Bakıda təlim-məşq toplanışında olan 17 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandası (U-17) ikinci yoxlama oyununu keçirib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, U-17 millimiz yenidən Tacikistanın müvafiq yaş qrupundan ibarət komandası ilə qarşılaşıb.
Milli Komandaların Təlim-Məşq Mərkəzində təşkil edilmiş görüş Aqil Nəbiyevin yetirmələrinin 3:2 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekulaşıb.
Azərbaycan millisinin heyətində qolları 47-ci dəqiqədə Rəsul Balakişiyev, 55-ci dəqiqədə Daniil Rəcəbov və 66-cı dəqiqədə Ruslan Əbilov vurublar.
Xatırladaq ki, komandamız bu rəqibinə qarşı keçirdiyi ilk yoxlama oyununda 0:1 hesablı məğlubiyyətə üzülmüşdü.
İtaliyanın “İnter” klubu təcrübəli yarımmüdafiəçisi, ermənistanlı futbolçu Henrix Mxitaryan ilə yeni müqavilə imzaladığını rəsmən açıqlayıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Milan təmsilçisinin mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.
Yeni anlaşmaya əsasən, 37 yaşlı erməni futbolçunun müqaviləsinin müddəti 2027-ci ilin yayına qədər uzadılıb.
Henrix Mxitaryan 2022-ci ilin iyulundan “İnter”in formasını geyinir. O, bu müddət ərzində “neradzurri”nin heyətində iki dəfə İtaliya çempionu olub, həmçinin iki dəfə İtaliya Kubokunu və iki dəfə İtaliya Super Kubokunu qazanıb.
Yarımmüdafiəçi Milan klubunun heyətində indiyə qədər 187 rəsmi matçda meydana çıxıb. O, bu görüşlərdə 12 qol vurub və 21 məhsuldar ötürmə ilə yadda qalıb.
Karyerası ərzində “Şaxtyor” (Donetsk), “Borussiya” (Dortmund), “Mançester Yunayted”, “Arsenal” və “Roma” kimi klubların da formasını geyinmiş Mxitaryan uzun illər Ermənistan millisinin kapitanı olub və ölkə futbolunun ən tanınmış simalarından biri hesab edilir.
Meksikalı Xilberto Mora dünya çempionatlarının pley-off mərhələsində start heyətində meydana çıxan 2-ci ən gənc futbolçu kimi tarixə düşüb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu, DÇ-2026-nın 1/16 final mərhələsi çərçivəsində baş tutmuş Ekvadorla matçda (2:0) reallaşıb.
Mexiko stadionunda keçirilmiş görüşdə meksikalı futbolçu 17 yaş 259 günlük olub. Qarşılaşmaya start heyətində başlamış Mora meydanda 58 dəqiqə mübarizə aparıb.
Turnir tarixində ondan daha gənc yaşda pley-off oyununa çıxmış futbolçu isə 1958-ci ildə Uelsə qarşı 17 yaş 239 günlüyündə mübarizə aparmış braziliyalı Pele olub.
Xatırladaq ki, Meksika yığması Ekvadoru 2:0 hesabı ilə məğlub edib. Bu komanda 1/8 finalda İngiltərə – Konqo Demokratik Respublikası matçının qalibi ilə üz-üzə gələcək. Həmin oyun da Mexikoda baş tutacaq.
Meksikanın U-15, U-16, U-17 və U-20 yığmalarında da oynamış Xilberto Mora ölkəsinin “Tixuana” klubunun yetirməsidir. 17 yaşlı hücumameyilli yarımmüdafiəçi bu klubun əsas komandasında 53 oyun keçirib, 10 qol vurub, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub. Meksika millisində isə o, 11 oyun keçirib və 1 assistlə yadda qalıb.
İtaliyanın “Atalanta” klubunun sağ cinah müdafiəçisi Marko Palestra bundan sonra İngiltərə nəhənglərindən “Çelsi”nin uğurları üçün çalışacaq.
Arena.az bu barədə London təmsilçisinin rəsmi saytına istinadən xəbər verir.
“Çelsi” bu transfer üçün “Atalanta”ya 57 milyon avro ödəyib. 21 yaşlı futbolçu yeni klubu ilə 7 illik (2033-cü ilin 30 iyununadək) müqavilə imzalayıb.
Marko Palestra “Atalanta”nın yetirməsidir. Gənc futbolçu Berqamo klubunun əsas komandasının heyətində cəmi 16 oyuna çıxıb, məhsuldar fəaliyyəti ilə diqqət çəkməyib. Ötən mövsümü isə o, “Kalyari”də icarədə keçirib (37 oyun, 1 qol, 4 assist).
İtaliyanın U-18, U-19, U-20 və U-21 yığmalarında da oynamış futbolçu bu il əsas millidə debüt edib və hələlik, 2 oyun keçirib.
“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 21 yaşlı müdafiəçinin transfer dəyərini 35 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.
İspaniyanın “Atletiko” (Madrid) klubu təcrübəli yarımmüdafiəçisi, komandanın kapitanı Koke ilə müqavilənin müddətini uzadıb.
Arena.az bu barədə La Liqa təmsilçisinin rəsmi saytına istinadən xəbər verir.
34 yaşlı futbolçunun yeni sözləşməsi 2027-ci ilin yayına – iyun ayının 30-na qədər nəzərdə tutulub. Tərəflər arasındakı əvvəlki müqavilənin müddəti bu yay bitirdi.
Xatırladaq ki, Koke “Atletiko”nun öz yetirməsidir. O, 2008/2009 mövsümündə bu klubun gənclər komandasında debüt edib, 2010/2011 mövsümündə isə əsas komandaya cəlb edilib. Futbolçu bütün karyerasını yalnız Madrid “Atletiko”suna həsr edib.
Ümumilikdə o, “döşəkçilər”in heyətində 740 oyun keçirib ki, bu da klub tarixində rekord göstəricidir. Yarımmüdafiəçi bu oyunlarda 50 qol vurub, 122 məhsuldar ötürmə verib. Geridə qalmış 2024/2025-ci illər mövsümündə ispan futbolçu 56 oyuna 2 qol və 3 məhsuldar ötürmə ilə yadda qalıb.
Koke “Atletiko” ilə 8 qənimət qazanıb: 2 İspaniya La Liqası (2013/2014, 2020/2021), İspaniya Kral Kuboku (2012/2013), İspaniya Super Kuboku (2013/2014), 2 Avropa Liqası (2011/2012, 2017/2018), 2 UEFA Super Kuboku (2011/2012, 2017/2018).
Yarımmüdafiəçi 2013-cü ilin avqustunda debüt etdyi İspaniya yığma komandasının heyətində 70 oyun keçirib. O, bu görüşlərdə 8 məhsuldar ötürmə verib. İspan yarımmüdafiəçi “qırmızı qəzəb”in U-21 yığması ilə 2013-cü il Avropa çempionatının qalibi olub.
“Transfermarkt” internet portalı 34 yaşlı Kokeni 5 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir. Kokenin klubla yeni müqavilə bağlaması futbolçunun bu gedişlə karyerasını elə Madrid təmsilçisində bitirməsi ehtimalını artırıb.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan millisinin oktyabr ayında UEFA Millətlər Liqası çərçivəsində keçirəcəyi ev oyunlarının məkanları müəyyənləşib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə AFFA-nın rəsmi saytı məlumat yayıb.
Xəbərdə bildirilir ki, əsas millimiz D Liqası çərçivəsində oktyabrın 1-də Lixtenşteyn yığmasını Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika Stadionunda qəbul edəcək.
Oktyabrın 4-də Litva yığması ilə qarşılaşma isə Gəncə şəhər stadionunda təşkil ediləcək.
Bakıda təlim-məşq toplanışında olan 17 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandası ikinci yoxlama oyununu keçirib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, U-17 yenidən Tacikistanın müvafiq yaş qrupundan ibarət komandası ilə qarşılaşıb.
Milli Komandaların Təlim-Məşq Mərkəzində təşkil olunan görüş Aqil Nəbiyevin yetirmələrinin 3:2 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekulaşıb.
Millimizin heyətində qolları 47-ci dəqiqədə Rəsul Balakişiyev, 55-ci dəqiqədə Daniil Rəcəbov və 66-cı dəqiqədə Ruslan Əbilov vurublar.
Dünya Taekvondo Federasiyası, Taekvondo Təbliğat Fondu və “Taekwondowon” İdman Kompleksinin birgə təşkilatçılığı ilə Cənubi Koreyanın Muju şəhərində 1-7 iyul tarixlərini əhatə edən beynəlxalq təlim-məşq toplanışı keçiriləcək.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, dünyanın 10-dan çox ölkəsindən cəmi 40 parataekvondoçunun xüsusi dəvətlə qatılacağı bu nüfuzlu təlim-məşq toplanışında Azərbaycan milli komandasının üzvləri Sabir Zeynalov (58 kq), Amin Əliyev (63 kq) və Səmayə Həsənova (47 kq) da iştirak edəcəklər.
Yalnız seçilmiş idmançılar üçün nəzərdə tutulan bu təlim-məşq toplanışı idmançılarımızın dünyanın aparıcı parataekvondoçuları ilə birgə hazırlıq keçməsi, təcrübə mübadiləsi aparması və peşəkarlıq səviyyəsini daha da artırması üçün mühüm fürsət yaradacaq.
| WHO | Belgium vs Senegal |
| WHAT | 2026 World Cup |
| WHEN | 3:00pm ET / 12:00pm PT • Wednesday, July 1, 2026 |
| WHERE | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, Peacock Premium, FS1, Telemundo and Hulu + Live TV |
| STREAM | WATCH NOW |
Belgium enters the knockout stage with surging momentum after a dominant 5-1 victory over New Zealand secured them the top spot in Group G. Currently riding a 16-game unbeaten streak, the Red Devils are looking to prove that their golden generation’s successors can finally deliver on the international stage. This high-stakes clash is a critical test of their title ambitions.
Senegal, on the other hand, staged a dramatic comeback to reach the Round of 32. After two initial losses, the Lions of Teranga saved their tournament with a stunning 5-0 win against Iraq. For them, this match is a massive opportunity to eliminate a European powerhouse. In a win-or-go-home scenario, Senegal’s resilience makes them an incredibly dangerous opponent.
The two teams arrive here on vastly different trajectories. Belgium started slow, grinding out two draws before exploding offensively in their final group game. This tournament is about demonstrating tactical evolution and consistency. In contrast, Senegal‘s journey has been a rollercoaster, surviving back-to-back defeats before delivering a commanding performance when it mattered most, showcasing their clutch mentality.
The tactical battle will be a fascinating clash of styles. Belgium will likely deploy a fluid, possession-based 4-2-3-1 system, aiming to use their technical midfielders and dynamic wingers to control the tempo and create openings. Senegal is expected to counter with a compact and physical 4-3-3 formation, focusing on defensive solidity, congesting the midfield, and launching rapid counter-attacks into the space left by Belgium’s advancing players.
For Belgium, the motivation is to validate their status as a top contender and prove that their demolition of New Zealand was a true reflection of their quality, not an anomaly. The pressure is on them to perform. For Senegal, this match feels like a free hit. Having already stared elimination in the face, they can play with a sense of freedom that could unsettle their highly-favored opponents.
This knockout match at Lumen Field will mark a historic occasion, as it is the first-ever meeting between Belgium and Senegal in any competition, friendly or official. With no prior history to draw from, both teams will be stepping into uncharted territory.
While they haven’t faced Senegal, Belgium has played against African nations six times in past tournaments, securing three wins, two draws, and just one loss. Their most recent encounter was a 1-1 draw with Egypt in the group stage of this competition. Senegal has faced European opposition nine times in the finals, with a record of two wins, three draws, and four defeats, including a 3-2 loss to Norway earlier in this tournament.
Statistically, the group stage revealed key trends. Senegal has been remarkably clinical, scoring eight goals from just 5.25 expected goals (xG), proving they can punish opponents with limited chances. Belgium scored six goals from a higher 6.79 xG, indicating they create more but have been less efficient. However, Senegal‘s defense has been porous, conceding six goals, which could be an area for Belgium‘s potent attack to exploit.
Both squads approach this crucial knockout match with key players available, but each side is monitoring at least one significant injury concern.
Belgium receives a defensive boost with the return of Nathan Ngoy from suspension. However, they are likely to be without Sporting defender Zeno Debast, who has been struggling with an injury since the start of the tournament and is not expected to be fit for this clash.
Senegal‘s primary concern is in goal, where first-choice keeper Edouard Mendy is a major doubt due to a knee injury that forced him out of the last match. Mory Diaw is on standby to deputize again. On a positive note, the rest of the squad is fully available, with no suspensions to worry about.
Belgium Projected XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Castagne, Mechele, Ngoy, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Vanaken; Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard; De Ketelaere.
This lineup allows Belgium to control the midfield through Youri Tielemans while unleashing the creative genius of Kevin De Bruyne in the number ten role. The pace and trickery of Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard on the wings will be crucial to breaking down Senegal’s organized defense.
Senegal Projected XI (4-3-3): Diaw; Diatta, Niakhate, Seck, Diouf; Gueye, Camara, Gueye; Sarr, Ndiaye, Mané.
Senegal’s strength lies in its powerful and experienced spine. Pape Gueye will be the engine in midfield, while the attacking trio of Sadio Mané, Ismaïla Sarr, and Iliman Ndiaye offers a wealth of Premier League experience, speed, and goal-scoring threat on the counter-attack.
You can find the Belgium vs Senegal live stream on Fubo. The platform is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and gaming consoles, as well as web browsers and mobile apps.
In addition to the 2026 tournament, a subscription to Fubo gives you access to a host of other top-tier soccer competitions. You can watch leagues and tournaments from around the world, ensuring you never miss a moment of the action.
A subscription costs just $14.99/month, providing an affordable way to follow all the drama from the knockout stages. This plan gives you access to every single match of the competition live and on-demand.
SEE MORE: World Cup TV Schedule
If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as Nord VPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming.
DR Congo has waited more than half a century for another chance to rewrite its World Cup story, and the journey has become one of the most fascinating transformations in international soccer. The Leopards have gone from a team remembered for a difficult debut to a national side building a new identity on the biggest stage. Discover the complete history, records, and best finishes of DR Congo at the World Cup and see how far this remarkable soccer journey has taken the national team.
The country returned to the FIFA World Cup in 2026 after a 52-year absence, marking only the second appearance in the nation’s history. The first came in 1974 when the country competed under the name Zaire, becoming the first sub-Saharan African nation to qualify for the tournament.
That debut, however, remains one of the toughest moments in the country’s soccer history. Zaire lost all three group-stage matches without scoring, suffering defeats against Scotland, Brazil, and a famous 9-0 loss against Yugoslavia.
The tournament became remembered for the infamous moment involving defender Ilunga Mwepu, who ran out of the defensive wall and kicked the ball away during Brazil’s free-kick attempt. BBC Sport later reported that the incident was connected to deeper issues surrounding the team, including pressure from the country’s leadership after players faced problems with promised bonuses and conditions.
For decades after that tournament, DR Congo struggled to return to soccer’s biggest competition. Problems involving instability, soccer administration, and a lack of consistent development prevented the nation from reaching another World Cup stage until the current generation emerged.
DR Congo’s best-ever World Cup finish came in the 2026 tournament, where the national team reached the Round of 32 for the first time in history. This became the country’s greatest achievement at the competition after qualifying for the knockout stage from the group phase.
The Leopards achieved a historic campaign after competing in Group K against strong opposition. They earned a 1-1 draw against Portugal, suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Colombia, and completed a dramatic comeback victory over Uzbekistan with a 3-1 win.
| Statistic | DR Congo Men’s World Cup Record |
| Appearances | 2 (1974 as Zaire, 2026) |
| Matches Played | 6 (through the 2026 group stage) |
| Wins / Draws / Losses | 1 Win / 1 Draw / 4 Losses |
| Goals For / Goals Against | 4 Goals Scored / 17 Goals Conceded (through the 2026 group stage) |
| Maiden World Cup Goal | Yoane Wissa (2026 vs. Portugal) |
| Biggest World Cup Win | 3-1 vs. Uzbekistan (2026) |
That victory delivered several historic milestones. DR Congo recorded its first-ever World Cup win, collected its first points at the tournament, and reached the knockout rounds for the first time. The progress represented a complete turnaround from the 1974 campaign, when the nation finished bottom of its group without a victory.
Before 2026, DR Congo’s World Cup record consisted only of their appearance as Zaire in 1974. A summary of their historical stats across both appearances:
| Tournament | Stage Reached | Matches | W-D-L Record | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 West Germany | Group Stage | 3 | 0-0-3 | 0 | 14 |
| 2026 North America | Round of 32 (Ongoing) | 3 | 1-1-1 | 4 | 3 |
The contrast between the two tournaments shows the scale of the national team’s transformation. A side that once struggled to compete globally has now become one of Africa’s most exciting World Cup stories.
Despite the major doubts, England have impressed at the 2026 World Cup, remaining unbeaten heading into the knockout stage. They face DR Congo today, coming in as clear favorites to advance to the Round of 16. However, head coach Thomas Tuchel faces the difficult absence of Reece James for a second consecutive match. As a result, he has made changes to his starting lineup.
Reece James will be unavailable for England after suffering an injury in the match against Ghana. He has been diagnosed with a hamstring injury, ruling him out for several days. However, Thomas Tuchel revealed that he is close to recovering, meaning he could return from the bench in the Round of 16 if England defeat DR Congo today.
Even though Reece James was in excellent form at the start of the tournament, he is coming off a season in which he suffered three injuries with Chelsea: A thigh injury, a knock, and hip problems. Because of this, James’ injury was somewhat expected. As a result, Thomas Tuchel’s decision not to bring another natural right-back, such as Trent Alexander-Arnold or Tino Livramento, has been highly controversial.
With no other natural right-back in the squad, England’s Thomas Tuchel had turned to Jarell Quansah as Reece James’ replacement. However, he suffered a twisted ankle in the recent 2–0 victory over Panama. As a result, he has also been ruled out of the squad for today’s match against DR Congo. Because of these injuries, they have had to turn to Djed Spence, who normally plays at left-back and offers outstanding attacking ability going forward.
England come into the match as the favorites against DR Congo. With their powerful attack and tactical flexibility, they will look to dominate their opponents and break down their solid defensive approach. However, head coach Thomas Tuchel could face serious defensive issues. Against Sébastien Desabre’s team’s efficient counterattacking strategy, the absence of a strong defensive right-back such as Reece James could prove costly.
With Djed Spence at right-back, England gain much more attacking threat, as he has a major impact on the team’s width and depth. However, he does not usually excel defensively, often leaving plenty of space behind him. Because of this, Arthur Masuaku could exploit those spaces by breaking quickly on the counterattack. While Declan Rice could drop back to cover him, doing so would leave space in midfield that DR Congo could exploit.
The Meta Ray-Bans and other AI glasses can perform a slew of useful tasks thanks to their wearable hardware and digital assistant — but Meta has just announced that one of those features will be getting serious limitations as it introduces a paid subscription plan that will unlock more usage time.
Conversation focus was showcased at Meta Connect last year, and is essentially an audio mixer for your real-life conversations. When you switch the feature on — using the voice command "Hey Meta, start conversation focus" — the specs’ microphones will pick up the voice of the person you’re looking at, the AI will separate their voice from the background noise, and then your glasses’ speakers will play what they’re saying to you to amplify their speech and make it stand out.
It’s an impressive feature, and very useful if you struggle to hear people in crowded spaces — or are starting to become a little hard of hearing and want a voice boost much of the time — but this is the feature Meta is now starting to limit. If you only have the free account that you create when you set up your glasses in the Meta AI app, you’ll just have three hours of conversation focus a month (as spotted by The Verge).
If you want more hours you’ll need to sign up to a paid Meta One Premium subscription, which costs $19.99 per month. Notably this subscription doesn’t unlock unlimited conversation focus access; instead your limit is bumped up to 15 hours a month.
In addition to this, Meta One Premium will also give you access to more advanced Meta AI reasoning models through the app, and expanded access to image and video generation models.
We know that unlimited free AI access isn’t sustainable. Every AI query has a data center and energy cost to AI companies like Meta, and eventually they'll need to recuperate those costs or risk serious financial struggles.
However, no matter how inevitable a Meta AI glasses subscription seemed, this isn’t how I imagined it would roll out — frankly it’s quite a bad look for Meta, and I hope it reverses course.
My frustrations with this change as a Meta AI glasses user are three-fold. First, having something that was previously free taken away is never fun, especially as features like conversation focus felt like they’d already been paid for via the purchase of Meta’s glasses.
If Meta One had instead locked a new more powerful AI model behind a subscription, or some powerful new tool, that would feel very different. Your glasses would still do everything you were told they could do at launch, but to get some serious upgrades you’d need to pay up — sure this wouldn’t feel all that amazing either, but at least Meta wouldn’t be seen to be taking a feature away and holding it hostage.
My next frustration is that it’s conversation focus specifically that is being taken away. As I've mentioned, this is something of an accessibility tool, and while I’m sure most users only activate it periodically if there’re in a very noisy bar or somewhere similarly packed, for some I can see conversation focus being a tool they rely on frequently if they have more general hearing troubles but aren’t quite ready for a more sophisticated aid.
The flip side, unfortunately, is that if conversation focus isn’t a tool everyone uses all the time it’s the one least likely to actually inconvenience most Meta glasses users, allowing the company to experiment with paid access to tools without upsetting a large section of their consumer base.
Finally, according to Meta itself, conversation focus is handled entirely on-device. Your Meta AI glasses can offer the function without an internet connection, meaning it shouldn’t be costing its data centers anything to process.
In a way, taking unlimited conversation focus usage away is like Meta limiting how many photos your glasses can take a month. All the hardware and software tech is on your device; it’s just being locked away in what seems like a classic case of corporate greed.
Now, the silver lining at the moment is that if you haven’t noticed any rate limits yet, or heard about Meta One through your specs, it’s likely that your glasses are still working the same as they always have. As explained in the help article, “Meta One is currently in limited testing and isn't available everywhere yet.”
Additionally, I’m hoping the fact that Meta One is still in testing means Meta won’t be afraid to reverse course, especially as this decision feels so nonsensical for all the reasons I’ve outlined. Or perhaps it’ll be forced to rethink things if its AI glasses rivals (including the incoming Android XR specs) boast similar features at a similar price with no such paywall or usage limit.
Otherwise, this feels like yet another unforced error for Meta in the smart glasses space. How can we now trust tha tMeta won’t paywall any AI glasses feature we’ve previously had access to?
Following the announcement of its more budget-friendly AI glasses — including a pair styled by Kylie Jenner — I hoped it might be getting back on the right track. This latest announcement has knocked my confidence, but the ball is still in Meta’s court — perhaps Meta Connect 2026 will see it properly turn things around.
Rival providers in the best VPN market rarely miss an opportunity to capitalize on a competitor's misstep, and the ongoing controversy surrounding Mullvad is no exception.
In a satirical response to the recent news that a Mullvad co-founder made a massive political donation, Windscribe has issued a mock apology regarding its own CEO’s financial contributions.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Mullvad VPN co-founder Daniel Berntsson donated 5 million Swedish kronor (around $514,000) to the controversial populist Örebro Party in Sweden. Berntsson, who stated the donation was made personally to support the party's anti-corruption stance, contributed a sum that accounted for 72% of the party's total income last year.
The disclosure forced Mullvad into damage-control mode. The firm quickly clarified that the private donation "is not part of Mullvad's values or mission," and offered refunds to any users who wished to cancel their subscriptions over philosophical disagreements.
Seizing the moment, Windscribe posted its own tongue-in-cheek statement on social media, assuring users that it wanted to "get ahead of any potential public outcry". The company explained that it would be hypocritical to criticize Berntsson's financial support without disclosing that Windscribe CEO Yegor Sak has also made monetary donations to organizations supporting causes he believes in.
"Let us make one thing clear: we are not here to lie," the statement read. "Yes, our CEO has made donations to a specific side, but today we want to come clean and make things right."
Rather than backing a divisive political movement, Windscribe revealed that Sak, the proud owner of a corgi named Snoop, had donated personal funds to Save Our Scruff, a dog rescue in Toronto.
Anticipating that a strict pro-dog stance could "cause division within our userbase", the company quickly added that it had corrected the imbalance.
"So today, we are making one thing clear — we support cats as well, and Yegor has personally donated to the local Annex Cat Rescue organization to support their work," the post noted.
A Statement From Windscribe About Our CEO's Personal DonationsYou may have heard in recent days that Mullvad's co-founder and co-owner, Daniel Berntsson, donated ~$500,000 of his personal money to the controversial populist Örebro Party in Sweden.While Mullvad's… pic.twitter.com/B6ozQ1VtVBJuly 1, 2026
While Windscribe’s parody is light-hearted, it underscores a serious point about brand identity in the cybersecurity industry. VPN users are notoriously privacy-conscious, and they often evaluate a provider's ethical compass just as rigorously as its encryption protocols.
When the executives behind a VPN support controversial causes, it can severely test user trust, regardless of the company's official stance or strict no-logs policies.
Windscribe concluded its post by mimicking the standard corporate PR playbook, asking users to forgive its "lack of transparency" in the pet debate. The company emphasized that Sak's donations are a reflection of his personal beliefs and will not impact the safety or operation of the software.
"Our service and applications are not affected by these donations," the statement concluded. "They remain secure and dedicated to providing our users with the best VPN on the market."
Sony has dropped an absolute bombshell on the gaming industry, with the announcement that PlayStation will no longer produce discs for physical game copies starting in 2028, and that hasn't sat well with consumers or retailers.
Multiple video game retailers have reacted to Sony's PlayStation disc elimination, condemning the move in support of consumers and physical game ownership. Notably, the video game retailer, Game, released a statement on X (translated from Spanish), highlighting its frustration with the case.
"Regarding the latest news: our silence is over. Video game lovers, it is time to defend what matters to us," a relevant statement from Game, that comes amid the movement, Stop Killing Games, that coincides with the issue surrounding game ownership once multiplayer games go offline.
"The latest decisions we are seeing in the industry deeply worry us, because they affect everyone who understands video games as something more than a downloadable file. We are not going to sit idly by. Digital and physical [games] can coexist; in fact, they have been doing so for years."
Another video game retailer, Loot Box Gaming, has taken to X, stating: "Shall we start with PS+ cancellations for today? It's just voting with your wallet. These companies will feel the pressure if their finances drop."
It doesn't stop there, however, as yet another independent video game retailer, VGP Video Game Plus, said: "Oh f**k! To be continued", which sums up a lot of people's frustrations.
Sony's decision to end physical copies doesn't just impact consumers and the ability to own a hard copy of a video game, but it also severely impacts businesses such as Game, CeX (both primarily in the UK), and Gamestop.
It's just PlayStation for now, but the likelihood of Microsoft following suit is very high, especially with the rumors suggesting the next Xbox console will effectively be a gaming PC. This is a very dire situation for retailers and consumers, and if Sony doesn't reverse its decision, it could drastically change gaming forever.
Without access to physical game copies, consumers leave their ability to access their games at the discretion of PlayStation. This is problematic as Sony can revoke user access to media (in this case, games) at any time and has recently done so when it removed movies from user libraries.
This move also reduces consumer options - with physical games you could shop around, even buy a game second-hand. Now, it's likely that it will only be Sony that you can buy digital games from, which allows the company to set prices without competition.
What's worse is that in some cases (i.e game sharing), if you lose access to the internet, you can no longer play the games you've purchased, something that can be solved with a physical copy — and if that privilege is gone for good, any sense of video game copy ownership could be a thing of the past.
Apple’s recent price hikes have sparked dismay among consumers, with huge rises making their presence known across the board. Fortunately, none of the best iPhones have been affected yet, and Apple has just given people an excellent option to nab a great phone and save cash at the same time.
Specifically, Apple just added the iPhone 16e to its online store for refurbished products. Considering there’s widespread speculation that Apple will raise iPhone prices this September, this could be your best opportunity to get a solid iPhone at an affordable price for some time.
The entry-level iPhone 16e with 128GB of storage is priced at $419 on Apple’s US online store, marking a saving of $180 on the iPhone 16e’s original $599 listing price. You can upgrade to 256GB of storage for $509 (saving $190) or 512GB for $679, which is a discount of $220.
Every refurbished iPhone 16e on Apple’s website is available unlocked and with both black and white color options. That means there are six different varieties to choose from, in addition to a wide range of other renewed iPhones across the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 lines.
You might be thinking that you can find a second-hand iPhone 16e for less than Apple is charging on its refurbished website, and that’s almost certainly true. But there are a few things to bear in mind about Apple’s refurbishing process that you’ll want to know.
A device bought from Apple’s refurbished website will almost certainly be in a better state than anything you can get elsewhere. Apple inspects each refurbished device and replaces any defective parts with genuine replacements. It then gives the device a clean and packages it up in an original box with all cables and accessories. This isn’t just some used iPhone covered in bumps and bruises that you can pick up on eBay, and nor is it a refurbished device fitted with non-genuine replacement components.
All that means that the device you get from Apple is essentially like new. I would know — I bought my MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip from Apple’s refurbished website. When it arrived, it was essentially indistinguishable from a new device, with the only giveaway being that its battery had registered about five cycles — which is still practically nothing.
Similarly, my TechRadar colleague Thomas Deehan snapped up a refurbished iPhone 16 from Giffgaff and described it as “almost identical to one that could be bought brand new via the Apple Store.” He added: “I honestly wondered if I hadn’t just been sent a completely new iPhone by mistake.”
So, if you’re in the market for an iPhone and want to avoid the risk of price rises later this year, a refurbished iPhone 16e could do the trick nicely. Now that Apple is selling this model on its own website, you’ve got an extra choice of where to get one from. But wherever you buy one, a serious discount could be yours to enjoy before the new normal of higher prices sets in.
PlayStation has announced that it will end the production of disc releases after more than 30 years of physical games, confirming that everything that you buy will be digital-only from January 2028 onwards.
There will inevitably still be some new games on sale in stores, but likely only empty cases containing printed download codes. It's devastating news for physical game collectors and those skeptical of digital ownership, but also likely to sting for all PlayStation fans.
There's nothing quite like the feeling of getting your hands on a physical game and almost everyone will have a favorite, not to mention fond memories of scrounging money to buy them or receiving them as gifts as a kid.
That's why I've asked every PlayStation gamer on the TechRadar team to look back on some of their favorite physical releases for a final, teary-eyed send-off.
I’m all for great cover art, but the PlayStation case I’ll always remember is that of the original Metal Gear Solid from 1998. That’s because the back of it contained a crucial clue for the game that stumped me for an embarrassing amount of time.
“You should contact Meryl by Codec,” Colonel Campbell says at one point during the stealth classic. “Wasn’t her frequency written on the back of the CD case?” It took a few hours (possibly days) for me to realise that he meant the game’s physical case, where a tiny screenshot reveals that life-saving frequency.
As much as I enjoyed fighting Psycho Mantis and creeping around under cardboard boxes, it was this moment that made me doff my cap to the game’s designers — and it’s sadly the kind of dovetailing between games and the physical world that just won’t be possible from 2028.
Mark Wilson, Managing Editor, News
I've been on one PlayStation or another for around 25 years. I've got fond memories of unwrapping physical releases, poring over manuals and physical maps of digital locations, and I'm genuinely emotional at the prospect of the era of physical releases, buying resold games cheaply, and owning your own damn games (not just the license) coming to an end.
Perhaps my favorite physical disc memory is playing through Final Fantasy 9 while sharing a controller with my friend. I was around nine years old.
The party suffered Beatrix's ultimate move, the screen went black... and up came the "Change to Disc 2" message. We freaked out - I think both of us had forgotten this was a multi-disc game.
Matt Evans, Senior Editor, Fitness, Wellness & Wearables
I have an entire bookshelf of PS5 and PS4 games, but there’s only one with cover art that looks like a guy drowning in… cream. (I have been reliably informed that I will get in big trouble for suggesting it looks like anything else, so I leave that entirely to your own imagination).
I’m, of course, talking about The Evil Within 2, with its striking front that depicts troubled detective protagonist Sebastian Castellanos immersed in a sea of milky fluid. He looks so peaceful, eyes shut as if asleep and his hands clasped together almost in prayer — a perfect reflection of the game's dream-world setting and undercurrent of religious themes.
It’s the kind of cover art with layers that you can only truly appreciate if you have it in your hands. There’s a creepy monster looming just over his shoulder, reaching up to pull him deeper into the nightmarish stew, and the outlines of floating skulls to really emphasize the threat.
It tells you everything you need to know about the game inside: this man is in imminent danger, and you need to get him out.
Even so, my absolute favourite detail is one that most would miss. The artwork is entirely monochrome aside from Sebastian’s wedding band, which glows gold on his ring finger. A little symbol of familial warmth and hope among all the sterile, creepy white. It’s only fitting; this is a game about going through hell to save your daughter, after all.
Dashiell Wood, Gaming Editor
Balatro was easily my favorite game of 2024, and even now I’ll dip in to play more — either to see how deep into a run I can venture, or to slowly chip away at Completionist++.
I picked it up digitally a little after launch, but when the Special Edition debuted with a physical disc and a handful of real cards from the game it was an immediate buy for me. Even if it meant I’d own it twice on PS5.
Admittedly the box is a little lackluster — the jokers are an odd selection, and considering it’s more of a collectible I would have loved a retro-style book insert to have been included — but I do love the cover art despite its simplicity, and I mostly saw picking up the game again as just a way to show the LocalThunk-made masterpiece some well-deserved extra appreciation!
(P.S. Bonus shoutout to the holographic cover art of Kingdom Hearts 2 on the PS2, that, combined with the Tetsuya Nomura-drawn art, was peak 2006-cool).
Hamish Hector, Senior Staff Writer
Ironically, some of my favorite physical releases have been from one of the companies that’s being partially blamed for this disc-less future: Rockstar.
Rockstar’s move to not include an actual disc in the ‘physical’ release of GTA 6, instead just having a download code, means the biggest game of the generation, maybe even of all time, won’t really be having a physical release, and Sony’s announcement makes that seem especially bleak.
Buying a physical edition of a Rockstar game used to be a joy, as they often came with a fold-out map.
I used to love putting the disc in to install the game, then poring over the map, marvelling at the ever-expanding size of the titles and trying to figure out secrets and cool places to visit.
It was part of the experience, almost like you were preparing to vacation in the world. I remember doing it with the first ever GTA game on PC, right up to Red Dead Redemption 2 on PS4, which, sadly, is likely to be the last time I open a physical Rockstar game...
Matthew Hanson, Managing Editor, Core Tech
Ico is a truly gorgeous game. The art style is absolutely perfect as an accompaniment to leading Yorda through the game’s world and fighting off the shadow monsters trying to kidnap her. And the box art in Japan and Europe nailed its atmosphere to perfection.
I owned the original cardboard case, which featured this gorgeous sleeve, an inner case with Yorda contrasted against a black tunnel and a range of art postcards conveying stunning moments from the game. Any time I slipped it open and removed the disc to place into the PlayStation, it was like I was entering the game’s mysterious castle step-by-step and made it feel like a living artwork.
Which is why it will never not be funny to me that this is the artwork Sony used to promote the game in the US. Rather than the tender, minimalist puzzler you’re actually getting, it looks like it’s advertising a straight-to-video 90s horror about a haunted windmill.
It’s the kind of embarrassing thing you whip up when you first discover Photoshop, decidedly not the kind of thing you release to a market of 300 million people, and for that I will always find it highly amusing.
Josh Russell, Reviews Editor
Cyberpunk 2077 is my favorite physical PlayStation game I own.
Outside of clocking hundreds of hours exploring Night City, I love it because it came with so much more than just the game’s disc, meaning my copy of Cyberpunk 2077 is a real collectors item for fans of the beloved RPG.
I enjoy collecting video game artwork and this release came with crammed with postcards, stickers, a game map, and a world compendium full of important lore. There’s something just so satisfying looking through all that whilst a game downloads, you’ve got everything you need to know about Night City in there without needing to even get out your phone.
This is a sad day for those of us who love physical video game collectibles, and even a freebie as small as a stack of postcards can make you feel like you’re buying something special. Cyberpunk 2077 has truly gorgeous aesthetics and so I’m glad I was able to get my hands on some free artwork back when I bought the game.
It’s a shame that future games might not get the same treatment.
Lucy Buglass, Senior Entertainment Writer
Having missed out on picking up any special editions over the PS3 and PS4 generations, it's the PS5 where I have really been able to treat myself to some special, and now favorite, physical editions of games.
Chief among them are both the collector's editions of The Last of Us titles on PS5: the WLF Edition of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, and the Firefly Edition of The Last of US Part 1.
Not only are these spectacular editions in their own right with wonderfully arranged boxes and layouts, fantastic steel books and a host of physical goodies to peruse, they mean more to me because I couldn't get special editions of both when they first came around.
They're in a box right now due to an impending house move, but these will be front and centre in my new office shelving units when I get the chance to display them in all their glory.
Hopefully, Sony finds a way to keep collector's editions like these going, though a large part of me will be very sad that there's no actual disc inside...
Rob Dwiar, Managing Editor, Gaming & Streaming
I’ll admit I’m not really a big collector of physical copies of games these days thanks to the ease of digital downloads.
This was different back when games used to come in cardboard boxes or stuffed DVD cases, and had things like maps or chunky manuals with extra lore in them. There is a caveat though, as throughout the PS3 and PS4 eras digital downloads for games often cost much more than their physical counterparts, leaving me with a small selection of boxed PlayStation titles — my favourite being Bloodborne.
There’s nothing more than the disc and a leaflet touting Until Dawn and The Order 1886 inside, but it’s the stark cover art that stands out, with the ‘hunter’ facing away from the viewer, saw cleaver and blunderbuss in hand, against a contrasting white-grey background.
To me this represents the grim, dark journey Bloodborne takes you on: a blood-soaked path that marked a distinct departure from the Dark Souls series while still feeling like a game only FromSoftware could nail.
The physical box gained an almost ritualistic feel for me. In the odd event that the disk wouldn’t be in my PS4, I’d have to take it out of the box with the cold, grim hunter on the front greeting me with the familiar feeling that I’ll have to slash, parry, dodge my way through Yarnham time and time again as Father Gascoigne gives me a pasting. How I hated it, how I loved it.
Roland Moore-Colyer, Managing Editor, Buying Guides
Without a shadow of a doubt, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is my favorite video game cover of all-time. It will forever sit at the forefront of my memory when reminiscing about the PS3.
Not only is the game itself an all-time great, but its cover art represents so much of the game’s excellence, with the very train sequence that it’s depicting later inspiring games like and Stellar Blade and even movies such as Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (even though its director swears it's not, it definitely is).
It’s sad to say goodbye to physical games, and here’s hoping that the backlash forces Sony to rethink its choice — but I’ll never forget the Uncharted 2 cover art for encapsulating just how amazing the PS3 era of gaming was.
Isaiah Williams, Staff Writer, Computing
Criminals are increasingly turned their attentions to data centers as AI-related construction projects accelerate across the US, with organized crime groups targeting expensive hardware and construction materials, experts have warned.
According to Business Insider, a trailer containing about $300,000 worth of copper wire spool was recovered in one incident alone, but in a related incident just one week prior, another trailer containing around $1 million worth of data center equipment was also recovered.
In this specific case, the copper shipment was stolen in Alabama after leaving Florida, but it was found by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office hundreds of miles away in Illinois.
With hyperscalers announcing multimillion- and multibillion-dollar announcements on a near-weekly basis at some times, it means that huge amounts of valuable materials are being transported across the US, ultimately creating new opportunities for criminals.
Besides copper wiring (pricing for which remains high, as does criminal demand), criminals are also targeting components and complete hardware like servers, GPU, storage and more.
But manufacturers are fighting back against the growing threat, often stamping materials with serial numbers and trackers or installing GPS trackers inside trailers. Selling on the secondhand market is also more of a challenge than consumer good theft, because buyers spending millions typically want reassurance by means of documentation and proof of ownership.
Separate CargoNet data revealed that cargo theft incidents increased around 18% in 2025, with losses up a staggering 60% and average theft value rising 36%. Metal theft also rose 77%.
"Criminal enterprises are becoming more selective and sophisticated, targeting extremely high value shipments rather than relying on opportunistic theft," Verisk CargoNet VP of Operations Keith Lewis added.
Here's one way to try and overcome local opposition to your energy-hungry, water-sucking, AI-feeding data centers: offer residents some sweeteners in return for having the infrastructure built in their backyard.
As Bloomberg reports, SpaceX is now giving out half-price Starlink subscriptions to those around the Memphis, Tennessee area, where the company operates existing Colossus data centers and "continues to invest in the Memphis area".
There will be no upfront hardware costs for new customers, and the discounts can be shared with "nearby" friends and family through a referral. However, if you change address and move out of the area, you lose your discount.
While 'appeasing local residents' isn't explicitly mentioned in the SpaceX statement, it doesn't take much reading between the lines. If you live around Memphis or neighboring Southaven, you can see if your address is in an eligible part of the area by looking up the location online.
He's trying to gain favor but I doubt there's even enough users here for this to work. from r/Starlink
The data centers in this region are primarily for SpaceX subsidiary xAI, and the company is currently being sued for violating the Clean Air Act: it's claimed that the methane gas turbines powering the Colossus data centers don't have the required permissions.
"As we shared since xAI started operating in Memphis, our homes, churches, and playgrounds will not be sacrifice zones for Big Tech’s convenience," says Abre’ Conner, a director at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
It remains to be seen whether half-price internet changes the mood of those affected: the discount might also be known "as the please don't stop us from running illegal natural gas turbines discount" quips one user on Reddit,
Discounted Starlink packages aren't the only commitment xAI is making though. The company has also said it will resume work on a waste water recycling plant from next year, which will provide clean water for the data centers and local authorities, though it isn't clear why work was halted to begin with.
The GMKtec NucBox K17 is one of those understated Mini PCs that can be summed up as your typical average mid-range machine designed for everyday use. While the grey outer, relatively compact sizing and design are all very run of the mill, GMKTec has actually done something quite special with this small machine; they pushed the technology inside and while this is an everyday machine, the components selected mean that it’s also well future proofed.
Inside is one of the latest Intel CPUs, and this is matched with an integrated GPU and NPU that provides plenty of processing power for both traditional applications and the latest AI models.
Out of the box, the build quality also feels good and solid, verging on premium considering the price. Checking over the body, there are plenty of ports on the front and back with venting slots helping to keep everything cool and running smoothly.
The processor combo is all new generation and sits in the midrange, but joining the latest releases are a few other interesting additions that you just don’t see on this level of mini PC. The first is that the second M.2 slot accepts PCIe 5.0 x4 SSD, and this sits alongside the existing 1TB PCIe 4.0 drive.
Installation for the second drive is straightforward; the drive screws into place, and once it's in place, the machine reboots, and it’s ready to format and use. The other major addition is the 2.5GbE Ethernet port, which was impressive in terms of speed when connected directly to a Ugreen DXP4800 GT NAS. My only reservation here is that the Wi-Fi antenna is easily displaced when removing the lid, and is almost impossible to reinsert.
Out of the box, Windows 11 Pro is installed and feels fast as I navigated around the settings and installed a variety of applications for the test. This performance was reflected with a Windows Experience Index of 8.7, one of the highest I’ve seen.
AI applications and functions are well handled with Copilot+ and local LLM inference via LM Studio, both performing well for a machine at this price. I ran a few questions through the models loaded on photography processes, and it managed to answer with reasonable speed.
Where the K17 started to show its limits was as I started some creative work: 16GB of fixed RAM becomes has limited reach in Premiere Pro and large Lightroom catalogues took a while longer than the more powerful machines I’ve been looking at recently, but still what it could do and the speed is still impressive and surpasses what I would have expected from a PC of this form factor a year ago.
Gaming was also good generally, but the Arc graphics do start to show their limits and premium games such as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, while very playable, did require settings to be dropped.
Two other points of note are that there is only a single USB4 port, and this is positioned on the front, with nothing equivalent at the rear, which means that you can only ever opt for a fast accessory such as an external SSD or an eGPU rather than connecting both.
The internal Wi-Fi antenna connectors are also very delicate, so when adding a second M.2 drive, disconnecting them even when you’re being careful seems to just happen, and then when it comes to reconnecting them, it’s incredibly difficult.
If you need a fast and reliable office machine, the K17 is one of the best mini PCs out there right now. I found it well specified with a range of features that have been designed to deliver the performance we expect from a work machine now, with plenty of updated extras that you don’t usually expect on a machine of this price, which will help future-proof it for a good few years.
The GMKtec NucBox K17 is priced at $619.99 / £469.99 for the 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD configuration that I have tested here.
A 16GB/512GB configuration is also available at $559.99 / £469.99.
The K17 is now available direct from GMKtec, as well as on Amazon.com.
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
GPU: Intel Arc 130V
NPU: Intel AI Boost, 40 TOPS
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X
Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 SSD, second M.2 slot, PCIe 5.0 x4 capable, up to 16TB total
Front Ports: USB3.2 (Gen2) 10Gbps, USB3.2 (Gen1) 5Gbps, USB4, 3.5mm Audio
Rear Ports: 2 x HDMI 2.1, 8K 60Hz and one 4K 60Hz, 2.5GbE RJ-45, 2XUSB3.2 (Gen1) 5Gbps, USB3.2 (Gen1) 5Gbps, USB2.0 480Mbps
VESA Mount: Yes
Dimensions: 5.02 by 5.00 by 1.75 in (127.5 x 127 x 44.5mm)
Weight: 1.01 lb (460g)
Power: 100W external power adapter
Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
The K17 adopts the standard Mini PC design aesthetic and sets itself apart from similarly styled Mini PCs by featuring the green GMKTec power button. This button is set alongside a small array of ports, including a mix of USB-A and USB-C, which offer plenty of connection options for most accessories that you might want to quickly attach.
Size-wise, the machine is a touch smaller than some I’ve looked at recently, measuring 5.02 by 5.00 by 1.75 in (127.5 x 127 x 44.5mm) and weighing a relatively light 1.01 lb (460g), which makes it prime for VESA mounting behind a monitor or a dedicated mount to maximise your work surface.
Inside, there’s a powerful combination of CPU, GPU, and NPU, and to ensure there’s plenty of cooling, there are ventilation slots across the body, which are part of the larger cooling system that includes a large superconducting copper turbine fan.
What really highlights this as a little more than your usual everyday Mini PC is the range of ports on the front and back of the machine. On the front, there are two USB-A ports, one USB3.2 (Gen2) 10Gbps and the other USB3.2 (Gen1) 5Gbps, then there's the single USB4 port that has DisplayPort support to connect a monitor, then there's a 3.5mm CTIA port for headphones and mic combos.
At the rear, there's the impressive 2.5GbE Ethernet port and two HDMI 2.1 outputs, one supporting 8K at 60Hz and the other 4K at 60Hz. The one design choice I do have to question is the fact that there isn’t a USB4 port on the back; there are two further USB-A, a USB3.2 (Gen1) 5Gbps and a USB 2.0 480Mbps and then two further USB3.2 (Gen1) 5Gbps ports.
Access to the inside of the machine is easy enough once the screws on the base are removed; however, it’s worth noting that the WiFi antenna connectors easily detach from the WiFi card and are really difficult to reconnect. When you take the back off the machine to upgrade the storage, it’s worth taking your time and really making sure that these don’t disconnect.
The machines' specifications essentially lay out a base level list for mid-range office PC’s for the future. Most of the components, including the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, utilise next-generation technology, and the uplift in speed that the components offered enabled smooth and fast handling for general Windows navigation, Microsoft Office, and browser-based work.
Writing in Word, building presentations in PowerPoint and recording test results in Excel all felt fast, and with each app being responsive, this overall performance was reflected in the Windows Experience Index of 8.7. Just to put that in context, this is one of the highest scores recorded across recent mini PC testing, and also a reminder of how far this category has advanced in a short time. At the beginning of 2026, a more common score of 8.1 would highlight a decent machine in this respect.
The one weaker point for the processing combo of CPU, GPU and NPU is the Intel Arc 130V GPU, which is noticeably less powerful than the Arc B390; however, even with the lower scores that it gained, when you compare it with the last generation of integrated GPU, you can see just how much more powerful these new processors are.
Checking this out by playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Hogwarts Legacy, both ran at 1080p with low-to-medium settings, but graphical breakup appeared more readily than on higher-specified machines, and when switching to some video editing in Premiere Pro, the timeline render times occasionally slowed as video edits rendered out.
As this is using the latest processors, it’s fully equipped to deal with AI processing and requests with the NPU. This enables 40 TOPS, and this means that the combined AI figure with the CPU and GPU is 97 TOPS , impressive for a machine at this price.
In use, this is reflected with Copilot+ handling assistant requests quickly. I then decided to push it by downloading a local LLM, which I ran using LM Studio. After installation and setup, the local chatbot was able to answer a series of photography questions at a decent speed.
I then switched to some of the Adobe applications and again, using the AI-accelerated features in Photoshop, including generative fill, and Premiere Pro's timeline expansion, the small machine was more than powerful enough to handle some impressive alterations.
On the front is the single USB4 port, and in use, this delivered fast transfer speeds when tested with a Thunderbolt 4 device. What was a little disappointing was that this single USB4 was placed on the front, with nothing equivalent at the rear. If you want to use both an eGPU and fast external storage at the same time, then this just isn’t possible without the addition of a hub.
Then, as we look through the features, you start to see what really marks the K17 out against most others. Firstly, there’s the second M.2 slot, which takes a next-generation PCIe Gen 5 x4 SSD. Installing an SSD module is fast, taking a few seconds; simply screw the drive into place and format it after a reboot. If you’re thinking about running local AI workloads, video editing or coding environments, adding a high-speed second drive here is an easy upgrade, if at present a little pricy.
The other big surprise is the 2.5GbE Ethernet port, which offers a speedy connection as I connected the machine through the wired network to the dock and then to a UGREEN DXP4800 GT NAS. At 2.5 GbE, I was able to get decent transfer rates, which was especially useful as I downloaded images and video to the machine and then onto the NAS.
Through the test, I switch between wired and wireless connections and while the Wi-Fi tops out at 6E and the Bluetooth 5.2, they both offer solid performance for network and accessory connections. Bluetooth connected easily to wireless accessories.
Wi-Fi, however, was initially fast even with the slightly older 6E; however, after testing the installation process of the second M.2 slot, the small Wi-Fi antenna connectors became disconnected, and trying to reconnect them was near impossible.
Finally, on the feature front, it's the ability to connect to three displays via the two rear HDMI ports and the front USB4 port works; it’s not the neatest solution as cables poke out from the front and back; it might not be pretty, but it works.
Crystal Disk Mark Read: 7045.28
Crystal Disk Mark Write: 6182.82
Geekbench CPU Multi: 9469
Geekbench CPU Single: 2619
Geekbench GPU: 25645
PC Mark Overall: 6855
Cinebench CPU Multi (Threads): N/a
Cinebench CPU Single (Threads): N/a
Fire Strike Overall: 7429
Fire Strike Graphics: 8551
Fire Strike Physics: 11509
Fire Strike Combined: 2953
Time Spy Overall: 3631
Time Spy Graphics: 3473
Time Spy CPU: 4897
Wild Life Overall: 24312
Steel Nomad Overall: N/a
Windows Experience Overall: 8.7
Starting out with the K17 requires running through the last few steps of the Windows setup, which, depending on your connection speeds, will take between five and ten minutes. As the machine loads for the first time, the speed of the boot and afterwards installation of applications and basic running all start to highlight the speed of the machine.
One of the features that instantly stood out to me was the number of connectivity ports around the body. I was able to quickly plug in a LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 and a CFExpress Type-B reader so that I could transfer files quickly.
Around the back, there were also plenty of ports so connecting a wired keyboard and mouse, along with the network and HDMI. I would have liked to have seen an additional USB4 on the back and an additional network port, but in an office situation, the port allocation and positioning actually make a lot of sense.
As I started to run the Microsoft Office suite and then the Adobe applications, it was apparent just how fast that initial load was, and working on large images within Photoshop, brush strokes and general edits were applied quickly. Part of the reason for this is the speed of the internal SSD.
When running the CrystalDiskMark test, it gained results of 7,045 MB/s read and 6,182 MB/s write, showing just how fast the PCIe 4.0 SSD is. What’s quite surprising is that this is not a PCIe 5.0 drive, and if you do need even more speed, then there's an empty second PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
If you’re planning serious video editing, local AI workloads, or coding environments, then upgrading to the PCIe 5.0 second slot is a great idea, although performance for these more demanding applications will be limited by the 16GB of RAM.
Checking out the overall performance and the PCMark 10 Overall score of 6,855 sits below both the previously recorded Geekom A9 Max and Bosgame VTI-490, and as the PC is used for more demanding creative applications, the limits of the box do start to appear.
General office work, web browsing and everyday Windows tasks all felt as fast as any machine I have tested recently. However, those limitations started to become apparent when working with batches of images in Lightroom, as well as more complex Photoshop documents, or starting a bit of gaming, where the fixed 16GB of RAM and Arc 130V GPU really started to be put under pressure.
Looking at some of the other results and the Geekbench scores of 9,469 multi-core and 2,619 single-core show a good balance of performance for a mid-range Mini PC. In use, these scores translated into Lightroom and Photoshop when used for normal photographic work, running exceptionally well, and a slowdown in performance was really only noted during longer editing sessions using Premiere Pro.
As the chipset is AI-ready, I also installed a Local LLM inference, and this ran well but was slightly slower than the more premium machines, which wasn’t a huge surprise.
Photo and video editing in Lightroom, Photoshop and Premiere Pro were all well balanced, with occasional pauses during heavier processing in Premiere Pro. Long-form video editing is not what the K17 is designed for, especially with the limit of 16GB and no option to upgrade, but for short edits and social media content in applications like CapCut, particularly once the second M.2 slot is installed, the K17 is a great machine.
Gaming at 1080p with low-to-medium settings was more than playable across Hogwarts Legacy and several other titles tested. The Intel Arc 130V GPU is not as smooth as the higher-end GPUs, but for a machine retailing just above £500, it's still pretty good.
Overall, this is a great machine, but it does have its limitations, especially with the 16GB of RAM. Still, for general Windows use, browsing and office work, 16GB is more than sufficient. For more creative endeavours, Photoshop or Lightroom batch work, or any mid to long Premiere Pro editing sessions, a machine with at least 32GB of RAM would be a better option. For everyday work, this is one of the best mini PCs that I have used.
The GMKtec NucBox K17 is an easy machine to recommend for office and everyday productivity use, and an impressively future-proofed one, given the combined CPU, GPU, and NPU capabilities on offer at this price. It handles Windows, Microsoft Office, web browsing, and Copilot+ AI features extremely well, and the inclusion of a PCIe 5.0-ready second M.2 slot, alongside 2.5GbE Ethernet, future-proofs the technologies more than many other machines in this price bracket.
For creative work, the picture, while still good, is a little more limited. Lightroom and Photoshop both handle edits and files well, but when switching to video editing in Premiere Pro, the limitations of a fixed 16GB of RAM started to become apparent. If you're planning to use this primarily for creative work, a machine with at least 32GB of RAM would be the better starting point.
The single front-only USB4 port and the delicate Wi-Fi antenna connectors are the two minor issues. Neither are overtly bad, but the USB4 limitation will affect you if you want to attach fast storage and eGPU, and the Wi-Fi antenna issue will only be a problem if you are planning to open the case for an M.2 upgrade.
At $619.99 / £519.99, the K17 is excellent value for money and gets you a reliable, fast, AI-ready everyday mini PC for home or office use. While the RAM is fixed, there’s also plenty of scope for upgrades elsewhere, such as the USB4 for an eGPU. With the 2.5GbE network port, you can connect to fast NAS storage. Making this a great option for any office and those looking for a work-focused machine.
Value | At $619.99/£519.99, this small work-focused machine balances performance with some of the latest technologies | 5 |
Design | There’s no doubt it has a premium finish, and with the VESA mount and huge array of ports, it can be seen as practical rather than a design classic. | 4.5 |
Features | An impressive list for a mini range Mini PC that includes PCIe 5.0 second M.2 slot, 2.5GbE, capable NPU and Copilot+, although the fixed 16GB RAM and WiFi reliability hold this back | 4.5 |
Performance | Excellent everyday performance and Windows Experience score from PCMark and 3DMark show it’s provides the power where needed | 4 |
Overall | An excellent everyday and lightly creative mini PC at a great price, best suited to office, AI and general use rather than serious video production. | 4.5 |
You want future-proofing
Fast 2.5GbE networking, a very capable NPU and the option for a PCIe 5.0 upgrade slot give the K17 a good amount of future-proofing for a machine at this price, making it a great option for office, browsing and Copilot+ AI use.
You want some upgradability.
The empty second M.2 slot accepts a PCIe Gen 5 x4 SSD, which will give the machine a huge boost in both SSD performance and capacity. There's also the ability to connect an eGPU, which again will significantly boost its creative potential.
You need this for video editing.
16GB of RAM is a limit for video editing within Premiere Pro and will also limit the speed with large Lightroom catalogues. If you are looking for a dedicated creative machine, then it’s best to look for something with at least 32GB of RAM.
You need fast storage and an eGPU
With only one USB4 port on the front, you need to choose between fast external storage or an eGPU, rather than running both. A mini PC with dual USB4 or Thunderbolt ports will be a better option.
For more professional-grade desktops, we've tested the best business computers.
The World Cup's extortionate prices are well documented, but what if you could avoid the highest cost of them all, the ticket?
To access the pivotal stages of this year's tournament, tickets start at over $ 1,000, with some reaching up to $9,000. Luckily, ExpressVPN is giving you the chance to avoid this cost altogether.
Sign up for an ExpressVPN plan between now and July 11, and you'll be entered into a raffle for a chance to win tickets to the quarterfinals, semifinals, or the grand finale.
The longer the plan you choose, the more entries you get. 1-month plans get 1 entry, 1-year plans get 5 entries, and 2-year plans get 10 entries.
It's worth noting that the raffle is only for the ticket. However, the thousands you'll save on the ticket should cover the majority of other expenses you need for this once-in-a-lifetime game.
For the best value, I'd recommend a two-year Basic or Advanced plan. While the 'low' price of a one-month plan might be appealing, it only gets you one raffle entry, and it's a more expensive monthly plan than you'd find from other VPNs.
ExpressVPN: Plans from $2.49 per month - up to 84% off
ExpressVPN is giving you the chance to win tickets to the crucial stages of this year's FIFA World Cup. An Advanced plan, which is now only $83.72, includes:
🎟 10 entries to the World Cup ticket draw
📱 12 simultaneous connections
🛑 Ad and malware blocking
📧 Email protection
🔐 Password management
🪪 Identity protection
🌴 3 days of Holiday.com eSIM data (equivalent to nearly £30 in roaming charges)
Alternatively, a monthly plan is only $16.99 but only gives you one entry to the draw. Be aware, while ExpressVPN is running its World Cup promo, no plans come with a 30-day money back guarantee.View Deal
Picking an Advanced plan is probably the better choice if you fancy your odds of winning.
The 3 days of Holiday.com eSIM access included in Advanced plans means you shouldn't struggle to stay connected while you're out there. Plus you can use ExpressVPN across more devices, and gain access to features such as ExpressKeys, MailGuard and more.
If you're new to VPNs, don't worry. We rate ExpressVPN among the best VPNs for beginners, and it's also the most secure VPN we've tested this year. This means you should be able to get started quickly and never need to worry about your connection again.
Not convinced? Some of the best VPNs are also running superb deals right now, so long as you're willing to sacrifice your chance at a seat at the World Cup. Check out the best VPN deals right now below.
The Keychron M6 8K intrigued me when I first laid eyes on it. The resemblance to Logitech’s MX Master mouse is immediately apparent. I’ve used one iteration or another of Logitech's flagship productivity mouse every day for the last three years; I don’t even want to know how many hours I’ve clocked up with one in hand. Let’s be real, Keychron hasn’t even tried to be sneaky about copying its homework. At $69.99 / £74.99 / AU$129, however, it does set itself apart because that’s nigh-on half the price of an MX Master 4.
For that money you still get the same general ergonomic shape with a sizable thumb rest, a horizontal scroll wheel, and a multi-function scroll wheel. At first glance, the body looks quite sizable, but it isn’t actually quite as chunky as some other ergonomic mice and I found myself shifting from my usual full palm grip into more of a hybrid fingertip-claw arrangement. It’s comfortable, but personally, it wasn’t quite as comfortable over longer work sessions as it would have been if I was able to fully grab the mouse with confidence. But mouse grip is a subjective thing, so I won’t hold it against the M6.
Build quality is generally good. Nothing creaks or flexes across the ABS shell; it just doesn’t quite carry the premium edge of some more expensive competitors. The matte coating across the entire mouse feels pleasant enough and handles fingerprints well, and it’s available in your choice of white or black.
At 86g, the Keychron M6 8K is one of, if not the lightest full-body ergonomic mice you’ll find on the market and this is apparent in general use. For reference, the M6 8K is just over half the weight of the MX Master 4 and felt noticeably hollow and almost insubstantial by comparison. Anyone transitioning from a lighter or gaming mouse will likely find this change less stark, but to me it lacked the reassuring density and planted feel a heavier weight brings.
The Huano Silent Micro switches do keep things quiet and have a noticeably soft feel to them. I found them a little mushy overall though, and on a few occasions I experienced what I think were missed inputs. I’m not entirely sure whether I'd actually physically fired a click that didn’t register on the switch, or that I’d failed to properly trigger the switch at all, but it seemed like I had to go back for another go every now and then.
Visually the upgraded metal scroll wheel is a nice touch and it comes with pleasantly clicky lateral inputs too. As you’d expect for a productivity mouse, there’s a free-scroll mode, which is useful for navigating long documents or pages but the experience isn’t as sleek as the one Logitech offers on the MX Master.
The scroll wheel is surprisingly loud in ratcheted mode, while the toggle button for switching to free-scroll is positioned too far back and requires quite a bit of force to activate. That’s good for preventing accidental switches, but it meant I found myself completely ignoring the free-scroll feature rather than repositioning my entire hand to reach the toggle. The MX Master's automatic switching between modes is a feature I didn't realize I relied on so heavily until it was gone, though that’s also the kind of feature that doubles the price of a product, I guess.
Within thumb’s reach on the side of the mouse are a horizontal wheel and a pair of additional buttons. This second wheel is really nicely positioned; close enough to need no thought to move your thumb to, but far enough out of the way to avoid accidentally rolling — though I'll admit I'm not much of a side-scroller on any mouse and didn't get much actual use out of it.
That pleasant positioning is also true of the two side buttons, which would usually be forward and back by default, though these don’t register at all in Safari. Both are fine in Edge and this isn't necessarily a Keychron-specific issue, as macOS has long been finicky with third-party mouse inputs. But other brands have cracked the code so it's a shame to see it missing here.
Where the M6 8K genuinely impresses and pulls ahead of more expensive rivals is in sensor performance. The PixArt PAW3950 meant the M6 8K tracked flawlessly across every surface I tested, including a desk mat, solid wood, my leg, the sofa, and even a glass window. Got a funny look from my neighbor checking that one. Keychron claims glass tracking at 4mm minimum thickness, and it delivered so no concerns for glass desk users.
DPI can be adjusted from 100 to 30,000 and polling rate from 125 to 8,000Hz, numbers that extend the Keychron M6 8K from just a productivity mouse into a genuine gaming option. At the higher end of those settings and coupled with the light overall weight, the M6 becomes super responsive and should keep up with every flick during intense gaming sessions. I settled on 1,200 DPI and 1,000Hz polling for daily work, which felt perfectly sharp. Both settings can be adjusted on the fly through customizable presets using physical buttons on the mouse, which is a great touch, or you can use the Keychron Launcher web app for more granular control.
That browser-based configuration software was a surprise highlight for me. It's feature-rich, cleanly laid out, and very familiar if you've used Keychron's keyboards. Personalization features like button remapping, sensor settings, macros, lift-off distance, and scroll acceleration are all accessible without installing a single background process. You can also check battery levels here, though you won’t need to do this often — it seems to sip on its 800mAh battery, so it’ll be weeks between charges at reasonable settings.
As if it’s come straight from certain German supermarket chains, the Keychron M6 8K is a good dupe of a more expensive mouse. It does a lot of things well, but perhaps most importantly, it’s at a price that lets you forgive the things that aren’t quite so good. The scroll wheel lacks the refinement of Logitech's implementation, the clicks can feel a little mushy, and Safari users will miss having a working back button. But the feel is great, the sensor is superb, the battery life is excellent, and the web app is near best-in-class for the segment. If you can't justify the MX Master 4's asking price, this is where you should look instead.
At $69.99 / £74.99 / AU$129, the Keychron M6 8K significantly undercuts the Logitech MX Master 4 ($119.99 / £119.99 / AU$199) that it’s clearly inspired by. You’ll find it both on Keychron’s own web store and from retailers, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for sales as I often saw it discounted while writing this piece. Make sure you’re picking up the right variant too. There’s also an M6 with a less responsive 1K sensor, though if you don't need 8K polling, you could save even more.
Sensor | PixArt PAW3950 |
DPI | 100 - 30,000 |
Polling Rate | 125 - 8,000Hz |
Connectivity | Wired, Bluetooth, 2.4GHz Wireless |
Switches | Huano Silent Micro |
Weight | 86g |
Battery | 800mAh (up to 120 hours at 1KHz) |
Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
Features | Dual scroll wheels and free-scroll mode, 8K polling, and tri-mode connectivity. The browser-based Launcher software is excellent. | 4.5 / 5 |
Performance | Sensor tracking is flawless across surfaces including glass. Battery life is very strong at sensible settings. Silent switches are slightly mushy with occasional missed clicks. | 4 / 5 |
Design | Ergonomic shape that's comfortable enough, but the lightweight feel and scroll wheel let it down. | 3.5 / 5 |
Value | At roughly half the price of the MX Master 4, the M6 8K offers a remarkable amount of hardware for the money. | 4.5 / 5 |
You want MX Master features without the MX Master price
The M6 8K replicates most of Logitech's ergonomic productivity formula at nearly half the cost, and throws in 8K polling and a gaming-grade sensor for good measure.
You hate installing mouse software
Keychron Launcher runs entirely in the browser with no background processes. Configure everything you need, close the window, and forget about it.
You work and play on the same machine
The M6 8K’s sensor is equally at home slowly scrolling a spreadsheet as it is ramping up sensitivity for a quick firefight on your lunch break.
You jump between scroll modes often
The M6 8K's metal wheel is a little wobbly, its ratchet mode is loud, and the manual toggle for free-scroll is awkward to reach. If the scroll wheel is the feature you use most, spend more on the Logitech MX Master as it’s still in a league of its own.
You prefer a heavier, more planted mouse
At 86g, the M6 8K is noticeably light and will catch you off guard if you’re used to something with more heft. If you like your mouse to feel substantial and anchored on the desk, this featherweight approach won't suit you.
Logitech MX Master 4
The mouse that the M6 8K is clearly duping. It costs significantly more at $119.99 / £119.99, but you get Logitech's class-leading MagSpeed scroll wheel with automatic mode switching, superior build quality, the new haptic touch panel, and deep OS integration through Options+. If budget isn't the primary concern, it's still the productivity mouse to beat. Read our full Logitech MX Master 4 review.
MSI Versa 300 Wireless 8K
If gaming is more your focus, the MSI Versa 300 Wireless 8K ($99.99 / £59.99) offers a similar PixArt sensor and 8K polling in a lighter 66g symmetrical shell that's better suited to competitive play. It lacks the M6 8K's productivity features like the horizontal scroll wheel and thumb rest, but it's a strong pick for users who split their time between work and gaming. Read our full MSI Versa 300 Wireless 8K review.
I used the Keychron M6 8K as my mouse for all tasks for a couple of weeks. It was primarily a direct productivity replacement for my daily-driver Logitech MX Master 4, so I used it across extended work sessions on macOS. My testing covered general workflows, gaming, surface tracking across varied materials, and multi-device connectivity. I evaluated the Keychron Launcher software for configuration depth and usability.
Frosinone were promoted to Serie A this summer and President Maurizio Stirpe has sold 80 per cent of his shares to Americans Clara Vista, who are already majority shareholders of Ipswich Town.
The Canarini had long been tied to the Stirpe family, as Benito Stirpe was President along with brother Roberto from 1965-67, then his son Maurizio took over in 2003 soon after bankruptcy.
After 23 years, he has now sold up most of his shares to American company Clara Vista, a company already known in the football world, as they are the majority shareholders of Ipswich Town.
The cost of the sale is reported to be worth €41.5m, which should allow Frosinone to invest in infrastructure as well as improve the squad.
They were promoted back to Serie A this summer after finishing second in Serie B behind Venezia last season.
Stirpe will retain 20 per cent of the club and stay on as President for at least another two years.
“With this Clara Vista sale, we can inject fresh liquidity to Frosinone,” explained Stirpe.
“I will remain as President for two years, Rosario Zoino will be CEO. Bob Gold, Charlie Lambropoulos and Wills Hapworth will be members of the board of directors.
“This is not a short-term deal, at the end of the two years we’ll sit down and set out the plan for the future.”
Napoli are hoping to get Romelu Lukaku off their books, largely because of his salary, but the asking price is going to be at least €10m for clubs in MLS, Saudi Arabia and RSC Anderlecht.
The striker already infuriated his club last season when returning to Belgium for treatment and rehabilitation, preferring his own personal physiotherapist to the ones provided by the Partenopei.
The departure of coach Antonio Conte will have further damaged the reasons for staying at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Napoli in turn are eager to let him go because of his massive salary, which is reported to be around €12.5m for the remaining year.
Even with that in mind, the Gazzetta dello Sport and TuttoNapoli claim that the asking price for any Lukaku sale is going to be a minimum of €10m.
It is also worth remembering that Chelsea are owed 30 per cent of the future sale, but only if it reaches a minimum of €15m.
The 33-year-old has interest from his old club RSC Anderlecht, but a more likely destination is the MLS in America, or the Saudi Pro League.
Napoli paid €30.7m to buy him outright in 2024 after loan experiences at Inter and Roma.
As expected, Juventus have sold goalkeeper Giovanni Daffara to Parma in a deal believed to be worth €6m plus add-ons, as Japan international Zion Suzuki will probably be sold.
The Bianconeri announced the permanent transfer this afternoon, selling the youth academy product who had flourished with the Juventus Next Gen team.
It is a big move for the 21-year-old, who had spent the last season in Serie B on loan with Avellino.
The cost of the operation is believed to be circa €6m plus performance-related bonuses, according to Sportitalia figures, with a 20 per cent cut of the future sale fee.
This kind of investment would suggest that Parma intend to give Daffara the gloves for this season.
That fits in with the idea of selling Suzuki this summer, because his profile has been further raised after some show-stopping performances for Japan in the 2026 World Cup.
Some of his fingertip saves to deny Brazil’s Vinicius Jr before finally capitulating in the Round of 32 match probably added a few million to his asking price.
Suzuki has been linked with several clubs, including Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Aston Villa.
The dates and venues for most of Italy’s Nations League games have been confirmed, hosting Belgium in Rome on September 25 and Turkiye at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna on October 5.
The Azzurri are still without a coach after Gennaro Gattuso resigned in the wake of the failed 2026 World Cup play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Time is running short, because they are back in action on September 25 in the Nations League Group A1.
It is now confirmed that the opening match will see Italy host Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on September 25.
Their trip to Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye will be set at the Ataturk Spor Kompleski in Bursa, a very unusual stadium that is shaped like a giant green snake curled around the arena, on September 28.
The Stade de France will host the next match against Les Bleus on October 2, then Turkiye and Italy meet again at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna on October 5.
There is still no confirmation of where the Nazionale will host France on November 12, but they will end the group away to Belgium at the King Badouin Stadium in Brussels on November 15.
Fiorentina have officially signed defender Viery Fernandes Santos Lopes from Gremio for a reported fee of €15m including add-ons. ‘I am very honoured to wear this shirt.’
The Brazilian flew in yesterday to undergo his medical tests and put pen to paper on the five-year contract.
A brief statement from the Viola confirmed that the club has completed the permanent transfer from Gremio.
“It is very exciting for me to be the first signing of the season,” Viery told the official club website.
“I worked very hard at Porto Alegre and gave everything for Gremio, so now I am enjoying this special moment. I feel very honoured to wear the Fiorentina shirt.”
He scored twice from defence in 27 competitive games for Gremio last season, having come up through their youth academy, promoted to the senior squad in 2025.
Viery turned 21 in January and had been linked with numerous different clubs, including Juventus, Roma, Napoli, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.
He is primarily a centre-back, but can also play on the right side of defence.
“I studied the way Sergio Ramos played in defence, I loved the Paolo Maldini videos and today I can appreciate the style of Virgil Van Dijk,” continued the defender.
“There are other players I watch too and find things in each of them to appreciate, so I can try to improve my own game. I am a defender with good stamina, make the most of my physical strength, and like to participate in playing out from the back.”
Viery confessed he was unable to watch Brazil’s World Cup Round of 32 win over Japan because he was flying out at the time towards Europe, but is cheering on Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
“I am sure we’ll get to the Final.”
has revealed exactly what he made of ‘ performance against Xander Zayas on Saturday. Ennis was successful in his quest to become a two-division world champion as he earned a seventh round stoppage win over Zayas at the Barclays Center in New York. With the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles now in his possession, it […]
The post Oscar De La Hoya sums up Jaron Ennis’ performance against Zayas as he calls for Vergil Ortiz fight appeared first on Boxing News.
© <p>Travel + Leisure / Getty Images</p>
© <p>Travel + Leisure</p>
Liverpool are interested in signing the Japanese international midfielder Kaishu Sano.
The 25-year-old has done quite well for his country at the World Cup and has attracted the attention of top clubs. He scored an outstanding goal against Brazil in the knockout rounds of the competition before his team was eliminated.
Sano was linked with a move to Tottenham last summer.
According to a report from Nikkan Sports, Liverpool are monitoring his situation, and they could look to make a move for him. The report claims that Liverpool could submit a big offer for the player.
It is no secret that Liverpool needs more quality in the middle of the park. They could use his work rate and physicality. He has the technical attributes to do well in English football. He has shown his quality in Germany, and the opportunity to play in the Premier League will be exciting for him. He will protect the team defensively and help them win the ball back in the middle of the park.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool can get the deal done. They have Wataru Endo at their disposal, and the Japanese international could play a key role in convincing his compatriot to join the club.
The midfielder has two years left on his current contract with FSV Mainz, and they will not want to lose him easily. They could look to demand a premium for him. The impressive performances in the World Cup will certainly inflate his asking price.
Liverpool need to improve multiple areas of the squad, and they will not want to overpay for the Japanese midfielder. It remains to be seen how the situation unfolds.
Sano will certainly hope that the two clubs can sort out the move if Liverpool’s interest is genuine.
The post Liverpool eye Japan international after impressive World Cup displays appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Tottenham Hotspur have agreed on a deal with Brighton to sell the talented young defender, Luka Vuskovic.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Brighton will be paying around £50 million to sign the 19-year-old central defender.
Vuskovic was also linked with Liverpool and Manchester United.
Vuskovic was on loan at Hamburger SV during the 2025-26 season, and he was excellent for the German outfit. He’s regarded as one of the finest young talents in European football right now. He has also been part of the Croatian World Cup squad.
It remains to be seen whether he can adapt to the Premier League quickly and make an immediate impact at Brighton. Tottenham signed Jan Paul Van Hecke from Brighton earlier this summer, and the 19-year-old central defender will be his replacement.
It remains to be seen whether Tottenham regrets the decision to sell the young defender this summer. He has all the attributes to develop into a future star. Tottenham need quality in their central defence, and keeping the Croatian international at the club would have been ideal.
Meanwhile, Romano claims that Tottenham are not prepared to go all in for Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United. The funds from Vuskovic’s departure will certainly help them sign the Italian midfielder. They need more quality in the middle of the park, and the 26-year-old could make a big difference for them.
On the other hand, Vuskovic will be delighted to have sorted out his future, and he will look to focus on his football now. Regular football in the Premier League with Brighton will help him improve further and fulfil his tremendous potential.
The post Fabrizio Romano delivers here we go as Tottenham reach £50m transfer decision appeared first on CaughtOffside.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Greenland and the Faroe Islands will not be recognized as separate and independent Olympic teams despite a request from Denmark’s parliament, the IOC said Wednesday.
The Olympic Charter has for 30 years defined a country that can have an official team as “an independent state recognized by the international community.”
Greenland and the Faroe Islands — which are semi-autonomous territories in the kingdom of Denmark — do not meet that standard, the International Olympic Committee said in a statement.
“This position has been explained and communicated very clearly to the concerned parties on numerous occasions over the past years,” the IOC said.
The formal request by the Danish parliament was made two weeks ago and published Tuesday.
It came weeks after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen formed a new coalition government. In the election campaign, she pledged support for Greenland against U.S. President Donald Trump’s wish to acquire the island.
At the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games, which President Trump should formally declare open, athletes from Greenland and Faroes can compete for Denmark. It is one of 206 national Olympic bodies recognized by the IOC.
___
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
The Emerald City will host its fifth FIFA World Cup match on Wednesday at 1 p.m. as Belgium and Senegal face off in the Round of 32.
A fun fact: the two teams will be meeting for the first time ever when they face off in Seattle’s knockout match, with the two sides having never previously played each other in any competition.
If you want to attend the match, there are several last-minute tickets still available. As of around 3 a.m. Wednesday, Ticketmaster had a few tickets left, ranging from $645 to $729. Gametime also had several tickets available, one as low as $513. The most expensive we found was around $2,300, but it’s a great seat at the 50-yard line, close to the field and team benches.
There are plenty of options to watch the game in Seattle surrounded by other soccer fans without breaking the bank, too!
Find watch parties at Westlake Park, Occidental Park, downtown bars, Victory Hall, Pacific Place, and the mural amphitheater near the Space Needle.
Pier 62 is also an option if you already have a registration ticket, though they are sold out as of this morning. There are still tickets available for the Sounders barge at $52 bucks a piece. The screens on the pier and barge are both pretty large, so you can watch from the Salish Steps as well for free.
As a reminder, if you’re driving today, you will want to avoid Pioneer Square. If you need to drive around, use Alaskan Way or 4th Avenue South.
A good portion of the area will be closed off to cars, but there are zones for public transportation, including electric bikes and scooters.
With hundreds of thousands of fans in town for the World Cup, Sound Transit says ridership is way up. The agency has been asking fans to take the light rail to the stadium, and people are listening!
They say five million people used light rail in June — an all-time record.
Sound Transit says they’re making a few changes to keep up with demand: More train cars will be running, and hours will be extended. The agency said they hope to look at these improvements to see if they can be used during future events.
“The last time the U.S. hosted a World Cup, there were no trains in Seattle, and now we can move more than 200,000 people day in and day out, because of the preparation and investment we as a region have made in mass transit,” said a spokesperson for Sound Transit.
Sound Transit says if you can, use public transportation when heading to World Cup matches and leave early to avoid peak crowds.
On Monday, Seattle will host our sixth and final World Cup match.
If Team USA beats Bosnia and Herzegovina tonight, they’ll return to Seattle for their Round of 16 matchup, so expect many hopeful USA fans to be gathered together and holding their breath at watch parties across Seattle on Wednesday at 5 p.m., as well.
For more World Cup in Seattle coverage, visit: kiro7.com/connecttothecup.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas says she's gotten death threats after fouling Caitlin Clark.
Thomas, 34, received a single game suspension after the league reviewed her foul on Clark, 24, during their matchup on June 24 that saw Thomas' fist on top of the Fever star's neck. On Tuesday, June 30, Thomas told reporters she's been the subject of death threats in the days since.
Thomas told reporters her foul against Clark was a "complete accident" and said, “It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball,” as seen in a clip on X.
“A lot of us, myself included, didn’t even know the play took place until after the game. Now we’re being painted as thugs. There’s death threats out on us," Thomas continued. "It’s really unacceptable. It’s something that needs to change in this league and I’m just really sick and tired of it.”
Thomas said: “It’s not even about the suspension. If that’s what they felt was necessary in that moment, then so be it. But I think there’s a lot of other plays that you can say the same about."
"The biggest thing is about our safety. We’re so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again, we’re having people threaten our lives. Leaking addresses out there. Putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball," she said, according to the Associated Press.
Later on Tuesday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert released a statement in response to Thomas' comments. “The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate. The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority,” Engelbert said.
Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE's free sports newsletter — sign up now!
“We are aware of Alyssa Thomas’ comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players.”
Clark exited the game against the Mercury early and didn't play in the Fever's next game. Fever head coach Stephanie White called the fouls against Clark "egregious" and said it was "utterly disrespectful" of the WNBA officials not to call a foul at the time. "The fist in the throat is crazy. It's crazy. It's dangerous," White said.
Read the original article on People
June is over, but the recruiting momentum generated by the Texas Longhorns wasn’t confined to those 30 days, as evidenced by the commitment of Pearland Shadow Creek cornerback Brandon Sherrard on Tuesday over the LSU Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners.
BREAKING: Four-Star CB Brandon Sherrard has Committed to Texas, he tells me for @Rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 1, 2026
The 6’3 183 CB chose the Longhorns over LSU and Oklahoma
“Staying home, Hook ’Em❤️!”https://t.co/ZaAU8IaT3Ipic.twitter.com/m6UWpMkjZy
The 6’1, 180-pounder also considered Arizona State, Miami, Missouri, Oregon, and Penn State and held 34 total offers, including Arkansas, Baylor, Florida State, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Vanderbilt, among others.
Here’s the evaluation of Sherrard from 247Sports analyst Gabe Brooks:
Natural cover man with height and above average length.
– Good athlete relative to frame with encouraging verified speed markers in testing and track settings.
– Consistently stays sticky when asked to cover downfield.
– Cognizant of using hands and length to bother receivers early in routes.
– Room to enhance sudden redirection, but fluid enough through the hips and core to turn and run with athletic receivers.
– Ball production can improve, but already shows ability to turn and locate.
– Suffered a shoulder injury late in junior regular season that cut 2025 campaign short.
– Projects to the P4 level as a potential high-major corner with physical and athletic traits that could lead to the pro level.
A consensus four-star prospect, Sherrard is ranked as the No. 157 player nationally and the No. 18 cornerback, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The 22nd pledge overall for the Longhorns in the 2027 class, Sherrard is the fourth cornerback to pledge to position coach Mark Orphey, an impressive haul for Texas, but it may not remain that way for long — Manvel product Greedy James is expected to flip from Texas to LSU on Thursday after rising rapidly in the recruiting rankings.
So Sherrard’s pledge ensures that the Longhorns won’t take too hard of a hit from the projected departure of James from the class.
This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.
The Pirates top two prospects will represent the organization at the Futures Game during All-Star weekend. Right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez and outfielder Edward Florentino — both considered top 100 prospects — will be at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 12 for the game.
The Pirates promoted Hernandez to High-A Greensboro on May 12, where he’s gone 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA, 21 hits, 21 walks and 50 strikeouts in 34.1 innings across eight starts. Pittsburgh’s top prospect was the first minor-league pitcher this season to notch 100 strikeouts.
Florentino, meanwhile, has totaled 53 games between Bradenton (nine) and Greensboro (53) this season. Between the two levels, the 19-year-old has a .230/.372/.435 batting line with seven doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 38 RBI and five stolen bases.
