected to recover after being shot in the South End Sunday afternoon, and two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting, according to Boston police. Three men who were sitting on the front stairs at 91 West Springfield St. made eye contact with the gang unit officers and immediately stood up while “clutching at their waists, which is characteristic of an armed gunman,” Gross said. Advertisement The officers attempted to follow the young men into the building, but one of the three allegedly held the door to block the officers’ entry, according to the commissioner. After the officers made it inside, one of the young men allegedly shot at them, striking an officer in the calf, Gross said. After one of the men entered an apartment, SWAT officers and hostage negotiators came to the scene, Gross said. Police were eventually able to take all three men into custody without any more shots fired, he said. Police said Sunday night that Raquon Martin, 21, of Boston and Antoine Mack, 35, of Pawtucket, R.I., were arrested and both face charges of armed assault to murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, among other gun charges. Martin and Mack are expected to be arraigned Monday in Boston Municipal Court, according to Jake Wark, a spokesman for the Suffolk district attorney’s office. Although Gross said earlier Sunday that officers took three men into custody, a police spokesman said Sunday night that the department did not have any information regarding a third suspect, and that the investigation was ongoing. Advertisement Boston police Commissioner William Gross cut the police tape to give a press update at the scene. John Cetrino for The Boston Globe Around West Springfield Street on Sunday afternoon, multiple blocks were closed to traffic with yellow police tape, which neighbors and passersby peered over as they tried to get a sense of the situation. Marked and unmarked police vehicles, including large armored trucks, were posted in the area. Vincent Peguero, who lives around the corner, said he had stepped outside for a cigarette when he saw a massive police response. He suspected that an officer had been hurt, he said, and later he saw an injured officer on a stretcher with his boot and sock removed. “Normally, when this amount of police comes out, it’s a cop that got shot,” he said. Peguero said he has lived in the neighborhood 20 years, and it’s not unusual to hear gunfire nearby, though it has become less common as the neighborhood has changed. “I’m kind of used to it,” he said. “Stuff happens every day.” Mayor Martin J. Walsh visited the injured officer in the hospital Sunday afternoon, and in a later statement he expressed frustration over the shooting. “Our police officers work hard everyday to keep our residents safe, and this senseless violence will not be tolerated,” Walsh said. “I wish a speedy recovery to the officer who was injured, and thank our first responders for their swift action today.” The wounded officer is a five-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, according to Sergeant John Boyle, a police spokesman. Advertisement Gross said it is “heart-wrenching” when any officer is injured in the line of duty. Jeremy C. Fox can be reached at [email protected]. Lucas Phillips can be reached at [email protected].<doc-sep>	BOSTON (CBS) – Two men were arrested after a Boston Police officer was shot Sunday afternoon in the city’s South End. Raquon Martin, 21, of Boston, and Antoine Mack, 35, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island face a number of charges. The shooting happened before 2 p.m. in the area of Shawmut Ave. and West Springfield Street. Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said police noticed a vehicle was double parked. When the officer pulled up, he made eye contact with three people who were sitting nearby. They stood up and took a stance that Gross said was a sign they were reaching for a gun. “Three individuals made eye contact with the Youth Violent Strike Force, immediately got to their feet and they were clutching at their waist which is characteristics of an armed gunman,” explained Gross. When police followed the suspects to investigate, the suspects entered a common hallway of a nearby building and one person held the door closed. When police were able to gain access to the hallway, an officer was shot in the calf. The officer suffered non-life threatening injuries. They were taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. A SWAT team response was required because one of the suspects ran into an apartment in the building and appeared to barricade himself. All the while, residents were rerouted, “We were walking up just as the rush of cop cars and SWAT teams and they were just putting up the police tape. We were just trying to go to my friend’s house,” one woman said. Martin and Mack were both charged with armed assault to murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, unlawful possession of ammunition, and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. They are scheduled to appear in Boston Municipal Court. “This is intolerable. It shouldn’t happen,” Gross said. “That’s heartwrenching. Just imagine one of your family members getting hurt, how would you feel about that?” Mayor Marty Walsh visited the officer at the hospital. His office sent out a statement that said, “Our police officers work hard every day to keep our residents safe, and this senseless violence will not be tolerated. I wish a speedy recovery to the officer who was injured, and thank our first responders for their swift action today.”
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 forfor the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks UPDATE ONE: EA has confirmed that today's extended server maintenance period has ended on all platforms, including PS4, Xbox One and PC. BioWare has also confirmed that the new patch needs to be downloaded to regain access to the game. Anthem update patch notes can be found below. Fixed an issue that was causing loot to drop for javelins other than the one being used. Addressed a number of issues that could occasionally cause Nvidia highlights to crash. Fixed an issue that was causing Elysian Cache items to not appear until completing another activity or restarting the game. The newsfeed will now properly show content again upon launching into the game. Fixed an issue that was causing Ursix and Titans to not spawn as frequently in Freeplay. Fixed an issue that would cause the screen to shake when enabling DLSS and turning off motion blur. Fixed an issue that would sometimes cause players not to be able to interact with Owen, or hear his audio at the end of the Legendary version of the mission “Finding Old Friends”. Titans, Ursix, Luminaries and Fury enemies should no longer disappear when another player starts an Event in Freeplay. ORIGINAL: Today has seen Anthem servers taken offline for maintenance and will be followed by a new update release on PS4, Xbox One and PC. The good news is that downtime for the game will soon be over and everyone should have access to the game very soon.<doc-sep>EA and BioWare have released the newest update for Anthem, and it's a big one. The update is now live and it adds several new features to the multiplayer-focused action game, including something called Legendary Missions, as well as changes to loot, Masterworks, Javelins, and quite a bit more. As detailed in the patch notes, Update 1.0.4 makes several loot changes. Chests in Strongholds, Freeplay, and Missions have all been buffed, increasing the number of items they have a chance to drop upon being opened. The same is true for the Apex creatures--Ursix, Titans, Furies, and Escari/Luminaries--in the game. The AFK timer has been reduced to five minutes from 10, and on any of the Grandmaster difficulties, all Stronghold bosses have a higher chance of dropping Masterwork or Legendary items. The update also adds a new Legendary difficulty to critical path missions. From now on, one critical path mission per day will be available for repeated playthroughs. You can replay these missions on Legendary for an added challenge that requires "team coordination to achieve victory." The patch notes don't reveal whether the higher risk will necessarily always result in higher rewards. Elysian Keys can now be earned as a reward for completing daily challenges in Anthem. In turn, these keys can open the Elysian Caches that appear at the end of every Stronghold mission. Caches hold vanity items--there is a unique assortment of 67 vinyls, victory poses, emotes, and arrivals--and crafting materials. In the patch notes, EA promises that you will "never get a duplicate vanity item" from an Elysian Cache. Another welcome tweak allow you to access the Forge from the main menu in Fort Tarsis or the Launch Bay, while the loading screen when entering the Forge has been removed. The patch notes for Update 1.0.4 are very extensive, but if you're curious, you can view them at the link above. EA and BioWare have outlined 90 days of content prepared for Anthem, with plans to further patch and add on to the game in the coming months. Anthem is available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.<doc-sep>Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Anthem gets a new update. The changes in the new update all look promising. Then, upon closer inspection, not all of the improvements are working as intended, and a few things that had previously been fixed are now busted again. Advertisement Anthem’s been there before and after today’s 1.04 update it’s back there again, at least temporarily. Elysian chests are the biggest addition. They now sit at the end of every Stronghold mission. Any player that has an Elysian key, earned by completing daily challenges, gets to open one and get the special vanity items inside, including new decals, fabrics, and emotes. Unfortunately, the introduction of this new reward also appears to have bugged the existing ones, with players, including myself, finding that completing a Stronghold mission no longer guarantees at least one Masterwork drop as it was intended to. On Twitter the game’s community manager, Jesse Anderson, wrote that BioWare is currently investigating this issue, in addition to another strange bug: other players being able to pick up your loot for you. Normally, loot is instanced with the player and invisible to everyone else. If they walk over it, nothing happens. As players grind through Anthem’s end-game, such as it exists, they’ve filled up on everything but the rarest loot, and now, as Kotaku covered yesterday, actively avoid picking up anything of lesser value because it’s more of a pain to deal with than it’s worth. In a master stroke of irony, those same players are now being bombarded with notifications for useless loot as their party members accidently pick it up instead. There are also problems with some of the new vanity items not immediately appearing in the customization menu after missions. My first Elysian treasure was the Warning Markings decal, but I had to close out of the game and restart it, something suggested by Anderson on Twitter, before the decal would show up as an option I could select. It doesn’t help that these issues come right after the game’s lead producer, Ben Irving, clarified over the weekend that new armor sets, something players have been desperate for since launch, wouldn’t be part of the update. Advertisement It’s a shame, especially because the patch as a whole is a step in the right direction. In addition to the new Elysian chests, 1.04 also adds the option to replay story missions on Grandmaster difficulties, helping to cut down on the monotony of spending hours in freeplay or running the same stronghold missions over and over. It’s also now possible to access the Forge where players spec out their Javelins from anywhere in Fort Tarsis or the launch bay, and without having to go through a loading screen. Advertisement The patch also buffs a ton of abilities and Javelin components as well as adding five new ones, including Bloodlust which nearly doubles melee damage for 10 seconds after every enemy that’s killed with a melee attack. In the running for most overlooked change of all is the one BioWare lists last: making it possible to now hover underwater. It’s important to find joy in life’s little pleasures, especially for Anthem players.<doc-sep>	Anthem update 1.08 is on its way. Find out everything new and changed in the patch notes, here. On Monday, Bioware released the patch notes for its latest Anthem 1.08 update (a.k.a 1.0.4.02). The 3.5 GB update will become available for PC, Xbox One and PS4 users as soon as the planned maintenance period ends. The company informed players Sunday night that the maintenance period would occur between 10 a.m and 1 p.m. ET. #AnthemGame will be down for maintenance tomorrow, April 8, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. UTC (9 a.m. - 12 p.m. CT). We'll let you know if there are any changes. Once the maintenance is done, you’ll need to download a client update to get back in the game. — EA Help (@EAHelp) April 7, 2019 While the 3.5GB update doesn't exactly bring a ton of new content, it does address a number of issues players have experiences in the game, such as frequent crashes, incorrect loot drops and problems with Ursix and Titans not spawning in Freeplay. Below we've provided a complete rundown of everything fixed or changes in the 1.08 update. The changes should go live as soon as the maintenance period ends. Anthem Update 1.08 (1.0.4.02) Patch Notes: Everything New and Changed Fixed an issue that was causing loot to drop for javelins other than the one being used. Addressed a number of issues that could occasionally cause Nvidia highlights to crash. Fixed an issue that was causing Elysian Cache items to not appear until completing another activity or restarting the game. The news feed will now properly show content again upon launching into the game. Fixed an issue that was causing Ursix and Titans to not spawn as frequently in Freeplay. Fixed an issue that would cause the screen to shake when enabling DLSS and turning off motion blur. Fixed an issue that would sometimes cause players not to be able to interact with Owen, or hear his audio at the end of the Legendary version of the mission "Finding Old Friends". Titans, Ursix, Luminaries and Fury enemies should no longer disappear when another player starts an Event in Freeplay. What do you think of Anthem's latest update? What changes do you hope to see in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Florence brought heavy, life-threatening floods to many parts of the Carolinas, leaving thousands without power.As of 9:30 a.m., Monday, the statewide power outage total was 4,534.Most of the outages are in Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus Craven, Duplin, New Hanover, Robeson, Sampson, Wake, Wayne, Pamlico, Pender and Onslow counties near the coast.Florence made landfall Friday morning in Wrightsville Beach<doc-sep>WILMINGTON, N.C. — Hurricane Florence made its swipe at Wilmington Friday, cutting power to thousands and priming eastern North Carolina for major flooding in the days ahead. Wind gusts paired with historic rainfall totals brought down trees in nearly every area of the Cape Fear region. A Wilmington mother and her infant child were the first two fatalities attributed to the storm. They died when a large tree came down over the back of their home, crushing and killing them while leaving the child's father hospitalized Friday morning. Between downed trees and rising water levels, some major roads were impassable and more secondary roads were also cut off. Hurricane Florence becomes deadly after mother, infant crushed by tree The Cape Fear River had spilled over the bank of Wilmington's riverfront by Friday afternoon. The marina leading to Wrightsville Beach had also risen significantly and flooded most of the parking lots, docks and roadways nearby. Residents and business owners around downtown came out from their hiding places as early as 8:30 a.m. Friday, about an hour after the eyewall of Florence had passed through. Massive power outages were reported, and downtown streets had fallen trees, broken storefront windows and damaged street signs. At a late afternoon news conference, New Hanover County officials said 106,000 Duke Energy customers were without power out of a total 127,000 customers, and they said that number was rising. The blackout spurred the county to implement a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. "A curfew is the right thing for our community," said New Hanover County manager Chris Coudriet. Florence live coverage:Deadly Florence downgraded to a tropical storm; danger continues John Church, who works at Bourbon Street bar and restaurant, walked to the river to see the conditions about an hour after Florence made landfall. He stayed in the bar to ride out the storm. “We got a little bit of water inside, but things weren’t so bad,” Church said. “The wind was shaking the whole building.” Several large trees had toppled in the city’s historic district near 3rd Street and Princess Street. In a historic neighborhood just outside of downtown, mature oaks and other large trees had fallen onto gardens, gates, roofs and parked cars. County officials said damage assessments would not likely begin until Saturday. Duke Energy crews will have to wait until storm conditions subside before fixing equipment. Power was knocked out on Orange Street about 6 a.m. and was expected to remain out for days. “Now we just have to figure out how to get hot coffee,” said Mary Holland, standing on the porch of her home that was built in 1889. The home was unscathed despite large trees looming overhead. Mary and Jeff Holland said they had just replaced their roof after Hurricane Matthew came through in 2016 and brought wind damage. Thankfully, they said, the new roof held up for Florence. Hurricane Florence:Inland evacuations underway as Florence prepares to slosh across South Carolina Neighbor Charles Carver didn’t come away without damage to his property. A tall tree came down over the back of his tin roof and across the siding. His wooden fence was also knocked to the ground. He said he plans to spend the next few days cleaning up, making repairs and deciding whether to file a claim. Living in his 1886 home for 20 years, he’s been through a handful of storms. “We had a run of them in ‘96 when there was like five or six, or maybe more than that,” he said. “But this is the worst one since then.” That was the year Hurricane Fran made landfall near Wilmington as a Category 3 storm. Across the street from Carver, a woman’s entire front porch awning was ripped down in one piece. Nearby, Jennifer Barfield’s home was OK. She grew up in her home that has been passed down for generations. “We’ve ridden out a couple of them, but this one worried us,” Barfield said, explaining the history of her circa 1906 home. “My grandmother lived in this home.”<doc-sep>	Power outages from Hurricane Florence, which made landfall Friday morning in North Carolina, have topped 890,000 customers. This is according to data as of 8 p.m. Friday EST from poweroutage.us,which tracks the USA's electrical power grid. Most of the outages are in North Carolina, though several thousand are without power in South Carolina. The power service tracker said 759,013 customers were without power in North Carolina and another 131,652 in South Carolina. The number of outages is expected to keep growing. The Weather Channel estimated that up to 3 million customers might lose power in the Carolinas due to Florence. Duke Energy, which provides electricity to customers in eastern North Carolina, had roughly 380,000 customers without power at one point. (A "customer" doesn't necessarily equal one person – it could include a home where several people live or a business where many people are employed.) According to Duke Energy's website, there is no timetable for power restoration, noting that it "depends on storm impacts." North Carolina Emergency Management advised residents Friday morning that "If your power goes out, do NOT operate gas powered generators or charcoal grills in or near your home." More:Hurricane Florence: What you need when disaster strikes Track:Where is Hurricane Florence? Energy Secretary Rick Perry said the U.S. electricity sector has been well prepared for Hurricane Florence even as hundreds of thousands of homes lose power in the storm. Speaking during a visit to Moscow less than an hour after the hurricane made landfall in North Carolina, Perry said “we’ve done this many times before. We know how to manage expectations. We know how to prepare our plants for these types of major events.”
The Philadelphia 76ers have acquired Malachi Richardson, a 2022 2nd round pick and the draft rights to Emir Preldzic for cash considerations in a trade with the Toronto Raptors, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Sixers acquire Malachi Richardson, Toronto’s 2022 second-round pick and the draft rights to Emir Preldzic in exchange for cash considerations in trade with the Raptors, according to sources - @PompeyOnSixers In the midst of writing this post, the Sixers published a press release making the trade official:<doc-sep>Joel Auerbach/Associated Press The Philadelphia 76ers are wheeling and dealing before Thursday's NBA trade deadline, though the team's latest move is far from a blockbuster. According to Keith Pompey of Philly.com, the Sixers have acquired Malachi Richardson, Toronto's 2022 second-round pick and the draft rights to Emir Preldzic in exchange for cash considerations in trade with the Toronto Raptors. Richardson, 23, has appeared in just 22 games for the Raptors this season, averaging 1.4 points in 4.7 minutes per contest. In his three-year career with the Sacramento Kings and Raptors, the New Jersey native is averaging 2.8 points. It's unlikely the former first-round pick out of Syracuse will play a major role for the Sixers this year, especially if they remain busy on the trade and buyout markets. Adding a second-round pick partly replenishes their draft war chest after the 76ers gave up a 2020 lottery-protected first-rounder, Miami's unprotected 2021 first-rounder and two second-rounders (Detroit's 2021 and 2023 picks) as a part of the package for Tobias Harris. As for Preldzic, he's a 31-year-old forward for Bahcesehir of the Turkish Basketball Super League. He's never appeared in an NBA game. Suffice to say, this return won't make waves like the Harris move, though the Sixers got a second-rounder out of the arrangement while Toronto cleared some cap space. Video Play Button Videos you might like More interestingly will be the next moves either the Sixers or Raptors make as the arms race in the Eastern Conference intensifies. Will Philly move on from Markelle Fultz? Will the Raptors try to get into the Anthony Davis sweepstakes or perhaps target another superstar to pair with Kawhi Leonard? Even the smallest NBA trades this time of year have the chance to be consequential.<doc-sep>Folks in Toronto went to bed on Tuesday feeling pretty good. The Raptors had just beaten the Sixers convincingly on the road, their third win in four games. That kept Toronto within 1.5 games of the Bucks in the East and ran Philadelphia’s record against the top teams in the East down to 1-6. Not great for a team Toronto could potentially see in the second round of the playoffs. But at about 3 a.m. Wednesday morning, a nightmare of a transaction went down. Nightmare, at least, if you’re a Raptors employee hoping to fulfill the organization’s yearlong objective: Keeping forward Kawhi Leonard, a free agent this summer, in place. TRADE DEADLINE: Latest news, buzz, reported deals The Sixers made a bold trade, acquiring Clippers star Tobias Harris to bolster its starting five, which had been lacking at power forward for most of the season, and had recently lost Wilson Chandler for a few weeks to a quad injury. The deal gives Philadelphia a fearsome lineup, stacked with shooting and playmaking, and potentially suffocating defensively: Ben Simmons, JJ Redick, Jimmy Butler, Harris and Joel Embiid. Simmons and Embiid are All-Stars, and Harris probably would have been had he played in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors, of course, have much invested in this season, and even before Philly’s quick-strike transaction, Toronto had been scrambling to make a deal that would fortify their chances at a run to the NBA Finals. The Raptors traded away star guard DeMar DeRozan in the offseason and remain nervous about whether Leonard will re-sign with the team. Raptors brass has hoped that a deep playoff run capped by a Finals appearance would convince Leonard to stay put. The Sixers trade is a double-whammy for the Raptors. Now, in addition to the Bucks and Celtics, Philadelphia must be considered a conference contender. The second round of the playoffs now figures to be a killer for all four of the top East teams, but especially Toronto. The Raptors are 1-3 this year against Milwaukee and 1-2 against Boston. But it gets worse for the North. Not only does a strengthened Sixers team give the Raptors another East team to worry about, it cleared out ample cap space for the Clippers, who sent Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott to the Sixers and got back two first-round picks (the Sixers’ in 2020 and the Heat’s in 2021) and two second-round picks, plus Chandler, rookie guard Landry Shamet and big man Mike Muscala. Without the free-agent hold for Harris in place, the Clippers will have nearly $50 million in cap space on July 1, and the assets to create more space before then. And the Clippers, quietly, have made no bones about their desire to sign Leonard, a Southern California native who has indicated he’d like to return home. TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Lowry addresses uncertainty amid deadline chatter The dream scenario for the Clippers is a package signing of both Leonard and Warriors star Kevin Durant, and while that may still be a longshot, there is a much better chance of it coming to fruition in the wake of this deal. The impact of the Harris trade will be felt beyond Toronto. The road through the East just got tougher for both Boston and Milwaukee. The Celtics, still with an eye toward acquiring Pelicans star Anthony Davis in a trade this summer, are unlikely to do much before Thursday’s deadline. The Bucks have been actively seeking to add depth and traded away big man Thon Maker for Pistons wing Stanley Johnson on Wednesday. Milwaukee could yet have another move in the offing for frontcourt help. The team was mentioned as a potential landing spot for Davis, too, but nothing is likely on that front before Thursday. The Raptors have been exploring trades big and small. Toronto is said to be willing to include star guard Kyle Lowry in a deal, going back to the team’s interest in Washington’s Bradley Beal (which went nowhere) and now, its interest in Grizzlies guard Mike Conley and, possibly, center Marc Gasol. The Raptors are also expected to be very active in the post-deadline buyout market. The bulk of the pressure is in Toronto. This dalliance with Leonard was always going to be a one-year gamble for the Raptors, something that could implode catastrophically if the team couldn’t make the Finals and/or get Leonard’s signature on a contract. The move by the Sixers — and the Clippers — only ramps up that considerable pressure.<doc-sep>The Toronto Raptors have made a minor transaction. The team has traded Malachi Richardson, a second-round pick in 2022 and the draft rights to Emir Preldzic to the Sixers in exchange for cash considerations. Richardson, 23, was acquired by the Raptors at last year's deadline from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Bruno Caboclo. He has split the season between the Raptors and their G-League affiliate, Raptors 905. In 28 games with the Raps this season, the seldom-used Richardson averaged 1.4 points and 0.6 rebounds in 4.7 minutes a night. Preldzic, 31, was a 2009 second-round pick by the Phoenix Suns and was acquired by the Raptors from the Indiana Pacers in 2017 for Cory Joseph. Currently with Bahcesehir in his native Turkey, he is unlikely to ever appear in the NBA.<doc-sep>	While it is nowhere near the blockbuster trade that the Philadelphia 76ers pulled off early Wednesday morning when they acquired Tobias Harris and a number of other players from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for a package headlined by Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler and multiple draft picks, the Sixers have reportedly made another move in hopes of providing the team with another shooter as well as some extra depth off of the bench for the stretch run. According to a report from Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Sixers have agreed to acquire Malachi Richardson, Toronto’s 2022 second-round pick and the draft rights to Emir Preldzic in exchange for cash considerations in a trade with the Raptors. Richardson, a first-round draft pick of the Charlotte Hornets in 2016, has bounced around a good bit in his NBA career after declaring for the NBA Draft after a standout freshman season with the Syracuse Orange but the Trenton native will be making a quasi-homecoming of sorts by joining the Sixers which could be the boost that he needs to jumpstart his career. Given the fact that Philadelphia moved a number of quality rotation pieces in their deal for Harris, there opportunity for Richardson to receive playing time once he learns the system that Brett Brown has in place should be higher than it has been during his prior stints with the Raptors and Sacramento Kings. Prior to the trade, Richardson has made 22 appearances for Toronto and averaged 1.4 points in just 4.7 minutes per game.
"I love you so much," Keith Urban said to wife Nicole Kidman as he accepted his award Keith Urban continues his reign as the king of country. Get push notifications with news, features and more. As the Aussie singer took the stage, he received a standing ovation from the audience, including wife Nicole Kidman, whom he thanked as he made his acceptance speech. kw4_6833_2019040775744192.jpg Keith Urban “Thank you so much. Baby Girl, I love you so much,” Urban said as Kidman — whom he’d smooched numerous times before collecting his prize — looked on lovingly. “My team, thank you every one of you. To the fans out there, you are amazing. You have no idea what you mean to me. No idea,” added Urban, who went on to thank his and Kidman’s daughters Sunday Rose, 10, and Faith Margaret, 8. Keith Urban Nicole Kidman kissCredit: CBS Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban \| Credit: CBS “Baby Girl, I love you and our girls, Sunday and Faith, who are at home watching right now,” Urban added. “My whole team … I love you guys … Country radio, I love you so much. Thank you so much. God bless every one of you.” Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full ACM Awards coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night. l1040234_2019040761047695.jpg Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban \| Credit: John Shearer/ACMA2019/Getty Images This marks the first time that Urban, 51, has earned the title, despite nine nominations in the category since 2005. Urban — who also performed during the show — recently wrapped up his Graffiti U World Tour. Absent among the nominees in the entertainer of the year category this year were any female artists, which didn’t go unnoticed by host Reba McEntire. js1_0164_2019040761142523.jpg Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban \| Credit: John Shearer/ACMA2019/Getty “It doesn’t make me very happy because we’ve got some very talented women who are out there working their butts off,” McEntire said while announcing the nominations on CBS This Morning in February. “I’m missing my girlfriends on this.” The last female entertainer to win the coveted title was Taylor Swift in 2012.<doc-sep>She's one of the biggest movie stars in the world and he's one of the most successful country music stars. And on Sunday, Nicole Kidman was once again by Keith Urban's side as he arrived at the 2019 ACM Awards in Las Vegas. The New Zealand-born recording artist has been nominated eight times for the Academy Of Country Music's top prize - the Entertainer of The Year Award - but never won. In addition to being in the running again for that award, he's also nominated for Male Artist of the Year. Big night: Nicole Kidman was by Keith Urban's side at the 2019 ACM Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday where the country music star is nominated for two prestigious prizes The celebrity couple, both 51, were simpatico in their chosen ensembles for the big night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Kidman opted for a cleavage-baring backless black and silver a Christopher Kane dress with pretty lace detailing and voluminous long sleeves. The actress added matching black and silver heels with bows at the ankle and wore her blonde hair in a ponytail with a few tendrils left loose to frame her face. The Big Little Lies star completed her look with a heart-shaped black and silver pendant necklace and a pair of drop earrings. Glamorous: Kidman, 51, opted for a cleavage-baring backless black and silver a Christopher Kane dress with pretty lace detailing and voluminous long sleeves Stylish: The shimmery number was backless and she wore her long blonde hair in a simple ponytail Coordinated: The actress added matching black and silver heels with bows at the ankle and completed her look with a heart-shaped black and silver pendant necklace and drop earrings Dapper: Urban chose a patterned black and navy tuxedo suit. He added a black crew-neck top and black lace-up shoes Urban chose a patterned black and navy tuxedo suit. He added a black crew-neck top and black lace-up shoes. The singer will be performing during the live telecast and posted a short video to his Twitter explaining what he'll be sharing with his fans. 'I'm going to be doing a song tonight that is something I heard recently that absolutely spoke to me,' he said. 'I just love this song.' He added that he's assembled 'a cool little band' to perform on stage with him. Ninth time lucky? The New Zealand-born recording artist has been nominated eight times for the Academy Of Country Music's top prize - the Entertainer of The Year Award - but never won Happily wed: Urban and Kidman married in June 2006. They have two daughters together - Sunday Rose, 10, and Faith Margaret, eight Family focused: The couple's primary residence is in Nashville, Tennessee, and Kidman recently Australia's BW magazine , that the family is able to lead 'a very normal life' there Urban and Kidman married in June 2006. They have two daughters together - Sunday Rose, 10, and Faith Margaret, eight. The couple's primary residence is in Nashville, Tennessee, and Kidman recently Australia's BW magazine, that the family is able to lead 'a very normal life' there. 'We say it over and over again and people always go, 'Oh yeah right'. But we really do,' she insisted. 'We work hard for it and protect it.' Tender moment: Nicole and Keith kissed while attending the 54th annual awards ceremony Top honor: Keith spoke onstage after accepting the Entertainer of the Year award Hollywood star: Nicole looked on with admiration as Keith accepted his award Cute couple: The couple also kissed as Keith was named winner of Entertainer of the Year<doc-sep>The 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards was filled with love. The biggest names in country music stepped out to the red carpet in Las Vegas on Sunday. And while we certainly couldn't get enough of their vibrant ensembles, our hearts melted when we noticed one accessory many of them had in common: their significant others! Now, ET's breaking down our favorite celebrity couples that attended the awards show hand-in-hand. Miranda Lambert and Brendan McLoughlin John Shearer/WireImage The newlyweds, who revealed in February that they secretly tied the knot, pulled out all the stops while making their red carpet debut on Sunday. McLoughlin, clad in a classic black tux, let his wife steal the show. The "Vice" singer opted for a neon green dress that she paired with matching statement earrings and a colorful clutch. Reba McEntire and Skeeter Lasuzzo John Shearer/WireImage The look of love! The host of the ACM Awards couldn't stop smiling while posing with her new boyfriend. "We're having a great time, traveling the world and seeing things and having fun," McEntire shared with ET earlier this month. "I'm still working and loving what I do. I'm at a time in my life where I'm very grateful, very content [and] very calm. Love it." Jessie James Decker and Eric Decker Ethan Miller/Getty Images Could these two be any hotter? As fans of the couple were raving over their looks on social media, the lovebirds were gushing about each other while chatting with ET on the red carpet. "How beautiful is she?" the former NFL player marveled. "That red lipstick is just stunning." We couldn't agree more! Cole Swindell and Barbie Bank John Shearer/WireImage The sweet new couple also made their red carpet debut on Sunday, cuddling up close as they posed for photos. "I am beyond excited and proud of you babe!!!" the WWE star tweeted in support of her beau, whose catchy track "Break Up in the End" was nominated for Song of the Year. Luke Bryan and Caroline Boyer John Shearer/WireImage The "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset" singer coordinated outfits with his wife on Sunday, and we are so here for it! "This is branching out for me. ... It's a little Vegas going on," Bryan explained to ET on the red carpet, giving us a close-up look at his Tom Ford tux. "I may leave it at the MGM [Grand] in the closet. Year after year when I come back, I'll put it on." Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Ethan Miller/Getty Images The Big Little Lies star and her husband were just one of many couples who held hands on the carpet while photographers snapped their pics. "He's my entertainer of the year," Kidman adorably gushed while chatting with ET. Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph John Shearer/WireImage The Bachelor lovebirds made their red carpet debut on Sunday and didn't hold back with their PDA. The two adorably shared a smooch just moments before catching up with ET. "She's beautiful," Underwood said of his fiancee, adding that the two are really enjoying their engagement so far. "We're having fun. We're good. We're trying to live as normal lives we can." Carly Pearce and Michael Ray Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic The adorable duo, who got engaged last December, gave ET an update on how wedding planning is going. "We're right in the middle of it," Ray revealed. "Her and her mom are planning everything." Pearce chimed in, "It's going really well. We're keeping it really simple and my mom and I are doing it together. I have [my dress] and it's awesome. All of my girlfriends think it was custom made for me, and it wasn't, so that makes me feel like it's a good one for me." Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Sounds like this could be one of their last red carpets as boyfriend and girlfriend! The country music star teased to ET that he is "working on" planning a proposal. "It's my first ACMs with my beautiful girlfriend, and I'm excited about that tonight," he shared, adding that he will probably get down on one knee sometime this year. "Don't tell her that, though." Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani John Shearer/ACMA2019/Getty Images for ACM Although the two didn't walk the red carpet together, they certainly stole the show inside. Stefani was seen cheering on her man as he took the stage to perform his new single, "God's Country." For even more cute couple moments from the 2019 ACM Awards, watch the video below. RELATED CONTENT: Best Dressed at 2019 ACM Awards: Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert and More Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph on What's Next for Them: 'We've Talked About Our Engagement' (Exclusive) 2019 ACM Awards: Kelly Clarkson and Dan + Shay Bring Down the House With 'Keeping Score' ACM Awards 2019: Jessie James Decker on Balancing Work and Family With Husband Eric 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>Academy of Country Music Awards host Reba McEntire took a swipe at the show for failing to nominate a single female artist for the night's biggest honor, entertainer of the year, which ultimately went to Keith Urban. Reba, who hosted the show for a 16th time, wasted no time pointing out the lack of female representation for the top honor in her opening monologue live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. "This is my 16th time hosting the show," Reba told a cheering crowd. "People always ask me, 'Do you ever get tired of doing it?' And I [say], 'Tired of celebrating great artists of music...tired of being in charge of the biggest night in country music?' REBA MCENTIRE ON STAYING AWAY FROM POLITICS AT THE 2019 ACM AWARDS AND IF SHE'LL EVER GET MARRIED AGAIN "My name is Reba McEntire and I haven't been tired in 53 years. I'm a woman in the music business and we don't have time for tired," she declared. But the red-headed singer wasn't done going after the show she was hosting. McEntire pointed out that it snowed in Las Vegas in recent weeks before firing off: "It froze us women out of entertainer of the year. But you know what, that didn't bother Kacey Musgraves because she's been too busy carrying all her Grammys around." Musgraves later won album of the year for "Golden Hour." ACM AWARDS 2019 RED CARPET LOOKS McEntire's criticism aside, it was Dan + Shay and Urban who walked away as the night's big winners. The country music duo followed their first Grammy win for "Tequila" with multiple wins at the ACMs. Dan + Shay won duo of the year and single of the year for the crossover hit and "Tequila" also won song of the year for songwriters Dan Smyers, Jordan Reynolds and Nicolle Galyon (Shay Mooney didn't write the song). "I think somebody got the cards mixed up tonight," Smyers said onstage. "This is all incredible. We are all winners tonight." LIST OF 2019 ACM AWARD WINNERS Even Thomas Rhett jokingly dedicated his male vocalist of the year trophy to Dan + Shay. "I am going to five this to Dan + Shay so they can go home with four," he said. Rhett also gave a shout-out to his wife who sat in the audience: "You are smoking hot tonight." While Dan + Shay won the highest number of awards, it was Urban who won top honor for entertainer of the year. "Baby girl, I love you so much," Urban said, looking to his actress-wife, Nicole Kidman. "To the fans out there, you are amazing. You have no idea what you mean to me." MIRANDA LAMBERT SINGS SHE ‘GOT THE HELL OUT OF OKLAHOMA’ AT ACM AWARDS IN FRONT OF BLAKE SHELTON, GWEN STEFANI Other memorable moments came when Miranda Lambert took the stage for the first time and seemingly shaded her ex-husband Blake Shelton by changing the lyrics of her song from "I live in Oklahoma" to "I get the hell out of Oklahoma." She later joined George Strait for a duet. Ashley McBryde, who won new female artist of the year, also was notable: Nearly in tears, she strummed her guitar and beautifully sang "Girl Goin' Nowhere." Jason Aldean, who was honored with the Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award, kicked off the awards show with a fun performance featuring hitmaking duo Florida Georgia Line. FGL's Tyler Hubbard wore a denim outfit featuring the American flag as he sang onstage with band member Brian Kelley and Aldean. MIRANDA LAMBERT, HUSBAND BRENDAN MCLOUGHLIN DISPLAY PDA ON RED CARPET Emmy-nominated "This Is Us" actress Chrissy Metz made her live singing debut and gave an emotional performance onstage, teary-eyed at the song's end. Metz sang "I'm Standing with You" from the upcoming film "Breakthrough," which she stars in. She was joined onstage by Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina, Mickey Guyton and Maddie & Tae — the performers all wore blue dresses and sang in unison. The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>	Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman led the pack of cute couples during the 54th Academy Of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday night. Urban won one of the top awards of the evening, Entertainer of the Year, and upon hearing his name called, planted a big kiss on Kidman. This is the first time he has won in this category, despite being nominated nine times. During his acceptance speech, the 51-year-old country crooner couldn't help but gush over his famous wife as well as share the nickname he has for her. "Thank you so much, Baby Girl, I love you so much," Urban said to Kidman before adding, "My team, thank you every one of you. To the fans out there, you are amazing. You have no idea what you mean to me, no idea." Urban went on to thank the couple's two daughters, Sunday Rose, 10, and Faith Margaret, 8. “Baby Girl, I love you and our girls, Sunday and Faith, who are at home watching right now,” he continued. “My whole team … I love you guys … Country radio, I love you so much. Thank you so much. God bless every one of you.” Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman making out after his #ACMawards win looks like a scene from a movie. 😩 pic.twitter.com/UJxr1AuJJf — Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) April 8, 2019 In addition to his big win, Urban also performed his new single, "Burden," at the awards show, and Kidman admitted to ET's Nancy O'Dell on the red carpet that she got very emotional when she first heard the song. "I’ve already cried at it, I’ll try not to cry," she said ahead of her husband's performance. She later posted a photo of herself giving Urban a kiss on the cheek, writing: "Just listened to his song, Burden, at the #ACMAwards..... looooooooove." Kidman also shared a photo of her and Urban backstage after he won. "The night is just beginning!!" she captioned the pic. "Celebrating Entertainer of the Year at the #ACMAwards! THANK YOU EVERYONE!" Matt Winkelmeyer/ACMA2019/Getty Images for ACM Check out more memorable moments from the ACM Awards: RELATED CONTENT: Cutest Couples at 2019 ACM Awards Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Pack on the PDA at 2019 ACM Awards -- See the Pics! Miranda Lambert Seemingly Shades Ex Blake Shelton at ACM Awards
Bitter rivals and regular bashing merchants in the media of one another, Paulie Malignaggi and Conor McGregor have both come up in the same sentence once again as 2019 rang in with fresh reports that the two could be in line for a boxing match with one another. You never know if these kind of reports are true or not these days. Sometimes spectacle matches of this nature are first gauged on social media by the powers that be purely to see what kind of engagement and reaction is out there from casual sports fans Social media has become quite the market research tool in the regard for events and ‘fights’ of this nature these days. While this might not be more water testing, it’s hard to rule out, but what is new in this long rant from Paulie against McGregor is him referring to him as a ‘coke head’: McGregor has not responded to the allegations from Malignaggi pertaining to his alleged cocaine use as of yet but expect some form of retort in the coming days. The Irish MMA super star has only had one professional boxing match to date — a stoppage defeat at the hands of Floyd Mayweather back in September of 2017. Share this: Twitter Facebook<doc-sep>Conor McGregor snarls during a training session at SBG Ireland FREE for news on the biggest players and tournaments SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments 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. Earlier this week, it was claimed that negotiations were underway for the former UFC lightweight champion to face Malignaggi, who he sparred in the build-up to his 2017 boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Malignaggi revealed to Express Sport on Thursday that no such talks are being held and theorised that the rumour could’ve been started by McGregor in order to keep his name in the headlines. “Not true,” Malignaggi told Express Sport on Wednesday night when asked if he’s in talks to face the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion. “But of course, Conor is the king of bullst so I would not be surprised if this Conor having his team put out rumours just to keep his name in the headlines.” He added: “Yesterday [Tuesday], Tenshin Nasukawa shut him down by telling him he needs to make 58 kilos for a fight. “Now suddenly, the next day, he is another headline negotiating? I assure you he will never fight me. No balls wasn’t a catchphrase, it is a fact. Malignaggi’s staunch denial soon came to the attention of ‘The Notorious’, who took aim at the former WBA and IBF welterweight champion in a lengthy Instagram post early on Saturday morning. Alongside a video of himself and Malignaggi exchanging words outside of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, McGregor wrote: “Let the record show. I like Paulie Malignaggi. Conor McGregor took aim at Paulie Malignaggi and Khabib Nurmagomedov on Instagram I know you’s are broke boys. But don’t be broke b*s Conor McGregor's Instagram taunt at Khabib Nurmagomedov and Paulie Malignaggi “Here is a confrontation between us regarding a picture he was upset about. Yes you heard that right. A picture. “I told him here to his face. ‘Don’t be b**g.’ Common knowledge I would think for a fighting man. Don’t be a bh, b***g.” McGregor then turned his attention to his successor at the summit of the lightweight division - Khabib Nurmagomedov - who he claimed was complaining to referee Herb Dean for the duration of their UFC 229 bout, which he lost via a fourth round submission. He continued: “The same thing I said to Khabib at the end of round 3. My round. Don’t be b**g! Every single round b**g to the referee. Conor McGregor made his long-awaited return to the UFC at UFC 229 “He was even b**g in the fourth round from mount position. It baffled me.” McGregor believes he should’ve been the one complaining as Nurmagomedov held him down for the duration of the first round and inflicted very little damage on him. “If anyone should have been saying anything to the referee, it should have been me in that 1st round,” he said. “That round he held onto my legs for four minutes straight. With zero activity. Conor McGregor's comments soon came to attention of Khabib Nurmagomedov, who responded on Twitter “But a fight is a fight who gives a fk. Crying to the referee like a proper b*h. I was trying to dig my fingers into his Adams Apple. “Many individuals in the fight business, I have learned lately, are absolute b*s. I know you’s are broke boys. But don’t be broke b***s.” It didn’t take long for McGregor’s comments to come to the attention of Nurmagomedov, who responded by mocking the Dubliner over his most recent loss. “You will live with this shame all your life, bi...#tapmachine #mactaper,” he wrote on Instagram and Twitter alongside a GIF of him submitting ‘The Notorious’. Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov are awaiting punishment over the brawl which followed UFC 229<doc-sep>	It had been claimed negotiations were taking place, but the ex-fighter has stated otherwise Former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi has dismissed rumours he is in negotiations for a boxing match against Conor McGregor. The 38-year-old American famously helped the UFC star prepare for his 2017 crossover bout against Floyd Mayweather, only for footage of their sparring sessions to be publicly leaked by McGregor’s team. Malignaggi still disputes an apparent knockdown shown in one of the clips, and the pair became bitter enemies as a result. 1 Paulie Malignaggi held world titles at super-lightweight and welterweight However, the chances of them settling this argument in the ring have been dashed as Paulie told The Express that negotiation rumours are: “Not true.” The now retired boxer did have a theory as to where the speculation might have come from, explaining: “Of course, Conor is the king of bulls*** so I would not be surprised if this is Conor having his team put out rumours just to keep his name in the headlines. “Yesterday, Tenshin Nasukawa shut him down by telling him he needs to make 58 kilos for a fight. Now suddenly, the next day, he is in another headline negotiating?” “I assure you he will never fight me.” Sparring footage of Conor McGregor knocking down Paulie Malignaggi… pic.twitter.com/M3moNPzuNs — Boxing Memes 🥊 (@Boxing_Memes) August 12, 2017 Paulie Malignaggi has previously stated he would return to the sport for a mega money bout with Conor McGregor. however it appears the Irishman has other plans. He is being heavily linked with a return to the MMA Octagon in 2019, with UFC boss Dana White believing a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov is inevitable.
GameSpot The new Fortnite update, 5.10, will go live on PS4, PC, iOS, Switch and Xbox One tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. PT, adding an explosive new game mode and bringing back fan-favorite weapons and items including the guided missile launcher and revamped jetpacks. Fans of the Save the World Mode (yes, battle royale players, they exist) also get a brand-new weapon. For all the details, see the full patch notes at the bottom of the post. The new limited-time battle royale game mode is called Fly Explosives and challenges players to gear up with explosive weapons like grenades, grenade launchers and rocket launchers, then take to the skies with jetpacks to rain down destruction. To make things even more hectic, jetpacks have been updated so they regenerate faster and their burn time is increased for longer flights. You'll also be able to use the jetpacks across all battle royale game modes. Epic Games Adding to the excitement, Epic has also brought back the guided missile launcher. This one is slightly different than the earlier version, with faster reload times, reduced damage and more-even damage distribution on structures. The guided missile launcher and jetpacks should also help you complete this week's challenges released last Thursday. If you're still plugging away at your Battle Pass tiers, check out our guide to complete them. Save the World fans also get a treat with the new flintlock Spyglass Sniper Rifle. It's a one-shot magazine sniper that Epic promises "Kicks like a mule." Check out the full content update notes below. Battle Royale Limited time mode: Fly Explosives Summary This mode combines the explosive fun of the High Explosives LTM and the vaulted Limited Time Item Jetpack. Mode details Only Explosive Weapons can be found in this mode. Floor Loot spawners will occasionally spawn jetpacks. Fly Explosives jetpacks have increased fuel regen rate and decreased burn rate compared with Default jetpacks, to keep pilots in the sky a bit longer. Between-storm wait times have been reduced due to players needing less time to find adequate loot (average match length should be less than 20 minutes). Rocket Ammunition capped at 120. Profile Stats (k/d and wins) are tracked in this mode. Limited time mode: Playground What's new? The Vaulted jetpack has been enabled for the duration of the Fly Explosives LTM. Guided Missile has been enabled. Consumable Healing Item spawn rates have been normalized by lowering Chug Jug and shield spawn rates. Bandages have been removed. This is to raise the chance of spawning healing items that get players to full health and shields. Bug fixes Nameplates will no longer appear for members of the opposite team. Weapons and items Guided Missile returns Available in Epic and Legendary variants. Fuse duration reduced from 18 to 15 seconds. Movement speed decreased from 1,100 to 1,000. Reload time increased to 2.4/2.2. Reduced player damage from 105/110 down to 74/77 damage. Reduced structure damage down from 1,100 to 400. Explosions now damage structures with no regard for line of sight. Guided Missile can also be controlled via keyboard using the default movement inputs. Bug fixes The issues with Slurp Juice have been fixed and it can once again be looted in-game. Mobile iOS players will have a larger than normal update to download (2GB). Save the World Weapons and items Spyglass Sniper Rifle added to the Weekly Store An accurate, high-powered, scoped sniper rifle with a single round per magazine that kicks like a mule. Available Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. PT until Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 5 p.m. PT. Now playing: Watch this: Check out these great, cheap games for the summertime Gallery: Get a firsthand look at the first Overwatch League Grand Finals. Everything you need to know about Fortnite's first birthday update.<doc-sep>UPDATE: With Tuesday morning's update, pictures of the skins have been data mined. According to @stormshieldone, the upcoming 'Galaxy' skin will not be obtainable from the Item Shop.. Perhaps a Samsung exclusive? #Fortnite pic.twitter.com/IXZE8ltJTr — Fortnite News (@FortniteBR) August 7, 2018 Fortnite is coming to Android very soon and data miners have combed through the APK, finding delicious new goodies. There's a bunch of new guns, skins, emotes and items found in the files for V5.20. Sadly, there are no images for these cosmetics or items at present, meaning we only can only speculate from their names. The Fuzzy Panda Bear skin was a design on the Fortnite subreddit, but it's unclear if Epic Games will actually take inspiration from the design. Durr Burger was one of the victims of the portals created at the start of Season 4, making this cosmetic the perfect opportunity to commemorate our fallen, beefy comrade. The break-barrel shotgun , heavy sniper and rail sniper are definitely the most interesting additions to the bunch. We know the heavy sniper will be able to punch through walls, but has a much slower reload time. The rail sniper will do crazy amounts of damage at long distances and could potentially have a larger hitbox like other rail guns. Break-barrel is similar to a double-barrel shotgun, which I hope isn't completely broken like the other shotguns in Fortnite. It's unclear when these items and cosmetics will come to the game, though it does look like Samsung Galaxy Note 9 pre-orders will give players 15,000 V-Bucks. Here's the full list of items found in the code, courtesy of code diggers XDA-Developers: Skins: Celestial Durr Burger Hero Exercise Fuzzy Bear Panda (Legendary) Street Racer (Uncommon) Sushi Chef (Male) (Uncommon) Emotes: Aerobics Chug Llama Bell Hot Stuff Pump Gliders: Durrburger Hero Exercise Street Racer Bike Sushi Chef Pickaxes: Sushi Chef Exercise Street Racer Cobra Durr Burger Hero Wukong Back Bling: 80's Exercise Street Racer (White) Sushi Chef Durr Burger Hero Fuzzy Panda Bear Weapons: Break-barrel Shotgun Heavy Sniper Rail Sniper Gamemodes: 5×20 Bling Blitz Comp Blitz Deimos Final Gameplay Mutators Ground Fly Explosives Impact Practice Score Shotguns Sky Supply Snipers Solid Gold Steady Storm Taxes "WW" (Wild West) Items: Durrrables Burger (Healing item) Durrrables Drink (Shield Item) Durrrables Fries (Movement Speed Boost) Bottle Rocket Grapple ZipLine "Shockwave" Grenade Traps:<doc-sep>	It's time for a big new Fortnite update, which means we'll soon be back on the Fortnite merry-go-round of Epic introducing and nerfing new weapons following community complaints. This week, it's all about the shotguns again, as Epic has announced in its v5.20 patch notes a new double-barrel shotgun has arrived. This apparently "packs a punch with each of its two shots," and like most shotguns, will be "devastating at close range" but less effective at distance. The gun can only be found as epic and legendary loot, meaning it should be fairly rare in the game. If you want to see the full specs, make sure to check out Eurogamer's Fortnite weapons guide. Meanwhile, a new LTM (Limited Time Mode) has also been added, which goes by the name of "Steady Storm". Beyond sounding like something Theresa May would say, the mode will feature a gradually-moving storm that closes in over 15 minutes. Players will need to keep an eye on the map, as the storm "waits for no player and there are no safe zones". Relaxing stuff. It also seems Epic has brought in a number of bugfixes to try and solve that pesky ghost-peeking issue which seems unable to vanish from the game. Ghost-peeking, if you missed it, is the phenomenon where a crouching player can fire over cover without being seen by the target. Epic addressed the problem in the last patch, but apparently some more tweaks were still required. The weapon fire position will now "more closely follow the actual player position when crouching and un-crouching". Finally, and most importantly, Epic has also added honking to the ATKs (all-terrain karts). Now you can announce your arrival into Tilted in style. Unfortunately, there's still no word on the shopping carts, which are temporarily disabled due to a bug.
"I grew up in gang culture," he told the Los Angeles Times in a 2018 interview. "We dealt with death, with murder. It was like living in a war zone, where people die on these blocks and everybody is a little bit immune to it."<doc-sep>A Los Angeles vigil commemorating rapper Nipsey Hussle was cut short on Monday by a stampede sparked by inaccurate reports of shots fired in the area, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Times reported that the reports of shots fired prompted dozens of people to begin running away around 8 p.m. Monday. According to the paper, people collided as they attempted to flee the packed crowd. Nineteen people were taken to hospitals, including two in critical condition and two more with serious injuries, according to the Times. Fifteen others had non-life-threatening injuries, according to the paper. Most suffered injuries relating to being trampled amid the rush. ADVERTISEMENT The Times noted that several police officers tried to control the crowd and gather information about what sparked it to disband. Musician DeAndre Harvey, who said he attended the memorial, told the Times that a fight broke out and led to liquor bottles and candles breaking, which some in the crowd mistook as the sound of gunshots. “I don’t know who was fighting,” Harvey told the Times. “I didn’t actually see the punches, but you just saw arms rolling and glass breaking and everybody running.” Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore wrote on Twitter late Monday that authorities were working to "restore order," writing that the reports of shots fired did "not appear to be accurate." “Our people are onscene [sic] making every effort 2 protect everyone in attendance at the Nipsey Hussle vigil,” Moore said on Twitter. “Reports of shots fired at the vigil do not appear to be accurate. We do have injured in the chaos and are attempting to restore order.” Our people are onscene making every effort 2 protect everyone in attendance at the Nipsey Hussle vigil. Reports of shots fired at the vigil do not appear to be accurate. We do have injured in the chaos and are attempting to restore order. — Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) April 1, 2019 Hussle was shot and killed Sunday in front of one of his businesses in South Los Angeles, where he lived and worked as a community activist. The Los Angeles Police Department announced Tuesday they are seeking Eric Holder, 29, on suspicion of killing Hussle and wounding two others in the shooting Sunday night in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood.<doc-sep>EMBED >More News Videos At least 19 people were hospitalized after a vigil for slain rapper Nipsey Hussle turned violent Monday night. A HUGE stampede of people rushed out of the @NipseyHussle memorial area. People thought they heard something break or a loud noise and started running. @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/rVp84eNCYi — Veronica Miracle (@ABC7Veronica) April 2, 2019 EMBED >More News Videos A chaotic scene broke out and several people were injured after a large crowd gathered and then stampeded at the Hyde Park store where rapper Nipsey Hussle was killed. EMBED >More News Videos A suspect wanted in the shooting death of Nipsey Hussle was identified by police Monday night. HYDE PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A chaotic scene broke out and 19 people were hospitalized Monday night after a large crowd gathered and then stampeded at the Hyde Park store where rapper Nipsey Hussle was killed.The Los Angeles Fire Department transported two critical patients, one who was hit by a vehicle and another with a traumatic penetrating injury due to an unknown cause. Two others were seriously hurt and 15 were transported with non-life-threatening injuries. A number of people also walked into emergency rooms on their own to get checked out.Fire officials said the exact cause of the disturbance was unclear. Most of the injuries may have occurred as the crowd fled in panic, officials said.An LAFD spokesperson said that there may have been one gunshot victim. Authorities initially reported there was no evidence of that but fire officials later said they are still trying to sort that out.The LAPD had earlier tweeted that there was not a shooting at the site: "Our men and women are on scene and making every effort to protect everyone in attendance at the Nipsey Hussle vigil. Reports of shots fired at the vigil do not appear to be accurate. We do have injured in the chaos and are attempting to restore order. ""We understand the community is mourning and we feel your loss. We are asking for everyone to follow the officers directions and disperse from the immediate area. "During the day, hundreds of people had gathered peacefully at the store where the rapper had been slain Sunday afternoon. Fans were gathering to remember him.Later in the evening, a disturbance suddenly broke out in the crowd and people began fleeing from the store.LAPD officers began forming skirmish lines and keeping people away from the scene. Eyewitness News was there when people were running for their lives. Many even tried to shove themselves underneath the ABC7 news van for safety. Babies were heard crying and several shoes were left behind amid the chaos.Fans of the slain rapper said Hussle would not have wanted more violence. "I'm pretty sure he would be really upset. He never wanted this for this community. No violence," one fan said.As the chaos lessened, the LAPD later released the name of the suspect wanted in Hussle's death. The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Eric Holder . He was last seen in a 2016 white four-door Chevy Cruze with the California license plate 7RJD742.The scene of the stampede was eventually blocked off and off limits to the public. A crisis management team was working on moving all candles and flowers to one area, and at 5 a.m. Tuesday, a sanitation team will arrive to clean up the debris. The hope is people will be able to return to the scene to continue mourning the death of the rapper, but in a safe and secure manner.<doc-sep>	Multiple people were injured in a massive stampede during a memorial in Los Angeles for slain rapper Nipsey Hussle on Monday, as hundreds were paying their respects near the scene where he was fatally shot. Chaos erupted outside of the late rapper's The Marathon clothing store near the Crenshaw District on Monday night when a man brandished a gun and another person in the crowd tried to disarm him, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said at a news conference on Tuesday. He said the incident sparked panic when a large crowd of mourners mistook the sound of breaking glass for gunfire and rushed to flee the scene. Moore said one person was stabbed in the incident. No gunshots were fired, he said. At least 19 people were transported to local hospitals with various trample-related injuries, and several others were treated on the scene for minor injuries, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. Two victims were suffering from "critical" injuries, and two others had injuries described as "serious," officials said. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department said the crowd reacted to what was interpreted as gunfire, but no shots were fired. "Our men and women are on scene and making every effort to protect everyone in attendance at the Nipsey Hussle vigil," the LAPD said in a statement. "Reports of shots fired at the vigil do not appear to be accurate. We do have injured in the chaos and are attempting to restore order." LAPD officers began forming skirmish lines to keep people away from the scene. They told people to avoid the area while city workers cleaned up the scene. "We understand the community is mourning and we feel your loss," the statement said. "We are asking for everyone to follow the officers directions and disperse from the immediate area." Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, was shot multiple times in the head and torso while standing outside of his store around 3:20 p.m. local time on Sunday, authorities said. Police named 29-year-old Eric Holder as a suspect in the shooting late Monday night and asked for the public's help in locating him. The Los Angeles Police Department did not say whether Holder had any known ties to Hussle, but law enforcement sources previously told ABC News the shooting appeared to have been targeted and personal based on how it was carried out. The rapper, known for his philanthropic efforts and business ventures throughout south LA, received an outpouring of love and praise from some of the music industry's biggest stars in the wake of his death. Hussle, a Los Angeles native, is survived by his two children and his longtime girlfriend, actress Lauren London. ABC News' Alex Stone and Marilyn Heck contributed to this report.
Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott showed up at the Grammy Awards last night, and everyone was too busy, like, watching the actual show to pay too much attention. 'Cause yeah, they fully rolled in late. But! Turns out this maybe-engaged-but-who-knows couple had a major PDA moment on the red carpet that we all missed. As in, they puckered up and kissed. Here's Kylie going in... Getty Images And here's the actual lip-lock: Getty Images Plus, another angle if you're feeling particularly thirsty right now: Getty Images In the words of Elton John in The Lion King, CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT? Let's just say if these two aren't already engaged, a proposal seems imminent based on PDA vibes alone. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Follow Mehera onInstagram. 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>Products in this story are independently selected and featured editorially. If you make a purchase using these links we may earn commission. Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott didn't hold back their affection for each other on the Grammys red carpet It’s a parents’ night out for Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott! The mom and dad to 1-year-old Stormi Webster got all dolled up and showed lots of P.D.A. at their first awards show appearance as a couple at the 2019 Grammys. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Jenner, 21, wore a baby pink halter Balmain Haute Couture jumpsuit with full-glove sleeves and a satin-lace belt, ivory pumps and Lorraine Schwartz jewels while she styled her hair in a loose chignon. Meanwhile, Scott, 26, posed by her side in a black suit, wrapping his arms around her waist as the Kylie Cosmetics mogul leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek for the cameras. US-ENTERTAINMENT-MUSIC-GRAMMY-ARRIVALS Credit: VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Scott earned three Grammy nominations for best rap album (for Astroworld), best rap song (for his hit single “SICKO MODE”) and best rap performance (also for “SICKO MODE”). He tweeted his reaction to the news a day after the announcement. 61st Annual Grammy Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 10 Feb 2019 Credit: Chelsea Lauren/REX/Shutterstock Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full Grammys coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night. “Thank u record academy it’s took a whole 24hrs for it to really hit me,” Scott wrote. 61st Annual Grammy Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 10 Feb 2019 Credit: Matt Baron/REX/Shutterstock The two also stepped out Saturday for Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy party, and although they did not walk the carpet, they cuddled up and showed some P.D.A inside the party. Jenner slipped into a long, silky red strapless dress with a thigh-high slit, paired with nude heels after throwing a lavish 1st birthday party for daughter Stormi just hours earlier. Jenner and Scott’s Grammys date night comes as the pair continues to spark speculation about their marriage status. The Kylie Cosmetics mogul jetted to Atlanta one week ago to support her man as he performed alongside Maroon 5 and Big Boi at the Super Bowl, and flashed a large diamond ring on her left hand that had many wondering if the couple was already married. kylie-jenner-2 Credit: Travis Scott/Instagram The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star also further fueled marriage rumors when she captioned a photo of herself on Instagram, “extraño a mi esposo.” In Spanish, this translates to “I miss my husband.” While Jenner has repeatedly showed off big bling and thin diamond bands on her ring finger, KarJenner family matriarch Kris Jenner insists the two didn’t secretly marry. RELATED VIDEO: Bebe Rexha Reveals That Designers Will Not Dress Her for the Grammy Awards Because She’s a Size 8 “Not that I know of,” Kris Jenner, 63, said when asked about any wedding plans last month. “So, if you hear something, you better call my cell.” But according to a source, Jenner and Scott are looking to walk down the aisle in the near future. “Travis and Kylie are looking to get married soon,” the source told PEOPLE. kylie-jenner-a Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty That said, the source added that Jenner is also “taking marriage at a more cautious pace after seeing her sisters’ past relationships fail.” RELATED: Grammys 2019 Nominations: Cardi B, Drake and Kacey Musgraves Earn Multiple Nods — See the Full List In Dec. 2018, Scott revealed in his Rolling Stone cover story that he hopes to say “I do” to his girlfriend soon. “It got to a point where I was like, ‘I need [Kylie] with me to operate. She’s that one,’” Scott said, adding, “We’ll get married soon. I just gotta sturdy up — I gotta propose in a fire way.”<doc-sep>Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) The couple that shares clothes together, stays together. On Sunday night, Travis Scott took the stage at the 2019 Grammys to perform “Stop Trying to Be God” and “No Bystanders,” but his clothes made an equally loud statement. Scott, 26, wore a 1993 Rush band tee with a graphic of a rabbit riding a turtle, which his girlfriend Kylie Jenner had sported first just a few days prior and shared on Instagram. It’s unclear whether the superstar couple are fans of the Canadian rock band, or if the “Goosebumps” rapper simply dipped into the makeup mogul’s closet to find something special for his performance. Jenner, 21, supported Scott on the red carpet, wearing a pink Balmain jumpsuit and matching gloves. The two were very affectionate in front of the cameras, cuddling and kissing before entering the show. Scott was nominated for three Grammys this year: Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for “Sicko Mode,” as well as Best Rap Album for “Astroworld,” though he came up short on all three. However, it wasn’t all losses for Stormi Webster’s dad: After he took the stage, Nike SNKRS surprise-dropped Scott’s Air Jordan 1 High OG NRG sneakers in a brown and white colorway, which sold out immediately.<doc-sep>	The 61st annual Grammy Awards ceremony is tapped to be the year’s biggest night in music. Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Shawn Mendes, Travis Scott and more artists are scheduled to perform. Anna Kendrick, John Mayer, Nina Dobrev, Wilmer Valderrama, Meghan Trainor and more stars are set to present. Talk about star-studded! With 15-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys at the helm, hosting all of the festivities, audiences are definitely in for a treat when they tune in on Sunday, February 10. “I know what it feels like to be on that stage, and I’m going to bring that vibe and energy,” Keys, 38, said in a press release. “I’m so excited to be the master of ceremonies on the biggest night in music and celebrate the creativity, power and, magic. I’m especially excited for all the incredible women nominated this year! It’s going ‘UP’ on February 10!” President/CEO of the Recording Academy Neil Portnow echoed the “Girl on Fire” singer’s excitement, saying via the same press release, “As an artist who speaks to the power of music, we are thrilled to have her on board for what’s sure to be an unforgettable Grammy Awards.” As always before the televised event begins, though, there are other special music events that go down: parties. Between Clive Davis‘ pre-Grammys gala and Roc Nation’s pre-Grammys brunch, celebrities across all different fields were pictured celebrating before the affair. Some of the biggest stars in music, as well as TV, sports and even politics, descended upon the Los Angeles area on Saturday, February 9, including Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott, Beyoncé and Jay-Z and the legendary Barbra Streisand. The 2019 Grammys will broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET. Until then, scroll down to see which stars hit up the parties before the show!
WATCH: Caroline D'Amore Discusses 'Surreal' MTV's 'The Hills: New Beginnings' Experience & Pizza Girl BusinessThe Los Angeles native discusses what it was like to join the cast of "The Hills: New Beginnings" and her new line of sauce. SEC Football: CBS Sports Announces 2021 Schedule Including Alabama At Florida On September 18The SEC on CBS kicks off on September 18 with an SEC Championship game rematch between the Crimson Tide and Gators. Mayweather Vs. Paul: Showtime Sports Announces Broadcast Team For June 6 EventThe network announced its plans for the broadcast of the pay-per-view exhibition bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Logan Paul. The 74th Annual 'Tony Awards' And 'The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back!' Come To CBS September 26thCBS and Tony Award Productions will celebrate Broadway’s highly anticipated return to live theatre with a multiplatform event The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back! Sunday, September 26th (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) broadcasting on CBS and available to stream live and on demand with Paramount+ or the CBS app. Champions League Final: Christian Pulisic 'Could Be The Difference' For Chelsea Against Manchester City Says Micah RichardsThe Champions League on CBS Sports analyst says Pulisic could have a "huge impact" on Saturday's final for Chelsea as they look to upset the favorites, Manchester City. ⚽⚽⚽ UEFA Champions League Final: How To Watch, Coverage Plan For Chelsea Vs. Manchester CityThe all England final featuring Chelsea and Manchester City is getting wall-to-wall coverage on CBS and various platforms. 📺📺📺<doc-sep>A man hospitalized for dehydration a few months ago at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center started suffering a severe fever, and doctors weren’t sure why. The patient was homeless, a clue to doctors that he might have typhus. Every year people contract flea-borne typhus in Southern California, mostly in Los Angeles County. Doctors did a blood test. “We sent it off, and lo and behold — typhus,” County-USC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brad Spellberg said. Since July, there have been nine cases of typhus in downtown Los Angeles, six of which infected homeless people, prompting health officials last week to declare an outbreak there. There have also been 20 cases in Pasadena this year, far more than the five typically seen there annually. Advertisement Typhus outbreaks are often associated with poor hygiene and overcrowding. Los Angeles officials say they’re corralling stray animals that could carry fleas, cleaning streets and encouraging people to treat their pets for fleas and put away trash that may attract infected animals. The outbreak has also fueled debates about homelessness and housing. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti this week pledged $300,000 to increase street cleaning downtown. But many fear that won’t be enough to curb the growing number of cases and clear out the trash that has accumulated as the city’s homeless population has spread. (Los Angeles Times) “The sidewalks weren’t ever intended for habitation, our storm drains were never intended for human waste, and rats [are] crawling all over people,” said Estela Lopez, executive director of the L.A. Downtown Industrial Business Improvement District. “This is unimaginable, that in such an advanced society we would be facing this problem.” More people have been falling sick with typhus in Los Angeles County over the last decade, though experts are unsure why. The rise in homelessness is prominent among the theories, which also include warmer temperatures and people spending more time outside. There were five typhus cases in 2008, compared with 79 cases so far this year, according to the California Department of Public Health. Typhus spreads when fleas become infected with bacteria known as Rickettsia typhi or Rickettsia felis. The illness reaches humans when fleas bite them or when infected flea feces are rubbed into cuts or scrapes in the skin, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s very hard to say — these microbes have a mind of their own. They come when they want, and they seem to go when they want,” Spellberg said. “I don’t think anybody really knows.” Advertisement Typhus is distinct from typhoid fever, a foodborne illness that is rarely contracted within the United States and can be spread from person to person. Typhus, by contrast, cannot be passed between people. Typhus causes fever, body aches, stomach pain and a rash. Most people recover on their own, but more severe cases can lead to damage to the heart, brain and lungs without treatment. The infection can lead to death in rare cases. Alex Comisar, a spokesman for Garcetti, said the city and the county have formed a task force to address the outbreak and are stepping up cleaning efforts using the extra funding. “We’re deploying every available resource to help control and stop this outbreak,” Comisar said. Advertisement Next week, city workers will begin picking up trash and cleaning within what has been designated the “typhus zone,” a downtown area bounded by 3rd, 7th, Spring and Alameda streets. Already, workers clean some streets in the zone encompassing parts of skid row as part of a program called Operation Healthy Streets. They are cleared of debris, washed and then misted with a liquid containing bleach every two weeks. (Los Angeles Times) But the new effort will expand the cleaning area from 100 acres to 279, according to a map provided by Comisar. The new funding will last for nine months. Advertisement Enrique Zaldivar, director of the city’s sanitation department, said the new effort will allow collaboration with private businesses that may help stem the outbreak in a way that would not have been possible before. “There may be a privately owned building that is not being utilized, and it’s a perfect place for rodents to nest, and that’s totally outside the reach of our cleaning operations,” he said. But many expressed anger that the cleanup area would not extend south of 7th Street. Rena Leddy, executive director of the L.A. Fashion District Business Improvement District, said heaps of trash are accumulating south of the typhus zone, from 8th Street down to the edge of her district near 18th Street. On Thursday, several tents lined an alleyway just south of 7th Street, surrounded by crates and trash. Pigeons pecked at food fallen on the sidewalk. At the corner of 8th Street and Central Avenue, also outside of the typhus zone, a large heap of trash had accumulated against a brick wall. Advertisement “There are other parts of downtown that also have mass amounts of accumulated garbage. That’s what we’ve all been told is collecting the rats that are then spreading the fleas,” Leddy said. But officials say that although rats, cats and opossums can all carry fleas, different outbreaks have different causes. The uptick in cases in Pasadena this year is probably linked to opossums and cats — not rats, said Levy Sun, public information officer for the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. “Rats are kind of a red herring here,” Sun said. Advertisement Sun said that testing of rats in the region shows they don’t carry many fleas. During the last typhus outbreak in Los Angeles County in 2015, a single opossum captured in a mobile home park in Pomona had 1,087 fleas on it. Three-fifths of the fleas tested from the cats and opossums that were trapped tested positive for typhus. Health officials were able to control that outbreak by starting flea control, trapping feral animals in the area, offering free typhus tests and monitoring flea populations. People who lived in the mobile home community had to clear feeding sites and limit the number of pets to one, a rule dictated by the property owner that hadn’t been followed. One person had 32 pets, according to an academic paper published about the response to the outbreak. Advertisement Sun encouraged people to clean up debris and buckets in their backyards and make sure their pets are treated for fleas. The solution, he said, is not to “shake typhus and wildlife from our environment, but shake the habits we have.” Of the 945 typhus cases in California since 2001, 726 have been in Los Angeles County — and those numbers only seem to be going up. “We’ve been thinking about typhus for a long time,” Spellberg said. A pile of trash sits uncollected on Santee St. in between 18th St. and Washington Blvd in the fashion district of Los Angeles. An outbreak of typhus has been linked to overcrowding and homelessness in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement People walk past a homeless encampment on 6th St., just west of Central Ave. in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) [email protected] Twitter: @skarlamangla<doc-sep>	Several people in downtown Los Angeles have fallen sick with typhus, a disease spread by fleas that can cause organ damage if left untreated. L.A. County health officials said Thursday that they were working with city officials to clear trash and corral stray animals to curb the spread of the infection, which is typically associated with overcrowding and poor hygiene. Officials said nine cases were reported in the county from July to September. “Although typhus normally occurs throughout L.A. County, we are observing several cases in the downtown Los Angeles area,” said L.A. County health officer Dr. Muntu Davis. “We encourage pet owners to practice safe flea control and encourage all cities in the county to ensure maintenance of their trash cleanup and rodent control activities.” Typhus is distinct from typhoid fever, a foodborne illness that is rarely contracted within the United States and can be spread from person to person. Typhus, by contrast, cannot be passed between people. It spreads when fleas become infected with bacteria known as Rickettsia typhi or Rickettsia felis. The illness reaches humans when fleas bite them or when infected flea feces are rubbed into cuts or scrapes in the skin, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are about 200 typhus cases reported nationwide each year, most of which are in California, Hawaii and Texas, according to the CDC. Typhus causes fever, body aches, stomach pain and a rash. Most people recover on their own, but more severe cases can lead to damage to the heart, brain and lungs without treatment. County health officials advised that people avoid wild or stray animals, especially opossums, rats and stray cats. They also asked that people use lids on their trash cans to avoid attracting animals and use products on pets to reduce fleas. [email protected] Twitter: @skarlamangla
President Trump has been on a working vacation at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., holding only two public events this week -- one of his quietest stretches in a long time. But his thumbs don't take time off. This week we'll check three fact-challenged tweets that really stood out. Welcome to Fact Check Friday. Water wars As fires ravage California with record-breaking ferocity, the president ignited controversy, falsely claiming on Twitter that the state is mismanaging water supplies that should be available to fight the infernos. California has been fighting 13 large wildfires, including the largest one on record, all during the hottest month recorded in the state's history. The most critical fact that stands in the way of the president's statement comes from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which says water is not the problem. "We have plenty of water to fight these fires," Deputy Cal Fire Chief Scott McLean said in a statement. "The Carr fire has Whiskeytown Lake, Shasta Lake and Trinity Lake just to name a few water sources. The Mendocino Complex is next to Clearlake Lake. The current weather is causing more severe and destructive fires." Nevertheless, on Wednesday, the Department of Commerce ordered the National Marine Fisheries to "facilitate access" to water needed to fight fires in California. It also said that "protection of life and property takes precedence" over water allocation arrangements under the Endangered Species Act. That's where the order takes a questionable turn. Environmentalists and salmon fisheries fear that what's really behind the president's intervention is an age-old gripe from Central Valley farmers that not enough water is being diverted to them. Earlier this year the state decided to keep more water in the rivers to protect endangered Delta smelt and Chinook salmon, dealing a blow to those farmers... farmers who also happen to live in one of California's few Republican strongholds. The Department of Commerce has not responded to repeated requests from ABC News about this question. "Most biting sanctions ever imposed" Just after midnight Tuesday, the first round of U.S. sanctions suspended under the Obama-era Iran nuclear agreement snapped back into place as a result of Trump's decision to pull out of the deal. In Trump words, they were the "most biting sanctions ever imposed." "The Iran sanctions have officially been cast. These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level. Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States. I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less!," the president tweeted at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. There is no doubt these sanctions -- on gold and precious metals, currency transactions and more -- will hurt Iran, but it seems dishonest to characterize them as "the most biting." And as the president mentions, these are only the first wave of sanctions being put back into place. Tougher sanctions on Iranian oil and its Central Bank are expected to snap back in November. But even then, the U.S. sanctions will be without companion sanctions from Europe, Russia and China that were lifted as part of the international Iran nuclear agreement. Trump pulled out of the deal without their support. So to call them the most "biting sanctions ever" doesn't have the ring of truth to it. Tariffs will pay down the debt The New York Times published a great piece breaking this all down and the simple conclusion they drew, which should be obvious to the check-book balancer in all of us, is that the math doesn't add up. First of all, before you can even begin to reduce the national debt, the U.S. government first has to balance the annual budget. That means it has to start spending less than it makes every year. The Congressional Budget Office projects the federal deficit will rise from nearly $800 billion this year to over $1 trillion in 2019, due in large part to the president's tax cuts. In the meantime, the Treasury Department expects the U.S. to collect only about $40 billion from tariffs as of 2018. That's not even close to the $1 trillion deficit, not to mention $21 trillion debt.<doc-sep>In his first public comments on the wildfires that have been ablaze in California for weeks, Donald 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 typical fashion, took to Twitter to send a series of nonsensical tweets that attacked California, and showed his ignorance and insensitivity. California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2018 He tweeted: “California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading!” ADVERTISEMENT California has some of the strongest environmental laws in the country, but the impact of extreme drought conditions caused by climate change are intensifying wildfires. Contrary to his tweets, the Trump administration’s anti-environment policies, not California’s pro-environment reforms, will make matters worse and hurt our planet for generations to come. I served 10 years on the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the primary state agency responsible for protecting public health from the harmful effects of air pollution. I was appointed by three governors – one Democrat and two Republicans. I am proud of the work CARB has done, which is centered around science and evidence-based research. California leads the nation and world in fighting air pollution by setting its own, tougher standards on greenhouse gas emissions, as allowed under the Clean Air Act, a bipartisan compromise signed into law by Republican President Richard Nixon in 1970 and expanded in 1990 under George H. W. Bush. In 2012, President Obama brought national standards in line with those set by CARB, creating the One National Program. The genius and beauty of the Clean Air Act is that it has been a bipartisan success. This past week, Trump announced a move to roll back national fuel economy standards and undermine California’s innovative efforts to address our unique air pollution problems. In response, I led a coalition of 60 Democratic members in introducing a resolution condemning the move, signaling to the administration that it will be met with a unified front of opposition should it choose to go down this path. Without standards to curb current emissions levels or the other proactive work California is doing, global temperatures could rise by over four degrees in the coming decades. This change in temperature will certainly lead to more natural disasters including an increased risk of wildfires. Natural disasters, including three hurricanes, wildfires, hail, flooding, tornadoes, and drought, cost the federal government $306 billion last year. The previous record in one year was $215 billion. There were 15 disasters last year that had damage that exceeded a billion dollars each. One hurricane took more than 1,000 lives with fires taking dozens and extreme heat adding to the toll. Today, 17 fires rage across California, including the largest in its history. While Donald Trump is not going to stop playing with fire, it is incumbent on lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to push back on his grandstanding. It took Republicans and Democrats to pass clean air legislation. And, it is going to take all of us working together to anticipate and prevent natural disasters that will occur without reducing the effects of climate change. Our lives and our planet depend on it.<doc-sep>As California firefighters battle several major blazes across the state, including the largest in its history, the Mendocino Complex fire, President Donald Trump has fanned the flames of controversy with his remarks on the fires. Trump claims the fires have been made worse by a water shortage in the state resulting from “bad environmental laws.” Click here if viewing from a mobile device. As a result, “Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross ordered the National Marine Fisheries Service to prioritize sending water to firefighters to use against the flames over other concerns – including making sure water flows to the habitats of endangered fish and other wildlife that that agency is tasked with protecting,” reports The Washington Post. Start your day with the news you need from the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our Morning Report weekday newsletter. California, however, says it does not need any more water. According to the Post, the President’s tweets about the wildfires “baffled experts who said the president did not seem to understand the basics about how the fires are being fought there.” See how cartoonists viewed the situation.<doc-sep>A firefighter runs while trying to save a home as a wildfire tears through Lakeport, Calif., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. The residence eventually burned. Firefighters pressed their battle against a pair of fires across Mendocino and Lake counties. In all, roughly 19,000 people have been warned to flee and 10,000 homes remain under threat. Noah Berger/AP An airplane flies over a large wildfire plume from a recent flareup of the Woolsey Fire near Lake Sherwood, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Forecasters had warned of continuing fire danger in Southern California due to persistent Santa Ana winds, the withering, dry gusts that sweep out of the interior toward the coast, pushing back moist ocean breezes. (AP Photo/Amanda Myers) Flames burn inside a van as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that forced the evacuation of an entire town and destroyed hundreds of structures. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) BIG BEND, CA - NOVEMBER 10: The Camp Fire burns in the hills on November 10, 2018 near Big Bend, California. Fueled by high winds and low humidity the Camp Fire ripped through the town of Paradise charring 105,000 acres, killed 23 people and has destroyed over 6,700 homes and businesses. The fire is currently at 20 percent containment. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) They lost everything in the fires Fire evacuee: All we could do was pray A firefighter runs while trying to save a home as a wildfire tears through Lakeport, Calif., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. The residence eventually burned. Firefighters pressed their battle against a pair of fires across Mendocino and Lake counties. In all, roughly 19,000 people have been warned to flee and 10,000 homes remain under threat. Noah Berger/AP (CNN) — Even the White House can’t explain President Donald Trump’s tweets suggesting California environmental laws have worsened wildfires raging in that state. On Tuesday, administration officials declined to offer any clarity on Trump’s series of tweets claiming environmental laws and water regulations in California are hampering the state’s ability to fight the wildfires. Wildfire experts and local officials say the President’s claims simply don’t hold up. Instead, some White House officials admitted to being slightly perplexed at where Trump may have gotten the notion that California’s long-running water crisis and a debate over how to divide limited supplies are somehow related to the out of control fires. While Trump’s tweets can sometimes be linked to segments on Fox News, there have been no correlating segments linking the two issues in recent days on the channel that frequently serves as presidential inspiration. White House officials also couldn’t say whether Trump had discussed the issue with California lawmakers involved in the water debate. What Trump said Trump launched his unfounded suggestions in a tweet on Sunday claiming: “California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amount of readily available water to be properly utilized.” He then claimed that the water is “being diverted into the Pacific Ocean.” He reiterated those claims on Monday, calling on Democratic California Gov. Jerry Brown to “allow the Free Flow of the vast amounts of water coming from the North and foolishly being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Can be used for fires, farming and everything else.” Trump’s claims are false, according to California officials and wildfire experts. Trump said Tuesday at a dinner with business leaders that a “very tough situation” is underway in California, where wildfires are raging. “It’s been a very tough situation taking place in California for a number of years and we’re going to have to have some meetings about it,” Trump said from his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. Trump said there are “things you can do to mitigate” the damage, but did not expand upon his remarks. He said he was “deeply grateful to firefighters and first responders” combating the flames, and said that his administration would do “everything in our power to protect those in harm’s way.” He did not repeat his earlier claims, made on Twitter, that a water shortage was affecting impacting the state’s ability to fight the fires. What officials and experts have said Local officials have made clear they have not had any difficulty accessing enough water to fight the fires. A FEMA official also told CNN there is no water shortage or problem with access to water hindering firefighting efforts in California. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift declined to comment on Trump’s tweets: “We don’t weigh in on the President’s tweets. We let those statements speak for themselves.” As for water “being diverted into the Pacific Ocean,” while there is a debate raging in California about how much water should be diverted to coastal communities versus farmers in the central part of the state, water is not being intentionally flushed into the ocean. “I was stunned when I read this this morning,” Henri Grissino-Mayer, a climatologist and biogeographer at the University of Tennessee, told CNN in an email. “California does NOT divert water to the ocean. Ridiculous.” Grissino-Mayer noted that water “is diverted to the coastal cities for a constant water supply but all such water is used by the coastal communities.” What’s the context? Trump’s tweet comes after California water officials ignited a debate this summer by proposing a plan to limit the amount of water that can be drawn from the San Joaquin River for use in cities and farmlands. The proposal has pitted farmers against fisheries and environmentalists, but Trump’s attempt to connect the debate to wildfires doesn’t pass muster. Instead of environmental laws and water regulations, local officials and experts have said scorching heat and dry conditions have led to several of the worst wildfires California has ever seen. Experts say those conditions are being driven by climate change, which Trump has previously dismissed as a hoax. CNN’s Brandon Miller, Judson Jones, Greg Wallace and Rene Marsh contributed to this report.<doc-sep>	The 2018 wildfire year has been devastating. As of Tuesday, the National Interagency Fire Center reports that there are 106 uncontained large fires across the country, with a total of 5.6 million acres ravaged by fire so far this year. These deadly infernos have killed several firefighters, forced hundreds of people to flee, and destroyed hundreds of homes and thousands of acres of wilderness. The Carr Fire in Northern California is now the state’s eigth-largest fire on record after igniting more than 207,000 acres and killing seven people. But it’s been bested in size by the Mendocino Complex fire, which, at 354,000 acres, is the largest in state history. Late last month, President Trump signed a federal emergency declaration for the state of California, allowing the federal government to assist with firefighting efforts. So it’s not surprising that Trump would weigh in on the California blazes. But earlier this month, he used them to bash environmental regulations: California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amount of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire spreading! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2018 And then the next day, he took it up again, this time blaming California Gov. Jerry Brown. Governor Jerry Brown must allow the Free Flow of the vast amounts of water coming from the North and foolishly being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Can be used for fires, farming and everything else. Think of California with plenty of Water - Nice! Fast Federal govt. approvals. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2018 There are a few reasons these statements are bewildering. First, human activity is definitely making these fires worse: People are building in vulnerable areas, they are igniting most of these fires, and humans are driving climate change, which makes fire conditions more severe. But environmental laws about water that would be used to put the fires out? Even wildfire scientists have no idea what the president was referring to here. California has been parched from drought for years, so there isn’t a “massive amount of readily available water,” and what little moisture is available is closely tracked. “We do manage all of our rivers in California, and all the water is allocated many times over. So I’m not sure what he was recommending,” LeRoy Westerling, a professor at the University of California Merced studying wildfires, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Even if we eliminated all habitat for riparian species and fish, and allowed saltwater intrusion into the delta and set up a sprinkler system over the state, that wouldn’t compensate for greater moisture loss from climate change.” That means if California hoarded every raindrop, as Trump recommended, it still wouldn’t completely offset evaporation from rising average temperatures and years of drought. Trump doubles down on his previous ignorant tweet about California #water and fires. The only water that reaches the ocean these days is what's left AFTER the massive diversions OUT of our rivers for cities and farms. And there's no shortage of fire-fighting water. Nuts. https://t.co/xWFeuoKv54 — Peter Gleick (@PeterGleick) August 6, 2018 This water also wouldn’t be all that useful for firefighters. Wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem, so the goal is to allow these fires to burn without threatening lives and property, and spraying water isn’t the main method for containing them. For wildland firefighters, the tools of the trade are Pulaskis, rakes, shovels, and flamethrowers that burn clearings ahead of towering infernos. Instead of fire engines, they use bulldozers. Since these firefighters aren’t usually using pump trucks and fire hoses, they aren’t limited by water. When they need to snuff out an area, they often do it by air. These methods help firefighters clear a perimeter of potential fuel to control the spread of flames. But as Westerling added on Twitter, the president’s suggestion of “tree clear” only goes so far. ‘Tree clearing’ isn’t goint to help with the fires burning in grass and shrub fuels. But California is investing millions in fuels treatments funded by our carbon permit auction revenue. It would be wonderful if the Federal gov emulated us, since it owns most of the trees here https://t.co/4NJ1Qh54LE — A. LeRoy Westerling (@LeroyWesterling) August 6, 2018 There were indeed regulations that prevented firefighting equipment from being used, but officials say water rules are not hampering firefighting efforts.
CHP Officer Killed by Suspected DUI Driver on Interstate 15 in Southern California A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer was struck and killed by a suspected DUI driver on Interstate 15 near Lake Elsinore, officials said. The crash took place at around 4:30 p.m. on April 6. The officer was sent to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, reported NBC Los Angeles. Update: Sergeant Steve Licon has been identified as the CHP officer killed on the 15 Freeway.Breaking: A CHP motorcycle officer has been struck and killed on the I-15 Freeway in Lake Elsinore. Posted by NBC LA on Saturday, April 6, 2019 The CHP identified the officer who died as Riverside Sgt. Steve Licon, who had been on the police force, according to the report. Before the accident, Licon was conducting a traffic stop when a gray Toyota Carolla crashed into his motorcycle, the CHP said. Our hearts are heavy after the immeasurable loss of a friend, father, husband, and hero. Sergeant Steve Licon, #13348,… Posted by California Highway Patrol on Saturday, April 6, 2019 “Our thoughts and prayers are with Sergeant Licon’s family as they grieve with us during this difficult time,” the CHP said in a statement. “Our hearts are heavy after the immeasurable loss of a friend, father, husband, and hero,” the CHP also said on Facebook. “Rest easy brother, we have the watch from here.” Incredibly sad day for the family of Sgt Steve Licon, the CHP, & State of Calif. Sgt Licon was a great leader, valued member of the CHP family, & a dedicated public servant who sacrificed his life serving the people of Calif. Condolences to wife Ann, & daughters Marissa & Kelly. pic.twitter.com/avKiaiQ03T — Warren Stanley (@CHPCommissioner) April 7, 2019 “Sgt Licon was a great leader, valued member of the CHP family, & a dedicated public servant who sacrificed his life serving the people of Calif. Condolences to wife Ann, & daughters Marissa & Kelly,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley wrote. Three people in all were hurt during the crash, and they were all transported to the hospital in unknown condition, according to the report. Just saw the procession for CHP Sgt. Steve Licon pass us by on Inland Valley Dr. They just left the hospital and are heading to the coroner’s office. @KTLA pic.twitter.com/oItuGwHJsd — Carlos Saucedo (@Carlos_Saucedo) April 7, 2019 “Just as we ride to honor officers that have made the ultimate sacrifice, we mourn the loss of another. Sgt Steve Licon of the CHP Riverside Area gave his life protecting & serving his community today. The thoughts & prayers of the LAPD are w/ his family & fellow officers tonight,” Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michael Moore tweeted. The incident took place on I-15 near Indian Truck Trail and Nichols Road, KTLA reported. Details about the crash were not provided to local news outlets. Traffic Stops Dangerous for Police In recent weeks, there have been several dramatic instances of police getting involved in shootouts or getting into dangerous situations with suspects during traffic stops. On Sept. 18, a sheriff’s office in Colorado posted footage of a man rolling out of a stopped vehicle, pointing a gun at officers. “As he continued to advance out of the vehicle deputies shot [him] multiple times, fatally wounding him,” the office said. The National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund (pdf) said traffic stops are notoriously dangerous for police officers in the United States. The leading causes for officers being shot and killed in 2017 occurred when they were responding to domestic incidents and while conducting traffic stops, the group’s annual report states. And, according to the most recent figures published by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, “A greater percentage of male drivers (12 percent) than female drivers (8 percent) were stopped by police during 2011.” It adds: “In 2011, about 3 percent of traffic stops led to a search of the driver, the vehicle, or both. Police were more likely to search male drivers (4 percent) than female drivers (2 percent).”<doc-sep>LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. — Authorities say a California Highway Patrol Officer was killed and at least two other people were injured in a crash on a freeway in Lake Elsinore, the Los Angeles Times reports. The CHP and the Riverside County Fire Department say the crash on Interstate 15 occurred about 4:30 p.m. Saturday. As of 8 p.m., all southbound lanes between Nichols Road and Indian Truck Trail remained closed, according to the California Department of Transportation. The CHP on its Facebook page identified the motorcycle officer killed in the crash as Sgt. Steve Licon, the Times reports. Authorities told the Times that it appears that Licon was hit by an “errant driver” while conducting a traffic stop on the shoulder of the freeway. “Our hearts are heavy after the immeasurable loss of a friend, father, husband, and hero,” the CHP said in a statement. “Rest easy brother, we have the watch from here.”<doc-sep>	A California Highway Patrol officer was killed and at least two other people were injured by a suspected drunken driver on the 15 Freeway in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, forcing the closure of the southbound lanes of the freeway for nearly 11 hours. The crash occurred about 4:30 p.m. north of Nichols Road, according to the CHP and the Riverside County Fire Department. The motorcycle officer killed was identified by the CHP on its Facebook page as Sgt. Steve Licon, a 27-year veteran of the agency. The CHP said Licon was hit by an “errant driver” while conducting a traffic stop on the shoulder of the freeway. The driver was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. “Our hearts are heavy after the immeasurable loss of a friend, father, husband, and hero,” the CHP said in a statement. “Rest easy, brother, we have the watch from here.” Two other people injured in the crash were also taken to Inland Valley Regional Medical Center, said Tawny Cabral, a spokeswoman with the Riverside County Fire Department. No information was available about their condition. Late Saturday, dozens of law enforcement officers from various agencies gathered at the hospital in Wildomar to escort the hearse that transported Licon’s body to the Riverside County coroner’s office in Perris. “Today we mourn the loss of a husband and father of two who lost his life while protecting the state of California. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends and his many California Highway Patrol colleagues for their devastating loss,” Gov. Gavin Newsom and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis said in a statement, adding Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff in honor of Licon. Just as we ride to honor officers that have made the ultimate sacrifice, we mourn the loss of another. Sgt Steve Licon of the CHP Riverside Area gave his life protecting & serving his community today. The thoughts & prayers of the LAPD are w/ his family & fellow officers tonight. pic.twitter.com/SPwOThylBQ — Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) April 7, 2019 Just saw the procession for CHP Sgt. Steve Licon pass us by on Inland Valley Dr. They just left the hospital and are heading to the coroner’s office. @KTLA pic.twitter.com/oItuGwHJsd — Carlos Saucedo (@Carlos_Saucedo) April 7, 2019 [email protected]
Good afternoon! Day baseball is always entertaining and the Atlanta Braves are in action on this fine Wednesday. The team looks to sweep (!) the San Francisco Giants and fun should be had by all. Be cordial to one another in the comments below and let’s enjoy baseball together. Ready, set, baseball. PREVIEW \| LINEUPS<doc-sep>Last night might not have gone the Giants’ way, but the Braves don’t really have room to talk because for as much as Mike Foltynewicz was dealing and his team’s lineup was clicking, they still couldn’t keep this Giants team off the scoreboard. That means something! There are no average Major League hitters on this team at the moment. As pointed out by one of the Grants in NBC Sports Bay Area’s Giants Outsiders program last night, the highest OPS since the All-Star Break belongs to Austin Slater, and it’s under .700. So, take that, playoff-bound Atlanta Braves: you haven’t been able to keep the Giants off the scoreboard for two straight games. In fact, the Giants haven’t been shutout during this 10-game losing streak. That’s impressive! Maybe it means they have some fight in them or maybe it means that the fringe part of their roster can serve as decent depth next — haha, it’s just coincidence. There’s no real reason for it. The Giants haven’t been shutout in their 10-game losing streak and it’s good enough to just know that. It’s not great knowing that this game will be available only on Facebook Watch, although we might be in for Mike Krukow schooling his broadcast partners once again. Recall last time when he simply filled the dead air with interesting stuff and really was the primary source of energy in what’s supposed to be fun and hip — you know, for the kids — because it’s on a tech platform. Can the Giants snap their 10-game losing streak? Lineups: Another fine afternoon at the yard ️ First pitch - 12:45 PM PDT ⚾️ Panik - 2B Hanson - LF Longoria - 3B Belt - 1B Crawford - SS Hundley - C Blanco - RF Hernandez - CF Holland - P Powered by @Biofreeze #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/xnERzZ4UQl — San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) September 12, 2018 Derek Holland (7-8, 3.87 FIP) leads all Giants pitchers in innings pitched (152.2). He’s had a stellar second half (2.45 ERA in 51.1 IP) and on the season, he’s posted a really sharp 70:20 strikeout to walk ratio at home (68.1 IP). He’s gone at least six innings in each of his last three starts, but again, he’s going up against the best lineup in the National League against left-handed pitching (112 wRC+). Aníbal Sánchez (6-5, 3.62 FIP) — yes, that one you remember from the Marlins way back when — has been a rotation anchor for the Braves this season. The 34-year old has 114 strikeouts in 113.2 innings pitched, and allowed only 34 walks. He’s been just as sharp on the road as he has been at home (3.07 ERA vs. 3.11 ERA), with about a 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio there (about 5:1 at home). He’s always been tough on the Giants. Here we go again. Good luck, Giants. We’re all counting on you. Either set new history or break the streak.<doc-sep>The Atlanta Braves will try to make it three straight wins Monday night when they open a three-game series in San Francisco against the Giants. Brian Snitker will roll out his normal lineup with Kurt Suzuki behind the plate and hitting fifth. Ender Inciarte is back in the sixth spot with Ozzie Albies hitting seventh. The Giants will roll out a much different looking lineup than the one we saw back in May. First pitch is scheduled for around 10:15 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on Fox Sports Southeast.<doc-sep>SAN FRANCISCO -- The Atlanta Braves will seek more late-game magic when they face the free-falling San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night in the middle meeting of a three-game series. The Braves (80-64) scored once in the seventh inning and twice in the ninth to break from a 1-1 tie en route to a 4-1 victory in the series opener on Monday night. The win was Atlanta's fourth in five tries on a seven-game Western swing and pushed the Braves a season-best five games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies (74-68) in the National League East. Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson continue a run of productive late-game plate appearances with a pair of sacrifice flies that accounted for Atlanta's seventh-inning run and one of its ninth-inning tallies in the win. The two RBIs ran the 24-year-old's season total to a career-best 57, 26 of which have come in the seventh through ninth innings. He's hitting .323 in those innings. Both sacrifice flies scored Ozzie Albies, who had doubled and tripled to put himself in scoring position. He now has 19 extra-base hits -- 12 doubles, two triples and five home runs -- in the seventh through ninth innings. The three late runs raised the Braves' season total in the seventh through ninth to 232, just one fewer than the NL-leading Chicago Cubs. The Braves will look to pad their total against Giants rookie left-hander Andrew Suarez (6-10, 4.33) and/or a San Francisco bullpen that's been leaking oil of late. Suarez recorded his first major-league win in Atlanta on May 6, limiting the Braves to one unearned run in 5 1/3 innings. He left with a three-run lead, then almost saw his win evaporate into thin air when Atlanta got rolling offensively late in the game, scoring twice off Giants closer Hunter Strickland in the ninth before stranding the potential tying run at third base. The outing was the only time Suarez has faced the Braves. Strickland has been a part of a Giants bullpen that has contributed big-time to the team's current nine-game losing streak. Story continues The bullpen has allowed 15 runs in 24 2/3 innings (5.47 ERA) in those games, registering two blown saves and four losses. Strickland has allowed at least one run in six of his last nine appearances, including the two in the ninth inning Monday against the Braves. Atlanta will counter Tuesday with right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (10-9, 2.75), who has a 2-3 lifetime record and a 5.35 ERA in six starts against the Giants. Those numbers got worse when he pitched in a 9-4 loss home to San Francisco in May and got hammered for a six-run second inning. The Giants swept that three-game series in Atlanta. The late start on the West Coast on Tuesday night will give the Braves an opportunity to do some serious scoreboard-watching as their chief rival in the East, the Phillies, play a double-header against the Washington Nationals that starts at 12:05 p.m. Pacific time. The double-header was the result of a postponement Monday due to a soggy field.<doc-sep>	AT&T Park hasn’t always been kind to the Atlanta Braves but, this week, Brian Snitker’s team has enjoyed success. Atlanta opened a series with two victories over the San Francisco Giants and, on Wednesday afternoon, the Braves will have the opportunity to produce a (very) rare road sweep. Anibal Sanchez takes the ball for the Braves and the 34-year-old has remained solid this season. His 3.09 ERA across 21 appearances (20 starts) may be slightly misleading but Sanchez continues to put Atlanta in a position to win on a regular basis and, in short, this appears to be a favorable match-up against the Giants offense on getaway day. In opposition, the Giants will deploy veteran left-hander Derek Holland, who has bounced back with a strong 2018 performance. Holland enters on the heels of five consecutive starts in which he allowed two or fewer earned runs and, for the campaign, he owns a solid 3.54 ERA. Beyond that, the Braves haven’t always enjoyed success against pitchers with his profile and it will be interesting to see how Atlanta fares in this spot. Frustratingly, Wednesday’s game is only available via Facebook Live streaming and is not available on local television. Still, it will be possible for most folks to follow the action and, according to Las Vegas, the Braves are seen as the favorites (of around -135) to claim a sweep over the Giants. Stay tuned for all the latest. Game Info Time/Date: Wednesday, September 12, 3:45 pm ET Location: AT&T Park TV: Facebook Live (No local TV) Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM, 106.7 FM Braves Radio Network
Former Philadelphia Eagles safety Wes Hopkins has passed away at 57 years old, per a report from Hopkins' old teammate and current Eagles reporter Garry Cobb. "I'm sorry to report that one of the best @Eagles players I've ever known, safety Wes Hopkins passed away this morning. He played the game with #Passion and #Commitment. He was a great player, a great teammate and we will all miss him dearly. @sethjoyner @EricAllen619." The cause of death for Hopkins is unknown at this time. He was recently hospitalized in Birmingham, Alabama fighting for his life. Hopkins just celebrated his 57th birthday this past Wednesday. Hopkins, a second-round pick of the Eagles in 1983, spent all 11 seasons in the NFL with the franchise. He finished with 30 interceptions, 12 sacks and 16 fumble recoveries. Hopkins was a First Team All-Pro in 1985 and selected to his only Pro Bowl that year. The Eagles are 2-1 and won in Carson Wentz’s return! Next up, the Tennessee Titans. Get set for the most exciting season in Eagles history! Make sure to stay in the loop for all Eagles news throughout this journey -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Eagles newsletter now! Hopkins was part of the 1991 Eagles defense, one of the greatest units in NFL history. The defense spent the season defending short fields, but still gave up just 3.92 yards per play, the third-best figure since the move to a 16-game season in 1978 (per Football Outsiders). Opposing quarterbacks completed just 44.1 percent of passes, the lowest rate for any defense since 1978. They led the NFL with 55 sacks and 43 forced fumbles and finished third with 26 interceptions. The Eagles allowed just 2.97 yards per carry on the ground, which ranks fifth since 1978, despite playing the fourth-toughest defensive schedule in the league (the Redskins, Giants, and Cowboys had top-10 offenses). The Eagles 48 defensive takeaways in 1991 is tied for the most in the NFL in the 1990s. Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, Jerome Brown, Seth Joyner, and Eric Allen were selected to the Pro Bowl. This was only the sixth time in NFL history that three defensive linemen from one team were selected to the Pro Bowl. Here are all the defensive categories the "Gang Green" defense led the NFL in: Yards Allowed (3,549; 221.8 per game) Pass Yards Allowed (2,413; 150.8 per game) Rush Yards Allowed (1,136; 71.0 per game) Rushing TD Allowed (4) Yards Per Carry Allowed (3.0) Sacks (55) Turnovers (48) Forced Fumbles (43) First Downs Allowed (206) Pass Yards Per Attempt (4.6) Joyner finished with six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and three interceptions, scoring two touchdowns on the year. White finished with 15 sacks, while Simmons and 13 and Brown had nine. Allen and Wes Hopkins each led the team with five interceptions. The 1991 Eagles defense was an elite unit and the last time they all would be together. Brown passed away in a car accident on June 27, 1992 while White would leave in free agency a year later. Joyner, Simmons, and Allen would soon follow. Hopkins retired from the NFL after the 1993 season, setting the franchise record for most fumble recoveries with 16 (since tied by Brian Dawkins). After walking on at SMU, Hopkins was named to the All-Conference selection in each of his last two seasons at SMU, helping the Mustangs win a national championship in 1982. He had 14 career interceptions, including a league-leading six picks in 1982.<doc-sep>Former Eagles safety Wes Hopkins passed away Friday at age 57, the team announced. Drafted by Philadelphia in the second round in 1983, Hopkins spent his entire career with the team, playing 10 NFL seasons before retiring after the 1993 campaign. Andre Waters and Hopkins were the safety duo on the 1991 Eagles defense known as "Gang Green," a unit that is considered to be one of the best ever. Hopkins, a first-team All-Pro in '85, played 137 career games, the third-highest total for an Eagles defensive back. His 30 interceptions rank fifth in team history. Former Eagles linebacker Garry Cobb was first to announce Hopkins's death, writing on Twitter that the safety was "a great player, a great teammate" and that "we will all miss him dearly." “Wes Hopkins is one of the best safeties in the history of our franchise and played a major role in the team’s success during his time here in Philadelphia,” Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “He was well-respected among his teammates and coaches, not only because of the way he played the game and what he was able to accomplish on the field, but also because of the way he carried himself and the type of leader he was. He had a genuine love of the game and that’s one of the reasons he connected so well with the people of Philadelphia. Wes will be forever remembered as an Eagles Legend and somebody who helped build the foundation for our organization’s success. Our thoughts are with his family during this time.” Hopkins was a 2018 inductee to the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame. He initially joined the team as a walk-on but became an all-conference player during his final two seasons in college.<doc-sep>	The Philadelphia Eagles have announced that former defensive back Wes Hopkins died this morning. He was 57. “Wes Hopkins is one of the best safeties in the history of our franchise and played a major role in the team’s success during his time here in Philadelphia,” said owner Jeffrey Lurie. “He was well-respected among his teammates and coaches, not only because of the way he played the game and what he was able to accomplish on the field, but also because of the way he carried himself and the type of leader he was. He had a genuine love of the game and that’s one of the reasons he connected so well with the people of Philadelphia. Wes will be forever remembered as an Eagles Legend and somebody who helped build the foundation for our organization’s success. Our thoughts are with his family during this time.” The news was confirmed by Hopkins’ former teammate Garry Cobb. I'm sorry to report that one of the best @Eagles players I've ever known, safety Wes Hopkins passed away this morning. He played the game with #Passion and #Commitment. He was a great player, a great teammate and we will all miss him dearly. @sethjoyner @EricAllen619 pic.twitter.com/DiPUrypjVg — Garry Cobb (@GarryCobb) September 28, 2018 Hopkins played all 10 of his NFL seasons for the Eagles after they took him in the second round of the 1983 draft out of SMU. Hopkins was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1985, a year in which he also was named first-team All-Pro, intercepting six passes. In his career, he had 30 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries and 12 sacks in 137 games.
IPL 2019 results: Points table standings - updated after RCB vs CSK match Defending champions Chennai Super Kings remain on top of the IPL 2019 points table despite losing to bottom-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday night. This loss was the second in a row for CSK, who earlier last week lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Still, they remain No 1 with 14 points. Chasing 162 to win on Sunday, CSK lost by one run with skipper MS Dhoni not out on 84 off 48 balls. After the loss to RCB, Dhoni explained his reasoning for declining three singles when batting with Dwayne Bravo. FULL TABLE: MOST RUNS IN IPL 2019 At second place on the IPL 2019 points table are Mumbai Indians with 12 points, followed by Delhi Capitals at third with 12 points. A better net run-rate of 0.357 puts Mumbai Indians ahead of Delhi Capitals (0.16). With two wins in a row, SRH are at fourth place. Despite winning two successive matches, Virat Kohli’s RCB remain last placed. FULL TABLE: MOST WICKETS IN IPL 2019 However, they now have six points which is the same as Rajasthan Royals who sit at seventh place. Kings XI Punjab are sixth and Kolkata Knight Riders seventh.<doc-sep>Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 1 run at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. Chasing 162 runs, CSK were off to a poor start as they were reduced to 28/4 in 5.5 overs. Dale Steyn was the wrecker-in-chief as he dismissed Shane Watson (5) and Suresh Raina (0) off successive balls. Faf du Plessis (5) also perished soon. However, a 55-run stand between Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni revived CSK in the run-chase. Rayudu was dismissed for 29. Even Ravindra Jadeja (11) and Dwayne Bravo (5) failed to stand by Dhoni. But it was Dhoni who single-handedly took CSK to the doorsteps of victory. However, he failed to take CSK home as Shardul Thakur was dismissed while taking a single when CSK needed 2 off the final ball. Dhoni remained unbeaten on 84 off 48. His innings included 5 fours and 7 sixes. Earlier, RCB scored 161/7 in 20 overs. (SCORECARD) IPL 2019 Highlights Updates Between Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings, straight from M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.<doc-sep>IPL 2019 Points Table: IPL Team Standings & Rankings- Indian Premier League Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Chennai Super Kings by a single run in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday for their third win of the season. RCB still remained at the bottom of the IPL 2019 Points Table, while CSK continued to lead the standings. In the other match on Sunday, Jonny Bairstow and David Warner helped Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kolkata Knight Riders by nine wickets. SRH now have 10 points from 9 matches and climbed back into playoff places ahead of Kings XI Punjab. A total of eight teams are playing in IPL 2019: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. IPL 2019: All Results Here are the Indian Premier League 2019 match results so far 1. Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) win by 7 wickets 2. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) win by 6 wickets 3. Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals: Delhi Capitals (DC) win by 37 runs 4. Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab: Kings XI Punjab win by 14 runs 5. Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings: Chennai Super Kings win by 6 wickets 6. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab: Kolkata Knight Riders win by 28 runs 7. Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Mumbai Indians win by 6 runs 8. Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad win by 5 wickets 9. Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians: Kings Xi Punjab win by 8 wickets 10. Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Delhi Capitals win the one-over eliminator 11. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Sunrisers win by 118 runs 12. Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals: Chennai Super Kings win by 8 runs 13. Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Capitals: Kings XI Punjab win by 14 runs 14. Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Rajasthan Royals win by 7 wickets 15. Mumbai Indias vs Chennai Super Kings: Mumbai Indians win by 37 runs 16. Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad win by 5 wickets 17. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Kolkata Knight Riders win by 5 wickets 18. Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab: Chennai Super Kings win by 22 runs 19. Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Mumbai Indians win by 40 runs 20. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals: Delhi Capitals win by 4 wickets 21. Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Kolkata Knight Riders win by 8 wickets 22. Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kings XI Punjab win by 6 wickets 23. Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Chennai Super Kings win by 7 wickets 24. Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab: Mumbai Indians win by 3 wickets 25. Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings: Chennai Super Kings win by 4 wickets 26. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals: Delhi Capitals win by 7 wickets 27. Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals: Rajasthan Royals win by 4 wickets 28. Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore win by 8 wickets 29. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings: Chennai Super Kings win by 5 wickets 30. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals: Delhi Capitals win by 39 runs 31. Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Mumbai Indians win by 5 wickets 32. Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals: Kings XI Punjab win by 12 runs 33. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings: Chennai Super Kings win by 6 wickets 34. Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians: Mumbai Indians win by 40 runs 35. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore win by 10 runs 36. Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians: Rajasthan Royals win by 5 wickets 37. Delhi Capitals vs Kings XI Punjab: Delhi Capitals win by 5 wickets 38. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Sunrisers Hyderabad win by 9 wickets 39. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings: Royal Challengers win by 1 run IPL 2019 Points Table Here are the latest team standings in Indian Premier League 2019 IPL 2019 Points Table TEAMS M W L PTS NRR Chennai Super Kings (CSK) 10 7 3 14 +0.087 Mumbai Indians (MI) 10 6 4 12 +0.357 Delhi Capitals (DC) 10 6 4 12 +0.160 Sunrisers Hyderabad 9 5 5 10 +0.737 Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) 10 5 5 10 -0.044 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) 10 4 6 8 -0.013 Rajasthan Royals (RR) 9 3 6 6 -0.474 Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) 10 3 7 6 -0.836 IPL 2019 Most Runs Sunrisers Hyderabad's David Warner scored another half-century and solidified his place at the top of the list of batsmen with most runs in IPL 2019. He leads the race for Orange Cap with 517 runs followed by his opening partner Bairstow at 445. IPL 2019 Orange Cap: Here's the list of top run scorers of Indian Premier League 12 IPL 2019 Orange Cap POS PLAYERS TEAM M RUNS HS 1 David Warner Sunrisers Hyderabad 9 517 100* 2 Jonny Bairstow Sunrisers Hyderabad 9 445 114 3 Chris Gayle Kings XI Punjab 10 421 99* 4 KL Rahul Kings XI Punjab 10 399 100* 5 Andre Russell Kolkata Knight Riders 10 392 65 6 Virat Kohli Royal Challengers Bangalore 10 387 100 7 Quinton de Kock Mumbai Indians 9 378 81 8 Shikhar Dhawan Delhi Capitals 10 347 97* 9 AB de Villiers Royal Challengers Bangalore 9 332 75 10 Shreyas Iyer Delhi Capitals 10 327 67 IPL 2019 Most Wickets Delhi Capitals bowler Kagiso Rabada still leads the race for the Purple Cap with 21 wickets followed by Imran Tahir (16) and Yuzvendra Chahal (14). IPL 2019 Purple Cap: Here's the list of top wicket-takers of Indian Premier League 12<doc-sep>An MSD special is no longer as frequent an affair as it used to be in the early 2000s. But Mahendra Singh Dhoni turned back the clock once again on Sunday not just for his fans, but also for one man, who literally had to fight it out as chief national selector in 2004, to ensure that a young man from Ranchi got the nod to be part of the Indian squad for a tour of Bangladesh. Yes, skipper Sourav Ganguly too, had a role to play in the final approval, but More had hand-picked him when scouting for a bunch of talented cricketers, who were all considered the future of Indian cricket. So, when Dhoni sent the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers on a leather hunt at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, More went back in time to 2006 when MSD would finish matches like he was taking a walk in the park. Also Read: Dhoni smacks Umesh Yadav for 111 metres six - Watch In a battle of nerves that went down to the wire, Dhoni failed as Chennai Super Kings lost by a run on Sunday, but this was after he tonked Umesh Yadav for 24 runs off the first five balls to nearly pull off an improbable target of 26 runs from 6 balls. Dhoni’s unbeaten 48-ball knock of 84 was made of stuff that harked back the former chief selector More to a nostalgic past. More said that even as people have written him off in recent times, Dhoni is still a force to reckon with at 37. He went on to add that age was never a criteria, fitness of players is what counts when competing at the international level. “Oh! He was brilliant. It was an outstanding innings and only goes to show age is never a criteria. Dhoni is in top form and age is just a number. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid all played till late in their career and with distinction,” he said. Also Read: Game is never over till MS Dhoni is at the crease, says Parthiv Patel It was a vintage Dhoni knock which was studded with five fours and seven sixes. CSK needed 70 runs in the last five overs and it was almost a lost cause when Dhoni decided it was time to unleash the brute force that saw him dominate world cricket as the ultimate finisher over the last decade. “The innings took me back to 2006 and maybe, around that time when a young Dhoni took the scene by storm,” More said. Dhoni has been in good form this IPL, amassing 314 runs in seven innings at an average of 104.66. But the 2007 inaugural World T20 and 2011 50-over World Cup winning captain saved the best for Kohli and his charges, sending social media into a tizzy. Also Read: Will never question Dhoni’s final-over calculations - CSK coach Fleming Even though CSK lost the game, Dhoni once again showed that he is far far away from his swansong and More agreed that a lot will depend on the former skipper when India look to win the tournament in England and Wales. “He will definitely be a vital cog for the Indian team at the World Cup,” he said. Dhoni, on Sunday, also become the first Indian batsman to hit 200 sixes in the IPL. Dhoni took his overall IPL tally of maximums to 203. In the ongoing edition, he has so far clubbed 17 sixes. The CSK, despite the defeat, remained at the top of the points table with 14 points.<doc-sep>	Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Chennai Super Kings by just one run in their IPL 2019 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, with only a last-ball run out staving off either a Super Over or a CSK win. A dismal showing by CSK’s top order – they were 28-4 at one point – was almost negated by MS Dhoni, whose 48-ball 84* went in vain but at one point seemed to have swung the tie in the away team’s favour. Dhoni lost partners aplenty but as long as he was at the crease RCB could not breathe easy. CSK needed 36 off the final 2 overs yet some insane power hitting from Dhoni nearly took them over the line. After CSK took 10 runs off the 19th over, Dhoni took apart Umesh Yadav, the man designated to bowl the final over. The first 3 balls went for a boundary and 2 sixes, respectively. Dhoni then ran two before smoking Yadav for a six that travelled an amazing 111 metres, clearing the stadium roof. Yet with just two runs needed of the final ball, Dhoni swing and missed at an Umesh slower ball. He took off for a run, as did his partner Shardul Thakur. Yet a direct hit from Parthiv Patel behind the stumps was enough to hand RCB a win that should have, in theory, been a lot more comfortable. CSK got off to the worst start possible, with Dale Steyn dismissing both Shane Watson and Suresh Raina in the first over. Watson edged one to Marcus Stoinis at first slip whereas Raina’s stumps were castled. Faf du Plessis gave a simple catch to AB de Villiers off Umesh Yadav’s bowling and Kedar Jadhav too was removed by Umesh, with De Villiers the man taking the catch once again. Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu had previously pulled off a similar rescue job against the Rajasthan Royals and the two set about with their task patiently. They did hit the odd boundary to ensure the asking rate didn’t get too high and eventually brought up a 50-run stand as well. POS TEAM PLD WIN LOST TIED N/R NET RR PTS 1 CSK 10 7 3 0 0 +0.087 14 2 MI 10 6 4 0 0 +0.357 12 3 DC 10 6 4 0 0 +0.160 12 4 SRH 9 5 4 0 0 +0.737 10 5 KXIP 10 5 5 0 0 -0.044 10 6 KKR 10 4 6 0 0 -0.013 8 7 RR 9 3 6 0 0 -0.474 6 8 RCB 10 3 7 0 0 -0.836 6 Yet just as they looked like they would use that as a platform to go for the big shots a little more, Yuzvendra Chahal castled Rayudu in the beginning of the 14th over. Dhoni was then joined by Ravindra Jadeja, who couldn’t quite get going and was eventually run out after a mix-up with his skipper. Dhoni then upped the ante as the innings came to a close but the removal of Dwayne Bravo by Navdeep Saini in the penultimate over made the task an even harder one as Shardul Thakur was the next batsman in. Yet just as he looked set to hand CSK an improbable victory his efforts were undone, doubtless leaving CSK fans asking what could have been had the top order not crumbled. Earlier after being asked to bat by Dhoni, RCB rode on a half century from Parthiv to post 161-7 at the end of their 20 overs. Parthiv (53) batted through the majority of the overs even as RCB lost wickets on a regular basis, with batsmen getting starts but failing to convert them. The match started on a bad note for the home side as Deepak Chahar got Virat Kohli to edge one to Dhoni in the third over itself. AB De Villiers joined Parthiv out in the middle and was looking good out in the middle but fell victim to Ravindra Jadeja in the seventh over, holing out to Du Plessis. Akshdeep Nath was the next man out and he too played a decent knock, scoring 24 runs and stringing together a 41-run partnership with Parthiv but he too was removed by Jadeja. Parthiv eventually brought up his half-century but was dismissed by a slower ball from Dwayne Bravo as he gave Watson a simple catch. Stoinis departed in the next over, leaving Moeen Ali and Pawan Negi with a lot to do.