Click here to read more from PGHBaseballNOW.com.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
NBA free agency is underway! Trades are flying fast! Keep track of every team’s most notable offseason moves below.
East:Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards
West:Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • LA Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz
Draft: Kingston Flemings (No. 8), Zuby Ejiofor (No. 23), Henri Veesaar (No. 52)
Signings: CJ McCollum (1 year, $21 million extension), Jock Landale (re-signed for 1 year, $14 million)
Trades: Aaron Wiggins (from Thunder), Devin Carter (from Kings)
Draft: Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 27), Dillon Mitchell (No. 40)
Signings: Ron Harper Jr. (re-signed for 3 years, $9 million), Amari Williams (re-signed to two-way contract), Mike Conley Jr. (1 year, $3.8 million), Mitchell Robinson (3 years, $47 million)
Key departures: Nikola Vučević (signed with Magic)
Draft: Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6), Joshua Jefferson (No. 28), Tyler Bilodeau (No. 43)
Signings: Day'Ron Sharpe (re-signed for 2 years, $20 million), Josh Minott (re-signed for 2 years, $9 million), Keon Ellis (2 years, $18 million), Chaney Johnson (re-signed to two-way contract), Moe Wagner (2 years, $19 million)
Trades: Julius Randle (from Timberwolves)
Key departures: Nic Claxton (to Bulls)
Draft: Hannes Steinbach (No. 14), Christian Anderson (No. 18)
Signings: Coby White (re-signed for 3 years, $74 million)
Trades: Naz Reid (from Timberwolves), Grayson Allen (from Suns), Royce O'Neale (from Suns)
Key departures: LaMelo Ball (traded to Wolves), Josh Green (traded to Wolves), Miles Bridges (traded to Suns)
Draft: Caleb Wilson (No. 4), Dailyn Swain (No. 15)
Signings: Norman Powell (2 years, $45 million)
Trades: Nic Claxton (from Brooklyn)
Key departures: Collin Sexton (signed with Lakers)
Draft: Meleek Thomas (No. 34)
Signings: Thomas Bryant (re-signed for 1 year, $3.5 million)
Key departures: Keon Ellis (signed with Nets), Dean Wade (signed with 76ers)
Draft: Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9), Sergio De Larrea (No. 25), Tobi Lawal (No. 48), Vsevolod Ishchenko (No. 56)
Draft: Trevon Brazile (No. 35), Bryce Hopkins (No. 49)
Key departures: Tim Hardaway Jr. (signed with Heat)
Draft: Ebuka Okorie (No. 17), Ugonna Onyenso (No. 53)
Signings: Kevin Huerter (re-signed for 3 years, $27 million), John Collins (3 years, $51 million)
Trades: Isaiah Joe (from Thunder)
Key departures: Isaiah Stewart (traded to Grizzlies)
Draft: Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11), Lajae Jones (No. 54)
Signings: Kristaps Porzingis (2 year, $40 million extension), Al Horford (re-signed for 2 years, $14 million)
Draft: Bruce Thornton (No. 31)
Signings: Bogdan Bogdanovic (1 year, 3.9 million), Marcus Smart (2 years, $13 million)
Draft:Braden Smith (No. 38)
Draft: Keaton Wagler (No. 5), Baba Miller (No. 36), Nick Martinelli (No. 55), Narcisse Ngoy (No. 57)
Signings: Kobe Sanders (re-signed for 4 years, $11.3 million)
Trades: Brandon Ingram (from Raptors), Gradey Dick (from Raptors)
Departures: Kawhi Leonard (traded to Raptors), Bogdan Bogdanovic (signed with Rockets)
Draft: Cameron Carr (No. 24)
Signings: Austin Reaves (re-signed for 4 years, $184.8 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (4 year, $52 million), Quentin Grimes (4 years, $60 million), Collin Sexton (2 years, $19 million)
Trades: Walker Kessler (from Jazz)
Departures: Luke Kennard (signed with Suns), Marcus Smart (signed with Rockets)
Draft: Cameron Boozer (No. 3), Karim López (No. 21), Richie Saunders (No. 32)
Trades: Isaiah Stewart (from Pistons), Jerami Grant (from Trail Blazers), Kris Murray (from Trail Blazers)
Key departures: Ja Morant (traded to Trail Blazers)
Draft:Ryan Conwell (No. 37)
Signings: Andrew Wiggins (re-signed for 2 years, $34 million), Tim Hardaway Jr. (1 year, $6.5 million), Simone Fontecchio (re-signed for 1 year, 2.6 million)
Trades: Giannis Antetokounmpo (from Bucks), Bobby Portis (from Bucks)
Key departures: Tyler Herro (traded to Bucks), Kel'el Ware (traded to Bucks), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (traded to Bucks), Kasparas Jakucionis (traded to Bucks), Norman Powell (signed with Bulls)
Draft: Brayden Burries (No. 10), Nate Ament (No. 13), Malique Lewis (No. 60)
Signings: Ousmane Dieng (re-signed for 3 years, $17.5 million)
Trades: Tyler Herro (from Heat), Kel'el Ware (from Heat), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (from Heat), Kasparas Jakucionis (from Heat)
Key departures: Giannis Antetokounmpo (traded to Heat), Bobby Portis (traded to Heat)
Draft: Isaiah Evans (No. 33), Trey Kaufman-Renn (No. 59)
Signings: Ayo Dosunmu (re-signed for 5 years, $112 million), Bones Hyland (re-signed for 1 year, $2.9 million), Jaylen Clark (re-signed for 3 years, $10 million)
Trades: LaMelo Ball (from Hornets), Josh Green (from Hornets), Mouhamadou Gueye (from Bulls)
Key departures: Julius Randle (traded to Nets), Naz Reid (traded to Hornets), Joe Ingles (signed with Melbourne United), Mike Conley Jr. (signed with Celtics)
Draft: Jaron Pierre Jr. (No. 58)
Signings: DeAndre Jordan (1 year, $3.9 million)
Draft: Jack Kayil (No. 39), Tyler Nickel (No. 47)
Signings: Jose Alvarado (re-signed for 3 years, $14.5 million), Mo Diawara (re-signed for 4 years, $10 million), Landry Shamet (re-signed for 4 years, $24 million)
Key departures: Ariel Hukporti (signed with 76ers), Mitchell Robinson (signed with Celtics)
Draft: Aday Mara (No. 12), Bennett Stirtz (No. 16), Otega Oweh (No. 41)
Signings: Isaiah Hartenstein (re-signed for 3 years, $75.5 million)
Key departures: Isaiah Joe (traded to Pistons), Aaron Wiggins (traded to Hawks), Branden Carlson (signed with Trail Blazers)
Draft: Izaiyah Nelson (No. 51)
Signings: Jevon Carter (re-signed for 1 year, $3.5 million), Nikola Vučević (1 year, $3.9 million)
Key departures: Moe Wagner (signed with Nets)
Draft:Labaron Philon (No. 22)
Signings: Dean Wade (4 years, $39 million), Ariel Hukporti (1 year, $3.4 million)
Key departures: Quentin Grimes (signed with Lakers)
Draft: Koa Peat (No. 30)
Signings: Collin Gillespie (re-signed for 4 years, $48 million), Jordan Goodwin (re-signed for 3 years, $19 million), Mark Williams (re-signed for 3 years, $38 million), Luke Kennard (2 years, $13 million)
Trades: Miles Bridges (from Hornets)
Key departures: Grayson Allen (traded to Hornets), Royce O'Neale (traded to Hornets)
Signings: Robert Williams III (3 year, $44 milion extension), Branden Carlson (1 year, $2.4 million)
Trades: Ja Morant (from Grizzlies)
Key departures: Jerami Grant (traded to Grizzlies), Kris Murray (traded to Grizzlies)
Draft: Darius Acuff (No. 7), Alex Karaban (No. 29), Emanuel Sharp (No. 45)
Signings: Precious Achiuwa (re-signed for 2 years, $11.5 million)
Departures: Devin Carter (traded to Hawks)
Draft: Jayden Quaintance (No. 20), Tarris Reed (No. 26), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (No. 42), Maliq Brown (No. 44)
Signings: Julian Champagnie (re-signed for 3 years, $45 million), Harrison Barnes (re-signed for 1 year, $8 million)
Draft: Allen Graves (No. 19), Jaden Bradley (No. 50)
Trades: Kawhi Leonard (from Clippers), Chucky Hepburn (re-signs on two-way deal)
Key departures: Brandon Ingram (traded to Clippers), Gradey Dick (traded to Clippers), Sandro Mamukelashvili (signed with Lakers)
Draft: Darryn Peterson (No. 2)
Signings: Jusuf Nurkic (re-signed for 2 years, $22 million)
Key departures: Walker Kessler (traded to Lakers)
Draft: AJ Dybantsa (No. 1), Felix Okpara (No. 46)
Signings: Trae Young (4 years, $212 million)
Dan Hooker is surprised to see Conor McGregor committed to his UFC return.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) broke his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. His comeback almost materialized in June 2024 when he was booked against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, but he withdrew due to a broken pinky toe.
Now "The Notorious" is less than two weeks away from making his highly anticipated walk to the octagon when he runs things back with Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in the UFC 329 main event on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+). A former UFC dual champion, McGregor is undeniably the biggest star the sport has ever seen. His impact is already etched in stone, which is why Hooker praises him for insisting to fight again. "That weight obviously changes it pretty drastically," Hooker told Submission Radio. "Max has been competing at featherweight and has recently had a couple of dust-ups at lightweight. I'm sure he probably walks around about that weight (welterweight). But still, that's not where Conor did his best work at 170. Max is fast and just been competing consistently at an elite level. Fighting is not something that you can pick up and put down when you feel like it.
"Getting back into it after being inactive for so long, and no knock on Conor. That's a career-ender the way that he snapped his leg and having to come back and rebuild from that. Credit to him. The guy has got more money than anyone else in the sport, so there's no real need for him to step back in there and get out and compete again. So, credit to him for still having that chip on his shoulder and something to prove."
Holloway is a moderate favorite over McGregor, who won their first bout at featherweight in 2013 by unanimous decision.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dan Hooker credits Conor McGregor for UFC return – even with 'no real need' to fight
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England (AP) — India left out 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again for the start of its five-match T20 series against England.
The tourists kept faith with openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for the first T20 at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday as they looked to bounce back from a shocking 2-0 series loss to Ireland in the same format last week.
India won the toss and opted to bat first.
Sooryavanshi was a compelling option at the top of the order, though. He was picked in the squad for the tour of Ireland and England after scoring 776 runs in 16 innings in the 2026 Indian Premier League and being voted as the competition's MVP.
If he makes his debut later in the series, Sooryavanshi — who is aged 15 years and 96 days — will become the youngest player to feature in a top-tier men’s T20. Ireland’s Joshua Little holds the record — he was 16 years and 309 days in his debut in the format.
Sooryavanshi would become the youngest-ever player in India’s senior men’s team. The great Sachin Tendulkar was 16 years and 205 days when he made his test debut in 1989, then made his ODI debut 33 days later.
The youngest-ever player in men’s international cricket remains Hasan Raza, who was 14 years and 227 days when he made his test debut for Pakistan in 1996.
___
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, will be hoping to steady their United Kingdom campaign when they open their five-match T20I series against England on Wednesday, July 1, at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street.
India's early days under their new captain didn't go as planned, with the side suffering a 0-2 series defeat to Ireland. This was their first T20I series loss since 2023 and, remarkably, their first-ever international series defeat to Ireland in any format.
What stood out most from the Ireland series wasn't simply the scoreline, but how visibly uncomfortable India's batting unit looked whenever the ball offered movement or extra bounce.
With England likely to present similar challenges, backed by a more experienced and varied bowling attack, India's batters will need to show far greater awareness of tempo and smarter shot selection.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
Live Scorecard
Toss: India won the toss and opted to field first.
MORE: All you need to know about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut
India playing XI: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), 5 Tilak Varma, Harshit Rana, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy
England playing XI: Phil Salt, Jos Butler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood
| Team | Win probability |
| IND | 45% |
| ENG | 55% |
England are the favourites to win this match at 1.80 on Dafa, while the odds for India to win are 1.98.
* Odds are correct at time of publish but subject to change.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| IND | 1.98 |
| ENG | 1.80 |
The Seattle Reign announced today that goalkeeper Neeku Purcell is staying with the club through 2028 after signing a multi-year contract.
The Seattle native arrived at the club as a short-term replacement player in 2025 and earned a full contract ahead of the 2026 season.
Signed and sealed ✍️
— Seattle Reign FC (@reignfc) July 1, 2026
Goalkeeper Neeku Purcell has signed a multi-year contract extension through the 2028 NWSL season. 👏
Read ➡️ https://t.co/cQLFY2ndWGpic.twitter.com/QEQjtbBZXx
“Neeku has earned this opportunity through her work ethic, professionalism and the progress she’s made since joining our club,” said Seattle Reign FC General Manager Lesle Gallimore. “Her recent Under-23 National Team call-ups are a reflection of the trajectory she’s on and the potential we believe she has. We’re excited to continue supporting her development and look forward to seeing her build on that momentum while competing for Reign FC.”
Rookie running back Emmett Johnson may be set to take the NFL by storm as a key contributor to the Kansas City Chiefs' ground game.
While the former Nebraska Cornhusker is tentatively set to split carries with Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III in 2026, Johnson's rare physical gifts and surprising finesse could force Chiefs head coach Andy Reid to consider an expanded role for the first-year phenom earlier than some analysts might think.
This week, Johnson took to Instagram to share a series of pictures that highlighted his impressive offseason physique, giving Kansas City's fans an inside look at what they can expect to see when he takes the field for his pro debut in September:
The 2026 NFL season is nearly here, and with training camps opening across the league, the time has come to stake out some territory that most people will call ridiculous. Bold predictions are supposed to feel uncomfortable. If everyone agrees with you, it isn’t bold. The five calls below range from a Super Bowl outcome that flips the current betting order to individual statistical seasons that only a handful of players in history have ever reached.
Some of these will look foolish by December. That comes with the territory. But the offseason handed us enough roster movement, coaching changes, and health question marks to justify swinging big, so here are five predictions for the 2026 season that go against the grain, starting with a title game upset and ending with a running back chasing a number nobody has touched in over a decade.
MORE: More NFL teams need to follow how the Lions dealt with Terrion Arnold
Buffalo enters 2026 with the third-shortest Super Bowl odds behind Los Angeles, so this isn’t a shot in the dark. Buffalo sits at the second-best odds to win Super Bowl LXI, trailing only the Los Angeles Rams. Josh Allen opened as the MVP favorite, and Buffalo added DJ Moore to address a thin receiver room.
The Rams built their case on Matthew Stafford, who turns 39 this season and carries durability risk at that age. Los Angeles also leans on a fading Davante Adams and faces the second-hardest schedule in the league. Allen has repeatedly come up short in January, but the roster around him and a softer AFC path finally push him past the Rams in Los Angeles.
No team has finished 0-17, but the setup in Arizona is uniquely grim. The Cardinals are projected to be the only team in the NFL that is an underdog in all 17 of its games, including a staggering eight as a double-digit dog. They are more than touchdown underdogs in each of their first 10 games, so a quick start seems unlikely.
Kyler Murray is gone, leaving Jacoby Brissett, who went 1-11 as a starter last season, running a new offense under rookie head coach Mike LaFleur. The roster sits in the NFC West, the league’s toughest division. A defense and offensive line that ranked among the worst gives Arizona little margin, and a schedule this brutal leaves no soft spot to steal a win.
Kansas City is coming off a 6-11 finish, and the reasons for the collapse haven’t fully gone away. The Chiefs went 1-7 in one-score games last season, the worst mark in the league, a stunning reversal from the 11 such wins they piled up the year before. Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL on December 14, and the season opener falls exactly nine months later, the very front edge of a typical recovery window.
Kansas City lost both starting corners, Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie, and one analyst noted the offense is largely unchanged. The Broncos have a clearly better roster across the board; the Chargers are close in talent, and there are only seven playoff spots in a deep AFC.
No receiver has hit the mark, but Nacua came close in 2025. Through five games last season, he was tracking to 1,999 receiving yards, which would have blown past Calvin Johnson’s record of 1,964 set in 2012. He finished with 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 regular-season games, having missed time. Health and a full 17-game slate are the difference.
He was targeted on a league-high 36.1 percent of routes, and Matthew Stafford leaned on him at an astronomical rate. With that volume and per-route production, a fully healthy season puts 2,000 within reach.
The 2,500-yard scrimmage bar belongs to one man. Chris Johnson set the NFL record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage in 2009, the season that earned him the nickname CJ2K. The Titans’ greatness has been on the minds of football fans this week for reasons far bigger than the record book.
Johnson revealed on Good Morning America that he is battling ALS, sharing his story with a positive outlook and choosing to fight. Chasing his mark, Gibbs has the profile for it. He piled up 1,839 scrimmage yards on 320 touches in 2025, and with Montgomery gone and Dan Campbell promising bell cow usage, the runway is there.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
Midfielder Andres Herrera has signed an official contract with the Crew after spending the last two seasons with Columbus on loan from Argentina's River Plate.
The Crew announced the deal on July 1, a day after his second loan expired. Rather than using the loan-to-purchase option from River Plate, the two clubs agreed to a separate deal for an undisclosed transfer fee.
Continuing to call Columbus home 🏠 pic.twitter.com/kWnjYttOSn
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) July 1, 2026
Herrera is signed through the 2028-29 season, with a club option for the following season, and will fill an international roster spot.
FOR BETTER SEARCHES:Prefer The Dispatch on Google
"Andres has been a great fit for our club’s desired style of play and culture, and we are delighted that he will continue his career in Columbus,” Crew general manager Issa Tall said in a statement. "Since he arrived in Columbus, he's displayed his positive attitude, competitiveness and strong work ethic every day."
Herrera joined the Crew in July 2024 and finished the regular season with 10 appearances and a goal. Overall, Herrera has recorded 54 games and six goals for the Crew, including a goal in the MLS Cup playoff series against FC Cincinnati.
More: Get live updates on Columbus Crew's Steven Moreira, Max Arfsten at World Cup
Before Herrera's loan expired, the 27-year-old expressed a desire to remain in Columbus.
"Ultimately, my family is here," Herrera said through a translator. "I would love to stay here."
Herrera will be available when the Crew return from the World Cup break against New York City FC on July 22, pending approval of his visa.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew sign Andres Herrera to full-time contract
Detroit — The Red Wings are bringing back forward Carter Mazur.
After not giving Mazur a qualifying offer by Monday's deadline — which could have made Mazur an unrestricted free agent Wednesday — the Wings worked out a two-year contract with the Jackson native worth $1.75 million ($875,000 annual average value).
Mazur, 24, was a 2021 third-round draft pick (70th overall) of the Wings. His progress to the NHL has been marred and interrupted by several injuries that have kept him off the ice long-term, especially the last two seasons.
Mazur was limited to 16 games last season in Grand Rapids (11 goals, 16 points), but after playing so well, he was called up to the Wings late in the season but had no points in eight games. Mazur made his debut with the Wings in 2025, but dislocated his elbow on the second shift and missed the remainder of the season.
With the Wings expected to shuffle the look of their bottom two forward lines, there's opportunity for Mazur to land a role this season.
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Red Wings bring back Jackson's Carter Mazur on 2-year contract
Rivals Summer Signing Day, presented by Autotrader, is here! Eight top prospects from across the country will announce their college commitments during a four-hour live special on the Rivals YouTube channel, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT.
11:17 a.m.:Brandon Sherrard has committed to Texas!
Rivals insider Sam Spiegelman has more on Sherrard’s decision here.
11:15 a.m.: The first commitment announcement of the day, four-star cornerback Brandon Sherrard, is on deck. He’ll be choosing LSU, Oklahoma or Texas.
11:11 a.m.: Wiltfong and Simmons just teased a commitment prediction for five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson, who will announce his college plans at 5 p.m. CT on the Rivals YouTube channel.
11:07 a.m.: Rivals insiders Chad Simmons and Steve Wiltfong are in studio previewing today’s commitment announcements and discussing the current state of the 2027 recruiting cycle.
Chad Simmons and I going on the air now. https://t.co/benwgpanJvpic.twitter.com/6fwcmSVYCi
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) July 1, 2026
10:22 a.m.: Here’s a look at the top 10 classes in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings before all of today’s commitments:
1. Texas A&M – 94.003
25 total commits
6 five-stars | 10 four-stars | 9 three-stars
2. Notre Dame – 92.732
21 total commits
3 five-stars | 14 four-stars | 4 three-stars
3. Miami – 92.387
20 total commits
3 five-stars | 12 four-stars | 5 three-stars
4. Oklahoma – 91.946
26 total commits
1 five-stars | 12 four-stars | 13 three-stars
5. Ohio State – 91.788
18 total commits
2 five-stars | 12 four-stars | 4 three-stars
6. Texas – 91.560
21 total commits
2 five-stars | 12 four-stars | 7 three-stars
7. Florida – 91.428
24 total commits
1 five-star | 15 four-stars | 8 three-stars
8. Texas Tech – 91.355
17 total commits
2 five-stars | 10 four-stars | 5 three-stars
9. Oregon – 91.154
21 total commits
1 five-star | 12 four-stars | 8 three-stars
10. USC – 90.714
14 total commits
2 five-star | 7 four-stars | 5 three-stars
For a full breakdown of the top 25 classes in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, click here.
10:03 a.m.: We are a little more than an hour away from the first announcement of the day, as four-star cornerback Brandon Sherrard is set to announce his commitment to LSU, Oklahoma or Texas.
The full schedule for today’s commitments can be found in our Announcement Guide.
It was at this point in the previous World Cup cycle - 14 months out from the tournament - when Ireland laid down an unmissable marker.
In what some regard as the apogee of the Andy Farrell era, they travelled to New Zealand and came home with a Test series win.
That tour - which Ireland won 2-1 with historic, heart-stopping victories in Dunedin and Wellington - instilled enormous belief in Farrell's squad.
They won 17 Tests in a row, collecting a Grand Slam along the way, before their world came crashing down when the All Blacks exacted revenge in one of the great World Cup quarter-finals.
Four years on, there are intriguing parallels. Like in 2022, they jet off to the other side of the world off the back of a Six Nations campaign that yielded four wins and a defeat by France.
This time, however, the summer exertions does not come in the form of a traditional tour. Instead, it is the start of the Nations Championship, the new biennial competition pitting rugby's northern and southern giants against each other.
Ireland's opening leg comprises matches against Australia and Japan in Australia and New Zealand in Auckland.
As ever, there are talking points aplenty from an Irish perspective as BBC Sport takes a look.
There is no sidestepping the obvious concern. Farrell's squad is missing several key men because of injury.
Caelan Doris, who missed last year's Lions tour to Australia, is out, which has elevated Dan Sheehan to the captaincy.
Like in the Six Nations, the front-row absentees are plentiful, with loose-heads Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle all injured.
Forwards Ryan Baird and Edwin Edogbo are also missing, while Jack Crowley, Tommy O'Brien and Mack Hansen are significant backline absentees.
There is also a James Lowe-shaped hole on the left wing after the two-time Six Nations winner decided to leave Leinster and Irish rugby and begin a new chapter in Japan.
Farrell often frames injuries as opportunities for other players to step up and this summer will be no different as he navigates three Tests without some of his most trusted players.
Crowley's absence because of a blood vessel issue in his leg has created a selection dilemma at fly-half. We've been here before.
A quick recap: Sam Prendergast finished the autumn Tests with the jersey, but by the time the Six Nations ended in March, it was Crowley's.
Prendergast, like most of his team-mates, struggled in the opening-weekend loss to France, but a shaky afternoon against Italy prompted Farrell to hand the reins back to Crowley.
Still only 23, Prendergast is blessed with wonderful passing and vision, and while his defensive frailties remain a concern, he enjoyed a strong end to the season to help Leinster retain the United Rugby Championship (URC) title.
But Harry Byrne - who was preferred to Prendergast for Leinster's run to the Champions Cup final - will feel he is ready for a first Test start.
The 27-year-old has started 15 games for Leinster this season and, while he endured a difficult Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles, he will be pushing for a chance after being an unused member of Farrell's last two squads.
The third man in the conversation is Ciaran Frawley. Two years on from his Springbok-slaying heroics in Durban, he will move to Connacht after this window in his quest for more regular starting opportunities.
Also deployable at inside centre and full-back, starting against Australia would be a tantalising and emotional opportunity for the Sydney-born 28-year-old.
There are five uncapped players in the squad. Three from Connacht and two from Ulster.
Connacht's strong end to the season under Stuart Lancaster made an impression on Farrell, who has brought two of the western province's props on the plane.
Given his lack of loose-head options, it is perhaps not surprising to see Billy Bohan included.
The 20-year-old was a fresh face in this year's Six Nations squad, and while he did not earn a Test debut in the spring, his performances in the second half of the season were enough to bag him a three-year senior contract with Connacht.
Only seven months removed from his senior debut, a first Ireland cap over next three weeks would be the culmination of a whirlwind period for the Kildare native.
Sam Illo has been around longer than Bohan. His Connacht debut came in January 2022, but he has found another level under Lancaster and will hope to soak up a considerable amount of knowledge as one of Tadhg Furlong's understudies this summer.
With Doris sidelined, Sean Jansen could make his mark. A stats machine, the New Zealand-born number eight has scored 12 tries for Connacht this season and ranked third in URC tackles made with 219.
Then there are Ulster's Ward brothers Zac and Bryn, who were called up after Tommy O'Brien and Doris' withdrawals. Bryn was another non-playing member of the Six Nations squad, but there is a chance for Zac to compete with Ulster team-mate Jacob Stockdale for the left-wing berth after a 15-try season.
If the Wards manage to make half the impact their Ulster team-mates made during the Six Nations, they'll have done well.
While Leinster remain the Ireland squad's bulk provider, the northern province's presence intensified during the Six Nations.
Stuart McCloskey in particular was outstanding, missing out on the player of the tournament award to France superstar Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
He missed the end of Ulster's season with a torn hamstring, but the noises coming out of the Irish camp about his fitness this week have been positive. If fully fit, he will be expected to resume his role as the rampaging hero of the Irish attack.
Rob Baloucoune, too, has recovered from injury in time to prolong his moment in the Test spotlight. The rapid winger was superb in the Six Nations and is sure to occupy the 14 jersey this month.
Tom O'Toole will be hoping for a significant amount of game time after successfully switching from tight-head to loose-head in the Six Nations, while ultra-consistent back row Nick Timoney will push for starts after four of his five appearances in the Triple Crown campaign came from the bench.
It could be an important summer, too, for Nathan Doak and Cormac Izuchukwu, both of whom made their Six Nations debuts earlier this year.
Between 2016 and the end of the 2022 tour, Ireland won five of their eight meetings with New Zealand. That included a first ever win over them in Chicago, a couple of home victories and the memorable triumphs in Dunedin and Wellington.
Since then, it's been all New Zealand. They edged a World Cup blockbuster in Paris, backed it up with a win in Dublin and won the much-hyped Chicago rematch 26-13.
Ireland's defeat at Soldier Field last year has been followed by a loss to South Africa and a resounding reverse to France.
As the three other nations in the top four of the world rankings, the significance of claiming the All Blacks' scalp will not be lost on Farrell.
To do that, however, Ireland must end one of rugby's most famous streaks: New Zealand's 52-Test unbeaten run at Eden Park.
The All Blacks' Auckland stronghold has not been breached since France secured a 23-20 win in 1994. In the 2022 series opener, New Zealand tore through Ireland to win 42-19 at their spiritual home.
After three defeats on the bounce, and with the chance to end one of the All Blacks' proudest records, Farrell's side will certainly not lack motivation.
4 July: Australia v Ireland, Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 11:10 BST
11 July: Japan v Ireland, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, 11:10 BST
18 July: New Zealand v Ireland, Eden Park, Auckland, 08:10 BST
Forwards (20): Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Billy Bohan (Connacht), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Sam Illo (Connacht), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Sean Jansen (Connacht), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster, captain), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Bryn Ward (Ulster)
Backs (16): Bundee Aki (Connacht), Rob Baloucoune (Ulster), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Jimmy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster)
MADISON − The University of Wisconsin has filled its athletic director vacancy with someone who is familiar with being a power-conference AD – and familiar with the Badgers, too.
Wisconsin has tabbed Shawn Eichorst – the former AD at Miami and Nebraska and current deputy AD at Texas – to be the Badgers’ next athletic director, the university announced July 1.
It brings Eichorst back to the athletic department where he worked from 2006-11. He was ultimately promoted to deputy AD under Barry Alvarez before getting his power-conference AD opportunities at Miami and Nebraska.
His brief tenure at Miami included the hiring of Jim Larranaga, who eventually became the Hurricanes' all-time winningest coach. But his firing of Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini and hiring of Mike Riley garnered significant criticism. The Huskers still have not put together a 10-win season since Pelini's firing.
Eichorst's Wisconsin roots extend well beyond his time in Alvarez's athletic department. He also is Lone Rock native, UW-Whitewater alum, Marquette Law School alum and former UW-Whitewater athletic director.
With Eichorst, the Badgers continued their trend of hiring athletic directors with local ties. Chris McIntosh was Alvarez's deputy AD before getting the job in 2021. Alvarez was more than a decade into his coaching tenure at UW when he became AD in 2004. Pat Richter was across town at Oscar Mayer before taking the AD job in 1989.
The July 1 hire puts an end to a search that was relatively expedient. Predecessor McIntosh resigned in April to take a job at the Big Ten Conference office as deputy commissioner, with Marcus Sedberry serving as interim AD for the nearly three months since then.
UW announced a search committee in May that included alumni who work in NFL, NBA and NHL front offices. Lauren Bishop, a social work professor and one of UW's faculty athletics representatives, chaired the committee.
UW hired CSA Search and Consulting to help with the search. A public records request submitted by the Journal Sentinel in May for UW’s contract with the search firm remains pending.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Badgers officially hire Shawn Eichorst as next athletic director
MADISON − The University of Wisconsin has filled its athletic director vacancy with someone who is familiar with being a power-conference AD – and familiar with the Badgers, too.
Wisconsin has tabbed Shawn Eichorst – the former AD at Miami and Nebraska and current deputy AD at Texas – to be the Badgers’ next athletic director, the university announced July 1.
It brings Eichorst back to the athletic department where he worked from 2006-11. He was ultimately promoted to deputy AD under Barry Alvarez before getting his power-conference AD opportunities at Miami and Nebraska.
His brief tenure at Miami included the hiring of Jim Larranaga, who eventually became the Hurricanes' all-time winningest coach. But his firing of Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini and hiring of Mike Riley garnered significant criticism. The Huskers still have not put together a 10-win season since Pelini's firing.
Eichorst's Wisconsin roots extend well beyond his time in Alvarez's athletic department. He also is Lone Rock native, UW-Whitewater alum, Marquette Law School alum and former UW-Whitewater athletic director.
With Eichorst, the Badgers continued their trend of hiring athletic directors with local ties. Chris McIntosh was Alvarez's deputy AD before getting the job in 2021. Alvarez was more than a decade into his coaching tenure at UW when he became AD in 2004. Pat Richter was across town at Oscar Mayer before taking the AD job in 1989.
The July 1 hire puts an end to a search that was relatively expedient. Predecessor McIntosh resigned in April to take a job at the Big Ten Conference office as deputy commissioner, with Marcus Sedberry serving as interim AD for the nearly three months since then.
UW announced a search committee in May that included alumni who work in NFL, NBA and NHL front offices. Lauren Bishop, a social work professor and one of UW's faculty athletics representatives, chaired the committee.
UW hired CSA Search and Consulting to help with the search. A public records request submitted by the Journal Sentinel in May for UW’s contract with the search firm remains pending.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Badgers officially hire Shawn Eichorst as next athletic director
The Longhorns added 11 commitments in the month of June and are kicking off July with even more fireworks.
Four-star cornerback Brandon Sherrard committed to Texas on Wednesday live on the Rivals Summer Signing Day show.
LSU and Oklahoma were other finalists for the No. 21 CB in the 2027 class out of Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek.
“We all love the game of football … it’s beyond that there,” Sherrard told Rivals on his decision to commit to Texas. “It’s more than football. Texas ball is forever gonna be different.”
Texas surged late in the in-state prospect’s recruitment.
Sherrard made a handful of visits to Austin in-season last fall and returned again in the spring.
The Rivals300 defensive back made a late decision to officially visit Texas, which altered the course of his recruitment.
“Texas definitely made a big push after my official visit,” Sherrard said. “Just being around Coach Sark and Coach O, seeing how they run things, and the relationships we built made me feel like I could see myself there. They showed me how I’d fit in their defense and how they plan to develop me on and off the field. Austin felt like home, and that’s really what stood out to me.
Sherrard is the No. 151 overall prospect in the 2027 class and the No. 51-rated player from the state of Texas in this cycle.
After two years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the marquee, season-ending event in women’s tennis will this year take place in one of the sport’s most prestigious venues.
The 2026 WTA Tour Finals will take place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Calif., the site of the ATP and WTA 1000 BNP Paribas Open, which takes place in March and has been colloquially known as the “fifth Slam” in tennis.
The women’s tour confirmed the move in a statement Wednesday, months after the news that the deal between the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation for the event would end this year.
By spring, the WTA Tour Finals had outlived its usefulness to Saudi Arabia’s wider ambitions as it relates to tennis, according to two people briefed on its sports ministry’s operations who were not authorized to speak publicly. The kingdom has spent years investing in global sports with the hope of transforming its reputation. But the previous November, then-WTA Tour chief executive Portia Archer had said that she would like the event to stay in Riyadh beyond its initial three-year term.
At the same time, the WTA did not want to host an event in Riyadh amid conflict in the region, following the American-Israeli decision to attack Iran in late February that has since escalated to war.
In a joint statement released Wednesday, the WTA and STF said that WTA requested to move the event. The decision puts the WTA’s biggest event of the year in a friendly timezone for the tour’s biggest television markets in North America and Europe. It’s also familiar to fans accustomed to flocking to the desert each March to watch the best players in the world.
“The Indian Wells Tennis Garden provides an exceptional stage for the WTA Finals,” WTA chair Valerie Camillo said in a statement. “From its world-class facilities and passionate fan base to its proven ability to deliver premier tennis events, the venue offers everything needed to showcase the very best of women’s tennis. We are excited to bring the WTA Finals to Southern California and continue building one of the premier championships in global sport.”
The move also marks the end of a controversial, albeit lucrative, partnership between the tour, the STF and the Saudi Sports Ministry.
The prize money was $15.25 million in the first year of the deal in 2024, a 66 percent ($6.25 million) bump from 2023 that put the prize pool on par with what ATP players earned in their season-ending finals event the same year. In 2025, the federation funded the biggest winner’s check in the history of women’s sports, and WTA Tour Finals champion Elena Rybakina got $5.3 million dollars.
But the WTA faced criticism for partnering with a country with a history of repressive laws against women, and a heavily criticized human rights record. The Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund, the PIF, will continue to sponsor the WTA Tour rankings and fund a maternity and egg-freezing program for women’s players.
As part of the agreement, the organizations said, Saudi Arabia promised to use the event to promote sports among women and girls and increase the visibility of the WTA in a place that before 2024 had virtually no tennis footprint.
Moving the event to California should satisfy stakeholders across women’s tennis on many fronts. In Riyadh, players often competed in mostly empty stadiums in a city where there was little buzz surrounding an event that’s considered to be a massive achievement. Only the top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams of the season compete.
Indian Wells an established tennis destination, will be a significant change of scene. The tour is still seeking a longer-term contract to host the finals beyond 2026.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Sports Business, Culture, Tennis, Women's Tennis
2026 The Athletic Media Company
Maple Leafs free agency tracker: Live signings, trades, news, updates and more in 2026 NHL offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This is a pivotal offseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Coming off a brutal 2025-26 campaign, they earned the No. 1 pick (Gavin McKenna), hired a new GM and head coach (John Chayka, Jim Hiller) and have already made a fascinating sign-and-trade for Darren Raddysh.
The opening of NHL free agency on July 1 provides more opportunities for the Leafs to turn this thing back in the right direction.
Last summer's biggest storyline was the loss of Mitch Marner.
This time around, Toronto will hope to generate some headlines for the right reasons.
Below, we'll be keeping track of what the Maple Leafs get up to.
MORE: What the Gavin McKenna pick means for the Maple Leafs
Refresh for the latest. All times in ET.
WEDNESDAY
12:15 p.m.: Colton Sissons is reportedly signing from the Vegas Golden Knights.
11:05 a.m.: The Maple Leafs are trading Nick Robertson (who was an RFA) to the Penguins for a fourth-round pick.
10:30 a.m.: The latest Zach Werenski trade rumors are favorable for Toronto.
8:20 a.m.: We know it would cost about $21 million for the Maple Leafs to get Sergei Bobrovsky.
8 a.m.: NHL free agency will open at 12 noon ET today.
Colton Sissons, a bottom-six center, is signing with Toronto.
This section will be updated as players leave to sign elsewhere.
The Maple Leafs traded RFA Nicholas Robertson to the Penguins.
The free agent window opens on Wednesday, July 1 at 12 noon ET.
Shams Charania: Free agent Collin Sexton has agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Lakers add veteran point guard Collin Sexton
Shams Charania: Sexton's new Lakers deal includes a player option, sources said, after being finalized by CAA Sports' Austin Brown and Max Saidman.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Sexton's new Lakers deal includes a player option, …
Josh Lewenberg: Mamu really wanted to be back in Toronto. Could’ve seen him taking a discount to stay if the $ was close, but Raptors were never gonna be able to compete with that, especially after taking on salary in the trade. Happy for Sandro. Lakers are a great fit & this is life-changing $
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Mamu really wanted to be back in Toronto. Could’ve …
BOSTON — In the aftermath of the fourth-inning fireworks between Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras and Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli on Tuesday night, the Red Sox accused Cavalli of crossing a line with comments toward Contreras — and said they believed he should have been thrown out of the game, too.
After striking Contreras out looking for the second out of the fourth inning, Cavalli appeared to yell something at Contreras, causing the fiery slugger to stop in his tracks on his way back to the dugout, ask Cavalli if he was talking to him, and then charge toward the mound. The benches cleared as Contreras threw his batting helmet in Cavalli’s direction. After the brawl, four people — Contreras, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy and outfielder Nate Eaton as well as Washington pitcher Miles Mikolas — were ejected.
Tracy said he was ejected for telling the umpires Cavalli should be ejected.
“I felt as though the comment made — ‘Sit down boy,’ at the top of your lungs — was part of what caused that to happen,“ Tracy said. ”Understood after everything that happened the people they chose that were going to leave the game. I just felt like the other pitcher should have been one of them, too.
“I heard that from where I was sitting,” he added. “Interesting choice of words. I don’t know how many he struck out at that point and (he chose) that choice of words in that spot right there. Players nowadays yell and scream about stuff but not having said a word and then happens, I just felt like that was part of the equation and I don’t know why he was still in the game.”
Contreras said he charged Cavalli mainly because he had yelled in his direction. The exact words were less of a reason, according to the first baseman.
“He was instigating and I snapped,” Contreras said. “That happened.
“I think it was more the fact that he yelled whatever he said. Prior to that, I was talking to Keibert Ruiz — and you can go ask him — how good that guy is. He has good stuff. I even asked him if he was a trade guy or farm guy, like raised from the farm. He struck me out on a good pitch. I was walking back to the dugout and he did what he did. The rest was history."
In Washington’s clubhouse, Cavalli said: “I just told him to sit down. He asked if I was talking to him. I said, ‘Yeah, you heard me.’ I was just standing there and said, ‘You heard me.’ It’s really not a big deal.
“I thought he would just hear me and understand we’re competitive. People tell everybody to ‘sit down’ at some point in their career. It’s not a big deal.”
Tracy declined to comment on if he thought the comment from Cavalli directed at the Venezuelan Contreras was racially motivated. Contreras did not make that accusation, either.
“To be honest, I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m Venezuelan. I don’t know if it’s racist or not. I’ll let MLB handle that,” Contreras said.
From Cavalli’s side, the incident stemmed from a first-inning incident between the two players. As the inning ended on a Jarren Duran flyout, cameras caught Contreras — then a baserunner — running close to Cavalli on his way back to the first base dugout. Cavalli took exception to that and was therefore fired up for his next battle with Contreras.
“I’m walking off the field. I stop, and he obviously sees me and gets as close as he can, brushes me with his arm,” Cavalli said. “It’s just a weird thing. I was just caught off guard by it... He’ll do stuff to try to get under your skin.
“There’s a certain level of respect you have for other players. I have respect for him. But you don’t run by me and brush me going off the field. It’s just not something you do in this game. I didn’t say anything in the moment. I struck him out, words were said. We don’t want that to happen.”
Tracy said cameras did not catch Contreras apologizing to Cavalli, something the first baseman also claimed he did.
“I apologized,” Contreras said. “I felt something and I turned around like, ‘My bad, my fault.’ If he thinks that’s on purpose, that’s not.”
Cavalli disagreed.
“I never got an apology from anybody,” the righty said.
Contreras, who has been involved in a handful of benches-clearing incidents — but none as serious as Tuesday’s — so far this season, faces the possibility of a suspension. He was ejected for the second straight night after getting tossed Monday for mockingly tapping his helmet to simulate an ABS challenge after getting called out on a check swing. From the home clubhouse, where he watched the final five innings of an 8-1 Red Sox loss, Contreras thought Cavalli should have been ejected, too.
“I feel like everything’s against me right now,” Contreras said. “Got ejected last night for nothing. Ejected today even though I was walking back to the dugout.”
Cavalli struck out 13 Red Sox hitters and retired the last 19 he faced.
“He threw the ball well,” said Tracy. “He was throwing harder than he has in a while, up to 100 mph and the breaking balls were very, very sharp. (IT was) apparent pretty early as you watch the stuff we were gonna have trouble with that and you can give him credit for that. He was good. But should he have still been in there? I don’t know.”
Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Lakers signing 146-game starting veteran guard to $60 million contract originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers are having an active Day 2 of NBA free agency.
After striking an agreement with the Utah Jazzon a sign-and-trade for center Walker Kessler, the Lakers are also signing Philadelphia 76ers free agent guard Quentin Grimes to a four-year deal worth $60 million.
The news comes from ESPN's Shams Charania.
"Free agent guard Quentin Grimes has agreed to a four-year, $60 million to join the Los Angeles Lakers, with a player option, sources tell ESPN," Charania reported.
UPDATE: Los Angeles has also signed Sandro Mamukelashvili and guard Colin Sexton. Rob Pelinka is making moves today.
Grimes is a fantastic 3-and-D player who fits what the Lakers need in a role player next to Luka Doncic.
Though he isn't an elite three-point shooter, Grimes can knock down open shots and has a career three-point percentage of 36.6%. The 26-year-old has also been very durable over the last two seasons, which goes a long way in this league.
And of course, Grimes' perimeter defense is what makes this signing a great one for Los Angeles. The Houston native is tenacious and incredibly savvy on that end, and his versatile defensive skill set is much needed in the Lakers' backcourt.
Overall, getting Grimes on a $15 million-per-season deal is tremendous value. The Kansas product should immediately step in as a key piece to JJ Redick's rotation and add quality depth in the backcourt behind Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Penguins Free Agency 2026: Latest News, Rumors & Offseason Signings for Pittsburgh originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Following a chaotic wave of blockbuster trades highlighted by Brady Tkachuk landing in Florida and Alex Tuch heading to Buffalo, the NHL offseason is shifting to the annual free agency period.
For teams looking to contend, the next few days are critical. General managers will look to use the market to either counter the massive upgrades made by their rivals or land the final pieces needed for a deep playoff run.
How will Pittsburgh improve its roster?
Here are the latest rumors surrounding the Penguins as NHL free agency begins.
Penguins acquire Nick Robertson from Maple Leafs
On Wednesday, Pittsburgh traded for Robertson from Toronto in exchange for a fourth round pick.
Robertson, the brother of Dallas Stars' superstar Jason, had 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in the 2025-26 season.
NHL free agency will begin at noon ET on Wednesday, July 1. Unrestricted free agents will be able to officially sign new deals with teams, and front offices will be permitted to extend offer sheets to restricted free agents.
The 29-year-old defenseman sits at the top of this year's class. Andersson produced 17 goals and 30 assists in 81 games last year, helping Vegas reach the Stanley Cup Final. It would be shocking if the Golden Knights aren't able to reach an agreement with him as free agency begins.
After being sent from from Washington to Anaheim, Carlson showed that he remains an elite player at 36 years old. He posted 14 goals and 46 assists in 71 games last season. The Ducks traded his rights to the Hurricanes last month, so Carolina has an exclusive window to negotiate with him.
Ovechkin, the only player in NHL history with more than 900 career goals, is unlikely to leave Washington if he wants to continue playing. However, he could retire after finishing his 21st NHL season. Ovechkin led the Capitals with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists) in 2025-26 and played all 82 games.
At 37 years old, the two-time Stanley Cup champion still has something left in the tank after appearing in 52 games last season. Rumors are swirling about Bobrovsky potentially leaving the Panthers and joining the Maple Leafs.
Zuccarello is coming off back-to-back 54-point seasons with the Wild. He remains a terrific passer, but at 38 years old, he will likely be looking at short-term offers when he hits free agency.
Mantha enjoyed the best season of his career in Pittsburgh, scoring a team-high 33 goals to go along with 31 assists before struggling in the playoffs. He was a major contributor for a team that stunned the hockey world by reaching the postseason, but it's unclear if the Penguins are willing to use a significant portion of their cap space to keep him.
Will Lee really leave the Islanders? New York's captain had 19 goals and 23 assists in 82 games last season and continued to provide strong leadership in the locker room. He would certainly be a welcome addition to a contending roster.
Alessio Furlanetto is set for a spell on the sidelines following an ACL surgery, so Lazio will resort to the young Davide Renzetti.
Lazio’s goalkeeping department is undergoing significant changes this summer, especially with Ivan Provedel on the verge of joining Inter Milan. The 32-year-old has been the club’s first choice between the sticks over the last four years.
Provedel’s departure should pave the way for Christos Mandas to claim a starting role. The Greek custodian failed to earn a permanent transfer to Bournemouth following a forgettable six-month loan spell, but he has Gennaro Gattuso’s full backing. Edoardo Motta, who impressed while Provedel was injured, should be Mandas’ understudy.
Lazio’s original plan was to maintain Furlanetto as the third choice behind Mandas and Motta. The 24-year-old played the last two matches of the 2025/26 campaign due to an injury crisis, and he didn’t disgrace himself. But sadly for the Italian, he suffered a serious injury that ruled him out of action for a long period.
On Wednesday, the club released a statement confirming Furlanetto has undergone surgery to repair his damaged ACL.
SS Lazio announces that Alessio Furlanetto underwent arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee this morning at San Pietro Fatebenefratelli Hospital. The surgery, successfully performed by Professor Francesco Franceschi’s team, also revealed the absence of any meniscus lesions. The rehabilitation program will begin immediately at the Lazio Lab of the Formello Training Center.
With Furlanetto unavailable for several months, La Lazio Siamo Noi expects the club to promote Renzetti to the first team. The 20-year-old is a Lazio youth product who spent the previous campaign on loan at Bra. He made 24 appearances in Serie C, conceding 34 goals and registering five clean sheets. The young Roman’s contract with the Biancocelesti is only valid for another year.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) is ending its partnership with Saudi Arabia to host the season-ending Finals a year early, with the tournament to move to Indian Wells in California.
The tournament has been held in Riyadh for the past two years after the WTA signed a three-year agreement with the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) in April 2024, a deal that included record prize money.
But the final year of the agreement has been terminated by mutual consent after the STF accepted the WTA's request to stage this year's finals elsewhere.
BBC Sport understands that the ongoing tension between Iran and the United States has made planning for the Finals more challenging, and is one reason why the contract has ended one year early.
The event, featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the year, will now take place in Indian Wells from 8-15 November.
Valerie Camillo, chair of the WTA, said this year's event at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden allows the organisation to "continue building one of the premier championships in global sport".
"The Indian Wells Tennis Garden provides an exceptional stage for the WTA Finals," Camillo added.
"From its world-class facilities and passionate fan base to its proven ability to deliver premier tennis events, the venue offers everything needed to showcase the very best of women's tennis."
Indian Wells already hosts WTA events at the BNP Paribas Open in March.
When the WTA decided to take the Finals to Saudi Arabia in 2024, the decision was met with significant backlash.
Saudi Arabia had been accused of using events to 'sportswash' its reputation amid accusations of violating human rights and restricting women's lives and freedom of speech.
However, WTA chief executive Steve Simon defended the decision, saying that by choosing Riyadh, women's tennis would be "supporting significant change being made within the region".
"The WTA has been breaking down barriers for more than 50 years," Simon told BBC Sport.
"We want to create more opportunities for women to play tennis at the elite level, and I think by doing this, we believe that we can inspire more women and girls to get involved with the sport.
"We are a global sport. The WTA now has all of these events and people from around the world that do reflect different cultures and systems."
Saudi Arabia won the rights to host the event the WTA assessed "multiple bids from different regions" and evaluated potential hosts on three criteria, including support for the organisation's ambition to achieve equal prize money for women.
The Toronto Maple Leafs appear ready to make their biggest move of the offseason as their pursuit of Zach Werenski continues to gain momentum. Multiple NHL insiders reported that Toronto is pushing hard for the reigning Norris Trophy winner (given to the top NHL defenseman for his all-around impact), who has reportedly not committed to the Columbus Blue Jackets beyond his current contract.
TSN’s Darren Dreger posted on X, “An intriguing day ahead. The D market is wild. Toronto is ‘all-in’ on Werenski.”
He later added, “It’s been assumed Knies will be part of a package if Toronto lands Zach Werenski. See how things develop, but there’s a chance the Leafs won’t have to give up the power forward if this trade comes together.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also expects Toronto to make a serious offer. He said, “I don’t think Toronto will fool around. The Maple Leafs will step up and take their swing; I’d be very curious to see what Tampa offers. If Florida wants to trade a legitimate player… the Panthers could be a player, too.”
MORE: Maple Leafs will 100% pursue Zach Werenski trade, says Elliotte Friedman
Werenski’s market remains active despite reports that he rejected a trade to Dallas. NHL insider David Pagnotta posted on X, “Following up on @reporterchris & @DarrenDreger… scuttlebutt tonight is Werenski rejected a trade to Dallas… Tampa Bay remains engaged in talks here. Philly was in mix too, but seems like TB is Werenski’s top choice right now.”
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Werenski has earned elite status after producing 81 points in 75 games last season while averaging 26:37 per night. The 2026 Olympic gold medalist also owns 465 career points and remains under contract for two more seasons with a $9.58 million cap hit.
From Toronto’s perspective, the fit is obvious. The Leafs have searched for a true No. 1 defenseman capable of driving play in every situation. Werenski fills that role immediately while complementing Auston Matthews (his Olympics teammate) and the team’s championship ambitions.
MORE: Maple Leafs may need Matthew Knies package to land Zach Werenski
The biggest question remains the trade package. Columbus still wants NHL-ready talent, but Toronto appears determined to protect Matthew Knies if possible. If the Maple Leafs can land Werenski without moving their young power forward, it would reshape both their blue line and their Stanley Cup outlook for years.
The Detroit Tigersplaced reliever Will Vest on the 15-day injured list with posterior right elbow inflammation, as announced on Wednesday, July 1. The team recalled reliever Beau Brieske from Triple-A Toledo to take his place on the active roster.
Vest's placement on the injured list is retroactive to June 28. This is the second time he has landed on the IL in 2026, after making a 15-day IL stint in early May with right forearm inflammation.
Vest last pitched in an 8-6 Tigers loss to the Houston Astros on June 27, with Vest allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits over one inning in that game.
Vest was one of Detroit's high-leverage relievers over the last two seasons, sporting a 2.91 ERA over 71⅓ innings pitched form 2024-25. His ERA has ballooned to 6.08 over 26 ⅔ innings pitched in 2026, however, with only two saves after saving a team-high 23 games for the Tigers in 2025.
Vest has also experienced a slight decrease in fastball velocity form 2025 to 2026, running an average of 96.5 mph in 2025 (84th percentile per Statcast) down to 95.7 in 2026 (71st percentile).
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers place reliever Will Vest on 15-day IL with elbow inflammation
NEW YORK – The Tigers have placed relief pitcher Will Vest on the injured list with inflammation in the back of his elbow.
Beau Brieske, a righty who has pitched for the Tigers over the last five seasons, has been called up and will be available out of the bullpen in the series finale against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, July 1.
The Vest situation is not believed to be ligament related.
“He came out of his last outing a little banged up," manager A.J. Hinch said. "We gave it a couple days. We need to get further tests. He's not going to be available.”
Hinch called Vest’s elbow injury “right posterior elbow inflammation.”
Vest has pitched in 27 games, struggling with a 6.08 ERA. Back in May, Vest spent time on the IL with an arm issue, and Hinch was not sure if it’s related.
“Tough loss to lose Will out of the out of the bullpen. But coming out of his last outing when he reported some soreness, we need to get it looked at," Hinch said. "As we got it looked at, we need further testing. So that that prompted us last night to make the decision to get Beau here this morning.”
Vest last pitched on June 27 against Houston. He threw one inning, giving up four hits and two earned runs.
Brieske was told late Tuesday night.
“He's been doing really well at AAA,” Hinch said of Brieske. “He will replace him, getting him here close to game time, and he'll be in the bullpen [Wednesday] and ready to go.”
Brieske was able to get on a plane and arrived in New York on Wednesday morning. He bounded up the dugout steps in Yankee Stadium and walked toward the outfield for some work as Hinch was talking to reporters and making his announcement.
Brieske has pitched in four games in 2026 for the Tigers. He has given up six runs in 4 1/3 innings of work.
When he was sent down to Toledo, he worked on his fastball command.
“He couldn't really throw the ball where he wanted to, the shape of the fastball wasn't as effective as it's been,” Hinch said “Now this guy, when he's got a dynamic fastball, pitches toward the back end of the game and comes in throwing a ton of strikes and challenges guys by getting in good leverage.”
Hinch said the Tigers were impressed with how Brieske has pitched recently in Toledo.
“His last few outings have been the best outings,” Hinch said. “While he's been down there, looked a lot more like himself, and the confidence that comes with that really impacts both outings. So, I'm anxious to see him. I'm thankful that he took the demotion last time with the seriousness to go and work on some things so that he's available to us. We need it.”
Now, knowing that Vest has been dealing with an elbow, weakening the bullpen, it underscores how important it has been that Casey Mize was able to pitch seven innings on Monday and Tarik Skubal went six on Tuesday.
On top of that, Detroit’s big lead Tuesday helped ease burden on the bullpen.
“What Tarrick did and what Casey did to get us where they could, and what our offense did to be able to absorb the innings with little to no stress, was right what we needed,” Hinch said.
Contact Jeff Seidel at jseidel@freepress.com or follow him @seideljeff.
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers relief pitcher Will Vest placed on IR, familiar face called up
Fever's Stephanie White comes to Alyssa Thomas' defense amid 'unacceptable toxicity' after Caitlin Clark incident originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has lashed out at the "unacceptable" social media posts that have threatened Alyssa Thomas after the Phoenix Mercury forward -- inadvertently or otherwise -- drove her fist into Caitlin Clark's throat in last week's game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Thomas, a six-time All-Star and a three-time All-Defense selection, was retroactively suspended one game by the WNBA following the incident. Upon returning to team activities on Tuesday, Thomas criticized commissioner Cathy Engelbert's response to the death threats and racial slurs she has received online, saying that the league continues to risk player safety as its business continues to expand.
MORE: WNBA's Cathy Engelbert - Alyssa Thomas drama overshadows Commissioner's Cup classic
White, who had referred to Thomas' incident with Clark as "egregious," came to the defense of her former player when she met with the media on Wednesday.
"I think as a league, as a whole, there's been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia, straight out nonsense, hate nonsense," White, who coached Thomas with the Connecticut Sun, told reporters. "It is absolutely unacceptable. Most of this coming from the online community."
Fever head coach Stephanie White addresses Alyssa Thomas’ comments and “unacceptable” fan behavior: pic.twitter.com/55KB1zIX5z
— Tony East (@TonyREast) July 1, 2026
White insisted that much of the hate speech was coming from online fans who are seeking to use Clark as a cudgel in bad-faith debates that invariably invoke racist tropes against the Fever star's opponents. White called those people "jerks" and told them to stop calling themselves WNBA fans.
"Our league is about elevating, elevating women, elevating marginalized communities and being inclusive of all different walks of life. That is what our league has always been about from day one. That is what our league will continue to be about. And we will continue to compete at a high level, hold ourselves to a higher standard, continue to be on the forefront of social norms, and we will continue to support one another collectively as a league," White said. "Players, coaches, staff, support staff, everyone. We're about elevating. We are not about demeaning, demanding, We are not about continuing this narrative. And it's just absolutely unacceptable."
Sacramento Kings say hello again to Jalen Duren originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The options are going away for Jalen Duren as trade rumors swirl around the Detroit Pistons center.
The Sacramento Kings have popped their head around the corner and said hello again.
Duren may have preferred the Los Angeles Lakers, but they're off the table. They just swung a big deal for Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz.
He may have wanted the Boston Celtics, but they're gone, too. Mitchell Robinson has signed with them.
Does that just leave the Kings?
MORE: Bronny James' best future doesn't involve a trade from Lakers
They're the main team that was involved in the initial Duren rumors, and they haven't yet added a different center.
The problem with Sacramento is that they'd probably have to pull off a sign-and-trade to make it happen. The most likely player to go the other way would be Domantas Sabonis.
And would the Pistons have any interest in Sabonis? You wouldn't think so, unless they really got backed into a corner.
It will be an interesting philosophical experiment, though.
MORE: Why the Warriors are a terrible fit for LeBron James
Does Duren want all the money he can get? Then he should consider Sacramento.
Does Duren want to win? He should probably stay in Detroit.
Multiple teams that had the option to go after Duren went in other directions. That's probably not a good sign for him.
Mavericks’ make shocking jersey number decisions for two key players as franchise enters new era originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Since the controversial trade involving Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks have undergone a dramatic organizational transformation. The franchise parted ways with general manager Nico Harrison and brought in Masai Ujiri to lead the front office. Head coach Jason Kidd also exited the organization, with Michigan coach Dusty May later agreeing to take over as the new head coach.
Beyond leadership changes, the Mavericks also reshaped their roster significantly. However, that turbulent transition period now appears to be over and the franchise is officially stepping into a new era. Dallas is currently focused on stability and player satisfaction, even accommodating personal preferences such as jersey numbers.
NBA reporter Mike Curtis detailed recent updates regarding jersey number changes within the roster. According to Curtis, both Max Christie and Naji Marshall will be switching numbers heading into the new season.
“Max Christie and Naji Marshall are changing their jersey numbers, per a #Mavs spokesperson: Christie will switch from No. 00 to No. 0, previously worn by Dante Exum in 2025-26. Marshall is changing his number from No. 13 to No. 3, previously worn by Anthony Davis in 2025-26,” Curtis wrote.
These numbers became available following major roster turnover, as both Dante Exum and Anthony Davis are no longer part of the Mavericks organization. Both were moved to the Washington Wizards in a previous trade. With those departures, new opportunities emerged for remaining players.
Meanwhile, both Christie and Marshall are heading into their third season with the Mavericks. Each of them has played an important part in helping Dallas navigate a major period of transition and roster restructuring.
While Marshall has solidified himself as a dependable starter, Christie has been utilized as an important developmental asset within the team’s backcourt rotation. As a result, Dallas had no hesitation in granting them the jersey numbers they preferred.
FC Bayern Munich has completed the signing of Ismael Saibari from PSV Eindhoven, the Bundesliga champions have confirmed.
The versatile forward is currently on international team duty for Morocco at the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
He will move from the Dutch champions to Munich after the tournament. Saibari has been handed a contract until 30 June 2031.
“We’re delighted to have secured the services of Ismael Saibari, one of the most exciting forwards at the World Cup.
"Transfers like this don’t happen on the spur of the moment but are the result of long-term planning.
"The key factor was that we made our position clear to him early on because we were aware of Ismael’s skills and were able to show him a clear future with us from the start.
“Ismael Saibari will bring extra quality and unpredictability to our attacking play,” said Max Eberl, FC Bayern's board member for sport.
As for the 25-year-old, who will wear the number 34 jersey for the Bavarians, he was delighted to join such a prestigious side:
"As a child, you dream of signing a contract with a club like FC Bayern – everybody knows it’s one of the world’s biggest clubs.
"FC Bayern compete for the biggest titles like the Champions League every year, and I want to win as many trophies as possible here.
"FC Bayern’s play suits me, I can play my own style of football here, and I’ll work hard every day to help the team.
"Coach Vincent Kompany played a key role in my decision – I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Why is DR Congo COD? Explaining country code of team making return at World Cup 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
DR Congo's return to the World Cup stage in 2026 was one of the more encapsulating storylines heading into the tournament.
The country is ending a 52-year absence from the World Cup, last qualifying in 1974 — a time gap significant enough that DR Congo was then playing under the country's previous name, Zaire.
However, as soccer fans now watch DR Congo return to the tournament, they may question why the country's official code appears as "COD" rather than "DRC."
Here's the background on why DR Congo's official country code is COD.
2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets
"COD" is the official abbreviation for the Democratic Republic of Congo because it is derived from its local French name, Congo-Kinshasa, rather than the English name.
Because of that, COD is the country's official ISO alpha-3 code — and while some English soccer fans may expect "DRC" to be the abbreviation for "Democratic Republic of Congo," FIFA utilizes the international standards, also helping to distinguish the nation from an easily-confused neighbor: the Republic of the Congo (COG).
While the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo share a border and sound similar, DR Congo has a significantly larger population. The Republic of Congo has never qualified for a World Cup.
LIVE: Follow England vs. DR Congo updates from 2026 World Cup knockout game
DR Congo is in Central Africa, the second-largest country on the continent by land mass. It can be found just west of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, east of the Republic of Congo, south of the Central African Republic and South Sudan, and north of Angola and Zambia.
The country has an estimated population of 124 million people, making it the fourth-most populous African nation. French is the official and most widely spoken language in DR Congo.
DR Congo is making a long-awaited return to the World Cup stage in 2026, as the last time it qualified, in 1974, it was under the country's then-name Zaire and had just become the first Sub-Saharan African nation ever to qualify for the men’s World Cup.
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:
There will be no further regime change at the top of the New York Mets organization.
In an appearance on "The Show" with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman podcast on Wednesday, July 1, Mets owner Steve Cohen backed president of baseball operations David Stearns despite the club's disappointing 36-50 start to the 2026 season.
"I’m going forward with David as our leader," Cohen said. "Listen, there’s no guarantees in anything. I’m going to evaluate this as we go along. Listen, David knows that it hasn’t worked out the way he thought it would work out, the way I thought it would work out. He’d be the first one to admit he’s made some mistakes. And this is a guy who’s reflective
The vote of confidence comes in the wake of last week's shakeup at the major league level when manager Carlos Mendoza was fired on June 26 and Andy Green stepped in as interim manager.
Mendoza was in his final year of a three-year contract, while Stearns is in his third year of a five-year deal to lead the Mets baseball operations unit.
"In my conversations with him, he’s incredibly thorough," Cohen said. "There aren’t answers that I walk away and said, ‘Oh, I don’t agree with that.’ He’s pretty buttoned-down and knows what he’s talking about. We’re two and a half years into a contract. Everyone forgets – does he get any credit for ’24? Does that not count? And we almost made it to the World Series, and that was just two years ago.
"So it’s a mixed record. I’m not going to say it’s going great, but it’s too early to really make evaluations and I feel really strongly that if we’re gonna burn and churn, that’s a terrible place to be."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mets owner Steve Cohen discusses David Stearns in midst of gloomy 2026
KEY PLAYERS
Andrew Rappleyea
It seems time for Rappleyea to have his breakout campaign and become a known commodity outside of Happy Valley. Blessed with incredible athleticism for his 6-4, 250 lb. frame that poses major issues for defenses attempting to cover him. Rappleyea started the season opener in 2024, but an injury in week one took away the remainder of his season. He returned in 2025, and gradually became an important part of the offense. He ended the season on a high note once he was fully healthy, with his most productive day in the regular season finale against Rutgers, where he caught four passes for 75 yards and a score in the 40-36 shootout victory. He also ended the season with a touchdown in each of the final three games.
Rappleyea’s versatility will also be an asset. He is a strong in-line blocker, and has the athleticism to be moved around as H-back in certain formations.
Benjamin Brahmer
Rocco Becht will have his most reliable pass catcher joining him in Happy Valley with the addition of the Brahmer. The former Cyclone is a massive target at 6-7, 255 lbs., and someone Becht looks to often, especially on third downs and in the red zone. Brahmer has 75 receptions and nine touchdowns over the last three seasons at Iowa State. He will battle with Rappleyea to be the most targeted member of the tight end room, and the duo should regularly share the field in what is expected to be a tight-end heavy offense. Between his familiarity with the offense and past production, he will certainly be a vital part of the Nittany Lions offense in 2026.
Gabe Burkle
Burkle is another of Becht’s favorite targets, who will follow from Ames to Happy Valley. He has been a model of consistency, with nearly identical statlines in each of the past two seasons – 26 catches for 296 yards and a score in 2024, followed up with 26 receptions and 302 yards and a touchdown in 2025. Burkle had at least two catches in every Iowa State game in 2025, and enters the season with at least one catch in his last 16 games.
At 6-6, 255 lbs., Burkle is a skilled blocker with the size to also create mismatches in the secondary.
IN THE MIX
Cooper Alexander
Alexander is joining Brahmer and Burkle as one of the many former Cyclones to come to Penn State in 2026. He will be entering his second year of eligibility after redshirting in 2024. Alexander was able to see action in 11 games last fall, catching five passes for 47 yards while also contributing on special teams. Alexander is a former three-star prospect who was ranked as the 6th player to come out of Oklahoma in 2024. He will push for playing time, but may have an uphill battle considering the overall experience of the tight end room.
Finn Furmanek
Furmanek has been patiently waiting to break into the rotation as he enters his fourth season with the Nittany Lions. After taking a redshirt season in 2023 and appearing in four games in 2024, Furmanek appeared in all 13 games in 2025 as a special teams ace. He will be a regular presence on special teams again this fall, with the hopes of getting some meaningful snaps at tight end. Furmanek is a State College native who helped lead the Little Lions to back-to-back State semifinals appearances.
Brian Kortovich
Kortovich will be looking for the first snaps of his career as a redshirt freshman. The Cleveland-area native decided to remain with the Nittany Lions despite the coaching change and will be back for his second season with the program. Kortovich entered Penn State as a three-star recruit with offers from Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern and others. He seems likely to contribute on special teams this fall as he works his way up the depth chart.
BOSTON — As the Red Sox await further information on Connelly Early’s sore elbow, the club will shake up its pitching staff before Wednesday’s matinee against the Nationals.
Early is not being placed on the injured list — at least yet — because the Red Sox are still gathering information on his injury. Regardless, the club designated veteran reliever Tommy Kahnle for assignment and is summoning lefty Alec Gamboa to Boston for Wednesday’s game, according to sources.
Cutting bait with Kahnle clears a 40-man roster spot for the impending addition of corner infielder Brett Harris. The Red Sox and Athletics are finalizing a minor trade that will send Harris to Boston and minor league pitching prospect Ben Hansen to the A’s.
Kahnle, who joined the Red Sox in early June when the club added him to its roster so he wouldn’t opt out of a minor league contract and pursue opportunities elsewhere, was shelled in Tuesday’s 8-1 loss to Washington. The righty allowed four earned runs (on four hits) in the eighth inning, continuing a pattern of poor performances. After beginning his tenure with five shutout innings over four games from June 4-14, Kahnle allowed eight earned runs in his last four innings. His ERA sits at 8.00.
Kahnle, who turns 37 in August, is out of minor league options and therefore will be waived, traded or released in the coming days. He had a 1.40 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 19 ⅓ innings with the WooSox before being called up.
Gamboa will join Boston for his third major league stint of the year. The lefty has thrown at least two innings in four of his last five outings, so he can give the Red Sox some length in the bullpen after Early only went four innings Tuesday before being removed with elbow soreness.
Gamboa, 29, has pitched twice in the majors so far this season. In his last eight games at Triple-A, Gamboa has allowed just three earned runs in 20 innings while striking out 18. His stay on the roster might once again be short with reliever Jovani Morán (making a third rehab appearance Wednesday) and starter Patrick Sandoval (whose 30-day rehab window expires this weekend) nearing returns from the injured list.
More moves could be coming in the next few days after an eventful Tuesday night. If Early is placed on the injured list, the Red Sox will need a starter to take his turn next Tuesday in Chicago. First baseman Willson Contreras will likely be suspended for his role in a brawl with the Nationals and righty Cade Cavalli, forcing the Red Sox to add a position player (potentially Harris) to the roster. One official said it was “doubtful” that would come before Wednesday’s game, so the Gamboa-for-Cavalli swap is expected to be the only move made Wednesday morning along with official word of the Harris trade.
Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Few teams in college football will face a more difficult path in 2026 than the Florida State Seminoles. According to a new ranking from On3's Andy Staples, the Seminoles have the toughest schedule in the ACC entering the 2026 season, finishing ahead of the Clemson Tigers, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, North Carolina Tar Heels, and Boston College Eagles.
While Florida State is one of five conference teams slated to play only eight ACC games as part of the league's transition to a new scheduling model, the Seminoles' schedule features a daunting combination of conference contenders, rivalry games and marquee non-conference matchups. From a Labor Day showdown against SMU to a road trip to Alabama and late-season games against Clemson and Florida, Mike Norvell's team will have little margin for error as it looks to rebound in 2026.
The Seminoles begin with a Week 0 tune-up against New Mexico State, but the degree of difficulty increases immediately. Florida State then hosts SMU, welcoming a program that has gone 14-2 in ACC regular-season play since joining the conference.
After an early bye week, Florida State travels to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 19 for a rematch with Alabama. The Seminoles stunned the Crimson Tide last season, setting up one of the most anticipated non-conference games of the 2026 campaign.
The heart of the ACC schedule may be even more challenging. On3 identified Florida State's stretch of Virginia, Louisville and Miami as the toughest three-week run handed out by the conference schedule-makers this season. The Seminoles host Virginia on Oct. 3 before traveling to Louisville the following Friday and then heading to Miami just eight days later.
Even after that stretch, the schedule offers little relief. Florida State closes with home games against Clemson and Florida, two programs that still possess some of the nation's strongest rosters despite recent inconsistencies. For Mike Norvell and the Seminoles, the challenge is straightforward. If Florida State is going to return to contention in the ACC and nationally, it will have to do so while navigating what one national outlet considers the conference's toughest schedule.
Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Which ACC team has the toughest schedule in 2026?
Vitor Pereira is poised to leave Nottingham Forest with the club ready to appoint former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner as his successor.
BBC Sport understands a deal to appoint the Austrian is virtually done with just the formalities left to complete.
Contact with Glasner, who left the role as Palace manager at the end of last season, was first initiated earlier this summer.
Glasner, who led Palace to the Europa Conference League title last season following their FA Cup success in 2025, will become Forest's fifth manager in fewer than 12 months.
It is understood Pereira was informed of the decision late on Tuesday evening in a move which blindsided the former Wolves boss.
He had a year left on his deal at the City Ground and recently attended a meeting in London to finalise transfer plans.
More to follow.
How does the New England Patriots’ running back room compare to the other offensive backfields in the NFL heading into next season?
According to Sharp Football Analysis in their running back rankings for all 32 NFL teams for the 2026 season, the Patriots’ unit was ranked No. 10 overall.
“We were all over the map in our ranking of the Patriots' backfield, with votes ranging from fifth to 17th,” the Sharp football staff wrote. “The differing opinions might stem from the stark contrast of TreVeyon Henderson’s and Rhamondre Stevenson’s success in the regular season compared to their combined 3.3 yards per carry in the playoffs.”
Henderson went for 911 rushing yards in 2025, but he recorded only 76 yards across the Patriots’ four playoff games. On the other hand, Stevenson went for 603 rushing yards in the regular season but found a way to produce in the postseason, with 217 rushing yards to his name, including 70 yards in the Patriots’ divisional round win over the Houston Texans, and 71 yards in the team’s AFC championship game win over the Denver Broncos.
Though the playoffs were not quite as eventful as the regular season for either ball-carrier, Henderson and Stevenson were still highly effective throughout the year. They have the potential to go for 1,000 yards rushing next season with the necessary amount of carries, with Stevenson having reached the feat in 2022 and Henderson being on the precipice of reaching the marker last season.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots RB room cracks top 10 in Sharp Football Analysis rankings
The Los Angeles Lakers have found the starting center they have been searching for.
The Lakers have acquired center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in exchange for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Kessler's $130M deal includes a player option in the fourth season, plus a full trade kicker, sources tell ESPN. The Lakers land their signature center for star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves by moving two firsts and two swaps to the Jazz. https://t.co/7kd6UhvHK9
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026
Kessler will sign a four-year, $130 million contract with the Lakers.
The deal includes a player option in the fourth season and a full trade kicker, solidifying the 24-year-old as the Lakers' long-term answer in the middle.
According to Charania, Kessler and his agent, Aaron Mintz of CAA Sports, held multiple meetings Tuesday night before ultimately landing with their preferred destination in L.A. Lakers GM and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge finalized the details of the sign-and-trade agreement on Wednesday.
The move marks the end of a pursuit that had stretched over the last two seasons.
Kessler has repeatedly been linked to the Lakers, and that intensified throughout this offseason with reports of Luka Dončić wanting an A-list center in the Lakers' starting frontcourt.
The Lakers ultimately paid a significant price to land one of the league's top young defensive centers, but they now pair Kessler with Dončić and Austin Reaves as the franchise now builds in the post-LeBron James era.
Kessler has established himself as one of the NBA's premier rim protectors since entering the league.
The 7-foot-2 big man has grown each season in his four-year career in the league.
During the 2024-25 campaign, Kessler emerged for Utah's frontcourt, averaging 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 58 starts. He established himself as one of the league's best young rebounders and interior defenders while shooting at an efficient rate at the rim on 66.3% of his field-goal attempts.
Injuries limited him to just five games last season before a torn labrum in his left shoulder required season-ending surgery.
Kessler remained productive when he was healthy, averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting 70.3% from the floor in those five games.
For the Lakers, Kessler fills a glaring need.
His rim protection, rebounding and lob-finishing ability should complement Dončić's playmaking in the pick-and-roll while also giving the Lakers a reliable defensive anchor capable of protecting the paint against the Western Conference's elite frontcourts.
DR Congo’s statue superfan Lumumba Vea inability to get his visa granted for his country’s historic knockout-stage clash against England represents the latest notable figure to be impacted by the strict and aggressive border restrictions imposed by Donald Trump’s administration in the United States.
Long dismissed as an issue by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, the inevitable consequence of Iran being at war with a co-host of the tournament is rearing its head. Iranian state media say that 15 officials were denied visas to the US, while the playing squad based in Mexico must reportedly enter and leave the United States on the same day as their matches.
Iran were hit hardest, with many “integral” members of Iran’s coaching staff were refused entry, while Iranian fans had their tickets “revoked”.
In addition, Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan – considered one of Africa’s top officials – was refused entry at the border in Miami due to “vetting concerns”, raising serious questions of the US’ Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as well as Fifa.
Meanwhile, Canada have denied visas to Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey and Ivory Coast’s Elye Wahi in relation to criminal investigations involving the players - though both were granted entry into the US.
Here’s a list of all the people impacted by the United States’ strict border requirements.
DR Congo’s talismanic superfan, whose living-statue poses in the stands have earned him international recognition, was unable to get a visa to the USA granted for his nation’s World Cup last-32 clash against England.
“Lumamba Veo”, real name Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, He also missed their group matches against Portugal and Uzbekistan, which were held in Houston and Atlanta respectively, though was able to attend his country’s defeat to Colombia in Guadalajara.
No specific reason has been provided for his visa problems though the east of DR Congo has been hit by war and an Ebola outbreak, which has led to a crackdown on visitors by US authorities.
A replacement, Enock Kabwende, has been found to take Mboladinga’s place inside the Atlanta Stadium.
Palestine’s football chief, Jibril Rajoub, revealed that he is still awaiting permission to enter the United States and is in Mexico City in the meantime.
Despite being accredited, Mr Rajoub - who is the head of the Palestinian Football Association - is among several international football officials who have been denied US visas or are still awaiting their approval.
While the Palestinian team did not qualify for the World Cup, Fifa traditionally extends invitations to the heads of football associations globally, framing the quadrennial event as a celebration of international unity.
Rajoub said: "I don’t believe that it’s fair to use or to abuse and deny the right of all footballers all over the world to attend."
Infantinno previously declared last year that "everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the Fifa World Cup next year. We are working exactly for that." Then on Wednesday, amid the visa issues, he said: "We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces.”
Iran are claiming its fan ticket allocation has been revoked – just one week before their first match against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
The country’s football federation (FFIRI) stated on Tuesday that it is a decision which will “sabotage the presence of Iranian fans”, with many who have already made travel plans now unable to attend their team’s matches, two of which are in Los Angeles, with one in Seattle. X
Under Fifa regulations, each country receives eight per cent of tickets for each match allocated to its federation and their fans.
Iran said the move was “contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.”
Inevitably, that’s not been the only issue concerning Iran and the World Cup. More below…
The Somalian referee, who has officiated at the African Cup of Nations, was one of 52 referees for this summer’s tournament. However, over the weekend, after flying into Miami International Airport from Turkey, he was refused entry into the United States by CBP due to unspecified “vetting concerns.”
Artan has revealed he was subject to an 11-hour immigration interview and, speaking to the New York Times, maintained he held the “right papers” and “right visa.”
"I am very, very disappointed,” he said. "I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream – the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."
Fifa, for their part, distanced themselves from the decision. A statement read: "Fifa is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan's status will not be changed at present."
Somalia’s prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire has bemoaned the call, adding: “I remain hopeful that a solution can be found. Football is at its best when it brings people together and celebrates merit, inclusion, and opportunity.”
Having already changed their base from Arizona to the Mexican city of Tijuana, directly across the border from San Diego, the Iranian squad have already encountered visa issues.
The playing squad will, according to the country’s ambassador to Mexico, only be allowed into the US on the day of their group games before departing immediately after full-time. Los Angeles, venue for their first two matches, is only a 30-minute flight from Tijuana but Seattle, where they face Egypt in the ‘World Cup pride match’, is around three hours on a plane.
Fifa’s World Cup rules dictate that every team is expected to travel the day before each match, attending a press conference at the stadium, as well as having the opportunity to train at the stadium. Iran will seemingly be unable to fulfil these duties.
In addition, 15 officials and staff were denied visas to the United States. “We are upset about this behaviour”, said Amir Ghalenoei, Iran’s head coach. “It has certainly never happened before.” The staff members were labelled “integral” by the country’s football federation.
The US State Department claimed that the “visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup” had been issued, adding: “We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.”
The star Switzerland forward, who has 24 goals in 86 international caps, joined his teammates late in camp in the United States after encountering problems with his US entry visa.
It is believed to be related to a 2018 altercation in Basel, for which US authorities requested additional checks. The Swiss Football Federation stated that officials sought documents after Embolo was convicted in 2023 of making multiple threats. He was handed a suspended fine.
Embolo attended an appointment at the US embassy in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, last Wednesday before his visa was approved.
Iraq, who are in a group alongside France, Senegal and Norway, have been impacted by the suspension of US consular services in the country – a result of the conflict in the Middle East.
For those with the right paperwork, some found the US border an arduous process. The team’s photographer, Talal Salah, was denied entry and detained for more than 10 hours after a search of his phone.
As for 30-year-old striker Aymen Hussein, he was allowed in but only after being questioned for nearly seven hours in Chicago.
Not an official matter of US policy, but England’s official LGTBQ+ supporters group – Three Lions Pride (3LP) – revealed in January that they would not be a visible presence in the United States this summer.
A statement detailed that the “dangerous rollback of human rights” in the US has deterred fans from attending. The 3LP has around 350 members and regularly attends matches.
"This is a tournament that had so much promise," 3LP said in their statement.
"That hope, that optimism, is well and truly shattered. As a group, we are no longer surprised by hollow platitudes from FIFA nor are we shocked at having a major tournament that disregards the safety, security or wellbeing of fans."
In addition to Iran, citizens from Haiti face full entry bans to the United States, while Ivory Coast and Senegal face partial restrictions.
In addition, countries like Uzbekistan and Ecudaor suffer from US visa rejection rates around the 40% mark, making it extremely difficult for fans of these countries to commit to attending matches in the United States.
BOSTON — With Willson Contreras facing the possibility of a suspension after his involvement in a brawl with the Nationals and pitcher Cade Cavalli on Wednesday, the Red Sox made a deal to add some corner infield depth.
Boston finalized a trade to obtain Brett Harris from the Athletics for right-handed pitching prospect Ben Hansen, sources confirmed early Wednesday. The A’s designated Harris for assignment four days ago. He was optioned to Triple-A Worcester.
Harris, who just turned 28, has appeared in 73 games for the Athletics over the last three years. Mainly playing third base, the Gonzaga product has logged a career .194 average with three homers and 17 RBIs in the majors. He appeared in 32 games last year and hit .274 with a .692 OPS. The A’s have mainly kept Harris at Triple-A this season and he has posted a .336 average with five homers, 34 RBIs and a .978 OPS in 37 games in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He has been limited to just five MLB games in 2026.
Harris is a right-handed hitter who is considered a strong defender and has logged time at third base (151 innings), first base (98) and second base (52) this season. He has minor league options remaining, so he’ll go to Triple-A Worcester to start, but he could be in play for a call-up if Contreras is suspended. The Red Sox cleared a spot on their 40-man roster late Tuesday by designating reliever Tommy Kahnle for assignment.
Hansen, 24, was Boston’s 20th round pick (out of BYU) in the 2024 draft. He has pitched at High-A Greenville this season, logging a 4.50 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 41 ⅔ innings over 13 games (two starts). The 6-foot-6, 210-lb. right-hander is not ranked among SoxProspects’ top 30 players in Boston’s minor league system.
Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Shams Charania: Just in: Free agent F/C Sandro Mamukelashvili has agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal to sign with Los Angeles Lakers, with a player option for the fourth season, sources tell ESPN. Big fully guaranteed deal for George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports .
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Lakers pick up Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes on four-year contracts worth over $110 million combined
A day after announcing Trent Vogelhuber's promotion from AHL Cleveland head coach to NHL assistant, the Blue Jackets are adding veteran Don Granato to coach Rick Bowness' staff.
According to The Athletic, Granato has been hired by Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell. Granato, 58, is expected to coordinate the power play and work with forwards, while Vogelhuber, 37, coordinates the penalty kill and works with defensemen.
Related Blue Jackets article: 5 things to know about Blue Jackets assistant Trent Vogelhuber
Granato's most recent coaching experience was as head coach for the U.S. men's team at the 2026 world championships.
That was his return to the bench after being fired by the Buffalo Sabres in 2024, ending a stint that covered parts of four seasons in which the team went 122-125-27. Granato's time in Buffalo led to his first NHL head coaching opportunity. The Sabres had added him in 2019 as an NHL assistant.