Romain Grosjean has been disqualified from sixth place in the Italian GP after the floor on his Haas car was ruled illegal. Haas have announced their intention to appeal. "We do not agree with the Stewards' decision to penalize our race team and we feel strongly that our sixth-place finish in the Italian Grand Prix should stand. We are appealing the Stewards' decision.” -- from Guenther Steiner, team principal. — Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) September 2, 2018 Force India drivers Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez are promoted a place apiece to sixth and seventh respectively, while Williams' Sergey Sirotkin moves in to 10th for his first F1 point. Renault, who lodged the protest after Sunday's race, also move back ahead of Haas in to fourth place in the Constructors' Championship having originally dropped behind at Monza. Speaking before the punishment was known, Haas team boss Guenther Steiner said of their rivals' protest: "I find it a bit bizarre." Revised Italian GP Race Result - top 10 Driver Team 1) Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 2) Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 3) Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 4) Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 5) Max Verstappen Red Bull DSQ) Romain Grosjean Haas 6) Esteban Ocon Force India 7) Sergio Perez Force India 8) Carlos Sainz Renault 9) Lance Stroll Williams 10) Sergey Sirotkin Williams What happened after the race had finished? Renault lodged a protest with the stewards over what FIA race director Charlie Whiting said concerned "a small detail on the leading edge of the floor" on Grosjean's car. Both teams were summoned to see the stewards, while the FIA's technical delegate examined Grosjean's car in parc ferme. After a lengthy investigation, a statement said 'the reference plane of car number 08 is found not to be in compliance' with neither the regulations nor a subsequent technical directive issued in July, which teams had to comply with by Monza. Grosjean was subsequently disqualified and the final Monza classification revised. What did Haas do wrong? The matter at the heart of Renault's protest centred around technical regulations concerning F1 floors. In a detailed explanation of the situation, the FIA said it had previously emerged that the 'text of this Article was being applied differently by several different teams' and that a technical directive clarifying the issues was issued to all teams on July 25 ahead of the Hungarian GP. The technical directive 'in essence gave the teams until the Grand Prix of Monza to comply with the clarification'. In their defence to the stewards, Haas said they had contacted the FIA's technical chief, Nikolas Tombazis, to say that 'given the forthcoming summer break, we will endeavour to introduce this upgrade for the Singapore GP, but will be somewhat at the mercy of our suppliers so we would request some flexibility in this matter'. Italian GP Race Report Hamilton spurred on by negativity Find out more about Sky Sports F1 However, the FIA said that Tombazis had told the team's aerodynamics chief that 'while he understood their supply problem, that if the car was not corrected by Monza - that they would leave themselves open to protest by other teams'. The stewards heard several further submissions from Haas' representatives on Sunday evening, but ultimately ruled against the American team. 'While the Stewards are also sympathetic to the difficulties of producing these parts, the Stewards noted that at least one other competitor was able to comply in the time provided," read the stewards' verdict. 'Further, it was made clear to the competitor from the outset that the FIA Technical Department did not consider their car to be in compliance, and further that they left themselves open to the circumstances they now find. 'It was therefore the obligation of the competitor to be in compliance, which they did not do.' What changes after Grosjean's disqualification? Renault retake fourth place from Haas in the Constructors' Championship. The Enstone team now have 86 points whereas Haas drop back to 76. Force India move ahead of Toro Rosso to seventh in the Constructors' Championship on 32 points after Ocon and Perez are promoted a place apiece. The rescued team's 2018 tally had been reset to zero ahead of last week's Belgian GP Sirotkin scores his first F1 point - meaning all 20 drivers on the 2018 grid are now off the mark. Grosjean slips back to 14th in the Drivers' Championship Revised Constructors' Championship Team Points 1) Mercedes 415 2) Ferrari 390 3) Red Bull 248 4) Renault 86 5) Haas 76 6) McLaren 52 7) Force India 32 8) Toro Rosso 30 9) Sauber 19 10) Williams 7 Get Sky Sports F1.<doc-sep>Despite the complexity of Formula 1’s rule book, and the intense battle between teams, it is quite rare for post-race protests to take place these days. Formal complaints are more often used as a threat and rarely followed through, with talk earlier this season of Mercedes’ unease about Ferrari’s battery system not getting as far as the stewards' room. That is why the paddock and fans were surprised by the bombshell after the Italian Grand Prix when Renault protested the Haas car for an illegal floor. It is believed to be the first protest since Lotus (the previous name of the Renault team) complained about the Mercedes double-DRS system in 2012. An investigation by the Italian GP stewards concluded that the Haas floor did not comply with the regulations, which had been subject to a technical clarification sent to teams before the summer break. In that Technical Directive, the FIA had deemed that designs like Haas used were no longer allowed to race – but the American-owned outfit had asked for a stay of execution until Singapore while it worked on changes. But with at least one other team able to make the necessary modifications, and the FIA warning Haas that if it did not alter the car it risked a protest from a rival team, the outfit carried on in the hope that there would not be trouble. So what exactly was wrong with the floor? Floor controversy The debate over the legality of the Haas VF-18’s floor is in regard to an area known as the T-Tray or splitter – the flat area that the plank is attached to and stretches out at the front underneath the raised nose area of the car. Haas F1 Team VF-18 Photo by: Mark Sutton F1 rules deem that the front area of this splitter needs to be shaped in a certain way. Article 37.1 states that the surface formed by all parts lying on the reference plane must: “Have a 50mm radius (+/-2mm) on each front corner when viewed from directly beneath the car, this being applied after the surface has been defined.” The below image from the FIA rule books makes clear where the 50mm radius needs to be. Haas F1 Team VF-18, Floor 50mm Radius Photo by: FIA It is this floor area of the car that was altered when Haas brought an update for the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this year. While the floor maintained the previously legal 50mm radius, it was the way that the team attached a new footplate design and connected it to this splitter which is at the centre of the argument. For by making these changes, the team prompted some debate about what was a floor surface and what was not. That interpretation influenced whether or not the 50mm radius measurement could be taken or not. Pulling the attachment right to the region where the 50mm radius is supposed to be put it in a grey area. The rules are clear that the 50mm radius must be seen when viewed from below: but having the bargeboard attached further forward moved it into a location where it could be interpreted that the 50mm radius was no longer visible. As can be seen in the below comparison photographs, which have kindly been supplied to us by Albert Fabrega, the changes made to the Haas at the Canadian Grand Prix show how the changes have made it much harder to define where that outer corner of the floor is. Haas F1 Team VF-18 , floor & bargeboard Photo by: Albert Fabrega While the lap time benefit from such a change may not have been dramatic, like with all areas of an F1 car even a small gain can deliver bigger potential as designs evolve. This area of the car is extremely sensitive due to its proximity to the ground, making it rife for development. It is something that other teams cannot afford to turn a blind eye to, whether that be in terms of letting their adversaries make gains or stealing a charge themselves. And with Haas locked in an ultra-tight fight with Renault for fourth place in the constructors’ championship, it is clear the Anglo-American team’s progress was always going to come under the spotlight of the French car manufacturer.<doc-sep>Renault has submitted an official protest to the FIA over Romain Grosjean’s Haas car with both teams set to have a hearing at Monza following the Italian Grand Prix. The French manufacturer has requested clarification “on the legality of the Haas F1 Team VF-18” with the team refusing to make a further comment on the situation until the stewards hearing which will take place at 18:30 local time at Monza. FIA race director Charlie Whiting has confirmed the protest focuses on a floor piece on the Haas car. The US team introduced floor updates for the Italian race having debuted them during practice in Belgium last week. Representatives from both Renault and Haas will be involved in the hearing with the FIA stewards. Grosjean finished as best of the rest behind the top three teams in sixth place in the Italian Grand Prix with Carlos Sainz Jr securing points for Renault in ninth place. The results see Haas move level on points with the French squad in the Formula 1 world constructors’ championship with Haas placed ahead on countback. A further update will follow.<doc-sep>Alonso and Haas driver Kevin Magnussen had a bizarre incident on their final flying laps in the second part of Italian Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday when Alonso tried to overtake Magnussen into the Rettifilo chicane at the start of the lap. Magnussen had passed Alonso just before the Parabolica, and though they did not collide it did ruin both their laps and led Alonso to say: "There are many classes of drivers and then there are the Haas ones, who have the third or fourth-best car of the grid and are out in Q2.” When asked by Motorsport.com for his response to that dig, Steiner said: “Fernando went to McLaren, which McLaren shouldn’t be fighting to get out of Q1. “So, I cannot help him there. I didn’t make the decisions. He can talk for himself not for the others – that’s a good starting point in life.” Magnussen missed out on making the final part of qualifying and will start 11th, while team-mate Romain Grosjean went on to put his Haas sixth on the grid. Alonso has been near the foot of the times all weekend as this race, and last week’s at Spa, have exacerbated McLaren’s ongoing struggles because of its straightline speed deficiency. Steiner said: “I saw them [his drivers] going out behind Alonso and that was like, ‘Here we go…’ but you don’t want to say anything because it seems like you’re paranoid, and then it happened. “I think there is a trend there, but I think Alonso had nothing to lose and we had something to lose. “On his [Alonso’s] best day, today, they couldn’t catch us. Even with the best slipstream ever it was impossible for him to catch him. If Kevin passed him before the Parabolica he must have had a reason.” Alonso and Magnussen have clashed before, including an argument during this year’s British Grand Prix weekend. Steiner said he could not answer whether Alonso would have reacted on-track at Monza the same way with another driver. “That’s a question for Fernando if he would have done it or not on somebody else,” said Steiner. “Yeah, he complains, but he complains about everybody, so that’s how he gets away with it.” TV pictures caught Steiner in conversation with McLaren boss Zak Brown after the incident but Steiner said it was “very civilised” and “it just happened [because] I was on my way back and then I saw him coming”. He also said the silver lining for the team was Magnussen not getting a penalty after the stewards decided not to take further action against either driver. “The stewards this time, in their lack of making a decision which could stir up controversy, they did us a favour,” he said. “I think he wasn’t for a long time at the stewards. Maybe they missed him.” Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble<doc-sep>	Jonathan Legard compares Lewis Hamilton's triumph at the Italian Grand Prix to some of his other highlights. (1:21) MONZA, Italy -- Renault has lodged a formal complaint with the FIA about the legality of Haas car. The protest -- aimed specifically at Romain Grosjean's car -- was confirmed just hours after Haas had moved level on points with Renault in the fight for fourth position in the championship at the Italian Grand Prix. Renault refused to comment on the matter, although F1 race director Charlie Whiting elaborated further to the media on Sunday evening. "It's concerning a small detail on the floor, on the leading edge of the floor," he said. When asked if it was to do with the flexibility of that part of the car, he said: "No. It's a geometrical thing." The hearing takes place at 18:30 local time in the Monza paddock. Haas boss Guenther Steiner said the protest had taken him by surprise. Grosjean's sixth at Monza puts Haas fourth in the constructors' championship, ahead of Renault. Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images Asked if there had been any dialogue with Renault ahead of the race, Steiner said: "It has taken us by surprise. But I don't comment." He added: "I don't know what they want. We'll find out what they want in the end and go from there." Grosjean's drive to sixth position at Monza had helped Haas leapfrog Renault in the standings due to the countback of previous results, used to split teams on the same points. Haas and Renault remain locked in their own fight for fourth following the FIA's decision to strip Force India of all the points it scored before the Belgian Grand Prix following its summer takeover, which prompted the team to effectively be re-entered on the grid as a new entry.
"This is all about scaling cost effectively,” said Dave Clark, senior vice president of Amazon Worldwide Operations. He said the new delivery program will help meet the growth in e-commerce. “We are going to have to meet this growth, and it's outpacing the growth of our core providers.” Each delivery unit will start their day at one of 75 current Amazon stations in the U.S. where parcels ordered from Amazon.com are picked up by drivers wearing blue-collared shirts with an Amazon logo and black hats. Algorithms will determine which packages are sent to these delivery stations, and which are sent to other delivery partners, like FedEx and UPS. The e-commerce behemoth announced on Thursday its new Delivery Service Partners program — designed to let entrepreneurs run their own local delivery networks of up to 40 vans emblazoned with Prime logos. Watch out FedEx , UPS , DHL and the U.S. Postal Service: Amazon is building its own last-mile delivery service. This year, more than 40 percent of all e-commerce purchases will be made on Amazon, according to an eMarketer estimate. Clark said Amazon has “great relationships” with its external delivery partners. “We use everything in order to meet our scale and meet our needs. I don’t see that changing in the future,” he said. In its latest annual 10-K filing, Amazon noted the risk associated with relying on external partners like FedEx and UPS. “If we are unable to negotiate acceptable terms with these companies or they experience performance problems or other difficulties, it could negatively impact our operating results and customer experience.” In the filing, Amazon said shipping costs — including sorting, delivery center and transportation expenses — ballooned from $11.5 billion in 2015 to $21.7 billion in 2017, and its shipping costs are expected to continue to increase. The new program brings more of the costs and customer service under its control, while letting entrepreneurs run the operations under the behemoth’s name. The e-commerce giant said the program will enable “hundreds” of small businesses to get started, and it will ultimately hire “tens of thousands” of new delivery drivers across the country. This comes at a time when there is a trucker shortage in the U.S., adding to rising transportation costs for many businesses. Amazon isn't providing an estimate for how many or how long it will take to get more delivery stations built in order to get packages to these new 10s of thousands of delivery drivers. Each Delivery Service Partner can start a business with as little as a $10,000 investment. The partner is vetted by Amazon, and once accepted, will lease Prime-branded vehicles from Amazon, but the entrepreneur will be in charge of recruiting and hiring drivers. Amazon will offer discounts for costs incurred to run the business on expenses like fuel, insurance and benefit programs. The company says the program is set up so successful delivery partners can make up to $300,000 in annual profit. Olaoluwa Abimbola has been running his delivery service business in the Denver area as part of the beta test for the last five months. While his background is in computer science and not logistics, he says he’s “loving” his new business and has already hired more than 40 employees who work “fairly regular hours” and “are encouraged to take breaks.” This new last-mile delivery program is in addition to Amazon Flex, a delivery program in more than 50 U.S. cities that operates more like Uber or Lyft, with “gig workers” delivering parcels from their own vehicles for $18 to $25 an hour. Amazon’s Delivery Service Partners is just another part of the company’s own logistics network. It already has 7,000 of its own trucks and 40 airplanes which, along with external delivery partners, shipped more than 5 billion Prime items last year. While Amazon won’t disclose the financials behind the new program, Clark says it’s “much more about customer experience and meeting overall growth. We think this is going to be a cost effective way to do that.” Shares of FedEx were down more than 2 percent Thursday afternoon, while UPS' stock lost about 2.5 percent on the news. “UPS closely monitors customer and competitor announcements, but we do not speculate on the likelihood of their success, nor potential impact on UPS’s business," a UPS spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC. "UPS is confident in its strategies and believes there is tremendous opportunity in the B2C market and more growth coming, regardless of how other companies may shift their use of UPS services." "The Postal Service needs to earn its customers’ business every day by providing great service at a competitive price, and we continue to attract e-commerce customers and business partners because our customers see the value of our predictable service, enhanced visibility, and affordable pricing," a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service said. FedEx didn't immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Still, one analyst said the new pursuit by Amazon could actually be "a move that is likely welcomed by FedEx and UPS to some extent given the margin impact to the business." "Last mile delivery is expensive and is the lowest margin business for FedEx and UPS," Cowen & Co. analyst John Blackledge said in a note to clients. "UPS is more exposed to last mile for Amazon, but ... new facilities coming online will help to partially tackle last mile delivery and improve the margin trajectory of that business line. FedEx['s] bread and butter remains B2B capabilities, a segment that Amazon has yet to express much interest in getting involved in." — CNBC's Morgan Brennan and Lauren Thomas contributed to this reporting.<doc-sep>Amazon is looking for entrepreneurs to help build out its delivery service with tens of thousands of new drivers across the U.S. The expansion of its Delivery Service Partners program, which would let small business owners build their own company with up to 40 delivery vehicles, is the latest move by the online retailer to shake up the traditional logistics ecosystem with the aim of speeding up delivery times. Potentially, hundreds of new small-business entrepreneurs could help the company expand its delivery system enough to end reliance on traditional last-mile shippers such as UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service. Amazon (AMZN) shares were up 2% Thursday, while shares of UPS (UPS) lost 2% and Fedex (FDX) was down 1%. As part of the plan, announced Thursday, the new small delivery businesses can get training from Amazon and make use of its logistics technology. Businesses will also be able to get discounts on vehicles, uniforms, fuel and insurance. Military veterans can apply for $10,000 to reimburse startup costs. More:Amazon is testing its own delivery service. If it succeeds, expect a price war “Customer demand is higher than ever, and we have a need to build more capacity," Dave Clark, Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations, said in a statement announcing the project. "We are going to empower new, small businesses to form in order to take advantage of the growing opportunity in e-commerce package delivery.” This initiative comes after President Donald Trump in recent months has criticized Amazon for getting the U.S. Postal Service to deliver Amazon packages at bargain prices. He formed a task force to study the Postal Service's finances and operations. A few weeks before, Trump reiterated concerns he had voiced about Amazon before his election. "They pay little or no taxes to state & local governments, use our Postal System as their Delivery Boy (causing tremendous loss to the U.S.), and are putting many thousands of retailers out of business!" he tweeted. Amazon has been slowly building out its own delivery system over the past few years as a way to better control its logistics chain. Two years ago, Amazon launched its own Prime Air air freight delivery service. The company has been growing its fleet of delivery providers, small contractors with as few as 10 white Amazon vans. Also helping expand its reach: Amazon Flex drivers who use their own vehicles to deliver packages. Former Flex driver Olaoluwa Abimbola, who participated in Amazon's testing of the new small delivery business initiative, has grown his own delivery company with more than 40 employees in five months. “I had prior experience running my own business but not in logistics,” said Abimbola, who participated in a media event Wednesday in Seattle and whose statements were included in Amazon's announcement of the project. "It’s encouraging to know that any driven individual can use Amazon’s support and the Delivery Service Partner community to build a successful, thriving business.” Amazon has also been planning another initiative in which it would send Amazon trucks to third-party sellers' warehouses and take pallets of goods to Amazon fulfillment centers. That would remove the burden from those sellers shipping goods to Amazon themselves. The company has also very publicly made it known that drones play a part in its potential last-mile delivery solutions. In March, the company patented a drone system allowing the vehicle to react when someone waves their hands or shouts. More:Trump blasts Amazon for hurting the postal service. Is that true? Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.<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>Thursday, Amazon announced a new business it says almost anyone with enough savings and a desire to be their own boss can do: staffing and operating a fleet of delivery trucks for the e-commerce giant. It's a program called Delivery Service Partners, and Amazon is hoping it will solve the problem of last-mile delivery. With an initial investment "as low as $10,000," according to Amazon, an entrepreneur can start a business that hires drivers and leases up to 40 vans to deliver packages from warehouses to homes. Drivers will wear Amazon-branded uniforms and the vans will sport Amazon Prime logos — but the business will be owned by the entrepreneurs themselves and contracted by Amazon to complete deliveries, according to Amazon. (The company won't allow vans with Amazon branding to be used to service competitors, according to The New York Times.) To keep the start-up costs low for interested owners, Amazon is providing access to third-party deals on costs like leasing the vans, getting insurance and buying mobile devices with data plans. Although the newly formed businesses aren't required to use the deals through Amazon, they "may not be able to achieve the start-up cost figure [estimated as low as $10,000] without doing so," Amazon discloses in a brochure about the program. For "successful owners" operating with 20 to 40 vans, Amazon estimates potential annual profits will range from $75,000 to $300,000, although those numbers will differ by city and the individual business' costs, according to the brochure.<doc-sep>	Amazon has gotten flack in the past for some of the challenges its crowdsourced “last-mile” delivery drivers face, but now it’s offering those with entrepreneurial ambitions the option to do more. Instead of showing up for gig work, drivers can opt for a new program where Amazon helps them establish their own delivery business. The program will include access to Amazon’s delivery technology, hands-on training and discounts on a suite of assets and services, including the vehicle leasing and insurance, the retailer says. That means drivers won’t have to use their own cars, as in the crowdsourced delivery program known as Amazon Flex. This gives them more space for organizing packages, the ability to use parking spots for delivery vehicles and the ability to haul extra equipment, like straps and dollies. Amazon says the earning potential for successful owners is as much as $300,000 in annual profit operating a fleet of 40 vehicles. The company expects that, over time, hundreds of small business owners will hire tens of thousands of delivery drivers across the U.S., it says. In other words, Amazon just launched its own UPS competitor of sorts, by offering leased vans, training and resources to those who want to drive for Amazon instead of Uber. The retailer says people can start up their Amazon delivery businesses with as little as $10,000. Military vets can get that 10K reimbursed, as Amazon is investing a million into a program that funds their startup costs. The business owners — who don’t need logistics experience, Amazon notes — will be offered discounts on the customized delivery vans, branded uniforms, fuel, comprehensive insurance coverage and more — deals the retailer pre-negotiated on their behalf. This also addresses some of the problems the gig work Flex drivers faced — gas prices would often cut far too much into profits; the lack of insurance; and the general challenges associated with trying to deliver packages from an unbranded, small car. “We have great partners in our traditional carriers and it’s exciting to continue to see the logistics industry grow,” said Dave Clark, Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations, in a statement about the launch. “Customer demand is higher than ever and we have a need to build more capacity. As we evaluated how to support our growth, we went back to our roots to share the opportunity with small-and-medium-sized businesses. We are going to empower new, small businesses to form in order to take advantage of the growing opportunity in e-commerce package delivery.” The changes come at a time when there’s been debate about Amazon’s financial impact on the U.S. Postal Service. But with this new program, Amazon could reduce its reliance on outside partners as the program scales. However, Amazon will continue to work with existing partners, including UPS and FedEx, in addition to the USPS and smaller last-mile delivery partners, for some time. As Amazon’s business continues to grow, it will need these partners’ help to get packages to customers for the foreseeable future — a fleet of leased Prime vans can’t do it all.
The Baltimore Orioles continued what’s expected to be an expansive firesale on Sunday, trading veteran closer Zach Britton to the Yankees for a package of pitching prospects headlined by former top-5 pick Dillon Tate. [Yahoo Fantasy Football leagues are open: Sign up now for free] Britton, who will be a free agent after this season, has proven to be among baseball’s most dominant relievers when healthy. Since taking over as Baltimore’s closer in 2014, Britton has posted an incredible 1.72 ERA while collecting 139 saves and 257 strikeouts over 261 innings. The deal was confirmed by both teams Tuesday night, with the Yankees receiving Britton and the Orioles receiving Tate, right-hander Cody Carroll and left-hander Josh Rogers. Zach Britton, welcome to the Bronx. pic.twitter.com/3vAdcJUxeh — New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 25, 2018 The two-time All-Star Britton was a workhorse between 2014 and 2016, appearing in 71, 64 and 69 games respectively. In 2016, he posted a microscopic 0.54 ERA, which earned him a fourth-place finish in the AL Cy Young award balloting and a few MVP votes as well. Britton battled several injury issues last season, which limited him to just 38 games. His bad luck continued in the season when he suffered an Achilles tear while working out. The injury prevented Baltimore from considering trading Britton over the winter. Britton has been slowly starting round back into form since his return on June 12, holding a 0.00 ERA with six strikeouts over seven innings during the month of July. Story continues How will Zach Britton fit in the Yankees bullpen? Britton is set to join what was an already stacked Yankees bullpen. New York’s bullpen is currently built around the quintet of Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, David Robertson, Chad Green and Jonathan Holder. All five of those players have already pitched at least 40 innings and the highest ERA among them is Robertson’s 3.05 mark. As a whole, the Yankees bullpen leads MLB in ERA at 2.75 and strikeout rate at 31.5 percent. Chapman is already the closer for the Yankees and since both he and Britton are left-handers, it’s difficult to see how Britton could get save opportunities barring a Chapman injury or fatigue issues. But that’s not much concern for the Yankees, who can now probably brag about the game being basically over if they have a lead after four innings. It looks like Zach Britton is staying in the AL East. (AP Photo) What the Orioles got for Zach Britton While Tate had a strong draft pedigree, it appears the Yankees managed to acquire Britton without parting with any of their top prospects. Tate, ranked as the Yankees No. 9 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is the biggest name in the group headed to Baltimore. The right-handed pitcher was scratched from his start for the Yankees Double-A affiliate in Trenton on Sunday. Picked fourth overall by the Rangers in the 2015 MLB draft, Tate landed with the Yankees as the club’s return in the Carlos Beltran deal in 2016. In 107.2 innings for Trenton between 2017 and 2018, Tate holds a 3.34 ERA and 92 strikeouts. Also headed south are Carroll and Rogers. The hard-throwing Carroll was ranked as the Yankees’ No. 15 prospect by MLB Pipeline, while Rogers is not in the team’s latest top 30. Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees might have faced a 40-man roster crunch had all three prospects stayed, which would have meant leaving some players exposed to the Rule 5 draft. Now with Britton on board, that is no longer a concern. More from Yahoo Sports: • Kawhi Leonard apparently ghosted David Robinson • Phillies fan expertly catches homer while holding a baby • A former Royals star is wrecking his local softball league • Cowboys TE offended by ‘humpty-dumpty’ body in Madden 19<doc-sep>The Yankees pivoted hard toward Zach Britton on Tuesday night and acquired the Orioles closer in a trade that bolsters their already dominant bullpen. The Yankees sent three pitching prospects to the Orioles in exchange for the left-hander, including Double-A starter Dillon Tate, Triple-A reliever Cody Carroll and Triple-A starter Josh Rogers. The Yankees, like most of the industry, had noticed how much better Britton had been pitching recently after missing the first 2 ¹/₂ months following right Achilles surgery. He had not allowed a run in his last eight outings and the sinker that had made him such a dominant reliever was back near in full, darting downward consistently at 94-97 mph. The Yankees still intend to try hard for a starting pitcher between now and the 4 p.m. July 31 trade deadline. But they recognized that a top-of-the-rotation type was unlikely to become available. Thus, Britton gives them the chance to deepen what already is arguably the majors’ best bullpen. The Yankees hope they can simply shorten games further with Britton joining Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, David Robertson, Chad Green and Jonathan Holder. The Yankees had tried to get Manny Machado earlier this month and were told by Baltimore to build a package around pitching, which the Yanks are deep at in the minors. They were then surprised when Baltimore dealt Machado to the Dodgers for a package built around a high-end outfield prospect. But they were now armed with the prospects the Orioles liked in their system to better pursue Britton. Plus, the Yanks recognized that they wanted to trade from their wealth of advanced starting prospects because they face yet another 40-man roster crunch this coming offseason. Tate and Rogers, for example, were among several pitchers the Yanks either would have to put on their 40-man roster or risk losing in the December Rule 5 draft.<doc-sep>	In the offseason, when their avenue to the starting pitcher they wanted, Shohei Ohtani, was blocked, the Yankees quickly pivoted, not with another starter, but by adding to what already was a surplus of outfield and righty power and acquiring Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees are pretty positive now that the type of starter they hunger for in this trade market — a Jacob deGrom or Madison Bumgarner — will never be available to them. And they have pivoted to further strengthen what already is perhaps the strongest unit, not just on their team, but in the majors — their bullpen. The Yankees acquired Zach Britton from the Orioles on Tuesday for pitching prospects Cody Carroll, Dillon Tate and Josh Rogers. They still need a starter and still intend to add one before next Tuesday’s 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline. But it is going to be more a mid-to-back-end type such as Toronto’s J.A. Happ or Minnesota’s Lance Lynn. With that the case, they jumped on Britton for a variety of reasons: He was pitching better. Britton, who missed the first 2½ months rehabbing a torn right Achilles tendon, had a 7.04 ERA in his first eight appearances back and did not yield a run in his last eight. Scouts who have seen him recently said the sinker that made him indomitable from 2014 to 2016 is nearly back in full at 94 to 97 mph with vicious downward action. “Someone is going to get a really fresh pitcher,” one AL executive said. “He has really begun to look like Zach Britton.” see also Yankees closing in on Orioles reliever Zach Britton The Yankees pivoted hard toward Zach Britton on Tuesday night... The Yankees traded from an area of depth. They had talked extensively with the Orioles about Manny Machado and were told Baltimore wanted pitching back, which left the Yankees somewhat surprised when Machado went to the Dodgers and the big piece the Orioles got back was a high-end outfield prospect. But the Yankees now knew what the Orioles liked in their system, and it was the area from which they wanted to deal. The Yankees face a 40-man roster glut this offseason, mainly because of the number of starters they have to consider putting on it or risk losing in the December Rule 5 draft. Caroll, Rogers and Tate all were in that realm.Carroll is a power-throwing Triple-A reliever. Rogers is a Triple-A lefty starter who depends more on repertoire and command over power. Tate was the fourth pick in the 2015 draft, whom the Yankees obtained in July 2016 from Texas for Carlos Beltran. Tate has a good fastball-slider combo, and scouts are split if he will be a back-end starter or setup man.
If Gordon Hayward needed any extra motivation or evidence he still could bounce back stronger than ever from the leg injury that derailed his 2017-18 season, all he needed to do was look across the court Sunday during the Boston Celtics’ 134-129 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden. Paul George has walked a mile in Hayward’s shoes, having suffered his own gruesome leg injury during a Team USA scrimmage back in 2014. Now, he’s performing at an MVP-caliber level for the Thunder, who rank third in the Western Conference behind the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets. So, what advice would George give Hayward, who’s had an up-and-down 2018-19 campaign? The Thunder swingman mostly believes his Celtics counterpart should remain patient. ?Just honestly, don?t be so hard on yourself,? George said Sunday, per MassLive.com. “I was fortunate. Again, when I got hurt, the following season I got to play six games and that kind of helped me into the transition. The fact of the matter is, everybody?s expecting Gordon to be Gordon from Utah. But he?s not. He?s gotta take strides, take steps along the way. Fans can?t be too hard on him. He can?t be too hard on himself. The game is different. You get hurt and sit out a year and try to come back, the game is totally different (than) the way you left it. He?s got to adapt, find his game, find his rhythm, block out the noise that people are expecting him to be himself right away. It takes time. ? George, who had been coming off back-to-back All-Star seasons, went down Aug. 1, 2014. He returned to action for the Indiana Pacers on April 5, 2015, and appeared in six games down the stretch, averaging 15.2 minutes per contest. Hayward, who signed with the Celtics in the summer of 2017 after spending his first seven seasons with the Utah Jazz, suffered his injury roughly five minutes into Boston’s opener on Oct. 17, 2017. He missed the remainder of the season and has appeared in 48 of the Celtics’ first 53 games this season, averaging 25.7 minutes per contest. Hayward has shown flashes of being the player he was in Utah but has struggled for the most part with Boston, creating uncertainty over his long-term potential moving forward. George sounds confident in Hayward’s ability to return to form, though. It’ll just take time, says the Thunder star.<doc-sep>Paul George of the Oklahoma City Thunder had some advice for Gordon Hayward of the Boston Celtics regarding his struggles coming off a gruesome leg injury and as the latter battles through inconsistency this season. Midway into the season, Hayward is evidently not yet back to his old self before the horrific injury he suffered last year. The 28-year-old admitted that he’s having some confidence issues right now. And George, who suffered a similar fate in 2014, offered some advice to Hayward. “Just honestly, don’t be so hard on yourself,” George said, per Tom Westerholm of MassLive, when asked what he would say to Hayward for advice. “I was fortunate. Again, when I got hurt, the following season I got to play six games and that kind of helped me into the transition.” He also gave Hayward and his fans a dose of reality. Though they expect him to be the old Gordon of the Utah Jazz, according to George, he’s a different player altogether. “The fact of the matter is, everybody’s expecting Gordon to be Gordon from Utah. But he’s not. He’s gotta take strides, take steps along the way. Fans can’t be too hard on him. He can’t be too hard on himself. The game is different. You get hurt and sit out a year and try to come back, the game is totally different (than) the way you left it.” The good thing for Hayward and his fans is that the one-time All-Star has shown glimpses of his old self this season. It’s good proof that he still has game. It may take some time before he’s able to unleash it. But it’s definitely inside him.<doc-sep>There have been moments when the former All-Star has looked like an All-Star again, but they have been outnumbered by games such as Sunday’s. Across a hallway in the bowels of TD Garden, there was one player who knows what Hayward has been through, and his ascension should give Hayward hope. The forward played 24 minutes, made 1 of 6 shots and had 3 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. It was another uninspiring performance in a frustrating season for Hayward, who is still looking to find his way after missing all but five minutes of last year because of a gruesome ankle injury. In the Celtics’ 134-129 win over the Thunder on Sunday afternoon, eight of the nine Boston players who appeared in the game scored in double figures. Gordon Hayward was the only one who did not. Advertisement The Thunder’s Paul George suffered his own catastrophic leg injury in August 2014, and he has since reemerged as an MVP candidate, averaging 27.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.3 steals this season. As Hayward’s struggles have continued, there have been questions about whether he will ever return to his pre-injury form. When George suffered his injury, he faced similar questions. He has answered them quite emphatically, and remains confident that Hayward will bounce back, too. “Fans can’t be too hard on him and he can’t be too hard on himself,” George said. “The game is different. When you sit out a year and you try to come back, the game is totally different from where you left it. “He’s got to adapt, find his game, find his rhythm, block out the noise that people are expecting him to be himself right away. It takes time. “When I got hurt, the doctors told me it would be two to three years before I would feel the way I feel now. Despite them saying I would make a full recovery, it wouldn’t be until two or three years. It’s a long marathon for him. He’ll be all right.” Advertisement George has offered Hayward guidance ever since he was hurt. His primary message was not to be discouraged by setbacks. “Honestly, just don’t be so hard on yourself,” George said. “I was fortunate when I got hurt; the following season I got to play six games, and that kind of helped me into the transition. Fact of the matter is everyone is expecting Gordon to be Gordon from Utah and he’s not. He has to take strides, take steps along the way.” Hayward scored a total of 4 points on 1-for-11 shooting in recent games against the Warriors and Nets before rebounding with solid games against the Hornets and Knicks last week. Then there was this quiet game against the Thunder, continuing the search for some kind of consistency as the playoffs inch closer. “It’s slowly starting to come back,” Hayward said. “I’m still continuing to do work every day with my ankle, and so trying to strengthen it more and more.” Expanding their repertoire After hitting 4 of 9 3-point attempts in the win over Oklahoma City, Marcus Smart is now shooting a career-best 36.7 percent from beyond the arc. Smart said his shot mechanics and routines have not really changed, but he said he is being wiser about his shot selection. Advertisement In addition to giving Boston’s offense some extra scoring punch, the guard said the impact has been evident elsewhere. “Teams used to, just with me on the court in the last couple of years, play off me so much that it was making everything crowded for everybody else,” he said. “So with me shooting the ball the way I’m shooting, now it makes it really hard. “And it opens things up for me as well to get to the basket and things like that, to get into the paint and find my teammates.” No Kyrie homecoming Kyrie Irving will miss Tuesday’s game against the Cavaliers in Cleveland because of a left hip strain. Irving suffered the injury against the Warriors on Jan. 26 and missed the games against the Nets and Hornets. He returned and did not appear limited in the wins over the Knicks and Thunder, averaging 36.2 minutes per game. Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.<doc-sep>BOSTON -- Boston Celtics wing Gordon Hayward has had worse games than Sunday’s 134-129 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder (three points on 1-for-6 shooting, but three rebounds, a pair of assists and an important steal), but his shooting struggles were stark, and once again he struggled to finish around the rim. Hayward’s return from the broken ankle that ended his 2017-18 season five minutes in has been up and down -- plenty of discouraging moments, with some really good ones sprinkled in (a pair of great performances against Minnesota leap to mind, but there were others as well). Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George suffered a similarly devastating injury in 2014, when his leg broke gruesomely in a Team USA scrimmage. Because both Hayward and George suffered injuries that were particularly tough to look at, Hayward’s recovery has been compared to George’s constantly. George doesn’t believe that to be fair. “Just honestly, don’t be so hard on yourself,” George said, when asked what he would say to Hayward for advice. “I was fortunate. Again, when I got hurt, the following season I got to play six games and that kind of helped me into the transition. The fact of the matter is, everybody’s expecting Gordon to be Gordon from Utah. But he’s not. He’s gotta take strides, take steps along the way. Fans can’t be too hard on him. He can’t be too hard on himself. The game is different. You get hurt and sit out a year and try to come back, the game is totally different (than) the way you left it. He’s got to adapt, find his game, find his rhythm, block out the noise that people are expecting him to be himself right away. It takes time.” George returned from his injury and continued to improve. After a slower 2016-17 season (23.1 points, but just 41.8 percent from the field), he became one of the league’s most dynamic scorers this year. George is posting a career-high 27.6 points per game with an effective field-goal percentage of 54.3, and he is in the conversation for both Defensive Player of the Year and MVP. As noted by MassLive’s John Karalis, Hayward also had a set back this summer, which certainly hasn’t accelerated his return. Not only was he unable to return to the court at the end of last season, he couldn’t start playing 5-on-5 until September. So as George noted, Celtics fans would do well to be patient with Hayward. This season has been a struggle, but he still has plenty of time to figure it out. “When I got hurt, the doctors told me it would be two to three years before I feel the way I feel now,” George said. “Despite them saying I would make a full recovery, sit the next season out, make a full recovery and I would be back to myself, but it won’t be two or three years before I notice everything coming back. So it’s a long marathon for him. But he will be all right.”<doc-sep>	Gordon Hayward was able to get past his early jitters and had himself a big night in his return to the scene of his injury that sidelined him in his first year with the Boston Celtics. The wing scored 18 to go with his six rebounds and five assists in Boston’s 103-96 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. His big night also comes on the heels of a three-point performance in the Celtics’ 134-129 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of multiple subpar nights from Hayward this season. Also playing in the Sunday matchup was Paul George, a 2019 All-Star who knows a thing or two about coming back from a tough leg injury. The OKC wing suffered a broken leg in the summer of 2014 while playing for team USA. Once he returned to the game, it initially appeared George had lost a step—yet here he is, a starter in the 2019 All-Star Game. Per Tom Westerholm of MassLive, George felt it right to give Hayward some advice following Sunday’s game, being someone with a similar experience. “Just honestly, don’t be so hard on yourself,” George said. “I was fortunate. Again, when I got hurt, the following season I got to play six games and that kind of helped me into the transition. The fact of the matter is, everybody’s expecting Gordon to be Gordon from Utah. But he’s not. He’s gotta take strides, take steps along the way. Fans can’t be too hard on him. He can’t be too hard on himself. The game is different. You get hurt and sit out a year and try to come back, the game is totally different (than) the way you left it. He’s got to adapt, find his game, find his rhythm, block out the noise that people are expecting him to be himself right away. It takes time.” And while George doesn’t believe Hayward is the guy he was in Utah, that’s a temporary thing in his mind. “When I got hurt, the doctors told me it would be two to three years before I feel the way I feel now,” George said. “Despite them saying I would make a full recovery, sit the next season out, make a full recovery and I would be back to myself, but it won’t be two or three years before I notice everything coming back. So it’s a long marathon for him. But he will be all right.” Hayward was asked about George’s advice after Tuesday’s performance in Cleveland. He didn’t expand on it much but made clear the message was appreciated.
Bigg Boss 12, September 19 episode highlights: Watch Bigg Boss 12 every day at 9 pm only on Colors. Bigg Boss 12, September 19 episode highlights: Watch Bigg Boss 12 every day at 9 pm only on Colors. The contestants wake up to the tune of ‘Raita Phail Gaya’. New bonds are being formed among the housemates as this is only their third day inside the Bigg Boss house. Also Read \| Bigg Boss 12: Too early for Sreesanth to be a rebel It’s also the first nomination of the season today. The single contestants will nominate one jodi and the jodis will nominate one singleton. The jodis will be shown two single contestants on the screen and the same will be the case with the singletons. After a lot of back and forth, the final decision about this year’s first nomination will be made.<doc-sep>The Bigg Boss house is definitely one hell of a place to live in and after the beginning of Bigg Boss 12, it is quite clear that the contestants of this season of the show have everything on them to create drama and ruckus in the house as from the very first episode of the show, people started fighting with each other and showing their real faces, special thanks to the first task of the show, 'BB Press Conference.' But there is one thing in the show from the fear of which people try to to complete their task and perform well in the house and it is none other than the nominations process after which it is decided who will have to bid the show a goodbye. After the first task that got cancelled because of Sreesanth, the Bigg Boss will again give the contestants a chance ti fight. Well, as per the latest reports the names of the nominated contestants for the very first week of the show are finally out and you will be shocked to hear them. As per reports, the contestants who have got eliminated are Dipika Kakkar, Anup Jalota and Jasleen Matharu, Nehha Pendse and Sabah and Somi Khan, commonly called the Khan sisters. ALSO READ: Bigg Boss 12: Shilpa Shinde has a very surprising thing to say about Anup Jalota and Jasleen Matharu's love relationship<doc-sep>It's the start of a new week and inside the Bigg Boss house, it's the day of the nominations. There were no eliminations over the weekend as the makers finally listened to host Salman Khan, who has not been very fond of the idea of eliminations on the first weekend as he feels that it's not completely fair to the contestants. So as the new week begins, another round of nominations awaited the contestants. Bringing in a twist, Bigg Boss announced open nominations amidst the set up of a graveyard. As a part of the task, the contestants had to pick up the wax statues of the jodi or singles and put it in a melting pot stating the reason behind nominating them. Bigg Boss also gave a special power to captains Kriti Verma and Roshmi Banik with which they could save one contestant. Bigg Boss 12: Exclusive! Dipika Kakar and Neha Pendse Are Like BFFs in the House, but for How Long? If you will remember, Karanvir Bohra, and the jodi of Nirmal Singh and Romil Chaudhary were nominated directly for Bigg Boss as they sacrificed and went to jail. And that was the main problem as Bigg Boss felt that they were not too honest, and that the real culprits or the weak performers should have been punished. Hence, they served their sentence in the kaalkothri of the Bigg Boss house and got nominated too. Bigg Boss 12: Nehha Pendse Is Aggressive in Bed and No, It’s Not What You Think. And at the end of the nominations ki prakriya, sisters Somi Khan and Saba Khan and Dipika Kakar found themselves in the danger zone. So this week, again two jodis - Nirmal Singh-Romil Chaudhary and Somi-Saba and two celebs - Dipika and Karanvir have been nominated. Of course, the voting will be between singles and jodis. So if a jodi gets the least number of votes, both the members of the pair will be eliminated. Will it be a celeb or a commoner jodi? We will come to know only on the coming Weekend Ka Vaar of Bigg Boss 12. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2018 05:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).<doc-sep>Sreesanth and the Khan sisters continue with their fight after they attacked each other’s upbringing in the previous day’s Bigg Boss 12 episode. After the other housemates’ step in, they apologise to each other. Sreesanth apologises to their parents also and says he is the weakest link in the Bigg Boss house as he is very emotional. Deepak Thakur also jumps into the fight and attacks the Khan sisters. He says the two women had no business to speak so rudely to Sreesanth. Anup Jalota tries to pacify him and asks him not to aggravate the fight. Deepak goes and apologises to the two women. Day 3 begins with song and dance. Deepak and his jokes keep the Bigg Boss 12 contestants entertained. He tries to speak in English and gets others laughing out loud. Bigg Boss announces that as the first task was cancelled, nobody is safe from nominations. Five contestants are called by Bigg Boss – Sreesanth, Neha, Karanvir, Srishty and Dipika – and asked to nominate some of the jodis. They are first asked to choose between Roshmi-Kriti or Nirmal-Romil. The five unanimously choose Roshmi and Kriti as they seem as strong contestants to them. Next on, they are asked to choose a pair from among Anup-Jasleen and the Khan sisters. The five nominate Sabah and Somi based on their shenanigans during the last two days. Between Urvashi-Deepak and Sourav-Shivashish, they decide to nominate Shiv and Sourav. Next, the jodis are called by Bigg Boss and asked to nominate one single from among Dipika and Karanvir; they decide to nominate Dipika as they see her as domineering. Between Srishty and Neha, they nominate Srishty as she is not involved in the house. Then, they are asked whether they want to save Sreesanth or nominate him; he goes into the safe zone. Roshi-Kriti, Sabah, Shivashish-Sourav, Dipika and Srishty are nominated for eviction at the end of the process. Roshmi breaks down as she says that they are commoners and will not get enough votes for them to survive in the house. Soon, the nominations begin the new bone of contention in the house and even the jodis are imploding. Sourav and Shivashish fight over the latter’s refusal to do any household chores. Meanwhile, Kriti blames Urvashi over the washroom smelling foul. Deepak explains to her that they come from a different milieu as compared to other contestants and they need to learn certain things. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-tv_listing-desktop<doc-sep>	Bigg Boss 12: Five contestants have been nominated for eviction this week. Bigg Boss 12: Five contestants have been nominated for eviction this week. Bigg Boss 12 witnessed its first nomination process on Wednesday. While the viewers were expecting Sreesanth’s direct nomination by Bigg Boss, it was left to the jodis of the house to decide if they want to nominate him or not. The contestants decided to give a chance to the former cricketer and saved him. Was it a wise decision after the cricketer sabotaged the first task of the season? Only Salman Khan will tell on the first Weekend Ka Vaar episode of the season. Saving Sreesanth, Bigg Boss 12 jodis nominated TV actors Dipika Kakar and Srishty Rode. Unlike the jodis, the singletons of the house didn’t spare Somi and Saba Khan for picking up unnecessary fights and nominated them unanimously. The jodi of Kriti Verma and Roshni Banik also came under their radar but only because they considered them a tough competition. Shivashish Mishra and Sourabh Patel too got nominated for eviction this week. Who do you think will get evicted from Bigg Boss 12 this week? Out of all the nominated contestants, Sasural Simar Ka actor Dipika Kakar seems less likely to leave the house this weekend, courtesy her popularity among the masses. Kriti Verma and Roshni Banik might have to try a little harder in the remaining two days, since its only Kriti who has been seen on camera and Roshni, until now, hasn’t done much to entertain the viewers. Though the Jaipur sisters Somi and Saba Khan have grabbed lot of attention in just three days, it is difficult to say whether they will garner enough audience votes. Looking back at the voting pattern of previous seasons, audiences haven’t accepted the troublemakers in the initial weeks. It’s only after two-three weeks in the show that masala entertainers become a favourite of the viewers. However, more than them, it is the commoner jodi Shivashish and Sourabh who will mostly likely be shown the door. Now, it will be interesting to see if it will be a jodi or a singleton who will be evicted.
Donald Trump’s former lawyer has predicted the American public won’t see a report — or possibly anything at all — produced from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. John Dowd, who previously worked for the president’s legal team focusing on the Russia investigation before departing last year, called the probe a “terrible waste of time” in an interview with ABC News. “I don’t think there will be a report,” the attorney said. “The rules of the department say ‘no report.’” He added, “I won’t be shocked if anything regarding the president is made public other than, ‘we’re done.’” The comments arrived as Democrats reportedly prepared for a showdown to occur between the US House of Representatives and Mr Trump’s Justice Department over obtaining access to the final Russia report. The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Mueller’s team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone.<doc-sep>All signs indicate that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is on the verge of wrapping up his investigation and will conclude that the Trump campaign did not collude with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election. President Trump’s former attorney John Dowd, a highly respected Washington lawyer, put an exclamation point on those feelings when he told ABC News this week: “If I was supervising Mueller, (I would) tell him to knock it off, get it done.” After a 21-month investigation that has caused the Trump-hating media and political left to foam at the mouth in unison, tens of millions of hardworking American taxpayers are ready to move on and finally turn the page on the 2016 election. It’s time for everyone to digest the special counsel’s results and start to heal as a country. EX-TRUMP ATTORNEY JOHN DOWD SLAMS 'WASTE OF TIME' MUELLER PROBE AS 'ONE OF THE GREATEST FRAUDS' IN US HISTORY If Mueller decides to send a final report to incoming Attorney General William Barr, that report should be released in full so the American people and Congress can see exactly what his long and expensive investigation found, did not find, and how it was conducted. After almost two years of secrecy, it’s time for some transparency. Since the special counsel was given the broad mandate to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, it will be telling to see if the Mueller team followed every investigative lead. This would include: the Obama administration’s failure to confront Russian interference; Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court application abuses; former British spy Christopher Steele’s collusion with Russians on behalf of Hillary Clinton’s campaign; former FBI Director James Comey’s alleged false statements to Congress; former CIA Director John Brennan’s August 2016 political stunt in conjunction with former Democratic Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada; and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper’s alleged leaking. The American people are also still waiting for answers about the clear double standard in investigative tactics when comparing the Russia investigation and the Clinton email investigation. For instance, why was National Security Adviser and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn prosecuted for making false statements to the FBI, while high-ranking Clinton aide Huma Abedin was given a free pass? And why were the homes of Trump associates raided before dawn, while Clinton confidants Cheryl Mills and Heather Samuelson were granted immunity in exchange for nothing? Special Counsel Mueller should address these issues as a way to restore some trust. Thanks to James Comey’s disgraceful political stunt to trigger the appointment of the special counsel – an action that has damaged America – President Trump has had to deal with an all-powerful prosecutor as a permanent fixture for nearly his entire presidency. John Dowd is right. Can anyone seriously argue that 21 months isn’t enough time to look at these politically concocted allegations? The conclusion of the Mueller investigation will mark a new beginning for President Trump and his already highly successful administration. This duly elected president deserves the chance to continue his first term and run his re-election campaign without the cloud of the Clinton-financed Russia collusion myth hanging over him. It’s time for the liberal media to change course, admit their error and tell the truth. Not only is the special counsel about to close up shop, but the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee also has found no evidence of collusion. NBC News reported Tuesday: “After two years and 200 interviews, the Senate Intelligence Committee is approaching the end of its investigation into the 2016 election, having uncovered no direct evidence of a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia.” These pivotal events are putting the Democratic House majority in a pickle. Leftist resistance leaders Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Elijah Cummings, and Jerry Nadler must explain to the American people why they were so wrong about Trump and Russia for two years. Their pathetic attempt last week to change their oversight priority away from Russia and toward the president’s private business dealings and tax returns should be met with harsh scrutiny from the media and the American people. What the president did in his personal life for the half century before he entered politics is not within the jurisdiction of these unhinged House committee chairmen. If they want to conduct legitimate oversight of the Trump administration for its activities since January 20, 2017, they can have at it. But looking at President Trump’s business dealings and tax returns from decades ago would be a colossal lapse in judgment. It’s a textbook overreach and the American people won’t like it. The House Democrats’ credibility is now severely diminished because Trump Derangement Syndrome caused them to set expectations far too high. They’d be wise to recognize this fact. Republican Reps. Doug Collins, Jim Jordan, and Devin Nunes – the ranking members on the Judiciary, Oversight, and Intelligence Committees respectively – should make the necessary adjustments to their defense arguments, marginalize the radical partisan witch hunt in the House, and dig in their heels accordingly. Everyone should view the debacle at last week’s hearing questioning Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker as a wakeup call. At a minimum, Republicans need to show up and not abdicate the field. Judiciary Committee Democrats demonstrated that they are out for blood. The Republicans’ casual approach to combating the politics of personal destruction is unacceptable. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP With the Mueller investigation behind him and an economy that’s on fire, President Trump’s approval rating will continue to tick up. Reasonable independent-minded Americans who like our amazing 4 percent unemployment rate and a president who ends wars instead of starts them will now continue to gravitate toward Trump the pragmatic problem solver. The approaching end of the Russia hoax marks a watershed moment for our country. President Trump is moving full steam ahead with his agenda to keep America great! CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DAVID BOSSIE<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) Editor’s Note: In this new weekly column “Cross-exam,” Elie Honig, a former federal and state prosecutor and CNN legal analyst, gives his take on the latest legal news and answers questions from readers. Post your questions below. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion articles on CNN. Watch Honig answer reader questions on “CNN Newsroom” at 5 p.m. ET Sundays. (CNN) — The top issue on the minds of readers this week is the hotly anticipated, deeply mysterious Robert Mueller report: When will the special counsel share his findings, what will the report contain and who will see it? Public attention has turned increasingly to the Mueller report in the wake of acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker’s combative (and evasive) testimony to Congress following his declaration that Mueller is “close to being completed“; the likely imminent confirmation of attorney general nominee William Barr, who will receive the report from Mueller and decide where it goes next; and the brash proclamation from President Donald Trump’s former attorney John Dowd that “I don’t think there’ll be a report.”’ Courtesy Lowenstein Sandler Elie Honig Dowd is wrong. There will be a Mueller report. The special counsel regulations require Mueller to “provide the Attorney General with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions.” And Whitaker confirmed to Congress that “we have followed the special counsel’s regulation to a T.” The big question – which you asked, and I answer below – is what happens to the report after the attorney general gets it from Mueller. As Joan Biskupic notes, history provides two divergent models for what the Mueller report could contain. In 1974, Watergate special prosecutor Leon Jaworski filed a concise “road map” setting forth factual findings to Congress without drawing legal conclusions. In 1998, independent counsel Kenneth Starr issued a novel-length report detailing alleged offenses arising from President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky. While issuance of the Mueller report will be a pivotal moment in the Trump presidency, it will not mark the end of Trump’s legal troubles. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and others already have begun flexing their newfound subpoena power, and the Southern District of New York’s probes of the Trump Organization and the Trump inaugural committee continue to expand. Trump smartly beefed up his legal team in anticipation of the battles to come. In other news, after protracted hearings, a federal judge determined that former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort intentionally lied on three of five points to the FBI, Mueller and a grand jury. This means that Manafort is going to get hammered at sentencing; I’d expect the 69-year-old Manafort – who already has been convicted at trial, pleaded guilty to additional offenses and now poured gasoline on the fire by lying while trying to cooperate – to receive a sentence that will keep him behind bars for most or all of his life. In the broader sense, it means the judge has sided with Mueller’s prosecutors, who argued that Manafort intentionally lied to cover up his dealings with Konstantin Kilimnik – including providing Kilimnik, who has been linked with the Russian intelligence agency, with internal polling data during the heat of the 2016 election – which goes “very much to the heart of what the special counsel is investigating.” Now, your questions.<doc-sep>Read: The White House has no plan for confronting the Mueller report So if you imagine that “wrapping up” means this first option, then Mueller and his team have largely finished probing the story of the links and coordination between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government. They have largely finished investigating efforts to obstruct the probe. And they are probably spinning off the matters that arose in the course of investigating these core things. Yes, there are still issues to be resolved, but those issues are squarely within the realm of what can be gleaned from filed documents. Some of these might include examining newly seized evidence from Roger Stone; waiting to see whether investigators will learn anything truly significant from Andrew Miller, a matter that is currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit; and resolving the mystery grand-jury case, which pertains to some foreign-government-owned institution. In this iteration of “wrapping up,” the team largely knows where it is heading, and it’s just a question of getting there. Think of James Comey’s comments about the Hillary Clinton email investigation; by the time the FBI sat down to interview her, he has said, it was quite clear there wouldn’t be a case unless she lied. But the interview had to happen anyway. The FBI was wrapping up. The problem is that this explanation doesn’t answer the question of how significant those loose ends are to the investigation or how long they will take to tie off—putting aside the fact that it is now mid-February and the investigation still shows no signs of ending. The famed biographer Robert Caro has been wrapping up the fifth volume of his five-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson—the first volume of which was published in 1982—for years. The scope of work is known. He presumably knows what he’s going to say. And yet, as Caro has said, he is “still—at the age of 83—several years from finishing it.” Countless Game of Thrones fans have been waiting since 2011 for George R. R. Martin to wrap up The Winds of Winter, the next volume in his “Song of Fire and Ice” series. There’s another plausible way to understand Mueller’s “wrap-up” phase. It could mean that the investigative phase of the probe is nearly complete—with or without significant loose ends—but that major decisions are still to come. In other words, if the Mueller team has all or almost all the information it needs, it may still have to decide exactly what to do with that information. Will there be more indictments when the investigation “wraps up,” or will prosecutors ride off into the sunset, leaving a report on Bill Barr’s doorstep? To say that the investigation is done, in other words, doesn’t answer the question of investigative outcome. If you’re one of those people who have invested a great deal in the Mueller investigation, you might—quite plausibly—see in this decision point the great cataclysm, the moment in which Mueller reveals all in a set of climactic charges. Conversely, if you’re one of those people who think the premise is wildly overstated and the whole thing is a “witch hunt,” you’re waiting for the emperor to be revealed as naked. But the point either way in this iteration is that “wrapping up” is not necessarily the end; it’s merely the end of the investigation.<doc-sep>	Scathing remarks directed at Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe by John Dowd, President Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer, are understandably drawing attention. I am less interested in the ad hominem than in the salient issues Dowd has raised. Dowd described Mueller’s investigation as a “terrible waste of time,” suggesting that there are no crimes and that the exercise was one of score-settling for “a cabal in the FBI” opposed to the president. Therefore, the lawyer expects that the special counsel’s much-anticipated final report will never materialize, at least for public consumption. “I will be shocked,” Dowd declaimed, “if anything regarding the president is made public other than, ‘We’re done.’” EX-TRUMP ATTORNEY JOHN DOWD SLAMS 'WASTE OF TIME' MUELLER PROBE AS 'ONE OF THE GREATEST FRAUDS' IN US HISTORY This brings to the fore some legal issues worth sorting out. First, there certainly will be a final report by the special counsel. The regulations governing special counsel appointments by the Justice Department state: “At the conclusion of the Special Counsel's work, he or she shall provide the Attorney General with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel.” Note both that the special counsel’s report must explain his charging decisions to the attorney general and that the report must be confidential. Even if, as I expect, the special counsel finds there is no basis to file criminal charges against the president, an explanation of that decision would be required. But it would be an explanation for the attorney general’s eyes only. It is the policy of the Justice Department not to speak publicly about the evidence against uncharged persons. Recall that when FBI Director James Comey was dismissed, based in part on a memorandum written by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (who supervised the Mueller investigation for over a year), the main condemnation of Comey involved his public revelation of the evidence in the Hillary Clinton email investigation – notwithstanding that Clinton had not been charged with a crime. There is thus a very good chance that Dowd is correct that Mueller’s report will not result in any statement about the president other than that the investigation is closed. Consequently, even if the special counsel regulations did not mandate confidentiality, ordinary Justice Department guidelines against public commentary about uncharged persons would do so. (Of course, when people are charged, the indictments usually speak for themselves.) There is thus a very good chance that Dowd is correct that Mueller’s report will not result in any statement about the president other than that the investigation is closed. In fact, the Justice Department normally will not even confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, so it may not even acknowledge the closing of the case – although it should do so in this instance, not least because the Justice Department and FBI gratuitously announced, in Comey’s March 2017 House testimony, that the Trump campaign was under investigation for possible “coordination” in Russia’s election meddling. If you are going to create the impression that someone is a suspect, you owe it to that person to correct the impression if the case is closed without charges. Even if there are no charges, that does not mean Mueller’s overall investigation has been a waste of time. Mueller, after all, was not assigned a criminal investigation. Rosenstein appointed Mueller to take over the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation of Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. The point of a counterintelligence investigation is not to build criminal cases; it is to understand the actions and intentions of foreign powers, such as Russia, to the extent they may threaten American interests. Therefore, the criminal investigations and prosecutions have only been a subset of Mueller’s assignment. His overarching mission has been to assess the nature and extent of the Kremlin’s election-meddling operations. The objective is to thwart such operations in the future. As I have many times noted, the assignment of a counterintelligence investigation to a special counsel was inappropriate. The regulations authorize appointment of a special counsel only when (a) there is a factual predicate for a criminal investigation or prosecution, and (b) the Justice Department has such a profound conflict of interest that it cannot ethically conduct the investigation, requiring the appointment of a lawyer from outside the government.
President Donald Trump introduces U.S. Circuit Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh as his nominee to the United States Supreme Court during an event in the East Room of the White House July 9, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Photo : Chip Somodevilla ( Getty Images ) I love me some conspiracy theories. In fact, I am convinced that Tupac Shakur is currently living as a goat farmer in Cuba. Don’t @ me. So, I will say that this one unnamed news source has a bit of a conspiracy- esque tinge to it, but let’s just go with it for a second. Advertisement On Monday morning, an NBC News White House correspondent with Twitter’s blue check proving he’s not a Russian bot, tweeted : Here’s what we can confirm: Geoff Bennett is a real person. He isn’t an empty face for the left. He isn’t a fake Twitter account. He’s actually a very real person, with a real job and real sources. Geoff Bennett doesn’t wade in the fake-news pond, and while that would normally go without saying, nothing about Trump’s America is normal. Trump is shady AF. If you look outside your window and see water from the sky and then ask Trump what’s going on and he says, “It’s raining,” you should still go outside and make sure that it isn’t a Russian prostitute pissing on your house ... because Trump is shady. Currently, the president of the United States is all Friends and Family plan with dictators Kim Jung Un and Vladimir Putin while beefing with Canada and Germany. He’s currently running tariffs on goods from China but somehow doesn’t include his daughter’s clothing line of kitten heels and old-lady-cruising-the-buffet wear. So would it really shock you if Trump did have some kind of deal with Kennedy before he stepped down? Advertisement Trump had a private meeting with Kennedy. According to a Politico story, after Trump’s private meeting with Kennedy, in which the justice informed the president that he was going to be retiring, Trump walked out of the meeting intent of picking Kennedy’s former law clerk, Brett Kavanaugh. Advertisement Here’s how Politico explains the president’s possible skullduggery. So even as Trump dispatched his top lawyers to comb though Kavanaugh’s rulings and quizzed allies about whether he was too close to the Bush family, potentially a fatal flaw, the president was always leaning toward accepting Kennedy’s partiality for Kavanaugh while preserving the secret until his formal announcement, sources with knowledge of his thinking told POLITICO. Trump, who spent more time with Kavanaugh than the other finalists, was impressed with the judge’s credentials, long judicial record and fidelity to the Constitution, according to administration officials. What was listed as a deal-breaker to some on the right—his long paper trail—was actually the thing that drew Trump to Kavanaugh. Advertisement Then, if all of this is true, well that means that his primetime announcement was bullshit. Yes, yes it was. But it was bullshit even if Trump didn’t know who he was going to pick. It was bullshit because the president of the United States held America hostage so he could unveil his Supreme Court nominee like he was giving out Powerball numbers. This is how Trump made a Supreme Court pick all about himself, which is really what he’s good at. And shame on the news stations for building hype around that bullshit. Instead of covering it like a regular news event, all of us were receiving news alerts as if a hurricane was headed our way. Advertisement If I’m judging this conspiracy theory on a scale of Obama is a secret Muslim (dumbest) to 9/11 was an inside job (the most credible), then I’d have to say this is feeling way more freedom fries than Obama, the jihadist. I also put nothing past this president. Nothing.<doc-sep>(CNN) — The Supreme Court was often called the “Kennedy Court” because Justice Anthony Kennedy cast the deciding vote on so many politically salient cases, especially on abortion and gay rights. With Kennedy’s upcoming departure, and the likely nomination of a staunch conservative to replace him, questions immediately arise over what would become of his legacy and the law for all Americans. Will Roe v. Wade be overturned? Kennedy was the fifth vote (with the four liberal justices) to uphold a woman’s right to abortion. He cast the decisive vote in that 1992 case that affirmed Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark that made abortion legal nationwide. In the 1992 ruling, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, the court said government cannot impose an “undue burden” on women seeking to end a pregnancy before the fetus is viable. More recently, Kennedy was the key vote in 2016 to strike down strict regulations on abortion clinics in Texas. With Kennedy gone, Roe v. Wade is at risk. Kennedy’s departure will be taken as an invitation to anti-abortion advocates and conservative states to impose even stricter regulations or make the procedure outright illegal. It would be a dramatic jolt for the Supreme Court to overturn abortion rights after 45 years. Certainly, conservative Chief Justice John Roberts has supported greater regulation of abortion, yet he has constantly referred to the court’s regard for precedent and fights its image as a political institution. It is possible a new conservative majority would trim the right to an abortion – for example with more restrictions on physicians, clinics and the timing of a termination - rather than reverse Roe altogether. What happens to same-sex marriage? The 2015 gay marriage precedent – another milestone Kennedy opinion in which he sided with the court’s liberals against four conservatives – is more recent than Roe but it may not be as enduringly divisive. The court this term relied on the Obergefell v. Hodges precedent when it took up a case of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The court, in a 7-2 decision by Kennedy, sided with the baker based on statements disparaging of religion at a Colorado civil rights commission hearing. Kennedy’s fellow conservatives signed his opinion, which was premised on a right to same-sex marriage. It is likely, however, that the new conservative majority would be defer more to religious interests and permit a broad range of exemptions to laws intended to protect people based on sexual orientation. Kennedy, who has written every gay rights decision since 1996, leaves behind this caution from the Masterpiece Cake ruling for those who would want religions exemptions that affect gay marriage: They “would have to be sufficiently constrained, lest all purveyors of goods and services who object to gay marriages for moral and religious reasons in effect be allowed to put up signs saying ‘no goods or services will be sold if they will be used for gay marriages,’ something that would impose a serious stigma on gay persons.” Will affirmative action come to an end? Kennedy has a mixed record on racial remedies. In 2007, he was the fifth vote against Seattle and Louisville public school assignment plans that took students’ race into account for district-wide diversity. But he broke with his conservative brethren who wanted to shut the door completely on such integration measures. In 2016, Kennedy also was the fifth vote to uphold a University of Texas at Austin affirmative action program that considered students’ race as one of many factors in the admissions decision, again for campus diversity. But Roberts strongly objects to racial policies, and a case testing university affirmative action at Harvard could soon be working its way to the high court. In the balance would be a 1978 precedent, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, which first allowed race to be considered in admissions decisions. Without Kennedy, it could fall and campus affirmative action be prohibited. Who’s the new swing vote? If there is one, it’s Chief Justice John Roberts. Of the four conservatives who Kennedy is leaving behind, Roberts is closest to the left. (Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch are farthest on the right; Samuel Alito falls generally between that pair and Roberts.) With another appointee in the mold of Gorsuch, Roberts would be pivotal – if he chooses to be more moderate. Yet if he joins with the four liberals, as Kennedy often did, Roberts would likely still lead to a decision with a more conservative bent than Kennedy did. What about Ruth Bader Ginsburg? This senior liberal will increasingly be relegated to the dissent. She and fellow liberals Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan will be fighting the rightward tide even more than they did during the recently completed term. All four took the unusual step of dissenting from the bench at various points, to underscore the dangerous turn they believed the court already was taking. Just on Wednesday, Kagan declared that the majority was overturning an important 1977 labor case simply “because it wanted to.” In her dissenting opinion, signed by the three other liberals, she suggested that the conservative majority – even with Kennedy – talks as if it values precedent but does not always deliver. “There’s no sugarcoating today’s opinion,” she declared. “The majority overthrows a decision entrenched in … this nation’s law.” Such an assertion takes on greater weight now that so many other decades-old cases may be in the balance. What happens to the death penalty? Kennedy was a consistent vote for the death penalty but he favored exemptions, for example for people who were under 18 at the time of the crime. In 2008 he was the fifth vote – with the four liberals – to strike down a Louisiana law that permitted the death penalty for the rape of a child. (The justices in a 1977 case involving an adult had generally banned the death penalty for the rape.) Kennedy also separated himself from fellow conservatives on some criminal justice issues, including the use of solitary confinement. In a concurring opinion in the 2015 case of Davis v. Ayala, he encouraged prison officials and policy makers to weigh “the human toll wrought by extended terms of isolation.”<doc-sep>WASHINGTON — President Trump singled him out for praise even while attacking other members of the Supreme Court. The White House nominated people close to him to important judicial posts. And members of the Trump family forged personal connections. Their goal was to assure Justice Anthony M. Kennedy that his judicial legacy would be in good hands should he step down at the end of the court’s term this week, as he was rumored to be considering. Allies of the White House were more blunt, warning the 81-year-old justice that time was of the essence. There was no telling, they said, what would happen if Democrats gained control of the Senate after the November elections and had the power to block the president’s choice as his successor. There were no direct efforts to pressure or lobby Justice Kennedy to announce his resignation on Wednesday, and it was hardly the first time a president had done his best to create a court opening. “In the past half-century, presidents have repeatedly been dying to take advantage of timely vacancies,” said Laura Kalman, a historian at the University of California, Santa Barbara. But in subtle and not so subtle ways, the White House waged a quiet campaign to ensure that Mr. Trump had a second opportunity in his administration’s first 18 months to fulfill one of his most important campaign promises to his conservative followers — that he would change the complexion and direction of the Supreme Court.<doc-sep>	During an CNN interview on Tuesday morning, White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah did not deny an NBC report that outgoing Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy “received assurances” from President Trump that if he retired, Judge Brett Kavanaugh — one of Kennedy’s former clerks — would be nominated to be his replacement. Source familiar tells NBC that Justice Kennedy had been in negotiations with the Trump team for months over Kennedy’s replacement. Once Kennedy received assurances that it would be Kavanaugh (his former law clerk) Kennedy felt comfortable retiring – @LACaldwellDC & @frankthorp — Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) July 10, 2018 Asked repeatedly if some sort of deal between Trump and Kennedy was struck before Kennedy announced his retirement, Shah dodged, saying things like “I’m not going to read out private conversations that Justice Kennedy had with either members of the White House or the president,” and, “Justice Kennedy can speak for himself.” But what Shah didn’t do is deny the NBC report. If NBC’s report is accurate, it means Kennedy would effectively have been given control over a SCOTUS seat for 60 years — the 30 years he served, and the 30 or so the 53-year-old Kavanaugh will likely serve on the court if confirmed. At another point during the CNN interview, Shah was asked if Trump was familiar with an article Kavanaugh’s wrote that could become relevant to SCOTUS as special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of the Trump campaign unfolds — a 2009 law review article in which Kavanaugh argued that sitting presidents are above the law. “The indictment and trial of a sitting president… would cripple the federal government, rendering it unable to function with credibility in either the international or domestic areas,” Kavanaugh wrote. “Such an outcome would ill serve the public interest, especially in times of financial or national security crisis.” Shah again dodged, saying that “the president and the White House are aware of all of Judge Kavanaugh’s public record, but what we are focused on is that if you look at his opinions, if you look at his writings, there are some that would emphasize greater power for the executive, some that would limit the power. Some that would put a ruling on one or another side of a specific issue. But the constant strain through all of the rulings, through all the opinions, through all the writings is an individual who interprets the law and the Constitution as it was written and doesn’t legislate from the bench.” “Does the president agree with the 2009 writing?” host John Berman followed up. “I haven’t asked the president about that writing,” Shah said. UPDATE (7/10, 2:24 p.m.) — Later Tuesday, NBC sought to clarify that whatever deal the White House had with Kennedy had a bit of wiggle room. “I am told by a source who was not directly part of the talks that Kennedy provided Pres. Trump/ WH a list of acceptable replacements,” Leigh Ann Caldwell reported on Twitter. I’ve deleted this tweet because it incorrectly implies a transactional nature in Kennedy’s replacement. I am told by a source who was not directly part of the talks that Kennedy provided Pres. Trump/ WH a list of acceptable replacements. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/ptxJmrbH9S — Leigh Ann Caldwell (@LACaldwellDC) July 10, 2018 In another tweet, Caldwell added that while Kennedy’s list contained a number of names, “Kavanaugh was the only one who was thought conservative enough to consider.”
The Atlanta Falcons have been dealing with a spectacular number of injuries. Things should even out for them, but apparently not tonight. Andy Levitre went to injured reserve early this season with a tricep injury, forcing backup Wes Schweitzer into playing time. Now the Falcons may be without their other starting guard. Top free agent signing Brandon Fusco got rolled up from behind, and his leg took one nasty twist in the ensuing fall. It didn’t look pretty. Fusco spent some time on the ground in obvious pain, and literally hopped off the field with assistance. He put no weight on that leg before he was eventually carted off the field. We don’t like to guess at injuries around here, but it appears to be a very serious injury. Garland has shown some skill in the run game but we are hoping for a big improvement in his overall play. He was a big liability in the pass game when he last started. UPDATE! We got news that Fusco is believed to have an ankle injury. #Falcons starting right guard Brandon Fusco did not come out of the locker room after halftime with the rest of the team. Announced as questionable to return with an ankle injury. — Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) October 23, 2018 This is a better sign for the rest of his season than a knee injury. Again, no guesses at injury, but ankle injuries tend to be less serious.<doc-sep>Getty Images Even when the Falcons win, they end up losing people. Falcons coach Dan Quinn told reporters today that right guard Brandon Fusco would miss the rest of the season after an ankle injury suffered in last night’s win over the Giants. The Falcons signed Fusco this offseason, and he had started every game so far. He joins former starting left guard Andy Levitre on IR. In fact, he’s the sixth Falcon on IR already, or twice their win total. They aren’t just any players either, but running back Devonta Freeman, linebacker Deion Jones, safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen along with both starting guards.<doc-sep>One of the Atlanta Falcons’ starters on offense is dealing with a new injury. Right guard Brandon Fusco had to leave the team’s game on Monday night against the New York Giants after taking a hit to the lower body from behind on a block. Fusco lay on the turf for several minutes on his back while a few members of the Falcons’ training staff looked him over for evaluation, with most of their attention focused on the player’s right ankle. In considerable pain, he required help from two trainers to leave the field and was unable to place any weight on his right leg before being placed onto a cart and taken to the Falcons’ locker room. Ultimately, the Falcons confirmed he would not return because of the ankle injury. Rut ro.. Brandon Fusco.. Falcons guard.. in serious pain.. needs help getting off the field pic.twitter.com/szFag5uTcL — Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) October 23, 2018 Fusco was replaced by Ben Garland, who last offseason was in consideration for the starting right guard position before losing to Wes Schweitzer in a competition to replace Chris Chester. Schweitzer is now the left guard for Atlanta after they placed starter Andy Levitre on the injured reserve list, and now the team must dip into their depth a second time on the offensive line. Injuries have been a consistent problem for the Falcons, who have been forced to place five starting players on the injured reserve: middle linebacker Deion Jones, strong safety Keanu Neal, free safety Ricardo Allen, Levitre, and running back Devonta Freeman. The Falcons took a 10-3 lead over the Giants into the halftime break after Matt Ryan located wide receiver Marvin Hall on a 47 yard touchdown pass and kicker Giorgio Tavecchio kicked a field goal. Atlanta (2-4) is coming off their first victory in three weeks after a close win over Tampa Bay and faces a relatively easy stretch over the next month including this game, their bye week, and two road games against the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns. The Falcons came into this Monday night game with a nine percent chance of making the playoffs, but with a victory would see their odds jump to 19 percent. A loss would drop Atlanta to 2-5 on the year and just a four percent shot of making the postseason. Monday night finds two of the game’s most heralded quarterbacks facing each other. Matt Ryan is on pace for career bests in every category as he tries to hold up a Falcons team that has been decimated by injuries, with five starting players being added to the IR, while Eli Manning rounds third on an NFL career that already includes two Super Bowl rings. The Giants (1-5) are sitting in the basement of the NFC playoff standings but have a gem in rookie Saquon Barkley, one of the few highlights on a team whose postseason hopes are all but gone.<doc-sep>And another one goes down. According to coach Dan Quinn, Falcons right guard Brandon Fusco is done for the season after suffering an ankle injury in last night’s win over the Giants. Dan Quinn said Brandon Fusco will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury. #Falcons — Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) October 23, 2018 Fusco was injured late in the second quarter and was replaced by Ben Garland. While Garland did well in his time on the field, it’s obviously a blow for Atlanta to lose another interior lineman after Andy Levitre was put on injured reserve only a few weeks ago. While losing Fusco doesn’t hurt the team a great deal on its own, the cumulative effect of so many injuries has taken a serious toll. Update: The Falcons have announced a few moves related to Fusco’s injury. Former 2017 fourth-round draft pick Sean Harlow has been re-signed to the practice squad and J.C. Hassenauer was waived to make room for him. Guard Zac Kerin was also waived from the active roster.<doc-sep>	Lost in the hustle of the Falcons victory over the Giants, being the first team to limit Saquon Barkley to under 100 yards from scrimmage, and Matt Ryan’s continuing MVP campaign, was starting guard Brandon Fusco’s injury. As we wrote during the game, Fusco got rolled up from behind and he twisted in a pretty nasty way on his way down. Those types of injuries are usually pretty serious, so today’s news wasn’t surprising. Fusco is out for the season with an ankle injury, per Quinn. — Jeañña (@jeannathomas) October 23, 2018 Falcoholic beat writer reported that Dan Quinn confirmed Fusco broke his ankle and will head to injured reserve. Fusco was Atlanta’s top free agency acquisition, so it is disappointing to see him only play in under half of the season. Fusco helped solidify the interior line that already lost Andy Levitre. Even more shocking is Ben Garland received the top pass blocking score from the entire offensive line, per Pro Football Focus. The Falcons will get another year of Wes Schweitzer and Garland bookending Alex Mack. So far, both players look significantly better than in 2017. The good news for Fusco is he has apparently avoided any ligament damage, or another injury that would otherwise put his pro future in question. However, his $4 million base salary in 2019 may put his future with the team in question, especially in Garland continues to impress. Update: the Falcons are making some moves, but we won’t know how much sense they make until they fill the remaining roster spots on the active roster. At least we know Sean Harlow is back. Maybe Thomas Dimitroff brings back Austin Pasztor.
Rage 2 PC specifications and minimum requirements Find out if your PC is up to the task of running Rage 2 by looking over the game's minimum and recommended system specifications and requirements. The PC system requirements for Rage 2 have finally been revealed. The new game from id Software and Avalanche Studios is based around the latter's technology, meaning players who can run Just Cause 4 should have no problem diving into Rage 2. Of course, when it comes to PCs, there's always room for improvement, but the power requirements this time around shouldn't necessitate too many upgrades. Make plans for the carnage to come by checking over the Rage 2 minimum and recommended PC requirements. Rage 2 PC system requirements \| Minimum and recommended specifications The Rage 2 PC system requirements are based around the usual goal of running the game at 1080p resolution and 30 frames-per-second minimum. Coincidentally, the console versions are locked at 30 FPS, while 4K-enabled consoles get their framerate cap pushed to 60. According to the Bethesda website, the development team "focused on speed" when considering the game's console performance. Fortunately for computer players, Rage 2 for PC has no hard framerate cap, meaning the sky is the limit when it comes to power and performance. Let's take a look at the essential figures. Rage 2 PC system requirements and features PC minimum specifications: CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X GPU: Nvidia GTX 780 3GB or AMD R9 280 3GB Memory: 8GB RAM Storage: 50GB Operating system: Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 64-bit PC recommended settings: CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X GPU: Nvidia GTX 1070GB or AMD Vega 56 8GB Memory: 8GB RAM Storage: 50GB Operating system: 64-bit operating system Additional visual features: FOV Slider adjustable from 50 to 120 degrees Show HUD toggle Reticle style - default, simple, or none Motion Blur toggle Depth of Field toggle Ultrawide (21:9) and Super Ultrawide (32:9) support Now that you've glanced over the Rage 2 PC system requirements, hopefully you've found that your machine is up to the task. The minimum specifications are fairly low, but the game does at least want for a reasonably modern system. Of course, players can always opt to pick up the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version of the game if their computer lacks the required grunt. Be on the lookout for Rage 2 to release on May 14, and head over to Shacknews' Rage 2 home page to learn more about the latest id Software and Avalanche Studios release.<doc-sep>Avalanche Studios' latest shooter, Rage 2, is shaping up to be one of the more exciting titles set for release this year. Its colorful art style, wide array of powerful weapons and vehicles, and superpower-like special abilities all combine to make it a (hopefully) one-of-a-kind open-world shooter. While we can't judge the game's quality until it releases in a couple of weeks, we can judge how tough it's going to be on your PC courtesy of Bethesda. The publisher has revealed Rage 2's official system requirements, and they are as follows: Minimum System Requirements: OS: Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 (64-bit) Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 (64-bit) Processor: Intel Core i5-3570 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X Memory: 8GB RAM GPU: Nvidia GTX 780 3GB or AMD R9 280 3GB Storage: 50 GB available space Recommended System Requirements: OS: Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 (64-Bit versions) Processor: Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X Memory: 8GB RAM Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1070 8GB or AMD Vega 56 8GB Storage: 50 GB available space It seems that rendering all of Rage 2's bullets, explosions, and anti-gravity fields is going to take a pretty powerful system. While the 780 is certainly not a new card, it still sets a much higher bar than other reasonably modern, visually-demanding titles have. Total War: Warhammer 2 (released in 2017), despite being visually breath-taking and featuring hundreds of units on screen at once (not to mention having a reputation for being somewhat poorly-optimized) only lists a 770 as the recommended GPU. And the 780 is just for Rage 2's minimum requirements - the recommended specifications demand quite a bit more. Of course, as usual, you'll undoubtedly be able to crank framerates up by lowering Rage 2's graphical settings a few notches. You can pre-order Rage 2 through Steam or Bethesda.net for $59.99 right now ahead of its May 14 launch. Clarification: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Rage 2 is being developed by id Software. In fact, the latter studio is only providing "creative oversight" for the title; the lead development team is Avalanche Studios. We've edited the piece to reflect this information.<doc-sep>Bethesda Softworks sparked some confusion today when it announced it was giving away a custom-built Dreamcast that plays Rage 2. How could a console from 1999 play the 2019 Rage sequel? After reading the fine print, and checking in with the developers, Polygon has confirmed that it’s a custom PC wedged inside a Dreamcast-shaped shell. Still, in a day marked by other seemingly Mad Libs-style retro gaming headlines, it’s a fun promotion. Official rules for the contest state that the winner receives a custom PC valued at $590. Bethesda tells Polygon that there’s no actual Dreamcast bits to speak of, aside from the shell itself. They’re checking with the modders who built it, but from the images released on social media it looks like the black variant of the console sold as the Sports Edition. You can still find them on eBay for under $200. Follow and RT for a chance to win this custom Dreamcast -- and yes, it actually plays #RAGE2! https://t.co/0PRi91zYfI pic.twitter.com/oNRYt5sJW2 — RAGE 2 (@RAGEgame) May 1, 2019 To participate, fans need to follow and retweet the Rage Twitter account. The winner will be announced on May 6. News of Rage 2 leaked out early last summer, well before the actual reveal at E3 2018. Since then we’ve seen quite a bit of early gameplay and even had hands-on time with the game. The wild, post-apocalyptic first-person shooter is set to launch on May 14. The game is coming to PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One. And that Dreamcast.<doc-sep>	Bethesda shared the official system requirements for its upcoming post-apocalyptic shooter “Rage 2,” and they’re quite demanding. Both minimum and recommended requirements for PC players were posted via Bethesda’s help pages and are as follows: Minimum A 64-bit processor and operating system is required OS: Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 (64-Bit version Processor: Intel Core i5-3570 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X Memory: 8GB RAM Graphics: Nvidia GTX 780 3GB or AMD R9 280 3GB Storage: 50 GB available space Recommended A 64-bit processor and operating system is required OS: Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 (64-Bit versions) Processor: Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X Memory: 8GB RAM Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1070 8GB or AMD Vega 56 8GB Storage: 50 GB available space Given the recommended requirements, a beefy PC will be in order to enjoy the game fully. It will be on consoles as well for those whose gaming machines may not be up to snuff. “Rage 2” is a first-person shooter that finds players taking control of a ranger named Walker, who’s tasked with exploring the game’s neon-tinged post-apocalyptic world. It’s set 30 years after the original game took place and will include both new and existing characters. There’s a wide variety of weapons and tools at Walker’s disposal, such as the game’s signature wing stick as well as explosive rocket launchers and various other tools. Walker becomes the target of the powerful authoritarian dictatorship the Authority and must spend the majority of the game working to escape and potentially overthrow them. “Rage 2” is set to release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on May 14.
The day after the fourth preseason game marks one of the busiest periods on the NFL calendar. Between the end of the final preseason game and 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, NFL teams will cut more than 1,000 players as the 32 teams trim their rosters from 90 to 53 players. New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has already confirmed that the team will be keeping a close eye on the waiver wire and could well make use of their high priority. Likewise, they will be watching to see which veteran players are cut as well, as they look to make low-cost signings which could upgrade perceived weaknesses on their roster. We will be keeping an eye on cuts as they are announced around the league, and keep you updated as players who could catch the Giants’ eye are released. A few teams began making cuts Friday. The vast majority will come Saturday. Saturday roster moves The #49ers are releasing former first-round pick G Jonathan Cooper, source said. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018 Jonathan Cooper was drafted in the first round of the 2013 draft (7th overall) by the Arizona Cardinals. He never lived up to the hype generated by his athleticism, and has played for the Cardinals (2013-2015), Cleveland Browns (2016), New England Patriots (2016), Dallas Cowboys (2016-2017) and now the San Francisco 49ers. The question for the Giants would be whether he is better than the depth they have. The #Eagles are releasing CB De’Vante Bausby, per source. Bausby was getting 1st-team reps at nickel in spring and early summer, but was passed by Sidney Jones, Avonte Maddox. If Bausby clears waivers, he’ll likely land back on the practice squad. — Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) September 1, 2018 De’Vante Bausby had been on the Philadelphia Eagles roster for three years and seemed to finally break out this year. He had received praise from Jim Schwartz throughout the spring. The #Dolphins are releasing former starting CB Tony Lippett, source said. They had shopped him a bit before this move. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018 Tony Lippett is a 6’3” former wide receiver turned cornerback who started 13 games for the Dolphins before tearing his Achilles tendon in their 2017 training camp. He is familiar to Giants’ DB coach Lou Anarumo, who coached him in Miami. #Bears have informed CB Cre'Von LeBlanc he will be waived. Appeared in 28 games with 10 starts the past two seasons. Could help a team in need of a slot corner. — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) September 1, 2018 The Bears have released cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc. LeBlanc is an undersized slot corner at 5’9” 194 pounds, who makes up for a lack of speed with quick feet and an aggressive play style. He has 61 tackles, a sack, 2 interceptions and a touchdown in his career. Panthers are cutting DE Daeshon Hall, per source. The third-round pick in '17 played in only one game -- Week 1 at SF -- before undergoing knee surgery. Had a sack Thurs. night vs. Steelers. — Joe Person (@josephperson) September 1, 2018 Dave Gettleman drafted Daeshon Hall in the third round of the 2017 draft as the GM of the Carolina Panthers. Hall has the archetypal frame and build of a defensive lineman with long (35”) arms and impressive lower-body power (36” vertical leap). He has experience as both an outside linebacker and defensive lineman. The #Ravens are releasing former 4th round pick OL Nico Siragusa, source said. He was returning from a major knee injury in camp last year. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018 Nico Siragusa is being released by the Baltimore Ravens. Siragusa is a powerful and surprisingly mobile guard prospect in the 2017 draft, but suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL in camp last year. He looked like a starting OL coming out of college, but his health is a major question mark. The #Bears are releasing DB Doran Grant, a former fourth-round pick. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018 The Chicago Bears have released cornerback Doran Grant. Grant was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2015 draft out of Ohio State. He is a solid athlete and with experience in press coverage, at 5’10”, 200 pounds he is probably suited for covering the slot. Source: The #Bills are releasing former first-round pick WR Corey Coleman, who the acquired from the #Browns. A few weeks just not enough time to grab a roster spot. He’s looking for another fresh start. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018 The Buffalo Bills he released WR Corey Coleman after acquiring him from the Cleveland Browns. Coleman has considerable athleticism and big-play ability, but hasn’t translated to performance on the field. Sources to ESPN: Raiders and Bears have an agreement in place to trade Khalil Mack to Chicago. Still working through it, but Raiders now planning to send Mack to Chicago. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2018 Well, the day starts with a bang as the Oakland Raiders will reportedly part with Khalil Mack. Sorry, Giants fans. Mack to the Giants was never realistic. The Giants just don’t have the draft capital. For what it’s worth, here is at least part of what the Chicago Bears are giving up. Sources: The #Bears are giving 2 first-round picks to the #Raiders for star Khalil Mack. That may not be it, but that is the crux of the deal. A huge, huge deal. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018 Notable Friday cuts Just in case the Giants might think Riley Dixon isn’t their answer at punter, Shane Lechler is now available. Texans waived third year WR Braxton Miller. — John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) August 31, 2018 Braxton Miller transitioned to wide receiver after a shoulder injury cut his quarterback career short at Ohio State. He is an exceptional athlete who is dangerous with the ball in his hands, but still learning the receiver position. The Jets have released ILB Kevin Minter, per source #nyj — Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) August 31, 2018 Kevin Minter was drafted in the second round of the 2013 draft by the Arizona, and played linebacker for two years for James Bettcher. #Jets cuts (9) DL Xavier Cooper DL Kendall Reyes WR Charles Johnson FB Dimitri Flowers OL Antonio Garcia OL Gino Gradkowski OL Darius James OLB Obum Gwacham OLB David Bass Will keep this list updated #NYJ — Interstate of Green (@interstategreen) August 31, 2018 Antonio Garcia was a third-round pick by the New England Patriots a couple of years ago. Dimitri Flowers is a rookie H-Back who showed intriguing skills last season at Oklahoma.<doc-sep>The Giants must cut their active roster from 90 players down to 53 by 4 p.m. Saturday. So once Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur left Thursday night's preseason finale against the New England Patriots, it was right to work for the Giants' personnel department to identify their 53 best players.<doc-sep>Although Todd Bowles & Co. have much of their initial 53-man roster set, there were a few spots up for grabs entering the preseason finale against the Eagles on Thursday night.<doc-sep>	Preseason 2018 is over and now comes the cruelest of times — NFL cuts. From now through 4:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, Saturday, September 1 nearly 1,200 players will be asked to hand in their playbooks. We’ll be tracking all of the Jets cuts below as they come in. 2018 New York Jets Cuts Charles Johnson Antonio Garcia Gino Gradkowski Xavier Cooper Darius James Dmitri Flowers Obum Gwacham David Bass Kendall Reyes Mych Thomas Kevin Minter Terrell Sinkfield John Wolford George Atkinson Alex Balducci Dakoda Shepley Kacy Rodgers II Xavier Coleman Roster cut deadline is Saturday. The Jets, and all other NFL teams, are trimming their roster from 90 players to 53 players. The deadline to do so is 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Saturday, September 1. Prior to cuts there are often last minute trades. That means there will be a LOT of news over the next couple of days so stay tuned. Then it’s the waiver wire. After the Jets make their cuts on Saturday, they will start sifting through the waiver wire, looking at 1100 + newly cut NFL players to potentially add to the roster. The Jets could most likely be looking for offensive linemen, tight ends, linebackers, returners and kickers, in addition to any other cut players who might help them upgrade the roster. The waiver wire claiming period ends on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. You can track cuts from around the league at SB Nation. Then the practice squad. Following the waiver wire, the Jets and all other NFL teams will begin to sign players to the 10 man practice squad starting at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, September 2. One thing that will always make the roster is the incredible Great American Twitter Widget. You can follow all the Jets related tweets throughout the hectic next few days below. .
Following Nvidia’s big event, Asus has revealed a cluster of new GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 2080 graphics cards, some of which are available to pre-order now, ahead of an on-sale date of mid-September. The graphics card manufacturer has three separate lines of products for the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 2080: the Asus Turbo, Asus Dual and Asus ROG Strix. Let’s start at the top end with the Asus ROG Strix GPUs (the Ti variant is pictured above), which sport a smart new fan design that allows for more airflow and better cooling, without any increase in noise levels, the firm claims. The Strix models also benefit from what Asus calls ‘auto-extreme technology’, essentially a new manufacturing process for the company which allows all the soldering on the board to be completed in a single pass, which should make for a more reliable GPU overall. As for the Asus Dual GeForce RTX models, these also get better cooling with new wing-blade fans (which utilizes tech developed for the Strix cards). Both the Strix and Dual GPUs have a 2.7-slot footprint, meaning they effectively take up three slots, with the extra space used to bolt on a larger heatsink (50% larger in the case of the Dual, 20% bigger for the ROG Strix). That should mean more room for pushing your GPU with an overclock, naturally, although less room inside your PC’s case. Turbo tricks As for the Asus Turbo GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and 2080, these GPUs have been fine-tuned to improve the overall airflow going through the card, so they can run better in systems which have multiple GPUs (or cases in which airflow is poor or restricted, for that matter). In other words, the GPU’s shroud allows more air in, even if it’s jammed up against another card or the side of the PC case. Again, the fan has been improved with an 80mm IP5X (dust resistant) model. Asus will sell both standard and OC (overclocked) models of the Asus ROG Strix and Asus Dual, but just the former for the Asus Turbo. Across all cards, the base and boost clock of the standard RTX 2080 is 1350MHz and 1545MHz respectively, with the Ti bumping things up to 1515MHz and 1710MHz respectively – with the OC speeds still to be revealed. Four cards are available to pre-order in the UK from eBuyer, Overclockers and Scan, with the recommended price of the Asus Dual RTX 2080 Ti weighing in at around £1,340 (around $1,720, AU$2,335), and the Asus Turbo RTX 2080 Ti costing £1,275 (around $1,635, AU$2,220). If you’re after the non-Ti version, then the Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 can be reserved now for £1,006 (around $1,290, AU$1,750), or you could hit up the Asus Dual RTX 2080 for £885 (around $1,135, AU$1,540). So yes, these new offerings are far from cheap GPUs, as you might have anticipated (despite some pre-release rumors holding otherwise). For the full breakdown of yesterday’s big Nvidia GeForce RTX launch, head here, and to recap, these cards should be available mid-September (September 20 was the date mentioned by Nvidia yesterday).<doc-sep>Ahead of Nvidia's pre-Gamescom keynote on Monday, Internet retailers spilled the beans on the existence of the company's next consumer-grade graphics cards: the RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti. Nearly an hour later, Nvidia unveiled its own product listings for "Founders" editions of the "20-series" video cards. The company confirmed a September 20 launch for those two models and a "coming later" notice for an additional RTX 2070. The prices for the Founders Editions are as follows: $599 for the RTX 2070; $799 for the RTX 2080, and $1,199 for the RTX 2080 Ti. Pre-orders are live at the above Nvidia link. Nvidia's event concluded by advertising prices "starting" at $499, $699, and $999, respectively, for those same models—presumably referring to video card partners producing their own models outside Nvidia's own Founders Edition line. The 2080 Ti Founders Edition will get you 11GB of GDDR6 RAM and a card running at a base clock of 1,350 MHz and a "boost" clock of 1,635 MHz. It will include 4,352 CUDA cores and 352-bit memory bandwidth running at 616 GB/sec. The more affordable 2080 Founders Edition actually clocks faster, at a "boost" clock of 1,800 MHz, but with 8GB of GDDR6 RAM. That memory operates with 256-bit bandwidth running at 448 GB/sec, and the card includes 2,944 CUDA cores. Before that unveil, a massive Newegg product listing revealed pre-order options for both new cards from the usual graphics cards suspects: Asus, EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI, PNY, and Zotac. Prices and specs didn't appear in this initial leak, but the page did include hard confirmation that the cards will ship with a bump to Nvidia's Turing chip architecture. That Newegg page has since been taken down, though it may be replaced as the Nvidia Gamescom event draws to a close. According to Nvidia, this jump to Turing will usher in consumer-grade raytracing in real-time video games. Nvidia has been loudly trumpeting its interest in global illumination lighting systems and on delivering hardware that can make this rendering pipeline far more efficient ever since a major reveal at this year's Game Developers Conference. Among other things, these systems can deliver a far more realistic system of shadows and light sources that all bounce off each other. Advertisement Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told Monday's Gamescom crowd that the Turing chip shipping in the consumer-grade RTX cards includes 18.9 billion transistors and that it includes three discrete processors: the Turing SM, the RT Core, and the Tensor Core. Huang said that the Tensor Core's focus on AI will allow newer RTX cards to predict and generate on-screen pixels as appropriate in a given 3D scene. The Tensor Core is "basically ten 1080 Tis dedicated to doing one thing: artificial intelligence," Huang said. He insisted that all of the new RTX cards are optimized for overclocking—yet they operate at "one-fifth the volume of a 1080 Ti" in terms of noise output. Turing received a thorough unveil at last week's Siggraph Conference. That unveil was attached to the far pricier RTX Quadro line, whose cards cost as much as $10,000 and focus even more intensely on real-time raytracing. That higher-end product is targeted squarely at digital-imaging shops that want to cut down processing times for individual frames in Hollywood-caliber productions. During that unveil, key frames from a recent Marvel Studios film showed a far faster rendering process for a raytracing-filled scene with Spider-Man. This article's headline originally listed RTX 2080 card prices "starting" at $799, ahead of Nvidia announcing a different price tier beneath its Founders Edition products. This number was updated following Nvidia's clarification at Gamescom.<doc-sep>	Elevate your enterprise data technology and strategy at Transform 2021. Nvidia revealed its next-gen RTX video cards in an event on Monday, and it has spent the rest of the week taking preorders for the cards that launch September 20. But enthusiasts that jumped at the chance to get in on the new chips from Nvidia found an unpleasant surprise when they saw the price that they would actually have to pay. While Nvidia boss Jensen Huang said that the RTX family of GPUs would start at $499 for the RTX 2070, $699 for the 2080, and $999 for the 2080 Ti, you can’t really pay those prices at the moment. Instead, you have to pay around $1,200 for the 2080 Ti, for example. Nvidia is justifying this by primarily selling the Founder’s Edition version of the cards that come overclocked out of the box for the first time ever. Image Credit: Nvidia But if you’re wondering when you can get all of the still questionable benefits of ray tracing and additional horsepower of a 2080 or 2080 Ti at the promised price, the answer is “some day.” That’s vague, but I can tell you that day is after the launch of the cards. Nvidia may eventually sell the cards at that lower price, but we know that third-party vendors will. Asus has already announced its RTX 2080 Turbo and RTX 2080 Ti Turbo that will sell for $699 and $999 respectively (as PC Gamer first spotted). It even uses a blower fan, which has benefits in smaller, cramped cases. Asus didn’t provide a release date, but you can expect this card and similar custom packages from other vendors to start rolling out closer to the announced prices whenever the Founder’s Edition models sell out. So now is a good time to have some patience. I’m confident that the new RTX cards are significant improvements, but I wouldn’t preorder one until we start getting some real-world testing and benchmarks. And the longer you wait, the more likely it is those still-powerful 10-series cards will drop in price. And if you’re on a 770 or something, moving to a 1070 or 1070 Ti for less than $300 is a huge boom-for-your-buck upgrade that you can feel good about.
The Washington Capitals are having the time of their lives after winning the Stanley Cup on Thursday night in Las Vegas. Their epic celebration started at a nightclub in Vegas, and it seems like it hasn’t stopped. While at the Nationals game on Saturday, John Carlson said they’ve only taken naps in the past three days, per The Washington Post. And after drinking lots of beers at the Nats game, they went out to a restaurant area to drink out of the Stanley Cup and to jump into a shallow fountain. Alex Ovechkin actually did a keg stand out of the Cup, and then he wound up shirtless when he went into the fountain. They’re pretty drunk, but they’re definitely having a great time. important video I have acquired from the waterfront @dcsportsbog pic.twitter.com/RqsIW18Jhj — Perry Mattern (@pmattern7) June 9, 2018 Here's a closer shot if you're interested pic.twitter.com/r58vpkBjTs — Kelsey G. (@KGras13) June 9, 2018 Aside from being used to hold alcohol, the Stanley Cup has also been used for a baby’s baptism, as a soup bowl and as a bowl for pasta. Have fun, Caps!<doc-sep>He works as an engineer, but this was a day not to be missed. “Everybody knew I was coming down here,” he said as she stood in the sun just north of the Washington Monument. “Everybody’s aware. It was one of those floating holidays.” He said he wanted to be present for several reasons. “My kids have never experienced anything like this before,” he said. “It doesn’t happen but probably once in a generation especially around D.C.”<doc-sep>Luckily for him, Ovechkin was able to get another try at the pitch. If you bring the Washington Capitals their first ever Stanley Cup trophy, you can pretty much do whatever you want. So, when Capitals star Alex Ovechkin threw the first pitch at Saturday's Nationals game way over Max Scherzer's head, not many people were resisting giving him another try. Ovechkin, to his credit, took his fail well and threw a second pitch right into Scherzer's glove. Watch the full video below. Ovechkin was also seen holding the Stanley Cup in the middle of the game. The Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in five games to win the Stanley Cup title on Thursday. Ovechkin received the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player during the playoffs. Now that the Caps have done their job, the Nationals will look to bring another title to D.C.<doc-sep>Jace Evans USA TODAY The Washington Capitals captured the Stanley Cup on Thursday in Las Vegas with a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. The victory ended decades of heartbreak for the Capitals – marking their first title in their 44-year history – and for Washington, which hadn't seen a big four team win a championship since the Redskins won the Super Bowl in January 1992. It also kick-started a party for Alex Ovechkin and Co. that seemingly has no end. The party started in the locker room immediately after the game, highlighted by a rousing rendition of Queen's "We are the Champions." Then it was time to celebrate in Las Vegas. (Warning: Some videos contain strong language.) More:Finally a champion, Capitals star Alex Ovechkin won't let the Stanley Cup out of his sight More:More change coming for Stanley Cup-winning Capitals? Five decisions they face this offseason Ovechkin brought the Cup out onstage to a club where Tiesto was performing, and the team kept hockey's top prize out until late into the night. The Capitals arrived back in Washington on Friday, and somehow the party was really just beginning. Friday night the team took the Cup to Don Tito, a bar in Arlington, Va. (the team's practice facility is in the same town). The party took an even bigger jump on Saturday. The Nationals hosted the Capitals, with Alex Ovechkin throwing out the first (and second) pitch. Ovechkin and company had a great time showing off the Cup to the hometown crowd – and also appeared to enjoy several adult beverages. Incredibly, the Capitals were among the last people still in the ballpark following the Nationals' 7-5 win over the San Francisco Giants. Things escalated even further when the Capitals moved to the Georgetown waterfront area. Members of the team celebrated with fans. And then took a "swim" in a fountain. Jakub Vrana and Andre Burakovsky weren't kidding about getting tattoos, apparently. The Capitals then moved on to Cafe Milano in Washington. Also at Cafe Milano? Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. While at Cafe Milano the Capitals sang "We are the Champions" yet again (they also sang it at the Nationals game, and again when they were in Georgetown). And led a chant from the roof. Before departing, T.J. Oshie let fans lift the Cup. The Capitals' night still wasn't over, as some members moved on to Saint Yves nightclub. Ovechkin, for his part, appeared to arrive back at his home with the Stanley Cup just after midnight ET (per Instagram) for a small celebration that included his family and Russian teammates Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov. And yes, "We are the Champions" was sang yet again. Per Instagram story posts from Ovechkin and his wife, he and the Cup appeared to finally go to bed just after 5:30 a.m. ET. The Capitals were keeping things more low-key on Sunday. Ovechkin was seen simply getting food in Tysons Corner, Va. But the party was not entirely finished: at least per an Instagram story post from forward Devante Smith-Pelly. While in the early stages of getting ready for a cookout, Ovechkin was singing "We are the Champions" AGAIN. Teammates Orlov and Kuznetsov returned to Ovechkin's house Sunday, with a giant bottle of wine – celebrating the Capitals' 2015 Winter Classic win and bearing Orlov's name – in tow. Earlier in the day, Burakovsky was celebrating on a boat. Later Sunday, Vrana – whose late-night Instagram story became a viral sensation Saturday – met up with Smith-Pelly and Burakovsky. We will keep this space updated with the Capitals' latest adventures. With the championship parade not until Tuesday, there's sure to be more partying from Washington's sports heroes.<doc-sep>	Alex Ovechkin is soaking up his Stanley Cup moment the way you’d expect — with unfiltered euphoria. The Capitals captain led his team into a rally capping the championship parade through the streets of downtown Washington, D.C. and unleashed a torrent of thank-yous and exclamations. Tens of thousands of fans decked out in red lined the parade route along Constitution Avenue, including hundreds on the steps of the Nationals Archives, to celebrate the city’s first major sports championship in 26 years. The Capitals ended their title drought with a 4-3 victory over the Golden Knights in Game 5 last Thursday. “What’s up, babes?” Ovechkin, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the NHL playoffs, began his speech to cheers resonating through the National Mall. After expressing his gratitude to the fans, players’ families and the team’s front office, Ovechkin led the crowd through Queen’s “We are the Champions.” With the music blasting through the loudspeakers, Ovechkin realized he had one more message for the fans. The three-time Hart Trophy winner wanted to remind them what he said at the beginning of the season — that the Capitals, who weren’t expected to contend as strongly this year after capturing the Presidents’ Trophy in 2015-16 and 2016-17, would not disappoint. “The one and last thing,” he said into the microphone. “Before the year, I said … we’re not going to f–king suck this year! We’re the Stanley Cup champions! Yeahhhhh!” Ovechkins’ teammates got in on the fun, too. Veteran center Nicklas Backstrom gave his take on what got the Capitals over the Stanley Cup hump. “Finally we start playing hockey like we can party,” Backstrom said, “so that’s the good thing.” Popular winger T.J. Oshie showed off his partying skills on stage, downing a bottle of Bud Light through his red Capitals jersey. On the way to the rally, bringing up the rear of the parade caravan was a bus featuring Ovechkin, Backstrom, Brooks Orpik, owner Ted Leonsis, team president Dick Patrick and the Stanley Cup trophy. Fans along Constitution Ave. chanted, “Raise the Cup!” and “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!” Others held up “Ovechkin for President” signs. Ovechkin sat at the front of the double-decker bus, alternating between resting his arms on the trophy, raising it, and drinking out of his blue Bud Light bottle. Coach Barry Trotz reiterated his interest in returning, though his four-year contract is up, saying the Capitals are going to repeat as champs. Oshie also led fans in a chant of “back-to-back” at the rally. With AP
This has proven to be a very tough piece to write. In preparation for it I’ve stalled the publish by a day to let tempers cool, and spent my entire morning re-watching the game to solidify any statements made. I’m still not 100% sure on most of them... Apologies for bringing all the bad memories flooding back, but here are the Real Madrid player ratings from last nights 1-0 defeat to CSKA Moscow: Keylor Navas — 6.5: Not a bad performance by Real Madrid’s cup goalkeeper. Of course he conceded within the first 2 minutes but that couldn’t be pinned on him. Made a couple of good saves during a quiet night in which his team came out heavily dominant in possession. Was probably one of the teams best performers on the night. Dani Carvajal — 6: Was pretty stable during his shortened appearance, but never reached his best. Came off towards the end of the first half after picking up an injury. Raphaël Varane — 6: Was caught out for the opening goal but to be fair from him nobody woudl expect that pass from Kroos. Still one of his poorer games. Didn’t look to be on the same wavelength as his teammates, and missed an absolutely huge headed chance in the last second to equalise. A blip I’m sure. Nacho — 6.5: Back in centre-back for this one, and made it count with a standard performance. Did everything he tends to do well, in-spite of a few shaky moments. Sergio Reguilón — 7: In my opinion, Sergio was the teams best player. Provided plenty of quality service out wide, and was switched on defensively. He looked the the bright spark for Madrid. Hopefully this reassuring performance can only be good for Sergio, and he will see some more minutes on the back of this going forwards. I think we all need to collectively agree on the pronunciation of his surname, too. So far we only have the dismal examples from Kiyan’s unreal attempt on the podcast yesterday, and the commentators during the game. Get practising! Casemiro — 5.5: Hit the post after a quality touch set him free, but apart from that was pretty poor overall. Gave the ball away carelessly on multiple occasion, and . Defensively made some good challenges, but even struggled in that area at times. He was replaced by Modrić in the second half. Toni Kroos — 5: Had a stinker of an opener as he gave the ball away for the only goal of the game with a horrific pass. I’m not sure what he perceived the best outcome of that pass to be, but it was truly awful. He was very uncharacteristic with his passing on the whole, and although it did calm down a bit after time, he still had one of his poorest games I’ve seen in a Madrid shirt. Dani Ceballos — 6: I’m always pretty happy to see this mans name on the team sheet these days after some impressive performance of late, but today he was kept pretty quiet. He occasionally took some decent touches, but had little impact on the proceedings. Marcos Asensio — 5.5: Average at best on the night. Often formed part of the attack, but with little end product. Games like this are a good opportunity to arise and take some responsibility, but as it stands Marco is becoming accustomed to bleak performances. Lucas Vázquez — 5: This was the Spaniards first start of the season, and provided him with the opportunity to do a little bit more than just provide width from the bench. He worked hard throughout, but I’m not actually sure he did provide more than that. He was taken off for Mariano to come on in the second half. Karim Benzema — 6: Better from Benzema, but not great. Was available to link up with teammates, and looked more dangerous in front of goal than in past weeks. He still failed to find the back of the net, or even a shot on target. Didn’t really create much either. Substitutions: Álvaro Odriozola — 7: Came on for the hurt Dani Carvajal and had another decent showing. Worked tremendously hard to get up and down that right hand side, and I thought he was one of Madrid’s better performers not that that means much. Luka Modrić — 6: Not sure Luka should have even been in Russia to begin with. The tired magician was brought on try and save the game but couldn’t make much of an impact. Feels a lot like a wasted opportunity to give him a much needed rest. Probably should have started this one in the first place. Mariano Díaz — 6.5: Mariano came on and looked a whole lot more dangerous than the majority of Madrid’s attackers. Skied a powerful shot over the goal from a tight angle at one point, and hit the post with a headed effort the next. In reality this man deserves a few chances at starting a game now. A terrible result. What’s worse is that it was an opportunity missed to field some young and hungry talent, and give other players a much needed rest. Either way, this result isn’t as important as people are making it out to be, and there are still plenty of games left in this group to put things right. There are certain changes I would like to see within the team during the next few games, but as of now it’s best to remain calm... That being said please do leave your thoughts in the comments... Thanks for reading guys!<doc-sep>Real Madrid player ratings vs CSKA Moscow: No more excuses for Benzema CSKA 1-0 Real Madrid Who was at fault for the defeat? It was another disappointing night for Real Madrid, as they fell to a 1-0 loss to CSKA Moscow and failed to score for a third consecutive match. As the main striker on the pitch, Karim Benzema will have some questions to answer, while Julen Lopetegui might wish he'd brought on Mariano sooner. Each of the Real Madrid players are rated below, and you can join in by casting your vote for the best and worst performers of the night.<doc-sep>A Toni Kroos error early in the game proved to be the difference as CSKA Moscow stunned Champions League holders Real Madrid at VEB Arena on Tuesday. The hosts grabbed a foothold in the game less than two minutes into the game, as Nikola Vlasic pounced on a uncharacteristically misplaced backpass by Toni Kroos before slotting the ball past Keylor Navas. Having taken the lead, Viktor Goncharenko instructed his side to defend in numbers and defend the slim lead. The gameplan worked to perfection as Real Madrid struggled to conjure up meaningful chances, with as many as 20 shots being off target as well. As full-time approached the Champions League holders amped up the pressure, but their luck deserted them as well, as Mariano Diaz struck the woodwork late into the game. There was some drama in store in the final minute of the game as Raphael Varane headed wide from point blank range before Igor Akinfeev was shockingly sent off for dissent. In the end though, CSKA Moscow held on for a famous win over Real Madrid, who now have very little room for error in the group stage games to come. The Hard Tackle now runs the rule over Julen Lopetegui’s men after they failed to find the back of the net for the third successive game. Keylor Navas: 6/10 After being left shell shocked in the second minute for a goal he could have done very little to stop, it ended up being a quiet night for Navas, with CSKA Moscow camping in their own half. He was tested on one occasion, and the experienced goalkeeper was equal to it. Dani Carvajal: 5.5/10 A frustrating night for Carvajal, as his performance was not up to the mark on either end of the pitch. To make matters worse, an injury ended his outing prematurely, as Alvaro Odriozola replaced him just before half-time. Raphael Varane: 5/10 Beaten rather easily for CSKA Moscow’s goal, although that can also be attributed partly to Toni Kroos selling him short with a horrible back pass. Thereafter, the Frenchman wasn’t tested much, and he saw more action on the other end of the pitch. Should have done better with the final chance of the game as he headed wide from point blank range. Nacho: 6/10 The best defender on the night for Real Madrid, Nacho had occasional nervy moments across a largely assured performance. Nothing much to do after the visitors conceded, and he wasn’t involved all that much in the opposition box either. Sergio Reguilon: 5.5/10 It was a dream come true for Sergio Reguilon, as he made his debut for Real Madrid on the biggest stage. But, this outing turned out to be a trial by fire as even though he wasn’t tested much at the back, the young full-back failed to make the desired impact in the final third. Did create a chance for Benzema, but he still has a lot to learn from Marcelo. Dani Ceballos: 5/10 Given a chance to impress from the start after a solid cameo against Atletico Madrid this past weekend, Ceballos had the opportunity to stake claim for a role as a regular. But, the young Spaniard showed that he still has a long way to go, having gone anonymous for large parts of the game while only showing flashes of his brilliant best. Needs to be much more consistent. Casemiro: 5/10 Another forgettable outing for Casemiro, who just hasn’t got going this season. The Brazilian was sloppy on the ball, losing possession on two occasions that saw CSKA Moscow produce quick turnovers to test the nervy Real Madrid defence. Came close to scoring from a long-range effort, but that was as good as it got on a tough night. Rightly taken off for Modric with over half an hour left. Toni Kroos: 4/10 Kroos made a telling impact in the game, albeit not the kind that he is revered for. In just the second minute of the game, the German mastermind played a casual backpass that caught Varane unaware, with Nikola Vlasic opportunistically banking on the error. Thereafter, Kroos did pull the strings in the middle of the park. But, the incisiveness was missing from his balls as Real Madrid struggled to get back into the game against a disciplined CSKA Moscow defence. A rare failure, but a failure that could come back to haunt the Champions League holders as well. Lucas Vazquez: 4/10 Handed his first start of the season, Lucas Vazquez had the opportunity to show Lopetegui why he might deserve more chances. But, while the Spaniard ran his socks off, it was a listless performance, producing nothing of note in 58 minutes on the pitch. His replacement, Mariano Diaz threatened more in half the time. Karim Benzema: 4/10 The early season flourish is starting to look like a false dawn for Karim Benzema, with the horrors of the last two seasons visible once again. The Frenchman now has no shot on target in his last six games, and a header against the woodwork is not enough for someone who was supposed to lead from the front. Benzema needs to find his scoring boots once again. Otherwise, it could be a long season, not just for him but also for Real Madrid, who need to fill Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals. Marco Asensio: 4/10 With Bale out injured, Asensio needed to shoulder more responsibility, especially with Real Madrid having it all to do after the first two minutes. But, his end product was nowhere to be seen while his decision making left a lot to be desired as well. Has petered out a little after a blistering start to the season. SUBSTITUTES Alvaro Odriozola: 6/10 On for the injured Carvajal, Odriozola made his first Champions League appearance for Real Madrid. And, while his end product wasn’t always at a desirable level, the young Spaniard did improve as he notched up the minutes. A fine option if Carvajal is to be on the sidelines for a considerable period. Luka Modric: 5/10<doc-sep>Real Madrid fell to a disappointing 1-0 loss away to CSKA Moscow in the second round of Champions League group stage matches, as Everton loanee Nikola Vlašić's second-minute goal was enough to seal victory for the hosts. Julen Lopetegui named a weakened lineup for Real's second group stage match of the season. The Spanish manager decided to omit FIFA Best winner Luka Modric, while Gareth Bale, Isco, Marcelo and Sergio Ramos all missed the trip to Russia. Madrid started the game in catastrophic fashion as Toni Kroos' misjudged back pass was pounced upon by CSKA Moscow's Vlašić, who beat Varane to the loose ball and finished low and hard beyond Keylor Navas. Toni Kroos world class assist for CSKA Moscow — Rk (@RkFutbol) October 2, 2018 Casemiro came agonisingly close to levelling the scores in the 27th minute as he was allowed to stride forward with the ball, before hitting a venomous strike from 25 yards out which struck the bottom of the post. As Real Madrid pushed on, they can count themselves unlucky not to have been level before half-time as Karim Benzema looped a header against the crossbar. In the second half, Madrid threw on Modric and Mariano Diaz in a desperate attempt to salvage a result against their Russian opponents. However, CSKA Moscow defended diligently and reduced their opponents to shots from range for the most part. In the 90th minute, just as Real Madrid looked to have run out of ideas, they struck the woodwork for the third time, as Mariano Diaz's header came off the post, summing up the defending champions' night. However, the drama didn't end there as CSKA Moscow's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was shown a red card, after two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent. Here's our breakdown for this one.. CSKA MOSCOW Key Talking Point After CSKA Moscow's only managed a draw against Viktoria Plzen, arguably the weakest team in Group G, the Russian side put themselves under pressure going into their first home match against Real Madrid. A loss against the Spanish giants would've seriously weakened CSKA's chances of qualifying from the group. However, the Russian side proved they are no pushovers and, led by Vlašić', came out shock winners, drastically improving their chances of progressing to the knockout stages. Player Ratings Starting XI: Akinfeev (5), Fernandes (7), Chernov (7), Nascimineto (7), Nababkin (6), Bijol (6), Akhmetov (6), Vlašić (8*), Dzagoev (7), Oblyakov (6), Chalov (6) Substitutes: Efremov (6), Sigurdsson (6), Nishimura, Kyrnats, Magnusson, Gordyushenko, Zhamaletdinov STAR MAN - CSKA Moscow's goalscorer Vlašić worked tirelessly for the Russian side at both ends of the field. The Croatian midfielder made sure to track back and help his fullback, Manuel Fernandes, whilst also providing an attacking option when CSKA won the ball back. Nikola Vlašić, guy who went to the same school as me just scored against Madrid. Great talent. — Josip ️ (@jperkovic93) October 2, 2018 Vlasic escapes from five Madrid players out by sideline... kid has been excellent. — Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) October 2, 2018 His goal, despite being helped by Kroos, was well executed as he beat Varane and finished expertly beyond Navas. In a game where CSKA Moscow needed a match winner, Vlašić turned up. REAL MADRID Key Talking Point Off the back of Real Madrid's poor recent form, which has seen them lose to Sevilla 3-0 and draw 0-0 at home to bitter rivals Atlético Madrid, Lopetegui opted for an altogether different looking side in Moscow. While the absences of Bale and Isco were enforced, the decision to rest Ramos and Modric seemed to backfire big time, raising questions about Los Blancos' depth. First time we’ve lost on the second day of the group stage in the UCL since 1998. Also happened in the Luzhniki, but against Spartak. 0 goals in 3 games. No Isco no disco. — Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial) October 2, 2018 Particularly worrying for Lopetegui is the form of his forwards, Benzema - who started the season so well - has not scored since the start of September while Marco Asensio has just one strike to his name all season. With no goals in their last three outings in all competitions, Bale's return can't come soon enough. Player Ratings Starting XI: Navas (6), Carvajal (5), Varane (6), Nacho (6), Rodriguez (5), Ceballos (5), Casemiro (6), Kroos (6), Vazquez (6), Benzema (7), Asensio (5) Substitutes: Vallejo, Mariano Diaz (6), Modric (6), Llorente, Odriozola (6), Courtois, Vinícius Júnior STAR MAN - Real Madrid put in another poor display against CSKA Moscow and there were not many standout players for Lopetegui's side. However, one bright spark was Karim Benzema, who was lively once again without managing to get on the scoresheet. 40' \| 1-0 \| Now we've hit the crossbar! @Benzema with the chance to level things up but his header comes back off the woodwork! #RMUCL — Real Madrid C.F.  (@realmadriden) October 2, 2018 The French striker linked up the play well for Real Madrid and was unfortunate not to score in the first half after his header came off the CSKA crossbar. He seems to be relishing the newfound responsibility in the wake of the chasmic goalscoring gap left by Ronaldo. WORST PLAYER - There were a number of candidates for this label but Madrid's young midfielder Dani Ceballos was the most disappointing. He was often weak going into challenges and tentative with his passing, often selling his teammates short. Performances such as against CSKA Moscow will make Real Madrid fans question why Matteo Kovačić was allowed to leave on loan to Chelsea over the summer. Whilst Ceballos is still young, at a club that demands instant success these sorts of performances will not be tolerated for long. In terms of the Champions League, Real Madrid host Viktoria Plzen on October 28, in a game they will be expected to win comfortably. Prior to that, they have a chance to recover their ailing form away at in-form Alavés at the weekend in La Liga.<doc-sep>	CSKA Moscow beat Real Madrid 1 - 0 (Vlasik) in the second Champions League group stage game. Here’s our quick reaction. Still to come: Player ratings, tactical review, and post-game podcast) A heavily rotated side struggled to break through in Moscow tonight, against a well-organized CSKA side who did just about everything right on the defensive end. Lopetegui went into this game without Ramos, Bale, Marcelo, and Isco in the squad; while Modric started on the bench. A front three of Asensio, Benzema, and Lucas Vazquez were denied space facing a low-block, and Real Madrid just couldn’t create clear-cut chances consistently — a recurring theme this season. Real Madrid’s best chances in the first half came from Casemiro carrying the ball on a counter in a rare moment where open water was available, but his shot at the end of the run hit the post. Shortly after, Benzema hit the crossbar with a header. But Real Madrid’s main issue on the night came before all that — as early as the second minute when Kroos gave the ball away with a terrible back-pass. At the end of the sequence, you could argue Varane should’ve done better defending the goal; but that’s harsh given he shouldn’t have been in that situation in the first place, and Nikola Vlasic showed great pace to get to the ball to score his goal. Kroos, from there, for whatever it’s possibly worth, was a man possessed after his mistake. He started playing quickly and incisively, was intercepting passes, was dribbling through players to take defenders out of the equation, and took some stinging shots. But he missed the full redemption process that he had against Sweden in the World Cup with a much-needed goal. Real Madrid’s offensive scheme wasn’t efficient tonight, and they were often out of ideas as they recycled possession desperately looking for space. CSKA deserve credit. They had two banks of four and completely denied space to Asensio and Ceballos in key areas. On the counter, they were dangerous. So many ‘small’ teams against Real Madrid over the years will crumble on the counter and give the ball away; but Moscow weren’t cheap in possession in the limited time they had it, and waited for numbers to join the attack. Without Bale, it’s always going to be difficult to score; and truthfully, in big tests, even with him it’s difficult. Without Mariano too — the only other focal point and pure goalscorer in the team — it’s even more laborious (as I wrote about more here). Real Madrid had 12 crosses in the first half, and couldn’t really get on the end of them. To be sure, Mariano didn’t move the needle, result-wise, when he came on, but he did provide CSKA something to think about in the box, and was on the end of a couple nice passes from Asensio and Modric; as well as a couple crosses — one of which he the bar from. To circle back, this goes back to a terrible start from Real Madrid. If you give a team (who’s ultimately going to form a shell around their goal) a complete gift, you’re not going to have an easy game. The entire start was problematic, as Real Madrid were giving the ball away in key areas before they eventually grew into the game — but ultimately couldn’t break through despite their possession in the final third. It’s hard to take positives from this match, but if there are any, Alvaro Odriozola looked good coming on for the injured Dani Carvajal. Odriozola’s speed allowed him to get clearances, tackles, and crosses when the ball was seemingly out of reach. On the opposite flank, surprise debutant Sergio Reguilon looked comfortable in tight spaces and was encouraging. His passing needs work, but as far as Champions League debuts go for a surprise start from a youth product, he looked fine. There’s a lot more to this match that we’ll break down tactically in the coming hour. The post-game podcast will go up tomorrow night, but we’ll also hit this match extensively enough on tonight’s Churros y Tácticas Podcast — so keep an eye out for that.
The NFL trade deadline is set to pass on Tuesday afternoon. Which moves make sense for the Chicago Bears? The Chicago Bears have had quite the week. Just eight days ago, they were sitting in last place in the NFC North after losing to the New England Patriots; their second-straight defeat. Now, after a win over the New York Jets, accompanied by losses from all three of their divisional foes, the Bears are once again on top at 4-3. Tuesday afternoon will see a big-time moment pass for, not only the Bears, but the rest of the NFL. The league’s trade deadline will come to fruition, and I guarantee we are not done seeing teams make moves. Already, we’ve seen notable guys like Eli Apple, Damon Harrison and Amari Cooper get shipped out of their respective franchises. Could the Bears be in line to make a move as well? That’s a great question. Over the course of the first couple of weeks, there weren’t any glaring needs. Now, they might have one or two that could be fulfilled through a trade. More importantly, though, this could be a chance for Ryan Pace and his front office to try and stockpile another pick or two for next year’s draft. Let’s take a quick look at a few scenarios that might make sense for the Bears, prior to Tuesday afternoon’s trade deadline.<doc-sep>The Chicago Bears and GM Ryan Pace kept the roster in as-is condition at the NFL’s trade deadline Tuesday, opting to roll into the second half of the season without making any power moves. The same can’t be said for the Lions or Packers, each of whom made significant trades with NFC East clubs. Detroit sent WR Golden Tate to the Eagles for a third-round pick in a move Bears fans certainly aren’t upset about. In 11 games against Chicago, Tate has 45 catches for 506 yards and two touchdowns. While not dominant numbers, his presence in the Lions’ offense has been a big part of QB Matt Stafford’s success. The Packers made two trades before the deadline. The first sent safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Redskins for a fourth-round pick. The second saw WR/RB Ty Montgomery shipped to Baltimore for a 2020 seventh-round pick. Again, Bears fans aren’t complaining. Gallery Bears are Pro Football Focus' No. 1 defense entering Week 9 View 10 photos Montgomery set a career high with 162 yards rushing against Chicago in 2016 and has been a thorn in the side of the Bears’ defense for the last several seasons. Clinton-Dix, whose all-time record against the Bears stands at 8-1, has been especially impactful against Chicago. He has 47 tackles and three interceptions in those nine games. Call it addition by subtraction when it comes to the Bears’ chances at winning the NFC North. A division without Tate, Clinton-Dix and Montgomery is certainly more winnable than a division with them. Still, Pace and the Bears made the biggest trade of the year — and possibly of the last decade — in September’s move to land Khalil Mack. Whether pays off with playoff football games is a story yet to reach its final chapter.<doc-sep>With the NFL trade deadline approaching, we look at some of the potential trade targets for the Chicago Bears and whether or not they would fit. About halfway into the 2018 NFL season, the Chicago Bears have been a mixed bag of results. At times, their defense has looked dominant. Other times, opposing offenses have known exactly how to freeze their pass rush and move the ball. Offensively, they have been much more fun to watch than they were a year ago. Obviously, that’s due to the scheme Matt Nagy has brought to the organization and the weapons Chicago added over the offseason. Tuesday of this week, the NFL sees its trade deadline pass. There have already been many teams making moves up to this point, but the speculation is growing around even more players — and some bigger names — being moved. With how the Bears have performed up to this point, could they use another piece or two in order to truly try and make a strong playoff push? It’s possible. It is also possible that the Bears try and recoup some draft capital by selling at the deadline. Whatever Ryan Pace chooses to do, I will not be surprised. For the sake of the here and now, why don’t we dive into some notable names who could be available at the deadline, and whether or not it would make sense for the Bears to pursue them.<doc-sep>The Chicago Bears have a well-constructed roster with solid depth at most positions, but they’ll still listen to trade offers in advance of the October 30 deadline, according to coach Matt Nagy. Matt Nagy believes the Bears don't have a glaring roster need to address at the trade deadline, but the team will answer calls and hear out offers. — Chris Emma (@CEmma670) October 29, 2018 “You know it’s coming up,” Nagy said of the trade deadline, “but I leave that to Ryan [Pace] and those guys to figure out. “If there’s something that teams are calling about, you have to listen, but you just keep rolling. We’ve done a lot over the past eight months, so we feel really good where we’re at.” Chicago may have an unexpected need along the offensive line after Kyle Long suffered a foot injury Sunday against the Jets, the severity of which is still unknown. He’s expected to miss some time. According to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, teams have inquired about the availability of Leonard Floyd, who has yet to register his first sack of 2018. Whether the Bears are taking those potential offers seriously is something we’ll only know once the deadline comes and goes, but Floyd represents the one real trade chip Chicago can flip into a quality lineman. The Bears may look to recoup some draft picks, too. Chicago will enter the 2019 NFL draft with no first- or second-round pick after their trades for Khalil Mack and Anthony Miller. Don’t expect GM Ryan Pace to do anything crazy, however. The Bears had a very busy offseason and have their core roster in place. The focus now is on an NFC North title and deep playoff run.<doc-sep>	The 2018 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and the Chicago Bears have not made a move. The deadline, which took place at 3:00 p.m. CT on October 30, brought about several impactful trades, with the likes of Amari Cooper, Damon Harrison and Eli Apple all changing teams. None of those trades involved the Bears, though. The fact that they did not acquire any players is not surprising, given their cap situation and lack of draft capital. Acquiring a player like Patrick Peterson would be nearly impossible, and at the very least, irresponsible. Running back Jordan Howard is still a member of the team. The third-year back, who has been the subject of trade rumors since the week of this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, was considered as a potential acquisition for several running back-needy teams. Chicago opted to not trade Howard, however, and he will finish the rest of the season on the roster. Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd was also the subject of trade rumors leading up to the deadline, but those rumors appear to have proven false. The Bears have opted to keep their 2016 first-round pick on the roster in hopes that he will show some signs of life as a pass rusher alongside Khalil Mack in the starting lineup. Chicago’s divisional rivals stayed active, though. The Detroit Lions traded wide receiver Golden Tate to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2019 third-round pick. The Green Bay Packers stayed active as well, shipping safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Washington Redskins for a 2019 fourth-round pick. Green Bay also sent running back Ty Montgomery off to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2020 seventh-round pick. The Bears made a move before last year’s trade deadline, acquiring wide receiver Dontrelle Inman from the Los Angeles Chargers for a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
The Lakers have added one of the league’s top long-distance threats, as Reggie Bullock will become the next to don the purple and gold. Bullock — who was acquired from Detroit on Wednesday in exchange for Svi Mykhailiuk and a future second-round pick — is in the midst of the best season of his six-year career. Elite beyond the arc, the 27-year-old currently ranks 12th in the NBA in made 3-pointers, tying Kyrie Irving and Bradley Beal with 2.6 made treys per game. The 6-foot-7, 205-pound wing is hitting those 3s at a 38.8 percent clip — best among both the Pistons and Lakers. Reggie Bullock brings top-level shooting to a team that needs it. • Currently ranks 12th in the NBA in made 3s (2.6) on a 38.8% clip. • Last year, shot the league's 2nd-best 3-point percentage (44.5%). • Excellent off screens, handoffs and spot-ups. pic.twitter.com/A0GAEAQLrb — Joey Ramirez (@JoeyARamirez) February 6, 2019 The best part about Bullock’s game is his shooting versatility, as he can fill the bucket off a variety of different looks. He is an excellent catch-and-shoot scorer, averaging 6.9 points off such attempts — fourth-most in the league behind only Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Buddy Hield. LeBron James and Rajon Rondo are two of the league’s best at finding spot-up shooters on pick-and-rolls. Those possessions (and James’ post-ups) lead to many catch-and-shoot opportunities, though the Lakers have struggled to convert them. L.A. shoots the league’s worst percentage on catch-and-shoot attempts (33.1), so Bullock should serve as a much-needed buoy in that department. Reggie Bullock ranks 4th in the NBA in scoring on catch-and-shoot shots (6.9), with only Steph, Klay and Buddy Hield averaging more. Look for him to be the go-to guy when LeBron draws double-teams. Lakers currently just 28th in catch-and-shoot scoring and 29th in percentage. pic.twitter.com/r20OeKASGY — Joey Ramirez (@JoeyARamirez) February 6, 2019 Bullock also promises to become a huge part of the Lakers’ playbook given his ability to consistently strike out of designed actions. This year he ranks in the 93rd percentile as a scorer off screens, averaging 1.24 points per possession. He was also elite last season, placing among the 92nd percentile (1.28 ppp). Bullock is also an active screen-setter himself and often diverts the defense’s attention by placing his own pick before darting around someone else’s. Techniques like these have led to his robust 45.8 percentage on corner 3’s. Reggie Bullock is an absolute marksman when it comes to shooting off screens. Ranks in the 93rd percentile this year (1.24 points per possession) and was among the 92nd last season (1.28). Going to be a fun chess piece for the offensive game plans. pic.twitter.com/XNzCFbvqdr — Joey Ramirez (@JoeyARamirez) February 6, 2019 Much of Detroit’s offense revolved around having Bullock orbit around its playmaking bigs: Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond. These actions served essentially as screens for Bullock, who ranks third in the NBA in scoring off handoffs (2.6), behind only J.J. Redick and Damian Lillard. Most of those handoff actions were in tandem with Griffin. The Lakers could potentially replicate such possessions with LeBron, JaVale McGee or Tyson Chandler serving that role. Only two players (Redick, Lillard) are averaging more points off handoffs than Reggie Bullock, who thrived out of a two-man game with Blake Griffin. Could be an interesting new wrinkle for the Lakers, potentially getting him these looks with LeBron or the centers. pic.twitter.com/geeVsI9ahx — Joey Ramirez (@JoeyARamirez) February 6, 2019 There’s no doubt that Bullock’s greatest strength is his 3-point shooting, but he can strike from inside the arc as well. He’s not one to attack the basket often, as 84 percent of his shots have been jumpers. But that skill has made him a mid-range master. This season he has shot 50.9 percent from mid-range — one of the few players in the NBA hitting more than half of his attempts from that area. While 3-point shooting is definitely his calling card, Reggie Bullock shoots one of the league's best percentages from mid-range (50.9%). Has the abilities to attack closeouts, handle a bit and come off screens from inside the arc. pic.twitter.com/1F55VWdeOT — Joey Ramirez (@JoeyARamirez) February 6, 2019 Still coming into the prime of his career, Bullock remains a player in progress. He’s solid in the restricted area (57.4 percent), but the same cannot be said in the non-restricted paint (18.2). He hasn’t been asked much to create his own offense, as 88 percent of his baskets have been assisted. Yet he’s a player who — after averaging fewer than five points in each of his first five seasons — has found his place in this league. Bullock’s average has jumped to 12.1 points per game this season. Last year he was second in the entire NBA in 3-point percentage (44.5). And, most importantly, he fills a vital void for the Lakers. A career 40 percent 3-point shooter who has sunk 88 percent of his foul shots this season, Bullock is a key puzzle piece for a Lakers squad currently 29th in 3-point shooting and last in free throw percentage.<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>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>	The Los Angeles Lakers made a trade Tuesday night, but it wasn't the one many of their fans were hoping for. Amid all the Anthony Davis talk, the Lakers dealt guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and a second-round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons for guard Reggie Bullock. The deal gives LeBron James & Co. a much-needed 3-point threat. Bullock, 27, is in his fourth season with the Pistons, averaging 12 points and shooting 38 percent on 6.6 3-point attempts per game. According to Second Spectrum, Bullock is shooting 39.8 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers this season. That would rank first among Lakers players with at least 50 catch-and-shoot 3s. Detroit will create a $2.5 million trade exception with the deal. Bullock is in the final year of his contract, and the Lakers will inherit his Bird rights this summer. Mykhailiuk, 21, was drafted by the Lakers with the 47th pick last year, and he is in the first year of a three-year, $4.6 million contract. The Pistons have until July 5 to guarantee his $1.4 million contract for the 2019-20 season. The former Kansas star is averaging 3 points in 10.7 minutes per game this season. The NBA's trade deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m. ET. The Lakers have been in talks with the New Orleans Pelicans about Davis, the All-Star center. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson wants the Pelicans to start making counterproposals to offers on Davis, threatening to end talks unless New Orleans shows a willingness to engage in a back-and-forth on reaching a deal. The Athletic first reported the Lakers and Pistons were nearing an agreement on the Bullock deal. Additional reporting from ESPN's Bobby Marks was used in this report.
Tyson Fury unleashed a sensational rant towards Deontay Wilder as the pair came face to face on Monday ahead of their heavyweight showdown in December. The duo sat down for a explosive press conference in London before their WBC heavyweight title fight in Los Angeles on December 1. Fury, who has won both fights on his return to the ring, pulled no punches during their heated exchange and his comments infuriated Wilder so much he was forced to push the Gypsy King in retaliation. Deontay Wilder pushed Tyson Fury as their press conference spilled over on Monday The Bronze Bomber didn't react well to some of Fury's comments and took physical action Frank Warren was forced to step in between his client and the American as tempers flared Fury pulled no punches and insisted he will come out on top when they meet in Los Angeles Just moments after sitting down Fury said: 'I’m savouring nothing, the only thing I’m savouring is smashing Deontay Wilder’s teeth in. All the press have turned up, they are here to see the biggest fight of our generation between two undefeated giants, and you are in for a real treat, because I am in the mood for no messing around or dancing in the ring. 'I will stand and prove what I will do to this idiot, I will stand and punch his face right in. If we fought 30 times, I would win 30 times. '‘The thing is Bronze Bomber, you big dosser, you’re not ready for me, you never have been. All your knockout power can’t beat Tyson Fury. You are going to f* yourself. 'If I can't beat you, I'll kiss your two feet on the floor.' Fury refused to sit down at the start and remained standing as his opponent took his seat Fury glances over as Wilder sits down but he holds his ground in front of the audience Fury unleashed a sensational rant towards Wilder as soon as the press conference started The Bronze Bomber watches on as he answers questions in London on Monday morning BT Sport host Paul Dempsey struggled to keep a lid on proceedings as things turned sour The pair continued to trade insults as Fury got up out of his seat and asked Wilder to demonstrate his punching power. He added: ‘No concern, if you can fight, you fight. I picked this fight, Frank made this fight. I could have fought another 10 bums, but Deontay is an easy touch. I’m going to squeeze him like a lemon. I’ve been out for a year, now I’m coming to you, to beat you. ‘Can we have a little spar now (stands up to fight)? I want to feel the punching power.' Wilder then pushed Fury, who responded with: ‘My wife pushes harder than that you little b**.’<doc-sep>It might not have been obvious from the 30 minutes of constant cross-talking, post-watershed language and earnest incitement to body-sparring that passed as Tyson Fury’s first pre-fight press conference but he does not believe in mind games. The Gypsy King and the Bronze Bomber, Deontay Wilder, began their three-day, three-city, transatlantic tour in London’s Olympic village on Monday to promote their 1 December world title fight. Both sides needed to strike an awkward balance, feisty enough to sell pay per view but respectful enough to let everyone know this was a real match‑up at the summit of the heavyweight division. Anthony Joshua’s name was notable by its absence. In public Fury let rip at Wilder, calling him, among other things, an idiot, a dosser, a hollow shell and an easy touch. “He’s a lemon and I’m going to squeeze him nice and hard.” Wilder was often talked over while his zingers had an oddly homely turn. “I’m about to put him in the oven and make a muffin,” he said at one point. In the climax of the event Fury insisted he wanted to “feel the power” of the infamous knock-out merchant and invited Wilder to take a shot. He duly stepped up and gave the Englishman half a shove. Frank Warren positioned himself beneath the pair and things calmed down after everyone had got their photo. The conclusion was that Fury had rattled Wilder in the first of no doubt many exchanges before the fight for the WBC crown in the Los Angeles Staples Centre. But away from the cameras there was a different impression. Wilder was relaxed, willing to talk at length about his career and his background as the child of clergy in rural Alabama. He was also keen to ponder what the absence of Pete Fury, uncle and long-time trainer, might have on his opponent. The lineal champion, meanwhile, was almost a different person. The bravado was gone and instead there were only encomiums of praise for his opponent. And while Fury claimed he was “living in Wilder’s head” at the moment, he also said it did not matter at all. “This is about us two expressing our feelings to one another and showing how much we love each other and how much this is big-time boxing,” Fury said. “All the mind games don’t really mean anything at all. Nothing. “Anything that’s happened in the past you can forget about it. Forget about all the fights I’ve had, the 27 fights, they don’t mean squat going in on the night. It’s one man versus one man in one fight. “After the fight I’m not so interested in,” he went on. “I’m only focusing on this fight, being in that ring for 36 minutes and doing what I do best. Any man or woman can only do their best in life and, if it ain’t good enough, there’s no shame in losing to a better person. “But have the guts to try and follow that dream. And me personally, if I can’t be the best, then I don’t want to be the rest. I don’t want to be anything else than the best. And that’s all she wrote.” The Wilder-Fury tour continues in the US until Wednesday.<doc-sep>The great game of goading between heavyweights Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder began on Monday in a BT Sport studio in London with the two huge men separated by security guards at their first head-to-head press conference. Pantomime or not – and no punches were thrown, in spite of Wilder shoving Fury – they were promoting their World Boxing Council heavyweight title fight which will take place on Dec 1 in Los Angeles. The rivals will continue their press tour in New York on Tuesday, moving to Los Angeles on Wednesday, with former world champion Fury, undefeated in 27 fights, attempting to get into the head of the Alabaman, holder of the WBC crown, by suggesting that Wilder was actually “the challenger”. After the pair had been together on ITV’s Good Morning Britain – during which Wilder spent more time criticising Anthony Joshua for avoiding him than intimating what he intended to do to Fury when they meet in the ring – Fury ignited the set-to by getting out of his seat and demanding the American join him for a “body spar”. “I am no challenger for no man. I’m the lineal heavyweight champion of the world, the best of the best,” said Fury, who held the World Boxing Organisation, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association titles by defeating Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf in November 2015, before being exiled from the sport for 30 months. “This is two champions colliding, equal rights, rephrase and start again,” Fury had said after the pair were introduced.<doc-sep>	American was goaded by his opponent ahead of their fight in Los Angeles and it sparked some ugly scenes Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder’s press conference on Monday turned ugly as they had to be separated by security. The pair were at the BT Sports studios in London to promote their upcoming WBC heavyweight title fight. 2 Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury face off It all began friendly enough before Fury got out of his seat and demanded Wilder joined him for a “body spar”. Wilder duly got up and shoved Fury when he stepped towards him, leading promoter Frank Warren to step in before security ran on to the stage to keep the fighters apart. Fury responded to the push by declaring “my wife pushes harder than that you little b**” and continued to goad the American, describing him as a “big shouse” and a “bottle job.” The Briton ranted: “I’m savouring nothing, the only thing I’m savouring is smashing Deontay Wilder’s teeth in. All the press have turned up, they are here to see the biggest fight of our generation between two undefeated giants, and you are in for a real treat, because I am in the mood for no messing around or dancing in the ring. “I will stand and prove what I will do to this idiot, I will stand and punch his face right in. If we fought 30 times, I would win 30 times. ‘‘The thing is Bronze Bomber, you big dosser, you’re not ready for me, you never have been. All your knockout power can’t beat Tyson Fury. You are going to f** yourself. “If I can’t beat you, I’ll kiss your two feet on the floor.” 2 Frank Warren struggles to keep the peace between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury The duo had a earlier been respectful to each other during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, with Wilder instead using his time to blast the man widely regarded as the number one heavyweight in the division, Anthony Joshua. Wilder will be putting his WBC belt on the line against Fury when they meet on December 1 at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. The 32-year-old Alabama native has won all 40 of his professional fights, 39 by knockout, and has held the WBC title for the past four years. Fury is also unbeaten, in 27 fights, and is the former WBO, WBA and IBF title holder, having ended Wladimir Klitschko’s decade-long tenure at the top of heavyweight division in 2017. But the 30-year-old Mancunian goes into his showdown against Wilder as the big outsider. 🗣️ Here's a two-minute highlight video of the very eventful first press conference for Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury. pic.twitter.com/n0lymD4zRm — Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 1, 2018 Fury did not fight for two-and-a-half years after his win over Klitschko due to well-documented issues out of the ring, only making his return earlier this year against the little-known Sefer Seferi. After beating Seferi inside four rounds, Fury faced former world title challenger Francesco Pianeta in August and secured a ten-round victory. Wilder insists his supposedly ring-rusty opponent will be no match for him, saying: “It’s important to establish dominance. I say I’m the best, the baddest man on the planet. “When it comes to Tyson Fury, I’m all about devastating knock-outs, it’s what I do. “He’s got two months to get ready, he lost a lot of weight; he’s got to lose a little more. “We can’t live off others’ opinions. You’ll know what time it is, you come here to see one thing, me knocking somebody out.”
Testimony at the Kavanaugh hearing has triggered a spike in calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline.The rape, abuse, and incest national network, called RAINN says that the number of calls to its hotline were up by 201% on Friday.In addition, its online chat service has been experiencing unprecedented wait times.Anyone who needs help, can call 1-800-656-4673. The chat option can be found at RAINN.ORG. Testimony at the Kavanaugh hearing has triggered a spike in calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Advertisement The rape, abuse, and incest national network, called RAINN says that the number of calls to its hotline were up by 201% on Friday. In addition, its online chat service has been experiencing unprecedented wait times. Anyone who needs help, can call 1-800-656-4673. The chat option can be found at RAINN.ORG.<doc-sep>As Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh addressed allegations of sexual assault in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, a distraught 76-year-old woman called CSPAN. It reminded her of her own experience being sexually abused when she was in second grade, she said. “Thought I was over it but it’s not. You will never forget it,” Brenda from Missouri admitted through tears on air. Brenda from Missouri calls C-SPAN "I'm a 76-year-old woman who was sexually molested in 2nd grade. This brings back so much pain. Thought I was over it but it's not. You will never forget it. You get confused & you don't understand it but you never forget what happened to you." pic.twitter.com/uCgroeQ4B5 — CSPAN (@cspan) September 27, 2018 She is not alone. For many, the hearings brought back feelings about their own experiences of sexual assault or abuse. RAINN, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, reported that the National Sexual Assault Hotline helped 201 percent more people on Thursday than it normally does. “It’s not that 201 percent more sexual assaults happened yesterday,” Dr. Thea Gallagher, clinic director at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, told TODAY. “It is more like ‘Oh my gosh, I want to talk about my experience.’" The number of people helped by the National Sexual Assault Hotline was 201% above average yesterday. — RAINN (@RAINN) September 28, 2018 Hearing details of allegations against Kavanaugh or at Bill Cosby’s sentencing can cause a visceral reaction. “We are all touched by this whether or not we have been sexually assaulted. Our empathy gets touched,” Christine M. Nicholson, a private practice therapist outside of Seattle told TODAY. “If you have been a victim, it is hard.” Nicholson is not surprised more people are reaching out to the hotlines. She and other therapists have been helping more patients grapple with their own experiences with sexual assault and abuse recently. Asking for help is an important part of coping. “People need support,” Nicholson said. Often people feel ashamed. But experiencing a variety of feelings when hearing about sexual assault is perfectly normal. “It definitely triggers similar feelings because you remember how you felt,” Gallagher said. The Kavanaugh hearings can trigger people emotionally who have experienced sexual assault. Getty Images/Reuters When these feelings arise, the experts recommend self-care and offer advice for working through feelings. Talk with someone While calling a hotline or talking to a therapist can help, even reaching out to a loved one can make a difference. Be with yourself "You have to kind of sit with your feelings a bit and cry,” Nicholson explains. “Because when people are not in touch with their feeling … oftentimes behavior takes over and we act out and that can be negative.” Remember what makes you feel good After accepting your feelings, people should do something they enjoy, such as talking a walk, talking with a friend, reading a book or playing with a pet. Remind yourself there are good people Think of people who have been kind to you or help make the world a better place. For people who want to support loved ones who have been sexually assaulted or harassed, Nicholson suggested that they say, “Just tell me about it.” It’s important not to let people become consumed with negative self-talk. Many victims of sexual assault and harassment feel embarrassed or guilty and fixating on it can be unhealthy. When Gallagher has patients that blame themselves, she asks them to imagine how’d the address a loved one. “Think of what you would tell your best friend,” she said. “Would you ever say they were deserving of these experiences?" Then she counsels them to be just as kind to themselves. Nicholson said it is important for people to remember they are not to blame for sexually assault or harassment. “You can’t always avoid bad things,” she said. “Sexual assault is not a sexual thing, it is an aggressive act. It is not a loving act. It is not an intimate act. It is dominant aggressive act.” People needing support can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit online chat.<doc-sep>Calls to a national hotline for victims of sexual assault surged Thursday, the day Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate, detailing allegations that she was sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network announced that the number of calls to its National Sexual Assault hotline surged by 201 percent Thursday. “We often see an uptick when sexual assault is in the news," RAINN spokeswoman Sara Mcgovern said in a statement. "For example, last weekend, from Friday to Sunday we saw a 57 percent increase compared to an average Friday to Sunday. Since Dr. Ford has come forward with her allegations, we have seen a 45.6 percent uptick compared to the same time period in 2017." Similar increases are being seen at local rape crisis centers that work with the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, according to the group's communications director, Laura Palumbo. "What we’re been hearing a lot from survivors in our online community is that it's been a difficult 24 hours for them," Palumbo told NBC News. "The focus of the news cycle on sexual assault has been really challenging and, for many individuals, triggering." Christine Blasey Ford is sworn in before testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee with her attorneys Debra Katz, left, and Michael Bromwich in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Sept. 27. Win McNamee / Getty Images And the implications of those numbers significantly changed over the course of Thursday's televised hearings as the momentum seemed to swing between respect for Ford's testimony and sympathy for Kavanaugh's angry pushback, said Columbia Law School professor Katherine Franke. Despite the partisan rancor on display Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-10, along party lines, on Friday to bring the Kavanaugh vote to the Senate floor next week. "I think many people woke up to the reinforcement of what has always been their intuition: That you won’t be believed, you will be mocked, and that your own personal health is better preserved by keeping it to yourself," said Franke, who is the director of the Center for Gender & Sexuality Law. Franke said that the Republican handling of the allegations shows how far Washington is lagging behind the corporate world in adapting to the changes brought about by the #MeToo movement in the past year — and a reminder of just how little has changed there since the Anita Hill testimony in 1991. "This is not over with the vote," said Franke. "The spectacle that we saw in the Judiciary Committee will have long term consequences for many of us."<doc-sep>	When Christine Blasey Ford testified on Thursday in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee about her accusation that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her 36 years ago, millions of Americans listened to her describe the intimate details of her alleged assault and the trauma she says she has lived with for decades since. For many of those people, her words and the questions she was asked brought up personal memories. Some shared their experiences on social media, others talked to friends or co-workers and others called into news networks to publicly recall their incidents of assault. It turns out many people also called the National Sexual Assault Hotline looking for help. The National Sexual Assault Hotline saw a 147 percent increase in calls on Thursday compared with a normal weekday on which sexual assault did not dominate the news, according to RAINN, a large anti-sexual violence organization that administers the hotline. The organization told TIME it often sees an uptick in survivors asking for help when sexual assault is in the news. But Thursday’s numbers were even higher than some recent instances. For example, in October 2016 when the Access Hollywood tape of then-candidate Donald Trump saying he could get women and “grab ’em by the p—y” was released, calls to the sexual assault hotline went up 33 percent. Since Ford has come forward with her allegations, RAINN said it has seen a 45.6 percent increase compared to the same time period last year. And over this past weekend when a second accuser, Deborah Ramirez, came forward with an allegation of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh, RAINN’s hotline saw an increase of 57 percent compared to an average Friday through Sunday. Kavanaugh has denied all of Ford’s allegations, as well as those leveled by Ramirez and by a third accuser, Julie Swetnick. He testified after Ford on Thursday and again denied all of the allegations, saying that he wanted to clear his name. Anyone looking for resources to talk about sexual assault can visit RAINN’s online hotline or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673. Write to Abigail Abrams at [email protected].
Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nick Suzuki are back in the lineup for the Montreal Canadiens as they face the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at Scotiabank Arena. Here is the full lineup: Voici l’alignement des Canadiens pour le match de ce soir contre les Maple Leafs à Toronto. Here is the Canadiens' lineup for tonight's game against the Maple Leafs in Toronto. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/hWRIxbwk3C — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 24, 2018 This seems to be an audition for several players. Matthew Peca, Michael Chaput, Hunter Shinkaruk, Kenny Agostino, Jacob de la Rose, and Byron Froese are all battling for the few forward spots that remain. This could be some of their last games before the Canadiens need to make decisions on waivers. On defence, Karl Alzner and Xavier Ouellet lead the way. Rinat Valiev, Michal Moravčik, Brett Lernout and Simon Desprès are also battling out for a roster spot as this game will provide a look at most defencemen battling for a spot. The Canadiens have three games remaining after tonight, and have yet to place any players on waivers. The team still has 43 players at their NHL camp. We will have a full game thread later today.<doc-sep>Share this Story: Canadiens Notebook: Jesperi Kotkaniemi back in lineup vs. Maple Leafs Canadiens Notebook: Jesperi Kotkaniemi back in lineup vs. Maple Leafs Jonathan Drouin gets the night off Monday in Toronto with Michael Chaput taking his spot at left wing on Kotkaniemi's line. Photo by John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette Article content Jesperi Kotkaniemi will be back in the Canadiens’ lineup when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs Monday night in NHL pre-season action (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio), but he won’t have Jonathan Drouin on his left wing. Drouin will get the night off in Toronto and Michael Chaput will take his spot with Kotkaniemi at centre and Joel Armia on the right wing. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Canadiens Notebook: Jesperi Kotkaniemi back in lineup vs. Maple Leafs Back to video “You’re looking at certain guys right now,” coach Claude Julien said after practice as the Canadiens head into their final week of training camp. “Chaput is playing again tonight. He’s in our lineup with some pretty decent players. He’s had a good camp, so we’re not writing him off. We’re keeping him here.” The Canadiens signed the 6-foot-2, 204-pound Chaput as a free agent on July 1. Last season the Île Bizard native posted 17-25-42 totals in 55 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets and was pointless in nine games with the Vancouver Canucks. The Philadelphia Flyers selected Chaput in the third round (89th overall) at the 2010 NHL Draft. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The players who will take part in Monday night’s game practised at 10:45 a.m. Monday in Brossard before heading to the airport for a 3 p.m. flight to Toronto. They will return home immediately after the game, expected to arrive in Montreal at 12:40 a.m. Here's #Habs lineup for tonight's game in Toronto vs. @MapleLeafs (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, @TSN690 Radio) #HabsIO: pic.twitter.com/FcCM6Uz7SI — Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) September 24, 2018 Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Finnish Connection on power play The Canadiens’ first power-play unit against the Maple Leafs Monday night will have Kotkaniemi at centre between fellow Finns Artturi Lehkonen and Armia up front with Rinat Valiev and Charles Hudon on the point. “I’m sure he’ll understand the words that are being yelled at him tonight to get the puck to him or to get open,” Julien said about Kotkaniemi playing with his fellow countrymen. “It’s not done purposely,” the coach added. “I think it’s done with the purpose of putting the best power play together and there’s no doubt it makes it a lot easier for a guy like (Kotkaniemi) when he’s around comfortable guys, but that wasn’t the priority in the power-play makeup.” We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The lines Here’s a look at how the Canadiens’ lines and defence pairings were set up at Monday morning’s practice: Hudon – Peca – Lehkonen Chaput – Kotkaniemi – Armia de la Rose – Suzuki – Scherbak Shinkaruk – Froese – Agostino Alzner – Després Ouellet – Lernout Valiev – Moravcik Niemi Lindgren We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Niemi to play full game for Habs Julien said goalie Antti Niemi will get a chance to play the full 60 minutes against the Maple Leafs Monday night. The Canadiens signed the 35-year-old Finnish goalie to a one-year, US$950,000 one-way contract this summer after he posted a 7-5-4 record with a 2.45 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage as Carey Price’s backup last season. Charlie Lindgren will be Niemi’s backup in Toronto. The 24-year-old Lindgren is heading into the first season of a three-year, US$2.25 million contract that is a one-way deal and averages $750,000 per season whether he plays with the Canadiens or the AHL’s Laval Rocket. While it seems that Niemi has a solid lock on the backup job behind Price again this season, Julien said after practice Monday that’s not necessarily so. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “We’ve never written Charlie off,” Julien said about Lindgren. “When I say (Niemi’s) got the edge we’ve got a goaltender that last year had not the greatest year (Lindgren). Not a bad year, but he’s still a young goaltender that can play a lot if he goes down to the minors. But if he’s here with our team, it’s because he deserves to be here and he’s ready to be here.” Lindgren posted a 8-19-2 record last season in Laval along with a 3.39 goals-against average and a .886 save percentage. With the Canadiens, he had a 4-8-2 record with a 3.03 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. “Niemi, obviously, is a different case,” Julien said about the battle for a backup spot. “He’s a veteran player. Last year, I thought he played really well for us. So when you say the edge, you’re going by how it finished last year. This is a new season and when the decision to put 23 men on your roster is being taken we’ll have to really look at it closely.” We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Homecoming for Suzuki Monday’s game will be a bit of a homecoming for Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki, who is from London, Ont.<doc-sep>We’re half way through the pre-season now, and Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock has had a fair chance to see the talent he has at his disposal for this coming season. He noted that starting with today’s game he would split up the rosters into what will look much more like a Marlies team and a Maple Leafs team. The @MapleLeafs have announced the roster for Monday night’s pre-season game vs. Montreal at @ScotiabankArena. pic.twitter.com/rFOM6zQj1M — Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) September 24, 2018 It looks like tonight against the Habs we get to see a roster of players who will become the Marlies group, noting that nothing is final, and there’s still going to be some movement between the two groups to satisfy rules about Exhibition games; Kasperi Kapanen qualifies for that rule for example. When the Leafs play the Habs again on Wednesday we should see what will mostly become the Maple Leafs lines for the start of the regular season. I have no idea how the goalies fit into this picture. Don’t read into whom is playing with which group yet as an indication of where they will play later this season. ICYMI Here’s what we wrote/talked about yesterday. Back to Excited Episode 31: Reports from the Preseason - Fulemin and Arvind Arvind and Fulemin discuss who’s impressed and who hasn’t, as well as roster trickery and the Buffalo Sabres. Note that Back to Excited is now weekly. Arvind and Fulemin will provide you correct opinions on hockey every single week this season! European Prospect Report: Eemeli Räsänen scores his first KHL goal - Katya Everyone is on the ice as all the regular seasons are underway, and we have an addition this week after cuts from Leafs camp. Other News One of our wee little Leafs is moiving up the ranks. Aye aye Captain! @ryanmcgregor84 is your newest captain of the Sarnia Sting! pic.twitter.com/rv4CVEXrav — Sarnia Sting (@StingHockey) September 22, 2018 Devils & Wood agree on 4 years, $11 Million - All About The Jersey The Devils announced this afternoon that they have re-signed Miles Wood at an AAV of $2.75M The NHL’s revenge culture is a danger to the health of players - Eyes On The Prize The fallout from the Max Domi and Aaron Ekblad incident is serving as a reminder that the NHL’s old ways are best left in the past. Stanley Cup evolving again with removal of 12 champions - NHL.com The Stanley Cup has filled another ring full of engraved names. The top ring which includes the Maple Leafs' three consecutive Cup-winning teams from 1962-64 will now be removed and sent to the Hockey Hall of Fame and a blank ring added to the bottom.<doc-sep>Calle Rosen's power-play goal midway through the third period was the difference as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Saturday to remain undefeated in pre-season play. Rosen's point shot through traffic broke a 2-2 tie and moved Toronto to 4-0-0 in exhibition action, including back-to-back wins over the Sabres after a 5-3 victory on Friday in Toronto. Auston Matthews and Jeremy Bracco also scored for the Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen stopped 19-of-21 shots before giving way to Calvin Pickard for the third period. Pickard stopped all 14 shots he faced in a busy 20 minutes. Watch highlights of the Leafs' win over Buffalo: Game Wrap: Maple Leafs edge Sabres, remain undefeated in pre-season Sports 1:41 The Maple Leafs improve to 4-0 in the pre-season with their 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres 1:41 Kyle Okposo and Jeff Skinner scored for the Sabres. Carter Hutton played the entire game and turned away 28-of-31 shots in the defeat. Okposo opened the scoring 4:17 into the game with his first of the pre-season and it stayed a 1-0 Sabres lead until Matthews responded early in the second period. Matthews' second goal of the pre-season was assisted by Tyler Ennis, who is getting a chance on Toronto's top line with Willliam Nylander out with a contract dispute, and Patrick Marleau. Habs hand Sens another loss Tomas Tatar scored early in the third period as the Montreal Canadiens came back from two goals down to defeat the Ottawa Senators 3-2 in pre-season play Saturday. Nikita Scherbak and Paul Byron also scored for Montreal. Carey Price made 15 saves on 17 shots. Brady Tkachuk and Cody Ceci found the back of the net for the visiting Senators. Craig Anderson, making his second pre-season start, stopped 29-of-32 shots. "He's got a lot of enthusiasm," said Guy Boucher, Tkachuk's coach. "A kid that's not just physically strong. He's extremely open, very coachable. So that's fun for a coach. The minute you ask him something, he does it right away." Highlights: Tomas Tatar's 1st goal as a Hab leads Montreal past Ottawa Sports 0:47 Tomas Tatar, acquired from Vegas in the Max Pacioretty trade, scored the game-winner as the Montreal Canadiens edged the Ottawa Senators 3-2 in pre-season action. 0:47 The Canadiens outshot Ottawa 32-17. The Senators remain winless this pre-season (0-4-0). Montreal scored two goals in 23 seconds to start the third period to complete the comeback. Byron netted the equalizer with a seemingly harmless wrist shot at 1:18 and Tatar deflected a shot from the point at 1:41 to give Montreal the 3-2 lead. It was the first pre-season meeting between 2018 first-round draft picks Jepseri Kotkaniemi and Tkachuk. Montreal selected Kotkaniemi third overall, while Ottawa chose Tkachuk with the very next pick. Tkachuk got the Senators on the board just 1:15 into the game as he beat Price between the pads on a breakaway — Ottawa's first shot on goal. Ceci doubled Ottawa's lead at 17:41 of the second period with a wrist shot from the faceoff dot to Price's left. Tkachuk won the faceoff that led to Ceci's goal. Montreal got one back at the end of the second via a tight-angle shot from Scherbak, who just threw the puck on net from the corner of the ice. Mark Stone nearly equalized in the game's final minutes, but his shot rang off the post. Czarnik's hat trick leads Flames Austin Czarnik scored three times Saturday night to lead the Calgary Flames to a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in pre-season play. Mikael Backlund and Mark Jankowski, into an empty net, also scored for Calgary. Elias Pettersson and Brandon Sutter scored for the Canucks. Watch highlights from the Flames' victory: Austin Czarnik's hat trick leads Flames over Canucks Sports 1:22 Czarnik's push to make the Flames opening night roster got a boost Saturday. The 25-year-old had a hat trick in the Flames 5-2 pre-season win over the Vancouver Canucks. 1:22 Czarnik is making the most of his opportunity to be a full-time NHLer for the first time at age 25 after being signed in the off-season to a two-year, $2.5 million deal. He spent three seasons in the Boston Bruins organization before heading to Calgary. Czarnik signed with Boston in the spring of 2015 after graduating from Miami University of Ohio. The five-foot-nine right-winger got into 59 games (5 goals, 12 assists) with the Bruins over his three years, but spent most of his time in the American Hockey League with Providence. Last year, he finished third in scoring with 69 points (25 goals, 44 assists) in 64 games. Czarnik opened the scoring at 6:20 on a power play, neatly completing a tic-tac-toe passing play with Matthew Tkachuk and Backlund.<doc-sep>	Game five of the pre-season already? Soon it’ll be the pre-playoffs then the pre-draft and before you know it the baseball pre-season is upon us. Coming into this game the Leafs are a perfect 4-0 and the Canadiens hold a 3-1 record in the pre-season. If you’re heading to the SBA tonight, don’t expect much out of this team. You won’t get to see John Tavares score twice, or Mitch Marner stickhandle like a stickhandling robot, or anything interesting at all. Here are the rosters/lines for today’s game: Toronto Maple Leafs The Leafs are skating their ‘AHL’ camp roster tonight, and just glancing at the list of names, it makes me wonder why this game isn’t being sold at Marlies prices and held at the Coca-Coliseum. At forward, aside from Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, we don’t seem to have anyone who’s a lock for the NHL, and tonight’s game is a chance to give players like Par Lindholm, Adam Cracknell, and Pierre Engvall good looks for the fourth line spots. On defense it’s a fight for every spot. Andreas Borgman and Connor Carrick are names most people figure will be on the NHL roster, but it’s not a guarantee. Curtis McElhinney and Garret Sparks are still fighting for the back up role, with McE having the NHL advantage but Sparks has the hype behind him. According to Paul Hendrick, the lines are looking like this: Johnsson-Lindholm-Kapanen Grundstrom-Brooks-Bracco Greening-Jooris-Engvall Timashov-Cracknell-Moore Marincin -Carrick Borgman -Holl Sandin-Subban McElhinney Sparks The first powerplay looks like this: Subban Brooks-Moore-Bracco Grundstrom Montreal Canadiens The Canadiens are a bunch of slackers and didn’t bother to organize their roster sheet: Former Leaf/Marlie Rinat Valiev will be in the line up for the Canadiens tonight. The power play seems to have a Finnish flair to it today: Yup, the Lapsi Linja is the #Habs first power play unit tonight. pic.twitter.com/VLoDkl6ezW — John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) September 24, 2018 Tonight’s game may be a lopsided affair - or at least it should be one from the Habs point of view. The Maple Leafs are playing an almost all Marlies line up, while the Canadiens are full of players who are legitimately trying to crack a spot in the NHL. If the Maple Leafs pull off a win, well, it will be just the first embarrassing loss the Habs will get against the Leafs this year.
Following plenty of first-round drama, but just one series which went to seven games, the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs is finally set. Saturday night’s Game 7 between the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets decided who grabbed the final spot in the conference semifinals. While the series featured the No. 7 seed Spurs nearly pulling off the upset, the Nuggets defended their home court to survive and advance. Next up for Nikola Jokic and company is a date with the No. 3 seed Portland Trail Blazers, who are coming off an impressive 4-1 series win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The series was sealed on a wild 37-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer of Game 5 by Damian Lillard, and his play will surely be a talking point moving forward in the playoffs. We’re going to preview the series between the Blazers and Nuggets while offering a prediction on which team will advance to the Western Conference Finals. Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets 2019 NBA Playoff Preview These two teams finished within one game of each other during the 2018-19 NBA regular season. The Nuggets wrapped up the year with a 54-28 record while the Blazers were 53-29, earning a tiebreaker for the No. 3 seed over the Houston Rockets. A number of things jump out about this series, but specifically how good both teams are on their home floor. The Nuggets had the best home record in the NBA at 34-7 while the Blazers were close behind at 32-9. Denver having the higher seed and a potential extra game on their own floor could come into play here, and if so they’d have to like their chances. Follow the Heavy NBA Facebook page for all the latest stories, rumors and viral content! The Blazers and Nuggets met four times during the season, with Denver picking up three victories. Each of the matchups was decided by single digits and two of Portland’s losses were by three or fewer points. There’s no question that we should have multiple close finishes throughout this second-round series. Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets 2019 NBA Playoff Schedule & Prediction Note: Tentative times and dates are listed below with all information courtesy of Sports Media Watch. The times of these games will be updated once they are finalized by the league. Monday, April 29 Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT) Wednesday, May 1 Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets 9 p.m. ET (TNT) Friday, May 3 Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers Time TBD (ESPN) Sunday, May 5 Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers 7 p.m. ET (TNT) Tuesday, May 7 Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets TBD (TNT) Thursday, May 9 Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers TBD (ESPN) Sunday, May 12 Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets TBD (ABC or TNT) If necessary Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets Prediction While the Nuggets have an impressive amount of firepower in the likes of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Will Barton and Paul Millsap, among others, it’s hard not to like how Portland is playing. The Blazers’ confidence is on another level right now, and it’s easy to understand why after their round one win. I think this series will go to six games, but I’m backing Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and the red-hot Blazers. Portland is playing with a chip on their shoulder and while slowing down Jokic will be a tall task, I’m not sold that the Nuggets will have an answer for Lillard and McCollum. Prediction: Blazers win in six games READ NEXT: NBA Playoff Schedule 2019: Second Round Dates, Times & Best Matchups<doc-sep>PORTLAND, Ore. (April 27, 2019) – The Portland Trail Blazers will start their NBA Western Conference Semifinal round on the road in Denver as postseason play continues. Game 1 is set for Monday at 7:30 p.m. PT televised on TNT; with Game 2 also on TNT Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT. Portland is riding the momentum of a 4-1 opening-round series victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder; while the Nuggets dispatched the San Antonio Spurs with a 90-86 Game 7 victory earlier tonight. Here are the details on the full seven-game series: Monday, April 29 at Denver, 7:30 p.m. PT on TNT Wednesday, May 1 at Denver, 6:00 p.m. PT on TNT Friday, May 3 at Portland, 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN Sunday, May 5 at Portland, 4:00 p.m. PT on TNT Tuesday, May 7 at Denver, if necessary on TNT Thursday, May 9 at Portland, if necessary on ESPN Sunday, May 12 at Denver, if necessary on TBD Start times for games 5-7 of the series will be announced as needed by the NBA. This marks the third time in franchise history that the Trail Blazers have faced Denver in postseason play. All-time, Portland is 5-5 in playoff games against the Nuggets, having last faced them in 1986. Denver won that best-of-five first-round series 3-1. When marching to the 1977 NBA Championship, Portland defeated Denver 4-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals. Tickets for Portland’s next round of postseason play, presented by Moda Health and your local Toyota dealers, are available online at trailblazers.com/tix. For authentic tickets, fraud protection and guaranteed seating, team officials urge fans to only purchase tickets through the authorized website; or by calling the Rose Quarter Box Office at 1-844-RIP CITY. Starting with the conference semifinals and lasting for the duration of the NBA Playoffs, all televised games for the Trail Blazers will be carried nationally on either ABC, ESPN or TNT. Fans can still hear local radio broadcasts of Trail Blazers playoff games on flagship NBC Sports Northwest Rip City Radio AM-620 and across the 21-stations of the Trail Blazers Radio Network. Portland dramatically punched its semifinal ticket last Tuesday as Damian Lillard buried a 37-foot three-point shot at the buzzer for a 118-115 win to finish the Thunder. This marks the Trail Blazers first trip to the conference semifinal round since 2016 and the 12th time in franchise history. For the latest postseason news, stats, content, schedules and fan information, visit “Playoff Central” at trailblazers.com.<doc-sep>	The Portland Trail Blazers finally know their opponent for the Western Conference Semifinals: The Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets beat the San Antonio Spurs 90-86 Saturday night in the final game of the first round of the NBA playoffs, setting up a best-of-seven series against the Blazers. It was Denver’s first victory in a postseason series since 2009. Game 1 of the Portland-Denver series will be Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets finished the regular season with a 54-28 record, good enough to win a Northwest Division championship and claim the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Three of the victories came against Portland as the Nuggets won the season series 3-1, defeating the Blazers twice in Denver and splitting two meetings in Portland. It will be the third time in franchise history the Blazers will face the Nuggets in the playoffs. They beat Denver in six games in the conference semifinals during their march to the 1977 NBA championship and lost to the Nuggets in four games in the first round of the 1986 playoffs. Here’s the schedule for the Blazers-Nuggets conference semifinal matchup: 2) Nuggets vs. 3) Blazers Game 1: Monday, April 29, Blazers at Nuggets, 7:30 p.m. on TNT Game 2: Wednesday, May 1, Blazers at Nuggets, 6 p.m. on TNT Game 3: Friday, May 3, Nuggets at Blazers, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN Game 4: Sunday, May 5, Nuggets at Blazers, 4 p.m. on TNT Game 5: Tuesday, May 7, Blazers at Nuggets, TBD on TNT Game 6: Thursday, May 9, Nuggets at Blazers, TBD on ESPN Game 7*: Sunday, May 12, Blazers at Nuggets, TBD on TBD — Joe Freeman \| [email protected] \| 503-294-5183 \| @BlazerFreeman \| Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox
Across Latin America, 97 percent of women live in countries with restrictive abortion laws. Argentina’s Senate will likely vote Thursday on a historic bill that would legalize abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. The bill passed the lower house of the legislature by a close vote, 129-125, but it faces an uphill battle in the more conservative Senate. Still, activists see the fact that the issue is being voted on at all as a major step for women’s rights in the country and throughout the region. The bill is part of a broader women’s rights movement, “Ni Una Menos” — meaning “Not One Less” — directed at stopping violence against women, including murder. “Even if it doesn’t go through, this is a massive step to legalize abortion,” Emma Conn, a writer at the English-language Argentine news outlet the Bubble, told me in June. “Whatever happens, everyone has noted that this has been a significant cultural change, so even if the bill is rejected, it’s not going away.” A protest movement addressing violence against women gave space for a broader debate about women’s rights in Argentina, including abortion Abortion is illegal in Argentina except in cases of rape or when the life or health of the woman is at risk. But even in such circumstances, abortions are difficult to obtain, especially in provinces where there are no guidelines for how providers should proceed or what they’re legally required to do, said Shena Cavallo, a program officer at the International Women’s Health Coalition. And even in cases where obtaining an abortion is legal, many providers still refuse to perform them. “A lot of the current situation is really luck of the draw. It really depends on where you live in the country and what type of provider you encounter,” Cavallo said. Even though abortion is illegal in Argentina, that doesn’t mean it’s uncommon. According to the country’s Ministry of Health, 500,000 clandestine or illegal abortions are performed there each year in a population of approximately 44 million people. According to the Health Ministry’s statistics, of the 245 maternal deaths in Argentina in 2016, 43 were caused by abortions, making it one of the top causes of maternal mortality. Six bills have been presented to the Argentine Congress over the past 13 years that would decriminalize abortion, with little success. But a new push to get legislators to take up the debate has gotten further. Activist groups such as the National Campaign for the Right to Legal, Safe, and Free Abortion and Catholics for the Right to Decide Argentina have been able to insert their cause into the Ni Una Menos movement and draw broader attention to women’s causes in the country. The Ni Una Menos movement, started in 2015, is a campaign against gender-based violence. It began in Argentina after a surge of media reports of women being killed by their husbands, boyfriends, or partners, and it has spread across multiple Latin American countries. Argentina has a history of public protest — it is not uncommon for major city streets and roadways to be shut down for hours or days because of protest — and multiple Ni Una Menos marches have taken place. This new wave of feminism has spurred more women to speak out about a variety of issues, including abortion. Activists see illegal abortion as another way of keeping women oppressed. “If the law doesn’t pass, Argentine women would be stuck in the current, harmful status quo in which they are forced to undergo illegal and unsafe abortions that put their lives and health at risk,” said José Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch, who testified before the Argentine Congress in May, arguing that the decriminalization of abortion is a public health and human rights imperative. Argentine President Mauricio Macri called for Congress to debate the abortion issue earlier this year, over the opposition of the Catholic Church, which is still a major force in Argentina and throughout Latin America. Macri has not come out in favor of the bill and has tried to keep a distance from the discussion, encouraging those within his party to keep the discussion civil. He has said he won’t veto a bill if it passes. “The single largest factor, without a doubt, has been the women’s movement and the way they have been able to become a powerful force of change in Argentina and ... position demands for safe, legal, and free abortion at the center of their movement,” said Cavallo of the International Women’s Health Coalition in June. “Patriarchy penetrates and is pervasive throughout Argentine society. There’s a link between violence against women and the denial of safe, legal abortion services.” President Macri, while personally against abortion, has encouraged debate The politics of the debate aren’t easy — or divided along party lines. The future of the current bill being debated in the Senate is tenuous. The local organization Economía Feminista (Feminist Economy) is keeping a running tally of the yes, no, and undecided votes in both chambers, which indicates that senators oppose the bill by a slight margin. Conn, from the Bubble, said in June legislators aren’t splitting their votes along party lines but instead are being told by leaders they are “free to vote with their conscience.” More conservative members seem likely to vote against the bill than progressives, but there aren’t any clear separations. “It’s hard to delineate by party line,” she said. President Macri has kept a distance from the issue, even as he’s encouraged debate and promised not to veto a bill that passes. The next presidential elections are in 2019, and he’s trying not to rock the boat. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina’s former president, has also wavered, Conn said, sometimes seeming like she’s for it, sometimes against. “It’s all very much a political game,” she said. “Everyone’s being a little bit cagey.” Pope Francis, who is originally from Argentina, hasn’t said anything explicit about the law itself, but he has been clear in his opposition to abortion, said Tamara Taraciuk Broner, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, in June. He adopted a document in March 2018 — in the middle of the debate in Argentina over whether to bring the abortion bill to Congress — that says the Catholic Church’s opposition to abortion needs to be “clear, firm, and passionate.” Win or lose, activists say the “green wave” isn’t over Given the influence of the Catholic Church, which opposes abortion, in Argentina and throughout Latin America, if Argentina were to pass its abortion bill, it would be a “significant step” for the region, Vivanco, from Human Rights Watch, said. “That a country such as Argentina would adopt a progressive law as the one that is being considered, following a recent reform in Chile ending the absolute prohibition on abortion, would send a strong message that key players in the region are moving in the same direction as other developed democracies worldwide,” Vivanco said. Activists believe getting it to a vote in Congress is a victory, regardless of the outcome, and a sign of more progress to come. “We won. Whatever the result,” tweeted Argentine journalist and women’s rights proponent Mariana Carbajal in June, referring to the green scarves worn by the women of the pro–abortion rights movement. “The green wave is unstoppable. We’ve opened consciences. And there’s no turning back.” Ganamos. Sea cual sea el resultado. La ola verde es imparable. Abrió conciencias. Y no hay vuelta atrás. #AbortoSesionHistorica — Mariana Carbajal (@Marian_Carbajal) June 13, 2018 Abortion legalization supporters plan to continue to build momentum and take advantage of the current media coverage, much of which has been in the pro-abortion rights camp. “The demand for safe, legal abortion is a demand that many people have been able to buy into,” Cavallo said. “It has also become a demand linked to citizenship in Argentina and human rights, and we think the process can continue to move forward.” But even if the bill does pass and President Macri signs it, it doesn’t mean the issue of abortion access will be solved.<doc-sep>The lower house of Argentina’s congress has narrowly approved a bill that would legalise abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, in a historic victory for the country’s growing women’s movement. Tens of thousands of women – many wearing the green headscarfs which have become a symbol of the movement – braved a freezing winter night to stand vigil outside the congress building in Buenos Aires during the marathon 20-hour debate. The bill was finally passed early on Thursday by 129 votes to 125, paving the way for Argentina to become the third nation in Latin America – after Cuba and Uruguay – to legalise abortion. It will now go before the country’s upper house, where it will face another tough battle. The centre-right president, Mauricio Macri, has declared himself personally against legal abortion, but has pledged to sign the bill into law if it is passed. “It was a long night for those of us who were in the plaza, we did not sleep at all – old women, young women, forming a green tide,” said Julieta Ortega, a prominent member of the Argentinian Actresses Collective which had campaigned tirelessly for the reform. “Today we are a fairer country. We are very happy for us and for the young girls of today who will become the women of the future,” she said. Argentina has long had some of the world’s most restrictive abortion laws: even in cases where it is allowed by law – in the case of rape, or when a woman’s life is in danger – doctors are often unwilling to proceed with a termination for fear of prosecution. But campaigners have argued that the ban only pushes women to seek unsafe clandestine terminations, a major cause of maternal mortality. Mariela Belski, Amnesty International executive director in Argentina, welcomed the move. “New legislation could end a vicious circle where women have no option but to risk their lives, their health, and their freedom if they are sent to prison,” she said. At the all-night vigil, campaigners watched the debate inside congress on giant screens. Some brandished posters of Eva Perón, who is still considered by many as a hero of the country’s women’s movement. “This is a great victory for the expansion of rights and in the fight for women’s equality. Once again Argentinian civil society is the driving force behind state policies that promote respect for human rights,” said Gastón Chillier, the executive director of the Centre for Legal and Social Studies (CELS). The crowds of protesters wearing green bandannas prompted comparisons with the brave women in white headscarves who faced down Argentina’s 1976-83 dictatorship, demanding the truth about the regime’s crimes. “This proves that we women occupying public spaces can have positive results,” said Alejandra Naftal, director of the Esma museum, a former navy base where 5,000 people were murdered during the dictatorship. “The women who organised themselves against the dictatorship four decades ago, such as the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, paved the way for the powerful women’s movement today in Argentina.” The vote – which would have been unthinkable even a year ago – comes after a shift in public opinion driven by a new generation of female activists who have highlighted the many cases of women who died after undergoing clandestine abortions. Demonstrators await the outcome of the abortion vote outside congress. Photograph: Martin Acosta/Reuters Campaigners compared the result to a victory for Argentina at the World Cup. “This is our World Cup, but there are many matches still left ahead,” said María Virginia Godoy – better known as Señorita Bimbo – a comedian and activist whose appearances on prime time television helped raise public awareness of the issue. “There’s no going back, this is no longer the same Argentina as before. If we can organise ourselves for other issues like we did for this one, can you imagine the difference it would make? We could have whatever world we wanted,” she said. Argentina remains a deeply conservative society and the bill was opposed by the Argentinian-born Pope Francis and politicians in the government and opposition. But the result – a month after Ireland’s landslide vote to repeal a near-total abortion ban – is seen a proof that the country’s women’s movement can deliver victories. Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, said: “As Ireland, and Chile before it, have demonstrated, Catholics can be and often are pro-choice. And indeed Catholic-majority countries can and often do support legislation for safe and legal abortion. Catholics revere individual conscience and support policies that allow all women – especially those without power and privilege – to make their own moral decisions about their bodies safely and freely.” The vote also sends a strong signal across the region. Campaigners in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic have renewed efforts to relax abortion laws in their countries – but in neighbouring Brazil, legislators tied to the powerful evangelical caucus are considering even tougher abortion laws, including jail terms of up to four and a half years for women who abort fetuses with microcephaly.<doc-sep>Supporters of legalized abortion embrace Thursday after the the vote in the Chamber of Deputies. (CNN) — The Argentine Chamber of Deputies voted Thursday morning to legalize elective abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. The bill now goes to the more conservative Senate for consideration. President Mauricio Macri has said he won’t veto the bill if Congress approves it, even though he opposes abortion. “We have been able to settle our differences with respect, tolerance and listening to each other; understanding that dialogue is the road that will strengthen our future,” Macri said. “My congratulations to everyone, knowing that this debate now continues in the Senate.” EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images Activists outside the Argentine Congress before the vote on Thursday. Though it’s unclear whether the bill will become law, the issue has energized Argentine women, including thousands who filled the streets around Congress during 23 hours of tense debate. “Legal abortion in the hospital!” they chanted upon hearing the bill was approved. In Argentina – a Catholic country and the homeland of Pope Francis – abortion is illegal except in cases of rape or when the woman’s life is endangered. Supporters of abortion reform say even those legal abortions are difficult to obtain. Women who otherwise get abortions can be imprisoned for as long as four years. The Chamber of Deputies’ bill also would allow women to get legal abortions after 14 weeks if the pregnancy resulted from rape, the woman’s health was at risk, or the fetus suffered severe conditions not compatible with life outside of the womb. The vote was 129 to 125. It first was reported to have passed with 131 votes, but two congressmen claimed they pushed the wrong button and voted for the bill when they meant to vote against it. ’It was a huge surprise’ Green has become the color of supporters of legalized abortion. As soon as the vote was announced, thousands of pro-choice activists who had gathered to watch the vote on a giant screen outside Congress broke into cheers. “I cried and hugged my brother,” Ariadna Mina, a 15-year-old Catholic school student, said. “I really feared it was going to be rejected. I was anxious all night.” Hours earlier it seemed the bill was destined for failure, but shortly before the vote there was a last-minute shift and the measure passed by four votes. “It was a huge surprise that it was approved, although we were optimistic I personally couldn’t believe it,” said Florencia Llamas, 28, a drama teacher. “Lately in this country it seems rights are always being cut, and here we have something that marks a change of era for women’s rights.” While pro-choice activists continued celebrating hours after the vote, the area reserved for anti-abortion demonstrators was empty except for a few stragglers, including Liliana Fernández, a 39-year-old accountant who had tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe it, I really can’t believe it,” she said. “I thought our representatives would never vote in favor of death. … Now we have to make sure senators don’t follow their lead.” Almendra Pizarro, 26, a lawyer, said her joy at the decision was short-lived. “I was ecstatic for a second but we have to be realistic,” she said. “It will be tough fight in the Senate.” Despite that concern, “I feel this is a great conquest, the result of a fight that has been going on for a long time.” Global trend develops Walter Monteros/AFP/Getty Images People demonstrate against the decriminalization of abortion on June 10, in front of the Cathedral of Tucuman, in northern Argentina, after marching under the slogan "Save Both Lives." Supporters of the Argentine bill were heartened by a recent vote in Ireland, another predominantly Catholic country. Irish voters in May approved an amendment to the country’s constitution that would allow the repeal its near-total ban on abortion. “With the vote in Congress, Argentina can join the global trend toward expanding legal grounds to allow abortion and affirming the rights and dignity of women and girls,” José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, said before Thursday’s vote. In Argentina, the #NiUnaMenos, or “not one less,” movement thrust abortion rights fully into the public forum. In 2016, women took to the streets in anger after a 16-year-old girl was abducted outside her school, drugged, repeatedly raped and killed. The movement then broadened to include issues such as LGBTQ rights and abortion rights. “What was once taboo only a few years ago is now being openly and thoroughly debated across society,” Giselle Carino, the regional director for the International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region, said in an email interview with CNN. Carino said the trend toward legalizing abortion will continue to grow. Argentina’s Supreme Court decriminalized abortions in cases of rape six years ago. But physicians are often hesitant to perform an abortion, even when it’s legally sanctioned, Carino said. She said the laws are usually enforced against poor women, since women of means find ways to terminate their pregnancies with misoprostol, an abortion pill, or by going to a private clinic. Supporters of the bill emphasize that legalization would reduce the number of poor women who try to end their pregnancies through cheap, unsafe methods. Next: The Senate Polls have consistently shown that a majority of Argentines favor the legalization of abortion and that there is a clear generational divide. Lucas Romero, the head of Synopsis, a consultancy, said surveys have shown the Argentine Senate would probably reject the bill. “Of course, we can’t dismiss the role of public opinion and the pressure that approval in the lower house could bring,” he said. “Those could both be factors that could change the scenario in the Senate, … but for now it remains very uncertain.” Some members of the Chamber of Deputies said the debate was agonizing. Before the vote, lawmaker José Ignacio De Mendiguren tweeted that he was a Catholic but that “I will vote in favor of the law. My convictions are my own, they guide my life. But my convictions are not the truth.” CNN’s Sheena McKenzie and Nicole Chavez contributed to this report. Daniel Politi reported from Buenos Aires, and CNN’s Ralph Ellis wrote and reported from Atlanta.<doc-sep>	BUENOS AIRES—Argentine lawmakers narrowly approved a bill to legalize elective abortions following a heated debate over a proposal that would make the country the first major Latin American nation to ease strict antiabortion laws. After a session lasting more than 22 hours, the lower house of Congress on Thursday voted 129-125 in favor of legislation to allow abortions during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. “This is a great day for all women. Women are proud to be taking this step,” said Silvia Lospennato, a ruling-party lawmaker who voted in support of the bill. “Women are going to fight for equality, whatever it costs.” Many of Ms. Lospennato’s allies in the ruling Cambiemos coalition opposed the bill, highlighting how political parties were also divided over the proposal. Lawmaker Juan Aicega said he voted against allowing abortions in order to defend the right to life, while calling for better sexual education to prevent unwanted pregnancies. “The central point here is life,” he said. “In this case, the life of a person who cannot be heard, who can’t express their wishes.” The bill will now require approval from the Senate, where the vote is also expected to be tight. President Mauricio Macri has said that while he opposes abortion, he wouldn’t veto the legislation if approved in Congress. The debate over decriminalizing abortions during the first trimester has polarized Argentina, a country of 44 million. Argentina is the home country of Pope Francis, but the Catholic Church has seen its once-powerful influence wane in recent years. While the Catholic Church in Argentina has publicly opposed the abortion law, the pope and Vatican have been silent on the debate. Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has played down issues of sexual and medical ethics, while being more vocal on social and economic justice, migration and the environment. The vote comes just weeks after Ireland, another once deeply conservative Catholic nation, overwhelmingly voted to repeal a constitutional ban on abortion, reflecting its transformation to a more secular society. Argentina is considered one of Latin America’s most secular societies. In 2010, the country legalized same-sex marriage, the first to do so in the region. The legislation also permitted gay couples to adopt children. Abortion is highly restricted in most Latin American countries, with outright bans in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, according to the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights. Elective abortion is legal in Uruguay, Cuba, Guyana and Mexico City. In Argentina, abortion-rights activists celebrated Thursday’s vote as thousands of proponents demonstrated throughout the night outside of Congress, wearing green bandannas and holding signs calling for “legal abortion now.” They argue the law would provide women with access to safe abortions in hospitals in a nation where rights organizations say about 500,000 women undergo clandestine procedures each year. Abortions are outlawed in Argentina except in cases where pregnancies result from rape or when a woman’s health is at risk. “I’m very excited. We fought so many years for this law,” said Maria Leivas, a 32-year-old teacher who was demonstrating outside of Congress. “Now, we are going to fight for its approval in the Senate.” Opponents of the bill, which would also permit abortions after 14 weeks in cases of rape and when a woman’s health is in danger, said they were outraged over the vote after protesting with signs saying “I march for life” and “don’t kill me.” “I’m embarrassed as an Argentine and as a Catholic over what is happening,” said Raul Mansilla, a 33-year-old lawyer. “We’ve lost all our principles and moral values that our grandparents and parents left us.” The Catholic Church in Argentina lamented the vote and called on the Senate to propose alternative legislation so women don’t have to seek abortions. “This decision hurts us as Argentines,” the Episcopal Conference of Argentina said. Abortion-rights activists say the push to legalize abortion grew out of a movement called “Not One Less,” which began in Argentina in 2015 with protests calling for the end of violence against women. Supporters of the law say its final approval would be a big step forward for women’s rights in Latin America and could lead the way for other countries to follow Argentina in expanding legal access to abortions. “If this happens in Argentina it will be fantastic for the movement,” said Carmen Martinez, the regional manager for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Center for Reproductive Rights.
See the last pitch and Vanderbilt's full celebration for winning the CWS See the last pitch and Vanderbilt's full celebration for winning the CWS When Vanderbilt defeated Michigan to win the 2019 College World Series, it became the ninth time the CWS title went down to Game 3 since the College World Series moved to a best-of-three format in 2003. This is the second straight year that the CWS title came down to a winner-take-all game. After Michigan topped Vanderbilt 7-4 in Game 1, the Commodores responded with a Kumar Rocker-led 4-1 victory Tuesday in Game 2. It was all Vanderbilt in the decisive Game 3, winning 8-2. CWS 2019: Full tournament bracket \| Printable CWS bracket \| Shop latest CWS gear Here's a look back at some of the biggest highlights from each Game 3 since the format was introduced in 2003. 2003: Rice def. Stanford, 14-2 The first Game 3 in College World Series title series history was a show of force from Rice. The Owls scored 14 runs on 14 hits, including seven in the bottom of the sixth, to win the school's first national championship in any sport. 2006: Oregon State def. UNC, 3-2 Our first one-run Game 3, Oregon State staved off elimination in Game 2 and then OSU's Bill Rowe capitalized on a throwing error in Game 3 to score what would prove to be the title-winning run. SHOP CWS GEAR: Vanderbilt \| Michigan \| Florida State \| Louisville \| Mississippi State \| Texas Tech 2008: Fresno State def. Georgia, 6-1 March Madness may have created the Cinderella Run, but Fresno State's magical championship in 2008 went down in history with the best college underdog stories. Fresno out-dueled Georgia 19-10 in an outrageous Game 2 before taking Game 3, setting the record for most losses by a national champion (31) by refusing to quit when it mattered most. 2009: LSU def. Texas, 11-4 The Longhorns forced Game 3, but in the end the Tigers' potent offense was too much for Texas to handle. LSU's national title was the first of head coach Paul Mainieri's career. CWS HISTORY: Programs with the most CWS titles \| Most CWS appearances \| Winningest coaches 2014: Vanderbilt def. Virginia, 3-2 John Norwood was the man of the evening for the Commodores when he blasted a solo home run past the left field fence in the bottom of the eighth, breaking up a 2-2 tie and providing the championship-winning run. It was Vanderbilt's first-ever baseball national title. 2015: Virginia def. Vanderbilt, 4-2 Rubber match! That's right: after four seasons without a Game 3, we were treated to two in a row -- featuring the same two teams! The second time around Virginia got its revenge against Vanderbilt, topping the 'Dores 4-2 for the Cavaliers' first national title. WATCH: Kumar Rocker strikes out 11 to force Game 3 in 2019 College World Series 2016: Coastal Carolina def. Arizona, 4-3 Three straight years, three straight first-time champs. This time, Coastal Carolina took an unorthodox route to Game 3 success, scoring four unearned runs on a pair of fielding errors to take home a dramatic 4-3 victory over Arizona. What a world. 2018: Oregon State def. Arkansas, 5-0 Oregon State wins the College World Series The Beavers were one pop-up in foul territory away from elimination in Game 2, but they capitalized on a Razorbacks mistake, rallied to force Game 3, and then handed the ball to Kevin Abel. The freshman pitcher threw a complete game shutout, the fourth in CWS history and the first in 25 years. 2019: Vanderbilt def. Michigan, 8-2 Vanderbilt storms past Michigan to claim the College World Series title, 8-2 It was a classic David vs. Goliath scenario. The Vandy Boys — who began the season as the preseason No. 2 — entered Omaha as the highest remaining seed, ranked No. 2 national. Michigan went from the last four into the NCAA baseball tournament, all the way to the CWS finals, handing Vanderbilt a loss in Game 1. Another Kumar Rocker electric postseason start forced Game 3, where, despite Michigan striking first, Vanderbilt struck often, building a five-run lead by the fourth inning. The rest, as they say, was history. A few extra notes about these Game 3s:<doc-sep>The 2018 College World Series Finals come down to a winner-take-all Game 3 finale between Arkansas and Oregon State on Thursday night, June 28 at 5:30 pm (CT) on ESPN2. After dominating Texas, 11-5, in the opener, the Razorbacks overpowered the Texas Tech Red Raiders, 7-4, on Wednesday afternoon, setting up an all-SEC battle with Florida. The Hogs took down the defending champion Gators, 5-2, to advance to the CWS Finals against OSU. The College World Series separates the final eight teams into two four-team brackets. Each side of the bracket participates in double-elimination play until a bracket champion is decided. The winners of each bracket are then pitted head to head with the national championship on the line. The final two teams, Arkansas and Oregon State, play a best of three series with alternating home teams. Arkansas had the National Championship in its grasp on Wednesday night, standing only one out away from clinching Game 2, but the Hogs gave up 3 runs in the top of the ninth to give Oregon State the 5-3 season-saving victory. With two outs, Jared Gates, Carson Shaddy and Eric Cole failed to communicate on a fly ball in foul territory, letting it drop between the three Hogs and giving the Beavers new life. Cadyn Grenier made them pay, smacking an RBI single through the left side to tie the game. The very next at bat, closer Matt Cronin surrendered a 2-run homer to right from Trevor Larnach, pushing OSU ahead late. Arkansas was once again outhit by Oregon State (11 to 7) and struck out far too many times (12). Game three information WHO: No. 5 Arkansas Razorbacks (48-20, 21-12 SEC) vs No. 3 Oregon State Beavers (54-12-1, 20-9-1 Pac 12) WHEN: Thursday, June 28 at 5:30 pm (CT) WHERE: TD Ameritrade Park, Omaha (Neb.) TV: ESPN2 Expected pitching matchup on Thursday Despite using most of its arms on Wednesday, Arkansas still has a fresh third-starter to send out to mound for Game 3 in Isaiah Campbell (5-6, 4.12 ERA). Oregon State has yet to announce a starter due to their pitching situation, but Beaver head coach Pat Casey hinted that it could be freshman Kevin Abel (7-1, 3.24 ERA). Campbell started the Razorbacks' third game of the CWS and looked dominant, giving up only 2 runs on 2 hits and throwing 8 strikeouts in the 5-2 win. Abel saw limited action against Arkansas lasted night, pitching one inning and 23 pitches while holding the Hogs hitless. Thursday would be Abel's fourth appearance in the College World Series, following 11 combined innings against Washington and Mississippi State plus last night's showing. 2018 College World Series Finals Schedule Game One: Arkansas 4, Oregon State 1 - Tuesday, June 26 - 6:00 pm (CT) - ESPN Game Two: Oregon State 5, Arkansas 3 - Wednesday, June 27 - 6:00 pm (CT) - ESPN Game Three: Arkansas vs Oregon State - Thursday, June 28 - 5:30 pm (CT) - ESPN2 Oregon State Beavers \| 54-12-1 (20-9-1 PAC 12) \| Corvallis (Ore.) Regional/Super Regional Champs Big picture Advancing to the third championship appearance in program history, Oregon State racked up 53 wins in a tough Pac-12 Conference. The Beavers won the title in 2006 and 2007. OSU started the season 15-1 heading into conference play, including a 13-game win streak to begin the year. In the last two seasons, Oregon State has compiled a combined record of 109-18. Like Arkansas, Oregon State boasts a dynamic offensive attack, hitting .323 as a club. The Beavers have broken program records for hits, RBIs, doubles, runs and home runs. Catcher Adley Rutschman anchors the lineup, batting .397 with 8 home runs and 80 RBIs. Trevor Larnach leads in the power department, launching 18 long bombs. On the mound, senior lefty Luke Heimlich leads the unit with a 16-2 record, 2.80 ERA, 154 strikeouts and 26 walks. Junior righty Bryce Fehmel is 10-1 with a 3.16 ERA, 63 strikeouts and 24 walks. The Beavers have a 3.33 team ERA. Starting rotation Luke Heimlich \| Senior LHP \| 6-1, 197 \| 16-3, 2.92 ERA, 159 strikeouts, 28 walks, .221 B/AVG Bryce Fehmel \| Junior RHP \| 6-1, 200 \| 10-1, 3.19 ERA, 64 strikeouts, 27 walks, .234 B/AVG Kevin Abel \| Freshman RHP \| 6-0, 180 \| 7-1, 3.24 ERA, 98 strikeouts, 44 walks, .194 B/AVG CWS pitching appearances Luke Heimlich: June 16 vs UNC (2.1 innings, 63 pitches, 4 H, 2 K's, 1 BB, 6 ER), June 20 vs UNC (2.2 innings, 59 pitches, 6 H, 1 K, 0 BB, 2 ER), June 26 vs ARK (4.1 innings, 86 pitches, 3 H, 5 K's, 2 BB, 3 ER) Bryce Fehmel: June 18 vs WASH (4.0 innings, 57 pitches, 7 H, 2 K's, 4 ER), June 22 vs MSST (3.2 innings, 57 pitches, 4 H, 1 K, 0 BB, 2 ER), June 27 vs ARK (2.0 innings, 55 pitches, 1 H, 1 K, 3 BB, 1 ER) Kevin Abel: June 18 vs WASH (4.0 innings, 58 pitches, 1 H, 5 K's, 2 BB, 1 ER), June 23 vs MSST (7.0 innings, 95 pitches, 3 H, 5 K's, 3 BB, 1 ER), June 27 vs ARK (1.0 innings, 23 pitches, 1 H, 3 K's, 0 BB, 0 ER) Brandon Eisert: June 16 vs UNC (4.0 innings, 81 pitches, 5 H, 4 K's, 1 BB, 1 ER), June 22 vs MSST (5.1 innings, 72 pitches, 1 H, 3 K's, 1 BB, 0 ER), June 27 vs ARK (5.0 innings, 82 pitches, 5 H, 7 K's, 0 BB, 2 ER) Dylan Pearce: June 16 vs UNC (0.2 innings, 15 pitches, 2 H, 1 K, 0 BB, 0 ER), June 20 vs UNC (0.1 innings, 3 pitches, 0 H, 0 K, 0 BB, 0 ER) Christian Chamberlain: June 16 vs UNC (2.0 innings, 28 pitches, 0 H, 2 K's, 1 BB, 0 ER), June 20 vs UNC (3.0 innings, 55 pitches, 3 H, 2 K's, 2 BB, 3 ER), June 26 vs ARK (4.2 innings, 94 pitches, 2 H, 11 K's, 5 BB, 0 ER) Jake Mulholland: June 18 vs WASH (1.0 innings, 16 pitches, 1 H, 1 K, 0 BB, 0 ER), June 20 vs UNC (3.0 innings, 42 pitches, 1 H, 1 K, 2 BB, 0 ER), June 23 vs MSST (2.0 innings, 45 pitches, 1 H, 2 K's, 2 BB, 1 ER), June 27 vs ARK (1.0 innings, 6 pitches, 0 H, 1 K, 0 BB, 0 ER) Offensive leaders Batting average \| Adley Rutschman \| .402 Hits \| Adley Rutschman \| 99 Doubles \| Adley Rutschman \| 22 Triples \| Steven Kwan \| 6 Home Runs \| Trevor Larnach \| 19 RBIs \| Adley Rutschman \| 81 Oregon State team statistics (vs Arkansas stats) Batting average \| .322 (.300) On base percentage \| .417 (.396) Runs scored \| 513 (479) Hits \| 746 (686) Doubles \| 151 (113) Triples \| 20 (5) Home Runs \| 67 (98) RBIs \| 476 (450) Walks \| 332 (319) Strikeouts \| 431 (489) Stolen bases \| 50 (39) Slugging percentage \| .491 (.483)<doc-sep>The Arkansas Razorbacks beat the Oregon State Beavers in Game 1 of the College World Series on Tuesday night, 4-1. The Beavs then came back on Wednesday night to top the Hogs, 5-3, forcing a deciding Game 3 tilt in Omaha to crown 2018’s NCAA baseball tournament winner. Both clubs are stacked top to bottom with trusty bats and solid arms. They contrast well from west coast to southeast baseball. OSU throws around guys and hits the ball, while Arkansas hits the ball and throws their next arm in the pen. Both clubs move men around the bases in classic college baseball fashion, and they’re playing a series-deciding contest in primetime on Thursday night. Let’s just say: its a fun matchup. 1. These teams play close. First off, both teams have power hitting, and both teams feature MLB draft picks up and down their lineups. A full 10 batters across both teams are hitting over .300 this season, with OSU’s Adley Rutschman batting .400. None of these players are producing as they have at the plate in this series so far, though. Rutschman logged a solo home run in Game 2, and he was 11-21 coming into this series on the tournament, but most every other Beaver bat has found its way into an Arkansas glove the past two nights. On the whole, just 13 runs have crossed in two games between these clubs, and they aren’t done yet. Pitchers. The pitchers are great. They’re slinging things of beauty. We’ve witnessed two wonderful pitchers’ duels, and let’s hope for another on Thursday night. 2. There has been some sloppy play. Base running interference in Game 1 that wiped an Oregon State run off the board. Multiple hit batsmen that scored runs in bases-loaded situations. Fielding errors. Left fielders completely losing the ball in the Omaha sun. Fielder’s choice plays resulting in runs. Wild pitches resulting in runs. Really, this series has had them all, and it’s joyous to watch. Unpredictable and hilarious, just as baseball should be. 3. There have been some fielding beauties. Oregon State’s first two batters in Game 2 shot long fly balls to center field, where Dominic Fletcher was forced to sprint back toward the wall to field them over the shoulder. Infield defense on both sides has for the most part been stellar, when they’re not committing throwing errors. There’s also Razorback first baseman Jared Gates making stupendous catches in foul territory. Both of these clubhouses want this. 4. College baseball is great baseball. Minor, Major League Baseball is rather mechanically ratcheted away from the wild, cowboy rules of baseball. College baseball features spectacular fielding errors, right fielders pitching, and sublime bunting so as to one yearn for 10 cent beer nights. The nature of the college game — with its gaps in talent and endurance up and down lineups and rotations — forces club skippers into wild decision moments concerning personnel and strategy. Bunt here? Sure. Pull an arm after three pitches there? Why not. This is Game 3: the final game of the final series of the NCAA baseball tournament, after a full month of playoff ball with all the money on the line. If you want to watch some baseball, watch Arkansas and Oregon State in the College World Series rubber match.<doc-sep>	Oregon State was down to its final out – its final strike, even – in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the College World Series, trailing 3-2 in the game and having already dropped Game 1. When Cadyn Grenier earlier sent a pop-up into foul territory on a 1-1 count, it appeared that Arkansas would be celebrating its first national title just seconds later. But neither the first baseman, second baseman nor right fielder for the Razorbacks was able to make the play. Grenier ripped a single to left off Matt Cronin three pitches later that scored Zach Clayton and tied Game 2 of the College World Series 3-3. “As soon as you see the ball drop, you know you have another life,” Grenier said. “I needed to refocus and make the most of that extra life we got. That’s a gift.” Three pitches after that, Trevor Larnach launched a two-run homer that gave the Beavers a stunning 5-3 lead. "Not done" ESPN's cameras caught a member of Oregon State's team saying. Indeed. Game 3 on Thursday night will be winner-take-all, with Arkansas looking to bounce back for its first national title while Oregon State looks to win the College World Series for the first time since since 2007. “You’ve got to move on,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. His team had been 44-0 this season when leading after eight innings. “You can’t take it back. It’s over. Get your head up and start getting your mind right because it’s going to be tomorrow before you know it and we need to come out here and give ourselves a chance.” Arkansas opened the scoring in the second inning as Jared Gates dashed home on a passed ball with two outs and the bases loaded. While pitcher Bryce Fehmel managed to get Oregon State got out of the jam of his own making by getting a pop-up out with the bases loaded again, he was chased after just two full innings. Adley Rutschman tied the game back up at 1 on a homer in the fourth inning off Razorbacks starter Kacey Murphy. Oregon State took its first lead of the night on an incredible bunt from Grenier – the Beavers' second of the frame – with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. But the Beavers' lead was short-lived. In the bottom off the fifth inning, the Razorbacks were able to find gaps in left field, scoring the tying run on Luke Bonfield's single. Carson Shaddy put Arkansas ahead 3-2 with a single of his own two batters later. The bullpens then held runners off the board, until Oregon State's dramatics in the ninth inning. “We were looking for something good to happen, and needed something good to happen” Oregon State coach Pat Casey said. “Our guys never gave in. So I think that that’s what created that opportunity for us to have something good happen.” Contributing: Associated Press
A Rockland County man constructed a 200-pound bomb in his basement and planned to detonate it on the National Mall on Election Day to draw attention to a fringe ideology called “sortition,” Manhattan federal prosecutors charged on Wednesday. Paul Rosenfeld, 56, of Tappan, New York, told police he intended to kill himself in the effort to promote his political philosophy, which calls for the random selection of government officials, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in White Plains. Authorities said they were tipped off by a Pennsylvania man who didn’t know Rosenfeld, but received letters and text messages from him, and a search of Rosenfeld’s residence Tuesday turned up a “functional explosive device” made of plywood and filled with black powder. Rosenfeld was detained without bail after a hearing in federal court in White Plains on Wednesday. His lawyer declined to comment on the charges. The device could have killed innocent bystanders and caused “untold destruction,” officials said. “Paul Rosenfeld concocted a twisted plan to draw attention to his political ideology by killing himself on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman. “Rosenfeld’s alleged plan for an Election Day detonation cut against our democratic principles.” According to the criminal complaint, Rosenfeld said during questioning on Tuesday that he had purchased black powder over the internet, and had conducted test detonations with small explosive devices at his home. Get the Breaking News newsletter! Get the latest breaking news as it happens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. He said he had put about eight pounds of black powder in the larger device, and admitted that he planned to transport it to Washington and detonate it on the mall, but insisted he was acting alone, the government said. FBI explosives experts who X-rayed the bomb concluded that by engaging a firing switch it would “generate an electrical charge, which would in turn spark an ‘e-match’ inside the explosive device, thereby igniting the black powder.” Rosenfeld is charged with unlawfully manufacturing a destructive device, and interstate transportation and receipt of an explosive. He could face up to 20 years in prison.<doc-sep>A New York man who authorities say built a 200-pound bomb to detonate on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on election day was arrested and charged Wednesday. Paul Rosenfeld, 56, of Tappan, New York, now faces federal charges of manufacturing an explosive device, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. “As alleged, Paul M. Rosenfeld concocted a twisted plan to draw attention to his political ideology by killing himself on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., — risking harm to many others in the process,” said Geoffrey S. Berman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. “Rosenfeld’s alleged plan for Election Day detonation cut against our democratic principles. Thanks to outstanding coordination between local and federal law enforcement, Rosenfeld’s alleged plot was thwarted and he is now in federal custody,” Mr. Berman said. Authorities pulled Mr. Rosenfeld over while driving and he admitted to purchasing black powder online, transporting it to his house in New York and constructing an explosive device in his basement, according to a news release. FBI bomb technicians removed the explosive device from Mr. Rosenfeld’s home, discovering a system to trigger explosions in his home, the news release said. Mr. Rosenfeld has been charged with one count of unlawfully manufacturing a destructive device and one count of interstate transportation and receipt of an explosive. He could face up to 10 years for each charge. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.<doc-sep>The FBI has arrested an upstate New York man accused of building a bomb that he intended to use to blow himself up on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Election Day, authorities said Wednesday. Court documents say Paul Rosenfeld, 56, of Tappan, wanted to draw attention to his belief in "sortition," the ancient practice of randomly selecting legislators out of a pool of eligible voters. The plot unraveled after Rosenfeld sent letters and text messages to a reporter in Pennsylvania in August and September, stating that he planned to blow himself up in the heart of the capital on Election Day, according to court papers and officials. The reporter contacted authorities, and on Tuesday, FBI agents pulled over Rosenfeld while he was driving, court papers say. Rosenfeld confessed to the plot, telling the agents he ordered black powder over the internet and built a bomb in his basement, court papers say. Rosenfeld also told the agents that he installed certain components in the device to ensure that he was killed. Investigators scoured his home and discovered a bomb that weighed 200 pounds but included only eight pounds of explosive black powder, court papers say. The extra weight was due to plywood crating and other components used to transport the device. The device was taken to a location in Rockland County. Agents later returned to the home to retrieve the bomb's fusing system. Rosenfeld acted alone, authorities said. He was charged Wednesday with unlawful manufacture of a destruction device and interstate transportation and receipt of an explosive. "Had he been successful, Rosenfeld’s alleged plot could have claimed the lives of innocent bystanders and caused untold destruction," said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney. Sortition was prevalent in ancient Greece where laws were passed by panels of citizens chosen by lot.<doc-sep>	A New York man was reportedly arrested after authorities say he planned a terrorist attack to bomb the National Mall on the upcoming November 6 election day. According to federal authorities, Paul Rosenfeld, 56, of Tappan, New York was taken in on federal charges including manufacturing an explosive device. "As alleged, Paul M. Rosenfeld concocted a twisted plan to draw attention to his political ideology by killing himself on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. - risking harm to many others in the process," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman told reporters. Article continues below advertisement "Rosenfeld's alleged plan for an Election Day detonation cut against our democratic principles." Authorities claimed that Rosenfeld communicated with a person in Pennsylvania, revealing his twisted plot to detonate a bomb and kill himself early next month to draw attention to his bizarre belief in "sortition," a theory that would replace voting with something similar to a lottery where government officials are randomly selected from a pool of candidates. (It was practiced in ancient Greece). Unbeknownst to Rosenfeld, the recipient of those communications was none other than an agent of the FBI. He reportedly confessed to the plot when police pulled him over on Tuesday, October 9. Court papers say that Rosenfeld waived his Miranda rights and told the agents that he had ordered black powder over the internet and built a bomb in his basement. The man allegedly noted that he had tested smaller devices. Article continues below advertisement Feds raided his home and found a bomb weighing about 200 pounds inside of a plywood box, authorities tell Radar. They also located a fusing system and other gadgets the would-be terrorist would use to detonate the bomb on Nov. 6, 2018. According to authorities, Rosenfeld acted alone. He was charged Wednesday with unlawful manufacture of a destruction device and interstate transportation and receipt of an explosive, as NBC News reported. We pay for juicy info! Do you have a story for RadarOnline.com? Email us at [email protected], or call us at (866) ON-RADAR (667-2327) any time, day or night.