Granto, who's from Downer's Grove, Illinois, also spent two years (2017-19) as a bench assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks, and he brings experience as a head coach at the AHL and junior levels (USHL). Granato spent one season as an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin (2016-17), where he played for four seasons.
Granato also has a long history working with the U.S. National Team Development Program's national teams, and comes from a long lineage of U.S. hockey players that includes his brothers Tony and Rob Granato, and sister Cammi Granato, an eight-time captain of U.S. women's national teams who's now in her fifth season as a Vancouver Canucks assistant general manager.
All three Granato brothers played at Wisconsin, while Cammi played at Providence College. She's married to former NHL forward Ray Ferraro, a lead analyst for ESPN's TV broadcasts.
Don Granato played two seasons professionally in the ECHL (1991-93) with the Columbus Chill, so he's familiar with the area.
Dispatch Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets plan to hire Don Granato as NHL assistant coach
I've covered Winhanced quite a few times at this point, most recently when it added achievement support to the launcher UI for Steam, Xbox, and even PlayStation games. If you haven't heard of it, Winhanced is a complete replacement for Xbox Mode on Windows handhelds, acting as a unified launcher for your library across various digital stores, all in one easy-to-navigate interface.
Now, its feature set is expanding once again, bringing with it my most requested addition: a built-in store browser. Honestly, it's something I wasn't even sure was possible, but it's now available in testing for users supporting the project.
The store is still very much a work in progress, so don't expect a perfect experience. At the time of writing it only supports certain currencies, although regional currency support is on the way, but even in its current state it's already incredibly useful. You can browse games, compare prices across multiple storefronts, see if a title is included with Game Pass, and purchase it from whichever store offers the best deal.
So yes, if a game is cheaper on Xbox than Steam, you can simply buy it there instead. It is also worth mentioning that when you purchase games, it opens a web browser where you can complete your purchase; Winhanced does not have access to your payment details.
The launcher also personalizes recommendations, generating suggestions based on what you've been playing, and in my case, after spending plenty of time in Forza Horizon 6, it immediately recommended another racing game. If you'd rather browse for yourself, though, you can search for any game you like or explore categories to discover something new.
Winhanced is also bringing several features out of early access, including back paddle support, SteamGridDB artwork browsing, and RGB controls, meaning they're now considered ready for general use rather than experimental additions.
I've been a big fan of Winhanced for quite some time now. It makes my Xbox Ally X feel much more like a proper console than the Xbox app ever has in Xbox Mode, so if you're interested, I'd definitely recommend checking out the project's Discord and supporting it on Patreon if you can.
With that said, do let me know in the comments if this new store feature is finally enough to get you interested in giving Winhanced a try, or what other features you'd still like to see added. As always, be sure to take part in our poll below!
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
The legal troubles surrounding the venerated Grand Theft Auto studio, Rockstar Games, continue to pile up.
Several Rockstar employees (who wished to remain anonymous) stated in an interview with Game Developer that they accuse the company of failing to address gender-based pay inequity, encouraging "crunch culture" in the United Kingdom, using bonus payments against its workforce, and many more issues the company fails to address.
For starters, these employees claim that their compensation packages that Rockstar Games hands out change constantly with little to no justification. This lack of consistency means Rockstar Games' payment rates usually fall below the market rate when compared to other jobs.
"When the bonus is particularly good, it can be a windfall, but often the bonus is disappointing and one can end up being paid considerably less than expected for the year."
Anonymous Rockstar Game Workers Union member
The employees also stated the median wages for different genders have vastly widened, and plans to correct that imbalance have been cancelled.
Plus, they say Rockstar Games regulary shift goalposts whenever someone talks to the company about getting a promotion to make it harder for them, and that night shift workers no longer receive extra benefits when working during the late hours.
The anonymous employees say that these issues combined have created an "imbalanced and unjust" environment within Rockstar Games where people aren't getting rightfully paid for their hard work, especially for an upcoming, high-budget game like Grand Theft Auto 6.
"There are those [within Rockstar and Take-Two] with hundreds of millions of pounds, there are those receiving excellent pay for their work and are grateful, and there are certainly those that are woefully underpaid for their effort and the incredible profits gained. Especially when you consider that the company gets hundreds of millions in tax breaks for their UK workers,"
Anonymous Rockstar Game Workers Union member
To make matters more complicated, these anonymous employees informed Game Developer that RockStar Games has been attempting to normalize crunch culture by baking it into the contracts of its UK staff, forcing them to work many overtime hours for little reward.
"Crunch is prevalent enough that the company built into our contracts, as standard, an opt out of the Working Time Regulations [a UK employment right that can be vountairly relinquished by employees] that stops your employer being able to ask you to do more than about 10 hours extra each week,"
Anonymous Rockstar Game Workers Union member
Combine this with the potential threat of many Rockstar Games developers being laid off after Grand Theft Auto 6 launches, and union-busting allegations, and it's no wonder that its workers are attempting to unionize to protect their jobs.
When Take-Two Interactive, Grand Theft Auto's publisher, was approached regarding these unionization attempts, one of its spokesmen replied "We strive to make the best games possible by giving our talented teams world-class work environments and ongoing career opportunities. We have fostered a culture which is focused on teamwork, excellence, and kindness, and where we support and reward the team across all levels of the business through competitive compensation and benefits policies. We are proud that as a result, our employee retention is well above the industry standard. We have received a request from a union seeking to discuss voluntary recognition. We value an open and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders and will arrange to meet."
Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to monitor for further developments regarding this chaotic shakeup within Rockstar Games and more news regarding Grand Theft Auto 6, which will be releasing on November 19, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
Follow the twisted crime drama of Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos as they strive to survive Leonida's criminal underworld and uncover a grand conspiracy in Grand Theft Auto 6.View Deal
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
HP's OmniBook lineup includes a wide range of laptops targeting a wide range of users, and the OmniBook 3 16" is one of the most affordable of the bunch.
Assuming you aren't maxing it out with RAM and storage, you can get a Snapdragon X chip and a large 16-inch screen for around $500, often less with the right discount. Unfortunately, with higher-spec'd models, the display, build quality, and features don't quite measure up to other PCs competing in the same price range.
I've been using HP's OmniBook 3 for a couple of weeks to get to know it inside and out; here's what you need to know before buying.
HP had no input, nor saw the contents of this review, prior to publication.
HP's OmniBook 3 16" starts as low as $699.99 without any discounts; however, HP basically designed this PC to be on sale almost all the time, and you can usually get this baseline model for a lot less.
At the time of writing this review, a model with Snapdragon X (X1-26) System-on-Chip (SoC), 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and 2K IPS display costs $399 at Walmart.
The model I'm reviewing represents a significant upgrade in a couple of key areas. It has a 2K OLED display, 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and a 1TB SSD. For some reason, HP omits the OLED display as an option in its configurator, so I can only give a price for this same setup with an IPS touch display. It's regularly $1,729.99, but is down to $1,259.99 at the time of writing.
That's not exactly cheap, and as I found, this is sort of a tale of two tiers. On one hand, if you're buying the laptop for around $500, it's a great deal. On the other hand, if you're spending around $1,500, you could do better elsewhere.
Here's a look at the exact specs that are in my OmniBook 3 16" review unit.
HP OmniBook 3 16" (As reviewed) | |
CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon X (X1-26) |
GPU | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) |
RAM | 32GB LPDDR5x (integrated) |
Storage | 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (upgradeable) |
Display | 16 inches, 1920x1200 (FHD+), OLED, 60Hz, 0.2m response time, 300 nits, 100% DCI-P3, HP Eye Ease |
Ports | 2x USB-C (10Gbps), 2x USB-A (5Gbps), HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio |
Camera | 1080p + IR, physical privacy shutter |
Speakers | Dual stereo |
Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Battery | 68Wh |
Dimensions | 14.12 x 9.91 x 0.58 inches (35.8cm x 25.1cm x 1.47cm) |
Weight | 3.65 pounds (1.65kg) |
The best deal I could find at the time of writing this review comes from Walmart, where you can pick up an OmniBook 3 16" with 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and an IPS display for just $399.View Deal
The OmniBook 3 is a 16-inch laptop that's sized more like a 14-incher, and it's relatively thin at 0.58 inches (1.47cm). Thanks to a mix of aluminum and plastic, it weighs in at about 3.65 pounds (1.65kg), a respectable number for a device this size. Despite its large display, it's actually quite easy to tote around.
There's quite a bit of flex to the body, and when pressed, it creaks loudly. It's a shame, because it's really a sleek laptop. Thankfully, the lid seems to have a lot more rigidity, helping protect the OLED panel.
The thermal setup is ideal, with cool air pulling in through a large intake on the bottom and exhausting out the back edge, just behind the hinge. There's no hot air blowing on your hands, and because it's a Snapdragon chip inside, the system doesn't get particularly hot. More on that below.
On the left side of the PC is an HDMI 2.1 port for native video support, one USB-A (5Gbps), and dual USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) ports at 10Gbps each. Of course, I wish these ports were at least USB4 — Thunderbolt 4 is generally reserved for Intel systems — for faster transfers. Still, they support DP 1.4 video if you're looking to run multiple external displays.
The right side of the laptop is home to an additional USB-A (5Gbps) port and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Dual speakers installed on the underside of the laptop, toward the front, fail to impress. They're not particularly loud or full, and other budget laptops do a way better job of audio.
The 1080p webcam, on the other hand, offers a clear picture that only gets better with Windows Studio Effects powered by the laptop's NPU. An IR sensor allows for facial biometric security via Windows Hello, upping security.
The OmniBook 3 has a keyboard that's above average for a laptop that starts at such a low price. Key travel is excellent, the backlight is bright, and the number pad makes for easy productivity.
And although the touchpad isn't haptic, a feature reserved for premium laptops, it has a satisfying click and tracks without issue.
The only thing I'll mention is that HP doesn't offer the backlit version of the keyboard as the default in all models. For some reason, you have to manually select it when configuring. It doesn't add any costs from what I can see, and I don't know why it's not just a default feature.
My review unit features a 16-inch OLED non-touch display with a 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution. This is the screen I'd recommend everyone get, but unfortunately, it seems like touch and non-touch IPS panels at the same resolution are far more common.
The bezels are fairly thin, although they're of the raised plastic sort rather than a seamless glass covering.
Testing the OLED display with a SpyderX Pro colorimeter, I got back 100% sRGB, 92% AdobeRGB, and 99% DCI-P3 color reproduction, all excellent results, especially for a budget laptop. Color and contrast are indeed superb, and you'll be missing out on it if you're forced into the IPS options.
Brightness could be better, with the OLED screen topping out just higher than 300 nits. That seems to be the limit for the IPS panels as well. Despite an anti-glare finish, the display struggles in bright rooms.
There's no other way to say it; the OmniBook 3 16's battery life is incredible. Yes, my review unit has the slightly more power-efficient OLED display that seems very hard to find right now, and yes, the PC is using one of Qualcomm's most affordable chips.
Regardless, the larger chassis fits a sizable 68Wh battery, and because the Snapdragon X sips power, I was seeing full — and I mean full — days of mixed use without needing a charge.
I was seeing full — and I mean full — days of mixed use without needing a charge.
For example, I began streaming a YouTube video at noon. That night, it was still going strong, and the battery hadn't yet dipped below 70%. I left it going, and it was still playing the next morning.
The official Windows battery report suggests about 38 hours of life from a charge, but of course, my streaming test skewed that result. I'd put it at around 25-30 hours, and that's being conservative.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chip is indeed efficient, but it's also now a generation behind the X2 hardware released earlier this year.
For most users, that shouldn't matter. The chip competes quite well with Intel's Core Ultra 7 256V CPU in Geekbench 6, both for single- and multi-core scores. Better yet, I saw almost no performance drop when switching from AC to battery power.
Cinebench also delivered surprising results, with the Snapdragon X again coming out ahead of the Core Ultra 7 256V and Ryzen 7 8840U.
A rather quick M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD rounds out the performance hardware, hitting 7,073MB/s read and 5,705MB/s write speeds in CrystalDiskMark.
The laptop runs cool and quiet no matter what, and I don't actually recall hearing the fans kick on until I was running benchmark software.
✅ You can find a great deal for somewhere around $500-$700 (or less).
✅ You need a 16-inch screen and a number pad to better handle multitasking and productivity.
✅ You want a laptop with outstanding battery life.
❌ You're looking for a PC with a discrete graphics card.
❌ You don't often use a number pad and want a more compact PC that's easier to fit into a bag.
The OmniBook 3 16" is kind of an odd case, and it's not being helped by the ongoing RAM and storage crisis.
On one hand, you can sometimes find models with 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage for as little as $399. Such is the case at Walmart at the time of writing this review. That's an outstanding deal, and at this price, it's an easy recommendation.
Anywhere around $500 to $700 (or less), and I'd say you have yourself a new PC.
On the other hand, if there aren't any discounts available, you might be looking at spending $1,500+ if you spec up the RAM and storage. I know that component prices are high, but I don't think this PC has the build or feature quality to warrant that type of price. I'd suggest looking at alternatives before making a final decision.
The fact that most models now come with an inferior IPS display that's not as bright or colorful — I really hope OLED returns as a common option when configuring — doesn't help.
HP's OmniBook 3 16" is an above-average laptop in the $500 to $700 range, and you can often find it for even less with the right discount. A strong Snapdragon X CPU, exceptional battery life, and a number pad are all perks. If it's not on sale, make sure you're not overspending when there are so many other great laptops available for $1,000 to $1,500.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Whenever I'm personally looking for a laptop to take with me to continue working while traveling abroad, I'm not interested in too many over-the-top machines with flashy designs, RGB lighting, and various features I'll probably never use.
I just need a laptop that can reliably chip away at mountains of work, research, and other productivity tasks so I can clock out of work (and get back to playing games).
The HP Omnibook X Flip 14" is one such laptop, and it's currently having one of the best laptop deals happening right now for Best Buy's 4th of July sale, as it's on sale for $649.99 (previously $999.99).
"The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 (2025) isn't an exciting laptop, but it does tick a lot of boxes for a capable and reliable mid-range 2-in-1 PC." — Zachary Boddy, Former Staff Writer
Windows Central review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐View Deal
The HP Omnibook X Flip 14" isn't the prettiest 2-in-1 laptop in the world, as it sports a rather bland design with a lattice-less keyboard layout and little personality behind.
But the HP Omnibook X Flip 14" isn't built to win beauty competitions; it's here to tackle day-long workloads. Thankfully, it more than delivers on that promise, thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 5 (Lunar Lake) 226V CPU and 16GB of RAM, which help it perform better when running multiple apps, boot up faster from sleep, and more.
This laptop also comes with a 2K touchscreen to provide crisp visuals, a 512GB SSD storage unit that can be upgraded with larger ones to store more data, an NPU of 40 TOPS to help it run local AI tasks, and compatibility with stylus pens so you can take notes or draw art more proficiently while it's in Tablet Mode.
So, if you prefer laptops that focus on substance rather than style, then the HP Omnibook X Flip 14" laptop that's now on sale for $649.99 at Best Buy may be the perfect fit for you.
Best Buy's 4th of July sale will last until Sunday, July 5, 2026.
No. Best Buy's 4th of July discounts are open for anyone to use even if they don't have a Best Buy Plus / Total membership.
No. The HP Omnibook X Flip 14" laptop's 16GB RAM is soldered into the motherboard so it can't be removed and replaced with a different RAM chip.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Chrome 150 is now available for Windows, macOS, and Linux with 382 security fixes, plus a number of bug fixes and stability improvements. Given the sheer volume of vulnerabilities addressed, this is an update users shouldn't put off.
WinRAR 7.23 fixes two security vulnerabilities, updates its bundled 7-Zip extraction library, and makes a few command-line tweaks. The release notes also include a playful nod to the archiver's legendary "infinite" trial, thanking users who supposedly finally bought the software. It's mostly a joke-but the security patches alone make this update worth installing.
A new UBS Evidence Lab has now cast a substantial pall over Apple's iPhone-related demand pillars. While the iPhone purchase intent has risen in the US, the UK, and Germany, it appears to have cratered in China, with the new Siri's upcoming AI features seemingly failing to spur demand, and compounded by a decline in the iPhone Ultra's net interest metric. Apple Intelligence and the new Siri are apparently failing to drive incremental demand, while the net interest for the upcoming iPhone Ultra has declined by 100 basis points A new UBS Evidence Lab survey, which spanned over 7,500 smartphone […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/a-new-survey-guts-apples-demand-story-just-24-would-upgrade-sooner-for-the-new-siri-as-foldable-iphone-interest-slides/
Announced during last month's Nintendo Direct, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake will be the first entry in the series built from the ground up for Nintendo Switch 2. While not a lot is currently known about the game, the Japanese company seems to already be looking ahead under series producer Eiji Aonuma, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess may be the next entry in the series to be remade for the current-generation Nintendo system, as the next-gen console hardware allows for new features and technical enhancements not possible on the original Nintendo Switch. "I hadn't heard […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-beginning-zelda-twilight-princess-nintendo-switch-2/
Nothing is launching the Phone (4b) on July 7, and it's going to be powered by a Snapdragon chipset according to the company. Now, Nothing has also revealed that there will be an RCB Edition of the device, developed in partnership with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket team. The collaboration isn't very surprising considering the fact that Nothing is a sponsor of the team. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nothing India (@nothingindia) As you can see in the Instagram post above, the RCB players picked between two designs for the RCB Edition, and...
2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası'nda grup aşamalarının ardından gözler eleme turlarına çevrildi. Son 32 Turu'nun en dikkat çeken mücadelelerinden birinde İngiltere, turnuvanın sürpriz ekibi Kongo Demokratik Cumhuriyeti ile kozlarını paylaşıyor. Mücadele Türkiye saatiyle 19.00'da başladı.
2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası Son 32 Turu’nda dev randevu! Şampiyonluğun güçlü adayı İngiltere ile tarihi bir başarıya imza atan Kongo Demokratik Cumhuriyeti, Son 16 yolunda karşı karşıya geliyor.
İNGİLTERE - DEMOKRATİK KONGO CUMHURİYETİ MAÇI SAAT KAÇTA, HANGİ KANALDA?
Dünya Kupası 2026 Son 32 Turu kapsamında İngiltere - Demokratik Kongo Cumhuriyeti karşı karşıya geliyor. Mücadele 1 Temmuz Çarşamba günü saat 19.00’da TRT 1 ekranlarında olacak.
İNGİLTERE - DEMOKRATİK KONGO CUMHURİYETİ MAÇI İLK 11'LER
İngiltere: Pickford, Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O'Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Bellingham, Madueke, Rashford, Kane.
Demokratik Kongo Cumhuriyeti: Mpasi-Nzau, Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku, Moutoussamy, Mukau, Sadiki, Mbuku, Cipenga, Wissa.
Trendyol Süper Lig ekiplerinden Kocaelispor, kiralık sözleşmeleri sona eren Luis Da Silva Cafumana (Show), Hrvoje Smolcic, Botond Balogh ve Can Keleş ile sözleşmesi biten Furkan Gedik'e veda etti.
Kulübün ABD merkezli X sosyal medya platformundaki hesabından yapılan paylaşımda, "Kulübümüzle olan sözleşmesi sona eren oyuncularımıza emekleri için teşekkür ediyoruz. Kendilerine devam eden kariyerlerinde başarılar diliyoruz." ifadelerine yer verildi.
Sezon başında Maccabi Haifa'dan kiralanan Angolalı futbolcu Show, yeşil-siyahlı formayla 32 maçta görev alırken, Parma'dan kiralanan Botond Balogh ise 25 karşılaşmada forma giydi.
Kocaelispor'un Eintracht Frankfurt'tan kiralık olarak kadrosuna kattığı Hrvoje Smolcic, 29 maçta 1 gollük katkı sağlarken, Beşiktaş'tan kiralanan Can Keleş de 25 müsabakada görev yaptı.
Sözleşmesi sona eren Furkan Gedik de 9 maçta forma giyip 1 gol katkısı sağladı.
Kulüpten yapılan açıklamada, "Altyapımızdan yetişen, 2011-2014 ve 2021-2026 yıllarında formamızı terleten, bu süreçte kazandığımız başarılarda pay sahibi olan oyuncumuz Metecan Birsen ile yollarımız ayrılmıştır." ifadesi kullanıldı.
Sarı-lacivertli ekipte 1 Avrupa Ligi, 5 Basketbol Süper Ligi, 4 Türkiye Kupası ve 2 Cumhurbaşkanlığı Kupası şampiyonlukları yaşadığı belirtilen 31 yaşındaki basketbolcuya verdiği emekler dolayısıyla teşekkür edilerek, kariyerinde başarı dileğinde bulunuldu.
Trendyol Süper Lig ekiplerinden TÜMOSAN Konyaspor, 30 yaşındaki sol bek Yasir Subaşı ile yolların ayrıldığını duyurdu.
Yeşil-beyazlı kulübün NSosyal hesabından yapılan paylaşımda, şu ifadelere yer verildi:
"Teşekkürler Yasir. Futbolcumuz Yasir Subaşı ile karşılıklı anlaşarak yollarımızı ayırdık. 2022-2023 sezonundan bu yana yeşil beyaz formamızı terleten Yasir'e teşekkür eder, kariyerinde başarılar dileriz."
Midtjylland, Aral Şimşir için Türkiye'den yapılan 12.5 milyon euro'luk dev teklifi reddetti. Peki, bu astronomik rakamı gözden çıkaran Türk kulübü hangisi?
Süper Lig'de transfer döneminin bombası Danimarka'dan patladı. Gazeteci Ben Jacobs'ın özel haberine göre; Midtjylland, milli futbolcu Aral Şimşir için Türkiye'den bir kulübün yaptığı 12.5 milyon euro'luk resmi teklifi reddetti. Danimarka kulübünün, oyuncunun şampiyonluk yarışındaki kritik rolü nedeniyle bu rakamı yetersiz bulduğu belirtildi.
Ben Jacobs, Midtjylland'ın kapısını çalan Türk takımının adını henüz açıklamadı. Ancak 12.5 milyon euro'luk bu dev bütçenin ardından gözler Süper Lig'in şampiyonluk adaylarına çevrildi. Transfer kulislerinde, bu rakama çıkabilecek kulübün kim olduğu büyük merak konusu.
Collect your favorite things in real life. Point your camera and tap the shutter — Loot recognizes it, cuts it out, and sorts it into the right collection. Then share with friends.
Making your brand machine-readable and increasing its chances of being selected for AI-generated answers are only part of the picture. Underneath both is a retrieval layer that’s changing how AI systems identify entities, connect facts, and decide which brands to cite.
That layer is GraphRAG. Understanding how it works turns “optimize for AI” from a vague idea into a practical strategy.
GraphRAG extends traditional retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) with a knowledge graph that helps AI understand entities and the relationships between them.
It came out of Microsoft Research in 2024, and there’s a whole ecosystem built around it now. Instead of working from a flat sea of text scraps, it builds a map.
Picture it as things and the lines connecting them. When a model works from a map instead of a pile of scraps, it doesn’t have to guess its way to an answer. It follows the lines.
If the map says Entity A holds Certification B in Region C, the system follows that path with confidence instead of inferring it and crossing its fingers. That’s why graph-based retrieval produces more complete, better-grounded answers to hard questions, with far fewer hallucinations.
You don’t have to take my word for the failure modes. Microsoft laid them out in its GraphRAG patent, “Knowledge Graph Extraction” (US20250131289A1). It identifies the recall problem outright: In naive RAG, a less-prominent entity can get lost in the chunk embeddings, so nothing useful comes back.
It also describes the fix: entity resolution that merges duplicate spellings of the same thing (the patent’s example untangles two spellings of one place name), so the system treats them as one. It’s one of the foundational building blocks behind graph-based retrieval.
Dig deeper: What patents reveal about the foundations of AI search
See where your brand appears in AI search, where competitors are winning, and what it takes to become the answer AI recommends.
Be the brand AI recommends.
See your AI visibility
Traditional RAG works by chopping content into fixed chunks, turning each one into a string of numbers (a vector), and storing those vectors in a database. When you ask a question, it retrieves the closest chunks in vector space and hands them to a language model to generate an answer.
That’s fine for “What’s the capital of France?” It falls apart on the questions that actually pay your bills: the multi-step ones.
Ask it to find a provider that offers a specific service, holds a specific certification, and operates in a specific region, and naive RAG is stuck duct-taping an answer together from scraps that merely sound related. It has no idea how your facts connect, so it guesses across the gaps.
When a system is forced to guess, the safe move is to leave your brand out of the answer rather than risk saying something wrong about you. Read that twice, because it’s the whole game.
That’s the trapdoor hiding under a lot of “our content is great, and we still never get cited.” GraphRAG consistently outperforms naive RAG on the complex, multi-hop questions where vector search falls apart. That’s where the leak is.
Your content probably isn’t the problem. The machine just couldn’t reliably tell what you are, how your facts fit together, or whether it could trust those connections enough to put your name on them.
GraphRAG’s strengths line up almost perfectly with three headaches you already deal with:
If you’ve ever watched AI confidently repeat something you wrote without naming you, or credit a competitor for your specialty, you’ve seen all three at work.
Here’s what ties them together: None of them is a content-quality problem. It’s not about content. It’s about identity.
Let me make this concrete, because the concept of “entity” will turn into mush fast if I don’t. Here are two examples, and I’ll flag the made-up one so nobody thinks I’m describing a real client.
Let’s start with a real-world example: Wayne Gretzky. Go run a quick test. Search his name in any AI client. Without hesitation, you’ll get a tidy box of facts, links to his former teams, his records, and more. AI will tell you who he is with total confidence. That’s not luck. That’s what a well-established entity looks like. His identity is nailed down and agreed upon across the web, so no machine has to guess who he is. Go look. It’s the clearest picture of what you’re ultimately aiming for.
Now let’s look at the opposite. Picture a goaltending coach in Moncton. Let’s call her Marie Tremblay. Her About page says, plainly and well:
That’s a good sentence. A parent reads it and gets it instantly. Leave it exactly as it is. Optimizing for machines doesn’t mean you stop writing for humans, and it absolutely doesn’t mean swapping your real voice for robotic phrasing.
There’s no special sentence you write for AI. Instead, there’s the perfectly good sentence you’ve already written, plus what you add around it so a machine can use it.
What do you add? Nothing to the prose. Instead, you make explicit what a human reader infers automatically:
A human already knows all of that from one sentence. The machine doesn’t, so it won’t know to surface Marie in search queries where she should be a natural fit. Your job is to close the gap between what your reader understands and what the machine can verify until Marie is as legible to a system as The Great One already is. Keep the same sentence. Add the information around it.
Knowledge graphs are built on triples: subject, predicate, object. “Acme offers consulting.” Clean, powerful, and completely flat. However, a bare triple like that can’t easily carry the high-stakes information that lives or dies on, like whether a relationship is true, where it applies, who says so, and what backs it up.
That’s exactly the gap the standards community is working to close. The W3C is extending the model with Resource Description Framework (RDF)-star, which allows site owners to make statements about statements. They can attach metadata, such as source, date, and confidence, directly to a relationship instead of leaving it as a bare claim. It’s working its way through the RDF 1.2 standardization process (the RDF 1.2 Primer is the plain-English introduction), and its core specification reached Candidate Recommendation in April.
Microsoft’s GraphRAG patent follows the same direction. It pulls claims into a subject-action-object structure and weights relationships by how often they actually appear rather than treating every stated link as gospel.
The practical lesson isn’t complicated. The future of this layer isn’t just saying two things are related. It’s saying they’re related, and here’s the proof in a form a machine can verify. A richer triple beats a flatter page.
Keep an eye one floor up from the models, because that’s where the wind is shifting.
On June 1, the new open standard EntityMap launched a 33-day public consultation ahead of its July 1 launch. It was started by Fred Laurent, CTO of InLinks and Waikay, with backing from Dixon Jones. Those are names this audience already associates with entity SEO and “strings to things.” The idea is deliberately familiar.
Where sitemap.xml tells search engines which pages exist, an entitymap.json file tells AI systems what an organization actually knows: which entities it covers, how they relate, and where the evidence lives. It’s open-licensed, with a human-readable companion file and a working reference implementation.
What problems is it aiming to fix? Precisely the three headaches above, with the richer-triple idea baked right in. Every declared relationship can carry its receipts: a source URL, a publisher, and a timestamp. That’s no accident. It’s the publishing world building a proper front door for graph-based retrieval with provenance attached.
One caveat, and I’ll be blunt, because this is where reporting turns into cheerleading if you’re not careful. EntityMap is a proposal in consultation, not a rule anyone has to follow. No major engine has committed to reading files like these, so it’s still too early to treat it as a box to check. Treat it as a signal of what’s coming. Credible people are building entity-first publishing standards. That’s the part worth watching.
Two things keep GraphRAG firmly out of hype territory.
That doesn’t mean the limitations have vanished, and it doesn’t mean every engine is running GraphRAG across the open web today. It means the economics are improving, which helps explain why entity-first standards are emerging now instead of five years from now. I’ve been in this game long enough to be suspicious of anything sold as inevitable, and this one passes the smell test.
To be clear, your existing structured data still matters. Schema.org markup, a clean Knowledge Panel, consistent NAP, none of that’s going anywhere. Entity-first work extends the structured-data discipline you already have. It doesn’t replace it.
Here’s where it gets practical. None of the following suggestions asks you to bet on any single standard.
Go beyond the keywords that have traditionally brought users to your site. Write down the things your brand genuinely knows something about: products, services, people, methods, and concepts. That’s your entity map, whether or not you ever publish one.
Claim and confirm your Wikidata entity and Google Knowledge Panel. Standardize your name so every variant resolves to one entity. Keep your sameAs links consistent across your structured data. This is the step that tells the world “Lefty” and “Marie Tremblay” are the same person, not two half-strangers splitting her reputation.
Use Schema.org types and properties (Organization, Person, Product, knowsAbout, sameAs, and author) so the connections in your expertise are declared rather than implied. Mirror those same relationships in your internal linking. This is where you state, in a form a machine can read, that Marie coaches for the academy, knows about goaltending, and works in the Maritimes.
Tie your facts to sources a machine can verify: named authors, first-party data, and citations. Graph-based systems increasingly want the proof behind a relationship, not just the assertion. That’s how “20 years” and “elite” stop being adjectives and become claims with receipts.
Retrieval still reads through narrow windows. Put the clearest, most verifiable statement of what you are and what you do near the top, before it falls outside the chunk the system actually reads.
Read the EntityMap spec while it’s in consultation, and speak up if you’ve got a perspective because the people shaping it are asking for exactly that. Decide later whether an entity index belongs in your stack. Keep your Schema.org work humming either way.
Map your entity coverage to the queries that actually drive revenue so it lands with leadership as margin protection instead of a science project.
The old KPIs, rankings, and clicks only describe the search-page model. Add a few more metrics, keeping in mind that the field is still maturing:
Track your visibility across AI search, uncover missed opportunities, and grow your presence where customers are asking questions.
The road ahead for graph-based retrieval runs through multimodal graphs (text linked to images, audio, and structured data), streaming and incremental indexing for live data, and domain-specific ontologies, which are standardized vocabularies for fields like medicine, finance, and law.
The move from strings to things is gaining momentum. The brands that stay visible won’t be the ones shouting the loudest. They’ll be the ones a machine can understand without guessing, with clear entities, explicit relationships, and claims backed by evidence.
You don’t have to wait for a standard to launch before you start preparing. Make your brand legible to systems that don’t just read pages. They read what you know. In the answer economy, it was never about content. It’s always been about identity.
TikTok has helped make discovery more fragmented than ever. Someone might discover a restaurant on TikTok, verify it on Google Reviews, check Reddit for opinions, look at the menu on the business’s website, and then book a table. Or they might do all of that in a different order.
Nearly half of U.S. consumers used TikTok as a search engine in 2026, up from 41% in 2024, according to Adobe’s survey. The survey also found that users were especially drawn to TikTok’s short-form format, storytelling, and interactivity. Tutorials were the preferred search content format, followed by product reviews, personal stories, and influencer recommendations.
Its 2026 updates have leaned even further into becoming part of the search journey. Many buying decisions are visual, social, emotional, and trust-driven, and that’s exactly where TikTok is stepping in. From Local Feed to AI Overviews to new shopping features, TikTok is trying to meet users where they already are.
While many SEOs are still hesitant to use TikTok, you should ask yourself: How do you make sure people can find, understand, trust, and choose you wherever their search journey starts? Sometimes, that starting point might be TikTok.
Like traditional SEO, TikTok SEO is the process of making a business, place, product, service, or experience easier to discover. As the app has evolved, so have the features and ways people can find your content.
Previously, TikTok SEO was mostly about:
Those elements still matter, but they’re no longer the whole picture. Users can discover your content through TikTok Search, recommendations, location-based surfaces (Local Feed and Places), reviews, comments, creator content, visual cues, and AI-assisted systems.
A more complete definition of TikTok SEO includes:
TikTok’s documentation says search results can be influenced by how well content matches a query, along with hashtags, sounds, user interactions, and user context, such as language and location.
Recommendations in the For You feed also weigh user interactions, content information, and user information, with watch behavior carrying significant weight.
Track, grow, and measure your visibility across Google, AI search, social, local, and every channel that influences buying decisions.
Let’s look at some of these aspects of search.
TikTok launched Local Feed in the U.S. on Feb. 11. It’s a home-screen tab designed to surface nearby content related to travel, events, restaurants, shopping, small businesses, and local creators. TikTok says posts appear based on location, topic, and when the content was published.
The new Local Feed creates another organic touchpoint for discovery.
A restaurant can show up for someone deciding where to eat nearby. A wellness club can appear for someone looking for something to do this weekend. A venue can answer “before you go” questions before a guest ever reaches the box office.
For people who opt in, TikTok can use precise device location to make Local Feed even more relevant. However, there are a few caveats:
TikTok’s Local Explorer Program is one of the clearest signs that the platform is investing in place-based discovery.
The program encourages users to submit location-based reviews and rewards participation with experience points, levels, badges, community access, and other perks. Availability has been limited or uneven across regions, so businesses shouldn’t assume every market has the same level of access or activity.
I’ve also seen TikTok further incentivize reviews for places with no existing reviews. This coffee shop didn’t have any TikTok reviews, so I was offered a $1 Promote coupon to leave one.
You can also see that when a place doesn’t have reviews, TikTok pulls them from TripAdvisor. I’ve also seen it pull in Google reviews. The Places tab provides a convenient way for users to compare reviews, videos, and comments before deciding whether to visit a local business.
TikTok increasingly adds automated search links and related query prompts beneath videos.
This example shows the search bar at the bottom of a video, where users can click to see more content about Glen Ivy. Although this example tags both the location and the Glen Ivy account in the description, these search bars also appear under videos with fewer location or product mentions.
TikTok can connect a video to a broader topic, place, or product discovery path even when the creator hasn’t used exact-match keywords throughout.
With TikTok Shop, someone can see a product in a video, search for it, compare it through comments and creator content, and then buy it without leaving the app. TikTok Shop search relies heavily on how well a shopper’s query matches the product information available to TikTok, including titles, categories, attributes, and content context.
Recently, TikTok Shop released a Shoppable Photos feature in beta for select sellers. Eligible sellers can create image-based posts with multiple photos and tag products directly in the post. These posts can appear in the For You feed, Search, and the Shop tab. The feature gives sellers a simpler format for showcasing inventory without filming or editing videos.
TikTok is testing and expanding several AI-assisted discovery and content creation features, although availability varies by market, account, and experiment.
Tako is TikTok’s chatbot, which lets users search much like they do with the app’s standard search bar.
Tako surfaces TikTok videos relevant to a user’s query and external sources, such as articles.
Like Google, TikTok now offers AI Overviews. When users search for a topic, they may see an AI Overview summarizing the results. If they click a visual search bar, they may also see Quick Highlights, which provide AI-generated summaries for that search.
The Places tab now includes AI summaries as well. Users can also see how many posts were used to generate a summary for a place they’re viewing.
On the creator side, AI features can help generate captions, hashtags, and even videos for sellers. According to TikTok:
It’s important to note that Content Studio isn’t available to everyone and remains in testing.
On TikTok, visibility comes from what people can search for, what TikTok can understand, and what the camera actually shows. Make sure you’re showing people what they actually need to see.
For restaurants:
For retail:
Start building habits that make your content useful in both the main feed and location-based feeds:
You need to use the app to understand the topics and types of content people are searching for on TikTok.
Start with a seed topic:
Then:
TikTok’s Creator Search Insights can also provide personalized information about search topics, content gaps, and the performance of content tied to searched topics.
Use your core topic in:
Your comments and reviews strategy should be simple:
Treat TikTok comments and reviews as visibility assets. A creator saying, “This is the best gluten-free bakery in Portland because they actually avoid cross-contamination,” may be more valuable for your website copy, FAQ strategy, and customer messaging than a generic five-star review.
Keep track of referral traffic from TikTok and monitor branded searches. Try to correlate branded search with TikTok virality. Annotate major TikTok posts and compare branded search trends against a baseline.
Look for directional movement in branded clicks, branded impressions, TikTok referral traffic, GBP actions, and related-page engagement. Don’t assume TikTok caused every increase. Account for PR, paid campaigns, email, promotions, seasonality, and other marketing activity.
You may not be able to attribute every action perfectly, but that doesn’t make TikTok’s influence meaningless.
See where your brand appears, where it doesn’t, and exactly how to win more visibility across search, AI, local, social, and every channel that matters.
Someone might find you on TikTok before they ever search for your brand in Google or ChatGPT. Or they might turn to TikTok midway through their journey to decide whether you’re worth the trip.
Either way, the platform has earned a meaningful role in how people discover, compare, and decide. Between Local Feed, the Places tab, Tako, AI summaries, and TikTok Shop, TikTok keeps adding new ways for your business to be discovered, and many of those opportunities remain largely untapped.
Google Trends now lets you quickly add previous time period data to your chart, so you can visualize how the Google Trends data compares to the same time period, the period before.
Google announced on LinkedIn, “You can now quickly compare a trend’s change against preceding periods directly within Google Trends.”
What it looks like. Here is a GIF Google shared of this in action:
How it works. Go to Google Trends, add a search term or topic to the search box. Then you will see “new chips” above your timeline, click on those chips to see the added data. These chips show percentage changes for various periods—whether you’re looking at Month-over-Month, Week-over-Week, or even specific Year-over-Year benchmarks. A single click overlays the historical comparison line onto your graph for instant visual context, Google explained.
Why we care. Google Trends can be a useful source of data for topics and keywords that may interest your content team or data marketing team. Knowing seasonal or trending data can be useful when planning your content strategy and marketing efforts.
This new feature gives you more historical perspective of this data.
Most Google Ads audits focus on the obvious: keywords, bids, ad copy, and Quality Scores. But one of the most significant — and most overlooked — performance barriers isn’t a setting you can find in a single campaign tab. It’s how the account is structured in the first place.
Campaign structure determines how Google’s machine learning interprets your data, how budget flows across your goals, and whether your data gets collected in one place or scattered across too many campaigns. Get it wrong, and you’re not just leaving performance on the table — you’re actively working against the algorithms you’re paying to optimize for.
Here’s how campaign structure affects performance across standard Search campaigns, Performance Max, and Smart Bidding, and what you can do about it.
Many advertisers treat campaign structure as a matter of tidiness: neatly sorted ad groups, logical naming conventions, and campaigns carved up by product line or geography. But to Google’s systems, structure means something else entirely.
Every campaign is a data container. The way you segment campaigns determines what signals Google pools together to make bidding and targeting decisions. A scattered structure means scattered learning, which leads to slower, less accurate optimization.
Google’s Smart Bidding and automation work better with more data concentrated in fewer campaigns. The algorithm needs volume — typically 30 to 50 conversions per campaign per month — to exit the learning phase and make reliable predictions. A structure that disperses conversions across too many campaigns starves each one of the data it needs to perform.
A common scenario: An ecommerce account has 12 separate Search campaigns, one for each product category. Each campaign averages 8-12 conversions per month. Smart Bidding is enabled across all of them, but none consistently exit the learning phase.
The fix is consolidation.
Uncover the keywords, ads, landing pages, and strategies driving your competitors’ paid search success—and find your next opportunity to outperform them.
Smart Bidding strategies — Target CPA, Target ROAS, Maximize Conversions, and Maximize Conversion Value — rely on real-time signals: device, location, time of day, audience, search query, and more. Google weighs these signals together to predict which auctions are worth winning and at what price.
When campaigns are over-segmented, several problems can occur:
The result is an account that appears fully optimized on the surface — with Smart Bidding enabled, audiences attached, and conversion tracking active — but underperforms because its structural foundation undermines every optimization built on top of it.
Performance Max has introduced an entirely new dimension to campaign structure. Unlike Search campaigns, PMax operates across all Google inventory — Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, Discover, and Maps — using asset groups and audience signals to guide automation. This makes campaign setup both more important and trickier to get right.
Asset groups within PMax function like mini-campaigns. Google uses them to understand context, match creative to searches, and optimize delivery. When asset groups are too broadly constructed — mixing unrelated products, audiences, or themes — the algorithm struggles to identify the right creative for the right context.
Best practice is to segment asset groups by:
This gives Google clearer signals about what each group is trying to accomplish, improving both creative matching and bidding efficiency.
One of the most damaging structural mistakes in accounts running both Search and Performance Max is failing to define clear boundaries between them. PMax is designed to serve ads across all placements — including branded and non-branded searches — which means it will compete with your Search campaigns if boundaries aren’t established.
Without proper segmentation:
The solution is to use campaign-level negative keywords, brand exclusions, and clear audience segmentation to define where each campaign type operates. PMax should complement your Search campaigns — not compete with them.
PMax operates as a single campaign with a single budget, but its delivery across multiple channels means budget is allocated dynamically. When PMax and Search campaigns aren’t organized around clear goals, Google ends up spending budget on the easiest placements rather than the best ones.
Structural decisions — such as whether to run one PMax campaign or segment by product line — directly affect how budget is distributed and how well automation can support your business goals.
Match types are often treated as a keyword-level decision, but they have structural consequences that extend across your entire account. Running broad match, phrase match, and exact match across separate campaigns — or even separate ad groups — without a coherent strategy can create significant overlap and budget waste.
Google Ads looks very different from what it did a few years ago. Broad match now casts a much wider net, and Google increasingly pushes advertisers to pair it with Smart Bidding. But that combination only works well when your campaign structure is set up to support it.
Broad match with Smart Bidding only works when there’s enough conversion data, a clear goal, and enough traffic for Google to learn from. In a fragmented account structure, broad match just adds to the problem. It brings in more searches, but the algorithm doesn’t have what it needs to make good use of them.
The safer approach is to keep your match types within fewer campaigns, use negative keywords to prevent your campaigns from bidding against each other, and regularly review your search term reports to identify where boundaries need tightening.
Single Keyword Ad Groups (SKAGs) are largely a thing of the past, but many accounts still carry their legacy: hundreds of micro-segmented ad groups, each with one or two keywords and near-identical ads. This level of detail made sense when advertisers set bids manually. Today, it actively works against Smart Bidding.
Too many ad groups create the same data problem, just at a smaller scale. Google’s responsive search ads perform better when they have more to learn from, including which headlines get clicked, which asset combinations work, and how auctions play out. That learning happens faster when ad groups are consolidated and built around broader themes.
Aim for three to five tightly themed ad groups per campaign rather than dozens of micro-segmented groups. Each ad group should contain enough keyword variation to generate meaningful data while remaining focused enough to maintain message relevance.
The goal is maximum signal quality. Structural granularity that doesn’t improve data consolidation is unnecessary complexity.
Structure also determines which conversion actions each campaign optimizes toward, and misalignment here is one of the quietest performance killers in Google Ads.
If multiple campaigns share a conversion goal but that goal is poorly defined — or if different campaigns optimize toward different actions without a clear hierarchy — Smart Bidding receives conflicting instructions. It may optimize toward micro-conversions (page views, add-to-carts) when the account’s real objective is form fills and phone calls. Or it may treat equally weighted goals as equivalent when one is significantly more valuable than the other.
A structurally sound account aligns:
Performance Max is especially sensitive to conversion goal quality. Because PMax controls its own bidding and placement decisions, it will optimize aggressively toward whatever you tell it matters most. If that signal is inaccurate or misaligned, the campaign will optimize effectively — just not toward the right outcome.
Structural problems rarely announce themselves clearly. Instead, they show up as problems that are easy to blame on your ads, bids, or audiences:
If two or more of these symptoms are present at the same time, structure is the most likely root cause, and no amount of bid adjustments or creative testing will resolve it until the foundation is corrected.
Restructuring an active account carries risk. Any significant structural change can trigger learning phases and temporary performance disruption. The goal is to consolidate thoughtfully, using data as a guide.
Identify which campaigns consistently generate 30 or more conversions per month and which fall below this threshold. Underperforming campaigns are consolidation candidates.
Determine where campaigns compete against each other for similar searches or audiences. Overlap is waste, and structural waste is the most expensive kind.
Audit how PMax and Search campaigns interact.
Move from SKAG-style granularity toward theme-based groupings. Consolidate ad groups that serve overlapping intent into broader, theme-based groups.
Audit conversion actions across all campaigns. Ensure primary goals align with actual business outcomes and that value-based bidding inputs reflect real revenue data where applicable.
Important: Restructuring should be staged, not executed all at once. Prioritize the highest-spend campaigns first, monitor performance through learning phases, and validate results before proceeding to the next round of consolidation.
See where competitors are investing, which keywords drive their results, and how to capture more of the market.
Campaign structure is the foundation of Google Ads performance. When it’s right, Smart Bidding, Performance Max, and audience targeting all work as intended, with enough signals, clear goals, and efficient budget allocation to drive real outcomes.
When it’s wrong, no optimization above it will fix the situation. Bids can’t correct fragmented data. Creative can’t fix misaligned conversion goals. Performance Max can’t prioritize efficiently when its boundaries with Search aren’t clearly defined.
The most impactful performance improvements in Google Ads often don’t come from a new bid strategy or a better headline. They come from stepping back, auditing your account architecture, and rebuilding the foundation that everything else depends on.
Structure first. Optimization second.
Chinese pre-sales begin on July 6. The SUV's chassis now has less front overhang, increasing its approach angle and off-road capability.
The post 200 km PHEV, LiDAR & better off-road chops: GWM reveals Tank 300 refresh in China appeared first on CarNewsChina.com.
Rumıniyadan olan 25 yaşlı mərkəz yarımmüdafiəçisi Vlad Pop bundan sonra Azərbaycan klubu “Şəfa”nın uğurları üçün çalışacaq.
Arena.az bu barədə paytaxt klubunun mətbuat xidmətinə istinadən xəbər verir.
Xəbərdə bildirilir ki, yeni mövsümün hazırlığını davam etdirən “Şəfa” ilk legioner transferini reallaşdırıb. Sözügedən klub yarımmüdafiəçi Vlad Marian Popu heyətinə qatıb. Rumıniyalı futbolçu ilə 1+1 illik müqavilə imzalanıb.
Rumıniya U-21 millisinin sabiq üzvü olan Vlad Pop son olaraq “Unirea Sloboziya”nın formasını geyinib. O, sözügedən komandanın heyətində meydana çıxdığı 33 oyunda 1 qol vurub, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.
25 yaşlı futbolçu karyerası ərzində “Universitatya” (Krayova) və “Mioveni” kimi klublarda da çıxış edib. O, 2021-ci ildə debüt etdiyi Rumıniyanın U-21 yığmasının heyətində 5 oyuna çıxıb, Məhsuldar fəaliyyəti ilə diqqət çəkməyib.
Yeni mövsümdən Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasında mübarizə aparacaq “Şəfa” daha öncə Rauf Hüseynli, Nicat Mehbalıyev, Arsen Ağcabəyov, Murad Musayev və Məmməd Hüseynovu da heyətinə qatmışdı. Tərlan Quliyev, Elnur Cəfərov, Ramin Nəsirli və Nahid Əliyevlə yeni müqavilə imzalanıb. Əli Həsənli, Zahid Mərdanov, Emin Zamanov, Hüseyn Mürsəlov, Aqil Nəsibov, Amir Ebrahimzade, Seymur Rəhimov, Elvin İsmayılov, İbrahim Əliyev, Novruz Məmmədov, Aqşin Paşayev, Ürfan İsmayılov, Rəvan Kazımov, Vüqar Həsənov və Ruslan Hacıyev isə komandanı tərk ediblər.
Almaniyada hüquq-mühafizə orqanları AÇ-2024-ün təşkili zamanı baş verdiyi iddia olunan korrupsiya faktları ilə bağlı genişmiqyaslı əməliyyat keçirib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Bild nəşri məlumat yayıb.
Məlumata görə, polis Frankfurt şəhərində yerləşən Almaniya Futbol İttifaqının (DFB) baş qərargahında, eləcə də Almaniyanın bir sıra şəhərlərinin administrasiya binalarında axtarış aparıb. İstintaq 2024-cü ildə Almaniyada keçirilmiş Avropa çempionatı zamanı mümkün rüşvət və qanunsuz imtiyazların verilməsi ilə bağlı aparılır.
Bild-in yazdığına görə, iş üzrə 66 yaşlı Almaniya vətəndaşı və 46 yaşlı Fransa vətəndaşı şübhəli qismində araşdırılır. İddialara görə, AÇ-2024 oyunlarına aid minlərlə bilet və VIP dəvətnamə qanunsuz şəkildə müəyyən şəxslərə paylanıb. İstintaq bunu ayrı-ayrı şəxslərə sistemli şəkildə üstünlük verilməsi və mümkün rüşvət vermə halı kimi qiymətləndirir.
Araşdırma materiallarında qeyd olunur ki, turnirin təşkili məqsədilə Almaniya Futbol İttifaqı (DFB) ilə UEFA birgə “Euro 2024 GmbH” şirkətini yaratmışdı. Şübhəli Fransa vətəndaşı həmin qurumda ev sahibi şəhərlərlə əlaqələrə cavabdeh olub və şəhərlərin AÇ-2024 ofislərinin rəhbərlərini turnirin nüfuzlu oyunlarına dəvət edib.
Digər fiqurant isə Gelsenkirxen şəhərinin keçmiş inzibati əməkdaşıdır. Onun bu yolla İspaniya ilə Fransa arasında keçirilən yarımfinal matçına qatıldığı, yol və otel xərcləri də daxil olmaqla təxminən 2,4 min avro həcmində maddi üstünlük əldə etdiyi bildirilir.
Axtarışlar Berlin, Hamburq, Gelsenkirxen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Köln, Münhen, Frankfurt, Ştutqart şəhərlərinin administrasiyalarında, həmçinin Şimali Reyn-Vestfaliya və Bavariya əyalətlərində fəaliyyət göstərən üç şirkətin ofislərində həyata keçirilib.
Hazırda istintaq davam edir və hüquq-mühafizə orqanları məsələ ilə bağlı əlavə məlumat verməyib.
Türkiyənin “Beşiktaş” klubu futbolçu Salih Uçanla yollarını ayırıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. 32 yaşlı yarımmüdafiəçinin müddəti bitən müqaviləsi uzadılmayıb.
Salih 2022-ci ildən “Beşiktaş”da çıxış edirdi. O, komandanın kapitanlarından idi.
“Çelsi” heyətini yeni futbolçu ilə gücləndirib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, London təmsilçisi “Atalanta”dan Marko Palestranı transfer edib. Bu barədə “zadəganlar”ın mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. Müdafiəçi ilə 7 illik müqavilə imzalanıb.
“Çelsi” Palestranı 55 milyon avro qarşılığında transfer edib.
İtaliyalı müdafiəçi ötən mövsümü icarə əsasında “Kalyari”də keçirib və A Seriyasında ilin ən yaxşı arxa xətt oyunçusu seçilib.
Futbol üzrə dünya çempionatında 1/16 finalın oyunları keçirilir.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu gün İngiltərə yığması Konqo Demokratik Respublikası ilə üz-üzə gələcək.
Gecə saatlarında daha iki görüş keçiriləcək. Belçika yığması Seneqalı, mundialın ev sahiblərindən olan ABŞ millisi isə Bosniya və Herseqovinanş sınağa çəkəcək.
DÇ-2026
Pley-off mərhələsi
1 iyul
20:00. İngiltərə – Konqo DR 0:1
Qol: Çipenqa, 7
2 iyul
00:00. Belçika – Seneqal
04:00. ABŞ – Bosniya və Herseqovina
Azərbaycan milli komandasının oktyabrda UEFA Millətlər Liqasında keçirəcəyi ev oyunlarının məkanları müəyyənləşib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə AFFA-nın mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.
A milli D Liqası çərçivəsində oktyabrın 1-də Lixtenşteyn yığmasını Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika Stadionunda, oktyabrın 4-də Litva kollektivini isə Gəncə şəhər stadionunda qəbul edəcək.
2026/27 mövsümünün səfər oyun dəsti “Qara Qızıl” adını daşıyır.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, tamamilə qara rəngdə hazırlanan forma qızılı detalları ilə klubumuzun da adını götürdüyü, milli sərvətimiz olan neftə ehtiramın simvoludur.
“Neftçi” sadəcə bir klub adı deyil. O, onilliklərdir milyonlarla insanın qəlbində yaşayan dəyərdir. Məhz buna görə də bu formanın əsas rəngləri qara və qızılı seçilib. Qara – nefti, qızılı isə onun dəyərini ifadə edir.
“Kappa” tərəfindən eksklüziv olaraq “Neftçi” üçün hazırlanan formada klubun embleminin iki əsas elementi – neft buruğu və “N” hərfi əsasında xüsusi ornament hazırlanıb. Bu naxış yalnız bu forma üçün yaradılıb və onu tamamilə unikal edir.
If you've been hunting for a powerful laptop that won't weigh you down, Geekom has you covered. The price of the h GeekBook M16 has dropped to $827 (was $899) at Amazon when you use our exclusive code TRGBM168 at checkout.
The deal is also available direct from Geekom by clicking here. This all-metal 16-inch laptop is built for programmers, data analysts, creators, and professionals who need desktop-level performance without giving up portability.
Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, 16GB of memory, and a fast 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD, it has the performance to handle demanding multitasking, creative applications, and everyday productivity with ease.
Built for demanding workloads, this 16-inch laptop combines desktop-class performance, a huge 99.9Wh battery, expandable storage up to 6TB, advanced cooling, and modern connectivity in a slim aluminum design for professionals on the move.
Use our exclusive coupon code TRGBM168 at checkout.
It's clear from the chassis, wallpaper, ultra-thin bezels, and the centered webcam that Geekom has been heavily inspired by Apple's M3 MacBook Pro design, although it comes with Windows 11 Pro preinstalled and can run a Linux OS if you prefer.
The M16 can sustain 55W of performance, helping it tackle demanding workloads such as code compilation, data processing, and intensive multitasking without slowing down.
The laptop features an enormous 99.9Wh battery, the largest capacity allowed on commercial flights. Geekom rates it for up to 24 hours of use, which is great for anyone who travels regularly, or spends long days working away from home or the office.
When it's finally time to recharge, the included 100W GaN charger gets you back up and running in no time. Geekom says just 10 minutes of charging can provide up to three hours of battery life.
Dual PCIe Gen 4 SSD slots allow you to expand storage capacity up to 6TB, which is plenty of room for large projects, development tools, creative software, and growing media libraries.
Geekom's IceBlade 3.0 cooling system keeps everything running smoothly and dual fans and dual heat pipes increase airflow while keeping noise under control.
Connectivity includes USB4, full-featured USB-C, dual USB-A ports, and HDMI supporting up to three external displays.
A fingerprint reader and physical webcam privacy switch also add welcome security features for anyone working with sensitive information.
The CNC-machined aluminum chassis measures just 0.66 inches thick while remaining durable enough for life on the move.
If you're looking for a premium productivity laptop with excellent battery life, desktop-class performance, and plenty of room to grow, this is a terrific deal and one not to be missed.
For more ultra-portable powerhouses, take a look at our guide to the best business laptops for professionals.
Streaming has become one of the main reasons people reach for a VPN, and providers have noticed.
The latest example is VPN Super, which has just rolled out beta apps for Apple TV and Android TV, extending the service from phones and laptops onto the screen we watch the most.
The move follows a clear industry trend. Over the past couple of years, many of the best VPN services have shipped native apps for tvOS and Android TV, chasing viewers who want to unblock content, cut down on buffering, and keep their traffic private without wrestling with router settings.
The headline feature is straightforward: native apps that let you open the software on your TV, pick a server, and get back to watching.
According to VPN Super, the Apple TV app offers streaming-optimized servers built for smoother 4K playback, more than 50 server locations, and coverage for up to 10 devices on a single Premium subscription.
The company also promotes a no-activity-logs policy and an ad-free interface, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The apps are aimed at Premium subscribers, and the Apple TV version runs on tvOS 17 or newer.
There is a sports hook, too. VPN Super points to easier access to international soccer tournaments and major tennis events.
That's a pitch that other providers have leaned into, too, with X-VPN recently launching dedicated servers for the FIFA World Cup.
The privacy argument is arguably the more compelling half of the launch. Modern smart TVs are far from passive screens.
Many use a technology called Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR, which samples what appears on your display and reports it back to manufacturers or their partners. Some sets do this hundreds of times per second, and the practice has been alarming enough that the FBI has urged consumers to weigh the privacy tradeoffs of smart TVs.
A smart TV VPN does not switch ACR off by itself, and you should still dig into your TV's privacy settings to disable it. What a VPN does add is an encrypted layer over the traffic leaving the device, which makes your activity harder to read on the network.
Getting started is designed to take only a few minutes: download the app, sign in with your Premium account, choose the location you want, and connect.
Both Apple and Android apps are currently in beta, with sign-up links available through VPN Super's site and its announcement.
Microsoft has released Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) containers in public preview following its earlier announcement at Build 2026, as a way to create, run and manage Linux containers directly on Windows.
When the feature update was first revealed, Microsoft described it as "a built-in way to create, run and interact with Linux containers using familiar CLI & API."
The new container feature is now available in the latest pre-release version, which can be downloaded from GitHub, and includes two new core features.
As part of the update, Microsoft has added a built-in container CLI and an API to let Windows applications run Linux containers.
The company noted that the API is particularly useful for reusing existing Linux specific code, like running cloud applications locally, while the CLI tool uses a familiar format so users can "use [their] existing muscle memory when running Linux containers."
Microsoft also added new management settings to let admins control whether people can use WSL distros and containers via Intune.
Besides the headlining container update, Principal Product Manager Craig Loewen also highlighted a series of other changes the company has made to WSL, including a new 'virtiofs' file system that makes Windows file access 2x faster and a new 'consomme' default networking mode to improve compatibility.
Loewen noted that the lower level platform changes are also being made available across "other fantastic Linux container CLI tools" like Docker Desktop, Podman Desktop and Rancher Desktop.
Microsoft has also published a support page covering how to install the API, which includes support for C, C++ and C#.
The company hasn't yet provided a timeline for general availability.
Ever long for the days when Notepad was a lean, mean, text editing machine? If so, a software engineer who used to work at Microsoft has just released something you may well be interested in.
The Register noticed that Dave Plummer — who was likely one of admittedly many catalysts that sparked Microsoft's fix Windows 11 campaign — has created TinyRetroPad. (It's a fork of Dave's Tiny Editor or DTE by Matt Power, which, in turn, was built on the foundation of Plummer's HelloAssembly — the world's "smallest possible complete Windows application" no less).
TinyRetroPad is a fully functional text editor in the style of the original Notepad, completely streamlined and with all the bloat removed, so it's, well, tiny as the name suggests, weighing in at 2.5KB.
Plummer explains that he isn't keen on Notepad as it is, and so he "rebuilt it from scratch", with: "No bloat. No telemetry. No nonsense. Just pure old school Windows done right."
In case you weren't aware, Notepad has been accused of being a bloated application for quite some time now, as Microsoft has expanded its features to cover all kinds of bases beyond what you'd expect from what's supposed to be a basic text editor.
Of course, the problem is that WordPad — which used to be the app that covered the middle-ground between Notepad and Microsoft's fully-fledged Word — was ditched back in 2024. Since then, Microsoft has drafted more and more features into Notepad in what's essentially covering for the removal of WordPad.
The trouble is that this is very much at odds with Notepad's core philosophy of being a lightweight text editor, and Windows 11 users now fear it's being bloated and will eventually end up less and less responsive, and therefore less useful as a quick-and-easy editor that puts a premium on convenience.
What all this means is that some people have abandoned Notepad and searched out third-party alternatives for Windows 11. Of course, TinyRetroPad represents another of these offerings, albeit about as pure and compact an alternative as you'll find.
How is this app so very small? Essentially, the program can be extremely compact because it taps components already installed in Windows.
As Plummer explains: "TinyRetroPad is basically a wrapper around the RICHEDIT50W control from the WinAPI."
So, Plummer notes, if you want Notepad to be "exactly like you might remember" from the Windows XP era, this is what TinyRetroPad does. I think the ex-Microsoft engineer may have a few takers on his hands.
ChatGPT's new finance feature lets the AI chatbot take a look at any bank or similar accounts you care to open up for inspection. I was initially hesitant to try it out, but the tool only looks at the details of how you spend your money, and can't actually carry out transactions, so I agreed to let it analyze some of my accounts and offer its insights.
Finances is currently only available in the U.S. to Plus and Pro users on web, iOS, and Android. Setting everything up is as easy as using any other ChatGPT plug-in. You just select Finances in ChatGPT and then click Get Started then Connect with Plaid.
Finances uses Plaid to link to the accounts; you simply sign in and agree to let Plaid share the information. The service synchronized recent transactions and basically became an interactive, conversational database of my information. It's not that the AI can do things it couldn't before, but now you don't have to manually enter any finance details you want to ask it about.
At its suggestion, I asked ChatGPT, "How much did I spend eating out this year?" ChatGPT soon had a breakdown of my how much I had spent at various restaurants, including delivery, and broke down some of the patterns. It pointed out that it had gone up recently, which makes sense as the weather has became pleasant enough to walk into town more often to eat. It also identified a few spikes I could tell were around birthdays and family celebrations.
Next I asked, "What subscriptions am I paying for?"
That turned into one of the most practical moments of the experiment. ChatGPT gathered recurring charges across streaming services, software, and other monthly payments into one clear summary instead of leaving me hunting through statements. It also suggested reviewing whether every subscription still deserved a place in my budget.
"These subscriptions appear consistently each month, making them reliable recurring expenses.", it told me.
Seeking a more detailed analysis, I asked ChatGPT, "What's changed in my spending this month?"
Instead of overwhelming me with every purchase, ChatGPT focused on the transactions that genuinely stood out. It noted a few large purchases at new locations, and asked if they were something I wanted more information on. I told it those were gifts, and the AI incorporated that fact into its response as not a new regular event but one that explained why overall spending had climbed this month.
"Those gift purchases are unusual compared with your recent history but they account for much of the increase, so your everyday spending has remained relatively consistent despite the higher overall total. Looking beyond one unusual month provides a more accurate picture of your longer term financial habits."
Using ChatGPT this way felt almost like the inverse of most financial software. Most budgeting apps expect you to learn their system first. ChatGPT let me ask questions however they occurred to me and then translated months of transactions into answers that were easy to understand.
That does not mean it replaces dedicated budgeting tools, and it certainly cannot make smarter financial decisions on your behalf. You still have to decide whether to cancel subscriptions, spend less on eating out, or save more each month. But I can see how it might make it easier for people who hesitate to look at their finances if they feel uncomfortable around spreadsheets. It didn't feel like math homework the way it often does.
Of course, it still relies on some trust in both OpenAI and Plaid, but as long as it's purely viewing and not actually touching the accounts, this could be a really useful, practical feature for ChatGPT users.
We've been rolling from one sales event to the next lately, and up now is the Best Buy 4th of July sale, which features discounts of up to 45% across appliances, TVs, laptops, headphones, gaming, speakers, and more. I'm not massively blown away by the offers, but I've still managed to round up 34 of the best deals that I think are worth your attention.
• Browse the full Best Buy 4th of July sale
I think the top offers are found on TVs, with everything from small and cheap everyday displays to premium screens for gaming and sports all up for grabs at great prices. One standout deal is the LG C5 65-inch OLED TV for $1,299.99 (was $2,699.99). It's still the best TV available right now according to our experts, with incredible picture quality, performance and features.
As always, the holiday sale is a good time to buy appliances, as there are savings of up to 45% off. This is on top of discounts on bundles from certain manufacturers, free delivery on all major appliances, and a price match guarantee.
The Best Buy 4th of July sale is live now and ends on Sunday, so there's still a fair bit of time left to browse. I'll be back to update this page with any new and worthwhile offers as soon as I spot them throughout the week.
Major appliances: save up to 45% on major appliances at Best Buy
Best Buy's official 4th of July appliance sale is now live, and you can save up to 45% on major appliances at the retailer. I've spotted savings of up to $1,900 available on refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and kitchen packages from brands like GE, Whirlpool, Samsung, and LG. The retailer is also running a price match guarantee, so if you see the same product cheaper elsewhere, you can call Best Buy, and they should offer you the lower price.View Deal
The newest version of the best-selling Apple AirTag is on sale for $89.99 in the latest Best Buy sale. This four-pack of trackers is a great way to keep an eye on a child's backpack or luggage. Simply attach it to anything you don't want to lose, and your iPhone will locate it.View Deal
This is my pick for the best Hisense TV deal in the latest Best Buy sale. You get a lot of top TV tech for the money in a reasonably sized display, including a bright and vibrant QLED panel with excellent contrast, and a high 165Hz refresh rate support for smooth images. It will excel as a TV to watch the World Cup, as well as stream all of your favorite shows and movies, and play the latest games.View Deal
Display - 14 inches
Processor - Snapdragon X
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB
This is a solid discount on a modern laptop powered by one of the efficient Snapdragon X CPUs. As well as excellent levels of all-around performance, this device boasts a huge all-day battery life, so you won't need to worry about being attached to a charger at all times. There's even 512GB of SSD storage, which you don't often see in combination with those other strong performance components at this price point. This is an all-around excellent laptop for everyday, college and business use.View Deal
The Shark Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum offers convenient automation features and versatile cleaning technology, including a special brushroll that works on both hardwood and carpeted surfaces. Its self-emptying dock doubles as a charging station, which makes it easy to keep fully charged, even though it runs for up to 60 minutes at full battery. For under $300, it's hard to pass up such a high-tech and highly rated vacuum.View Deal
Bose is the best brand around for providing excellent active noise cancellation features, and you can now get these fantastic and affordable earbuds for a great low price. With the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, you get fewer options than the high-end range, but you still get up to 8.5 hours of battery life, the ability to adjust the equalizer and a very comfy fit. They’ll instantly make your commute, your runs, or your walks far more enjoyable.View Deal
The LG C5 OLED is TechRadar's best-rated TV, and Best Buy has the 65-inch model on sale for $1,299.99. The five-star OLED display delivers an outstanding picture thanks to LG's Alpha 9 AI processor Gen8, impressive gaming features, and a comprehensive smart platform featuring all-new AI capabilities.View Deal
Here's a super-tempting record-low price for one of the best action camera bundles in the world right now. The camera offers an impressive 5.3K video resolution inside a rugged and completely waterproof body. A sweet deal just in time for your summer adventures.View Deal
This large and budget-friendly 55-inch TV from Insignia supports high-quality 4K HD resolution, has smart capabilities with the Fire operating system, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa controls. I've picked out this size in particular as it's a great low price for the already affordable display. All this for under $200 is a solid offer for a no-frills TV of this size.View Deal
It's one of the smallest and cheapest TVs you can buy, but if that's all you need, then this Insignia F20 is very hard to beat. Definitely don't expect the best picture quality or the fastest performance, but if you just need a display for infrequent streaming in a kid's room, the bedroom, or kitchen, then it's up to the job — and it doesn't cost very much at all.View Deal
This large and budget-friendly 55-inch TV from Insignia supports high-quality 4K HD resolution, has smart capabilities with the Fire operating system, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa controls. I've picked out this size in particular as it's a great low price for the already affordable display. All this for under $200 is a solid offer for a no-frills TV of this size.View Deal
For a budget-friendly option, consider this Hisense A6 65-inch 4K Fire TV for under $300. It lacks many of the premium features found in the more expensive sets, but you still get solid 4K resolution, a large display size, and support for all of the most popular streaming apps. If it's an affordable and big-screen everyday TV you need and are happy with a reasonable picture quality and performance, this one is hard to beat for the cost.View Deal
If you're looking for a big-screen budget display, Best Buy has this 65-inch 4K TV on sale for $299.99. It won't rival the premium QLED and OLED displays, but this entry-level TV from Samsung still packs a solid 'Crystal' UHD 4K processor, the easy-to-use Tizen operating system, and full HDR support. That's good value for money if you need a straightforward but capable display for your everyday viewing and media streaming.View Deal
Best Buy has slashed a whopping $650 off LG's 48-inch B5 OLED TV, bringing the price down to $649.99. Released as the successor to the popular B4 OLED, the LG B5 is easily one of the best budget OLED TVs on the market. This 48-inch version delivers an exceptional picture with brilliant colors and sharp contrast. You also get excellent gaming features, thanks to the four HDMI 2.1 ports, which ensure smooth and responsive gaming on current-gen consolesView Deal
This is my pick for the best Hisense TV deal in the latest Best Buy sale. You get a lot of top TV tech for the money in a reasonably sized display, including a bright and vibrant QLED panel with excellent contrast, and a high 165Hz refresh rate support for smooth images. It will excel as a TV to watch the World Cup, as well as stream all of your favorite shows and movies, and play the latest games.View Deal
This latest version of the Hisense U6 is a small step down from the U7 I mentioned above, but it's still an excellent TV when it comes to all-around use. You still get a QLED panel, so there's fantastic brightness and rich contrast, even in bright spaces, and the 144Hz refresh rate ensures a smooth and responsive image.View Deal
For a high-end OLED TV, consider this huge $1,300 saving on the 65-inch Samsung S90F. It may be a generation behind now, but this scored an impressive five-star rating in our Samsung S90F review. We praised this display's outstanding picture quality, handy gaming features, and terrific value for money. Altogether, it's a brilliant buy if you've got some cash to spend on one of the best TVs available right now.View Deal
The LG C5 OLED is TechRadar's best-rated TV, and Best Buy has the 65-inch model on sale for $1,299.99. The five-star OLED display delivers an outstanding picture thanks to LG's Alpha 9 AI processor Gen8, impressive gaming features, and a comprehensive smart platform featuring all-new AI capabilities.View Deal
Sony's 65-inch Bravia 8 OLED TV has an impressive $400 discount at Best Buy, bringing the price down to $1,599.99. Sony's Bravia 8 features a sleek, slim design with a wide viewing angle, brilliant images with deep contrast, and cinematic sound from the entire screen.View Deal
Display - 14 inches
Processor - Snapdragon X
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB
This is a solid discount on a modern laptop powered by one of the efficient Snapdragon X CPUs. As well as excellent levels of all-around performance, this device boasts a huge all-day battery life, so you won't need to worry about being attached to a charger at all times. There's even 512GB of SSD storage, which you don't often see in combination with those other strong performance components at this price point. This is an all-around excellent laptop for everyday, college and business use.View Deal
Display - 14 inches
Processor - Intel Core Ultra 5
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB
This powerful and versatile HP OmniBook Flip offers impressive performance for the price, with powerful components such as a modern Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, a healthy 16GB of RAM to boost performance, and a decent 512GB SSD for storage. You can comfortably handle everyday tasks, demanding work, video calls, media streaming and more with this laptop, all with the option to flip it around to a 14-inch touchscreen tablet when needed, too.View Deal
Display - 16 inches
Processor - Intel Core Ultra 7
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB
One of Samsung's latest premium laptops just got its biggest discount yet in the Best Buy 4th of July sale. While similarly powered devices can be picked up for less, you do get a gorgeous 16-inch LED screen with smooth and responsive 120Hz support with this Galaxy Book6. It's powerful elsewhere, too, with an excellent battery life of up to 24 hours, making it a great pick for business and productivity needs.View Deal
Major appliances: save up to 45% on major appliances at Best Buy
Best Buy's official 4th of July appliance sale is now live, and you can save up to 45% on major appliances at the retailer. I've spotted savings of up to $1,900 available on refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and kitchen packages from brands like GE, Whirlpool, Samsung, and LG. The retailer is also running a price match guarantee, so if you see the same product cheaper elsewhere, you can call Best Buy, and they should offer you the lower price.
This will never be one of the best coffee makers you can buy, but there's no denying that it is dirt cheap. It's a basic and no-frills drip filter coffee maker that can brew up to 12 cups at once, has a programmable timer so you can wake up to a fresh pot, and dishwasher-safe components that make it easy to clean.View Deal
The Bella Pro is exclusive to Best Buy, and we have seen this four-quart model a little cheaper in previous sales. However, for under $60, this is excellent value for money this weekend if you just need a compact air fryer for a small household or kitchen.View Deal
The Shark Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum offers convenient automation features and versatile cleaning technology, including a special brushroll that works on both hardwood and carpeted surfaces. Its self-emptying dock doubles as a charging station, which makes it easy to keep fully charged, even though it runs for up to 60 minutes at full battery. For under $300, it's hard to pass up such a high-tech and highly rated vacuum.View Deal
You can get almost $200 off Dyson's best-selling V11 vacuum during Best Buy's 4th of July sale. This vac nails the basics, offering strong suction and excellent manoeuvrability. Information is displayed on an LCD screen that shows exactly how long you have left before the battery runs out in the current power mode, too.View Deal
Bose is the best brand around for providing excellent active noise cancellation features, and you can now get these fantastic and affordable earbuds for a great low price. With the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, you get fewer options than the high-end range, but you still get up to 8.5 hours of battery life, the ability to adjust the equalizer and a very comfy fit. They’ll instantly make your commute, your runs, or your walks far more enjoyable.View Deal
If you want more affordable over-ears that don't compromise on quality, then consider these Bose QuietComfort Headphones while they are down to their lowest price this year at Best Buy. As with the Ultra version, you get impressive noise cancellation, top-tier audio quality and 24 hours of battery life, but in a much more affordable package that's only been $10 cheaper over Black Friday.View Deal
The Beats Solo 4 are getting old now, but this is a great price for a pair of solid headphones. This model supports lossless audio that you can listen to via USB-C or 3.5mm audio cable and Spatial Audio that uses head tracking to enhance your listening experience. These headphones also last up to 50 hours on a single charge and can regain five hours of playback time in just 10 minutes of charging.View Deal
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the last-gen earbuds from the manufacturer, so that means the price cuts are only getting bigger now. We awarded them four stars in our Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro review, praising the refinement over the previous model with AirPods-like ear sticks, active noise cancellation, an 11mm driver, and AI-powered features like a voice-call booster and a translation tool — provided you have a modern Samsung phone. They look and feel good in your ears, too, with up to five hours of battery life with ANC on, so they’re good for your commute or workout.View Deal
The AirPods Max use an Apple-designed dynamic driver to provide high-fidelity audio – and they sound fantastic for it. Exceptional active noise cancellation, personalized Spatial Audio, and Dolby Atmos support all reinforce that. They feel good on your head as well, thanks to the knit-mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions, so you can easily wear them for the full 20 hours of battery life if you ever want or need to.View Deal
The brand-new Apple iPad A16 is down to its lowest-ever price in the Best Buy Memorial Day sale, so it's worth taking advantage of if you have an eye on the latest Apple slate. The biggest upgrade compared to the previous generation model is the latest A16 chip for faster performance. You also get double the storage of 128GB as standard, a sharp 11-inch Liquid Retina display, and solid 12MP front and back cameras.View Deal
There's a decent $100 saving on the latest iPad Pro 11-inch at Best Buy, matching the record-low of $899 we saw on Black Friday. This is still a pricey tablet, but you do get the brand-new M5 chip, high-quality tandem OLED display and 256GB as standard. Expect this to be one of the better offers we see on the tablet until later in the year.View Deal
As work becomes increasingly digital, it’s also becoming more visual. The average adult now spends approximately 7-10 hours per day looking at screens, demonstrating our increased reliance on visual technology for daily tasks and work.
Healthy Vision Month is an important time to revisit the intersection of workplace trends, technology and digital wellness.
As people spend more of their day engaging with screens, there’s an increased focus on how screen experiences can influence comfort, focus and productivity – and what that means for the future of workplace technology.
That opens the door to an interesting question: how will technology evolve to better support the way people naturally work?
As someone deeply invested in the future of visual technology, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly innovation is reshaping the way people work. At the same time, there’s growing awareness that the tools we use every day should not only help us work more efficiently, but also support comfort and wellbeing throughout the day.
In this piece, I’ll explore how smarter, more user-focused display technology can better support the way people work and live - from automatically adjusting brightness and color to features that help reduce eye strain and improve comfort during extended use.
As screen engagement increases across work and personal life, digital fatigue is becoming a growing concern for both employees and organizations. While various factors contribute to digital fatigue, one’s tools and technology stack shouldn’t be a primary cause. In my role, I practice the philosophy for display innovations to be built around a simple but powerful idea: the screen should adapt to the user, not the other way around.
Across the industry, including at Lenovo, this philosophy is influencing how the next generation of display technology is being designed. Displays are evolving beyond passive screens into smarter tools intended to support healthier and more sustainable work environments.
This is reflected in features that address common user challenges, from eye fatigue to discomfort during extended work sessions. Technologies such as adaptive brightness, low blue light settings and intelligent color optimization can help reduce visual discomfort while creating a more seamless and personalized viewing experience.
When these features are a core design principle to building business monitors, we’re making progress in designing tools that reduce discomfort without compromising performance.
As AI tools and ambient technologies evolve, screens remain central to how people navigate complex, creative and collaborative work. In fact, Futurum reports that enterprises are shifting their budgets towards investing in personal computers (PCs) over the next year to capitalize on AI-enabled devices.
At the same time, Deloitte research highlights that organizations taking a purely tech-focused AI approach are 1.6 times more likely to not realize returns on AI investments, compared to organizations taking a human-centered approach.
What this signals is that the future of AI in the workplace cannot be focused solely on processing power or automation; it also needs to improve the everyday user experience. In visual technology, that means designing displays that can respond more intelligently and intuitively to how people actually work, helping support comfort, focus and productivity in real time.
While screen time becomes more integral to how we work and think, AI’s role in visual technology will continue to grow to make our monitors smarter and more personal.
For example, embedded wellness features may provide reminders to adjust posture during extended work sessions, while technologies that measure gaze duration and blinking frequency can help users better manage eye fatigue and create more personalized work setups.
Together, these innovations are helping transform monitors from passive work tools into more responsive and supportive technologies.
As businesses look to increase their investments in AI-enabled devices, monitors will continue to be an important interface for AI to enhance user experiences.
In today’s always-connected work culture, wellness can no longer be viewed as separate from productivity as it increasingly shapes how people evaluate the technology they use every day.
McKinsey found that 84% of US consumers now consider wellness a “top” or “important” priority, while 42% of Gen Z and millennials say mindfulness is a “very high priority.”
Together, these trends reflect a broader shift in workplace expectations, particularly among younger generations, leaning toward technologies that better support focus, balance and long-term wellbeing.
From my perspective, this is changing expectations around technology entirely – whether for work or play. At work, employees want tools that feel intuitive and responsive to their natural workflows, rather than systems that add friction or contribute to fatigue.
As AI-driven workflows and screen engagement continue to increase, organizations are beginning to recognize that long-term performance depends not only on efficiency, but on how sustainably employees can work and create throughout the day.
This is where smarter display technology can play a meaningful role when they’re designed to adapt more intelligently to user preferences and enable seamless experiences. Over time, these seemingly small improvements can meaningfully shape how people focus, collaborate and maintain creative energy throughout the workday.
In a screen-first economy, the future of workplace technology will increasingly center on balancing productivity with well-being.
As Healthy Vision Month reminds us, digital wellness is becoming an increasingly important part of the workplace technology conversation.
Displays are evolving into adaptive, human-centric tools that can help people stay focused, comfortable and creative in a world where screen engagement continues to grow. Looking ahead, the most impactful technology will be the tools that work more naturally along human needs and deliver value through comfort and wellness.
This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.
The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit
Anthropic has released a new version of Claude, called Sonnet 5, which it’s calling “the most agentic Sonnet model yet.” Agentic models are designed to do more than simply answer questions. They can plan, use tools, and carry out tasks with less step-by-step input from the user.
According to Anthropic, the new Sonnet 5 can “make plans, use tools like browsers and terminals, and run autonomously at a level that, just a few months ago, required larger and more expensive models.”
Sonnet 5 is aimed at coding and everyday professional work. Anthropic says the latest version outperforms the previous Sonnet 4.6, scoring 80.5% in Agentic Coding using Terminal-bench 2.1, compared to 67% for Sonnet 4.6.
Despite being aimed at professionals, the new release isn’t being restricted to paid users. It's available across Anthropic plans and is the new default model for Free and Pro users, and is available to Max, Team, and Enterprise users as well. It’s also available in Claude Code and on the Claude Platform.
The release of Sonnet 5 marks a wider shift in the AI race. Chatbots are no longer just competing to sound smarter in a conversation. They are increasingly competing to act like agents — tools that can plan, code, browse, investigate problems, and complete work with less hand-holding.
Sonnet 5 arrives soon after the release of Gemini Spark, Google’s 24/7 agentic personal assistant AI.
Anthropic is also launching Sonnet 5 at the same time that Fable 5 and Mythos 5 have become wrapped up in government scrutiny. Claude Fable 5 has just been re-released after being restricted by the US government, while OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 is still under review.
Claude Sonnet 5 may look like just another model launch, but it points to a bigger change in how AI companies are competing. The next stage of the AI war will not be won by the chatbot that gives the neatest answer. It will be won by the assistant that can take a messy task, keep track of the plan, and actually get something useful done.
AI assistants will increasingly complete tasks rather than just suggest steps. In this new future, the best model may not be the one with the cleverest answer, but the one that can finish the job.
The software supply chain has had a brutal run.
In the past few months, we’ve seen attacks against Axios, Trivy, LiteLLM, SAP, Vercel, and a new Mini Shai-Hulud campaign that has impacted a long list of packages that includes TanStack, UiPath, and Mistral AI.
Then GitHub confirmed that attackers had accessed nearly 3,800 internal repositories after a poisoned VS Code extension landed on a single employee’s laptop.
The extension was Nx Console, a legitimate tool with 2.2 million installs and a verified publisher badge, compromised using a stolen token from a separate supply chain attack.
The malicious version was live on the marketplace for just eighteen minutes, but auto-update had already pushed it to running editors during that window.
These attacks came through different doors.
A browser extension, a worm in the package registry, a poisoned IDE plugin. But they all landed on the same thing: a developer’s machine. GitHub is not a careless company.
If this can happen to the platform that hosts most of the world’s source code, it can happen to anyone.
Developers have become one of the most valuable targets in the software supply chain because they hold cloud credentials, SSH keys, npm publish tokens, Kubernetes configs, and direct access to source code. A single compromised credential can be enough to publish malicious packages or trigger downstream compromises across thousands of organizations.
The rise of AI-driven development is also contributing to the challenge in two ways. First, coding agents working on developers’ laptops are pulling packages and adding skills with little to no human oversight over what gets installed, which, of course, further increases the attack surface on the developer device.
Second, it has dramatically lowered the barrier to entry to carry out supply chain attacks because what used to require real skill and deep technical knowledge now only requires an LLM subscription. More skilled attackers are also using AI to conduct increasingly sophisticated attacks that scale faster than security teams can respond.