From the team picked by MSK Prasad’s selection committee three players have been ruled out on fitness grounds - Mohammed Shami first, then Sanju Samson and now Ambati Rayudu.All beaten by the Yo- Yo tests that measure cardio capacity. The method in these tests is Indian cricket puts ‘fitness first’ and makes this a precondition for selection .This shows India is on the ball, conscious that modern cricket requires players to be fit and performance is a result of hours spent in the net and the gym.Skill is essential , so is fitness and anyone not upto scratch on the latter score can say goodbye to ambitions of playing for India. This is the new culture of the Indian team, scripted personally by Virat Kohli ,a super fit captain who thinks carbs are poison and working out daily is a blessing .He leads by example,sets the bar high - and is absolutely uncompromising that others meet standards that are set . READ \| Acting BCCI secretary runs up travel bills of Rs.52 lakh in 169 days! Making fitness non negotiable shows Virat’s team is different in attitude and approach , more professional and ruthless in a way.The environment around the team is such everyone must always be on full alert because any sign of drop in intensity,the slightest hint of complacency will attract serious punishment. In the recent past practically every player has received a dose of this tough medicine.Vice Captain Rahane couldn’t hold his slot in the team ,Pujara had to fight hard to keep his place,Karun Nair lost his despite a test triple hundred. Every fast bowler has had to sit out and Ashwin and Jadeja ,certainties for so long ,ceded their positions to youngsters Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. People missing out for failing to pass the Yo-Yo test confirm age is only a number,almost an irrelevant fact.MSD is 36 but fine because he is fit ; Sanju Samson only 23 but not good because he can’t clear the test . While this overall method about fitness is admirable the implementation of this policy is not without an element of madness.First,it’s unclear who laid down this rule of passing the Yo-Yo tests .Does it have any official sanction,any formal approval by the BCCI? Is this a decision taken by Sourav Ganguly’s Technical Committee or by Vinod Rai’s COA? Did chairman of selectors MSK Prasad and colleagues Dewang Gandhi / Sarandeep Singh think of this ?Or has the entire thing emerged from within Team India ? READ \| Great chance for India to win series vs England: Anil Kumble If meeting certain fitness standards are an essential precondition for national selection then these should be clearly communicated to players in advance.Passing a yo- yo test at the last minute , after team selection,should not be reduced to an immigration stamp on the passport just before boarding a flight . Fitness requirements / standards should be part of the annual player retainer contracts, and these tests must be held at regular intervals to track progress of individuals.That a player can take the test when convenient to him, because of a personal commercial commitment to a watch maker in Russia ,is bizarre! (Amrit Mathur is a senior cricket writer and has been involved with IPL in official capacity) Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal<doc-sep>The mobile allegedly has the call list and chat records between the India fast bowler and various women. (Source: PTI) The mobile allegedly has the call list and chat records between the India fast bowler and various women. (Source: PTI) The IPL is the reason why the BCCI conducted the fitness tests of the Indian team players after picking squads for the Test match against Afghanistan and the limited-overs legs in the UK. Traditionally, the Yo-Yo test is conducted before the team selection, but the IPL and the necessity to pick the limited-overs squads early because of logistical needs, forced the ‘one-off’ change. The withdrawals of Mohammed Shami and Ambati Rayudu from the Test squad and the ODI side respectively somewhat red-faced the cricket board. Sanju Samson, too, failed the fitness test post his selection to the India A one-day squad for the England tour. The BCCI general manager, cricket operations, Saba Karim, however, put things in perspective. “It’s (Yo-Yo test) always conducted before team selection. This time the change happened because of the IPL. We have to pick the teams early because of the logistical reasons, so we couldn’t drag out players during the IPL and made them go through fitness tests. That’s why we conducted it after the IPL was over. And all the players were given enough time to prepare for that,” Karim told The Indian Express. “Earlier, if you see, in the case of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh, the fitness tests were conducted before the team selection. It always happened like that in the past. This time, the moment the teams were announced, whether that was the India A side or Team India, the players knew that they had to undergo fitness tests. So they had enough time to prepare. That is why so many of them prepared well and got through,” Karim added. The squads selection was done on May 8, allowing the players five weeks to prepare for the fitness tests. The minimum requirement to clear the Yo-Yo test is 16.1, lowest among the top cricket-playing nations. This paper earlier reported about Pakistan increasing the level to 17.5 after Mickey Arthur took charge as the coach. England, Australia and South Africa, on the other hand, have set 19 as the minimum Yo-Yo level for their respective national team cricketers. It is learnt that the probation period for a player after a failed fitness test is six weeks, which can be changed to four weeks only on the request of the team management. If somebody is injured on the day of the fitness test — Wriddhiman Saha for example, who couldn’t undergo the latest fitness tests because of a broken thumb — he can come back after four weeks post recovery. The Indian teams’ Yo-Yo tests had been conducted before and during the Test match against Afghanistan — June 9 and 10 for the Test squad and June 15 for the limited-overs squads for the United Kingdom. According to a source, as because Shami had been nursing an injury also, while playing for Delhi Daredevils, he would be given another opportunity after four weeks. Shami and Saha would undergo fitness tests before the squad selection – likely in the second week of July — for the five-Test series in England. The Yo-Yo test for the centrally contracted players is conducted every six weeks, because the players need to maintain the required level of fitness and improve on their previous scores. “Shami had been sitting on the bench for almost the entire IPL. He didn’t work on his fitness. Rayudu also knew he needed to score 16.1 and he had five weeks to prepare for his fitness. Samson, too, wasn’t training during the IPL. He was just batting in the nets. Everybody knows 16.1 is the bare minimum, which is non-negotiable. It’s not hidden either,” the Board functionary said. Wriddhiman Saha remains first-choice Meanwhile, it is also learnt that Wriddhiman Saha remains the Indian team management’s first-choice ‘keeper for the Tests in England. “His day-to-day progress is monitored at the NCA. His treatment, diet; everything. He is the team management’s first-choice ‘keeper,” the source said. A broken thumb suffered during the IPL ruled Saha out of the Test match against Afghanistan.<doc-sep>ALSO READ: ALSO READ: ALSO READ: MUMBAI: The Yo-Yo test, the new benchmark for attaining fitness to play for Team India, has also become a source of heartbreak for many players who've failed to clear it since it was made mandatory. After Suresh Raina Yuvraj Singh and Washington Sundar were dropped for falling below the '16.1' score, the latest 'victim' of the BCCI's 'Yo-Yo' policy was in-form batsman Ambati Rayudu , who was dropped from India's limited overs team for the forthcoming tour to England after failing to clear the endurance test.Rayudu's axing, coming close on the heels of Sanju Samson being removed from the India 'A' side for the tour of England for the same reason, has set off a debate on the logic of dropping players on the basis of just their failure to clear the 'Yo-Yo test.' While appreciating the stress on improving the fitness levels of the Indian team, former India batsman, coach and chief selector Sandeep Patil asks for some leniency while judging players' careers. "Like in Test cricket, where a player is given two innings to prove himself, even in the case of Yo-Yo tests, he should be given two chances. If a player isn't able to clear the test, give him another crack at it a few hours later, or the next day. There could be many reasons why Ambati Rayudu failed the Yo-Yo test that day. A player may not be mentally there. You're talking about the career of a player. He has performed well for the whole year in domestic cricket, and in half-an-hour, you'll decide whether he'd go on the tour or not. You don't drop players like this," Patil told TOI.Amogh Pandit, who was a trainer with the Mumbai team for 14 years, before heading the department of the MCA's strength, conditioning and nutrition department for the last four years, laments the decision to judge players' fitness on just one test. "If a sport requires multiple fitness components, how can you chuck someone out on the basis of just one fitness component. There's no guarantee that one can't pick up an injury after clearing a Yo-Yo test. You need to count mobility, flexibility, strength and power too. Secondly, a fast bowler requires explosiveness, power. A spinner needs endurance. A Yo-Yo test measures cardio-vascular endurance. It's not fair to drop a pacer because of this factor. I need to see various components like power, strength to judge his fitness. A Yo-Yo test is one of the tests to measure a player's fitness. You can't judge a person's fitness on just this test. It's like a batsman keeps practising a cover drive, but doesn't know how to play a sweep shot," he says.Pandit then further explains his reservations against the Yo-Yo being given too much importance. "If I keep doing bench press, I'll lift more weight in a few weeks' time, but will it help me become a better cricketer? You've to look for cricket-specific tests, like 'run a three,' which we used to do. From what it appears, only Yo-Yo is being considered as a mandatory test. Rayudu's in great form now, but failed the Yo-Yo and was dropped. Next time, when he clears Yo-Yo, but is in bad form, will you select him? "What do other celebrated cricket teams like Australia do? "They aren't implementing the Yo-Yo tests, but they have a '2km time trial' as their benchmark fitness test. The idea of a fitness test is to see if the player can go through a six-seven-hour cricket match without getting fatigued," Pandit reveals.Patil, who has also served as director of the NCA, states that only Yo-Yo Tests aren't considered while deciding the fitness, or lack of it, of the players.<doc-sep>	Indian team management has been following the policy of dropping players from the national team who do not clear the yo-yo test \| Photo Credit: PTI The decision of the Indian team management to make the yo-yo test compulsory for the players drew a mixed response. While few backed the stand of the management to put extra attention on fitness, few of the former players did not welcome the decision to go about things this way. A failure in clearing the test resulted in Mohammed Shami and Ambati Rayudu losing their place in the Indian team. If the reports are to be believed, the mark of 16.1 – the minimum number to clear the yo-yo test – is all set to be increased to 16.3, making it more difficult for the players to make it to the Indian team. Other teams also conduct yo-yo test and a report in Mumbai Mirror had suggested that the fitness mark of other teams was higher than that of the Indian team. Though, it is yet to be known whether any of the teams dropped any player from the squad for a failure in clearing the test, like India have done. While there is much talk about the test in India, Dr Jens Bangsbo, founder of the yo-yo test, has said that one cannot select players on basis of just a single test. “The question here is clear – you cannot select players based on a single test. A single test cannot determine the exact performance in a game. The question is clear – you cannot select players based on a single test,” he told Sportstar. Though the founder of this fitness test has cleared that this cannot be the sole criteria for selection, Ravi Shastri, team India’s head, in his pre-departure press-conference for the UK tour, further pressed on the importance of the test. He made it clear that clearing yo-yo test is necessary and those who think that it is just one-off things can go for a walk. "You have a certain ability but if you are fit then you can enhance it. That's why we emphasise on YoYo test. If anyone thinks that this is a one-off thing, he is sadly mistaken. He can take a walk," he had said.
Last night ESPN released video and a transcript of an interview reporter Chris Haynes conducted with former Raptor DeMar DeRozan. It’s no secret that DeRozan had been upset since last week’s trade went down, and the interview served as a window to where his head and his emotions have been. Here’s a window to where my head and emotions are after watching it: Putting the Blame on DeRozan and Dwane Casey Early in the interview DeRozan bristles at something Masai Ujiri said in his press conference last week: That Ujiri gave the team chances, and that it was time for change. DeRozan seems to have taken that personally, and his feeling is that Ujiri was scapegoating him and Dwane Casey, as they’re the two that were moved. I totally get DeRozan’s frustration and even in the moment last week, I felt that Ujiri went too far with that comment. I don’t disagree with the comment; I think Ujiri is correct. But I don’t think it came off very well. If I’m in DeMar’s shoes, I’m definitely taking that as a shot at me—that it’s my own fault I’m traded because I wasn’t good enough. Even though I’ve worked really hard and we had unprecedented success. So I don’t think that’s something Ujiri should have publicly said, even if it was accurate. As for the other part of DeRozan’s response—about losing only to one team and one guy, a guy who’s no longer in their way—DeRozan is right about that, and I do have to admit I would have liked to have seen that Raptors team get a shot in a LeBron-less Eastern Conference. This season might have been their best chance, and I’ve absolutely got a sense of disappointment that we didn’t get to see that chance—and that we’ll never see that team together again. Ujiri Didn’t Keep DeRozan Informed DeRozan makes it clear that he was given assurances that, when he asked if a trade was imminent or that anything was going on, there was nothing going on. According to DeRozan, Ujiri specifically didn’t let him know a trade was coming. (It was made very clear DeRozan’s issues were with Ujiri alone, not ownership or the franchise.) We don’t know Ujiri’s side, but let’s give DeRozan the benefit of the doubt here and say that’s true, that he was told nothing. The question then becomes, how much responsibility did Ujiri have to keep DeRozan informed? On the human side of things, yes, of course, Ujiri should have been completely open. Especially if, as DeRozan says, Ujiri uses words like “brother” and “family” when describing his relationship to the players. If you’re gonna treat it like a business, treat it like a business; you can’t really have it both ways. I would be hurt by that as well, as anyone would be. But on the other hand... strictly from the objective business side... I can 100% see why Ujiri might not have told DeRozan anything. Not that Ujiri would have lied, per se, but that he would have kept his mouth shut and intentionally kept DeRozan in the dark. Imagine if Ujiri told DeRozan that the trade was coming, that it was imminent, and DeRozan started making noise that he didn’t want to be traded to San Antonio? Say DeRozan calls up his pal Chris Haynes and says, “I don’t want to play for San Antonio, I’ll look at my options, I might sit out, or I’ll ask to be traded again right away.” What then? Ujiri is screwed then. Because San Antonio will either back out of the deal or ask for more, as a form of insurance against an unhappy DeRozan. Maybe that insurance is OG Anunoby and Delon Wright. Then the trade doesn’t look so hot, does it? And Ujiri has lost all his leverage—he can’t walk away now, because he can’t bring back DeRozan after nearly trading him. It was cold, but I think it probably had to be. (Also: How “caught off-guard” could DeRozan have been? Rumours had been swirling for weeks. Dude was in Vegas when the Vegas odds had the Raptors being the best bet as Kawhi’s landing spot. I know nothing’s real until it’s real, but saying he didn’t have a chance to prepare for the next chapter... that rings a bit hollow.) Sacrifice? Hmm... Dan covered it in his initial write-up of Haynes’ interview, but I too feel DeRozan might want to pull back on the whole “sacrifice” thing. Yeah, he worked his butt off, but he got paid fairly by the Raptors, and he had the power—twice—to take his talents elsewhere if he wanted. I know DeMar had a tough year and I don’t want to diminish that, but he did his job and the Raptors paid him for it. There was a contract, both sides held up their end of the bargain. There’s really not much more to say than that. Changing the Raptors Narrative As a Raptors fan, the part that hurt most was hearing DeMar say he wanted to change the Raptors narrative from day one. That he knew about the stigma they had that good players never stick around, that it was his goal to be different, right from when he was drafted... damn. That hurts, and it’s scary. DeRozan remains an outlier, to have stayed in Toronto as long as he did and to want to be here as much as he did. It’s scary to think we might never have another player want that, let alone one as good as DeMar DeRozan. Is Kawhi Leonard gonna finish his career here? That would be amazing, and of course I hope he falls in love with the city the same way DeRozan did, but I can only prepare for the worst. That Kawhi will leave, that the stigma is back, and that we’ll never have a guy like DeRozan want to stick around. Gotta Give Drake Some Props Here Drake is a guy that takes a lot of crap. I’ve heard him called a frontrunner and a fake tough guy and much worse that’s not fit to print. His music may not be to everyone’s taste. And from the Raptors side, it sure did seem goofy that the team had a rapper on the payroll as a “global ambassador.” But as a Raptors fan, I can say that I’ve always felt Drake’s love of the team was authentic, that he genuinely wanted to help the team improve and to increase its stature both in Toronto and across the NBA. Did he have delusions of grandeur thinking he could help? Yeah, maybe. But hearing him talk about the team and watching him chat with DeRozan and Kyle Lowry and show up on broadcasts and all that... it always seemed real. Then you hear DeRozan say he went to Drake’s house the day of the trade, just to talk for a few hours about the city and the team and what happened. That’s pretty cool. We can laugh and say Drake’s a goofball and that his role is nothing more than a glorified mascot, but it’s clear he’s a trusted advisor to the players, and I think that does mean something. Good for Drake for being there for DeMar. (I sure hope he’s reached out to Kawhi as well!) ******** Think we’ll get an ESPN sit-down with Kawhi Leonard next? Leonard is famously tight-lipped, so I doubt it. But I do hope we get to hear directly from him at some point. Meantime, DeRozan’s ESPN interview has helped provide some closure. I think the next step will be when the Spurs come to town this season and we can show DeMar how much we still love him.<doc-sep>We don’t need to belabour this point now, but it remains news when DeMar DeRozan decides to talk about the Raptors. And if he sits down late on Tuesday for a 1-on-1 interview with Chris Haynes on ESPN’s SportsCenter, well then, we’ve got to report on it. First, you can watch the entire segment here. It’s Haynes (again!) and DeRozan, one on one. (This post has been updated with the full video.) As expected, DeRozan reiterates that he felt disrespected by how the Kawhi Leonard trade with the Spurs went down, saying that if he had just been told, or given some sign in advance, he could have prepared himself better. “I felt like I wasn’t treated — with what I sacrificed for nine years — with the respect that I felt I deserved. By just giving me the say-so of letting me know something’s going on, or that there’s a chance.” I admit, not an unreasonable request given DeRozan’s stature in Toronto. It’s hard not to feel bad for DeRozan here — even as he lightens up later in the clip when talking about his call to Rudy Gay, also forever linked to Toronto, teammates once again and long-time friends. The way DeMar puts it, it sounds like the Raptors were doing their usual prep work in the summer in Las Vegas, and including him in those discussions as is their wont. It’s easy to see how the trade could completely blindside DeRozan, which gets us back to those hurt feelings and the disrespect and everything else. That said, I’m not exactly ready to say DeRozan “sacrificed” for the Raptors. While I don’t know what strain being an NBA player in Toronto may have put on DeMar’s personal life, the team did just spend the last five years (plus four before that) doing everything possible to build around him and his game. Of course, all credit should go to DeMar for working hard, exceeding all sorts of expectations, building himself into a high calibre NBA player, and earning tons of money in the process. It’s clear though, the relationship between player and team was mutually beneficial. Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t acknowledge the hurt feelings too; and consider those same expectations, realizing DeRozan could not exceed them enough for Toronto. If I was DeMar, that kind of talk would sting like hell — sadly, it doesn’t mean it’s not true. Here’s the full — full — transcript on ESPN’s site.<doc-sep>New Spur DeMar DeRozan sat down with ESPN this week for his first in-depth interview since the blockbuster trade that sent the four-time All-Star to San Antonio. The Spurs traded Kawhi Leonard and guard Danny Green to the Toronto Raptors last week in exchange for DeRozan, center Jakob Poeltl and a 2019 first-round draft pick.<doc-sep>	After DeMar DeRozan was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard, there was an outpouring of support for the star who re-signed with the Raptors in 2016. DeRozan has spent the past nine years in Toronto, and his name is synonymous with Raptors basketball. Out of DeRozan immediately after the trade, however, all that there was was an Instagram Story saying that there "ain't no loyalty in this game." But DeRozan broke his silence in an interview with ESPN's Chris Haynes and opened up about the trade and the time leading up to it. When he was asked about Raptors president Masai Ujiri's claim that there was a "miscommunication" leading up to the trade, DeRozan said that that wasn't the case. "Um, no, because all summer through the talks we had -- through the talks he had with my agent -- you know, it seemed like I was in that discussion of moving forward with the team," DeRozan said. "...Having the opportunity to do something special all over again, you know? So that was my mindset and everybody around me's mindset as well." The Raptors finished first in the Eastern Conference last year with a 59-23 record before being swept by the Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs. He added that for everything that he gave to the Raptors, DeRozan ultimately felt disrespected by the organization. "I felt like I wasn't treated with what I sacrificed for nine years, with the respect that I thought I deserved." he said when he was asked how he was treated by Ujiri. "...I'm not saying, 'You don't have to trade me' or ... just let me know something is going on because I sacrificed everything." DeRozan did take less than the max when he signed his extension in 2016, saying that "I didn't want to put us in (a) jam where we wouldn't be able to help the team by bringing in other guys." "I felt like I wasn't treated with what I sacrificed for nine years, with the respect that I thought I deserved." DeMar DeRozan on his trade from the raptors to the Spurs In the immediate aftermath of the trade, DeRozan said he was blindsided. "Man, I was really stuck," he said. "I couldn't think for a second because it just didn't feel real. I didn't have (any) indication like it would be something else ... So to hit me with that at midnight out the blue, like, c'mon." DeRozan will join a Spurs team looking to stay competitive in the Western Conference. While the Spurs may not have the core of the Warriors or LeBron James on their roster, they do have some talented players. They made the playoffs last season without the best player on their team. DeRozan will be playing under Gregg Popovich, as the Spurs try to stir things up in the West.
"The Wedding Gift Wormhole" -- Pictured: Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik), Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki). Sheldon and Amy drive themselves crazy trying to figure out what "perfect gift" Leonard and Penny gave them for their wedding. Also, Koothrappali decides he wants to settle down and asks his father to arrange a marriage for him, on THE BIG BANG THEORY, when it moves to its regular time slot, Thursday, Sept. 27 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS ÃÂ©2018 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. It’s Valentine’s Day and the best thing you can do on the day is watch The Big Bang Theory. Right? Is The Big Bang Theory on tonight, February 14? Tonight is one of the most romantic nights of the year. Couples all over the country will be sitting down to with their take-out food, wearing their bazinga t-shirt, and tuning into CBS to watch a brand new episode of The Big Bang Theory. That’s the perfect Valentine’s Day evening right? Well, it would be provided the comedy series is on. Is The Big Bang Theory on tonight, February 14? Well, the good news is The Big Bang Theory is on tonight over on CBS. However, it will not be a new episode. So technically, it is on, but it’s also not on as well. CBS has scheduled a rerun episode to air in the usual time slot tonight. Season 12, Episode 9, titled “The Citation Negation,” saw Amy and Sheldon left devasted after learning Super Asymmetry had not only been discovered but disproved as well when they came across a Russian paper. Also in the episode was Bernadette’s quest to defeat Howard in a popular video game. Her efforts to succeed were typical Bernadette, mad yet brilliant. Watch your favorite shows on fuboTV: Watch over 67 live sports and entertainment channels with a 7-day FREE trial! The episode originally aired back in November last year. If you missed it, you have the chance to watch it again tonight. Looking at why CBS has decided to air a rerun of The Big Bang Theory tonight, it appears to be nothing more than regular scheduling break. There are new episodes of Fam, Mom, and S.W.A.T. being aired on CBS and other networks like ABC, NBC, etc, are airing new episodes of their TV shows as well. The good news is The Big Bang Theory will be back next week on Feb. 21 with “The D & D Vortex.” So you won’t have to wait very long before the series is back. What do you of The Big Bang Theory taking a break tonight? Will you be watching the rerun or something else instead? Drop a comment just below sharing your thoughts.<doc-sep>It was a pretty zazzy day for the cast and creators of The Big Bang Theory! The long-time CBS comedy reached a milestone moment on Thursday afternoon as “Stage 25” on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank – the same stage where the series has filmed every episode for the past 12 seasons – was renamed and dedicated to The Big Bang Theory. “It feels a little bit surreal,” Big Bang executive producer and final season showrunner Steve Holland gushed exclusively to ET just moments after the plaque was revealed to a room full of press. “We knew it was coming, but when they revealed the plaque and saw it for real – it just feels amazing,” he said. “I mean Casablanca was shot on this lot and now we’re now part of Warner Bros. history. It’s just incredible.” Warner Bros. At the start of Big Bang’s final season last September, Holland revealed to ET that he and the writers knew the “shape” of the series finale, but they had yet to lock in exactly how the comedy will take its final bow. With only ten more episodes left in The Big Bang Theory’s final season, Holland dished that they definitely know how the series will end – they just need to write it first. “We write everything in order and we’re writing episode 19 right now and [the finale] is episode 24. We’re shooting 17, writing 19, so it’ll still be a few more weeks away before we get to that.” “But we know what the finale will be. We’ve known what the big pieces are for a while, but now we know what the smaller pieces are, as well, and what we’re driving towards,” he continued. “We have it worked out and we’re excited and nervous and, like everybody who’s watching, we love these characters so much and we want to give them a send off that they deserve.” Many fans – including Big Bang’s leading lady Kaley Cuoco – aren’t ready to say goodbye to our geektastic group. "Everyone’s doing rebooting. We might as well do it in, like, a year!" the blonde beauty quipped to ET’s Nancy O’Dell on the Golden Globes red carpet in January. CBS So what are the chances that a Big Bang Theory reboot – or spinoff! – could be hitting our screens next year? “That’s above my pay grade,” Holland answered with a chuckle. “Part of me thinks that this show is such a special thing that you maybe want to leave it as a whole piece, but if someone came up with a great take on it and people were interested to do it, who knows?” The one thing Holland does know is that Big Bang’s fans have a very "emotional" journey ahead in these next ten episodes. “I hope they’re prepared to laugh, I hope they’re prepared to be sad and to be nostalgic and to have to, at some point, say goodbye,” he said. “We don’t want to just have a fan-service finale that’s only upbeat, but we love these characters and we all wish them the best and want the best for them.” The Big Bang Theory’s 12th and final season airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. RELATED CONTENT: Mayim Bialik Talks Having No Idea What 'Big Bang Theory' Was Before She Got Cast 'Big Bang Theory' Creator Chuck Lorre Reveals How Jim Parsons Began the Final Season Conversation Kaley Cuoco Jokes She'll Be Ready to Reboot 'The Big Bang Theory' a Year After It Ends (Exclusive)<doc-sep>LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 12: "The Explosion Implosion" - Pictured: Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik), Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar), Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), and Penny (Kaley Cuoco). Howard and Sheldon bond when they drive to the desert to shoot off a model rocket. Also, when Leonard's mom, Beverly (Christine Baranski), finds a new best friend in Penny, it rubs Leonard the wrong way, on THE BIG BANG THEORY, Monday, Oct. 16 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images) Wondering if there is a new episode of The Big Bang Theory tonight on CBS on Valentine’s Day? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. The final season of The Big Bang Theory on CBS is in full swing, but season 12 has been anything but consistent so far — at least in terms of when it airs. The ratings have been consistent from the beginning with this season averaging well over 12 million viewers an episode and well over 13 million since the winter break. It begs the question of whether or not the series should continue despite Jim Parsons departure, but that is neither here nor there. Where the inconsistency comes in, however, is the winter break. Since the show went into the typical midseason hiatus, catching The Big Bang Theory has been spotty at best. Random off dates have been the usual rather than typical week-to-week air dates. So will The Big Bang Theory air on this Valentine’s Day? Unfortunately, the series will skip yet another episode instead of airing on Valentine’s Day. If you missed last week’s episode (or any of the previous episodes), you can find a way to stream them by following this link. This sometimes happens with shows that fall on holidays or the same day as other major events. For example, popular series like Shameless on Showtime and Charmed on the CW skipped Super Bowl Sunday. It is a solid move from the network, as the ratings are likely to take a big hit on Valentine’s Day night as people are busy doing other things. The good news is that there will be a brand new episode of The Big Bang Theory next week, so make sure to check back with FanSided for a way to watch or live stream that as well as any and all updates surrounding your favorite series!<doc-sep>The Big Bang Theory will end its 12-season run this May Going out with a bang! As The Big Bang Theory comes to a close, the cast and crew celebrated with a final on-set flash mob. (The hit CBS sitcom, currently in its 12th and final season, has been known to surprise the studio audience with performances over the years.) Get push notifications with news, features and more. Star Kaley Cuoco documented the dance, set to the Backstreet Boys’ “Larger Than Life,” and called it one of her “favorite moments in 12 years.” “Here it is! I give you (from many different angles!) our FINAL @bigbangtheory_cbs epic flash mob!” she wrote. “Our cast and crew surprised the writers, producers, and audience last night dancing to @backstreetboys Larger than Life (a song that thanks the fans).” “Thank you @bricuoco @mandykorpinen @elizabethpetrin for choreographing this epic dance and for my crew who rehearsed for months and listened to me yap on and on about this endlessly!” she added. “It was worth it! Enjoy!!! #thefinalseason.” And even though series creator Chuck Lorre couldn’t be there in person, he made sure to catch what he could. “Chuck Lorre was on location and didn’t wanna miss our flash mob, so he FaceTimed in to watch us dance,” Cuoco captioned a video of herself video-chatting with Lorre. “No words.” Warner Bros. Television and CBS announced in August that the Emmy-winning series, which premiered in 2007, will conclude in May 2019 at the end of season 12. According to Entertainment Weekly, CBS was trying to negotiate two more seasons, but Parsons was ready to say goodbye to the sitcom — and there’s no show without Dr. Sheldon Cooper. (CBS had no comment and a rep for Parsons did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment at the time, but Parsons addressed the show ending with a lengthy note on Instagram, saying he will miss “all of this more than I can say and more than I can know at this time.”)<doc-sep>	Who says nerds can't dance? The cast and crew of CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" proved both theories wrong Tuesday night, performing what star Kaley Cuoco declared in a series of heartfelt posts was the show's "final flash mob." The actress, who plays Penny, revealed that the cast and crew's surprise dance number, set to the Backstreet Boys' 1999 hit "Larger Than Life," had been in the works for months. Why that track? Cuoco said it's a "song that thanks the fans" but it's also the band's most tech-themed video, which dovetails nicely with the "Big Bang Theory" brand. Cuoco documented the emotional extravaganza, which she proclaimed "might be one of my favorite moments" from her 12 years on the show. She shared videos and photos from multiple angles on her Instagram page Wednesday. "I told you we'd got out with a bang!" she wrote. In the first of seven video clips in the one post, Cuoco and the other series regulars take a curtain call after an episode taping. (In hindsight, you can tell something's up since they're all dressed alike and wearing caps bearing the number "12" in honor of the show's twelfth and final season.) Then the curtain drops and they're off and dancing on the set of Leonard and Penny's apartment. Cuoco even posted friends and family in the audience to film the whole shebang from their perspective along with a crying emoji. The dance was apparently so hyped around the set that co-creator Chuck Lorre, who was on location for another project, deputized a crew member to film it so he could watch it live via FaceTime, earning an emotional response from Cuoco. "Yes. Chuck Lorre was on location and didn’t wanna miss our flash mob, so he FaceTimed in to watch us dance," she wrote with a crying emoji, adding, "no words . (Beware lots of #bts and teary vids to come during last remaining shows of #BBT)." Now, sadly, as you may have noticed, one of the core cast members was missing from the mob: Johnny Galecki (Leonard), who Cuoco said had hurt his ankle. "But he was cheering us on from the sides!" she volunteered. Kaley Cuoco on the end of 'The Big Bang Theory': 'I am already, like, losing it' 'I’m definitely doing OK': Mayim Bialik talks breakup, 'emotional' end of 'Big Bang' Can Sheldon even cry? 'Big Bang Theory' cast is 'super emotional' about the show ending, except Jim Parsons
But experts say just having more women run for office can narrow a subtler gender gap: how voters put different expectations on female candidates than they do male candidates. Research shows that voters require a women to come across as likable, which is not a qualification voters demand in male candidates. Female politicians say the focus on what they wear, how they come across as assertive or not, and how they present their family (or lack of children) is a magnified concern for them. Hillary Clinton, I wrote shortly after the election, wasn’t necessarily wrong when she said “misogyny played a role” in her election loss.<doc-sep>More women than ever will contest November's mid-term elections with record numbers winning party nominations for America's highest offices. After primary races in four states on Tuesday, there are around 182 female nominees for the House of Representatives and 11 women named as candidates for state governors. The results in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington mean female candidates have now broken records for gubernatorial and House nominations. Victories for Democrats Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan and Laura Kelly in Kansas mean 11 states will have women on the ballot in governorship races - one more than the previous 1994 record. Ms Whitmer, who beat Abdul El-Sayed - a physician hoping to become America's first Muslim governor - is leading an all-women ticket for the Democrats at state level in Michigan.<doc-sep>When Haley Stevens walked up to the well-kept house in Canton on the Monday before the Michigan primary, the dogs started to bark. “Oh, golly, it’s dog alley!” she said, then approached the man getting out of his car to ask for his vote. He went to get his wife, and Patty Domin came out to say she would be definitely voting for Stevens, a former manufacturing executive who was the Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama’s Auto Task Force. “First of all, she came to my house,” says Domin. “And if there’s a man and a woman on the ballot, I want the woman.” Haley Stevens won the Democratic primary in Michigan’s 11th district Tuesday, on a day that officially broke the record for the number of women nominated by a major party for Congress and for Governor. Michigan state rep Rashida Tlaib won the nomination in Michigan’s 13th, making her all but certain to be the first Muslim woman in Congress. Former Acting Secretary of Defense Elissa Slotkin won the nomination in Michigan’s 8th. Lawyer and mixed martial arts fighter Sharice Davids won the nomination in Kansas’s 3rd congressional district, setting her up to be among the first Native American women in Congress and the first openly LGBTQ person to represent Kansas at either the federal or state level. And Gretchen Whitmer and Laura Kelly won Democratic gubernatorial nominations in Michigan and Kansas. Before Tuesday, the most Democratic women ever nominated to Congress was 120, in 2016 — after Tuesday, there are 143 and counting (with 42 Republican nominees, that brings the total to a record-breaking total of 185, with a few races still being decided.) Before Tuesday, only 10 women of any party had been nominated for Governor. After Tuesday, there are 11: eight Democrats and three Republicans. Many of these nominees are first timers, part of a growing “pink wave” of women candidates who were mobilized to run for office after Donald Trump’s election. Read More: President Trump Is Spurring Native American Women to Run for Office Experts say the record-breaking number of women winning nominations can be attributed to the rise of the number of women running for office in the first place. “More women running in primaries begets more women nominees which hopefully begets more women office holders in November,” says Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. But it’s also a testament to the strength of organizations like Emily’s List, which funds women candidates who support reproductive rights. Emily’s List candidates won in 30 out of the 33 races in which it made an endorsement on Tuesday, including a handful of incumbents (ballots are still being counted in two Washington House races.) According to a tweet from the Cook Report’s Dave Wasserman, in Democratic House primaries featuring one man, one woman, and no incumbent, women have won 69% of the time. “These are all awesome women running,” says Christina Reynolds, a spokeswoman for Emily’s List, “because mediocre women don’t stand up and run for office the way sometimes mediocre men do.” And the women candidates are getting voters excited. Several voters Stevens spoke to on Monday seemed to be excited about the number of women on the ballot this year. Marybeth Levin, a 49-year old who works for a merchandizing company, said she voted for a full slate of women candidates, from Gretchen Whitmer for Governor to Haley Stevens for Congress to two women running for State Representative and State Senate. “I want to vote for someone who is going to be a public servant,” she says. “All the blue women are coming to fix the stuff the men broke.” 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 Charlotte Alter at [email protected].<doc-sep>	Another round of 2018 primaries brought another strong showing for women candidates. Primaries in four states on Tuesday brought the number of women nominated for U.S. House seats and governor's offices to a record for a primary cycle, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. With some of the races still undecided Wednesday morning, 185 women in both parties had earned spots in House general elections, topping the previous high of 167 set in 2016. At the state level, women have won 11 primaries for governor, beating the record of 10 set in 1994. "This didn't happen in one year alone, but it is true that this year is notable in the high levels of energy and engagement we are seeing among women and particularly progressive women," said Kelly Dittmar, a Rutgers political science professor who manages the center's national research projects. Democrats Gretchen Whitmer and Laura Kelly prevailed in Michigan and Kansas gubernatorial races, respectively, on Tuesday. The number of female nominees will likely grow: Sixteen women are running for governor and 94 are seeking House seats in states that have not yet held primaries, according to the center. More women are running for office than ever at both the state and federal level. The record-shattering numbers have led to more focus on the underrepresentation of women in public office: Only about 20 percent of members of Congress, for example, are women. That share diverges strongly along party lines. For instance, 61 women represent the Democratic party in the House versus 23 Republican women, according to the center. Democrats had surpassed their record for women nominations for the House before Tuesday night. Democrats had previously nominated 120 women in a single year to the House. Now the total number of women Democratic nominees is greater than 143. In contrast, Republicans still have yet to break their record for women nominees. The Republican record, set in 2004, is 53 women nominees in a single cycle. The party has nominated 42 women in 2018 so far, according to the center. In all, 178 Democratic women and 99 Republican women have been elected to the House since Rep. Jeannette Rankin, R-Mont., was first sent to Congress in 1917. The percentage of women Democrats in the House has been steadily increasing since the 1960s, from a low of 4 percent at the start of that decade to about 32 percent in 2018, according to a recent study by the lobbying group Mehlman Castagnetti. The rise of Republican women in the House has been far slower. While the nomination records for women have fallen, it is unclear whether the number of women serving in Congress will increase meaningfully after November's midterm elections.
The National Weather Service's Honolulu office said Thursday that parts of the Big Island remained under a flash flood warning. Hawaii's Big Island was also under a hurricane warning as Hurricane Lane, a Category 4 storm, approached the island. The flash flood warning is in effect for Hilo, Volcano and Honoka'a until 6:45 a.m. HST, the NWS said in an early morning tweet on Thursday. The warning urges residents to avoid walking or driving through flood waters and encourages people to immediately seek higher ground. The NWS said that 121,467 residents are exposed to a potential flash flood. More than 30 schools and four hospitals are also included in the warning. Flash Flood Warning continues for Hilo HI, Volcano HI, Honoka'a HI until 6:45 AM HST pic.twitter.com/vjZfk1FSAh — NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) August 23, 2018 Hawaii was bracing itself for the Category 4 storm, which was already hitting the island with increasing rain on Wednesday. On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration for the state, which has dealt with the destructive Kilauea volcano. A hurricane warning noted that Lane may bring potential winds of 58 to 73 mph, although peak wind forecasts put wind speeds at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 55 mph. The NWS warned that the wind impacts could be "significant" and said damage to homes, vehicles, trees, roads and power lines could occur. Some areas could see up to two feet of storm surge through early Friday afternoon, the hurricane warning said. Rain amounts of 12 to 18 inches, with high localized amounts, are predicted. "Urgently consider protective actions from extreme and widespread rainfall flooding," the NWS wrote. The warning also noted that the situation is "somewhat favorable" for tornadoes. Residents were urged to "be ready to shelter quickly" if a tornado warning was issued. Shortly after reminding residents of the flash flood, the NWS issued a flood advisory for the island of Maui. "Radar indicated a large area of moderate to heavy rain moving across the windward and southeast slopes of Haleakala on East Maui, extending offshore across the Alenuihaha Channel to north of the Big Island," the advisory said. The advisory added: "Stay away from streams, drainage ditches and low lying areas prone to flooding. Rainfall and runoff will also cause hazardous driving conditions due to ponding, reduced visibility and poor braking action." The advisory, which is in place until 8 a.m. HST, includes Hana, Haliimaile, Pauwela, Kipahulu, Paia, Makawao, Keokea, Makena, Haiku-Pauwela, Wailea, Huelo, Ulupalakua and Kula. Residents were urged not to cross fast flowing or rising water in their vehicles or on foot. "Turn around, don't drown," the NWS said.<doc-sep>At a Glance Hurricane Lane brought more than four feet of rain and days of flooding to the Big Island. On Kauai, one person was found dead in a flooded stream. More than 20 homes were destroyed in brush fires on Maui Island. Heavy rains associated with the remnants of Lane persisted days after the storm's center pulled away from Hawaii, dumping nearly three feet of rain on the island of Kauai. Officials told the Associated Press that the first confirmed death from the storm occurred Wednesday when crews found the body of 30-year-old Joshua Bradbury in a stream in Koloa, a town on the southern end of Kauai. A resident said he saw Bradbury jump into the stream and float away; police told the AP they believe he was attempting to rescue a dog. (PHOTOS: Lane, in Pictures) The days-long deluge brought by Lane prompted officials to urge residents in southern Kauai to evacuate until waters recede. Rain totals in some parts of the island neared 35 inches by the time Lane was gone. "Some of my friends had to evacuate their Weke Road home in chest-deep water," Terry Lilley, a 15-year resident of Hanalei, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Gov. David Ige signed a supplementary proclamation Tuesday, extending relief for damage resulting from Lane. The proclamation is effective through Oct. 27. Dozens Rescued as Islands Flood The powerful storm racked up prolific rainfall totals, unleashing hours of torrential downpours that yielded dangerous floods, blocking roads for days. The storm became the No. 2 rainmaker from a U.S. tropical cyclone since 1950, topped only by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The storm dumped more than 50 inches of rain on some parts of Hawaii Island, and more than three feet of precipitation in Hilo, where widespread flooding was reported. Some of the biggest rainfall totals came upslope of Hilo, adding to the disaster occurring in the city. "It was almost biblical proportions," Kai Kahele, a state senator who represents Hilo, told the AP. South of Hilo, rising water trapped one family in a Keaau home Friday until rescue personnel could arrive. As the flood slammed tree trunks against her sister's house, Lou-Ann Tolentino and her family climbed to the second floor and called for help, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. Hawaii County firefighters tied one end of a rope to the house and the other to a tree in the yard. After putting on life vests, six adults and five children – two 5-year-olds, a 7-year-old and two 11-year-olds – climbed through the kitchen window to escape. "We jumped into the water, and then they took us one by one up to the hill," Tolentino told the Star-Advertiser. (MORE: Lane's Floodwaters Could Be Toxic, Officials Warn) Ichelle Fukuhara, whose family also had to be rescued from flooding in Keaau, said they had to flee upstairs in their home as debris and flood water battered the lower level Friday. Advertisement "They had to tie ropes from our mountain apple tree and to our house foundation and we all had to climb out one at a time," she told Hawaii News Now. "It was very traumatizing having to watch and praying that your kids are going to make it through with the firemen." Officials told the AP that five tourists were rescued Thursday from their Hilo rental home on the Big Island when it was flooded by a swollen gulch nearby. Hawaii County firefighters were able to remove all five people from the house, and nobody was injured, the report added. "It was quite an experience because we weren't planning to have a hurricane during our vacation time," Suzanne Demerais, one of the rescued tourists, told the AP. Officials also told the AP that they removed six people and a dog from a flooded home in a separate rescue in Hilo, which was flooded with waist-high water. Firefighters on the Big Island rescued 39 people from floodwaters Friday through early Saturday, the AP reported. "Thank you for your work," Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim told state and county officials gathered at county Civil Defense headquarters in Hilo on Saturday. "Man, oh man, oh man, was that a lot of water." Homes Lost to Maui Brush Fire In what was the last thing locals expected to happen as a powerful rainmaker arrived, about 600 people were evacuated in the town of Lahaina on the western side of Maui Island early Friday morning because of a brush fire, Maui County said in a statement. Residents were told to leave their homes near the Lahaina Aquatic Center after the fire was reported at about 1 a.m. local time, according to Hawaii News Now. A brush fire is seen on Maui Island in the early-morning hours of Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (Twitter/Mark Chisholm) One woman was injured, and more than 20 homes and at least a dozen vehicles were destroyed by the fire. "The wind was pumping, the smoke was pumping, the ash was everywhere. It was kind of scary," local resident Lucy Reardon told the Star-Advertiser. Hours after it was sparked, the fire jumped a roadway and continued to burn near the Aloha Gas Station. Several roads were closed in the area because of the blaze, and evacuees sheltering at Lahaina Intermediate School were sent to the Lahaina Civic Center. A few hours after the first fire began, a second fire began in the Kaanapali area not far from several resorts. A third fire was sparked later Friday morning near Maalaea, south of the first two blazes, but only claimed 30 acres before it stopped, Maui County Communications Director Rod Antone told the Star-Advertiser. It's not yet known how these fires started. On Oahu, 'We Dodged a Bullet' As the storm fell apart and rainfall forecasts were reduced for Oahu, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell was hopeful that a worst-case scenario was not imminent for the island of Oahu. "The good news is Lane got weak and fell apart. We dodged a bullet," he said during a Friday news conference. Despite the optimistic forecast, Caldwell begged locals and tourists to stay out of the ocean while Lane churned up large waves.<doc-sep>Even so, the turn to the west may not occur until Saturday, and the storm is still edging closer to the islands. In other words, conditions should continue to deteriorate with heavy rain and wind picking up – especially by late Friday afternoon and Friday night in Oahu and Maui. Even if the storm center remains offshore, the islands are positioned to be affected by the storm’s wettest and windiest northwest side.<doc-sep>At a Glance Lane rapidly weakened as it approached Hawaii. Heavy rain was the main impact, particularly on Hawaii's Big Island. Lane is the third wettest U.S. tropical cyclone on record. Hurricane Lane weakened rapidly as it approached Hawaii but still brought flooding to the Big Island where rainfall totals from the storm ranked among the heaviest for any tropical cyclone in U.S. history. (IMPACTS: Flooding, Mudslides on Big Island) More than 50 inches of rain was reported in one location on the Big Island, and an additional four locations saw more than 40 inches of rain. Mountain View, located in the higher elevations of the Big Island, received 51.53 inches of rain from noon Aug. 22 to 4 a.m. Aug. 26, local time. Not far behind was Waiakea Uka, located just south of Hilo on the Big Island, where rainfall totaled 49.10 inches. Lane's maximum rainfall totals on the Big Island and Maui. Yellow and orange shadings depict heavier rain totals while light blue and green is where rainfall totals are much less. Lane ranks third on the list of rainiest U.S. tropical cyclones on record (preliminary), topped only by Hiki in 1950 (52 inches) and Harvey in 2017 (60.58 inches). Hilo picked up 36.76 inches of rain in the four-day period from Aug. 22-25, making it the wettest four-day period ever observed in Hilo in records dating to 1949. Fifteen inches fell on Aug. 24 alone, allowing it to become the fifth-wettest calendar day on record. August 2018 is also the wettest August on record in Hilo. Pahoa, on the Big Island, saw 3.36 inches of rain in one hour on the evening of Aug. 24, 1.28 inches of which fell in just 15 minutes. The heavy rain triggered road flooding on the Big Island, including in the town of Hilo, and mudslides and landslides occurred, blocking numerous roads. The Bayfront area was flooded by overflow from the Alenaio Stream. Advertisement Heavy rain also forced road closures on the island of Maui. The Piilani Highway was closed near Kaupo due to flooding, and Highway 20 was closed due to landslides. A U.S. Geological Survey station on Maui at West Wailuaiki received 24.71 inches of rain. Although Lane weakened dramatically as it approached Hawaii, it still brought some gusty winds to parts of the islands. A few gusts around 50 mph were clocked in Maui County, in Kaneloa and Maalaea Bay, on Thursday night, Aug. 23. Trees were downed in a few parts of the county Thursday night, Aug. 23. A brush fire in Lahaina that prompted evacuations was blamed on the storm's winds. Sustained winds over 30 mph were reported, with gusts over 55 mph at times. A second fire also developed just four miles away. Waianae, on the western shores of Oahu, reported a wind gust of 55 mph late Friday, Aug. 24. Other high wind gusts included: the Oahu Forest: 74 mph Kohala Ranch: 68 mph Kawaihae: 64 mph Maui Airport: 58 mph Honolulu: 45 mph As Lane approached Hawaii, a NOAA buoy located near the hurricane's center reported peak sustained winds of 83 mph with a gust to 107 mph early on Thursday, Aug. 23, local time. Light winds were reported a short time later as Lane's eye passed directly over the buoy. Lane formed as a tropical storm in the eastern Pacific on Aug. 15 and became a hurricane the next day. Tuesday evening, Aug. 21, Hurricane Lane joined an exclusive company of central Pacific Category 5 hurricanes, the first since Ioke in 2006, only the second on record within 350 miles of Hawaii (John in 1994 was the other) and the most intense North Pacific hurricane east of the International Date Line since Patricia in 2015.<doc-sep>	The forecast track of Hurricane Lane grew sharper on Thursday, but the slow-moving storm has already taken a toll on Hawaii, drenching the Big Island in heavy rains that have caused unrelenting flooding and mudslides. Almost 16 inches of rain had fallen in an area of the Big Island by 6:45 a.m. Thursday local time, according to the National Weather Service. Hilo, on the south side of the Big Island, received more than 12 inches, and the rain was still pouring down at possible rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour. Forecasters predict devastating flooding from Lane, with totals at 30 inches or more for some areas. You can follow a live radar from the National Weather Service here, with updated warnings. You can also find Hawaii updated rainfall totals here. There is flooding on the Big Island and around Hilo, including Bayfront Highway. Flash-flood warnings continued on Thursday morning for Hawaii Big Island cities Hilo, Volcano and Honoka. The National Weather Service in Honolulu also reports that areas on the Big Island are experiencing mudslides on Thursday. "County officials report multiple landslides on Hwy 19 on Big Island making the road hazardous for travel," the NWS said. Hurricane Lane would be the strongest storm to strike Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992, if it makes a direct strike on the islands. But even if it makes a close brush, its devastating rainfall, forecast to exceed 20 inches in many places, will be a harsh blow to Hawaii. "Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point," said Christyl Nagao of Kauai, according to the AP. "Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight." Flash Flood Warning continues for Hilo HI, Volcano HI, Honoka'a HI until 3:45 AM HST pic.twitter.com/nonzMdNmCx — NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) August 23, 2018 Shelters are open on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui and Molokai and Lanai, and a hurricane warning had been issued for the island of Oahu, including the capital city of Honolulu, with a population of more than 350,000. This is only the second time Honolulu and Oahu have been under a hurricane warning (the first was for Iniki in1992). Hurricane Lane was a Category 4 storm as of Thursday morning, and although it is expected to weaken due to wind shear in the next couple of days, its size and flooding capabilities have resulted in warnings of devastating impact. Even though Lane is now only 200 miles south of the Big Island, updating its path forecast is tricky because predictive models are not in agreement as to exactly where the big storm could go. One slight shift north or south on its track could mean drastically different results for such areas as the Big Island, Maui and Oahu (and Honolulu). "Although the ECMWF [European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts] is often the best-performing individual model, this is not always the case, just as a top-rated baseball team doesn't win every game," reported Weather Underground. "If a more rightward track comes to pass—i.e., a path near the right-hand side of the cone…then the impacts could be considerably greater for the northern Big Island and Maui." Early Thursday, Hurricane Lane was packing top sustained winds of 145 mph at 8 p.m. local time Wednesday (2 a.m. EDT Thursday), according to Weather Underground, with Lane's center located about 260 miles south of Kailua-Kona and about 375 miles south-southeast of Honolulu. "The storm's long-awaited right turn was underway," according to Weather Underground, "as Lane was moving northwest at 7 miles per hour."
The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Porthmadog today recorded the highest temperature so far this year in the UK - a scorching 32.6C. At 1.54pm the North Wales seaside town was the hottest place in the UK with the mercury reaching the highest anywhere since January 1, pushing above 90 Fahrenheit. And Porthmadog’s temperatures soared above exotic resorts and tourist destinations across the world including Palma in Majorca, Las Palmas in Gran Canaria and Valetta in Malta, where the temperatures were about 27C this afternoon. It was also hotter than Moscow in Russia where the World Cup is being held which was about 26C, Athens in Greece at 28C and on a par with Cairo at 31C and way above Cape Town in South Africa on 15C and Sydney Australia which will be just 17C tomorrow. But it wasn't as hot as Las Vegas USA where temperatures or Dubai in the Middle where it was 40C. London was a cool 25C by comparison with some north eastern coast communities in England experiencing temperatures as low as 15C. But it hasn’t quite broken the June record for Wales - that title is still held by Machynlleth where thermometers recorded 33.7C in 2000. The hottest temperature ever recorded in June in the UK was 35.6C in the sizzling summer of 1976 in Southampton. (Image: Dave Powell) A Met Office spokeswoman said: “The temperatures can fluctuate a bit due to wind, but Porthmadog was the hottest place in the UK at 1.54pm, recording 32.6C - and that is the highest temperature recorded this year. “Usually the south east is warmer, but atmospheric conditions today have made north western parts of the UK the hottest.” The heat wave is also set to continue into the weekend, with temperatures in the low 20s forecast for the region. Only the south western tip of England is forecast to have rain on Saturday and Sunday. You can have your say in the comments section below.<doc-sep>UK weather: Met Office warns of HOTTEST day in five years 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. Another scorcher hits the UK today as temperatures reach highs of 30C in most parts of the country potentially breaking five-years weather records, the Met Office has warned. Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern forecasted "unbroken sunshine" for the whole country on Wednesday and Thursday, warning Scotland and Northern Ireland will be hit by the highest temperatures. Mr McGivern said: “It’s another scorcher up and down the country. Virtually unbroken sunshine for the majority and hot again. “We always talk about the south-east of England being hot in these types of setups but actually the hottest weather is increasingly found in the west or even the north-west over the next couple of days. “The south-east and down the east coast, in general, is starting on Wednesday with a bit more cloud, cooler or fresher temperatures. “This low cloud is really only affecting parts of coastal Aberdeen, the borders and the Lothians. UK weather: Met Office warns UK to be hit by hottest day in five years “For the rest of Scotland, unbroken sunshine. “In Northern Ireland, as well, beautiful sunny start to the day. “Plenty of sunshine across England and Wales but some of this patchy low cloud and mistiness has made its way in overnight. “It doesn’t take long though through Wednesday morning to evaporate inland. “The sunshine gets to work on it and it generally just retreats right back into the North Sea. “Temperatures rising on Wednesday afternoon, always a little fresher along the coastal areas but even here plenty of sunshine. “Away from this low cloud it means it will still feel very warm but the hottest temperatures will be found across parts of western England, west Wales, into the south and west Scotland as well as Northern Ireland. UK weather: Britain to sizzle as heatwave sweeps country It’s another scorcher up and down the country. Unbroken sunshine for the majority and hot again Aidan McGivern “Generally mid to high 20sC but some spots could reach 30C. “And if we get to both 30.1C in Northern Ireland, it’s a possibility, that would break their all-time temperature record. “And if we get 30C in Scotland, which is again a possibility, then it will be the hottest day in five years.” BBC Weather forecaster Carol Kirkwood also said thermometers will once again rocket throughout the country. The BBC meteorologist said: "Today the highest temperatures are likely to be in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where somewhere should hit 30C. "It’s a mild start to the day, particularly so in the northwest. Temperatures currently are between 14C and 17C in Surrey, we are looking at about 14C with a light breeze." UK Weather: Brits bask in the record breaking May heatwave Mon, May 7, 2018 It is the warmest May bank holiday since records began. Play slideshow EPA 1 of 18 Eveyln, 4, runs down the beach with a bucket and spade as she enjoys the hot Bank Holiday weather in Margate<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel There are always big stories on WalesOnline - don't miss any with our daily email Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign me up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Wales has seen glorious sunshine all week with temperatures skyrocketing. But one town in Gwynedd has seen recorded temperatures higher than anywhere else in the UK. The Met Office said the mercury in Porthmadog reached 32.6°C on Thursday making it the hottest place in Britain. Porthmadog was also the hottest recorded place on Tuesday and Wednesday and is regularly Wales' warmest spot. The geographical reasons (Image: Daily Post Wales) Despite being a coastal town, where temperatures are typically lower, Porthmadog's geography is the reason for the consistently high temperatures. Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said: "With the wind coming from the north east Porthmadog is getting a lot of shelter. "Although it's by the coast it's not really getting a lot of breeze off the sea meaning the temperatures keep rising and rising. "If the breeze does pick up you can expect to see the temperatures fall. "But thanks to it's geographical location Porthmadog has seen high temperatures all week. "It's shelter from high ground, hills and mountains, around it mean it's protected from the north easterly wind." Mark said there are around 20 to 30 weather stations across Wales that record temperatures. The temperatures are much higher than typical, with the average June high in the town around 18°C according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The meteorological reaons (Image: Richard Swingler) BBC weatherman Derek Brockway said that air flowing over the mountains then sinks and warms, boosting the temperature in Porthmadog. The glorious weather looks set to continue with forecasters predicting several more days of sunshine. Health officials have been putting out advice to stay safe in the sun - and there's been a heatwave warning about dangerously high temperatures . Workers in Cardiff even had ice creams bought for them to help them cope in the sizzling conditions. The Met Office forecast fine weather for Friday with clear skies for most, although some misty low cloud may form in the far east around dawn. A warm night for most is predicted, especially in the west, with a minimum temperature of 13°C. Early low cloud in the east on Saturday will clear to leave another fine, dry and sunny day. A maximum temperature of around 28°C is forecast. From Sunday cloudier weather is forecast, but still remaining largely dry, sunny and very warm. The Met Office said it's likely to turn more humid, with a risk of thunderstorms in the south Sunday and Monday.<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice North Wales smashed its own record for the hottest day of the year today as temperatures again soared above 30 degrees. Porthmadog was the hottest place in the UK this afternoon as temperatures rose to a baking 31.9 degrees - beating the 30.6 degrees recorded in the town on Tuesday afternoon. The reading yesterday was the hottest UK temperature recorded in 2018, before narrowly being beaten by Rostherne in Cheshire later in the day, which recorded a temperature of 30.7 degrees. Forecasters are predicting the record could be broken again within the next 24 hours as temperatures continue soaring. The record for hottest June day in Wales is 33.7C. A spokesman for the Met Office said: “The temperature seen at Porthmadog will not necessarily be the highest today but it is the record so far this year.” The hot weather continued to cause problems in the region, with the A543 between Pentrefoelas and Bylchau remaining closed after the road surface melted in the extreme heat on Tuesday. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now Council staff have remained on the scene attempting to fix the damaged road surface, but have said it could be days before the road reopens. And police warned homeowners to keep their properties secure after seeing a spate of burglaries in Wrexham. Offences over the last five days happened on Bryn Estyn Road, Wyndham Gardens, Chestnut Avenue, Cefndre, Colwyn Road, Mile Barn Road and Ruabon Road. Sergeant Simon Williams said: “This type of crime is often opportunistic, where burglars take advantage of unlocked doors and insecure windows which are being left open due to the recent warm weather. “We are asking residents to be extra vigilant and to report any suspicious activity. “Officers are investigating these incidents and I would ask people to engage with our community teams and to secure their property when left unattended. “There are simple steps you can take; ensure that your doors and windows are locked securely, don’t leave valuables and cash out on display and mark property. “Don’t leave your home unlocked, even if you are only in your garden.” RNLI chiefs also issued a warning for people to be careful if going into the water during the hot spell. The Met Office’s heat-health watch alert is currently at level two, meaning social and healthcare services are at the ready to reduce harm from a potential heatwave. It is set to remain, dry and hot through to the weekend in North Wales. Share your views about this story using the comment section below.<doc-sep>	North Wales has recorded the hottest temperature in the UK so far today, which officially made it the warmest day this year. Porthmadog recorded a temperature of 30.6 degrees C this afternoon as the UK basks in a summer heatwave. It beat the temperatures recorded at the weather station at Hawarden Airport earlier in the day, which recorded a temperature of 30.2 degrees C at around 1.30pm today, beating the top temperature of the year recorded yesterday at 30.1 degrees C. And the top temperature could still rise higher as the mercury rises through the afternoon. The reading in Hawarden made it the hottest weather in Wales since last June. (Image: North Wales Daily Post) According to Met Office figures, the second hottest place in the UK today so far was Porthmadog , which recorded a temperature of 30.1 degrees. The Met Office have said temperatures could rise to 32 degrees this week. Paul Gundersen, Met Office Chief Meteorologist, said: “For the first time this year, we have seen temperatures very locally top 30.0 degrees C, with 30.1 degrees C on Monday. However, we are anticipating that temperatures will increase further over the next couple of days and remain high by the weekend: it’s possible that some locations could reach 32.0 degrees C. (Image: North Wales Daily Post) “The focus for the highest temperatures is expected to shift towards the west of the UK into the middle of the week, and then northwest, before temperatures potentially begin to hot up again in the south over the weekend.” The prospect of continued high temperatures has seen the publication of a Level 2 heat-health watch warning for northern and western parts of England. UV levels will be high or very high during this warm and sunny spell, so people should take care when outside enjoying the weather.
🔄 Last week: No. 1 The Cavaliers have won eight straight, are 28-2 and figure to be a lock for the No. 1 overall seed regardless of any result that comes in the next three days. This is the best team in college basketball. We wait to see whether it beats the 16 it faces by 15, 20, 25 -- or 40. ⤴️ Last week: No. 3 The 26-5 Tar Heels are allowing 91.4 points per 100 possessions, according to KenPom's adjusted efficiency metrics. That makes this the best defensive Tar Heels team since 2010-11, when UNC earned a 2 seed. And at 74.7 possessions per game, this is the fastest UNC team ever under Roy Williams. ⤴️ Last week: No. 5 Easy call putting the 26-5 Wildcats at No. 3. John Calipari's team still isn't at full strength (Reid Travis' return is a moving target, it seems) but it still has one of the best defenses in America. It's also one of the most proficient teams at getting to the foul line; 43.6 percent of UK's attempts are from the charity stripe, which is top-six in the country. If the freshmen don't shrink in the coming week, UK shouldn't have much trouble making the Sweet 16. ⤵️ Last week: No. 2 The Bulldogs slip two spots, now 30-3, after losing by 13 points to Saint Mary's in the WCC title game. What a weird performance. Gonzaga looked alien to itself. But better on Tuesday than in the first weekend of the NCAAs. In light of this, i expect Gonzaga to beat its first three opponents by an average of 17 points. Yes, you're reading correctly: I still have the Zags, minimally, in the Elite Eight. ⤴️ Last week: No. 6 The Cougars will have a gripe if they win the American tournament, finish 32-2 and don't get a 2 seed. I want to believe the selection committee will reward them in kind, but I'm not convinced. The Cougars' two losses have come by nine total points to two teams in the NCAAs as of today (Temple and UCF). Oh, yeah: Houston is fourth in the NET. ⤵️ Last week: No. 4 The Vols are 27-4, having gone 4-3 in their last seven games. The three road losses were against the three other best teams in the SEC: at Kentucky, at LSU and at Auburn. Tennessee still rates well -- No. 6 in the NET, No. 7 in KenPom and Sagarin -- and you'd have to be a fool to think this team will beat itself against its first two NCAA Tournament opponents. A 1 seed is highly likely if Tennessee wins the SEC tournament. 🔄 Last week: No. 7 The program is under fire, as a report out of Baton Rouge on Wednesday puts forth the likelihood 🔄 Last week: No. 8 The Blue Devils (26-5) stay put after an acceptable loss at UNC. With Zion Williamson expected to come back on Thursday, I'm giving Duke the benefit of the doubt and anticipating this team returns to top-five status with him in the mix. So this is a split between a five-loss team and one almost back to full strength (no Marques Bolden, remember). 🔄 Last week: No. 9 Earlier in the season, I wrote in one of the power rankings that the depth of the top shelf in college hoops was more impressive than in many recent years. The fact we're at No. 9 and still have even a few more teams capable of winning the national title speaks to how good this year's NCAA Tournament can be. The 26-5 Red Raiders are my pick to win the Big 12 Tournament, and if that happens, I'm liable to put 'em back in the Elite Eight. 🔄 Last week: No. 10 The Spartans are 25-6, rank fourth at KenPom and will get Nick Ward back for the Big Ten Tournament. This is shaping up to be a chic Final Four pick, regardless of where MSU ultimately gets seeded. Tom Izzo has never had a team this good on offense, or at least this collectively willing to pass the ball. The Spartans assists on 67.8 percent of their possessions, No. 1 in the sport. 🔄 Last week: No. 11 The 28-3 Bulls are the target in the MAC Tournament, which continues on Thursday. Nate Oats's team has assured itself of a 5 seed at worst and could push for a No. 4 with a MAC championship. It's been a stellar season for Oats, led by MAC Player of the Year C.J. Massinburg. Buffalo hasn't lost since Feb. 1. ⤴️ Last week: No. 13 A nonconference strength of schedule just outside the top 100 in KenPom. A veteran-laden roster that just watched Utah State get awarded with the Coach of the Year and the Player of the Year in the conference. A 28-3 team that's ticked off and ready to unload on any team in its way in the Mountain West Tournament. Fear Nevada. They are steaming. ⤴️ Last week: No. 14 I'm quite fascinated by 23-8 Purdue, which has the Big Ten Coach of the Year in Matt Painter and also has a team that's been hovering in top-10 status in multiple predictive metrics since January. Yet there are coaches I've talked to who think this team has overachieved. I don't know if it's coming in the Big Ten Tournament or the NCAA one, but Carsen Edwards has a huge moment awaiting him. ⤴️ Last week: No. 15 The Seminoles are 25-6 and went 13-5 in the ACC. It's the most wins for them in ACC play in school history. FSU continues to get very little respect. Fair or not, it will take an ACC Tournament championship game appearance and/or another run to the second weekend of the NCAAs in order for Leonard Hamilton's team to get mainstream run. I'm with you, FSU. Have been most of the season. ⤵️ Last week: No. 12 Yes, I know the Wolverines are 26-5 and still sit on the 3 line at worst in every bracket. But I'm a seller on the Wolverines.<doc-sep>Duke takes over the top spot in my latest Power 36 college basketball rankings and Gonzaga is second. The chance of a Maui Invitational rematch is real. And yet, there are clearly at least nine others in the top 11 that could end up in the title game. The latest to deal with adversity is Michigan State, which won’t have center Nick Ward for an indefinite amount of time due to a fractured hand. That means the Spartans are down two starters with Joshua Langford sidelined for the rest of the season. The Spartans still have depth, but this will be one of Tom Izzo’s most challenging end-of-season stretches. WEEKEND REVIEW: 6 lessons we learned from another loaded weekend \| NET rankings Onto the debate: 1. Duke (2): The Blue Devils have won nine in a row, including a sweep of Virginia. The mega showdown with North Carolina arrives Wednesday night. 2. Gonzaga (3): The Zags got pushed on the road this past weekend, but the second-gear in the second half is unlike previous Zags teams. They just find a way to pull ahead. Oh, and Gonzaga has won 16 in a row and hasn’t lost since falling to North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Dec. 15. 3. Virginia (5): The Cavaliers can’t beat Duke this season. But they can take care of everyone else. 4. Kentucky (4): The Wildcats had a monster bounce back after the loss to LSU by topping No. 1 Tennessee. The Wildcats reasserted themselves back into the SEC and NCAA title conversation. 5. Tennessee (1): The Vols got rocked at Rupp, but that doesn’t mean they should fall out of the top five. Let’s give Tennessee one mulligan of playing poorly on one night. Kentucky puts an end to the Tennessee reign 6. Nevada (6): The Wolf Pack have won 10 in a row and show no signs of letting up. They are making a case — even if the numbers aren’t there — to be higher than a 4-seed in the NCAA tournament. 7. North Carolina (10): When the Tar Heels are on, wow they can look good. When they’re off, the pedestrian side takes over. Let’s see who shows up Wednesday. DUKE JOURNAL: Tracking their grueling February schedule \| Coach K becomes winningest college coach 8.Michigan (7): The Wolverines defense was outstanding in the win over Maryland. Michigan — for the first time in a while — looked like a team that could win the championship. 9.Houston (9): The Cougars are rolling, winners of 10 in a row with only one blemish on the season. 10. Michigan State (12): The Spartans took care of Ohio State for their third win in a row after losing three straight. But the Ward injury is a brutal setback for a title contending team. No. 11 Michigan State beats Ohio State 11. LSU (18): The Tigers stunned Kentucky with a home win, won at Georgia and are still one of the least discussed Final Four contenders. 12. Marquette (11): The Golden Eagles have Markus Howard and a tremendous home court (save St. John’s playing on it). That has made Marquette a great watch at home this season. ABOVE THE RIM: We picked our dream college slam dunk contest lineup. Yes, it includes Zion 13. Purdue (8): The Boilermakers did lose at Maryland, but they are two games ahead of the Terps in the loss column and have overall been playing better. 14. Iowa (15): The crazy 3-point buzzer beater by Joe Wieskamp gave Iowa its fourth win in a row and sent them into a tie for fifth in the Big Ten. Iowa wins with buzzer-beater 15. Iowa State (16): The Cyclones have a Sweet 16/second weekend look about them lately. 16. Kansas State (14): Hopefully Dean Wade isn’t out too long and this latest setback doesn’t hamper the Wildcats' Big 12 title hopes. 17. Kansas (20): The Jayhawks have won three in a row despite a flurry of injuries and issues. BIG 12 RACE: Breaking down each team's chances at winning the up-for-grabs conference title 18. Texas Tech (27): The Red Raiders are done with their mini slump and are primed to chase the Big 12 title. 19. Villanova (13): The Wildcats were stunned by St. John’s Sunday. But the Big East title is still within their grasp. Greatest buzzer beaters in March Madness history 20. Florida State (23): The Seminoles' polarizing season is back in a positive direction with a seven-game winning streak. 21. Cincinnati (26): This may be the least amount of publicity a Bearcats team has received. But don’t make the mistake of dismissing Cincinnati’s chances of causing issues in March. 22. Maryland (22): The Terps got off to a rocky start at Michigan, but closed strong until the final two minutes. They are still legit (see win over Purdue) and will be a tough out in March. 23. Louisville (21): The Cardinals blew a 23-point lead against Duke, but then saved face by beating Clemson. Watch win probability flip moment by moment in Duke's incredible comeback vs. Louisville 24. Washington (19): The Huskies have survived at Washington State. This team is still worthy of a top 25 ranking and should be in the field, even without a Pac-12 tournament title. 25. Wisconsin (17): The Badgers whiffed on taking out Michigan State at home after losing to Michigan on the road. But they should still be a safe pick to finish between 4-6 in the Big Ten. FINAL FOUR: 2019 March Madness dates & schedule \| Final Four info & tickets 26. Baylor (25): The Bears took a back seat to the Big 12 title pack and now must hold their ground to try and get in the top four. 27. Buffalo (28): The Bulls won at Toledo after trailing at the half. Buffalo is now 22-3 overall, 10-2 in the MAC (tied with Bowling Green) and looking every bit like a dangerous foe in the NCAA tournament. 28. Illinois (NR): OK, this is a reminder that the rankings are different than the seedings.<doc-sep>Duke, barring a surprise, will be No. 1 in the AP poll on Monday because the Blue Devils are No. 2 right now, and the No. 1 team lost Saturday night, and that's just how the AP poll works. When the No. 1 team loses, the No. 2 team usually moves to No. 1 as long as the No. 2 team didn't also lose in the past week. Which is fine. There's nothing wrong with moving the No. 2 team to No. 1 after the team that was No. 1 loses. Furthermore, there's nothing wrong with having Duke No. 1 because Duke is awesome, undeniably. But the top three in the Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings looked liked this Saturday morning: Tennessee Gonzaga Duke So I'm merely doing on Sunday morning what AP voters will likely do Monday morning -- i.e., moving the team I had No. 2 to No. 1 after the team I had No. 1 lost. Which means Gonzaga is the new No. 1 in the Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings. And I'm totally aware that Duke fans will find this absurd. But Gonzaga is A) 12-2 vs. top 100 KenPom teams with a neutral-court win over -- wait for it -- Duke, B) in possession of a national-best 16-game winning streak featuring 16 double-digit wins coming by an average of 31.3 points per game, and C) the owner of the nation's best offensive-efficiency rating. The Zags are worthy. I refuse to hold their WCC affiliation against them. So it's Gonzaga No. 1, Duke No. 2, Virginia No. 3, Tennessee No. 4 and Michigan No. 5 -- which I know will have Kentucky fans all up in my Twitter mentions. But I mostly rank resumes. And I simply do not believe Kentucky -- with a 34-point loss to Duke, a neutral-court loss to Seton Hall, a road loss to Alabama and a home loss to LSU -- has a better resume than any of the five schools I have ranked ahead of the Wildcats.<doc-sep>Gonzaga went from the No. 1 team in the country to a school no longer guaranteed to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in a span of 40 basketball minutes Tuesday night. That's what losing a game by 13 points that you were projected to win by 15 can do. Final score: Saint Mary's 60, Gonzaga 47. The Gaels are a bubble-shrinking bid-stealer. "We were told to pull off a miracle by people who don't know us," said Saint Mary's center Jordan Hunter, who finished 12 points and 15 rebounds. "We didn't need a miracle. We knew we could beat them." OK, Jordan Hunter. OK. So now the Zags will be 30-3 on Selection Sunday with wins over Duke and Washington -- and losses to Tennessee, North Carolina and Saint Mary's. They're 4-3 in Quadrant 1 opportunities and 10-3 in Quadrant 1/Quadrant 2 opportunities. Clearly, that's good -- especially considering they still only have one loss to a school currently ranked outside of the top six of the Top 25 And 1. But, undeniably, Gonzaga is now at risk of slipping to a No. 2 seed because it's in the clubhouse with maybe six or seven teams capable of passing them with great performances in their power-conference tournaments. Long story not so long, I still have Gonzaga as a No. 1 seed -- for now. But it's very possible the Zags' resume will be outdone by too many schools in the coming days. And if you're wondering why I dropped Gonzaga below North Carolina, here's why: UNC is 9-5 in Quadrant 1 opportunities; Gonzaga is 4-3. UNC is 16-5 in Quadrant 1/Quadrant 2 opportunities; Gonzaga is 10-3. So the Tar Heels have a better winning percentage in both places -- plus a 103-90 victory over Gonzaga -- which is why Virginia is No. 1 in Wednesday morning's updated CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings while UNC is No. 2 and Gonzaga is No. 3.<doc-sep>	Two new schools are at the top of the last AP Poll of February. The full rankings: RANK SCHOOL RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS 1 Gonzaga 27-2 1,569(44) 2 2 Virginia 24-2 1,513(15) 3 3 Duke 24-3 1,502(3) 1 4 Kentucky 23-4 1,418(2) 4 5 North Carolina 22-5 1,326 8 6 Michigan State 23-5 1,232 10 7 Tennessee 24-3 1,190 5 8 Houston 26-1 1,145 9 9 Michigan 24-4 1,057 7 10 Marquette 23-4 1,019 11 11 Texas Tech 22-5 938 14 12 Nevada 25-2 883 6 13 LSU 22-5 836 13 14 Purdue 20-7 820 15 15 Kansas 20-7 580 12 16 Kansas State 21-6 559 23 17 Maryland 21-7 549 24 18 Florida State 21-6 501 16 19 Wisconsin 19-8 466 22 20 Virginia Tech 21-6 392 20 21 Buffalo 24-3 288 25 22 Iowa 21-6 278 21 23 Cincinnati 23-4 263 NR 24 Wofford 24-4 112 NR 25 Washington 22-5 92 NR We'll start with Gonzaga, the new No. 1 team in the land. The Bulldogs haven't lost since Dec. 15 and jumped ahead of Duke, which lost to North Carolina this week. Gonzaga was expected to run through the WCC after playing well during a grueling nonconference schedule, but the Bulldogs have probably exceeded expectations in the new year. Gonzaga isn't just winning; it's destroying foes. The Bulldogs have won their last four home games by an average of 35(!) points. That's just laughable, regardless of opponent. Gonzaga hasn't really missed Killian Tillie yet. It might come NCAA tournament time. But for now, the Bulldogs are firing on all cylinders. Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura are monsters, and the Zags surround them with shooting and playmaking. There are no weak links in the starting lineup. Gonzaga is national championship-level good. We'll see if it can make it back to the big game for the second time in three years. RANKINGS, SCHEDULES, SCORES: AP Top 25 \| NET rankings \| NET schedule It's mildly surprising that Virginia leapt ahead of Duke for the No. 2 spot, as the Blue Devils have beaten the Cavaliers twice and lost to North Carolina playing without Zion Williamson for almost the entire game. But Virginia's resume is pristine. The Hoos are undefeated against non-Duke opponents, and just scored two impressive road wins over clear tournament teams in Virginia Tech and Louisville. De'Andre Hunter is the key for Virginia. It's good with or without him, but it's a serious national championship contender because of him. Hunter scored 26 points against Louisville, and he's the type of bucket-getter that transcends Virginia's rigid system. MARCH MADNESS: 30 things that have never happened \| Bracketology, explained Duke is down to No. 3, but it's only 11 points behind Virginia in voters' minds. It was certainly an eventful week for the Blue Devils, but the North Carolina loss does nothing to veer Duke off of its national title path, provided Williamson comes back at full strength (and it seems like that will be the case). R.J. Barrett is playing his best basketball of the season; he dominated in a Saturday win against Syracuse. Duke will almost always have the two best players on the floor in a given game. That will take you a long way. North Carolina jumped three spots to No. 5 as a result of the win, and the Tar Heels are playing their way into the conversation for a No. 1 seed come Selection Sunday. They followed up the Duke game with an impressive 18-point win over a Florida State team that has been on fire lately. UNC has the nation's No. 7 offense and No. 10 defense, per KenPom. When you're in the top 10 at both ends, you're a national title threat. Nassir Little scored 18 points in 23 minutes against the Seminoles and is coming into his own at the perfect time. The Tar Heels are good even if Little is struggling, but when he's on, UNC looks unbeatable. This is not a team you want to face in March. Michigan State rose four spots to No. 6 after an incredible win at Michigan on Sunday, and the Spartans are somehow thriving without Josh Langford or Nick Ward. Tom Izzo seems to do his best coaching jobs when his talent level is in question. Cassius Winston has played like a first-team All-American in February; he dropped 27 on the Wolverines. Winston is showing that he's more than just a distributor.
The last 11 seconds of Game 1 of the NBA Finals couldn’t have gone much worse for the Cavaliers, which is quite a thing to say given that J.R. Smith forgetting the score cost them a chance at a game-winning shot, and that they could muster only seven points in overtime to the Warriors’ 17. At the center of Cleveland’s troubles in the waning seconds of its 124-114 loss was Tristan Thompson. The Cavs center was upset that Shaun Livingston took a jumper with five seconds left and Golden State’s victory firmly in hand (even though the shot clock was set to run out four seconds before the game clock), and was ejected because of it. It must have been what Thompson said that earned him the ejection, but his actions after being thrown out nearly changed the calculus of the series. Thompson made a U-turn while heading to the tunnel to jaw with Draymond Green. Eventually, he hit the Warriors forward on the side of the head with either his hand or the basketball Thompson was holding, or both. A brief skirmish ensued before the two were separated. Thompson was called for a Flagrant 2 for his foul on Livingston, but he he avoided a suspension for Game 2. The league fined him $25,000 Friday for failing to leave the court in a timely manner, but the foul was downgraded to a Flagrant 1. Cleveland needs Thompson as much as it does Kevin Love, who will not be suspended for being outside the bench area before the scuffle happened, according to multiple reports. One of the Cavs’ clear edges on Golden State in Game 1 was on the boards. They outrebounded the Warriors 53-38, and corralled 19 offensive rebounds to the Warriors’ four. Those second chances netted 21 points for the Cavs, which somehow was not enough. Thompson didn’t exactly have a stellar game statistically. He finished with five rebounds in 20 minutes, and scored only two points. But good things happen the more active he is on the boards: The Cavs are 4-1 in games where he’s had nine rebounds or more throughout these playoffs. Larry Nance Jr., who has played more as the postseason has progressed, amassed 11 rebounds (four offensive) and nine points in 11 minutes. Love grabbed a team-high 13 boards and added 21 points. The Cavs’ big man rotation is clearly crucial to their success in this series. If the Warriors go small, the trio has the ability to make Kevon Looney—who started the game and played 25 minutes—a minus on the floor. Literally. Looney was the only Golden State starter with a negative plus-minus. Golden State’s bigs have clogged up their bench more than the opponent’s paint this postseason. And if Steve Kerr is forced to match up with the Cavs’ bigger bodies instead of playing them off the floor with small lineups, then Cleveland should have the upper hand. However, in Game 1, Kerr tried a Hail Mary that ended up working just enough to be a short-term solution. He started the second half with JaVale McGee at center instead of Looney, and McGee, much to everyone’s surprise, hung in there, guarding LeBron James well on switches and playing active enough defense that Kerr might consider starting him in Game 2. (McGee ended up plus-7 in six minutes.) Still, relying on McGee to be consistent going forward feels like asking a lit candle wick not to burn. Case in point: Hoping that McGee will come through is not something one of the most talented teams of all time should have to do, and yet here we are, with the Warriors out of options. Kerr said Friday that Andre Iguodala is doubtful for Game 2. Shaun Livingston is filling in fine, but he doesn’t have the same effect on both ends as Iguodala. And so the Warriors are forced to make do with Looney, Jordan Bell, McGee, and even David West. “Honestly, I don’t care if [Thompson] plays or not … I mean, he’s great on the O boards,” Klay Thompson told reporters at Warriors practice on Friday. “He always causes us problems with that. But we’re concerned with how our game plan’s going to be executed and what we have to do to limit them on the offensive glass. So, I’m not too concerned if Thompson is available or not, to be honest.” The Warriors’ top-end talent may indeed make the center matchup moot. But the Cavs were in position to steal Game 1 up until the final seconds of regulation. Losing Thompson would have made it even tougher for a team that was painted as one the biggest Finals underdogs in recent memory to do so again.<doc-sep>Tristan Thompson also faces a possible suspension from Sunday's Game 2 due to his physical altercation with Warriors' Draymond Green Tempers flared during Thursday’s NBA Finals opener as Tristan Thompson was called for a flagrant foul two during overtime against the Golden State Warriors. After the game, the headline-making boyfriend of Khloé Kardashian, 27, told reporters why he was upset with Shaun Livingston, whom Thompson hit with his elbow during a mid-range jump shot. Get push notifications with news, features and more. “Maybe he was trying to increase his points per game. I don’t know,” the Cleveland Cavaliers power forward said in the locker room as heard in a video obtained by Sports Illustrated. “That was some bulls–t but I just needed to contest.” Not only was Thompson ejected for the elbow to Livingston’s arm, but he also faces a possible suspension from Sunday’s Game 2 due to his physical altercation with the Warriors’ Draymond Green. Though it is unknown what was specifically said between the pair, a verbal exchange during overtime angered Thompson enough for him to shove a ball in Green’s face. The move resulted in a scuffle between the two teams. To add insult to injury, the same night Thompson was ejected from Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, his girlfriend’s brother-in-law Kanye West name-checked Thompson in a song off his newly-released album, YE. Want to keep up on the latest from PEOPLE? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our best stories of the day delivered straight to your inbox. The 40-year-old rapper addresses Thompson’s cheating scandal head-on — rapping in one song, “All these thots on Christian Mingle / That’s what almost got Tristan single / If you don’t ball like him or Kobe / Guarantee that bitch gon’ leave you.” 2018 NBA Finals - Game One Credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty The song was one of seven new tracks off of the EP West premiered late Thursday evening during an intimate album listening party in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. News of Thompson’s alleged infidelity broke two days before he and Kardashian, 33, welcomed their first child, daughter True, in April. Kardashian did not attend Thursday’s game in Oakland as she continues to nest in Cleveland with the couple’s newborn. However, the new mom will soon say goodbye to the Midwest and return to the West Coast to reunite with their family.<doc-sep>The Cleveland Cavaliers will be at full strength for Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, as neither Tristan Thompson nor Kevin Love has received a suspension from the league. Questions were raised about both players after an altercation late in Game 1. Thompson shoved the ball into Draymond Green's face at the end of the game following a flagrant 2 foul, which resulted in an ejection. Some felt that pushing the ball into Green's face and the ensuing follow through, which could have been construed as a punch, could earn Thompson a suspension. Instead the NBA announced on Friday that Thompson will be fined $25,000 with no further penalty. Thompson's Flagrant 2 was also downgraded to a Flagrant 1. Teammate Kevin Love was also under the microscope after leaving the bench area and walking onto the court. However, the NBA will reportedly not punish him after conducting an investigation into Love's actions. The league's ruling, per Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports, was that Love stepped onto the floor to contest the Thompson foul call, but retreated to the bench when the altercation broke out. Love did have an explanation for his actions. "Kevin Love told me he left the bench in OT to argue the call on Tristan, walking onto the court to get in the officials' eyeline, not in reaction to any scuffle [and] before it even broke out," Rachel Nichols said on Twitter. "Video (via @bballbreakdown) seems to back this up; not sure if it will matter to the league." Of course, the league does tend to take the context of the series into consideration. Russell Westbrook, for example, was fined $10,000 and issued a retroactive technical for walking onto the floor in Game 4 against the Jazz, so there is precedent for bending the rule. Keeping Love and Thompson for Game 2 is a huge win for Cleveland, all things considered.<doc-sep>Want Warriors news in your inbox? Sign up for the free DubsDaily newsletter. Cleveland Cavaliers’ center Tristan Thompson has been fined $25,000 for “failing to leave the court in a timely manner” following his ejection in overtime of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The decision is a relief for Thompson and the Cavaliers, as there were fears the big man could be suspended for pushing a ball against Warriors’ forward Draymond Green late in the Warriors’ 124-114 win, causing a brief kerfuffle between the two teams. Following the game, Thompson said that Livingston violated an unwritten rule of not attempting a shot when the game’s fate is sealed. However, Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr pushed back on Thompson’s notions Friday afternoon. “We’re always going to take a shot if the game tells us to take a shot,” said Kerr in a conference call. “If there is a shot clock differential, we’re going to take a shot. Simple as that. That’s not offending anybody. I guess Tristan [Thompson] felt like it was offensive. That’s a different interpretation. If there was no shot clock on, we are going to dribble the shot clock out. But if there is time left on the clock, the game is going to continue to play.” Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who was on the court when the Cavs big man was ejected, criticized his actions. “I thought it was unnecessary when he shoved the ball in Draymond’s face,” the Warriors’ guard said. “That was very uncalled for, especially if two guys are just talking. That’s not the way to play.” Related Articles Warriors and their fans have been part of NBA’s fans vs. players problem Steve Kerr admits he can’t stop thinking about Klay Thompson’s return Andrew Wiggins wants to play in the Olympics. Will Steph Curry appear in his first Games? Kurtenbach: The Warriors can’t make the same mistake again this offseason Warriors exit interviews: Wiseman in future plans, help for Curry, the Klay-Oubre puzzle and more<doc-sep>	Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson is in the clear for Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Thompson was fined $25,000 for "failing to leave the court in a timely manner" following his ejection late in overtime of Game 1 and for shoving the ball into the face of the Warriors' Draymond Green. More importantly for the Cavaliers, Thompson will not be suspended for the incident that sparked a brief altercation. Thompson's flagrant foul 2 that led to his ejection was also downgraded to a flagrant 1, the league announced. The flagrant foul, ejection and scuffle came in the closing seconds of the Warriors' 124-114 victory Thursday night. Thompson was assessed the flagrant 2 — and automatically ejected — after contesting a shot by the Warriors' Shaun Livingston. While leaving the court after the ejection, Thompson shoved the ball in Green's face, and a scuffle ensued. Thompson said he felt Livingston was being disrespectful for taking the shot with the outcome decided. Golden State was ahead by eight points with about five seconds left at the time of the shot. "I contested a shot that shouldn't have been taken," Thompson said. "I mean, it's like the unspoken rule in the NBA. If you're up 10 or 11 with about 20 seconds left, you don't take that shot. I make the contest, and next thing I know, I was being kicked out for a good contest that we learn in training camp. I don't know why I got thrown out." Following the game, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said he was confident the league would fairly review the incident. "Haven't heard anything yet, but I know the league will do the right thing," Lue said. Game 2 is Sunday night in Oakland. MORE FROM NBA FINALS MISSED IT:NBA says Draymond committed lane violation on Hill free throw DEVASTATED:Hill stayed awake re-watching his costly missed free throw WASTED EFFORT:LeBron's historic Game 1 deserved a Cavaliers victory DOMINANT:Don't let a wild Game 1 overshadow's Steph's performance
18:31 Mourinho on the game He told Sky Sports: Too many mistakes and we were punished by them. Because sometimes you make mistakes and you are not punished but we were today. I think the third goal is too hard and at half time we tried and we tried in the second half, but in the second half, an accumulation of the mistakes and the punishment by these mistakes with goals, step by step was giving happiness and confident to Brighton. Rather than tactical issues, do you think you suffered today from poor individual performances? When I speak about individual performances and I’m critical you just don’t accept it and the press the pundits they are very critical with me when I go in that direction so please don’t ask me to go in that direction because it’s not good for me. So I will be very very happy to analyse their performances when they are good. It’s a great thing for me to say player A, B, C was fantastic. That’s amazing for me. I will say when they are good, but when I can’t do that don’t push me to the other side. Were you shocked? Did you not expect what you saw in the first 45 minutes? I was not expecting obviously BIG mistakes because we are not talking about small mistakes and we were punished by these big mistakes and of course when you lose your confidence there is normal tendency to lose a little bit of that confidence and a bit of direction on the game plan. We came here with a certain intention and you are losing 2-0 and you score a goal and you think let’s go to the second half at 2-1 on a high from a mental point of view and you make that mistake and concede that goal and the players were really really really down at half time. Second half, one goal could change things again. But our second goal arrived too late and then when we were going to play less direct ball we are used to the when we are winning we are used to the referees letting it go to let that ball in the box but Kevin looks like he was in a hurry to finish the game, so when De Gea had the ball and was ready for that long last ball Kevin finished the game and it was over and congratulations to Brighton. You didn’t sign the centre half you wanted... The window is closed. When will Sanchez be back? I don’t know about Sanchez lets wait for results but I don’t think it’s a big thing, one week, two weeks max.<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Who do United need to sign to mount a title challenge? Get our daily Manchester United email newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Manchester United crashed to another defeat on the south coast with the defence all-at-sea at Brighton. Glenn Murray's cute first-half finish was followed up by a powerful Shane Duffy header in the space of a few minutes. With United reeling, Romelu Lukaku gave them a lifeline, but it was soon swallowed up by more poor defending. As Pascal Gross raced into the box he was hacked down by Eric Bailly - and the German made no mistake from the spot. All three subs were made by 60 minutes but there was very little to shout about in the second half until a last-gasp Paul Pogba consolation. Here's how the players rated... (Image: REUTERS) Brighton Ryan 7 Did everything calmly and efficiently, made a smart save from Pogba. Solid. Montoya 7 Made his full Brighton debut, tenacious in the tackle and impressed at right back. Duffy 7 Scored his first ever Premier League goal with the sweetest of finishes. Dunk 6 Early mistake let in Lukaku and injured himself in process. Hobbled off. Bong 7 Nice overlaps and combinations with March down Brighton’s left. Excellent. (Image: Getty Images Europe) Knockaert 7 His first season in the Prem not great but looks better and sharper now. Stephens 7 Worked hard, stopped United’s midfielders pushing forward. Good shielding job. Propper 7 Tried to get Brighton moving forward, always looking progressive and did well. March 7 Really good local boy made success story. Terrific delivery and assist for Murray. (Image: REUTERS) Gross 8 Won a penalty, converted the spot kick and gave United major problems. Murray 7 Booked. Fast approaching his 35th birthday, but has never lost his finishing skills. Substitutes Balogun for (Dunk 20), 7 Kayal for (Gross 88) Locadia for (Murray 90) Not used: Bissouma, Jahanbakhsh, Button, Bernardo Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now Manchester United (Image: REUTERS) De Gea 6 Horribly exposed, given little or no chance with the goals, defence gives him nightmares. Young 5 March gave him a tough game, but the centre halves were the bigger problem. Bailly 4 Had a shocker. Conceded crazy penalty, made big mistakes, left Jose fuming. (Image: REUTERS) Lindelof 3 Is he Jose’s worst ever big money defensive signing? Rarely gets them this wrong. Shaw 5 Brave challenge to help set up Lukaku to score. Problems not down his side. Fred 5 Going to take time for him to settle in English football, especially as he is so small. (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Pereira 4 Hooked at half time which says everything what Jose thought of his display. Pogba 5 This week’s instalment of the Pogba soap opera ended unhappily. Anonymous until penalty. Mata 4 Could not get in the game enough to influence it at all. Substituted at half time. Martial 4 Got the nod as Sanchez was injured but failed to seize his chance. Waste of time. Lukaku 5 Back in the starting line-up, scored with good finish but did not get enough service. Substitutes Rashford for (Mata 46), 5 Lingard for (Pereira, 46), 6 Fellaini for (Martial 59), 6<doc-sep>If Manchester City or Liverpool approach fixtures at Brighton with the tactical set-up and collective body language Manchester United did, I will be stunned. After a defeat in which Paul Pogba said United lacked "hunger", I am keen not to overreact but some fans will be raging as their side looked like they did not really want to compete. United were cautious when, with their quality, they should be turning up and for the opening 20 minutes asking: "This is what we have, can you live with us?" The tactical plan comes from the manager and, putting the result aside, my big concern now is if United's players are still on board with what he is asking them to do. 'Subconsciously tuning out' 'Too many Man Utd players didn't give their all - and that's a problem' Only once in my career did I have a manager where eventually players were at odds with his style. Lawrie Sanchez wanted a direct, combative approach at Fulham but it became nearly impossible as we didn't have the personnel to fit the task. Eventually, we had a run of bad results and players lost belief in the demands. It is not a conscious thing. Players are not sat in the dressing room stating they will not follow the orders, it happens subconsciously and if that creeps in with just a couple of players then the collective performance will inevitably suffer. Despite all their quality, United were not on the front foot early on and did not really press Brighton high up the pitch at all. The impact is that home players get early touches, grow in confidence and begin to realise they have space so settle down. Then United fell behind and it is hard to change the mentality to suddenly chase a game. We expect to see one of the big sides in the league have at least one 20-minute spell where they stretch and force the lower-ranked outfit to cling on but it never came, there was simply no real urgency from minute one and it gave Brighton a platform they should not have been afforded. Mourinho's cautious approach would be fine if you have players who like to defend and sit in but if your personnel are collectively more expressive, they will find it harder to excel. Forget the result, as anyone can lose on the road in the Premier League, it is the nature of the body language and that lack of early conviction which is a bigger concern and fans will want a reaction because at the Amex - against a side who lost last week - their players just did not look engaged. Is Mourinho emanating negativity? Player Passes Passes in opposition half Bailly 69 9 Lindelof 67 18 Kompany 114 87 Stones 105 85 Laporte 91 65 Manchester City's three central defenders on average played 76% of their passes in the opposition half in their 6-1 win over Huddersfield. In contrast, with Manchester United not pushing as high up the pitch, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly played 19% of their passes in the opposition half. We watched Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side go for Huddersfield from the off in their 6-1 win on Sunday. City and Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool will undoubtedly go to Brighton and test them by pressing immediately. It is a mindset of positivity in contrast to what United delivered, with one shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. Mourinho has fuelled paper talk with comments about a disrupted pre-season, transfer frustrations, or even the form of Pogba, who was one player trying to do something on the south coast. All the big teams have got these problems. Take Tottenham as an example, they have loads of players who were at the World Cup until late, as did Manchester City. If you look at Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, he's not moaning about not getting any players in, he's even pacifying fans over new stadium problems - not whinging - and working with his players he has two wins from two. Manchester United (left) made five successful tackles in the entire match with none of them arriving in the opening 45 minutes. Brighton's pressing of the ball saw them win 13 tackles during the match with eight of them in the Manchester United half. Mourinho, as we know, is a far more successful manager and a winner so I am not questioning him but sometimes it is better to not make excuses and just get on with it. He may well be saying one thing to the press and then telling his players his motive for saying it, but that would be rare. And, to be honest, if his players are hearing the messages in the media then I do think it can create a bit of negativity. It's hard to judge the mood of a group of players based on reports but you would have to concede that there's often not much smoke without fire and too many players looked off it at Brighton. Lingard a key midfield tweak and defensive questions The combined touch map of Fred and Andreas Pereira shows both men struggled to make any impact in the final third. The graphic shows United's play from left to right with only Pereira's touch for a corner kick registering in the final third. Pereira was taken off at half-time while Fred played the full 90 minutes. Only 11 of Pereira's 35 passes were made in the Brighton half. Dale Stephens ran further than any other player on the pitch on Sunday and saw more of the ball than any other Brighton player in his central-midfield role. There were times when he had 20 yards of space despite United using a midfield three of Pogba, Andreas Pereira and Fred. From Mourinho's perspective, that should not be happening when you ultimately have better players. His midfield struggled as a trio and generally their displays were a bit safe and their positioning too predictable. None of them wanted to make positive runs in behind Brighton's back four, with Pereira and Fred both particularly negative. Mourinho changed it at half-time and recognised the issue, as good managers do. His side were crying out for Jesse Lingard, who likes to run in behind. When you're on the ball in midfield, if you have someone making those kind of runs it is so helpful. Juan Mata and Anthony Martial in wide areas did not threaten the space behind Brighton, and even though there may not have been much of it at times, Lingard is so clever that he is great at mixing his game up and will drop into pockets to get on the ball if needed. I'm not sure you need Pogba, Fred and Pereira in the same midfield, so there is a balance which will need to be found, and at the back there are some questions to be answered too as the central defenders were a problem. Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof were given a tough afternoon by Glenn Murray, who was absolutely superb. Mourinho verbalised his desire to sign another central defender and there were links with Leicester's Harry Maguire but somehow he needs to get more from those he has for now. 'No need for the panic button' Man Utd punished for incredible mistakes - Mourinho It is key to point out that Brighton were collectively and individually superb and when you get both of those together you are in a fine position. The decision-making was bang on, there was a lack of sloppiness and they made the most of their chances. Everything about them was well drilled and solid, a complete contrast to the visitors. I can understand some United fans may be wound up and concerns may be deepening but when you step back, Mourinho has options aplenty to change things. Ander Herrera could come in and give some steel, Marouane Fellaini could start and of course Alexis Sanchez can return. Those kind of introductions can quickly see a club like United rattle off four or five wins and the mood changes.<doc-sep>	“WE made incredible mistakes in some crucial moments. Mistakes that killed us.” Despite amassing a massive 67 per cent of possession, Manchester United managed to go down 3-2 to Brighton as a string of defensive errors proved their undoing. The Red Devils fielded a near-full strength defence, with left back Luke Shaw arguably the only player deputising — in the absence of injured skipper Antonio Valencia — and yet their frailties at the back saw them let in three goals against a side that last week drew a blank against Watford. POGBA: ‘I PUT MYSELF FIRST’ — BRUTAL REFLECTION EXTRA TIME: INCREDIBLE STORY BEHIND 8-MTH-OLD’S DEBUT EVERY PL GOAL: CITY RUN RIOT, WOEFUL UTD SLUMP TO LOSS Brighton’s free-scoring first half yielded three strikes from three shots on target, as centre-backs Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof were singled out for harsh criticism. Former United star Paul Scholes suggested the latter was at fault for Glenn Murray’s opener. “I think the bad reaction there is from Lindelof,” he said on BT Sport. “Once that ball goes into the middle he has to come across and close that space. “He’s gone [wide] to receive the ball, look how slow he is getting back. He’s even thinking of playing offside there, which is crazy.” Sky Sports’ Gary Neville also didn’t hold back in his assessment of the pair. “The centre backs melted and you can’t do that in the Premier League,” former United defender Neville said. “When Manchester United are so publicly in the transfer window looking for defenders, what belief does that give them? Manchester United's manager Jose Mourinho gestures as he speaks to Paul Pogba Source: AP “They know they’re on borrowed time and I have to say (Eric) Bailly and (Victor) Lindelof were poor. They are the ones Jose has signed. “It has been poor recruitment. That back four aren’t good enough to win the title. The five centre backs they’ve got are second centre backs. They’re not authoritative or leaders.’ Mourinho’s hunt for a new centre-back monopolised column inches during the recently closed transfer window, as United were linked with a massive range of targets only to finally admit failure with hours remaining on the deadline day clock. Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire, Jerome Boateng, Diego Godin and Yerry Mina were all touted for a move to the Premier League giants as the manager’s patience appeared to wear thin. Mourinho stated in late July that he “gave a list to my club five names a few months ago” and yet CEO Ed Woodward was unable to complete a deal for a new top line central defender. This was only the 10th time in Premier League history that Manchester United have conceded three goals in the first half of a match and it’s the first time they’ve done so under Mourinho. And not even their perennial rescuer, keeper David De Gea, is on hand to save them. Manchester United's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho watches as Manchester United's Swedish defender Victor Lindelof takes a throw-in Source: AFP The Spaniard has conceded from 10 of the last 14 shots on target he’s faced in a slump that began during a disappointing World Cup campaign. Mourinho was desperate to invest in a defender, and against Brighton it wasn’t difficult to see why, but according to ex-England international Jamie Redknapp, the United board should think twice before letting him splash the cash again. “Lindelof and Bailly have looked like a couple of youth team players, they have looked inexperienced and out of their depth,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports. “This back four is worth £117m (A$204m). They should be performing so much better. “How much more money can you throw at the problem? “He has bought Lindelof and Bailly and they looked so poor today, why would you trust him to spend more money?” United have a net spend of £302m (A$526m) since Mourinho arrived, and yet his starting centre-back pairing are still capable of making ‘incredible mistakes.’ But as the Portuguese tactician rightfully pointed out in his post-game press conference, “The transfer window opens on January 1,” he said. “It’s closed.”
The student had a sign that read "If I was black I'd be picking cotton but I'm white so I'm picking u for prom" An Ohio student will not be attending prom after a picture of a racist prom proposal sign circulated on social media. The student, who has not been identified, was pictured holding a sign that read “If I was black I’d be picking cotton but I’m white so I’m picking u for prom.” Get push notifications with news, features and more. Following the racist sign, Clear Fork Valley Local Schools Superintendent Janice Wyckoff said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that the student “is not attending the prom.” USA Today reported that the student does not attend Clear Fork High School, but lives in the district. “I want to make it clear that our school district is disappointed in this situation,” Wyckoff said in the statement. “Our student body should not be defined by a single act of a student who did not think his action through. This is a teachable moment for this student in particular and for all students.” “This type of speech regardless of the occasion is inappropriate. It is hurtful to everyone,” the statement continued. According to the statement, the student is “remorseful” and has removed the post that contained the picture of the sign. Wyckoff added: “I want everyone to remember this is a child and adolescent who made a bad decision and is learning a lesson the hard way.” RELATED VIDEO: Man Takes Late Son’s Girlfriend to Prom After Teen Dies in Crash According to CNN, Wyckoff said that the student had apologized on social media. “I’m sorry for upsetting anyone, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m really sorry, I will say sorry to anyone,” Wyckoff told CNN that the student wrote. “I didn’t mean to hurt you or anything like that, it was just for a laugh. I’m sorry, I really am. I’ll say it to your face or anything really.”<doc-sep>An Ohio high school student’s prom proposal sign was deemed racist and condemned by school officials as hurtful and inappropriate. A picture that shows the student holding the sign with a girl standing next to him was posted on Facebook. The sign stated, “If I was black I’d be picking cotton. But I’m white so I’m picking U for prom,” FOX 8 Cleveland reported. The original post has since been deleted. The student, who was not identified, lives in the Clear Fork Valley Local school district and was barred from attending Clear Fork High School’s prom. Clear Fork Valley Locals Schools Superintendent Janice Wyckoff issued a statement regarding the sign. OHIO SLAYINGS OF 3 WOMEN, MAN IN APARTMENT SPUR HUNT FOR CLUES, MOTIVE "I want to make it clear that our school district is disappointed in this situation," the statement read. "Our student body should not be defined by a single act of a student, who did not think his action through,” the statement continued. “This is a teachable moment for this student in particular and for all students." Wyckoff said when she saw the sign she thought, “’Oh my goodness; this is awful,” FOX 8 Cleveland reported. "This is a process, growing up is a process, and this is one of those moments that's a teachable moment for this kid that will last a lifetime," she said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP It was not immediately clear if the student would face any disciplinary action. Last year, a similar sign held up by a Florida high school student stirred backlash. The Riverview High School student apologized for the sign and ended up not attending prom, the Herald-Tribune reported. The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>An Ohio teen was barred from prom after he decided to craft a racist promposal sign that read, “If I was black I’d be picking cotton but I’m white so I’m picking u for prom.” I suppose it’s time we brace ourselves, because at this time of the year (much like Halloween) racism rears its ugly head. “To be frank with you I thought, ‘Oh my goodness this is awful,'” Janice Wyckoff, the superintendent at Clear Fork Valley Local Schools told Fox8. The news station declined to identify the student, who was seen in a photo with his prom date holding up the inappropriate sign. Wyckoff told the news station that she was not clear if the boy is a junior or a senior, but the girl pictured with him is not a student in the district. Despite the fact that the promposal happened off school property, the school superintendent wants to send a clear message. Loading the player... “Kids need to understand when you’re celebrating things it doesn’t give you a pass on using inappropriate racial slurs,” Wyckoff said. The superintendent also said that the student expressed regret over the situation, and deleted the social media post. “This is a process, growing up is a process, and this is one of those moments that’s a teachable moment for this kid that will last a lifetime,” she said. Wyckoff declined to say if the student would face any further disciplinary action. “I don’t believe that this is any group think on the part of the student body,” she added. “This is one person making a bad decision that’s going to reflect on everybody. This is actually a terrible day in the Clear Fork Valley.”<doc-sep>	BELLVILLE, Ohio – A prom proposal by an Ohio student has prompted widespread condemnation and backlash after a photo of him holding a poster with a racist statement was circulated on Facebook. In the photo, the student stands beside a girl and holds a poster that reads, "If I was black I'd be picking cotton, but I'm white so I'm picking U for prom!" The student, who was not identified, has been "spoken to," according to a statement from Clear Fork Valley Local Schools Superintendent Janice Wyckoff. The school district, roughly 15 miles south of Mansfield, serves students primarily in the Bellville and Butler communities. Wyckoff said the type of speech displayed on the poster board is inappropriate, regardless of the occasion, and the student, who lives in the district but goes to another school, will not be attending Clear Fork High School's prom. "I want to make it clear that our school district is disappointed in this situation," the statement read in part. "Our student body should not be defined by a single act of a student, who did not think his action through. This is a teachable moment for this student in particular and for all students." Wyckoff said the original post has been removed, and the student is remorseful for his actions. It's not clear if he faces disciplinary action. "The student now understands there are consequences for words," the superintendent's statement said. "I want everyone to remember this is a child and adolescent who made a bad decision and is learning a lesson the hard way." A similar incident happened in Florida during prom season last year. Multiple outlets reported that a Florida high school student posted a photo of a sign that read, "If I were black I’d be picking cotton, but I’m white so I’m picking you 4 prom?" Wyckoff said she can't speak as to what the student was thinking, or if he was aware of the prom poster reported in last year's news coverage.
The appearance is part of a swing across the country by Obama to boost Democrats' efforts to win House seats and state elections. CLEVELAND--Former President Barack Obama says he has a simple message headed into the fall midterm elections: Vote. Obama told a crowd of thousands at a school auditorium in Cleveland on Thursday that the consequences of sitting on the sidelines during November's midterm elections "are far more dangerous" than in the past. Without mentioning Republican President Donald Trump by name, Obama said, "This is not normal what we're seeing. It is radical." He said a continuation of Republican control in Washington would threaten Medicaid, affordable health care, even democracy. Obama was in closely divided Ohio to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray, whom he called "my friend." Cordray, Obama's appointee as federal consumer watchdog, faces Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine in one of the season's most closely watched governor's races.<doc-sep>CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Continuing his reemergence on the campaign trail in the lead up to the 2018 midterm elections, former President Barack Obama urged a crowd of roughly 3,000 people gathered on a hot and humid late summer night in Cleveland, Ohio, to "restore some sanity to our politics, and give the power back to the American people." Appearing at a rally for Ohio gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray, Obama offered more stark criticism of a Republican Party he says is refusing to act as a check on President Donald Trump. "None of this is conservative. This is not normal what we’re seeing, it is radical. It’s a vision that says it’s more important for folks that are in power to protect that power even if it hurts the country," Obama said alongside Cordray, a former official in his two-term administration. "Instead of being a check...what you're seeing is Republicans in Congress who are bending over backwards to try shield and deflect oversight of this behavior and accountability and consequences," Obama added, "This is serious. You know it is. And frankly even some of the Republicans know it is. They will say it, they just don’t do anything about it." The 44th president took more than one implicit swipe at President Donald Trump, criticizing the current administration's decision to enforce an immigration policy that led to the separation of some immigrant children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this year. "There’s nothing compassionate about separating immigrant children from their moms," Obama said. But in a reprisal of a message he delivered in a speech last week at the University of Illinois, Obama said that the "biggest threat to our democracy is indifference," and urged not only Democrats to turn out in 2018, but independents and Republicans disillusioned with the current state of American politics. "This fall we cannot afford that kind of complacency, we can’t afford to sit this one out. If you don’t like what’s going on right now you can’t just complain...you can’t just boo, you’ve got to vote," Obama said. The former president, who has largely stayed out of politics since leaving office in January 2017, also defended his administration's major policy programs like the Affordable Care Act (ACA), casting the midterms as a referendum on a more inclusive healthcare system. "When you vote you have the power to make sure a family keeps their health insurance, you can save somebody’s life, that power is in your hands," Obama urged the crowd. Cordray, 59, was appointed the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by Obama in 2012, and is facing off against Ohio's Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine in one of Democrats' best opportunities to flip a gubernatorial seat this cycle. In his speech introducing Obama, Cordray recounted his appointment as head of the CFPB, and said the issue of healthcare "sharply represents" what his race against DeWine is about. "Some of those fights are not over, not by a long shot," Cordray said of the continued Republican efforts to chip away at the ACA, Obama's signature policy achievement, "It’s just wrong, and we’re not going to let it happen." The Cleveland rally comes less than a week after Obama's fiery rebuke to Trump in that Illinois speech, calling the 2018 elections a "pivotal moment" with "dire" consequences for the country. That speech marked a dramatic course change for the former president, who has largely stayed out of politics since the 2016 election, and vaulted him back in the national political fray as a key figure leading up to the first major election since Trump's inauguration. "If you thought elections don’t matter I hope these last two years have corrected that impression," said Obama, who hit the trail with a host of Democratic candidates for the U.S. House in southern California last weekend. Democrats have high hopes in Ohio after eight years of the Republican administration of Gov. John Kasich, hopes that were bolstered after they fell just over 1,500 votes short of winning an August special election for a congressional seat in a district Donald Trump won by double-digits in 2016. Joining the rally were former Rep. Betty Sutton, Cordray's running mate, and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat who is up for re-election this cycle in a seat the party must hold if it has any chance of wresting control of the U.S. Senate back from Republicans in 2018. President Trump's son, Donald Jr., will also be in the state on Thursday, campaigning for Brown's GOP opponent Rep. Jim Renacci and attending a fundraiser for DeWine. A return to the Rust Belt In 2016, Democratic losses in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, all states Obama carried in his two presidential bids, delivered the presidency to Donald Trump. But with the national political environment in their favor, Trump's approval rating in the mid-30s, according to a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, and the historical disadvantage the incumbent president's party faces in the midterm elections, Democrats are eyeing the Midwest, and Ohio in particular, as a place to avenge those losses. Key to statewide victory in 2018 will be boosting turnout in northeast Ohio and the Cleveland area, Democratic strongholds with a large African-American population that helped carry Obama to victory in the state. "Obama is still very popular in Ohio. But he’s not just coming to Ohio, he’s not just coming to Cleveland, he’s coming to East Cleveland. Which I think is a real sign that his job is to get African-American voters fired up for the election," David Cohen, Professor of Political Science at the University of Akron, told ABC News. Hillary Clinton's margin of victory dipped voter turnout in Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is located, from just over 670,000 to under 620,000, according to data from the Ohio Secretary of State's office. "The Cordray campaign understands that what happened in 2016 was partially a result of the fact that there wasn’t as much enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton in the northeastern part of the state, in African-American communities as there was of course for President Obama," Cohen added. Aside from the governor's race, the party is eyeing Ohio's 12th Congressional District, where Democrat Danny O'Connor and Republican Troy Balderson are locked in a rematch following the August special election, and the state's 1st Congressional District, where GOP Rep. Steve Chabot is facing 36-year-old Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval for another traditionally red seat. "On Election Night I would not be surprised if both of those seats flipped to the Democrats," Cohen said, "Especially if the Democratic wave is going to be as big as some people are predicting." An Obama alum gets a boost from his former boss To win in November, Cordray will have to both boost turnout in the state's urban centers and broaden his appeal to reach voters that backed Obama in 2008 and 2012, but gravitated toward Donald Trump in 2016. National Democrats are optimistic that the mild-mannered Cordray can do just that. "Richard Cordray has spent his career fighting for families who have been taken advantage of, and over the course of his career, he has fought to put money in the pockets of the middle class," said David Turner, a spokesman for the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), "He can appeal to Obama-Trump voters for that very reason – they know Richard Cordray will put workers first, not big business." Ahead of Obama's visit to Ohio, a GOP spokesperson called the former president's speech last week an "insult." "Ohioans rejected the continuation of Obama policies in 2016 and won't take kindly to more of these Democrats' insults. Ohioans are happy with the direction we're headed under strong Republican leadership," RNC spokesperson Mandi Merritt wrote in a statement Wednesday. Republicans are also seeking to use the former president's visit as a reminder of Cordray's tenure at the consumer watchdog agency that became mired in controversy last year when his retirement sparked a legal battle over who would replace him. At the time, President Trump characterized the agency as a "total disaster" under Cordray.<doc-sep>“What happened to all this concern about deficits? You weren’t concerned when you gave me a tax cut I didn’t need and didn’t ask for,” Obama said in Ohio, aiming his remarks at Republicans. “None of this is conservative. This is not normal, what we’re seeing. It is radical.”<doc-sep>	CLEVELAND — Former President Barack Obama on Thursday decried "demagogues who promise simple fixes to complicated problems" — an implicit but clear rebuke to his successor, President Donald Trump, whom Obama suggested is regularly violating political norms and threatening basic democratic institutions. At a packed campaign rally on behalf of Richard Cordray, Ohio's Democratic candidate for governor, Obama implored supporters to vote in the midterm elections on November 6. "You've got to vote, that's why I'm here" he said, leading the crowd in a chant of "Vote, vote, vote." Obama never mentioned Trump directly by name, other than a passing reference to "the person in the White House." But the message was unmistakable. "None of this is normal," Obama said. Obama said that during his presidency he "was confident the American people wanted to hear the truth" — a pointed jab at Trump, whose penchant for hyperbole and fact-free assertions has been a persistent feature of his personality. Earlier on Thursday, Trump pushed back with no evidence on the notion that 3,000 people had died in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria last year, suggesting Democrats had padded the number to make him look bad. Obama's criticism of Republicans in Congress was more direct, saying that rather than provide a check and balance on Trump's behavior, "you see Republicans bending over backwards to be a shield." Former President Barack Obama and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray at a campaign rally, in Cleveland on Sept. 13, 2018. David Dermer / AP It was the third campaign foray for Obama in less than week. Last Friday, in a speech at the University of Illinois, Obama signaled he would be stepping back into the political sphere ahead of the midterm elections November 6. At that speech, Obama did call out Trump by name, and said there was some "crazy stuff" coming out of the White House. He traveled to Southern California the next day to campaign for Democratic House challengers in Orange County. Cordray was an early Obama supporter and was in turn appointed as the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Board. He is running against Republican Mike DeWine, the Ohio attorney general and a former U.S., senator whom Obama criticized for his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. Two term Republican Gov. John Kasich is retiring. DeWine on Thursday attended a campaign event with Donald Trump Jr., the president's oldest son. Obama won Ohio — for years the nation's most crucial swing state — in both 2008 and in his 2012 re-election race. But the state swung to Trump by 8 points in 2016 over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
From Staff Reports At 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Scheels Center in Fargo, North Dakota, the St. Cloud State men’s hockey team opens play in the NCAA Division I tournament’s West Regional. The top-seeded Huskies play 16th-seeded American International in the second of two semifinal games Friday. The Huskies are 30-5-3 and the NCHC regular-season champions. SCSU lost to Minnesota-Duluth 3-2 in double overtime in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship. American International, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, has a 22-16-1 record. The Yellow Jackets are ranked 18th nationally. SCSU is ranked No. 1 in the nation. SCSU's Huskies hang on to No. 1 seed overall for NCAA tourney SCSU falls to UMD in double OT, finishes as NCHC Faceoff runner-up<doc-sep>When the final seconds came off the clock, the American International hockey players fell all over each other in celebration as they spilled from bench onto the ice. AIC’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament produced some history. The Yellow Jackets withstood an onslaught late and upset St. Cloud State, the No. 1 overall seed in the entire tournament, 2-1, Friday in Fargo, North Dakota. UPSET COMPLETE!!!! @AIC_Hockey ELIMINATES (1) ST. CLOUD STATE IN ITS NCAA TOURNAMENT DEBUT!#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/HEdJVl0NxD — NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 30, 2019 The Yellow Jackets will face Denver, Saturday at 9 p.m. in the West Regional final. The winner earns a berth in the Frozen Four. “I’m just excited for our group. We had a script, this game had to go a certain way. Sometimes that’s a tough pill to swallow but credit to our guys who didn’t back down,” coach Eric Lang said. “I thought we had some good chances to win the first period and we did what we had to do to advance. It’s an exciting day for our program but I’m extremely delighted for these guys. I get to spend another day with them.” AIC got the scoring going 6 minutes, 1 second into the game when junior forward Joel Kocur beat St. Cloud goaltender David Hrenak to give the Yellow Jackets the 1-0 lead. “That was a big first goal. I think we stressed having a good start. It was a good shift,” Kocur said. “I think we were cycling it well and kind of just turned off the gate man, saw a little space and you know, just tried to jam it in. I wasn’t sure if it was in to start but I was super excited.” Brennan Kapcheck doubled the advantage for AIC with 12:28 remaining in the second period, scoring what turned out to be the game-winning goal. The Yellow Jackets’ lead was cut in half with 10:33 remaining in the third period after an Easton Brodzinski pass from behind the net deflected off the helmet of AIC’s Shawn McBride and past goalie Zackarias Skog, who made 33 saves. Despite a late push from the Huskies as time wound down, the Yellow Jackets hung on to prevent the game-tying goal. It was the second year in a row, St. Cloud lost its first game, despite being the the top seed in the tournament. Air Force upset them in 2018. UMBC, whose men’s basketball team as a No. 16 seed delivered an upset of similar magnitude over Virginia last year was one of the first social media accounts to congratulate AIC. Denver defeated Ohio State in the other semifinal 2-0.<doc-sep>Here's how you can find them on TV and via online streams. Minnesota's march to the Frozen Four begins Friday night as the State of Hockey is represented in the 16-team NCAA Tournament with the top three seeds. Here's how you can tune in to watch No. 1 seed St. Cloud State, No. 2 seed Minnesota-Duluth and No. 3 seed Minnesota State-Mankato. #1 St. Cloud State Huskies vs. #16 American International Time: 6:30 p.m. Friday TV: None Streaming: ESPN3 The Huskies (30-5-3) are the No. 1 overall seed and playing a pseudo home game in Fargo, North Dakota against American International (22-16-1), but to watch the West Regional matchup you'll have to be at Scheels Arena in person or stream it via ESPN3, which you can do via Watch ESPN. Finding the game on ESPN3 might be challenging, but if you click this link and find the "Live" section, then click "See all," you should be able to find the link to the game. Watch ESPN You can follow live stats during the game right here, and listen to live game audio right here, If the Huskies advance to Saturday's regional final, the game will be televised on ESPNU, which is an actual channel. #2 Minnesota-Duluth vs. #15 Bowling Green Time: 3 p.m. Saturday TV: ESPNU Streaming: Watch ESPN The Bulldogs (25-11-2) are fresh off a win over St. Cloud State to win the NCHC tournament title and will face Bowling Green (25-10-5) in the Midwest Regional in Allentown, Pennsylvania. If the Bulldogs advance to Sunday's (5:30 p.m.) regional championship, the game will be televised again on ESPNU. You can listen to the radio broadcast online right here. #3 MSU-Mankato vs. #14 Providence Time: 12 p.m. Saturday TV: ESPN News Streaming: Watch ESPN The WCHA champion Mavericks (32-7-2) take on Providence (22-11-6) in the East Regional, which is a bit of a slap in the face to the Mavericks since the East Regional is being played in Providence, Rhode Island. Providence plays its home games at Schneider Arena, but this game will be played at Dunkin' Donuts Center, which is home to Providence's men's college basketball team. You can listen to the game right here, and you can follow live stats during the game right here.<doc-sep>	For the second consecutive year, the No. 1 St. Cloud State Huskies were upset by a 16-seeded team at the NCAA tournament. This time, SCSU fell to American International College 2-1. Just one year ago, this same group of Huskies fell to the Air Force Falcons 4-1 in the same barn at Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota as the top seed in the tournament. It was a sluggish start as St. Cloud State spent the majority of the first period in their own zone and American International netted the game's first goal from Joel Kocur. The Huskies finished with just six shots on net after twenty minutes. It was the same story in the second period, SCSU had their second power play opportunity but couldn't convert. Later in the frame, the Yellow Jackets increased their lead to 2-0 when Brennan Kapcheck's shot squeaked passed goaltender David Hrenak. St. Cloud finally got on the board at the midway point of the third period when Easton Brodzinski scored a power-play goal to cut the deficit in half. But it was too late. Even with their goaltender pulled for more than two minutes, the Huskies weren't able to tie things up. Yellow Jackets goaltender Zackarias Skog held the Huskies in check, making 33 saves in the win. The Huskies' senior class will be moving on with sour tastes in their mouths. During their freshman seasons in 2015-16, they were the No. 2 seed in the tournament and were upset by No. 15 seed Ferris State. After missing the NCAA tournament all together in 2016-17, they followed that up with back-to-back losses to Air Force and now American International College. All in all, the prolific group of players failed to win a single NCAA tournament game in their careers. AIC moves onto face Denver in the regional final, with the winner advancing to the Frozen Four in Buffalo, New York. Fellow Minnesota college teams MSU and UMD are also No. 1 seeds, and play on Saturday at noon and 3 p.m. respectively.
Community Corner NYC Columbus Day Parade 2018 Guide: Parade Route, Traffic Closure The Columbus Day Parade is this Monday, Oct. 8. Here's what you need to know about attending the event. Reply NEW YORK, NY — Fifth Avenue will be decked out in the green, white and red of il Tricolore, the flag of Italy, as New York City celebrates Columbus Day on Monday, Oct. 10. The Columbus Day parade has become one of the largest celebrations of the achievements of Italian-Americans in the country. This year's parade is expected to draw more than one million spectators and more than 130 marching groups — including bands, floats and cultural groups — according to parade organizers. Tens of thousands of people will take the march up Fifth Avenue this year and city and state politicians such as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are always safe bets to be in attendance. The parade is organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation. Subscribe to Patch's free daily newsletter and news alerts for more Upper East Side news. Whether you are interested in attending the parade, protesting it or want to avoid it on Sunday here's your guide to everything you need to know about the Columbus Day Parade this year: Parade start time: Columbus Day celebrations begin with a special mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Tickets are required to enter the cathedral up until 9:15 a.m. After 9:15 a.m. the mass is open to the general public, according to the Columbus Citizens Foundation. This year's celebration will kick of with a special ceremony at 11:30 a.m., according to parade organizers, but the actual parade won't start until noon. The parade is scheduled to last until 3 p.m. Parade route: The parade will begin in Midtown Manhattan on Fifth Avenue and continue into the Upper East Side. The route begins on Fifth Avenue and 44th Street and ends at Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street. There will be "red carpet performances" along the route from 67th and 69th streets, according to parade organizers.<doc-sep>Hosts Joe Piscopo and Juliette Papa are joined by anchors Ken Rosato and Lauren Glassberg for the 74th Annual Columbus Day Parade in NYC. The parade will be shown on the ABC7 network, from 12 – 3 p.m. ET, so anyone with access to ABC7 will be able to watch the event on TV, as well as online. If you don’t have cable or can’t get to a TV, you can watch a live stream of the ABC network on your computer, phone or streaming device by signing up for one of the following cable-free, live-TV streaming services: Hulu With Live TV In addition to their extensive Netflix-like streaming library, Hulu now also offers a bundle of 50-plus live TV channels, including ABC (available live in select markets, which you can find here). You can sign up for “Hulu with Live TV” right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the show on your computer via the Hulu website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the Hulu app. If you can’t watch the 2018 NYC Columbus Day Parade live, “Hulu with Live TV” also comes with both its extensive on-demand library (which has most shows available after they air) and 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to “Enhanced Cloud DVR,” which gives you 200 hours of DVR space and the ability to fast forward through commercials). PlayStation Vue PlayStation Vue offers four different channel packages, all of which include ABC (available live in select markets, which you can find here). You can sign up for a free 5-day trial right here (you don’t need to have PlayStation to sign up), and you can then watch a live stream of the show on your computer via the PS Vue website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the PS Vue app. If you can’t watch the 2018 NYC Columbus Day Parade live, PlayStation Vue comes with cloud DVR, but there are some restrictions. DirecTV Now DirecTV Now also offers four different channel packages, all of which include ABC (available live in select markets, which you can find here). You can sign up for a free trial right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the show on your computer via the DirecTV Now website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the DirecTV Now app. If you can’t watch the 2018 NYC Columbus Day Parade episodes live, DirecTV Now includes cloud DVR, although it is in the Beta stage. According to ABC7NY, the parade “celebrates the spirit of exploration and courage that inspired Christopher Columbus’s 1492 expedition and the important contributions Italian-Americans have made to the United States.” The parade includes bands, floats, performers and 35,000 marchers. Over a million people line the streets to watch the festivities. The route runs up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, from 44th to 72nd Street, with red carpet performances on Fifth Avenue, between 67th and 69th Streets. When it comes to some of the road closures outside of the parade, Curbed NY has reported that these streets will be closed until 6 p.m. ET today. Whitehall Street between Stone Street and Water Street Broadway between Morris Street and Stone Street Broadway between Liberty Street and Battery Place The parade this year is showing an emphasis on education and Guy Chiarello is the Grand Marshall this year, the president of the financial services company First Data Corporation. It’s the biggest celebration of Italian-American heritage in the country and the hosts have said that it’s a time to honor ethnicity in general as well. The parade is organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation. According to Patch.com, Columbus Citizens Foundation President Marian Pardo released the following statement about this year’s Grand Marshall and event, saying, “Guy Chiarello is such an esteemed leader in the technology and commerce industries – where he has been on the cutting edge for many years. And his commitment to discovering and providing opportunities for the next generation of business leaders is truly commendable. The Foundation is honored to have him as our 2018 Grand Marshal.” Newsweek reported that Chiarello told WCBS that, “I’ve been part of this city for 35 years. I’ve been an Italian-American, obviously my whole life. Celebrating this day, not only for Italian-Americans but for all Americans is just an amazing opportunity.” He also added, “I don’t get wrapped up in the controversy. American is the greatest country in the world. It represents freedom and everybody has to have their own heritage and beliefs. Young singer Romina Perri was enlisted to deliver this year’s National Anthem, at the start of the event.<doc-sep>For the 74th year running, the annual Columbus Day Parade—which bills itself as “the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture”—will march up Fifth Avenue on Monday, October 8. This year, parade organizers tapped First Data Corporation president Guy Chiarello as grand marshal; more than one million spectators are expected to show up. Last year, the Columbus Day parade drew a higher amount of skepticism, as calls to remove the Christopher Columbus statue at Columbus Circle made the rounds. While Columbus is credited with encouraging European exploration in the Americas, many take issue with the devastating effects that his exploits had on indigenous people in the Caribbean and beyond. Last August, Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered a 90-day review of city monuments that could potentially be viewed as “symbols of hate,” and in January 2018, it was determined that the Christopher Columbus statue would remain in place. The Redhawk Native American Arts Council, a nonprofit dedicated to educating New Yorkers about Native American arts and culture, will once again host its own festival on Randall’s Island, celebrating and spreading awareness about Indigenous Peoples Day. That event will take place on October 7 and 8, with a “Weekend Campout” on the island’s Wards Meadow Fields. As for the Columbus Day Parade, it’s a sure bet that it’ll shake up normal traffic patterns in Manhattan; here’s what you need to know. When is the Columbus Day Parade? The parade happens on Monday, October 8 , kicking off around 11 a.m. Where does the Columbus Day Parade take place? The parade takes place on Fifth Avenue, marching from 43rd Street up to 72nd Street. What streets will be closed for the Columbus Day Parade? The following streets will be closed Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Columbus Day Parade at the discretion of NYPD: Formation 43rd Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 44th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 45th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 46th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 47th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue Route 5th Avenue between 72nd Street and 43rd Street Dispersal 5th Avenue between 72nd Street and 79th Street 72nd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 73rd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 74th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 75th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 76th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 77th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 78th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue Miscellaneous 62nd Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue 68th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue 69th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue 70th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue Vanderbilt Avenue between 43rd Street and 47th Street Columbus Day Festival The following streets will be closed Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Columbus Day Festival as permitted by the Mayor’s Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO): Whitehall Street between Stone Street and Water Street Broadway between Morris Street and Stone Street Broadway between Liberty Street and Battery Place What does this mean for traffic this weekend? It’s best to anticipate vehicular and pedestrian traffic delays in Midtown and the Upper East Side so plan accordingly. It also wouldn’t hurt to check the MTA’s Weekender app to see how the subways will be running.<doc-sep>EAST SIDE, Manhattan -- The world's largest celebration of Italian-American culture returned for its 74th year in New York City.The parade featured 35,000 marchers and more than 100 groups, including bands, floats, and contingents marching up Fifth Avenue from 44th to 72nd Street with red carpet performances on Fifth Avenue between 67th and 69th Streets.First Data Corporation president Guy Chiarello served as grand marshal.More than 1 million spectators were expected for the event with millions more watching on television.ABC7 is your home for Columbus Day Parade coverage with hosts Joe Piscopo, Juliette Papa and anchors Ken Rosato and Lauren Glassberg.The parade celebrates the spirit of exploration and courage that inspired Christopher Columbus's 1492 expedition and the important contributions Italian-Americans have made to the United States.----------<doc-sep>	To mark the day in 1492 when Christopher Columbus "sailed the ocean blue," the United States designated the second Monday in October Columbus Day, and New York City hosts a parade every year. The 74th annual Columbus Day Parade will be overseen by Grand Marshal Guy Chiarello, who is the president of First Data Corporation. Parade attendees can catch the beginning of the procession at Fifth Avenue and 44th Street or snag a spot anywhere along Fifth Avenue until 72nd Street. Red carpet performances will also take place on Fifth Avenue between 67th and 69th streets. "The parade celebrates the spirit of exploration and courage that inspired Christopher Columbus's 1492 expedition to America and the important contributions of Italian-Americans and other immigrants that followed," the official parade website stated. More than 130 marching groups will make their way along Fifth Avenue, including over a dozen high school bands. Along with high school bands, professional groups from the United States and Italy will join the procession, and traditional folk groups will perform centuries-old dances. An estimated 35,000 people will march in the parade this year, and millions are expected to tune in. "I've been part of this city for 35 years. I've been an Italian-American, obviously, my whole life," Chiarello told WCBS. "Celebrating this day, not only for Italian-Americans but for all Americans, is just an amazing opportunity." The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. EDT, according to Time Out. For those who are unable to make it to the festivities in person, there are multiple ways to catch it from the comfort of your own home. WABC-TV will be covering the event live on television and has set up a stream on its website. Along with Fifth Avenue, the City of New York Police Department will close a number of streets to traffic from 11:00 a.m. EDT to 3:00 p.m. EDT to accommodate the parade, including: 43rd Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue 44th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 45th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 46th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 47th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 5th Avenue between 72nd Street and 79th Street 72nd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 73rd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 74th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 75th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue 76th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue 77th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue 78th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue 60th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue 62nd Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue 63rd Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue 64th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue 68th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue 69th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue 70th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue While the Columbus Citizens Foundation, a nonprofit organization that hosts the parade, uses the day to celebrate the achievements and history of Italian-Americans, Columbus Day has become a contentious holiday for others. Some argue that it celebrates the enslavement and conquering of Native Americans, who were living on the land first. Columbus Day was first celebrated in 1892 when then-President Benjamin Harrison was in office. More than 100 years later, some cities across the United States have opted to ditch Columbus Day and celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead. Last year, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio created a commission to study monuments, including a statue of Columbus, to determine if any of them were "symbols of hate." The commission was created in September; when de Blasio arrived at the Columbus Day Parade, attendees booed him. Ultimately the statue was allowed to stay. "I don't get wrapped up in the controversy. American is the greatest country in the world," Chiarello told WCBS. "It represents freedom, and everybody has to have their own heritage and beliefs."
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content Some unfortunate second-canned news: Fleetwood Mac is postponing its April 13 makeup show in Edmonton, having first postponed the show at Rogers Place on November 10, 90 minutes before the show’s start time. Stevie Nicks is getting over the flu, according to promoters, and the concert will be rescheduled shortly, but refunds are available at point of purchase. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Fleetwood Mac postpones April 13 makeup show at Rogers Place Back to video “We are having more fun than ever on this current tour,” said Mick Fleetwood, “but as we all know, touring life comes with its challenges. The flu has sidelined Stevie for a couple of weeks but she is on the mend and we look forward to getting back out on the road. We so apologize to the fans, but we are working on rescheduling.” This follows last week’s news that Ozzy Osbourne is postponing his July 9 concert. Fleetwood Mac has cancelled four Canadian dates: April 8 in Toronto, April 11 in Winnipeg, April 13 in Edmonton and April 15 in Calgary. [email protected] @fisheyefoto<doc-sep>It's official: Singer Stevie Nicks has the flu, so Fleetwood Mac is postponing the final North American dates of its current tour. The iconic rock group has axed the final four scheduled dates of this leg of the tour, after cancelling shows in Boston and Philadelphia last week citing the illness of an unnamed band member. The chopping block includes Monday night's concert in Toronto, along with the forthcoming shows in Winnipeg (Thursday), Edmonton (Saturday) and Calgary (next Monday). The two Alberta concerts were already makeup dates, rescheduled from last November when the band cancelled its Edmonton gig with less than two hours' notice. At that time, promoters also cited illness of an unnamed band member. The group has also withdrawn its appearance as the main stage closing act at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2. The veteran rockers were announced just last week as the replacement for the Rolling Stones, who postponed their upcoming tour as frontman Mick Jagger recovers from heart surgery. 2/3 While she is feeling better already, management has consulted with her doctors and have decided to reschedule the remaining four shows of their North American tour to allow for her full recovery. —@livenationwest 'We are working on rescheduling' "We are having more fun than ever on this current tour, but as we all know, touring life comes with its challenges. The flu has sidelined Stevie for a couple of weeks, but she is on the mend and we look forward to getting back out on the road," Mick Fleetwood said in a statement. "We so apologize to the fans, but we are working on rescheduling." Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood, left, and vocalist-guitarist Neil Finn are seen performing in Washington in March. The band has a busy slate of concert dates in Europe and Australia this summer. (Brent N. Clarke/Invision/Associated Press) Nicks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in late March. She was previously inducted in 1998 as a member of Fleetwood Mac. The band's statement noted October or November 2019 as potential dates for rescheduling the six cancelled North American concerts. New dates and details are forthcoming. Refunds are also available at point of purchase. Fleetwood Mac is slated to kick off a slate of European concerts in June before moving to a host of Australian dates in August and September.<doc-sep>	Albertans looking forward to seeing Fleetwood Mac live in concert later this month will have to wait a bit longer to see them perform. Shows planned for Rogers Place in Edmonton on Saturday, April 13 and the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Monday, April 15 have been postponed as Stevie Nicks has the flu. The band cancelled four shows in total, including one in Toronto on Monday and Winnipeg on Thursday. 1/3 The Fleetwood Mac shows at @bellmtsplace on Apr. 11, @RogersPlace on Apr. 13 and @YYCSaddledome on Apr. 15 have been postponed. As an update to previous Fleetwood Mac posts regarding a band member illness, Stevie Nicks has the flu… pic.twitter.com/0PsdQtenfr — Live Nation W Canada (@livenationwest) April 8, 2019 Ticket holders will be notified of new concert dates, or they will be able to get refunds at their point of purchase, Live Nation said Monday. This marks the second time that Calgary and Edmonton concert-goers have learned the show they purchased tickets to has been rescheduled; both performances were originally supposed to be in November, but the band cancelled due to illness. Story continues below advertisement “We are having more fun than ever on this current tour, but as we all know, touring life comes with its challenges,” Mick Fleetwood said in a release posted online. “The flu has sidelined Stevie for a couple of weeks but she is on the mend and we look forward to getting back out on the road.” “We so apologize to the fans, but we are working on rescheduling.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We so apologize to the fans, but we are working on rescheduling."
Tommy Robinson supporters were pictured performing Nazi salutes at protests calling for the far-right criminal to be released from prison. A man was filmed repeatedly making the gesture while holding a banner reading “f*** Islam” in Whitehall, London, while another Robinson supporter was photographed doing a Nazi salute in Belfast. Demonstrations took place in several British cities and abroad in locations including New York and Melbourne on Saturday, seeing thousands of people calling for Robinson to be freed. He has been jailed for 13 months after admitting committing contempt of court by live streaming details of a trial that was subject to blanket reporting restrictions at Leeds Crown Court. A judge initially banned reporting on Robinson’s imprisonment but the order was lifted following a challenge by The Independent and local media. Robinson, who was jailed under his real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had already been handed a suspended sentence for the same crime and was told he could have caused the trial to collapse. In London, nine men were arrested after protesters attacked police with metal crowd barriers, road signs and missiles, injuring five officers. An injured police officer during a ‘Free Tommy Robinson’ protest in London on 9 June (AFP/Getty) A 26-year-old man has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and eight others have been released under investigation. A 50-year-old man with a flare was arrested for explosives offences, another suspect was arrested for possession of cannabis and breach of the peace, while six suspects were detained for public order offences. A spokesperson for Scotland Yard said: “The Met’s public order investigations team has launched an investigation and are collating CCTV from the area. Enquiries continue.” The force declined to comment further on the treatment of its officers – who appeared to be vastly outnumbered – or the reasons behind the force’s apparent lack resources on the day. Footage showed unarmed police being chased by a large crowd chanting “scum” near Trafalgar Square, while protesters had earlier overrun and vandalised a sightseeing bus. American tourists filmed officers retreating down a side street from their hotel room while protesters following them chanted and threw traffic cones and other objects. Michael Bradley, a coordinator for Stand Up to Racism who attended the rally, said Robinson’s supporters repeatedly tried to break through barriers to attack counter-protesters before turning on police. He said violence had been mounting through a series of protests purporting to support free speech that have increased in frequency since members of the ethno-nationalist Generation Identity group and American activists were blocked from entering the UK. ✕ Tommy Robinson supporters attack police with road signs and traffic cones “There were loads of people doing Nazi salutes during the day,” he told The Independent. “Most of the fascist right in Britain were on that demonstration… at all these demonstrations have been clashes and they target anti-racist organisations, so clearly as it’s gone on it’s got more violent. “I think they see Robinson as the way to weld the movement together.” Nick Ryan, the director of communications at Hope Not Hate, said the violence seen on Saturday could indicate a return to racist street movements that petered out over the past decade. He said that policing protests by Robinson’s English Defence League (EDL) had cost British forces more than £10m in public money between 2009 and 2013 and the situation appeared to be escalating once more. “There has been an attempt to marry up the street element with the online agitating,” he told The Independent, noting the rise of the Football Lads Alliance, which claims to oppose terror. “Normally things on the far right fall apart because there are a lot of internal disputes but [Robinson’s imprisonment] is acting as a lightning rod for different groups to come together. “What’s disturbing is that these groups who would normally support strong law and order don’t apply it to their own side. The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Protesters scuffle with police at the junction of Whitehall and The Mall during a 'Free Tommy Robinson' protest AFP/Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures A protester wearing a mask of US president Donald Trump was among thousands of supporters of far-right activist and former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson staging a protest outside Downing Street in central London.<doc-sep>Get email updates with the day's biggest stories Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Right wing fanatics campaigning for the release of Tommy Robinson have been ridiculed after it was revealed they claimed an image of Liverpool FC fans at the 2005 Champions League homecoming parade was actually a photo of an EDL demonstration in London. Supporters of the ex-English Defence League leader Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, shared the bird's eye photo of the 2005 homecoming parade in Liverpool, the Liverpool Echo reports. Captured from above, the image shows 300,000 Liverpool FC fans gathered outside St George's Hall in the city centre to welcome the victorious squad home. On Twitter, it was claimed: "The left want this picture taken down because it shows the whole of London calling for Tommy Robinson to be released so please don't retweet it." (Image: Press Association) (Image: PA) The post was then shared and viewed by thousands of people on social media before the gross misrepresentation of the image was revealed. It came after tense scenes in London on Saturday saw protestors chant "Free Tommy Robinson" and hurled missiles and smoke bombs at police. Nine men were arrested after hundreds of demonstrators descended on the capital and blocked off the road around Trafalgar Square. The protest was in support of Robinson, who was jailed for contempt of court for using social media to broadcast details of a trial subject to blanket reporting restrictions. (Image: PA) (Image: Getty Images Europe) In footage that was watched over 250,00 times, Robinson included comments that could have caused the collapse of a long-running trial. He was sentenced to 13 months in jail on the same day of his arrest alongside a 10 month sentence for contempt of court and an additional three months for breaching a previous suspended sentence.<doc-sep>Two very different protests converged in central London on Saturday in a made-for-the-internet moment that’s certain to go viral. A naked man on what was formerly known as a Boris bike, and another on a kids scooter - in the buff from his plastic viking helmet down - were pictured passing a fully clothed supporter of Tommy Robinson who was shouldering a ‘#Free Tommy’ placard. As one commenter astutely put it - “when Free Tommy meets Free Willy”. They have merged. I am in hell. pic.twitter.com/rZypKF6Zph — Calgie (@christiancalgie) June 9, 2018 Free Tommy meets Free Willy 😶 — Drivelcast (@drivelcast) June 9, 2018 Both in support of getting dicks out. — Rosie (@rosiedoes) June 9, 2018 Trooping the Colour in the background would add an extra dimension and Armageddon would be upon us. — Ali (@Ali_and_Ferb) June 9, 2018 You've won the internet today😂😂😂 — Tenement Val (@ValerieRooney1) June 9, 2018 The unusual happenstance unfolded earlier today on Westminster Bridge when a rally against the jailing of Robinson - the founder of the English Defence League - crossed paths with the annual World Naked Bike Ride. The nude ride protests against car culture and celebrates the human body. It started in five different city locations but all participants merged on Westminster Bridge this afternoon before continuing on to Hyde Park. It was on the bridge where the two protests met. Earlier today Christian Calgie tweeted an imagine for movie, London Has Fallen, remarking with some disbelief that he had just passed the Robinson protest, “now I’ve walked into a naked bicycle ride”. So I cleared the Tommy Robinson protest and now I’ve walked into a naked bicycle ride??? pic.twitter.com/KGMQFZCtUu — Calgie (@christiancalgie) June 9, 2018 Later he tweeted a picture capturing the spectacle of the two protests in a single frame, lamenting: “They have merged. I am in hell.” Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed last month after using Facebook Live outside Leeds Crown Court to broadcast details of a child grooming trial, despite a court order banning it from being reported. The 35-year-old was sentenced to 13 months in prison - ten months for contempt of court with an additional three added for breaching a previous suspended sentence - sparking a rash of protests across UK. One protest organised by the Proud Britain group, outside Leeds Crown Court on June 1, attracted around 500 protesters who branded police officers a “disgrace”. They told police present: “You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.” PA Riot police deal with a protester at the Free Tommy rally in London Thousands of people turned out to support Robinson in London today, including Dutch politician and leader of the Party for Freedom, Geert Wilders, who was banned from Britain in 2009 only to get it overturned. Wilders addressed crowds and called for Robinson’s release. “I am here to tell you that you will never walk alone. And we are here to tell the world, and the UK government in particular: “Free Tommy Robinson,” he said. “At this very moment thousands of people are demonstrating all over the world in front of British embassies... all with one important message ‘Free Tommy’. “Downing Street is just around the corner, so maybe once again, as loud as possible we can let them hear our message: ‘Free Tommy Robinson’.” UKIP leader Gerard Batten was also said to have been in attendance. Robinson’s supporters were said to have blocked off the road around Trafalgar Square where they were met with rows of riot police who blocked the gate down the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace where the Royal Family gathered on the balcony after celebrating Trooping the Colour just hours before. Chris J Ratcliffe via Getty Images Demonstrators clash with police during rhe 'Free Tommy Robinson' protest on Whitehall Hundreds of supporters crowded on to an open-top Megabus sightseeing vehicle waving Union Jack flags, while one supporter posed on the roof in a Donald Trump mask. By 6pm, officers had removed protesters from the bus and had kettled many of the remaining protesters on the traffic island overhead. Videos posted on social media showed protesters in scuffles with police with beer cans being poured and thrown at officers who were taunted by the crowd. The Met said it had made four arrests, including two for assaulting a police officer. One was arrested for possession of a flare while the other was detained for possession of an offensive weapon. MailOnline said five arrests had been made and claimed Robinson’s supporters had appeared to throw bottles, metal barriers and traffic cones at police. A spokeswoman for megasightseeing.com said: “Our London sightseeing bus was on its normal route when it got caught up in the demonstrations. “The bus was stormed by demonstrators and the driver and a small number of customers got off. “The demonstrators have caused a significant amount of damage to the bus which meant it had to be towed away. “We have reported this to the police and will help them with any investigations.” Stand Up to Racism and Unite Against Fascism supporters held a counter-protest that was supported by Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott and trade unionists including Unite’s Len McCluskey, PCS leader Mark Serwotka and the NEU’s Kevin Courtney. Chris J Ratcliffe via Getty Images Thousands of protesters turned up at the rally and some took over an open-top Megabus sightseeing vehicle Tommy Robinson fans attacking police in the #FreeTommy gathering at Trafalgar Squarepic.twitter.com/nFLPUfae8v — NighSide (@NighSide) June 9, 2018 Weyman Bennett from Stand Up To Racism said: “Robinson is being held up as a martyr but wherever his support grows so does racism, hate and violence. In Leeds where he was arrested first his supporters marched through the city shouting Islamophobic slogans then, a few days later, a mosque and a Sikh temple were hit by arson attacks”. Michael Bradley from Unite Against Fascism said: “We are sounding the alarm to the trade union and labour movement. “These are not cranks who will disappear of their own accord. We need to build a mass movement to drive these people back.<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get US and UK politics insight with our free daily email briefing straight to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Riot police drew batons to hold back crowds of people calling for far-right leader Tommy Robinson to be freed from jail this afternoon. Rowdy demonstrators held up placards while chanting the former EDL leader's name during an organised protest called 'Free Tommy Robinson' in Trafalgar Square today. Robinson, 35, has been jailed for contempt of court after broadcasting a Facebook Live clip outside Leeds Crown Court, ignoring reporting restrictions on a long-running case. In today's protest, there were scenes of violence which saw bottles, metal barriers and other objects thrown at officers. Five police officers were hurt in the clashes, but their injuries are not said to be serious. Shocking photos and videos from the protest this afternoon show police charging towards the angry mob and drew their riot batons as clashes intensified. Video footage shows police restraining the crowds as they defiantly wave Union Jack flags ignoring the officers' requests to move back. One photo shows a man lying on the floor with a bar of glasses and a crushed can of beer next to him, while a police officer clutches onto his shirt in an effort to restrain him. Two other police officers stand guard, all with their batons at the ready. (Image: Getty Images Europe) (Image: AFP) A protester is also seen trying to pour a pint over passing police officers and another picture shows a bottle of coca-cola soaring through the air, having seemingly been thrown towards the police officers. The streets are strewn with empty bottles and cans of beer and soft drinks and people can be seen yelling in the faces of police officers. (Image: Getty Images Europe) They then marched to Whitehall, where far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders and Ukip MEP Gerard Batten addressed the crowd. Robinson's conviction and sentence were revealed for the first time after a reporting restriction was lifted. He was already subject to a suspended sentence for contempt for filming in court during a rape trial in Canterbury last year. (Image: PA) Now, more than 6,000 people who believe he has been wrongly imprisoned have called for him to be freed. Five people were arrested at 6.30pm this evening. One was arrested for allegedly possessing an offensive weapon, two for allegedly assaulting a police officer and one was arrested for allegedly possessing a flare. Another was arrested for alleged criminal damage to a bus, police said. The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation and will collate CCTV footage from the area.<doc-sep>	P olice officers were injured and five people were arrested as scuffles broke at a 'free Tommy Robinson' protest in central London. Thousands of protesters descended on Trafalgar Square for the protest before marching to Whitehall after the right wing activist was jailed for breaking contempt of court laws. Footage posted on social media shows a large group of men surrounding police and hurling objects while shouting "we want Tommy out". Five police officers were hurt at the protest on Saturday, none seriously, Scotland Yard said. The Met Police confirmed that five arrests have been made including two for assaulting a police officer. Demonstrators clash with police during a 'Free Tommy Robinson' protest on Whitehall / Getty Images One was arrested for possession of a flare while another was detained for possession of an offensive weapon. Protesters were calling for the release of former leader Robinson / Getty Images A fifth person was later arrested for criminal damage to a bus. Metropolitan Police confirmed that four arrests were made at the protest / Getty Images Riot police were forced to block the gate down the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace amid the troubling scenes. In one incident, hundreds of supporters crowded onto an open-top Megabus sightseeing vehicle waving Union Jack Flags, while one supporter posed on the roof in a Donald Trump mask. Police blocked off the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace / Getty Images A spokeswoman for megasightseeing.com said: "Our London sightseeing bus was on its normal route when it got caught up in the demonstrations. "The bus was stormed by demonstrators and the driver and a small number of customers got off. Five police officers were injured in the protest on Saturday / Getty Images "The demonstrators have caused a significant amount of damage to the bus which meant it had to be towed away. "We have reported this to the police and will help them with any investigations." Demonstrators climb aboard a sightseeing bus during the protest / Getty Images By 6pm, officers had removed protesters from the bus and had kettled those that remained on a traffic island overhead. Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders, who campaigned last year to become Dutch Prime Minister, was among those attending the march, as was UKIP leader Gerard Batten. Mr Wilders was banned from Britain in 2009 over a film about Islam only to later get it overturned. A counter-protest was also been organised in central London by campaign groups Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism. It comes after Robinson last month admitted contempt of court following his arrest for streaming a Facebook live video outside Leeds Crown Court. The charges relate to him publishing information that could prejudice an ongoing trial which is subject to blanket reporting restrictions. The 35-year-old received 10 months for contempt of court and a further three months for breaching the terms of a previous suspended sentence. He was already subject to a suspended sentence for contempt for filming in court during a rape trial in Canterbury last year. His sentence can be revealed for the first time after reporting restrictions were lifted.
The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have only just become available to consumers, but early buyers are already putting the new devices through the ringer. During its unveil of the devices, Apple touted that the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max feature “the most durable smartphone glass in the world,’ and YouTube channel TechSmartt is putting that claim to the test with a series of drop tests. First is what TechSmartt calls the pocket drop test. During this test, they drop the iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max from pocket height. Perhaps unsurprisingly, all three devices come out unscathed after this test. Next is that head height test, which drops all three devices from a height similar to if you were talking on the phone. During this test, the iPhone X gets a nice crack along the screen, while the iPhone XS comes out nearly flawless and the iPhone XS Max only gets a scuff along the top. Last but not least is a 10-foot drop for each device. For the iPhone X, the back glass shatters on impact, while the iPhone XS, again, comes out without any cracks. Meanwhile, the iPhone XS Max screen shatters as it lands face-first on the concrete, which causes the display itself to malfunction. All in all, drop tests are rather arbitrary look at how durable smartphones are, though they do provide some good entertainment. Of course, when you drop an iPhone on the ground there are a slew of variables, ranging from how the device hits the ground to the height and angle of impact, and more. Whether or not Apple’s “most durable glass in the world” claim holds true is hard to confirm. While this drop test seems to suggest some improvements, results will obviously vary wildly in real world use. Further, there will always be variance between the 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch models due to the added weight of the latter. Have you gotten your iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max yet? Let us know what you think of it down in the comments! FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:<doc-sep>A fter months of expectation, the new iPhone XS and XS Max smartphones are finally on sale and waiting to be shipped to Apple fans around the world. What do you do when you get a new iPhone? Admire the beauty of the new design or maybe take some selfies to try out the new camera. You probably don’t throw it down the steps of the Sydney Opera House, unless you’re James Griffith, co-founder and CEO of Mous, a London-based start-up that makes unbreakable iPhone cases. Thanks to Mous’s specially designed material, named Airoshock, its cases are unbelievably thin but incredibly protective - meaning you can lob your brand new phone about 30 feet and it will survive, as demonstrated by Griffith. “Our cases only add 2.5mm to the phone’s thickness, and to be protective they have to fit exactly: the fit has to be accurate to 1/10th of a millimetre, or about the thickness of a human hair,” Lucy Hutchinson, Mous co-founder and head of brand, tells the Standard. Pulling off crazy stunts is all part of the Mous DNA. The start-up enjoys pushing their designs to the limits, whether it’s dropping phones from a helicopter to try out the latest case, or hammering a nail onto a new screen protector design to prove it works. But, it’s particularly terrifying when they attempt drop tests at new iPhone releases. Apple keeps the specs of new devices firmly under wraps on the lead up to the launch, so the Mous team have to make educated guesses surrounding the new phones in order to create its next range of cases. The Mous team camped outside the Sydney Apple Store to be one of the first to get the new phones (Getty) / Getty Images via Mous “We observe Apple’s design trends and rumours obsessively. But at the end of the day we really won’t know until the day of the launch” says Griffith. “It’s really nerve-wracking. We’ve invested tens of thousands of dollars into building this machinery to build tens of thousands of phone cases, and until the day the new iPhones launch we can’t be 100 per cent sure whether they will fit.” Luckily for Mous, the team have managed to make this new case work, meaning Griffith’s brand new iPhone survives the Sydney drop test. Don’t expect the company to stop with its antics anytime soon. For Griffith, it’s all part of the fun.<doc-sep>Apple’s iPhone XS went on sale in stores on Friday and one particularly enthusiastic Apple fan had a crazy way of trying out his new phone. A YouTube video, which has since been removed, showed the fan throwing it down the steps of the Sydney Opera House for the ultimate drop test. Team members of Mous, a smartphone case company, eagerly awaited the arrival of the phone in Sydney, to be some of the first to try out the new phone — and to give the durability of their phone covers for the new models, a test drive. The team members camped outside of the store to ensure that they would get iPhones as soon as they were available. After the phones were procured and put into their Mous covers, team members tested them out by throwing the phones in the air and using them to hammer nails into a piece of wood; however, the real test came when they went to the Sydney Opera House, where they threw the case-clad phone down the 40 steps leading up to the opera house, a distance that totaled about 30 ft. Thanks to the powerful case, the phone came out unscathed. Get The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. Please enter a valid email address. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Please attempt to sign up again. Sign Up Now An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thank you! For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Write to Cady Lang at [email protected].<doc-sep>	Apple's iPhone XS and XS Max are finally getting into the hands of the consumers, and what's the first thing they do? They drop the phones onto concrete, of course. Well, maybe not all consumers. YouTube channel TechSmartt performed the first drop test of Apple's new iPhones on Thursday, which is especially interesting given that Apple said the iPhone XS and XS Max have "the most durable glass in the world." SEE ALSO: Apple heard you like iPhones so it put a tiny iPhone in your mobile browser TechSmartt dropped the new XS and XS Max — as well as last year's iPhone X — from three (loosely defined) heights: pocket height, head height, and roughly 10 feet. Obviously, this isn't the most scientific of approaches, but still interesting enough, and quite daring: Can you really expect any phone to escape a 10-foot drop onto concrete unscathed? You can see how the new iPhones fared in the video (above). Watch it before reading further if you hate spoilers. Neither phone suffered much visible damage after the pocket-height drop. When dropped from head height, the iPhone X's glass cracked, while the iPhone XS escaped with nearly no damage. The iPhone XS Max did have some ugly scratch marks, though. Finally, when dropped from 10 feet of height, the iPhone X suffered additional damage (not surprising, given it was already cracked). The iPhone XS, amazingly, again emerged with nearly no visible damage. The XS Max did not fare that well as its front glass cracked in the upper left corner. We'll likely see many similar drop tests in the future, but Apple's latest and greatest phones fared quite well in this one. Both the iPhone XS and XS Max survived pretty severe drops with minimal damage, and while this doesn't exactly prove Apple's claims about the durability of the glass used on these devices, it's a good indication that these phones are, indeed, quite tough to break. Hours after the first video, TechSmartt also posted a video that tests whether the iPhone XS and XS Max are really as waterproof as Apple claims (which is up to IP68 specifications) — or even better. Again, spoilers are below. Long story short: One iPhone XS Max survived being in a bowl of fresh water for 30 minutes with no visible damage. A different iPhone XS Max spent an hour at 10 meters (33 feet), which essentially killed it. So yeah, the phones appear to be waterproof up to Apple's specs, but don't go beyond them because you'll ruin your phone.
Where will each of the former Texas Longhorns football players be selected in the final days of the 2019 NFL Draft this weekend? If the Texas Longhorns football program continues its rise to national prominence, the talent it will churn out to the next level and on into the NFL Draft will correlate. For the past few years under current head coach Tom Herman and former head coach Charlie Strong, the Longhorns started to see less and less talent churned out to the NFL Draft. That meant that NFL teams were able to get talented players that were former four and five-star recruits at a premium as undrafted free agents. Yet, that time that NFL teams have to snag former Longhorn standouts as undrafted free agents that can make rosters and make an impact for a few years looks to be running out. As far as the image of the Texas football program goes, that’s actually a good thing. The Longhorns are starting to find more success on the field and thus having more day two and early day three selections in the NFL Draft. The class that came off the Forty Acres and from the Texas football program last year for the 2018 NFL Draft ended up being pretty solid. Teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings got steals in free agency for a few former Longhorn rookies that made an impact in some form or fashion right away. That time might run out come the 2020 NFL Draft since Herman will being to churn more of his players out to the next level. All this doesn’t take much away from the fact that the Longhorns are on a rise that makes it more fun for the fan base to watch events like the NFL Draft. Here’s the definitive prediction of every former Longhorn actually selected in the seven rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.<doc-sep>The Katy, Texas native was a walk-on in 2015 as a freshman at Texas A&M before being named the Aggies' 12th Man. Gillaspia continued wearing the No. 12 jersey from 2016 through 2018, serving as a team captain for all 13 games in 2017. Under head coach Jimbo Fisher, Gillaspia also played fullback in 2018, serving as lead blocker for running back Trayveon Williams who rushed for a school record 1,760 yards. Gillaspia becomes the first 12th Man to be drafted by an NFL team. Last December, he solidified himself in Aggie history as the first player wearing the heralded No. 12 jersey to score a touchdown when he did so on his last carry in the Texas A&M Gator Bowl win over NC State. "Being the 12th Man at Texas A&M is an incredible honor," Texans football analyst and sideline reporter John Harris said. "It's one respected and valued by the entire university. But, this 12th Man grew into an excellent fullback and special teams star for the Aggies. Then, at his A&M Pro Day, he ran in the 4.5 range and that opened NFL eyes. That also got him an invite to the Texans local Pro Day and he again shined. He's 6-1, 235 pounds with 4.5 speed and a desire to hit anything that moves and loves special teams. He'll have a home in Houston." Gillaspia completed his A&M career with 25 tackles, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble and two blocked kick in addition to five carries for 33 yards, one rushing touchdown and five receptions for 52 yards. Awarded the Special Teams Most Impactful Award last season, the fullback will also be contributing on special teams for Houston.<doc-sep>Texas A&M's draft-eligible players may have had to wait around a little bit Saturday, but the day ended up being busy with five players being drafted. The Aggies had seven taken overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. Cullen Gillaspia became the first 12th Man to be drafted Saturday. Kingsley Keke was the first Aggie off the board Saturday, when the Green Bay Packers selected him with their fifth round pick, the 150th overall. Keke joins fellow Aggie Jace Sternberger, who was picked by the Packers in the third round Friday night, as members of Green Bay’s draft class. The Packers said they were impressed with Keke’s versatility, as he succeed at both the tackle and end positions during his Aggie career. His best season was his last, as he racked up 51 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks as he held down a short-handed defensive end group and exceeded nearly all expectations. Content Loading ⓘ Manage privacy settings Embed content not available PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxvY2sgc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxv Y2stLXR3ZWV0Jz4KPGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nY2VudGVyX3R3ZWV0Jz48YmxvY2tx dW90ZSBjbGFzcz0idHdpdHRlci10d2VldCI+PHAgbGFuZz0iZW4iIGRpcj0i bHRyIj5Xb3JrZWQgZm9yIHRoaXMgbXkgd2hvbGUgbGlmZSBhbmQgZmluYWxs eSBteSBkcmVhbSBpcyBjb21pbmcgdHJ1ZS4gVGhhbmsgeW91IDxhIGhyZWY9 Imh0dHBzOi8vdHdpdHRlci5jb20vcGFja2Vycz9yZWZfc3JjPXR3c3JjJTVF dGZ3Ij5AcGFja2VyczwvYT4gZm9yIHRoZSBvcHBvcnR1bml0eSEgSeKAmW0g cmVhZHkgdG8gZ2V0IHRvIFdvcmshIDxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vdHdpdHRl ci5jb20vaGFzaHRhZy9nb3BhY2tnbz9zcmM9aGFzaCZhbXA7cmVmX3NyYz10 d3NyYyU1RXRmdyI+I2dvcGFja2dvPC9hPiA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3Qu Y28vMmtubmdhVFdOayI+cGljLnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tLzJrbm5nYVRXTms8L2E+ PC9wPiZtZGFzaDsgS2luZ3NsZXkgS2VrZSPig6MgOOKDoyAoQEJ1Y2tldHNB bGxfRGF5KSA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL0J1Y2tldHNB bGxfRGF5L3N0YXR1cy8xMTIyMjM5NTIzMTgwNzQ0NzA0P3JlZl9zcmM9dHdz cmMlNUV0ZnciPkFwcmlsIDI3LCAyMDE5PC9hPjwvYmxvY2txdW90ZT4KPHNj cmlwdCBhc3luYyBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxhdGZvcm0udHdpdHRlci5jb20v d2lkZ2V0cy5qcyIgY2hhcnNldD0idXRmLTgiPjwvc2NyaXB0Pgo8L2Rpdj4K PC9kaXY+Cgo= One of the best stories of 2018 was Daylon Mack’s resurrection of his football career, which will continue in Baltimore. Mack was taken 10 picks after Keke by the Ravens, who will look for him to work his way into the rotation with fellow defensive tackles Brandon Williams and Michael Pierce. Mack had a stellar 2018, with 32 tackles, 10 TFL and 5.5 sacks. With the Ravens, he won’t have to start right away, but will certainly have the opportunity to get on the field with one of the league’s best defenses. Mack will also find a familiar face waiting for him in Baltimore -- offensive lineman and fellow Aggie Jermiane Eluemunor was taken by the Ravens in the 2017 draft. Daylon Mack was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. After becoming one of the most prolific running backs in Texas A&M history in just three seasons, Trayveon Williams had to wait a lot longer than most anticipated to hear his named called Saturday. Expected to be a mid-round pick, Williams inexplicably slid to the sixth round, where the Cincinnati Bengals selected him with the 182nd pick overall. The drop was duly noted by Williams on social media, who vowed payback. Content Loading ⓘ Manage privacy settings Embed content not available PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxvY2sgc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxv Y2stLXR3ZWV0Jz4KPGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nY2VudGVyX3R3ZWV0Jz48YmxvY2tx dW90ZSBjbGFzcz0idHdpdHRlci10d2VldCI+PHAgbGFuZz0iZW4iIGRpcj0i bHRyIj5DaW5jaW5uYXRpIEJlbmdhbHMgaGVyZSBJIGNvbWUgISBHb2Qgd29y a3MgaW4gbXlzdGVyaW91cyB3YXlzIGJ1dCBJ4oCZbGwgbmV2ZXIgZG91YnQg aGltISBUaGUgbGVhZ3VlIHdpbGwgcGF5IG1hcmsgbXkgd29yZHM8L3A+Jm1k YXNoOyBUcmF5dmVvbiBXaWxsaWFtcyAoQFRyYXl2ZW9uVykgPGEgaHJlZj0i aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9UcmF5dmVvblcvc3RhdHVzLzExMjIyMzM1 Mzc1NjkxMzI1NDU/cmVmX3NyYz10d3NyYyU1RXRmdyI+QXByaWwgMjcsIDIw MTk8L2E+PC9ibG9ja3F1b3RlPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFzeW5jIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6 Ly9wbGF0Zm9ybS50d2l0dGVyLmNvbS93aWRnZXRzLmpzIiBjaGFyc2V0PSJ1 dGYtOCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjwvZGl2Pgo8L2Rpdj4KCg== Williams, a former 4-star prospect from Houston’s C.E. King, ran for more than 1,000 yards as a true freshman but saw his numbers slip to under 800 yards in 2017. Immediately given the role as A&M’s featured back by new coach Jimbo Fisher, Williams exploded in 2018. After a school-record 1,760 yards (6.5 YPC) and 18 rushing touchdowns -- capped by a Gator Bowl record 236 yards in A&M’s demolition of N.C. State -- he was named first team All-SEC and an All-American. Once knocked by scouts for a lack of size, toughness and durability, Williams proved the latter two to be farcical in 2018 as he carried the Aggies through the second half of their schedule, including a 3-0 record in November. With just Joe Mixon and Giovanni Bernard in their backfield, Williams should get a real shot at picking up carries in 2019. Safety Donovan Wilson struggles with injuries kept him out of the 2018 Gator Bowl and hampered his ability to work out at the NFL Combine and A&M’s Pro Day, but the Dallas Cowboys showed consistent interest in the senior throughout the draft process. They did more than just show interest Saturday -- they took Wilson with their sixth round pick, the 213th overall. Content Loading ⓘ Manage privacy settings Embed content not available PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxvY2sgc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxv Y2stLXR3ZWV0Jz4KPGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nY2VudGVyX3R3ZWV0Jz48YmxvY2tx dW90ZSBjbGFzcz0idHdpdHRlci10d2VldCI+PHAgbGFuZz0iZW4iIGRpcj0i bHRyIj5TZWNyZXQgQXVkaW8g8J+UiiBMaXN0ZW4gdG8gdGhlIDxhIGhyZWY9 Imh0dHBzOi8vdHdpdHRlci5jb20vaGFzaHRhZy9EYWxsYXNDb3dib3lzP3Ny Yz1oYXNoJmFtcDtyZWZfc3JjPXR3c3JjJTVFdGZ3Ij4jRGFsbGFzQ293Ym95 czwvYT4gcGhvbmUgY2FsbCB3aXRoIDxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vdHdpdHRl ci5jb20vZG9ubHdpbHNvbjY/cmVmX3NyYz10d3NyYyU1RXRmdyI+QGRvbmx3 aWxzb242PC9hPiBhbmQgaGlzIGZhbWlseSBhcyB0aGV5IGJlY29tZSBlbW90 aW9uYWwgYWZ0ZXIgbGVhcm5pbmcgaGUgd2FzIHRoZSBuZXdlc3QgbWVtYmVy IG9mIHRoZSBDb3dib3lzLiA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29t L2hhc2h0YWcvQ293Ym95c0RyYWZ0P3NyYz1oYXNoJmFtcDtyZWZfc3JjPXR3 c3JjJTVFdGZ3Ij4jQ293Ym95c0RyYWZ0PC9hPiA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczov L3QuY28vR1Q2T3V2QmtHUiI+cGljLnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tL0dUNk91dkJrR1I8 L2E+PC9wPiZtZGFzaDsgRGFsbGFzIENvd2JveXMgKEBkYWxsYXNjb3dib3lz KSA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL2RhbGxhc2Nvd2JveXMv c3RhdHVzLzExMjIyNTI5NzY2NDk5MDgyMjU/cmVmX3NyYz10d3NyYyU1RXRm dyI+QXByaWwgMjcsIDIwMTk8L2E+PC9ibG9ja3F1b3RlPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFz eW5jIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF0Zm9ybS50d2l0dGVyLmNvbS93aWRnZXRz LmpzIiBjaGFyc2V0PSJ1dGYtOCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjwvZGl2Pgo8L2Rpdj4K Cg== Wilson was a playmaker at A&M, racking up 207 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and eight INTs. He had 66 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 INTs in 2018, including one to seal A&M’s 24-17 win over Arkansas at his new home, AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys are currently short-handed at safety, so Wilson should get a good chance to prove himself. As he has done so many times before, Cullen Gillaspia made history Saturday. He became the first 12th Man to be drafted when the Houston Texans, who had followed him closely through the draft process, took him with their sixth round pick (220th overall). Gillaspia, who is the longest-tenured 12th Man and the first to ever score a touchdown, impressed the Texans with his athleticism and his quick adaptation to the fullback position. He also drew the attention of another former walk-on, who has had a rather successful career.<doc-sep>After only seeing two players selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, how much better could things get for Texas in 2020? According to Athlon Sports, three Longhorns are among the 20 best Big 12 prospects available for the 2020 NFL Draft. The most surprising name from the Texas program to appear on the list is sophomore offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi. A member of the USA TODAY Freshman All-America team, Cosmi started the final 13 games of the season for the Longhorns at right tackle, including the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Football Championship Game loss to Oklahoma and the Allstate Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia. Cosmi will make the transition to left tackle in 2019, replacing the departed Calvin Anderson (signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent after starting all 14 games as a graduate transfer left tackle). The 6-foot-5-inch, 295-pound Cosmi benefited greatly from a redshirt season in 2017 and while he’s got plenty of eligibility remaining, being included on such a published list speaks to his upside. “Cosmi was a revelation at right tackle for the Longhorns in ‘18,” Athlon’s Allen Kenney wrote. “As a redshirt freshman, he started the final 13 games of the year and became the most dependable member of offensive line coach Herb Hand’s improved unit. “Cosmi may not have enough seasoning at the end of the 2019 season to leave early for the draft,” Kenney continued. “If he does stick around for another year, Cosmi could have a chance to be an early selection in the 2021 draft.” Texas added a talented graduate transfer in Georgia Tech’s Parker Braun who could very well hear his name called in the draft whenever he declares, whether that’s 2020 or 2021. Outside of Braun, Cosmi currently appears to be the best bet to be the next Texas offensive lineman selected in the draft, of which there have only been two (Tony Hills in 2008, Connor Williams in 2018) taken from the Forty Acres in the last 12 drafts. It’s not surprising to see Collin Johnson and Brandon Jones on a list of prospects who could be hot NFL commodities next spring. The 6-foot-5-inch, 220-pound Johnson has been listed as potential first-round pick in multiple mock drafts while one recently-published mock had Jones going in the first round. “Johnson decided to come back for one more year at Texas and take another run at a Big 12 title,” Kenney wrote of Johnson, who could become the first Texas wide receiver to go in the first round of the draft since Roy Williams in 2004. “The Longhorns will be relying on him to lead the receiving corps in ‘19, which should give Johnson plenty of opportunities to showcase his skills out wide. “This season, NFL scouts will want to see if Johnson can handle being the focal point of the passing game with Lil'Jordan Humphrey gone.” Get VIP content at Horns247 FREE right now when you sign up for a 7-day trial! “Jones also passed on the opportunity to leave early and capitalize on a strong junior year,” Kenney wrote of Jones, who should become the ninth Texas defensive back drafted off of a team representing the current decade. “In 10 games, the 6-foot, 205-pound safety tallied 70 tackles, including 5.5 behind the line of scrimmage. As a senior, Jones’ experience in defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s scheme will be a plus in terms of ways he can affect the game.”<doc-sep>	The disappointment for the Texas football program that is the 2019 NFL Draft kept on April 26 with two days of no selections. The woes for the Texas football program in the 2019 NFL Draft got even worse on April 26, as it went yet another set of rounds without having a single player selected. On the first two days of the 2019 NFL Draft, and for the first three rounds, the Texas football program didn’t have a single player selected. Considering the blue blood status of Texas football, garnering zero draft picks in the first three rounds here is very disappointing. This is not to say that Texas football didn’t have its fair share of solid candidates to draft from in this class on day two. There were a few names that should’ve been called in the second and/or third rounds. However, all the skill position talent that leaked into day two of the 2019 NFL Draft was a big reason why this group of former Longhorns weren’t able to be picked up yet. And all the defensive line talent seemingly forced back the star Texas football defensive end Charles Omenihu into day three. A few other names among the former standouts from the Texas Longhorns football program will also hear their names called on day three. None should be called earlier than Omenihu’s, though. A lot of Texas football fans had to be expecting to hear Omenihu’s name called in the second or third round, let alone day three. Yet, here we are. Every former Longhorn in this 2019 NFL Draft class is still waiting to hear his name called and the drought of first round selections among players coming off the Forty Acres continues. Texas football is going on four years now of no players selected in the first round of the draft. This could all change next year, but the disappointment of previous seasons under head coaches Mack Brown, Charlie Strong, and Tom Herman is still leaking into the NFL Draft. If only the Longhorns get one prodigy that is a talented enough prospect to fall in the first round no matter what. We’ll see what happens on day three of the 2019 NFL Draft, on April 27, but the results were less than stellar thus far. Fans of the Longhorns have to be saddened by this draft, but it’s not all done yet and it could be a busy day for them to round out the weekend.
This morning, Kotaku published a report on the development of BioWare’s latest title, Anthem. The game is currently struggling in its post-launch period, with issues ranging from technical issues on PlayStation 4 to community frustration with the lack of content and satisfying rewards to the scaling math behind end game gear. But the Kotaku report on its development enumerates the challenges both the game and its creators faced long before release. The report extensively quotes current and former BioWare employees who were with the company during the years-long development of Anthem. The piece should be read in full, but there are a few key takeaways. Kotaku’s report paints a picture of dysfunction. The BioWare process, which relies on a confluence of systems coming together in a sudden success right before the launch, seems to no longer work. A steady drain of both leadership figures and talented developers has turned this formula on its head, and that can be seen in both Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem. Both titles went through several years of development and iteration before critically panned launches that disappointed players. EA’s Frostbite engine has reportedly further hampered development, forcing developers to fight their own creation tools in order to implement features. Frostbite delayed progress and caused small issues to require significantly more manpower and time than would be otherwise necessary, according to the report. The report further alleges that this process has led to a major mental health impact across BioWare staff. According to the report, depression and anxiety are both common, with co-workers taking stress leave mandated by medical professionals to cope with the demands of development. BioWare has since released a statement replying to Kotaku’s report. The statement reads: We’d like to take a moment to address an article published this morning about BioWare, and Anthem’s development. First and foremost, we wholeheartedly stand behind every current and former member of our team that worked on the game, including leadership. It takes a massive amount of effort, energy and dedication to make any game, and making Anthem would not have been possible without every single one of their efforts. We chose not to comment or participate in this story because we felt there was an unfair focus on specific team members and leaders, who did their absolute best to bring this totally new idea to fans. We didn’t want to be part of something that was attempting to bring them down as individuals. We respect them all, and we built this game as a team. We put a great emphasis on our workplace culture in our studios. The health and well-being of our team members is something we take very seriously. We have built a new leadership team over the last couple of years, starting with Casey Hudson as our GM in 2017, which has helped us make big steps to improve studio culture and our creative focus. We hear the criticisms that were raised by the people in the piece today, and we’re looking at that alongside feedback that we receive in our internal team surveys. We put a lot of focus on better planning to avoid “crunch time,” and it was not a major topic of feedback in our internal postmortems. Making games, especially new IP, will always be one of the hardest entertainment challenges. We do everything we can to try and make it healthy and stress-free, but we also know there is always room to improve. As a studio and a team, we accept all criticisms that will come our way for the games we make, especially from our players. The creative process is often difficult. The struggles and challenges of making video games are very real. But the reward of putting something we created into the hands of our players is amazing. People in this industry put so much passion and energy into making something fun. We don’t see the value in tearing down one another, or one another’s work. We don’t believe articles that do that are making our industry and craft better. Our full focus is on our players and continuing to make Anthem everything it can be for our community. Thank you to our fans for your support – we do what we do for you. BioWare ends the statement with thanking fans for their support, and reiterating earlier promises to remain committed to the ongoing development of Anthem. Despite being released only 15 minutes after the Kotaku report, the third paragraph takes a swing at the piece and other reports on the challenges of video game development. The statement doesn’t specifically address many of the troubling information in the report, specifically claims about mass departures and mental health challenges. Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the timing of the release of Bioware’s statement. The company has since reached out to clarify that the statement was published 15 minutes after the publication of Kotaku’s report.<doc-sep>BioWare refuted reports of forced crunch in the development of “Anthem” in a blog post on Tuesday but acknowledged it was looking into the game’s development and that there is room to improve. The company released the statement in response to a Kotaku article about the development of the online action-RPG. “Anthem’s” years-long development cycle was filled with constant upheavals, according to the Kotaku report. Many features weren’t finalized or implemented until the final months. There were big narrative reboots, design overhauls, team shakeups, and intense “crunch” periods. Plus, limitations with “Anthem’s” Frostbite engine reportedly caused numerous headaches. “We’re trying to make this huge procedural world but we’re constantly fighting Frostbite because that’s not what it’s designed to do,” one developer told Kotaku. Many of the developers who spoke to Kotaku said they suffered from depression and anxiety. Co-workers had to take doctor-ordered “stress leave” that lasted weeks or months. In its statement on Tuesday, BioWare said it takes the health and well-being of its team members very seriously. “Anthem” launched on PC and consoles on Feb. 22 and received mixed reviews from critics. Variety’s own Dan Solberg called it a “disjointed and clunky experience,” noting its “user-unfriendly design” and technical issues. BioWare ended its statement on Tuesday by criticizing Kotaku for reporting on its alleged work conditions, saying, “We don’t see the value in tearing down one another, or one another’s work. We don’t believe articles that do that are making our industry and craft better.” The refutation comes as there is a growing push for more workers rights and unionization from many members of the gaming community, including the grassroots organization Gamer Workers Unite. Even the AFL-CIO, America’s largest labor organization, recently asked games industry employees to fight for adequate pay and sensible work hours. “This is a moment for change,” said AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer Liz Shuler. “It won’t come from CEOs. It won’t come from corporate boards. And, it won’t come from any one person. Change will happen when you gain leverage by joining together in a strong union. And, it will happen when you use your collective voice to bargain for a fair share of the wealth you create every day.”<doc-sep>	BioWare has published a vague rebuttal to a lengthy report on Anthem’s troubled development. The tone of the reply is generally dismissive, and it went up within minutes of the report’s publication. “We don’t see the value in tearing down one another,” the response reads, “or one another’s work. We don’t believe articles that do that are making our industry and craft better.” The report on Anthem’s development was published by Kotaku earlier today, and the site sought comment from BioWare prior to publication – as is standard practice in these types of features. BioWare writes in its blog post that “We chose not to comment or participate in this story because we felt there was an unfair focus on specific team members and leaders, who did their absolute best to bring this totally new idea to fans.” One of the key issues identified in the report is that BioWare leadership was often dismissive of feedback from developers on what was going wrong with the game and, early on, wasn’t making effective decisions to shape the game’s direction. According to the report, developers were suffering under so much stress that they were often mandated by doctors to take weeks or months of ‘stress leave.’ To that, BioWare says “we put a lot of focus on better planning to avoid “crunch time,” and it was not a major topic of feedback in our internal postmortems.” While the 19 developers who spoke with Kotaku remained anonymous, former senior designer Manveer Heir, who worked with the studio on Mass Effect 3 and Andromeda, says the report mirrors his own experiences. He tweets that “it literally just sounds like the same shit we dealt with on MEA.” After BioWare published its blog post, Jason Schreier – the author of Kotaku’s report – tweeted “to those still at BioWare fuming at the company’s statement… wishing you the best.” While the blog post is attributed to BioWare as a whole, it seems not everyone at the studio shares the sentiment.
The wait is over, you can finally see this adorable panda cub Viral 'Charlie bit my finger' video to be taken down. Here's why (CNN) — “Leggings are so naked, so form fitting, so exposing. Could you think of the mothers of sons the next time you go shopping and consider choosing jeans instead?” a Catholic mother wrote. Maryann White urged female students to stop wearing leggings in a letter to the editor this week in The Observer, a student newspaper serving the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross Colleges. She said young women wearing leggings make it harder for men not to look at their bodies. She said she was ashamed for the women she saw wearing leggings and crop tops at a Catholic Mass she attended. “You couldn’t help but see those blackly naked rear ends. I didn’t want to see them — but they were unavoidable. How much more difficult for young guys to ignore them,” White wrote. White also blamed the entertainment and fashion industries for making it hard on Catholic women to teach their sons that women should be respected. The letter blaming women’s clothes for men’s sexual behavior inspired students at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana to organize a movement and wear leggings to protest White’s views. They wore leggings in protest Anne Jarrett, a junior majoring in philosophy and gender studies, is also an activist at Irish 4 Reproductive Health, a campus advocacy group for reproductive rights. She helped create the protest and a Facebook event called Leggings Pride Day. Courtesy Anne Jarrett "We're protesting our right to not be responsible for men and to not be constantly policed by morals or femininity," Anne Jarrett said in a tweet where she posed with short leggings. Jarrett, 21, wasn’t surprised by White’s point of view because she heard similar arguments in catechism classes and in Catholic school while growing up. There’s a double standard around modesty, she said. “The way that [White] used modesty in the letter as sort of like a call to women to do better was the same argument that I had seen a lot,” Jarrett said. Faculty and students from a diverse array of ages, races and genders expressed their support of wearing leggings and posted on social media. People from other parts of the country shared their support as well. Notre Dame students protested Maryann White's op-ed in The Observer by wearing leggings today for #leggingsdayND. Here's why Nicole Waddick showed up: pic.twitter.com/t9DCX4aFRc — The Observer (@NDSMCObserver) March 26, 2019 Jarrett was impressed by people’s responses to the movement. “I’ve been surprised by the amount of support that this has gotten from male and masculine-presenting students,” Jarrett said. “My guy friends have sent pictures to me in leggings. People in classes have said, ‘Look at all of the guys in my class wearing leggings today.’” The movement faces some backlash Many people, some of whom tend to shame women and harass them online, were not on board with the leggings protest. Jarrett received sexually inappropriate comments on Twitter when she posted her pictures with short leggings. But in the end, she didn’t want to focus her attention on the negativity. “College women have most likely been picking out our own clothes for a long time and we are going to continue to do so,” Jarrett said. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the formal name of the University of Notre Dame.<doc-sep>What year are we living in? OK, just checking. Because after reading this mom's open letter to University of Notre Dame students pleading with them to stop wearing their scandalous leggings, I wasn't sure. Maryann White was horrified one day while attending mass to see a group of young women wearing short tops and leggings sitting in front of her. This mother of four sons was appalled. "My sons know better than to ogle a woman’s body — certainly when I’m around (and hopefully, also when I’m not)," she wrote. "They didn’t stare, and they didn’t comment afterwards. But you couldn’t help but see those blackly naked rear ends. I didn’t want to see them — but they were unavoidable. How much more difficult for young guys to ignore them." This sounds an awful lot like she's saying these young women are opening themselves up to being harassed — or worse — by men simply by how they dress. In yoga pants no less. The wardrobe staple preferred by moms and teenagers and people into yoga and fitness and couch lounging and, well, every woman everywhere. White said in her letter, headlined "The legging problem," that she hoped the fashion trend would pass, but alas, nope. Sigh. "I’ve heard women say that they like leggings because they’re 'comfortable.' So are pajamas. So is nakedness. And the human body is a beautiful thing. But we don’t go around naked because we respect ourselves — we want to be seen as a person, not a body (like slave-girl Leia)," she said referencing Princess Leia's golden bikini in "The Empire Strikes Back." Finally, she implores those lazy and nasty women to think about someone else besides themselves — namely men who can't help but ogle and her sons who wouldn't dare. "Leggings are so naked, so form fitting, so exposing," she wrote. "Could you think of the mothers of sons the next time you go shopping and consider choosing jeans instead?" The plea set off a protest Students encouraged one another to wear leggings to demonstrate how strongly they disagreed with the letter. On Facebook, they organized "Leggings Day," "Love Your Leggings" and "Leggings Pride Day" groups. It's unclear how many students participated in wearing leggings. But campus reproductive rights group Irish 4 Reproductive Health, which organized Leggings Pride Day, showed at least 895 participating this week. The Facebook group page said the letter invokes "age-old sexist tropes that characterize women as unchaste temptresses." White was unable to be located Thursday afternoon to comment on the letter or the student reaction. READ MORE<doc-sep>The years-long debate over whether women should wear leggings in public — and when — is somehow still raging. As reported by the Washington Post, Maryann White, a woman who identified herself as a Catholic mother of four sons, caused a stir on the University of Notre Dame campus by writing a letter to the editor of the student newspaper. The letter, titled “The legging problem,” expresses her dismay at seeing college students in leggings at Mass on campus last fall. It has many incredible turns of phrase, such as, “I wonder why no one thinks it’s strange that the fashion industry has caused women to voluntarily expose their nether regions in this way,” and, “I thought of all the other men around and behind us who couldn’t help but see their behinds.” The letter also refers to leggings as “a problem only girls can solve,” and describes the women who wear them as exhibitionists forcing young boys to confront their “blackly naked rear ends.” In advocating that Notre Dame students lead the anti-leggings revolution, White asks, “Could you think of the mothers of sons the next time you go shopping and consider choosing jeans instead?” In response, students at Notre Dame organized a super-casual protest: About one thousand students RSVP-ed to a Facebook event celebrating Leggings Day and agreed to wear leggings to class on Tuesday. PhD student Dani Green told the Washington Post that it was “difficult to tell” who was participating in the protest and who was just wearing leggings because they were wearing leggings. Some students also shared photos of their outfits on Twitter. (This one is actually bike shorts, but point communicated!) If it all sounds familiar, that’s because the debate about athleisure as pants has popped up dozens and dozens of times. Leggings are never just leggings. Girls and women can never just wear them in peace, and complaints about them can never just be ignored — the extremely old, extremely prolonged conversation about what’s appropriate to wear and what’s appropriate to say about what other people are wearing always seems to become a national news story. Most fashion bloggers will tell you that leggings first evoked opinions and commentary when they became one of actress and “it girl” Edie Sedgwick’s signature sartorial choices, most notoriously in a Vogue photo shoot in 1965. The quibble there was not that Edie shouldn’t be showing off the shape of her butt, but that she was far too rich and glamorous for sportswear. The 1970s saw a glitzier leggings fad, spearheaded by Olivia Newton-John’s Grease costume and adopted by disco. Then came the 1980s technicolor fitness obsession, and Olivia Newton-John yet again. Leggings never really took a hiatus; they shape-shifted to fit fashion trends throughout the ’90s and early aughts. Histories of leggings regularly overlook the role played by mall culture circa 2006 to 2010. Wet Seal leggings were sometimes, like, three for $10? And you wore them under denim skirts or boys’ hoodies. So as to look terrible! This brief phase of super-cheap, often inadvertently see-through leggings was a gold mine for tabloid bloggers, and coincided unfortunately with the brief heyday of “belted dresses on top of jeans.” But it wasn’t until the rise of athleisure in the United States that there was a true backlash against leggings. Jump-started by the rise of conspicuous exercise and bonkers popularity of high-end yoga brand Lululemon, spurred by the high-fashionization of streetwear and sneaker cults, and solidified by the participation of approximately one in four working celebrities, it’s become the most popular and most lucrative mode of dressing — particularly in the last five years or so. Kate Hudson’s Lululemon competitor Fabletics debuted in 2013, Beyoncé launched her activewear line in 2016, Reebok signed Gigi Hadid last year, just after Adidas stole Kylie Jenner from Puma. This week, Lululemon reported a record quarter, with earnings rising 39 percent year over year, and recent estimates say leggings alone are a $1 billion industry in the US. The first mainstream burst of wearing workout clothes around as non-workout staples, though, was among college-age women, which was a problem for a lot of people. In 2008, a mysterious group of women started the website Tights Are Not Pants, published free-to-print posters espousing their cause, and wrote an open letter in Glamour addressed to Lindsey Lohan, who had recently worn a pair of sheer tights under a long dress shirt and leather jacket. When they’d started Tights Are Not Pants, the anonymous author wrote, they had been talking about leggings and exaggerating for effect. “Back then, a legging-clad crotch was still appalling. … Those were the salad days.” Nylon ran a print feature about the Tights Are Not Pants movement that spring (sadly no longer available online), and it became regular fare for fashion bloggers. It was also promoted in the Atlantic by Vox’s Matt Yglesias, who now says via Slack that he “disavows those views.” Around this time, the phrase “Leggings are not pants” started showing up on mass-produced t-shirts and dedicated Facebook groups and rudimentary memes. In 2010, the Huffington Post published a (rather racist) blog post titled “Leggings Are Not Pants,” which advised young black women to think like Michelle Obama instead of Tyra Banks, and to think twice before dressing like an “urban ballerina.” But the first major battleground for the war on leggings was, of course, middle schools and high schools — where adults imbued the workaday fashion choices of pre-teens with sexual significance. Middle schools are often places where adults imbue the workaday fashion choices of pre-teens with sexual significance In 2012, Jezebel documented the first few leggings bannings in Canada and Minnesota with its trademark sigh-and-eyeroll: “Ladies, we knew this day would come, we just didn’t know it would take so damn long. Girls are finally getting in trouble for flaunting their curves in ... leggings?” In 2013, California junior high principal Emily Dunnagan called an assembly of 450 girls between the ages of 12 and 14 and stressed to them that they were not allowed to wear leggings without a dress or skirt over them.<doc-sep>A mother-of-four is facing backlash after penning a letter pleading with female students at the University of Notre Dame to opt out of wearing leggings “and consider choosing jeans instead.” The mother, who was identified as Maryann White, penned the letter titled, “The legging problem,” which was published in The Observer, Notre Dame’s student newspaper. She started her letter by saying she had been considering writing it for some time after she attended Mass last autumn and saw four young women in front of her “all wearing very snug-fitting leggings and all wearing short-waisted tops.” “Some of them truly looked as though the leggings had been painted on them,” White wrote. The mother said her sons “know better than to ogle a woman’s body – certainly when I’m around (and hopefully, also when I’m not).” “But you couldn’t help but see those blackly naked rear ends,” White said of the women wearing leggings during Mass. “I didn’t want to see them — but they were unavoidable. How much more difficult for young guys to ignore them.” SPRING BREAKER EARNS KUDS FOR HELPING CLEAN UP MIAMI BEACH She added, “we want to be seen as a person, not a body.” “For the Catholic mothers who want to find a blanket to lovingly cover your nakedness and protect you — and to find scarves to tie over the eyes of their sons to protect them from you!” she wrote. White concluded her letter saying leggings are “so naked, so form fitting, so exposing.” “Could you think of the mothers of sons the next time you go shopping and consider choosing jeans instead?” she asked. “Let Notre Dame girls be the first to turn their backs(ides) on leggings.” The letter appeared to have the opposite effect on students at the Indiana campus. Irish 4 Reproductive Health, a campus nonprofit group, dubbed Tuesday “Leggings Pride Day” and called on people to take part and post pictures of themselves wearing their favorite pair of leggings. Many students posted pictures of their favorite leggings with the hashtag #LeggingsDayND. “We wanted … to remind people that leggings are absolutely OK and you’re allowed to dress your body in whatever way you see fit,” Anne Jarrett, 21, a student at Notre Dame, who helped organize the demonstration, told Today Style. 3 ARRESTED IN TULANE DORM ROOM ARSON FIRE OF YAL-MEMBER STUDENTS Conrad Palor, a sophomore at the university, penned a response to White’s letter that was published in The Observer. “While White’s comments were likely intended to be innocuous, they contribute to and further the narrative that women need to dress in order to not distract their male peers, which only furthers the sexualization and subsequent subjugation of women’s bodies,” he wrote. A fellow Notre Dame mother, Heather Piccone, penned a letter to The Observer pointing out that “if nakedness is wrong, then this woman’s sons better have been fully clothed at the beach at all times.” “They better never have played a game of “shirts versus skins” pick-up basketball or football in the park,” she wrote. Leggings as pants have sparked debates since coming into popularity. Some schools banned students from wearing the clothing item altogether.<doc-sep>	A letter to the editor from a mother visiting the University of Notre Dame’s campus has sparked an uproar among women at the university after she urged students to stop wearing leggings. In “The legging problem,” published in Monday’s edition of the campus paper, The Observer, Maryann White wrote that while attending mass at Notre Dame last fall, she noticed a group of women wearing leggings and short tops and felt “ashamed” for them. “I thought of all the other men around and behind us who couldn’t help but see their behinds,” White wrote to The Observer. “My sons know better than to ogle a woman’s body — certainly when I’m around (and hopefully, also when I’m not).” ADVERTISEMENT “They didn’t stare, and they didn’t comment afterwards. But you couldn’t help but see those blackly naked rear ends,” she continued. “I didn’t want to see them — but they were unavoidable.” White pleaded with female students to stop wearing leggings “because of unsavory guys who are looking at you creepily and nice guys who are doing everything to avoid looking at you." “I’m not trying to insult anyone or infringe upon anyone’s rights,” she wrote. “I’m just a Catholic mother of four sons with a problem that only girls can solve: leggings. "Could you think of the mothers of sons the next time you go shopping and consider choosing jeans instead?" The letter quickly spread across campus, and on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week students organized a number of protests welcoming women to wear leggings. Both “Leggings Pride Day,” organized by student group Irish 4 Reproductive Health, and “The Leggings Protest” had more than 1,000 positive RSVPs on Facebook, according to The Observer. It was unclear how many people wore leggings each day in honor of the protest compared to how many were sporting them as part of their regular attire. Yet another student-run event declared Tuesday “Love Your Leggings Day!” “Join in our legging wearing hedonism!” the event read. “(Or not because what you wear is completely your own choice! ).” Dozens of students and alumni using the #LeggingsDayND hashtag shared photos of themselves in leggings and lamented White’s letter as an attempt to “police” women’s bodies. a Catholic mom published an opinion in ND’s newspaper that leggings Lead Men Into Sin so we’re protesting our right to not be responsible for men and to not be constantly policed by morals or femininity #LeggingsDayND pic.twitter.com/bN7oTNheIc — anne-marie (@anniejarr) March 26, 2019
On Friday, Major League Baseball unveiled the caps and workout jerseys that will be worn during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland. CLEVELAND -- This summer, the biggest stars in Major League Baseball will descend upon Cleveland for the 2019 MLB All-Star Game. We now know what they'll be wearing when they do so. On Friday, MLB unveiled a slew of new holiday gear for each team, including commemorative caps for Mother's Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, Canada Day and the Fourth of July. In addition to the holiday gear, the league revealed the workout jerseys and caps, as well as the game caps, that will be worn during the week of the "Midsummer Classic" in Cleveland later this year. For the first time since 2000, the workout jerseys -- typically worn during batting practice and the Home Run Derby -- will be sleeveless, with the American League donning red jerseys and the National League in navy blue. The batting practice caps for both teams, meanwhile, will be silver, with the American League receiving a red bill and logo with the National League once again in navy. As for the caps the players will wear during the actual All-Star game, they'll feature a throwback feel, with piping on the sides and across the back. Otherwise, the hats will largely resemble the same caps worn by the players' respective team, with two stars on the front and the All-Star Game patch on the side being the primary differences. As has become standard, players will wear their traditional team uniforms for the All-Star game, with A.L. teams in white and the N.L. in grey. Each player will also don a special patch on their jersey, which will indicate how many All-Star Games he has been selected to. In addition to the jerseys and hats, players will wear special All-Star socks, featuring the silhouette of a player swinging with a guitar in the baseball bat's place. The guitar has been used as a motif in most of the Cleveland All-Star Game's theme, including its logo and the workout tops.<doc-sep>MLB unveiled its new holiday uniforms for 2019. (MLB) It’s that time of year when Major League Baseball rolls out all the special uniforms that players will wear in the season ahead. That means pink for Mother’s Day, blue for Father’s Day, camo for Armed Forces Day, stars-and-stripes for Fourth of July and — are you ready for these — no sleeves in Cleveland for part of the All Star Game festivities? [It’s still not too late to join or create a 2019 Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league] There are more special uniforms than ever around baseball, but MLB has scaled back parts of this program. There aren’t special jerseys for Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and so forth — just patches that will be sewn onto regular uniforms. The pizazz comes from the caps and socks, which we’re giving you a first look at below. They’re also only wearing some of these for one day instead of an entire weekend, such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Armed Forces Day. [Get your MLB gear: Find team merchandise at the Yahoo Fan Shop] As it does every year, MLB is donating its royalties from the holiday merchandise to charities. For Mother’s Day, proceeds go to Susan G. Komen and Stand Up to Cancer. For Father’s Day, it’s the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer. For Armed Forces Day and Fourth of July, the league’s MLB Charities arm gives the money to support programs that support service members, veterans and military families. Mother’s Day (May 12) It’s a pretty familiar look at this point. Lots of pink. Players usually respond with pink gear beyond this too. As is tradition: MLB wears pink on Mother's Day. Here are this year's socks from @stance and caps from @NewEraCap pic.twitter.com/HdG776EWS9 — Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) April 12, 2019 Armed Forces Day (May 18) Story continues MLB is shifting the camo uniforms it used to wear for Memorial Day to Armed Forces Day, as it’s a day for celebrating the military. MLB uniforms for Armed Forces Day in 2019. (MLB) Memorial Day (May 27) The league is taking a more subdued approach to Memorial Day than years past. There are no special uniforms, just jersey and cap patches. They also won’t be for sale. We wrote more about the change here. MLB's new uniforms for Memorial Day in 2019. (MLB) Father’s Day (June 16) Blue is the color for Father’s Day. This year, the caps have a tie-dye/acid wash look to them. Father's Day is still blue, but the caps are different this year. More of a tie-dye/acid wash type vibe. pic.twitter.com/AKxA7ltzSq — Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) April 12, 2019 Independence Day (July 4-July 7) MLB is going retro for Fourth of July, using a number of old team logos in a stars-and-stripes design. Stars and Stripes everybody for Fourth of July. Here are this year's socks and caps. pic.twitter.com/w358SDahXV — Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) April 12, 2019 Cubs, White Sox, Orioles and Indians caps for Fourth of July are logos you don't see too often anymore. pic.twitter.com/0MXHZrcbpD — Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) April 12, 2019 All-Star Workout Day (July 7-8) This might be the most interesting part. For the Futures Game and All-Star Workout Day, which includes the Home Run Derby, the uniforms are sleeveless. MLB says players can wear any types of shirt they want under the jerseys — or just go without. This means that guns could come out for the derby. Here are the All-Star batting practice and Home Run Derby jerseys. Sleeveless, so #GunsOut 💪 pic.twitter.com/0nT5mQZreN — Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) April 12, 2019 Here are the All-Star BP caps as the Midsummer Classic heads to Cleveland. Graphite and bats! pic.twitter.com/weQUTTjZKq — Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) April 12, 2019 All-Star Game (July 9) A mostly traditional look for All-Star Game, with stars on the front of the cap. Most team logos look how they usually do. Here are the caps for the All-Star game itself. Little bit of a Little League vibe with the stars on the front, but not in a bad way. pic.twitter.com/KQlKTEvZHe — Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) April 12, 2019 More from Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>On Friday, Major League Baseball revealed its collection of holiday and special event hats and caps for the 2019 season. MLB will be celebrating four holidays: Mother's Day (May 12), Armed Forces Day (May 18), Father's Day (June 16), and Independence Day Weekend (July 4-7). The league also revealed gear that will be worn at the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game. With that established, let's take a look at some hats already. Here's what teams will be wearing on Mother's Day: And nearly a week later, on Armed Forces Day: Roughly a month later on Father's Day: Then a couple weeks later for Independence Day: And then, shortly thereafter, this sleeveless look for the Midsummer Classic: It's worth noting that each of these celebrations will see MLB donate uniform-related royalties to a related charity. For instance, MLB will donate to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in honor of Father's Day.<doc-sep>	Rockies fans will be collecting four new caps this summer. DENVER — Major League Baseball has unveiled the full lineup of holiday and special event uniforms and caps that will be worn during the 2019 season. The Colorado Rockies and the rest of the MLB will wear special uniforms for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Armed Forces Day, Independence Day weekend, the T-Mobile Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game. Major League Baseball says proceeds from licensed product royalties will be donated to Susan G. Komen (Mother’s Day), Prostate Cancer Foundation (Father’s Day), Stand Up To Cancer (Mother’s Day and Father’s Day), and MLB Charities (Armed Forces Day and Independence Day). Here's your first look at the caps Rockies fans will be purchasing this summer: Mother's Day: For games on Sunday, May 12, the caps will be highlighted with pink accents on the team logos and cap brims. Players will have the option of wearing pink socks and jerseys will feature a pink ribbon. Armed Forces Day: For games on Saturday, May 18, all Major League Baseball personnel will wear camouflage-designed caps with their uniforms. Camo-themed socks will be optional. Father's Day: For games on Sunday, June 16, New Era designed a new cap with light blue crowns to accent team colors on the brim and logo. Jerseys will have a light blue ribbon for prostate cancer while light blue socks will be optional. Independence Day Weekend: The Rockies and all of Major League Baseball will don stars and stripes caps for the 12th consecutive summer. Players will have the option of wearing socks with a fireworks design in 2019. PHOTOS \| Colorado Rockies 2019 Holiday & Special Event Caps 1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 1 / 11 For product availability, visit MLB.com and the Rockies Dugout Stores.
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – A man suspected of gunning down musician Nipsey Hussle over a personal dispute has been captured in the Bellflower area. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told CBS2 that 29-year-old Eric Holder was caught by deputies sometime before 1:30 p.m. in the 9900 block of Artesia Boulevard. Los Angeles police responded to the scene and confirmed the man arrested was indeed Holder. Hussle, 33, was killed in a triple-shooting Sunday afternoon in a South Los Angeles which left two other men wounded. LAPD Chief Michel Moore told reporters Tuesday that Holder, a gang member, approached Hussle and the other men he was with several times Sunday and spoke with them. Holder then returned with a handgun and opened fire. “Mr. Holder walked up on multiple occasions and engaged in a conversation with Nipsey and the others that were there. He left and subsequently came back armed with a handgun, and purposefully and repeatedly fired, striking and killing Nipsey Hussle.” One of the injured men was hospitalized, but the other was treated at the scene and refused to be transported. Following the shooting, Holder fled in a 2016 Chevrolet Cruz being driven by an unidentified woman. Investigators were searching for the female getaway driver at last report. Moore said that Holder had been engaged in some kind of dispute with Hussle, but did not specify the details of that dispute. “At this point in our investigation, based on witness statements, and the background of those that we’ve identified, we believe this to be a dispute between Mr. Hussle and Mr. Holder,” Moore said. “It appears to be a personal matter between the two of them in regards to a dispute, and I’ll leave it at that,” Moore added. The Grammy-nominated Hussle, whose real name is Ermias Joseph Asghedom, was fatally shot at around 3:20 p.m. Sunday in the 3400 block of West Slauson Avenue in the Hyde Park neighborhood. He was shot in front of Marathon Clothing, a clothing store which he opened in 2017. Asghedom was in a longtime relationship with actress Lauren London and leaves behind two children. Moore also provided an update on a stampede which broke out at a large vigil for Hussle Monday night in which more than a dozen people were injured. The vigil turned chaotic at around 8:10 p.m. near the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue when Moore said an unidentified man brandished a handgun. At this time, there’s no evidence that he fired the gun, however. “Another individual there, seeing that, and recognizing the danger in that, attempted to disarm him,” Moore said. “And in that struggle, that caused, obviously, panic in that group of hundreds of people, and a cascade, or stampede if you will, of people hoping to leave and not suffer any injury.” As people were fleeing, several of them fell and hurt themselves. “The vast majority of the injuries that we saw were cut injuries from falls, sprains, ankles and so forth,” Moore said. One victim reported that he was stabbed, but police have not confirmed that, Moore said. Two other women also reported being shot. However, that also has not been confirmed. “We will continue to investigate the nature of the injuries the two women suffered, I’m not questioning their account, but at this point, I’m lacking information that a shooting occurred,” Moore disclosed.<doc-sep>Rand Paul says he doesn't need to be vaccinated. Doctor says he's wrong A mural of George Floyd is shown in the intersection of 38th St & Chicago Ave on March 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Community members continue preparations during the third day in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with multiple counts of murder in the death of George Floyd. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 01: President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to journalists outside the White House West Wing July 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Giuliani did an on-camera interview with One America News Network's Chanel Rion before talking to other journalists about Vice President Joe Biden and the news that Russian intelligence may have paid Taliban operatives to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Vigils & tributes to George Floyd one year since his murder ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Begun in 1974, CPAC brings together conservative organizations, activists, and world leaders to discuss issues important to them. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Here's what reported grand jury in Trump case may look like NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: People walk past the Trump Tower as the impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins in Washington on February 09, 2021 in New York City. After listening to nearly four hours of legal arguments, the Senate has voted on Tuesday to move ahead with the impeachment trial of former President Trump. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Report: US companies may have benefited from forced labor of Uyghurs WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the conflict in the Middle East from Cross- Hall of the White House on May 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Israel and Hamas announced that they would agree to a cease-fire, which will take into effect on Friday, following days of fighting that claimed more than 200 lives. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 26: A view of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light-rail yard where a mass shooting occurred on May 26, 2021 in San Jose, California. A VTA employee opened fire at the yard, with preliminary reports indicating nine people dead including the gunman. (Photo by Philip Pacheco/Getty Images) A healthcare worker prepares to administer a Pfizer/BioNTEch coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine at The Michener Institute, in Toronto, Ontario on December 14, 2020. - Ontario, Canada's most populous province and one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, had 1,940 new cases and 23 deaths on Monday. The province is expected to give its next doses to nursing home workers as a priority, according to media reports. (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) 'Never seen levels like this': Union president on airline passenger misconduct (CNN) — Nipsey Hussle was among four people standing by a car when gunfire erupted outside the rapper’s The Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles, video from a surveillance camera trained on the parking lot shows. It is not clear which one is Nipsey, but the people appear to be talking. Others are milling about in front of the store. A figure dressed in dark clothing appears to approach the four and then everyone scatters. Two of the people standing by the car don’t get far, however. They fall to the ground. One of them, wearing a white hat and shirt, appears to try to get back up but promptly collapses. A suspect has been named in Nipsey’s shooting death, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Monday night after a memorial to the rapper ended in a stampede that injured multiple people, two critically. Eric Holder, 29, is wanted for homicide, the LAPD announced early Tuesday. Eric Holder The Grammy-nominated artist was shot Sunday in the Hyde Park neighborhood. In a statement, police said Holder walked up to Nipsey and two other men as they stood outside a business in a strip mall on West Slauson Boulevard. He fired multiple times and then ran to a nearby alley where a vehicle – “driven by an unidentified female” – was waiting for him, police said. Holder entered from the passenger side and the vehicle fled, authorities said. Nipsey died in the shooting and the two other men were injured and transported to the hospital. “Detectives have worked tirelessly and are now asking for the public’s help in locating the suspect in this case,” police said in a statement. Holder was last seen in a white, four-door, 2016 Chevy Cruze, with the California license plate 7RJD742, the police department said on Twitter. “Anyone with information related to his whereabouts or this deadly shooting is urged to contact South Bureau Homicide at 323-786-5100.” Eric Holder is wanted for Homicide in the shooting of Nipsey Hussle. He was last seen in a 2016 white 4 door Chevy Cruze CA license plate 7RJD742. Anyone with information related to his whereabouts or this deadly shooting is urged to contact South Bureau Homicide at 323-786-5100 pic.twitter.com/3pX4fbezDs — LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) April 2, 2019 Officials treat injuries at Nipsey’s memorial, one person detained On Monday night, a massive crowd gathered on the streets of south Los Angeles for a memorial to the rapper, which ended abruptly when multiple people were trampled and police – armed with riot gear and batons – began forming containment lines. One police officer also was injured, police spokeswoman Meghan Aguilar said during a news briefing. At one point, there was “mass panic and chaos” in the area, with about 300 people running from the location at once, she said. It is unclear what, if anything, caused the stampede. The Los Angeles Fire Department transported 19 patients, a majority of them with “trample injuries,” the fire department said. On the CNN affiliate KCAL/KCBS live signal, some people were seen carrying others who appeared to be injured, as emergency officials worked on people on the ground.<doc-sep>Sign Up For Newsletters Woman receives gift of motherhood after cancer diagnosis Stacey Abrams on writing herself into the story – and history Maya Angelou and Sally Ride to be honored on quarters Dancers seek to rid ballet performances of Asian stereotypes China's censors cut some new friends from the "Friends" reunion Lawmakers call for ambassador to protect Afghan women Boat carrying 20 overturns heading from Cuba to Florida SolarWinds hackers have launched new campaign, Microsoft says "3-martini lunch" tax break should be axed, lawmakers say Flying over Memorial Day? Expect long lines at airports Some great white sharks are getting closer to humans, videos show Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On<doc-sep>CNN and TMZ each obtained surveillance videos that appear to show the moment of the shooting. CNN reported that its video showed an individual approaching Hussle and a small group of men before firing on them. Two men fall to the ground while another pair runs away. The video TMZ says depicts the shooting shows what appears to be the same sequence of events, filmed from a greater distance.<doc-sep>	A suspect in the killing of rapper Nipsey Hussle is in custody, authorities said, ending a two-day manhunt. Eric Holder, 29, was arrested in Bellflower on Tuesday afternoon. Los Angeles police detectives went to the L.A. County sheriff’s station in Lakewood to verify the identity of the suspect and confirmed to The Times that the man in custody was Holder. The arrest came after a woman who authorities allege was Holder’s getaway driver turned herself in. She was later released without being arrested. According to source familiar with the investigation, she maintains she was unaware that Holder shot Hussle when he got into the car Sunday. L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday that Holder got into a verbal altercation with Hussle on Sunday afternoon. “Mr. Holder walked up on multiple occasions and engaged in conversations” with the rapper, Moore said. “He came back armed with a handgun” and opened fire. Moore said investigators believed the shooting was the result of a “personal matter between the two of them” but would not elaborate. Moore and Mayor Eric Garcetti both acknowledged a recent uptick in violence, particularly in South Los Angeles, and noted that Hussle’s legacy was one of peace. “Nipsey Hussle represents the enormity of the lives we have lost,” Moore said. Graphic video from a surveillance camera shows a gunman walking up to Hussle and two other men in front of the shop the rapper owned in a Slauson Avenue strip mall. The gunman opens fire, and Hussle falls to the ground as the other men run from the gunfire. “Nipsey Hussle,” Garcetti said, “was an artist who touched our city and lives far beyond the City of Angels, throughout the country and the world.” The mayor said the worst way to answer the killing was with more violence and that he hoped “the community comes together” to achieve the goals the rapper had set in recent years. “This is about young people of color being able to have opportunities in their lives,” he said. Hussle “was a tireless advocate for the young people of this city and of this world,” he said, “to lift them up with the possibility of not being imprisoned by where you come from or past mistakes but the possibility of what comes in the future.” The L.A. County coroner’s office said Monday that Hussle died of a gunshot wound to the head. Police released Holder’s name Monday night, when a stampede at a memorial vigil for Hussle led to several injuries. Eric Holder, identified as a suspect in Nipsey Hussle’s slaying, in an undated photo provided by the Los Angeles Police Department. (LAPD) While a member of the crowd spoke of the late rapper at the memorial, dozens of people gathered for the event outside Hussle’s store started running away. People fell on top of each other as they tried to flee, some of them losing their shoes in the scramble to get away. Numerous police cars and ambulances raced to the scene as officers yelled at people to leave the area. Robert Arcos, an LAPD assistant chief, told The Times that a fight appeared to have started the stampede after one person possibly pulled out a gun. The Los Angeles Fire Department took 19 people to hospitals: two people who were in critical condition, including one hurt in a car accident; two people with serious injuries; and 15 with non-life-threatening injuries. The majority of the patients suffered injuries related to being trampled when the crowd rushed away. A Los Angeles Times reporter at the scene was among those trampled. Reporters in the area said on social media that authorities had said at least six people were stabbed, which is thought to have caused or contributed to the chaos. Hundreds of novena candles left in memory of Hussle — who was shot and killed Sunday in broad daylight in a burst of gunfire that left two other people wounded — were crushed as people fled. The shards injured several people, and many were limping as they tried to find their way around police barricades. It remains unclear whether anyone was actually stabbed or if they were injured by broken glass. Moore praised the restraint of the police officers who tried to control the situation. Bottles were thrown at some officers, and a sergeant had to get stitches for a wound to his hand.
This video is no longer available (CNN) — One year after “The Handmaid’s Tale” became the first series on a streaming network to win best drama at the Emmy Awards, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and Amazon have done the same in the best comedy category. And that wasn’t the only marvelous thing about Monday’s award show for the whimsical comedy. The show took home a total of seven awards, including two for creator Amy Sherman-Palladino (in the directing and writing categories), one for co-star Alex Borstein and one for lead actress Rachel Brosnahan. The first season of the show focused on Brosnahan’s Midge Maisel as she transforms from housewife into a stand-up comedian. Or as Brosnahan put it on stage, it is “about a woman who is finding her voice anew.” The actress acknowledged the timeliness of the theme saying, “It’s something that’s happening all over the country right now.” The cast completed filming the second season on Friday, according to cast members Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle, who spoke to CNN on the red carpet. Having spent the first season watching Midge go through “an extraordinary change,” Marin, who plays Midge’s mother, said Season 2 would see that spirit affecting others. “Other characters in the story are treading new ground, new territory,” Shalhoub said. In addition to filming in New York, the cast filmed some episodes in Paris, as well as in the Catskills. Amazon has not yet set a return date for the series. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” debuted in November 2017, just weeks after Hollywood began a reckoning with sexual harassment and prominent women in the industry banded together for the Time’s Up initiative. Marin said she’s glad that the conversation started one year ago “continues to happen.” “I feel too it’s just the beginning of a whole other way of approaching our industry, our relationships, our work relationships, certainly,” Shalhoub added. “I think it’s only going to get better from here on out.”<doc-sep>In a major (though not entirely unpredictable) turn of events at tonight’s Primetime Emmy Awards, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel creator Amy Sherman-Palladino picked up back-to-back statuettes for Comedy Writing and Comedy Directing, becoming the first artist to do so with a television pilot, and the first woman to do so in the Emmys’ 70-year history. Taking the stage twice, the series creator made light of the celebratory moment in her own way. “Wow. Whoever put that carpet down hates women, I just want to say that right away,” she joked, “Times Up.” Thanking her father, who “inspired this [series], really,” during her first speech, Sherman-Palladino subsequently thanked husband and executive producer Daniel Palladino, as well as her tireless cast and crew. “My actors, God love you, you don’t flinch when I say it’s a six-page oner,” she said. The evening thus far has been good to Sherman-Palladino’s Amazon series, with awards also given to Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein for Lead and Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. With 14 nominations in total, Maisel also picked up Emmys at the Creative Arts ceremonies for Casting, Editing and Music Supervision and will go on to compete for one of the night’s big prizes, Outstanding Comedy Series, where it is favored. If Maisel also takes that prize, it will be the first comedy to pull off this particular awards trio since Arrested Development, which did so with its first season in 2004. Known previously as the creator of series including Gilmore Girls and as a producing writer on such hits as Roseanne—the original, rather than the short-lived revival, for which she took her first and only other nom in 1992—Sherman-Palladino’s wins tonight follow up on the series’ wide and warm embrace, everywhere from the Golden Globes to the PGA Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards. In both categories she’s taken tonight, Sherman-Palladino faced off against fierce competition. While the Writing category featured the likes of Atlanta‘s Donald Glover and Comedy Lead Actor winner Bill Hader, Directing featured Atlanta favorites Glover and Hiro Murai, Hader and Silicon Valley‘s Mike Judge. Centered on Emmy and Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan’s titular Midge Maisel, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel examines the life of a fiercely intelligent and independent ’50s housewife who decides to become a stand-up comic, powerfully defying the expectations of everyone around her. With a third-season renewal already in the bag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel stars Brosnahan, Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle, and Emmy nom Tony Shalhoub, who lost out tonight to veteran thesp Henry Winker. The Amazon series is expected to return for its second go-round later this year.<doc-sep>One could say it was a "Marvelous" night at the Emmys. The Amazon TV series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" led the field with five honors at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards – including wins for best comedy and lead actress (Rachel Brosnahan) – while HBO fantasy powerhouse "Game of Thrones" took the night's big prize, outstanding drama, its third win in the category. Other highlights included Claire Foy ("The Crown") winning for lead drama actress, Bill Hader ("Barry") for comedic actor and three trophies for "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story," including best limited series. Here's a minute-by-minute breakdown (EDT) of the night's festivities and winners: 10:59: The big prize of the night goes to the one with the dragons, of course: "Game of Thrones" wins best drama. Co-creator D.B. Weiss paid tribute to the show's literary mastermind, George R.R. Martin: "The show cannot be without the mad genius of George." 10:50: "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" is named best comedy, its fifth Emmy of the night. 10:41: "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" snags its third win – and biggest – of the night: outstanding limited series. "It's about homophobia, it's about a country that allows hatred to grow unfettered," creator Ryan Murphy says, dedicating the award to Versace and "all those taken too soon." 10:38: HBO's "Last Week Tonight" with John Oliver wins back-to-back-to-back trophies for variety talk series. Oliver's son "hates our show and loves 'Paw Patrol,' " he says. "If anything, our show is the exact opposite of 'Paw Patrol.' " More:The best and worst of the 2018 Emmys, from the winners to the live TV proposal More:Are stars at the Emmys optimistic about #MeToo? Not exactly 10:32: "Saturday Night Live" gets its second consecutive Emmy for variety sketch show. "I love my job and I love the people I work with," creator Lorne Michaels says. With the win, "SNL" breaks its own record for most Emmys with 72 total. 10:28: "RuPaul's Drag Race" is named outstanding reality show. Naturally, RuPaul accepts: "This is so lovely!" 10:13: "The Crown" star Claire Foy wins lead actress in a drama. "This wasn't supposed to happen!" she says. "I had the most extraordinary 2½ years of my life. I was given a role I never thought I'd be given a chance to play. ... I dedicate this to the next cast, the next generation and (co-star) Matt Smith." 10:09: "The Americans" star Matthew Rhys goes out on a high note, winning lead actor in a drama. "It's just like my last birthday," he says, thanking co-star Keri Russell. "She said, 'If you propose to me, I will punch you in the mouth.' " 10:03: Best directing for a drama goes to Stephen Daldry for "The Crown." 9:59: "The Americans" wins for best drama writing for Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, a feather in the cap for the FX spy show's final season. Related:First-ever Emmy Award marriage proposal sends Twitter into a frenzy: 'Best speech ever!' More:Jessica Biel, Kristen Bell and more best-dressed stars stun at the 2018 Emmys 9:52: HBO snags its second win in a row as "Westworld" star Thandie Newton is named outstanding supporting actress in a drama. "I don't even believe in God, but I'm going to thank Her tonight," she says. 9:49: "Game of Thrones" finally strikes! Peter Dinklage conquers the land as supporting actor in a drama – his third win in the category – and thanks show creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss "for changing my life. I can't walk down the street anymore." 9:38: The "In Memoriam" segment features Aretha Franklin singing amid tributes to luminaries such as Anthony Bourdain, Della Reese, John Mahoney, Charlotte Rae, Robert Guillaume, Monty Hall, Neil Simon, Burt Reynolds and John McCain. 9:30: Glenn Weiss takes best directing for a variety special for the Oscars and, because he hasn't won enough for the night, proposes to girlfriend Jan Svendsen during his acceptance speech. She seals the deal with a kiss, and he closes with a "Thank you to the Academy!" 9:27: John Mulaney wins variety special writing for "John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City." He thanks his wife, who told him "I just can’t fly across the country to watch you lose." 9:23: Michael Che gives out "Reparation Emmys" to African-American sitcom stars such as Marla Gibbs, Kadeem Hardison, Jaleel White, Jimmie Walker and John Witherspoon – with a guest appearance from Bryan Cranston. 9:17: "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" takes a second Emmy with Darren Criss winning lead actor in a limited series. "You guys are witnessing the greatest moment of my career," Criss says. 9:13: Presenter Leslie Jones goes nuts and screams as Regina King wins for lead actress in a limited series for "Seven Seconds." "Really? I have nothing to say because I really wasn't expecting this," she says. "I want to curse right now but thank you, Jesus." 9:10: Ryan Murphy nabs the limited series directing award for "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story." "I just want to thank all the women in my life who've supported me my whole life," he says. "I love you and don't deserve you." 9:06: Betty White, 96 and still awesome, comes out and charms everybody: "It’s incredible I'm still in this business and you’re still putting up with me." 8:57: The "Black Mirror" episode "USS Callister" wins for best limited series writing for William Bridges and Charlie Brooker. "What a delightful but horrifying out-of-body experience," quips writer/creator Charlie Brooker, who feels it necessary to thanks his young kids, even though "it turns out they're not really into 'Black Mirror.' " 8:53: And just like that, "Godless" snags a second limited series trophy as Jeff Daniels conquers the supporting actor field. He thanks his horse Apollo: "He was Jeff Bridges' horse on 'True Grit' and I feel he was making unfair comparisons." (Daniels was thrown off three times, breaking his left wrist.) 8:48: Netflix gets on the board with Merritt Wever winning supporting actress in a limited series for "Godless."<doc-sep>This is What’s Trending Today… Stars gathered in Los Angeles Monday night for the Emmys, the biggest awards ceremony in American television. It was the 70th anniversary of the Emmys. And this year, fewer people watched the three-hour-long broadcast than ever before. The television ratings may have suffered, but there were still reasons to celebrate for many of last night’s Emmy winners. Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel became the first internet series to win the Emmy for best comedy. It also won seven other awards for writing, directing and acting and more. HBO's Game of Thrones won the best drama series award for a third time. The show’s eighth and final season begins next year. Game of Thrones took a total of nine awards Monday, more than any other production. The long-running NBC comedy show, Saturday Night Live, was the only traditional broadcast show to be honored at this year’s Emmys. And it won a lot of awards, tying with Mrs. Maisel for eight. Critics noted that the award winners this year were not a very ethnically mixed group. Yet the group of the nominees represented the most diverse group in the history of the Emmys. Twitter user April Reign, who created the #oscarssowhite movement on Twitter, posted a series of tweets about the Emmys. In one post, she wrote: “Let's talk a bit more about what "diversity" is and isn't, and whether that should be the goal. Last night, @TheEmmys Chairman/CEO Hayma Washington encouraged everyone to give themselves a round of applause for diversity. But... why?” Some social media users also had other criticisms of the awards show. They said hosts Michael Che and Colin Joste lacked in humor. Critic Dominic Patten wrote, “Turns out going with two hosts instead of one did not double the fun at the 70th Primetime #Emmys tonight." The crowd did seem to enjoy some moments at the awards ceremony, such as Betty White’s appearance on stage. The audience stood and cheered the 96-year-old television comedy star for more than a minute. Another standing ovation went to Henry Winkler, who won a supporting actor award for HBO’s Barry. It was his first Emmy win in his more than 40-year-long career in Hollywood. Winkler gained fame in the 1970s for his part in the hit television show Happy Days. Winkler told the crowd, "If you stay at the table long enough, the chips come to you,” Then, he jokingly told his adult children that they could go to bed now. “Daddy won," he laughed. Director Glenn Weiss brought some romance to the Emmys after being recognized for his work on the 2018 Academy Awards broadcast. Weiss used his Emmy award acceptance speech to propose marriage to his girlfriend Jan Svendsen. He spoke to her from the stage. "You wonder why I don't want to call you my girlfriend?" he asked. "It's because I want to call you my wife." The crowd went wild with cheers. Svendsen looked both surprised and very pleased as she joined Weiss on stage. Then, she said yes. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Caty Weaver. Caty Weaver reported this story. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story comedy - n. a play, movie, television program, novel, etc., that is meant to make people laugh drama - n. a play, movie, television show, or radio show that is about a serious subject and is not meant to make the audience laugh encourage - v. to make (someone) more likely to do something applause - v. a show of approval or appreciation at a play, speech, sporting event, etc., in which people strike their hands together over and over<doc-sep>	HBO's "Game of Thrones" and Amazon's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" won top honors at the 70th Emmy Awards on Monday night, capping off a ceremony that featured pointed barbs about Hollywood diversity, nods to the #MeToo movement, and one-liners about the rise of streaming platforms. "Thrones," a brutal fantasy epic, fended off challenges from Netflix's "The Crown," a decades-spanning chronicle of the British royal family, and Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale," a grim vision of a dystopian future that won the best drama prize last year. But the champion of the ceremony might have been "Mrs. Maisel," a bubbly comedy that follows a 1950s housewife who breaks into stand-up comedy. "Mrs. Maisel" also scooped up honors for its lead actress (Rachel Brosnahan), supporting actress (Alex Borstein), directing (Amy Sherman-Palladino, who co-created the series) and writing (Sherman-Palladino again). Rachel Brosnahan of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," seen backstage at the Emmys, Jordan Strauss / Invision/AP "It's about a woman who's finding her voice anew, and it's one of the things that's happening all over the county right now," Brosnahan said of the show in her acceptance speech. She called on the audience and viewers to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. In a telling sign of the times for the TV industry, many of the night's big winners came from Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, two leading streaming services that have challenged the long-standing dominance of traditional broadcast and cable networks. The premium cable channel HBO was not to be forgotten, though, racking up close to two dozen prizes, including multiple wins for "Thrones" and "Barry," a dark comedy starring "SNL" alum Bill Hader as a hitman who moonlights as an aspiring actor. The co-hosts, "Saturday Night Live" players Michael Che and Colin Jost, set the tone at the start of the night with a monologue that blended riffs on the national political scene with caustic quips about the sexual misconduct scandals that have roiled the entertainment industry. "It is an honor to be sharing this night with the many, many talented and creative people who haven't been caught," said Che, who co-hosts the "Weekend Update" segment with Jost on "SNL." Che and Jost may have been upstaged, however, by a troupe of performers, including fellow "SNL" cast members Kate McKinnon and KenanThompson, who opened the telecast with a parody song that took aim at racial inclusivity and representation on TV — or the lack thereof. From left, Sterling K. Brown, Kristen Bell, Tituss Burgess, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, and RuPaul perform onstage during the Emmys. Kevin Winter / Getty Images "There were none, now there's one, so we're done," McKinnon and Thompson said in reference to Sandra Oh, who was nominated for her role on the espionage thriller "Killing Eve." (If the Korean-Canadian actress had won, she would have become the first actress of Asian descent to win a lead drama actress Emmy.) The top acting awards went to Claire Foy (lead drama actress, "The Crown"), Matthew Rhys (lead drama actor, "The Americans"), Brosnahan and Hader. Foy and Rhys nabbed last-chance honors: Foy's role as a young Queen Elizabeth II will soon go to another actress and "The Americans" wrapped its sixth and final season in May. "This wasn't supposed to happen," Foy said in her acceptance speech, presumably referring to the high expectations for Oh. In the supporting categories, Thandie Newton won for her turn as an android on HBO's "Westworld"; Peter Dinklage nabbed a third Emmy for his role as the hard-drinking, quick-thinking Tyrion Lannister on "Thrones"; and Henry Winkler (also known as "The Fonz" on "Happy Days) took home his first Emmy for playing a mercurial acting coach on "Barry." "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story," an unsettling docudrama from the mind of TV impresario Ryan Murphy, walked away with multiple wins: best limited series, best actor in a limited series (Darren Criss) and best directing for a limited series (Murphy). In one of the most memorable moments of the telecast, an honoree treated his girlfriend — and a live television audience — to a surprise proposal. Glenn Weiss, who won for directing this year's Oscars telecast, began his speech by saying that his mother died two weeks ago, adding that she always liked his girlfriend, who he identified as Jan. He then said: "You wonder why I don't want to call you my girlfriend? It's because I want to call you my wife."