For years, supply chain security meant securing the infrastructure that code passes through, like registries and build pipelines and CI/CD systems. Those layers still matter, but the vulnerability now starts earlier, on the developer's device, before code ever enters shared infrastructure.
Despite the sensitive content on developer machines and the growing risks they face, most enterprises still secure them the same way they secure any standard corporate employee laptop: including traditional endpoint protection (EDR) for detecting threats on the operating system and mobile device management (MDM) for managing what gets installed.
The problem is that most of what developers do day-to-day happens above the OS, through package managers, IDE marketplaces, browser extensions, and AI tools. These are mostly invisible to EDR and MDM. A malicious npm package running a post-install script doesn’t register.
A compromised VS Code extension quietly exfiltrating credentials doesn’t register. An AI browser plugin with over-permissioned OAuth access doesn’t register. These tools weren’t designed for how software development works today.
As a result, most companies find themselves trying to defend the developer endpoint with approaches they’d prefer not to have to use.
Some block everything, drawing a hard line between developers and the open internet. This can work in highly regulated environments like financial services, but it kills development speed everywhere else. This approach is so restrictive that developers in these environments often find workarounds like second laptops and disabled VPNs, which makes the security posture worse than if you’d done nothing.
Many companies go the other direction and allow developers to install everything they need and hope nothing goes wrong. Given the issues I just listed, this approach is extremely risky (and pretty much indefensible).
Others try a third path, manually approving install requests on a case-by-case basis. While this precision is effective from a safety and developer needs standpoint, it’s impossible to scale.
Most of the supply chain security conversation right now is about detection. How fast can you identify a malicious package? How quickly can you flag a compromised extension? These are reasonable questions, but they miss something important.
Look at the GitHub breach. The malicious Nx Console extension was identified and pulled within eighteen minutes. That's genuinely fast. But it didn't matter, because auto-update had already distributed the compromised version to running editors during that window. Detection told you something bad existed. It didn't stop it from landing on developer machines.
The more useful question is: how do you stop something from reaching the device in the first place? A cooldown period, a delay between when a new version is published and when it's allowed to install, would have prevented the GitHub breach entirely.
If your policy says "don't auto-install anything published less than 48 hours ago," the malicious Nx Console version never reaches a single device. That's a basic timing rule that buys the ecosystem the window it needs to catch problems before they land.
The same thinking applies more broadly. Know what's installed across every developer machine. Set policies around which packages, extensions, and plugins are allowed. When a developer needs something outside the policy, give them a way to request it that's fast enough they don't route around it.
None of this means making developer environments sterile. Modern software development depends on open source, third-party tools, and increasingly on AI agents. Developers need freedom to work. But that freedom should be visible and governed, not invisible.
The developer device is the first domino in the software supply chain. Every major breach I've described in this piece started there. Not in a pipeline or in production.
The fixes aren't complicated. The cost of ignoring them is. The industry has spent years shifting security left into the pipeline. It's time to shift it all the way to the device.
We've reviewed and ranked the best business monitors.
This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.
The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit
We’re probably less than a month away from the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and its siblings, with July 22 being repeatedly tipped as the announcement date, and Samsung even recently teasing its upcoming foldables.
Sadly, those teasers didn’t actually reveal much, but a trio of leaks has told us almost everything we need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 — assuming the details here are correct.
First up, reputable leaker Ahmed Qwaider has shared a near-complete specs list, claiming that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will have a 7.6-inch 120Hz foldable screen and a 5.5-inch cover display, both with QHD+ resolutions.
It will also apparently have a 50MP wide camera, a 50MP ultra-wide, and two 10MP selfie cameras (one on each screen). For power, it’s said to use a top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and 12GB of RAM, paired with a choice of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage.
Qwaider also claims that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 will have a 4,800mAh battery, will weigh 201g, and come in at 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7mm when folded and 123.9 x 161.4 x 4.5mm when unfolded.
Some of these specs might sound like a step down from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 — for example, there’s one less camera listed here — but that’s because the phone dubbed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to be a new, wider, shorter model, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra likely to be the true successor to the Z Fold 7.
In any case, Android Headlines has also recently shared some renders of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8.
The phones are shown in cases, so we don’t get an unobstructed look at them, but they’re largely as you’d expect, with the Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 looking a lot like their predecessors, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 looks like a squatter version of the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
And finally, leaker @UniverseIce has claimed that none of these upcoming phones will have the Privacy Display found on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
This feature — which means people can’t see sensitive content on your screen when viewing it from the side — is arguably one of the highlights of Samsung’s latest flagship, and one of the most innovative features the company has come up with in a while, so it will be a real shame if none of its upcoming foldables have this too.
Still, at least we shouldn’t have long to wait before we find out exactly what these phones are capable of.
GMKTec has launched an updated version of its ultra-small mini PC, one small enough to fit in the palm of an adult hand.
The G5S is a replacement for the G5, which we reviewed back in July 2024, almost two years ago. And rather than an improvement, it definitely looks like a massive step backwards (albeit with the same chassis).
The N97 in its predecessor has been replaced by the N50985 CPU, which is not only slower but also uses more power and dissipates more heat. If that wasn’t enough, there’s 33% less RAM (8GB vs 12GB) and it is DDR4 (rather than DDR5).
The obvious reason for that two-step-backward move has to do with the impact AI has on the RAM. AI accelerators use a lot of HBM chips and these chips are expensive, which in turn causes the few RAM manufacturers to focus their resources on producing these.
This has had a knock-off effect on everything else with prices of NAND (for SSD), DDR5 down to DDR2 surging.
It is therefore no surprise that the new model has 128GB storage rather than 256GB on the previous model. Expect to pay around $169 for it and $272 for the 256GB version. It is currently only available in China but should reach the rest of the world before Black Friday.
When the the previous, superior version was tested, our reviewer gave it a 4.5/5 rating, saying “If space is limited, the GMKtec NucBox G5 is small enough to fit almost anywhere yet, unlike many micro PCs, this small machine is powerful enough to run a full copy of Windows 11 Pro, with more than enough clout for office, admin, and some multimedia processing.”
Other models worth considering as an alternative to the GMKTec G5S.
Not as small as the G5S, it has twice the storage capacity while costing just $31 extra. View Deal
An even better deal is this Maxtang which is bulkier than the G5S but has twice the RAM and 4X the online storage. A superb deal if you can wait (ships from China) and can live with the sluggishness of the N5095A.View Deal
If your budget can extend to $229, then the P6 is a cracking alternative. With a form factor similar to the rivals above, it has a much faster performance thanks to the Ryzen 5 3500U processor.View Deal
We've tested and reviewed the best mini PCs you can buy right now.
Thomas Tuchel’s tactical puzzle moves into its most critical phase as England look to turn their dominant group-stage form into a deep bracket run. Having successfully navigated Group L without dropping a match, the European favorites enter the sudden-death World Cup phase with zero margin for error.
According to the latest data verification ahead of the match, England commands the 4th position in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking with an official baseline total of 1,840.46 coefficient points.
Their wildcard challengers represent an unpredictable, intensely physical threat capable of exploiting a momentary lapse in concentration. DR Congo enters the Round of 32 occupying the 41st spot globally on the Inside FIFA leaderboard, carrying a baseline score of 1,495.48 points. This massive separation across the global hierarchy leaves the Three Lions carrying the undisputed burden of expectations before kickoff.
England validated their top-four ranking by turning in a highly functional group phase, recovering from a tight tactical stalemate against Ghana to log dominant performances across their other assignments. DR Congo, on the other hand, displayed immense defensive resilience to emerge as a dangerous wildcard qualifier from a group controlled by Colombia and Portugal.
The table below outlines the tournament metrics and global rankings for the two opponents:
| Country | FIFA Rank | Points | Goal difference |
| England | 4th | 7 | +4 |
| DR Congo | 41st | 4 | +1 |
England’s presence inside the absolute upper tier of the global index reflects a sustained multi-year window of competitive consistency. While their all-time historic floor saw them drop to an alarming 27th worldwide back in February 1996, modern structural changes have stabilized the program. The Three Lions reached their absolute competitive peak in recent cycles, scaling the mountain to reach 3rd in the world in late 2023.
Because the FIFA calculation matrix applies its absolute highest match-weight multiplier to World Cup knockout fixtures, the algorithmic movement in the Round of 32 is intensely volatile. Operating as a top-five favorite means England faces a demanding mathematical terrain; the system heavily penalizes higher-seeded teams for failing to secure wins in normal time.
Dropping Bukayo Saka from the starting lineup right before a massive 2026 World Cup Round of 32 clash with DR Congo has instantly set off alarm bells for England fans. With manager Thomas Tuchel making massive tactical calls to keep the Three Lions’ tournament hopes alive, the sudden benching of their explosive star is dominating the pre-game talk.
England begins its knockout campaign against DR Congo in Atlanta, with Thomas Tuchel’s side aiming to continue its unbeaten run and move closer to its World Cup ambitions. The Three Lions finished top of their group, while DR Congo reached the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams after producing one of the biggest stories of the tournament.
The match presents a difficult challenge for England because DR Congo have already shown they can frustrate elite opposition. The Leopards held Portugal to a 1-1 draw, pushed Colombia close, and secured a historic qualification after defeating Uzbekistan 3-1.
England’s route has been more comfortable on paper, with victories over Croatia and Panama helping the team finish first in Group L. However, performances have created debate, especially after a goalless draw against Ghana where Tuchel’s side struggled to break down a deep defensive structure.
The Arsenal winger has been one of the most important players in Tuchel’s squad, but the manager has decided to manage his workload during the knockout stages. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, “Noni Madueke back as Bukayo Saka continues to manage fitness, Declan Rice replaces Morgan Rogers & Djed Spence starts as expected.”
The reason behind Saka’s absence is linked to a lingering Achilles issue that has been monitored since before the tournament. Tuchel has been cautious with the winger’s minutes, using him carefully rather than risking a more serious problem that could affect England’s later matches.
Our team news for DR Congo! 🗞️ pic.twitter.com/eNjGs5VjeD
— England (@England) July 1, 2026
Per Sofascore’s statistics, Saka has contributed 1.7 goals/assists per 90 minutes at the World Cup so far, showing his importance despite limited involvement earlier in the tournament. However, it has been suggested that the winger has not looked completely comfortable physically, leading England’s staff to prioritize keeping him available.
Saka’s importance to England is clear, especially in knockout football where individual moments often decide games. His ability to beat defenders, create chances, and deliver dangerous final balls makes him one of the players Tuchel can rely on when England needs inspiration.
The winger started England’s final group match against Panama after previously being managed carefully, but the coaching staff appears determined to avoid pushing him too hard. With a potential deep run ahead, preserving Saka’s fitness could become a major factor.
Leaving Anthony Gordon out of the starting XI has instantly fueled the fire ahead of England’s do-or-die Round of 32 battle with DR Congo. With Thomas Tuchel throwing a major tactical curveball right before kickoff, fans are demanding answers. Dive into the exact reason behind this debated lineup change as the Three Lions gear up to fight for their World Cup survival.
England enters the knockout stage after finishing top of Group L, while DR Congo arrives as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams following an impressive group-stage campaign. Victory will send the winner into a Round of 16 meeting with Mexico, making every selection decision even more significant.
The Three Lions opened with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Croatia, followed by a frustrating 0-0 draw against Ghana before eventually overcoming Panama 2-0. Those performances exposed England’s occasional difficulties against teams willing to defend deep. DR Congo is expected to adopt a similarly organized approach after frustrating Portugal during a 1-1 draw earlier in the tournament.
The African nation, meanwhile, has earned widespread praise for its performances during the group stage. DR Congo drew with Portugal, narrowly lost 1-0 to Colombia, and then defeated Uzbekistan 3-1, securing a historic place in the knockout rounds after a 52-year absence from the World Cup.
With the release of the team news, the mystery surrounding Anthony Gordon’s exclusion became clearer. Marcus Rashford has retained his place on the left wing after impressing during England’s recent performances, with Tuchel rewarding the Manchester United forward for his form rather than making another change.
According to multiple pre-match reports, Rashford’s display against Panama convinced the England manager to maintain continuity heading into the knockout stage. Gordon featured prominently in the opening group matches against Croatia and Ghana but struggled to consistently influence proceedings, leaving the door open for Rashford to seize the opportunity.
Our team news for DR Congo! 🗞️ pic.twitter.com/eNjGs5VjeD
— England (@England) July 1, 2026
Tuchel’s decision appears to be based on tactical considerations as much as individual form. DR Congo has built its tournament success on a disciplined defensive structure, and Rashford’s pace, experience and direct running are viewed as qualities that could help unlock a compact back line.
Rather than indicating a loss of confidence in Gordon, the selection reflects England’s depth in attacking positions. Gordon remains a valuable option from the bench should Tuchel require fresh energy later in the contest.
Thomas Tuchel has made three alterations to the side that defeated Panama in the final group-stage match. With Declan Rice returning after recovering from a calf problem, Tottenham defender Djed Spence starts at right-back, while Noni Madueke replaces Bukayo Saka, who has been rested on the bench to manage his fitness.
England is also without injured defenders Jarell Quansah and Reece James, forcing Tuchel into defensive adjustments. Spence gets the opportunity after replacing Quansah during the victory over Panama when the Liverpool defender suffered an ankle injury.
Every time the World Cup rolls around, England carries the massive weight of history and the hopes of a soccer-obsessed nation. Despite having one of the most iconic identities in the sport, the same burning question continues to echo for every new generation of fans: has England actually ever won the whole thing? Diving into the Three Lions’ all-time records and best finishes reveals the wild, emotional rollercoaster behind its tournament history.
With Thomas Tuchel leading England at the 2026 World Cup, the national team arrived with a squad filled with world-class talent, including captain Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Declan Rice. After dominating qualifying with a perfect record, England now hopes to turn impressive performances into the one achievement that has escaped many talented squads throughout history.
England’s road to the 2026 World Cup began dominantly. The national team qualified after winning all eight matches in their group, scoring 22 goals and conceding zero, showing the defensive discipline and attacking quality expected from a side considered among the tournament contenders.
Under Tuchel, the Three Lions have developed a more aggressive tactical identity, usually operating in a 4-2-3-1 formation built around pressing, midfield control, and attacking flexibility. The German coach has focused on creating a strong team environment while relying on the individual brilliance of players who can decide matches at the highest level.
Yes, England has won the FIFA World Cup once in its history. The national team lifted the trophy on home soil in 1966, creating the greatest moment in English soccer history.
Managed by Sir Alf Ramsey, England defeated West Germany 4-2 after extra time in the final at Wembley Stadium. The match became legendary because Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick, the only hat-trick ever recorded in a men’s World Cup final.
The victory completed a historic tournament for the Three Lions, who were known as the “wingless wonders” because of Ramsey’s tactical approach. Captain Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy, creating an image that remains one of the most famous moments in soccer history.
Despite inventing the sport, England had missed the first three World Cups due to a dispute with FIFA before making their official debut in 1950. Since then, the national team has become one of the most consistent World Cup participants, although another championship has remained out of reach.
| Statistic | England Men’s World Cup Record |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 17 (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) |
| Matches Played | 77 (through the 2026 group stage) |
| Wins / Draws / Losses | 34 Wins / 23 Draws / 20 Losses (through the 2026 group stage) |
| Goals For / Goals Against | 110 Goals Scored / 70 Goals Conceded (through the 2026 group stage) |
| Maiden World Cup Goal | Stan Mortensen (1950 vs. Chile) |
| Biggest World Cup Win | 6-1 vs. Panama (2018) |
After their famous triumph, England has experienced several heartbreaking exits and unforgettable tournament runs. The national team reached the semi-finals in 1990, finishing fourth after losing to West Germany in a penalty shootout during a dramatic tournament in Italy.
The Three Lions produced another memorable campaign in 2018, reaching the semi-finals under Gareth Southgate. England eventually lost to Croatia after extra time, but restored belief among supporters after years of disappointing tournament performances.
| Stage Reached | Number of Times | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Champions | 1 time | 1966 |
| Semi-finals / 4th | 2 times | 1990, 2018 |
| Quarter-finals | 7 times | 1954, 1962, 1970, 1986, 2002, 2006, 2022 |
| Round of 16 | 2 times | 1998, 2010 |
| Group Stage / Second Round | 4 times | 1950, 1958, 1982, 2014 |
The national team also reached the quarter-finals multiple times, including in 2022, when England was eliminated by France after Harry Kane missed a late penalty. Overall, England has reached the quarter-final stage more times than many nations, showing its ability to compete deep into tournaments.
England’s history includes several important individual and team achievements. Harry Kane is among the country’s leading World Cup scorers, while Gary Lineker remains England’s top World Cup goalscorer with 10 goals across the 1986 and 1990 tournaments.
Goalkeeper Peter Shilton holds the record for most World Cup appearances for England, featuring in 17 matches across three tournaments. The national team has also created an unwanted record, being eliminated in the quarter-finals more times than any other nation in World Cup history.
The single-elimination phase of the 2026 World Cup has thrown Sébastien Desabre’s team straight into the deep end for their first knockout fixture in over half a century. After pushing through an intensely competitive opening phase to book their place in the brackets, the DR Congo must now design an elaborate strategic blueprint to survive a heavyweight European obstacle.
Heading into this highly anticipated elimination game, DR Congo sits at the 41st position in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking with an official baseline of 1,495.48 points.
The challenge awaiting them features an opponent occupying the absolute upper tier of the international leaderboard. England commands the 4th spot globally, holding a commanding 1,840.46 ranking points under Thomas Tuchel. This sets up a profound statistical gap between the two sides, establishing a pure underdog narrative where the African squad can perform with absolute tactical freedom.
DR Congo managed to reach this stage of the competition by fighting through a brutal Group K pool alongside Colombia and Portugal, eventually claiming a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed wildcard teams. England, on the other hand, comfortably controlled their destiny by taking the top spot in Group L.
The table below outlines the comparative metrics, merging tournament performance with global rank data:
| Country | FIFA Rank | Points | Goal difference |
| England | 4th | 7 | +4 |
| DR Congo | 41st | 4 | +1 |
A broader look at DR Congo’s path on the international ladder shows the extensive ground the program has recovered over the past decade. The Leopards bottomed out at their lowest structural floor in October 2011, when severe organizational transitions saw them drop to 133rd in the world.
Conversely, their absolute peak arrived in the summer of 2017, when a spectacular continental run drove them to an all-time high of 28th globally.
Because World Cup knockout fixtures are assigned the highest possible match-weight value within the FIFA calculation index, the mathematical rewards on the pitch are substantial. The algorithm strictly insulates lower-seeded sides from severe point deductions in the event of a defeat against top-five opposition, meaning a loss carries minimal mathematical risk.
Udinese have reportedly locked down two deals today, bringing in Athletic Club midfielder Unai Gomez and Watford player Giorgi Chakvetadze.
The Friulani finished comfortably mid-table last season under coach Kosta Runjaic and are eager to further strengthen their lines in the summer.
According to Sky Sport Italia and Fabrizio Romano, an agreement has now been reached to secure Unai Gomez from Athletic Club.
The 23-year-old has agreed personal terms, and the two clubs have also shaken hands on the transfer.
A product of the youth academy in Bilbao, he scored two goals with one assist in 37 games last season.
Meanwhile, Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio also reports that Udinese are on the verge of bringing in Georgia international Chakvetadze from Watford.
He turns 27 next month and is a veteran for his country with 10 goals in 39 senior appearances.
Watford bought Chakvetadze from KAA Gent in 2024 following an initial loan spell at a cost of €2.5m.
The creative midfielder contributed three assists in 29 Championship games for Watford last season.
Roma have officially sent Alessandro Romano to Cagliari, on loan with an obligation to buy for €5m plus add-ons if certain conditions are met.
The midfielder just turned 20 a couple of weeks ago and spent the last six months on loan at Spezia in Serie B.
A product of the Winterthur youth academy in Switzerland, he moved to Roma in the summer of 2022 and played in all the Giallorossi youth sectors from Under-17 onwards.
There were also two appearances for the senior squad as a brief Serie A substitute in January 2026.
The Swiss-Italian talent has joined Cagliari on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season for €5m plus €1.5m in add-ons, becoming an obligation if certain conditions are met during that period.
A left-footed midfielder, Romano can play in a variety of positions and signed a contract with the Sardinians to June 2032.
He has an Italian passport, but is playing his football for Switzerland at international level.
England bring in former Genoa right-back Djed Spence, while Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Harry Kane try to break down Congo DR in the World Cup Round of 32.
It kicks off in Atlanta at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST) and the winners go on to face Mexico in the Round of 16.
Thomas Tuchel’s team has struggled to impress so far in the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, as after beating Croatia in a 4-2 thriller, they were held 0-0 by Ghana and took a long time to finally push past Panama 2-0.
The Democratic Republic of Congo could therefore prove a tricky test, as they too like to pack the defence and close down spaces.
They qualified from the group phase thanks to a 1-1 draw with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia, and 3-1 victory over Fabio Cannavaro’s Uzbekistan.
England are forced to make changes, as Tino Livramento withdrew before the tournament began, then both right-backs Reece James and Jarell Quansah sustained injuries.
Now former Genoa full-back Spence is drafted in to start on the right, even though he was used mainly on the left at Tottenham last season.
Rice is both passed fit to start after nursing long-standing fitness issues, but Bukayo Saka is dropped in favour of his Arsenal teammate Noni Madueke.
Congo DR’s squad includes Cremonese midfielder Charles Pickel, who spent the season on loan at Espanyol.
England: Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane
Congo DR: Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Sadiki, Moutoussamy; Mbuku, Mukau, Cipenga; Wissa
| 7' | |
Brian Cipenga (Assist: Chancel Mbemba) | ||
| Jude Bellingham | 19' | |||
| 27' | |
Noah Sadiki |
Mattia Liberali has snubbed Milan’s attempts to talk him into coming back to San Siro from Catanzaro, so he will join Como for the €6m clause, claim multiple reports.
The midfielder turned 19 in April and is a product of the Rossoneri youth academy.
Finding his playing time limited, he was sold to Catanzaro a year ago practically for free, with the understanding that they would receive 50 per cent of any future sale fee.
There is a release clause in his Catanzaro contract worth €6m, but seeing as Milan are owed half that, they could’ve picked him up for just €3m.
However, Como got there first and convinced the player that this was the correct next step in his career after they qualified for the Champions League.
Multiple sources including Sky Sport Italia, Fabrizio Romano, Gazzetta dello Sport and more all confirm that Milan tried desperately to talk Liberali into changing his mind today, including with patron Gerry Cardinale’s personal call.
The teenager was not swayed, and is therefore ready to accept the €6m move to Como within the next 48 hours.
According to MilanNews, the presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the decision-making process had been one of the biggest problems for Liberali last year, and that has not changed.
Lazio have confirmed that goalkeeper Alessio Furlanetto underwent surgery today for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, with reports Gustav Isaksen will also need an operation.
Furlanetto had already sustained an injury in April to his knee, but only went under the knife today in Rome.
Tests had shown the anterior cruciate ligament required reconstruction in the right knee, but no further treatment was required for the meniscus.
He is expected to be out of action for four to five months.
Ivan Provedel is not expected back until late August following a serious shoulder injury he sustained in March.
Meanwhile, his club teammate Isaksen could follow suit, with reports from LaLazioSiamoNoi that the Denmark international will require surgery to resolve a long-standing groin inflammation.
This would be the fourth different Biancocelesti player to require an operation for the same condition after conservative treatment failed to heal the problem.
The long process already struck Mattia Zaccagni, Niccolò Rovella and Danilo Cataldi over the last 12 months.
Sandro Tonali is on the verge of a move to Tottenham Hotspur worth over €100m from Newcastle United, claim multiple sources in Italy and England.
The midfielder was targeted specifically by new coach Roberto De Zerbi, and the presence of the Italian tactician was a significant draw for the ex-Brescia and Milan man.
Massive bids had already been rejected in the region of €92m (£80m), but Spurs are continuing to press their Premier League rivals.
Sky Sport Italia, Fabrizio Romano, TEAMtalk and more are all confident the latest proposal worth just over €100m will be accepted, despite suggestions the asking price was closer to £100m (around €116m).
It would represent a new all-time club record transfer for Tottenham, who just managed to avoid relegation last season and need to revamp their squad.
He had been sold to the Magpies by Milan for €60.8m plus bonuses in the summer of 2023.
As part of the agreement, Milan would be owed 10 per cent of the future sale fee from Newcastle United, so could pocket over €10m out of this deal.
Manchester City and Arsenal were also reported to be interested in the Italy international, but he had his heart set on Tottenham.
© <p>peeterv/Getty Images</p>
Everton are interested in signing Rico Lewis from Manchester City during the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old right-back has struggled to secure regular opportunities at Manchester City and needs to leave to play more often. According to a report from TEAMtalk, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Bournemouth are also interested in the defender.
It remains to be seen where he ends up. Lewis needs to sort out an exit from Manchester City, and Everton will be hoping to wrap up the deal quickly. Lewis has also been linked with Newcastle United.
They need more quality across the defence, especially with Seamus Coleman leaving the club at the end of last season. Lewis could be a solid long-term acquisition for them. He has shown his quality during his cameos at Manchester City, and regular football at Everton will only help him improve further.
Everton are looking to build a formidable team, and signing the 21-year-old could be a wise investment. He is a young player with great potential, and regular football could bring out the best in him. If they can sign him for a reasonable price, the deal could look like a bargain.
Lewis has won two league titles and a Champions League with Manchester City. His winning experience could prove invaluable.
Meanwhile, multiple clubs are keeping tabs on him, and Everton will need to act quickly in order to win the race for his signature. Convincing the defender to join the club should not be too difficult, especially if they can offer regular opportunities. They have a solid team, and they will be hoping to push for Europe next year. Signing the right players could help them improve on last season.
Lewis will look to sort out his future quickly so that he can focus on his football once again. It remains to be seen where he ends up.
The post Everton join four-club race for 21-year-old UCL-winning wide player appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Arsenal are interested in signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United this summer.
According to a report from The Standard, they are exploring a move to sign the 28-year-old Brazilian.
The report further claims that they have already been in touch with the South American midfielder’s representatives regarding a move. They have offered £55 million to get the deal done, but their offer has been turned down.
The report from Standard further quotes the Chronicle, saying that the player’s head might have been turned by interest from Arsenal and Newcastle, and now fears he could push for a move, just like Alexander Isak.
Guimaraes has been outstanding for Newcastle since joining the club, and he is one of the best central midfielders in the league. He has been outstanding in Brazil’s ongoing World Cup campaign as well. The Brazilian has provided important assists for his country in the World Cup. The opportunity to play for a big club like Arsenal will be hard for him. He’s at the peak of his career, and this could be his final opportunity to join an elite club.
The Premier League champions could provide him with the opportunity to fight for trophies next year. Newcastle are not in a position to offer him that chance. The report further claims that an offer of £65 million could be enough to convince Newcastle. Arsenal certainly have the financial muscle to get the deal done, and it remains to be seen how the situation develops.
The player is clearly focused on the World Cup with his country right now, but he will look to sort out his future as soon as the tournament is over.
The post Arsenal interest has turned World Cup star’s head, £65m would get deal done appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Alex Scott continues to be linked with a move away from Bournemouth during the summer transfer window.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal have made a fresh enquiry to sign the 22-year-old central midfielder. The Cherries will demand around £80 million for the young midfielder, and it remains to be seen whether Arsenal follow up on their enquiry with an official proposal.
Manchester United enquired about the player last week as well. It remains to be seen how the situation develops. They have missed out on signing Mateus Fernandes and are now looking at potential alternatives.
Manchester United need more quality in the middle of the park, and Scott could prove to be an excellent acquisition. He has been a reliable performer in the Premier League, and he will help them control games from the middle of the park.
The report further claims that Liverpool is also interested in the player. Newly appointed Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola worked with the player during his time at Bournemouth, and he is a long-term admirer of the player.
The opportunity to reunite with the Spanish could be exciting for the young midfielder. However, the asking price could be a problem for any club hoping to sign him. £80 million is a lot of money, and Liverpool needs to improve other areas of the squad as well.
It remains to be seen which of the three clubs can afford to sign the talented young midfielder this summer. He has a bright future ahead of himself, and he is likely to develop into a star for club and country with the right coaching and guidance.
The post Liverpool learn price to reunite Iraola with former favourite as Arsenal and Man United lurk appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Bayern Munich star Michael Olise has lit up the World Cup after a superb season at club level, but his future could be in some doubt.
Writing for his latest exclusive column for CF Bayern Insider, German journalist Christian Falk discussed Olise’s future and admitted it could be a bit of a concern for Bayern.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Although the France international has three years left on his contract at the Allianz Arena, his world class performances have attracted links with the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid.
A report from TEAMtalk recently claimed Liverpool had enquired about Olise, though it was suggested that his preference would be to one day play in Spain.
Discussing Olise’s situation now, it sounds like Falk isn’t as optimistic as he previously was about the Bundesliga giants holding on to the 24-year-old.
“The Michael Olise situation is getting a little bit dangerous for Bayern Munich,” Falk said.
“There are rumours around the Frenchman, where the people around him are allegedly saying that he knows he can always win the league with FC Bayern, but he’s already done this, and now he has the DFB Pokal also under his belt.
| Michael Olise stats | Games | Goals | Assists |
| Bundesliga | 32 | 15 | 19 |
| Champions League | 13 | 5 | 6 |
| World Cup | 4 | 0 | 5 |
“The Champions League, meanwhile, is perhaps a little more difficult to win at Bayern Munich. There are rumours he’d like to make a transfer somewhere else, and that Real Madrid is the club he should be dreaming of.
“Olise doesn’t talk much, so you never know if the rumours are true. Still, the people who are talking are supposedly really close to him. This could be a problem for Bayern, because everyone knows that dissatisfied players are not good players.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
I don’t see the France international signing a new contract at Bayern in the near future.”
For now, this shouldn’t necessarily be treated as an emergency situation for Bayern – they’re in control of Olise’s future due to his deal running until 2029.
The problem is, that if in a year’s time he still hasn’t shown any sign of committing to the club, then his value could start to drop.
And if, as Falk suggests, Olise is distracted by the prospect of moving on to an even bigger club, then there might not be much sense in Bayern keeping him anyway, as he won’t necessarily be able to perform as well or as consistently as he has been.
Liverpool urgently need a world class signing out wide, with Olise looking stylistically like the perfect long-term successor to Mohamed Salah.
The post Boost for Liverpool? Expert no longer sees Bayern Munich star signing a new contract appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Bournemouth attacker Eli Junior Kroupi during the summer transfer window.
According to Tottenham insider Paul O’Keefe, they are keeping tabs on the 20-year-old French attacker. He had an outstanding debut season with the Cherries last year, scoring 13 goals in the league.
Kroupi has been held as a “generational” talent, and Chelsea is also interested in him.
He is highly rated across Europe and has been linked with big clubs like PSG. It will be interesting to see if Bournemouth is willing to sanction his departure this summer. He is a key player for them, and they will not want to lose him easily. They have recently sanctioned Antoine Semenyo’s departure. Losing the French attack attacker would severely weaken them.
Meanwhile, it is no secret that Spurs need more quality in the attack. They need a reliable attacker who can find the back of the net consistently. The 20-year-old has shown that he can score goals regularly, and playing alongside top-quality creators at Tottenham will only help improve his numbers.
The opportunity to join a big club could be exciting. It would be a step up in his career, and he would get to test himself at the highest level. Even though Tottenham finished 17th in the league table this past season, they have been quite active in the transfer market and have quality players. They could bounce back strongly and push for trophies next season.
Having said that, the 20-year-old is unlikely to be a cheap acquisition. The Cherries will demand a premium for him, and Tottenham will need to break the Bank in order to get the deal done. It remains to be seen whether they follow up on their interest with an official proposal to sign the young attacker.
The post Insider claims Tottenham want “generational” talent from rival Premier League club appeared first on CaughtOffside.
USMNT star Christian Pulisic returned from his one-game absence and played 42 minutes off the bench against Turkey in the United States' final group stage game. Will he be ready to start and play a full match on Wednesday, July 1?
Pulisic came off at halftime against Paraguay in the World Cup opener with an apparent calf injury, as USMNT held a commanding 3-0 lead. He was held out against Australia as a precaution, which should bode well for his chances to be at full strength in USA's Round of 32 matchup with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
READ MORE: Before Christian Pulisic was US star, he was 'poetry in motion' in Michigan
The AC Milan star created multiple scoring opportunities for the United States in the second half, although Turkey won 3-2 in the final moments of the match on a game-winning goal against mostly USMNT backups. Pulisic looked himself and looked like one of the best players on the field.
USA is certainly hoping Pulisic can play a full 90 minutes going forward, and potentially even 120 minutes with extra time.
Here's what to know of Pulisic's status before the United States' knockout stage game:
Pulisic hasn't played a full 90 minutes since mid-March, including games with both club and country. He said Tuesday, though, that he feels ready to play 90, or even 120 minutes, if needed.
"I'm feeling good," Pulisic told Fox Sports' Jenny Taft on June 30. "It's been a really good week of preparation, I felt really good in the last game. I'm excited for that to go for tomorrow."
When asked if he will start against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he said with a chuckle: "We'll get it figured out today, but I'm definitely feeling good."
REQUIRED READING: USA's silver lining after Turkey loss? Christian Pulisic looks back to his best
Pulisic snapped a five-month long scoring drought with a 20th-minute goal in a 3-2 pre-World Cup friendly win over Senegal on May 31. While he hasn't scored in limited action of the World Cup so far, the winger has come incredibly close on multiple occasions and has been a dynamic attacker for USMNT.
He'll need to be at his best for the United States to make an unprecedented run in the knockout stages, and it sounds like he's ready to go.
Here's a look at Pulisic's minutes played in each game at the 2026 World Cup, and leading up to the tournament:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Christian Pulisic playing today? USA star's injury update for World Cup
LeBron James is returning to play another season, which is good news for card collectors.
James has told the Lakers he plans to play in the 2026-27 season, but for another team.
For 24 years, James has turned heads on the court — and on the collectibles market.
His basketball cards are some of the most valuable to have ever been sold. His likeness and signature on cards have turned a modest hobby into an asset-class powerhouse seen today.
2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection ushered in a new era of collectibles. It was James’ rookie year, and a generational talent deserved a card product worthy of the player.
Exquisite Collection was the first super high-value line of cards, using autographs, exclusive patch pieces, manufactured rarity and one of the top rookie classes to gain traction.
Just this weekend, a 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Rookie Patch Autograph of James sold for nearly $3 million at Goldin.
But it isn’t just his rookie cards. James’ cards have commanded high dollars regardless if he’s wearing a Cavs, a Heat or a Lakers uniform.
The most expensive basketball card ever sold features James alongside Michael Jordan. In 2025, a 2006-07 Exquisite Collection Dual NBA Logoman Autographed card sold for $10 million in a private sale to a group headed by Kevin O’Leary.
The card shows a young James on his first run with Cleveland.
While the card gets the benefit of also having Jordan on it, LeBron’s solo cards also command big bucks.
While the recent $3 million Exquisite sale was impressive, the record for a copy of that card came in 2021 where one sold for $5,200,000.
In fact, eight of James’ top 11 card sales are all copies of the Exquisite RPA.
Once we get past his first stint with the Cavs, his next-best-selling card is actually from the Lakers, skipping his two-time championship Miami run and his second tenure with Cleveland.
In May, a 2025 James Topps Chrome SuperFractor Autograph (1/1) sold for $1.26 million featuring him on the Lakers.
The thing that made this card different is that James is featured in an NBA uniform with a signature on the card. For years, Upper Deck held the exclusive autograph rights to James, so any Panini-era LeBron cards never had a signature on them.
James leaving Upper Deck and signing with Fanatics changed that and created a type of card that hadn’t been released in years.
If you’re looking for the most expensive Miami-era card, that’s a 2012-13 Panini Prizm Gold (numbered to 10), which sold for $793,000 in September 2025.
Cards from his second time with the Cavs are not as valuable (but still not cheap) despite him winning a title there.
The highest card sold from the second Cavs era is a 2015-16 Panini Flawless Logoman Patch Card (1/1), which sold for $240,000 in August 2022.
No matter the era, James’ cards still command high value.
Now we wait to see what the next chapter will bring.
Moussa Yeo is leaving FC Red Bull Salzburg to join Welsh club Swansea City, who compete in the second tier of English football.
It is four years since the 22-year-old attacker arrived here in Salzburg from his homeland. Yeo started out as a feeder player for FC Liefering, where he registered six goals and four assists in 33 matches. During this period, he also featured for our UEFA Youth League side (6 appearances, 1 goal).
At the start of the 2024/25 season, the Malian stepped up to our first-team squad, going on to make 70 appearances (9 goals, 7 assists). Moussa Yeo will now continue his career in England with the side that finished 11th in the Championship last season.
I think now is a good time for Moussa to make a move. He has developed well during his years with us here in Salzburg, and it was time for his next step. He has chosen to move to the English second tier, and we wish him all the best and every success for the future!
Marcus Mann, Managing Director of Sport
I am very grateful to FC Red Bull Salzburg for the opportunities I’ve had during my four years here. In this time, I’ve been able to prove myself and learn a great deal, both as an athlete and as a person. However, I feel that now is the right time for a new, different club. That is why I am saying goodbye and heading to England with plenty of wonderful memories.
Moussa Yeo
Shams Charania: Free agent center Nikola Vucevic has agreed on a one-year, $3.9 million deal to return to the Orlando Magic, sources tell ESPN. Vucevic -- who started his career in Orlando as a sophomore, spent nearly nine years with the Magic and has maintained a home there since -- turned down more lucrative offers elsewhere to reunite with the franchise.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Nikola Vucevic agrees to one-year deal to return to Orlando
Yossi Gozlan: The Magic are likely limited to minimum signings this offseason due to their tax and apron constraints. Not much better they can do bargain-hunting than Nikola Vucevic back on a minimum salary.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Magic are likely limited to minimum signings this …
Shams Charania: Free agent guard Mike Conley Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal to sign with the Boston Celtics, sources tell ESPN. Conley becomes only the 14th player in NBA history to reach 20 seasons.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Celtics pick up veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr.
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend for one of the most anticipated races of the summer, marking the series’ first trip back to the 1.5-mile oval in seven years.
Along with the Cup Series, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ARCA Menards Series will also be in action, making for a packed three-day schedule beginning Friday, July 3.
Here’s everything fans need to know before heading to the track or tuning in from home.
Friday is the busiest day of the weekend, featuring practice sessions for all three national series before the ARCA Menards Series opens the racing action that evening.
The forecast calls for a hot afternoon with temperatures around 90 degrees. There is roughly a 30% chance of isolated afternoon thunderstorms, with southwest winds around 5 to 10 mph. Any storms that develop could produce gusty winds, although much of the day should remain dry.
Championship weekend action ramps up on Independence Day with Cup qualifying before the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series takes center stage Saturday evening.
Saturday currently carries the highest rain chances of the weekend. Forecasts call for highs near 86 degrees with approximately a 75% to 80% chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Fans attending the track should be prepared for possible weather delays.
The weekend concludes Sunday evening with the NASCAR Cup Series returning to Chicagoland Speedway for the first time since 2019.
Sunday’s forecast is more favorable than Saturday’s but still includes a chance for scattered showers. Temperatures are expected to reach 83 degrees with roughly a 35% chance of afternoon showers before conditions improve later in the evening.
The Chicago weekend opens the second round of NASCAR’s inaugural In-Season Challenge following last weekend’s opening round at Sonoma Raceway.
Beyond the tournament storyline, Chicagoland Speedway also returns to the Cup Series schedule for the first time since 2019, giving teams another variable during the push toward the Chase. With several drivers still searching for a victory to strengthen their postseason position, every point and every stage could prove critical as the regular season enters its second half.
The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 14th. Certain players have been elected as starters for the upcoming Mid-Summer Classic, and a handful of players are finalists to represent their respective leagues. However, there will be players who fall short of making an All-Star roster. As the league heads into Week 15, here are the top 10 relief pitchers.
MORE: MLB third base power rankings entering week 15
He hasn’t received many opportunities, but Scott has been outstanding closing out games for the Dodgers. Entering the week, he has one of the top WHIPs among MLB closers. If Los Angeles plays in closer games, Scott will see his save total greatly increase.
The veteran continues to have success. He has been outstanding out of Boston’s bullpen. He will be one of the first relief pitchers traded at the deadline.
Iglesias has been automatic closing out games. Entering the week, he is perfect in save chances. He has played a major role in Atlanta having the best bullpen in Major League Baseball.
Lee has been the top setup man in MLB. Entering the week, he is fourth in holds among MLB relief pitchers. He has the lowest combined ERA and WHIP among MLB leaders in holds.
Baker continues to thrive in the Tampa closer role. Entering the week, he is tied for second in saves. He is on his way to reaching 30+ saves for the first time in his career.
He’s struggled at times, but Smith is having a strong season, closing out games for Cleveland. Entering the week, he leads MLB in saves. He is expected to be a part of the American League’s All-Star bullpen.
Latz is having a fantastic season as Texas’ closer. He ranks first in WHIP among MLB closers. He has the second-lowest batting average against among all MLB pitchers that have pitched at least 25 innings.
Duran has been one of MLB’s top closers. Entering the week, he is tied for second in saves. His K/9 is one of the best among closers.
Varland continues to have an outstanding season. He has been a godsend out of the bullpen for Toronto. Entering the week, he is perfect in save changes and has a WHIP below 1.00.
Miller is the undisputed top MLB relief pitcher. He ranks first in WHIP and ERA among MLB closers. He is tied for second in saves among MLB relief pitchers.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
The 2026 Championships have officially reached day three, and the excitement at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club shows no signs of slowing down. Following the heartbreak of Serena Williams's exit on Tuesday after her historic return to the grass, fans are gearing up for another thrilling day of world-class tennis.
On Wednesday, Centre Court is hosting defending men's champion Jannik Sinner, alongside a blockbuster clash between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic.
Meanwhile, No. 1 Court will see stars like Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka in action. But while the nail-biting matches on the grass keep everyone on the edge of their seats, the style stakes in the stands are proving just as captivating.
With a fresh wave of A-listers taking their seats, here are the most stylish arrivals from day three at SW19.
1/16
© GettyRory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll made a very stylish entrance at the All England Club. Erica turned heads in a beautiful, breezy cream open-knit dress with a bohemian fringed hemline. Rory looked equally suave by her side, keeping things smart-casual in a summery neutral polo shirt and tailored trousers.
2/16
© GettyFrankie Bridge looked effortlessly chic in a fitted green ribbed Lacoste t-shirt tucked into a breezy white maxi skirt featuring delicate broderie anglaise detailing at the scalloped hem. She perfectly tied the tennis-inspired look together with coordinating green and white strappy square-toe sandals, sleek black sunglasses and a classic black clutch bag.
3/16
© GettyRomeo Beckham watched the action from the stands at SW19, wearing a smart blazer over a white shirt as he took his seat courtside.
4/16
© GettyA true Wimbledon regular, broadcasting icon Sir Trevor McDonald, 86, was all smiles as he joined the star-studded VIP arrivals on day three.
5/16
© GettyOscar-nominated actor Richard E. Grant looked incredibly dapper as he arrived for day three of the tournament alongside his daughter, Olivia Grant.
6/16
© GettyAmerican comedian and television host Chelsea Handler opted for a relaxed look as she arrived for day three.
7/16
© GettyJack Whitehall arrived hand-in-hand with his wife Roxy, who fully embraced the traditional Wimbledon dress code. She looked stunning in a crisp white midi dress featuring a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt.
8/16
© GettyAngela Scanlon opted for a classic heritage-check blazer over a sheer nude top and vibrant turquoise bloomer-style shorts. A bold red top-handle handbag, black heeled thong sandals and sporty gold-rimmed sunglasses completed her courtside look.
9/16
© GettyRuth Langsford and Sara Davies, as guests of Emirates, Official Airline Partner of The Championships, arrived in coordinated summer looks. Ruth wore a tailored lime-green suit with a white top and matching handbag, while Sara opted for an olive-green tie-front jumpsuit, teamed with woven brown sandals and a two-tone top-handle bag.
10/16
© GettyMichael and Hilary Whitehall beamed by one of the Wimbledon flower walls on day three. Michael looked dapper in a classic beige check suit and Panama hat, while Hilary brought a vibrant pop of colour in a flowing patterned maxi dress and bright green studded sandals.
11/16
© GettyEmily in Paris star Paul Forman looked incredibly suave arriving for day three in a statement white cropped jacket, a smart striped tie and trend-led wide-leg beige trousers.
The actor was a guest of the evian 'Mountain of Youth' VIP Suite.
12/16
© Getty ImagesFormer tennis player Martina Navratilova represented the sporting greats in the audience at Wimbledon.
Wearing a white suit paired with a grey T-shirt, Martina, 69, will certainly understand the pressure the players are under today, as she was the Singles champion at the tournament nine times.
13/16
© PA Images via Getty ImagesCharles Dance, 79, wore a navy suit as he walked into the Royal Box on Wednesday. Known for playing villains, the Game of Thrones actor seemed much more approachable than in his films as he watched the tennis action.
14/16
© GettySwapping Westeros for Wimbledon, Game of Thrones actor Isaac Hempstead-Wright made a dashing arrival.
15/16
© GettyGolfing star Justin Rose and his wife Kate made a very stylish entrance. Kate stunned in a beautiful burgundy lace dress and a white Chanel handbag, while Justin looked incredibly dapper in a summer-ready beige blazer and crisp white tailoring.
16/16
© Getty ImagesLuke Donald was another golfer to be spotted in the Royal Box on Wednesday, alongside his partner, Diane. Luke, 48, who is the former world number one at golf, was wearing a cream suit and a pinstripe tie.
Watch as DR Congo go 1-0 up against stunned England in last 32 of World Cup
The FIFA men’s World Cup is every bit of the viewership behemoth it was expected to be—and then some—as full audience data from the tournament’s group stage now attests.
Fox, the event’s English-language rights holder in the U.S., said that the entire group stage averaged 5.05 million viewers across the broadcast network, FS1, and the Tubi streaming service. That figure is up 92% from the 2022 event, which was held in the late fall that year due to heat issues in Qatar, and represents the highest group-stage viewership in U.S. history.
Telemundo, the Spanish-language rights holder, posted an even bigger viewership leap from four years ago. That network’s average group-stage audience of 4.6 million soared 122% compared to 2022, and also represents a record for the World Cup’s group stage. While U.S. Hispanics are 20% of the American population, the NBCUniversal-controlled Telemundo has captured 48% of the total domestic audience for the World Cup.
The viewership figures from the entire group stage provide further confirmation of the bullish numbers seen for many individual matches in the tournament’s initial weeks. Among the additional milestones recorded during the group stage:
Beyond the lofty performance compared to prior World Cups, the latest iteration is also dominating the rest of sports media. During the week of June 15–21, the World Cup captured 24 of the 25 largest sports broadcast audiences in the U.S. Only the final round of golf’s U.S. Open on June 21 broke the World Cup streak, coming in at No. 13 for the week.
The ongoing World Cup knockout round will almost certainly generate even larger audiences for both Fox and Telemundo. That’s particularly true with Mexico already advancing to the Round of 16 with a Tuesday victory over Ecuador, and the U.S. team still alive as well. The Americans will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Wednesday primetime matchup for U.S. viewers that is well positioned to deliver another banner figure for Fox.
While the U.S. must win that game, and then three others, to reach the July 19 final, Fox believes that deciding match could reach 50 million average viewers if that happens.
The post World Cup Group Stage Delivers Record U.S. Audience for Fox, Telemundo appeared first on Front Office Sports.
We are now just three weeks out from Cleveland Browns training camp, and ahead of the return of football to Berea, multiple players are getting in work at the facility. One of those players is now second-year tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who is coming off a monster season.
This may not seem like much on the surface, but this is the first time we've seen Fannin putting in work all offseason long. The talented pass catcher has been sidelined all offseason with an undisclosed injury; however, he was on the field with quarterback Deshaun Watson and others as the Browns prepare for their first year under new head coach Todd Monken.
Getting Fannin back to full strength by the start of training camp would be a massive boost for the Browns.
Browns TE Harold Fannin Jr is back running routes and working on the field at the Browns facility.
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 1, 2026
Fannin missed most of the spring practices with an undisclosed injury. https://t.co/GApRkCHA3Kpic.twitter.com/TP4Rbk766j
It's rare for a rookie tight end to make an immediate impact. It's even rarer for that immediate production to come from a third round pick. However, Fannin hit the ground running as a rookie and did not look back.
Fannin racked up 731 yards receiving and six touchdowns on 72 catches for the Cleveland offense a year ago. Now paired with a head coach who led Isaiah Likely to a great deal of production, one has to assume that Monken also has big plans for Fannin in 2026. This comes after the departure of long-time starting tight end David Njoku as well.
Can we count on another big year from Fannin?
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns key offensive threat back to work after missing offseason
We have reached the Round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup and things are starting to get serious for those involved. There are no second chances beyond this stage of the tournament.
Facing off this evening at 18:00 CET in Atlanta, one of the hot favourites in England prepare to face off against Congo DR, who have reached this knockouts for the first time in their history.
It's no surprise as Bayern Munich's talisman Harry Kane and ex-Dortmund star Jude Bellingham keep their place in Thomas Tuchel's side, while Leverkusen's Quansah misses out.
As for Congo DR, nicknamed the Léopards, FC Augsburg's Nathaniel Mbuku gets the nod on the wing, while top-scorer and Newcastle star Yoanne Wissa will be keen to impress again.
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford – Spence, Konsa Guehi, O'Reilly – Rice, Anderson – Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford – Kane
Congo DR (4-4-2): Mpasi – Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Masuaku – Mbuku, Moutoussamy, Mukau, Sadiki – Cipenga, Wissa
England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo face off this Wednesday (1st), at 1:00 p.m. (Brasília time), at Atlanta Stadium.
Whoever wins secures a place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Road to the knockout stage
England (Coach: Thomas Thuchel)
The English team advanced as Group L leaders with seven points. The campaign, however, had its ups and downs: after an exciting opening 4-2 win over Croatia, the team suffered a goalless draw with Ghana and bounced back with a 2-0 victory over Panama.
Thomas Tuchel has problems at right-back: Reece James and Jarell Quansah are injured.
Lineup 🏴
Unavailable: Reece James and Jarell Quansah (injured).
DR Congo (Coach: Sébastien Desabre)
The Congolese are experiencing a historic moment. In only their second World Cup appearance, the national team has reached the knockout stage for the first time ever.
The spot was secured after a heroic 0-0 draw against Portugal in the opener and a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.
The tendency is for the Congolese to take the field with a more defensive approach, repeating the strategy used against Portugal and Colombia.
The team is expected to line up with five defenders with the inclusion of Kapuadi, strengthening the marking in midfield. In attack, the big question is whether to keep Bakambu (who has not scored in four months) or give Mayele a chance (the scorer of a decisive goal against Uzbekistan). The main hope for goals is Wissa, who has already found the net three times in this World Cup.
Unavailable: None.
Match Information
Competition: Second Round (Round of 32) of the 2026 World Cup
Venue: Atlanta Stadium (USA)
Time: 1:00 p.m. (Brasília time)
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
Yellow cards were reset for the start of the knockout stage, so neither team has any players one booking away from suspension.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
Roma have officially sent Alessandro Romano to Cagliari, on loan with an obligation to buy for €5m plus add-ons if certain conditions are met.
The midfielder just turned 20 a couple of weeks ago and spent the last six months on loan at Spezia in Serie B.
BAGNO A RIPOLI, ITALY – MAY 28: Leonardo Di Tommaso of SS Lazios compete for the ball with Alessandro Romano of AS Roma during the Primavera 1 Final Four match between SS Lazio U19 and AS Roma U19 on May 28, 2024 in Bagno a Ripoli, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
A product of the Winterthur youth academy in Switzerland, he moved to Roma in the summer of 2022 and played in all the Giallorossi youth sectors from Under-17 onwards.
There were also two appearances for the senior squad as a brief Serie A substitute in January 2026.
The Swiss-Italian talent has joined Cagliari on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season for €5m plus €1.5m in add-ons, becoming an obligation if certain conditions are met during that period.
A left-footed midfielder, Romano can play in a variety of positions and signed a contract with the Sardinians to June 2032.
He has an Italian passport, but is playing his football for Switzerland at international level.
Manchester City could yet face further transfer interest from La Liga this summer despite a clear intention to retain the services of highly-rated centre-back Vitor Reis.
Vitor Reis has emerged as one of the more compelling young defenders at the Etihad Stadium since his arrival from Palmeiras, with his composure on the ball and comfort playing out from the back making him an increasingly attractive option for clubs across Europe seeking that specific profile of centre-back.
The Brazilian’s situation at Manchester City has been the subject of growing speculation throughout the summer window, with interest from Spain now adding a further layer of complexity to a position Enzo Maresca is understood to view as an important part of his defensive plans heading into the new season.
Revealed: Enzo Maresca’s Man City plans for Girona loan duo Vitor Reis and Claudio Echeverri
Maresca has been working closely alongside director of football Hugo Viana as the pair continue to shape the squad ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, with the futures of several defensive options still being assessed even as fresh suitors emerge for individual players within that unit.
Reis’s situation is one such case, with the 20-year-old’s progress at Manchester City having reached a stage where his long-term role in Maresca’s plans is now coming under closer scrutiny from outside the club as well as within it.
According to Tribuna Deportiva, Valencia have identified Reis as one of two preferred options to strengthen the right side of their centre-back positions this summer, with the report translated and relayed by Sport Witness.
The report explains that Valencia are searching specifically for a right-footed centre-back comfortable playing out from the back, with the club’s sporting director and staff said to be in agreement over Reis and Real Madrid‘s Joan Martínez as their two leading candidates for the role.
That Reis finds himself mentioned alongside a player contracted to one of Spanish football’s most prestigious clubs underlines the regard in which he is held within Spain, even as his game time at Manchester City has remained limited relative to more established options in the squad.
Valencia’s pursuit is understood to be in its early stages, with no indication yet that a formal approach has been made to Manchester City, though the report’s specificity around the club’s defensive requirements suggests genuine interest rather than speculative interest from a distance.
Barcelona sporting director makes Man City contact over Vitor Reis after Girona relegation
Manchester City’s current position, according to the report, is that they are not considering letting Reis leave the Etihad Stadium at this stage, with Maresca said to be actively trying to keep the Brazilian as part of his squad heading into next season.
That stance reflects the value Maresca and Viana are understood to place on Reis’s long-term potential, with the 20-year-old viewed internally as a defender capable of growing into a key role rather than one whose immediate future lies away from Manchester City.
The report does, however, acknowledge that the situation could change as the summer transfer window progresses, leaving open the possibility that Valencia’s interest develops into something more concrete should circumstances shift in the coming weeks.
Whether Reis ultimately remains part of Maresca’s plans for the season ahead or finds his path blocked by the broader competition for places in defence, his situation looks set to remain one of the more closely watched subplots of Manchester City’s summer as the transfer window enters its final stages.
The Philadelphia 76ers didn't wait long to much needed frontcourt depth to the roster.
Tasked with building around the edges with the majority of the team's salary cap accounted for by Joel Embiid, forward Paul George and guard Tyrese Maxey, new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey dipped into the free agent market by adding two players from rival Eastern Conference foes.
Here's who the Sixers have signed so far:
Late Tuesday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Sixers agreed to a 4-year, $39 million contract with former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade.
Wade comes to Philly after playing major playoff minutes for the Cavs this past season, starting all but two of the team's 14 games.
The 29-year-old forward was originally signed by Gansey as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
Hours after the Wade signing, Charania also reported that the Sixers came to a one-year agreement with former New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti.
The deal is worth $3.4 million, which is slightly more than the minimum so the Sixers used parts of one of their exceptions to sign the backup big, Philly Voice's Adam Aaronson reported.
In 79 games with the Knicks over the last two seasons, Hukporti averaged 2.2 points and 2.9 rebound in 9.1 minutes. His playing time was limited due to the presence of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Ariel Hukporti, Dean Wade signed by Sixers as NBA free agency begins
Puka Nacua learned a tough lesson this offseason.
After a string of off-the-field missteps, the Los Angeles Rams have continued to back their star wideout. But head coach Sean McVay has also made one thing crystal clear: Nacua has to make better decisions away from the gridiron if he wants to lock down the long-term future with the franchise that once seemed like a sure bet.
Nacua appears to be turning a corner, and one change in particular has caught the attention of NFL insider Adam Schefter, who believes it could pay dividends well beyond the football field.
On his Adam Schefter Podcast, Schefter praised the Rams receiver for being open about his mental health journey. “There are a couple of things I love about that. First of all, he’s acknowledging that he’s had issues. He’s seeking help. He’s not afraid to admit it. In this day and age, where people are talking openly about their mental health, Puka Nacua is doing the same. But I love … that he talked about he didn’t know how much it would help to write in a journal. I’ve written a journal,”
Rams WR Puka Nacua has been keeping a journal, which he believes helped him through a challenging off-season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 29, 2026
Cc: @tyschmit
🎧 https://t.co/sH4X4h25ilpic.twitter.com/Vmaiv8G32W
For Nacua, journaling has become more than just putting pen to paper—it’s become part of his daily routine. The Pro Bowl wideout admitted he plans to stick with the habit after seeing firsthand how much it’s helped him. “Little did I know that even just writing in a journal has been as simple as that, and just finding ways to express some of the things that I find near and dear to my heart, and then also just to write down the accomplishments. There’s been a lot of good things amidst some of these things that have been challenging for me. But it’s been a great improvement in my life.” He said.
That’s welcome news for the Rams, who know exactly how valuable Nacua is when he’s locked in on Sundays. His journaling journey began after he voluntarily checked himself into a private rehabilitation center this offseason while dealing with an ongoing lawsuit stemming from an alleged biting incident.
The legal matter came after a turbulent stretch off the field, which also included public criticism of NFL officials and a planned touchdown celebration that drew backlash for being perceived as antisemitic. Nacua ultimately scrapped the celebration and later apologized. By his own admission, the changes he’s made are already making a difference.
If this version of Puka Nacua carries over into the regular season, the Rams could be looking at an even more focused playmaker. With his mindset trending in the right direction, all the pieces are in place for a monster 2026 campaign—and perhaps the best season of his NFL career yet.
Related Headlines
Sabres' trade offer for Jets' Connor Hellebuyck revealed originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Coming off their first playoff appearance in 15 years, the Buffalo Sabres aren't resting on their laurels.
They're going after one of the best goalies of his generation, Connor Hellebuyck.
The three-time Vezina Trophy winner also was the starting goaltender for Team USA as they won the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Now, he looks to be on his way out from the Winnipeg Jets. There doesn't appear to have been a formal trade request, but reports for the last month-plus have indicated Hellebuyck could move.
It sounds like the Sabres have a very real chance of pulling off such a deal.
And if they do, there's now a reported offer out there, too.
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos wrote on Wednesday that if the Sabres got Hellebuyck, the cost would likely be goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and winger Jack Quinn.
"The likely scenario here is Buffalo sending NHL netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Jack Quinn, the eighth overall pick of the 2020 draft, to the Jets," Kypreos writes. "The Jets’ original ask was for Zach Benson, but the Sabres haven’t been willing to go there."
MORE: What the Gavin McKenna pick means for the Maple Leafs
Given that the Sabres just extended Benson after a monster postseason, it certainly makes sense that they wouldn't want him involved.
But if they can really get Hellebuyck for a cost of UPL and Quinn, that'd be a massive win.
Hellebuyck would be replacing Luukkonen, so that's no big deal. And the Sabres have a lot of young forwards, one of whom could take Quinn's spot.
If Winnipeg truly believes Hellebuyck doesn't want to come back, they'll have to take what they can get. But if that's all they can get, it would feel like a trade win for Buffalo.
USMNT star Christian Pulisic returned from his one-game absence and played 42 minutes off the bench against Turkey in the United States' final group stage game. Will he be ready to start and play a full match on Wednesday, July 1?
Pulisic came off at halftime against Paraguay in the World Cup opener with an apparent calf injury, as USMNT held a commanding 3-0 lead. He was held out against Australia as a precaution, which should bode well for his chances to be at full strength in USA's Round of 32 matchup with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
REQUIRED READING: USA's silver lining after Turkey loss? Christian Pulisic looks back to his best
The AC Milan star created multiple scoring opportunities for the United States in the second half, although Turkey won 3-2 in the final moments of the match on a game-winning goal against mostly USMNT backups. Pulisic looked himself and looked like one of the best players on the field.
USA is certainly hoping Pulisic can play a full 90 minutes going forward, and potentially even 120 minutes with extra time.
Here's what to know of Pulisic's status before the United States' knockout stage game:
Pulisic hasn't played a full 90 minutes since mid-March, including games with both club and country. He said Tuesday, though, that he feels ready to play 90, or even 120 minutes, if needed.
"I'm feeling good," Pulisic told Fox Sports' Jenny Taft on June 30. "It's been a really good week of preparation, I felt really good in the last game. I'm excited for that to go for tomorrow."
When asked if he will start against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he said with a chuckle: "We'll get it figured out today, but I'm definitely feeling good."
Pulisic snapped a five-month long scoring drought with a 20th-minute goal in a 3-2 pre-World Cup friendly win over Senegal on May 31. While he hasn't scored in limited action of the World Cup so far, the winger has come incredibly close on multiple occasions and has been a dynamic attacker for USMNT.
He'll need to be at his best for the United States to make an unprecedented run in the knockout stages, and it sounds like he's ready to go.
Here's a look at Pulisic's minutes played in each game at the 2026 World Cup, and leading up to the tournament:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Christian Pulisic playing today? USA star's injury update for World Cup
The New York Jets are rebuilding the roster (again).
That's made it especially difficult to compete in the AFC East, where they've finished in third or fourth place in every season since 2016. If the Jets could steal one talented player from every division rival, that would greatly increase their chances of improving in the competitive AFC East.
This Jets Wire exercise is designed to identify one player from the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots the Jets would love to have:
There's no denying which Bills player the Jets would love to acquire. Starting quarterback Josh Allen has established himself as one of the elites and would immediately solve the long-term issue at quarterback. The Jets had a chance to select Allen in 2018, but took Sam Darnold instead.
You can make a strong argument for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, but after choosing Allen from the Bills, we're going with a different position of weakness for the Jets. After trading Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, the cornerback position has been in transition. Christian Gonzalez has developed into a high-level cornerback.
The Dolphins' roster is in an even deeper state of rebuild than the Jets are. That made it difficult to identify the right player from the Dolphins. De'Von Achane is the easy answer, but the Jets already have Breece Hall. We shifted attention to young pass rusher Chop Robinson, who would add additional depth and athleticism to the pass rush.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Stealing one player from every Jets division rival in 2026
After LeBron James decided he no longer wanted to be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and guard Luke Kennard agreed to a two-year contract with the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers have lost another member of their rotation from this past season.
Marcus Smart, who was a spark plug and an X-factor for them, has agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract with the Houston Rockets, per ESPN. He will reunite with coach Ime Udoka, who was at the helm of the Boston Celtics during the 2021-22 season, when Smart was named the Defensive Player of the Year as a member of the Celtics.
"Free agent guard Marcus Smart has agreed on a two-year, $13 million deal with the Houston Rockets, plus a player option for the second season, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
"Smart made the decision Wednesday morning, with his agents Jason Glushon and Josh Ketroser informing Rockets officials, according to Charania."
Smart, 32, signed a two-year, $10.5 million deal with a player option for the 2026-27 season last summer after his previous contract was bought out. He averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, three assists and 1.4 steals a game in the regular season and 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals a game during the playoffs with the Lakers.
His defense, ball-handling, facilitating and overall resourcefulness and leadership were invaluable for a Los Angeles squad that finished with a 53-29 record and upset the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. He was quite possibly the only above-average defender in its rotation this past season.
This is the second year in a row L.A. has lost a key defensive-minded role player to the Rockets. Last summer, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 3-and-D forward the team had traded for in December 2024, signed a four-year, $53 million contract with Houston. Like Smart, he had declined his player option in order to become a free agent and leave.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Marcus Smart is leaving the Lakers to join the Rockets
The late O.J. Simpson, one of the biggest names in Bills history, didn’t make the roster of legends at the franchise’s brand-new stadium.
Buffalo’s new $2.1 billion home, officially unveiled after three years of construction, features a Wall of Fame celebrating the franchise’s greatest players. Missing from that lineup, however, is the Hall of Fame running back. The Bills’ No. 1 overall pick in 1969 won’t be honored inside the new venue despite his legendary on-field résumé.
Even more than four decades after hanging up his cleats, O.J. Simpson remains one of the most polarizing figures in NFL history. The Hall of Fame running back rewrote the record books during his playing days, becoming the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season and earning the 1973 NFL MVP award. His dominance also made him the inaugural inductee into the Bills’ Wall of Fame at the original Highmark Stadium.
But when Buffalo opens the doors to its new $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium, Simpson’s legacy won’t have a place inside. NFL insider Adam Schefter first shared the decision on X.
O.J. Simpson will not be honored among the Bills’ legends at Buffalo’s new stadium.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 27, 2026
Story via @agetzenberg:https://t.co/Qy1pHMJMPe
“We have made an organizational decision that he is not a fit to display inside our new stadium and family circle,” Bills president of business operations Pete Guelli said.
Simpson spent nine of his 11 NFL seasons in Buffalo, where he established himself as arguably the league’s premier running back of the 1970s before transitioning into broadcasting after retirement. His legacy, however, extends far beyond football. Although Simpson was acquitted in the 1995 criminal trial over the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, he was later found liable for their deaths in a civil lawsuit. Years later, he served nine years in prison after being convicted in an unrelated armed robbery and kidnapping case in Las Vegas.
Simpson died at age 76 from prostate cancer in April 2024. Long before his death, the Bills had already distanced themselves from their former superstar. Under late owner Ralph Wilson, and later under owners Terry and Kim Pegula following their purchase of the franchise in 2014, the organization largely avoided publicly celebrating Simpson’s legacy.
While Simpson occasionally attended Bills home games through personal connections, the franchise did not acknowledge his presence. As the original Highmark Stadium is demolished, the team’s new state-of-the-art venue will carry its history forward—but without one of the most accomplished and most controversial players ever to wear a Bills uniform.
Related Headlines
A blue plaque has been unveiled in Scarborough to commemorate the life of a Tottenham Hotspur and England footballer.
Bill Nicholson was born at 15 Vine Street - where the plaque is installed - in January 1919.
Nicholson joined Spurs in 1936, and later as manager led them to a historic double in the 1960-61 season. He played for England on 19 May 1951 when they took on Portugal - scoring with his first touch of the ball after only 19 seconds.
The plaque, unveiled by the Scarborough Civic Society, was sponsored by the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust, and follows a campaign from Scarborough-born Spurs fan Jack Kirkby-Rowe to have Nicholson recognised as part of the town's heritage.
Society president Adrian Perry said: "Spurs absolutely blossomed under his management and direction. It was just a career of success.
"We've got many other Scarborough people that have had just as glittering careers, and they all started out in Scarborough."
Representatives from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust and Nicholson's daughters Jean Bell and Linda Feldeisen attended the unveiling of the plaque at his birthplace - now the site of David Duggleby Auctioneers.
Feldeisen, who now lives in Boston in the US, said being back in Scarborough had brought back fond memories of building sandcastles and playing cricket on the beach with her dad.
"It's an honour and a privilege to be here," she said.
"We're really excited about the plaque. I think it will give a lasting memory of Dad for people.
"He was a very loving dad. He didn't want any of the limelight.
"Once when we went to see a film in London - the line for his autograph was longer than the line for the ice cream.
"After that he didn't want to go to pubs or anywhere like that, he just wanted to be Bill outside of the Spurs life, and just be with his family."
Kirkby-Rowe, who now lives in London, said he was surprised to find Nicholson missing from the blue plaques in Scarborough.
"He was a massively influential manager," he said.
"Not just for Tottenham Hotspur but the wider world of football.
"It surprised me that such a notable figure in the nation's favourite game hadn't been commemorated in his home town, so I got in touch with the civic society."
Nicholson received a letter inviting him for a trial at Tottenham Hotspur in February 1936.
He was later taken on as ground staff before playing his first professional match two years later, aged 19.
After serving in the Durham Light Infantry during World War Two he returned to Spurs in 1946, going on to manage the team.
He oversaw their success in the FA Cup, League Cup and the UEFA Cup before retiring in 1974.
He was appointed OBE in 1975, received the Freedom of Haringey in 1998 and was inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2003.
He died in October 2004 aged 85.
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BALTIMORE — Gunnar Henderson stood in the locker room, his pants covered in dirt, and struggled to explain another hitless day.
“I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s probably one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever been through,” the Baltimore shortstop said. “I come in and work my butt off every day. ... It sucks. It’s baseball.”
Henderson mostly was talking about his personal hitting slump, but he could just as easily have been addressing the funk the Orioles have been in as a team for over two years now.
Baltimore won the AL East in 2023, and on June 20 of the following year the Orioles were 24 games over .500 after scoring 17 runs in a game at Yankee Stadium. It’s not an exaggeration to say that at that moment, the young Orioles might’ve been the most fun team in baseball, and with a loaded farm system, the organization seemed stocked with talent and trade chips that would keep Baltimore among the World Series contenders for a while.
And then, inexplicably and almost instantly, everything changed. The Orioles played sub-.500 baseball the rest of that season and failed to win a playoff game. Last year they finished with 75 wins. This season they’re 39-48 after a 9-3 loss to the White Sox.
“This is really tough. There’s other teams trying to win too, and it’s a zero-sum thing, and you’re going to come out on the short end of the stick,” team president Mike Elias said. “I don’t like that we’re in year two of that, and that’s not right, but I very much believe that we’re going to get back on our feet here in the second half.”
Since then, the Orioles have lost four straight.
A mediocre American League means Baltimore very much is within striking distance of a wild card, but if anything the defeats have become even more maddening of late.
On June 19, the Orioles lost 6-5 to the Dodgers. A throw home from right field failed to prevent the tying run — and got past the catcher, allowing the winning run to score too.
Last Wednesday, Baltimore was an out from victory against the Angels, but on a routine grounder to second, first baseman Pete Alonso was slow covering first, leaving the pitcher to try and receive the throw. The ball bounced away, enabling the tying run to score and the batter to go all the way to third. He then scored on an infield hit to win it.
Now the Orioles are receiving occasional boos at home.
“We have not been playing our best baseball, and the fans that are there, they’re paying their hard-earned money to watch us play and win, and play good baseball, competitive baseball,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “They have every right to boo. Our job for us is to go out there and give the city and the fans something they can stand behind and have pride in.”
So how did Baltimore win 101 games in 2023, and where did that team disappear to?
One thing those Orioles had was a pitching staff that exceeded expectations. Grayson Rodriguez — the one top prospect Baltimore has produced on the mound in recent years — was impressive down the stretch. Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells were dependable and Dean Kremer wasn’t bad either. The bullpen was anchored by 6-foot-8 Félix Bautista.
After that season, the Orioles acquired a true ace in a trade for Corbin Burnes, who they had in 2024 before he became a free agent. Since then, despite claims that they were trying, they haven’t brought in a pitcher of that status.
Rodriguez missed the whole 2025 season and was traded. Bradish made 14 starts total across 2024 and 2025 and Wells made seven. Kremer has made only two this season.
Shane Baz arrived in a trade before this season — the Orioles even signed him to a five-year, $68 million contract — but he’s had a middling year so far with a 4.19 ERA.
Bautista missed all of 2024, pitched 34 2/3 innings last year and then needed surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum.
Baltimore’s offense ranks 12th in the major leagues in runs per game, but the Orioles are 22nd in ERA and their defense isn’t helping them much either.
That’s not to say the offense is blameless. In 2023, Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman looked like they’d be MVP candidates for years to come. Then Rutschman hit .220 last year and Henderson is at .227 this season.
Top prospect Jackson Holliday, who debuted in the majors in 2024, now nearly has 1,000 plate appearances and a career average of .226. Third baseman Jordan Westburg only played 85 games last year and is going to miss the whole 2026 season because of Tommy John surgery.
Adding Alonso and Taylor Ward before this season has helped, but the Orioles are not the offensive powerhouse they once showed signs of becoming.
There’s enough time for Baltimore’s 2026 to turn around. If more close games start going their way, the Orioles could be a factor down the stretch.
However, Rutschman can become a free agent after next season, and Henderson another year later. There was an expectation that there would be plenty of winning before Baltimore’s top players hit the open market, but now Orioles fans face the possibility that this era could eventually end with a whimper.
Elias said Baltimore still hopes to be a buyer at the trade deadline, but it’s hard to promise that at this point. And with Albernaz in his first season, much of the fan ire is now directed at the front office instead.
“I always feel a lot of pressure in this position,” Elias said. “You worry about your job in this business, so absolutely. But I think we have a really good chance to do what we want to do, and we’re all working very hard and we’re very optimistic about it.”
It’s not much of a surprise following a fortnight’s worth of reporting but Viery’s transfer from Grêmio to Fiorentina is official. The Brazilian has passed his medical tests and signed a contract (I can’t find anyone reporting the salary yet) running through 2031 with the Imortal Tricolor receiving a €15 million fee for the 21-year-old and the potential for another €2 million in bonus payments, per Nicolò Schira.
I won’t rehash the article I wrote just a few days ago in which I described my thoughts on Viery Fernandes Santos Lopes as a player but my assumption is that he’ll slot in next to Pietro Comuzzo in the heart of Fabio Grosso’s defense. That’s a pairing that’s dripping with talent but also one that’s very young and will probably make some mistakes. Fortunately for them, a few mistakes are something a rebuilding Fiorentina can afford so long as they’re part of individual and team-wide development.
This is the first domino in the Viola defense. Marin Pongračić is in the World Cup shop window as a starter for Croatia; even if his performances remain familiarly uneven, he’ll garner same €15 million he cost back in 2024 and could increase his value with a strong showing. Luca Ranieri’s future is murkier. Management will want Viery to win the starting job and if Ranieri can accept a role as a backup/mentor, Fabio Paratici might keep him around. Otherwise, the ex-captain will move on as well, which will in turn require the addition of another veteran in the mercato.
Regardless, it’s good to see Paratici getting his work done early so that Viery has as much time as possible to get settled in. It’s important to fold new signings into the squad as quickly as possible for both social and tactical reasons so the more guys the DS can get through the door before the preseason camp begins, the happier Grosso will be. I don’t think Viery will be an era-defining player but he’s a promising defender for today and tomorrow. Paratici is up and running.
Bem-vindo, Viery, e boa sorte.
Tyreece John-Jules marked his return from injury with a goal as Kilmarnock got their pre-season off to a flyer with a convincing 4-0 win over Glentoran in Belfast.
The striker had been handed a one-year contract extension after suffering a quad injury in February that ruled him out for the rest of the last campaign.
He came on as a half-time substitute at The Oval and scored after 65 minutes to make it 3-0 for the Scottish Premiership visitors.
Fellow forward Joe Hugill had marked his new contract extension by opening the scoring after only 10 minutes against hosts who were runners-up in the NIFL Premiership last season.
Ieuan Owen, the 20-year-old forward bought from Barry Town this summer, completed the scoring with seven minutes remaining.
Mark O'Hara, the midfielder who has returned from Kilmarnock from St Mirren, started the game, while Calum Ferrie, the goalkeeper signed from Queen's Park, and former Trencin forward Roshaun Mathurin came on for the second half along with John-Jules and Owen.
However, midfielder Bailey Rice was not involved after arriving on loan from Rangers.
Neil McCann's side next face Linfield, who finished fourth in the NIFL Premiership, at Windsor Park on Saturday.
Lakers trade rumor reveals Los Angeles’ interest in Bucks’ promising $140 million duo originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Things have started to heat up this offseason, with the Miami Heat recently trading Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, and several other assets to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Los Angeles Lakers re-signing Austin Reaves to a four-year, $46 million-per-year extension.
Before those moves occurred, though, Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto fascinatingly reported that the Lakers were interested in acquiring the Bucks’ new promising $140 million duo via a blockbuster trade.
“Before Herro joined Milwaukee in the Antetokounmpo trade and theLos Angeles Lakers agreed to a four-year, $185 million max deal with Austin Reaves,the Lakers had trade discussions surrounding Herro and Kel’el Ware, which would’ve involved multiple first-round draft picks,” Scotto said last Sunday.
“In addition, the Brooklyn Nets also did due diligence and gauged the price tag for Herro, HoopsHype has learned.”
If the Lakers still view Herro as a potential trade target, there’s still a way for them to bring him to Los Angeles this summer. Essentially, there’s a strong belief that the proven 20.5 points per game scorer may never play a single game with Milwaukee, as re-routing him seems to be the most realistic scenario.
If the Lakers squeeze their way into a multi-team Antetokounmpo-focused deal involving Herro, they could be the team to begin the 2026-27 season with Herro on their roster, allowing the Lakers to make a run at the 26-year-old star guard. The same concept applies to Ware, which should be music to the Lakers’ ears.
After all, Los Angeles needs a big man in the worst way possible, and Ware’s ability to operate on the perimeter, do his part in the pick-and-roll to ensure the two-man operation runs smoothly, and protect the rim serviceably would be a breath of fresh air for the 17-time NBA champions.
Simply put, the Lakers still have time to land Herro and/or Ware before the Bucks and Heat finalize their previously reported trade.
More NBA news:
Jose Mourinho has a lot of questions to answer regarding who he wants to keep in the Real Madrid squad and who he would be willing to sacrifice.
Los Blancos are dealing with an overcrowded first-team squad, making exits non-negotiable, but it does look like teenager Franco Mastantuono has a good chance of staying.
According to Mario Cortegana, Mourinho likes Mastantuono and would not mind him staying in the squad this season.
The Real Madrid coach also believes he can make the teenager explode. That is an important shift because Mastantuono had been mentioned as one of the players who could leave on loan.
If Mourinho sees something special in him, Real Madrid may decide that keeping him close is better than sending him away.
Mastantuono had a difficult debut season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Mastantuono is still young, so the debate is about development. A loan would offer minutes, but staying at Madrid would give him daily work under Mourinho and direct exposure to elite teammates.
That can be powerful for the right player. Mourinho has never been afraid of strong personalities or intense environments, and if he believes Mastantuono can handle it, that says something about the club’s faith in him.
The key word is “explode.” Madrid do not just see him as a squad filler. They see a player with a high ceiling, someone who could make a jump if managed properly.
For Mourinho, that kind of left-footed attacking talent can be useful across a long season, especially if he can learn to contribute to the Portuguese manager’s demands.
What does the future hold for Mastantuono? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Still, Real Madrid need to be careful. Keeping Mastantuono only makes sense if there is a real plan for him.
The squad is crowded, and young players need more than admiration. They need minutes, responsibility and a clear role, even if that role starts small.
If Mourinho believes he can accelerate the South American wonderkid’s growth, it would make sense to keep him around.
Mastantuono represents the kind of high-upside bet the club like: young, gifted and capable of becoming much more than his current level.
Last season may not have done justice to the potential that he possesses, and it remains to be seen what Los Blancos decide with the player’s future.
England bring in former Genoa right-back Djed Spence, while Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Harry Kane try to break down Congo DR in the World Cup Round of 32.
It kicks off in Atlanta at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST) and the winners go on to face Mexico in the Round of 16.
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – JUNE 22: Trevoh Chalobah #12 of England trains during and England Training Session on June 22, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel’s team has struggled to impress so far in the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, as after beating Croatia in a 4-2 thriller, they were held 0-0 by Ghana and took a long time to finally push past Panama 2-0.
The Democratic Republic of Congo could therefore prove a tricky test, as they too like to pack the defence and close down spaces.
They qualified from the group phase thanks to a 1-1 draw with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia, and 3-1 victory over Fabio Cannavaro’s Uzbekistan.
SALERNO, ITALY – JANUARY 21: Djed Spence of Genoa CFC during the Serie A TIM match between US Salernitana and Genoa CFC – Serie A TIM at Stadio Arechi on January 21, 2024 in Salerno, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
England are forced to make changes, as Tino Livramento withdrew before the tournament began, then both right-backs Reece James and Jarell Quansah sustained injuries.
Now former Genoa full-back Spence is drafted in to start on the right, even though he was used mainly on the left at Tottenham last season.
Rice is both passed fit to start after nursing long-standing fitness issues, but Bukayo Saka is dropped in favour of his Arsenal teammate Noni Madueke.
Congo DR’s squad includes Cremonese midfielder Charles Pickel, who spent the season on loan at Espanyol.
England: Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane
Congo DR: Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Sadiki, Moutoussamy, Mbuku, Mukau; Wissa, Cipenga
While we await some football commitment announcements, here are your Wednesday Dots.
Muggin' with Mills: Episode 5 of 8
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) June 29, 2026
Some statements you make. This one you carve. @_JohnMills_ lets the Bone-in rib eye do the talking.
Thanks to @ElGauchoSteak for the impeccable service and exceptional quality as always! 🥩 pic.twitter.com/ZXcm7g8MMj
Something in the works 😏 pic.twitter.com/mk4qCDQNTm
— Husky Stadium (@GreatestSetting) June 29, 2026
Husky Nation…please join us in welcoming Tasha Brown to Washington‼️💜🙌 pic.twitter.com/qJHzMjcCI0
— Washington Women’s Basketball (@UW_WBB) June 26, 2026
Day one, done 😤 pic.twitter.com/7trXG4NFSt
— Washington Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) June 30, 2026
Next Stop: 🌏
— Washington Track & Field and Cross Country (@UWTrack) June 30, 2026
Having completed her Master's in Public Health, Husky Sam Tran will soon embark on an eight-month global trek as the first UW student-athlete to earn a Bonderman Fellowship in six years.
Sam's Big Adventure: https://t.co/I4uj4cClJtpic.twitter.com/3agBcwB0YW
Where is Bosnia and Herzegovina on a map? A simple guide for USMNT fans at the World Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
ABC7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez went viral for saying on air that she didn't know — or want to know — where Bosnia and Herzegovina is on a map.
If you want to know, you've come to the right place.
The United States' World Cup journey continues against the European nation on Wednesday night, and it's understandable if you can't quickly pinpoint Bosnia on a map.
Here's a look at where you can find Bosnia and Herzegovina, plus more to know about the country.
2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets
Bosnia and Herzegovina is located on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, bordering Serbia to the west and Montenegro to the north and west. The majority of Bosnia is bordered by Croatia, which wraps around a significant chunk of the country.
Bosnia is across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, though the two countries don't border each other in any way because Croatia wraps around and cuts off Bosnia at the coast. Here's a look at where Bosnia is situated in Europe, outlined in red:
Google Maps
If United States soccer fans aren't too familiar with Bosnia, it might be because the country is making only its second-ever World Cup appearance and first appearance in the knockout stage. The USMNT did face Bosnia in an international friendly in December of 2021, winning 1-0.
MORE:Inside Bosnia and Herzegovina's World Cup roster
Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city of about 275,000 isn't near any ocean or lake, but the Miljacka River runs right through the heart of downtown.
Bosnia has started to become known for producing basketball players, as current NBA players Jusuf Nurkic and Ivica Zubac are from the country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina released an official population estimate of 3.41 million in late 2024. That's almost exactly one percent of the current United States population.
Only four countries in the 2026 World Cup have a smaller population than Bosnia, and all but one -- Cape Verde -- were eliminated in the group stage.