A video of an Austin Police Department officer repeatedly punching a man in the head as he is held down outside a nightclub sparked outrage when it was posted to Facebook, racking up hundreds of thousands of views. But Austin Police Chief Brian Manley has defended his officers at a news conference, saying those watching the footage were not necessarily aware of what happened in the moments leading up to the confrontation with a man he said was in possession of a deadly weapon. Detailing the context of the incident, Manley said officers were called to a disturbance at the Rain nightclub on 4th Street. Police were alerted to a man armed with a knife making threats against club staff at around 1.25 a.m. One witness told officers the man was "possibly intoxicated or on drugs," had been "very aggressive" and had a knife tucked into the waistband of his pants. The suspect had been refused entry to the club. He threatened a member of staff working the door. He grabbed them by the face to pull them close and said "let him in the bar or something bad was going to happen as he motioned towards the knife that he had secured on his waist," Manley said. When officers on the scene moved toward the suspect—later identified as Justin Grant—they saw him arguing with a woman, Alexandria Green. Based on what officers knew at the time, Manley said, they decided to detain and handcuff Grant for their safety and to question him. But Grant had other ideas and began resisting officers' attempts to arrest him. So they took him to the ground. Manley said as Grant continued to resist arrest, he began pulling his arms downwards towards his waist—where officers had been warned by witnesses he had a fixed-blade knife. "This is where the video seems to pick up," Manley said. One officer pulled a stun gun out but the suspect tried to grab hold of it, Manley said, which is why he started striking him in the head. The suspect was hit with a stun gun and eventually cuffed. Green can be seen in the video screaming for officers to stop and is warned to back off. At one point the officer punching Grant yells at Green: "Back the f**k up or you're going to go to jail." She was subsequently arrested for interfering with attempts to detain the suspect. Manley said witnesses later reported that as officers first approached Grant, he reached for the knife. Officers were able to grab his arms before he pulled out the weapon. Grant was charged with terroristic threat based on what happened at nightclub, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance. Police say they found methamphetamine in his wallet. Green was charged with interfering with the duties of a police officer. Manley said there would be an inquiry into the incident and asked witnesses to come forward, particularly those who filmed what happened. He said one bodycam was knocked off an officer during the incident, while the other's failed to start recording. When asked by a reporter if policy allows for police to punch suspects in the head, Manley said: "Policy allows for that. Keeping in mind that this was a suspect who was armed with a deadly weapon and officers were trying to take him into custody, so policy would allow for that based on the circumstances." The police chief also said "it's always important that we focus on the whole story." "There was a lot that happened prior to the part that's been displayed in public right now," Manley said. "I understand the community's concern over the video as it was posted, I'm not sure that it was readily known that the suspect at that time was in possession of a deadly weapon [and] had in fact threatened someone earlier, moments earlier. That's why he was charged with terroristic threat with that weapon." He acknowledged concern over police tactics and said that is why the department is continuing with a review of the incident. Patrick King is the man who posted the video to his Facebook page after filming what happened. "So last night I was out with some friends in Austin and witnessed police brutality first hand for the first time," King wrote as he uploaded the video. "It's a different feeling when you see it on TV or all over the internet than when you actually witness it happening no less than 10 feet in front of you." However, in a follow-up post after his video went viral, King wrote: "My intent on posting the video was NOT to go viral and shame the police. There are good cops and bad cops. After hearing two different stories from people who were actually there and about what exactly happened before recording I'm not saying the other person is lying or that they're wrong. "If the man really had a knife and was going to try and hurt people then I'm glad they stopped the problem before it happened. Thank you for handling the situation before it escalated. "REGARDLESS of what he had done before my point in posting the video was for awareness and basically asking WHY continue to beat on a man who physically cannot move because he had three people on him already... WHY continue to punch him in the face and say 'turn over and put your hands behind your back' when you have your other officer holding his hands and he physically cannot move himself to the position you want him to be in. "Drugged up or not I felt as though the way they handled it could've been a little better."<doc-sep>WARNING: The video in this story contains inappropriate language and may be disturbing. AUSTIN -- Austin's police chief is asking for witnesses to come forward as they investigate a video of an arrest that happened in downtown Austin July 4. According to an affidavit obtained by KVUE, police were called to a downtown club where the man in the video was allegedly wielding a knife and threatened the club's manager. Austin Police Chief Brian Manley spoke at a press conference the following day to address the video. At the conference, he clarified what happened before, during and after the video was recorded. Manley said that the Austin Police Department has reviewed the video, and is now conducting an investigation to take a deeper look at the incident. The APD is asking for witnesses to come forward to offer information and to hand over video in order to assist in the investigation. Witness video is important, Manley said, as one officer's body camera stopped working while the other officer's body camera was knocked off of him during the incident. Manley told the press that a witness reportedly saw the suspect reach for his knife as officers were approaching. Manley also said that one of the officers tased the suspect when he started resisting. When the suspect grabbed the officer's taser, Manley said the officer began striking the suspect. The police chief said that APD's policy allows for officers to punch suspects in the head, especially if officers suspect that they have a weapon. A bystander named Patrick King who took the video and posted it on Facebook and Twitter told KVUE he was out with some friends in downtown Austin when he heard screaming at around 1:30 a.m. July 4. He turned around to see multiple police officers struggling with a man -- identified in a police affidavit as 23-year-old Justin Grant -- before he started recording. "I've never seen something like this in front of me before," King said. In the video, a police officer can be seen punching Grant in the head while another officer holds him down. A woman nearby -- later identified in a police affidavit as Alexandria Green -- screamed out, "Stop." As the officer continued to punch Grant, the officer can be heard saying "roll over" and "put your hands behind your back." "He has him on his back. He has him on his side. And he keeps asking him to turn over, but he's still on top of him, punching him and telling him to turn over, which makes no sense to me," King said. Green is seen touching the officer to get him to stop before the officer told her, "You need to back the (expletive) up or you're going to go to jail." Once the officers manage to turn Grant around and get his hands behind his back, Green is seen approaching the officer again and asking, "Why are you doing that?" The officer then is seen getting up and telling her to put her hands behind her back. At this point, the video ended. WARNING : The following video contains inappropriate language and may be disturbing. Police said that before the video started, they were called to Rain, a club located at 214 West Sixth Street. The club's manager reported to police that he was threatened by a shirtless man who had a knife while working the front door at the bar. The manager later told officers that Grant wasn't allowed in the bar because he was intoxicated. The manager said Grant then grabbed him by the arm tightly and pulled him in close to his face. The manager told police Grant said to let him into the bar or something bad would happen. The affidavit said Grant reportedly motioned toward his waistband, where a knife was. When officers arrived, they started speaking with the manager. The manager said the man had left the club. As they were speaking, police reported that they heard a loud disturbance at the bar next door. Rain's manager said the man at the center of that disturbance was the knife-wielding man, the affidavit said. Police said that as they approached the shirtless man to detain him, Grant was pointing at Green "directly in her face, appearing to be in some sort of disturbance," the affidavit said. Police said as they started trying to detain Grant, he was tensing his arms and resisting. That's when police said Green said to the officer, "He didn't do anything," and grabbed the officer's body armor strap to pull him away. The officer said he had to forcibly push Green off of him. At some point during the struggle, police said Green was restrained by Rain bar staff. The affidavit for Grant's arrest said that during the struggle, Grant "began to attempt to pull his arms downwards towards his waistband, which seemed to (the officer) that he was making an attempt to grab his knife." After the struggle, the affidavit said Grant stopped struggling and he was placed in handcuffs. Officers were able to see the knife in plain view in the front of his waistband, just as multiple people described, the affidavit said. The knife was about 6 inches long. Inside Grant's wallet, officers also found a baggie with meth inside. Manley said at Thursday's press conference that Grant suffered from minor injuries from the incident. Once police said the man was in custody, an officer placed Green under arrest for interfering with public duties. As the officer grabbed her wrist to put her in handcuffs, she began pulling her arm away. After a struggle, Green was placed in handcuffs. Green was charged with interference with public duties, a class B misdemeanor. According to online records, Grant was charged with terroristic threat, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. He is currently in jail under a $16,000 bond. King, the man who posted video of part of the incident, told KVUE he shared the video on social media because he wants to raise awareness. "It wasn't trying to call out a cop. It wasn't trying to call out the guy, what he was doing wrong. It was just for everyone to be aware that this can happen anywhere," he said. Austin Police Chief Brian Manley responded to the video on Twitter. "Thank you for bringing this video to our attention and allowing us time to look into the incident. As is standard protocol, the officers chain of command is reviewing all details surrounding this incident," Manley said.<doc-sep>Startling video footage of an Austin police officer repeatedly punching a restrained man has prompted an internal probe. The footage was captured outside Rain nightclub in downtown Austin, Texas on Wednesday by bystander Patrick King, who posted it online expressing his rage at the “beating”. The video shows the man, who is on the ground, being punched at least five times as he is surrounded by officers during an arrest. “So last night I was out with some friends in Austin and witnessed police brutality first hand for the first time,” King wrote on Twitter. He admitted that he was unsure what the man in the video did but added that he was angered by the police response. “I left the scene with rage, anger, and disappointment,” he said. Last night I was out with some friends in Austin and witnessed police brutality first hand for the first time. It’s a different feeling when you see it on tv or all over the internet than when you actually witness it happening no less than 10 feet in front of you. @Austin_Policepic.twitter.com/MEXc1l5OtS — Patty (@YingYangPK) July 4, 2018 An investigation into the Independence Day arrest is now underway, according to Austin Police chief Brian Manley. “As is standard protocol, the officers chain of command is reviewing all details surrounding this incident,” he explained. Thank you for bringing this video to our attention and allowing us time to look into the incident. As is standard protocol, the officers chain of command is reviewing all details surrounding this incident. https://t.co/bum5XKMAkC — Chief Brian Manley (@chief_manley) July 4, 2018 However, the head of the Austin Police Association, which represents around 1,800 officers, has said that there is more to the situation than meets the eye. Ken Casaday said that the footage does not show the lead up to the flurry of punches nor that the suspect was in possession of a knife. “I’ll tell you, as the union president, it looks bad,” Casaday told KXAN news. He suggested that the presence of a knife could have seen police use deadly force. However, he said he is thankful that “they just had to use their taser and punch him a couple of times.” READ MORE: Texas justice? Video emerges of police chief telling homeless man to leave town “When he was on the ground, you can see the officers punching, which they freely admit to. What you can’t see is the subject grabbing for a 6-inch knife that he had on his waistband, that the officers not only saw, but were told that was there by people from the nightclub,” Casaday said. RT.com has contacted the Austin Police Department for further details on the incident but has yet to receive a response. Like this story? Share it with a friend!<doc-sep>	AUSTIN, TX — The man seen being punched repeatedly by an Austin police officer during a confrontation on the Fourth of July allegedly was armed with a knife and was threatening staff at a downtown bar, the police chief said Thursday. Manley addressed the incident following wide interest in a video of the incident that has been viewed thousands of times on social media. The video shows an unidentified officer punching Grant in the face while he was already on the ground, all the while asking him to turn around on his stomach and put his hands behind his back. In am afternoon press conference, Police Chief Bryan Manley said that Justin Grant, 23, has been charged with drug possession, resisting arrest and making a terroristic threat. He clashed with police after outside the Rain bar, 217 W. 4th St., just before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at around in a confrontation that was recorded on a cell phone by a bystander. Manley said Grant had been involved in a disturbance with a woman outside the bar, and had a knife in the waistband of his pants. He said the suspect tried grabbing the arresting officer's taser, which led to the officer punching him repeatedly in the head. Manley said a witness told police the man reached for his knife as officers approached. At last check, the video recorded by a bystander has been viewed more than 5,000 times. Its high viewership previously prompting Austin Police Chief Brian Manley to issue a tweeted statement acknowledging his awareness of the video with assurances of a full internal investigation. The video also shows a woman repeatedly screaming for the police officer to stop punching Grant in the head. She has since been identified as Alexandria Michelle Green, 23, and was arrested and charged with interference with public duties and resisting arrest, Manley said. Manley asked for any member of the public who may have recorded the incident to provide the footage to police. He noted that while the two officers involved were wearing body cameras, one became inoperative during the struggle and failed to record the incident. Yet the arrest affidavit makes no mention of the officer's punching the suspect as he tried to detain him — the tactic that has galvanized some community members decrying what is being viewed as police brutality. Asked if punching the man repeatedly in the face and head was in line with police policy, Manley said protocol does allow the action in certain circumstances such as the presence of the aforementioned knife. Also not mentioned in the affidavit or by Manley during the press conference is a Texas law passed last September that allows the open carry of daggers, knives, swords and other blades longer than 5 1/2 inches among residents over the age of 18. Along with the "open carry" of firearms in public and the companion "campus carry" allowing guns on state-funded universities, the knife carry provision allows residents in Texas to walk freely with their long blades without breaking the law. Still, police made a point to note said they found a six-inch knife in Grant's waistband (Manley provided reporters with a photo of the weapon) along with a bag of methamphetamine in his wallet. Grant was booked into the Travis County Jail on a $16,000 bail, according to public records. The name of the officer who punched the suspect was not named. Watch Manley's press conference below: Watch on #Periscope: Chief Manley provides media briefing regarding downtown incident https://t.co/VJjcFwl6C2 — Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) July 5, 2018 >>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Justin Grant and Alexandria Michelle Green booking photos via Austin Police Department From earlier: AUSTIN, TX — A video showing an Austin police officer punching a man repeatedly while trying to arrest him early Wednesday has given rise to accusations of police brutality. A bystander, Patrick King, posted cell phone footage of the incident on Facebook and Twitter after witnessing the event at around 1:30 a.m. on the Fourth of July. "Last night I was out with some friends in Austin and witnessed police brutality first hand for the first time," King wrote in his post. "It's a different feeling when you see it on tv or all over the internet than when you actually witness it happening no less than 10 feet in front of you."
If you weren't planning on rewatching the first season of HBO's fantasy series, you better make plans to do so ASAP. While fan theories continue to run wild, neither HBO nor the “Game of Thrones” cast or crew has confirmed anything about what is going to happen plot-wise in the upcoming final season of the HBO fantasy series. One thing viewers might want to start preparing for, at least according to Maisie Williams, is a final season that serves as a full circle ending to the series. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Williams stressed season one references play a huge role in the final six “Thrones” episodes. “After reading the scripts I went back and watched season one again because so much of it refers back to that season,” Williams said. “There are so many scenes that will look similar. And also I watched just to remind myself of the arc I’ve taken already. I wanted Arya to go full circle and try for some kind of normalcy like when she was younger.” Describing Arya’s final season arc, Williams teased, “This year it’s like she has a dual personality — there are so many emotions and memories that come flooding back when you’re with your family and the things that you fight for become very different, yet she’s also remaining on this path to try and kill Cersei and remembering her list and getting closer to that. So there’s this split with Arya between trying to be who she wants to be — getting back to the naïveté and innocence with her family — and unfinished business.” Williams also said Arya and her sister Sansa (Sophie Turner) will be teaming up this season. “It’s not often you see a character siding with Sansa who’s not manipulating her,” Williams said “Last season it was really tough for Sansa because Jon was thinking with his penis and it kind of made Sansa look bitter. This season you see Arya teaming with Sansa and sometimes calling out Jon.” The final season of “Game of Thrones” begins April 14 on HBO. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.<doc-sep>George RR Martin has discussed how the ending to the A Song of Ice and Fire, the book series on which Game of Thrones is based, will differ to the television show. Speaking to Rolling Stone for the publication's cover story on Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), the author remained vague. “I’ve been so slow with these books,” Martin said. “The major points of the ending will be things I told them five or six years ago. "But there may also be changes, and there’ll be a lot added." Game of Thrones characters - ranked Show all 70 1 /70 Game of Thrones characters - ranked Game of Thrones characters - ranked 70. Rickon Stark Played by: Art Parkinson : Art Parkinson Easily the most annoying Stark child − an impressive feat next to Bran − Rickon was at least handed one hell of a death scene: taken out by an arrow courtesy of Ramsay Bolton. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 69. Robin Arryn Played by: Lino Facioli : Lino Facioli Robin Arryn is remembered by most Thrones fans as being the 10-year-old breastfed by his mother (still weird). That's about it. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 68. Renly Baratheon Played by: Gethin Anthony : Gethin Anthony The Rickon of the Baratheon brothers. His claim to the Iron Throne was tenuous, considering his older brother, Stannis, was still alive. When Stannis's shadow monster came to kill him, it was only good news for the show. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 67. Leaf Played by: Kae Alexander : Kae Alexander A lot of mystery may surround Leaf, one of the show's mythical Children of the Forest, but her noble sacrifice to save Bran, Meera and Hodor from a horde of wights robbed her of any worth. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 66. Tommen Baratheon Played by: Dean-Charles Chapman : Dean-Charles Chapman Another boring younger brother. Whereas Joffrey was pure evil, Tommen was innocent and, inevitably, very boring. His cat, Ser Pounce, was an asset to the show. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 65. Lysa Arryn Played by: Kate Dickie : Kate Dickie Lysa, the creepy sister to Catelyn Stark, was first seen with Robin Arryn, her 10-year-old son, latched to her breast. Her death − being pushed through the Moon Door − couldn't have come sooner. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 64. Benjen Stark Played by: Joseph Mawle/Matteo Elezi : Joseph Mawle/Matteo Elezi Having gone missing in season one, Benjen returned during season six to save his nephew, Bran. The moment was a surprise to TV watchers − book readers, however, had long speculated that Coldhands was an undead version of the Stark. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 63. Syrio Forel Played by: Miltos Yerolemou : Miltos Yerolemou The ill-fated Syrio's appearance way back in season one was a formative experience for one Arya Stark (Maisie Williams); he's the one who helped her on her way to becoming the vengeful assassin fans know and love today. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 62. Jeor Mormont Played by: James Cosmo : James Cosmo Father of Jorah Mormont, Jeor was an honourable leader of the Night's Watch − perhaps to a fault. After giving Jon Snow the sword Longclaw, Mormont inadvertently showed the Stark bastard that Valerian steel can cut through White Walkers. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 61. Roose Bolton Played by: Michael McElhatton : Michael McElhatton Let's be honest: it's hard to really like as scheming a character as Roose Bolton, the man who orchestrated the violent Red Wedding − the most infamous scene in the show's six-year history that saw the death of Robb, Catelyn and Talisa. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 60. Ellaria Sand Played by: Indira Varma : Indira Varma Ellaria Sand may have been a more enticing creation on the page, but in the series, her screen time regrettably amounts to reacting to loved ones being killed off in increasingly awful ways. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 59. Grand Maester Pycell Played by: Julian Glover : Julian Glover The secretly sprightly Pycell had seen a lot of things in his time, but there's an element of "unfulfilled potential" surrounding Glover's character whose late betrayal of Cersei Lannister saw a grisly end to his life of luxury at King's Landing. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 58. Three-Eyed Raven Played by: Max von Sydow : Max von Sydow Perhaps it was the casting of Max von Sydow that heightened anticipation for the Three-Eyed Raven in the series, but the half-hearted story arc left a lot to be desired. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 57. Gilly Played by: Hannah Murray : Hannah Murray Gilly's long journey from Craster's Keep to Winterfell sounds exciting on paper. But, unfortunately, she has been merely a passenger on Sam's journey for far too long. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 56. Daario Naharis Played by: Michael Huisman : Michael Huisman The man who won the heart of Daenerys Targaryen, only to be left behind in Essos. Ed Skrein originally played the character, but was soon replaced after the actor landed a role in Deadpool. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 55. Shae Played by: Sibel Kekilli : Sibel Kekilli Oh Shea. Her ill-fated betrayal − sleeping with Tywin (Charles Dance) − was a slap in the face not just for lover Tyrion, but the viewer also. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 54. Grey Worm Played by: Jacob Anderson : Jacob Anderson Leader of the Usullied, Grey Worm remains unmoved at all times − unless around Missandei. While their romance can be heartwarming, it's hard to invest in two characters who are so wooden. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 53. Talisa Maegyr Played by: Oona Chaplin : Oona Chaplin To be fair to Robb Stark's wife Talisa, should she have avoided being murdered in arguably the most horrific way during the Red Wedding, she would most likely have been higher on this list. Alas. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 52. Shireen Baratheon Played by: Kerry Ingram : Kerry Ingram All the Greyscale-suffering Shireen ever wanted to do was read stories in her chamber, but due to her impressionable power-hungry father, Stannis, she was tragically reduced to ashes after being sacrificed to the Lord of Light. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 51. Viserys Targaryen Played by: Harry Lloyd : Harry Lloyd Viserys wanted the Iron Throne at any cost, giving away his own sister in exchange for an army. Dany, though, had other plans. Her new husband, Khal Drogo, covering Viserys in molten gold made for one of the show's most memorable death scenes. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 50. Maester Luwin Played by: Donald Sumpter : Donald Sumpter The kindly Maester Luwin was one of the nicest characters in the first few seasons, becoming a stand-in father for Bran and Rickon while the Starks endured horrors elsewhere. He was eventually killed when Ramsay Bolton took over Winterfell. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 49. Thoros of Myr Played by: Paul Kaye : Paul Kaye Thoros spent the majority of his time on the show resurrecting Beric and was most recently seen wielding his flaming sword alongside Jon Snow beyond the wall. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 48. Mance Rayder Played by: Ciarán Hinds : Ciarán Hinds Ciaran Hinds brought an intensity to Mance Rayder, a character who would otherwise have got lost in the crowd. As a result, his death at the hands of Melisandre was unexpectedly affecting. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 47. Podrick Payne Played by: Daniel Portman : Daniel Portman Ever loyal, Podrick Payne has become a fan favourite for being surprisingly brave in the face of adversity. He and Brienne of Tarth make an excellent duo. HBO/Helen Sloan Game of Thrones characters - ranked 46. Euron Greyjoy Played by: Pilou Asbæk : Pilou Asbæk While Euron Greyjoy may have only joined the show in season six, his presence was immediately felt. A wildcard character, Greyjoy's cut-throat, power-hungry nature has proven exciting to watch. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 45. Jaqen H'ghar Played by: Tom Wlaschiha : Tom Wlaschiha Jaqen H'ghar − one of the Faceless Men of Braavos − had such promise, but ultimately ended up being the one responsible for sapping Arya's story of the energy she'd had seasons before, alongside The Hound (Rory McCann). HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 44. Missandei Played by: Nathalie Emmanuel : Nathalie Emmanuel Missandei has somehow managed to come up trumps within the new world order, being an advisor to Dany. However, her stilted nature can make for some awkward encounters − but at least she and Grey Worm are happy together. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 43. Ygritte Played by: Rose Leslie : Rose Leslie Ygritte − the Wildling lover of Jon Snow − will go down in Thrones lore for providing the series the with oft-quoted famous line: "You know nothing, Jon Snow." Spoken with a northern accent, obviously. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 42. Hot Pie Played by: Ben Hawkey : Ben Hawkey Has an actor ever been more suited to a role? Ben Hawkey, after all, has gone on to run a bakery of his own, even selling Thrones-themed goods. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 41. Walder Frey Played by: David Bradley : David Bradley One of the orchestrators of the Red Wedding, Walder Frey was a lurching, terrifying villain. When Arya unmasks herself and kills the old man, it's a sweet, sweet moment of revenge. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 40. Gendry Baratheon Played by: Joe Dempsie : Joe Dempsie The true heir to the Iron Throne. Gendry may have spent a few seasons rowing out at sea, but his return hints at big things to come for the Baratheon bastard. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 39. Robert Baratheon Played by: Mark Addy : Mark Addy Mark Addy brought a certain gravitas to Robert Baratheon, making him a believably world-weary king. Despite only having a few scenes, his character's presence is still felt on the show thanks to Gendry. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 38. Barristan Selmy Played by: Ian McElhinney : Ian McElhinney After being fired by the Lannisters, Selmy pledged allegiance to Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), bridging the gap between two of the show's key characters. He was also a bloody good warrior. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 37. Yara Greyjoy Played by: Gemma Whelan : Gemma Whelan Lily Allen was initially wanted for the role of Theon's sister. However, she declined: 'I felt uncomfortable because I would have had to go on a horse and he would have touched me up and s***.' Seeing as Allen's brother, Alfie, had already been cast as Theon, it was probably for the best. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 36. Margaery Tyrell Played by: Natalie Dormer : Natalie Dormer Margaery Tyrell was one of Game of Thrones's biggest players, wheedling her way into the Lannister family politics and actually becoming Queen for a spell. Her number was up the moment she made an enemy of Cersei, and her fiery death, while underwhelming, was a huge moment. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 35. Samwell Tarly Played by: John Bradley : John Bradley There's a theory going around that Samwell Tarly, who trains as a maester, is actually the author of the Song of Ice and Fire − AKA the book series. In other words, Sam is George RR Martin. Go figure. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 34. Osha Played by: Natalia Tena : Natalia Tena The underused Osha was our very first wildling, an unpredictable knife-wielding danger to the characters we loved. Her subsequent evolution into Stark servant was interestingly played, which made the fact she was sidelined for multiple seasons, before being brought back just to be unceremoniously offed, a travesty. HBO Game of Thrones characters - ranked 33.<doc-sep>	Game of Thrones: Maisie Williams says Arya teams up with Sansa in season 8 Game of Thrones Close this dialog window Streaming Options Maisie Williams has some new things to say about Game of Thrones season 8. The actress who plays fan-favorite Arya Stark discussed her character’s journey, reading the final season scripts, Arya’s tighter bond with Sansa, and she teases the end of the series in a chat with EW. “There’s a lot of death this year,” Williams warns. As previously reported, the final batch of six episodes will contain plenty of callbacks to the show’s debut 2011 season as Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) arrive at Winterfell where Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Arya ready the North for war against The Night King. “After reading the scripts I went back and watched season 1 again because so much of it refers back to that season,” the 21-year-old says. “There are so many scenes that will look similar. And also I watched just to remind myself of the arc I’ve taken already. I wanted Arya to go full circle and try for some kind of normalcy like when she was younger. Basically this year it’s like she has a dual personality — there are so many emotions and memories that come flooding back when you’re with your family and the things that you fight for become very different, yet she’s also remaining on this path to try and kill Cersei and remembering her list and getting closer to that. So there’s this split with Arya between trying to be who she wants to be — getting back to the naïveté and innocence with her family — and unfinished business.” As suggested by the season 7 finale, Arya and Sansa are very much united in the final season, which for Williams was more natural to portray given her longtime friendship with Turner. “It’s not often you see a character siding with Sansa who’s not manipulating her,” Williams notes. “Last season it was really tough for Sansa because Jon was thinking with his penis and it kind of made Sansa look bitter. This season you see Arya teaming with Sansa and sometimes calling out Jon. It felt nice and powerful to stand next to Sophie. Sophie and I are the tightest of friends when sitting across from anyone, so no acting required.” ST_MW_uishdf8weyr3befosdf Credit: Marc Hom for EW As previously detailed in our exclusive cover story on the upcoming Battle of Winterfell, Arya will also take part in her first major battle sequence, an episode that was particularly grueling for the cast and crew. “I feel like I’ve always been a part of this big show but in terms of being part of the episodes that really define us, this is my first taste of it,” she says. Whether Arya survives to the finale remains to be seen. But the actress had some thoughts on how fans might react to the last episode. “People don’t want it to end,” Williams says. “No matter how you end it, people don’t want it to end. So the ending is not going to be okay, because ‘the end’ is not okay. You know what I mean? I think the way we end it is right. And I think it’s time.” Looking beyond GoT, Williams has plenty on her plate with a major role in the new X-Men spin-off The New Mutants and was recently cast in a forthcoming film called The Owners, a comic book-based thriller about a deadly game of cat and mouse set in 1990s rural England. “I’m nervous about what comes next and just want to prove myself as an actor now and make the most of this series,” Williams. “There are not many opportunities to do everything with one character and there’s a whole spectrum I get to do. So whatever happens after, I made this count.” Get your copy of Entertainment Weekly’s biggest Game of Thrones issue ever: 78 pages of exclusive stories and photos on the past, present, and future of the HBO hit. Buy your choice of 16 different covers, and don’t forget to subscribe for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW. Close this dialog window Streaming Options Related content:
Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is serving time with another famous inmate — disgraced Fyre Festival creator Billy McFarland. Sorrentino’s “Jersey Shore” co-stars Vinny Guadagnino and Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio confirmed on Jenny McCarthy’s SiriusXM radio show that the 36-year-old reality star is in jail with “the guy from the Fyre Festival.” In October, McFarland, 27, was sentenced to six years in prison for defrauding investors of $27.4 million by marketing and selling tickets to the Fyre Festival in the Bahamas. McCarthy implored Guadagnino, 31, and DelVecchio — who said they speak to Sorrentino daily — to pass along an important message. “Tell Mike he’s got to get as much information of the Fyre Festival,” she said. “He could write two books!” Guadagnino shared that Sorrentino is also incarcerated alongside Ryan Collins, who is serving 18 months in prison for hacking into celebrity email accounts and obtaining nude photos of Jennifer Lawrence, Ariana Grande, Kate Upton and others. “They play Scrabble together,” DelVecchio said. Sorrentino, McFarland and Collins are imprisoned at the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, in New York state. A lawyer familiar with the facilities recently said the place is “not fancy.” “They live in trailers, but there are no walls, no bars,” the source said. “Visiting is very lax and lenient. When the weather is nice, families come up and picnic.” On April 3, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi revealed that Sorrentino is having the “time of his life” in prison. He is serving an eight-month sentence for tax evasion.<doc-sep>NEW YORK (AP) — “The Situation” and the Fyre Festival fraudster are already there. President Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, is up next. It’s not reality TV. It’s a federal prison 70 miles (113 kilometers) from New York City where white-collar and D-list scoundrels can do time while playing bocce ball and noshing on rugelach. Cohen, 53, is due to report Monday to the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville to start a three-year sentence for tax evasion, lying to Congress and campaign finance crimes. Tucked in the lush countryside south of the Catskill Mountains, Otisville is actually two federal facilities with a total of about 800 inmates: a medium-security prison where former NFL star Darren Sharper is serving a 20-year rape sentence, and a satellite camp for non-violent offenders like Cohen. There, he’ll be serving his three-year sentence with the likes of “Jersey Shore” star-turned-tax fraud convict Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino and Fyre Festival’s Billy McFarland. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which runs the federal prison system, has been tight-lipped about Cohen’s placement. The agency denied a reporter’s request to tour the Otisville facility and declined to comment for this article. The camp does have its allure. About 115 inmates sleep in bunks lined up in barrack-style halls, instead of individual or two-man cells like in higher-security facilities. There are lockers to store personal belongings, washers and dryers for laundry, microwaves to heat up food and ice machines to keep cool. Alums include accountant Kenneth Starr, who was accused of bilking celebrities like Uma Thurman with bad investments, and former Cendant chairman Walter Forbes and ex-Connecticut Gov. John Rowland. New York Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff wanted to go to Otisville, but the Bureau of Prisons sent him to North Carolina instead. Otisville is also known as a favorite among prison-bound Jews for its Kosher meals and Shabbat services. Add in recreational amenities like tennis courts, horseshoes and cardio equipment, and it sounds like the closest thing the federal prison system has to sleepaway camp. Forbes once ranked Otisville as one of “America’s 10 Cushiest Prisons,” but former employees and inmates say it’s hardly “Club Fed.” Inmates are still doing time and they’re still separated from their families and friends — save for occasional visits. “Prison is disrespectful. It’s impersonal,” said former Otisville case manager Jack Donson. “He’s never going to get any sleep because there’s always lights on, there’s always inmates snoring. There are officers walking around jingling keys. You shower out in the open. It’s very demeaning.” Cohen could also be a target of bullying, harassment or worse for his cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation and other probes, and that could make him a candidate for the prison’s protective housing unit, said Donson. Trump himself has branded Cohen a “rat.” Factor in the camp’s design — off a secluded two-lane road, without much fencing or security — and Cohen could find himself easily harassed by paparazzi or ambushed by someone looking to do harm, said Donson. “He’s not a good fit,” said Donson. Cameron Lindsay, a retired warden who oversaw Otisville as deputy regional director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, said he would “think long and hard about placing Cohen in a general population, at least in the beginning,” given the “intense media coverage and extreme type of support the president receives from some of his supporters.” A prison handbook advises inmates to carry themselves in a “confident manner at all times,” to trust their instincts and to “choose your associates wisely.” Cohen’s first stop at Otisville will be admission and orientation. He’ll undergo medical and mental health screenings and be assigned a job. He’ll also get a set of clothing, trading in his sport coats and zip ups for khaki shirts and pants, and a set of bedding and towels. Within a month, he’ll be classified and given recommendations for prison programs. Some inmates go to drug education or take classes to earn a high school-equivalent diploma. As for a typical day: During the week, it’s lights on at 6 a.m., followed by breakfast. Work duties, such as mowing the grounds or cleaning up the prison, are performed from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a break for lunch at 11. Dinner is served beginning at 4:15 p.m. It’s lights out at 11:30 p.m. On the weekend, inmates get to sleep in. Lights on isn’t until 7 a.m. Otisville, within 35 miles (56 kilometers) of the Orthodox Jewish communities of Kiryas Joel and Monsey, is “definitely sought out by Jewish offenders,” said Matthew Perry, executive director of Jewish Prisoner Services International. The commissary sells more than 100 kosher items, more than most federal prisons. (Matzoh goes for $3.15 and gefilte fish costs $5.15. Need a yarmulke? It’s $6). A rabbi on staff full-time leads the chaplainry. At Passover, the prison puts on an elaborate Seder. “It really makes a difference if you’re Jewish because a lot of guys want to say certain prayers you can only say with 10 Jewish men,” said Lawrence Dressler, a former Otisville prisoner who served 18 months for mortgage fraud, referring to the Jewish quorum known as a minyan. “You have Sabbath services on Friday night, and the prison even allows inmates to bring in food from the outside.” All Jewish holidays are observed, Dressler said, including Hanukkah, when men gather in the chapel to sing. “Everyone had their own menorah,” he said. Dressler, who like Cohen was a lawyer before his conviction, predicted Cohen will largely be left alone at Otisville — unless he’s seen as a rat. “He’ll make a few friends,” Dressler said. “Everyone ends up having a couple of good friends.”<doc-sep>Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is in the middle of serving an eight-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of tax evasion Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino has made some (in)famous new friends in prison. In a new interview on Wednesday’s episode of The Jenny McCarthy Show, Sorrentino’s friends and costars Pauly “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio and Vinny Guadagnino gave an update on the reality star’s time in jail. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Sorrentino, 36, is in the middle of serving an eight-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of tax evasion. “We talk to him every day,” Guadagnino, 31, said. “There’s an app where we can talk to him — he has a computer room that he goes to throughout the day. He sends me positive vibes. He gets me through my day, while he’s in prison.” “He’s in such good spirits because he sees Lauren [Pesce, his wife] once a day, and he has so much to come home to … so he just wants to get it over with and do his time. He’s happy,” DelVecchio, 38, added. When host Jenny McCarthy asked for more details on Sorrentino’s life inside the prison, Guadagnino revealed that his castmates become pals with Billy McFarland, who was sentenced to six years in prison after organizing the disastrous Fyre Festival. situation Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino; Billy McFarland \| Credit: Phillip Faraone/FilmMagic; Mark Lennihan/AP/REX/Shutterstock “He is in there with the guy from the Fyre Festival,” Guadagnino said. “And he’s in there with the guy that leaked Jennifer Lawrence’s nudes, that hacked her phone.” “They play Scrabble together!” DelVecchio added. “Imagine what he’s learning in there from all these guys,” Guadagnino said. “It’s like he’s in a senior home,” Polizzi, 31, told E! News. “He’s playing Bingo, he’s helping people recover in jail.” “We all talk to him through an email, so I talk to him like once a week,” she continued. “He’s in the gym a lot, so he’s probably gonna come out ripped. You know, he’s not gonna be BDS anymore — Big Daddy Sitch — he’s [probably] gonna have his six-pack again. But he’s doing … he’s doing good in there.” Sorrentino and his brother Marc were indicted in September 2014 for tax offenses and conspiring to defraud the United States after allegedly failing to properly pay taxes on $8.9 million in income from 2010 to 2012. In April 2017, both men were indicted on additional charges including tax evasion, structuring and falsifying records. Doctrine Denim Launch - Inside Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino (right) and brother Marc Sorrentino \| Credit: Chelsea Lauren/WireImage Sorrentino pled guilty to one count of tax evasion in January 2018, and his brother Marc pled guilty to one count of aiding in the preparation of a false and fraudulent tax return. In October 2018, Sorrentino was sentenced to eight months in prison and two years of supervised release, and Marc was sentenced to two years. The reality star reported to the Otisville Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville, New York, on Jan. 15.<doc-sep>Fyre Festival became the stuff of legend in 2017, when well-to-do millennials who paid thousands of dollars to attend a made-for-Instagram tropical bacchanalia arrived instead to no musical acts, a sea of FEMA disaster-relief tents, and styrofoam containers of untoasted bread. Earlier this year, a pair of dueling documentaries from Netflix and Hulu answered many of the burning questions about how, exactly, Fyre Festival came to be, plumbing the depths of organizer Billy McFarland's unique blend of incompetence, criminality, and delusions of grandeur. McFarland, who is in federal prison for fraud until sometime in 2024, is already plotting a grand comeback. And New York magazine has the story of his possibly forthcoming autobiography. Earlier this year, Anastasia Eremenko, his Russian model girlfriend who made a cameo in Hulu's Fyre Fraud documentary, reached out to freelance book editor Josh Raab with a proposition. McFarland, she explained, has been penning a memoir by hand while incarcerated, sending the manuscript to Eremenko page by page for transcription. The subject matter of Promythus: The God of Fyre—that is the memoir's real working title, with McFarland's preferred spellings and everything—sounds like a pop-culture mad lib in which all the subjects are tiresome, uninteresting people. The book, McFarland said, chronicles his career from the first investment in a now-shuttered start-up back in 2011 to the FBI paying him a visit days after the festival imploded. Rubinshtein provided Raab with a bullet-pointed, name-dropping list of selected stories, the sorts of “great and terrible moments” McFarland planned to highlight. Actors, models, musicians, people who are only famous because their parents are, cameos from members of the Trump administration, the list goes on and on. The most fascinating aspect of New York's story is how McFarland still seems to believe that he is a misunderstood creative genius, not a serial liar who owes some $26 million in restitution to those he defrauded. In e-mails to Raab, McFarland asserts that he's struggling to "fully come to terms with" how the festival affected residents of Great Exuma, an island of fewer than 10,000 people. The devastating economic consequences of his failure to pay a quarter-million dollars he owes to hundreds of day laborers, for example, is evidently not yet something he fully appreciates. He also said the organizers spent about $40 million on the festival and that many of the vendors had been paid more than enough. McFarland said he is still trying to figure out where things went bad with those vendors, including MaryAnn Rolle, the restaurant owner in Great Exuma whose appearance in the Netflix documentary prompted a GoFundMe campaign that raised $200,000 to help make up her lost savings. McFarland appears to exhibit a strong desire to tell the proverbial Real Story of What Happened, and firmly believes that the Netflix and Hulu accounts of this manmade disaster did not do justice to his artistic vision. Yet, as New York points out, given that he began serving his sentence before the documentaries were released, McFarland has not actually seen either one. Aside from his literary aspirations, the man who quarterbacked a new harebrained scam after being arrested for his first harebrained scam apparently harbors grand ambitions for the scope of his post-incarceration scamming future. "The Festival will not be a one and done event," he wrote to Raab. "It's happening again, so the original story will lose the potential to be told and set the stage if it's not done before the next events take place." As they always say in the entertainment industry, when your name has become synonymous with the shameful excesses of a social-media-obsessed culture blind to the impact it has on the world around it, write a book, try again, and hope for the best.<doc-sep>	Photo: Getty Images and Shutterstock Fyre Festival fraudster Billy McFarland and Jersey Shore star turned tax cheat Mike “the Situation” Sorrentino will soon have a new celeb neighbor in prison: Michael Cohen. On Monday, President Trump’s former fixer is reportedly scheduled to check into Otisville FCI, a federal lockup in upstate New York. According to the Associated Press, Cohen is headed to the “camp,” as it’s known, which is for “non-violent offenders.” Vulture confirmed that McFarland and Sorrentino are at Otisville. Cohen, 53, was hit with a three-year sentence in December after copping to campaign-finance and tax-evasion counts, as well as lying to Congress. McFarland, 27, was sentenced to six years in October for running the approximately $26 million scam. Sorrentino, 37, got an eight-month sentence that same month for hiding money from the IRS. Otisville, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, has a “minimum-security satellite camp” with 113 inmates, and a medium-security facility with 745. At the camp, prisoners “sleep in bunks lined up in barrack-style halls,” per the AP. The close proximity — okay, really, the bunk beds — poses serious questions about whether they’ll get along. Below, we try to find some answers. Is it likely McFarland, Sorrentino, and Cohen will become besties? “Not at all,” said Larry Levine, a former federal inmate who founded Wall Street Prison Consultants, a firm that helps people navigate the incarceration process. “They’re all strong-personality people. Billy McFarland is like a personality hound of sorts.” Levine later said, “The publicity hounds are going to be a little upset. They’re going to be a little hurt.” Levine himself was in federal custody for ten years in 11 facilities, including several minimum-security camps. Will they see each other around the yard? While they’ll wind up eating at the same dining hall and movie nights because of the “close proximity,” Levine said, the extent of any hangouts is up to them. “At a camp, you’re interacting with everyone,” he said.” “They’ll have the ability to interact, but that’s really a choice based on them.” Don’t celebrities gravitate to each other in prison? “Not really,” Levine said. “They don’t look at themselves or view themselves as celebrities.” Also, these three men wound up in jail under different circumstances, which is key to possible relationships. “They run in different worlds,” Levine said. “They’re not celebrity brothers.” But … “That doesn’t mean they might not play cards together,” he said. “It could be cocktail hour — they could be sipping pruno [prison wine] together, getting fucking drunk, laughing,” he explained at another point in the interview. “It’s possible.” What are McFarland and Sorrentino going to think of Cohen? “Maybe these high-profile people will resent Michael Cohen because he’s getting all this attention now,” Levine said. “[Or] maybe they’ll think, Thank God he’s here, and people will leave me alone.” Levine added: “Likewise, they might swap manuscripts. ‘Hey, Mike, you wanna read my book?’ Remember, Cohen is going to have nothing but time on his hands.” Are inmates going to treat Cohen differently than McFarland or Sorrentino when he gets there? “They may take him under their wing; they may have a care package for him. [When] he gets there, he’s not going to have shit, so the other inmates are going to give him a pair of shower shoes, and they’re going to hook him up with shampoo; they’re going to give him a regular bar of soap,” Levine said. “But it’s not because it’s Michael Cohen; they do it for everyone.” Will staff treat Cohen differently than McFarland and Sorrentino? “You know what the staff really likes to do to high-profile inmates: They might like to demean them to a certain degree,” Levine said. Notable residents might get gross jobs, like cleaning showers, which tend to be soiled with lots of “sperm,” Levine said. Does Cohen even care he’ll be bunking near McFarland and Sorrentino? Cohen’s spokesperson didn’t comment specifically on McFarland or Sorrentino, saying, “He is not focused on who’s in prison right now, but he’s really just focused on spending time with his family.” McFarland’s lawyer declined to comment on Cohen. Sorrentino’s lawyer didn’t respond to a request for comment. The Bureau of Prisons didn’t respond to a request for info.
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D) will take on current Colorado State Treasurer Walker Stapleton (R) in the governor's race. Voters will decide in November who'll take over after current Gov. John Hickenlooper - who is term-limited. The stage is set for November: U.S. Rep. Jared Polis with his deep personal cash reserves will take on Walker Stapleton, the current State Treasurer who spent the primary running against Polis. Instead of keeping his eyes trained on his competition during the primary season, Stapleton spent it touting his conservative credentials and - in the 9NEWS GOP governor's debate especially - knocking Polis. For the most part, he ignored Doug Robinson, Vic Mitchell and Greg Lopez, his three challengers for the GOP candidacy. His strategy seemed to work: 9NEWS political analyst Floyd Ciruli called the race for Stapleton about 15 minutes after polls closed Tuesday night. Stapleton currently leads by nearly 20 points over his closest challenger - he's got 40 percent of the vote to Mitchell's 30 percent. At his speech accepting the GOP nomination, Stapleton warned supports that a Polis governorship would drive 200,000 jobs out of the state and take cash out of their pockets. "Let's win this for future generations," he said. "Thank you, and thank you Colorado." Polis, who won't accept campaign donations over $100 and is using his considerable fortune to bankroll his campaign, spent his time in the primary battling Cary Kennedy. She nearly doubled up Polis on the number of delegates earned at the state assembly: 63 percent to 33 percent. Despite her early lead and an endorsement from the state's largest teacher's union, she is currently losing by nearly 100,000 votes in the primary. 9NEWS called the race for Polis about 40 minutes after the polls closed. At last check, Polis led Kennedy by 19 points: Polis' 44 percent to Kennedy's 25 percent. At his speech accepting the Democratic nomination, Polis told the gathered crowd that Stapleton was on the wrong side of nearly every question facing voters, from honesty to health care and even human rights. "I could not be prouder in this fight," he said. "I could not be more humbled to be your Democratic nominee for governor of Colorado." This was the first time in the state's history that unaffiliated voters - the largest block of voters in the state - were allowed to participate in major party elections, but were only allowed to pick one major party primary to cast a ballot. 9NEWS has covered both candidates extensively in the lead up to the primaries. A selection of our content can be viewed below: GOP PRIMARY DEBATE: See Walker Stapleton pivot several times to denouncing Jared Polis as a bad candidate for Colorado and talk up his own credentials for the job as 9NEWS anchor Kyle Clark and 9NEWS political reporter Brandon Rittiman moderate. DEM PRIMARY DEBATE: See Jared Polis fend off attacks from several challengers as he talked up his own vision for the future of Colorado, including a single-payer health care system and his promise to take on the NRA in Colorado as the state's governor. POLIS ON COLORADO POLITICS: Jared Polis wrote an op-ed for Colorado Politics outlining his vision for Colorado. The big takeaway is his vision for fixing the state's troubled infrastructure: sensible spending and new revenue. There are more nuggets in the piece, including his plan for universal public access to the internet. STAPLETON ON COLORADO POLITICS: Walker Stapleton also wrote an op-ed for Colorado Politics outlining - you guessed it - his vision for Colorado. He also focused on the state's troubled roads, arguing the $9 billion funding gap in transportation could be handled without raising taxes. He also offers other thoughts on the state, including an indictment that the Colorado Department of Transportation needs to do more than "business as usual." Walker Stapleton Truth Tests: 9NEWS political reporter Brandon Rittiman took a look at several campaign ads from the Republican nominee. In the most recent, Rittiman noticed Stapleton's claim that he was a "fourth-generation Coloradan" was a little hard to buy since he was born in Connecticut. Another Truth Test from early June sees Rittiman taking a look at the claim that 9NEWS caught Stapleton lying. To accuse someone of lying means they knowingly and deliberately told a falsehood. Rittiman made the decision that, yes, Stapleton lied. Jared Polis Truth Tests: 9NEWS political reporter Brandon Rittiman also took a look at some claims coming out of the Polis camp. In the one - from May 15 - features Rittiman taking a look at Polis' hope to bring universal full-day pre-school and Kindergarten to Coloradans. While this is part of his campaign, Rittiman explained that this is just something out of the governor's hands. The legislature would need to be brought in. Polis and Kennedy (along with the rest of the candidates on the Dem side) took what's called a "Clean Campaign Pledge." It's something the Democrats running for governor have started doing recently that means they won't stoop to a smear campaign against their challengers. Well...<doc-sep>Colorado Public Radio Staff Primary candidates for Colorado governor. Democrat Jared Polis, a five-term congressman, and Cary Kennedy, a former state treasurer, offer stands on schools, energy and public lands to the left of the centrist Democrat they want to succeed as Coloradans vote in primaries on Tuesday. Republicans, meanwhile, hope to take a governor's office they haven't held since 2007, and Tuesday's GOP primary will select a challenger who offers a starkly different vision for purple-state Colorado that aligns with Washington's immigration crackdown and attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. The race to succeed two-term Gov. John Hickenlooper tops the midterm primary, one in which unaffiliated voters, the state's largest voting bloc, can participate without having to affiliate with one or the other of the major parties. A voter-passed 2016 initiative allows them to do so. Hickenlooper has balanced oil and gas development with clean air standards, and as a former brew pub entrepreneur has overseen unprecedented economic growth in this rapidly-growing state of 5.6 million. Republican Secretary of State Wayne Williams said his office invested $900,000 in educating unaffiliated voters about the change. Each received two ballots — one Democrat, one Republican — and, if they chose, could return just one of them by mail or at drop-off centers. Return both and they cancel out. "Citizens who make decisions here typically vote both Democrat and Republican. They're used to being able to pick a Democrat for one office and a Republican for another office," Williams said. "My goal has been to keep the disqualification rate as low as possible." Republicans and Democrats offered starkly different post-Hickenlooper visions for Colorado's role — or resistance — in implementing Trump administration policies on immigration, the environment, taxes and health care. Among the Democrats, Polis is a tech entrepreneur, former state board of education member and founder of English-language schools for immigrants. He has sparred with Kennedy over public education policy in the wake of teacher protests that gripped Colorado, Arizona and other states this spring. Kennedy wrote a state constitutional amendment designed to increase public education funding and is endorsed by Colorado's largest teachers union. But a misleading attack ad on Polis and former state Sen. Mike Johnston, himself an educator, by a pro-Kennedy teachers' spending committee tapered the momentum of her grass-roots campaign. Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, a former health care executive, also is running. All agree that Colorado must change constitutional restrictions on taxation and spending to confront its rapid growth. All espouse universal health care, protecting public lands and promoting renewable energy. David Zalubowski/AP Republican candidate for Colorado's governorship, Walker Stapleton, responds to a question during a televised debate in Denver, June 19, 2018. The Republican candidates uniformly oppose any tampering with that amendment and embrace Trump's stands on immigration, tax cuts and promoting oil and gas — a $31 billion industry in Colorado. All differ with Trump on his trade policy, warning that tariffs and the initial stages of a global trade war will harm the state's economy. Treasurer Walker Stapleton, a relation to President George W. Bush, has looked past the primary, criticizing Polis' $12 million investment in his campaign and his support for local control of fracking. Victor Mitchell, a former state representative, portrays himself as an outsider, has invested nearly $5 million in his own campaign, and challenged Stapleton's truthfulness, especially his claim — since abandoned — to be the only U.S. state treasurer to endorse Trump's income tax cuts last fall. Investment banker Doug Robinson, a nephew of former presidential nominee Mitt Romney, is a first-time candidate for public office. Rounding out the field is Greg Lopez, a former Parker mayor and regional director for the U.S. Small Business Administration. U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn greets a supporter at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs on Monday, June 11, 2018. In suburban Denver's 6th Congressional District, two Democrats are battling for the chance to unseat five-term Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman. Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger, is the party favorite. Levi Tillemann, a former adviser to the U.S. Energy Department during the Obama administration, has tried to court anti-establishment forces on the left. In El Paso County's 5th Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn faces a Republican primary challenge from state Sen. Owen Hill and Darryl Glenn, an El Paso County commissioner who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2016. The conservative Colorado Springs district has elected Lamborn to six consecutive terms.<doc-sep>These days, the question is not how to grow, but how to pay for all these new people. Roads are crumbling, schools are starved for funds, and rural communities say all this metro-area expansion is sucking them of water and money. “You rest on your laurels at your own peril,” said Mr. Hickenlooper in an interview at the state’s gold-domed Capitol. His fear, he added, is that “we will strangle on our success.” Of course, not everyone is interested in solutions put forth by Democrats like Mr. Polis, which include a change to a longstanding state law that limits the amount of tax revenue the state can collect. “It’s worse than moving blue,” said Jon Caldara, who leads the Independence Institute, a Denver-based libertarian think tank. “We’re turning into California.” The best-known Republican candidate, Walker Stapleton, 44, the state treasurer, is promoting himself as a supporter of the president’s tax plan while promising to yank funds from sanctuary cities. Apparently hoping to avoid scrutiny ahead of the primary — he has three lesser-known challengers — he has skipped some debates and repeatedly dodged reporters. When he does appear, he often saves his fire for Mr. Polis: “The issues that matter are: What is Jared Polis going to do to the economic future of Colorado?” he said. But a Polis primary victory is far from certain, despite the $11 million the congressman has poured into his own campaign. His Democratic challengers include Cary Kennedy, 50, a former state treasurer who would be the state’s first female governor if elected; and Mike Johnston, 43, a Spanish-speaking former state senator and principal who once ran a school in a juvenile prison.<doc-sep>	Colorado primary voters go to the polls Tuesday to pick nominees the open race for the state’s governors’ mansion, as well as a heated contest to oust an embattled Republican running in a district Hillary Clinton won in 2016. With Gov. John Hickenlooper term-limited out, Democrats and Republicans will be setting up the race for his successor in November. In addition, there’s an important primary to identify Republican Rep. Mike Coffman’s Democratic challenger Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, where there have been several mass shootings in recent years. Polls close at 7 pm Mountain Time. Vox will have live results below, powered by Decision Desk. Colorado governor’s race: a bunch of candidates are vying to succeed Gov. John Hickenlooper With incumbent Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper term-limited out, there are competitive Republican and Democratic races to succeed him. This is also the first year that Colorado’s independent voters will be allowed to cast ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries, which could make the contests more competitive than they’ve been in the past. As for the Republicans, Colorado state treasurer Walker Stapleton, former state Rep. Victor Mitchell, former Mayor of Parker Greg Lopez, and business executive Doug Robinson. Stapleton seems to be the frontrunner in the Republican primary, where the issues have mostly been focused on keeping taxes low and trying to prevent Democrats from enacting single-payer health care in the state. (There have been past attempts, but they’ve failed.) But the Democratic field is the one to watch, as Colorado tends to elect Democratic governors. Rep. Jared Polis, Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, former state Sen. Michael Johnston, and former state treasurer Cary Kennedy are all in the running. Polis, a five-term Congress member, might be the most well-known nationally, but he’s facing a competitive field of well-known candidates in Colorado. Kennedy, for example, has a lot of grassroots support. Polis is proposing free pre-K and full-day public kindergarten for Colorado students; meanwhile, Kennedy has the backing of the Colorado Education Association teachers union. Colorado Sixth Congressional District: Democrats face off to take on vulnerable House Republican Mike Coffman Democrats see an opportunity to flip this district blue this year because Hillary Clinton won it in 2016. Rep. Mike Coffman has been around since 2009, but the state and district are both diversifying and turning more blue, so he’s vulnerable. Expect Democrats to go after Coffman’s vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act and his donations from the NRA leading up to November. (CO-6 and the area around it have seen numerous mass shootings over the years.) Attorney and Army veteran Jason Crow and former Obama administration official Levi Tillemann are in the race. Crow has the backing of national Democrats; he’s been on the DCCC’s Red to Blue list for months. Tillemann made news a few months back by leaking a secretly recorded conversation he had with House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) in which Hoyer encouraged him to drop out of the race. A few months later, Tillemann released a campaign ad in which he literally pepper-sprayed himself in the face to make a point about gun control measures.
BERLIN — Voters in one of Germany’s most prosperous states punished Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives again on Sunday in an election that was seen as yet another barometer of her and her party’s standing with the German public. The verdict in Hesse state, an apparently tepid, and certainly shrinking, well of support for the chancellor’s party, was in keeping with the trend throughout Germany in recent years. While Ms. Merkel’s Christian Democrats emerged as the leading vote getters and were expected to be chosen to form a new government there, that was hardly surprising. They have dominated politics in Hesse state for nearly two decades, sometimes by wide margins. But in the voting Sunday, the conservatives were expected to earn the backing of only about 27 percent of the ballots — more than 10 points less than in the previous election in 2013.<doc-sep>Angela Merkel and her governing party allies have lost significant support in a state election in Germany while the Greens' share of the vote doubled. Projections showed Ms Merkel's conservatives heading for an extremely lacklustre win in the vote for the central Hesse region's state legislature. Her centre-left governing partners were on course for a dismal result, running neck-and-neck with the Greens for second place. The result has prompted calls for the chancellor's administration to get its act together quickly. Ms Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was defending its 19-year hold on Hesse, previously a stronghold of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), the chancellor's federal coalition partners in Berlin. There was widespread pre-election speculation that a disastrous result for either or both parties could further destabilise the national government, prompting calls for the Social Democrats to walk out and possibly endangering Ms Merkel's own position. Green Party top candidates Tarek Al-Wazir, left, and Priska Hinz, right, arrives at a party's election party, after first results of the Hesse state election announced. (AP) Andrea Nahles, the Social Democrats' leader, said that “the state of the government is unacceptable". She said her party would insist on Ms Merkel's governing coalition agreeing on “a clear, binding timetable” for implementing projects, and that how that is implemented ahead of an already-agreed midterm review next autumn will show “whether we are still in the right place in this government". Hesse's conservative governor, Volker Bouffier, told supporters that “the message this evening to the parties in the government in Berlin is clear: people want less argument, more objectivity, more solutions." Ms Merkel's chief of staff, Helge Braun, said that the national government must now pull together and “show we are solving the problems that really move people." Recommended Merkel coalition shaken as allies suffer poll humiliation in Bavaria Projections for ARD and ZDF public television, based on exit polls and partial counting, gave the CDU 27-28 per cent support and the centre-left Social Democrats about 20 per cent. When Hesse last elected its state legislature in 2013 - on the same day that Ms Merkel was triumphantly elected to a third term as chancellor - they won 38.3 per cent and 30.7 per cent, respectively. That would be the worst result in the region for the Social Democrats since the Second World War. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital.<doc-sep>The CDU must agree to a "clear, binding roadmap" ahead of a scheduled coalition review next year. "Then we'll be able to check whether this government is still the right place for us," she said.<doc-sep>But don't underestimate the CDU's continuing respect for Mrs Merkel or rather, its lack of confidence in other contenders. In 2016, when even the most loyal MPs were despairing over a voter backlash in response to the migrant crisis, the party re-elected her with 89.5% of the vote.<doc-sep>	Merkel coalition set for HUGE loss in regional election Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Deomcratic Union (CDU) and their Social Democrat (SPD) coalition allies in Berlin have both haemorrhaged support in the Hesse regional elections. The results mean a heavy blow to the power of the national government. Merkel's conservatives managed to secure the top spot among competitors, but with just 28 percent of the vote, an exit poll for broadcaster ARD revealed. This was a full 10 percent drop from the previous 38.3 percent the CDU secured in the 2013 Hesse elections. The SPD lost similar ground, polling at 20 percent, down from 30.7 percent in 2013. Ecologist party the Greens were up more than eight percent from 11.1 percent in 2013, now at 19.5 percent, in third place. With Angela Merkel’s government already on uneven footing after two near-collapses, the recent results will reignite discussion about the Chancellor surviving for another term. Poor performance from the SPD could also mean the party will begin to reconsider their role in coalition with the CDU. Hesse election results: Who won the German elections? What do they mean for Angela Merkel? Members of the SPD have already been vocal about the centre-left party’s involvement with conservative CDU. Some among the ranks have touched on further developing the party out from the shadow of Angela Merkel as opposition. Up until now this move has been contested by leader Andreas Nahles, but the latest results could see a change of tune. The SDP partnership with the CDU came from failure in March to secure a coalition between the CDU, Greens and FDP. Andrea Nahles has so far resisted leading the SPD into opposition What do the results mean for Angela Merkel? The elections were seen as a testing ground for attitude against the German Chancellor and her ruling party. Results suggest the CDU and Greens could continue their ruling coalition in Hesse but is likely to increase tensions in Merkel's ruling 'grand coalition' in Berlin. Party unrest as a result of Angela Merkel's open immigration policy has placed her in an already shaky position, and continued popularity losses would see her receive further criticism as head of the CDU. Hesse's GreenParty saw a surge in the popular vote ahead of the election results
Filed on May 31, 2018 \| Last updated on June 3, 2018 at 04.21 pm The host nation Russia will open the tournament in Moscow on June 14. The Fifa World Cup 2018 in Russia kicks off on June 14, where 32 national teams compete in a total of 64 matches at 12 venues. The host nation Russia will open the tournament in Moscow on June 14. The final will take place at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15. Interactive graphic shows full tournament schedule for the World Cup finals in Russia. Results for all matches will be updated live.<doc-sep>The 2018 FIFA World Cup has already seen some memorable moments. England have dominated the headlines with their 6-1 thumping of Panama. It all started as hosts Russia routed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2018. They have almost booked their spot in the round of 16 with another win against Egypt. Cristiano Ronaldo then stole the limelight with hat-trick for Portugal against Spain. Lionel Messi missed a penalty as Iceland held Argentina to a draw. However, thing got worse for Argentina and Messi as they lost 3-0 against Croatia. Mexico then caused a big upset defeating champions Germany 1-0, while Brazil were held by Switzerland. Belgium have started their campaign on winning note with big wins against Panama and Tunisia. A dramatic stoppage-time goal from Toni Kroos gave holders Germany a 2-1 win over Sweden on June 23 to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup last 16. There are many things to look forward to the tournament- Lionel Messi will be looking to win the only major trophy missing in his list of career achievements. Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, will be looking to power Portugal, the 2016 Euro winners, to another title. Brazil will be hoping that Neymar, who is recovering from a broken foot, leads them to their sixth World Cup title. In the early stages, Portugal vs Spain is one of the most enticing ties. It takes place on the second day of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. England and Belgium will face each other on Thursday, June 28. The final will take place in Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday, July 15. World Cup 2018 Groups Teams Group A Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay Group B Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran Group C France, Australia, Peru, Denmark Group D Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria Group E Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia Group F Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea Group G Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England Group H Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan Here's the complete schedule of FIFA World Cup 2018: FIFA World Cup 2018: Full Schedule GROUP STAGE Date Match Venue Kick-off time Thursday, June 14 Russia 5 - Saudi Arabia 0 (A) Moscow (Luzhniki) 8.30pm Friday, June 15 Egypt 0 - Uruguay 1 (A) Ekaterinburg 5.30pm Friday, June 15 Morocco 0 - Iran 1 (B) St Petersburg 8.30pm Friday, June 15 Portugal 3 - Spain 3 (B) Sochi 11.30pm Saturday, June 16 France 2 - Australia 1 (C) Kazan 3.30pm Saturday, June 16 Argentina 1 - Iceland 1 (D) Moscow (Spartak) 5.30pm Saturday, June 16 Peru 0 - Denmark 1 (C) Saransk 8.30pm Sunday, June 17 Croatia 2 - Nigeria 0 (D) Kaliningrad 12.30am Sunday, June 17 Costa Rica 0 - Serbia 1 (E) Samara 5.30pm Sunday, June 17 Germany 1 - Mexico 0 (F) Moscow (Luzhniki) 8.30pm Sunday, June 17 Brazil 1 - Switzerland 1 (E) Rostov-on-Don 11.30pm Monday, June 18 Sweden 1 - South Korea 0 (F) Nizhny Novgorod 5.30pm Monday, June 18 Belgium 3 - Panama 0 (G) Sochi 8.30pm Monday, June 18 Tunisia 1 - England 2 (G) Volgograd 11.30pm Tuesday, June 19 Poland 1 - Senegal 2 (H) Moscow (Spartak) 5.30pm Tuesday, June 19 Colombia 1 - Japan 2 (H) Saransk 8.30pm Tuesday, June 19 Russia 3 - Egypt 1 (A) St Petersburg 11.30pm Wednesday, June 20 Portugal 1 - Morocco 0 (B) Moscow (Luzhniki) 5.30pm Wednesday, June 20 Uruguay 1 - Saudi Arabia 0 (A) Rostov-on-Don 8.30pm Wednesday, June 20 Iran 0- Spain 1 (B) Kazan 11.30pm Thursday, June 21 France 1 - Peru 0 (C) Ekaterinburg 5.30pm Thursday, June 21 Denmark 1 - Australia 1 (C) Samara 8.30pm Thursday, June 21 Argentina 0 - Croatia 3 (D) Nizhny Novgorod 11.30pm Friday, June 22 Brazil 2 - Costa Rica 0 (E) St Petersburg 5.30pm Friday, June 22 Nigeria 2 - Iceland 0 (D) Volgograd 8.30pm Friday, June 22 Serbia 1 - Switzerland 2 (E) Kaliningrad 11.30pm Saturday, June 23 Belgium 5 - Tunisia 2 (G) Moscow (Spartak) 5.30pm Saturday, June 23 South Korea 1 - Mexico 2 (F) Sochi 8.30pm Saturday, June 23 Germany 2 - Sweden 1 (F) Rostov-on-Don 11.30pm Sunday, June 24 England 6 - Panama 1 (G) Nizhny Novgorod 5.30pm Sunday, June 24 Japan 2 - Senegal 2 (H) Ekaterinburg 8.30pm Sunday, June 24 Poland 0 - Colombia 3 (H) Kazan 11.30pm Monday, June 25 Uruguay v Russia (A) Samara 7.30pm Monday, June 25 Saudi Arabia v Egypt (A) Volgograd 7.30pm Monday, June 25 Spain v Morocco (B) Kaliningrad 11.30pm Monday, June 25 Iran v Portugal (B) Saransk 11.30pm Tuesday, June 26 Denmark v France (C) Moscow (Luzhniki) 7.30pm Tuesday, June 26 Australia v Peru (C) Sochi 7.30pm Tuesday, June 26 Nigeria v Argentina (D) St Petersburg 11.30pm Tuesday, June 26 Iceland v Croatia (D) Rostov-on-Don 11.30pm Wednesday, June 27 South Korea v Germany (F) Kazan 7.30pm Wednesday, June 27 Mexico v Sweden (F) Ekaterinburg 7.30pm Wednesday, June 27 Serbia v Brazil (E) Moscow (Spartak) 11.30pm Wednesday, June 27 Switzerland v Costa Rica (E) Nizhny Novgorod 11.30pm Thursday, June 28 Japan v Poland (H) Volgograd 8.30pm Thursday, June 28 Senegal v Colombia (H) Samara 8.30pm Thursday, June 28 England v Belgium (G) Kaliningrad 00.30am Thursday, June 28 Panama v Tunisia (G) Saransk 00.30am LAST 16 Saturday, June 30 1C v 2D (Match 50) Kazan 7.30pm Saturday, June 30 1A v 2B (Match 49) Sochi 11.30pm Sunday, July 1 1B v 2A (Match 51) Moscow 7.30pm Sunday, July 1 1D v 2C (Match 52) Nizhny Novgorod 11.30pm Monday, July 2 1E v 2F (Match 53) Samara 7.30pm Monday, July 2 1G v 2H (Match 54) Rostov-on-Don 11.30pm Tuesday July 3 1F v 2E (Match 55) St Petersburg 7.30pm Tuesday, July 3 1H v 2G (Match 56) Moscow (Spartak) 11.30pm QUARTER-FINALS Friday, July 6 Winner 49 v winner 50 (57) Nizhny Novgorod 7.30pm Friday, July 6 Winner 53 v winner 54 (58) Kazan 11.30pm Saturday, July 7 Winner 55 v winner 56 (60) Samara 7.30pm Saturday, July 7 Winner 51 v winner 52 (59) Sochi 11.30pm SEMI-FINALS Tuesday, July 10 Winner 57 v winner 58 St Petersburg 11.30pm Wednesday, July 11 Winner 59 v winner 60 Moscow (Luzhniki) 11.30pm THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF Saturday, July 14 Losers of two semi-finals St Petersburg 7.30pm FINAL Sunday, July 15 Winners of two-semi-finals Moscow (Luzhniki) 8.30pm *Time in IST If you want to see the full 23-man squads for every team in FIFA World Cup 2018 click here.<doc-sep>USA TODAY The final round of games in the group stage begins at the 2018 World Cup on Monday. Both Group A and Group B will be settled during simultaneous matches. Host nation Russia— one of the World Cup's surprise teams — plays Uruguay with first place in Group A on the line. Egypt and Saudi Arabia play in the other Group A match with nothing but bragging rights on the line. Portugal (vs. Iran) and Spain (vs. Morocco) could each advance with a win, a draw or a loss — depending what its rival does in the other match. Or they could knock out Iran and both move through. Monday's match could be the final game for Mohamed Salah with the Egyptian national team. Must-read stories World Cup power rankings:Updates after every match 2018 World Cup:Qualifying scenarios for every team Rogers:Why Messi hates playing for Argentina in World Cup VAR is a joke:It's making the World Cup worse Too many goals? England messed up against Panama World Cup:Every champion \| Greatest moments \| Craziest moments 2018 World Cup:Complete schedule of games, how to watch<doc-sep>	We have another big three group clashes coming up Another day, another round of World Cup games. Bliss. talkSPORT is covering the tournament all day and all night, with more than 800 hours of content and live commentary of every single match. 4 The Spartak Stadium in Moscow There are three crunch group clashes today. Here’s all the details… What times are the World Cup kick-offs today? First up at 1pm is Denmark v Australia in Group C. The Danes beat Peru 1-0 in their opening game, while the Aussies lost 2-1 to France in controversial fashion. A Denmark win will see them progress to the knockout stages with a match to spare and send the Socceroos home. Full match preview here. 4 Australia are in a relaxed mood ahead of the Denmark clash Next up, at 4pm, the other Group C clash between France and Peru. Peru, competing in their first World Cup finals since 1982, are battling to stay in the competition and must avoid defeat to stay in with a chance of qualification having been beaten by Denmark in their opening match. France will be through to the last 16 if they win and Australia draw or lose. Full match preview here. 4 Paul Pogba celebrates France’s winner against Australia Finally, at 7pm, Argentina and Croatia round off the day’s action with a huge Group D showdown. Lionel Messi missed a penalty in the opening game as Argentina could only draw with Iceland, making this a must-win for the South Americans. Croatia were comfortable winners over Nigeria in their first match and will qualify for the last 16 if they triumph. Full match preview here. 4 Lionel Messi missed a penalty for Argentina against Iceland How can I follow the matches? Easy. Stick it on talkSPORT here, as the team will bring you all the action LIVE from Russia. talkSPORT will be with listeners all day and all night at this year’s 2018 FIFA World Cup with more than 800 hours of World Cup content and all 64 games live across the talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2.
Bears receiver Anthony Miller suffered a dislocated shoulder in Sunday’s 16-14 victory over the Cardinals. And he likely did it twice. In the first quarter, Miller fell awkwardly on the ground and had to have his shoulder pulled in a motion that is typical to relocate the ball of the shoulder back in the socket. In the third quarter, while battling with a defensive back, his shoulder went limp with minimal force. Once again, the arm needed to be held and traction placed on it TO put the shoulder (himeral head) back in the socket (glenoid). He did not return to the game this time. Advertisement There is a high correlation with labral tears (rim of the socket) happening with shoulder dislocation. When this occurs, it does not heal without surgery, and the shoulder is more likely to pop out until it is fixed. The easier the shoulder comes out of joint, the bigger the labral tear. Thus, it is significant that the second time Miller was hurt Sunday, there was no fall, just jousting with a defender. A defensive back could play with a harness or brace, but it is difficult for a wide receiver to do so, as it limits motion and catch radius. Miller tweeted this after the game: I’m good!!! Great Team Win! 🐻⬇️ — Anthony Miller (@AnthonyMiller_3) September 24, 2018 That may, indeed, be the case. But surgery is inevitable. It is only a matter of when. Miller could put off surgery and attempt to finish the season with a brace and/or after rehab. He would in that case be limited and risk re-dislocation. If he chooses to wait until February, with a six-month recovery, he would be ready for 2019. However, it may become too difficult to play through without a harness. Advertisement If his shoulder continues to dislocate with minimal force, that would result in pain and in his having to leave games and in making the labral tear problem worse. If that happens, surgery will come sooner than the offseason. In my experience, is it unusual for a wide receiver to be able to finish a season with this type of issue, though as always, I hope Miller can prove me wrong.<doc-sep>Dylan Buell/Getty Images Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Anthony Miller suffered a dislocated shoulder during Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. Miller was visibly in pain throughout Sunday's contest despite trying to play through an injury, and Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times reported on the extent of the setback after the game. In his first NFL season, the 23-year-old is producing to the tune of eight receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown through three games. Miller was part of Chicago's efforts to overhaul its receiving corps during the offseason, as it selected him with the No. 51 overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft out of Memphis. No wideout in the draft was more productive during the 2016 and 2017 seasons than Miller. In each of those campaigns, he caught 95 or more passes for over 1,400 yards and at least 14 touchdowns. The 2017 season was Miller at his best, as he reeled in 96 receptions for 1,462 yards and 18 touchdowns, all of which were career highs. In hopes of helping the development of young quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, the Bears placed a great deal of emphasis on getting him more weapons through free agency and the draft. Video Play Button Videos you might like Along with the selection of Miller, Chicago signed wide receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, as well as tight end Trey Burton. The Bears also allowed wide receivers Cameron Meredith, Dontrelle Inman, Kendall Wright and Markus Wheaton to depart. Most of Chicago's receivers excel on the outside, but Miller is a major asset for Chicago because of his ability to get open both outside and out of the slot. Provided Miller lands on the shelf, Robinson and Gabriel will likely be the top wideouts expected to pick up the pace, while Kevin White might also take on a greater role after several injury-plagued seasons. Chicago is in a much better spot now in terms of receiver depth than it was last season, but Miller still represents a big loss because of his reliability.<doc-sep>Chicago Bears rookie WR Anthony Miller suffered a dislocated shoulder in the team’s Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Coach Matt Nagy confirmed the injury after the game. #Bears coach Matt Nagy said WR Anthony Miller suffered a dislocated shoulder. — Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) September 23, 2018 Miller was in obvious pain immediately after the injury occurred in the first quarter. He was forced out of the game after initially trying to play through it. Miller finished Week 3 with four catches for 35 yards, both season highs. He was starting to build momentum in his role on offense after scoring his first touchdown in Week 2’s win over the Seahawks. It’s unknown how much time, if any, Miller will miss. It’ll be a big hit for Mitch Trubisky and the passing game if he’s out for an extended period of time. The Bears will be careful with Miller, who represents a significant piece of the overall plan in Chicago. GM Ryan Pace traded next year’s second round pick to move up in last April’s draft to select Miller, who’s already supplanted former first-round pick Kevin White in the lineup.<doc-sep>	Monday, September 24 - Chicago Bears rookie wide Anthony Miller did dislocate his shoulder early in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. He returned to the game after being checked out, but the dislocation happened again in the third quarter of the Bears 16-14 victory. Dr. David Chao, Sports Medical Analyst from the San Diego Union-Tribune, writes that surgery is “inevitable,” and it’s only a matter of when. Meaning, Miller could try and gut through the pain and play with a harness, but a wide out being restricted probably isn’t the best thing for the team. The Bears do have Kevin White, Josh Bellamy, and fellow rookie Javon Wims on the 53-man roster, so they have some options if they were to shut Miller down for the season. Dr. Chao says the surgery and recovery is a six month process. In my experience, is it unusual for a wide receiver to be able to finish a season with this type of issue, though as always, I hope Miller can prove me wrong. Sunday, September 23 - Chicago Bears rookie wide out Anthony Miller caught the first pass of the game from Mitchel Trubisky, and he appeared to injury his shoulder on the tackle. He landed awkwardly and was helped to the sideline while favoring his left arm. He spent some time in the medical tent and returned to the game. Late in the third quarter he again had some trouble with his arm after some contact by a Cardinal defensive back, and he was taken to the locker room for a second time. David J. Chao, MD said this via his Twitter account about the injury. “Appears to sublux/dislocate his left shoulder. Could be a season long deal. Hard to wear a harness and play WR. Ultimately likely to lead to surgery, question of when.” Josh Bellamy and Kevin White will play in Miller’s absence if he can’t return. Miller has returned to the sideline again, but the Bears list him as doubtful to return to the game.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is holding her weekly news conference after Attorney General William Barr skipped a House committee hearing this morning. She just criticized Barr for the testimony he's previously given to Congress and accused him of lying to Congress -- a crime. "What is deadly serious about it is the attorney general of the United States of America was not telling the truth to the congress of the United States. That's a crime," she said. Later, Pelosi was asked bluntly if she believes Barr committed a crime. She said this: "He lied to Congress. And if anybody else did that, it would be considered a crime. Nobody is above the law. Not the President of the United States and not the attorney general." When asked if she believe Barr should go to jail, Pelosi said "there’s a process involved here" and added that "the committee will act upon how we will proceed."<doc-sep>The political news cycle is fast, and keeping up can be overwhelming. Trying to find differing perspectives worth your time is even harder. That’s why we have scoured the internet for writing from across the political spectrum that you might not have seen. Attorney General William P. Barr testified for five hours on Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, defending his handling of the special counsel’s report. (On Thursday, Democrats threatened Mr. Barr with contempt after he failed to appear before the House Judiciary Committee. Read the latest here.) Here’s a look at what writers of opinion articles and editorials are saying about his appearance on Wednesday, his absence on Thursday, and what comes next. From the Right From the editors of National Review: An “incredibly dumb” scandal “Is it already August? That’s usually the Beltway silly season appropriate for such a ridiculous non-scandal as the Great Bill Barr Summary of Findings Outrage of 2019.” The editors wrote that the criticism of Mr. Barr’s letter summarizing the Mueller report was unfounded, saying it had become “an obsession for Democrats and the press and the focus of endless conspiracy theories.”<doc-sep>Attorney General William Barr was a no-show as the House Judiciary Committee met Thursday morning after the Justice Department said would he would decline to testify before the panel amid disagreements over the hearing's format, prompting a threat that he could be held in contempt of Congress. After gaveling in the hearing, the committee's Democratic chairman, Rep. Jerry Nadler, said given Barr's "lack of candor' at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Democrats were right to insist on the extended questioning to which Barr had objected. Nadler issued a sweeping condemnation of Barr and the administration's posture towards congressional oversight, slamming Barr's decision to skip the hearing, and the Justice Department's decision to ignore the committee's subpoena for the full, unredacted report from special counsel Robert Mueller. Democrats, he said, would continue to negotiate for more access to the full Mueller report over the next few days but would have "no choice" but to hold Barr in contempt of Congress if the Justice Department fails to negotiate in "good faith." "If left unchecked, this act of obstruction will make it that much harder for us to hold the Executive Branch accountable for waste, fraud, and abuse, or to enact legislation to curb that kind of misconduct—no matter which party holds this chamber or the White House at a given moment," Nadler said. “In the days since the Department of Justice released a redacted version of the report, President Trump has told Congress that he plans to fight all of our subpoenas. The average person is not free to ignore a congressional subpoena—and neither is the President," Nadler said, referencing administration efforts to block other committees' inquiries." One committee Democrat, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., brought a bucket of KFC chicken and a ceramic chicken to the hearing. Some members munched on the fried chicken before the hearing began. The bucket was later placed on the witness table next to the empty chair from which Barr would have testified. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., the top Republican on the panel, criticized Democrats for attempting to have committee lawyers question the attorney general. "The reason Bill Barr is not here today is because Democrats didn’t want him here," he said. "You can disagree with the attorney general all you want, but yesterday he sat for six hours of questions," he said. "We’re not getting that opportunity today because the stunt and circus continues over here." Republican Rep. Doug Collins blames Democrats for Attorney General William Barr not showing up at the House Judiciary Committee hearing, saying Democrats are going " back to a circus political stunt" and "want it to look like an impeachment hearing" https://t.co/yP516yfe80 pic.twitter.com/D9hajDiLNe — ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 2, 2019, House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler says if Attorney General William Barr doesn't provide the unredacted Mueller report to Congress in the next day or two, "the next step is seeking a contempt citation against the attorney general" https://t.co/tgHs1uTdye pic.twitter.com/hKRKzcBzpk — ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 1, 2019 Democrats vowed to plow forward with their investigations despite their struggles to obtain more access to the Mueller report and underlying documents. They are hoping to schedule a hearing with Mueller on May 15, and another with former White House counsel Don McGahn later this month. As for Barr, Democrats could issue a subpoena for his testimony, hold the attorney general in contempt of Congress, or even move to impeach him - a dramatic step that some members fear could take attention away from Mueller's findings and scrutiny of the Trump administration. The only Cabinet secretary ever impeached by the House was Secretary of War William Belknap, in 1876, over concerns about corruption. Belknap, who resigned from the Grant administration before the House vote, was acquitted by the Senate. "The attorney general is clearly acting in contempt of Congress, there's no doubt about it," Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a member of the Judiciary Committee, told ABC News Wednesday afternoon. "Whether that's the best use of our time as we're trying to get the facts for the American people, that's another question." The acrimony over Barr's appearance between Republicans and Democrats was on display in the committee's Wednesday meeting to approve the adjusted format for the hearing. Lawmakers bickered over the format, even as Barr testified before the Senate. Democrats said Wednesday that the newly-released letter special counsel Robert Mueller sent Barr in March calling for the release of his own investigative summaries highlighted the importance of allowing committee lawyers to question the Barr more extensively. Democrats argued they had ample precedent to allow committee lawyers to question Barr, a Cabinet official, beyond impeachment hearings citing the Iran-Contra hearings, among others. “This committee should not hamstring its ability to question the attorney general in the most thorough way possible,” Nadler said. Republicans said they believed there was no precedent for the House panel to make such an adjustment for an open hearing outside impeachment. “The problem is, they can’t bring themselves to impeachment,” Collins said. The markup turned into a shouting match between Republicans and Nadler over the nature of the proposal, as Rep Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, tried to offer an amendment to Democrats’ motion. “Kangaroo court!” Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, shouted. Republican Rep. Doug Collins blames Democrats for Attorney General William Barr not showing up at the House Judiciary Committee hearing, saying Democrats are going " back to a circus political stunt" and "want it to look like an impeachment hearing" https://t.co/yP516yfe80 pic.twitter.com/D9hajDiLNe Nadler then gaveled out the hearing quickly as Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., tried to interject and request time to speak. "When push comes to shove, the administration cannot dictate the terms of our hearing and our hearing room," Nadler told reporters Wednesday. Nadler depicted Barr's move as "simply part of the administration's complete stonewalling of Congress.” He added that he felt Barr is “terrified" of having to face questions from members. The Justice Department has objected to the format of questioning by committee lawyers, a position the agency reiterated after Barr's marathon testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "Chairman Nadler placed conditions on the House Judiciary Committee hearing that are unprecedented and unnecessary," DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said in a statement. House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler says if Attorney General William Barr doesn't provide the unredacted Mueller report to Congress in the next day or two, "the next step is seeking a contempt citation against the attorney general" https://t.co/tgHs1uTdye pic.twitter.com/hKRKzcBzpk Democrats vowed to plow forward with their investigations despite their struggles to obtain more access to the Mueller report and underlying documents. They are hoping to schedule a hearing with Mueller on May 15, and another with former White House counsel Don McGahn later this month. As for Barr, Democrats could issue a subpoena for his testimony, hold the attorney general in contempt of Congress, or even move to impeach him - a dramatic step that some members fear could take attention away from Mueller's findings and scrutiny of the Trump administration. The only Cabinet secretary ever impeached by the House was Secretary of War William Belknap, in 1876, over concerns about corruption. Belknap, who resigned from the Grant administration before the House vote, was acquitted by the Senate. "The attorney general is clearly acting in contempt of Congress, there's no doubt about it," Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a member of the Judiciary Committee, told ABC News Wednesday afternoon. "Whether that's the best use of our time as we're trying to get the facts for the American people, that's another question." The acrimony over Barr's appearance between Republicans and Democrats was on display in the committee's Wednesday meeting to approve the adjusted format for the hearing. Lawmakers bickered over the format, even as Barr testified before the Senate. Democrats said Wednesday that the newly-released letter special counsel Robert Mueller sent Barr in March calling for the release of his own investigative summaries highlighted the importance of allowing committee lawyers to question the Barr more extensively. Democrats argued they had ample precedent to allow committee lawyers to question Barr, a Cabinet official, beyond impeachment hearings citing the Iran-Contra hearings, among others.<doc-sep>	Michael J. Stern Opinion columnist Attorney General William Barr’s recent rollout of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report left me glued to a keyboard. That was all I could do to vent my anger at Barr’s naked attempt to bury Mueller’s verdict on a White House scandal so massive it makes Watergate look like a Mister Rogers episode. Just this week, we learned that Mueller complained in a March letter to Barr that Barr’s four-page summary failed to accurately express the “context, nature and substance” of Mueller’s 448-page report and created "public confusion." The revelation compounded the crash damage that already had the Justice Department on moral life support. Barr threw himself even deeper into a legal and ethical rabbit hole with defensive testimony Wednesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee. He attempted to resuscitate his failing credibility. He did not succeed. Read more commentary: What would Republicans do with a Mueller report? Build an impeachment case. Love him or hate him, Jeff Sessions is why Mueller's Russia probe is still on track Barr's Mueller report rollout was disgraceful. I can't believe it but I miss Jeff Sessions. Among Barr's misses: ►He dismissed Mueller's letter to him as "a bit snitty." ►He said last month that any dissatisfaction about the Mueller report rollout by Mueller team members was due only to their desire to have more of the report publicly released. But that did not comport with the broad concerns Mueller raised in his letter to Barr, as Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, pointed out: “Mr. Barr, I feel that your answer was purposely misleading, and I think others do, too.” ►He claimed it was not obstruction for the president to order former White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller and then tell McGahn to lie about the order. ►He insisted that Trump's public comments urging witnesses to stay strong and not flip do not constitute obstruction. I, and most prosecutors I worked with, would disagree. ►He said he couldn't think of a way to test the Office of Legal Counsel’s opinion that a sitting president cannot be indicted. When asked, he replied, “None that comes to mind.” I have a suggestion: The president gets indicted by one of the state or federal agencies investigating him and he challenges the indictment in court, based on the OLC opinion. The courts will rule, and then we will know. Leaders do the right thing despite Barr Despite the quicksand that threatens to consume the Justice Department whole, on Saturday night I got an email that caused me to reflect on the good that comes from so many law enforcement agents and attorneys who are part of the Justice Department family. The email announced the 30-year retirement of an agent I worked with in the 1990s in Detroit. We spent two years of 12-hour days building a wiretap case against members of a violent drug and murder-for-hire gang. The agent was smart, worked tirelessly and always did the right thing — whether it helped or hurt our case. I had not seen the agent for decades, so I Googled him to see how his career had progressed. Up popped countless videos of him testifying before Congress. Turns out, Thomas Brandon had been leading the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives since the Obama administration. Before retiring this week, he had criticized President Donald Trump's budget cuts and testified in support of a bill, opposed by the White House, that would give the FBI more time to perform gun background checks. In an administration of Trump “yes men," it is reassuring to know there are still some people at DOJ who will do the right thing, no matter the cost. Tom Brandon is not alone. Trump-era prosecutors have guts It was an act of courage, and a set of steeled spines, that saw a group of prosecutors at the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office all but name the president of the United States as an unindicted co-conspirator in a campaign finance fraud scheme that included the president’s longtime personal attorney. As long as Michael Cohen is vomiting Trump secrets, and Trump is in power, those prosecutors will not be ascending to higher DOJ positions. And surely they have contemplated the possibility they could be relegated to Social Security fraud duty, until the “Winter White House” melts away and Mar-a-Lago reverts to its former incarnation as just another overpriced golf club. The same is true of DOJ law enforcement.
Denver on Wednesday became the first US city to decriminalise psychedelic mushrooms, as voters approved a ballot initiative by a razor thin margin. The new ordinance loosens restrictions on the personal use and possession of psilocybin mushrooms, also known as "magic mushrooms," by people over the age of 21. The new law, however, does not make it legal to buy, sell or possess the drug. It instructs police officers to treat psilocybin users as their lowest priority. Although the measure earlier appeared headed for defeat, by late afternoon on Wednesday the numbers showed a reversal of fortune with Initiative 301 set to pass with nearly 50.6 percent of the vote. "It's been one hell of a 21-and-a-half hours," Kevin Matthews who led the decriminalization campaign, told The Denver Post after the vote results were announced. "If these results hold, this is an example of the absurd comedy of the great metaphor. Against all odds, we prevailed. This is what happens when a small team of dedicated and passionate people unite under a single idea to create change." Officials said the vote would be certified on May 16 once all military and overseas ballots have been counted. Proponents of the new law point to studies that say psilocybin is not considered addictive and could be used against depression or opioid addiction, which causes thousands of deaths in the US each year.<doc-sep>Denver became the first city in the country to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms. There's a difference between this and legalization, however. DENVER — Denver voters made history once again on Tuesday night by narrowly approving Initiative 301, which decriminalizes the possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms by those over 21 years old. The Mile High City is the first in the country to approve such an ordinance. Here’s an explanation of what it does and doesn’t do, and a look at psilocybin mushrooms in general – including their purported medical effects. What did Initiative 301 actually do? There’s one keyword to remember about the ordinance: decriminalization. That’s different from legalization, and definitely does not involve the sale or recreational use of magic mushrooms. Instead, Initiative 301 makes enforcing federal laws about the possession of psilocybin the lowest priority for the Denver Police Department. The distribution of mushrooms will remain illegal in the city under Colorado law. Essentially, possessing and using magic mushrooms is decriminalized in Denver, but getting a hold of them is not. The ordinance also mentions decriminalization applies to mushrooms that are not used or displayed in public. In a statement, Mayor Michael Hancock said his office will not fight the new rules. “Mayor Hancock respects the decision of the voters and the Denver Police Department will enforce the law accordingly,” the statement reads. Both Hancock and Jamie Giellis, his opponent in the June 4 runoff election, have said they oppose the decriminalization of “magic mushrooms.” Nevertheless, the ordinance asks that the mayor’s office create a “Psilocybin Mushroom Policy Review Panel,” which will be made up of 11 people who will assess the efficacy of the new policy. It must be in place by the end of the year. That panel will be made up of two members of city council, two proponents of Ordinance 301, one certified addictions counselor, one harm reduction advocate, one representative from the Denver Police Department, one representative of the Denver Sheriff Department, one criminal defense attorney, one representative from the Denver District Attorney’s Office and one representative from the Denver City Attorney’s Office. Denver District Attorney Beth McCann previously said she was opposed to decriminalizing psilocybin, saying that it wasn’t much of a problem before, but that she was concerned it will become one since more people will come to the city to use it. Before decriminalization, a person caught in possession of magic mushrooms could have faced up to a year in prison. However, of the 9,267 drug cases filed by the Denver District Attorney’s Office over the past three years, only 11 involved psilocybin. Three were possession with intent to manufacture or distribute. What about the rest of the state (and country)? Possessing magic mushrooms remains a crime in Colorado, as well as under federal law. “Our position is unchanged,” U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn wrote in a statement to 9NEWS. “They were illegal under federal law before the vote and are illegal under federal law after the vote.” Psilocybin remains a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This means the federal government says it “has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.” What that being said, there could be a change to its classification on the horizon. Does psilocybin have a medical use? Psilocybin has been granted “breakthrough therapy” status by the federal Food and Drug Administration, and researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have recommended that it be recategorized as a schedule IV drug due to studies that have shown it may be effective for treating depression and anxiety, without being addictive. With that being said, Matthew Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, cautioned against the recreational use of magic mushrooms, saying that the medical benefits he studied have been in controlled, clinical settings. “We prepare people for the experience,” Johnson said. “They are monitored and supported in the experience by people they’ve developed a rapport with, people they’ve gotten to trust.” “Out there in the wild,” he added, “they can cause harm.” Johnson said overdosing on magic mushrooms is all-but impossible, but that a user could be harmed by what ingesting the drug makes them do. “It’s rare, but real, when there are fatalities that fall into the category of people doing something stupid when they’re on the substance,” Johnson said. “People panicking or running into traffic or falling from a height.” “Driving when someone is on psilocybin mushrooms is extremely risky,” he added. “Hiking the rim of the Grand Canyon when you’re on mushrooms is really not a good idea.” Johnson, who emphasized that he does not advocate for personal use of psilocybin, said the safest use of the drug is in a controlled environment where the user is surrounded by sober people they trust. He cautioned against going in public or being around strangers, as this could heighten the impact of a “bad trip.” During his research, Johnson said his team had a drug that can reverse the effects of psilocybin should hallucinations take a turn. He also said during bad trips, his team speaks quietly and softly to users in order to reassure them. This, however, has been extremely rare and he says most people in his setting have reported positive experiences. Studies have shown that people with a personal history of psychosis could relapse when using hallucinogenic drugs, meaning magic mushrooms aren’t a treatment for everyone. Nevertheless, Johnson said he expects psilocybin to be available as a legal treatment in five to 10 years – however, this will be in a setting more similar to receiving anesthesia than going to a pharmacy. “Mushrooms have really given me a new lease, a new outlook, a new perception on life,” Matthews said. “It’s made the world a better place for me. It’s not something I use very often, but the experiences I have had have been profound and have radically changed me.”<doc-sep>Use of psilocybin mushrooms could become decriminalized if Denver voters approve on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Drug Enforcement Administration DENVER, May 3 (UPI) -- Denver voters next week may experience the deja vu of thawing marijuana laws 10 years ago. An initiative to decriminalize "magic mushrooms" will appear on municipal ballots Tuesday. The "Decriminalize Denver" campaign is following a similar path blazed by early marijuana legalization advocates to drop possession of the hallucinogen psilocybin in small quantities by adults over 21 to a "lowest law-enforcement priority." Advertisement Selling the mushrooms still would be illegal under the law. The proposed initiated ordinance, I-301, also creates a "policy review panel," similar to the city's first marijuana review group, to assess the new law. Organizers in Denver struggled three times to get the issue on the ballot. They were rejected twice in 2018 for unclear language. Finally, in January, they submitted more than 8,000 signatures -- enough to secure ballot space. RELATED Insys founder John Kapoor convicted in fentanyl bribery case Another measure that may open the path to legalization for magic mushrooms is being proposed for the 2020 statewide ballot in Oregon. Shrooms 'saved my life' Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver District Attorney Beth McCann oppose the ballot measure. Other opponents fear it will add negatively to the "druggy" reputation of Denver already tarnished by legalized pot. But the group of veterans who are leading -- and financing -- the ballot measure credit the use of hallucinogens to their own path toward healing from treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol abuse. "The mushrooms saved my life," said Kevin Matthews, 33, a father who is leading the campaign. Advertisement Matthews, a Denver native, said severe depression made him give up his lifelong dream of becoming a U.S. Army officer, forcing him to drop out of the U.S. Military Academy with a medical discharge at age 23. RELATED Police arrest more than 100 in central Florida drug bust "I didn't feel it would be a responsible choice to be an officer leading men and women into combat," he told UPI. Having been prescribed anti-depression drugs and sleeping pills, he said his first experience consuming "shrooms" with a group of friends gave him a "spiritual" experience, elevating him out of his mental state. "I could see very clearly, I had people who loved me, which enabled me to see to make a choice -- choose to be depressed or realize that there's so much more possibility here," Matthews said, adding that the positive effects of the four-hour "trip" lasted for several weeks. Limited studies Matthews' street-drug experience echoes the results of several small, controlled studies in the United States and the United Kingdom that have shown psilocybin use forms synapse pathways to create a "hyperconnected brain." A 2016 Johns Hopkins study of 51 terminal cancer patients showed that treatment with a low doses of psilocybin reduced depression and anxiety. A 2017 study of 20 patients with hard-to-treat depression at the Imperial College London described feeling "reset" after treatment with magic mushrooms, lead researcher Robin Carhart-Harris said. Carhart-Harris told UPI one patient said he felt like his brain had been "defragged" like a computer hard drive, and another said he felt "rebooted." Advertisement Part of the reason studies are so small is that psilocybin, the active compound in more than 100 species of fungus, is considered a Schedule 1 drug by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration alongside drugs like heroin. Last year, the Food and Drug Administration recategorized psilocybin to "Breakthrough Therapy" status, which supporters hope eventually will knock the drug off the Schedule 1 tier and make medical research easier. The trip A hallucinogenic experience with magic mushrooms has been described as a lighter version of an LSD trip. Users describe sometimes seeing patterns or different colors and distorted objects and having an intense emotional state that lasts about five hours. But the experience also can be frightening. A "bad trip" study at Johns Hopkins showed that of almost 2,000 people surveyed about a negative experience, three had attempted suicide during their "worst trip." This is the concern of Peter Droege, fellow of drug policy at Colorado's conservative Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University. "The idea that you can legalize someone walking down the street who might be struggling with hallucinations and psychosis -- it shows the misguided thinking that's behind this initiative," Droege told UPI. Droege believes Denver is trying to shake the city's "420 destination" reputation after the legalization of marijuana. Droege and other critics point out the proposed law is not the same as psychiatric treatment in a therapeutic setting, where drugs are measured and confirmed for purity. Advertisement "People say they took this drug and it rewired their brain. It may do that in a good way, but also in an incredibly harmful way," Droege said. Supporters are "getting so far ahead of the science and making wild claims." With about 30 to 50 users arrested each year in Denver, (about 160 arrests since 2016) magic mushrooms already are a low law-enforcement priority. Possession of psilocybin can lead to sentences of up to a year in prison. It's also unclear the law could be enforced. In 2005 and 2007, Denver voters passed laws prohibiting low-level arrests for marijuana, but police still arrested people caught with pot. Support from veterans Droege points to the owners of CBD and medical marijuana companies who have bankrolled the magic mushrooms campaign as the real push behind the initiative. "They want to create a black market. There will be mushroom millionaires made if this initiative passes," he said. One donor, Devin Alvarez, owner of Simple Hemp, has given about $12,000 to the campaign. He denies that his company wants to create a recreational commodity model for magic mushrooms. Alvarez, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said his experience with psilocybin in his 20s rebooted him from a period of heavy drinking after a DUI. Alvarez said his family has had more than its share of opioid addictions and fatal overdoses. "If [psilocybin] were available or less demonized, perhaps these people would be still be alive today," he told UPI.<doc-sep>Denver, Colorado could pave the way for the decriminalization of magic mushrooms in the US. On May 7, voters in Denver have the potential to make US history when they vote on Initiative 301. If passed, the ballot initiative would make Denver the first place in the country to formally decriminalize use and possession of psilocybin mushrooms (a.k.a. magic mushrooms) for people 21 or older. This means individuals won't serve jail time for getting caught with a few 'shrooms, but will instead receive a simple fine. Policing regulation around manufacturing and distributing psilocybin mushrooms would stay the same. The Decriminalize Denver group has been the main leader in the campaign on a yes vote for the initiative. Both the Denver Green Party and the Libertarian Party of Colorado have also voiced support for the initiative. "No one should go to jail, lose their children, lose their job, and lose their citizen’s rights for using a mushroom," reads a statement on Decriminalize Denver's website. "One arrest is too many for something with such low and manageable risks for most people, relative to its potential benefits." Colorado, of course, has a history of enacting progressive drug-reform policies. Back in 2012, the Centennial State became the first to legalize the recreational use of cannabis for adults, kicking off a trend that has gradually been taken up in states across the US. Those in favor of decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms say doing so would let law enforcement officers focus on more pressing issues than pursuing non-violent offenders caught with what is a relatively safe drug. There is even growing research to suggest that psilocybin mushrooms may have legitimate medicinal applications as well. Similar arguments were key aspects of legalizing cannabis in Colorado, so it's possible that Denver's move could reverberate throughout the state. However, the proposed policy does have its detractors. Opponents claim decriminalizing the drug will lead to increased consumption and abuse of mushrooms, which could endanger the public if, for instance, people drop mushrooms and drive. And some people have pointed to potential risks associated with consuming psilocybin mushrooms, such as accidental harm and psychological trauma. Others fear decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms will cause Denver to ear the reputation of a drug-friendly city. "Denver is quickly becoming the illicit drug capital of the world," James Hunt, vice president of public policy for Colorado Christian University told The Denver Channel. "The truth is we have no idea what the long-term health effects of these drugs are going to do to the people of Colorado." To date, however, there is no official, registered opposition to the initiative. Colorado has not seen an increase in cannabis use since legalization, so drug reform doesn't necessarily lead to a spike in drug use. There are also a number of studies showing that cannabis legalization doesn't cause more car crashes. So it's reasonable to suggest that the same would be true of decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms. While Denver has the opportunity to become the first city to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms when the measure goes up for a vote next week, other jurisdictions aren't far behind. Voters in Oregon could have their say on decriminalizing the substance on a statewide level come next year. So who knows, as the age of federal cannabis legalization appears to be approaching, maybe psilocybin mushrooms will be the next federally banned substance to see a new age of liberalized regulations. h/t Vox<doc-sep>	Stropharia Cubensis mushrooms. Denver on Wednesday became the first US city to decriminalise psychedelic mushrooms. EVERT-JAN DANIELS/ANP/AFP Denver first US city to decriminalise magic mushrooms DENVER on Wednesday became the first US city to decriminalise psychedelic mushrooms, as voters approved a ballot initiative by a razor thin margin. The new ordinance loosens restrictions on the personal use and possession of psilocybin mushrooms, also known as “magic mushrooms,” by people over the age of 21. The new law, however, does not make it legal to buy, sell or possess the drug. It instructs police officers to treat psilocybin users as their lowest priority. Although the measure earlier appeared headed for defeat, by late afternoon on Wednesday the numbers showed a reversal of fortune with Initiative 301 set to pass with nearly 50.6 percent of the vote. “It’s been one hell of a 21 and a half hours,” Kevin Matthews who led the decriminalisation campaign, told the Denver Post after the vote results were announced. “If these results hold, this is an example of the absurd comedy of the great metaphor. Against all odds, we prevailed. This is what happens when a small team of dedicated and passionate people unite under a single idea to create change.” Officials said the vote would be certified on May 16 once all military and overseas ballots have been counted. Proponents of the new law point to studies that say psilocybin is not considered addictive and could be used against depression or opioid addiction, which causes thousands of deaths in the US each year. “Humans have used these mushrooms for thousands of years for healing, rites of passage, spiritual insight,” said the organisation Decriminalize Denver, headed by Matthews, which in January announced it had collected enough signatures to put the measure to a vote. Adoption of the new law once again puts Colorado at the forefront of US drug legalisation after it became one of the first two states to legalise marijuana in 2012. “Denver is quickly becoming the illicit drug capital of the world. The truth is we have no idea what the long-term health effects of these drugs are going to do to the people of Colorado,” Jeff Hunt, an official at Colorado Christian University, said on CNN after the referendum on mushrooms was announced. Marijuana is now legal for recreational use in 10 US states, including California, while more than half of the 50 states allow its use for medical purposes. Last year, a similar measure to decriminalise psilocybin mushrooms in California failed to gain enough signatures for inclusion on the ballot.