LSU football finds out in a few days if it will add another five-star commitment to its 2027 class. Xavier Sabb announces his college decision on July 3 at 3:00 p.m. CT live on the Rivals YouTube channel.
The wide receiver has LSU in his top four alongside Tennessee, Oregon and UCLA. He made his most recent trip to Baton Rouge on May 29, and official visits to the other three schools followed in June.
Sabb hails from Glassboro, NJ, and plays at Glassboro High School. Rivals' Industry Rankings lists him as New Jersey's No. 2 prospect as well as the No. 5 wide receiver and No. 32 overall player in the 2027 class.
🚨NEWS🚨 5-star WR Xavier Sabb will announce his commitment live on the Rivals YouTube channel on July 3📺
— Rivals (@Rivals) June 30, 2026
His finalists are LSU, Oregon, Tennessee, and UCLA.
Read: https://t.co/N8BsT1PnPspic.twitter.com/gQzGqxJi0f
Adding Sabb to its class would likely put LSU back in the national top 10 in the 2027 cycle. The Tigers' group ranks No. 11 nationally and No. 5 in the SEC. They have one five-star commitment with tight end Ahmad Hudson.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Five-star LSU football target reveals decision date
The Phoenix Suns made a move on the first day of NBA free agency on June 30, agreeing to a deal with free agent guard Luke Kennard for two years and $13 million.
A couple of writers really liked the move for Phoenix.
They raved about the Suns' agreement with Kennard in their NBA free agency grades for the deal.
Kennard averaged 8.4 points per game with the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers last season.
He shot 47.8% from 3-point range and could be learned upon in Phoenix to help fill the void left from the Suns trading Grayson Allen.
Follow along: Phoenix Suns NBA free agency 2026 live updates, rumors, targets, news
ESPN's Zach Kram gave the Suns an A for the deal with Kennard.
He wrote: "Luke Kennard signed a one-year, $11 million contract as a free agent last offseason, but he's taking a pay cut next season despite leading the NBA in 3-point percentage (48%) and briefly turning into a playoff hero with the Los Angeles Lakers. That can't be construed as anything other than a stellar deal for the Phoenix Suns, who needed more shooting after trading Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, and now add the most accurate 3-point marksman in the NBA."
He added: "It's surprising that he couldn't land a higher per-year commitment now."
Kram wasn't alone in his praise for the Suns' deal with Kennard.
More: Miles Bridges trade grades slam Phoenix Suns for 'shortsighted' deal
Bleacher Report also handed Phoenix an A for the Kennard move.
It wrote: "The lack of cap space around the league is limiting free agents to some shockingly low-value deals. It's almost the inverse of 2016, when the cap spike led to news like Timofey Mozgov landing a four-year, $64 million deal. The latest surprisingly low figure goes to Luke Kennard, who agreed to a two-year deal with the Phoenix Suns for $13 million. In the wake of the Miles Bridges trade that cost Phoenix Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, the Suns were in dire need of some shooting. And Kennard absolutely provides that. He just led the league in three-point percentage at 47.8 (his third time earning that crown) and has a career mark of 44.2 that ranks second all time. Sprinkle in some underrated playmaking, and it's hard to see this deal as anything but a steal for Phoenix."
The deal: Phoenix Suns acquiring free-agent guard Luke Kennard
Social media also seemed to like the Luke Kennard deal for the Suns in NBA free agency, praising the move in posts on X.
So Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale ultimately became Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard.
— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 1, 2026
From a pure basketball standpoint, the Suns upgraded https://t.co/ffcFBbk2ex
THE SUNS GOT A STEAL pic.twitter.com/sEGCuiwkCf
— NBA on Real (@NBAonReal) July 1, 2026
Suns just keep doing it, valuable roll player for a super low price. Bridges & Kennard in under 1 week, great replacement for O’Neale & Allen. Absolutely love this by the Suns, they’re just deep at every position this is interesting
— BKS Sports (@BKSecretsports) July 1, 2026
The Suns just keep getting quality role players on cheap deals. How do they do it
— Deven Tiwary (@deven_tiwary) July 1, 2026
Brilliant replacement for Grayson Allen on the Suns, Lakers will not be happy they lost him
— Alex Burgess (@AMBHoops1) July 1, 2026
THE SUNS JUST ADDED A FLAMETHROWER. 🔥☀️ League better be ready.
— Toxic (@toxictoniq) July 1, 2026
Luke Kennard + elite spacing = Phoenix is cooking. 👀
Suns quietly stacking shooters around their stars, a very smart offseason.
— App Launcher (@AppLauncher_App) July 1, 2026
Lets go! He's gonna fit into our team perfectly. Welcome to the Valley!
— iTW (@iTalkWrestling_) July 1, 2026
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Sign up for azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns' Luke Kennard deal called a 'steal' in NBA free agency grades
Sometimes, timing just works out perfectly. On Tuesday, we suggested that Cleveland Browns HC Todd Monken should make it the team’s goal to lead the NFL in rushing attempts. If they are able to do so, or come close, that would mean the team is running the ball with some success, sustaining drives, minimizing responsibility for the quarterback(s), and giving the defense time to rest.
Adding a quality QB run game to a group of talented young backs could allow the Browns to be successful in that goal and, in turn, win more contests.
A good rushing attack has been a bedrock of the Cleveland franchise for a long time. The list of best players in Browns history starts with RB Jim Brown, with other backs littered all over it. Many believe that Brown is the greatest of all time (GOAT), or was before QB Tom Brady’s career.
Timing just so had it that our SB Nation sister site covering the Chicago Bears, Windy City Gridiron, put out their ranking of the top 100 backs of all time in the NFL. Perhaps not surprisingly, WCG ranked Bears legend Walter Payton over Brown as the greatest running back of all time. Brown took second place:
To me, Brown is the only other running back that stake a claim to the top spot. Brown won MVP 3 times and was the most dominant player, regardless of position, in the 1960s. Brown chose to walk away and pursue other interests; had he stuck around a few more years, he probably would have had a spot that not even Payton could have surpassed.
Four other Cleveland running backs made the list of 100:
Kelly joined Brown in the Top 50 of the list. Chubb’s inclusion near the bottom of the list was a nice nod for the three great and two good seasons he had for the Browns before his major injury in 2023.
How do you feel about Brown not in the top spot? Any Browns backs you think should be on the list? Are you surprised to see Byner and Chubb on the list?
Sign up for a user account and get:
What to wear, what to wear, what to wear. That’s what’s going through every celeb’s head before heading to Wimbledon. You know there’ll be photos galore, and you don’t want to look like a schlub in front of the best tennis players in the world, along with the countless other dignitaries in attendance.
For Rory McIlroy, he ran back his victory at Augusta National this year, which gives him more than enough leeway to bust out the Masters green jacket at Wimbledon. Alongside wife Erica Stoll, the Northern Irishman went with the revered green look and paired that up with his winning Ryder Cup teammates.
MORE: Watch Rory McIlroy absolutely dagger a heckler at Shinnecock
That’s right! McIlroy and quite a few other members of the European Ryder Cup team sat in the Royal Box on Centre Court. Teammates Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose, as well as captain Luke Donald and vice captains Thomas Bjorn, Edoardo Molinari and Francesco Molinari all made the trip. The winning squad checked out Jannik Sinner’s second-round match against Nuno Borges. And it’s probably a good thing Shane Lowry wasn’t there, or they would’ve drunk their weight in Pimm's, the famed summery Wimbledon cocktail.
Just last year, SNL alum Andy Samberg noted that he got in trouble for rocking black jeans in the Royal Box (and was eventually given khakis), so we know things get a little touch-and-go if you’re not looking your best. Thankfully, we can’t see anyone complaining about McIlroy’s green jacket get-up. Well, maybe Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler are a bit miffed after losing by one stroke to McIlroy in back-to-back years … but that’s a different story.
More From Golf Digest News Sergio Garcia claims lunch time lasagna (literally) spoiled his Open chances Golf Digest Logo Zach Bauchou's journey from 'shooting in the 100s' to tour pro Shocking News Oregon golfer struck by lightning while playing solo, calls 911 for himself after regaining consciousness Henderson recently became the England men’s only player to feature at seven major tournaments, having first represented the Three Lions on the international stage in 2010 and at a major tournament at Euro 2012.
And speaking on the latest episode of England’s Lions’ Den, Henderson was asked how the environment around the national team has changed since his first major tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
“Euro 2012 was my first tournament, so it was similar to Morgs now,” Henderson said, speaking alongside Morgan Rogers.
“It was a good experience for me. I got a little bit of game time, but it was a very different environment then.
“There were a lot more experienced players, and it was just a totally different vibe to what it is now.
“I definitely have seen, from my time as an England player, over the course of the last 16 years, that the progression has been huge.
“The biggest progression is probably the culture, the togetherness of the group, and how close the group has got over the years.
“That comes with different tournament experiences and a bit of success when people didn’t expect it. You gain a bit of confidence, especially around Russia, and from there I felt as though we went from strength to strength.”
'I definitely have seen, from my time as an England player, over the course of the last 16 years, that the progression has been huge'
England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, before making the final of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
Henderson believes that progress has helped shape the current group, who finished top of Group L at this summer’s World Cup before turning their attention to the knockout rounds.
“I think it is really important in a successful team,” he added, when asked about setting standards and creating the right environment.
“I feel as though we’ve progressed a lot over the last 10 to 15 years with how people want to come to camps and stay in camps.
“Even when it gets to October, November or even March, and you might have played a lot of games, I feel as though everybody wants to be there. Everybody wants to play, regardless of whether it’s friendlies or qualifiers, and I think that’s really important.
“When we’re here, it’s about having the standards set, knowing what’s expected as an England player and what the bare minimum is, which is working hard and being the best version of yourself every day.
“But it’s also about enjoying the journey together, helping each other, and being good people and good team-mates.
“I feel like this group has certainly got that. Over the past four weeks or so since we’ve been together, that has been getting stronger and stronger.
“Hopefully, when it gets close and tight, it can be the difference between getting over the line."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic once scored the greatest goal ever, an impossible bicycle kick, against England originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup rolls on, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to draw attention as a studio analyst for Fox, it's worth revisiting something magnificent.
Zlatan once scored maybe the greatest goal of all time, and he did it while playing for Sweden against England.
No, it wasn't in a World Cup, but it should've been impossible.
England goalkeeper Joe Hart found himself caught out of the penalty box, and Zlatan knew the net was open.
MORE: The greatest goal in Canada men's soccer history
The problem, for any other human, was that Zlatan was facing away from goal and about 30 yards out.
That was apparently not a problem for Zlatan.
He scored from there with the most absurd bicycle kick ever:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's famous 30-yard bicycle kick Vs. England#FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/4UhJJIrCYi
— T H A T O 🇿🇦 (@tmadisakwane1) May 10, 2022
MORE: Portugal's usage of Cristiano Ronaldo makes no sense
Frankly, Zlatan should get to talk in the third person as much as he wants after doing that. He should get to lift himself up in any fashion he wants.
There aren't even other humans audacious enough to try that.
And even if there were, would anyone else actually pull it off?
Zlatan is one of one, in pretty much every way -- including in the best goal many people have ever seen.
Jul. 1—WINNER, S.D. — Winner/Colome used an eight-run eighth inning to rally past Mount Vernon 15-8 in a Sunshine League amateur baseball game Tuesday at Leahy Bowl.
The Pheasants finished with a 16-6 edge in hits and rallied from a 8-6 deficit after six innings, with one run in the seventh and eight runs in the eighth inning. Drew DeMers and Austin Richey both had four hits for W/C, with Richey driving in three runs. Dillon Lambley drove in four runs for the Pheasants and Landon Calhoon had two hits, two stolen bases and scored three times. Austin Calhoon also had three hits and three runs scored.
Landon Calhoon started on the mound and threw 4 2/3 innings and struck out nine Mount Vernon batters, while allowing four hits, eight runs (two earned) and walked seven. Isaiah Olson was the winning pitcher for the Pheasants out of the bullpen, allowing two hits and no runs in 4 1/3 innings and struck out six.
For Mount Vernon, Parker Mandel had two hits and three RBIs and Deric Denning added two hits. Bradley Dean started on the mound with seven innings pitched, 11 hits and seven earned runs for the Mustangs. Mandel was the losing pitcher, allowing four hits, eight runs (seven earned) and recorded one out in relief.
Winner/Colome (7-4, 7-4 Sunshine) will play next at the Parkston Rays at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 9. Mount Vernon (3-10, 2-9 Sunshine) will host the Parkston Rays in its next game at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7.
Other action from Tuesday:
Canova, Dell Rapids Mudcats split makeup doubleheader: Two of the top teams in the Cornbelt League finished with a split on Tuesday night, with Canova winning a makeup game from May by a score of 11-5 before the Mudcats responded with a 10-5, seven-inning win in the regularly scheduled home game.
The first game was a continuation from May 17, picked up in the top of the sixth inning with Canova leading 5-3. Jared "Little" Miller threw 3 2/3 innings after the rainout and struck out five batters and allowed two unearned runs for the save, while Luke Koepsell stood as the winning pitcher with 5 1/3 innings, four hits and three runs (one earned) allowed, striking out eight. Riley Genzlinger and Justin Miller both had two RBIs and Jack Neises and Jackson Remmers had two hits each.
In Game 2, Dell Rapids built a 7-2 lead in the first three innings and outhit Canova 12-7 on the way to a 10-5 win. Carter Gullickson had a double and triple with three RBIs and Austin Henry and Ty Hoglund both had two RBIs. Henry was the winning pitcher with five innings pitched, five hits, two earned runs and seven strikeouts. Kendall Gassman had a solo home run for Canova, while Justin Miller had two hits and two RBIs. Jack Neises was charged with the loss for the Gang, allowing five hits and five runs in an inning.
Hartford/Humboldt Wood Ducks 8, Salem 6 in Humboldt: Salem scored the first four runs of the game but the Wood Ducks had final say in a Cornbelt League win on Tuesday. Curtis Flint had two home runs and drove in three runs for the Wood Ducks and Camden McDonald and Brayden Odegaard each had two hits. Salem's Dexter Payne had a two-run home run and a four RBI game and Bobby Koepsell hit a solo home run. Tyler Earls took the loss, throwing eight innings with 11 hits and eight runs allowed, striking out six.
From Monday:
Dimock/Emery 5, Platte 3 in Platte: Josh Engquist threw 6 2/3 innings of relief and 10 strikeouts to power the Raptors to a Sunshine League win. Engquist gave up two hits and two runs in relief of Hunter Robinson, who threw 2 1/3 innings and allowed three hits and a run. Dane Toman had two hits and an RBI and Drew Kitchens scored three times, while Lincoln Bates and Landon Waddell both drove in runs for D/E. Hunter Hewitt had a home run and drove in two for the Killer Tomatoes, which had two runs and two stolen bases from Matt Link, who took the loss in 4 1/3 innings on the mound with four hits and three runs allowed. Platte used six pitchers who combined for 10 walks and 12 strikeouts.
What happened to Connelly Early? Why beloved Red Sox starter is headed to IL originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox have begun to turn their season around recently, with the four-game sweep of the New York Yankees a good first step. But, they're still 37-47, and well behind in the AL East and even behind a good bit in the weak AL Wild Card.
Things are only getting worse for the Red Sox as well. Connelly Early, the beloved left-handed starter, was having a good 2026 season. But now, he's headed to the injured list. But why?
The Red Sox announced Wednesday morning that Early is hitting the injured list with left elbow inflammation, a worrying injury for the lefty starter.
"The Red Sox today announced the following roster moves: Placed left-handed pitcher Connelly Early on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation," the Red Sox announced.
Early, the lefty youngster who's only 24 years old, is now headed to the injured list, and will miss some time, with a left elbow injury.
While the full extent of the injury isn't fully known yet, he will at least miss through the All-Star break, and maybe even a bit longer depending on how bad the diagnosis is.
MORE: Red Sox need middle infield help at trade deadline amid renewed postseason hope
This season, Early has a 3.44 ERA with a 7-5 record and 93 strikeouts in 17 starts. His most recent outing was a four-inning shutout with five strikeouts against the Washington Nationals on the final day of June.
But, he was pulled a little early from that game, and now has landed on the injured list on July 1 with an elbow injury that is cause for concern.
Now, with Early joining Patrick Sandoval, Garrett Crochet, Kutter Crawford, and Tanner Houck on the injured list, the Red Sox will have to turn to Jake Bennett and the bullpen for the non-Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, and Payton Tolle starts.
The 46th U.S. Senior Open tees off July 2 from scorching-hot Scioto Country Club, where temperatures are expected to top 95 degrees through the week. The field of 156 golfers could drop by a few – or a lot – if the heat has its way. Otherwise, it's full-go at the Upper Arlington course where Jack Nicklaus learned to play the game.
Two of the more interesting pairings are defending U.S. Senior Open winner Padraig Harrington going out with Justin Leonard and amateur Michael McCoy, and former Masters winners Vijay Singh, Angel Cabrera and Mike Weir teeing it up together.
Thursday, July 2
Watch it here: Stream your favorite shows, the biggest blockbusters and more.
Friday, July 3
* indicates 10th‑tee start, while (a) indicates amateur
7:00 a.m. Rik Cramer, Greg Sanders (a), Matthew Daniel
7:05 a.m.* Paul Wackerly, Tucker Sampson (a), Jerod Turner
7:10 a.m. Jeff Martin, Tracy Phillips, Chris Kamin (a)
7:15 a.m.* Michael Block, Brad Lardon, Brendan Jones
7:21 a.m. Brock Ehler (a), Thomas Gögele, Jamie Donaldson
7:26 a.m.* Darren Fichardt, Takashi Iwamoto, Omar Uresti
7:31 a.m. Mark Wilson, Rob Labritz, Chris Riley
7:36 a.m.* Stephen Dodd, Notah Begay III, Van Phillips
7:42 a.m. Simon Griffiths, Scott Dunlap, Mark Hensby
7:47 a.m.* Paul Goydos, Tim Petrovic, Katsumasa Miyamoto
7:52 a.m. James Kingston, Mark Calcavecchia, Andrew Marshall
7:57 a.m.* Michael Wright, Bo Van Pelt, Taggart Ridings
8:03 a.m. Freddie Jacobson, Scott Hend, George McNeill
8:08 a.m.* Brian Gay, K.J. Choi, Richard Green
8:13 a.m. Alex Cejka, Dicky Pride, Ben Crane
8:18 a.m.* Soren Kjeldsen, Boo Weekley, Charlie Wi
8:24 a.m. Michael McCoy (a), Justin Leonard, Padraig Harrington
8:29 a.m.* Vijay Singh, Angel Cabrera, Mike Weir
8:34 a.m. Ian Poulter, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Darren Clarke
8:39 a.m.* Kevin Sutherland, Stuart Appleby, Brett Quigley
8:45 a.m. Robert Karlsson, JJ Henry, Chad Campbell
8:50 a.m.* Ken Tanigawa, Jerry Kelly, Greg Chalmers
8:55 a.m. Michael Pearson (a), David Bransdon, Bob Rittberger
9:00 a.m.* Warren Pineo, Ryan Malby, Michael Stamberger (a)
9:06 a.m. Jason Schmuhl, Haymes Snedeker (a), David Mathis
9:11 a.m.* Bradford Kuester (a), Jay Abraham, Jeff Williams
12:30 p.m. John Kennedy (a), Tracy Vest, Chris Devlin
12:35 p.m.* Brian Guetz (a), Scott Berliner, Thammanoon Sriroj
12:40 p.m. Chris Dompier, Chris Eassy (a), Patrik Sjoland
12:45 p.m.* Caine Fitzgerald, Jonathan Clark (a), Hyeong Kim
12:51 p.m. David Drysdale, Cliff Kresge, Doug Hanzel (a)
12:56 p.m.* Bob Royak (a), Alan McLean, Andrew Sapp
1:01 p.m. Ryan Armour, Justin Hicks, David Roesch
1:06 p.m.* Lee Janzen, Jeff Maggert, Michael Campbell
1:12 p.m. Mikael Lundberg, Jeff Gove, Jerry Springer
1:17 p.m.* John Rollins, Brandt Jobe, Keith Horne
1:22 p.m. Joakim Haeggman, Scott Parel, Greg Owen
1:27 p.m.* Woody Austin, Peter Baker, Kirk Triplett
1:33 p.m. Ernie Els, Stewart Cink, Steven Alker
1:38 p.m.* Hank Kuehne, Shaun Micheel, Jay Haas
1:43 p.m. Stephen Ames, Henrik Stenson, Davis Love III
1:48 p.m.* Timothy O’Neal, Ricardo Gonzalez, Shane Bertsch
1:54 p.m. Steve Allan, Tommy Gainey, Y.E. Yang
1:59 p.m.* Gene Sauers, Billy Andrade, Olin Browne
2:04 p.m. David Toms, Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen
2:09 p.m.* Thongchai Jaidee, Jason Caron, Matt Gogel
2:15 p.m. Steve Flesch, Paul Stankowski, Joe Durant
2:20 p.m.* Pat Perez, Heath Slocum, Cameron Percy
2:25 p.m. Burke Cromer, Stephen Nichols (a), Eric Meichtry
2:30 p.m.* Ryan Gracey, Artie Fink (a), Tom Werkmeister
2:36 p.m. Craig Bowden, Stephen Sear (a), David Noto
2:41 p.m.* John Oleary, Bruce Nakamura, Chad Fribley
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: U.S. Senior Open tee times, how to watch Thursday's first round
Over the course of their 2026 regular season schedule, the Alabama Crimson Tide will face a number of players that you could make an argument are among the best in college football at their positions.
Included on Alabama's 2026 schedule are potential national title contenders such as Georgia, LSU, and Texas A&M, as well as teams who are likely to present a challenge in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Auburn, among others. On those same teams, each have stellar quarterbacks that help make them such a talented team, but what about the other positions on the field?
Here is the best player at every position on Alabama's 2026 schedule, starting on offense.
Stockton faced Alabama twice a year ago in Athens and Atlanta, and the Georgia signal caller will visit Tuscaloosa in 2026 for the first time as a starter. The Bulldogs' starter finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting a year ago after completing 69.7% of passes for 2,894 yards and a 24:5 TD:INT ratio, rushing for 462 yards and 10 more scores as well.
Bishop had a big game against Alabama a year ago in Tuscaloosa, rushing for 123 yards and two touchdowns. The redshirt junior is coming off a huge 2025 season that included rushing for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The top wide receiver on Alabama's schedule likely comes from outside the SEC in Robinson, who enters his second season at Florida State. A former transfer from USC, Robinson had 1,081 receiving yards and six touchdowns a year ago.
Despite not having a catch against the Crimson Tide each of the last two seasons, Green is still the top tight end on Alabama's 2026 schedule. Green had 433 receiving yards and seven touchdowns a year ago in a breakout season.
Seaton was one of college football's top offseason transfers, joining LSU following two years at Colorado. The junior will start at left tackle for the Tigers in 2026.
Moe enters his redshirt senior season at Tennessee as one of the most experienced interior offensive linemen in the SEC. The Arizona transfer started 11 games between both right and left guard a year ago, earning All-SEC honors.
Bobo enjoyed a breakout season last fall, and returns as Georgia's starting center in 2026. The redshirt senior is set to be one of college football's top players at the position.
Similar to wide receiver, the top defensive tackle on Alabama's schedule comes from outside the SEC in Lyons. The redshirt senior recorded 26 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and two sacks at Florida State last season.
Stewart, who has one tackle against Alabama over the last two seasons, is the top pass rusher the Crimson Tide will face in 2026. The South Carolina junior finished last season with 33 tackles, 12 TFL, and 4.5 sacks.
Alabama's 2026 schedule is loaded with talented inside linebackers, but an argument can be made that Atkins is the best of them all. Atkins enjoyed a breakout season with the Tigers a year ago that included leading the SEC with 60 solo tackles and 17 TFL, while also recording nine sacks.
Jones enters his redshirt junior season in Starkville likely with a case to be made as the top cornerback in the SEC. A two-year starter, Jones is coming off a 2025 season that included 34 tackles and two interceptions.
Bolden is undoubtedly the top safety Alabama will face in 2026. The junior has faced Alabama three times already in his Georgia career, and is coming off a season that featured 76 total tackles and two interceptions.
While there are certainly other options to choose from here, an argument can be made that Taylor is the best kicker on Alabama's 2026 schedule. Taylor made 13-of-14 field goal attempts for the Commodores last season, translating to a SEC leading percentage of 92.9% made.
Pulliam enters his second season as the starting punter at Mississippi State following a breakout 2025 campaign. A redshirt junior, Pulliam led the SEC a year ago with an average of 46.8 yards per punt.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Top player at every position on Alabama football's 2026 schedule
Marcus Rashford is reportedly set to keep his place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting line up when England face DR Congo in the World Cup round of 32 Wednesday evening.
The Manchester United winger played the full 90 minutes of the Three Lions’ 2-0 victory over Panama in their final group game, having not made the cut after scoring off the bench in the 4-2 win over Croatia to begin their Group L campaign.
Rashford remains in a state of limbo, with Barcelona unwilling to exercise the £26m option to buy in his loan contract after the 29-year-old scored eight goals and assisted seven on their way to the La Liga title.
However, has done enough to impress Tuchel and ward off new Blaugrana signing Anthony Gordon for the starting position at left wing, according to the Athletic’s David Ornstein.
Arsenal duo Noni Madueke and Declan Rice are also set to return to frame from the off against the African side, with Bukayo Saka’s fitness still being monitored ahead of kick off.
Morgan Rogers also started against Panama but has not won over his manager and will drop back to the bench for the round of 32 clash in Atlanta, with Djed Spence stepping in for the injured Jarrell Quansah and Reece James.
Questions were raised over Tuchel’s decision to omit Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold amid England’s crisis in his position, with Tino Livramento forced to withdraw due to a hamstring problem.
Trevor Chalobah was called up as his replacement and is capable of playing both at centre-back and full-back, but fears persist that Tuchel will lack the forward-thinking wide defenders that his system requires in order to have full effect.
England finished top of Group L on seven points from two wins and a goalless draw against Ghana.
For all the praise and criticism Tuchel has received in equal measure in his time as England boss since arriving in January, the clash with DR Congo is a first real test of his ability to grind out a victory against tricky opposition.
DR Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 to register their first ever World Cup point, before beating Uzbekistan 3-1 in their final match with the help of a brace from Yoane Wissa to qualify as the second best third-placed team.
It is their first ever appearance at the knockout stages, meaning England are largely expected to make it through to the round of 16 for the third World Cup tournament running – but this is the least that Three Lions fans expect of them.
Predicted England XI: Jordan Pickford (GK), Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane
For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.
Jonas Wind's career in the Bundesliga is over – at least for now – with the striker completing his move to Portugal.
The center forward is joining topflight side SC Braga and has subsequently signed a contract until the summer of 2029.
However, according to the Portuguese club's official statements, Wind's deal includes a release clause of €30million.
Furthermore, Braga will not have to pay a transfer fee because Wind's contract with VfL Wolfsburg has since expired.
The Danish international contributed 35 goals and 13 assists in 124 appearances for the relegated Bundesliga side since 2022.
New Chelsea signing Marco Palestra says he is excited about the opportunity to play under Xabi Alonso.
The full-back has joined Chelsea on a deal until 2033 from Atalanta, following an impressive loan spell at Cagliari last season.
Stay up to date with all the latest Chelsea news by joining our Chelsea WhatsApp channel.
“I’m very excited to get started,” Palestra said. “I’ve felt the energy since the first day Chelsea wanted me. I can’t wait to start, see all the fans, my team-mates and the manager.
“We have so many talented players here, a very strong squad and manager in Xabi. He has spoken to me about how he wants us to play, which is exciting, and we can’t wait to compete in the Premier League.”
The 21-year-old becomes Alonso’s first signing at the club since being appointed as manager.
If you enjoy our articles, help us out by making Hayters.com one of your preferred sources on Google by clicking here.
Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka continued to turn on the style at Wimbledon as she eased into the third round with a straight-sets win over Anastasia Gasanova.
Two days after wearing a "Kill Bill" inspired kimono ahead of her opening match, the Japanese 14th seed again turned heads, sporting a white jacket with floral decoration and a long train which trailed behind her.
The latest elaborate outfit caught the attention of spectators and photographers as Osaka walked to Court Two, where she required just an hour and seven minutes to wrap up a 6-3, 6-2 victory over the Russian world number 225.
Osaka’s train was attached to her waist by an obi – a wide, decorative belt traditionally worn with kimono.
“I feel like my inspiration can be anything,” said the 28-year-old, who was born in Osaka, Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother and spent most of her childhood in Florida.
“I took a trip to Japan one day (and) then obviously you go to Harajuku (a district of Tokyo famous for fashion and cosplay culture), and you see everyone expressing themselves through clothes.
“It was just so cool and colourful. That stuck out to me a lot. I kind of used that in my fashion experimentation.
“I don’t really ever have a plan when it comes to clothes. I think it’s OK to try something and fail, but I’d rather just try it and see how it goes.”
World number 65 Daria Kasatkina – a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2018 – awaits Osaka after she came back from a set down to defeat Indonesia’s Janice Tjen 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4.
Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko backed up her first-round win over Britain’s Harriet Dart by defeating Antonia Ruzic 6-2, 6-0.
Croatian Ruzic was initially drawn to face Emma Raducanu in round one before overcoming Latvian lucky loser Darja Semenistaja following the injury withdrawal of the British number one.
Wimbledon debutant Mananchaya Sawangkaew also progressed – in far less fortuitous fashion than her first-round match.
The Thai qualifier, who claimed a maiden win at grand slam level on Monday after French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska injured herself on match point, beat American Alycia Parks 7-5, 6-0.
Chelsea have completed the signing of Atalanta defender Marco Palestra on a seven-year deal.
The 21-year-old, who has two international caps for Italy, moves to Stamford Bridge for a fee understood by the Press Association to be £47 million ($62 million), including add-ons.
He becomes the first signing since the appointment of new manager Xabi Alonso, who formally started work on Wednesday, as the process of remodelling the squad gathers pace following last season’s disappointing 10th-placed finish in the Premier League.
Reports in Italy suggested that the player was on the verge of joining Inter Milan before Chelsea swept in with a stronger offer and a more attractive wage deal.
Palestra told the club’s website: “A lot of things convinced me to join Chelsea, one of the best clubs in the world.
“We have so many talented players here, a very strong squad and manager in Xabi.
“He has spoken to me about how he wants us to play, which is exciting, and we can’t wait to compete in the Premier League.”
Palestra made his senior debut for Atalanta in December 2023 before impressing on loan at Cagliari last season where he was named Serie A’s defender of the season.
He made his international debut during Italy’s unsuccessful World Cup qualifying play-offs.
Alonso looks set to have a much changed defence to work with following the debacle of last season. Marc Cucurella has already departed for Real Madrid while PA understands the club are considering making a bid for Crystal Palace centre back Maxence Lacroix to add to Palestra’s signing.
Full-back Malo Gusto, currently playing alongside Lacroix for France at the World Cup, looks set to depart with Manchester City among the clubs showing interest.
An bid for Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka has been rejected, with the club looking to offset the possible departure of Enzo Fernandez, who informed the hierarchy in May that he wants to leave. Chelsea will listen to offers for the Argentina international.
Want to see how a professional quarterback breaks down tape? Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love recently spent 40 minutes breaking down his own tape with Film Watchers, providing an exclusive look at his thought process during big plays from three different games from the 2025 season.
Among the plays include completions from Love against the Detroit Lions in Week 1, the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 and the Chicago Bears in Week 14. In the video, Love discusses "coverage recognition, progressions, blitz-pickup" and other quarterback-related topics. Many of his touchdown passes in the three games -- he threw eight total -- are included in the breakdowns.
The full video:
Some clips from Film Watchers:
Average Jordan Love rep btw pic.twitter.com/OFzhuAdpNR
— Film Watchers (@Filmwatchers1) July 1, 2026
Why do NFL offenses motion so much? Jordan Love explains how much information it gives⬇️ pic.twitter.com/gKf0Vlt1Cu
— Film Watchers (@Filmwatchers1) June 29, 2026
Jordan Love breaks down his smartest plays⬇️
— Film Watchers (@Filmwatchers1) June 30, 2026
Full video on YouTube😎 OUT NOW pic.twitter.com/ed7bfZdkGm
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Watch: Packers QB Jordan Love breaks down his tape with Film Watchers
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani will skip his scheduled pitching start against the Athletics to get some extra rest, manager Dave Roberts said.
The Dodgers are in the midst of playing 13 games in 13 days, and Roberts wanted to make sure the Japanese sensation got a break. Ohtani is slated to pitch in San Diego.
“If there’s any opportunity to give him some extra rest, we’re going to try to take advantage of it,” Roberts said. “So pushing him to Friday allows us to have him still take two starts before the break and get on two division opponents. In that vein, there’s just no downside. This made too much sense.”
Ohtani is 8-2 with a 1.58 ERA in 13 starts this season. The four-time MVP has 82 strikeouts and 24 walks in 79 2/3 innings this season.
Roberts indicated that Ohtani will be the Dodgers designated hitter for the series finale against the A’s.
“It’s mostly schedule-driven,” Roberts said. “We talked to Shohei and he was agreeing to whatever we felt, knowing it’s best for him. There’s no downside with him losing starts, get more rest. That was the whole driver.”
Roberts said the Dodgers will go with a bullpen game in Ohtani’s absence.
64GB? In this economy? Cinder City’s PC system requirements call for a crazy amount of RAM Big Fire Games and the publisher NC have listed Cinder City on Steam, unveiling its PC system requirements, confirming an insane 64GB memory recommendation. The game is a 3rd-person RPG shooter set in a near-future, dystopian version of Seoul […]
The post Crazy – Cinder City recommends 64GB of RAM on its Steam page appeared first on OC3D.
Microsoft rolled out a bunch of new features for Microsoft Teams in June. Calls, meetings, and Teams Rooms have all received updates. As usual, Microsoft gathered together all the new features in a blog post.
Here are the highlights from June, though the item missing from this list is more interesting than anything listed in the blog post:
Interestingly, Microsoft did not mention the controversial feature in Teams that allows your boss to see where you are when connected to Wi-Fi networks at work.
That feature drew criticism when first announced. Microsoft offered clarification and delayed the rollout, but "workplace check-in via Wi-Fi" is now generally available. The feature was previously known as "Automatic Update of work location."
I'm not sure why the feature was omitted from the post recapping everything that shipped to Teams in June. I thought I may have had my dates mixed up, but the Teams blog post from June 12, 2026 states (emphasis added):
"We’re introducing workplace check-in via Wi-Fi for Microsoft Places and Teams, designed to help employees coordinate in-person work by keeping their workplace location up to date when they’re in the office."
Based on Microsoft's phrasing, it seems like Automatic Update of work location should be included in the roundup.
Advanced file discovery and filters are the biggest addition to Teams for my workflow. The improved contextual search in Teams indexes every file uploaded to a channel. You can then filter for file type, sender, and date within a channel.
Slack has similar functionality and I use it often. I'm happy to see improved filters and file searching in Teams.
I also love the new Quick Share option in Teams. Sharing options can be accessed by hovering, right-clicking, using overflow menus, and using shared tabs. The fact that OneDrive and SharePoint content shared through Quick Share retains permissions helps ensure privacy.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Many people raised their pitchforks believing that it would be Xbox that ultimately killed physical games. However, as Xbox and Sony continue to trade blows over who can make the most questionable decisions, Sony appears to have thrown Xbox a left hook.
In a new PlayStation Blog post, the company revealed that, and I quote, "physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles."
Ah, it's nice being the market leader. When you're in that position, you can make what I'd consider anti-consumer decisions, and realistically, there's not much anyone can do about it. Within the blog post, Sony explained its reasoning, stating:
"This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today."
Personally, I think the bigger motivation is that digital gives Sony far more control over how players buy and access games. If physical releases disappear, the second-hand market largely disappears with them. That means if you've been waiting months for a game to become affordable, you can no longer pick up a used copy from a retailer or even borrow a game from a friend. Instead, you're relying on Sony deciding when, or if, to discount it on the PlayStation Store.
To add insult to injury, however, Sony is also closing digital storefronts for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in July 2027. Now, admittedly, Xbox had already closed the Xbox 360 store awhile back, and I was mad at that too.
All of this does raise the question of whether the next generation of consoles will even include a disc drive on the PlayStation 6, and I think it’s a pretty clear: no. As things stand, I'd be surprised if Sony even offered an optional external disc drive. As for Project Helix, our sources also suggest that Microsoft's next-generation console will drop the disc drive, too.
It's certainly a far cry from the days when PlayStation was mocking Xbox on how to share physical games with friends. Oh, and don't forget to pour one out for game preservation, as that's pretty much dead outside of certain Nintendo Switch 2 games.
Don’t worry though, guys; I’m sure good news is right around the corner and nothing bad is about to happen across the gaming industry. Which of course is sarcasm on my part.
Do let me know your thoughts on all of this in the comments and do be sure to take part in our poll below:
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
After a directive by the Commerce Department last month to disable access to its Claude Fable 5 AI model for foreign nationals earlier this month, Anthropic has confirmed that it will start restoring access today. The firm saw increased tensions with the US government after the Pentagon designated the firm as a supply chain risk and the Commerce Department prevented it from providing access to its Mythos-class models to foreign nationals. Anthropic Says Mythos & Fable Restrictions Have Been Lifted Anthropic's Mythos AI created quite a bit of stir after it was released to a working group. In an update […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/anthropic-restores-claude-mythos-and-fable-access-as-commerce-department-lifts-export-controls-it-never-explained/
Apple’s price hikes took the industry and customers by surprise, with some buyers thankful that they bit the bullet early and saved nearly $3,000 on their top-end M5 Max MacBook Pro configurations. Sadly, not everyone was fortunate in this regard, but with a little luck and the use of OpenAI’s premium $200 ChatGPT Pro plan, one person successfully purchased a higher-end MacBook Pro and saved more than $2,000 while doing so. ChatGPT Pro revealed that a cheaper M5 Max MacBook Pro was available from a JD.com seller who forgot to adjust the price An M5 Max configuration featuring an 18-core CPU, 40-core GPU, […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/200-chatgpt-pro-plan-helped-a-m5-max-macbook-pro-customer-save-2000/
Modder rejuvenate has released yet another major update for The Witcher 3 Online, the mod that allows multiple users to play in CD Projekt RED's open world action RPG masterpiece. Two weeks ago, the mod received update 3.0, which brought full Gwent match synchronization, resurrecting online multiplayer matches years after CD Projekt RED took the standalone Gwent game offline for good. Now, update 4.0 introduces two big features: a party system and cutscene synchronization. You can find the full changelog below: Of course, this is still a mod bolted on to a game that was never meant to be multiplayer […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/the-witcher-3-online-mod-party-system-cutscene-sync/
If you’re planning to wait another year before buying a foldable phone in hopes of getting a better deal, that strategy may no longer work. Foldable phone prices will climb further, and 2026 is set to see an 18 percent jump alone.
The overall foldable market is rapidly shifting toward ultra-premium devices priced above $1,600. Delaying your purchase could actually mean paying more for the type of foldable that manufacturers increasingly prioritize.
A new Counterpoint report indicates that devices above the $1,600 price bracket could account for roughly 60 percent of all foldable shipments in 2026, fundamentally changing the category’s average selling price.
Industry estimates suggest Apple’s first foldable, widely rumored as the iPhone Ultra, could capture nearly 28 percent of the global foldable market in its first year.
Unlike many Android manufacturers that compete across multiple price tiers, Apple is expected to launch directly into the premium book-style segment.
That single move dramatically raises the industry’s weighted Average Selling Price (ASP). Ironically, it also hides the fact that lower-priced foldables continue getting cheaper underneath the surface.
The smartphone industry has reached a practical limit. Traditional slab phones maximize portability but struggle with multitasking. Flip phones prioritize compactness, yet sacrifice usable workspace.
Book-style foldables solve a completely different problem: they create a pocket-sized workspace capable of supporting simultaneous AI workflows. We found that multitasking is becoming the strongest justification for expensive foldables.
For years, consumers expected smartphones to become cheaper with time. Foldables are beginning to follow a different path, where the devices delivering the most productivity gains also command the industry’s highest premiums.
You may like:
The post Foldable phone prices are heading in an unexpected direction appeared first on Sammy Fans.
July 1, 2026 | Samsung may expand its premium tablet portfolio in the next few months. The company’s upcoming Galaxy Tab S12+ and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra might be unveiled in September 2026, as per @fireuniverse.
Original story…
Samsung isn’t reportedly bumping the battery capacity on its Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. New information coming out from the supply chain suggests a battery mAh stagnation on the company’s biggest tablet this year.
GalaxyClub revealed the possible battery capacity of the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. Samsung’s upcoming tablet reportedly retains an 11,600 mAh battery (11,374 mAh rated).
This is the same size battery the Korean tech giant installed inside the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. Charging speed could also remain unchanged at 45W, letting users charge their tablets faster.
While the battery size is staying same, Samsung may still bring battery life improvements. This would be powered by the utilization of a new chipset that’s coming from MediaTek.
Galaxy Tab S12 series could rely on MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 processor. This 3nm chipset is fabricated using TSMC’s 3nm 3NP process, offering performance and efficiency improvements.
The Dimensity 9500 uses three CPU clusters based on a fast ARM C1-Ultra core with up to 4.2 GHz, three C1-Premium cores at up to 3.5 GHz, and four smaller C1-Pro cores at up to 2.7 GHz.
In Geekbench 6, the Dimensity 9500 scores 3,177 in single-core and 9,701 in multi-core. The 9400+ pushes single-core slightly higher than the base 9400 thanks to its boosted 3.73 GHz prime core, but it still uses the same ARMv9.2 architecture.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 is up to 42% more efficient for graphics, powered by the new Mali-G1 Ultra. In terms of AI, it delivers 100% faster 3-billion-parameter LLM output, 128K token long-text processing, and 4K ultra-high-definition image generation on-device.
Samsung could launch the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra alongside the Tab S12 Plus sometime in September this year.
The post Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 tablets may launch in September 2026 appeared first on Sammy Fans.
Samsung initiated July 2026 with the first wave of Unpacked teasers, but what followed next has revealed the launch date of the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 foldable phone and Galaxy Watch 9 smartwatch.
In Malaysia, Samsung is giving away free shopping vouchers through the Members app. Galaxy users are seeing a newly published advertisement inside. The voucher is valued at RM 700, which translates to roughly $170.
Well, that’s not the entire story.
The Samsung ad published in the Members app also accidentally revealed the launch date of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Watch 9. The vouchers apply to “next foldable” or “next wearable” and qualify purchases starting July 22, 2026.
Once grabbed, Samsung users will be able to redeem the vouchers until October 4 on the Samsung Online store, and from August 11 to October 4 when shopping in-store.
Korean media had been reporting for months that July 22 is the strongest contender for the Galaxy Unpacked event. The in-person event could be organized in London, rather than a city in the United States or South Korea.
Samsung has a wide range of gadgets in the pipeline for its Summer Unpacked. Three foldable phones and two Wear OS smartwatches are coming. The company may also reveal progress on its intelligent eyewear (glasses).
Earlier today, Samsung released five teasers linked to the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The company has used a variety of stuff to build hype for the wide foldable model. An image also teased some of the color shades alongside the official wallpaper.
Read more here:
The post Samsung ad just revealed Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Watch 9 launch date appeared first on Sammy Fans.
Samsung recently began selling the new Galaxy A27 in the US, Europe and India, and here's the roundup of what changed compared to its predecessor. The display now has a punch hole notch, instead of a teardrop; while the SoC is the 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (replacing the 5nm Exynos 1380), and you've got 6 or 8 gigs of RAM (no more 4GB option). However, the ultrawide is worse on paper with its 5MP sensor (vs 8MP), and the phone has downgraded the Galaxy A26's IP67 to splash only IP64. The battery capacity is unchanged at 5,000mAh. The Galaxy A27 features the design refresh we saw on...
Uruguay'da Fernando Muslera'nın İspanya maçına yüksek ateşle çıktığı iddiaları ortalığı karıştırdı. Tartışmalara noktayı koyan teknik direktör Marcelo Bielsa, tecrübeli kalecinin durumundan haberdar olduğunu belirterek, "Devre arasında yaptığı hatadan dolayı takıma zarar vermemek için kendi isteğiyle çıktı. Bu, modern futbolda alışılmadık bir büyüklük ve cömertliktir" dedi.
Uruguay Milli Takımı Teknik Direktörü Marcelo Bielsa, İspanya maçı öncesinde Fernando Muslera'nın yüksek ateşle oynadığı ve bu durumun teknik heyetten gizlendiği iddialarına basın toplantısında yanıt verdi. Deneyimli teknik adam, çıkan spekülasyonları net bir dille yalanlarken, tecrübeli kalecinin sergilediği tavra övgüler yağdırdı.
Sızdırılan iddiaların aksine sağlık ekibiyle tam bir iletişim içinde olduğunu belirten Bielsa, süreci şu sözlerle özetledi:
- Maçtan önceki gün Muslera'nın ateşi 38.1 dereceydi ve bundan haberdardım. Ancak maç günü ateşi yoktu; hiçbir semptom, ağrı veya fiziksel kayıp yaşamadı. Oynamaya tamamen hazırdı.
Benzer bir durumu Federico Viñas’ın da yaşadığını hatırlatan Bielsa, Viñas’ın kendisini kötü hissettiğini söylemesi üzerine onu riske etmediğini, Muslera’nın ise oynamak için mükemmel durumda olduğunu vurguladı.
Muslera'nın devre arasında yerini Sergio Rochet'e bırakmasının arkasındaki çarpıcı gerçeği de açıklayan Bielsa, deneyimli kalecinin yaptığı hatanın ardından gösterdiği cömertliği şu sözlerle takdir etti:
- Kariyerimde daha önce hiçbir oyuncumun, yaptığı hatadan dolayı morali bozulduğu için oyundan çıkmak istediğini görmemiştim. Muslera, yaptığı hatadan o kadar sarsılmıştı ki, takımın maçı çevirme şansı varken ikinci yarıda en iyi performansını veremeyeceğini düşünerek oynamayı bırakmayı tercih etti. Bu, modern futbol dünyasında alışılmadık bir büyüklük ve cömertlik gösterisidir.
Almanya Futbol Federasyonu (DFB) genel merkezi ve 10 ev sahibi şehrin belediyesine 150'den fazla polisle şafak baskını düzenlendi. Euro 2024 biletleri ve VIP ağırlama paketlerinin kamu görevlilerine usulsüz dağıtıldığı iddiasıyla başlatılan dev soruşturmada, "yapılandırılmış bir yolsuzluk sistemi" mercek altına alındı.
Almanya, milli takımın Dünya Kupası'ndan elenmesinin şokunu atlatamadan, ülke futbol tarihinin en büyük skandallarından biriyle sarsıldı. Almanya Futbol Federasyonu’nun (DFB) Frankfurt’taki genel merkezine ve Euro 2024’e ev sahipliği yapan şehirlerin belediyelerine bu sabah geniş kapsamlı yolsuzluk operasyonları düzenlendi.
Kuzey Ren-Vestfalya eyalet ceza polisinden 150’den fazla müfettişin katıldığı şafak baskınlarında, turnuva biletleri ve ağırlama paketlerinin dağıtımında usulsüzlük yapıldığı iddiasıyla çok sayıda belgeye el konuldu.
Soruşturmacılar, kamu görevlilerini de içine alan, haksız avantajlar sağlamaya yönelik "yapılandırılmış bir sistemin" varlığını hamle hamle deşifre etti. Turnuvayı organize etmek için DFB ve UEFA ortaklığıyla kurulan Euro 2024 GmbH şirketi mercek altına alındı.
Soruşturmanın merkezinde biri 66 yaşında bir Alman, diğeri ise ev sahibi şehirlerle ilişkilerden sorumlu 46 yaşında bir Fransız vatandaşı olmak üzere iki üst düzey isim yer alıyor. Bu kişilerin, binlerce prestijli maç biletini ve VIP ağırlama paketini yerel yöneticilere usulsüz şekilde tahsis ettiği ileri sürülüyor.
Yolsuzluk ağının somut örneklerinden biri Gelsenkirchen'de patlak verdi. Eski bir belediye yetkilisinin, Münih'te oynanan İspanya-Fransa yarı final maçı için seyahat ve konaklama dahil 2 bin 400 euro değerinde ağırlama paketi aldığı ve karşılığında haksız menfaat sağladığı iddia edildi. Eski yetkilinin evi aranırken, operasyonun dalga dalga yayıldığı bildirildi.
Emniyet güçleri, ele geçirilen dijital materyaller ve belgeler ışığında, biletlerin yönetmeliklere aykırı olarak hangi bürokratlar tarafından kabul edildiğini ve usulsüzlüğün mali boyutunu ortaya çıkaracak.
Shakhtar Teknik Direktörü Arda Turan, "Okan Buruk'tan sonra Galatasaray'ın başına geçmek ister misin?" sorusuna net bir yanıt verdi. Genç teknik adam, Şampiyonlar Ligi hayallerinden Messi-Ronaldo kıyaslamasına kadar çarpıcı açıklamalarda bulundu.
Shakhtar'da ile başarılı bir grafik çizen teknik direktör Arda Turan, Kafa Sports kanalında gündeme dair önemli değerlendirmeler yaptı. Galatasaray, Okan Buruk ve kariyer hedefleri hakkında konuşan Turan, lafı dolandırmadan içini döktü.
Galatasaray’ın başına geçme ihtimali hakkında konuşan Arda Turan, Okan Buruk’a olan saygısını vurgulayarak şunları söyledi:
- Okan ağabeyden sonrayı düşünmeyi kendime yakıştıramıyorum. Galatasaray konusunda fazla duygusalım. Bir gün Okan ağabey Avrupa'nın en büyük takımlarına gider, Galatasaray da bana teklif yapar; o zaman oturur konuşuruz. Kulübümüz, yuvamız.
Birlikte çalıştığı dünya çapındaki teknik adamlardan beslendiğini belirten Turan, devasa hedefleri olduğunu gizlemedi:
- Şampiyonlar Ligi'ni kazanmak istiyorum. Çok büyük hayallerim var. Kendi sistemime inanıyor ve geliştiriyorum. Luis Enrique, Simeone, Fatih Hoca ve Guardiola... Hepsinin aldıklarının içindeydim, bu benim için büyük avantaj.
- Hayalim Avrupa'daki en iyi takımları çalıştırmak. İlişkilerimiz ve yönetim şeklimizle buralara çok uzak olduğumu düşünmüyorum.
- Kendi sahamız olmadığı için Şampiyonlar Ligi bizim için çok zor olacak, her maça 20 saat gideceğiz. Rakipler bambaşka seviyede ama oyunumuzdan vazgeçmeyeceğiz.
Yıllardır süregelen "Messi mi, Ronaldo mu?" tartışmasına da son noktayı koyan Arda Turan, "Birisi bu soruya ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’ cevabını veriyorsa o kişiyle futbol konuşmam ben. Ronaldo dünyanın en iyi futbolcusu ama Messi bu dünyadan değil" ifadelerini kullandı.
Öte yandan programda, tecrübeli teknik adam Sergen Yalçın'ın Arda Turan'a yönelik "Ona bir tavsiyem var, Türkiye'ye sakın gelmesin" sözleri de hatırlatıldı.
Dursun Özbek yönetiminin takımda tutmak için şartları zorladığı Mauro Icardi için geri sayım başladı. Arjantin'de sakin bir bekleyişe geçen yıldız golcünün Galatasaray'ın teklifine vereceği yanıt 3 saat içinde belli oluyor.
Galatasaray'da dünya yıldızı Mauro Icardi’nin takımdaki geleceğiyle ilgili nefesler tutuldu. Sarı-kırmızılı camiada Arjantinli golcü konusunda son derece kritik saatler yaşanıyor.
Arjantinli gazeteci Gustavo Mendez’in öğle saatlerinde paylaştığı bilgilere göre, Icardi’nin kaderi önümüzdeki 3 saat içinde netleşecek.
Dursun Özbek ve yönetiminin takımda tutmayı çok istediği Mauro Icardi için Galatasaray cephesi tüm şartları zorluyor. Yıldız oyuncunun sarı-kırmızılı kulübün kendisine sunduğu 1+1 yıllık yeni sözleşme teklifini kabul edip etmeyeceği merak konusu.
Gazeteci Mendez, "Edindiğim bilgilere göre, Icardi'nin Galatasaray'ın teklifini kabul edip etmeyeceğine ilişkin çok önemli gelişmeler yaşanacak" sözleriyle kararın an meselesi olduğunu duyurdu.
Geleceğine dair kritik bir virajda olan Mauro Icardi’nin yakın çevresi, oyuncunun şu an için "çok sakin" olduğunu belirtiyor. Yıldız futbolcunun şu sıralarda Nordelta'daki konutu *"La Casa de los Sueños"*ta China Suárez ile birlikte bulunduğu gelen bilgiler arasında.
Galatasaray taraftarının heyecanla beklediği süreçte gözler bir diğer yandan da menajerlik cephesine çevrildi. Icardi'nin menajeri Elio Pino'nun, transfer süreci ve oyuncunun kararına ilişkin kısa süre içinde resmi bir açıklama yapacağı öğrenildi.
Icardi "Tamam mı, devam mı?" diyecek? Kulübe yakın kaynaklar ve Arjantin basını, önümüzdeki 3 saatin Galatasaray'ın önümüzdeki sezonki gol planlamasını tamamen değiştirebileceğini vurguluyor.
Galatasaray, transferinde sona yaklaştığı Jhon Duran'ın sözleşmesine "disiplinsiz davranış halinde tek taraflı fesih" maddesi koydurarak finansal ve idari riskleri sıfıra indirdi.
Galatasaray'ın transfer gündeminde ilk sıralarda yer alan Jhon Duran konusunda sıcak bir gelişme yaşandı. Sarı-kırmızılı yönetim, Kolombiyalı golcünün transferi için yürütülen görüşmelerde kulübün geleceğini garanti altına alacak çok kritik bir hamleye imza attı.
Kolombiyalı gazeteci Julián Capera'nın paylaştığı bilgilere göre; Galatasaray, Jhon Duran ile yapılacak sözleşmeye özel bir disiplin maddesi ekletti. Oyuncunun geçmiş dönemlerde yaşadığı saha dışı problemlerini göz önünde bulunduran sarı-kırmızılı kurmaylar, kontrata "tek taraflı fesih" hakkı koydurdu.
Yapılan anlaşmaya göre, Duran'ın takım içinde disiplinsiz davranışlar sergilemesi veya kulüp huzurunu bozacak hareketlerde bulunması halinde, Galatasaray herhangi bir tazminat yükümlülüğü altına girmeden sözleşmeyi tek taraflı olarak sonlandırabilecek.
Sarı-kırmızılı yönetimin bu katı kuralı oyuncu cephesine de kabul ettirdiği ve böylece hem finansal hem de idari riskleri sıfıra indirdiği belirtildi. İmzaların kısa süre içinde atılması bekleniyor.
Başakşehir'in stoperi Jerome Opoku, Beşiktaş'ın transfer gündemindeki yerini koruyor. Sergen Yalçın'ın "Zamanında çok istedim" dediği, Önder Özen'in de tam not verdiği Ganalı savunmacı için Hull City ve Como da devrede.
Başakşehir formasıyla sergilediği başarılı performansla dikkatleri üzerine çeken Jerome Opoku, transfer döneminin en çok konuşulan isimlerinden biri haline geldi. Ganalı stoper için hem Süper Lig hem de Avrupa kulüpleri sıraya girdi.
Footy-Africa'nın haberine göre; 27 yaşındaki savunmacı için şu anda üç kulüp devrede. Opoku’yu kadrosuna katmak isteyen ekipler; Beşiktaş, Hull City ve Como.
Yorumculuğa döndükten sonra transfer gündemine dair çarpıcı açıklamalar yapan eski Beşiktaş Teknik Direktörü Sergen Yalçın, siyah-beyazlı takımı çalıştırdığı dönemde de Opoku'yu çok istediğini dile getirmişti.
Beşiktaş’ın futbol direktörü Önder Özen’in de Ganalı stoperi çok beğendiği ve geçer not verdiği öğrenildi. Siyah-beyazlılar, eski teknik heyetlerinin de listesinde yer alan başarılı savunmacı için girişimlerini sürdürüyor.
A Milli Takım'ın genç yıldızı Can Uzun turnuva sonrası sessizliğini bozarken, adı transfer piyasasında sıkça anılan Galatasaray iddiaları hakkında tek kelime etmedi.
A Milli Takım'ın genç yeteneği Can Uzun, turnuvanın ardından sessizliğini bozdu. Sosyal medya hesabından taraftara seslenen milli futbolcu, transfer döneminin gözdesi olmasına rağmen Galatasaray iddiaları hakkında tek kelime etmedi.
Turnuva sonrası kendisini dış dünyaya kapatarak değerlendirme yaptığını belirten Can Uzun, hayal ettikleri başarıya ulaşamadıkları için üzgün olduklarını dile getirdi. Ay-yıldızlı formayı giymekten gurur duyduğunu vurgulayan genç oyuncu, "Ülkemize çok daha fazlasını yaşatmayı hayal etmiştik ama maalesef istediğimiz gibi olmadı. Şans bulduğum her an elimden gelenin en iyisini vermeye çalıştım" dedi.
Taraftarların hayal kırıklığını paylaştıklarını belirten Can Uzun, geleceğe yönelik kararlılık mesajı verdi:
- Sizin üzüntünüzü hissediyoruz çünkü biz de aynı üzüntüyü yaşıyoruz. Bundan ders çıkaracağız, daha güçlü döneceğiz ve her zamankinden daha çok çalışmaya devam edeceğiz.
Açıklamasında tamamen milli takıma ve taraftarlara odaklanan Can Uzun'un, adı transfer piyasasında sıkça anılan Galatasaray ya da geleceğiyle ilgili hiçbir ipucu vermemesi dikkat çekti. Yıldız oyuncunun transfer sessizliğini ne zaman bozacağı ise merak konusu.
Beşiktaş'ın Slovakya kampı kadrosunun açıklanmasıyla "Orkun Kökçü tatil yapmadan kampa katılacak" iddiaları yalan oldu; kulübün paylaştığı resmi takvime göre milli kaptan 10 Temmuz'da takıma dahil olacak.
Beşiktaş’ın Slovakya kampı kadrosunun açıklanmasıyla birlikte, futbol kamuoyunu meşgul eden "Orkun Kökçü" iddiası asılsız çıktı. Milli takımdan dönen kaptan Orkun Kökçü’nün hiç tatil yapmadan hemen Beşiktaş’ın Slovakya kampına katılacağı yönündeki iddialar, kulübün resmi açıklamasıyla yalanlandı.
Siyah-beyazlı kulüp, oyuncuların kampa katılım takvimini duyurarak spekülasyonlara son noktayı koydu. Açıklanan programa göre Orkun Kökçü tatile ara vermeyecek ve Dünya Kupasından elenen diğer Beşiktaşlı oyuncularla birlikte 10 Temmuz'da takıma dahil olacak.
Kulüpten yapılan bu net bilgilendirmeyle birlikte, milli oyuncunun dinlenmeden sezona başlayacağı yönündeki asılsız haberler de boşa çıkmış oldu.
Wimbledon tek kadınlar ikinci turunda mücadele eden milli tenisçi Zeynep Sönmez rakibi Claire Liu'ya 7-5 ve 6-3'lük setlerle 2-0 mağlup olarak turnuvaya veda etti.
Sezonun üçüncü grand slam tenis turnuvası için Wimbledon’da heyecan sürüyor. Tek kadınlar kategorisinde ülkemizi temsil eden milli tenisçi Zeynep Sönmez, ikinci tur mücadelesinde turnuvaya veda etti.
Milli raket, Çinli tenisçi Claire Liu ile karşı karşıya geldiği korttan 2-0 mağlup ayrıldı.
Set Sonuçları
1. Set: 5 - 7 (Claire Liu)
2. Set: 3 - 6 (Claire Liu)
Karşılaşmanın ilk setinde başabaş bir mücadele sergileyen Zeynep Sönmez, setin son bölümünde rakibinin servis kırmasına engel olamadı ve ilk seti 7-5 kaybetti. İkinci sette oyun üstünlüğünü eline alan Claire Liu, seti 6-3 kazanarak adını bir üst tura yazdıran taraf oldu.
Bu sonuçla birlikte Zeynep Sönmez'in Wimbledon serüveni ikinci turda noktalandı.
Süper Lig ekiplerinden Kocaelispor, Alman futbolcu Makana Baku'yu kadrosuna kattığını açıkladı.
Kocaelispor, Demokratik Kongo Cumhuriyeti asıllı Alman futbolcu Makana Baku ile 2 yıllık sözleşme imzaladı.
Kulübün, ABD merkezli X sosyal medya platformundaki hesabından yapılan paylaşımda, "Kulübümüz ile Makana Baku arasında 2 yıllık sözleşme imzalanmıştır. Oyuncumuza kutsal armamız altında başarılar diliyoruz." ifadesine yer verildi.
Baku, Yunanistan Süper Lig ekiplerinden Atromitos'ta geçen sezon kupa dahil 40 maçta sahaya çıktı. 28 yaşındaki kanat oyuncusu, bu maçlarda 13 gol attı.
Beşiktaş'ta ayrılıklar sürüyor...Siyah-beyazlı kulüp Cengiz Ünder ve El Bilal Toure'ye veda etti.
Beşiktaş Kulübü, takımda kiralık olarak forma giyen Cengiz Ünder ve El Bilal Toure ile yolların ayrıldığını açıkladı.
Kulüpten yapılan açıklamada, "Geçici transfer ile kadromuzda yer alan Cengiz Ünder'e kulübümüze katkıları için teşekkür eder, bundan sonraki kariyerinde başarılar dileriz." denildi.
Geçen sezon başında İtalya temsilcisi Atalanta'dan kiralanan Malili hücum oyuncusu ile ilgili açıklamada ise, "Geçici transfer ile kadromuzda yer alan El Bilal Toure'ye kulübümüze katkıları için teşekkür eder, bundan sonraki kariyerinde başarılar dileriz." ifadeleri kullanıldı.
Fenerbahçe'den kiralık olarak kadroya katılan Cengiz Ünder, geçen sezon 26 lig maçında 5 kez fileleri havalandırdı. 28 yaşındaki hücum oyuncusu, 3 kez de Ziraat Türkiye Kupası müsabakasında forma giydi.
El Bilal Toure ise Beşiktaş formasıyla çıktığı 26 resmi müsabakada 7 kez gol sevinci yaşadı.
Tesla has hired Gary Jiang, an Intel veteran who most recently was responsible for installing equipment and transferring Intel's leading-edge 18A technology process from development fab in Oregon to the company's high-volume fab in Arizona, as spotted by Electrek.co. The appointment marks the first publicly identified senior leadership hire for Elon Musk's semiconductor production project, Terafab, which demonstrates Tesla's effort to build an experienced semiconductor manufacturing organization from the ground up by hiring veterans from other companies.
Gary Jiang joined Tesla in June 2026 after spending over 17 years at Intel, according to his LinkedIn profile. Interestingly, there is little to glean about his current role from his LinkedIn profile, aside from noting that he is a director at Tesla. His final position at Intel was as Factory Manager, where he oversaw the construction of the production facility, the installation of fabrication equipment, factory startup, product certification, preparation for high-volume manufacturing, and, ultimately, the transfer of Intel 18A technology from the development fab in Oregon to high-volume Fab 52 in Arizona.
Earlier in his Intel career, Jiang held multiple management positions at the company's Ocotillo campus in Chandler, Arizona, where he managed technician teams accountable for startup, ramp, yield, and output for 22nm, 14nm, and 10nm-class process technologies (which include Intel 10nm SuperFin and 10nm Enhanced SuperFin/ Intel 7) at Fab 32 and Fab 42.
Tesla has been looking for a Technical Program Manager (TPM) for semiconductor infrastructure, focused on end-to-end fab program delivery, since March, but without any success, as the job listing is still listed on the company's website. Therefore, Terafab — the joint initiative between Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI — still does not have a formal leader who is going to lead the whole project.
In his most recent role at Intel, Gary Jiang worked closely with supply chain, finance, and materials logistics for new factory planning for output, wafer cost, yield, and profit & loss, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also managed the billion-dollar capital equipment and startup of the fab. Hence, without any doubt, Jiang appears to have been one of the senior manufacturing leaders responsible for building and equipping Intel's new 18A-capable manufacturing facilities in Arizona (primarily Fab 52, and potentially Fab 62 as the campus expands). However, it would still be inaccurate to say he was the person responsible for building Fab 52 alone.
Jiang's skills roughly match what one would expect from a senior manufacturing executive helping commission a new leading-edge fab, so he will be instrumental in turning a newly constructed fab shell (or even cleanroom) into a production-ready semiconductor manufacturing facility.
However, he did not oversee the entire Fab 52/Fab 62 program and was not responsible for every stage of the project — from permitting and groundbreaking to construction, tool installation, and the ramp to high-volume manufacturing. Likewise, he is unlikely to lead the Terafab project as a whole. Nonetheless, given that Terafab is set to license Intel's 14A process technology, Gary Jiang is probably among the best candidates to equip a fab for an Intel manufacturing node.
In fact, one of the most confusing parts about Tesla's hiring people to work at Terafab is that Tesla itself will not own any high-volume semiconductor production facilities; SpaceX will, according to Elon Musk.
In the near term, Tesla plans to build a $3 billion semiconductor R&D center at its Texas campus. The facility will house a small pilot line capable of processing a few thousand wafers per month to develop and validate new manufacturing technologies before they are scaled for commercial production.
Once the pilot line shows signs of success, SpaceX is expected to construct a full-scale high-volume manufacturing fab. However, coordinating a joint project between Tesla and SpaceX will add complexity, as major decisions require approval from both companies' boards and must undergo conflict-of-interest reviews, which will likely slow execution.
That said, given that Gary Jiang was hired by Tesla, not SpaceX, his responsibilities could be to equip and ramp a development facility at its Gigafactory Texas campus rather than build, equip, and ramp a high-volume fab for SpaceX. In any case, we are speculating here, and nothing can really stop SpaceX from hiring Jiang at some point down the line.
If you missed the Prime Day sales that week on PC components, we have you covered. While Newegg combo deals with RAM are sparse right now, B&H has a worthwhile 3-item combo to help move you into AMD’s AM5 platform without breaking the bank. For only $617.66 ($119 / ~18% off), you get the Ryzen 5 7600X CPU, 2x 8 GB Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5-6000 RAM, and the Asus B650E Max Gaming Wi-Fi motherboard.
Together, these provide a solid foundation for your new PC, and the best part, to me, is that you can upgrade to the 9000-series processors down the road and get even more life and performance out of the platform. The combined value of this bundle means that you're paying the equivalent of just $259.99 for the RAM in this bundle, which is an important saving given how much the AI boom has forced prices to rise in recent months.
The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 4 CPU that runs at a 4.7 GHz base and 5.3 GHz boost clock and has plenty of grunt for today’s games and other PC activities. We reviewed this chip at launch and, at the time, dubbed it “...the fastest gaming chip on the market for $300.”
Jump into the AM5 platform with this excellent starter bundle at B&H. This 3-item bundle gets you into the highly upgradeable AM5 platform without breaking the bank.View Deal
As you can see from the CPU benchmarks below, it held its own in the gaming tests, beating most Intel chips of the time. Its relatively tame TDP (105/142W) also makes it easier to cool than some of the other chips up the product stack.
The RAM portion of the combo is Corsair’s Vengeance RGB 16GB (2x8GB) DRR5-6000 CL40 kit. This black kit pairs well with the included Asus B650E Max motherboard and features a frosted RGB light bar that runs the length of the sticks, drawing attention inside your case. Or, if RGB lighting isn’t your thing and you prefer a stealthy appearance, you can also disable it. The DDR5-6000 speed lands in the sweet spot for the AM5 platform and is a worthwhile, good-looking option. The SK Hynix ICs under the heatsink pair nicely with the board and offer plenty of overclocking headroom, especially with the AI overclocking support.
You're also getting the Asus B650E Max Gaming Wifi motherboard in this bundle. This B650-based offering is a good foundation for your AM5 system. This black and white board (sorry, no RGBs) comes fully loaded with three M.2 sockets (one PCIe 5.0) and four SATA ports for storage, eight USB ports (including one 10 Gbps Type-C) on the rear IO, 2.5 GbE and integrated Wi-Fi 6E for networking, and of course a PCIe 5.0 slot for primary graphics. While this isn’t a high-end board, it’s great for the 7600X in the combo, and with the latest BIOS, the 9000-series processors are a simple drop-in upgrade.
If you’re looking to jump into the AM5 platform on the cheap, this $617.66 bundle combo from B&H is a good way to do so while saving some money. It’s not the latest and greatest hardware out there, but it's plenty capable as is and it lets you upgrade to any compatible AM5 processor, including the existing 9000-series and upcoming Zen 6 CPUs.
If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, gaming chair, or CPU Deals pages.
Also, you can join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.
Well, it's official: Sony has just announced that it will stop production of PlayStation game discs starting in January 2028. After January 2028, no more game discs will be produced, and games will only be available through the PlayStation Store and "at retailers in digital formats only." It's a move that anyone could have guessed was coming but which is nonetheless frustrating to many fans, as it essentially rings the death knell for physical media in cutting-edge gaming.
I say "anyone could have guessed" because you'd have to have your head in the sand to ignore all the factors pointing this way. The biggest of such factors is arguably the reality that Blu-ray drive production has sharply wound down outside of game consoles. But there's also the fact that the vast majority of games purchased today are already purchased digitally; in Q4 2025, 85% of PlayStation games were purchased digitally, and if you zoom out to look at the entire US video game market, the PC and mobile markets are already effectively 100% digital.
That's what Sony is talking about when it says it's making the change "in response to shifting trends in consumer preference." Still, the majority isn't everyone, and there are absolutely die-hard gamers out there who demand physical copies because a digital license isn't ownership. All you need to look at to understand this stark reality is the incident just three days ago where PlayStation announced that it is removing over 500 movies from customers' accounts in the UK and Europe because of an expired licensing agreement.
Defenders of the move will point to the aforementioned 100% digital nature of PC gaming as a counterpoint against the pushback to the death of physical media. But there's a key difference, and that's that PC gaming is done on PCs, opening up tools like backups and private servers for game preservation. This is possible on consoles too, of course, but it's a lot more work.
In January 2028, when the move takes effect, the PlayStation 5 will have just passed its seventh birthday; obviously, the PlayStation 6 will have either just launched or be on the horizon, depending on whose leaks you believe. Those same leaks have claimed that the PlayStation 6 would have the option for a detachable or optional disc drive, and that might still be true, but if so, it would exist exclusively for backward compatibility reasons. If that ends up being the case, we will have to applaud Sony for taking care of its customers that way; it would have been just as easy to leave PS4 and PS5 owners with large physical libraries in the lurch, with no way to play their old games on the new machine. Of course, if those rumors of an optional drive turn out to be false, "leaving players in the lurch" is exactly what Sony will be doing.
It's impossible to deny that there is a certain satisfaction in cracking open a plastic case, pulling out a physical disc, and inserting it into the console to select your game. It's also undeniable that it's really nice to be able to scroll a list of all my games and then click on any of them and be playing in seconds. The cold truth is that digital game downloads are more convenient and easier to manage for everyone at every step of the process, and so this move was coming eventually, no matter what.
Important updates: News on physical discs for new games - https://t.co/BzZODXdWGYNews on PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita - https://t.co/ev3mN6wj14 pic.twitter.com/PWXTZGHAh6July 1, 2026
However, it is darkly ironic that Sony announced this news in the very same tweet where it announced that it's shutting down the PlayStation Store on the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita systems. After the first attempt at this was walked back in 2021 after community outcry, the company has decided five years later that it simply has to cut off support because the old storefronts supposedly can't be updated to support "modern commerce systems," including contemporary global payment processing security standards. There's no technical reason that's true, of course; the reality is simply that Sony doesn't want to continue supporting these nearly 20-year-old machines anymore.
That's wholly understandable, but at the same time, it really does provide the perfect backdrop for the death of discs, as later PlayStation consoles can't play PS3 games, neither disc nor digital. That means that, when the PlayStation Store for PS3 finally dies in July 2027, there will be no official way to acquire and play those games... besides used discs, of course. As for PlayStation 6, that stands to be one of the first consoles to never have a used game market, a momentous end of an era.
Residents of Memphis and Southaven, Tennessee, are eligible for a 50% discount on Starlink plans, as well as a waiver on hardware rental, as SpaceX’s way of investing in areas close to its data centers. According to the Starlink website, the discount would apply automatically based solely on the subscriber’s address, cutting the cost of a 100 Mbps plan from $55 (plus the $10 Monthly Kit Fee) to just $27.50. Even the most expensive Max plan, which could hit speeds of more than 400+ Mbps and costs $130 monthly (plus the $10 hardware rental), would drop to just $65.
SpaceX SVP for Starlink Michael Nicolls shared the news on X, saying, “The unique capabilities of the Colossus datacenters could not be accomplished without the partnership and support from the local Memphis community. Happy to bring affordable and great @SpaceX @Starlink connectivity to our neighbors.” Elon Musk also said in a post, “Half price Starlink for people in the Memphis region,” while sharing a post that talks about the discount. This is great news for users in the area who are already using Starlink or are planning to switch to it, but critics say that this is simply a PR stunt to help give the company a positive image as it faces lawsuits for air and noise pollution.
Earlier this year, @SpaceX acquired @xAI (now SpaceXAI), which operates the Colossus datacenters in Memphis. As SpaceX continues to invest in the area, SpaceX is offering our neighbors in the Memphis area no upfront hardware costs on Residential @Starlink kits for new customers… pic.twitter.com/BfnOHHPLOxJune 30, 2026
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has previously sued the company for the alleged “illegal” generators that it used to run the Colossus site, while another class action was filed last month over the “near-constant noise” and vibrations that surrounding areas experience from the data centers, according to PCMag. "Communities in Memphis and North Mississippi aren’t asking for discounted internet service,” SELC Senior Attorney Amanda Garcia told the publication. “They're asking xAI to shut down its illegal, unpermitted power plant that continues to pump out staggering amounts of harmful (sic) pollution, including smog-forming nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter, and hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde.”
But even though the EPA itself said that xAI isn’t exempt from securing permits for its gas turbine generators, it seems that the community is on the back foot in this legal battle. This became apparent after the U.S. government asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, saying in a legal memorandum that shutting down xAI’s generators “threatens American national, economic, and energy security by seeking to shut off the power supply for artificial-intelligence innovation that supports the Department of War’s military operations.”
The Starlink discount for the community surrounding SpaceXAI’s data centers would make it more affordable for users who have no access to reliable wired internet. However, Memphis and Southaven are both urban areas with no shortage of faster and cheaper wired fiber alternatives. AT&T and Xfinity offer 300 Mbps plans that only cost between $40 and $45 per month — about $20 more affordable than the discounted Starlink Max plan.
Oerno is an AI travel agent that plans and books your entire trip in one place. Describe your trip, and it assembles flights, stays, transfers, and experiences from major providers with real prices, letting you check out once for the whole itinerary. Connect to 500+ airlines and 1M+ stays, and book attractions without middleman markups. Use standalone tools or add cars, eSIMs, and events. The Bookings Hub keeps every confirmation, ticket, and receipt searchable and sharable.
I built Prism.AI to give everyday investors, including myself, a clearer view of what they own, with no Bloomberg terminal or finance degree required. It tracks your stocks, ETFs, and indices, pulls live prices, and uses AI sentiment analysis to rate the day's news on each holding as bearish, neutral, or bullish. Clarity, a built-in assistant powered by Claude, answers questions about your holdings and lets you adjust financial literacy levels from essentials to quant. It's information, not advice, never a call on what to buy or sell. Free with no sign-up, and your holdings stay locally in your browser.
The Bank of Korea’s governor praised tokenized government bonds for easing the issuance and management of government debt during a panel discussion at the ECB Forum.
Fransa millisinin hücumçusu Kilian Mbappe DÇ-2026-nın 1/16 finalında İsveçlə oyundan sonra Lionel Messi ilə bombardirlik yarışına münasibət bildirib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, 27 yaşlı forvard bu oyunda dubla imza atmaqla dünya çempionatlarındakı qol sayını 18-ə çatdıraraq Lionel Messinin (19 qol) rekorduna bir addım yaxınlaşıb.
Buna baxmayaraq, Mbappe əsas diqqətini fərdi rekordlara yox, komandanın uğuruna yönəltdiyini deyib:
“Messinin nə etdiyini izləmirəm. O, həmişə qol vurub, indi də vurur və bundan sonra da vuracaq. Mən həmişə bunu demişəm. Mən yalnız komandama kömək etməyi düşünürəm”, – deyə fransalı hücumçu bildirib.
Kilian Mbappe İsveçlə matçda vurduğu ilk qoldan sonra baş məşqçi Didye Deşamın yanına qaçaraq onu qucaqlamasının səbəbini də açıqlayıb. Onun sözlərinə görə, bu jest komandanın baş məşqçisinə dəstəyinin ifadəsi olub. Qeyd edək ki, Deşam qrup mərhələsi zamanı anasının vəfatı səbəbindən komandanın düşərgəsini müvəqqəti tərk etmişdi:
“Bu, komandamızın DNT-sidir. Biz həmişə birlikdəyik. Bilirik ki, baş məşqçimiz çətin günlər yaşayır. Təəssüf ki, hər kəs həyatında belə anlarla üzləşə bilər. Futboldan daha vacib məsələlər var. Bu jestlə ona göstərmək istədik ki, heç vaxt tək olmayacaq”, – deyə Mbappe vurğulayıb.
Qeyd edək ki, Fransa millisi 1/8 finalda Paraqvayla qarşılaşacaq. Mbappe isə hazırda DÇ-2026-da 6 qolla bombardirlər siyahısının zirvəsində qərarlaşıb və dünya çempionatları tarixinin bombardirləri siyahısında 18 qolla ikinci pillədə yer alır. Messinin hesabında isə 19 qol var.
Azərbaycanı Avropa Liqasında təmsil edəcək “Qarabağ” Avstriyadakı təlim-məşq toplanışı çərçivəsində bu gün daha bir yoxlama oyunu keçirib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Qurban Qurbanovun baş məşqçi olduğu kollektiv Ukrayna təmsilçisi “Xarkov”la üz-üzə gəlib.
Güclü yağış altında keçirilmiş və məhsuldar alınmış qarşılaşma rəqibin 6:2 hesablı qələbəsi ilə başa çatıb. Azərbaycan komandasının qollarını Jali Muaddib və penaltidən dəqiq yararlanmış Kadi Borges vurublar.
Qeyd edək ki, “köhlən atlar” bu gün daha bir yoxlama matçına çıxacaqlar. Ağdam klubu Bakı vaxtı ilə saat 19:30-da start götürəcək oyunda Macarıstan təmsilçisi “Ferentsvaroş”la qarşılaşacaq.
Xatırladaq ki, Avstriyadakı ilk yoxlama oyununda “Tirol”a 4 cavabsız qolla qalib gəlmiş “Qarabağ” Bakıda “Zirə”ni 4:3 hesabı ilə məğlub etmişdi.
Bu yay Fransanın “Lill” komandasından ayrılmış Bruno Jenezio bundan sonra Liqa 1-in digər təmsilçisi “Olimpik”ə (Marsel) rəhbərlik edəcək.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Marsel klubu rəsmi açıqlama yayıb.
58 yaşlı mütəxəssis bu vəzifədə bir neçə gün əvvəl komandadan ayrılmış Habib Beyeni əvəz edib. Seneqallı çalışdırıcının rəhbərliyi altında Marsel “Olimpik”i ötən mövsüm Fransa Liqa 1-də 5-ci yeri tutaraq avrokuboklara vəsiqə qazanmışdı.
Jenezionun son iş yeri isə “Lill” olub. O, 2024-cü ilin yayından bu komandaya rəhbərlik edirdi. 59 yaşlı mütəxəssis sözügedən komandanı bütövlükdə 99 oyuna çıxarıb, 50 qələbə, 19 heç-heçə, 30 məğlubiyyət görüb. Təcrübəli mütəxəssisin rəhbərliyi altında “Lill” ötən mövsümü Liqa 1-də 3-cü pillədə başa vuraraq UEFA Çempionlar Liqasına vəsiqə əldə edib.
Bruno Jenezio məşqçilik karyerası ərzində “Vilfranş”, “Rasinq” (Bezanson), “Olimpik” (Lion), “Beytsin Qoan”, “Renn” kimi klublarda da baş məşqçi kimi çalışıb. Jenezio xüsusilə Lion “Olimpik”indəki fəaliyyəti dövründə komandanı ardıcıl olaraq UEFA Çempionlar Liqasına çıxarmağı bacarıb.
Marsel klubunun rəhbərliyi təcrübəli çalışdırıcının rəhbərliyi altında komandanın həm daxili çempionatda, həm də avrokuboklarda daha uğurlu çıxış edəcəyinə ümid edir.
Yeni mövsümün hazırlıqlarını davam etdirən “Şəfa” ilk legioner transferini reallaşdırıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Bakı təmsilçisi yarımmüdafiəçi Vlad Marian Popu heyətinə qatıb. Rumıniyalı futbolçu ilə 1+1 illik müqavilə imzalanıb.
Rumıniya U-21 millisinin sabiq üzvü olan Vlad son olaraq “Unirea Sloboziya”nın formasını geyinib. 25 yaşlı futbolçu karyerası ərzində “Universitatea Krayova” və “Mioveni” kimi klublarda da çıxış edib.
“Atletiko” futbolçusu Koke ilə müqaviləni uzadıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. 33 yaşlı yarımmüdafiəçi ilə anlaşmanın müddəti 2027-ci ilin yayına kimi artırılıb.
Koke 2009-cu ildən “Atletiko”da çıxış edir. O, komandada ən çox oyun keçirən futbolçudur.
Azərbaycan millisi UEFA Millətlər Liqasında növbəti ev oyununu Gəncədə keçirəcək.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə AFFA-nın mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.
Yığma komanda oktyabrın 4-də Litva millisini Gəncə şəhər stadionunda qəbul edəcək.
Qarşılaşma UEFA Millətlər Liqası çərçivəsində keçiriləcək.
Avstriyada təlim-məşq toplanışında olan “Qarabağ” bu gün növbəti yoxlama oyununu keçirib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Qurban Qurbanovun rəhbərlik etdiyi kollektiv əvvəlcə Ukraynanın “Xarkov” komandası ilə qarşılaşıb. 8 qolun vurulduğu matç rəqibin qələbəsiylə başa çatıb – 6:2.
“Qarabağ”ın qollarını Jali Muaddib və Kadi Borges vurub.
“Qarabağ” bu gün daha bir oyun keçirəcək. Komanda Macarıstan təmsilçisi “Ferentsvaroş”la qarşılaşacaq. Matç saat 19:30-da start götürəcək.
“Qarabağ” toplanış çərçivəsində bir neçə gün əvvəl yerli “Tirol”a qalib gəlib – 4:0.
“Barselona” futbolçusu Andreas Kristensenlə müqaviləni uzadıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. Danimarkalı müdafiəçi ilə anlaşmanın müddəti 2028-ci ilin yayına kimi artırılıb.
Kristensen ötən mövsüm La Liqada 13 oyuna çıxıb.
“Qarabağ”dan ayrılan Emmanuel Addai karyerasını İtaliyada davam etdirə bilər.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Leççe” qanalı vingerin xidmətində maraqlıdır. Bu barədə Afrika mətbuatı məlumat yayıb. Hazırda azad agent olan Addaiyə daha bir neçə ölkədən təkliflər var və o, hələ seçimini etməyib.
Addai ötən mövsüm “Qarabağ”ın heyətində bütün turnirlərdə keçirdiyi 49 oyunda 8 qol vurub, 4 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.
If today's news that PlayStation will stop producing physical game discs in 2028 wasn't bad enough, the company has also quietly announced that it will be closing the PS3 and PS Vita storefronts soon.
On the official PlayStation Blog, the company argues that the decision was driven by the fact that these old systems "are no longer able" to support "modern commerce systems" and current payment processing standards.
"PS3 and PS Vita represent an important era in our PlayStation history, so this was not an easy decision for us to make" the post says.
The storefronts will not be wound down immediately. It will be discontinued next month in Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua, then "additional Latin American and Middle Eastern countries" later in 2026.
For those in the US, UK, and Australia, the PlayStation Store will go offline on PS3 and PS Vita in July 2027. That gives you roughly a year to make any final digital purchases if you still have those consoles lying around.
Importantly, Sony does at least say that "players will still be able to download previously purchased content" once the stores are offline for "the foreseeable future" so it sounds like you at least won't lose access to anything that you have bought.
The reactions to the news in the comments have been overwhelmingly negative, with one PlayStation fan writing that "This is why physical media matters. More and more proof that you’re just buying a license that can be taken away whenever companies feel like it."
Another wrote: "Just stripping out everything today from us huh?! How much money is enough for you guys to not make everything worse?"
It seems that the number of ways AI is changing the world is increasing. The requirement for more RAM to run new AI features in Apple products is already being blamed for the recent price increase in Apple products, as well as for the current high price of RAM itself.
Now, according to a recent Reuters report, AI is also to blame for the number of iOS and macOS updates we'll need to install. The bad news is that it's going up, all because of the threat posed by the latest AI models and their potential to aid cyberattacks.
Instead of waiting for the next scheduled operating system update for the latest round of security fixes to arrive, Apple is now delivering individual security updates ahead of the next iOS and macOS 26.6 update.
If you look in Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone, you'll see that iOS 26.5.2 is waiting for you now, unless your iPhone already installed it overnight.
The description for the update reads, rather vaguely: "This update provides security fixes for your iPhone," but it's the dangers posed by AI that are driving this update, so make sure you install it promptly.
Details of the security updates for all Apple operating systems are available on the Apple Security Updates page.
The Reuters article states that the urgency of the update is due to the risk that AI now poses to Apple devices.
"The company told Reuters on Monday it was adapting to the reality that, given the ability of artificial intelligence to speed the development of malicious hacking tools, it needed to reduce the time between when updates were first made public and when they were put into customers' hands."
It looks increasingly likely that this will become the new normal for security updates, and companies like Apple won't be able to rely on bundling the latest security fixes into the next scheduled operating system update. Stand-alone security patches delivered whenever they're needed are something we're all going to have to get used to.
While it might be annoying to keep updating our tech gadgets more often, it's a small price to pay for better security in the AI era. We'll just have to get used to software updates being less about new features and more about staying ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
The England vs India 2026 T20I series will feature five matches that could hardly be more fascinatingly poised. Both sides have struggled recently, so you won't want to miss a ball, starting today at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street.
India have sensationally dispensed of the services of their T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav. Shreyas Iyer, despite last featuring in a T20I in December 2023, has taken the reins, with Yadav not even in the squad. Yet Iyer had an ignominious start with a 2-0 series defeat by Ireland last month.
The captaincy issue has overshadowed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's much-anticipated international arrival. The 15-year-old phenomenon, who was the IPL 2026 top scorer with 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, is set to bump Sachin Tendulkar as India's youngest men's debutant.
It's not been the smoothest of buildups for the hosts, either, with skipper Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell set to play in the 1st T20I less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the England vs New Zealand 3rd Test. Brook will be very much in the spotlight, in the immediate aftermath of Ben Stokes' international retirement.
The limited-overs skipper's talent has never been in question, but his maturity, decision-making and temperament have left a lot to be desired both on and off the field. It's perhaps the reason why veterans Jos Buttler and Liam Dawson have both been included in the squad.
So read on as we explain how to watch the England vs India 2026 T20I series online, on TV and potentially for free wherever you are.
England vs India T20I coverage is locked behind a paywall, but in the US there are free trials available that will let you tune in for nothing.
The series is being shown on Willow TV, which is carried by DirecTV Stream (5-day free trial) and Fubo (7-day free trial).
Kayo Sports in Australia comes with a 7-day free trial, after which a subscription starts at AU$30/month.
You'll need a VPN to prevent you from getting geoblocked if you're abroad right now. We recommend NordVPN.
A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with up to 75% off.
🟩 NordVPN – get the world's best VPN
Not having a VPN is like leaving your front door wide open in a busy city – anyone can walk right in and take a peek.
TechRadar regularly reviews all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice.
✅ Up to 75% off today
✅ 3 extra months free
✅ Unlocks all necessary streaming services
Get NordVPN and live stream the England vs India 2026 T20I series from anywhere.View Deal
In the US, dedicated cricket streaming service Willow TV is the place to watch every game of the England vs India 2026 T20I series.
If you don't have it as part of your cable package, you can watch Willow coverage through your choice of Sling TV's Desi Binge Plus or Dakshin Flex plans – starting from $10 per month.
As we've mentioned above, Willow TV is also available on DirecTV Stream (5-day free trial) and Fubo (7-day free trial).
Outside the US? Use NordVPN to watch Willow TV's England vs India T20I coverage from anywhere.
The England vs India 2026 T20I series is being shown on Sky Sports. The games are being shown on the network's Cricket and Main Event channels.
Sky Sports plans start from £35/month, or £20 if you're an existing Sky subscriber. Alternatively, grab a Now Sports subscription from £14.99/day or £34.99/month.
Outside the UK right now? Use NordVPN to access your preferred coverage of the ENG vs IND T20 series.
The England vs India 2026 T20I series is being shown on the Sony Sports Network in India, with live streaming available via Sony LIV.
Sony LIV subscription plans in India start at ₹599 for the Mobile-Only yearly plan, while the Premium yearly plan costs ₹999.
If you're currently out of India but want to watch an England vs India T20I live stream, you'll need to get yourself a VPN, as per the instructions above.
The England vs India T20I series is being shown on Fox Cricket via Foxtel in Australia, with live streaming available via Kayo Sports.
Kayo Sports starts at AU$30 per month after a 7-day free trial. Or you can get your first month for AU$1.
Remember if you're out of Australia at all during the series, get yourself a VPN to stream ENG vs IND from anywhere in the world.
The England vs India 2026 T20I series is being shown on Supersport in South Africa.
You'll need to get a DStv access package to watch all five games, with prices starting at Rs99/month for the streaming version.
Abroad right now? Just use a VPN and tell your device that you're back home and you'll be good to go.
In New Zealand, Sky Sport NZ is showing the England vs India T20I series.
You can access Sky Sport through satellite TV or get a live stream, with the Sky Sport Now subscription service starting at $29.99 per day or $54.99 per month.
Those outside of New Zealand for any part of the series can use NordVPN to gain access to their home streaming service.
Schedule
(All times BST)
1st T20I: – 5.30pm, Wed, July 1 | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
2nd T20I: – 2.30pm, Sat, July 4 | Old Trafford, Manchester
3rd T20I: 5.30pm, Tue, July 7 – Trent Bridge, Nottingham
4th T20I: 5.30pm, Thu, July 9 – County Ground, Bristol
5th T20I: 2.30pm, Sat, July 11 – Rose Bowl, Southampton
Squads
England T20I squad: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton (wk), Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), James Coles, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood
India T20I squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc), Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan (wk), Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryansh Shedge, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Washington Sundar, Prince Yadav
Squads
Play at the Riverside Ground starts at 12.30pm ET / 5.30pm BST / 10pm IST / 2.30am AEST (Thursday) for the England vs India 1st T20I.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
A few weeks ago, Reuters reported that India's Tata Electronics, one of Apple's largest iPhone production facilities, suffered a serious data breach compromising 200,000 files and 630 gigabytes of data. Apple wasn't the only target — Tesla data was snapped up, too — but the apparent fruits of that illicit labor resulted in one very large iPhone 18 Pro leak.
We have no confirmation that the videos of a silver iPhone 18 Pro undergoing drop tests are real, but the detail in the online post that the videos come from a Tata leak lends credence to their veracity.
Some called it the biggest leak since Gizmodo and the iPhone 4. As others have noted — and I agree — it's really not on that level. After all, the iPhone 4 that someone found in a California bar was a fully functioning model. For all we know, the alleged iPhone 18 Pro shown in the video is just a dummy model or a chassis with no internal components.
It's what comes next, though, that has me concerned and I'm sure worries Apple too.
As of this moment, the data from the breach, which Tata Electronics confirmed, is on the Dark Web. This is a part of the internet hidden from the public web; it's not searchable by Google or even your favorite AI chatbot. Only people who know how to traverse the dank space, usually using a Tor browser, can search the treasure trove of information from Tesla and Apple.
According to Reuters, a group called World Leaks had started posting data from the breach on the Dark Web and it included "several purported Apple files and folders, some titled 'com.apple.factorydata', and documents referring to 'material specification'."
What appears to be happening is that hackers (and maybe others on the Dark Web who know where to find these files and how to dig into them) are just starting to unearth critical data from Apple (and Tesla). It stands to reason, then, that the videos we've seen are not the end of the leaks but just the beginning.
With the launch of the iPhone 18 lineup likely just a few months away (most expect it to happen in the first half of September), Apple is well past the point of design and specification. It's working with manufacturing partners like Tata Electronics to assemble the phones (and maybe test them) and prepare them for shipping. Once Apple unveils all its new handsets, including perhaps the new iPhone Ultra foldable, it will be just a few weeks before they start shipping to customers. Apple must build millions of handsets now in order to prepare for typical demand.
As for what we might see next, that's anyone's guess. Obviously, this leak put Apple on high alert. It may be playing the whack-a-mole game of stamping out the spread of this leak, and is surely it's working with Tata to ensure another breach doesn't happen. But there's not much Apple can do to police the Dark Web. It can't break down the door of the Internet and demand those files back.
Hackers and other interested parties will dig through those folders and files, looking for other tidbits to post — I'm sure they've already been scouring them for any indication of a folding device. Tata, though, may not have been tasked with building that completely new and all-important device. This is just conjecture, but for that flexible handset, Apple could've turned to its oldest and most trusted iPhone manufacturing partner in China, Foxconn.
I know, why do that when the US is pushing for manufacturing outside China (and in the US, if it can get it)? My thinking is that the Ultra folding iPhone will be more expensive and probably not as appealing as a mass-market phone and will therefore sell in far lower quantities. In that case, Apple leaves that with Foxconn and still hands at least a third of the iPhone 18 assembly duties to Tata.
If that's the case, then future leaks will revolve around everything but the new foldable... if Apple is lucky.
Mark my words, though, I really don't think this is the last major leak we'll see in the run-up to Apple's big iPhone 18 launch.
Security researchers at Socket found two browser extensions distributed under the "VPN Go: Free VPN" branding, one listed on the Chrome Web Store and one on Firefox Add-ons, to secretly harvest copied text.
Both present themselves as free VPN tools with working proxy features. Underneath, Socket says, both also run a clipboard stealer that continuously watches copied text and sends it to infrastructure controlled by the attacker.
According to Socket, the clipboard theft was not present when the extensions first appeared. It was added later, through an ordinary-looking update, after the extensions had already built up a base of trusting users. That staged approach is exactly what makes this kind of threat so hard to spot, and why even a fairly cautious user can end up exposed.
For anyone weighing up a no-cost privacy tool, it is worth knowing that not every free option behaves like this, and the best VPN services are tested precisely so you do not have to take this kind of gamble. But this case shows how thin the line can be between a useful free extension and a data-harvesting one.
Socket says the earliest analyzed builds behaved like ordinary proxy extensions, with no confirmed clipboard theft.
On Chrome, that changed with version 1.1, when the extension added a script that reads the clipboard and ships those chunks off to a hardcoded address. The Firefox version followed the same path slightly later, moving the same theft loop into its background script.
Once active, the monitoring is relentless. The Chrome content script checks the clipboard roughly every half a second, according to Socket's analysis, while the Firefox build polls every 1.5 seconds.
Each newly copied value is tagged with a session identifier so it can be reassembled on the other end, then sent out over plain HTTP. All of this was happening while the two apps' privacy policies stated that the tools did not collect, store, or share user data and did not keep activity logs.
TechRadar has reached out to VPN Go for comment, but both email addresses bounced, and both extensions have since been pulled from their stores.
The reason clipboard theft is so effective is that it abuses something completely routine. People copy and paste sensitive information all day, and it's not careless to do so. Password managers rely on exactly that: copying long, unique passwords into your accounts.
An extension that can silently read the clipboard has access to all of this information; it just has to wait for you to copy the right thing. If you have used either of the two extensions in question, you should treat any information you've copied during that time as exposed.
Researchers have repeatedly found free VPN extensions doing things their users never agreed to. Recent reporting has covered a free Chrome VPN extension caught taking screenshots of every page its users visited, and a malicious free VPN extension that resurfaced after being removed, returning in a more evasive form.
The pattern is consistent enough that it is worth treating any unknown free VPN extension with caution by default. That caution matters: TechRadar's own polling found that nearly 1 in 4 readers use free VPNs despite knowing the risks.
If you want the protection a VPN offers without rolling the dice, stick to providers with a track record and independent testing behind them.
A reputable paid service, or one of the carefully vetted best free VPN options, is a far safer bet than an unknown extension promising unlimited access for nothing. As the saying goes, when the product is free, there is a decent chance that you are the product.
Backrooms was a monumental success for A24, becoming the second-highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far. Those of you hungry for even more lore won't be disappointed, as an extended cut is coming to theaters.
From July 4, Backrooms: Everything Must Go will be playing in theaters globally, where it will feature 16 minutes of brand-new footage. According to Deadline, the new version will have "more lore, and more Easter eggs for fans."
If you're a fan of the Backrooms lore like me, the promise of even more footage is likely an intriguing one. One of the reasons I keep coming back to the Backrooms is just how deep the online lore goes; I truly could spend hours wandering the place given half the chance. No matter how dangerous it might be.
Are you ready to go deeper? Experience BACKROOMS - EVERYTHING MUST GO in theaters nationwide this Friday, featuring 16 minutes of brand new footage from director Kane Parsons. Tickets on sale now. https://t.co/zxO6nlTEfY pic.twitter.com/MNYEe2EU8cJune 30, 2026
It's a great time to be a horror fan right now. Backrooms has caused quite the stir on social media, marking the first time the Creepypasta has been adapted for the big screen.
In an interview with our senior entertainment reporter Tom Power, Backrooms director Kane Parsons spoke about the rise in YouTubers making horror movies from Markiplier's Iron Lung to Curry Barker's Obsession, which is now available on demand.
Parsons said: "A common trait shared by a lot of these YouTube filmmakers is having an established contract with their audience, and treating fans like they're a little more intelligent and cognizant than the average entertainment fan. So, I can't speak to why studios are finally taking notice of us, but I'm glad they are."
With Backrooms re-entering theaters for an extended cut, I am certainly glad that horror is being taken seriously across the board. I can't wait to see what Backrooms: Everything Must Go has in store for us.
England take on DR Congo in the last 32 of the World Cup 2026, with another upset in a tournament of upsets possible. Thomas Tuchel won't take the Leopards lightly at Atlanta Stadium.
The Three Lions topped Group L with two wins and a draw. After beating Croatia 4-2, they looked out of sorts against Ghana's low block but they put some concerns to bed against Panama, with both Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham getting on the scoresheet. Bellingham, in particular, was superb and Tuchel must find a way to get the ball to his creative linchpin as early, and in as much space, as possible against another team that will defend deep.
DR Congo shocked everyone when they drew 1-1 with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to prove that their first World Cup appearance after a 52-year absence wasn't just to make up the numbers. After a narrow 1-0 defeat by Colombia, the Leopards comfortably beat debutants Uzbekistan 3-1, thanks to Yoane Wissa's second-half brace, to reach their first-ever World Cup knockout stage as the highest-ranked third-placed nation.
Only Ghana averaged less group-stage possession than DR Congo, so England must solve the puzzle against arguably their biggest weakness – breaking down a rigid defense.
So, read on as we show you exactly how to watch England vs DR Congo for free from anywhere in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
England XI: Pickford; D. Spence, Konsa, Guéhi, N. O'Reilly; E. Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane.
DR Congo XI: L. Mpasi; A. Masuaku, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Wan-Bissaka; N. Sadiki, Moutoussamy, N. Mukau; Cipenga, Wissa, Mbuku.
England vs DR Congo is available to watch for free in multiple countries, including the UK, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland and Turkey.
Abroad? Can't access your free stream? Unblock your free World Cup stream with Norton VPN – more on that below.
It’s the World Cup, and if you’re traveling, you might discover your usual England vs DR Congo stream is suddenly unavailable due to geo-restrictions.
Don’t worry, that’s exactly where a VPN can help. A virtual private network lets you connect to servers around the world so you can securely access your usual World Cup coverage as if you were back home.
We recommend Norton VPN. Here's why:
▶︎ Norton VPN MEGA Deal — 60-day money back guarantee
Watch your free World Cup stream without limits. Norton VPN delivers fast, secure connections with global servers, so you can stream from anywhere with ease.
💰 60-day money-back guarantee
🔓 Unlocks World Cup streams
Don’t miss a second. Stream the World Cup from anywhere with total confidence.View Deal
US viewers can watch England vs DR Congo on Fox and Telemundo (Spanish comms).
You can watch every World Cup game on Fox, FS1 and Telemundo, which are available on cord-cutters like YouTube TV (free trial), Hulu+Live TV, Sling (select markets), Fubo or DirecTV.
Those looking for a streaming service instead can watch England vs DR Congo on Fox One (3-day free trial). Telemundo is available via Peacock as well.
Visiting the US from the UK? You can still watch your World Cup stream for free thanks to Norton VPN (try for 60 days).
UK customers are in luck as they can stream England vs DR Congo for free on BBC iPlayer. Live coverage is also available on the BBC One TV channel.
You require a TV Licence and a valid UK postcode for an account (e.g. SE1 7PB).
Norton VPN can unlock your stream if you're abroad today.
England vs DR Congo will be shown for free in Australia on SBS On Demand.
The streaming platform has every game of the tournament for free, making it the perfect place for your World Cup viewing.
Traveling for work or on holiday? A VPN like Norton VPN can help unlock your free stream.
In Canada, TSN and free-to-air channel CTV will be broadcasting England vs DR Congo.
You can live stream via the TSN+ streaming platform, which costs CA$8 per month or CA$80 per year.
CTV will require your TV provider login details, but is also available via pay-TV streaming platform Crave if you want an alternative.
Outside of Canada? Use Norton VPN whilst you're traveling away from home to unlock your stream.
England vs DR Congo kicks-off at 5pm BST / 12pm ET on Wednesday, July 1. That's 2am AEST on Thursday, July 2 in Australia.
England
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
DR Congo
Goalkeepers: Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege), Timothy Fayulu (Noah), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre)
Defenders: Dylan Batubinsika (Larisa), Gedoon Kalulu (Aris Limassol), Steve Kapuadi (Widzew Lodz), Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk), Arthur Masuaku (Racing Lens), Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United)
Midfielders: Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow), Brian Cipenga (Castellon), Meshack Elia (Alanyaspor), Gael Kakuta (Larisa), Edo Kayembe (Watford), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos), Ngal'ayel Mukau (Lille), Charles Pickel (Espanyol), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland), Aaron Tshibola (Kilmarnock)
Forwards: Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis), Simon Banza (Al Jazira), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids), Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United)
Stage | England | DR Congo |
|---|---|---|
Group stage | Group L: 1st, 7 points | Group K: 3rd, 4 points |
Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser.
You can also stay up-to-date with all of the key World Cup moments on the official social media channels on X/Twitter (@FIFAWorldCup), Instagram (@FIFAWorldCup), TikTok (@FIFAWorldCup) and YouTube (@FIFA).
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
A bipartisan bill is currently moving through Congress that seeks to force the big tech companies behind the massive buildout of AI datacenters to pay for the energy they use.
Currently the cost of energy is calculated by a combination of factors such as how much it costs to generate and transport the power, with extra charges added for plant and infrastructure maintenance, local regulations, and additional capacity and demand charges.
That means those living in areas with data centers connected to the local grid will have to bear the cost of the sudden increase in demand and capacity, even if they are not using more energy themselves. The Ratepayer Protection Act looks to shift that burden onto the tech companies.
The name may sound familiar, and that's because the bill essentially looks to codify parts of Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge — the commitment that companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI signed back in March this year. This pledge was only voluntary though, and lacked any real detail on exactly what signatories would be paying for.
The House of Representatives will now begin consideration of the bill, which seeks the introduction of a “large load standard” requiring tech companies to bear the cost of the energy they use, alongside upgrades to the local grids they connect to. The bipartisan bill’s primary sponsors are Reps. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., and Kathy Castor, D-Fla.
“Families and small businesses across the country shouldn’t be left to foot the bill for this new development, though the benefits of these innovations will be felt by all of society,” said House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie, R-Ky. “The Ratepayer Protection Act is a bipartisan effort, which would ensure that the costs of grid upgrades are appropriately paid for according to demand.”
If you weren’t already aware, there has been a nationwide wave of opposition to data centers, with both local grassroots movements and nationwide opposition groups successfully delaying and cancelling data center construction projects. There have been a range of motivations behind opposition, from ecological conservation and energy prices, to the fear of AI-influenced job losses and a modern resurgence of the Luddite movement.
The Ratepayer Protection Act is therefore a response to the growing resentment experienced across the US political spectrum, and represents one of the first Congressional attempts to force big tech to pay their way for the enormous increase in energy demand the US has experienced in the past few years — primarily driven by AI demand.
Speaking on behalf of his constituents, bill sponsor Evans said, “Colorado families, farmers, and small businesses should not be forced to cover the costs of new power generation driven by these developments.”
After passing through Congress, the bill will have to be considered by the Energy and Commerce Committee, the House, and the Senate before being ratified by President Trump. Whether the bill will still have teeth in that time remains to be seen. But the bill comes at a pivotal time in the US election cycle, with midterm elections just months away and data centers being a serious consideration for any sitting representative or hopeful candidate.
My non-negotiable for any kind of trip is a good pair of headphones. Public transport without a way to zone out from my surroundings? Unthinkable. A good podcast, playlist or audiobook can make any tediously long journey pass in double-quick time.
Day-to-day, my over-ear cans are my playlist-deliverer of choice, and so far I've been lugging them around on my vacations too, but I've decided it's time to invest in some earbuds for travel. The main benefit of an in-ear option is that it's significantly more compact for packing, but in hotter climes, I've also been struggling with overheating ears (it's a privileged problem, but a problem nonetheless, okay?) — and I'm concerned about what the sweat and suncream is doing to my earcup padding.
Luckily, the talented TechRadar Audio team has been busy testing dozens of pairs of earbuds, and I have plenty of well-reviewed options to choose from — I've rounded up my top contenders below. All of these come highly recommended, but the top three are 5-star buys. Click the 'View details' button for more info about each one, and why I'm considering it. For more options, head to our general roundup of the very best headphones for travel.
Top contenders because they're both very good and very affordable — I personally find it stressful to have any of my pricier gadgets with me when I go away, and it wouldn't be a disaster if I left one of these in a hotel room or dropped it in a pool. We called these headphones "a sure-fire hit". The noise cancellation, sound quality, comfort and battery life are all far better than we'd expect at this price point.
The main reason I'm considering these earbuds for travel is because the noise cancellation is second to none. We said: "These buds are the most sonically exuberant listen I've heard to date in this type of form factor, a fact only enhanced by their rock-solid, near-impenetrable active noise cancellation (ANC), which you can usefully tweak on a slider when creating Bose's hugely successful 'Modes'."
We called these "a highly competent set of earbuds and a joy to wear". They're especially great for using on flights, because you can plug the case's USB-C port into the headphone jack on an in-flight entertainment system, and it'll work as a wireless audio transmitter. The ANC is also great.
Another noise-cancellation hero — we called the ANC "truly remarkable". These also stand out for offering extra perks like Live Translation, which will come in handy on further-flung trips. A potential down-side is the slightly limited battery life when making use of all those extra features.
These are a little different, because they're open-ear headphones. While I love all-encompassing noise-cancellation, there are situations — particularly when traveling alone — where I want to be more aware of my surroundings, and these would work well for that. They're also nice and affordable, with good sound and fit.
Like the Freearc buds above, these open-ear headphones are designed for times when you want to be aware of what's going on around you. We're also fans of the performance — our reviewer said: "The buds nail the basics; they’re comfortable to wear, grip reliably in the ear... and don’t weigh too much." They also praised the "hardy" build — a bonus for travel.
Gaming is becoming an expensive hobby for both console and PC gamers, and it's all because of the ongoing RAM crisis. Unfortunately, another manufacturer's GPU components may be the next victim of price hikes.
As reported by VideoCardz, AMD is planning a 10% price increase on graphics memory kits for its Radeon GPUs this July, according to a new post on a Board Channels forum. This means that AMD's AIB partners, such as Sapphire and Asus, will pay more for components, which might result in higher retail prices for Radeon GPUs.
The Board Channels post states that these price hikes are a result of 'tight global supply of graphics memory chips,' including the noticeable trend of 'continuously rising market prices'.
Of course, there's no confirmation from AMD on the matter just yet, but if true, it doesn't help AMD's position in the GPU market up against its fierce rival, Nvidia. Frankly, both are in a tough spot due to higher memory costs across the board, which is well established for effectively every PC manufacturer at this stage in 2026.
While most of Team Green's RTX GPUs are fairly expensive for consumers, the advantage of better upscaling technologies and raw performance when using ray tracing in games makes them more appealing, in comparison to newer Radeon GPUs.
While we await confirmation from AMD, consumers should start buying new hardware now. Both AMD and Nvidia GPUs are still expensive across several retailers, and it's a tough spot for any gamer to be in when searching for an upgrade.
However, if you don't own a gaming PC at all, it's worth keeping an eye out for several deals — and fortunately, Best Buy's 4th of July sale is already underway, and this iBuyPower Slate Intel Arc B570 gaming PC is only $899.99 on sale.
It also comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM (which would be expensive to buy separately), and most importantly, it's using a GPU that's perfectly capable of great gaming performance at 1080p and 1440p resolutions.
When acknowledging the messy state of the PC hardware market and the prospect of more price hikes, it's hard to ignore a deal such as this, especially when Intel's XeSS upscaling has improved over the last few years — so if it were me, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase.
It's a tricky old time for laptops, what with the RAM crisis pushing up prices, and Microsoft has taken the opportunity to launch a counterattack on the MacBook Neo, following Apple's recent price hikes — not that the Surface lineup isn't suffering itself, with rumors of more misery inbound in the form of cancelled models.
Windows Latest spotted the controversy around Windows laptops and the MacBook Neo, which wasn't started by Microsoft, but rather by a video that went viral on X. The clip, which was aired by @Ahmadansari2233 and has racked up 5.4 million views, shows how the MacBook Neo is superior to an 'others brand laptop' (meaning a Windows 11 model).
As Windows Latest notes, the video actually uses an HP Victus gaming laptop, and this is hardly a fair comparison. Why would you compare a budget gaming notebook to the Neo? Furthermore, some of the points made — like the level of flex in the lid of the HP model — are obviously cherry-picked to show the worst of Windows 11 devices versus Apple's budget creation (with flex being a known issue for the HP notebook).
Clearly, we'd have a very different video if we looked at the MacBook Neo's gaming prowess versus the HP Victus. (No, it wouldn't make any sense to do that either, but this just underlines the ridiculous idea of comparing a Windows 11 gaming notebook to Apple's portable.)
At any rate, the success of the video prompted Microsoft to respond, with the official Windows account on X showing the Dell XPS 13 being put through its paces (including a laptop lid and base showing little flex, unlike the HP notebook).
The post from Microsoft goes over some of the XPS 13's benefits — including that it packs a touchscreen — and highlights the price of $699 in the US, just after Apple has bumped the MacBook Neo price up to that level (increasing it by $100, and the regional equivalent elsewhere). Dell weighs in to back up Microsoft here.
And it's fair enough that Microsoft should defend itself, given that the original video is skewed against the Windows 11 side of the laptop world. (Not that Microsoft is above employing these sorts of tactics itself, mind.)
But there are problems raised nonetheless, firstly by the recent happenings with the Surface lineup, and secondly, in the painful reaction to Microsoft jabbing back at this bit of MacBook Neo promotion.
If we're going to talk about pricing, an obvious stumble from Microsoft of late is that it has applied eye-watering cost hikes for the Surface range. These were truly hefty increases, even if Apple has just actioned its own hikes for the Neo and other MacBooks. (And yes, it's true enough that while the Neo cost bump was relatively mild, it has certainly diminished its appeal versus budget Windows 11 laptops).
What's more worrying, though, is the rumor that Microsoft is ditching models at the more affordable end of its laptop range. Windows Central reports that the Surface Go 4 and Surface Laptop Go 3 have gone out of stock with most retailers, and seemingly Microsoft doesn't plan to make any more of these devices. Neither are next-gen replacements for these cheaper Surface laptops coming, either, if Zac Bowden's sources are correct.
In fairness, the Surface Laptop Go 3 has effectively been replaced by the Surface Laptop, although the latter still starts from a higher price point, about 20% pricier in fact (and that's with the new cheaper 8GB model of the latter). And the Surface Go 4 will certainly be missed as a budget option, even if it was a business-targeted device. As Bowden notes, it appears that the Go 4 was a popular device in the enterprise sphere with a palatable price tag, even if our review didn't agree with that sentiment.
However, pricing and Surface rumors aside, the most notable concern for Microsoft here must be the reaction to its riposte against the MacBook Neo on X. As noted, I think it's a fair enough response, but the majority of Reddit doesn't seem to agree – or at least, many Redditors do agree that there's a key problem with any Windows 11 laptop.
As one poster puts it succinctly: "The problem with Windows machines is that they have Windows on them."
Others in that Reddit thread echo the same sentiment, if not a more barbed and pronounced take on it – and it's the same story in the replies to Microsoft's response on X. One poster says: "But it's Windows. You run the risk that any or every monthly update will break something. Sticking with my iMac and Mac Neo."
What's this illustrates is that despite the obvious improvements in modern Windows 11 laptops – of which the Dell XPS 13 is a good example – and Microsoft's big campaign to fix Windows 11, there are a lot of hardcore doubters still out there. Okay, so those detractors may be noisier than those in the happier-with-Windows camp, but there's still a good deal of negative feeling to overcome for Microsoft – which is made quite clear when the company tries to blow its own trumpet in this way.
In truth, I think Microsoft has done very well with the improvements made to Windows 11 thus far this year, and I hope that progress will continue throughout the rest of 2026. Frankly, that'll be necessary to really start to turn around some of the more entrenched perceptions about Microsoft's desktop OS, and all that's still going to be an uphill struggle as this episode aptly illustrates.
PlayStation has today announced that no new PlayStation games will be released on physical disc from January 2028 onwards.
In a huge blow to the concept of physical ownership, the gaming giant has said this move is "a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs" in a new PS blog post.
It goes on to argue that, "This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today."
The move is unlikely to be popular with fans and particularly with game collectors, and comes just days after the disc-less GTA 6 pre-orders, which saw Rockstar ditch the disc in favour of code-in-a-box game box releases.
Not only this, but this decision also comes a matter of days after PlayStation removed some movies that console owners had bought digitally from their libraries with no compensation.
It all points to a digital-only future, with a physical disc drive only being useful for games released before January 2028 on PlayStation. Sony's next PlayStation console being digital only by default now seems very likely.
It's a far cry from Sony's famous dunk on the PS4's competitor, the Xbox One, at the beginning of the last console generation, when the latter appeared to be announced with a function that would block resale and sharing of physical games. Microsoft quickly rowed that back.
The under-30-second video clip published by PlayStation has been viewed millions of times and is part of a series of famous 'wins' for PlayStation's console over Microsoft's back in 2013 that set the scene for that generation — and beyond — and is part of gaming folklore.
Now, however, it's all changed. This decision will further bring the concept of owning one's own games under scrutiny when publishers and platform holders will simply retain the right and ability to pull the plug at will, with consumers not necessarily owning a copy of the game they bought.
How do you feel about Sony's decision to no longer release any new PlayStation games on physical discs from 2028? Vote in the poll below or leave a comment.
If you're a gamer getting ready to head off to college, then a gaming laptop is a good investment. While usually a little pricier than some cheaper options, a good gaming laptop can easily play all the latest games while lasting you through college.
Right now is a good time to consider picking something up, too, as several of the best retailers are featuring a combination of 'back to school' sales and 4th of July specials. The RAM crisis is still affecting laptop prices, but you can still save a chunk by scoring a discount at Best Buy, Dell, Walmart, or other leading retailers. Just below, you can see six deals that I've picked out as especially good buys.
Most of today's highlights come from Best Buy and include this Lenovo LOQ with an RTX 5060 for $1,002 (was $1,499) at Best Buy, this Acer Nitro V with an RTX 5070 for $1,249.99 (was $1,379), and this Acer Predator with an RTX 5070 Ti for $1,899.99 (was $2,199).
While a bit pricey, all three of these offer great bang for your buck if you're looking for outright performance. The latter in particular is a great buy for those with flush pockets since it features not only a powerful graphics card, but also a high-end OLED display and a great chipset. You can read more about this deal — and others — just down below.
Graphics card: RTX 5060
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 250
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB
It's hard to find a cheap gaming laptop these days that isn't full of older components. This Lenovo LOQ is an exception to that, although it is pricier than the inferior sub-$1,000 options available this week. For a fair price, you do get a decent combination of an RTX 5060 graphics card and a Ryzen 7 chipset, meaning you should have everything you need here for great 1080p performance. View Deal
Graphics card: RTX 5070
Processor: Intel Core 7 Series 2
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB
This Acer Nitro V Slim 16 comes in an Intel-based configuration, which is also a decent buy today. It's a little pricier, but you get an Intel Core 7 Series 2 chipset and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. These should, on paper at least, give you a decent boost in performance.View Deal
Graphics card: RTX 5070
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB
The price cut on this HP Omen 16 at Best Buy isn't huge, but it's still one of the best value RTX 5070 gaming laptops you'll find on the market this week. Pairing up your RTX 5070 with a powerful Intel Ultra 9 chipset means plenty of headroom for all the latest titles. Annoyingly, this machine only comes with 16GB of RAM, but you do get a spacious 1TB SSD as a bonus.View Deal
Graphics card: RTX 5060
Processor: Intel Core 7 (Series 2) 240H
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB
A number of Alienware gaming laptops are on sale today, but my favorite deal has to be this listing on the brand-new Alienware 15. While a little pricey for a machine with an RTX 5060 graphics card, you get 32GB of RAM and an Intel Core 7 chipset here for great out-of-the-box performance. Considering this machine features a 1200p display, you've got everything you need here for smooth performance in-game.View Deal
Graphics card: RTX 5070
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB
This Lenovo Legion 5i is one of the pricier options at Best Buy this week, but it's a cut above the usual cheaper options you find at the retailer. For example, not only do you get a really decent Core Ultra 9 chipset with this Legion 5i, but it also features a premium OLED display. While expensive, I think a high-end display is underrated if you play a lot or watch a lot of movies.View Deal
Graphics card: RTX 5070 Ti
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB
This Acer Predator at Best Buy is an expensive buy, but it's worth every penny in my books. For one, you're paying a great price for a machine with an RTX 5070 Ti graphics card and Ultra 9 chipset. On top of that, however, you also get 32GB of RAM right out of the box alongside a premium OLED display. This one comes with a significant outlay, but it's still a good value.View Deal
Luckily for fans of Irish-language audio, BBC Gaeilge has unveiled a fresh 2026 summer lineup packed with live festival coverage, traditional music, documentaries and artist interviews.
Starting on June 30, listeners can enjoy a mix of new and returning programmes across BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle. Better yet, it's completely free to listen to – more on how to tune in below...
Highlights include Ceol Cois Cuain, a 10-part series exploring Belfast's thriving traditional music scene ahead of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Blas, which kicks off with a live broadcast from Stendhal Festival, and Live at the Fleadh – Ebb and Flow, a special bilingual concert featuring the Ulster Orchestra alongside acclaimed Irish musicians.
So, whether you're into folk, traditional Irish music, or contemporary artists, there's something here worth adding to your summer listening schedule. Abroad? Here's where to tune into BBC Gaeilge's summer 2026 lineup online from anywhere in the world, completely free.
Ceol Cois Cuain — From Tuesday, June 30, 7:30pm BST
Fuaim Fúinn — From Wednesday, July 1, 7:30pm BST
Blas — From Thursday, July 2, 7:30pm BST (then every Monday and Thursday)
Caschlár: Music is Black — From Monday, July 6, 8pm BST
Live at the Fleadh – Ebb and Flow — Wednesday, August 5, 7pm BST
Ceol sa Chroí — From Thursday, August 6, 7:30pm BST
In the UK, you can tune into BBC Gaeilge's summer 2026 lineup on BBC Sounds FREE of charge.
To access BBC Sounds: Visit the BBC Sounds website or download the BBC Sounds app for iOS or Android.
You'll need to sign in with a free BBC account, which requires a valid UK postcode (for example, SE1 7PB). But you do not need a TV Licence to listen to BBC Sounds.
Outside the UK? If you're currently traveling outside the UK, you can use this VPN (try risk-free) to tap into BBC Sounds from abroad. We recommend NordVPN.
If you're keen to access this year's BBC Gaeilge lineup but you're away from the UK, then access to the radio stations and BBC Sounds will be geo-blocked. In that case, you could use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do. Plus, we have a great 75% discount on our #1 VPN...
🟩 NordVPN – get the world's best VPN
Not having a VPN is like leaving your front door wide open in a busy city – anyone can walk right in and take a peek.
TechRadar regularly reviews all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice
✅ Up to 75% Off Today
✅ 3 Extra Months Free
✅ Unlocks streaming services
Get NordVPN and tune into BBC Gaeilge's summer 2026 lineup online for free – from the US, Australia, Europe, anywhere...VIEW DEAL ON
Using a VPN to unblock BBC Gaeilge 2026 is very straightforward. Just follow these steps:
1. Download and install a VPN: As we say, our top choice is NordVPN.
2. Connect to the appropriate server location: Open the VPN app, hit 'choose location' and select your home geographical location (anywhere in the UK).
3. Go to the broadcaster's live stream: In this case, just head to BBC Sounds.
Apps
Amazon Fire OS 7.0 or above
Android 7.0 or above
iOS 17.0 or above
Browsers
Google Chrome (Latest Version)
Safari (Latest Version)
Microsoft Edge (Latest Version)
Mozilla Firefox (Latest Version)
TVs that support BBC online services
BBC Gaeilge to users in the UK, so fans elsewhere are out of luck!
In the mean time, if you're a UK resident traveling abroad, you can use this VPN to access your usual streaming services, including BBC Sounds, from anywhere in the world.
Note: Not all VPNs work for this, but NordVPN does. It's also great for privacy and comes with a 30-day risk-free trial.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Claude is the latest AI assistant to get access to Norton's Genie scam detection tool following its available for ChatGPT customers earlier this year.
Available across all Claude subscription tiers, Genie gives users access to scam detection capabilities and other cyber safety tips and advice.
Norton says its tool can analyze suspicious emails, texts, messages, images and links using its "multi-layered" detection intelligence.
"AI assistants are becoming part of how people make decisions and evaluate information online," Head of Products and Portfolios Travis Witteveen noted, hinting that the increased prevalence of AI assistants.
"By bringing Norton Genie into even more AI platforms like Claude and ChatGPT, we’re making trusted Cyber Safety intelligence available directly in those moments to help people make more confident decisions in real time."
The company explained that Genie looks for language patterns, social engineering tactics, urgency cues, impersonation attempts, and requests for sensitive information. It also checks URLs and analyzes domains to confirm whether a user should click on the link.
When the tool launched for ChatGPT in March 2026, Norton described it as the "world's first AI-powered scam detector." Users can start conversations by tagging @Norton and asking questions like whether an email looks legit or if an online offer looks like a scam.
The company's own reporting reveals that nine in 10 threats targeting people in 2025 came from scams, phishing and fake advertisements.
So far, Norton looks to be the only security company offering direct AI chatbot integration to provide accurate insights into threat detection.
Silo season 3 is returning to Apple TV after a year-long break, which is a comparatively short wait for fans of Apple Originals.
The hit dystopian sci-fi series is widely acclaimed as one of the best Apple TV shows, and season 3 sees Juliette Nichols navigating her new role as mayor of Silo 18 while trying to regain her memory after the events of season 2.
There's plenty left to explore when it comes to Silo, and it has been renewed for a fourth season too. For now, here's what you need to know about Silo season 3's arrival on Apple TV.
If you're in the US you can expect the first episode of Silo season 3 to be available on Apple TV on July 3 at 12am PT / 3am ET. Episodes will then drop weekly until the finale on September 4
Internationally, look out for the below times:
Episode 1: July 3
Episode 2: July 10
Episode 3: July 17
Episode 4: July 24
Episode 5: July 31
Episode 6: August 7
Episode 7: August 14
Episode 8: August 21
Episode 9: August 28
Episode 10: September 4
Dacia has slashed the cost of its entry-level Spring EV in the UK to £11,990 in a direct response to fierce competition from Chinese rival Leapmotor.
The company, which shares a “strategic global alliance with the Stellantis Group, cut the cost of its T03 electric city car yesterday, dropping the diminutive EV down to just £12,995 via a doubling of what it calls its Leap Grant.
In recent years, the Dacia Spring has enjoyed the title of the most affordable electric passenger vehicle on sale in the UK (and much of Europe), also taking the crown as Britain’s cheapest car overall, but that title was handed over yesterday following Leapmotor’s aggressive price cuts.
However, it is worth noting that Dacia has reduced the price of its entry level Spring Expression model, which offers just 70bhp and a range of 140-miles on a single charge — both of these figures are easily bettered by the T03.
A recently upgraded Spring 100 is more closely matched in terms of specification and this is now priced at £12,990, a mere £5 less than the Chinese rival.
This version offers a more powerful 100hp motor, a 10.1-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, vehicle-to-load functionality, copper-accented styling, electric rear windows, reversing camera, and more.
Lina Ribeiro, Dacia Brand Director for the UK, said that “production efficiencies” and a “strong drive to continue to offer real value to our customers” have helped the Romanian company pass on savings to the end user.
There are very few new cars currently on sale in the UK that can compete with an £11,990 price tag, let alone those that use a typically more expensive electric powertrain. But the battle to become the UK’s cheapest car could see other brands start slashing their prices.
The BYD Dolphin Surf, for example, currently sits at £18,650, while Honda’s upcoming Super N offers a lot of fun and bags of character for £19,000. The MG3 is also a steal at £17,495, although the brand has been known to heavily discount this price.
Should the Renault Twingo qualify for the full UK electric car grant, this could be sold for below £17,000 and offer 163-miles of range, as well as Renault’s excellent interior attention to detail.
Plus, with Chinese brands gaining more traction in the UK and European markets, we could see a whole host of previously ‘unknown’ models start popping up at dealerships, all with a view to undercut the competition.
If you’re in the market for a cheap electric city car, now could be the time to start shopping around.
The latest installment in Nintendo’s weird and wacky rhythm game franchise has finally landed with Rhythm Heaven Groove (known as Rhythm Paradise Groove in PAL regions). It’s a game that sticks closely to its foundations: there’s a simplistic control scheme, cartoonish art style, and a set of frankly surreal levels to sift through.
Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Available on: Nintendo Switch (also playable on Nintendo Switch 2)
Release date: July 2, 2026
That’s not to say that Rhythm Heaven Groove brings nothing new to the table, however. There are plenty of multiplayer minigames available, and there’s a new single player mode called Beatspell, which riffs on the RPG genre.
So, is the mix of classic Rhythm Heaven charm and new content enough to place this entry among the best Nintendo Switch games? Here are my thoughts after hours upon hours of testing my skills.
Let me begin by laying my cards on the table. I’m a long-time fan of the Rhythm Heaven series, and have poured a ton of hours into perfecting my timing on Rhythm Heaven (DS) and my personal favorite Rhythm Heaven Fever on the Wii.
I’m a sucker for the zany characters and goofy set of circumstances they find themselves in — whether that be dancing in tandem with a group of shrimp or playing badminton with a dog while piloting an airplane (yes, really).
And I’d argue that Nintendo — alongside codeveloper TNX — has re-created what made the series special effectively in Rhythm Heaven Groove. It’s a lot more of the same stuff we got before, but that’s by no means a bad thing.
A lot of the absurdism has been retained, and whether I was playing as a frog and launching my amphibian brethren off a lily pad or bouncing lemons off by biceps as a hard-core gym bro, I felt that the unorthodox appeal of what came before was still alive and breathing on Nintendo Switch.
Levels are, on the whole, pretty memorable, and while I found some to be less compelling — like using a massive hammer to crush cans, or sweeping the floor as part of a four-piece pop band — there’s plenty of personality, vibrant colors, and eccentric character designs to marvel at.
In the core solo levels, there’s a decent amount of variety too, even with the music, which spans a variety of genres, tempos, and styles. I found myself bopping my head to the tunes in Alien Alphabet — a level where you have to communicate with a chatty extra-terrestrial — as well as Hop N Slide — where you play as a computerised creature that has to jump and duck through hurdles — among many others.
If you want, you can even listen to the tracks in the Sound Studio menu, which fills out as you play through the game’s varying levels.
I loved a lot of the core levels, but my favorite was Ribbit Rocket. I loved blasting other frogs into the stratosphere with my lily pad-launching skills. The vibrant environment, giant frog in the backdrop, and varied tempo of incoming amphibians kept things feeling fresh both visually and rhythmically.
But let’s talk a bit about gameplay, something that there’s understandably little to discuss around. Like its predecessors, Rhythm Heaven Groove keeps things outrageously simple.
Whatever mode you’re playing, you just have to press buttons — sometimes even just one — in time with the beat. Controls are responsive and there are visual and audio cues that help you to nail your timing. You’ll either get your rhythm spot on, a little off, or straight up wrong, and this will determine how well you do in a particular level or minigame.
In the main single player levels, you can earn medals by hitting almost every note faultlessly, and this really brought the perfectionist out of me. I felt almost compelled to get a medal in every level, including the remixes, which combine multiple levels together in one brilliant collage.
You occasionally get the option to go for Perfect in some stages, which can earn you an in-game reward. This can be infuriating — but in a way that’s addictive and oh-so satisfying when you pull off a flawless run.
One minor gripe I have is that there’s no option to restart within a level when going for Perfect. For some reason, you have to jump back to the main menu, re-enter and try again. It’s a minor frustration, sure, but when you’re trying to get in the zone it can feel a tad grating.
Speaking of menus, I was slightly surprised to find that they were quite bland. The main menu is just a list, there’s little visual flair or intrigue about it. Again, this is a nit-pick, but for such a vivid and charismatic title, I expected something a little less rudimentary.
Right, so despite a couple of small things, the core single player experience is very enjoyable in Rhythm Heaven Groove. But what new stuff can you sink your teeth into.
Well, perhaps the highest profile addition is the aforementioned Beatspell mode, which takes visual and gameplay inspiration from classic RPGs. By entering varying commands at different rhythms, you’re able to cast a handful of spells, including fire and water attacks, healing, and more. You must use your magic to defeat basic monsters as well as bosses, which have varying weaknesses and attack patterns.
You can level up your spells as you progress through each level, although these are reset at the beginning of each new area. It’s a neat idea, and I personally preferred to pour my points into attacking spells to defeat enemies faster — which helps you earn bonus points for a better star rating at the end of each segment. While beating your enemies is pretty easy, getting a high star rating requires consistently good timing, especially later into the campaign.
However, I wouldn’t say that Beatspell is the strongest mode ever. The levels feel pretty repetitive, and the narrative throughout the campaign failed to capture my interest. It’s very basic, and it doesn’t quite have the same quirky feel that the core levels exude.
Sure, there’s a bit more variation in terms of gameplay — you’re not restricted to one or two basic inputs and can approach levels how you see fit, but the music and enemies I encountered felt less charismatic than what the series typically delivers, making me less enthused about returning to levels and perfecting my score.
Still, some of the new additions show promise, and when my talented colleague and TechRadar Gaming Editor, Dash Wood, played the multiplayer minigames, he had an absolute blast. We loved everything here, from the catchy tunes through to the charming visuals and competitive feel, and I’m definitely going to be forcing a few friends and family members to duke it out with me.
There are more modes too, including Drum Lesson, the experimental Rhythm Toy Mode, and the Café, where you can take a break and receive tips. All in all, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy the beat-based fun in Rhythm Heaven Groove, and although I didn’t love Beatspell, the core experience alone had enough content to keep me entertained.
I liked most of the new additions overall, then, although I wasn’t a huge fan of the narrator, named Lil’ Miss Reeds. This robotic character uses text-to-speech to read menus aloud, which is a neat touch in terms of accessibility, although the voice, in my view, is pretty annoying.
Luckily, you can turn text-to-speech off in a sub-menu, which I quickly did — but again, in spite of my dislike for the robo voice, it’s a thoughtful touch. Especially given that there’s an option to describe what’s on screen as well as reading text aloud.
One final point before I wrap up, which has been a fairly big topic of discussion for this title. Although the Nintendo Switch 2 has been out for more than a year now, Nintendo decided to release this entry as an exclusive on the original Switch. In my view, this is a very sensible decision: not only is the Nintendo Switch the best-selling console in history, opening one of the more niche Nintendo franchises up to a larger player base, but the game itself is hardly the most technically demanding.
And I found performance to be consistent throughout — there were no framerate hiccups, visuals looked vibrant and relatively sharp, and controls felt responsive too, whether I was playing on my TV or using wired earbuds in handheld mode (though the latter option will be best for perfectionists due to lower latency).
So, what do I make of Rhythm Heaven Groove overall? For me, it's a continuation of everything that made its predecessors tick. With a whimsical visual style, head-bopping tunes, and zany level design, there’s plenty of the oddball rhythmic fun that we’ve come to expect from this series.
Sure, Beatspell wasn’t my favorite, and the simplistic gameplay won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you want a beat-hitting game that’s entertaining to dip into solo or with friends, this is an easy title to recommend.
You’re a certified rhythm game aficionado
Although Rhythm Heaven Groove is by no means the most challenging rhythm game out there, it takes quite a bit of dedication to perfect each level — and it’s incredibly satisfying when you pull this off. If you’re a fan of the genre, then I strongly suggest trying this one out, you’re sure to have a blast.
You’re a fan of the unorthodox
You could argue that the main draw of Rhythm Heaven Groove isn’t its gameplay or beat-matching, but instead, its bizarre lineup of characters and levels. If you want to blast through some surreal situations with robots, aliens, frogs, cats, and more, then you’ll have a weirdly wonderful time with this Nintendo Switch title.
You want something with a lot of gameplay depth
The gameplay in Rhythm Heaven Groove certainly sits on the basic side, and in some levels you’ll simply have to tap a single button in time to progress. If you want something with a bit more depth, then this may not be for you.
You’re expecting an enthralling single player campaign
The new Beatspell mode acts as the new campaign mode, with a range of levels and an overarching narrative. While it adds a bit of variation into the mix, the mode lacks the charm and addictiveness of the core levels, and the story isn’t very engaging. I think the main solo rhythm games offer enough single player fun in themselves, but if you want something with more depth, then this may not be for you.
There aren’t all too many ways to customize your experience in Rhythm Heaven Groove, although you can switch between a few Read-Aloud settings.
There’s the option to have the narrator Read words, read and describe what’s on the screen, or deactivate the narrator altogether.
I spent around 10 hours playing through Rhythm Heaven Groove. During this time, I played through the main solo levels, the Beatspell campaign, and tried out the other side modes.
The majority of the time, I played the game in TV mode, with my Nintendo Switch 2 connected to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and my Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. However, I did also dip into handheld mode a fair few times, and connected up the Sennheiser CX 80U wired earbuds to enjoy the in-game music and sounds.
More generally, I’m a long-time fan of the Rhythm Heaven series and have reviewed many video games during my time here at TechRadar. This has included plenty of Nintendo exclusive games, like Kirby Air Riders, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and Drag x Drive.
There is no room for a slip-up; survival is the only option. As England and DR Congo step into the unforgiving crucible of the Round of 32, the weight of history hangs heavily over the pitch. The Three Lions must conquer a fearless opponent ready to fight for their nation’s ultimate glory, with the victor poised to permanently alter the landscape of the 2026 World Cup bracket.
The match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta brings together two teams arriving from very different paths. England finished top of Group L with seven points, while DR Congo reached the knockout stage as the highest-ranked third-place team, making this one of the most intriguing elimination matches of the tournament.
England progressed from the group stage without producing completely dominant performances, but Thomas Tuchel’s side still found the results needed to finish first. The Three Lions defeated Croatia and Panama before securing a draw against Ghana, with their final group match seeing Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham step up to seal a 2-0 victory.
The biggest positive has been the ability of its elite players to decide important moments. HarryKane became England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer, while Jude Bellingham continues to be one of the team’s most influential players in midfield.
| Pos | Team | Played | W-D-L | GD | Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | England | 3 | 2-1-0 | +4 | 7 | Advanced |
| 2. | Croatia | 3 | 2-0-1 | 0 | 6 | Advanced |
| 3. | Ghana | 3 | 1-1-1 | 0 | 4 | Advanced (Best 3rd) |
| 4. | Panama | 3 | 0-0-3 | -4 | 0 | Eliminated |
Tuchel has also built an impressive competitive record since taking charge. The country has avoided defeat in Tuchel’s competitive matches, showing consistency even when the performances have not always convinced supporters.
DR Congo enters the match carrying the confidence of a nation experiencing a special moment. The Leopards are competing in their first World Cup knockout stage after previously appearing at the tournament as Zaire in 1974 and exiting in the group phase.
Their journey has been built on resilience. After holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw and suffering a narrow defeat against Colombia, DR Congo produced a memorable comeback victory against Uzbekistan, winning 3-1 to secure qualification.
| Pos | Team | Played | W-D-L | GD | Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Colombia | 3 | 2-1-0 | +3 | 7 | Advanced |
| 2. | Portugal | 3 | 1-2-0 | +5 | 5 | Advanced |
| 3. | DR Congo | 3 | 1-1-1 | +1 | 4 | Advanced (Best 3rd) |
| 4. | Uzbekistan | 3 | 0-0-3 | -9 | 0 | Eliminated |
Coach Sebastien Desabre has transformed the team into a disciplined and difficult opponent. The Leopards often rely on a defensive structure with five defenders and look to attack quickly through their talented forwards.
An England victory would send the Three Lions into the Round of 16 to face Mexico. The result would keep Tuchel’s team alive in a difficult section of the tournament, where potential future opponents include some of the biggest names.
England would remain on course for a possible deep run, but the path would become extremely demanding. A quarter-final meeting with Brazil and a potential semi-final clash against another elite contender could await if England continues progressing.
The main challenge would be maintaining consistency. England has the individual quality to defeat any opponent, but the knockout stage punishes small mistakes.
A DR Congo victory would become one of the greatest results in the nation’s soccer history. The Leopards would replace England in the Round of 16 and continue their remarkable first-ever knockout campaign.
The upset would completely change the tournament landscape. England’s elimination would remove one of the favourites from the bracket and open opportunities for other teams hoping to reach the final stages.
For DR Congo, the reward would be another historic match against Mexico and the chance to continue inspiring a nation that has waited decades for World Cup success.
A draw after normal time would not eliminate either team immediately. The match would continue into extra time, and if the score remains level after 120 minutes, penalties would decide who advances.
The bracket itself would remain unchanged, but the physical consequences could be significant. A team forced to play extra time and a shootout would enter the next round with less recovery time than an opponent who advances without additional minutes.
For England and DR Congo, the equation is simple: one moment can define an entire tournament. The winner moves closer to World Cup glory, while the loser leaves the biggest stage with their dream finished.
| WHO | England vs DR Congo |
| WHAT | 2026 World Cup |
| WHEN | 12:00pm ET / 9:00am PT • Wednesday, July 1, 2026 |
| WHERE | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, Peacock Premium, FOX, Telemundo and Hulu + Live TV |
| STREAM | WATCH NOW |
England enters the knockout stage as Group L winners, but their journey has been far from dominant. After an explosive opening win against Croatia, the Three Lions were held to a frustrating draw by Ghana and required a second-half surge to overcome Panama. The pressure is on for manager Thomas Tuchel to unlock his squad’s full potential as they are heavy favorites to advance.
For DR Congo, this match is a historic moment. Reaching the knockout rounds for the first time ever, the Leopards have already exceeded all expectations. They have proven to be a disciplined and resilient side, notably securing a hard-fought draw against Portugal in the group stage. While they are the clear underdogs, they enter this clash with nothing to lose and a chance to deliver one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
The two nations arrive at this fixture from vastly different paths. England navigated their group unbeaten, securing the top spot with a professional, if sometimes uninspired, approach. In contrast, DR Congo battled through as one of the best third-placed teams, showcasing immense mental fortitude to secure a vital win against Uzbekistan on the final matchday to make history.
This match projects to be a classic clash of styles. England will almost certainly control possession and territory, tasked with breaking down a compact and organized DR Congo defense. The Leopards have been formidable at the back, conceding just 0.61 expected goals (xG) per match—the exact same figure as England. The key to the game will be whether England’s creative players can find the speed and precision needed to penetrate a low block, a challenge they struggled with against Ghana.
Motivation for England is clear: this is the first major hurdle in what they hope is a deep tournament run, and anything less than a convincing win will be seen as a failure. For DR Congo, the objective has already been achieved. They play with the freedom of a team that has already made its nation proud, aiming to frustrate their highly-favored opponents and seize any opportunity that comes their way.
This Round of 32 clash in Atlanta will be the first-ever meeting between England and DR Congo. With no historical precedent in either competitive fixtures or friendlies, both teams will be stepping into uncharted territory, analyzing each other based solely on recent tournament form.
While they haven’t faced DR Congo, England has a strong and unbeaten record against African opposition at the global tournament, posting four wins and five draws in nine matches. Their most recent encounter was the goalless draw against Ghana earlier in this competition, a result that highlights the challenges a well-organized CAF side can present.
DR Congo has faced European teams three times in its tournament history and is still searching for a first victory, having recorded one draw and two losses. However, their impressive 1-1 draw with Portugal in the group stage demonstrated their ability to compete with Europe’s elite. Under coach Sébastien Desabre, they have built a reputation for being exceptionally difficult to break down, keeping 29 clean sheets in their last 57 matches.
England faces a significant defensive headache heading into the knockouts, while DR Congo reports a fully fit squad ready for their historic match.
Manager Thomas Tuchel is dealing with a mounting injury crisis at right-back. With Reece James, Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento, and Ben White all sidelined, England‘s options are severely limited, forcing a likely start for Djed Spence. On a more positive note, the midfield will be bolstered by the expected return of Declan Rice, whose presence should provide defensive stability and free up Jude Bellingham to influence the attack.
DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre has no injury concerns and can field his strongest side. The experience of players from top European leagues, such as Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa and former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe, will be crucial. Wissa, who scored a brace against Uzbekistan, is the team’s primary offensive threat and will be tasked with leading the line against a formidable English defense.
England Projected XI (4-2-3-1):
Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Bellingham; Saka, Rogers, Rashford; Kane.
This lineup reflects Tuchel‘s attempt to balance an injury-hit defense with a potent attack. Spence is expected to fill the void at right-back, while Rice‘s return will be vital for controlling the midfield. Up front, Harry Kane will lead the line, supported by a dynamic trio of Saka, Rogers, and Rashford, who will be responsible for breaking down DR Congo‘s defense.
DR Congo Projected XI (4-4-2):
Mpasi-Nzau; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Mbuku, Moutoussamy, Sadiki, Cipenga; Wissa, Bakambu.
Desabre is likely to deploy a disciplined 4-4-2 formation designed to absorb pressure and hit England on the counter-attack. The backline, featuring Premier League experience with Wan-Bissaka, will form a compact low block. The attack will rely on the pace and clinical finishing of Yoane Wissa, who has been their standout player in the tournament so far.
You can watch the England vs DR Congo live stream on Fubo. The service is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and iOS and Android mobile devices.
In addition to the 2026 tournament, a subscription to Fubo gives you access to a host of other soccer competitions. You can watch leagues such as Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, as well as other tournaments and matches from around the world.
The service is available for a monthly fee of $14.99. This single subscription ensures you don’t miss any of the action from the biggest international competition.
SEE MORE: Schedule of World Cup games on US TV.
If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as Nord VPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming.
Fabrice Canel, the Principal Product Manager who led Bing's crawling and indexing team and championed IndexNow, has announced his retirement from Microsoft.
The post Fabrice Canel, Longtime Bing Search Leader, Retires From Microsoft appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 returns with 50% usage limits and a new classifier that may result in false positives.
The post Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5 Is Back With New Usage Limits And Safeguards appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
has revealed who he believes is capable of handing his first career defeat. Stevenson has won all 25 of his fights to date, claiming world honours at featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, and super lightweight since making his debut back in April 2017. His last triumph came against Lopez himself, earning a one-sided unanimous decision victory […]
The post Teofimo Lopez names the man to end Shakur Stevenson’s undefeated run appeared first on Boxing News.
Marco Palestra has written an emotional farewell message to Atalanta, the club he joined when he was 10 years old, after completing the transfer to Chelsea.
The paperwork was completed today and the announcement made, sealing a move believed to be worth €60m including various add-ons.
He has signed a contract with Chelsea that runs for six years, with an option to add one more season on top.
Although Palestra spent last season on loan at Cagliari in Serie A, he had been a product of the Atalanta youth academy since the age of 10, coming up through the ranks to make his mark at senior level.
With this in mind, the 21-year-old wrote a message on his Instagram account saying goodbye to Bergamo.
“I arrived in Bergamo as a child. Atalanta was much more than a club for me: it is a place where I grew up, as a player and as a person.
“Here I had the opportunity to follow my dreams, experiencing sensations that I will never forget.
“Thank you to the Percassi family, the directors, the coaches, all the staff, my teammates and the fans for believing in me and being part of this extraordinary journey that began 11 years ago.
“Thank you.”
The right-back and wing-back made 16 senior appearances in the Atalanta jersey, along with many at youth level, including 41 for the Under-23 side.
He also participated in the squad that won the 2023-24 edition of the Europa League, and at Cagliari last term was named Serie A Defender of the Season.
Chelsea have officially purchased Italy international Marco Palestra from Atalanta, reportedly at a fee of €60m plus add-ons, with a six-year contract and option to extend.
“I’m very excited to get started. I’ve felt the energy since the first day Chelsea wanted me. I can’t wait to start, see all the fans, my team-mates and the manager,” Palestra told the club website.
“We have so many talented players here, a very strong squad and manager in Xabi. He has spoken to me about how he wants us to play, which is exciting, and we can’t wait to compete in the Premier League.”
The 21-year-old had been on the verge of a transfer to Inter for €45m plus bonuses, but the Premier League side swooped in at the last minute with a vastly improved offer, plus doubling the salary he would’ve been earning at San Siro.
It is reported the wages at Stamford Bridge will be worth over €5m per season for six years, plus an option to extend for another season.
Atalanta are expected to retain a 10 per cent cut of the future sale fee as well, picking up circa €57m plus €3m in bonuses.
Palestra is primarily a right-back who can also play on the left or in a more advanced role.
A product of the Atalanta youth academy since the age of 10, he flourished when on loan at Cagliari last season, scoring one goal with four assists in 37 appearances for the Sardinians.
The player also earned his first two senior caps for Italy in March 2026, having previously been a regular at Under-19 and Under-21 level.
Our newest addition has arrived.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 1, 2026
Inter had long been linked with a summer move for Udinese defender Oumar Solet, who is also of interest to Como and Atletico Madrid, but the Nerazzurri appear to be cooling off in their pursuit of the Frenchman. Here’s why.
On Tuesday, Inter bid farewell to four senior players whose contracts expired on the final day of June, and among them were three defenders: Francesco Acerbi, Stefan De Vrij and Matteo Darmian. 37-year-old goalkeeper Yann Sommer was also let go at the end of his contract.
For this reason, and as confirmed by Nerazzurri sporting director Piero Ausilio, Inter are targeting the signings of at least two defenders this summer.
Ausilio has also confirmed that Solet is a potential option for Inter this summer, but reports over the last few days indicate that talks between the Nerazzurri and Udinese have stalled.
Speaking at an event in Rimini earlier this week, Ausilio said: “Solet, like many other players, can be an opportunity, but he is not the only one. Besides, I am by no means certain he can be the right one for us, let’s just calmly see what the transfer market brings, but we are in no rush and can begin pre-season with the squad we have.
“We do intend to sign two new defenders, though.”
Solet, 26, is into the final year of his contract with Udinese and Inter had been prepared to offer around €20m to lure him to San Siro this summer.
According to Calciomercato.com, Udinese have been holding out for €30m, which the Nerazzurri consider to be excessive for a defender who will be available on a free in less than a year’s time.
Additionally, Il Messaggero reports that Inter have doubts about Solet’s physical condition, with fears that there may be a chronic issue in his knee cartilage, which could potentially limit the impact and the number of minutes that the Frenchman would have in San Siro.
Meanwhile, the latest updates claim that Como are also interested in a potential deal for Solet this summer. Both Como and Inter are also said to be keen on the signing of Chelsea and England centre-back Trevoh Chalobah, who, however, is reportedly valued at €40m.
Roma opted against selling any of their key players before the end of June, a decision that will result in the club being hit with a UEFA fine of around €12m-13m.
Click here to subscribe to the official Football Italia YouTube Channel
Despite the financial setback, the Giallorossi are still expected to be active in the transfer market as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new Serie A and Champions League campaigns.
Meanwhile, Donyell Malen’s disappointing World Cup performances have come under scrutiny following the Netherlands’ shock elimination by Morocco, sparking widespread debate both in Italy and across Europe.
Lorenzo Bettoni and Wayne Girard break it all down in the latest episode of the Football Italia Summer Show.
Watch the full episode below
Reports in Italy claim that Paris Saint-Germain have turned down Juventus’s initial proposal for centre-forward Randal Kolo Muani, but the Bianconeri remain confident that they will be able to strike an agreement with the back-to-back Champions League winners in the near future.
Dusan Vlahovic is officially no longer contracted to Juventus after seeing his deal expire on June 30. The Old Lady have made a move to sign 19-year-old Jeff Ekhator from Genoa in a deal worth €18m including add-ons (and Next Gen talent David Puzcka moving in the opposite direction), but the search for a new starting centre-forward continues.
All signs currently point towards a return for 2025 loanee Kolo Muani, who netted eight goals from 16 Serie A outings while on loan in Turin in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign.
Juventus had attempted to bring Kolo Muani back immediately after his loan deal expired last summer while Damien Comolli was in his first months as CEO of the club, but despite months of negotiations, the deal collapsed in the final days of the window, which led to the Frenchman joining Tottenham on loan for the 2025-26 season instead.
New Juventus CEO has been tasked with restoring relations with PSG after the fall-out under Comolli’s leadership last summer and the latest reports in Italy claim that the two clubs are now moving closer to an agreement for Kolo Muani.
Still, PSG have turned down Juventus’s opening offer for Kolo Muani, which was reportedly for a loan deal and an option or obligation to buy worth €33m. PSG are standing firm with their valuation of €40m.
According to reports from Tuttosport, Juventus are confident that they will be able to strike an agreement with PSG for a price tag somewhere between the €40m valuation and the rejected offer of €33m, potential for a price tag of €36m or €37m.
This would still be a loan with a conditional obligation to buy, likely linked to Champions League qualification.
Kolo Muani has signalled his desire to return to Juventus, knowing that he will not be part of Luis Enrique’s plans in Pairs, and recent reports claim that the Frenchman is willing to take a pay cut in order to facilitate a move back to Turin.
© <p>Pete Saloutos/Getty Images</p>
© Courtesy of Belmond
© Getty Images
Newcastle United have reportedly had an opening offer for Tottenham’s Archie Gray rejected, with Spurs planning to keep the player.
Still, the Magpies are very keen on Gray and it’s felt that they may try again to persuade the north Londoners to sell, according to Fabrizio Romano.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
See below for details as Newcastle remain interested, though on agreement has been reached for the moment…
????? EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle send offer to Tottenham for Archie Gray, rejected by Spurs.
Spurs made their position clear following the approach, with no agreement reached between the clubs at this stage.
Told #NUFC remain interested, while Spurs stance is unchanged for now. pic.twitter.com/1dg2RhnKVT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 1, 2026
“EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle send offer to Tottenham for Archie Gray, rejected by Spurs. Spurs made their position clear following the approach, with no agreement reached between the clubs at this stage. Told #NUFC remain interested, while Spurs stance is unchanged for now,” Romano posted on X.
Gray has impressed at Tottenham, with the versatile 20-year-old already notching up a very decent 81 appearances for the club despite his relative youth.
It makes sense that Newcastle might be keen on someone of that profile, with Gray looking like he has a big future in the game and like someone who could immediately make an impact in Eddie Howe’s side, whether that’s in defence or defensive midfield.
Interestingly, Romano says that Spurs’ stance is unchanged “for now”, which perhaps leaves this open to the club being able to be persuaded by the right kind of offer.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Newcastle clearly don’t seem like going away as they remain interested, so perhaps this will just be an opening offer to test the waters and get further negotiations going later.
Gray may well be tempted to try a new challenge after Tottenham’s recent struggles, so it will be interesting to see if we soon get an idea of his perspective on all this.
NUFC is another big name in the Premier League, and at the moment their project perhaps looks like it’s heading in a better direction.
Eddie Howe’s side were far from at their best in 2025/26, but they’ve qualified for the Champions League twice in the last four seasons, whilst also notably winning the Carabao Cup in 2024/25.
Spurs, meanwhile, have finished 17th in consecutive seasons, only securing Premier League survival on the final day of last season, though they did win the Europa League in 2024/25.
The post Bid rejected: Newcastle United may keep trying to sign Tottenham star – Fabrizio Romano appeared first on CaughtOffside.
The reliable transfer news account Hand of Arsenal seems to be claiming that Tottenham look set to seal the signing of Sandro Tonali for £90-100m.
Tonali has been linked with a number of clubs in recent times after some superb form for Newcastle, and in this inflated market it looks like he could be set to move for huge money.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
The Daily Mirror have been among the outlets to link the Italy international with Tottenham, while it’s also still being claimed by Marca that Manchester City could try to hijack the deal.
Arsenal have also previously been mentioned as one of Tonali’s suitors by BBC Sport, but it perhaps looks like Spurs are now ahead in the running due to being willing to put crazy money on the table.
See below for the latest from Hand of Arsenal, which seems to suggest Tonali will end up at THFC for £90-100m…
If you think the market is broken wait till you hear Tonali will be sold to Spurs for £90-£100m
— HandofArsenal (@HandofArsenal) July 1, 2026
“If you think the market is broken wait till you hear Tonali will be sold to Spurs for £90-£100m,” the post reads, leaving it unclear if it’s an actual transfer claim or more of a prediction.
This does seem like it’s going to be a particularly expensive summer for transfers, with some frankly ludicrous prices being quoted almost everywhere.
Elliot Anderson is set to join Man City for a fee being reported by the BBC and others as £116m, and this has led to the Telegraph to claim that Aston Villa could respond by raising their asking price for Morgan Rogers to £130m.
Just one good season in the Bundesliga and RB Leipzig value Yan Diomande at around €130m, as per the Athletic. Alex Scott seems like a tidy enough player, but is he really already worth as much as £80m talkSPORT claim Bournemouth want for him?
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
It will be interesting to see if things calm down soon, but for the moment it looks like spending is reaching new levels of madness, with transfer fee inflation spiralling out of control.
Whoever gets Tonali this summer will be getting a fine player, but it does look like it’s going to require parting ways with astronomical amounts of cash.
The post “Market is broken” – Hand of Arsenal suggests £90-100m transfer is set to go through appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Tottenham Hotspur are looking to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United this summer.
According to journalist Alfredo Pedulla, they are now set to submit an offer in excess of €100 million for the 26-year-old Italian international. He has further claimed that the transfer is now ‘getting closer’. This will be the second offer from Tottenham, after their previous bid was rejected.
Tottenham have completed an agreement with West Ham United for the services of Mateus Fernandes, and it seems that they are prepared to spend a substantial amount of money on Tonali as well.
They are determined to improve the midfield unit this summer. They have spent £85 million on Fernandes, and Tonali is expected to cost a similar amount.
The 26-year-old has been outstanding for Newcastle United since joining the club, and he has been one of the finest defensive midfielders in the country. There is no doubt that he would be an exceptional acquisition for Tottenham. He is well-settled in English football, and he could make an immediate impact.
Tottenham were quite poor defensively last season, and a quality defensive midfielder could make a big difference. He will protect the back four and allow the creative players to operate with more freedom. The Italian is excellent at controlling the tempo of the game and recycling possession.
They have done well to improve the defence so far, and it seems they are now prioritising midfield additions. It will be interesting to see if they can sign a couple of quality attackers before the window closes.
They looked quite mediocre going forward last season, and they need to add more cutting-edge in the final third. They finished 17th in the League last season and will not want to be in that position again.
The post Tottenham transfer ‘getting closer’ as journalist confirms mega offer is ready appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal for James Trafford, as they continue to shake up their goalkeeping options.
The 23-year-old signed for Manchester City just last summer, only to immediately find himself second choice to Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Enzo Maresca’s arrival further changes the dynamic at the Etihad as Trafford seeks regular football. He is currently in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad at the 2026 World Cup, with Spurs pushing for a deal.
Tottenham already signed Martin Dubravka last week, but as a back-up, with Guglielmo Vicario set to leave.
While Spurs do have hopes for a revitalised Antonin Kinsky, Trafford would be intended to bring an authority in the goalkeeper position.
If there's anything we've learned across LeBron James' storied NBA career, it's that he's got a flair for the dramatic. After all, he had a 75-minute TV special glorifying a departure from his hometown franchise, only to return to said franchise four years later with an essay titled "I'm Coming Home."
With James set to leave the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons, he has another opportunity for a storybook ending in Cleveland. But does that really move the needle? He's delivered Northeast Ohio the title he promised, and the Cavaliers don't exactly look positioned as a clear championship contender, so it'd be nothing more than a comfortable farewell tour.
Cleveland is simply not a very exciting landing spot. With that in mind, here are eight LeBron destinations ranked purely by entertainment value, leaving sentimentality behind.
LeBron has long dreamt of playing with Stephen Curry, but at this advanced stage of their careers, we'd be reminiscing over what they could've been a decade ago versus what they are currently. It's a solid basketball fit on paper but everyone involved is over the hill. And even if they win the title, James won't get the credit he deserves -- just ask Kevin Durant.
Kenny Atkinson and James Harden made fools of themselves in the playoffs. Is LeBron really ending his career relying on those two? He's been there, done that in Cleveland. Let it go.
I'm not saying AJ Dybantsa is the next LeBron James. I'm also not saying Dybantsa isn't the next LeBron James. The 2026 No. 1 overall pick is as elite of a prospect as they come, with an athletic profile unlike any we've seen in NBA history. It'd be a joy to see LeBron mentor Dybantsa, plus he gets to reunite with Anthony Davis. The only problem is it's the Wizards we're talking about here.
LeBron and Nikola Jokic are both basketball savants who make everyone around them better. It'd be tantalizing to see how they'd pair together, especially in the pick-and-roll. David Adelman and the Nuggets' middling roster are drawbacks, though.
James spent only four seasons in Miami and left on a sour note. This is his chance to mend the relationship with the franchise he won his first NBA title with, plus Miami needs another shot-creator to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Kyrie Irving was instrumental in delivering Cleveland a title with James back in 2016. They've gone their separate ways, with Irving being more of a journeyman than most expected, but were -- and remain -- an incredible basketball fit. They can rejoin forces in Dallas, where Cooper Flagg is developing into a bona fide NBA superstar.
Trying to stop LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and LeBron James on the perimeter is daunting. Plus, James can utilize Rudy Gobert as a lob threat and has Jaden McDaniels to take the tough defensive assignments for him. It's an odd cultural fit, but from an on-court entertainment perspective, it's hard to beat Minnesota.
The Spurs were a playmaker away from winning the NBA Finals in Victor Wembanyama's age-22 season. LeBron could easily fill that role more effectively than De'Aaron Fox, and can offer guidance to Wemby, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper as they embark on what could be a dynastic run together. It'd be a fascinating opportunity for James to pass the baton to Wemby as the face of the league.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ranking 8 LeBron James destinations by entertainment value
Mexico had so much to celebrate on Tuesday night, with the national team taking down Ecuador 2-0 in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32. And that was true for one Los Angeles Dodgers fan in attendance at the game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
In the bottom of the third inning, with nothing much happening in the game, mics picked up a sound of screaming: "GOLAAAAAAAZOOOOOOO! GOALLLLLLLL! GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL! GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!" Cut to a man behind home plate in a green jersey standing and screaming in celebration.
Which goal was it that he was celebrating? Maybe the Julian Quinones golazo? Either way, this was so fun.
Fan behind home plate goes crazy after Mexico scored a goal 😂 pic.twitter.com/AG1JmbCaxe
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) July 1, 2026
When Mexico scored their first goal against Ecuador, the announcer might have broken the record for the longest “gooooooooooal” in commentating history pic.twitter.com/bwWoHZlK9C
— Dudes Posting Their W’s (@DudespostingWs) July 1, 2026
So so good.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Screaming Mexico fan interrupts Dodgers game to celebrate World Cup goal
Hey all, here’s your open thread for Wednesday.
The Arman Effect.
Sure, I’ll buy it.
Kinda wish I could have been a skater.
Some great pics here, can you add anyone to this list?
Happy Canada Day to those who celebrate.
Enjoy!
Happy free agency to all who celebrate! NHL Free Agency 2026 opens at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 1 — and what’s really marked this year’s group is far less about the players available to be signed as unrestricted free agents, and more related to the anarchy that could ensue with established talent.
If you’ve been following along, we already know that this 2026 class of UFAs is fairly weak. Teams worked to get ahead of the best players leaving, either locking them up to long-term deals or trading them around the draft to teams that subsequently got contracts done themselves. This also means that players who didn’t get dealt already are now causing major waves, operating as the dominoes people are waiting to fall before other signings take place. The players we’re really waiting on right now are:
We’ll be following along with all the signings as they happen, and giving a full list of the moves.
Michigan Basketball got some much-needed good news on the roster retention front, as center Moustapha Thiam will remain with the Wolverines for the 2026-27 season despite Dusty May’s departure to the Dallas Mavericks.
Source: Moustapha Thiam is staying at Michigan and will play for the Wolverines next season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 1, 2026
The 7-2 big man averaged 12.8 PPG and 7.1 RPG last season at Cincinnati and was one of the top big men in the transfer portal.
Another positive development for Mike Boynton.
Thiam was one of the most coveted big men in the transfer portal this offseason. His decision to stay in Ann Arbor is a significant early win for interim head coach Mike Boynton Jr., who has spent the past week meeting with players, their agents and their families in an effort to keep the defending championship roster intact.
Thiam’s commitment to staying at Michigan cannot be overstated. With Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. all now in the NBA, the Wolverines lost their entire starting front court in one offseason. Thiam was brought in specifically to help fill that void, and his decision to stick around gives Michigan a legitimate anchor in the post heading into next season.
He brings the kind of size (7-foot-2, 250 pounds) and skillset that allows Michigan to continue running the style of offense May built over the past two seasons. Without Thiam, the Wolverines would have been scrambling to find a starting 5 at a time of year when the options are severely limited. Tennessee transfer JP Estrella likely would be the next guy up, but he also has not reaffirmed his commitment to the program as of this writing.
Thiam’s announcement is the latest positive development for Boynton and Michigan in what has been a turbulent week since May’s departure. The Wolverines have already secured verbal commitments from guards Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney, the two most important players on the roster, and now Thiam becomes the first of the transfer class to publicly commit to staying.
Michigan’s players have until July 24 before the transfer portal opens for the full roster, giving Boynton and his staff a narrow but workable window to lock down the remaining players on the team. Every commitment that comes in before that date should be considered a huge win, and Thiam’s decision to stay sends a message to the rest of the roster that Michigan is still a program worth being at despite the unfortunate circumstances.
The Wolverines entered this offseason as the defending national champions with one of the most talented rosters in the country. Piece by piece, Boynton is working to make sure that roster stays together. And he took another significant step in the right direction with Thiam’s re-commitment.
Sergio Garcia has made a number of questionable decisions on the golf course in his career. So many it's hard to pin point any single one as "the worst."
Until Tuesday.
Garcia, who has competed in 26 Open Championships in his career, was attempting to lock up a spot in his 27th at Final Qualifying at West Lancashire in England. He got off to a great start, shooting a 68 on the first 18, a score he'd need to match or better to have a chance on the final 18. But first, lunch.
What was on tap for the former Masters champ? Lasagna. In England.
"I had a little bit of food there in the players lounge and it did not sit well with me," Garcia said after shooting a second-round 75 that spoiled his Open chances. And his stomach.
"I only ate a lasagne," he added. "I thought maybe have a little pasta and stuff, but for some reason it didn’t sit well with me and I just felt nauseous the whole front nine. In the afternoon, I felt like I was going to vomit pretty much on every hole."
It mostly did the Spaniard in on the front 9, where he made four bogeys. He told Ben Parsons of The Today's Golfer that he felt OK again on the back side, but by then the damage was already done:
Tough break for Garcia, but we're not sure what he expected eating chicken lasagna in England in between rounds with the Open Championship on the line. It would be a wild meal choice if the two rounds were taking place in Italy, as delicious as that would be. You just cannot be eating lasagna before a crucial golf round, no matter who made it or where it was made.
After playing in every Open between 1998 and 2022, Garcia will now miss his third Open in the last four years.
Rangers 4, Guardians 2
Joan Laporta is officially Barcelona president again and spoke about Julian Alvarez at an inauguration event on Wednesday.
Barcelona are keen to bring in Alvarez this summer but Atletico continue to insist they haven’t received an offer from the Catalans and that he’s not for sale.
Laporta insists that the two clubs have been talking and that Deco submitted a bid, believed to be for 100 million euros, for the Argentina international.
“We’ve spoken with Atlético de Madrid and Deco sent an offer. We know the player has wanted to come since before playing for Manchester City,” he said.
“I spoke with Gil Marin, who told me that in principle they did not plan to sell. The offer is firm and we will maintain it. We will not be at the expense of what Atlético de Madrid says.
“We have a great relationship with Atleti. The offer will remain in force and could be made, but it is not unlimited in time. Atlético says that they do not sell because they had no alternative; now if they have an alternative, we will see.”
Marin also admitted previously that he’d spoken with Laporta about Alvarez but also accused the Barca chief of “disrespecting” his club and insisted the Catalans aren’t capable of carrying out such a big-money transfer.