A Times Square billboard mocked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) for her celebration of Amazon's decision to cancel its plan to build a new headquarters in New York City. What are the details? Job Creators Network, a conservative advocacy group, is behind the billboard calling out Ocasio-Cortez for her missteps in driving away business and employment for the local economy. The billboard notes that 25,000 potential jobs that were lost, as well as $4 billion in lost wages. "Thanks for nothing, AOC!" the billboard adds. Fox News' Laura Ingraham also tweeted about the Times Square billboard. She wrote, "Check out the sign in Times Sq.! ⁦Thanks to @JobCreatorsUSA⁩!" A portion of the organization's news release on the billboard reads: Today, the Job Creators Network is putting up a billboard in Times Square calling out Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the role she played in the recent termination of Amazon's HQ2 that was planned to be constructed in Queens. The pullout of Amazon — because of anti-business politicians, notably Ocasio-Cortez — is a major blow to the New York economy. The retreat will not only cost the area $12 billion in economic activity, but 25,000 new jobs that would have paid an average salary of $150,000. In the news release, Alfredo Ortiz, Job Creators Network president, said that socialism is ultimately to blame. "The Amazon pullout is a perfect example of what we've been saying: socialism takes and capitalism creates," Ortiz explained. "The economic consequences of Amazon's pullout is just a small taste of the harm that is to come if Ocasio-Cortez's anti-business canon comes to fruition and is made federal policy." What else? Ocasio-Cortez was one of the state's lawmakers to oppose the idea of Amazon moving its headquarters to New York City. A proposed relocation would have promised over $12 billion in tax revenue over the next 10 years. On Feb. 14, a spokesperson for Amazon said, "While polls show that 70 percent of New Yorkers support our plans and investment, a number of state and local politicians have made it clear that they oppose our presence and will not work with us to build the type of relationships that are required to go forward with the project we and many others envisioned in Long Island City." On Feb. 14, Ocasio-Cortez celebrated the news, calling out "Amazon's corporate greed" and making it very clear she was one of those politicians who would not work with Amazon. "Anything is possible," she wrote. "Today was a day a group of dedicated, everyday New Yorkers & their neighbors defeated Amazon's corporate greed, its worker exploitation, and the power of the richest man in the world." The following day, Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) called out Ocasio-Cortez for her role in driving Amazon away. "As a progressive my entire life �— and I ain't changing — I'll take on any progressive anywhere that thinks it's a good idea to lose jobs and revenue because I think that's out of touch with what working people want," he said during a Friday interview broadcast on WNYC-FM.<doc-sep>[What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] Probably the last thing that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez needs is a billboard to get her more attention or notoriety. But there it was, on 42nd Street in Times Square, a digital attack ad that blamed the freshman Democratic congresswoman for Amazon’s decision to pull out of New York, taking with it 25,000 promised jobs. “Thanks for Nothing, AOC!” the ad read, using Ms. Ocasio-Cortez’s initials that became ubiquitous even before she officially set foot in Congress. The ad was paid for by a Texas-based group called the Job Creators Network. In the past, tax records show that the Mercer Family Foundation has funded what appears to be a related group, the Job Creators Alliance, also based in Addison, Tex.<doc-sep>“Thanks for nothing, AOC!” A giant digital billboard in Times Square is calling out freshman Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her supposed role in sinking the city’s deal with Amazon. The billboard, paid for by business advocacy group the Job Creators Network, details just a few of the things New York may have lost when the deal went sideways. Check out the sign in Times Sq.! ⁦Thanks to @JobCreatorsUSA⁩! pic.twitter.com/iIN0DTo8r2 — Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) February 20, 2019 Every New Yorker — and tourist — will now know that @AOC is to blame for @Amazon pulling the plug on its planned headquarters in Queens! #socialism takes, #capitalism creates https://t.co/Ctwv0BxcJl via @FoxBusiness — Job Creators Network (@JobCreatorsUSA) February 20, 2019 That list included: 25,000 lost NYC jobs $4 billion lost wages $12 billion in lost economic activity Forbes addressed the ways the failed deal could ultimately hurt New Yorkers in an article published late last week. $3.8 billion in lost wages, using a 5x multiplier effect = $19 billion lost LOCAL #economic expansion AND related #jobs! Thanks for nothing, @AOC! https://t.co/vtQ078zddV — Job Creators Network (@JobCreatorsUSA) February 15, 2019 According to that article, even the “first order” effects of the deal’s failure could prove devastating to New York. From a purely economic point of view, Amazon was expected to generate $27.5 billion in tax revenue over a 25-year period, 9x the $3 billion government incentives offered. Anyone arguing that $3 billion was an overly excessive offer accidentally chased out $24.5 billion from the city. And that is just the first-order effect. Ocasio-Cortez has long insisted that the opposition to the move was entirely community-based. Yeah I’m laughing @ this. Amazon was not coming to my Congressional district, had no concentrated outreach to us that I’m aware of, yet w/ no effort I defeated the richest man in the world? Doesn’t add up. Story that’s not being told: the local community organized to reject it. https://t.co/S9Or7NKprZ And while there were a number of protests that popped up in opposition to the deal — particularly over Amazon’s refusal to unionize the proposed new campus — there was also a fair amount of support for it. Citizens polled by Qunnipiac were in favor of the deal as recently as Dec. 5 of last year: New York City voters approve 57 – 26 percent, including 60 – 26 percent among Queens voters, of Amazon locating one of its new headquarters in Long Island City in Queens. And Amazon made no mention of community disapproval when explaining why the deal was being terminated. Instead, executives pointed the finger at local and state elected officials who were less than “cooperative”: (RELATED: Cuomo Blames NY’s Democratically Controlled Senate For Scaring Off Amazon) For Amazon, the commitment to build a new headquarters requires positive, collaborative relationships with state and local elected officials who will be supportive over the long-term. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also took issue with Ocasio-Cortez, claiming Sunday during a segment of “Meet the Press” that she didn’t understand how the deal was supposed to work, and her lack of understanding coupled with her vocal activism had cost New York a great opportunity. Follow Virginia on Twitter<doc-sep>	Community Corner Right-Wing Times Square Billboard Blames AOC For Amazon Pullout The billboard, paid for by a group called the Job Creators Network, sarcastically reads: "Thanks for nothing AOC!" Reply (Courtesy the Job Creators Network) MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — A right-wing interest group shelled out for a Times Square billboard to blame Bronx-born Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Amazon's decision to pull out of a deal to establish a headquarters in Long Island City. The Job Creators Network — which describes itself as an advocate for small businesses "under attack by over-taxation, over-regulation, and lack of access to credit" — launched its billboard Wednesday on a building on West 42nd Street near Eighth Avenue, the group said in a statement. The group claims that losing Amazon's Long Island City headquarters will cost New York City 25,000 jobs, $4 billion in wages and $12 billion in economic activity. Its billboard places the lions share of the blame on Ocasio-Cortez, who was one of many politicians who joined advocacy groups in voicing opposition to a deal that would have given Amazon about $3 billion in tax exemptions. "The Amazon pullout is a perfect example of what we've been saying: socialism takes and capitalism creates," Alfredo Ortiz, President and CEO of the Job Creators Network, said in a statement. "The economic consequences of Amazon's pullout is just a small taste of the harm that is to come if Ocasio-Cortez's anti-business canon comes to fruition and is made federal policy." The group's billboard reads: "Thanks for nothing, AOC!" But it might be Ocasio-Cortez who ends up thanking the Job Creators Network. New York Times reporter Shane Goldmacher noted that the congressmember's office is already using the billboard to raise money. "A right-wing group has paid for a billboard attacking Alexandria in Times Square. We have to fight back -- chip in to help up rise above these smears," a fundraising email reads, as reported by Goldmacher. Ocasio-Cortez also addressed the billboard in one of her trademark Twitter clapbacks: "Few things effectively communicate the power we've built in fighting dark money & anti-worker policies like billionaire-funded groups blowing tons of cash on wack billboards (this one is funded by the Mercers)," Ocasio-Cortez Tweeted.
Zillow shares fell sharply late Monday after the company announced plans to buy a national mortgage lender and reported second-quarter revenue that fell just short of expectations. The online home-selling platform expects to complete its acquisition of Mortgage Lenders of America by the fourth quarter, a move that will allow Zillow to offer home loans directly to consumers. Zillow said it would continue to “support and grow” its digital marketplace of lenders that advertise on its websites. Mortgage Lenders of America originated 4,400 mortgages in 2017, according to Zillow. Overall, users submitted 23 million loan information requests through Zillow’s websites. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition is Zillow’s latest move to expand beyond real estate listings. In April, Zillow announced that it planned to enter the house-flipping business, saying it will start by buying existing homes in Las Vegas and Phoenix before renovating and selling them. Zillow, known for its namesake website as well as other brands such as Trulia and RealEstate.com, said its revenue jumped 22% year-over-year to $325 million in the latest quarter. Analysts were looking for about $326 million in revenue. Ticker Security Last Change Change % Z ZILLOW GROUP INC 115.35 +0.86 +0.75% Zillow’s net loss was $3.1 million, less than the $21.8 million that it lost in the same quarter a year ago. On an adjusted basis, the company earned 13 cents a share, beating Wall Street’s estimate of 9 cents a share. The Seattle-based company projected $337 million to $347 million in revenue for the third quarter, less than analysts anticipated. Shares of Zillow tumbled nearly 16% in after-hours trading.<doc-sep>NEW A vastly improved search engine helps you find the latest on companies, business leaders, and news more easily.<doc-sep>Zillow Inc. continues to expand beyond its core real-estate listing business, but it got punished Monday as its second quarter showed that those efforts are taking longer than expected, even as it doubles down with another acquisition. On Monday, shares of Zillow tumbled 16% in after-hours trading after its earnings results were lower than expected, thanks to its new businesses, and it announced the acquisition of Mortgage Lenders of America for an undisclosed amount. Zillow’s Z, +1.72% shares are up 42% so far this year, as of the end of trading Monday, compared with the S&P 500’s SPX, +0.19% nearly 6% gain in 2018. Investors were a bit dismayed that the company’s new Homes business — which buys, renovates and sells homes — had zero revenue in the quarter, and that Rentals had $33.3 million in revenue, versus some expectations of $34.5 million. Other businesses reported revenue of $41.7 million, compared with estimates of around $43 million. “When you take a step back, it probably looks challenged,” said Spencer Rascoff, chief executive of Zillow, on a post-earnings conference call when asked why two out of three businesses were underperforming. “When you dive in and focus on the particulars of each of these businesses, I think there’s good explanations of what’s happening underneath each of them, and we’re very excited about the MLOA acquisition, which we think dramatically expands the TAM [total addressable market].” Still, analysts asked the company several questions about the Homes business, which was just launched in the second quarter, and why it was taking a bit longer than expected to begin to generate revenue, when the current real-estate market is so hot. The home-flipping process is “actually turning out to be more than a month, and that’s delaying revenue because we don’t get the keys for four, six, weeks later than we expected, and then the renovation starts later and then the relisting starts later and then the revenue generation from when we resell the home occurs later,” Rascoff said. Homeowners who sell to Zillow then need to find a new home, which often delays the closing process, he said. In addition, the company’s core business, its premier agent listings, slowed to 4% user growth in the quarter, compared with the high teens in the year-ago period. Rascoff said he wasn’t satisfied with that. “We’re working very hard to improve that, and I think we can, especially at Trulia and HotPads, which had just OK unique user numbers this quarter.” Company executives also touted its acquisition of Mortgage Lenders of America, a national mortgage lender, saying Zillow now has the potential to originate mortgages for its customers, which would speed up real-estate deals. “The mortgage business provides an opportunity to monetize the Zillow Offers business even further,” Rascoff said. “What we intend to do here is on a Zillow-owned home, when we’re reselling that to a consumer, we will provide mortgage origination for a home buyer of a Zillow-owned home.” But Zillow needs to show some better results in its new businesses before investors will get on board with yet another business foray.<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>	Shares of online home sales site Zillow were down more than 16 percent by the close on Tuesday, marking the company's worst day in nearly seven years. Closing at $49.40 per share, the stock recovered some of its losses from earlier in the day, when the price was as low as $48.26 in morning trading. However, Zillow has not fallen as much in a single day since November 2011, when it shed 16.49 percent. The drop followed Monday's after-the-bell earnings report that revealed uncertainty around "several moving parts" within the company. The company announced disappointing quarterly revenue, lowered full-year guidance based on slower-than-expected growth of a key division, and unveiled plans to acquire a national mortgage lender to assist with home purchases. "Zillow reported Q2 results that revealed several moving parts," analysts for Canaccord wrote in a note Tuesday. "There are enough dislocations in the quarter to create a period of negative sentiment in the near term." Revenue from home sales Zillow reported revenue of $325 million for the second quarter, just shy of Thomson Reuters' consensus estimates of $326 million. Revenue for the quarter a year earlier was about $267 million. Adjusted earnings for the latest quarter were 13 cents a share, 3 cents a share better than expected and reversing an adjusted loss of 12 cents a share reported for the year-earlier period. Zillow recently launched a new strategy of buying and selling homes directly to users, expanding its offerings beyond real estate brokers. But the company's quarterly report revealed slower-than expected growth due to delays in home sales. "Zillow bought 19 homes in 2Q, and we estimate another 30 or so in 3Q, based on public records, but the company has only sold nine homes so far, putting it significantly behind its aggressive sales goals," analysts for Stifel wrote in a note Tuesday. "Management noted the average length of time between sellers accepting offers and the corresponding closing dates has been a month or more, longer than initially forecast, which is delaying the planned ramp-up in the business." As a result, Zillow lowered its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $1.32 billion to $1.35 billion, down from a previously stated range of $1.43 billion to $1.58 billion. Taking on a mortgage lender To supplement the new strategy, Zillow announced Tuesday its plans to acquire Mortgage Lenders of America. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Wall Street did not look favorably on the tie-up. Analysts for Bank of America/Merrill Lynch downgraded the stock Tuesday, warning its move into mortgage lending could hurt profitability next year. CEO Spencer Rascoff defended the move Tuesday on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "It allows us to monetize the Zillow Offers business a second way," he said. "First, we can make money from buying and selling. Second, we can make money from mortgage origination. Third, we can make money by passing the homeseller, who doesn't want to sell their home to us, off to a premier agent." He noted that Zillow's practice of purchasing and selling homes, which can take months, results in delayed revenue. That contributed to the tech real estate company's weak third-quarter guidance, he said. Shares took a similar beating in April when the company announced the strategy. But Rascoff maintained in May the strategy would pay off. WATCH: How 'for sale' sign redesign is disrupting the real estate market
Atif Aslam. Photo: File Atif Aslam has responded to “fake propaganda” against him following a concert in New York. The singer faced backlash on social media after reports did rounds claiming that he sang one of his Bollywood songs at a Pakistan Independence Day Parade in New York. Following the criticism, the singer took to social media and said, "Simply love my haters. The green flag is my identity." Thanking his fans for the support, the singer wrote, "I am happy and proud that my fans know how to respond to fake propaganda." Aslam further expressed hope that in "Naya Pakistan people learn to respect those who have made the country proud world over". While many had criticised Aslam for singing a song which he had originally recorded for a Bollywood film, fellow singer Shafqat Amanat Ali had defended him. “I stand in support with Atif Aslam for singing his songs at the parade. Music is not Indian or Pakistani. It is just music! Singers are synonymous with their songs which are loved equally by fans from every country. Should have briefed him if they wanted national songs," he tweeted.<doc-sep>Pakistani vocalist Atif Aslam has been trolled on social media and also criticised by the country's mainstream media, for singing an Indian song at a Pakistan Independence Day function in New York earlier this month. Atif, who has lent his voice to many Bollywood songs, sang one of his Indian tracks 'Tera Hone Laga Hoon' from the 2009 film "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani", starring Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. This prompted many of his fans back home to question his patriotism and also hit out at him. Have heard Atif Aslam refused to hold the Pakistan flag! If true it is shameful indeed! Why wld he do such a senseless act? For commercial purposes? Disgusting! And I really liked his work too. But this act has destroyed it all.— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) August 8, 2018 However, many like vocalist Shafqat Amanat Ali, who has also lent his voice to some Indian songs, defended Atif. "I stand in support of Atif Aslam for singing his songs at the parade. Music is not Indian or Pakistani. It's just music. Singers are synonymous with their songs which are loved equally by fans from every country," Amanat said. Film critic Omair Alavi said people need to remember that Bollywood films and dramas are shown openly in Pakistan in cinemas and on television channels as art, film or music has no boundaries. "Don't Pakistanis go to watch Indian films? Are not Indian dramas a regular on our channels, he questioned. Atif himself took to Twitter to fire back at his haters, "Simply love my haters Bayshak Allah izzat denay aur rakhnay wala hai Sabz jhanda meri pehchan Bayshak Allah izzat denay aur rakhnay wala hai Sabz jhanda meri pehchan hai or merey fans jantay hain k mein iska ehtaram achi tarah janta hun, Mje bohat khushi aur fakhar hai k meray fans fake propaganda Ka jawab dena achi tarah Jantay hain .. I hope NAYE PAKISTAN main un sab logon kou izat dena jaan jayen gae jino ne PAKISTAN ka naam poori duniya mein roshan kia hai" #Nevergiveup Simply love my haters Bayshak Allah izzat denay aur rakhnay wala hai Sabz jhanda meri pehchan (cont) https://t.co/ZD7kbQA6lO— Atif Aslam (@itsaadee) August 9, 2018 (With PTI inputs)<doc-sep>Atif Aslam's soulful renditions have won him a huge fan following not only in his home country Pakistan, but also across the border, in India. He has worked in Bollywood for over a decade, and has a number of hits to his credit, from Woh Lamhe (Zeher) to the more recent Dil Diyan Gallan (Tiger Zinda Hai). Recently, Atif was invited to perform at the Pakistan Independence Day Parade at Madison Square Garden, New York. He belted out his popular numbers, and at one point, sang Tera Hone Laga Hoon from Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahaani. Atif Aslam at the Pakistan Independence Day Parade in New York This invited the wrath of his Pakistani fans who slammed him for singing an Indian song at their Independence Day Parade. They took to social media to express their disgruntlement. #__ From day one i don't like atif aslam he is very proudy and he thinks that he is the best, no one is like him etc. Now boycott not only #AtifAslam but also indian content. I really feel bad to see indian content as our top trends. This needs to be stop. August 7, 2018 It was also being said that Atif refused to hold the Pakistani flag, which irked the fans further. However, the singer cleared the air in a statement shared on his Twitter account and called the reports "fake propaganda". #Nevergiveup Simply love my haters Bayshak Allah izzat denay aur rakhnay wala hai Sabz jhanda meri pehchan (cont) https://t.co/ZD7kbQA6lO Atif Aslam (@itsaadee) August 9, 2018 ALSO SEE: Atif Aslam stops mid-concert to rescue girl from eve-teasing<doc-sep>	Atif Aslam has sung for Hindi films like Race, Badlapur, Hindi Medium and Tiger Zinda Hai. Atif Aslam has sung for Hindi films like Race, Badlapur, Hindi Medium and Tiger Zinda Hai. Pakistan’s singing sensation Atif Aslam has been trolled on social media and also criticized by the country’s mainstream media for singing a popular Bollywood song at a Pakistan Independence Day function in New York. Atif, who has lent his voice to many Bollywood songs, sang “Tera Hone Laga Hoon” from the 2009 film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani at the function earlier this month. The performance prompted many of his fans back home to question his patriotism and also hit out at him. Zero respect for Atif Aslam!” wrote a Twitter user. Boycott Atif Aslam Ap Ne Dil Tor Diya #boycottAtifAslam #AtifAslam,” wrote another user. After the much-heated debate on Twitter, the 35-year-old singer responded to the uproar in a long Instagram post, saying that hopefully, things will change in a “Naya” (new) Pakistan. Simply love my haters. Undoubtedly, Allah is the only one who can make someone worthy of respect or not. The Pakistani flag is my identity and my fans know that I respect it a lot. I’m glad that my fans know how to deal with fake propaganda against me, he said. Atif hoped that “Naya Pakistan” can help people realise that they need to respect others, especially those who work hard every day to make the country proud. Earlier, Pakistani classical singer Shafqat Amanat Ali, who has also lent his voice to some Indian songs, had defended Atif. I stand in support of Atif Aslam for singing his songs at the parade. Music is not Indian or Pakistani. It’s just music. Singers are synonymous with their songs which are loved equally by fans from every country, Ali said. Film critic Omair Alavi said people need to remember that Bollywood films and dramas are shown openly in Pakistan in cinemas and on television channels as art, film or music has no boundaries. “Don’t Pakistanis go to watch Indian films? Are not Indian dramas a regular on our channels,” he questioned.
The Longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century is set to coincide with bright Mars at its closest to Earth in 15 years. The Moon and Mars will be putting on a show in July, even if New Zealand doesn't get to see all of the event being dubbed the longest lunar eclipse of the century. "It will be something worth getting up early to go and see," Otago Museum director and astronomer Dr Ian Griffin said. According to Nasa, the Moon will be in full eclipse - or totality - for 103 minutes. But the Moon will enter totality not long before setting in this country, on the morning of July 28. The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand website shows the total eclipse - or blood moon - starting in New Zealand at a few seconds before 7.30am. The Sun then rises in Wellington just a minute later at 7.31am, while the Moon sets a few more minutes after that at 7.38am. READ MORE: * 'Astronomy mates' stage a great super blue blood moon chase up NZ * What's the big deal about the super blue blood moon? * Mars will come closer to Earth in the coming weeks than it has been in 15 years STEVE LLYOD The so-called 'super blood blue' moon early this year. There's another lunar eclipse in late July and it coincides with a particularly bright Mars. New Zealand does see the earlier stages of the eclipse, with the Moon entering the penumbra - or light shadow - at 5.14am and the umbra - dark shadow - at 6.24am. Within days of the eclipse Mars will also be making its closest approach to the Earth in 15 years, getting to just 57.6 million kilometres away. By comparison, the average distance between Earth and Mars is 225 million kilometres. At their furthest from each other, the two planets can be around 400m km apart. Otago Museum's Griffin will be part of joint project between the museum and Canterbury University at Mt John Observatory, Lake Tekapo to take photographs of Mars in the last week of July and post them on the internet. He is hoping to see the lunar eclipse from the observatory, depending on the weather. "Because it's the full moon, the Moon sets when the Sun rises. We will actually be able to see the total eclipse as the Moon is setting, and the Moon will set in total eclipse, which will be a real cool view," Griffin said. "Also that week, Mars is at the closest it's been since 2003, so Mars will be really bright in the sky." Already Mars is unusually bright. "If you go out after sunset, about 8pm, it's rising in the eastern sky. It's incredibly bright and incredibly red," Griffin said. "On the night of the lunar eclipse, Mars is quite close to the Moon (in the sky). At the end of the night you have a bright red-coloured Mars close to a red-coloured Moon in the sky," he said. Mars is red because it is covered in a layer of dust mainly made up of iron, which has rusted. The Moon can appear red during an eclipse - and is sometimes referred to as a blood moon - because during an eclipse sunlight passes through Earth's atmosphere and is refracted onto the Moon, creating the blood-red colour. "Basically when Mars is opposite the Sun in the sky, which it will be in late July, it rises at sunset and sets at sunrise." It would be "very very bright" during the last week of July. It would be possible to see the eclipse throughout New Zealand, provided the sky was clear, Griffin said. "All you need on that morning, because the Moon's quite low in the sky, you will need an unobstructed view to the horizon, and you well also need good weather." Mars close approaches happen about every 26 months, and is the point where Mars and Earth are closest to each other in their orbits around the Sun. The 2003 close approach was the closest in nearly 60,000 years, with the two planets within 55.8m km of each other.<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks Fans eager for another dazzling celestial display following January’s Super Blue Blood Moon will be delighted if they look up at the night sky on July 27. Lunar eclipses cast a reddish glow on the moon due to the way light is refracted around the earth’s atmosphere as it briefly comes between the sun and the moon. Despite the astronomical event being a regular occurrence throughout history, many cultures and religions have tried to attribute blood moons as signs of impending catastrophe. Does a blood moon have a prophecy? Spiritual meaning explained Blood moons have long been associated with end of times prophecies, with Christian theorists pointing to two key entries in the Bible.<doc-sep>They're basing this on a quote from the Book of Joel, which reads: "The sun will turn into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes." Another passage in the Book of Revelations reads: "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood." Endtime Ministries' Irvin Baxter is one of those forecasting the end of days. "The Bible teaches that end event is coming just ahead of us now and that will be the greatest prophetic fulfilment in the last 2,000 years," he has said, according to The Mirror. And YouTube pastor Paul Begley warns the Blood Moon is another hint doomsday is close. "It is a sign of the end times. We are in the era of the apocalypse and this blood moon, which will be the longest blood moon of this century, is happening in the 70th year of Israel being a nation," he says, according to The Express. "It is happening the same year also that Jerusalem has been declared the eternal city of God and it is happening with the volcanos already erupting in Hawaii and the smoke, the ash, all of the plumes and the volcanic rivers flowing." Newshub.<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks The seventh full moon of the year will appear in the skies later this week with sky-gazers eager to see this solstice moon. In the Northern Hemisphere, the moon coincides with last week’s summer solstice, ringing in the longest days of the year. For those of us in the UK, the Strawberry Moon will make its first appearance around 5.43am on Thursday, June 28. The full moon will appear around the same time around the globe, but time differences should be taken into account.<doc-sep>	The Eastern Hemisphere, including New Zealand, will witness the longest lunar eclipse to occur in the 21st century in July. The eclipse is expected to happen in the early hours of July 28. The spectacle takes place when the Sun, Earth and Moon are directly aligned, and the moon's orbit brings it into Earth's shadow, Business Insider reports. The Eastern Hemisphere - which will witness the eclipse - generally includes most of Africa, about half of Antarctica, all of Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and most of Europe, according to World Atlas. It's expected the total eclipse will last for approximately one hour and 43 minutes. Astronomers predict a partial eclipse will then follow, which could last for around three hours and 55 minutes. The eclipse get its nickname 'blood moon' because the moon will pass directly into the darkest region of the Earth's shadow, called the umbra, which will give the moon a reddish tinge. The reason the eclipse will last so long is because it will be the smallest and furthest full moon of the year, meaning it will take longer to pass through Earth's dark shadow. It's estimated the longest possible lunar eclipse could last up to one hour and 47 minutes. This is approximately when Kiwis can watch the eclipse 5:14am: The eclipse begins when the Earth's penumbra begins to touch the moon 7:30am: The total eclipse will make the moon look red 8:21am: You will be able to see a maximum eclipse 9:13am: The total eclipse will end Newshub.
Send this page to someone via email At the end of the night, 124 candidates earned seats at the Ontario legislature, but as the election results rolled in, some of them were likely breathing much easier than others. That’s because some of these contests — including the one that ultimately saw Kathleen Wynne re-elected — were decided by just a handful of votes. READ MORE: Ontario election 2018 results On the other hand, a few lucky candidates were able to cruise to victory with roughly two-thirds of voter support. Here’s a look at some of the tightest races and most decisive victories of the night. All figures are according to unofficial results via Elections Ontario. The biggest landslides The most popular candidate in any Ontario riding — as measured by the proportion of votes received — was PC veteran John Yakabuski, the incumbent MPP for the eastern Ontario riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke. Story continues below advertisement He won with 69.2 per cent of the vote, 25,284 ballots ahead of the next candidate. As expected, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath — an MPP since 2004 — claimed victory in Hamilton Centre, this time with 65.25 per cent of the vote, a margin of 18,136 over the runner-up in the race, Tory Dionne Duncan. Another senior New Democrat, Toronto Danforth incumbent Peter Tabuns, won with 64.3 per cent of the vote. Elsewhere in Toronto, former school trustee Marit Stiles received a solid 60 per cent of the vote to claim victory over the Liberals in Davenport, a west end riding previously held by Cristina Martins, who came in second. READ MORE: Wynne hopes Ford changes rules to give Ontario Liberals official party status A handful of others were also quite popular on election night. NDP candidates France Gelinas (Nickelbelt) and John Vanthoff (Timiskaming—Cochrane) were able to earn more than 60 per cent of votes cast, along with Progressive Conservatives Jim McDonnell (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry), Gila Martow in Thornhill, Billy Pang of Markham—Unionville and Steve Clark (Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes). The tightest races Though the numbers could change as official results are made available, based on current totals from Elections Ontario, three ridings were decided by fewer than a hundred votes. Story continues below advertisement Liberal cabinet minister Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough—Guildwood) and Thunder Bay—Atikokan NDP candidate Judith Monteith-Farrell won their seats by 81 votes each. Hunter won with 33.35 per cent of votes cast, just under a quarter of a percentage point higher than PC candidate Roshan Nallaratnam. In Brampton Centre, Sara Singh of the NDP defeated PC candidate Harjit Jaswal by just 89 votes, or about a third of a percentage point of the overall vote. Several other ridings in the area were hotly contested: Brampton North and Brampton West were won by just under 500 votes each. In Ottawa West—Nepean, Jeremy Roberts of the PC party won a tight-three way race by 176 votes, unseating incumbent Liberal Bob Chiarelli, who had a third-place finish. Another nail-biter was Premier Kathleen Wynne‘s battle for re-election in the riding of Don Valley West. She avoided defeat to PC challenger Jon Kieran by 181 votes, but ended up stepping down as Liberal leader.<doc-sep>Follow our live Ontario election map to determine how your riding voted in the hotly contested race pitting Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives against Andrea Horwath's NDP Article content Ontario voters headed to the polls on Thursday to choose a victor in the hotly contested race that’s pitting Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives against the New Democrats led by Andrea Horwath. The election is also raising questions about whether the governing Liberals, who have held power in the province for the past 15 years, will retain official party status. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Ontario election live results: How did your riding vote? Back to video But the voting process, like the campaign that preceded it, was not without complications. Elections Ontario said it had to extend voting hours at three of the province’s approximately 7,200 polls. The organization did not immediately explain why it prolonged voting at individual polls in the eastern Ontario riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, the Toronto-area riding of York South-Weston, and the Kiiwetinoong riding in the northwest of the province. Voting hours in those locations were extended anywhere from 40 minutes to four hours beyond the 9 p.m. closing time in the rest of the province. Watch our live map to determine how your riding voted and explore close races across the province.<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Voters in Ontario went to the polls June 7 and elected a Doug Ford-led PC majority government. Andrea Horwath’s New Democrats will form the official opposition, while Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals lost official party status. Across 124 ridings, the PCs won 76 seats, the NDP won 40 seats and the Liberals won seven seats. The Green Party also won their first seat with leader Mike Schreiner winning his riding of Guelph. After a technical delay, the riding of Kiiwetinoong was the last riding to post poll results. They announced Sol Mamakwa of the NDP won the riding at around 1:30 a.m. Find out who won in your riding using our interactive results above and watch a recap of our election coverage below. Story continues below advertisement<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email It’s Doug Ford, folks. The Ontario Progressive Conservatives under Ford won a majority mandate on Thursday ending more than 15 years of Liberal rule in the province, defeating Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals and Andrea Horwath’s NDP. WATCH: 2018 Ontario election results Story continues below advertisement Ford, a former Toronto city councillor, had positioned himself from the outset of the campaign as a fiscally responsible outsider, promising to cut government waste and put money back into voters’ wallets and swept to victory riding a wave of voter resentment. “I’m very honoured, I’m very humbled,” said Ford as he left his mother’s house Thursday evening on his way to PC election headquarters at the Toronto Congress Centre. “I want to thank our team and everyone out there.” “I’m very grateful to the people of Ontario,” he said. “We worked right up until the last minute and we appreciate everyone’s support.” WATCH: How Ontarians are responding to Doug Ford’s victory READ MORE: Ontario election results 2018: Live, real-time riding vote map Ford won his seat in Etobicoke North and Horwath held her seat in Hamilton Centre, where she has served as an MPP since 2004. In Guelph, Mike Schreiner made history Thursday night, becoming the first Green Party candidate to win a seat in an Ontario election. Story continues below advertisement With more than 98 per cent of polls reporting, the PCs had won or were leading in 76 seats and the NDP had won or were leading in 39 seats. The Liberals were leading in seven seats and the Green Party in one. Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne was re-elected after a tight battle for her riding of Don Valley West, but announced her resignation as party leader. WATCH: Wynne announces resignation as Ontario Liberal Party leader 3:04 Ontario Election: Kathleen Wynne resigns as head of Ontario Liberal Party Ontario Election: Kathleen Wynne resigns as head of Ontario Liberal Party – Jun 7, 2018 Speaking to supporters gathered at the Liberal campaign headquarters, Wynne said it was “difficult night” for her party who are hoping to maintain official party status at Queen’s Park. “This has been the greatest privilege of my life,” she said thanking party volunteers and candidates. “Everyday I have been your premier, and a minister, and an MPP that I have worked to think about your needs every single day.” Story continues below advertisement Wynne made history in 2013, when she became the first openly LGBT premier in Canada and first woman premier of Ontario after replacing Dalton McGuinty as leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. She won a majority government in the 2014 election. “I know that tonight is not the result we were looking for and no one feels that more sharply than I do. But this is not a moment when any of us should linger,” she said. ” I hope that you can feel very proud of what we have done together in the past and absolutely determined to take on the task that lies ahead.” Nearly all of cabinet ministers were defeated, including Attorney General Yasir Naqvi, Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault, and Steven Del Duca, minister of economic development. Christine Elliott, who ran against Ford to lead the PCs, unseated Liberal Environment Minister Chris Ballard in the Newmarket-Aurora riding. Jim Bradley, who had held the riding of St. Catharines for the Liberals for 41 years, also lost. Ford tells supporters Ontario is ‘open for business again’ In front of a cheering crowd of supporters at the Toronto Congress Centre, Ford spoke about a message of “hope” and “prosperity” for Ontarians. “Tonight the people of Ontario have spoken. People from every walk of life, from every corner of this great province, people from every political stripe, you have come together around one common vision of Ontario,” he said. Story continues below advertisement “My friends, help is here. Our team will work every single day to deliver this vision. We will work every single day for a better Ontario, a better future and a brighter future for our children.” “Tonight we have sent a message to the world that, ‘Ontario is open for business'” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "My friends, help is here. Our team will work every single day to deliver this vision. We will work every single day for a better Ontario, a better future and a brighter future for our children. ""Tonight we have sent a message to the world that, 'Ontario is open for business'" READ MORE: Here’s a look at the promises Doug Ford made Meanwhile, Horwath told supporters at the Hamilton convention centre the NDP won more seats in a generation and was “deeply humbled” to be leader of the official opposition. “From the very start of this campaign people wanted change and I could not be more proud that we offered a positive vision,” she said. “New Democrats rejected the politics of fear and cynicism.” Horwath said she congratulated premier-designate Ford but would work to make sure the PCs are accountable to voters. “I told premier-designate that New Democrats will work each and every day for the change that families need to make life better for all of us.” Ford’s improbable run to be the next premier only began March 10 after winning the PC leadership in a hotly contested race following the resignation of Patrick Brown amid sexual misconduct allegations. The Toronto businessman immediately set his sights on Wynne for past Liberal scandals before turning his attention to the New Democrats, who began the election in third-place but rose dramatically in public opinion polls. Story continues below advertisement And despite not releasing a fully costed campaign platform, something he had promised to do for months, he made a number of expensive promises without offering details on how they would be paid for. His promise to find billions in government “inefficiencies” came with equally few details. WATCH: How Doug Ford won a majority government 3:54 Ontario Election: How Doug Ford won a majority government Ontario Election: How Doug Ford won a majority government – Jun 7, 2018<doc-sep>	Send this page to someone via email Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative Party will form a majority government at Queen’s Park, after winning the Ontario provincial election on Thursday night. Premier-elect Ford will become the 26th leader of the province, and the first from the PC Party since 2003. READ MORE: Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives win majority government 3:54 Ontario Election: How Doug Ford won a majority government Ontario Election: How Doug Ford won a majority government – Jun 7, 2018 The win comes after a tumultuous few months for the party, which saw an unexpected swap in leadership just before the campaign began. Story continues below advertisement Here is everything you need to know about what happened during election night in Ontario: Breakdown of the win The PCs won 76 seats in the Ontario legislature. The New Democrats will form the Official Opposition with 40 seats, while the Liberals will have seven seats. The Green Party has one seat. Many of the PC seats are concentrated in the 905 region, with Liberals and NDP holding on to urban centres and downtown Toronto. Doug Ford’s victory speech — and its peculiar timing Ford appeared at the PC election headquarters at the Toronto Congress Centre on Thursday night, thanking his supporters who helped him gain a majority win. His speech started just moments after incumbent Premier Kathleen Wynne began her concession speech, which prompted criticism from political experts who said it was in poor spirit. Generally, the election winner waits for the concession speech to end before coming on stage. READ MORE: Ontario PC communications adviser says Doug Ford speech mix-up ‘not intentional’ Story continues below advertisement Melissa Lantsman, a communications adviser for the Ontario PC Party, told Global News that the mix-up “certainly was not intentional.” During his speech, Ford boasted that “a new day has dawned in Ontario.” “Together we made history,” Ford said in his victory speech. “We have taken back Ontario. We have delivered a government that is for the people. A government that will respect your hard-earned tax dollars.” The premier-designate promised he and his team would get to work right away at Queen’s Park. Liberal defeat and Wynne’s resignation Wynne was re-elected after a tight battle for her riding of Don Valley West, but announced she’s resigning as party leader. She made the emotional announcement before a crowd of supporters at the Liberal headquarters, calling it a “difficult night.” READ MORE: The story of the Ontario Liberals’ 2018 election campaign “This has been the greatest privilege of my life,” she said, thanking party volunteers and candidates. “Every day I have been your premier, and a minister, and an MPP. I have worked to think about your needs every single day.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Every day I have been your premier, and a minister, and an MPP. I have worked to think about your needs every single day." Story continues below advertisement WATCH: Kathleen Wynne resigns as head of Ontario Liberal Party 3:04 Ontario Election: Kathleen Wynne resigns as head of Ontario Liberal Party Ontario Election: Kathleen Wynne resigns as head of Ontario Liberal Party – Jun 7, 2018 Nearly all of the cabinet ministers were defeated, including Attorney General Yasir Naqvi, Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault, and Steven Del Duca, minister of economic development. The Liberals also lost official party status in Ontario, after winning fewer than eight seats in the legislature. READ MORE: Kathleen Wynne won her seat, but the Liberals lost official party status Recognized parties are entitled to speak during debates and are guaranteed the opportunity to pose questions during question period. They receive public money to establish party offices to help them with research and other organizational tasks. All that could change for the Liberals. NDP steps up as official Opposition Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDPs have formed the Official Opposition for the first time since 1987. Story continues below advertisement While the NDP took many seats away from the Liberals in Toronto’s downtown, it was the seat-heavy 905-region that they lost to Ford. READ MORE: NDP sweeps all 8 downtown Toronto ridings in Ontario election In the end, Horwath said she was proud of their campaign. “From the very start of this campaign, people wanted change,” Horwath said on Thursday night in her speech. “And I could not be more proud that we offered a positive vision.” “We will keep fighting for you,” she reiterated.
Draft day is finally here. The Seattle Seahawks and the rest of the NFL will add a new group of players to their roster when the draft officially kicks off at 5:00 p.m. PT. The Seahawks added a new pick in the first round and moved back a few spots in the third round since we last completed a mock draft. That, plus a much bigger need to add an impact edge defender, has shifted quite a few things in the second (and final) version of our mock draft. Although I believe Seattle will make more trades before (and during) the upcoming draft, I decided to complete this mock as if they are just keeping their picks as is. Here is a look at five players Seattle could take with their picks, and what makes them a good fit.<doc-sep>With the 21st pick in the 2019 DBN Community NFL Mock Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select... The selection and write-up were made by Swagnasty: The Seahawks have needs at DE, CB, OL, WR, and others, but it’s not typically their style to home in on a single position in the draft. A better idea, particularly with Russell Wilson locked up for several more years, is drafting the best player available, even if they can’t make an immediate impact. The Seahawks make a habit of playing at a level higher than their talent and depth would suggest, so the long-term benefits outweigh the risks here. The other obvious risk stems from an assault incident from high school. I can’t exactly interview him myself, so I’ll have to make the assumption that he’s grown into a better person since then. Simmons as a player doesn’t need much of an introduction. He’s powerful, explosive, incredibly agile, aggressive, and has potential to get even better if he hones his instinct to an NFL level. Frank Clark is currently the only star on the defensive line, and could use some help when generating pressure. There’s some concern that he’ll be leaving town as early as this season, and if so that need is even greater. That pressure can come from the edge or inside, and Simmons has shown he can do either, or use his speed to pursue the ball all over the field, a rare combination of versatility and elite talent. Realistically, I’d expect the Seahawks to trade down from here, and possibly grab this same player 10 or more picks later. The Seahawks will be competitive in 2019 regardless of how their draft pans out, and picking a top talent could help vault them back into the league’s top tier in 2020 and beyond.<doc-sep>The Seattle Seahawks picked up an extra first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft with the Frank Clark trade, but how do they use it in this final mock draft? On Tuesday, just two days before the start of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks shook things up around the league. With rumors going around that they could trade defensive end Frank Clark, who they hit with the franchise tag earlier in the offseason, they made a deal. The Seahawks sent Clark to the Kansas City Chiefs in a big-time trade that will have big draft implications. In return for Clark, the Seahawks receive the No. 29 pick in the 2019 draft, swap picks (moving to No. 92 from No. 84) in the third round and also add a 2020 second-round pick. The additional first-round selection is massively important for the Seahawks, though. Not only is general manager John Schenider now going to have the ability to add two top-30 players in the 2019 NFL Draft now, but the Seahawks now have more capital to work with. Prior to the trade, Seattle had just four selections in the upcoming draft. While the deal moves them up to just five, having all of those come in the first five rounds means they can add high-quality talent. Of course, the Seahawks are a team that needs to hit on all five of those picks. Though they were a playoff team a year ago, this isn’t a team without big holes. They are lacking in the secondary, the Clark trade leaves them wanting in regards to the defensive end spot and the ever-present need on the offensive line is still glaring to anyone — except for maybe the Seahawks, given their recent drafts. With an additional pick now in their arsenal, though, now feels the perfect time to offer up the final 7-round 2019 mock draft for teh Seattle Seahawks. How do they fill their holes now that they have an extra first-round pick? Let’s find out. Note: This mock draft was compiled using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine.<doc-sep>	It’s Mock Draft Monday for the Seahawks Draft Show, and this week Brandan Schulze and Rob Staton take a look at a few of the mock drafts from some of the national draft experts and sports networks. The first one looks at NFL Network’s third mock draft by Daniel Jeremiah who has the Seattle Seahawks staying put with the 21st overall pick and selecting Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Rob and Brandan talk about the philosophy behind taking a player who will likely be sitting out all of 2019, but how it allows them to get long-term value for a player who would have otherwise gone in the first 10 picks. Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. recently went back and forth with picks in their mock draft, and McShay had Russell Wilson’s new contract in mind with his selection of Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford to Seattle. Rob believes Ford may be the top offensive linemen in the draft and has the mentality that Seattle looks for at that spot. Neither of those two mock drafts has the Seahawks trading down, which Brandan and Rob both agree is the most likely outcome for Seattle considering how the team currently only has four picks over the three days. R.J. White of CBS Sports recognized this and has Seattle set to make trades with the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets on draft day to turn their four picks into seven. This particular draft also recognizes the team’s needs, by taking a defensive back, defensive lineman and wide receiver with the Seahawks first three picks. Subscribe to the Field Gulls Podcast via: Apple Podcasts \| Google Podcasts \| Spotify \|Overcast \| Pocket Casts \| Stitcher \| Castbox \| Subscribe on Android \| PlayerFM \| RSS
Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton still the driver to beat for 2018 championship by Asher Fair Martin Truex Jr. earned his fifth pole position of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season for the season’s 19th race, the Quaker State 400. The top two finishers from last Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway are set to start on the front row in tomorrow night’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in reverse order. Furniture Row Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. took the pole position for the Quaker State 400, which is the 19th race of the 36-race 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, in his #78 Toyota. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Erik Jones qualified in second place in his #20 Toyota. Truex Jr. took the pole position for the 267-lap race around the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky by recording a top lap time of 28.588 seconds (188.890 miles per hour) in the third and final round of qualifying. The pole position is Truex Jr.’s fifth of the season so far, but it is his first in the last 10 races. He also started from the pole position in the races at ISM Raceway, Auto Club Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway. Those four races were four of the first nine races of the season. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick was the highest qualifying Ford driver for the race. He is set to start in third place in his #4 Ford. Richard Childress Racing’s Ryan Newman was the highest qualifying Chevrolet driver for the race. He is set to start in 12th in his #31 Chevrolet, and he is the only Chevrolet driver who qualified in the top 12. Of the 39 drivers entered in the race, 35 made qualifying attempts. Denny Hamlin, Matt DiBenedetto, Jesse Little and Timmy Hill were all unable to qualify and are set to start the race in 36th, 37th, 38th and 39th place, respectively. Here are the full qualifying results for the 2018 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. Rank Driver Car, Team, Manufacturer 1 Martin Truex Jr. #78, Furniture Row Racing, Toyota 2 Erik Jones #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota 3 Kevin Harvick #4, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford 4 Brad Keselowski #2, Team Penske, Ford 5 Kyle Busch #18, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota 6 Paul Menard #21, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford 7 Ryan Blaney #12, Team Penske, Ford 8 Clint Bowyer #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford 9 Kurt Busch #41, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford 10 Ryan Newman #31, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet 11 Daniel Suarez #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota 12 Aric Almirola #10, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford 13 Austin Dillon #3, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet 14 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford 15 Alex Bowman #88, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet 16 Chase Elliott #9, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet 17 Matt Kenseth #6, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford 18 Kyle Larson #42, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet 19 Joey Logano #22, Team Penske, Ford 20 Chris Buescher #37, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet 21 William Byron #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet 22 Jamie McMurray #1, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet 23 Michael McDowell #34, Front Row Motorsports, Ford 24 David Ragan #38, Front Row Motorsports, Ford 25 Darrell Wallace Jr. #43, Richard Petty Motorsports, Chevrolet 26 A.J. Allmendinger #47, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet 27 Jimmie Johnson #48, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet 28 Kasey Kahne #95, Leavine Family Racing, Chevrolet 29 Ross Chastain #15, Premium Motorsports, Chevrolet 30 Ty Dillon #13, Germain Racing, Chevrolet 31 Corey Lajoie #72, TriStar Motorsports, Chevrolet 32 J.J. Yeley #23, BK Racing, Toyota 33 Landon Cassill #00, StarCom Racing, Chevrolet 34 B.J. McLeod #51, Rick Ware Racing, Chevrolet 35 Garrett Smithley #99, StarCom Racing, Chevrolet 36 Denny Hamlin #11, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota 37 Matt DiBenedetto #32, Go Fas Racing, Ford 38 Jesse Little #7, Premium Motorsports, Chevrolet 39 Timmy Hill #66, MBM Motorsports, Toyota Want your voice heard? Join the Beyond The Flag team! Write for us! Tune in to NBC Sports Network tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. ET to watch the live broadcast of the 2018 Quaker State 400 from Kentucky Speedway.<doc-sep>With seven races left until the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, one thing is clear: Toyota has planted its flag in Kentucky. Meanwhile, Ford is the only other manufacturer capable of making a competition out of this year's championship race. Here is the analysis of what the Quaker State 400 means going forward: Toyota owns Kentucky, but not for the reasons you think Sure, Toyota's North American operations were once based in the Bluegrass State, but that has nothing to do with the dominance the manufacturer has shown at the tricky 1.5-mile track. Among its stable, Toyota has two of the three top race-winning drivers (Kyle Busch with five and Martin Truex Jr. with four) and leads the manufacturers' points standings. Toyota owns Kentucky Speedway because its best teams have drivers that get a ton of seat time (Busch) and best understand how to adjust the car on race week (Truex). Both of those elements are key factors at a track like Kentucky, which demands so much out of both team and driver. More:Martin Truex Jr. turns in another dominating NASCAR drive at Kentucky More:Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Kyle Busch needs to stop 'running his mouth' Chevrolet is in serious trouble if front downforce continues to be a problem The Chevrolet Camaro is an eye-pleaser on the road and on race day. However, the Chevy racing teams still seem to have an issue with aerodynamic grip. NBC Sports analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. said the Camaro was still struggling with front downforce, which contributed to its struggles on most tracks. While the Camaro has improved this year, Chevy is still a ways away from competing across the board with Toyota and Ford. With 1.5-mile circuits being crucial in the Cup Series Playoffs, Chevy needs to get it figured out before it's too late. We're not watching old-school racing anymore Back in the old days, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. might have found himself on the wrong side of a severe slide job at Kentucky Speedway after his aggression towards fellow drivers at the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona a week ago. Instead, the Roush-Fenway driver fought a tire-rubbing issue early on and was never a factor. Team owner Jack Roush had said earlier in the week that he hoped other drivers wouldn't carry forward hard feelings. Stenhouse and Busch had a bit of a war of words, but nothing happened on the track, so the question of retribution moves to next week's New Hampshire 301. Kentucky is a great host for a race week The track is unique (Turn 3, in case you didn't know, is a big deal) in more ways than one. The scenery is reminiscent of Martinsville with the hills in the backdrop and the echo of the engines roaring through the valley. The action on the track, because of difficult Turn 3, usually sees the best driver and team go to victory. For instance, the only drivers to win at Kentucky Speedway in the Cup Series have been series champions. Truex broke that streak for a brief period last season before claiming the Cup Series title. Who will be the fourth driver in contention at Homestead? Earnhardt Jr. said Friday that the storyline he's watching is to see which driver will make the jump up and challenge the trio of Busch, Truex and Kevin Harvick for title contention. To Earnhardt, there are three upper-crust drivers, the aforementioned, and a bunch of other guys clawing to get into that conversation. The most interesting thing the former Cup Series' most popular driver had to say was that he didn't think the lack of parity in winners hurt the sport. Instead, Earnhardt contended that fans should enjoy watching the great drivers/teams win and then be excited to see whom among the others would challenge them.<doc-sep>	SPARTA, KY - JULY 13: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, signs the Busch Pole board after qualifying for the pole position for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway on July 13, 2018 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) Martin Truex Jr. looks to make it two in a row at Kentucky Speedway and will start from the pole on Saturday night. To earn his first ever Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at Daytona last Saturday, Erik Jones had to outduel one of the top drivers in the sport, defending series champion Martin Truex Jr. That might be an even tougher task at Kentucky Speedway for the Quaker State 400, a race Truex just happened to win last year. Jones is starting in a great spot on the outside of Row 1, but the man leading the field to the green flag is Truex, so that might be one spot too little. Truex captured his fourth Busch Pole Award of 2018, squeaking by Jones by just over one tenth of a second. The rest of the top five is full of heavy hitters, with Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch starting third through fifth Saturday night. As has been the case more often that they would like this year, the Chevrolet camp looked a little slow during qualifying at Kentucky. Ryan Newman was the fastest Chevy, and he’ll only start 10th. Chase Elliott (16th) and Kyle Larson (18th) will be among just six Camaros in the top 20 when the race gets underway. Truex is trying to keep pace with both Harvick and Kyle Busch, both of whom have more wins than him so far this season. He came close to adding another one in a wild night at Daytona, but Jones managed to get the better of him in a narrow finish. Coverage of the Quaker State 400 begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with the green flag expected to wave around 7:46 p.m. 2018 Quaker State 400 starting grid for Kentucky Speedway
Savannah Pruitt's parents last saw her heading to bed more than two weeks ago. Editor's note: In late October, 2019 – nearly three weeks into a multi-state search for her, authorities reported that Savannah Lee Pruitt was located in Wisconsin, nearly 700 miles from her Tennessee family farm. The FBI has joined an expanding search, which now spans four states, for a teenager who disappeared two weeks ago from her Tennessee home -- as it was revealed that her cellphones had last pinged nearly 140 miles away in another state. Savannah Leigh Pruitt, 14, of Madisonville, vanished from her home on Jan. 13, according to authorities. She was last seen heading to bed between 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. by her mother, they said. Savannah's parents -- Randall and Christina Pruitt -- told ABC News that there were no red flags and that she went to bed that night in good spirits. "We were sitting in the living room, talking," Randall Pruitt said. "She was her normal, bubbly self, and happy ... She was an extremely joyful child." Investigators said she had two cellphones and they'd both pinged in Corbin, Kentucky, almost 140 miles away, between 5:15 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. the next day. "Both phones were powered off at that point and there has not been any activity on either phones since that early morning hour of Jan. 14," Monroe County Sheriff's Office detective Jason Fillyaw said. Randall and Christina Pruitt told ABC News on Monday that neither the family or Savannah knew anyone in Kentucky. The family had recently moved to Tennessee from Lawrenceville, Georgia, Randall Pruitt said. "She had always requested the farm life -- is all we had ever heard since she was a little girl. She wanted horses and ducks and chickens. ... We just now were able to do that, leaving the city behind," he said. She brought the sunshine up in the morning, I mean, just like having your cup of coffee. ... Life's just not the same without Savannah. "She brought the sunshine up in the morning, I mean, just like having your cup of coffee. ... Life's just not the same without Savannah," Randall Pruitt told ABC Knoxville affiliate WATE. "She was our life. ... And our life is gone," Christina Pruitt told ABC News. Her younger sister discovered Savannah, the oldest of four siblings, missing Jan. 14 around 5 a.m., Christina Pruitt said. She had always requested the farm life -- is all we had ever heard since she was a little girl. She wanted horses and ducks and chickens. ... We just now were able to do that, leaving the city behind. The teen's window was also found open and some of her clothes and her bed sheets were missing, according to authorities. There has been no activity on her social media accounts, authorities and her parents said. Fillyaw said authorities did not believe that Savannah had run away. The investigation now spans four states, including Missouri. "Right now we're still treating this as a missing-persons investigation. All the leads that we've searched for at this point have kind of hit dead ends," Fillyaw said. "We’re seeking, you know, any tips or information from the public at this time." ABC News' Michael Mendelsohn and Chris Francescani contributed to this story.<doc-sep>(CNN) — A 14-year-old girl who disappeared from Tennessee more than two weeks ago has been found alive in Wisconsin and her father is now charged with rape, authorities said Thursday. The girl is “doing fine,” Sheriff Tommy Jones of Monroe County, Tennessee, said Thursday. Randall Pruitt, who adopted the girl, was arrested Thursday in Tennessee and charged with rape, the sheriff said. “(The girl) would be the victim in that,” Jones said. The sheriff did not provide many details about the case in a news conference Thursday, but said there could be additional suspects. “I’m having to be vague on all my statements because this is still an ongoing investigation,” he said. “At this point, we are still investigating there’s a possibility of multiple other charges coming forth with multiple people involved.” Asked if there is a connection between the girl and the residence where she was found, Jones told reporters his office does not believe there is any relation to the person living in the Wisconsin home. Pruitt is being held with no bond and his first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s online records. CNN is not naming the girl because she is the alleged victim of sexual assault. The girl had last been seen January 13 at her home in Madisonville, in eastern Tennessee between Chattanooga and Knoxville.<doc-sep>A missing Tennessee teen has been found safe in Wisconsin two weeks after she vanished. Savannah Pruitt disappeared from her home in Madisonville on Jan. 13. At the time, her parents maintained that she had no reason to run away, with her adoptive father, Randall Pruitt, telling reporters that Savannah “never misbehaved" and that her disappearance was “way out in left field for her.” “It’s like having your soul ripped out of your body,” Pruitt said, according to WVLT-TV. “You can’t think, you can’t eat, you can’t sleep, you can’t rest – life has just ceased for us since she left.” Pruitt has since been arrested. "We don't believe at this time that he had any connections to her being a runaway or missing," Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones said. It’s not clear how the 14-year-old ended up in Wisconsin but authorities did say they believe she left home of her own free will and may have been fleeing a bad situation, according to WKRN. Police said she was safe and in custody Thursday night. Pruitt is being held on no bond and is expected to appear in court Tuesday. RELATED STORIES<doc-sep>	Law enforcement agencies in multiple states have joined authorities in Tennessee in searching for a teenage girl who disappeared from her home two weeks ago. Detective Jason Fillyaw with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee, said during a press conference Friday that 14-year-old Savannah Pruitt was reported missing by her parents on Jan. 14 after her mother found she was not at their Madisonville home. “I’ve been in an investigative position with this agency for three years now, and this is the first time we’ve had a missing juvenile go to this level,” Fillyaw said. “Usually, we locate them within 24 to 48 hours and they’re home safe.” Savannah was last seen around 11 p.m. ET the day before she was reported missing. Savannah Pruitt went missing from her home in Tennessee on Jan. 13, 2019. Monroe County Sheriff's Office Fillyaw said Savannah has two cellphones with her and they pinged the morning of Jan. 14 near a welcome center in the Corbin, Kentucky, area, roughly 130 miles from her home. Investigators believe the teen may have been traveling north to an unknown destination. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office contacted authorities in Corbin, who searched for the girl but did not find her. Her cellphones are no longer turned on, and she has not used social media since before she vanished, Fillyaw said. “Life has just seized for us since the day she left,” Savannah's father, Randall Pruitt, said during the press conference. “It’s like having your soul ripped out of your body. You can’t think, you can’t eat, you can’t sleep, you can’t rest,” he said. Her mother, Christina Pruitt, begged her daughter to come back home. “She was my sunshine,” she said, “and now my sunshine is gone. Please help us find our baby, please.” Fillyaw said the girl is not officially classified as endangered because authorities do not have information to suggest Savannah is in direct danger. He also told reporters that he doesn’t believe the missing teenager intended to run away or was in communication with someone who wanted to abduct her. Authorities in Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia are all involved in the investigation. The Atlanta bureau of the FBI confirmed it is assisting with the case because the Pruitt family lived in Lawrenceville, Georgia before moving to Tennessee in December.
Shanann Watts, 34, and her two children Bella, 3, and Celeste ìCeceî, 4, have been missing since Monday from Frederick, CO, according to Frederick Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Ian Albert. Police checked on the residence of Watts after a friend called and requested a welfare check for the 15-week pregnant mom. At this time police are not releasing additional information about the incident, but believe the public is not at risk, Sgt. Albert said. Police are asking the public to call if they have any tips that could lead to the whereabouts of Watts. Court docs say victims may have been strangled Christopher Watts is escorted into the courtroom before his bond hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Greeley, Colo. Watts, of Colorado, whose wife and daughters disappeared this week was arrested on suspicion of killing them. (Joshua Polson/The Greeley Tribune via AP, Pool) (CNN) — A murder suspect told police in Colorado he strangled his pregnant wife in a rage after he saw her on a baby monitor strangling the couple’s 3-year-old daughter, Celeste, according to court documents. Chris Watts said the couple’s other daughter, Bella, 4, was already “sprawled out” on the bed and blue in the couple’s bedroom, according to an arrest affidavit from Frederick police. Watts confessed to burying his wife, Shanann Watts, 34, near two oil tanks and dumping his daughters’ bodies in the tanks, according to the affidavit. But prosecutors paint a different picture of the killing. Watts was charged Monday with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his wife and young daughters. Two additional first-degree murder charges accuse him of causing the death of a child younger than 12. The 33-year-old father also faces three counts of tampering with a body, and a count of first-degree unlawful termination of a pregnancy, said Weld County District Attorney Michael J. Rourke, who did not reveal a motive. Watts, who was arrested last week, is being held without bond, with his next court appearance scheduled for Tuesday morning. Defendant previously denied affair with co-worker, investigators say Investigators said they learned Watts was “actively involved” in an affair with a co-worker. He had previously denied it in interviews, according to the affidavit. Early on the morning of August 13, Watts said he told his wife he wanted to separate, and then the killings took place, court papers said. Before Watts’ confession, authorities used a drone that spotted a bedsheet in a field near the oil tanks, the affidavit said. “The sheet matched the pattern of several pillowcases and a top sheet recovered from a kitchen trash can from [Watts’] residence early that day,” the affidavit said. In an emotional address Monday, Shanann’s father, Frank Rzucek Sr., thanked authorities for finding the bodies of his family members. He said the family appreciated those who attended a candlelight vigil and expressed support. “Keep the prayers coming for our family,” he said, holding back tears. KDVR/Weld County Sheriff Chris Watts Prosecutors: Pregnant wife was buried in a ‘shallow grave’ Shanann, Bella and Celeste were reported missing August 13 from their home in Frederick, a town of about 8,600 people 30 miles north of Denver. The location where their bodies were found on August 15 was the site of a petroleum and natural gas company where Chris Watts had worked, authorities said. Watts was terminated from Anadarko Petroleum on August 15, company communications manager Jennifer Brice said. A court filing by prosecutors says Shanann Watts’ body was “recovered from a shallow grave near an oil tank,” and that “law enforcement recovered the bodies of defendant’s two daughters from inside oil tanks located near the grave of their mother.” The girls’ bodies were in an “oil well filled with crude oil for several days,” Chris Watts’ attorneys indicated in a court filing. Autopsy results have not been released, but documents filed last week in Watts’ arrest revealed some of the victims may have been strangled, along with other details. On Monday, a judge denied several defense motions, including a request to require pathologists to swab the little girls’ necks, throats and hands for DNA. Watts’ attorneys have not publicly commented on the case. Friend recalls last time she saw Shanann In a Monday interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” friend Nicole Atkinson said she dropped Shanann off at home about 2 a.m. August 13 after they finished a business trip. “She went inside, turned around and waved at me and shut the door,” Atkinson said. Shanann didn’t return calls later that day and missed a medical appointment at which she was expected to hear her unborn child’s heartbeat, Atkinson said. Shanann was 15 weeks pregnant. Atkinson said she contacted Chris Watts, but he didn’t seem as worried as she thought he should be. Atkinson said she then contacted police. In an interview with a local news station on August 14 – after his family disappeared but before his arrest – Chris Watts also said his wife got home around 2 a.m. “We had an emotional conversation, I’ll leave it at that,” Watts told a reporter who asked whether they’d argued. “I just want them back. I just want them to come back.” Watts said he left for work about 5:15 a.m. that day and wasn’t concerned when his wife didn’t respond to his texts and phone calls since she’d just returned from being out of town. But he grew worried, he said, when one of her friends contacted him around noon and said she wasn’t responding to messages. “I walked in the house and – nothing,” Chris Watts told KMGH. “She wasn’t here. The kids weren’t here.” Court papers showed the couple also faced financial problems in recent years and filed for bankruptcy in 2015. Their homeowners association, Wyndham Hill Master Association, recently sued the couple, saying they owed $1,533.80, according to a civil suit obtained by CNN. CNN’s Kaylee Hartung and Konstantin Toropin reported from Greeley, Colorado. Ralph Ellis and Darran Simon wrote in Atlanta. Faith Karimi, Joe Sterling Sheena Jones and Dave Alsup contributed to this report from Atlanta.<doc-sep>These two little girls are my world! I love them so much, even when they drive me crazy! Tomorrow is the last day Celeste is in 2yr old PreSchool and Bella is in PreK 1. Growing up so fast. A post shared by Thrive Healthy Fit Mom (@shanannwatts) on May 24, 2018 at 8:06am PDT<doc-sep>According to the new documents released by Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke, Watts, 33, told detectives that he and his wife, Shanann, 34, discussed ending their marriage on Aug. 13. Watts, who was having an affair with a co-worker, claimed that by the end of the conversation, both were “upset and crying.” He told investigators that he went downstairs, then returned to speak with Shanann. He looked at the baby monitor in their bedroom and what he saw threw him “into a rage”: His older daughter, Bella, 4, was “sprawled out on her bed,” and Shannon Watts was strangling their younger daughter Celeste, 3, he said.<doc-sep>Chris allegedly contended that he "went into a rage" and strangled wife Shanann after she killed their daughter, according to an arrest affidavit Murder Suspect Dad Claims He Killed Pregnant Wife in 'Rage' After He Watched Her Strangle Daughter: Affidavit Under police questioning last week, Colorado triple murder suspect Chris Watts allegedly admitted he killed his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, but only after, he claimed, he “went into a rage” when she strangled one of their daughters, court documents show. Chris’ startling explanation for how his wife and their two children — 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste — all ended up dead was revealed in a newly unsealed affidavit supporting his arrest. Get push notifications with news, features and more. The court document, obtained by PEOPLE, lays out for the first time some key details about the case. Prosecutors have charged Chris, 33, with first-degree murder, among other crimes, in the the three killings. He was taken into custody on Wednesday night, two days after Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant, was reported missing by a friend. Her body and the bodies of her girls were found on Thursday. In the intervening days, as investigators worked on what appeared to be a missing persons case, Chris initially said that he had talked to Shanann on Monday after waking up about 5 a.m., after she got home from a work trip just before 2 a.m., and he told her he wanted to separate, the arrest affidavit alleges. shanann-watts-2 Shanann Watts (right) and her daughters \| Credit: Shanann Watts /Facebook Chris said that while he and Shanann “were emotional,” the conversation was “civil,” according to the affidavit. Speaking with authorities later, Chris again said that he saw Shanann on Monday — this time around 4 a.m. — and “informed her he wanted to go through with a separation and they were both upset and crying,” police said in the arrest affidavit. Chris claimed Shanann “told him she was going to a friend’s house that day.” Finally, in another police interview, and after law enforcement allegedly uncovered that he was having an affair with a coworker, Chris said he would “tell the truth.” He contended that he and Shanann had in fact talked about him wanting to separate after she got back from her trip early Monday but then he “walked downstairs for a moment” and when he got back to their bedroom he saw, via a baby monitor, that daughter Bella was “sprawled” and “blue” on her bed — apparently already dead — while Shanann was allegedly “actively strangling Celeste,” the affidavit states. RELATED VIDEO: Pregnant Mom & 2 Daughters Likely Killed at Home — Allegedly by Husband — Before Bodies Were Dumped At that point, Chris claimed, he “went into a rage and ultimately strangled Shanann to death” before loading “all three bodies onto the back seat of his work truck,” according to the affidavit. He then allegedly took them to an oil site owned by the company he was working for (he has since been fired) and then buried Shanann and hid his daughters’ bodies in oil tanks, where they stayed for roughly four days. Causes of death in the three killings have not been confirmed and neither has what authorities suspect to be the motive — though, in charging Chris with murder, they dismissed his account of what happened. Those who knew the couple have described a seemingly normal home life possibly beset by marital tension. One friend told ABC News this week that Chris had grown distant: “He wasn’t being the loving Chris that he normally was. He wasn’t touching or hugging or doing stuff like that.” Shanann, though, adored her family. “That’s all she talked about,” Kris Landon tells PEOPLE. “She talked about her girls as miracles, because she had some health problems and didn’t know if she’d have kids. But she really embraced motherhood, and I thought she embraced her marriage, too. They seemed like partners. Amazing partners.” At a Monday news conference where Chris’ formal charges were announced, Shanann’s father spoke briefly, sharing his family’s gratitude for the community’s support. “Keep the prayers coming,” he said. Chris is next set to return to court on Tuesday. He has not entered a plea and his attorney did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.<doc-sep>	DENVER -- The father charged with murdering his two young daughters, who were found submerged in oil tanks, told authorities his pregnant wife killed the children after learning he wanted a separation, according to court documents. He also said he erupted in rage after witnessing the killings and strangled his wife inside the family's suburban Denver home, according to the documents. Days after letting police inside his home so they could help find his missing family, Christopher Watts told investigators "he would tell the truth." Watts first asked to speak with his father, then admitted to killing his wife, Shannan. Watts told police in court papers released Monday that he killed her after witnessing her strangling one of the girls on a baby monitor. He said she had already killed the other child. Christopher Watts, 33, was charged Monday with three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of murdering a child under 12, one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday and is being held without bail. District Attorney Michael Rourke declined to answer questions about the case Monday but said his office has three prosecutors working on it. When asked if his team would be seeking the death penalty, Rourke said, "It's way too early to make that determination." Police first visited the family's house on Aug. 13, after a friend asked officers to check on Shanann Watts. She had missed a doctor's appointment and wasn't answering calls or text messages hours after returning home after a business trip, the friend reported. With Chris Watts' approval, police searched the house and found his wife's cellphone stuffed inside a couch. Her purse was on a kitchen island and a suitcase was at the bottom of the stairs. A detective spoke to Chris Watts and learned about his separation plans. Watts first described the conversation with Shannan as civil but later told police that "they were both upset and crying" and she planned to go to a friend's house that day, the court papers said. When Shanann Watts and the girls did not return home by Tuesday morning, investigators ramped up their efforts with the help of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Christopher Watts was interviewed by several local television stations, asking for the return of his family and discussing how much he missed spending time with his children. It wasn't until Wednesday night that he made his promise to tell police "the truth," and offered an account of the deaths. According to Watts' account, the early hours of Aug. 13 began with an intense conversation. He said he told his wife that he wanted a separation. Separately in the papers released Monday, investigators said they learned that Chris Watts was "actively involved in an affair with a co-worker," something he denied in earlier conversations with police. Watts told police that after discussing the separation he walked downstairs. When he returned, he told them he spotted a baby monitor on his wife's nightstand -- displaying her "actively strangling" their 3-year-old daughter, Celeste. He said the video feed also showed their other daughter, 4-year-old Bella, "sprawled out on her bed and blue." "Chris said he went into a rage and ultimately strangled Shanann to death," the document said. Police found surveillance video from a neighbor showing Watts' truck backing into the driveway at 5:27 a.m. and shortly after driving away from the house in Frederick, a small town on the grassy plains north of Denver where fast-growing subdivisions like the one the Watts family lived in intermingle with drilling rigs and oil wells. Watts, an operator with Anadarko Petroleum, said he loaded his wife and daughters' bodies into the back seat of his truck and drove to an oil work site about 40 miles east of the family's home. There, he buried Shanann Watts' body and "dumped the girls inside" oil tanks, according to the court document. Separate court documents filed by Watts' defense attorney last week said the girls' bodies were submerged in crude oil for four days before police found the remains late Thursday. Their mother's body was found nearby, in a shallow grave, according to prosecutors. Anadarko, one of Colorado's largest oil and gas drillers, has since fired Watts. The court filing says Watts gave police an aerial photograph of the area and identified three areas where he placed the bodies.
Who will start for Argentina when they take on Nigeria in their World Cup Group D clash? 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. Who will start for Argentina when they take on Nigeria in their World Cup Group D clash? Argentina have endured a miserable 2018 World Cup so far, drawing 1-1 with Iceland before getting thumped 3-0 by Croatia. The squad has reportedly staged an unsuccessful mutiny against manager Jorge Sampaoli, with Sergio Aguero believed to the be biggest casualty. According to the Mirror, Aguero will drop to the bench against Nigeria in favour of Gonzalo Higuain. The Manchester City ace will be joined by Willy Caballero following a high-profile error last time out, while Maximiliano Meza could make way for Paulo Dybala. Take a look through the gallery above to see how Argentina could line up ahead of their World Cup Group D clash with Nigeria.<doc-sep>The Albiceleste still have a chance of making it to the last 16 stage if they manage to beat the Super Eagles in their final Group D fixture FULL-TIME! NIGERIA 1-2 ARGENTINA 94 mins: Argentina running time down now and Messi earns a yellow card for wasting time. 92 mins: Third and final change for Nigeria as Musa, who has run himself into the ground in the match, is replaced by Simy. 92 mins: Even more noise from the Argentina supporters as news filters through that Croatia have retaken the lead against Iceland. Now all that can knock them out is a Nigeria equaliser. 91 mins: A late yellow card for Mikel, as Nigeria stand on the verge of an exit. 91 mins: We are into four minutes of added time. 90 mins: Iwobi, who scored a brace against Argentina in a 4-2 win back in November, is introduced for a late cameo in place of Omeruo. 88 mins: Argentina, as it stands, are through to the round of 16 by the skin of their teeth but the picture could change once again with just a single goal. It will certainly be a nervous finale. 86 mins: Mercado's deliver was pinpoint and an unlikely hero emerges for Argentina. A cruel blow for Nigeria. 86 mins: GOOOOOOAL! Argentina lead 2-1! Rojo could be the hero! Mercado curls a superb cross into the middle where the Manchester United man tucks home superbly with his right foot. The roof has just lifted off the stadium! 86 mins: Meza tumbles in the box and Argentina desperately appeal for a penalty. Nigeria stand firm but it's still very finely balanced in St. Petersburg. 85 mins: WIDE! Big moment for Nigeria after Banega concedes a free-kick just outside the box and Etebo smashes an effort onto the roof of the net. Very, very close but Argentina fight on! 83 mins: SAVE! At the other end, Nigeria have a chance to take the lead and secure their spot in the knockout stages but Armani makes a crucial save to deny Ighalo. 81 mins: MISS! Was that the moment for Argentina? Rojo drills a low ball back into the middle of the penalty area where Higuain is lurking but he lashes his shot off target. 80 mins: Last roll of the dice for Sampaoli and it's not surprising to see Aguero take to the field. Tagliafico is replaced. 78 mins: The closing moments of Group D will be decided by very fine margins as Iceland have equalised against Croatia. They need to win to have a chance but it means a goal in either match could change the picture once again. 77 mins: No penalty! The correct decision in the end from the referee, it would have been very harsh. Common sense prevails and the action gets back underway. 76 mins: VAR is being consulted as Nigeria appeal for a handball and it certainly struck the arm of the defender. It was headed down onto the arm and the referee has trotted to the touchline to assess the incident. 75 mins: WIDE! A huge miss for Nigeria! Musa finds space down the left and drills a low ball back into the middle, where the ball is deflected up in the air and then smashed at goal by Ighalo - but it's wide of the mark. 74 mins: The attitude from the Argentina fans inside the stadium has started to shift. They are starting to grow frustrated, knowing that their World Cup could be set to come to a premature end. 72 mins: Second change of the game for Argentina, who bring on Meza for Di Maria. 71 mins: OVER! Nigeria could be made to rue these missed chances, as Ndidi fires a shot over the bar from distance. 69 mins: Moses' penalty was the 16th so far at the 2018 World Cup. Only the 1998 tournament has seen more (17). 68 mins: Nigeria have now faced an extended period without the ball, as Messi and company try to carve through an organised defensive line. 66 mins: Argentina are banging on the door looking for a goal that will send them through to the knockout stages but Nigeria are remaining firm in defence. The game still hangs on a knife-edge. 64 mins: Banega lunges in on Ndidi and earns a yellow card. 63 mins: The introduction of Pavon shows Sampaoli's attacking intent and Argentina certainly do have a wealth of options from the bench, including Aguero and Dybala. Certainly not bad options to call upon when you need a goal. 61 mins: Argentina make their first change of the game, replacing Perez with Pavon. 59 mins: Musa breaks with pace down the left side and beats Mascherano with a fine bit of skill but his pass back towards Ighalo in the middle is cut out. 58 mins: Nigeria will also have to show plenty of strength for the remainder of the match as they will certainly come under a lot of pressure as the game progresses. 56 mins: The Nigeria goal, if anything, has just resulted in the Argentina fans making even more noise. They know they have a part to play and they are doing their best to help their side push towards a win they need. 55 mins: A big test of Argentina's character now as they have work to do. Sampaoli will have warned his side at the break that things can change in an instant and they have learnt that first hand. 53 mins: The Nigeria goal is crucial as it means the African side are going through as it stands. In the other game, Croatia have taken the lead against Iceland. 52 mins: A huge roar at the other end as Di Maria falls to ground under pressure from Moses but the referee is not interested in his protests. 51 mins: GOAL! Moses tucks home from the spot and it's 1-1! The Chelsea man was cool after an extended wait to take the penalty, waiting for Armani to make his move and slotting to the right-hand side. 50 mins: VAR is being consilted and there is definitely contact between Mascherano and Balogun. It may be harsh but the defenders have been warned throughout the tournament and have not learnt their lesson. 49 mins: Mascherano is booked for the foul but the punishment could get worse for Argentina. 49 mins: PENALTY! Etebo whips a corner into the middle and Mascherano is adjudged to have fouled a Nigeria man inside the area. 47 mins: The introduction of Ighalo makes sense for Nigeria as Iheanacho was poor in the first period and did pick up a knock in the latter stages. 46 mins: Nigeria make a change at the break, introducing Ighalo for Iheanacho. 46 mins: KICK-OFF! Argentina get us back underway for the second half for the final 45 minutes of Group D. Argentina look comfortable but the picture can quickly change. An equaliser for Nigeria would send Argentina home and Iceland, if they beat Croatia in the other match, could also send Sampaoli's side back to Beunos Aires. There is still a long way to go and there is work to be done. Argentina have the lead at the break and, crucially, are through to the last 16 as it stands. Messi has finally arrived at the World Cup and his goal was fantastic, with two brilliant touches after latching on Banega's lofted pass before smashing into the far corner. Nigeria have not offered enough going forward. HALF-TIME! NIGERIA 0-1 ARGENTINA 46 mins: We are into two minutes of additional time at the end of the first half. 44 mins: Ihanacho is down inside the box after a high foot from Rojo but the Manchester United man got the ball. He was holding the striker though, so he certainly has a case to appeal for a penalty. 43 mins: Still goalless between Croatia and Iceland, by the way, which means that Argentina are through as it stands. A goal in either game could change the picture significantly though.<doc-sep>Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Argentina will hope Lionel Messi can inspire them to victory against Nigeria on Tuesday, when La Albiceleste aim to keep their 2018 FIFA World Cup dreams alive. Both teams can still qualify from Group D but will also be aware Iceland can also make it through as they play Croatia in the group's other game. Here's a look at how you can watch the match, followed by team news and a match preview. Date: Tuesday, June 26 Time: 9 p.m. local time, 7 p.m. BST, 2 p.m. ET TV Info: Live on BBC One (UK), Fox (U.S.) Live Stream: BBC Sport Live (UK), Fox Sports Go (U.S.) Team News Video Play Button Videos you might like Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli is expected to make changes to his team after their 3-0 defeat to Croatia. Goalkeeper Willy Caballero could be dropped after his mistake allowed Ante Rebic to score, with River Plate stopper Franco Armani potentially coming into the team in his place. Argentinian football writer Peter Coates offered his view of the lineup: Nigeria's only injury concern is midfielder John Obi Mikel who has a hand injury. Manager Gernot Rohr said he could play with a cast, per FIFA's Annette Braun. Both teams also have players at risk of suspension if they were to pick up a booking in the match. Nigeria's Bryan Idowu and William Troost-Ekong and Argentina's Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Otamendi and Gabriel Mercado will miss any subsequent match if they are booked again. Argentina Need Dramatic Improvement Argentina's World Cup campaign has been shambolic, and star man Messi has come under scrutiny for failing to shine. The Barcelona star missed a penalty in the draw against Iceland and was anonymous in the 3-0 defeat to Croatia. Sampaoli took the blame for the performance against Croatia and said "he didn't read the match as he should," per ESPN. Goal's Ben Hayward summed up Argentina's problems: Nigeria's win over Iceland means Argentina can still qualify despite only picking up one point so far. They need to beat the Super Eagles and hope Iceland fail to win against Croatia. If Argentina and Iceland both win, then the team with the best goal difference will qualify. Here's a look at the standings: Football writer Roy Nemer is not optimistic about Argentina's chances even if they do make it through: La Albiceleste have quality in their squad, but Sampaoli has not been able to find a system that works and allows the team to get the best out of Messi. Musa Can Fire Nigeria Past Argentina Nigeria's 2-0 win over Iceland gave their World Cup hopes a boost, and they will also be eyeing a place in the last 16. A win or a draw against Argentina will be enough as long as Iceland fail to beat Croatia. Ahmed Musa was the match-winner for the Super Eagles against Iceland as he scored both goals, and he was in confident mood after the game, per Marca: The forward has reason for optimism as Argentina's defence has looked shaky in the tournament and is yet to keep a clean sheet. Football writer Tim Vickery is relishing the game: Argentina have will have to improve at the back if they are to have any chance, but Musa has the pace and skill to send Sampaoli's men home early.<doc-sep>	Sports Mole provides predicted XIs, team news and a full match preview for the World Cup fixture between Nigeria and Argentina in Group D. Argentina head into Tuesday's Group D encounter with Nigeria knowing that only victory will do as they look to progress through to the last 16 of the World Cup. Nigeria are aware that a draw in St Petersburg will eliminate the 2014 runners-up, but a share of the spoils could let in Iceland, who need to beat already-qualified Croatia. Nigeria © Reuters Few people could argue that Nigeria looked poor in their opening-game defeat to Croatia and that impression would have continued by half time of the African nation's match with Iceland after failing to record a shot despite 67% of possession. However, the mood changed after the break. Nigeria came out looking like a different side, showing an increasing threat on the counter-attack and Ahmed Musa - who has flopped at Leicester City since 2016 - looking a man reborn. Musa's first against Iceland - a half-volley into the roof of the net - was purely instinctive, but his second - a solo run which ended with him rounding the goalkeeper and tapping home - finally gave Leicester the justification for paying £16.6m for the attacker's signature. The 25-year-old has no future at the King Power Stadium, but that matters little right now with Musa acting as the spearhead of the Super Eagles' challenge in Russia, and on current form, they will feel that they can record a second win over Argentina in little over half a year. Friday's triumph over Iceland also ended a five-match winless streak - games which only saw Nigeria net twice - and there are signs that the shackles have been lifted and the confidence is there to inflict more misery on Argentina. On the negative side, however, Nigeria continue to start slowly and although they avoided conceding against Iceland, it marked the fourth successive fixture where they have failed to make any impact before the break. That cannot happen against Argentina. Lionel Messi and co are hurting after the embarrassment of their previous defeat, and it is up to Nigeria to press from the opening whistle in order to leave their more illustrious opponents with no time to regain their confidence. Nigeria have lost all four of their World Cup matches with Argentina but they have shown in the past that they are not overawed by going toe to toe with their star-studded squad, and if Nigeria reproduce their second-half showing against Iceland, it could prove to be the difference between qualification and elimination. Recent form: LDLLLW Argentina © Reuters This World Cup was supposed to be the stage for Argentina to try to overcome the disappointment of losing the final to Germany in 2014, but so far the current tournament is proving to be far more frustrating for the two-time winners. All looked on track when Sergio Aguero gave his team an early lead against Iceland at the start of the campaign, but since then it has been near calamitous, with Messi missing important penalties and looking ineffective while the backline is playing with little coordination and showing no confidence. Goalkeeper Willy Caballero was at fault for the first two goals which Argentina conceded at this tournament, but that does not excuse the manner of the team's performance in the final quarter against Croatia, with a number of players appearing to concede defeat without much of a fight. That is considered unacceptable back home and there have been calls for Jorge Sampaoli to step down from his position before the final group game, but the 58-year-old is being given one more chance to redeem himself at a time when the stakes are high. In 56 years, only once - in 2002 - have Argentina failed to progress past the first round at the World Cup, but one of the giants of international football - who arguably possess the best lineup of forward players in the tournament - will be eliminated if they cannot find a way to overcome Nigeria. The best-case scenario for Argentina is a last-16 clash with the Group C winners - which could be France - while hosts Russia, Uruguay, Spain or Portugal would be waiting in the quarter-finals should they be able negotiate the next two fixtures. However, maybe it would prove to be a blessing in disguise.
Chipotle is adding bacon to the menu in eight restaurants, with plans for a national rollout if the test goes well. Bacon is just one of a number of new menu tests and deals that would have been unthinkable at Chipotle until recently. Chipotle is undergoing a period of intense change. A number of executives have left the chain recently, and Brian Niccol, previously CEO of Taco Bell, became Chipotle's CEO in March. Chipotle is adding bacon to the menu. The fast-casual chain announced on Thursday that it is adding Applewood Smoked Bacon to the menu in eight restaurants in Orange County, California, after a successful trial in the New York City test kitchen. "We found consumers added bacon to their traditional bowls, burritos, tacos and nachos while also enjoying new items such as the BLT quesadilla with bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheese grilled to perfection," Chris Brandt, chief marketing officer at Chipotle, said in a statement. If the bacon does well in Orange County — the region where Chipotle is moving its headquarters later this year — the meaty add-on will go national. Chipotle, known for its "food with integrity" motto, has long resisted adding new items to the menu, a strategy that is quickly changing under the leadership of new CEO Brian Niccol. The company also announced on Thursday that it is expanding its test of build-your-own nachos in Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul this October. Chipotle has been serving nachos in the test kitchen since 2017. Chipotle also announced two new deals, in another new strategy from the chain. Other test items include the tostada. Hollis Johnson/Business Insider From Thursday through September 30, customers in Miami and Dallas can order tacos for $2 with the purchase of any drink after 8 p.m., with locations staying open until 11 p.m. to satisfy expected demand. In select Philadelphia and Indianapolis restaurants, customers will be able to add chips and a drink to their order for $3. "Available in-restaurant and for a limited time only, the promotions are being tested via Chipotle's new stage-gate process, which allows the company to test, learn, listen to customer feedback, and iterate extensively before moving ahead with a national launch," the company said in a statement. The abundance of new menu tests and deals would be unthinkable for Chipotle even a year ago. However, the chain has continued to struggle to overcome its sales slump since it was linked to an E. coli outbreak almost three years ago. A recent food-poisoning outbreak linked to Chipotle has reignited concerns as investigators remain unable to trace the source of the outbreak.<doc-sep>Baconoholics, there's a new reason to consider Chipotle Mexican Grill for your lunchtime rotation: The restaurant chain is looking to cook up a bacon-fortified menu. After testing Applewood Smoked Bacon in a trial run at the chain's test location in New York City, Chipotle is adding bacon to the menu at eight restaurants next month in Orange County, California – in advance of a possible full market deployment. Customers at the test restaurants will be able to add bacon to burritos, tacos, food bowls and salads. At The Bluffs location in Newport Beach, California, customers can also order a BLT quesadilla. "Consumers have always said 'everything tastes better with bacon,' and that is exactly what we confirmed in our New York test kitchen," Chris Brandt, Chipotle's chief marketing officer, said in a statement. "We found consumers added bacon to their traditional bowls, burritos, tacos and nachos while also enjoying new items such as the BLT quesadilla with bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheese grilled to perfection." That menu item is among experimental offerings available at Chipotle's Next test location along with avocado tostadas, nachos and Mexican chocolate shakes. More:Chipotle tests quesadillas, avocado tostadas, nachos, frozen palomas, chocolate shakes More:New Chipotle CEO brims with ideas to enhance menu, appeal to young diners More:Eat free at McDonald's for life with the McGold Card Nachos will also be coming to more of Chipotle's restaurants. The dish, topped with a new queso and a choice of meat, beans, salsas and lettuce, will arrive in all Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul restaurants in October. And in an ongoing deal: some restaurants in Dallas and Miami will be staying open later until 11 p.m., and customers can get $2 tacos with the purchase of any drink after 8 p.m. through Sept. 30. In select Indianapolis and Philadelphia restaurants, Chipotle customers can add regular-sized chips and a fountain drink to their entrée order for just $3. Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.<doc-sep>Chipotle’s first big menu test in CEO Brian Niccol’s tenure will bank on bacon. The chain announced August 9 that it’s piloting two new menu items and promotions in select cities nationwide “as part of its overall commitment to make the brand more accessible and give fans the food they love when they want it.” The first is Applewood Smoked Bacon. Chipotle said the product received “a tremendous response” from customers at its NEXT kitchen in New York City. This September, bacon will expand to an eight-restaurant operations test in Orange County, California, before being considered for a full-market test. READ MORE: Chipotle’s digital progress hits high gear "Consumers have always said 'everything tastes better with bacon' and that is exactly what we confirmed in our New York test kitchen," said Chris Brandt, chief marketing officer, in a release. "We found consumers added bacon to their traditional bowls, burritos, tacos, and nachos while also enjoying new items such as the BLT quesadilla with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and cheese grilled to perfection." Quesadillas are currently only available in the NEXT kitchen, Chipotle added. Up next: nachos. Following positive results in a 10-unit test, the product is expanding to full-market tests in Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul this October. These include corn tortilla chips topped with a revamped, “genuine” queso, and choice of meat, beans, salsas, and lettuce. Additionally, Chipotle is making moves in the late-night sector, which has been a topic of conversation for Niccol and executives in recent conference calls. Through September 30, customers at participating Miami and Dallas locations can now get $2 tacos with the purchase of any drink after 8 p.m. These restaurants will also stay open later, until 11 p.m. to help “satisfy demand for food experiences outside of standard business hours,” Chipotle said. There’s also another pilot underway that offers customers at select Philadelphia and Indianapolis restaurants the option to add regular-sized chips and a fountain drink to their entrée order for $3. "A cornerstone of our new strategy is to make Chipotle more culturally relevant and to meet our customers where they are with flavorful food they can feel good about eating," Brandt added. "We know that Chipotle is a great place to start or end the night, which is why we're excited to test this pilot with our Miami and Dallas night owl fans." Chipotle said these promotions are being tested via its new “stage-gate process,” which allows the company to test, learn, listen to customer feedback, and iterate extensively before deciding on a national launch. In other terms, it’s far removed from the queso and chorizo launches of past. Chipotle’s same-store sales lifted 3.3 percent this past quarter. Revenue upped 8 percent to 2.4 billion thanks to the opening of 34 new restaurants. Price hikes and queso add-ons helped drive comp sales, the company said. At the time, Niccol who arrived in March from his CEO post at Taco Bell, said it was too early to comment on menu changes, but the chain was just getting ready to use its stage-gate process to move a handful of initiatives from its NEXT Kitchen into an actual test market, where Chipotle can “really have true learnings of customer experience, team-member experience, and then how that plays out on total Chipotle performance.” And it all starts with bacon.<doc-sep>	DENVER — Bacon is making its way to more Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants following a successful trial at the burrito chain’s test kitchen in New York. In September, eight restaurants in Orange County, Calif., will offer applewood smoked bacon as an addition to burritos, bowls and tacos, before the option is considered for a full-market test. “Consumers have always said ‘everything tastes better with bacon,’ and that is exactly what we confirmed in our New York test kitchen,” said Chris Brandt, chief marketing officer. “We found consumers added bacon to their traditional bowls, burritos, tacos and nachos while also enjoying new items such as the BLT quesadilla with bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheese grilled to perfection.” For now, quesadillas are only available at the test kitchen in New York, and nachos are offered in 10 restaurants with an expansion planned in Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul area locations in October. The menu item features corn tortilla chips, queso and a choice of meat, beans, salsas and lettuce. In Miami and Dallas, Chipotle Mexican Grill is testing late-night deals, including $2 tacos with the purchase of a beverage after 8 p.m. The participating restaurants will extend hours of operation until 11 p.m. “A cornerstone of our new strategy is to make Chipotle more culturally relevant and to meet our customers where they are with flavorful food they can feel good about eating,” Mr. Brandt said. “We know that Chipotle is a great place to start or end the night, which is why we’re excited to test this pilot with our Miami and Dallas night owl fans.” The company has developed a stage-gate process to test, learn, listen to consumer feedback and iterate before rolling out a new initiative.
The next entry in the famous retro-futuristic post-apocalyptic series is almost here. Bethesda has shared a lot of details about the next Fallout game in the reveal and at E3 2018, with gameplay following soon after. The next Fallout will revolve around the titular Vault 76, a vault that already exists within the Fallout Universe and stands apart in that it was set to open much, much earlier than most of the other Vault-Tec shelters. In the meantime however, we have a plenty of trailers and interviews to crawl through for details, and reams of background information from other games in the series to pore over for all the gameplay, setting, and story details we can find. Join us as we dig through all the facts about the Fallout 76 release date, beta, multiplayer, and more to find out how it connects to the other games in the Fallout series. We also have details on how Bethesda aim to stop griefing and whether we’re getting microtransactions this time around. Here’s everything we know about Fallout 76. Fallout 76 release date Bethesda has provided a Fallout 76 release date: November 14, 2018. This was announced at Bethesda’s E3 2018 showcase, debunking a previously leaked July release date. FaLLOUT 76 beta The Fallout 76 beta start date for PC is October 30, 2018. Xbox One players will get access to it first on October 23 and it will be available a week later on PS4 and PC. According to an FAQ on Bethesda’s website, the beta will be used to “stress test the game” and with servers online being online in “targeted time frames.” Fallout 76 gameplay For a good idea of what this unique take on the Fallout formula means in practice, check out Game Informer’s gameplay of the first hour above. Where once you had the wasteland all to yourself, you’re going to have to share the Fallout 76 setting with real life vault-dwellers. Fallout 76 is entirely online, and although you can play on your lonesome, there’s no ‘I’ in nuclear wasteland. Or in Virgini… actually, never mind. Every human you encounter in this West Virginian prequel will be another player, and they might not necessarily be friendly. So teaming up with friends is probably the best way to secure a patch of the wasteland for yourself. That’s also a good idea from a progression perspective. When you level up you choose which of the seven S.P.E.C.I.A.L attributes you want to increase, and then you pick from a selection of Fallout 76 perk cards that can be shared across your merry band. Speaking of progression, nobody wants to be languishing on the lowly levels for long. For that reason we’ve helped you our by putting together a Fallout 76 levelling guide and our top tips for success in the Appalachian wastes. Part of that is taking part in Fallout 76 public events, or special repeatable tasks that can reward crucial loot. There will be many more to collect after launch, too, as Fallout 76 themed card packs could tie in to seasonal times such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and more. Likewise, if you’re one to constantly change your mind about the kind of character you want to play then not to worry: the Fallout 76 character creator can be accessed at any time. The wasteland will be far from overrun with real-life players, however: Fallout 76’s server size will allow for between 24 and 32 players at a time. Given the size of the map, this is hardly going to be the most bustling of online games. Friends that build together, stay together: unlike the specific settlement spots in Fallout 4, you can build anywhere in Fallout 76 and move your progress wherever you like with the Construction and Assembly Mobile Platform, or the humble Fallout 76 C.A.M.P. Teams of players can muck in on their own property in their bid to settle this recently ravaged slice of the US. It’s also useful to look out for claimable bases across the wasteland; Fallout 76 Public Workshops are great C.A.M.P. fodder as they offer resources. But remember that you can’t hold on to them forever. Of course, you’ll also have a bevy of bespoke Fallout 76 emotes so you can communicate with your team even if you don’t have voice chat, and make a fool of yourself in photo mode. As well as teaming up to build, there will also be a Fallout 76 trading system so you can share resources and buy and sell wares to other players. There are also treasure maps. In this YouTube video from JuiceHead we can see a map being looted that gives us a clue as to where to travel to in the massive map for some loot. Given the size of the world, we imagine we’ll be scratching our heads for a few of these. Another concern is how Fallout 76 quests will work in a game without any NPCs. You will start quests through terminals, holotapes, and notes rather than chatting to townsfolk. In addition, an interview between GameStar and Todd Howard has revealed that there will be Fallout 76 radiant quests – those are the never-ending quest lines from you would get from NPCs like Preston Garvey in Fallout 4, often telling you that another settlement is in danger and needs your help. Don’t fear, though, there will be a Fallout 76 main quest with a narrative that guides you through to the higher levels, and it culminates with the launching of Fallout 76 nukes. Yeah, remember when we said other players might not be so hospitable? They might well be armed with massive nuclear missiles. After a nuclear fallout, these missiles are a dime a dozen, and you can roam the wastes with friends to the bunkers dotted across the wastes to destroy everything all over again. Once you have collected enough bits of code you can unleash hell on other player’s bases, and then greedily collect up the spoils – if the radiation doesn’t get you. It’s going to be like that infamous Megaton moment but on real-life players this time. Delightful. Another question that occurred to us once we heard that we have an online Fallout game is V.A.T.S. That’s the targeting system from previous games in which you can pause time and aim for specific body parts on an enemy. For unavoidable temporal reasons, that’s a problem in a multiplayer game, so the solution is a Fallout 76 V.A.T.S. that works in real time. Another fitting addition to this online survival game is hunger and thirst meters. There will always be those players who just want to watch the world burn, but how will Bethesda tackle the inevitable Fallout 76 griefers who just want to wade into servers, raise hell, and ruin everybody’s game on purpose? Well, they will become a wanted murderer as part of an interesting bounty system that ties into some of Fallout 76’s anti-griefing PvP innovations. If you attack another player they’ll only take a very small fraction of the damage your attack would normally do, if they fight back, both players will then do normal damage – whoever wins gets caps and whatever junk/crafting materials their enemy was carrying. There’s also a Fallout 76 debt system, so if you’re killed in PvP but don’t have enough caps to pay off your bounty then your PvP damage will be reduced by up to 50% for a significant duration. However, if you keep attacking a player who doesn’t fight back and eventually kill them, not only do you not get any rewards, you also get marked for all players to see, a bounty is placed on your head, and – worst of all – you’ll have to pay the caps out of your own pocket. And, if you don’t have any caps to your name and you have a massive bounty to pay off, you’ll get a massive damage debuff.<doc-sep>Following a 24-hour livestream on Twitch, Bethesda Softworks unveiled the next game set in the Fallout universe. It’s called Fallout 76, which refers to the vault where it takes place. The teaser trailer, embedded above, includes scenes set inside a relatively well-maintained fallout shelter. The vault looks decked out for a party, with balloons and confetti all over. A sign says that the occasion is called “Reclamation Day.” A Pip-Boy makes an appearance during the teaser, but there’s a conspicuous lack of weapons of any kind. The entire setting looks extremely domestic, set inside a child’s bedroom and a family living space. The only character shown on screen is a single vault dweller, donning a blue Vault 76 suit and wearing a Pip-Boy with a date that reads Oct. 27, 2102. A broadcast in the trailer features an official saying, “When the fighting has stopped and the fallout has settled, you must rebuild.” The teaser trailer’s musical score is a cover of John Denver’s 1971 hit “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which could indicate that Fallout 76 takes place in the state of West Virginia. Files on Bethesda’s press site appear to refer to the game by the codename “Mountain,” which could also be a hint that the game will take place in or near the Appalachian Mountains. Kotaku reported that Fallout 76 will be “an online game of some sort.” Polygon has also heard the game will feature multiplayer. A press release sent out by Bethesda said Fallout 76 is in development at Bethesda Game Studios on PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One. We expect to learn more during this year’s E3 in Los Angeles. Bethesda has its own press conference, called BE3, scheduled for Sunday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m. PT. It’s the publisher’s fourth dedicated E3 event.<doc-sep>A new Fallout game looks set to be announced 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 forfor the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks A new Fallout game seems to be being teased today by Bethesda, raising all sorts of questions. The studio in charge of the popular series posted a new image on their social media feeds, including the testcard used in previous titles. Asking fans to “Please Stand By” it appears Bethesda will be revealing a new Fallout project during E3 2018. But what exactly will it be? While fans might be hoping for Fallout 5, some who have seen the new testcard posted online believe it is something else. Interested Fallout gamers have noticed something about the new image posted on Twitter and Instagram, which they think points to a Fallout 3 remaster. The TV testcard shared by Bethesda is very similar to the one used in Fallout 3, the main difference being that this one has been colourised. Fallout New Vegas, meanwhile, didn’t use the same image for its first trailers when it was announced for E3.<doc-sep>	Following a livestream that’s proven we really don’t need vaults to perform sick social experiments, Bethesda has finally confirmed that it's going to be releasing a new game known as Fallout 76. At the moment not much is known about Fallout 76 and what the game will involve but you can watch the trailer for yourself below. It shows a resident of Vault 76 getting ready for what appears to be Reclamation Day: Of course, while we don’t know anything about the game, we do know some small things about Vault 76. It’s mentioned in both Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 as one of 17 planned “control” vaults with around 500 people in it, designed to open 20 years after any nuclear war. These vaults were used as a baseline for results of experimental vaults. This suggests that the game will be set much closer to the aftermath of the nuclear war than most other Fallout games and the song West Virginia playing in the background we're willing to bet the setting is around the Washington DC area. Could we be playing as one of the first people to venture into the Wasteland after the war? Kotaku's Jason Schreier has suggested that the game will involve online gameplay of some kind (though not MOO gameplay). Certainly, if this is the early days of the Wasteland we're not sure we'd like to venture alone. However, nothing has officially been confirmed with regards to gameplay or even platform just yet. The livestream, which first went live on Twitch on May 29, had been going for just under a full day before the trailer. With nothing more than a Vault Boy figure and a TV with ‘Please stand by’ on the screen, the stream managed to hold the attention of tens of thousands of people at a time. Just before the trailer went live there were more than 153,000 people watching the stream at the one time and we’re certain we never saw the number drop below 30,000. Admittedly, sometimes members of the team behind the stunt would appear on screen to perform a puppet show, scatter some confetti, or move the Vault Boy watch which was eventually added, with every movement being seized upon by those watching as some kind of clue about what was to come. With this tease out of the way, we now know we'll see more from the game during Bethesda's show at E3 2018.
The next pay-per-view (PPV) on the WWE schedule is the Fastlane event set to take place on Sun., Mar. 10, 2019, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. This will be the fifth show bearing the name and will be the final stop before WrestleMania 35 in April. We’re already just two weeks from showtime and here’s how the card looks right now: Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston - WWE championship This may not have originally been the plan but after Kingston replaced an injured Mustafa Ali at Elimination Chamber and absolutely tore the house down, it was clear WWE had to go with this match. It will be the first time Kingston has challenged for the WWE title in a one-on-one match. The Usos (c) vs. Shane McMahon & The Miz - SmackDown tag team championship Feeling really bad about letting his teammate down after achieving a dream, Miz campaigned for Shane O’Mac to use his power as a McMahon to book a rematch. The Usos were also on board, and now it’s happening. Current rumors suggest Asuka vs. Mandy Rose for the SmackDown women’s championship, The Revival vs. DIY for the Raw tag team titles, and Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Tamina & Nia Jax for the women’s tag team titles are also looking likely. You in?<doc-sep>WWE FastLane will hold this Sunday on March 10, 2019, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. As of now, a total of 7 matches are booked for the main show, and 2 on the pre-show for the Pay Per View. With this being the last major stop on The Road to WrestleMania, WWE would be planning to make FastLane as controversial as possible to make fans tune in to RAW next night and create hype for the WrestleMania season. With a total of 5 titles being defended on the PPV, a shocking title change could help serve this purpose. Or else WWE can have a returning superstar interrupt a match to set-up a clash at the Showcase of Immortals. While there have been a lot of speculations and match predictions for FastLane 2019, WWE can still come up with a lot of "shockers" and surprise moments which will make the fans jump out of their seat in excitement. In this article, let's take a look at the 5 Shockers that could happen at FastLane. These would surely make the Road to WrestleMania way interesting than what it is currently, and would help the rating issues as well. #5 Samoa Joe calls out John Cena for a match at WrestleMania Will we see a clash between Joe and Cena? Ever since Samoa Joe won the United States Championship on SmackDown, the rumors are floating that he would be working a feud with John Cena for the US Championship at WrestleMania 35. Currently, Joe is not advertised for FastLane this Sunday, but WWE could pull a swerve by starting the build-up to this feud now itself. If Joe's interview backstage after winning the title on SmackDown is considered, WWE surely looks to be heading towards a clash between these two superstars. Joe can come out and issue an open challenge for the Title, and squash his opponent. A post-match promo where Joe calls out Cena challenging him for a match at WrestleMania would just sky-rocket the US Title scene. 1 / 5 NEXT<doc-sep>At WWE Fastlane, we could perhaps see a few title changes as the Women's tag team titles, the WWE Championship, RAW tag team championship, as well as the SmackDown women's championship, are on the line at the last stop before WrestleMania 35. There's also the all-important match between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, where a victory for Becky will see her added to the WrestleMania 35 match between Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey. Another match that will be interesting is the six-man tag team match between The Shield and the team of Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin, and Bobby Lashley. While the match holds little or no value, it does have some emotional value as this could be the last time we see The Shield in a PPV as Dean Ambrose is set to leave the WWE in April. This match could also hint at Roman Reigns' future opponent, which is what we will discuss about in the 5 things that should happen at Fastlane: #1 Roman Reigns' feud with Drew McIntyre is set The Shield face Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin, and Bobby Lashley at Fastlane On this past week's RAW, The Shield reunited as Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns convinced Dean Ambrose to "get the band back together" for one last time. The reunion happened after the trio of Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin, and Bobby Lashley attacking Reigns and Rollins before Ambrose made the save. Rollins is to face Brock Lesnar for the Universal title at WrestleMania 35, but we aren't quite sure what plans WWE have for The Big Dog, Roman Reigns. I think that Reigns' best opponent at WM35 could be Drew McIntyre, who has dominated on RAW since he was called up and is set for big things in the future. Also Read: WWE News: Dean Ambrose's final WWE match potentially revealed This tag team match could be the perfect way to set that feud up as we're just a month away from WrestleMania 35. 1 / 5 NEXT<doc-sep>	Everybody's sleeping on Fastlane 2019. And this is because, traditionally, Fastlane has been the one pay-per-view every year with little or no consequences at all. Elimination Chamber has already set the stage for WrestleMania. Fastlane just seems like overkill because otherwise, March would have no pay-per-view. But that said, there's always the remote possibility that WWE books a winner at Fastlane. In this article, we will look at some major surprises that could potentially take place at the final stop before WrestleMania. Each of them could potentially turn the course before the show of shows comes around. As always, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on the article and the pay-per-view in general. How pumped are you about WWE Fastlane 2019? Speculate away as to what could potentially take place at the show... #5. Mandy Rose becomes the SmackDown Women's Champion Mandy Rose becoming the Champ could absolutely transform the division The thing is, for no fault of her own, Asuka's reign as Champion hasn't been nearly as dominant as it should have been. This is because the two heavyweights of the division- Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch are now involved in the RAW Women's Championship. The rest of the division hasn't been booked strongly, to be credible threats to Asuka. And this is why I wouldn't be surprised at all if WWE decides to put the SmackDown Women's Championship around Mandy Rose's waist for now. Not only would this shake up the division, but it would also actually elevate her to the main event position. But whom does she take on at WrestleMania 35? I have one potential challenger in mind for the moment. Sonya Deville could turn on her partner and vie for the SmackDown Women's Championship. 1 / 5 NEXT
REUTERS/Carl Recine Advertisement 17:15 (GMT), Saturday 2nd June, Wembley Stadium (London, England) England begin their World Cup preparations with their third-ever fixture against Nigeria with both Gareth Southgate and Gernot Rohr using the fixture as a chance to test the depth of their squads for Russia. The Three Lions last faced Nigeria in a 0-0 draw at the 2002 World Cup, previously beating the Super Eagles 1-0 in 1994, the only other side the two countries have met. For England, this is the first of two international friendlies, the second coming against Costa Rica on Thursday. The logic is simple although perhaps not ultimately compelling: Nigeria will offer a good test ahead of England's fixture against Tunisia; Costa Rica will present a comparable team to Panama. Whether or not this proves to be the case, Gareth Southgate will treat both fixtures as a chance to iron out the final problems before their opening fixture against Tunisia on the 18th of June. Nigeria, on the other hand, have already played their first friendly of this tranche, running out a 1-1 draw with DR Congo on Monday. With a few of their key players missing, Gernot Rohr won't be too worried. However, with a game against the Czech Republic coming up on Wednesday the 6th of June, he will hope the remaining two fixtures can kick-start the Super Eagle's World Cup campaign. Can Nigeria earn their first victory over England at Wembley? Advertisement Last Time Out England 1-1 Italy (Internation Friendly) England were denied victory against the Azzurri back in March after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) awarded late penalty to Italy. Jamie Vardy fired the Three Lions in front in the 26th minute and they looked to be en route to a respectable 1-0 victory, despite some lapses in defensive concentration. REUTERS/Carl Recine However, VAR awarded the Italians a penalty in the 87th minute after Burnley centre back James Tarkowski clashed with Federico Chiesa. Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne made no mistake from the spot. Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo (International Friendly) Nigeria did not earn the result they would have liked against the DR Congo, as they were held to a 1-1 draw on Monday ahead of this weekend's friendly at Wembley. William Troost-Ekong, a former Tottenham youth player, got the Super Eagles off to a strong start with a 14th-minute goal - his first for his country - but the Congolese continued to force saves from keeper Francis Uzoho. Advertisement REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde The surface didn't make life easy on Nigeria, whose short passing game was hampered by the state of the Congolese pitch, though this cannot excuse the fact Ola Aina gave away an 85th-minute penalty, resulting in a 1-1 draw. England Lineup click to enlarge + 2 Harry Maguire did not train with the Three Lions on Monday, although he should be fit for this World Cup warm-up fixture. Advertisement The Manchester City title-winners have joined up and trained with England ahead of Saturday, but rests could be given to Liverpool's Champions League runners-up Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Gareth Southgate could use this as an opportunity to experiment with formation and personnel before settling on a starting XI for Russia, with the likes of Nick Pope potentially seeing some playing time. Nigeria Lineup click to enlarge + 2 After a promising performance between the sticks for Francis Uzoho, it seems as though manager Gernot Rohr has settled on his number one ahead of the World Cup. Advertisement Kelechi Iheanacho performed poorly as a midfielder against DR Congo, which could see Rohr change his shape to incorporate the Leicester City man up front. Victor Moses could return after missing the first game due to participation in the FA Cup final. Key Battle: Harry Kane vs William Troost-Ekong William Toost-Ekong, the Nigerian centre back, was formerly a youth academy player at Tottenham, thus may have some prior experience of Harry Kane. However, Kane then compared to Kane now is an entirely different prospect. The two have had very different career paths, with Troost-Ekong now plying his trade in Turkey with Bursaspor and Kane captaining England at the World Cup after winning two Premier League Golden Boots in three seasons. REUTERS/Carl Recine Kane poses all sorts of problems up front. Troost-Ekong will have to work out when to track his runs in behind and when to close him down or hold position when Kane decides to drop deep. It's not just his shooting that Troost-Ekong needs to focus on, but his movement and the subsequent space it creates for the likes of Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling. The centre back will have a lot to contend with at Wembley. Advertisement Talking Points The number one Super Eagle Having started his third game in a row for Nigeria, it seems as though Francis Uzoho has earned the right to start in goal at the World Cup, following another impressive display in the draw with DR Congo. However, that was only Uzoho's third cap for his country, highlighting his inexperience on the international stage. As a 19-year-old with two senior appearances for his club, Deportivo La Coruna, Harry Kane will certainly be the best striker he's had to face. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde Uzoho will do well to keep the 24-year-old from scoring, whilst also managing his nerves, but the key for Kane and his teammates is to get shots away continuously at the Nigerian goal in the hope Uzoho makes a mistake or parries the ball back into a dangerous area. England's midfield creativity Perhaps the biggest criticism levelled at Southgate's squad selection was the lack of creative options in the centre of midfield. Eric Dier is predominantly a defensive midfielder, whilst Jordan Henderson is typically a safe passer which leaves creative responsibility on the shoulders of Crystal Palace midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Advertisement REUTERS/Carl Recine With Henderson jaded from last Saturday's defeat to Real Madrid, this is a great opportunity for Southgate to experiment with Loftus-Cheek and Dier as a two-man combination. Loftus-Cheek created the most chances (25), assisted the most (3) and scored the most goals (2) of the trio. His passing accuracy (82%) was only a fraction behind Henderson (84%) and Dier (86%), furthermore. With this degree of creativity from a deeper position, it takes the pressure off Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling. The fullback dilemma As we approach the World Cup, it's fair to say that Southgate is still undecided on his starting pair of fullbacks for Russia. Expected to start are Tottenham duo Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose, though the latter hasn't come close to resembling his 2016/17 form since his injury and subsequent setbacks, whilst Trippier isn't athletic enough to perform the duties of a right wing back in a back five. REUTERS/Carl Recine Ashley Young, a converted winger, has arguably been in better form for Rose - and started more consistently - whilst Liverpool teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold has had a brilliant breakthrough season, culminating in a mature performance in the Champions League final. With all four likely to receive minutes either in this friendly or the next, all will have to be at the top of their game to ensure they start against Tunisia in England's opening World Cup game. Advertisement Prediction: England 2-1 Nigeria Gareth Southgate should perceive this match as winnable, hence selecting the slightly more attacking 3-4-3 formation over a 3-5-2. The Three Lions are stronger than their visitors, but Nigeria are no walk in the park and will test England's resolve.<doc-sep>Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli both start for England against Nigeria It's like the modern day Lampard-Gerrard conundrum England play their first warm up game before the World Cup today, against Nigeria at Wembley. It might be a friendly but Gareth Southgate and fans nationwide will be hoping for a win and a convincing performance. Advertisement There are very few surprises in Southgate's team selection, as he sticks to his preferred back three system, with Kyle Walker tucked in at right-centre-back. The area of the pitch subject to the most debate in recent weeks and months has been central midfield. Southgate wants to play three central midfielders, with Raheem Sterling behind Harry Kane up front, which caused people to worry about how Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard would fit into the team. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was hugely impressive this season for Liverpool, playing on the right hand side of a midfield three but a knee injury has ruled him out of the tournament, making room for Lingard and Alli to play as the two slightly more advanced midfielders, or 'interiors' as they call them on the continent. England line up against Nigeria with the following XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Cahill; Trippier, Lingard, Dier, Alli, Young; Sterling; Kane. Advertisement Jordan Henderson will almost certainly start ahead of Eric Dier in the opening game against Tunisia but the Liverpool captain has been given a rest after playing in the Champions League final.<doc-sep>	(Image: GETTY) England face Nigeria at Wembley in the first of two World Cup warm-up friendlies, with a trip to Elland Road to take on Costa Rica on June 7. Gareth Southgate will face Chelsea defenders Victor Moses and Olaoluwa Aina and Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi, who all could have played for the Three Lions. All three represented England at youth level before declaring for Nigeria, with 48 caps between them for the Super Eagles. But they aren’t the only players England have missed out on. (Image: GETTY) Zaha made his name at Crystal Palace in the Championship before earning a £10m move to Manchester United in 2013. The 25-year-old forward, born in the Ivory Coast, represented England at Under-19 and Under-21 before making two caps for the senior side between 2012 and 2013. But poor form at club level saw him fall out of favour in Roy Hodgson’s England set-up. And because his two first-team appearances were in friendlies, he was able to switch to the Ivory Coast in 2017, where he’s earned eight caps to date. (Image: GETTY) McTominay, who was born in Lancaster but is eligible for Scotland through his father, burst onto the scene this season at Manchester United. He made 23 appearances across all competitions, including four in the Champions League and 13 in the Premier League. Gareth Southgate was keen to tie him down for England, but the 21-year-old instead opted for Scotland. The midfielder, named Manager’s Player of the Year by Jose Mourinho, has made two appearances for Scotland since making his debut in March. (Image: GETTY) Morgan captained Leicester to the Championship title in 2014 before lifting the Premier League title with the Foxes two years later. Former manager Harry Redknapp suggested England handed the experienced defender a call-up after their surprise title - without knowing he had already declared himself for Jamaica. The 34-year-old centre-half, born in Nottingham, has made 30 appearances for the Reggae Boyz, helping them to the final of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. (Image: GETTY) Perrotta won the 2006 World Cup with Italy, starting in all seven of the Azzurri's games in Germany. But the former Juventus and Roma midfielder was eligible to play for England, having been born in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester. The 40-year-old spent lived in England for five years before moving to Italy in 1982. In 2010, a statue was unveiled in his hometown commemorating the three World Cup winners from Tameside: Perrotta, Geoff Hurst, Jimmy Armfield. (Image: GETTY) Woodburn is considered one of the hottest prospects at Liverpool, with the 18-year-old highly rated by manager Jurgen Klopp. The youngster was born in Nottingham and was offered an Under-16 call-up by England in 2014, but he rejected the Three Lions in favour of Wales. He represented Wales at Under-15 through to Under-19 before making his senior debut in March 2017, capping it off with a 25-yard strike against Austria. The forward has made 11 first-team appearances for Liverpool and earned seven caps for Wales to date.
Lewis Rossignol is always creating art—around three or four pieces a day. He posts frequently to his Instagram, where he has amassed over 100,000 followers; he’s also sold prints, originals and books to nearly one hundred countries, and just about every state in America. But the primary reason he draws is not to impress a fanbase--it’s to ease his mind. Rossignol has Tourette’s syndrome, and constantly creating art helps to relax his symptoms, a practice common of many with neurological disorders. What’s less common is the success he’s found, which recently led to a big-time collaboration with California rapper Tyler, the Creator, whose new album cover comes courtesy of Rossignol. After the announcement, Highsnobiety spoke with the Portland, Maine-based artist about connecting with Tyler and his road to building a successful practice. When did you first come into contact with Tyler? It was probably six months or so he reached out to me. He saw my stuff on Instagram and so he reached out to me about maybe doing some work for him--he wanted me to do a piece he could hang in his house or something. Nothing really came of it for a while though. How did the album cover come to be? It was a few months before he finally reached out and said “Do you think you would be able to FaceTime?” So he FaceTimed me that week and he said he had a project he was doing and he wanted me to do a portrait of him. It was pretty vague; he didn’t tell me what he’d want the portrait for, really. He said it might be for like, a book. So I was kinda going back and forth with him with the portrait, sending him different versions of it over the last two weeks. I think it was Saturday that he messaged me and said, basically, do you mind if I use this portrait you did of me for my album cover? So I didn’t know it was going to be his album cover until about 48 hours before he announced it. Tyler reached out to you through Instagram. When did you start using Instagram and how have you been able to build such a following on it? As an artist, or anybody really, you kinda have to use it because it’s the way to get your work seen. You can have a website, but unless you have something else driving people to your website, nobody’s ever going to find you. So I just started posting on Instagram a couple years ago. Most of my growth through Instagram has been natural. Before I did this piece for Tyler I had about 90,000 followers, and (since the announcement) I’ve got about 12,000 in the last two days; I don’t consider that really natural. Most of my growth has really been slow over time, over the past few years, a few new followers a day. But it’s because I’m using hashtags a lot, and I’m posting regularly. 99% of the stuff you see on my Instagram, it’s not commissioned work, it’s just personal drawings. I have Tourette’s syndrome, and drawing actually helps calm my tics. So that’s why I post a lot, because I’m drawing a lot: I draw about 3 or 4 pictures a day. How has creating art helped you with Tourette’s? I don’t know how much you know about Tourette’s--people think about Tourette’s as someone randomly yelling swears, but that’s like, one percent of people with Tourette’s. 99% of people just have tics; they may wink their eyes, or they may sniff or clear their throat. That’s mainly what I have: I have Tourette’s where I have tics in my face, I sniff, I make weird noises here and there. I don’t know exactly when it was, but there was just a point where my wife may have noticed it. I was drawing and she was like, “When you draw, you don’t tic. You’re not making those noises.” I didn’t even think about it. I don’t know what it is about it; maybe because I’m using my hand eye coordination and I’ve got music going so I’ve got enough going on. It’s a weird thing to try to explain. But if we’re ever sitting there and I’m having really bad episodes, she’s like, “You need to sit down and draw for a little bit.” And it really helps. What advice would you give to others with Tourette’s syndrome? I know there’s a lot of other people that have found creating art or music can help them with different mental illnesses. So I think if you can find some type of a creative avenue that you enjoy--you don’t have to be great at it, but if you enjoy it, and it’s helping your tics and your sanity, then go for it.<doc-sep>Across all facets of the entertainment sphere, shock value has proved to be worth its weight in gold. The catalyst for legions of concerned parents and conservative moral outrage, it’s an age-old showbusiness trope that has played an instrumental part in the legacies of punk trailblazers, daring filmmakers and even the one-time agitator turned elder statesman Eminem. In the same vein as how a young Em used the debased and puerile to his advantage, a voyage into the darker underbelly of the psyche also propelled Tyler, The Creator on to the world’s stage. Rich Fury/Getty Images Filled with nihilistic vitriol and brutal depictions of murder, rape and anything else that he deemed fitting, the man from Ladera Heights harnessed the galling power of his most depraved thoughts and positioned them at the forefront of his music. Tyler’s debut project Bastard, shared with the world on Christmas day 2009, set the tone for what was to come. A prodigious sonic feat cloaked in introspective and at times vengeful lyricism, the first instalment of the therapy sessions between Tyler-- or his villainous alter ego Wolf Haley-- and “DR.TC” would be the rebellious spark that put him and his Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All affiliates on the map. Laden with poignant piano chords and warped synths, each track bristled with the sort of volatile energy that’s been insatiably attractive to receptive teenage minds since youth culture arose in the '50s. Formed under the proviso that “I feel we’re more talented than 40-year-old rappers talking about Gucci,” the group would soon become synonymous with an anti-establishment spirit that was so neatly summarized on Tyler’s major label debut Goblin: "Kill People, Burn Shit, F*k School." As their fame continued to morph and mutate, this epithet came to define OFWGKTA’s heyday and garnered them an audience that ranged from hip-hop heads to more indie-rock oriented consumers that were soon donning their Supreme box logos and emulating their newfound heroes. Built on a reputation for chaotic live shows and misbehaviour, their fans’ cult-like devotion emboldened the group’s ringleader and his diverse array of cronies to do anything they’d like in the realms of music, fashion and even television. Reviled by LGBTQ+ organizations for their flagrant use of homophobic slurs, the macabre sentiments and moral deconstructivism of Tyler’s early work led to innumerable calls for boycotts and bans from both the UK and Australia. Yet just like all artists that are catapulted into view on a wave of dissension, the effects of outrage as a career accelerant eventually tapers off and by the release of 2012’s OF Tape Vol 2, the sun was setting on the collective’s heyday as a genuine phenomenon. Unburdened by the weight of the group and the accompanying stigma, Tyler and cohorts such as Earl Sweatshirt, Syd of The Internet and Domo Genesis have gone on to make music that is diametrically different to that which they’d rose to prominence from. But while each of these metamorphic journeys have been exciting to behold, none has been quite as thrilling as Tyler’s shift from a vessel for youthful indignance into a high calibre artist. Once motivated by a desire to make “shit to piss off old white people,” the man lesser-known as Tyler Okonma has re-emerged anew and with a drastically shifted focus. However, what makes his evolution so compelling to witness is that hasn’t been governed by any prevailing trends or compliance with the commercial landscape. In a recent video entitled “How To Make A Tyler, The Creator Song”, musician Left At London playfully satirizes the Golf Wang figurehead’s change in tact as she describes how he went from a "homophobic psychopath to a lonely gay man who made the Grinch soundtrack." Comical as that statement may be, it contains more than a few morsels of truth and depicts just how sharp these recent shifts in his career path have been. John Lamparski/Getty Images Released after the critical and commercial low ebb of 2015’s Cherry Bomb, Tyler constructed a redemptive tale on 2017’s LP Flower Boy. A conceptual and musical departure from the provocations of old, Tyler’s new album eschewed the guises and misdirects of the previous era in favour of unreserved honesty. A wistful and contemplative project, it took his longstanding affinity for the serene beauty of soul music and the pioneering sound of jazz-fusion legend Roy Ayers’ to its logical conclusion. Save for the A$AP Rocky-assisted “Who Dat Boy” and “I Ain’t Got Time,” much of the splintering abrasion that was a staple of his earlier work has been side-lined in favour of off-kilter melodies and vibrant production. Exhibited on many of Cherry Bomb’s finest offerings-- including “Find Your Wings,” “Keep Da O’s” and the Yeezy and Weezy-aided “Smuckers,” his penchant for grand, sweeping arrangements came to its logical conclusion on Flower Boy. Although it took many aback, any long-term fan of Tyler was already aware that he had the capabilities to create works of musical beauty. Among all of the misanthropic statements on Bastard, its blunt revelations were offset by the emergence of soaring chord progressions. Exhibited across Goblin and the trilogy-concluding Wolf on tracks such as “She,” “Nightmare” “48” and “Slater,” his tendency to incorporate these moments of splendour amid the animosity of his lyrics came from influences that extended far beyond the hip-hop purview. As detailed to The Guardian in 2011, the sounds that brewed in the background of his music came from a love of the dreamy terrain of shoegaze and chillwave: "I listen to Washed Out, Beach House and Broadcast. That's what I'm influenced by. [That's why] the music is a mixture of pretty chords, fuckin' hardcore drums and basslines, and really nice strings." Aside from his well-publicized love of Pharrell and N.E.R.D, it is these influences that permeate through most regularly in his output and this doesn’t seem to be subject to change. Set to be released this Friday (May 17), the teasers for Tyler’s new album IGOR have all featured fragments of that sound while harbouring a brash, electronica-infused edge. Said to feature guest appearances from alternative acts King Krule and Mild High Club, these two artists are synonymous with atmospheric, guitar-oriented output and would seamlessly slip into his aural world should the rumoured tracklist turn out to be accurate. On top of frequent collaborators such as Pharrell, A$AP Rocky, Frank Ocean and Kali Uchis, it’ll also see him team up with Playboi Carti and Brockhampton-affiliated singer/songwriter Ryan Beatty. As displayed in the teaser for the frantically paced “WHATSGOOD,” it appears that Tyler is operating with a renewed confidence and sense of defiance that he’d lost in the wake of the turgid response to Cherry Bomb: “Y'all said I wouldn't go nowhere, took the detour When you see the someone in the crack right by the sea shore? When you see them brand new Le Fleurs on these floors? If the cop says my name, bitch, I'm Igor.” As of yet, Tyler has yet to clarify exactly what the IGOR motif is in reference to. But when viewed in conjunction with the Lewis Rossignol-devized album cover, it begins to come into focus. A surrealist portrait of Tyler, it comes with a certain level of grotesqueness and horror that makes him seem inhuman. With his cheeks wiped out and hair that protrudes into the face, it shares an unsightly quality that is in keeping with the album’s most prominent namesake. Normally depicted with a hunch and a villainous personality, Igor is a staple of Frankenstein films and classical horror. The faithful assistant to the notorious mad scientist, he’s an integral part of his schemes and-- in the Ghost Of Frankenstein-- even has his brain placed within the hulking monster’s body. Throughout Tyler’s career, he has been something of an eternal outcast and is prone to melding together sounds and textures in a way that many would deem to be unconventional. A self-confessed loner, the idea of a pariah that spends his days in a lab is one that would resonate with the restlessly creative mind.<doc-sep>Tyler, the Creator has finally dropped his sixth album IGOR. Stream it below, with features from Kanye West, Lil Uzi Vert, Santigold, Playboi Carti, and more, and check out our original article after the jump. Following speculation, Tyler, the Creator announced that his new album, IGOR, will release on May 17. The LP will serve as Tyler’s fifth studio album, a followup to Flower Boy from 2017. Since 2011, Tyler has dropped a project every two years, so those paying attention will have noted that an album from the 28-year-old musician was probably on its way in 2019. While we don’t know much about what exactly Tyler, the Creator has planned, we’ve gathered all the information we can find about his new album IGOR, from the release date to potential collaborations and official album artwork. So keep scrolling for everything you need to know about Tyler, the Creator’s new album IGOR. Tyler, the Creator’s IGOR album release date At the end of April, a financial report from Sony circulated online, suggesting that Tyler, the Creator would be releasing a new album before July. We now know this to be true, with IGOR due out May 17 via Columbia. Tyler, the Creator’s IGOR album tracklist While no official tracklist has been revealed, Tyler, the Creator has shared two teasers from IGOR so far. He dropped the first clip May 1 on YouTube, now titled “IGOR’S THEME,” with “WHATSGOOD” following May 3. On May 13, he released yet another clip titled “a boy is a gun,” as well as a taste of a Santigold collab called “New Magic Wand,” which are thought to appear on the album. Check out the clips below. In terms of how many tracks we should expect, let’s take a look at the length of Tyler’s previous projects. 2010’s Bastard was 15 songs long, Goblin also 15, Wolf – 18, Cherry Bomb – 13, and most recently, Flower Boy clocked in at 14 tracks. The average of all of these is 15 tracks, so perhaps we can expect around that number from IGOR. Tyler, the Creator’s IGOR album cover art When the 28-year-old musician and designer took to social media to break the news, sharing the artwork and simply captioning his posts with the album title and release date, he revealed that Lewis Rossignol is responsible for one of the covers. Check out our interview with the artist here. Judging by the artist’s Instagram post, it seems like his illustrated cover will definitely be appearing on a vinyl version of IGOR. Check out the official album artwork below. cover two by lewis rossignol — Tyler, The Creator (@tylerthecreator) May 6, 2019 Tyler, the Creator’s IGOR album guest appearances Although Tyler wrote, produced, and arranged all the songs on IGOR, we still expect him to pull in some incredible guests artists as always. Frank Ocean and A$AP Rocky are safe bets (although don’t expect Rocky and Tyler’s collaborative album anytime soon), and Tyler was spotted with Pharrell a couple months back. Tyler, the Creator featured on Solange’s most recent album When I Get Home on “Down With the Clique,” so perhaps the Saint Records boss will return the favor on IGOR? Only time will tell. Tyler, the Creator’s IGOR merch On May 14, Tyler, the Creator unveiled the IGOR official merch bundle, featuring an election-themed pack including a T-shirt, lawn sign, button, sticker, and digital download of the album, with a second bundle arriving on May 15. Retailing for $40 and $30 respectively, they’re available to purchase via Golf Wang’s website here. Check back for updates on Tyler, the Creator’s IGOR as they come in, and revisit his top 10 style moments below. Subscribe By clicking subscribe I confirm I’m 16+ and I agree that Highsnobiety will use my email address to notify me regularly via email about new products (clothing, shoes, and other accessories), news and other relevant Highsnobiety content. The consent can be revoked at any time by using the unsubscribe link in the newsletter. We use MailChimp for sending and measuring the performance of our newsletter. More details can be found in our Privacy Policy. Words by Jonathan Sawyer Staff Writer Not NYC, not LA.<doc-sep>	This week, Tyler, the Creator announced his fifth studio album, IGOR, by unveiling two pieces of artwork. One of the images he shared on Monday afternoon was an abstract portrait of Tyler, drawn by Lewis Rossignol. The 39-year-old illustrator tells Complex that his collaborative relationship with Tyler began six months ago via an Instagram DM. “That’s pretty much how everybody finds my work,” Rossignol says. “Instagram drives probably 95% of my business. When he first messaged me, he said he was interested in collaborating, but he wasn't really that specific.” Rossignol remembers Tyler referring to his work as “hard and dirty” and complimenting the artist on his raw, sketch-driven style. “I like to work with charcoal and I work really loosely,” Rossignol says of his creative approach. “I like to draw stream of consciousness, and as free as possible. I always viewed sketching as the finished piece itself. I like to keep things almost unfinished in a way.” After the initial DMs, Rossignol’s communication with Tyler slowed—until three weeks ago. “If you look at the piece, in the jacket, there are some notes that Tyler actually wrote. And then in the top there's some little stars that he drew.” - Lewis Rossignol “He FaceTimed me and said he really wanted me to do a portrait of him,” Rossignol says, pointing out that Tyler was closely involved in the image’s creation. “He was really easy to work with. He's a creative, so he understands the process, and he gave good notes. In the last week or two, we were constantly texting back and forth, and I was showing him different version and colors that we could use.” Although the piece was created by Rossignol, some of Tyler’s sketches made it into the final image, as well. “If you look at the piece, in the jacket, there are some notes that Tyler actually wrote,” Rossignol reveals. “And then in the top there's some little stars that he drew. He actually sent me some stuff from his sketchbook. He said, ‘If you want to work this into the piece, you can, but you don't have to.’ So some of the stuff in the piece is actually Tyler.” While the two had been in communication for months, Rossignol says he didn’t find out that his work would be used as cover artwork for IGOR until three days before it was unveiled to the rest of the world. Reflecting on the experience of working so closely with Tyler, Rossignol says, “It's cool to look at the piece and know how much of a collaboration it was, because of how much input he had in it. Almost all of the [other] work I do is all me.” He adds, “I'm doing my own drawings for myself, and everything I put up is 100% me. Whereas I feel like this is more 70-30, where Tyler really gave me a lot of great suggestions. I get a different feeling from this than any of my other work because I can see somebody else's thoughts through it. It's an interesting feeling. Obviously, I'm a big fan of Tyler's. So it's surreal to know that Tyler had a big hand in the piece.” Photo direction by Luis Perez Of course, Tyler wasn’t content to introduce a new album with just a single image. He also shared another cover image [above] and two teaser videos, all of which were created with his longtime collaborator, Luis “Pancho” Perez. Describing his background, Perez tells Complex over email, “[I was] born and raised on St Croix USVI with a slightly lazy eye lol. I've been involved with art since I can remember later amplified when I moved to the states where I finished high school and later college. I worked as a photographer doing publicity for different labels and BTS for Hype Williams in the 90's. In my current capacity as director of photography, I work on music videos, commercials, as well as television and movies.” Perez, who has been working with Tyler for nearly a decade, has credits on videos like “Yonkers,” “She,” “Okra,” “Tamale,” “Perfect,” and “See You Again.” “[Tyler] is a true artist in every sense of the word. People get everything wrong.” - LUIS PEREZ Discussing his collaborative relationship with Tyler, Perez points out, “We work well together because I believe in what he wants to create, and part of any collaboration is to trust each other in the journey.” He adds, “Nothing has really changed his confidence in himself.
Chauncey Billups explains how tough the Pistons will have it facing the Bucks in the first round, especially with a banged up Blake Griffin. (0:46) MILWAUKEE -- Blake Griffin will not play in Game 1 of the Detroit Pistons' first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Pistons coach Dwane Casey said Griffin, who has had multiple knee surgeries in his career, was "too sore to play." Casey said Griffin's status remains day-to-day for the remainder of the series. Griffin has been undergoing ongoing treatment to try to control the inflammation in his knee, league sources told ESPN. "Missing Blake is a big piece," Casey said. "But it's a great experience for the young guys to come in and get that experience against a great team like Milwaukee." Griffin played in 75 games for Detroit this season -- the most he has played since the 2013-14 season -- but missed four of the past seven games with knee soreness. Griffin suffered a season-ending quad injury against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2016 playoffs and a season-ending toe injury in the 2017 playoffs against the Utah Jazz. Thon Maker started in place of Griffin as he did in the regular-season finale. The Bucks swept the Pistons in the regular season, despite Griffin's averaging 24.3 points in those four meetings.<doc-sep>Griffin didn't play in the Pistons' series-opening loss to the Bucks on Sunday. Pistons star forward Blake Griffin is reportedly likely to miss Detroit's entire first-round playoff series against the Bucks due to a left knee injury, according to Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill. Griffin did not play in Detroit's series-opening defeat to Milwaukee on Sunday due to the injury, which the All-Star has dealt with since the final weeks of the regular season. Per Goodwill, there is a "slim chance" Griffin appears this weekend for the Pistons, who will reportedly list him as day to day for the rest of the series. Griffin originally missed three games with a sprained knee prior to returning on April 5. However, his knee flared up again, affecting his availability through the end of the regular season. According to Goodwill, Griffin does not have structural damage in his knee and it remains unclear if he will require any type of minor procedure during the offseaosn. Griffin, 30, averaged a team-high 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game this season.<doc-sep>Brian Sevald/Getty Images Detroit Pistons star Blake Griffin won't play in the team's Game 1 matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday as he deals with left knee soreness, according to the Detroit News' Rod Beard. The 2018-19 season was a return to form for Griffin. He averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 75 appearances for the Pistons. He also continued to show off his improved scoring range. Entering this year, Griffin had 191 made three-pointers over his first nine seasons. He connected on 189 threes in 2018-19 alone and shot 36.2 percent from beyond the arc. In large part because of Griffin's performance, the Pistons returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. He led the team in scoring and assists and was second in rebounding. Griffin's injury presents a big problem to Detroit. Beyond the fact that he's one of the team's best players, head coach Dwane Casey will likely turn to Thon Maker at power forward. Maker showed promise early in his career in Milwaukee, but he made only 37.3 percent of his field-goal attempts in 29 games with the Pistons. Relying on Maker to play significant minutes in a playoff series is a recipe for disaster against the top-seeded Bucks.<doc-sep>MILWAUKEE — As expected, Detroit Pistons star Blake Griffin will miss Sunday night’s playoff opener against No. 1 seed Milwaukee because of the sore left knee that limited him at the end of the regular season. Pistons coach Dwane Casey made the announcement moments ago in the interview room at Fiserv Forum. “He’s still day-to-day, but he’s still available (for the rest of the best-of-seven series),” Casey said. “It’s too sore to go.” Casey declined to reveal who would start in the All-Star’s place, although Thon Maker was the choice previously. More:Thon Maker fond of Bucks. He needed opportunity with Detroit Pistons More:Andre Drummond playing his best ball. Is it enough to satisfy critical fans? The Pistons were 2-5 in games without Griffin, so even winning one game against the league’s best team will be tough. Griffin missed four of the Pistons' final seven games. He played in 75 games total this season, the most he’s played since the 2013-14 season. He tweaked his left knee toward the end of the season, and he took himself out of the lineup after warmups before the Pistons’ 99-90 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on March 30. He missed the next two games before returning to score 45 points at Oklahoma City in a road loss on April 5. But he struggled mightily the next two games, culminating in only five points in 18 minutes in Tuesday night’s 100-93 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the regular-season home finale. He missed the season finale against the New York Knicks, though the Pistons still clinched a playoff spot. Griffin, 30, was an All-Star in his first full season in Detroit, and averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. More:Pistons' Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond join exclusive statistical clubs Before speaking with reporters Saturday, Griffin walked on a treadmill at the practice facility. Griffin’s teammates are aware of the challenge. “When you lose him and don’t have him going into Game 1, it’s a huge blow, but we are going to step up, defensively, offensively in all the areas with him not being there,” backup point guard Ish Smith said after Saturday's practice. Smith could be an X-factor in the series. He suffered a right adductor muscle tear in the Pistons' first game against the Bucks on Dec. 5, forcing him to miss the final three games in Milwaukee’s four-game sweep. But the Pistons aren't obsessing over his absence. “You just got to play, you can’t overthink it,” Smith said. “It’s a void, but once that ball tips you have to play. There’s no overthinking the situation. You just have to go in there and play. “Right now, thinking about it right now, it’s a huge void. We all got to step up.” More:Pistons vs. Bucks: Two words for season series — 'unbelievably awful' More:Pistons' playoff berth has fan base seething. Can't we all get along? Follow Vince Ellis on Twitter @vincent_ellis56. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.<doc-sep>	Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin will miss the team's first playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday due to knee soreness. File Photo by Lori Shepler/UPI \| License Photo April 14 (UPI) -- Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin will sit out Game 1 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks, Pistons head coach Dwane Casey told the team's official website Sunday. Griffin, who has had multiple knee surgeries in his career, was "too sore to play," sources told ESPN and the Detroit News. The forward missed four of the Pistons' last seven regular-season games due to left knee soreness. "Missing Blake is a big piece," Casey said. "But it's a great experience for the young guys to come in and get that experience against a great team like Milwaukee." Casey said Griffin's status is day-to-day for the remainder of the series against the Bucks. Griffin played in 75 games for Detroit in the regular season, the most he has played since the 2013-14 campaign. He previously sustained a season-ending quad injury against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2016 postseason. He had a season-ending toe injury versus the Utah Jazz in the 2017 playoffs. Casey didn't reveal who will replace Griffin in the team's starting lineup. Thon Maker started in place of Griffin in the regular season when he sat out. The Bucks swept the Pistons in the teams' meetings this season. Griffin averaged 24.3 points in the four contests. Milwaukee hosts the Pistons on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET at the Fiserv Forum.
GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 09: Wide receiver Paul Richardson #10 of the Washington Redskins on the sidelines during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Redskins defeated the Cardinals 24-6. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) The Redskins are going to be without one of their key receivers in Week 7, and they may also be without their other top weapon. Here’s the latest on Jamison Crowder, Paul Richardson, and the other injured Redskins. The Redskins are dealing with more key injuries as the seventh week of the NFL season approaches. While some players were expected to miss time, there are a handful of others that have been slapped with the questionable tag. And notably, the offense appears to be in tough shape. At receiver, the team is looking especially thin with Jamison Crowder already declared out against Dallas. Crowder hasn’t done a lot this season, but he’s a functional slot weapon and the Redskins have had success in the past using him and Jordan Reed over the middle of the field. That is no longer an option, so Maurice Harris may have to step into that role. While he’s a fine replacement, he just doesn’t have the same elusive route-running ability as Crowder does. At the same position, big-time free agent acquisition Paul Richardson is being listed as doubtful for the game. Richardson has grinded through injuries throughout the season, and it seems that shoulder and knee issues have finally caught up to him. With Richardson likely to miss the game, the Redskins will be very thin at receiver, and Josh Doctson will be their de facto No. 1 option. For that reason, expect a lot of two tight end sets featuring Reed and Vernon Davis, as the other receivers on the Redskins roster just don’t pose a major threat to the strong Cowboys secondary. At running back, Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson are both listed as questionable. Peterson is probably going to play as he continues to fight through injuries to serve as the lead back. Thompson, meanwhile, is a bit more of a question mark after missing last week’s game. However, he was trending in the right direction during practice this week, and the absence of Crowder and potentially Richardson would make him a key part of the passing offense. That may do enough to convince him to play even if he’s 80 percent or so. The other big injury to note is Quinton Dunbar. The team’s top corner is listed as questionable, but he seems likely to suit up. Still, if he doesn’t, that likely means that Greg Stroman or Adonis Alexander would get the start outside, as Fabian Moreau is needed to guard Cowboys slot-man Cole Beasley, who is arguably their best player. Dunbar being inactive seems like a long-shot though, so hopefully, he’ll be okay. As game-time draws nearer, we’ll keep you posted on the latest updates. But either way, the Redskins are going to be short-handed at receiver, so that could make this matchup with the Cowboys a bit of an adventure.<doc-sep>by Anthony Cervino \| Jets Correspondent \| Sun, Oct 14th 5:59am EDT ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Redskins WR Jamison Crowder (ankle) is not expected to play in Week 6. (Adam Schefter on Twitter) Fantasy Impact: One of the most disappointing players in fantasy football this season, Crowder is trending toward an inactive designation for Sunday's home matchup with the Panthers. In his absence, Maurice Harris is in line to step up and be the main beneficiary on a banged up Washington offense carrying more key players that include Chris Thompson, Paul Richardson, Josh Doctson and Adrian Peterson on the injury report with questionable tags. Despite the bump on the depth chart, however, Harris will remain well off the fantasy radar amongst a stalling Redskins offense.<doc-sep>“Yeah, [practice] matters a lot, especially for his position, with all the things he has to do as far as running routes on linebackers or safeties or whatever it is and also pass protection and seeing the cuts he has to make. Fortunately, he's been here for a while, so if there's a few guys on our team that can probably play effectively without practicing, I'd say he'd be one of them. But I'm sure he still would rather practice than not practice, but it’s just where we are."<doc-sep>ASHBURN, Virginia -- The Redskins receiving corps will be undermanned Sunday vs. the Cowboys. Slot receiver Jamison Crowder is out, and starting wideout Paul Richardson is listed as doubtful. Richardson, who has been dealing with a bad right shoulder all season, aggravated a knee injury vs. Carolina on Sunday. Crowder will miss his second consecutive game because of a sprained ankle that could sideline him longer. On Thursday, Crowder was seen outside the locker room with a boot on his right foot and using a scooter to get around the facility. "For a slot receiver to change directions with confidence, we'll have to wait and see," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. "I would expect him to be back sooner than later, but it could take a little time." There's also concern about running back Chris Thompson, who missed last week with rib and knee issues. He's listed as questionable and likely will be a game-time decision. Running back Adrian Peterson also is questionable, with knee and shoulder injuries, but is more likely to play. Richardson visited a doctor Thursday, and Gruden said there was nothing structurally wrong with his knee, which he first hurt vs. New Orleans in Week 5. Gruden said they're trying to figure out a way to "relieve the irritation" for him. Richardson has been Washington's most productive receiver, with 16 catches for 212 yards and two touchdowns. In three games, Crowder has caught 13 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. Washington's wideouts have combined for 75 targets -- fewest in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Redskins will replace Crowder in the slot with Maurice Harris. The Redskins can replace Richardson with veteran Michael Floyd, who has yet to catch a pass. Floyd has played a combined 16 snaps in two games. Veteran Brian Quick also would become a bigger part of the game plan. This scenario does give Washington a more physical receiving corps. Washington also can use more of its two-tight-end set. In the Redskins' three wins, they've averaged 28.3 snaps per game with at least two tight ends. Jordan Reed's and Vernon Davis' ability to line up in the slot or run routes out of the backfield provides versatility for Washington's offense. If Thompson can't play, Kapri Bibbs would serve as Washington's third-down back. Last week, Bibbs rushed twice for 11 yards and caught one ball for 6 yards.<doc-sep>	Jamison Crowder missed last week with an ankle injury he suffered on Monday Night Football against the Saints. Gruden said he was iffy to play this week for the Cowboys. Ian Rapoport is reporting Crowder will likely miss a few weeks with the sprained ankle, but the MRI results show the injury shouldn't be long-term. Crowder was seen in a boot today, using a medical scooter to get around the locker room. WR Jamison Crowder was on a scooter with a boot on his right foot this afternoon. On Wednesday, Jay Gruden had called Crowder "iffy" for Sunday. — John Keim (@john_keim) October 18, 2018 With #Redskins WR Jamison Crowder (sprained ankle) out a few weeks, the team promoted practice squad WR Jehu Chesson to their active roster. Crowder’s MRI did provide some good news, as it’s not an extended absence. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 18, 2018 Ths Redskins announced that they were signing WR Jehu Chesson back to the main roster from the practice squad. He takes the spot opened up by the release of veteran DE Ziggy Hood on Tuesday. Gruden said the team would fill the spot depending on the needs of the team, and the Redskins are hurting at wide receiver right now. Along with Crowder, Washington is also dealing with Josh Doctdon's heel injury and Paul Richardson Jr.'s shoulder/knee injuries. PR had his knee evaluated again by doctors as he continues to deal with the pain. He was able to play last week, but has been held out of practice this week. Maurice Harris will play the slot role while Crowder is out. He could also be used outside if Richardson misses time. The team still has Michael Floyd and Brian Quick available to play when needed.
Transportation Security Administration officers – on the job but not being paid during the government shutdown – are receiving a bonus and a day’s pay. The compensation, including a one time $500 bonus, was announced via Twitter by TSA Administrator David Pekoske. As I announced earlier today, we have processed compensation to all TSA employees who worked on Saturday, December 22nd, the day immediately following the start of the lapse in funding. — David P. Pekoske (@TSA_Pekoske) January 12, 2019 In addition to this, I have approved awards of $500 for each uniformed screening officer, in recognition of their hard work during yet another busy holiday travel season, maintaining the highest of security standards during an extraordinary period. — David P. Pekoske (@TSA_Pekoske) January 12, 2019 Both of the payments are expected to arrive in employee accounts in a few days, Pekoske said. About 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed or working without pay since the government partially shut down on Dec. 22, 2018. TSA workers are considered “essential,” so they remain on the job without being paid. Pekoske said the funding is permitted through the “unique authorities” provided to the TSA through law and is a small token of thanks for their work they’ve done. “There is an outpouring of industry and public admiration and appreciation for all you’ve done and will continue to do. The nation needs you— stay focused and take care of one another,” he wrote. The payments come as the TSA has battled absenteeism during the shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history. According to a CBS News report sick calls last Saturday were up by 70 percent from the same day in 2018. TSA has some 43,000 security officers, screening more than 2 million passengers daily and more than 750 million a year.<doc-sep>“NATCA would not condone or endorse any type of activity like that. We have taken an oath and we provide service to the American public,” said Trish Gilbert, NATCA’s executive vice president. “We know we’re important to the United States economy, and we are going to work. We’re just not getting paid. So, even if this drags on, people will continue to come to work.”<doc-sep>The TSA said unscheduled absences of its passenger screeners reached 7.6 percent Monday, more than twice the rate from a year ago. TSA's 51,000 officers are among the 420,000 federal employees deemed essential who are ordered to work despite not receiving a regular paycheck during the shutdown. The officers missed their first scheduled check Friday. The agency said it was handing out $500 bonuses to officers. The Transportation Security Administration's standard wait time is a half-hour or less. The Atlanta airport is encouraging travelers to arrive at the airport three hours before domestic flights. Travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, faced hour-long lines to get through security Monday after the airport shut security lanes "due to the shutdown," spokeswoman Elise Durham said. Shortages of federal airport security workers in the partial U.S. government shutdown prompted several large U.S. airports to close security lanes Monday, as the impasse over funding for a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico rippled throughout the aviation industry. The aviation industry has been among the most vocal of the shutdown. The union representing air traffic controllers sued the Trump administration last week over frozen pay during the shutdown, and several industry groups demonstrated in Washington last week. Washington Dulles International Airport also consolidated security checkpoints after the region was hit by a snowstorm over the weekend. TSA spokesman Michael Bilello said more officers called out than usually do during a snowstorm. At Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Terminal B security checkpoint — which was closed on Sunday — will remain closed until at least late afternoon on Monday because of staffing issues, spokesman Patrick Trahan said. The TSA's Bilello said that terminal's checkpoint will be closed until Wednesday. The airport is a hub of United Airlines, and the carrier recommended travelers get to the airport early to go through other terminals' checkpoints. Gates and lounges in Terminal B were open, a United spokeswoman said. Miami International Airport closed one of its terminals early over the weekend to deal with the shortfall, a spokesman said. The shutdown has raised questions about air carriers' ability to follow through with scheduled events. Delta Air Lines scheduled a launch Jan. 31 of its brand-new Airbus A220s, a plane it's using to court business travelers with bigger seats and windows. Also, Southwest Airlines needs federal approval to begin service to Hawaii, and the shutdown is delaying that plan. Airlines need Federal Aviation Administration inspectors' approval to debut new aircraft. The FAA called about 500 furloughed safety inspectors back to work. FAA safety inspectors oversee and approve new aircraft, airplane maintenance and personnel such as pilots and mechanics, among other areas. Those inspectors are working without pay and more are likely to be called in this week, spokesman Gregory Martin said. WATCH: TSA on hiring spree last summer<doc-sep>“I’m not a high-paid salary, federal bureaucrat in Washington. I’m an air conditioning mechanic.” “My husband is an electronics technician in the United States Coast Guard.” “I work at the United States Department of Agriculture.” “My husband is an attorney for the Department of Commerce.” “We work for the U.S.D.A. in rural housing.” “My husband is active duty.” “I’ve been a government employee, now, for 29 years. Today, was the first time in my life that I actually filed for unemployment insurance. It was quite a moment.” “It’s just my husband and I. I’m coming to the point to where I don’t know if I should just go ahead and apply for unemployment. If I should look for, maybe, temporary work. We’re going to need another income pretty soon.” “The prospect that, for no reason at all, I may have to find another permanent job is very frustrating and it speaks to a kind of waste. You know, the taxpayers would have to fund the whole hiring process for my replacement.” “I have an autoimmune condition that causes severe nerve pain and made the decision to cut back work hours so I could focus on my health and get more treatment. But we can’t now get on my husband’s plan because my husband works for the federal government and they’re not processing the special enrollments right now.” “I was due to retire from the government on Dec. 30. The lady that was processing my, my pension has been furloughed. I can’t even retire.” “My husband is working without pay. We’re very stressed about our bills and how we’re going to manage them. There’s a food pantry that was started by the spouses club and that is helping every single family here.” “And we’re just, we’re conserving really. You know, the food pantry is great. You know, we’re trying to, you know, make meals that last. No spending in excess. You know, as much as I want that Starbucks it’s not happening.” “My medicine is getting low. I have diabetes and I’m a breast cancer survivor. Some of my medications are getting low.” “If the shutdown keeps going on, then I can’t delay my care anymore. I’ll get a lot worse. So, it really means my husband is not going to have a paycheck. I’m going to have a paycheck that’s a lot lower than it was and we’re going to be paying a lot more.” “We need to come together and realize that this hurts all of us.” “And it’s going to start hurting everyone pretty soon. So, please stop and put your petty differences to the side and open us back up. If the issue’s with the wall, deal with the wall later. But open us back up. We want to work.”<doc-sep>	(CNN) — Seeking to ease the pain of airport security agents working through the partial government shutdown, the Transportation Security Administration is compensating those on duty the day after the lapse in funding and awarding $500 bonuses for work during the holiday travel season. TSA Administrator David Pekoske announced the compensation Friday on Twitter amid mounting concerns that the nation’s airports might not be able to provide the usual standard of security. Already, hundreds of TSA screeners from at least four major airports have called out from their shifts since the shutdown began three weeks ago. Pekoske said all TSA employees who worked December 22, the last day in that pay period, will receive pay for the day no later than Tuesday. They didn’t get paid originally because the day started after the shutdown began. The $500 bonuses for uniformed screening officers who worked during the busy holiday travel season should arrive in the coming days, Pekoske tweeted. The administrator said the pay was possible due to “unique authorities provided TSA in law.” “While I realize this is not what you are owed for your hard work … and what you deserve, I hope these actions alleviate some of the financial hardship many of you are facing,” the TSA chief wrote. On Saturday, Miami International Airport decided to shut down a concourse early for three days due to a shortage of TSA screeners, airport spokesman Greg Chin said. Concourse G was to close after 1 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, he said. About 51,000 TSA agents are among the 800,000 government employees working without pay or on furlough. This week, they missed their first full paychecks since the shutdown. TSA officers screen about 800 million passengers a year. Considered essential employees, the agents are among the 420,000 federal workers expected to continue to work without compensation. Pekoske held a call Monday with TSA security directors from airports across the country to discuss the impact of the shutdown, including a growing number of agents refusing to work without pay. The longest shutdown in US history started after President Donald Trump refused to back off a demand for $5.7 billion for his long-promised border wall. The figure remains a nonstarter for Democrats, leaving Congress at an impasse that triggered the partial shutdown – which has affected key parts of the federal government, including the departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Interior, State and Housing and Urban Development.
After receiving United Nation's Champions of the Earth Award for 2018, Narendra Modi thanked the world community for acknowledging India's effort to save environment. He dedicated the award to the countless Indians and their efforts towards achieving climate justice. He also stated that it is a proud moment for India to host such an event.<doc-sep>PM Narendra Modi was awarded with the UN's highest environmental honour, 'the Champions of the Earth' on September 26, 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on September 26, 2018, was awarded the UN's highest environmental honour 'Champions of the Earth' for his leadership of the International Solar Alliance and pledge to eliminate single-use plastic in India by 2022. Cochin International Airport was also honoured with the award in the category of Entrepreneurial Vision, for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy, along with four other environmental change makers. #WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's acceptance speech after being awarded the prestigious UN Champions of the Earth Award. (26.09.2018) pic.twitter.com/ipjIUSAe0u ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2018 "This years' laureates are recognised for a combination of bold, innovative, and tireless efforts to tackle some of the most urgent environmental issues of our times," the UN Environment Programme said. What is the Champions of the Earth award? Champions of the Earth, the UN’s highest environmental honour, celebrates outstanding figures from the public and private sectors and from the civil society whose actions have had a transformative positive impact on the environment. When was the Champions of the Earth award launched? 1. Launched in 2005, Champions of the Earth has recognized dozens of exemplary individuals and organizations. 2. Through their extraordinary achievements, whether through political leadership, grassroots action, scientific innovation, or entrepreneurial vision, each of these champions has inspired critical action on behalf of the global environment. Where were the awards hosted? The awards were presented during the Champions of the Earth Gala in New York City. The gala was hosted by actor and environmental activist Alec Baldwin and actress and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza. It brought together a cross section of world leaders and influencers to celebrate momentum for change in defense of our one planet. Past laureates of the UN award Past laureates include: Afroz Shah, who led the world’s largest beach cleanup (2016), Rwandan President Paul Kagame (2016), former US Vice-President Al Gore (2007), Ocean Cleanup CEO Boyan Slat (2014), scientist-explorer Bertrand Piccard, and developer of Google Earth Brian McClendon (2013) Champions of the Earth recognizes laureates in the following categories Lifetime Achievement Policy Leadership Action and Inspiration Entrepreneurial Vision Science and Innovation All about the recipients Recipients of the 'Champions of the Earth' award. (Image: unenvironment.org) 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with President of France Emmanuel Macron, were recognized in the 'Policy Leadership' category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron’s work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi’s unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022. The International Solar Alliance is an alliance of more than 121 countries, most of which lie between the equator and the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and hence receive very high sunshine throughout the year. 2. Cochin International Airport will take home the award for Entrepreneurial Vision, for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy. Cochin is showing the world that our ever-expanding network of global movement doesn't have to harm the environment, the UN said in a statement. Cochin International Airport is the world’s first solar-powered airport. It runs its entire operations on solar energy. 3. The lifetime achievement award was given to Joan Carling for her work as one of the world’s most prominent defenders of environmental and indigenous rights. Carling has been at the forefront of the conflict for land and the environment for more than 20 years. 4. The other recipients of the award include China’s Zhejiang’s Green Rural Revival Programme under the category 'Action and Inspiration' for the transformation of a once heavily polluted area of rivers and streams in East China's Zhejiang province. Zhejiang’s Green Rural Revival Programme is a Champion of the Earth. 97% of villages in Zhejiang have transformed their polluted waterways into clean, drinkable rivers, benefitting 30 million residents: https://t.co/6iOmV2r7tF #EarthChamps #BeatPollution pic.twitter.com/ZnKCLOwfU2 UN Environment (@UNEnvironment) September 26, 2018 5. Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods under the category 'Science and Innovation' for their revolutionary development of a popular, plant-based alternative to beef, and for their efforts to educate consumers about environmentally conscious alternatives. The Champions of the Earth Award recognizes those not afraid to chart unknown waters or be the voice of the voiceless. These people are changing our world today for a better tomorrow, said Head of UN Environment Erik Solheim. Seven environmental trailblazers will also be honoured at the event between the ages of 18 and 30, taking home the coveted Young Champions of the Earth Prize, for their ambitious project ideas to restore and protect the environment. READ\| Good news! UN report shows that India has made rapid progress in increasing access to sanitation in schools READ\| United Nations Awards: 7 unique UN awards you must know about Interested in General Knowledge and Current Affairs? Click here to stay informed and know what is happening around the world with our G.K. and Current Affairs section. To get more updates on Current Affairs, send in your query by mail to [email protected]<doc-sep>	A poisoned lake in Iran, Bangladesh children dancing in monsoon rains and polar bear cubs playing with plastic—these are all subjects of the winning and shortlisted images in this year's Environmental Photographer of the Year contest. The competition, which is run by the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and aims to raise awareness of environmental issues, received entries from 89 countries. The title of Environmental Photographer of the Year went to Iranian photographer Saeed Mohammadzadeh for his shot of a rusting ship sitting in salt in the depleted Urmia Lake in Iran. The lake has endured severe damage in recent years, with warming temperatures, dam projects and illegal wells causing it to shrink and release noxious dust storms. "There is a finality about this year's winning image that I find chilling," Terry Fuller, CIWEM chief executive and judge of the competition said. "The water once used for many purposes has gone, and the decaying state of the ship suggests that the water will not return. "Why was this ship left stranded? Did the owners not know or believe that the water levels were declining, or did it happen so quickly that they did not have time to adapt?" Indian photographer Chinmoy Biswas won the Changing Climates Prize for a photo of a child sitting on parched, cracked land. In contrast, the Young Environmental Photographer of the Year winner, Fardin Oyan of Bangladesh, captured a group of children playing joyfully in a flooded city. Another Iranian photographer, Younes Khani Someeh Soflaei, won the Built Environment Prize for a black-and-white shot of a mother and daughter in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake. From a monkey cradling a plastic bottle to a diver's effort to untangle a turtle from ocean trash, this is our selection of the most stunning photos from this year's competition—a snapshot of the challenges facing the world's natural environment.
US federal agents of Homeland Security Investigations have busted an international human trafficking racket that took Tollywood and Kannada actresses to America for engaging in commercial sex with Indians. According to a report by Times of India, the investigating agency has identified a couple, Kishan Modugumudi, alias Sreeraj Chennupati, and Chandrakala Purnima Modugumudi, alias Vebha Jayam, from Hyderabad who brought these actresses to the US. They bought their plane tickets, booked hotel rooms across the country. They took these actresses and anchors to Telugu and other Indian conferences held in the USA to nab potential customers for sexual acts. The complained filed byHomeland Security Investigations revealed that they have statements from five victims, hotel records, customer acknowledgements of purchasing sex acts, credit cards of the accused couple, handwritten note on Mariott hotel stationery to prove the case against the couple. The authorities also found letters from Amercial Telugu Association (ATA) to the US consul general at Hyderabad requesting visas for these victims. The report also revealed that one of the Telugu filmstars had gone to the US to attend Telugu Association of Southern California (TAS) star night event in California on November 8, 2017. She arrived two days late and instead of going to California she went to Chicago. The move alerted the American authorities which led to the racket bust.<doc-sep>The reports of an international sex racket run by Indian-origin couple in the USA shook the Telugu film industry and new details about the victims and those who participated on the mutual agreement are now coming out of the woodworks. On Monday, industry insiders revealed that the high-end prostitution ring came into light four months ago when out-of-work actresses were looking to exchange US dollars worth Rs 14. According to a report in Indian Express, names of two actresses are being discussed on the gossip vines. Because after working in a few Telugu and Kannada movies they had fallen on hard times, but after a trip to the USA, they were looking to exchange large sums of US dollars. Shivaji Raja, president of Movie Artists Association (MAA), told the daily, "When someone who has had no luck in the industry for a year or two suddenly returns from the US and wants to convert a large sum of dollars, people start wondering about the source of the money. I remember the Rs 14 lakh incident. Where did the money come from? Was she into real estate business in the US? Did she get roles in films there?…. No. This involves a few actresses who have fallen on hard times as they are not getting work." MAA is holding a meeting on June 24 to discuss the issue and verify the credentials of the organisers and associations that take actors for various conferences and appearances the in United States, Dubai, Singapore or Australia. The prostitution scheme was masterminded by Kishan Modugumudi, 34, an Indian businessman who rose to become a player in the Telugu film industry and co-produced several hit films, Chicago Tribune reported. The ring charged clients up to $3,000 for each sexual encounter, according to a 42-page criminal complaint filed in US District Court in Chicago. Modugumudi and his wife Chandra, 31, also allegedly kept detailed ledgers of the sex acts performed by each girl, including where they occurred and how much they collected, the report said. The couple was working in the Telugu film industry until four years ago. Modugumudi worked as an assistant to producer KS Rama Rao, says the report by the daily. Actress and TV anchor Sri Reddy has alleged that the couple has coordinators in Hyderabad. A Hyderabad police official told the daily that they suspect the couple probably set up the network, identified the out-of-work actresses before leaving for the US. "They then started approaching these women in the guise of cultural programmes and lured them into the sex racket. Some actresses have said that they received calls from Kishan, inviting them to attend programmes in Chicago, but they declined since they were not sure about his credentials." Modugumudi and his wife have been in federal custody since agents arrested them in late April in suburban Washington, on a warrant, records show. The report also revealed that Modugumudi threatend to harm the lives of actresses and their families if they talked to the law enforcement about the real purpose of the visit to the USA. Modugumudi told the woman, identified in the charges only as Victim A, that "it would be nothing for him to harm her if she talked to the police about him because she is small and unknown, not a big actress," the complaint alleged. "(He) further stated he had a copy of her passport with her family's name and address in it," the report added. US Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez ordered them to remain in custody for the time being. The couple's two school-age children, meanwhile, are in the custody of child welfare officials in Virginia. (With Agencies Input)<doc-sep>Controversies and the Telugu film industry seem to go hand in hand. A few weeks ago, actress Sri Reddy levelled charges against top Tollywood honchos of sexually abusing her. And now, a sex racket involving several Telugu actresses has been bust in Chicago, US. An Indian-origin couple was arrested in Chicago last week for running a sex racket in the country. The couple, Kishan Modugumudi and Chandra Kala Purnima Modigumudi, had been luring Tollywood actresses on the pretext of shows and then pushing them into prostitution. It is now revealed that the couple took six Indian actresses to the US. The actresses were first taken to Telugu conferences and other Indian meets held across the US to attract potential customers. An actress, Individual A, arrived at the O'Hare international airport in Chicago on November 20, 2017, from Delhi. She was traveling on a visa issued from Delhi on November 6, 2017, to participate in an event organised by the Telugu Association Of South California (TASC) on November 18. Since the actress arrived two days after the said event and travelled to Chicago instead of California, authorities got suspicious and began inquiries. On being questioned, the actress said that she was in the country to attend another event hosted by the North America Telugu Society (NATS). However, when investigators dug deeper, they found that the actress's statement was false and that the president of NATS denied inviting the actress to the country. Later, the investigation revealed that a 'Raju' arranged her travel documents and the trip. 'Raju' later turned out to be Kishan Modugumudi. The actress' visa was revoked. Another actress, Victim A, arrived at the Newark International Airport from Mumbai on December 26, 2017. Her visa stated that she was in the US for three months to perform at cultural events. Her travel histories showed that she had earlier visited Chicago on October 6 the same year and stayed till November 13. She also named a 'Raju'. The actress also revealed that she was going to Irvin, Texas, where she had to perform a Bollywood dance at a New Year's Eve event. During her previous trip in October 2017, she attended a cultural event in Pennsylvania which was organised by Raju. There, she was forced to engage in prostitution. She travelled to four cities through the course of her stay in the country, out of which, in three cities, clients were sent to her room. There was another accused, 'Vebha', travelling with her. Her visa was also revoked. Yet another actress, Victim B, who was invited for a Telugu event, was tapped by the authorities. There were two more actresses, Victim C and Victim D, who were also found involved in prostitution. The fifth actress was identified as a popular Telugu and Kannada star, who was also invited by the American Telugu Association. Later, it was found that she was advertised and used for commercial sex. ALSO READ\| Tollywood sex racket in US : Anasuya says she was asked to 'make a commitment'<doc-sep>Reports state that a Tollywood prostitution racket was busted in the US, resulting in the arrest of two, Kishan Modugumudi and his wife Chandra.The racket was apparently exposed by the US federal authorities. The couple have been arrested and charged with luring young Tollywood actresses to the US, advertising them and sending them for sex work and reportedly charging clients upto $3000 for each sexual encounter.These actresses were reportedly brought to the state on temporary visas and housed in dingy apartments. While the accused duo was arrested way back in April, they have not been able to procure bail and their children have been shifted to a welfare centre. The Chicago Tribune broke the story when a 42-page long criminal complaint was filed at the US District Court in Chicago.Reports state that Modugumundi has co-produced several Telugu hit films too. The complaint also states that apart from these illegal activities, the couple had threatened an actress and her family. The couple kept detailed ledgers of their deeds, with complete accounts of how much money they raked in. Federal authorities have also found 70 condom packs divided into ‘multiple ziplock bags’.These actresses did not just ‘work’ in Chicago; they have also reportedly met clients in hotels at Dallas, New Jersey and Washington. Upon obtaining a search warrant, the authorities also discovered an email from the actress they threatened begging them to stop harassing and threatening her. When the victims were questioned by the authorities, they refused to admit having sex with clients, and admitted to only spending time with them.<doc-sep>	Couple took victims to US conferences for ‘customers’ Actresses and their alleged sex scandals Tollywood sex racket busted by US Feds HYDERABAD: US investigating agencies have busted an international racket trafficking Tollywood and Kannada actresses into America for engaging in commercial sex with Indians on the pretext of performing at Telugu and other Indian conferences.So far, five people from the Telugu and Kannada film industry were identified as survivors of illegal importation into Chicago for prostitution by a small-time Tollywood production manager couple.They are Kishan Modugumudi , alias Sreeraj Chennupati, and Chandrakala Purnima Modugumudi, alias Vebha Jayam, both natives of Hyderabad but illegally living in the US. They were arrested on April 28, 2018 in Washington. US federal agents of Homeland Security Investigations have filed a criminal complaint in an Illinois court.According to the criminal complaint filed in the court, (a copy of which is with TOI), the offences took place from May 11, 2017 to January 22, 2018.The couple purchased airline tickets and booked hotel rooms for the victims and harboured them either at Modugumudi’s residence in Chicago or hotel rooms across the country. “The accused would take the victims to Telugu and other Indian conferences held across the US to identify potential customers who would pay them to engage in commercial sex,” the HSI alleged in the complaint.Federal agents seized travel records, recorded the statement of victims, hotel records and statement of customers acknowledging the purchase of commercial sex acts with a Telugu actress. When the US border patrol conducted a search on the accused couple, they found documents, credit cards and a handwritten note on Maritto Hotel stationery, which proved to be clinching evidence.On the note, the name of a Telugu filmstar was written and ‘Washington DC’ and ‘January 19 morning’, ‘Room Number 2018’ ‘two times” and later Room No. 404 ‘one time’ was written.During the raids on February 16, 2018, based on a federal search warrant at the couple’s residence in Chicago, law enforcement recovered 70 condoms, divided into multiple ziplock bags, a fraudulent US lawful permanent resident card and security card in the name of Kishan.They also seized copies of a letter written by the Amercial Telugu Association (ATA) to the US consul general at Hyderabad requesting visa for specific individuals.A copy of the appointment letter for B1-B2 visa of the US consulate was also found.The US court document revealed that the filmstar, who is a survivor, came to the US to attend the Telugu Association of Southern California (TAS) star night event in California on November 8, 2017.However, she arrived in the US two days after the TAS event and travelled to Chicago for another conference instead of going to California when agents became suspicious and began a probe.
Liverpool smashed Watford 5-0 at Anfield with massive performances from Fabinho and Divock Origi. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds absolutely dismantled Watford in a powerful display with the team’s backs against the wall and Man City lurking close behind first place. A Sadio Mane brace brought the score to 2-0 in the first half, while a goal from Divock Origi and a double from Virgil van Dijk in the second half made it 5-0. Mo Salah, Fabinho, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all also had world-class shifts, and made it hard for Watford to even get their foot in on the game. With Manchester City also winning their game, it keeps the Reds one point clear of second place City going into Sunday’s game at Goodison Park against the evil Everton. Want your voice heard? Join the Rush The Kop team! Write for us! Going into the player ratings, there will be a few 10’s, but they are all deserved today. After a run of tough games the team showed up, and there really was not one player who played poorly, so the ratings will reflect that. It was the perfect response to those who criticized the team going forward against Manchester United, and Alexander-Arnold in particular showed what a good player he already is.<doc-sep>Liverpool maintained top spot in the Premier League with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Watford at Anfield, with several candidates for Man of the Match. Liverpool 5-0 Watford Premier League, Anfield February 27, 2018 Goals: Mane 9′, 20′, Origi 66′, Van Dijk 79′, 82′ Alisson – 8 (out of 10) Rarely called into action throughout most of the match, Alisson was alert on two occasions to deny Andre Gray twice in the second half, including an excellent reflex stop from point-blank range. Those interventions meant the Brazilian played his part in keeping his 16th league clean sheet of the season—the most of any goalkeeper—and Liverpool’s fourth in a row. Trent Alexander-Arnold – 10 (Man of the Match) It’s not often you can say a right-back completely transforms a team’s attack, but Trent brought a whole different dimension to Liverpool’s play in the final third here. Constantly available on the overlap, he put in two superb crosses for both of Sadio Mane‘s first-half goals to put Liverpool firmly in control of the contest, and could have had several more assists thereafter. Other than a goal, it’s almost impossible to ask any more in terms of quality delivery from a full-back. Up there with Trent’s best-ever displays for Liverpool. Joel Matip – 8 Matip has stepped up well in recent weeks in the absence of Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez, and was impressive again here. His crucial interception denied a near-certain goal in the first half to cut out Gerard Deulofeu’s dangerous cross, and another key block kept out Craig Cathcart after the break. Positionally excellent throughout, reading the game superbly, and showed composure in possession. Virgil van Dijk – 10 Dominated the physical battle with Troy Deeney and was imperious in the air as ever, winning countless headers and making several well-timed challenges, including a smart tackle on Deulofeu on the counter-attack in the second half. Capped off his display emphatically with a second-half brace with two thumping headers in front of the Kop, taking his tally up to three goals for the season. Liverpool have lacked goals from defenders this season, and Van Dijk certainly has the ability to chip in more regularly on this evidence. Andy Robertson – 8 After several slightly below-par performances of late, Robertson was back close to his best, rampaging forward up the flank to join the attack at every opportunity. Defensively he was rarely tested—one needless foul in the second half aside—and contributed two assists for Van Dijk and Divock Origi, taking his total up to a remarkable 10 for the campaign. Fabinho – 9 Fabinho has emerged as one of Liverpool’s most influential and consistent performers over the past few months, both in midfield and in defence. He patrolled the midfield with supreme confidence, constantly ensuring he was in the right place at the right time to break up play and put Liverpool back on the front foot. A lung-busting run to track back and time his tackle perfectly to dispossess Deulofeu in the first half drew rapturous applause from the stands, and his use of the ball was intelligent and incisive. Close to the complete midfield performance, only missing a goal or an assist to add some extra gloss to a fine evening for the Brazilian. Gini Wijnaldum – 8 Typically industrious and perhaps the most understated midfield performer for Liverpool on the night, Wijnaldum put in his usual excellent shift and was everywhere he needed to be. Linked well with Trent and Mohamed Salah in particular with short, sharp passing triangles, and used his body superbly as ever to spin away from opponents and drive into space. Understated, but still a key performer in an outstanding team performance. James Milner – 8 Perhaps a surprise inclusion in the starting lineup after a disappointing performance at right-back against Man United at the weekend, Milner quickly put to bed any concerns and was integral to setting the tempo early on. Pressed superbly, and broke the lines well to take up clever positions in the final third, Milner showed he can still do a more than competent job in midfield when called upon and fully justified Jurgen Klopp‘s selection. Mohamed Salah – 8 It’s not often Liverpool score five goals and Salah isn’t involved in any of them, but this was a much improved display after his peripheral showing at Old Trafford. The Egyptian constantly got himself on the ball, dribbled aggressively at Watford‘s back line and was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet on several occasions, notably hitting the post in the first half. A lovely dinked pass to Robertson ought to have been converted into a goal as the Scotsman couldn’t quite pick out Mane in the middle. A searing burst of pace saw him play his part in the lead up to Mane’s second goal, and throughout he constantly linked up with Trent and was a prominent figure in the majority of Liverpool’s action in the final third. Sadio Mane – 9 Opening the scoring with a well-taken header inside 10 minutes, Mane played through the middle and looked at ease in the No. 9 role, taking up excellent positions inside the six-yard box and dropping deep to link play in the absence of Roberto Firmino. His audacious backheeled finish was a sensational piece of skill to deceive Ben Foster and double Liverpool’s advantage, taking his tally up to 14 league goals for the season—his best-ever return—and 15 in all competitions. Should have completed his hat-trick in the second half, but saw his attempt well blocked by Cathcart. Another decisive showing from a player who has arguably been Liverpool’s top performing attacker since the turn of the year. Divock Origi – 8 Selected ahead of Daniel Sturridge after the Englishman’s ineffectual cameo at Old Trafford, Origi justified his inclusion and worked tremendously hard up and down the wing. His holdup play and use of the ball was sensible, and he was never afraid to take on Daryl Janmaat when the opportunity presented itself. Got himself the goal his performance deserved in the second half, cutting inside before arrowing a hard, driven finish through a packed penalty area for his third goal of the season. The best compliment you could pay the Belgian was that Firmino’s absence wasn’t remotely costly. Substitutes Jordan Henderson (on for Milner, 70′) – 6 Henderson’s introduction gave Milner a well-earned break after the game had already been wrapped up, and the captain helped maintain Liverpool’s control in the final stages to ensure no late complacency set in. Adam Lallana (on for Mane, 78′) – N/A A brief stint up front in the closing stages was a bizarre sight, but the points were well and truly in the bag by then. Naby Keita (on for Wijnaldum, 84′) – N/A A brief cameo in the final few minutes, Keita will surely feature prominently in the coming weeks after signs of picking up some promising momentum prior to a recent illness. Subs not used: Mignolet, Camacho, Sturridge, Shaqiri Manager Jurgen Klopp – 9 The manager’s pre-match message was emphatic, stating that Liverpool are absolutely fine with their current position and should see it as an opportunity, as opposed to paying too much attention to the pressure of the title race. He made a bold call in picking Origi over Sturridge and Xherdan Shaqiri, and his selection of Milner in midfield also paid dividends. Liverpool needed a shakeup in an attacking sense after consecutive 0-0 draws against Bayern Munich and United, and he found the right solution here. Playing Mane through the middle—which he has rarely ever done—proved an inspired choice, as he filled in superbly in Firmino’s absence and showed Liverpool can change things up without the Brazilian. The flurry of goals in the second half will please Klopp enormously, sending out a strong message that Liverpool won’t be perturbed by recent frustrating results. It was the perfect response after a tricky period—and he will hope to use this as a platform to kick on with only 10 games left to play.<doc-sep>Liverpool has a lot of outstanding talent on its club, but Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah somehow manage to consistently steal the show. Mane did so on Wednesday against Watford, somehow finding his way in front of the net with his back turned, managing to click in a goal with his heel. Take a look at one of the best goals from the 2018-19 Premier League season: It was Mane's second goal of the half, with the first coming just 11 minutes prior on a header that was set up by a beautiful cross. Mane single-handedly has Watford on its heels, and it shows in the box score. Admittedly, Mane's heel turn was set up by a bad first touch, but when the finish is that good we can let it go. Mane is now at 14 goals on the season, a career high in Premier League play. Watford isn't the first team he's put up these types of performances against, and it certainly won't be the last. You can catch Liverpool and other Premier League action all season long on fuboTV (try for free).<doc-sep>	There were positives aplenty after Liverpool’s 5-0 thrashing of Watford on Wednesday night, with the Reds impressive individually and collectively. Liverpool were under pressure to beat the Hornets after Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Man United, but they delivered an emphatic victory. Jurgen Klopp‘s side had the bit between their teeth from minute one and Sadio Mane‘s brilliant double relinquished any anxiety after two goalless draws in a week. Divock Origi got his third goal of the season to put Liverpool out of sight in the second half, before Virgil van Dijk headed home twice late on at the Kop end. The win means Klopp’s men stay a point clear of champions Man City, who scraped a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to West Ham. Here, we compare our ratings with those from the Liverpool Echo, the Mirror, the Independent, Sky Sports, ESPN, FotMob and the This is Anfield readers: The star man on the night was the returning Trent Alexander-Arnold (averaging 8.7), who produced a fantastic individual performance at right-back. He picked up three assists in total, including a peach of a cross that led to Mane heading home the opener in style. This is Anfield’s Joel Rabinowitz gave Alexander-Arnold a perfect 10/10 rating, describing the 20-year-old’s display as one of his “best-ever” in a Liverpool shirt. The Liverpool Echo‘s Ian Doyle felt he revelled in space down the right flank, outlining his importance to the team. Fabinho (8.2) enjoyed a stellar outing in the middle of the park, showing exactly why he has become one of the Reds’ most influential figures. He made six ball recoveries, won all four of his attempted tackles and enjoyed a passing accuracy of 88 percent, according to FotMob. It would be remiss not to highlight the impact of Mane (8.4), too, with the Senegalese’s double inspiring Liverpool to victory, having led the line centrally in a 4-3-3 system. ESPN‘s Glenn Price lauded Mane’s “outrageous” back-heel that put the Reds 2-0 up, also saying he excelled as “Liverpool’s attacking focal point”. On a night full of superb performers, Van Dijk (8.6) showed how crucial he is to the cause, with his late brace acting as the icing on the cake. The Dutchman was a rock at the heart of the defence, leading to Rabinowitz making him his second 10/10 performer at Anfield. The Independent‘s Simon Hughes was seemingly in a less lavish mood, though, with Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk the only players to earn 8/10, with the rest all rated lower. Next up for Klopp’s side is the 233rd Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Sunday, in what will be another big test of their Premier League title credentials.
HYDERABAD: Thirty-two-year old Bano Kumar came all the way from Gujarat ’s Sankheda town for the ‘ fish prasadam ’ to be administered by the Bathini Goud family at Nampally Exhibition Grounds. Not wanting to miss out, Kumar reached the ground on Thursday night, a day before of the event. “We have been here since 11 pm on Thursday. My 14-year-old son suffers from asthma and this is our second visit. He has been better since the last time he had the prasadam,” said Bano.Over 1 lakh people gathered at the grounds for the ‘prasadam’ hoping to cure asthma, as claimed by the Bathini Goud family. They have been dispensing the prasadam for years now. The family uses a specific fish procured from fisheries department, stuffs a yellow paste into its mouth and makes a visitor swallow it. “As the fish carrying the paste wriggles inside the person’s throat, it helps tackle respiratory conditions. The paste recipe is nearly 173 years old,” said Harinath Goud, the present head of the family.Animal Husbandry and Fisheries minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav inaugurated the event by taking the first ‘prasadam’. The Bathini Goud family distributes the prasadam free of cost to the public, and asks people to come for three consecutive years to get cured.“Two hours before and after taking the medicine, one should not eat anything. The prasad should be administered only to those three years and above. Though the method has come under criticism, people believe in this prasad. This cure has worked for several people and they come every year for it,” said Harinath Goud.Many visitors who reached the city on Thursday chose to sleep at the ground under a shed. Several others reached the ground by 5am on Friday. “My 5-year-old daughter has been crying continuously. She got scared seeing how the volunteers were making people swallow the fish. She puked initially, but the volunteers helped her swallow the fish,” said Gehenna Agrawal from Jaipur.<doc-sep>The fish medicine is believed to be a cure for respiratory problems. (File) Thousands of asthma patients on Friday took 'fish prasadam' which has been traditionally distributed by a family since more than 170 years in Hyderabad.People from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and some other states queued up at Exhibition Grounds to take 'fish prasadam', a name that came into usage as a decade ago after rationalists challenged its efficacy.Members of Bathini Goud family started administering the 'wonder drug' at 9 am to mark 'Mrigasira Karti', which marks the onset of monsoon.The Telangana government made elaborate arrangements for the annual event. Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries T. Srinivas Yadav along with Telangana Legislative Council Chairman Swamy Goud inaugurated the distribution.Despite the controversies that affected the fish medicine's popularity over last few years, people continue to take it, seeking some respite from respiratory problems. However, the numbers have dwindled over the years.People gulped down a live 'murrel' fish with a yellow herbal paste in its mouth, which is believed to provide the much-needed relief, if taken for three consecutive years. To vegetarians, the medicine with is administered with jaggery.Bathini Harinath Goud said their family members were giving 'fish prasadam' at 40 counters and the distribution would continue till Saturday.The Fisheries Department has supplied 1.30 lakh fingerlings for sale at its counters at the venue. However, the actual number of patients taking 'fish prasadam' could be less than a lakh.Police, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Electricity, Transport and other departments made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the event.Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) is operating over 130 special buses from airport, railway and bus stations to ferry asthma patients to the venue.Various departments are providing water, sanitation and other basic amenities to the patients. Voluntary organizations have also chipped in by distributing free food and water packets.The fish medicine lost its popularity in recent years after some groups, working to inculcate scientific temper among people, termed it as a fraud. They also approached a court, claiming the herbal paste contained heavy metals, which could cause serious health problems. But the Goud family claims that tests conducted as per court orders revealed that the herbal paste is safe.The Goud family has been distributing the 'fish prasadam' free of cost for the last 170 years. It claims that the secret formula for the herbal medicine was given to their ancestors in 1845 by a saint.<doc-sep>	People from different parts of the country thronged at exhibition grounds in Nampally to take the benefit of the wonder drug, which apparently cures Asthma and respiratory problems. (Photo: ANI) Hyderabad: Scores of people took 'fish prasadam' on Friday in Hyderabad, which has been traditionally distributed by Bathini family since more than 170 years. People from different parts of the country thronged at exhibition grounds in Nampally to take the benefit of the wonder drug, which apparently cures Asthma and respiratory problems. The patients are made to gulp down live 'murrel' fish with a yellow herbal paste in its mouth, which is believed to provide relief, if taken for three consecutive years. The medicine is given with jaggery to the vegetarians. Keeping in mind the popularity of this event, Telangana government has made elaborate arrangements for the same. The event was inaugurated by Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries T Srinivas Yadav along with Telangana Legislative Council Chairman Swamy Goud. Bathini Harinath Goud, who is the head of the family, said that their family provides these medicines free of cost which was passed on by their fore-father. "We are giving this medicine from past 173 years. The fish prasadam is much effective than the other. This has to be taken for three-four continuous years for a better result," he said. He said that a strict diet is followed by the patient after taking this medicine. One of the patients, Amarjit Singh, who came from Ludhiana said that even his relatives took the same treatment and got a positive result. "We consulted many doctors, but the treatment was not very effective. My relatives have taken this fish medicine and are now living a normal life, that is why we came here," she added.
By Norm Elrod (CBS SF/CBS Local) — The stretch run for the NBA Playoffs begins tonight, with the Golden State Warriors sitting atop the standings. They’re the NBA Finals favorite out of the West, and seem almost destined to extend their streak of championships. But they’re not the only contender, as the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder continue to keep pace. The rest of the West includes plenty of familiar faces, the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers among them, though none that seems capable of toppling a dynasty. One noticeable absence is the Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, who hasn’t missed the playoffs in 13 years. They sit in 10th place, with the hungry Sacramento Kings just above them in the standings. How does the Western Conference Playoff race look? >>MORE: NBA Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference Contenders: Golden State Warriors (41-16) With the playoff race officially underway, the Warriors sit atop the competitive West. This may be their last chance at adding to the dynasty, or it may not. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are both among the NBA’s top five scorers, putting up 28.6 and 27.6 points per game respectively, with Curry making an impressive 44.4% of his threes. Klay Thompson adds another 21.9 points, and DeMarcus Cousins contributes 13.9 in limited minutes, as the team leads the League in scoring with 118.8 points per game. The Warriors have made the NBA Finals the last four years, winning three of the series. And they’re favored to win it all again; indeed their chances are better than those of every other team combined. Denver Nuggets (39-18) The Nuggets might be the biggest surprise in the West, not because they’re contenders, but because they’re contenders despite the injuries. Three of the team’s five starters, including Will Barton and Gary Harris, have missed significant time this season. However, Nikola Jokic is averaging 20.4 points per game, along with 10.6 rebounds and 7.7 assists on an offense that caters to his strengths. And their bench has stepped up, time and time again. Denver only puts up 112 points per game, worse than every other current playoff team in the Western Conference except the Utah Jazz. But they’re also among the NBA’s better defensive teams, allowing only 107.1 points per game. The defense has slipped some of late (something a healthy Isaiah Thomas won’t help), and that may affect their seeding down the stretch. Still, the Nuggets will be a tough out in the West. Oklahoma City Thunder (37-20) Russell Westbrook isn’t quite the player he’s been in past seasons, and yet he’s still special. In his 11th season, his scoring has slipped to 21.7 points per game, over a point below his career average. But he’s leading the League with 11.2 assists, a full two assists ahead of Kyle Lowry. And he’s pulling down 11.2 rebounds, as a point guard. Paul George, the NBA’s second-leading scorer with 28.7 points per game, is now the go-to guy in OKC. Bench scoring has been an issue with the Thunder, but the addition of Markieff Morris should help down the stretch. With a one-time MVP, a current MVP candidate, and strong team defense, the Thunder may actually climb into the two seed in the West, setting up a potential rendezvous with the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Pretenders: Portland Trail Blazers (34-23) The Trail Blazers find themselves in a precarious position. Climbing into a better seed seems unlikely, unless the Nuggets really fade, but slipping into a worse seed seems very possible, given the logjam just below them in the standings. Three games separate the fourth through the eighth seed, and at least one of those teams probably has a winning streak in them. The Blazers added Rodney Hood and Enes Kanter in the last couple weeks. While Kanter will be a good fill-in for Jusuf Nurkic (at least on offense), the roster boost won’t improve their fortunes much. As usual, this team will go as far as its back court can take them. Damian Lillard is putting together another stellar season, averaging 26.3 points per outing, while CJ McCollum contributes another 21 points per game. Will that be enough this season? It hasn’t been before. Houston Rockets (33-24) James Harden is scoring at an insane clip. His 36.6 points per game, should he keep it up, would top all but one of Michael Jordan’s seasons and put him in Wilt Chamberlain territory. It’s almost eight points more than Paul George, the NBA’s second-leading scorer. The Rockets’ iffy start, combined with injury woes, has forced Harden to put the team on his shoulders. Relying so heavily on one scorer isn’t a recipe for playoff success, however. With Chris Paul rounding back into form and Clint Capela due to return this week, Harden may finally get some consistent help. The Rockets will still have to figure out how to play something that resembles defense; their current 112.2 defensive rating puts them on par with teams destined for the lottery. Without a more team-oriented approach, that includes effort at both ends of the court, this team isn’t going anywhere. Utah Jazz (32-25) The Utah Jazz’s team scoring numbers — 109.2 points per game — are among the worst of any team still in the playoff hunt. And yet they’re seven games above .500 coming out of the All-Star break. They do it with defense; their 105.4 defensive rating is fourth best in the NBA. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 22.4 points per game in his second season, while Rudy Gobert hauls in 12.9 rebounds. The Jazz will enjoy one of the League’s easiest schedules down the stretch and have shown they can win the games they’re supposed to. This team could easily climb into the four seed. San Antonio Spurs (33-26) Any Gregg Popovich-coached team has a shot at, an in, the playoffs. His Spurs have qualified for the postseason in every season of his coaching tenure, except the first. That’s 21 straight playoff appearances. While another berth is far from assured, it’s hard to bet against that kind of history. DeMar DeRozan’s scoring numbers in San Antonio — 21.4 points per game — line up with his production in Toronto. Likewise, LaMarcus Aldridge, with his 21 points per game, remains true to form. What is out of character is the Spurs’ defense. The team’s 111.5 defensive rating on the season is nothing to write home about, but its 118.8 rating over the last 10 games is positively atrocious. Pop’s Spurs probably aren’t looking at a deep playoff run from a low seed. But in a close race, that kind of defense could keep them out entirely. Los Angeles Clippers (32-27) Only one Los Angeles team is currently in the playoffs, and it isn’t LeBron’s Lakers. The Clippers find themselves hanging on to the eight seed. Making the playoffs will cost them a first-round pick, and the difference may come down to just a few wins. Tobias Harris, their leading scorer before the trade deadline, is now with the Philadelphia 76ers. But Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari continue to chip in 19.9 and 18.7 points per game respectively. The Clippers can still score, and haven’t showed any signs of letting up yet. They dropped 134 points on the hapless Phoenix Suns in their last game before the break. Will the Clippers yield the final playoff spot to the Sacramento Kings, who desperately want to end their playoff drought? Or will they look to climb out of the Warriors’ first-round cross hairs?<doc-sep>The Lakers are still mathematically alive in the race for the 2019 NBA playoffs, but not even IMF agent Ethan Hunt would accept this mission. After losing to the Nuggets on Wednesday night, the Lakers are 6.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with only 17 games left on their regular season schedule. This latest blow came only days after a brutal defeat at the hands of the Clippers, one that prompted reporters to ask LeBron James what he expects the team to do when — not if — it is eliminated from postseason contention. MORE: LeBron, Lakers have one inexcusable reason for missing playoffs "Continue to be a professional, and be as great as you can be every single night, no matter the circumstances," James said. "'Cause someone is always watching." Asked what he expects from the team's motication if the Lakers get eliminated, LeBron said he doesn't know, but said for himself: "Continue to be a professional, and be as great as you can be every single night no matter the circumstances. 'Cause someone is always watching." pic.twitter.com/5HT0gRDoSY — Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) March 5, 2019 Notice that James didn't scoff at the question or shut it down by informing media members the Lakers will make the playoffs against all odds. He seems to be resigned to the fact that Los Angeles is already done, and well, he's right. The Lakers are buried in the Western Conference standings. If we weren't talking about the Lakers and LeBron, this team would have been written off before falling to the Clippers. That loss just reinforced what was already known. Los Angeles is now closer to the Grizzlies at No. 14 than the Spurs in the No. 8 slot. The Lakers are down to a less than one percent chance of reaching the postseason, according to FiveThirtyEight's latest projections, the same odds as the Pelicans, a team that has placed its top-five player on a minutes restriction. Playoff seed Team Games back 1. Warriors — 2. Nuggets 2 3. Rockets 5 4. Thunder 5.5 5. Trail Blazers 6 6. Jazz 8 7. Clippers 8 8. Spurs 8.5 — Kings 12.5 — Timberwolves 15 — Lakers 15 — Pelicans 16.5 — Mavericks 18 — Grizzlies 19 — Suns 30.5 The Clippers and Spurs already own tiebreakers against the Lakers. The battle for LA was important not only because the Lakers needed to rack up as many wins as possible, but also because of the tiebreaker implications. NBA tiebreakers are first determined by head-to-head records, then by division records. The Lakers could even the season series at 2-2 with one more head-to-head game remaining on April 5, but the Clippers (11-3) are far superior to the Lakers (7-6) within the Pacific Division. As for the Spurs, San Antonio already took three of the four matchups against the Lakers, so that head-to-head tiebreaker is gone. The Lakers' remaining schedule is brutal. It's a rough road ahead. The Lakers face the 10th-toughest remaining schedule, according to Tankathon, and only five of their final 17 games come against teams under .500. Date Team Record March 9 vs. Celtics 40-26 March 12 at Bulls 19-48 March 14 at Raptors 47-19 March 15 at Pistons 33-31 March 17 at Knicks 13-52 March 19 at Bucks 49-16 March 22 vs. Nets 34-33 March 24 vs. Kings 32-32 March 26 vs. Wizards 27-38 March 27 at Jazz 37-28 March 29 vs. Hornets 30-35 March 31 at Pelicans 30-38 April 2 at Thunder 40-26 April 4 vs. Warriors 45-20 April 5 at Clippers 38-29 April 7 vs. Jazz 37-28 April 9 vs. Trail Blazers 39-26 Meanwhile, the Clippers (18th-toughest remaining schedule) and Spurs (21st) travel relatively easy roads down the stretch. The latest projections show the last two teams in the West playoff field will finish around 44-45 wins, meaning the Lakers would need to go 14-3 for the mere possibility of reaching the first round. (And that's without mentioning the Kings or the additional help the Lakers need.) Good luck with that. Vegas sportsbooks are already operating as though the Lakers have been eliminated. Yep, we're all done here. Vegas knows.<doc-sep>	Every NBA team made all the moves they could make at the trade deadline earlier this month and got a short break for All-Star Weekend. Now, the final stretch of the regular season is in full swing. As usual, the great teams are pulling away from the competition while others are playing themselves out of playoff contention. The big story right now is the Los Angeles Lakers’ fading playoff hopes. LeBron James finally came back from the groin injury that kept him out of 18 games, but little has changed. The Lakers have lost seven of the last 10, including back-to-back losses to tanking teams in the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies. At 29-31, the Lakers are 11th in the west and nowhere near playoff contention. ESPN’s BPI gives them just a 3.1 percent chance of making the postseason at all. Photo: Harry How/Getty Images Elsewhere in the Western Conference, things are working out roughly as expected. The Golden State Warriors are 1.5 games ahead of the Denver Nuggets for the top spot. The Oklahoma City Thunder have a small lead over the Portland Trail Blazers for the third seed, as well. Things are more interesting at the bottom of the playoff standings. If the Staples Center hosts playoff games this year, it will be for the LA Clippers, not the Lakers. They have a one-game lead over San Antonio for the seventh seed. The Spurs, meanwhile, are just barely ahead of the upstart Sacramento Kings for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Milwaukee Bucks have started to pull away in the Eastern Conference. They are 2.5 games ahead of the Toronto Raptors for the top seed, and should get it, barring anything unexpected. The Indiana Pacers are a story to watch right now; star Victor Oladipo is out for the year, but they are 8-2 in their last 10 and currently sit in the third spot in the east. Despite briefly overtaking the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this month, the Boston Celtics are back to fifth after recent struggles. They gave up a huge lead in a home loss to the Clippers earlier this month and lost by 10 to the lowly Chicago Bulls on Saturday. The bottom of the Eastern Conference is dominated by mediocrity. The final two playoff seeds are currently held by the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets, both of whom have losing records. The Orlando Magic or Miami Heat could theoretically grab the eighth seed, too. NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Standings: Milwaukee Bucks (46-14) Toronto Raptors (44-17) Indiana Pacers (40-21) Philadelphia 76ers (39-22) Boston Celtics (37-23) Brooklyn Nets (32-30) Detroit Pistons (29-30) Charlotte Hornets (28-32) NBA Western Conference Playoff Standings: Golden State Warriors (43-17) Denver Nuggets (41-18) Oklahoma City Thunder (38-21) Portland Trail Blazers (37-23) Houston Rockets (35-25) Utah Jazz (33-26) Los Angeles Clippers (34-28) San Antonio Spurs (33-29)
Blackpool fans finally made an emotional return after ending their near four-year boycott of Bloomfield Road. Supporters filled the previously empty stands for Saturday's League One home game with Southend after former owners the Oyston family were this week forced to relinquish interest in the club. There were 15,871 fans in the stadium, compared to the 4,000 who turned up to watch the team play Oxford United a fortnight earlier. 1:38 Highlights of the Sky Bet League One game between Blackpool and Southend. Taylor Moore's own goal in added time, made it 2-2, and led to a mini pitch invasion from the delighted supporters in tangerine. The cause of the boycott dates back to the team's 2010-11 season in the Premier League. The £90m parachute payments the club received on relegation should have helped strengthen the squad but supporters complained it was never reinvested - and Blackpool suffered three relegations in five seasons.<doc-sep>1,823 Blackpool fans made the trip to Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night ahead of their return to Bloomfield Road When Bloomfield Road opens its doors on Saturday, in excess of 14,000 Blackpool fans will welcome a new dawn for the seaside town that has its team back. Following an excruciating wait, the League One visit of Southend United marks the end of the Oyston family's turbulent reign and an emotional return for the crowds. An unwavering four-year boycott united supporters, yet Blackpool - a Premier League side in 2010-11 - appeared in free-fall. Plummeting into English football's fourth tier on the back of three relegations in five seasons, a sustained lack of interest from those in charge left fans with little optimism. Now, after an arduous period of fleeting hope and demoralising set-backs, concluded by a High Court ruling on 13 February, the subsequent announcement of owner Owen Oyston's removal signals the end of a damaging struggle. "When you've suffered for something, when you've been deprived of something and you've fought for it and won, that gives you so much pride," Blackpool Supporters Trust chairwoman Christine Seddon told BBC Sport. "It's been a very, very, long, drawn-out and painful campaign. There have been some very dark times. When nothing seemed to be happening, that's when it was hardest." 'They know now what fans are capable of' The atmosphere at Blackpool in recent years has been nothing short of toxic, with the owners suing fans for online comments epitomising the disconnect at the heart of the club. A burning sense of injustice took hold as a Premier League legacy failed to materialise, and payments from the club to companies owned by Owen Oyston and his son Karl, former chairman, realised fans' suspicions of mismanagement. Court rulings in November 2017, brought by shareholder Valeri Belokon, found the Oystons had "illegitimately stripped external-link " £26.77m from the club. Yet still, despite the hope that accompanied the club being put up for sale, the stand-off rumbled on. "People felt Oyston was never going to go," said Seddon, a lifelong supporter. "The courts decreed he was in the wrong, yet the authorities still wouldn't act. Nobody was doing anything about it. "People were beginning to get very fed up. We tried to keep people motivated but nothing seemed to be happening. "It was very important that the fans came together to have a voice because nobody was listening to us. It's that fan action that has made the difference." Blackpool fans forced the club's final game of the 2014-15 season to be abandoned after occupying the pitch Years of frustration reached breaking point in the Seasiders' final game of the 2014-15 Championship season; with the club rock-bottom, the protesting home support invaded the pitch and forced an abandonment of their fixture against Huddersfield. Since then, the fans exercised the only power they possessed and swore not to give a penny more. "We need to understand where the power actually lies," added Seddon. "If you can get yourselves organised and do as our fans have done, you can succeed. Blackpool fans have proved that. "The fans have shown themselves to be so stoic, so courageous, so determined. Any new owner must tap into that and get us on side because they know now what the fans are capable of if they don't." 'Time for some new rules'? The lack of progress - despite court findings that the owners had "abused their powers to the detriment" of the club - convinced supporters to question those overseeing their plight. With Owen Oyston, convicted of rape external-link prior to the 2004 introduction of the fit and proper persons test and breaking no rules under the EFL's owners' and directors' test, the sustained sacrifice of boycotting fans often appeared in vain. According to Seddon, this triggered a "frustration and real anger". "Blackpool is our priority but it is part of a much bigger problem," she added. "I absolutely share the frustrations of fans - not just at Blackpool but at many clubs. There are real football clubs and real fans that are suffering real problems, and nobody is doing anything about it. "If you've got someone like Owen Oyston, yet he's not breaking your rules, then it's time to get some new rules because that's embarrassing." Owen Oyston had owned Blackpool for 31 years, famously buying the club for £1 in May 1988 Fans of Charlton Athletic joined Blackpool in staging protests outside EFL headquarters last year, with supporters adamant that inadequate intervention from the authorities was failing their clubs. "It became obvious there was nobody overseeing what was happening, so when owners go rogue, who's dealing with it? The answer is absolutely nobody," said Seddon. "Football without fans is nothing. We tried to engage with them, they didn't seem to want to engage with us, so we started to shine a light on the EFL." This week, the EFL board agreed to allow Blackpool's receivers time to review their financial situation before it decides whether to invoke a 12-point insolvency penalty on the club. The EFL told BBC Sport that it operates inside a regulatory framework of governance and that the regulations have often frustrated parties who think it should have done more with regard to the ownership of Blackpool. It added that league officials hope they will be able to find a solution which will deliver the stability that will benefit Blackpool going forward. Important lessons learned While 'Homecoming Saturday' will bring jubilant scenes across the town and Bloomfield Road is set to transform into a roaring arena of tangerine, the underlying scars of such a drawn-out battle will take much longer to fade. Lessons must be learned from Blackpool's experiences, and the Supporters Trust continues to appeal for an authority that is "effective, with real power to act and step in". Protecting against unfit owners may be tricky, but alternative paths now become vital. Germany's 50+1 rule offers one such solution, in which all Bundesliga clubs require a 51% fan-owned majority. Examples of fan ownership can, of course, be found much closer to home. In 2003, Exeter City was left on the brink and, with then-chairman John Russell jailed for the part he played in the club's demise, the Supporters' Trust took on the club and its debt. quote Blackpool fans have been a credit to every football supporter in the country. Nick Hawker Exeter Supporters Trust Chairman It's a relationship referred to by current Trust chairman Nick Hawker as "community ownership". "Football clubs should be immersed in the community. Glory can be winning the league or a cup, but any team can have the glory of being a benefit to the people who live there," said Hawker. Boosted financially by a productive academy, Exeter have reached the last two League Two play-off finals. Defeated by Blackpool in 2017 and losing to Coventry last season, Hawker describes the Grecians' Wembley trips as a "great advert for fan ownership". "Speaking to other clubs, they are looking at supporter ownership or part ownership as communities look to get involved in their football club, to reclaim it. It's too valuable to lose," he said. "I take my hat off to Blackpool fans. The supporters have taken responsibility to change their position. They almost own their club already. They're reclaiming the club for the community and I think that's fantastic. "They've been a credit to every football supporter in the country. Yes, it's taken a long time, but they got there." Whether change will come from Blackpool's tale is yet to be seen. For now, the immediate improvement on the mind of the tangerine support is a return to their club. "I'm very optimistic," Seddon added. "There are so many enthusiastic people desperate to get their club back. The opportunities are amazing. This can push Blackpool forward."<doc-sep>	David Reidy was back in Bloomfield Road for the first time in four years on Thursday. The Blackpool supporter of nearly six decades had brought with him a couple of buckets to do some cleaning. Over the previous three days, he had scrubbed more than 1,000 of the orange plastic seats, getting them ready for Saturday’s match. “The ones in the corner were the worst,” he said. “The seagulls seemed drawn to them. They had four years of muck encrusted on them. On some, it was six inches deep. It was really disgusting.” As visual metaphors go, it would be hard to beat what was going on in Blackpool’s home stadium this week, as years of accumulated filth was being washed away to ready the place for the League One fixture against Southend United. Normally, this would be an encounter dismissed as the very definition of run-of-the-mill. But, after what happened in the High Court two weeks ago, it has become a match charged with emotion. Because, for the first time since May 2015, Bloomfield Road will be packed with Blackpool supporters. After four seasons, the longest-running fans’ boycott in English football is over. Since it became clear that the unpopular ownership of the Oyston family is no more, the supporters have been excitedly preparing to return. Already, nearly 15,000 tickets have been sold, which suggests – given that in the club’s brief sojourn in the Premier League, 1,200 seats were given to visiting supporters – this could be the biggest gathering of Blackpool fans at the place in 40 years. No wonder locally they are calling it “The Homecoming”.
The Xiaomi Mi A2 is not what you would call “official”, but that shouldn’t get in the way of a good deal. And it is a good deal – a seller on AliExpress is asking $190/$210 for the phone, even though initial rumors suggested $283 or so (to be fair, we’re comparing a price for China with one for Europe, but even EU taxes can’t account for $90). Anyway, the listing confirms the expected specs – a metal body with a notched 5.84” screen (1,080 x 2,2280px) on the front and 12 + 5 MP dual camera on the rear (which shoots 4K video). Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite in Gold, Black and Blue The beefy 4,000mAh should last forever with the power efficient (if not overly fast) Snapdragon 625. It’s paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage. The phone has a dual SIM slot with a dedicated spot for a microSD card so storage expansion is guaranteed. That’s the $190 version of the phone, but the $210 one may be the better deal – it has 4GB of RAM and 64 GB storage. Not bad upgrades for a $20 bill. Both are available in Black, Blue and Gold. Source \| Via (in Spanish)<doc-sep>Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi had recently announced that it is holding an event in Spain for the global launch of its next smartphone. But a listing on third-party e-commerce website AliExpress.com, seems to have ruined Xiaomi's big surprise. As per the rumour mill, Xiaomi is planning to launch the second-generation of Android One smartphone, Mi A2. The global variant of the Lite version of the handset has emerged on Ali Express in two storage options -- the base variant offers 3GB RAM and 32GB storage at $189.99 (approximately Rs 13,000) and the other one comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and is selling at $209.99 (roughly Rs 14,400). Lite alleged specifications As per the listing on Ali Express, the Mi A2 Lite will come in three colour options -- Gold, Black and Blue. Measuring 149.33x71.68x8.75mm, and weighing 178g, the Mi A2 Lite is part of Google's Android One initiative, just like the predecessor and runs on Android 8.1-based Oreo. It sports a 5.84-inch full HD full screen of 2280x1080p resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio. This will be the first budget Xiaomi handset to come with a notch. The Mi A2 Lite is powered by 2.0GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor with Adreno 506. It comes with 256GB external microSD card support. Backed by a 4000mAh battery, it offers a dual rear camera setup of comprising of 12-megapixel primary sensor and 5-megapixel secondary sensor. The camera also boasts of features. On the front there is 5-megapixel sensor that comes equipped with standard camera modes such as HDR mode, AI portrait mode, AI beauty function. In terms of connectivity, the Mi A2 Lite is listed with 4G LTE, 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS/ A-GPS, and Micro-USB options. Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite Performance Snapdragon 625 Display 5.84" (14.83 cm) Storage 32 GB Camera 12 MP + 5 MP Battery 4000 mAh Ram 3 GB see full specifications ❯<doc-sep>Android One smartphone Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite has gone on sale on e-commerce website AliExpress ahead of its official launch. This version is a lighter and cheaper version of the Mi A2 that is expected to be unveiled in Spain on July 24. The Mi A2 Lite is listed in two variants – 3GB RAM/32GB ROM at $199.99 (approx Rs13,700) and 4GB RAM/64GB ROM at $229.99 (approx Rs15,700). The listing also revealed the specifications of the Mi A2 Lite. According to AliExpress, the smartphone runs Android 8.1 Oreo based on Android One and is powered by an Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC paired with either 3GB or 4GB RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, expandable up to 256GB via a MicroSD card. On the front it boasts a 5.84-inch full-HD+ display with a resolution of 1080x2280 and 19:9 aspect ratio. To capture images, it has a 12MP + 5MP dual camera setup on the back and a 5MP sensor on the front. It is powered by a 4,000mAh battery. Also read: Xiaomi Mi A2: What to expect under the hood Earlier, Xiaomi had teased the Mi A2 launch with a bunch of tweets that hinted an unveiling in Madrid, Spain, on July 24. The Chinese smartphone giant also celebrated its four years in India recently with a ‘Mi 4 u’ on July 10 which went on till July 12. We are giving you ALL not 1 but 2 smartphones on July 24th! Any guesses? #2isbetterthan1 pic.twitter.com/cYQUWCbEqL — Mi (@xiaomi) July 17, 2018 The outgoing Mi A1 features a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1080. It runs Android One and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. It has a dual-camera setup, with 12MP primary and secondary sensors and a 5MP selfie camera. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now! ! Topics<doc-sep>The Nokia X6 launched to renowned success on July 10 that saw 10 handsets sold every minute on average. The device was so popular that 5 out of 10 handsets sold via the popular e-retailer JD.com was a Nokia X6. With the India launch of the Nokia X6 coming up fast and the international launch of the device on July 19, the device faces tough competition from the Xiaomi Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite. Can the Nokia X6 see the same success as Nokia 6.1 Plus in the global market? Nokia X6: Specifications, Features The Nokia X6 has a 5.8-inch IPS LCD screen with a display resolution of 2280 × 1080 and a 19:9 aspect ratio and is the first phone by HMD Global to feature a notch at the top of the display allowing the device to achieve an 85% screen-to-body ratio. The phone is built with premium glass construction on both sides and features a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. Powering this mid-range handset is a Snapdragon 636 octa-core chipset paired with an Adreno 509 GPU. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. The Nokia X6 retains the 3.5mm headphone jack and has a USB Type-C connector which has support for Quick Charge 3.0. On the camera front, you have a 16MP + 5MP dual-camera setup at the back, while the front notch holds a 16MP selfie camera. All the usual connectivity options can be found such as 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS and so on. All of this is powered by a 3060mAh battery that should see a full day’s use. Xiaomi Mi A2, Mi A2 Lite: Specifications, Features Going up against the Nokia X6 is the Xiaomi Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite that offers some impressive features. While the Mi A2 will sport an 18:9 aspect ratio, the Mi A2 Lite will have a taller 19:9 display complete with a notch on the top of the display. The regular Mi A2 has a 5.99-inch 1080 x 2160 display with dimensions 158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3 mm. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo and is powered by an Octa-core Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 with Adreno 512 as well as 6GB of RAM with 128GB or 64GB of internal storage or 4GB of RAM with 32GB of storage. The camera is a dual rear camera setup with a 12-Megapixel f/1.8 and 20-Megapixel f/1.8 lens. You’ll also find a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and USB Type-C connectivity. The Mi A2 Lite has a smaller 5.84-inch display but sports the same dual camera setup on the rear of the device so looks largely similar to its older brother. In an effort to cut costs, a micro-USB port is featured instead of the newer Type-C connector but does include a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is something the Mi A2 doesn’t have. The device is also powered by a Snapdragon 625 instead of the Snapdragon 660 but you’ll still see 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage and Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. The Mi A2 Lite is also powered by a rather impressive 4,000mAh battery that will certainly see a full day of use, if not two days. Nokia X6, Xiaomi Mi A2, Mi A2 Lite: Price in India The Mi A2 base model with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage looks set to start at roughly Rs.14,999, although the most expensive model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage should be expected to cost Rs.17,999. The Mi A2 Lite is expected to be roughly Rs.12,999 In comparison, the Nokia X6 is set to cost somewhere in the region of Rs.16,999 for the base model or Rs.19,999 for the higher specification model. Both the Mi A2 and Nokia X6 are excellent devices and offer equally competitive specs for mid-range devices. As to which device to get will probably come down to the availability of each device in India and when it is released. Drop us a comment below and let us know which device wins in your opinion.<doc-sep>	Xiaomi Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite are set to launch on July 24 in Spain, but ahead of that, the two smartphones have now been listed on two e-commerce sites in Romania, revealing nearly everything. The Romanian listings has revealed the pricing of the two smartphones ahead of launch. Both new smartphones, apart from continuing the legacy of being a part of Google's Android One, will come with a thin-bezel screen. The handsets are also confirmed to sport a vertically-positioned dual rear camera setup, and that one would be smaller than the other. In Romania, the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite has been listed on QuickMobile.ro and PCGarage.ro. On QuickMobile, the Xiaomi Mi A2 with 4GB RAM/32GB storage is listed for RON 1,288 (roughly Rs. 22,200) and the 4GB RAM/64GB storage variant is listed for RON 1,424 (roughly Rs. 24,600). The Mi A2 Lite is listed for RON 943 roughly Rs. 16,200) for the 3GB RAM/32GB storage and RON 1,143 (roughly Rs. 19,700) for the 4GB RAM/64GB storage variant. Availability is pegged for seven days from now. On PCGarage, the Mi A2 is listed for RON 1,400 (roughly Rs. 24,200, 4GB RAM/32GB storage) and RON 1,600 (roughly Rs. 27,600, 4GB RAM/64GB storage), and for the Mi A2 Lite variant, the site is asking for RON 1,000 (roughly Rs. 17,200, 3GB RAM/32GB storage) and RON 1,200 (roughly Rs. 20,700, 4GB RAM/64GB storage)respectively. Availability is pegged for 11 days from now. The Mi A2 Lite was also spotted on sale on AliExpress in China just a day ago. Xiaomi Mi A2 specifications As we already know, the Mi A2 is nothing but the Android One certified global variant of the Mi 6X launched in China in April. The Xiaomi Mi A2 is listed to run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box and feature a 5.99-inch full-HD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, it is suggested to include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC, paired with 4GB of RAM. The smartphone is also likely to come with a dual rear camera setup that includes a 12-megapixel primary sensor and a 20-megapixel secondary sensor - both featuring an f/1.75 aperture, along with an LED flash module. On the front, it could have a 20-megapixel sensor with artificial intelligence (AI) backed features, including an AI Portrait mode. The handset may also have 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the connectivity front and a 3010mAh battery. Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite specifications In contrast, the Mi A2 Lite is expected to sport a 5.84-inch full-HD+ display with a 19:9 aspect ratio and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC, paired with 3GB RAM option and up to 64GB of onboard storage that is expandable via microSD card (up to 256GB). The smartphone is also found to have a 12-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor within its dual rear camera setup and a 5-megapixel front camera sensor. Besides, it could come with a 4000mAh battery and offer connectivity options such as 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS/ A-GPS, and Micro-USB.
On the day that Avengers:Endgame arrived in theaters, Chelsea U19 also avenged their snapture against Barcelona in last year’s UEFA Youth League final by eliminating the holders in a most dramatic penalty shootout, after coming from behind twice in regulation. UEFA have disabled embedding on their official highlights — how is this still a thing in2019? — so you’ll have to click over to YouTube to watch them. Chelsea have (slightly longer) highlights up on the App and the website, also not easily embeddable (again, how is that still a thing in 2019?). At the top, you can see some other highlights easily found on YouTube because official sources are being far too obtuse for 2019. Anyway. Luke McCormick continued his amazing form with another goal (that’s three of the last four scored by the team), the first equalizer just past the hour mark, while the ever-wonderfully named Charlie Brown grabbed the second equalizer just minutes from full-time. Both of Barcelona’s goals were scored by one of the latest jewels of La Masia, the 16-year-old Ansu Fati. Just as in the quarterfinals, goalkeeper Karlo Ziger came up big in the shootout, making the save that confirmed the Blues’ place in Monday’s final, where they will face FC Porto. This will be Chelsea’s fourth UEFA Youth League final, having won two of three so far (2014-15 vs. Shakhtar and 2015-16 vs. PSG). Chelsea and Barcelona both have two titles from this still very new competition’s first five years; we will now have a chance to move to three. U19s head coach Joe Edwards was rightly pleased. Chelsea’s Academy teams haven’t been quite as dominant this season as in the recent past, but that winning character that is part of the Cobham education has been on full display in the UEFA Youth League campaign. “We had to show character. We didn’t want to make it too much about last year’s game against them but we did reflect about how you have to suffer at times without possession and how you have to deal with the setbacks when they come along. Our reaction in the second half was outstanding, we dominated the game and were much the better team.” -Joe Edwards; source: Chelsea FC One more game to go!<doc-sep>Sign up to FREE email alerts from Football London - Chelsea Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Karlo Ziger Coudn't do much with the goal and he made a couple of decent saves in the first half when the pressure was on. Was really unlucky with the second goal, making a couple of good saves but the ball bouncing back and over him. However, could have done better with the third goal as it went through him. Some more decent saves, though. 6 Tariq Lamptey Had a superb start to the game, bursting past the left-back on a couple of occasions and setting up great chances that should have been buried. However, struggled to get into the game in the second bit of the first half. That was the same in the second half as well and Port did really well to nullify his threat in the second period after what was a bright start. 6 Joseph Colley Disappointing for the goal as the centre-halves didn't pick up their men and it was too easy for Porto to get the goal. Not enough solidity at the back, although it got harder as the match went on with the Blues committing more men forward. 5 Marc Guehi A tough afternoon at the back with Porto looking dangerous every time that they managed to get forward. Guehi looked like the most composed of the back three, but they were left exposed. 5 Ian Maatsen Left isolated at times and he should have done better to stop the cross for the opening goal of the game. A couple of nice runs from the back. However, like the other defenders they struggled to keep hold of the Porto front line with Torres having a decent afternoon on his side. Juan Castillo Not in the running early on, however Chelsea finally got him in the game with some decent balls out left and he put in a couple of nice crosses. Really got into the game in the second half and he showed a lot of energy and was probably the most threatening player for Chelsea. 7 George McEachran Looking to hold in front of the defence, however the game was too open at times so was a little overrun at times. One stunning pass out to the left flank. However, the defence were left a little overrun throughout the game and the Blues struggled to control the pitch. 5 Conor Gallagher Missed a glorious chance early in the game, playing high up the field and linking well. Had another effort blocked, but struggled to get into the match too much. A frustrating second half for the midfielder, who didn't really bring the quality that we have seen so many times from him this season. 5 Billy Gilmour Didn't really see much of Gilmour for a lot of the first half as he couldn't influence the match as we have seen from him, with a couple of decent corners. However, a bit better in the second half, getting on the ball more but unable to cut through the Porto defence with his passing. 6 Daishawn Redan Not in the match at all in the first half. Had one moment when he linked up with Gallagher, but brought little threat and the service to him was poor. Again not really in the game until he popped up with the goal, a neat header after the goalkeeper committed himself too much. 6 Luke McCormick Playing just off Redan, missed a great early chance to score from close range. A bit like Redan he struggled to get into the first half as well. A couple of nice runs when he picked the ball up from deeper, but that miss at the beginning was a big chance wasted. 6 Substitutes Tino Anjorin (on for Gallagher 76') Couldn't really add to the game for the Blues. 5 Charlie Brown (on for Lamptey 76') Couldn't add to his goal tally in the competition. 5 Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android. Available to download from the App Store and Google Play.<doc-sep>C helsea Under-19s have lost in the Uefa Youth League final after a 3-1 defeat to FC Porto in Nyon. Tariq Lamptey showed his promise early on and the full-back created two golden chances. First, his cutback found Conor Gallagher on the edge of the box and the midfielder fired over from 12 yards. Then it was Luke McCormick's chance to produce a carbon copy, firing over when he really should have hit the target. Chelsea nearly paid the price for their missed chances when Fabio Silva burst through on goal after a clever bit of play from Tomas Esteves and he rounded Karlo Ziger. But the angle was against him and his tame effort was cleared off the line by Marc Guehi. Porto wouldn't rue that chance for long. Mor Ndiaye played a brilliant low cross into the box and there was Fabio Vieira unmarked at the back post to tap home to give the Portuguese side the lead. Chelsea were struggling all of a sudden and nearly fell two behind when Joao Mario dragged his shot inches wide of the far post. The Blues should have levelled when McCormick reacted first after a poor back header from Angel Torres but he could only strike it straight at goalkeeper Diogo Costa. After the interval, they got the crucial equaliser. Juan Castillo whipped in a superb cross and Costa came out to claim it but there was Daishawn Redan to steal in ahead of the goalkeeper and head into the empty net. Porto went back in front just two minutes later after Ziger saved from Joao Mario and the rebound ricocheted off Diogo Quieros before bouncing over the line. It was a hammer blow for Blues and one they didn't recover from. The Portuguese came forward in search of a third and got it seconds after Chelsea were denied a brilliant block. Castillo surged forward down the left but Diogo Leite timed his tackle to perfection, and after breaking quickly, Romario Baro's clever backheel found Afonso Sousa, who's strike was helped by some questionable goalkeeping from Karlo Ziger. Chelsea coach Joe Edwards sent on Charlie Brown, the competition's top scorer with 12 goals, on in the final quarter of an hour but it proved to be in vain as Porto claimed their first Uefa Youth League triumph. Relive the Uefa Youth Cup Final LIVE with Standard Sport! Can't see the blog? Click here for the desktop version.<doc-sep>	Hello and welcome to the football.london matchday live blog for April 29, when Chelsea's youth team will face Porto in the UEFA Youth League final. The Blues are hoping to lift the competition's trophy for the third time in their fourth final over the last six seasons. Joe Edward's side completed a remarkable comeback to defeat Barcelona on penalties on Friday, the team that beat Chelsea in last year's final. They now face the Portuguese side who they also beat via penalties in the semi-final in last term's competition. The youngsters fell 2-1 behind in that match but Josh Grant equalised six minutes later. Callum Hudson-Odoi scored one of Chelsea's penalties. Porto vs Chelsea - Premier League Venue: Colovray Stadium, Nyon Date: Monday April 29 Kick-off time: 5.00pm (BST) Chelsea team news The Blues are yet to provide an update but the team that faced Barcelona was: Ziger, Lamptey, Colley, Guehi, Maatsen, McEachran, Gallagher, Gilmour, Redan, McCormick, Familio-Castillo. Joe Edward's view on Porto "We played them last year in the semi-finals and won on penalties, but it could have gone either way. "I think it will be a very different game to Barcelona and difficult but you'd expect nothing less in the final of a European competition. "We have seen that Porto are a physically strong team and we need everything back in the tank." What TV channel is Porto vs Chelsea on? Porto vs Chelsea will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1, but if you don't have the channel you can join football.london for full coverage of the game from Colovray Stadium, including live blog commentary. Live stream information Porto vs Chelsea will be available to stream on the via UEFA's channel in some countries, but full coverage of the game will be available on football.london , including team news, live blog commentary and player ratings. Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android . Available to download from the App Store and Google Play .

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