Head to the comments section to share your thoughts and join the conversation. You can sign up for a commenting account below and we have full-time moderators to enforce the Community Guidelines.
Sign up for a user account and get:
Anyone needing additional evidence that things haven't gone according to plan in Dallas for a long time are probably those fans who will never be convinced. While sporadic regular season success has certainly made it's way to the Metroplex time and again, the Cowboys have not been able to sustain it, or have it extend into the postseason. It's now 30-plus years since the club made a championship game, and Jerry Jones' trophy case hasn't required much reorganization over that period.
The culprit has mainly been identified as an inability to build out the middle of top-heavy rosters, but there has also been another villain. The Cowboys haven't been able to boast having a lot of players who would be considered generational. In fact, right guard Zack Martin may be the only player in recent history who could make that claim. He was recently the sole Dallas Cowboys player mentioned as Pro Football Focus unveiled their best NFL players from the last 20 years.
The battle for the four right guard spots was between Chris Lindstrom, Zack Martin, Marshal Yanda and Brandon Brooks. Those were the four right guards with at least 6,000 snaps and a 91.0 overall grade or better.
Lindstrom takes the top spot for securing the best peak of any right guard. There have been four seasons where a guard posted at least a 94.0 overall grade, and Lindstrom is responsible for two. Similar to centers, guard grades have trended down over time, making Lindstrom’s two seasons even more impressive.
The gap between Martin and Yanda was narrow. Martin had the better peak seasons, while Yanda had better longevity and would have been the selection if we looked at the top eight seasons or longer. This methodology puts Martin on top.
Martin suited up for the Cowboys from 2014 through 2024 after being selected No. 16 overall. He made seven First-Team All-Pro lists and two more Second-Team in his 11-year career. The only years without accolades where when he only played in 10 contests (2020, 2024). He was the anchor of the second coming of the Great Wall of Dallas, and will enter the Hall of Fame in short order once his five-year waiting period expires.
PFF uses their grading metrics to determine their rankings, of course, as that's what they make their money from. Outside opinions may not have as much inner turmoil about Martin being the best at his position, especially those eminating from the Lone Star State.
Tight end Jason Witten was noted as a very distant consideration behind Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Rob Gronkowski and Tony Gonzalez. DeMarcus Lawrence and DeMarcus Ware were listed as honorable mentions (or it's equivalent) at edge rusher, with Micah Parsons not having enough of a career to qualify.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Only 1 Cowboy makes PFF's list of best players from last 2 decades
In January, Liverpool made a big push to sign Rennes rising star centre half Jeremy Jacquet in a transfer that could cost as much as £60M with add ons and also included a loan back to the Ligue 1 side for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
While the club acknowledged the signing at the time, with the calendar ticking over to July 1st today Jacquet is fully and finally a Liverpool player, and so they took the chance to announce that—and perhaps also to remind fans that the talented centre half is on their books.
“It’s a legendary club and the football philosophy and project really appealed to me,” Jacquet said of his decision to join the Reds in the winter window. “My family and I believe we have made the right choice and we feel really happy here.
As for the shoulder injury that he suffered soon after agreeing his Liverpool move and that in the end kept him out of the action for Rennes despite his desire to see out the season with them, Jacquet says he’s feeling good and is will be ready for pre-season.
“I feel much improved and I will be 100% ready,” he added. “because “I’m a little ahead of schedule. I was given the go-ahead to start training with the group [at Rennes] but it was a bit late to be with the team, but with continued work I’ll be fully fit before the season.”
With the NFL's summer lull in full swing, Chad Reuter's creative seven-round "win-now" mock draft offers a fun way to reimagine the league by redistributing active players across all 32 teams.
From a New York Giants perspective, this hypothetical exercise highlights how franchises could quickly bolster contending rosters. Reuter assigns stars like Josh Allen to the Raiders at No. 1, Patrick Mahomes to the Jets, Joe Burrow to the Titans, and other elite talents such as Myles Garrett, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Ja'Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson to new homes in subsequent rounds.
The snaking draft format spreads talent evenly, creating intriguing superteams and rival matchups. As Big Blue builds under John Harbaugh, this mock underscores the value of proven veterans ready to contribute immediately.
Here is how things went for the Giants:
Jackson had a bit of a down year in 2025, but new Giants head coach John Harbaugh saw firsthand in Baltimore how the two-time MVP can lift a franchise.
The Giants have not regretted trading for Burns two offseasons ago and hope he can once again put up big numbers after a 16.5-sack campaign in 2025.
John Harbaugh brings in another familiar face in Henry, who appeared ready to rock for 2026 in Ravens minicamp. I think the 32-year-old has at least one more 300-carry season inside that massive frame.
Dotson is a great pick here to provide consistent running lanes for Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson to exploit.
Vea replaces Dexter Lawrence on the Giants' front, using his versatility to challenge all five offensive linemen he faces each week.
Wilson doesn't have to move, as the Giants grab the Jets' three-time 1,000-yard receiver.
It wouldn't be a John Harbaugh-coached team without Ricard setting the blocking tone on offense.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants tap into Baltimore pipeline in Chad Reuter's 7-round win-now mock
The Seattle Seahawks have an excellent roster that helped them win Super Bowl 60. After going through significant changes in the offseason, both from a coaching and personnel perspective, there's always room for John Schneider's team to improve in 2026. With that in mind, this exercise is designed to add one talented player to the Seahawks' roster from their NFC West division rivals.
After losing Kenneth Walker III to free agency, there's no question who the Seahawks would hand-pick from the San Francisco 49ers' roster. Christian McCaffrey is an elite three-down running back who makes a significant impact on an offense. Furthermore, new Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury coached McCaffrey last season.
The pick from the Los Angeles Rams is also painfully obvious after they traded for Myles Garrett earlier this offseason. The elite pass rusher set the single-season sack record in 2025 with the Cleveland Browns. Schneider is always looking to invest in more pass rushers, and adding Garrett would make Mike Macdonald's pass-rushing unit elite.
The Arizona Cardinals are rebuilding, so this makes for the most difficult decision. AJ Barner has developed into a quality tight end for the Seahawks, but Trey McBride is among the most elite players at the position in the league. McBride would add another pass-catching threat to Seattle's offense.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Stealing 1 player from every Seahawks division rival
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta attacked Real Madrid during the event where he officially took possession of Barça’s presidency for another term.
“Out in other circles, they’re super on edge, holding these ridiculous press conferences, and they ain’t got their compass set straight. They’re basically just doing a déjà vu… But we got a more solid team, with Hansi Flick leading these players that got everyone hyped,” he said.
He didn’t actually mention Real Madrid, but it’s quite clear that he was referring to Florentino Pérez’s press conference where he first announced that the club was undergoing an election process.
Knowing that it’s always good for him to attack Real Madrid, Laporta kept going.
“We’re gonna have a super competitive team, but we can’t let our guard down because some folks out there never sleep. When they come at our club, they’re always gonna find a president and a board with strong leadership, totally committed to defending our institution against anything and everyone. That’s our promise. We’ll defend Barça against all attacks. This kind of leadership doesn’t do lukewarm; you gotta defend it all the time,” he added.
After a brief period of time when the two clubs got along and worked together for the Superleague, the relationship between Barcelona and Real Madrid is once again a tumultuous one.
Broncos Wire's 91-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at eighth-year offensive lineman Ben Powers, No. 74.
Before the Broncos: Powers (6-4, 310 pounds) was a fourth-round pick (123rd overall) of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2019 NFL draft. In Powers' rookie year, he only played in one game before becoming a starter in 2020. In his second season, Powers dressed for 16 games, including seven starts.
In 2021, Powers started 12 of 13 games he played in, transitioning from right guard to left guard for the first time in his career. In 2022, Powers started all 17 games, including Baltimore's playoff loss. Powers may have won a starting role, but he was not safe from the reality of the business of the NFL. He was not re-signed by the Ravens ahead of the 2023 season.
Broncos tenure: Powers immediately signed a four-year, $52 million contract at the outset of the 2023 offseason with the Denver Broncos. In his first season with the Broncos, Powers immediately became an everyday starter, starting and playing in 17 games for the second straight year. Powers followed his performance in 2023 by starting 18 games (17 regular season contests and one playoff game) for Denver in 2024. In 2025, Powers started just 10 games (eight regular season, two playoff) because of a biceps injury he suffered in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Chances to make the 53-man roster: Likely starter in 2026. Powers was the subject of heavy trade rumors through the beginning of the 2026 offseason, but the team informed him that he would not be traded. Powers is coming into the final year of his Broncos contract, so it will be important for him to put out great film for the other 31 NFL teams to review in 2027. With several talented backup linemen behind him, this may be Powers' last season in orange and blue.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos roster: OL Ben Powers (No. 74) entering final year of contract
Ah, that new league year smell.
Join us and follow along as we celebrate the official start of the 2026-27 NHL season and witness hundreds of millions of dollars spent on free agents hitting the open market. The festivities begin officially at 10 a.m. MT.
What will your favourite NHL team do?
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) July 1, 2026
Follow all the moves & signings on #FreeAgentFrenzy presented by @HarveysCanada, LIVE at 11am et/8am pt on TSN3, https://t.co/BQGeAnElqf, the TSN App & TSN’s YouTube Channel: https://t.co/3PTSwVFR94
Signings Tracker: https://t.co/WGynykRAWBpic.twitter.com/oaplC4SvT4
Who will the Avalanche sign to round put their roster? How many AHL level deals to help the Colorado Eagles are on tap? And as always, plenty of intrigue on who will get the largest contract in the NHL on the open market? Some big extensions are eligible starting today as well, will any get filed and announced quickly?
Is the flurry of trades largely concluded for the Avalanche and NHL as a whole or will there be more shocking moves on the horizon? Join us in the comments as it all unfolds.
The only Free Agency Tracker you need!
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 1, 2026
Get: Latest Signings, Free Agent Lists, Contracts by Team, Top Agents, Signing Stats + Insider X feed… all on a single, dynamic page (no need to refresh)!
Track it at home or on your phone! 🔗 https://t.co/frQWDB74yOpic.twitter.com/joH16EgIOJ
Who do you want the Avalanche to sign? Other than Cale Makar, of course.
The sports media world was rocked last week when ESPN analyst Matt Miller tweeted he had lost an arm in a near-fatal car accident.
Support for Miller poured in from all corners of the internet, and a GoFundMe posted by his sister-in-law was promoted by high-profile ESPN colleagues, with donations from Pat McAfee, Mina Kimes, and Adam Schefter. Social media was doing what it does in the wake of a tragedy: circling the wagons, offering support, and rallying around someone who was in the midst of a terrible ordeal.
The honeymoon didn’t last long.
The GoFundMe mentioned that Miller hoped to make a full recovery and return as “the best one-armed bartender ever,” a nod to the luxury lounge he recently opened in his hometown of Joplin, Missouri. But beyond Miller’s hope of recovering and returning to his entrepreneurial endeavors, questions have arisen that may further complicate a return to his role as an active analyst at ESPN.
As well-wishes and calls for donations poured in, opposition to the positive sentiment started to take root across social media. It has since snowballed to the point where support for Matt Miller is now seemingly outnumbered by those wishing him something very different than recovery: Comeuppance.
Miller’s own posts about his recovery are now almost entirely flooded with replies addressing accusations that have gone viral against the ESPN NFL Draft analyst.
At the heart of calls for a still-hospitalized Miller to answer for his past is a now-viral Reddit thread posted on May 21, 2026, titled “Matt Miller Leagues and Scam.”
Anyone in a league run by ESPN’s Matt Miller and not get paid as a winner? he has ghosted ours since the championship and provided 0 communication on what funds went to charity/providing payouts to the winners. i’ve seen a few others in the same boat and wanted to see if this is a wider spread problem than a couple leagues.
The post caught fire, garnering over 150 comments, many from people sharing similar circumstances, often including screenshots as proof. Awful Announcing cannot confirm the veracity of each individual screenshot posted in this article and on social media, but the material gathered from multiple sources shows a clear and consistent pattern.
Matt Miller would advertise a charity fantasy football league on social media, placing himself as the commissioner, the commenters wrote. While league setups varied, they largely followed a common thread: half of the league’s entry fee would go to a charity (sometimes the exact charity was stated; other times not), and the other half would go to the top finishers. Sometimes the payout structure would state that some of the winnings would be held back for next season’s buy-in. Often, giveaways for Yeti products would be included in the prize structure.
Those who participated in the leagues all reported a lackluster experience, with Miller either involved in a limited capacity or not involved at all, and being hard to reach. Some reported paying the fee but not receiving league or draft information.
For those who did place high enough to receive winnings, the collection of those winnings stretched out for months, with many choosing to simply give up on collection efforts. Some were able to get paid by Miller after threatening to go to the press about the situation, with Awful Announcing having reviewed instances in which league participants went so far as to copy both ESPN PR and ESPN’s legal team in correspondence about their situations.
In many cases, the amount sent back was often only the $100 buy-in, essentially a refund, rather than the amount won as described in the payout structure. Multiple league winners have also communicated that they have not received their promised Yeti merchandise.
Awful Announcing spoke to seven individuals about their experience.
“I saw Matt post he needed another team for a league,” said one fantasy football participant. “I didn’t even know it was a charity league until he explained it to me. I love fantasy, so this seemed cool to do with a known person, although you couldn’t win much because half the pool was going to charity. Whatever. I was down.
“Once I sent the Venmo, that was pretty much it. I am not sure half the teams in the league were real people. They were auto-drafts. Matt wasn’t involved at all. He had a team, but he clearly wasn’t managing it. He stopped returning DMs. Everyone was confused. I won the league and kept messaging him about payment, but never heard back. I reported him to [fantasy site] Sleeper, who told me they had banned him for being a known scammer. That’s when I realized, ‘Oh, there are other people who are having this experience.'”
Another participant who had been in a league for multiple years shared a similar account.
“We had known getting paid by Matt was never easy, but just chalked it up to him being busy and maybe not being organized,” a source told Awful Announcing. “I think most guys got paid, but I had heard in other leagues some did not. This year was different, though.
“I tried multiple avenues to get in touch with him, and it was just crickets. Only when someone posted people’s contact information at ESPN in the Reddit thread, and I emailed him with some of them CC’d, did a payment come through. A lot of people are in that boat where they only got paid after the Reddit thread blew up, and you included ESPN people in your emails to him. Clearly, he could pay, but just thought he could ignore you.”
ESPN declined to comment about how it addressed those emails.
The leagues mentioned in the Reddit thread were hosted on the popular fantasy site Sleeper. Searching Miller’s profile via Sleeper’s API on the Fantasy Orphans website shows that the handle known to be Miller’s was the commissioner of 91 leagues for the 2025 football season.
Of those 91 leagues, Miller’s team had a winning record in only seven. Many of these leagues never even reached an actual draft, consistent with information shared with Awful Announcing about leagues that had paying members but never got off the ground.
In screenshots reviewed by Awful Announcing, Miller claims he lost access to both Sleeper and various email and social media accounts and therefore did not see messages about payment requests.
After months of not hearing from Matt Miller, something many said has been an issue for years, frustrated participants were successful in getting Miller banned from the Sleeper platform.
The slow pay dms are fairly boiler plate, but here’s the response from Sleeper when I explained our league’s situation and asked for commissioner privileges. pic.twitter.com/LANaXhbJBV
— Brandon Shoemaker (@FFRelevant) June 26, 2026
In communications with those seeking payment, Miller admitted he had been banned by Sleeper but attributed the situation to extensive hacking across multiple platforms. Sleeper did not respond to Awful Announcing’s request for comment.
In the wake of Miller’s high-profile accident and the subsequent discovery of the Reddit thread, accusations of missed payments and other instances of overpromising and underdelivering across various endeavors have exploded on social media. Some individuals have disturbingly gone as far as sending harassing and threatening messages to Miller’s family and friends and posting screenshots of these exchanges.
Long before Matt Miller joined ESPN, he seemed to have a similar habit of promising a service or experience that was not fully delivered upon under the guise of a charitable effort.
One person detailed to Awful Announcing an instance of signing up for football scouting lessons with Miller, the proceeds of which were advertised as going to charity. Multiple people in the aforementioned Reddit thread share similar scenarios dating back nearly a decade in which they signed up for Miller to teach them the nuances of scouting.
His old FB has since been deactivated but I too got scammed by him nearly ten years ago when he was with B/R. This was after me reaching out to him via messenger, email, and calling a provided phone number. https://t.co/a3KP7tYRvfpic.twitter.com/yehRItajZV
— Chase Barricks (@GingerLax13) June 26, 2026
I was scammed by the paid scouting lessons hustle. Not trying to kick anyone when they’re down but be careful who you donate/give money to
— TheSourcePodcast (@sourcepodcast11) June 26, 2026
“It was so long ago, but I was graduating from college and thought, hey, maybe I could work in scouting? This guy has a career in media doing scouting, and he’s offering to mentor people,” one person said. “Yes, I had to pay for it, but it was for charity. I wanted to get my foot in the door and make a contact. I was excited.
“We spoke on the phone for five minutes, and then when it came time for me to schedule my lessons, that just became a circular process of me sending emails and DMs, but nothing happened. I felt bad asking for the money back and just hoped he’d follow up at some point and do the right thing, but he never did. $500 was a lot for me back then.
“I felt really dumb about the whole thing. I told my friends and family about it when I signed up. They would ask about it. I lied to some of them and said the lessons were good. I tried not to think about it because it made me so mad.”
Another person told Awful Announcing that they paid Matt Miller $1,200 for scouting lessons near the tail end of Miller’s tenure at Bleacher Report. The price was supposed to cover 10 or 11 virtual meetings, the person said, and was the lowest tier of what Miller was offering at the time. Some people paid Miller around double this amount, they said, and were promised access to other industry professionals for up to a year.
When the person reached out to Miller to set up the first of the 10 or so meetings they had paid for, Miller was difficult to reach. Miller later assured the person he would refund them after failing to deliver the scouting lessons, but never did, they said.
The biggest question for many is whether Matt Miller made good on the charitable endeavors he collected money for. So far, the stories being shared only touch on the reported failure to deliver winnings, prizes, and services owed as part of a payment tied to various charitable efforts.
Many people Awful Announcing spoke to said they’d feel considerably better if they knew the money they sent to Miller actually went to charity.
We know that Miller initially solicited donations for his 417 Foundation. In interviews with local media, he indicated that the organization was founded in 2013, as summarized by the Missouri State University Standard.
Miller founded the 417 Foundation in 2013 when his mother, the area supervisor for low-income preschools in Joplin, told him about how many young students were coming to school in the cold without winter coats. Learn more about the 417 Foundation here.
However, records show that the 417 Foundation was incorporated in Missouri only in December of 2018, with the purpose “to provide coats, clothes, and school supplies to low-income families.”
A year later, in late 2019, public records show the foundation received a cease-and-desist form, as seen below.
Awful Announcing was unable to find any documentation to indicate the charity had been reinstated or any Form 990s filed by the 417 Foundation with the IRS for its tax-exempt status.
However, in 2020, following the cease-and-desist, Matt Miller and the 417 Foundation made news when they announced that, in response to the death of George Floyd, the foundation had raised money to give away 26 $1,000 scholarships to students of color.
“To apply for the scholarship, the high school senior must complete or pledge 100 hours a year of community service or have a full or part-time job.
The student must be pursuing a degree in journalism, business, engineering or information technology.
And they must write a short essay on what their career goals are and what they are planning to do with the scholarship.”
Miller claimed to have made the initial $5,000 donation himself, before other contributions rolled in to grow the program.
“Miller said he made an initial investment of $5,000 for five $1,000 journalism scholarships for students of color on Monday, June 1.
“I work for one of the largest sports media companies in the country and it’s a lot of middle-aged white guys, and so this is an area where I, on the daily, see that there’s a need for minorities in this industry,” Miller said. “Also, more persons of color in journalism can tell the truth, tell their story of what they’re experiencing and not depending on someone else to tell what’s happening.”
A note from our founder: pic.twitter.com/rsBLcVEUPK
— 417 Foundation (@417Foundation) June 1, 2020
Awful Announcing is unable to find any online mention of the recipients of these scholarships beyond the initial coverage announcing that students could apply.
The 417 website is no longer active. The Foundation itself stopped tweeting in 2021, but Miller was promoting it as late as 2022, almost three years after its administrative dissolution. In May 2022, Miller posted about the “417 Foundation Fantasy Football Leagues” with up to a $500 buy-in for his “Platinum League.”
In recent years, he has mentioned a different organization, one that seems focused on feeding the needy, although Miller hinted at other causes, such as paying for funeral costs.
While many online sleuths have gone to great lengths to document the lack of transparency around Miller, the 417 Foundation, and other charitable causes he’s championed, only Miller can provide evidence that he delivered on his seemingly steadfast altruistic posts and initiatives. It’s very possible Miller made the donations he promised, just doing so via his own personal accounts and not through an official non-profit vehicle, something that is not encouraged, but is not uncommon.
What we do know is that Miller used social media for years to trumpet various experiences tied to charitable endeavors. He was paid via a personal PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo account. Some of that money was returned in some cases, but much of it remains unaccounted for. Those impacted hope Miller’s inability to deliver on promises to donors was isolated to the non-charitable components of his efforts. But given the negative experiences of scores of individuals who had first-hand experience with Miller, skepticism remains.
One individual who was in a Miller-run fantasy league for years, which had problems getting paid, shared these thoughts on Miller’s charitable efforts.
“He’s been posting about charity causes for a decade, and it’s clearly totally disorganized. Why keep doing more and more, like he says he is, while burning the people donating? Slow it down and get it right. Successful charities are usually born out of long-term donors who know where the money is going. They can see it. They feel good about it and donate again. Everything people are posting online says his efforts were the exact opposite of that. Don’t screw the people who donated.”
Many of the people we spoke to have shared that since the Reddit thread’s creation, and particularly when ESPN employees were contacted about the payment issues, there was a surge of communication and repayments in the days before Miller’s crash. It’s unclear whether ESPN’s awareness of the issue triggered these payments or any conversations with Matt Miller.
Others have reported being paid their fantasy winnings after the accident and after the GoFundMe was created, which many social media observers found odd, given Miller’s high-profile position at ESPN. Additionally, some took issue with the campaign goal being adjusted upward twice when a goal was hit. After surpassing its initial $10,000 goal, the campaign now sits at $51,242 raised of a $55,000 goal.
This is a sad story all around. My dad won a “charity” league run by Miller and he essentially ghosted everyone. (Annoying but winnings were minimal given it was supposed to be for charity). The league eventually found the Reddit threads with all the scam accusations.
Last week… https://t.co/bxoXLpLpHA
— Brett Appley (@BrettAppley) June 26, 2026
Awful Announcing asked ESPN about the GoFundMe, the growing number of stories about Miller on social media, and his future at ESPN, but received no comment. We also reached out to Miller directly and were told to email him with questions as he continued to make progress in his recovery. The publication of this article was pushed back a day to allow time for a response. We will update this article or publish a new one should we hear back.
Like many stories rooted in the internet, our reporting brought back some answers but significantly more questions, many of which only Matt Miller can answer. Given his accident and long road to recovery, it’s understandable that now might not be the best time for that.
Miller’s physical recovery now runs parallel to an equally daunting road, addressing the growing reputational questions that have surfaced. How and when he chooses to answer those questions remains to be seen and may take a backseat to his physical recovery, something he and ESPN seem to be aligned on.
The post Matt Miller’s charitable efforts face scrutiny amid life-threatening car crash appeared first on Awful Announcing.
NHL free agency begins at 11 a.m. Central on July 1 with a class lacking at the top.
The available free agents have been pared down over the last couple weeks from a perceived weak class. Alex Tuch (Washington) and Darren Raddysh (Toronto) each signed new deals with teams following trades before July 1.
Notable names in the class include goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson and forwards Alex Ovechkin, Anders Lee and Patrick Kane.
The Nashville Predators open free agency with $17.8 million in cap space, according to Puckpedia. Erik Haula is the most notable Predators player headed to free agency. Nashville has shored up its forward depth with a couple trades over the 10 days, including acquiring and extending center Jack Drury.
Across the league, the most notable news might come from the trade market. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski reportedly nixed a trade to Dallas, Sportsnet reported on June 30, by invoking the no-movement clause in his contract.
Werenski, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, has reportedly informed the Blue Jackets that he won't sign an extension with the team. He has two years remaining on his current contract. The Athletic reported that Werenski would be open to moving to Tampa Bay and Toronto.
Dallas forward Jason Robertson, Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Detroit center Dylan Larkin and Toronto forward Matthew Knies are among other trade targets available.
Follow along with Day 1 of NHL free agency below:
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NHL free agency live updates: Latest signings, Zach Werenski updates, Predators targets
NHL free agency begins at 11 a.m. Central on July 1 with a class lacking at the top.
The available free agents have been pared down over the last couple weeks from a perceived weak class. Alex Tuch (Washington) and Darren Raddysh (Toronto) each signed new deals with teams following trades before July 1.
Notable names in the class include goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson and forwards Alex Ovechkin, Anders Lee and Patrick Kane.
The Nashville Predators open free agency with $17.8 million in cap space, according to Puckpedia. Erik Haula is the most notable Predators player headed to free agency. Nashville has shored up its forward depth with a couple trades over the 10 days, including acquiring and extending center Jack Drury.
Across the league, the most notable news might come from the trade market. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski reportedly nixed a trade to Dallas, Sportsnet reported on June 30, by invoking the no-movement clause in his contract.
Werenski, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, has reportedly informed the Blue Jackets that he won't sign an extension with the team. He has two years remaining on his current contract. The Athletic reported that Werenski would be open to moving to Tampa Bay and Toronto.
Dallas forward Jason Robertson, Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Detroit center Dylan Larkin and Toronto forward Matthew Knies are among other trade targets available.
Follow along with Day 1 of NHL free agency below:
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NHL free agency live updates: Latest signings, Zach Werenski updates, Predators targets
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
As of this morning, the Pittsburgh Pirates are 43-43. Certainly an improvement over the Bucs teams of years past, but not quite good enough for the MLB Playoffs. They currently sit at 3 games back of a Wild Card spot. What we want to know is if you think the Bucs can battle their way into the Wild Card?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results!
The Boston Celtics have built their teams in a number of ways over the decades, but few if any methods have born more fruit than through the NBA draft. The best players to suit up for the Celtics have, by and large, come to Boston either through being taken directly in the annual event, or via trades made that night.
And it is not just the top stars who have been picked up by the Celtics via the draft. Countless members of the storied ball club's alumni have been taken by the team via that annual event, and some schools are better represented than others. We can see blue blood programs and some very small schools both delivering top talent to Boston's rosters over the years, so we decided to take a look at which players came from which schools overall.
So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Celtics out of Ohio University.
Draft year and position: 2nd round (27th pick, 56th overall), 2003 NBA Draft
Seasons at Ohio University: 4
Seasons played with Celtics: 1
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Every Ohio University player drafted by the Boston Celtics
Serena Williams’ comeback at Wimbledon might last even shorter than expected. During her first-round singles loss to Maya Joint, Williams sustained a knee injury that could put her doubles status in question.
Williams’ agent, Jill Smoller, confirmed Williams’ injury Wednesday, though did not rule out the 44-year-old from making her doubles appearance at the event, per BBC.com.
"Serena tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set and was therefore excused from her media obligations by the Wimbledon and WTA medical teams," said Williams' agent Jill Smoller.
"She left site that night unaided and is doing everything she can to be ready for her doubles match later this week."
Williams is scheduled to take part in doubles matches at Wimbledon with her sister Venus. Their first match is scheduled for Thursday, July 2.
This story will be updated.
Detroit — The Detroit Pistons have agreed to sign free-agent forward John Collins, according to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania.
The deal reportedly is for three years and $51 million.
Collins, 28, is a 6-foot-9 forward who is coming off a season in which he appeared in 69 games with the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 13.6 points on 55.2% shooting from the floor 40.6% shooting from behind the arc. He also pulled down 5.3 rebounds. Collins began his career with the Atlanta Hawks as a first-round pick, No. 19 overall, in the 2017 NBA Draft.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons to sign free-agent forward John Collins to 3-year deal: report
It’s the new fiscal year as of today, so we’re about to get inundated with Tottenham Hotspur transfer news and impending deals, right? That’s what I was told, and the Internet Dot Com doesn’t lie! Anyway, here’s the first rumor: according to Fabrizio Romano Newcastle United has had an offer for Tottenham’s Archie Gray rejected by the club, with Spurs adamant that he is not for sale.
🚨⚪️⚫️ EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle send offer to Tottenham for Archie Gray, rejected by Spurs.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 1, 2026
Spurs made their position clear following the approach, with no agreement reached between the clubs at this stage.
Told #NUFC remain interested, while Spurs stance is unchanged for now. pic.twitter.com/1dg2RhnKVT
First, good. Archie isn’t fully baked yet but I think it’d be silly to let him go at this point considering all the work we’ve already put into him. But second, I really hope this isn’t part of the Sandro Tonali negotiations. Giving Newcastle a young potential English club-trained and homegrown star in part-exchange for a foreign peak-age player who is overpriced and coveted by a manager who might not be here in 18 months doesn’t seem like a very smart plan. But that’s just me.
Anyway, this is mostly a story about something that didn’t actually happen so I don’t think we need to look too deeply into the specifics. Newcastle made an offer for one of our young talents. We said no. End of story. Now, where’s my Fiscal Year Bomba?
The Miami Hurricanes begin the home schedule with the annual HBCU invitational game against the Florida A&M Rattlers.
The Canes’ season opener is a weekend game. It will be played on Thursday, September 10th at 8:00pm and televised on the ACC Network.
Coming off a 5-7 season in 2025, FAMU looks to take a steps forward in 2026. Even if they’re able to do that, it won’t happen when the Rattlers face off against the Hurricanes.
Look, I could run down the players to know on both sides of the ball. I could talk about scheme and matchups. But, to be honest, there’s no need to do all of that.
Miami is a far better team than FAMU, and the scoreboard will reflect that difference. The last 3 times these teams have played, Miami has won by an AVERAGE of 56 to 6. So, a 7+ touchdown margin of victory on average. I expect nothing less this season.
Oh, and for those who are looking forward to maybe seeing and listening to the Florida A&M Marching 100 marching band….I doubt they’ll be making the trip down for a weeknight game.
This will be another Miami blowout win over the annual HBCU/FCS sacrificial lamb. There are lightyears of difference in size, speed, and quality between these teams, and that will bear itself out to be true on the field during this game. I fully expect a 50+ point margin of victory here, as per usual.
Expect to see Miami score plenty of points, including some big, explosive plays, and then plenty of backups and freshmen get playing time as this game moves into the second half.
As long as this win comes without any injuries to key players, this should be a quick win and we can move on to the next week of the season.
Gary McDermott will continue as Brentford Under-18s head coach for the 2026/27 season, alongside assistant coach Kieran Driscoll.
Daniel Hill remains in his role as goalkeeper coach, while Luca Avena continues as the side’s athletic development coach.
Before being eligible to sign their first professional football contracts, all players in their U17s year must commence the season with a scholarship agreement.
Goalkeeper
Midfielder
Defender
Defender
Defender
Defender
Defender
Forward
Forward
Midfielder
Forward
Midfielder
Midfielder
Congratulations to all new scholars and their families!
As nice as it was for the Atlanta Falcons to beat the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams last season, and as encouraging as it was for them to win their last four games, it also showed something had to change.
Being the type of team that could beat the Bills and Rams yet finish 8-9 in one of the worst divisions in NFL history was a glaring sign of underachievement. Many teams might have stuck it out with head coach Raheem Morris after that final four-game winning streak. The Falcons rightfully wondered where that level of play had been all season and fired Morris. They hired Kevin Stefanski, who had just been fired by the Cleveland Browns, to replace him.
"At the end of the day, I didn't think we achieved the level that we're capable of," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said, via the team's site. "The expression that I often use is: Good is the enemy of great. I think we're capable of getting to another level."
The Falcons are a conundrum. They have some very talented players, including running back Bijan Robinson and receiver Drake London, who just signed a four-year, $141 million extension. They also have plenty of holes on offense around those stars. The defense was better last season but probably won't be good enough to carry the team where it wants to go. Things got murkier on that side of the ball when 2025 first-round draft pick James Pearce Jr. was charged with multiple felonies after Pearce allegedly stalked WNBA player Rickea Jackson and caused a collision as Pearce pursued Jackson in a car (those charges can be dropped if Pearce completes an intervention program, though he still could face NFL punishment).
And the quarterback situation went from promising to a complete mess in a year. The Falcons thought they were onto something with Michael Penix Jr. after a fairly good finish to the 2024 season. Then Penix struggled and his season came to an end when he suffered a knee injury that led to ACL reconstruction surgery, continuing his spotty health history dating back to college. The Falcons got Tua Tagovailoa cheaply as the Dolphins pay all but the veteran's minimum portion of his salary this season, but Tagovailoa's play has fallen off the past two seasons. It's worth the $1.2 million the Falcons are paying to see if Tagovailoa can be a reliable insurance policy, but it's not like Atlanta should expect much more.
It didn't help that the Falcons practically sat out of free agency and didn't have a first-round pick due to a 2025 draft day trade with the Rams that was ripped at the time and looks even worse now after Pearce's offseason. The Falcons signed only two outside free agents to more than $5 million total this offseason: kicker Nick Folk and punter Jake Bailey, who each got two-year, $9 million deals. Don't get too excited, Falcons fans.
Stefanski could be a good hire. He didn't ultimately succeed as Browns head coach, but that has been an impossible job for decades. Stefanski won two NFL Coach of the Year awards, and while that award is confounding at times, it shows he's a competent leader.
It wouldn't take much for the Falcons to stumble into a division title. Spoiler alert: We'll see all four NFC South teams pretty low on this countdown. There is enough talent on hand to achieve the modest goal of winning the NFL's worst division, especially if Penix is healthy and continues to grow.
But nothing seems bankable for the Falcons. Are they the team that went 4-0 to end the season or the one that was 4-9 to start it? Are Robinson, London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. enough to lead a better offense, or will lack of depth and quarterback issues drag them down? Is Stefanski the answer? What's the ceiling for the defense? How do things get better on a roster level after practically sitting out the offseason?
With all those questions, it's a good thing the Falcons don't play in a better division.
The Falcons didn't have much salary cap space before free agency. But other teams were in a similar bind and managed to make some moves. Signing Kyle Pitts Sr. to a three-year, $54 million extension was logical and was practically the extent of the Falcons' significant free-agent moves. The Falcons signed a kicker and punter to matching two-year, $9 million deals and the rest of the additions were even cheaper deals on veterans looking for a chance, like offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, running back Brian Robinson and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Some of those moves could work out, but nothing on paper moves the needle.
The NFL Draft class was thin because the Falcons made the impetuous decision to trade a 2026 first-round pick to the Rams to move up 20 spots from the second round and draft James Pearce Jr. in 2025. The pick Atlanta traded away ended up being 13th overall. The Falcons didn't draft until No. 48 when they took cornerback Avieon Terrell, the brother of Falcons star A.J. Terrell. Avieon might end up starting across from his brother because Atlanta has a big need there. The only other pick the Falcons made in the top 133 was third-round receiver Zachariah Branch, a tough evaluation because he is athletic but an overwhelming amount of his touches came at or behind the line of scrimmage. The Falcons lost linebacker Kaden Elliss and cornerback Dee Alford, and a good backup running back in Tyler Allgeier. New Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham clearly wanted to get the cap in order. But unless you're a huge fan of kicker Nick Folk or punter Jake Bailey, what other grade can you give this curiously quiet offseason?
Grade: F
The first question in the Falcons' quarterback room is whether Michael Penix Jr. will be ready for the start of the season after ACL surgery in November. He was participating in the offseason program by mid-May, which is a good sign.
If Penix is ready, then the Falcons will have a decision to make.
Penix hasn't done enough in 12 starts to establish himself as the team's quarterback of the future. He hasn't been terrible, but the Falcons need more out of the eighth pick of the 2024 draft. Tagovailoa is an interesting case. He led the NFL in passer rating in 2022, passing yards in 2023 and completion percentage in 2024. But his play fell off the past two seasons as concussions became a big part of his NFL story. That's why Miami cut him, taking on an NFL record $99.2 million dead cap hit just to move on.
The Falcons have way more invested in Penix and that has to give him an edge if the competition is close. Atlanta is hoping one of their quarterbacks emerges as a solid starter.
From Yahoo's Ben Fawkes: "Either free-agent pickup Tua Tagovailoa or 2024 No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. will start at QB, but is either one a great option? Atlanta has a win total of 7.5 and surprisingly owns the worst odds (+375) of any team to win the NFC South. There are pieces on both sides of the ball, but the disastrous deal for James Pearce Jr. last year could set this roster back for years. The Falcons are currently projected to be underdogs in a staggering 15 games, including a Week 9 international game in Madrid against AFC darling Cincinnati. I like the under for Atlanta."
From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "Although Kyle Pitts Sr. grabbed the TE2 post last year after a fast finish, the market isn't expecting a repeat. He's currently the TE8 in Yahoo drafts, landing in the mid-70s overall. Many managers have been burned by Pitts in the past, which might explain the ADP trend. But Pitts is merely entering his age-26 season, the Falcons still employ a narrow target tree and new head coach Kevin Stefanski is known to feature tight ends in his scheming. I've had my ups and downs with Pitts before, too, but if he keeps this current price, I'm willing to draft him proactively."
The Falcons wasted one of the greatest single seasons in their franchise history, and one of the most productive seasons in NFL history too. Bijan Robinson was fantastic, gaining 2,298 yards from scrimmage. That's a Falcons record and the 12th best mark in NFL history. Of the 11 seasons ahead of him on the list, eight were either from Pro Football Hall of Famers or by players who are virtual locks to get in (Adrian Peterson, Christian McCaffrey). It's more yards from scrimmage than Saquon Barkley had in his magical 2024 season. Robinson was also the first player in NFL history to gain 1,400 rushing yards and 810 receiving yards in the same season, the Falcons said. Robinson's brilliance peaked in a Monday night win over the Rams in which he gained 229 total yards, and 190 of those yards came after first contact. That's the most in a game since ESPN began tracking the stat in 2009.
Robinson just turned 24 years old. It's surprising there hasn't been more talk about his extension; one reason the Falcons didn't spend too much in free agency is that Robinson's second contract will almost assuredly be the highest in NFL history for a running back. He has earned it. Robinson has a great argument as the best back in football and while he's just three years into his career, he's on a clear Hall of Fame path.
Stefanski started his tenure with the Falcons by making two notable coordinator decisions. He hired Tommy Rees to run the offense and said Rees will call plays. Rees, who is 33 years old, has never called plays in the NFL. Stefanski said it's "a setup that I'm very, very comfortable with." Rees starts with an elite back in Bijan Robinson, a true No. 1 receiver in Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. coming off a resurgent season with 88 catches and 928 yards. There is not much beyond those three, but that trio might be enough.
Stefanski opted for continuity on defense. Jeff Ulbrich was brought back as defensive coordinator. Atlanta improved from 29th in defensive DVOA in 2024 to 12th last season, Ulbrich's first with the team. While the Falcons got good seasons from players like safety Xavier Watts, rookie edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., and linebacker Divine Deablo, there were no true stars on the defense last season. It was a group effort orchestrated by Ulbrich.
How those two hires fare will be huge for Stefanski in his first Falcons season. Stefanski has had good seasons but was an underwhelming 45-56 in his six years coaching the Browns. We will find out if Cleveland's situation was holding him back.
The Falcons are No. 26 in these rankings and it wouldn't surprise anyone if they are a division winner hosting a playoff game in January. The NFC South, everyone! But the Falcons could be more than just an 8-9 team winning a bad division this season. A year ago, there was excitement over Michael Penix Jr. after he had some promising moments as a rookie. He wasn't great last season but he has had just 12 starts. If Penix comes alive, or Tua Tagovailoa wins the job and plays like he did at his peak, there's enough talent on the roster to run away with the division. Especially if we find that going from Raheem Morris to Kevin Stefanski was a massive upgrade.
The Falcons are a top-heavy roster, and that's always dicey with a team that wasn't very good last season. On offense, an injury to Bijan Robinson, Drake London or Kyle Pitts Sr. could derail the entire operation. The defense had a good growth season, but a unit without a single Pro Bowler and that had more personnel losses than gains in the offseason could take a step back. And the main reason the Falcons are ranked this low is a worrisome quarterback situation. Michael Penix Jr. can't stay healthy and has been underwhelming, and a team just paid nearly $100 million for Tua Tagovailoa to not play there anymore. Everything could align for the Falcons, but it seems like even the slightest disruptions could send them spiraling.
Sometimes, a team lets you know by its offseason activity where it think it stands. The 2025 Falcons were so optimistic that they traded a future first-round pick for help right away. This year's Falcons, despite playing in the NFL's most winnable division, spent almost nothing in free agency and weren't aggressive at all to add immediate help in the draft. That could be new GM Ian Cunningham and team president Matt Ryan getting things in order as they start their new jobs, but if the Falcons thought a big leap was possible they could have been more aggressive. There are too many questions, first of all at quarterback but also on the overall depth of the roster, to get too excited about the Falcons. Could they be a little better than this ranking and win the NFC South? Sure. But it looks like another year of mediocrity, at best.
Top-heavy or not, this Los Angeles Rams team has a strong roster. They have quality starters all over the field. At least, that is the epectation. This team may make mistakes, they will make mistakes, but they shouldn’t have any consistent holes. That’s the plan. That is the hope.
The roster is strong in this one.
It is now July. The football season is approaching and we’ll find out if this roster is good on paper or on the field. We’ll find out how good this team is. It seems like it’s Super Bowl or bust and that’s a lot of pressure.
They say pressure can make diamonds, but that’s easier said than done. We’ll find out what this team is made of one way or the other, but the roster looks good in July.
Please comment on whatever you want and thank you for checking out Turf Show Times!
“The Rams finished fifth at receivers/tight ends, fifth in offensive line, fifth at quarterback, fourth at secondary and third at defensive front seven. No other team in the league can claim that level of consistency across the board.
The headline transformation belongs to the defense. The Rams’ secondary was a clear weak spot in 2025, finishing 26th in Sharp’s rankings after allowing 29 passing touchdowns. A pair of offseason moves fixed that almost overnight after the Rams traded for Trent McDuffie and signed Jaylen Watson — both from the Kansas City Chiefs.”
“But while you can expect some people to be frightened at the thought of going against Garrett twice a year, head coach Mike Macdonald isn’t too bothered by it.
“Yeah, you hear about what’s going on. We’ve got TVs on. And we’ve got the social-media-verse. So, yeah,” Macdonald said via the News Tribune. “Getting up to speed on everything. It’s like, there’s so much that has to happen between now and when we even start playing games. Like, ‘OK, great.’ Myles is a great player. He was in Cleveland when I was coaching (through 2023) for the Ravens (who played the Browns twice each season inside the AFC North).
“So, we’ll adjust accordingly.”
“That’s getting ahead of things, of course. Herbert needs to reach the next level with Mike McDaniel in town as offensive coordinator and an upgraded offensive line keeping him healthy. The defense needs to survive the transition away from elite coordinator Jesse Minter. And the franchise needs to shake its very rough history with the injury bug.
Much needs to go right, but that’s true for any team. And the current vibes make it seem like the Los Angeles Rams aren’t the only threat to make the Super Bowl a home game.”
Joan Laporta included several pointed references to Real Madrid during his inauguration speech after officially beginning his new term as Barcelona president.
Without directly naming Real Madrid president Florentino Perez in every instance, Laporta used his address to contrast Barcelona’s current direction with what he suggested was growing uncertainty at the club’s biggest rivals.
Reflecting on Barcelona’s sporting project, Laporta praised the work being done under Hansi Flick before making an apparent dig at Real Madrid.
“Elsewhere they’re very nervous and holding farcical press conferences; they don’t have a clear direction and are experiencing déjà vu,” said Laporta, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
Relationship between Real Madrid and Barcelona is at an all-time low. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
He then contrasted that situation with Barcelona’s own outlook, saying:
“We have a more consistent path with Hansi Flick leading these players who inspire all of Barcelona, a squad assembled by Deco, which isn’t easy in this rollercoaster world of football.”
Laporta also referenced Barcelona’s member-owned ownership model, drawing another apparent comparison with Real Madrid, amid speculations that Perez is considering selling a part of the club ownership to an outside investor.
“We want to remain a club owned by its members, and that forces us to be imaginative in order to compete against clubs that are commercial enterprises,” he said.
After a brief pause, he added another remark that appeared directed at Real Madrid.
“Some aren’t, but they want to be.”
Perez has been critical of Barcelona over the Negreira case. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Towards the end of his speech, Laporta spoke about protecting Barcelona’s interests against criticism and external attacks, referring to the Perez’s remarks regarding the Negreira case.
“We feel strong to continue defending the club,” he said.
There are some who never rest, and in the face of attacks on Barça and our dignity, they will always find a strong president and board with leadership aimed at defending the institution against everything and everyone; that is our commitment.”
Although he did not explicitly identify those he was referring to, the comments were widely interpreted as another message aimed at Real Madrid and club president Perez following recent tensions between the two institutions.
Chris Johnson arrived in Tempe after building a reputation as a speedy running back in the NFL. He then played his final three seasons in the league with the Cardinals.
On Monday, he was a guest on “Good Morning America” on ABC and announced that he has been diagnosed with ALS.
RELATED: CARDINALS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS RANKED #6
Show host Michael Strahan, who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, performed the interview to discuss the disease and what Johnson should expect from this point on.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is usually found in people between the ages of 40 and 70. Johnson is 40 years old. It can happen to someone who never expected to contract the disease.
ALS is a motor neuron disease. As these nerve cells deteriorate and die, the brain can no longer send signals to the muscles. This causes muscles to weaken, twitch, and eventually waste away. It happens randomly with no known family history or clear genetic cause. One of the symptoms is slurred speech or difficulty getting any type of volume out.
There are medications that are FDA approved, such as Edaravone, Riluzole, and Tofersen, but the disease does not have a known cure. These drugs are designed to slow the progression of the disease, which is known to be aggressive. Eventually, people are no longer able to walk and talk.
Johnson played three seasons with the Cardinals from 2015 to 2017.
With Arizona, he played in 19 games with 12 starts, with 266 carries for 1,023 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also had 11 catches for 101 yards.
Johnson was the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans after a stellar football and track career at East Carolina. He signed a five-year, $12 million contract with $7 million guaranteed.
In his second season, he rushed for 2,006 yards, had 80 first-down conversions, and scored 14 TDs. In 2011, he held out and eventually signed a four-year, $53.5 million contract extension that would run to the 2016 season. The total yardage in 2009 ranks seventh all-time in NFL history.
After six seasons with the Titans, he signed a three-year deal with the New York Jets during free agency for $9 million. After a career-low 663 yards and one touchdown, the Jets declined his second year.
The Cardinals inked him to a one-year deal worth $2.56 million. For half the 2015 season, Johnson was listed in the Top-3 running backs. In Week 12, he suffered a fractured tibia, but was voted as a Pro Bowl alternate.
In his final two seasons, he signed one-year deals and competed with David Johnson in Arizona’s RB room.
For his career, Johnson was named “NFL Offensive Player of the Year” (2009), First Team All-Pro once, three Pro Bowl nods, NFL Rushing Yards Leader (2009), and named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.
He left the game with 9,651 rushing yards, 64 total touchdowns, and six seasons eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing plateau.
Bayern Munich star Michael Olise has ripping up the World Cup for France, as the talented attacker has six assists, while his team is just punishing any squad in its path.
In the background of that success, however, have been steady transfer rumors all summer and some weird social media maneuverings. With links to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, there is — at least — somewhat of a threat that the 24-year-old could have a wandering eye.
Maybe, though, more money and a bigger platform are not at the heart of what could conceivably be driving Olise to — allegedly — ponder an exit from Bavaria.
According to Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk, Olise might be thinking about a new challenge:
The Michael Olise situation is getting a little bit dangerous for Bayern Munich. There are rumours around the Frenchman, where the people around him are allegedly saying that he knows he can always win the league with FC Bayern, but he’s already done this, and now he has the DFB Pokal also under his belt. The Champions League, meanwhile, is perhaps a little more difficult to win at Bayern Munich. There are rumours he’d like to make a transfer somewhere else, and that Real Madrid is the club he should be dreaming of. Olise doesn’t talk much, so you never know if the rumours are true. Still, the people who are talking are supposedly really close to him. This could be a problem for Bayern, because everyone knows that dissatisfied players are not good players.
Some fans might think this is just fear-mongering (and they could be right), but Falk added in one more sentence of caution to everyone expecting Olise to ink a big contract extension with Bayern Munich in the coming months:
I don’t see the France international signing a new contract at Bayern in the near future.
The statement is open-ended, no doubt, as the near future could be defined in different ways. What this report from Falk tells us is that maybe — just maybe — the stories we have seen all summer could have at least a little validity.
When you factor in that Olise has already scrubbed any Bayern Munich pics and references (he does not even list FC Bayern as his club team) from his social media, this could actually be a situation worth monitoring a little closer.
Sign up for a user account and get:
Joe Flacco started in 44 games in which his defense held the opponent to 10 points or less, the highest value among active quarterbacks. Would you be shocked to find out that Flacco is 44-0 in those games?
As a quarterback, there clearly is a benefit in playing for a team with a strong defense, as other NFL QBs and their W/L records will attest. Lamar Jackson, Flacco’s successor in Baltimore, is 27-0. Patrick Mahomes is 25-0 when the opponent scored 10 points or fewer, Matthew Stafford is 25-0, Sam Darnold is unbeaten at 14-0. In fact, of the 32 QBs penciled in as the starters for their teams by ourlads.com, 25 have never lost such a game. Of the rest, only one QB lost more than one game when the opponent was held to 10 points or fewer: Aaron Rodgers is 33-2 in those games.
The reality is, it’s very hard to lose a game where the opponent is held below 10 points. Yet if you were to read some of the headlines floating around after gameday – and if you were to give those headlines any credence – you could easily get the impression that it was the superstar QB all by himself who won those games.
The QB, whether you like it or not, is the only player on a football team who has a W/L record in his personal stats. But that doesn’t mean the QB is actually winning games for his team. Teams can win games with a strong defense, great special teams play, or a good ground game despite the QB, yet the QB will get the win on his record.
Which is why today we’ll take a more objective, stat-based look at the W/L records of NFL QBs and try to figure out which NFL quarterbacks are winning games for their teams, and which aren’t. To do that, we’ll look at ‘Wins Over Average’ (WOA) to understand which offenses, and by extension their QBs, contributed to wins for their teams.
Unlike the more established QB metrics like passer rating and ESPN’s QBR, WOA is a little off the beaten path, but can help us get a more complete, and perhaps more nuanced, picture of QB performance than the more established metrics alone can.
WOA was developed by Doug Drinen at Pro-football-reference.com (PFR). The underlying assumption for WOA is that it’s a lot easier for a QB to win games when the defense holds the opponent to 10 points than it would be if the defense gave up 30 points.
What WOA does is it calculates a QB’s winning percentage against a given bracket of points scored by the opponent (e.g., 0-10 points, 11-17 points etc.) and then compares how many games a given quarterback won versus how many games an NFL-average QB would have been expected to win.
To calculate WOA, we first need a baseline to determine what ‘NFL average performance’ looks like. For our purposes here we’ll use the 10-year league average winning percentage in regular season games between 2016 and 2025. In the table below I’ve crunched the regular season numbers for all NFL teams for the last 10 years, formed five clusters by points allowed, and looked at the winning percentages for each cluster.
body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table { border: 1px solid #000 !important; border-collapse: collapse !important; } body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th { padding: 0px 6px !important; }| 2016-25 | QB Record versus Points Allowed | ||||
| 0-10 | 11-17 | 18-24 | 25-31 | 32+ | |
| W/L record | 664-26-2 | 814-218-2 | 718-691-8 | 318-881-6 | 115-813-2 |
| Win % | .961 | .788 | .510 | .266 | .125 |
How to read the table: A QB (and by extension, the team) will almost always win the game when the defense holds the opposing team to 10 points or fewer (664-26-2 winning record). The NFL average winning percentage is .961 against the ‘0-10’ points bracket. The more points a team allows, the lower their chances of winning the game. When your defense allows 32 points or more, your QB’s chances of winning the game are very low (.125 winning percentage, 115-813-2 record).
What separates the good from the merely average QBs is their ability to win games that an average QB would not win. And that is exactly what WOA measures. We’ll use Tony Romo’s 127 career starts to further explain the concept.
body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table { border: 1px solid #000 !important; border-collapse: collapse !important; } body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th { padding: 0 px 6px !important; }| Tony Romo’s Wins Over Average | ||||||
| Points Allowed | 0-10 | 11-17 | 18-24 | 25-31 | 32+ | Total |
| W/L record | 21-1 | 21-4 | 23-10 | 8-14 | 3-20 | 78-49 |
| Win % | .957 | .840 | .697 | .391 | .130 | .614 |
| Wins Over Average | -0.1 | +1.3 | +6.2 | +2.9 | +0.1 | +10.4 |
Tony Romo and Wins Over Average:
So statistically, over the course of his 10 seasons as a starter, Tony Romo accounted for almost eleven more wins for the Cowboys than an average NFL quarterback would have. At first glance, that doesn’t sound like all that much, so in the next step we’ll try to understand how that number compares to other quarterbacks around the league.
Before we do that though, keep in mind that when I say “Tony Romo”, I’m not just talking about the QB, but also the receivers, the O-line, the running back, the coaches, and many more people who make up or influence the Dallas Cowboys offense. Quarterbacks don’t win or lose games, teams do. But if quarterbacks are going to be measured by wins, let’s at least make sure we understand the quality of those wins.
Before we go there though, let’s have a look at what is increasingly looking like Romo’s statistical twin, Dak Prescott.
body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table { border: 1px solid #000 !important; border-collapse: collapse !important; } body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th { padding: 0px 6px !important; }| Dak Prescott’s Wins Over Average | ||||||
| Points Allowed | 0-10 | 11-17 | 18-24 | 25-31 | 32+ | Total |
| W/L record | 19-1 | 24-4 | 26-11 | 8-21 | 6-17-1 | 83-55-1 |
| Win % | .950 | .857 | .684 | .276 | .261 | .601 |
| Wins Over Average | -0.2 | +1.9 | +6.6 | +0.3 | +3.3 | +11.9 |
Same logic as with Romo before. The first three points brackets look similar for both players, but the main difference is in the higher points brackets. Where Romo got a big chunk of WOA in the 25-31 bracket (+2.9), Prescott got his in the 32+ point bracket (+3.3).
Prescott has a record of 6-17-1 as a starter in 24 games when the defense allowed 32 or more points. The average NFL QB would be expected to win three of those games (24 games x .125 NFL average), so even with “just” six wins and a tie, Prescott delivered +3.3 wins over average in this points bracket.
That +11.9 total WOA for Prescott over ten years looks very similar to Romo’s 10.4 over ten seasons. But they do have a different number of games started, so we adjust for that by dividing WOA through the total number of games started.
For Romo, that gives us 8.2%, which tells us that Romo won 8.2% more games over his career than an NFL average QB would have. For Prescott, that number is slightly higher at 8.7%. We’ll compare all QBs in this exercise by their WOA%, as this will allow for a better comparison of the quarterbacks regardless of how many games they started.
In the next table, I’ve listed the 32 projected starting quarterbacks, split them into starters with more than 34 career starts and starters with 34 or fewer starts, and also added 11 backups. There is another table further down that lists a selection 20 retired quarterbacks for comparison. WOA and WOA% are calculated for all QBs in the same way I calculated Romo’s and Prescott’s numbers above.
The base line for the color code is determined by the 22 starters with more than 34 games, who average a +5.3 WOA%.
Players in green are above that average and have a WOA% between +5 & +10. Blue is the elite tier, where players average more than +10 WOA%. The yellow tier denotes below average players between zero and +5 WOA%, red denotes the underformers with a negative WOA%.
The average WOA% by player status:
| QB | 2026 Team | Career Starts | W/L | WOA | WOA% |
| STARTERS > 34 Starts | |||||
| Patrick Mahomes | KC | 126 | 95-31 | 23.2 | 18.4% |
| Jalen Hurts | PHI | 82 | 57-25 | 12.6 | 15.3% |
| Lamar Jackson | BAL | 105 | 76-31 | 12.5 | 11.7% |
| Aaron Rodgers | PIT | 257 | 163-93-1 | 28.1 | 10.9% |
| Josh Allen | BUF | 124 | 88-39 | 12.2 | 9.6% |
| Brock Purdy | SF | 45 | 30-15 | 4.2 | 9.3% |
| Jared Goff | DET | 151 | 90-60-1 | 13.4 | 8.9% |
| Dak Prescott | DAL | 138 | 83-55-1 | 12.1 | 8.7% |
| Joe Burrow | CIN | 77 | 43-33-1 | 5.7 | 7.4% |
| Kirk Cousins | LV | 167 | 88-77-2 | 12.0 | 7.2% |
| Justin Herbert | SD | 95 | 52-43 | 4.2 | 4.5% |
| CJ Stroud | HOU | 45 | 28-18 | 1.8 | 3.9% |
| Matthew Stafford | LAR | 238 | 120-118-1 | 6.5 | 2.7% |
| Jordan Love | GB | 48 | 27-20-1 | 1.1 | 2.4% |
| Sam Darnold | SEA | 90 | 49-41 | 1.4 | 1.6% |
| Baker Mayfield | TB | 120 | 58-62 | 0.8 | 0.7% |
| Kyler Murray | MIN | 86 | 38-48-1 | -1.2 | -1.3% |
| Trevor Lawrence | JAX | 77 | 35-42 | -1.7 | -2.2% |
| Daniel Jones | IND | 80 | 32-49-1 | -4.2 | -5.1% |
| Geno Smith | NYJ | 96 | 42-56 | -5.1 | -5.2% |
| Bryce Young | CAR | 44 | 14-30 | -5.5 | -12.4% |
| Jacoby Brissett | ARI | 64 | 20-45 | -9.5 | -14.6% |
| STARTERS <= 34 Starts | |||||
| Jayden Daniels | WAS | 23 | 14-10 | 3.3 | 14.0% |
| Bo Nix | DEN | 34 | 24-10 | 3.4 | 10.1% |
| Drake Maye | NE | 27 | 17-12 | 2.1 | 7.2% |
| Tyler Shough | NO | 9 | 5-4 | -0.1 | -1.5% |
| Caleb Williams | CHI | 34 | 16-18 | -1.0 | -3.0% |
| Shedeur Sanders | CLE | 7 | 3-4 | -0.7 | -10.6% |
| Jaxson Dart | NYG | 12 | 4-8 | -1.4 | -11.5% |
| Michael Penix | ATL | 12 | 4-8 | -1.7 | -14.1% |
| Malik Willis | MIA | 6 | 3-3 | -0.9 | -14.2% |
| Cam Ward | TEN | 17 | 3-14 | -2.6 | -15.4% |
| Backups | |||||
| Tua Tagovailoa | ATL | 75 | 44-32 | 5.8 | 7.6% |
| Deshaun Watson | CLE | 71 | 37-35 | 2.0 | 2.8% |
| J.J. McCarthy | MIN | 10 | 6-4 | 0.2 | 2.1% |
| Carson Wentz | MIN | 99 | 49-49-1 | -1.0 | -1.0% |
| Jameis Winston | NYG | 89 | 36-53 | -1.4 | -1.6% |
| Andy Dalton | PHI | 168 | 84-83-2 | -3.7 | -2.2% |
| Joe Flacco | CIN | 200 | 107-94 | -8.6 | -4.3% |
| Marcus Mariota | WAS | 81 | 36-46 | -3.6 | -4.3% |
| Sam Howell | DAL | 18 | 5-13 | -1.4 | -8.0% |
| Mac Jones | SF | 55 | 25-32 | -5.6 | -9.8% |
| Will Levis | TEN | 21 | 5-16 | -4.3 | -20.3% |
No real surprise at the very top of the list, where Planet Mahomes makes every other QB look like a second tier player. Lamar Jackson and and Aaron Rodgers aren’t much of a surprise either (both have been at or near the top in most of the quantitative QB reviews we’ve looked at recently). But Jalen Hurts is a surprise in this top tier; I have never considered him a particularly good QB, and to have him show up so high here caused me quite some consternation.
Initially assuming I must have made some data entry mistake, I reviewed the data in detail and found something astonishing: the average NFL quarterback wins only about a quarter of the games (.266) when the opposing team scores between 25-31 points. There are 43 QBs in the table above and a further 20 retired QBs we’ll review later in this post. Only five of them have a winning percentage in that 25-31 bracket, here are four of them:
And then there’s Hurts with as staggering 8-3 record (.727) in that points bracket running laps around some of the best QBs to have played the game. But this is where we hit the limit of using QB wins to judge QBs, because as I pointed out earlier, we’re not just talking about QBs here, but also WRs, the O-line, the running backs and much more.
The combination of an average to slightly above average passer in Hurts and an above average WOA suggests that the Eagles have been winning more games than Hurts’ performance as a pure passer would warrant, and maybe that’s part of his appeal, especially for Philly fans: He may never be the greatest passer in the league, but he and his team have consistently found ways to win like great QBs and their teams do. And that’s quite something.
After the top four QBs with double digit WOA percentages there’s a six-man second tier of above average QBs who can all play spectacularly at times but are also prone to inconsistent performances. This group is so tightly bunched that a single win in a shootout or a loss in a low-scoring game could rearrange the order completely. Also notice that outside of Kirk Cousins (who is a bit of a surprise in this group) none of the QBs here ever left their team in free agency (Goff was traded). That makes this the “franchise QB” group, a group that also contains the four QBs at the very top of the list: consistent and longtime overperformance that teams will quite literally pay any price to keep.
A mezzanine is an intermediate or partial floor in a building that sits between two main stories. This six-man group’s WOA% is below the average of the active veterans (+5.3%) but still above the league average of 0%). These QBs may not win their teams a lot of games, but at least they aren’t losing too many either, at least as measured by WOA, and there is definite value in that.
But there are always questions about these QBs, because nobody is quite sure of their trajectory, are they moving up one floor or moving down one floor. A quick scan of the top ten headlines on Google for each player illustrates the point:
Of the six QBs with a negative WOA percentage, only two (Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young) remain with their original team, and Young’s time in Carolina may end soon. Their performance as measured by WOA% suggests they are backup-quality QBs who only have a job as a starter because their teams couldn’t find anybody better.
Some of you might wonder why I pushed the cutoff between veteran and young starters to 34 games, when in previous QB posts this was usually 20 starts. Nick Foles is the reason.
In his first three years in the league, WOA suggested Foles would be a Mahomes-level superstar: his WOA% over his first three years and 24 starts in Philly was an impressive +16.4%. Since then, Foles has combined for a -8.3 WOA% over 34 starts for a career value of “just” +1.9%. Much like Hurts, Foles looked good on strong Eagles teams, but couldn’t sustain that performance outside of Philly.
And this is key for the young guys at the bottom of the table above. Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Drake Maye look good early in their career, but can they sustain that performance over 10+ seasons and the ups and downs that come with it?
To illustrate that specific point, here’s Dak Prescott’s up-and-down WOA% by year:
body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table { border: 1px solid #000 !important; border-collapse: collapse !important; } body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th { padding: 4px 6px !important; }| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Starts | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 8 | 17 |
| WOA% | +18.8% | -0.3% | +6.3% | -6.9% | +19.8% | 18.5% | 18.4% | 7.6% | -5.2% | 13.1% |
Prescott’s numbers show that there can be a lot of variability from year-to-year. Five elite-level seasons, two above average seasons, and two below average seasons highlight how hard it is to maintain consistent performance over time.
But Prescott’s numbers also reemphasize the point about Hurts and that it’s not just the QB driving total wins.
Prescott had a spectacular rookie season, but he was supported by fellow rookie and the NFL’s leading rusher that season in Ezekiel Elliott, along with an offensive line that won the inaugural Offensive Line of the Year award for that year. But nothing lasts forever in the NFL. In 2017, Elliott was suspended for six games and the O-line regressed, and two up-and-down seasons followed in which OC Scott Linehan outwore his welcome, Jason Garrett was nearing the end of his tenure, and the WR room was in turmoil.
From 2020-2023, Prescott was clicking with OC Kellen Moore before McCarthy decided he needed to take over playcalling with his dumbed-down scheme in 2024. A new regime, and an invigorated offense with George Pickens, helped the offense back to some gaudy numbers in 2025, but the defensive collapse prevented the Cowboys from making anything out of it.
The 20 retired QBs in the table below are by no means a representative sample, I selected them largely for their name recognition and because I’ll take any chance to dump on former NFC East QBs.
body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table { border: 1px solid #000 !important; border-collapse: collapse !important; } body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th { padding: 0px 6px !important; }| QB | Career Starts | W/L | WOA | WOA% |
| Peyton Manning (HOF ret.) | 262 | 186-79 | 42.9 | 16.2% |
| Tom Brady (HOF ret.) | 332 | 251-82 | 48.4 | 14.5% |
| Andrew Luck (ret.) | 86 | 53-33 | 10.5 | 12.2% |
| Drew Brees (HOF ret.) | 283 | 172-114 | 31.1 | 10.9% |
| Tony Romo (ret.) | 125 | 78-49 | 10.4 | 8.2% |
| Ben Roethlisberger (ret.) | 247 | 165-81-1 | 17.3 | 7.0% |
| Ryan Tannehill (ret.) | 150 | 81-70 | 6.7 | 4.5% |
| Matt Ryan (ret.) | 232 | 124-109-1 | 9.6 | 4.1% |
| Russell Wilson (ret.) | 202 | 121-80-1 | 6.9 | 3.4% |
| Philip Rivers (ret.) | 243 | 134-109 | 5.0 | 2.1% |
| Nick Foles (ret.) | 57 | 29-29 | 1.1 | 1.9% |
| Cam Newton (ret.) | 144 | 75-68-1 | 1.9 | 1.3% |
| Jay Cutler (ret.) | 149 | 74-79 | 0.3 | 0.2% |
| Michael Vick (ret.) | 108 | 62-52-1 | 0.2 | 0.2% |
| Eli Manning (ret.) | 234 | 117-117 | 0.3 | 0.1% |
| Carson Palmer (ret.) | 179 | 92-88-1 | -0.4 | -0.2% |
| Robert Griffin (ret.) | 41 | 16-26 | -1.1 | -2.7% |
| Donovan McNabb (ret.) | 159 | 98-62-1 | -5.4 | -3.4% |
| Mark Sanchez (ret.) | 72 | 37-36 | -3.0 | -4.1% |
| Sam Bradford (ret.) | 83 | 34-48-1 | -9.1 | -11.0% |
The fact that we have three Hall of Famers topping this list is a bit of a validation for this approach. At the same time, the fact that Eli Manning is being discussed as a potential future Hall of Famer suggests the Hall of Fame is planning a new wing, the Hall of Mediocre Longevity.
The ranking also highlights how close Tony Romo’s performance is to the Hall of Famers on this list, and how frustrating it is for Cowboys fans to know both how good he was and how bad the front office was at providing him with a team that could have gotten him a ring.
Tony Romo also provides an insight into how this whole WOA thing works: Romo’s .614 W/L percentage is almost identical to Donovan McNabb’s (.612). But the difference between the two per WOA is that Romo elevated his team to achieve that record while McNabb had to lean on his team to get to that record.
Obviously, there are many ways to evaluate a QB’s performance. This is one way that you probably haven’t seen much of before, but taken with other valid metrics out there, I hope it helps solidify an overall picture of today’s NFL quarterbacks, and perhaps raises a question or two.
The New Jersey Devils woke up on July 1 with a handful of automatic contract tweaks that slightly reshape their flexibility on the trade market.
It’s nothing dramatic, but the changes do give the front office a touch more room to work with a couple of veterans while handing one star a modest layer of protection he didn’t have before.
Jack Hughes moves from zero trade protection to a 10-team no-trade list. This is significant as Jack goes into year five of his current eight year contract that carries an $8 million deal. \ Mehta isn’t looking to trade Hughes, so it’s unlikely he’ll need to enforce the trade protection. But going into his ninth season in the NHL, this is the first trade protection he’s ever had. The 10-team trade list is in effect through the duration of his contract.
Stefan Noesen’s list actually gets smaller, dropping from 10 teams to seven. On paper that gives the Devils a few extra possible landing spots if they decide to move the winger. The change is incremental, but every additional team that doesn’t require his approval matters when you’re trying to find the right fit and the right return.
Brenden Dillon sees the biggest swing in the other direction. He’s coming off a full no-trade clause that forced the Devils to get his blessing on any deal. That protection is now limited to a 10-team list. The organization suddenly has far more options if it wants to reshape the blue line or clear cap space.
One name the Devils can stop worrying about entirely is Jacob Markstrom. After he waived his full no-move clause to join the Florida Panthers—which downgraded today to a 20-team no-trade list as his new contract kicked in—no longer applies in New Jersey.
That chapter is closed.
The rest of the core group stays exactly where they were. Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Connor Brown, Brett Pesce, Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Johnathan Kovacevic carry the same trade protections they had yesterday. No surprises there, and no extra complications for the front office to manage.
However, the once-daunting thought of the mounting trade protections in New Jersey are starting to dissipate. That is until some new contracts kick in, such as Hischier’s pending extension.
With a little more wiggle room and some new-found salary cap flexibility, July 1st could be another good day for Mehta and the Devils.
Related Headlines
England begins the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday when it takes on DR Congo in the Round of 32 at Atlanta Stadium.
MORE: FIFA World Cup 2026 power rankings
The Three Lions finished atop Group L to earn the favorable draw, but with a place in the Round of 16 on the line, there is little margin for error as the tournament shifts to single-elimination play.
– Live Stream Every 2026 World Cup Match With Fubo –
While England enters as the clear favorite, manager Thomas Tuchel has repeatedly stressed that his team cannot overlook a disciplined DR Congo side. England topped its group but was not always convincing, and Tuchel has emphasized the importance of staying patient against a compact defense that will look to frustrate his attack. England is expected to control possession, but breaking down DR Congo’s organized back line could prove more difficult than many expect.
DR Congo has already been one of the tournament’s biggest surprises. The Leopards earned a draw against Portugal, suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Colombia, and then defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 to reach the knockout stage as one of the top third-place finishers. Head coach Sébastien Desabre has embraced the underdog role, saying the pressure is entirely on England while his squad has “nothing to lose” as it looks to continue its historic World Cup run.
Live stream England vs DR Congo with Fubo: Start your free trial now!
With Fubo, you can watch live television without cable on your phone, TV, or tablet. Fubo carries a wide array of sports and entertainment channels, including local sports packages and top national channels like ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, FS1, MTV, Comedy Central, and much more. The best part is you can try it out today for free.
Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
This might surprise a lot of people, but the Denver Broncos have not had many great tight ends in its history. There have been some good tight ends and one great one, but mostly just a slew of above average or just decent tight ends. I hate to say it, but its true.
My list obviously starts with Shannon Sharpe, who was easily the greatest tight end in team history. Riley Odoms is the other obvious candidate, then I’d put in Julius Thomas and Dwayne Carswell. For the final spot, I really struggled to find a guy I felt deserved to be on the list. That’s where the above average crowd began. I decided to go with Clarence Kay, because it offered me a chance to share a funny childhood story. I became a fan in the 80s and the news was wall-to-wall coverage for Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearings in the Supreme Court. I didn’t know any of that at the time, but I distinctly remember thinking and believing for a moment that Clarence Kay and Clarence Thomas were the same person and was confused why a football player could also be in government. I was very young, but that memory remained as one I think back on at how silly that sounds today. So welcome to the Top 5, Clarence! 😆
Here is where the rest of the staff landed on the top five for tight ends in Broncos’ history:
Scotty Payne: Shannon Sharpe is a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest tight ends of all time. Julius Thomas was only productive for a few seasons but they were very impactful and he was a key part of the Broncos offense during the Peyton Manning years.
Chris Hart: By the end of Shannon Sharpe’s stellar career in 2003, he was the NFL’s most decorated and productive tight end. Certainly the best in franchise history and one of the greatest tight ends all-time. Riley Odoms was a top-flight player at the position in the 1970s and spent over a decade with the franchise. Julius Thomas’ time in Denver was short and sweet, but his penchant for touchdowns from Peyton Manning were a huge bright spot for the team and one of the reasons Denver’s offenses were so prolific in that time frame. Dwayne Carswell was a great compliment to Sharpe and a key reason for Denver’s ground game success. Noah Fant might surprise some here, but he was easily one of the most talented players the franchise has had at the position. Perhaps with a better quarterback and offensive coordinator, he could have realized his potential before being traded off to Seattle in the deal that netted the Broncos Russell Wilson.
Ian St. Clair: Sharpe is one of the best tight ends ever. Odoms finally got the recognition he deserved for decades by getting inducted in the Ring of Fame. Thomas was magical during that run with PFM. Scheffler is fifth for yardage by a tight end, and Carswell (House) is arguably the best blocking tight end in franchise history.
Sadaraine: This list could probably stop at #1. Shannon Sharpe was a marvel to watch, who revolutionized the position. Odoms is easily our #2 with superb contributions over 9 years. Julius Thomas didn’t have longevity, but that guy burned bright and was an absolute unstoppable weapon with Manning throwing him the ball.
I was surprised that Julius Thomas received universal support here, but looking at the historical list of tight ends it doesn’t actually surprise me as much. There really haven’t been many great tight ends in team history.
What is your top five tight end list?
Kyle Schwarber has more home runs than anyone else in baseball this season. If you are surprised by this, you are probably also shocked on a daily basis by things like the sky being blue or your stove being hot. It must be nice, one supposes, to have such an vast capacity for wonder.
But even those of us who have a somewhat more reasonable capacity for it can do some wondering. We know that Kyle Schwarber is one of the finest home run hitters of his generation. We know that he strikes fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers, cowardly and superstitious lot that they are. But we do not yet know if he will hit 500 home runs. He currently stands at 370. Someday, in a bittersweet moment that will not be recognized for what it is until it has past, he will hit his last. That is certain. The number assigned to that final round tripper, however, is uncertain.
Today’s question is: Will Kyle Schwarber hit 500 home runs before he retires?
Let’s get a few things straight.
Is Caitlin Clark a generational talent? Yes. Has Caitlin Clark generated eyeballs and ratings for women’s basketball? You bet. Does Caitlin Clark fill up arenas wherever she goes? Undoubtedly. Can Caitlin Clark become one of the greatest? For sure.
All that can be true, and at the same time, it can be true that Caitlin Clark is a human being with potential to grow. Her game can evolve, and she can improve over time and with experience. Clark needs to clean up the turnovers, build some muscle and improve her defensive game.
Caitlin Clark says being the face of the WNBA is so mentally taxing she works with a sports psychologist to handle it
— katsu (@katsuxbt) June 30, 2026
“I try to distance myself from everything online the best I can. When I get into the heat of the season, I’m very locked in on what we need to do, what our… pic.twitter.com/sMnrisz0Uy
She is also not a damsel in distress with a target on her back from a league that she has wanted to be a part of her whole life.
It’s unfathomable that this needs to be reiterated time after time whenever something objectively inconsequential occurs that involves Clark and some of her perceived fans take it as an affront to humanity itself.
That was once again on full display following the June 24th game between the Indiana Fever and visiting Phoenix Mercury, in which Clark and Alyssa Thomas fought for a loose ball. In the scrum, Thomas appeared to press her fist into Clark’s throat and step on her.
The officials didn’t rule the play a foul at the time, but after an official review following the game, the WNBA ruled it a flagrant 2 and issued Thomas a one-game suspension.
BREAKING: Alyssa Thomas has been assessed a flagrant penalty 2 and a one game suspension for “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area” of Caitlin Clark, the WNBA announced.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) June 25, 2026
The incident occurred at the 6:52 mark of last nights game.
Was it dirty? No doubt. Should the officiating have been better? Yes, officiating in the WNBA has been a problem for too long. Would it have been reasonable for Thomas to be ejected from the game? Absolutely. Should her suspension have been longer? Arguably.
However, all this can be true without turning it into a national soap opera where people who have likely never watched a women’s basketball game or perhaps a basketball period are weighing in. Many of these voices likely believe that a pick-and-roll is an appetizer.
One of those is Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee, who said that Clark should go play overseas in Europe. Burchett told TMZ:
I think it’s trashy. She gets the crap kicked out of her. … I think she’s an exceptional athlete, and she’s being just abused physically…. [The WNBA] will lose. Some European league is going to pull her in, and they’ll pay her, and she’ll pull out, and they’ll all be back flying coach.
The W in WNBA stands for wrestling when it comes to Caitlin Clark — so says Congressman Tim Burchett, who tells TMZ DC the league better stop abusing its biggest star … or they'll be flat broke when she leaves for a European league. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/hmW27KVPSz
— TMZ (@TMZ) June 25, 2026
No records show Congressman Burchett being present at a WNBA game or even at a Vanderbilt University women’s basketball game, given that the campus is in his district.
One would hope that the elected official has his hands full in a state where his constituents are dealing with surging personal bankruptcies, farms on the chopping block, a child welfare system facing serious systemic challenges and redistricting that is wiping away a majority-Black district.
Pennsylvania Congressman Brendon Boyle questioned why the WNBA doesn’t market Clark enough, evoking the name of Michael Jordan while admitting that he isn’t a big WNBA fan, not until a franchise in Philadelphia arrives in 2030. Boyle posted on Twitter/X:
Admittedly I’m not a big WNBA fan and won’t be until Philly gets a team. But it’s just bizarre to me they don’t market the one player they have who attracts so many fans, and that’s Caitlin Clark. It’s so strange. I remember the way the NBA marketed Jordan to the hilt.
Admittedly I’m not a big WNBA fan and won’t be until Philly gets a team. But it’s just bizarre to me they don’t market the one player they have who attracts so many fans, and that’s Caitlin Clark. It’s so strange. I remember the way the NBA marketed Jordan to the hilt.
— Congressman Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) June 30, 2026
Former NFL Quarterback Boomer Esiason, not only said on his radio show that Clark should play overseas, but also laid bare the white identity politics that inspires these voices to “support” Clark, proclaiming:
If I were Caitlin Clark, I would seriously consider going to play overseas somewhere and get the royal treatment…she’s a straight white basketball player. And she is not being treated with any sort of respect.
"If I were Caitlin Clark, I would seriously consider going to play overseas somewhere and get the royal treatment…she's a straight white basketball player. And she is not being treated with any sort of respect" – Boomer Esiason pic.twitter.com/zeFRdOMLVn
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 25, 2026
But perhaps the one that takes the cake is that of Mark Vargas, editor-in-chief of the Illinois Review, a conservative website. He called on the United States Civil Rights Division to open an investigation into whether the WNBA is violating Caitlin Clark’s civil rights.
It’s time for the U.S. DoJ Civil Rights Division to investigate the WNBA.
— Mark Vargas (@MarkAVargas) June 28, 2026
The league’s repeated failure to protect Caitlin Clark is unacceptable. Closed-fist throat shots, uncalled flagrants, and a clear pattern of targeting the league’s biggest star.
This raises serious… pic.twitter.com/7HhvUU163d
Seriously?! With Iran and inflation at the forefront of most rational people’s minds, this is what the federal government should be laser-focused on?
That one is the winner because it really sheds light on what seems to be the motive behind some of this hyperactive tendency to want to “protect” Caitlin Clark. It has very little to do with basketball and is instead pure racial grievance.
To be clear, as someone who covered Caitlin Clark at Iowa, I can say she has genuine fans and supporters who relish what she has brought to the game. She is good for the game and good for sports at a time when sports are in real need of positive influences.
Nevertheless, there is a loud cabal using Clark’s image to unapologetically project their own insecurities, biases and outright hostilities towards Black women, and especially Black queer women, in the WNBA.
It’s been done before to players such as Angel Reese and Chennedy Carter, where aggressive play is perceived as assault.
This needs to stop, especially when Alyssa Thomas has said that she and her family are on the receiving end of abuse and threats online.
The Athletic has obtained screenshots of nearly a dozen texts, direct messages and social media comments sent to DeWanna Bonner, including racial slurs and death threats.
— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) July 1, 2026
She told TA she hasn't heard from commissioner Cathy Engelbert "in years." https://t.co/jEsuRdz0Wz
The WNBA should be in a celebratory moment, marking the growth in popularity of women’s basketball in the league’s 30th season.
It would be nice if Clark could just be another player who is part of this celebration, not a symbol to divide and discredit the league.
The City of Chicago holds deep pride in its sports teams. This is despite the fact that each franchise within the City has had a history of inconsistent success, at best.
However, if anyone has been paying attention recently, Chicago sports may be on the verge of a renaissance.
Of the 8 professional sports teams in Chicago, an argument could be made for 7 of them having their arrow pointing up. Which got me thinking – could Chicago sports be a few years away from multiple championship contenders?
This is a Chicago Bears blog, and I truly think that the Bears are poised to win a championship next among these teams. However, I am going to zag and make an argument for the….Chicago Bulls?
Look – I will take any and all grief thrown my way for choosing one of the two Jerry Reinsdorf franchises. Reinsdorf, the owner of the White Sox (until 2029-2033 when Justin Ishbia plans to take over) and Bulls, is not known for prioritizing winning, or more accurately put – spending.
With that said, his franchises have won in the past despite him, so while he may not be a reason they win, he is also not a complete roadblock either. As long as there are butts in seats…
My reason for choosing the Bulls is simple: the NBA is fully of parity at the moment. No other league can come close to sporting the distinction of 8 different teams in the last 8 years. The reason to me is clear – there aren’t any megastars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, or Michael Jordan to dominate the league, but an abundance of Stars to compete.
So the likes of Jalen Brunson, SGA, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic, etc. are all excellent players, but they aren’t top 10 all time. This means that if the Bulls can find a “Star” level talent, they could quickly ascend to championship contention.
I think Caleb Wilson could be that “Star”.
Just a few weeks ago, Draymond Green (maybe not the most authoritative voice in the league) said Wilson’s floor is “Kevin Garnett”. We should all take this with a heaping pile of salt, but still, it shows what Wilson could be capable of. He’s young, motivated (I see you Dayo), has prototypical size, and is wildly talented. If he puts it all together, he could be a top-five player in the NBA before his third season. I am not going to bet against a highly drafted Tarheel in Chicago.
So, while my head says that the Bears are building a sustainable and competitive team that will absolutely compete for a Super Bowl, I think the Bulls could have a shortcut to the Larry O’Brien trophy on their team.
Let me know if I’m stupid, blind, ignorant, or otherwise in the comments, please.
Now it’s your turn! Who do you think will be the next Chicago franchise to win a championship? Sound off in the comments!
The Orioles keep finding ways to beat themselves. This isn’t a hot take or even a fresh one. The book is out on the Baltimore Orioles. There are several talented players, but they will not beat you with sound baseball. They are the opposite of those pesky teams that play the game the right way and sneak out close wins. They are 6-13 in one-run games.
Still, the woeful American League has kept Baltimore within five games of a playoff spot. The third wild card, paired with a potentially desperate Mike Elias, has kept the concept of competing in 2026 alive. There is enough talent to see an above .500 baseball team if you look through the right lense, but it’s growing more difficult by the day.
I can’t manage an optimistic approach right now, but I can point out that several things need to change if this team is going to get hot in the second half. It feels like a cop-out to just say hit better, pitch better, and play better defense, so here’s my best crack at some changes that the team can implement starting today.
Offensive catchers have been described as a “cheat code.” The Orioles have two of them. Both Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo possess legitimate middle-of-the-order bats, and the team routinely pencils them both into the lineup. It’s a luxury to have one catcher that can handle himself at the dish, but having two is extremely rare. On paper, Baltimore should receive a legitimate boost on day games when other teams are forced to implement a traditionally light-hitting backstop.
The Orioles are currently using an additional roster spot on catcher Chadwick Tromp. The Birds were happy to get Tromp back in the organization with Rutschman on the 7-day IL, and the team elected to keep Tromp over Sam Huff.
It’s easy to understand why the Orioles want to provide Rutschman and Basallo extra rest. Baltimore gave Rutschman a breather last night, but Tromp remained on the bench. Basallo is obviously capable of catching when Rutschman gets the day off, and the team could use the roster spot on the recently optioned Jeremiah Jackson or another position player.
I’ve spend an unhealthy amount of time wondering how a healthy Jordan Westburg could help this team, but he’s not walking through that door. Right now, the Orioles only have Coby Mayo and Blaze Alexander for the hot corner. Mayo’s defensive woes have been well documented, but Alexander recently stepped into the spotlight. Alexander’s late error brought boo’s from the crowd on Monday night, and he holds a -4.2 UZR/150 rating at the position this year.
Coby Mayo was always going to be a bat-first baseball player. The corner infielder holds a .295/.368/.721 slash line against left-handed pitching this season. He’s hitting .148/.215/.235 against the righties. It’s fine if the Orioles want a bad defender on the field because of a 1.089 OPS, but they simply have to stop putting Mayo on the field when facing a right-handed pitcher.
I get that Gunnar Henderson doesn’t want to play third base, but he probably doesn’t want to keep losing games either. The Orioles probably do not trust Jackson Holliday’s defense at shortstop either, but it’s time to try something different. Sliding the two infielders to their right would allow Alexander and a recalled Jackson to split time at second.
If the team really is a buyer, they could strike a deal for a third baseman or a shortstop capable of hitting right-handed pitching. There’s no rule that you have to break the bank for a guy like Matt Chapman or wait until the end of July.
The Orioles have forfeited their buffer when it comes to keeping Trey Gibson in the starting rotation. Gibson has pitched like a rookie that’s still figuring things out, and that’s completely reasonable. Craig Albernaz clearly does not trust the rookie to face opponents a third time through the order, and that’s something that really only comes with time.
Unfortunately, the Orioles are out of time. Gibson could use the reps, and Kyle Bradish could probably use an extra day of rest every once and awhile, but the team needs its best five guys taking the ball every five days. Kremer should return from the injured list this week, and Gibson should probably return to Norfolk’s starting rotation.
Tottenham have sent a significant message in the transfer market by reportedly securing the signing of Mateus Fernandes ahead of Manchester United. According to the Mail, Spurs have agreed an £85 million deal with West Ham after moving decisively when negotiations reached their defining stage.
Photo IMAGO
It is a transfer that reflects ambition as much as investment. While Manchester United chose to hold firm on their valuation, Tottenham demonstrated a willingness to meet West Ham’s demands, giving Roberto De Zerbi another important addition as preparations for the new campaign continue.
The pursuit of Fernandes developed into one of the summer’s most closely watched negotiations.
Manchester United were heavily involved and remained interested throughout. However, the report suggests there was a clear internal commitment not to exceed a value the club believed represented sensible business.
That discipline ultimately opened the door for Tottenham.
Photo IMAGO
The agreed fee of £85 million exceeded Manchester United’s valuation, allowing Spurs to move ahead after increasing their offer at a crucial point in discussions. Rather than prolonging negotiations, Tottenham chose certainty, a decision that appears to have secured one of the Premier League’s most coveted midfielders.
Tottenham’s activity this summer indicates a club determined to provide Roberto De Zerbi with the tools required to reshape the squad quickly.
Photo IMAGO
Fernandes joins a growing list of arrivals following deals for Jan Paul van Hecke, Martin Dubravka, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson. Interest also remains in Sandro Tonali, while further additions in attacking areas continue to be explored.
That level of recruitment points towards a carefully coordinated plan rather than isolated opportunities. Every signing appears intended to fit a broader footballing identity.
Winning a transfer battle against Manchester United always attracts attention, but the greater significance lies in Tottenham backing Roberto De Zerbi with players he believes can elevate the squad immediately.
Fernandes appears to fit exactly the profile Spurs have needed. He is young enough to improve further, yet already possesses experience at a high level. Supporters will naturally hope he becomes a central figure rather than another expensive signing who struggles to justify expectations.
The wider recruitment is equally encouraging. Tottenham seem to be addressing several positions instead of relying on one marquee arrival to transform the team. That balanced approach often produces stronger squads over the course of a demanding season.
Of course, £85 million represents a huge commitment. Every big transfer carries pressure, and supporters will expect Fernandes to deliver consistently from the outset. There will inevitably be scrutiny of both his performances and the fee attached to the move.
Overall, though, this feels like positive evidence that Tottenham are acting with purpose. If the club continue strengthening key positions while maintaining a clear footballing vision under De Zerbi, there is every reason for supporters to believe the squad will be better equipped to compete at the top end of the Premier League.
Manel Kape was just days removed from his knockout win over Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC Vegas 119 when he suddenly got drawn into a war of words on social media with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
Of course, that’s nothing new for Strickland, it was a very fiery and personal series of messages, and while they don’t compete in the same division, the fighters both train at the same gym — Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas — under the tutelage of head coach Eric Nicksick. The conversation started with Strickland insulting Kape’s manager Ali Abdelaziz and then escalated into him accusing the flyweight contender of cheating.
Kape’s retorts blasted Strickland for talking a big game but then not actually confronting his manager when they were in the same room together, and he also accused the always outspoken middleweight of pretending to be a bully and saying he was only “acting like a tough guy.” The back-and-forth definitely escalated with each shared message, but Kape isn’t sweating his sudden beef with Strickland.
Sean, it’s funny how tough you act online when you’re quiet face to face. You had the chance to say all that to him in person, but you said nothing. Next time, keep my friend’s name out of your mouth bitch cuz you know how bitch you are bitch . @SStricklandMMAhttps://t.co/tIn3RdDkIj
— Manel Kape (@ManelKape) June 24, 2026
The problem is you’ve convinced yourself you’re a bully. You’re not. You were the one getting pushed around. You’re an insecure guy who found confidence through MMA and now mistakes a microphone for courage.
— Manel Kape (@ManelKape) June 24, 2026
Stop acting like a tough guy, Deep down, you know exactly who you are… https://t.co/fXEAVjnDlA
“There is nothing,” Kape told MMA Fighting. “Some people just talk a lot and we have to put people in their place. It doesn’t matter what weight class. Some people we have to show who’s the true people. Who is the bully and who is not the bully. People confuse sometimes weight with confidence. It’s nothing.”
Several years ago, Kape got into a verbal sparring match with then UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after “Star Boy” was scheduled to face his teammate Kai Kara-France but he dropped off the card with an injury. The confrontation didn’t lead to any kind of physical altercation but Kape wasn’t about to back down from the challenge.
The same goes for Strickland and his insults aimed at Kape.
The veteran flyweight contender isn’t looking for trouble or trying to start a fight with Strickland but he’s also not going to refuse to respond just because the other guy talking is bigger than him.
“He wants attention. He loves attention,” Kape said. “This kind of stuff. We’re built different. We’re built different and some people deserves some answers that put them in their place. That’s what I want to say.
“But we’re all good. We’re all men. We all handle the things we should handle. Our way.”
As far as the future goes, Kape isn’t concerned about the online banter somehow turning into a bigger problem once they’re sharing the same mats again.
It’s unlikely Kape is going to run into Strickland any time soon as he take some much needed time off following his latest fight. Meanwhile, Strickland just left Las Vegas to travel to Florida where he’s working at American Top Team to help his old friend Johnny Eblen prepare for his own title fight in the PFL.
That said, Kape has trained alongside Strickland in the past and he expects it’s going to happen again but he doesn’t predict any long term problems between them.
“We can cross [paths],” Kape said. “We’re the same city, same gyms and everything. So we’ve crossed [paths].
“Believe me, I’m so confident in myself. We’ll see if it’s awkward. Some people [talk] online. Others are good in real life. We’re good. [This is] not the first time.”
In Today’s Links: more Seattle Seahawks player rankings from our man Joe, injury updates, love love for Julian Love, 2026 breakout candidates for the ‘Hawks, the Boye Mafe-sized hole on the D, Ryle Mills talk, and more! Happy Wednesday. Enjoy. Go, ‘Hawks!
#np 6 Feet Deep by Gravediggaz
Seahawks Player Rankings: Nos. 41-50 – Seaside Joe
How the Seahawks could fill-out the back end of their roster, if not calling on these players to start at some point
ESPN insider gives update on Seahawks RB Charbonnet’s ACL recovery – Seattle Sports
Zach Charbonnet has a late-July check-up and is “progressing well” in his recovery from a torn ACL, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Seahawks ‘Mayor’ Julian Love ‘Exemplifies The Mentality We’re Looking For’ – Seahawks.com
Heading into his fourth season with the Seahawks, safety Julian Love is again exemplifying the leadership and selflessness that helps make Seattle’s defense great.
Analysis: Predicting Seahawks 2026 Defensive Breakout Candidates – Emerald City Spectrum
Now less than a month from reporting date for training camp, the Seattle Seahawks will soon begin their Super Bowl title defense with sights on hoisting another Lombardi Trophy.
Why Letting Boye Mafe Leave Wasn’t a Mistake for the Seahawks – si.com
The national media has more love for Boye Mafe than the Seattle Seahawks media and fans.
Seahawks DT Rylie Mills is ready for breakout Year 2 – ESPN.com
The most impressive play of the Seattle Seahawks‘ victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX might not have been the one Devon Witherspoonmade to set up Uchenna Nwosu‘s pick-six.
Can Brian Fleury Take Seattle’s Offense To Another Level? With Bobby Peters – The Hawks Eye w/ Bryce Coutts
The Seahawks offense took a major step forward last season under Klint Kubiak, helping Seattle build one of the most balanced and dangerous attacks in the NFL.
Cardinals relocate to Evanston, Illinois? It almost was – Revenge of the Birds
Back in 1949, Violet Bidwill had remarried after her husband, Charlie Bidwill, passed away in 1947. It was just months before his Chicago Cardinals captured the 1947 NFL Championship title.
Examining the deepest and thinnest position groups for the 49ers – Niners Nation
What would your choices be?
Two Rams draft picks from a year ago ranked worst at their positions – Turf Show Times
Konata Mumpfield and Ty Hamilton disappointed during their rookie campaigns
The stage was set for the Falcons to make a Super Bowl run for the first time in four years. As was the case the last time they were built to win a championship, they had to beat the Seahawks at home to play in the NFC Championship.
This was a Super Bowl-winning, battle-tested group filled with stars on both sides of the ball. While the Legion of Boom wasn’t as dominant as it once was, Russell Wilson’s ascendance into becoming a top-tier quarterback gave them plenty of firepower to win another Super Bowl.
The Falcons were drastically different, with a new coaching staff, identity, and growing nucleus of young talent. Although the quarterback was the same in Atlanta, his progression into becoming the NFL’s MVP made everyone across the league recognize the Falcons were a force to be reckoned with.
Leading a historically great offense in the regular season, Matt Ryan was ready to prove that all the months of mastering Kyle Shanahan’s system and taking his game to new heights would pay off in the playoffs. The potential final game ever played in the Georgia Dome also loomed over this matchup. What better way for Ryan to send off the place he revitalized in 2008 to playoff glory in 2016?
The Falcons felt like a much different team from the one that fell short against the Seahawks in October. Several players emerged as difference makers on both sides of the ball. Ryan and Shanahan were fully in sync as the orchestrators of an electrifying offense. The only lingering aspect from the previous matchup came within the trenches.
Michael Bennett was vocal about his displeasure with Jake Matthews’ cut block in the first meeting. While this wasn’t going to turn into a public feud like Roddy White and Richard Sherman, it was something to monitor, given Bennett’s ruthless style of play.
Both teams produced touchdown-scoring drives that went for seven minutes and 13+ plays to start the game. To nobody’s surprise, Ryan targeted Sherman without hesitation, like in the playoff meeting back in 2013 between these teams. Julio Jones caught both passes against the stellar corner for first downs, using his powerful frame and blistering change-of-direction ability in winning the matchup.
The success culminated in a seven-yard touchdown to Jones that completely caught Seattle off guard. With Sherman playing seven yards off coverage, the seven-time Pro Bowler cut inside behind Mohamed Sanu to accelerate into the end zone. Shanahan was two steps ahead of most opposing coaches during the season. That transferred over into the divisional round.
He was becoming known for tearing apart defenses that primarily play Cover 3. Understanding where to attack and capitalize on schematic flaws gave Ryan the platform to succeed with quicker passes toward the middle of the field. A 37-yard dart to Taylor Gabriel, who was bursting off a slant, set the tone through the air.
From Gabriel catching the pass in stride past DeShawn Shead to creating the space for the dynamic playmaker to gain yards after the catch, Ryan and Shanahan were in unison on how to dissect the most dominant defense of the 2010s. That led to a nine-play, 99-yard drive, which felt like a clean left hook to the jaw of Seattle’s defense.
Before continuing their assault on the middle of the field, Mohamed Sanu made one of the plays of the game with a tremendous catch over Jeremy Lane on a deep corner route from the slot. Ryan lofted it up perfectly for Sanu to make the contested grab in stride. After an incompletion, the 2016 NFL MVP completed four consecutive passes that went for 12 yards or more.
Gabriel and Sanu made plays across the middle, as Ryan was maneuvering around collapsing pockets with conviction. Although the Seahawks did produce three sacks, they consistently paid the price when trying to bring extra pressure. Slants were proving to be a nightmare for them, as their corners couldn’t keep pace in their respective matchups. Jones fell after catching one slant, yet still managed to gain 20 yards to put the Falcons in the red zone.
All it took was one brilliant play call from the offensive mastermind to go the full field for a touchdown. An overload to the left with Gabriel, Austin Hooper, and Tevin Coleman running routes had the potential to create a coverage bust. With Jones coming from the right on a shallow cross, Seattle had to account for four players on one side of the field.
Not picking up a running back coming out of the backfield on a wheel route is a common defensive mistake. When three other pass-catching options are involved in the play, including the most dominant wide receiver in the league running in front of Bobby Wagner and Kam Chancellor, the defense is going to be left wondering what just hit them. That’s exactly what happened as Coleman was wide open in the back of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown.
For a defense built on striking fear into their opponent with their imposing style and exceptional all-around talent, they looked overmatched in this matchup. Desperation can be felt when watching the Seahawks. With Ryan’s leadership qualities and Dan Quinn’s familiarity, the Falcons had the experience to combat whatever Seattle would try to do defensively to get under their skin and disrupt their rhythm.
Starting the second half with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive would serve as another devastating blow to an increasingly damaged opponent. There were multiple third-and-long conversions as Ryan connected with Jones and Gabriel standing tall in the pocket. How he mustered enough strength to get the ball to Gabriel, as Frank Clark delivered a crushing hit, was hugely impressive. Atlanta’s new beloved playmaker showed great concentration in adjusting his route to make the key reception.
Besides Devonta Freeman scoring a one-yard touchdown, the most significant aspect of the drive came after it was over. Bennett lost control of his emotions by attacking Ryan Schreader after the play. He went to the extent of putting his fingers into the right tackle’s eyes. There was no way Ryan was letting that go. With Hooper beside him, they got into it with Bennett, as Chancellor also got involved.
No flags were surprisingly thrown, but the message was clear. The Seahawks knew they couldn’t stop the Falcons. After bullying opponents for years, they couldn’t process being on the receiving end of it in the playoffs. Ryan immediately huddled his offense together to tell them not to engage in fights and stay poised. It was a powerful moment in recognizing how the game was shifting. The franchise quarterback knew the only way they would lose was if they beat themselves.
That wasn’t going to happen. With Quinn’s defense doing enough to prevent touchdowns, the offense was in position to put the game away. Converting third downs is one of the best ways to take the spirit out of an opposing defense. The Falcons converted six out of 12 of them. Each one felt consequential, as the game wore on.
As Seattle rushed five on third and 4th, Freeman ran an angle route out of the backfield with Cliff Avril spot dropping near him. Ryan had to throw off his back foot to avoid getting sacked by Clark. He got just enough lift on it for Freeman to catch it before Avril could make a play on the ball.
Once Freeman gets into the open field, the nearest defender is likely going to lose his balance being on the receiving end of his signature cuts. Steven Terrell lost his balance immediately after Freeman changed direction on a 53-yard gain. While the drive ended in a field goal, a 29-13 lead felt massive.
One defensive stop felt all that was needed to be in a prime position to win. There isn’t a much better way to do it than your tremendous safety tandem combining to create a turnover. Keanu Neal’s hit on Wilson forced a wobbly throw that felt like it was in the air for ten minutes. The ball had to land in someone’s hands, given how long it had been floating. Ricardo Allen was there to pounce to produce on it in a special moment.
There was still work to be done with eight minutes left. Levine Toilolo got the message, taking a quick throw into the flat for 18 yards with a nasty stiff arm on Neiko Thorpe and then carrying Wagner for a few extra yards. With the running game wearing out Seattle’s defense, it gave Ryan the chance to secure his second career playoff win in style.
A goal line fade to Sanu, putting the ball where only he could catch it, did exactly that. The confidence Ryan exuded lifted the team to dismantle an opponent who were Super Bowl contenders for years. Throwing for 338 yards and three touchdowns in any playoff game is a tremendous feat. Taking the initiative to keep the offense composed as the opposing defense desperately tries to provoke you is very commendable. That’s the leadership great quarterbacks have to ensure their teams come out on top in the playoffs.
To make the win even more gratifying, Green Bay beat top-seeded Dallas the following day. That meant one more game would be played in the Georgia Dome. You couldn’t think of a better scenario to send off the iconic stadium than by winning the NFC championship.
The matchup felt right, as the Falcons’ season began to shift after their dramatic win over the Packers in October. That was one of Ryan’s finest performances of his career. He was ready to deliver another one in leading this special team to the Super Bowl.
The Matt Ryan Masterclass Series List
Thursday night takeover in Atlanta
Rookie heroics against Chicago
On Monday, the wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field at 15 miles per hour on a hot evening. Not a single home run left the yard.
On Tuesday, the wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field at 19 miles per hour on a hot evening, 92 degrees at game time. Nine home runs – five by the Cubs and four by the Padres – headed to the bleachers (and Waveland!). The wind didn’t actually have much to do with it, as only one of the home runs Tuesday was wind-aided. The Cubs outlasted the Padres 9-7 during this home-run festival, their fourth win in a row and 14th in their last 18 games.
The long balls began on the fifth pitch of the game by Matthew Boyd. Fernando Tatis Jr. deposited that baseball on Waveland:
.@tatis_jr with the 7th Waveland home run of the season. Corralled after one hop on Kenmore. Padres with the early 1-0 vs Cubs at Wrigley. https://t.co/L3Ms9ELeSApic.twitter.com/xuLTEQV8me
— Trent Weyermuller 🐻⚾️ (@CubsBallhawk) July 1, 2026
But that’s all the Padres would get in that inning. Boyd set down the next three hitters on just seven pitches.
The Cubs wasted no time getting that run back. With one out, Alex Bregman walked. He was forced at second by Seiya Suzuki, but when Tatis’ throw went into the Padres dugout, Suzuki took second.
Carson Kelly singled in Suzuki [VIDEO].
In the top of the second, Nico Hoerner flashed some glove [VIDEO].
Nico stole a hit from Jackson Merrill and turned it into an out. This is just another example of how good the Cubs defense is.
The Cubs took the lead in the second. With one out, Swanson sent a ball deep into the left-field bleachers [VIDEO].
After that, Kevin Alcántara singled and Pete Crow-Armstrong walked.
Then Alex Bregman launched one [VIDEO].
That was Bregman’s first home run since June 11 and just his second of the month. Maybe, just maybe, this will begin a good run for him.
The Padres made it 5-3 off Matthew Boyd in the third with another long ball, this one a two-run shot by Manny Machado. That could have been more if not for yet another diving play by Nico [VIDEO].
After that, Boyd settled down and didn’t allow any further runs into the sixth. He helped himself out with his own defense to end the fifth [VIDEO].
Meanwhile, the Cubs extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth with more long balls. With one out, Michael Busch hit his 10th [VIDEO].
One out later, Ian Happ singled and Swanson smashed his second home run of the evening [VIDEO].
Swanson had a huge series in New York, didn’t do anything in Milwaukee and now has had two good games against the Padres. Over his last 12 games: .340/373/.830 (16-for-47) with three doubles, a triple, six home runs, 21 (!) RBI, four stolen bases and 12 runs scored. In that span he’s raised his season OPS from .587 to .691.
Boyd allowed two singles leading off the San Diego sixth and was lifted for Javier Assad, who immediately got Xander Bogaerts to hit into a double play, then got another out to end the inning. The Cubs made it 9-3 in the bottom of the inning on PCA’s 18th home run [VIDEO].
Okay, that one needed a bit of help from the wind.
Assad threw a scoreless seventh and then ran out of gas in the eighth. Gavin Sheets smacked a three-run homer and Tatis went deep for the second time to make it 9-7. A walk brought Machado to the plate as the potential tying run. Tyler Ferguson entered the game and struck him out [VIDEO].
The Cubs got two runners on leading off the bottom of the eighth, but could not score.
Ferguson began the ninth inning by getting two fly balls to left. With Merrill coming to bat, Craig Counsell summoned Ryan Rolison to finish things off. It took Rolison just three pitches to get another fly to left to end the game [VIDEO].
For Rolison, it was his first career MLB save. The Cubs have now had 10 different pitchers record saves this year. In addition to Rolison: Daniel Palencia, Jacob Webb, Caleb Thielbar, Colin Rea, Hoby Milner, Ben Brown, Trent Thornton, Jordan Wicks and Corbin Martin. The leader is still Palencia… with three.
About the Cubs’ five-homer game, from BCB’s JohnW53:
The Cubs had hit three home runs in nine of their 85 games this season before this game. This is their first with more than three.
Last year, they hit at least four in 17 games, eight of them at home. Their longest stretch with no more than three was 36 games.
They went 92 games between four-homer ones in 2024, 80 in 2023, 69 in 2022 and 64 in 2021.
Their last game before this one with at least five homers was the one where they set the franchise record of eight, July 4, 2025 against the Cardinals.
Here’s Dansby on his two-homer game [VIDEO].
And here are Craig Counsell’s postgame comments [VIDEO].
The Cubs thus finish June on a roll. After a rough start to the month they end it with a 16-10 record, and as noted earlier, a four-game winning streak and a 14-4 run. The Brewers also won Tuesday so the Cubs continue to trail them by 5.5 games in the NL Central.
The Cubs will go for a series sweep over the Padres Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field and it’s supposed to be hot and windy again. Colin Rea will start for the Cubs and Walker Buehler goes for San Diego. Game time is 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
It’s time to start preparing for the 2026 Syracuse Orange football season. We’re going through the roster to take a look at each Syracuse player as we get to know a lot of new faces for Year 3 of the Fran Brown Era.
Up next is…
Name: Gemaus Sackie
Position: Linebacker
Year: Freshman
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 210
Hometown: Burlington Township, NJ
High School: Burlington Township
2025 stats: Sackie was a senior captain at Burlington Township High School in 2025. He won two division championships. Sackie earned two All-County selections and a First Team All-South Jersey selection during his time in high school.
2026 projections: Sackie is a name fans should get familiar with quickly. He won Syracuse’s spring defensive MVP award for 2026 spring practice. Given the defensive talent on this roster, for a relatively unknown and unheralded true freshman to win that award shows Sackie’s talent and work ethic immediately. The starting linebackers seem to be set for Syracuse. Behind that, Sackie could easily fit into the linebacker rotation on Week One.
How’d he get here?:Syracuse was the only Power Four school to offer Sackie. He committed to the Orange seven days after receiving his offer. Temple, Maine, Monmouth and Stony Brook were the only other teams to offer him.
What’d recruiting sites say?: All sites gave Sackie three stars. He was a consensus top-25 player in the state of New Jersey.
Social Media: @gemaus.sackie
Interesting nugget o’interest: Sackie is fast as well, not just for a linebacker. He was part of a relay team in high school that set a 4x100m New Jersey state record with a 40.75 second time.
Let’s get a look at ya: A look at Sackie during the spring game.
2026 Spring Defensive MVP @Gemaus_Sackie
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) April 12, 2026
🍊🎯 pic.twitter.com/Gf6oVIDsBj
The local Colville Tribes have teamed up with WSU athletics.
The Pac-12 may not have programs like Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA anymore, but football expectations are still as high.
𝙏𝙤𝙥 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧 🫡
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) June 30, 2026
New Mexico's Akili Carris and Boise State's Kaiya Robertson are the 2025-26 Mountain West Scholar-Athletes of the Year!
Read more 📰 https://t.co/TI0G3joDvSpic.twitter.com/96JrKDP2UU
It’s official (at midnight)! Boise State celebrates the start of the Pac-12 era! pic.twitter.com/ytvRe5ccqa
— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) July 1, 2026
Source: The Pac-12 has signed a two-year deal to hold its tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, starting in 2027.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 1, 2026
The top two seeds will receive double byes to the semifinals of the event.
The third and fourth seeds will receive a bye to the quarterfinals.
Today: Boise State football’s top players: #8
Today: How Did We Get Here? History of the Pac-12 and its Century of Change
Friday: Friday Five: Top 5 Pac-12 defensive ends
LeBron James is a free agent once again, and one of the teams sniffing around him is the same Miami Heat he walked out on more than a decade ago.
A reunion always sounded far-fetched, and it looks even harder now that Miami has traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo. But reporting out of South Florida suggests the idea has not been buried completely, even with the money side of things posing a challenge.
What has really changed is the mood between James and Heat president Pat Riley. The two men parted on frosty terms in 2014, and for a while the relationship stayed cold.
Today it is in far better shape — and the story of their ups and downs involves a plate of cookies.
The story first surfaced in February, when Dwyane Wade told it, and James later confirmed every word on The Pat McAfee Show.
James has never hidden his weakness for chocolate chip cookies, which used to be baked fresh for him on Heat team flights. Then, one day, they simply stopped appearing.
Wade’s version was that Riley pulled the plug on the treats, and that it summed up a front office micromanaging a team on its way to four straight NBA Finals.
He said: “You don’t take the cookies away from him.”
James backed up the claims. Asked whether it really happened, he said: “It’s a true story.”
He was quick to add that Riley never physically grabbed anything from his hand — “You know how stories can build to Sasquatch at some point” — but the ban was real.
Once Wade had left for Chicago in a contract dispute, James looked back on the whole thing differently: “Oh s—, maybe it wasn’t that bad.”
When James left for Cleveland in free agency, the split was genuinely icy. According to former Heat captain Udonis Haslem, speaking on The OGs Show, Riley did not soften his feelings once James was gone.
Haslem said Riley told the group: “Get y’all s— together, King ain’t here no more.”
Those days are behind them. James and Riley have embraced when their paths have crossed in recent years, and James’ agent, Rich Paul, has spoken warmly about the franchise.
That thaw is why a reunion is even being floated. The Miami Herald reported that the Heat would have interest if James wanted to come back to South Beach, hours after he informed the Lakers he was leaving.
ESPN insider Shams Charania has placed Miami among the contenders, alongside the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, and says money will not decide this one. Charania described it as a happiness-led choice, with James expected to take his time.
The problem is the math. Miami is hard-capped, and after structuring Andrew Wiggins’ new deal, the Heat can offer only around $11.5 million of the mid-level exception.
To do better, they would likely have to offload a contract such as Nikola Jovic’s — something they were reluctant to do before James became a possibility.
The appeal is obvious, though. A trio of James, Giannis and Bam Adebayo would be one of the most eye-catching in the NBA, which is why a Heat reunion has not been ruled out despite the obstacles.
For now it stays a long shot. But at 41 and chasing one more title, James has left every door open — and the one in Miami is no longer bolted shut.
READ MORE:
Where is LeBron James going? Next team and salary details as LA Lakers exit confirmed
Skip Bayless says why LA Lakers will be ‘relieved’ LeBron James has left
LeBron James reunion in Miami isn’t completely off the table after Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
The NFL has seen a flurry of major contract extensions, blockbuster trades, and stunning moves this offseason. Among the biggest was the Cleveland Browns’ decision to trade Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, just one year after Garrett requested a trade before ultimately accepting a massive contract extension. Now, another Browns defensive star is due for a new deal, and Denzel Ward would be wise to avoid the same mistake Garrett made in 2025.
A recent ESPN report indicated that Ward could soon land a lucrative new contract. Although the Browns traded Garrett, both the organization and Ward remain committed to keeping him in Cleveland through the remainder of his current deal.
MORE: More NFL teams need to follow how the Lions dealt with Terrion Arnold
“Although the Browns traded Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, general manager Andrew Berry said he wants to keep Ward, and the five-time Pro Bowler also expressed his commitment to Cleveland. Ward has two years remaining on a five-year extension he signed in 2022 but no more guaranteed salary. Ward didn’t participate in mandatory minicamp — coach Todd Monken said he won’t comment on the nature of the cornerback’s absence — but a new deal that offers additional guarantees could be on the horizon.” Daniel Oyefusi reported.
Aug 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) warms up before the game between the Browns and the Los Angeles Rams at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Ward appears set to remain a Cleveland Brown for at least the next two seasons. Beyond that, however, he shouldn’t commit to the franchise. Garrett’s biggest mistake was buying into Berry’s effort to convince him to stay.
If Ward hopes to compete for a championship one day, he should wait until 2028 and take control of his own future. That said, it’s understandable if he wants to maximize his earnings with one more significant contract.
MORE: Three-way race at CB contract negotiations could make NFL CB market explode
Garrett ultimately learned a harsh reality: Cleveland isn’t close to competing. The money also didn’t outweigh his desire to win the way he may have expected. After recording five sacks against the New England Patriots, Garrett was visibly frustrated.
The Browns were getting blown out in Foxborough by the eventual AFC champions. Now, Cleveland has draft capital but no clear direction. That’s a recipe for disaster.
If Ward wants a realistic shot at winning a Super Bowl, as Garrett now has with the Rams, he should learn from his former teammate’s experience. Ward should decline any extension offers and either wait for the Browns to trade him to a contender or reach free agency in 2028 and choose one himself.
Happy Hump Day, TSFers. But more importantly, happy Bobby Bonilla day. Today, like every July 1st through 2035, the New York Mets will cut the now 63-year old retired player a $1,193,248.20 check as part of the deferred compensation arrangement they struck when they bought out the remaining $5.9M on his contract in 2000.
Today’s World Cup matches:
England vs. DR Congo, 12 pm ET, FOX
Belgium vs. Senegal, 4 pm ET, FS1
USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 8 pm ET, FOX
Norway 2 – Ivory Coast 1
Norway led 1-0 at the half thanks to a tremendous goal from Antonio Nusa, coming inside off the left wing and curling the ball into the far corner of the net. Amad Diallo equalized on a brilliant individual run slashing through the defense from the right wing. Erling Haaland scored the winner less than 10 minutes later. Martin Ødegaard had the most touches of any player on the pitch and was excellent. Warren Barton pointed out (correctly) how important a player he is and how so much of what the Norway and Arsenal captain goes unappreciated.
France 3 – Sweden 0
This match went about as you’d expect it. France are far too good for Sweden. Keeper Jacob Zetterstrom kept the scoreline from being even worse with several quality saves. Kylian Mbappe scored a brace (and in doing so, set the record for most knockout stage goals at a World Cup) and the Arsenal-linked Bradley Barcola scored as well.
Mexico 2 – Ecuador 0
Goals from Julian Quinones in the 22nd minute and Raul Jimenez in the 31st, both fantastic finishes into the top corner were all Mexico needed. They took their foot off the gas a bit, which allowed Ecuador possession and chances but La Tri couldn’t do anything with them. Piero Hincapie received a red card in second half added time for covering his mouth to say something to a Mexican player.
Some have speculated Piero said “I’m dating Sabrina Carpenter” which is apparently a rumor that has been making the rounds (that they’re seeing each other, not that he said it).
Sony plans to stop selling disc-based PlayStation games in 2028 Sony has officially confirmed that it plans to stop producing new PlayStation game discs in January 2028. Newly released games will only be available in “digital formats”. This means either through the PlayStation Store or as a “physical” (not really…) download code in a box. […]
The post Sony kills physical disc-based PlayStation games citing “consumer preferences” appeared first on OC3D.
Lexar showcased its latest SSD & Memory technologies while also focusing on dedicated AI solutions for a broad range of applications. DDR5 Memory, Gen5 SSDs, Compact Handheld Drives & More Showcased at Lexar's Computex Booth The AI supercycle has pushed Lexar into creating dedicated solutions for the market, which include AI-Grade SSD and memory solutions. Lexar is using its top-end Gen5 solutions, which are specifically optimized around these workflows. At Computex, Lexar showcased its AI-Grade Gen5 SSD, which offers 11 GB/s speeds with a self-developed Gen5 controller. Lexar pairs the SSDs with its Intelligent Distribution Technology, which helps reduce DRAM […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/lexar-introduces-dedicated-ai-solutions-while-pushing-its-pro-play-ssds-to-new-heights-rog-certified-ares-ddr5-also-unveiled/
Sony has just announced in a brief post on the PlayStation Blog that it won't produce any more discs for PlayStation consoles from January 2028 onward. The post claims this follows consumer trends, with demand for digital media greatly outpacing that of physical discs. As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028. Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only. This transition has no […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/sony-playstation-discs-2028-digital-demand-gta-vi/
The floor-level standard for surviving in the video game industry across indie and triple-A players has always been ‘difficult,’ but in the last few years, it’s been kicked up a notch. GDC’s State of the Game Industry 2026 reported that 1-in-4 of its surveyed video game industry professionals have been laid off in the last two years, and it’s difficult for all studios, regardless of scale, to stay afloat. But that hasn’t stopped the global video game industry from reaching over $200B in revenue last year. A year which also saw titles from independent developers dominate the cultural conversation. One […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/jason-della-rocca-interview-indie-game-success-timeline/
It seems like Nintendo's first-party support of the OG Switch may be drawing to a close, but before that happens, they're giving the hugely successful system one more quirky sendoff. Rhythm Heaven Groove, the first all-new entry in Nintendo's whimsical rhythm series in around 15 years, arrives this week (of course, it will also be playable on the Nintendo Switch 2). Will Rhythm Heaven Groove have you tapping your toes and straining your thumbs? Or does this latest entry fail to find the beat? Boogie on down for the answer. For those new to the Rhythm Heaven series, the games […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/rhythm-heaven-groove/
At the SAFE Forum 2026, Samsung announced that the development of its 1.4nm process is going smoothly, but the company also unveiled a new surprise: the company is working on an improved iteration called 1.4nm+, or SF1.4+. Additionally, a new 2nm roadmap was shared by the Korean giant during the conference as Samsung gets serious about sharing the competition pool with TSMC and Intel. Updated 1.4nm+ process to enter mass production in 2030, with Samsung trailing behind TSMC and Intel Only yesterday, we reported that Samsung might have delayed its 1.4nm process, but didn’t outright abandon the lithography, as the […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsung-bringing-improved-1-4nm-node-through-design-and-optimization/
Samsung’s chip choice for the Galaxy A18 5G may be good news for buyers, as the phone is said to adopt a Snapdragon instead of an Exynos. The phone will also be available in a 4G variant, which could retain a MediaTek processor.
A new report from ZDNet suggests Samsung may have finalized the chip decision for the next budget Galaxy A phone. Samsung’s Galaxy A18 4G may get a MediaTek SoC, and the Galaxy A18 5G may feature a Snapdragon chip.
Galaxy A18 4G and 5G will be one of the best-selling Samsung phones in 2027. The company’s Galaxy A1x range is pretty much popular worldwide. It also sells in the US, and that’s the possible reason to replace Exynos with Snapdragon.
Samsung is adopting MediaTek APs for the Galaxy A18 4G model, and mass production of the relevant components has already begun. Mass production of components for the 5G model is expected to align with Qualcomm’s readiness.
Samsung usually prioritizes its in-house chip for Galaxy phones. However, the Exynos has been completely ousted from the Galaxy A18 supply chain. Qualcomm has entered the supply and it won’t be going away anytime soon.
Meanwhile, the report doesn’t reveal exactly which SoC will be adopted by the 4G and 5G models. For context, the Galaxy A17 4G used MediaTek’s Helio G99, and the 5G version adopted Samsung’s Exynos 1330 processor.
Galaxy A18 will officially launch in the second half of the year. Mass production of the 4G version will likely begin in August with 100,000 units. Production will ramp to 2.4 million units in September, and 2.5 million units in October.
Source – Samsung
The post Samsung Galaxy A18 5G may use Snapdragon chip instead of Exynos; 4G may keep MediaTek appeared first on Sammy Fans.
It seems like Microsoft continues its series of layoffs, with the last one being in July 2025, when the company cut around 4% of its entire workforce. At least now the company plans to cut less than 2.5% of its employees, which is at approximately 228,000 right now, and that's still a lot of people. Keep in mind that the information comes from an insider, and it's not an official statement from Microsoft. The layoff will cover various departments, but most affected will be the sales and consulting teams as well as the Xbox division. The latter raises the most concerns since...
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch9 later this month at a Galaxy Unpacked event. After recent leaks gave us our first look at the smartwatches themselves, a fresh leak has now revealed their bands as well. According to the leak, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 bands carry Ultra branding and closely resemble the ones available for last year's Galaxy Watch Ultra. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch9 bands seem to retain the same quick-release locking mechanism introduced with the Galaxy Watch8. Samsung is expected to introduce a new band inspired by last...
Yeni sezon hazırlıklarına devam eden Beşiktaş'ın Slovakya kamp kadrosu açıklandı.
Yeni sezon hazırlıklarına devam eden Beşiktaş'ın Slovakya kamp kadrosu açıklandı.
Beşiktaş Futbol Takımı, yeni sezon hazırlıklarına devam etti.
Kulüpten yapılan açıklamaya göre BJK Nevzat Demir Tesisleri'ndeki antrenman, teknik direktör Vincenzo Italiano yönetiminde gerçekleştirildi.
Isınma çalışmasıyla başlayan idman, taktik çalışma sonrası oynanan çift kale maçla sona erdi. Hazırlıkların İstanbul etabını tamamlayan siyah-beyazlılar, yeni sezon yurt dışı kampı için Slovakya'nın başkenti Bratislava'ya gidecek.
Kamp kadrosu
Beşiktaş'ın Slovakya'da gerçekleştireceği hazırlık kampının kadrosunda şu oyuncular yer alıyor:
Emir Yaşar, Emre Bilgin, Ahmet Okutan, Tuğra Yeşilyurt, Milot Rashica, Semih Kılıçsoy, Felix Uduokhai, Junior Olaitan, Kartal Kayra Yılmaz, Vaclav Cerny, Taylan Bulut, Rıdvan Yılmaz, Tiago Djalo, Devrim Şahin, Emirhan Topçu, Yasin Özcan, Mustafa Erhan Hekimoğlu, Ahmet Sami Bircan, Ali Pağda, Cumali Gürsel, Kerem Ay, Kartal Cengizer, Azem Yortaç, Ozan Sevim.
İzinli olan futbolculardan Wilfried Ndidi yarın, Asım Efe Işık 4 Temmuz, Orkun Kökçü, Amir Murillo ve Hyeongyu Oh ise 10 Temmuz'da kampa dahil olacak.
Fenerbahçe Kadın Futbol Takımı'nda 7 oyuncuyla yollar ayrıldığı açıklandı.
Fenerbahçe arsaVev Kadın Futbol Takımı'nda 7 oyuncuyla yollar ayrıldı.
Sarı-lacivertli kulüpten yapılan açıklamada, "Yeni sezon planlaması kapsamında Zoe Van Eynde, Elena Santos, Göknur Güleryüz, Maria Paula Salas, Mariam Diakite, Karyna Alkhovik ve Olga Massombo ile yollarımız ayrılmıştır. Sporcularımıza kulübümüze yaptıkları katkılardan ötürü teşekkür ediyor, kariyerlerinin devamında başarılar diliyoruz." denildi.
Siyah-beyazlılarda kaleci transferi için liste her geçen gün kabarıyor. İtalyan basını, Beşiktaş'ın Serie A'dan Maduka Okoye ve Vanja Milinkovic-Savic'i gündemine aldığını ileri sürdü.
Yeni sezon öncesi transfer çalışmalarına hız veren Beşiktaş’ta sıcak saatler yaşanıyor. Siyah-beyazlıların kaleci arayışında listeye her gün yeni bir adayın eklenmesi, transfer kulislerini hareketlendirdi.
İtalyan gazeteci Nicolò Schira’nın paylaştığı bilgilere göre, Beşiktaş yönetimi kaleci takviyesi için rotasını tamamen İtalya Serie A’ya çevirmiş durumda. Siyah-beyazlıların radarına giren son isimler ise Udinese ve Torino forması giyen iki başarılı eldiven oldu.
Udinese forması giyen 26 yaşındaki Nijeryalı Maduka Okoye, güçlü fiziği ve refleksleriyle dikkat çekiyor.
Torino kalesini koruyan 29 yaşındaki Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, yüksek boy avantajı ve Serie A tecrübesiyle listenin üst sıralarında yer alıyor.
Siyah-beyazlı kurmayların, İtalya'da gerçekleştireceği temasların ardından maliyet şartlarına göre iki isimden birine resmi imza attırmayı hedeflediği öğrenildi.
İki kaleci için de önümüzdeki günlerde resmi girişimlerin sıklaşması bekleniyor.
Beşiktaş, AS Monaco'nun 21 yaşındaki savunma oyuncusu Kassoum Ouattara'yı kadrosuna katmaya çok yakın. Kulübüyle her konuda anlaşan oyuncunun transferinde tek soru işareti ise taşıdığı sakatlık riski.
Transfer çalışmalarını sürdüren Beşiktaş, savunma hattını güçlendirmek için rotasını Fransa’ya çevirdi. AS Monaco forması giyen Kassoum Ouattara, siyah-beyazlı formayı giymek için gün sayıyor. Premier Lig'e yeni yükselen İngiliz ekibi Hull City'nin de ısrarla istediği 21 yaşındaki sol bek, Beşiktaş’ın sunduğu projeden ve Avrupa Ligi faktöründen etkilenerek tercihini Türkiye’den yana kullandı.
İki kulüp arasında son detaylar görüşülürken, transferin ekonomik boyutları da netleşmeye başladı. Beşiktaş'ın bu transfer için Monaco'ya 8 milyon Euro garanti ücret ve 2 milyon Euro bonus ödemesi bekleniyor. Ayrıca sözleşmeye %10 sonraki satıştan pay maddesi de eklenecek.
Caio Henrique'yi Ajax’a satan ve kadrosunda ciddi bir yapılanmaya giden Monaco, Ouattara’nın Beşiktaş’a gitmesine onay verdi. Fransız ekibi, genç oyuncunun yerini doldurmak için Cercle Brugge’den Nazinho transferini bugün resmen açıkladı.
Kariyerinde daha önce Amiens forması da giyen ve Monaco ile 57 resmi maça çıkan Ouattara'nın önümüzdeki saatlerde İstanbul'a gelerek resmi sözleşmeye imza atması bekleniyor. Oyuncunun taşıdığı ciddi sakatlık riskine rağmen Beşiktaş yönetiminin bu transferi bitirmeye kararlı olduğu gelen bilgiler arasında.
Alman gazetesi Bild, Dortmund'un golcü oyuncusu Serhou Guirassy'nin ayrılık ihtimaline karşılık belirlediği yeni golcü adaylarını duyurdu. Adı Fenerbahçe ile de anılan Guirassy'nin gidişi an meselesiyken, Dortmund'un B planı hazır.
Dortmund'da sıcak saatler yaşanıyor. Kulüp, adı transfer piyasasında sıkça Fenerbahçe ile anılan yıldız forveti Serhou Guirassy'yi kadroda tutmak istese de, ayrılık ihtimaline karşı alternatiflerini belirledi.
Bild gazetesinin haberine göre; Guirassy ve menajerliğini yürüten kardeşi, gelebilecek cazip teklifleri değerlendirme kararı aldı. Oyuncunun sözleşmesinde yer alan 38 milyon Euro’luk serbest kalma maddesi, maddi gücü yüksek kulüplerin iştahını kabartırken, Dortmund yönetimi de yerini dolduracak isimler için düğmeye bastı.
Guirassy’nin boşluğunu doldurmak için Dortmund’un listesindeki bir numaralı aday, bonservisi TSG Hoffenheim'da bulunan Kosovalı milli oyuncu Fisnik Asllani.
Ancak sarı-siyahlıların bu transferde işi kolay değil; zira Bundesliga'nın bir diğer güçlü ekibi RB Leipzig de genç golcüyü kadrosuna katmak için pusuda bekliyor.
Asllani transferinde pürüz çıkması ihtimalini de düşünen Dortmund, gözünü Fransa'ya dikti. AS Monaco forması giyen ABD'li santrfor Folarin Balogun, Alman devinin en ciddi alternatifleri arasında yer alıyor. Dünya Kupası'nda sergilediği 2 gol ve 1 asistlik performansla dikkatleri üzerine çeken Balogun için Dortmund scout ekibinin olumlu rapor verdiği öğrenildi.
Guirassy'nin durumuna göre netlik kazanacak olan bu forvet zincirinin, önümüzdeki günlerde transfer piyasasını hareketlendirmesi bekleniyor.
Teknik direktör İsmail Kartal yönetiminde yeni sezon çalışmalarına Topuk Yaylası'nda devam eden Fenerbahçe'de takımın başarılı isimlerinden Fred, kulüp televizyonuna açıklamalarda bulundu.
Fenerbahçe'de forma giyen Fred, kulüp televizyonuna açıklamalarda bulundu. Fred, teknik direktör İsmail Kartal'dan övgüyle bahsetti.
Fred'in açıklamaları şöyle:
-İsmail Kartal gerçekten harika bir insan. Beni buraya zaten kendisi getirmişti. Bu anlamda da kendisine minnettarlığımı ifade etmek isterim. Onunla çalıştığım dönemlerde de çok güzel zamanlar geçirdik. Tekrardan Fenerbahçe’ye döndüğü için çok mutluyum. Umuyorum hep birlikte harika bir sezon geçireceğiz. İletişimsel anlamda da iyi bir iletişime sahip olduğumuzu düşünüyorum. Birbirimize her zaman netiz. Kendisi sadece iyi bir insan değil aynı zamanda da iyi bir teknik direktör.
-Ben daha önceki röportajda söylemiştim sanırım ya da böyle bir cümlem olmuştu diye hatırlıyorum: Ben piyano taşıyan bir oyuncuyum aslında. Piyano taşıyıcısı olarak beni adlandırabilirsiniz, daha doğrusu orta saha oyuncularını böyle adlandırabilirsiniz. Bunu biraz açalım: Tabii ki sürekli koşmanız gerekiyor, saha içerisinde takımımız için en iyisini ortaya koymamız gerekiyor. Aslında şunu ifade etmeye çalışıyorum; öndeki oyunculara, ofansif oyunculara şanslar yaratabilmeniz gerekiyor ve bir orta saha oyuncusu olarak da bunu sağlayabilmelisiniz ki ön tarafta kaliteli oyuncularımız mevcut. Tabii ki de fırsatınız varsa, şansınız yanınızdaysa gol atmak da katkı sağlayacağınız noktalardan bir tanesi. Ama bizim daha çok işimiz topu ön tarafa güvenli bir şekilde aktarabilmek. Aynı şekilde geriden top alıp, topu geçiş oyunuyla beraber ön hatta ulaştırabilmek. Bu anlamda onlara fırsatlar yaratmaya çalışmak... Açıkçası işimiz bu, yaptığımız şeyler bunlar. Bazen bu noktalar pek fazla görünmeyebilir ama bu saymış olduğum unsurlar, noktalar takımım içerisinde bana göre önemli noktalar.
-Elbette hedefimiz oynadığımız tüm kulvarlarda başarılı olmak, yani her şeyi kazanabilmek! Her şeyden önce ilk olarak yapmamız gereken şey, en iyimizi sahaya yansıtmak. En iyimizi ortaya koymak, bu bana göre en önemli şeydir. Tabiri caizse kanımızın son damlasına kadar sahada mücadele etmeli ve bunun için savaşmalıyız. Tabii ki taraftarımızı da gösterdiğimiz performansla beraber kendi tarafımıza çekmeliyiz, onların desteklerini almalıyız. Bunu da ortaya koyacağımız mücadeleyle göstermeliyiz. Onları ancak bu şekilde kendi tarafımıza çekebiliriz. Her zaman onların desteklerini hissetmek isteriz. Umarım bu sezon içerisinde yine her zaman ki gibi her şeyimizi ortaya koyacağız ve en sonunda da öyle umut ediyorum ki şampiyonluğa varan noktaya ulaşacağız, şampiyonluğu elde edeceğiz.
-Öncelikle buraya gelen taraftarlarımıza teşekkür etmek istiyorum. Birlikte başaralım, birlikte mücadele edelim, hep birlikte hareket edelim. Çünkü biz, biriz ve tek yumruğuz. Dolayısıyla hep birlikte en iyisini ortaya koyalım.
Anthropic has restored global access to Claude Fable 5, a day after the U.S. Department of Commerce withdrew the export controls it imposed on the model on June 12th, according to a company blog post. The fix that ended an 18-day standoff was a single safety filter tuned to block one technique flagged by Amazon researchers, with Commerce's own Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) reviewing the safeguards before the controls came off.
Fable 5 returns across Claude.ai, the Claude Platform, Claude Code, and Claude Cowork today, with access on AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Foundry to follow. The June 12th directive had barred any foreign national, including Anthropic's own non-citizen staff, from using Fable 5 or the more capable Mythos 5, which it’s built on. With no way to verify the nationality of its users, Anthropic pulled both models worldwide.
The contentious technique was flagged by Amazon researchers, who found a way to prompt Fable 5 into identifying software vulnerabilities and, in one case, writing code demonstrating how one could be exploited. Anthropic trained a new classifier that blocks that specific technique in more than 99% of cases and reroutes flagged requests to the older Opus 4.8. The company said the change also catches more benign coding and debugging requests as a side effect.
The classifier targets the reported prompt and not the model’s capabilities. Fable 5 can still identify the vulnerabilities in the Amazon report; the filter detects the request and reroutes it rather than stripping the ability from the model. Detection-based safeguards are also what were defeated to trigger the ban in the first place, and a classifier that’s tuned to one known technique does nothing for the ones not yet found. Anthropic concedes that no model can be made fully robust to jailbreaks and that it expects more to surface.
Anthropic's review, conducted with the government and Amazon, found that Opus 4.8, OpenAI's GPT-5.5, and China's Kimi K2.7 could identify the same vulnerabilities. Every model that it tested, including Haiku 4.5, Sonnet 4.6, and several Opus versions, could reproduce the single exploit demonstration, backing the argument that Mythos-class cyber capabilities were oversold.
Fable 5's return reclaims benchmark positions that Chinese lab Z.ai's GLM-5.2 had held by default while Fable was offline, including the top accessible score on the AA-Briefcase multi-week task test. Mythos 5, which carries fewer guardrails and stays limited to Project Glasswing partners, returned to a set of U.S. organizations on June 26th.
Anthropic also opened a HackerOne program for researchers to report new Fable 5 jailbreaks, and it committed to giving designated government partners earlier access to test future frontier models before release. For Pro, Max, Team, and select Enterprise plans, Fable 5 counts toward up to 50% of weekly usage limits through July 7th, after which it moves to usage credits.
NordVPN is one of the biggest and well-known virtual private network providers, and it's gained a reputation for its affordable and privacy-focused service. Right now, you can pick up a two-year deal on NordVPN's top-tier Prime package that drops the price to just $202.23, down from $666.63, and gives you an extra three months on top, too.
● Check out this deal at NordVPN
That's a brilliant price for the full privacy toolkit that NordVPN offers. You not only get a VPN provider, but you also get identity and scam call protection, anti-malware and ad blocking, a password manager, and 1TB of cloud storage. You can also try it risk-free thanks to NordVPN's 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're a new customer, you've got 30 days to try the service out, and if you don't like it, you can request a full refund.
Grab a saving on a 2-year NordVPN Prime sub that drops the price by 69%, with an extra three months of subscription thrown in for free. View Deal
The online world has become a thoroughly dangerous place for our data and privacy, but a VPN service like NordVPN's here helps to mitigate some of the risks. The biggest improvement it can make is to shield your location. With over 7,400 servers to choose from across 118 different countries, you can choose to browse the web from anywhere in the world, all without moving a single inch.
In practice, this means that the websites you visit can't track where you're from or build a profile on who you are. This level of privacy is essential for the modern world, as almost every website out there now has tracking and analytics to help learn more about you. It's a must-have if you're browsing the web from insecure locations like malls or hotels, too, where your data security is at greater risk. You can also take advantage of the same protection if you're visiting abroad, letting you access your local streaming services without being blocked.
NordVPN is a no-logs provider, which means that it doesn't track, collect, or store any data about user connections. This has been independently audited on several occasions, too, including most recently by Deloitte in February 2026, giving you additional peace of mind.
Expect all of the goodies with NordVPN. Connections are encrypted, no matter whether you're a mobile or desktop user, with post-quantum encryption a sign that the company is thinking ahead to a world where quantum computing might break modern encryption methods. It has a kill switch mode to block any data leakage if your connection drops, along with double VPN protection (to route through multiple servers) and VPN bypass to help you unlock certain apps.
This is the Prime package, NordVPN's highest, which means you get the full suite unlocked. 10 devices can connect at any one time to Nord's VPN servers, but scam and phishing protection is unlocked here, too. You've also got dark web monitoring protection, which keeps an eye on any data leaks, as well as checking dark web databases for your phone, credit card, and national ID details.
Coveron, NordVPN's credit monitoring and insurance coverage, is also included. This includes access to credit monitoring, along with cyber extortion and identity theft insurance, with up to $1 million dollars in coverage.
The protection doesn't stop there. Scam call filtering, along with anti-malware, ad blocking, tracker blocks, and email protection, is also thrown in. You also get a password manager, which, like with the dark web protection, ensures you get notified if an account is ever compromised. 1TB of cloud storage, encrypted, also ensures that your files are secured.
The $202.23 sale price for this 2-year NordVPN Prime subscription, given the level of protection you get, is an absolute steal, especially compared to the equivalent $666.63 price. If you're worried about your online safety, you'll want to take advantage of this sale while you can.
Best Tech and PC deals | Best gaming PC deals | Best RAM combo deals | Best 3D printer deals | Best RAM deals | Best gaming laptop deals | Best gaming monitor deals | Best Wi-Fi Router deals | Best GPU deals | Best SSD deals | Best hard drive HDD deals | Best CPU deals | Best gaming chair deals | Best PC building tool deals | Best PC peripherals deals | Best filament and resin deals | Best motherboard deals | Best CPU cooler deals | Best PC case deals | Best Dell and Alienware deals | Best USB charger deals | Best gaming and productivity laptop deals under $1,000 | Best laptop PC deals
Also, you can join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.
With no new GPUs or major mobile CPU platform launches surrounding the show, the laptop announcements at Computex this year fell into two disparate categories, appealing to users with very different budgets. There were devices trying to compete with the MacBook Neo, like Dell’s attractive XPS 13 ($599 to start, with a limited-time student discount) and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon C platform, which promises laptops as low as $300 (we saw it in person in the as-yet-unpriced Acer Aspire Go 15). Both of those, like Apple’s competing Neo, will start with just 8GB of RAM (actually, Acer says “up to 8GB”), thanks to the ongoing AI-driven memory crisis.
On the opposite end of the Computex laptop spectrum, there was, of course, Nvidia’s long-anticipated Windows-on-Arm announcement: RTX Spark Superchip for laptops (formerly N1X), which pairs a 20-core Arm CPU with 6,144 CUDA cores. And since Nvidia and its partners (both laptop makers and Microsoft) are pitching RTX Spark as the agentic computing platform of the future, Spark laptops get all the RAM that portable, local AI PCs could ask for – up to 128GB of LPDDR5X.
The specs sound impressive, but let’s just say I am curious to see how Microsoft and Nvidia’s partnership will implement local agents into Windows 11 in the coming months, and how much useful and intuitive functionality will exist specifically for RTX Spark laptops by the time they actually launch. It’s not like Microsoft has the best track record when it comes to Copilot features, both in Windows and elsewhere. At Build, Microsoft focused on running OpenClaw in Windows with execution containers that create boundaries, such as certain files or programs.
And while we don’t yet know pricing for the RTX Spark laptops, with similarly configured DGX Spark desktops selling for close to $5,000, it’s a safe bet that high-end RTX Spark laptops are going to be well out of the price range of most consumers – although lesser versions based on N1 silicon (and with far less RAM) may slip below the $2,000 mark. While gaming performance on top-end Spark laptops is expected to be roughly similar to an RTX 5070, I suspect pricing will make the platform a tough sell for those primarily interested in gaming, just as it is for AMD’s Strix Halo – and AMD’s x86 silicon doesn’t have the gaming complications that Spark’s Arm CPU will have to navigate.
So it feels like AI developers (and I suppose well-heeled AI tinkerers) will be the primary early adopters of RTX Spark laptops when they begin shipping (this fall, according to Nvidia). By then, we’ll also likely know more about both Qualcomm’s Snapdragon C SoC and Dell’s Intel Wildcat Lake-powered XPS 13 (including how much it will cost to configure it above the baseline 8GB of RAM or with a Panther Lake processor). But as limiting and backward-looking as an 8GB laptop may be in 2026, so far I find these more traditional, more affordable laptops more interesting than RTX Spark – in part because while I don’t know exactly how they will perform, I do know generally what I will and won’t be able to do with them when they arrive.
And given how expensive seemingly everything is these days, it’s nice to see a few companies focused on making things look and feel nice while remaining relatively affordable. It may have taken a big push from Apple and its MacBook Neo. But if Windows wants to remain relevant as a platform, it needs both forward-looking options like RTX Spark and affordable options that still look and feel great, like Dell’s XPS 13. I just wish the latter could happen with more RAM than the laptop I bought in early 2019.
Bernstein said OUSD could become the strongest new challenger to the Circle-Tether duopoly, while flagging unresolved questions around governance, operations and revenue sharing.
A final wave of MiCA approvals expanded Europe's roster of licensed crypto firms as the transitional period came to a close.
Crédit Agricole’s CACEIS launches a euro-pegged stablecoin on Ethereum with 20.02 million tokens issued, targeting institutional flows and tokenized fund access.
Fransa millisini çalışdıran Didye Deşam futbol üzrə dünya çempionatlarının final mərhələləri tarixində ən çox qələbə qazanan baş məşqçi olub.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, 57 yaşlı mütəxəssis bu rekorda komandasının 2026-cı il dünya çempionatının 1/16 finalında İsveç üzərində 3:0 hesablı qələbəsindən sonra nail olub.
Bu, Deşamın mundialların final mərhələsində baş məşqçi kimi qazandığı 17-ci qələbə olub.
Bununla o, 1964–1978-ci illərdə Almaniya Federativ Respublikası (AFR) millisini çalışdırmış Helmut Şönə məxsus 16 qələbəlik rekordu geridə qoyub.
Deşamın qarşısında daha bir rekordu yeniləmək imkanı da var. Hazırda onun dünya çempionatlarının final mərhələsində baş məşqçi kimi 22 oyunu var. Bu göstəricidə rekord isə 25 oyunla yenə Helmut Şönə məxsusdur.
Didye Deşam 2012-ci ildən Fransa millisinə rəhbərlik edir. Onun rəhbərliyi altında Fransa bir dəfə dünya çempionu olub, bir dəfə mundialın gümüş medalını qazanıb. Komanda, həmçinin Avropa çempionatlarında bir gümüş və bir bürünc medal əldə edib.
2026-cı il dünya çempionatı ABŞ, Kanada və Meksikada keçirilir. Tarixdə ilk dəfə 48 komandanın iştirak etdiyi turnir iyulun 19-da başa çatacaq. Mundialın son qalibi Argentina millisidir.
AFFA-nın Qadın Futbolu Departamentinin texniki direktoru Emrah Aykurt sözügedən qurumun mətbuat xidmətinə müsahibə verib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, o, qızlardan ibarət U-15 və U-17 milli komandalarımzın məşqçi heyətində edilən dəyişikliklərlə bağlı fikirlərini bildirib.
Texniki direkto əsas millinin köməkçi məşqçiləri kimi fəaliyyətini davam etdirən Rövşən Qasımovun U-15, Xanlar Əliyevin isə U-17 milliyə baş məşqçi kimi təyinatını belə dəyərləndirib:
“AFFA rəhbərliyinin müəyyən etdiyi strateji hədəflərə uyğun olaraq ən vacib məqsədlərimizdən biri aşağı yaş qruplarından başlayaraq ən yüksək səviyyəyədək vahid futbol anlayışını formalaşdırmaqdır. Qızlardan ibarət U-15, U-17, U-19 və A milli komandamızın eyni oyun fəlsəfəsi, eyni məşq prinsipləri və eyni inkişaf modeli əsasında fəaliyyət göstərməsini istəyirik. Bu məqsədlə əsas millidə çalışan köməkçi məşqçilərimizi U-15 və U-17 komandalarına baş məşqçi kimi təyin etmişik. Hədəfimiz A millinin oyun modelini və fəlsəfəsini ən yaxşı şəkildə bilən məşqçilərin bu yanaşmanı gənc oyunçularımıza düzgün və ardıcıl şəkildə ötürmələridir”.
Emrah Aykurt qadınlardan ibarət Azərbaycan millinin futbolçularından Manə Mollayevanın U-15 milliyə köməkçi məşqçi, Günay İsmayılovanın isə qapıçılar üzrə məşqçi kimi təyinatı ilə bağlı da fikirlərini bölüşüb:
“Bu təyinatlarla həm gənc oyunçularımıza nümunə olacaq rol modelləri qazandırırıq, həm də millinin mədəniyyətinin, dəyərlərinin və peşəkar standartlarının yeni nəslə ötürülməsini təmin edirik”.
O, Əli Muradovun qızlardan ibarət U-15, U-17 və U-19 millilərində fitness hazırlığı üzrə məşqçi vəzifəsinə təyin olunmasına da aydınlıq gətirib:
“Texniki inkişafla yanaşı, fiziki hazırlığın da bütün yaş qruplarında vahid standartlara uyğun inkişaf etdirilməsi prioritet istiqamətlərimizdən biridir. Bu məqsədlə aşağı yaş qrupu üzrə bütün milli komandaların fiziki hazırlığını gücləndirmək, oyunçuların atletik performansını yüksəltmək və komandalar arasında fiziki hazırlıq standartlarını vahidləşdirmək üçün Əli Muradov fitness hazırlığı üzrə məşqçi vəzifəsinə təyin edilib. Bu yanaşma oyunçuların fiziki inkişafının sistemli şəkildə izlənilməsinə, performans göstəricilərinin optimallaşdırılmasına və yaş qrupları arasında keçid prosesinin daha səmərəli təşkil olunmasına xidmət edir. İnanırıq ki, bu vahid struktur və inteqrasiya olunmuş inkişaf modeli oyunçularımızın uzunmüddətli inkişafını dəstəkləyəcək, aşağı yaş qruplarından əsas milliyə keçid prosesini daha güclü, davamlı və effektiv edəcək”.
Ekvador millisinin baş məşqçisi Sebastyan Bekkasese dünya çempionatında komandanın mübarizəni dayandırmasından sonra vəzifəsini tərk edib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, 45 yaşlı argentinalı mütəxəssis Meksikaya 1/16 final mərhələsində 0:2 hesablı məğlubiyyətdən sonra açıqlamasında dünya çempionatının başa çatması ilə müqaviləsinin də sona çatdığını bildirib:
“Müqaviləmin müddəti dünya çempionatının başa çatması ilə bitdi. Təəssüf ki, ölkə tarixində dünya çempionatındakı ən yaxşı nəticəni əldə edə bilmədik. Belə bir birlik nümayiş etdirən komanda ilə buna nail ola bilməmək çox ağrılıdır. İndi isə bu möhtəşəm ailə ilə vidalaşmalıyam”.
Xatırladaq ki, Bekkasese 2024-cü ildə Ekvador millisinin baş məşqçisi təyin olunmuşdu.
Ekvador yığması dünya çempionatının qrup mərhələsində 4 xal toplayaraq üçüncü yeri tutmuşdu. Komanda bu mərhələdə Kot-d’İvuara 0:1 hesabı ilə uduzub, Kurasao ilə qolsuz heç-heçə edib, Almaniya millisini isə 2:1 hesabı ilə məğlub etmişdi. Ekvador daha sonra 1/16 finalda Meksikaya 0:2 hesabı ilə uduzaraq mundialla vidalaşıb.
Bekkasese məşqçilik karyerası ərzində Argentinanın “Defensa Xustisiya”, “İndependyente” və “Rasinq”, həmçinin İspaniyanın “Elçe” komandalarını da çalışdırıb.
DÇ-2026-nın 1/16 finalında Ekvadoru 2:0 hesabı ilə məğlub edən Meksika millisi 40 ildən sonra mundialın pley-off mərhələsinə ilk qələbəsini qazanıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, meksikalılar sonuncu dəfə 1986-cı ildə ev sahibliyi etdikləri dünya çempionatında pley-off mərhələsində qalib gəlmişdilər.
Həmin turnirdə Bolqarıstanı 2:0 hesabı ilə məğlub etmiş komanda 1/4 finala yüksəlsə də, Almaniya yığmasına penaltilər seriyasında uduzaraq mübarizəni dayandırmışdı. Bu, indiyədək Meksikanın dünya çempionatlarındakı ən yüksək nəticəsi olaraq qalır.
Bundan sonra Meksika millisi üçün mundiallar uzun müddət uğursuz ssenari ilə yadda qalmışdı. Komanda 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 və 2018-ci il dünya çempionatlarının hamısında ilk pley-off mərhələsində mübarizəni dayandırmış, 2022-ci ildə isə qrup mərhələsini belə adlaya bilməmişdi. Bu komanda 1990-cı il mundialından isə diskvalifikasiya səbəbindən kənarda qalmışdı.
Beləliklə, Meksika yığması DÇ-2026-da uzun illər davam edən uğursuz seriyanı qıraraq ilk pley-off səddini keçməyi bacardı.
Mundialın ev sahiblərindən biri olan Meksika 1/8 finalda İngiltərə – Konqo Demokratik Respublikası cütünün qalibi ilə qarşılaşacaq. Bu görüş də Mexikoda keçiriləcək.
Fransanın “Renn” klubunun mərkəz müdafiəçisi Jeremi Jake bundan sonra İngiltərə nəhəngi “Liverpul”un uğurları üçün çalışacaq.
Arena.az bu barədə İngiltərə klubunun rəsmi saytına istinadən xəbər verir.
“Qırmızılar” bu transfer üçün Fransa klubuna 63,6 milyon avro ödəyiblər. Tərəflər arasında uzunmüddətli müqavilə imzalanıb. Saziş beynəlxalq transfer prosedurlarının tamamlanmasından sonra qüvvəyə minəcək. 20 yaşlı futbolçu ən azı 2031-ci ilin 30 iyununadək “Liverpul”un formasını geyinəcək.
Xatırladaq ki, Jeremi Jake “Renn”in öz yetirməsidir. Bir müddət “Klermon”da icarədə də olmuş futbolçu doğma klubunun əsas komandasında 33 oyun keçirib, 1 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.
Jake Fransanın U-17, U-18, U-19, U-20 və U-21 yığmalarında oynasa da, əsas millidə debüt şansı qazanmayıb.
“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 20 yaşlı müdafiəçinin transfer dəyərini 55 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.
Gənc müdafiəçi son mövsümdə göstərdiyi sabit çıxışı ilə Avropanın bir sıra aparıcı klublarının diqqətini çəkmişdi. Nəticədə “Liverpul” futbolçunun transferini rəsmiləşdirərək müdafiə xəttini perspektivli oyunçu ilə gücləndirib.
Futbol üzrə Fransa millisinin hücumçusu Kilian Mbappe DÇ-2026-nın 1/16 finalında İsveç yığmasına qarşı keçirdikləri oyunda dubla imza atıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, o, komandasının 3:0 hesablı qələbəsi ilə başa çatmış oyunda imza atdığı dublla dünya çempionatlarının tarixinə düşüb.
27 yaşlı forvard bu görüşdə bir neçə tarixi göstəricini yeniləyib və yeni rekordlara imza atıb.
Mbappe ilk növbədə dünya çempionatları tarixinin bombardirləri siyahısında ikinci pilləyə yüksəlib. O, mundiallardakı qol sayını 18-ə çatdıraraq Almaniya millisinin sabiq hücumçusu Miroslav Klozeni (17 qol) geridə qoyub. Hazırda bu siyahıya 19 qolla Lionel Messi başçılıq edir. Argentinalı futbolçunun isə 1/16 final oyunu hələ qarşıdadır və o, bu göstəricisini artırmaq imkanı qazanacaq.
Fransalı ulduz eyni zamanda dünya çempionatlarının pley-off mərhələsində vurulan qolların sayına görə də yeni rekord müəyyənləşdirib. İsveçlə matçdakı dubldan sonra Mbappenin mundialların pley-off oyunlarında hesabında 10 qol var. Bununla o, Braziliya futbolunun əfsanələri Leonidas (8 qol) və Ronaldonu (8 qol) geridə qoyaraq bu göstəricidə vahid liderə çevrilib.
Mbappe DÇ-2026-nın bombardirlər yarışında da zirvəyə yüksəlib. Onun hesabında hazırda 6 qol var və bu göstərici ilə Lionel Messi ilə eyni nəticəni bölüşür. Lakin Messi bu qolları üç oyunda vurduğu halda, Mbappe altı qola dörd matçda imza atıb. Argentina millisi isə 1/16 final qarşılaşmasını hələ keçirməyib.
Bundan başqa, Fransa millisinin lideri turnirdə ən məhsuldar futbolçu adına da yiyələnib. Mbappe dörd oyunda 6 qol və 2 məhsuldar ötürmə ilə ümumilikdə 8 qol iştirakına sahibdir və bu göstərici ilə 6 qolu olan Messini geridə qoyur.
Qeyd edək ki, Mbappe dünya çempionatları tarixində ümumilikdə 18 qola çatmaqla Lionel Messinin rekorduna cəmi bir top yaxınlaşıb. Fransa millisinin hücumçusu qarşıdakı oyunlarda həm mundialların ən yaxşı bombardiri, həm də bu turnirin bombardiri olmaq şansını qoruyur.
Bu gün stolüstü tennis üzrə Respublika birinciliyində mübarizə başlayıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Süa İdman-Sağlamlıq Mərkəzi”ndə keçirilən yarışda 2013-cü il və daha aşağı təvəllüdlü idmançılar bacarıqlarını göstərir.
Budəfəki birinciliyə paytaxt Bakı ilə yanaşı, Sumqayıt, Şəki, Şabran, Şamaxı, Şirvan və Qobustandan ümumilikdə 100-dən artıq iştirakçı qatılıb. Onlar səxsi, qoşa və qarışıq qoşa növlərində mübarizə aparır.
Üç gün davam edəcək yarışın nəticələrinə əsasən fəxri kürsüyə qalxan idmançılar müvafiq yaş qrupları üzrə seçmə komandalara cəlb ediləcəklər. Azərbaycan Gənclər və İdman Nazirliyi və Azərbaycan Stolüstü Tennis Federasiyasının birgə təşkilatçılığı ilə keçirilən birinciliyə iyulun 3-də yekun vurulacaq.
“Liverpul” heyətini yeni futbolçu ilə gücləndirib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “qırmızılar” “Renn”dən Jeremi Jakeni transfer edib. Bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. 20 yaşlı müdafiəçi ilə anlaşmanın detalları açıqlanmayıb.
Jake ötən mövsüm Liqa 1-də 19 oyuna çıxıb.
AFFA-nın Qadın Futbolu Departamentinin texniki direktoru Emrah Aykurt qızlardan ibarət U-15 və U-17 milli komandalarımzın məşqçi heyətində edilən dəyişikliklərlə bağlı fikirlərini bildirib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, texniki direktor AFFA-nın mətbuat xidmətinə açıqlamasında əsas millinin köməkçi məşqçiləri kimi fəaliyyətini davam etdirən Rövşən Qasımovun U-15, Xanlar Əliyevin isə U-17 milliyə baş məşqçi kimi təyinatını dəyərləndirib:
“AFFA rəhbərliyinin müəyyən etdiyi strateji hədəflərə uyğun olaraq ən vacib məqsədlərimizdən biri aşağı yaş qruplarından başlayaraq ən yüksək səviyyəyədək vahid futbol anlayışını formalaşdırmaqdır. Qızlardan ibarət U-15, U-17, U-19 və A milli komandamızın eyni oyun fəlsəfəsi, eyni məşq prinsipləri və eyni inkişaf modeli əsasında fəaliyyət göstərməsini istəyirik. Bu məqsədlə əsas millidə çalışan köməkçi məşqçilərimizi U-15 və U-17 komandalarına baş məşqçi kimi təyin etmişik. Hədəfimiz A millinin oyun modelini və fəlsəfəsini ən yaxşı şəkildə bilən məşqçilərin bu yanaşmanı gənc oyunçularımıza düzgün və ardıcıl şəkildə ötürmələridir”.
Emrah Aykurt qadınlardan ibarət A millinin futbolçularından Manə Mollayevanın U-15 milliyə köməkçi məşqçi, Günay İsmayılovanın isə qapıçılar üzrə məşqçi kimi təyinatı ilə bağlı da fikirlərini bölüşüb:
“Bu təyinatlarla həm gənc oyunçularımıza nümunə olacaq rol modelləri qazandırırıq, həm də millinin mədəniyyətinin, dəyərlərinin və peşəkar standartlarının yeni nəslə ötürülməsini təmin edirik”.
O, Əli Muradovun qızlardan ibarət U-15, U-17 və U-19 millilərində fitness hazırlığı üzrə məşqçi vəzifəsinə təyin olunmasına da aydınlıq gətirib:
“Texniki inkişafla yanaşı, fiziki hazırlığın da bütün yaş qruplarında vahid standartlara uyğun inkişaf etdirilməsi prioritet istiqamətlərimizdən biridir. Bu məqsədlə aşağı yaş qrupu üzrə bütün milli komandaların fiziki hazırlığını gücləndirmək, oyunçuların atletik performansını yüksəltmək və komandalar arasında fiziki hazırlıq standartlarını vahidləşdirmək üçün Əli Muradov fitness hazırlığı üzrə məşqçi vəzifəsinə təyin edilib. Bu yanaşma oyunçuların fiziki inkişafının sistemli şəkildə izlənilməsinə, performans göstəricilərinin optimallaşdırılmasına və yaş qrupları arasında keçid prosesinin daha səmərəli təşkil olunmasına xidmət edir. İnanırıq ki, bu vahid struktur və inteqrasiya olunmuş inkişaf modeli oyunçularımızın uzunmüddətli inkişafını dəstəkləyəcək, aşağı yaş qruplarından əsas milliyə keçid prosesini daha güclü, davamlı və effektiv edəcək”.
“Yuventus” heyətini yeni hücumçu ilə gücləndirməyə hazırlaşır.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Turin təmsilçisi “Cenoa”dan Ceff Ekatoru transfer etmək istəyir. Bu barədə insayder Fabrizio Romano məlumat yayıb. “Qoca sinyora” hücumçu üçün bonuslarla birlikdə 18 milyon avro təklif edib. Klublar arasında danışıqlar son mərhələdədir.
Ekator ötən mövsüm A Seriyasında 30 oyunda 3 qol vurub. 19 yaşlı hücumçu İtaliyanın əsas millisində də bir matça çıxıb.
Fable is shaping up to be an absolute belter of a role-playing game. From deep systems like reputation affecting everything you do and stylish combat to funny talking pigs, what I’ve seen so far suggests a splendid fantasy role-playing game (RPG) that will be absolutely worth the wait.
Seeing a sliver of the game set in only one town, Playground Games showed what it’s like to carve my own path in the world, what impacts I can have on the locale and the people there, and how it can all affect me as the player.
From what I’ve seen, it’s basically a life sim, town builder, economy sim, RPG — and pig-fate-decider sim — all in one.
The main thrust of what I saw at the Xbox event around Summer Game Fest 2026 was how deep and rich some of the games’ systems were in how you interact with places and folk, and how your actions have consequences.
This allows you to play your own way, impacting the way people live and also carving your own lifestyle that doesn’t rely on a binary good-bad system, making things more interesting.
In the gameplay I saw behind closed doors, there was a talking pig whose fate we could decide, for example. But this wasn’t a one-and-done affair, as whatever you chose has consequences: save him, and the butcher is out of pocket, so you’ll need to cover his costs if you can — or get a job to earn the coin, and so on. And each of these steps, whichever route you take, will impact how you're perceived by everyone involved: some will think you're virtuous, some will be annoyed, and so on.
This leads to you garnering an array of reputation qualities for both the overall area and its inhabitants. And it can get very detailed and complex — in a good way — given every single fully-fledged non-player character (NPC) will have their own perspective. So while you may follow a path that gets you in with some local businesses that then give you better rates, for example, other shop owners may have totally differing opinions and make your life difficult later on.
Given how deep and rich the systems and reputation mechanics are, it feels like that same depth is needed in other areas like combat
Thankfully, the reputation is entirely local, though, so if you go berserk in one town, they won’t immediately be on the phone to the next area over. But even if they did, you can still turn things around and change people’s perceptions, but it will take a lot of work to win them back…
But, perhaps weirdly, this excellent chain of reactions, reputation characteristics, and events can abruptly stop. For example, in the midst of wooing a potential partner and going through the systems you require, including becoming a homeowner, you can just press a button to own a house. Or if you need money to buy gifts in the same relationship system and process, you can simply walk into any blacksmith and earn money at the press of a button.
This juxtaposition was the only thing that really raised my eyebrows, as it felt jarring: one moment you’re deep in a hilarious system rabbithole, the next you’re holding one button to solve or part-solve a problem. I’m very keen to see more of that and the impact it may or may not have on the experience on a larger, less isolated scale.
Speaking of seeing more on a larger scale, the same goes for combat; what I’ve seen whetted the appetite, but I only saw a flash.
It was wonderfully slick, swift, fantastical, and elegant — and exciting — for sure, but over far too quickly. I’d love to see more of the options available to players in terms of builds, classes, and skills, and how to team them with weapon choices and magic, and more. It was all over far too quickly in my preview.
Plus, given how deep and rich the systems and reputation mechanics are, it feels like that same depth is needed in other areas like combat, in order to ensure a cohesive experience and feel.
Still, however, the fact remains that Fable was absolutely one of the very best things I saw at all the games events going on in June, and it’s set to be an absolute blast to experience all its systems — even if I only got a glimpse of them.
I can’t wait to dive in and explore all the shenanigans you can get yourself into when the game launches on February 23, 2027, on Xbox Series X and Series S, PS5, and PC.
After having precious little new camera gear to review in the opening months of the year, 2026 has well and truly kicked into gear for us tech journalists.
The first quarter saw a smattering of niche compact cameras, including the Leica Q3 Monochrom, Instax Mini Evo Cinema and Ricoh GR IV. That's right: a black-and-white-only full-frame compact and a 3-in-1 instant camera that shoots video were the highlights.
That peculiar first quarter was followed by some more conventional photographer treats, such as the Sony A7R VI and Panasonic Lumix L10. I described the full-frame A7R VI as 'the perfect camera', and said the L10 was 'the prettiest Lumix in years', and a worthy alternative to the Fujifilm X100VI.
DJI launched a couple of standout five-star drones, the Avata 360 and Lito X1, while navigating both its US ban and some new competition, with Insta360 stealing the Pocket 4P's thunder by launching its fantastic dual-lens Luna Ultra.
Meanwhile, it has been an unusually quiet year for some of the big names thus far. Nikon, for example, is yet to announce a new camera in 2026, nor have we seen a new Fujifilm X.
I expect a steady stream of new releases throughout the latter half of the year, with heavily rumored models including the crop-sensor Fujifilm X-T6 and the Canon EOS R7 II. But here I'm going to look back at my five favorite cameras I've personally tested so far in 2026, in no particular order, with honorable mentions for a few others that have had the full TechRadar review treatment.
Panasonic surprised us all during its Lumix 25th anniversary event by dropping the all-new Lumix L10 — and it was a real treat to review.
It's the spiritual successor to the Lumix LX100 series of premium compact cameras, inheriting a gorgeous 24-75mm F1.7-2.8 lens that's been refined to work with Panasonic's latest 26.5MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and the latest Real Time LUTs profiles.
That sensor isn't all that the Lumix L10 has in common with powerful cameras such as the Lumix G9 II — it also features Panasonic's reliable phase-detection autofocus with advanced subject detection and 5.7K video recording, albeit without sensor-based image stabilization.
There's real power under the hood, and a gorgeous design to boot. It's not quite as retro-feeling as the X100VI, but it isn't far off — and that zoom lens versatility is a real win. If you're looking for a versatile everyday compact camera, the L10 is a fabulous pick.
Read my in-depth Panasonic Lumix L10 review
Insta360 and DJI's rivalry got extra spicy this year when Insta360 launched its first vlogging camera, the dual-lens Luna Ultra, pipping the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P to the post. Cue lawsuits and counter lawsuits.
I've tested both compact vlogging cameras (though at the time of writing my DJI Pocket 4P review is under embargo), and they take this format to new heights. Both feature dual gimbal cameras with 20mm (1x) and 60mm (3x) lenses, and an extended 6x lossless zoom.
Each brand takes a different stab at the format; the Luna Ultra features a unique and genuinely useful detachable remote and screen, meaning you can see and control the camera from up to 20m away. That module also features a built-in mic, making solo vlogging so much easier. I enjoyed DJI's magnetic fill light, which is powered by the camera.
The DJI Pocket series has dominated this space for years with no real rival, but that's no longer the case. For me it will be hard to go back to a single-lens vlogging camera having tested both the Luna Ultra and Pocket 4P — they both get a mention here, because I expect them to be among the best-selling cameras over the next year.
Read my in-depth Insta360 Luna Ultra review
As a Ricoh GR III X user, I had been patiently waiting for the Ricoh GR IV, hoping that the latest-generation model would address a few of my issues with my beloved premium pocket compact camera. Sadly, the GR IV didn't deliver on several counts: it again lacks a built-in flash and tilt screen, nor does it have any real improvements in autofocus performance or build quality.
However, the GR IV came with surprising upgrades elsewhere, and raises the image-quality bar for such a truly tiny and pocketable camera. A new 26MP sensor and refined lens gave a small boost in resolution, plus a notable improvement in image stabilization performance. Its lightning-fast startup time further enhances the GR series' street photography chops, while battery life saw a welcome boost, and internal storage was increased.
With those upgrades came a price hike, and the GR IV costs much more than the GR III did, especially if you live in the US. However, there's still no real competition for a camera of this size and quality, and Ricoh has further expanded the range with HDF and Monochrome versions of the GR IV.
Read my in-depth Ricoh GR IV review
This round-up isn't confined to cameras — I had the pleasure of traveling to China for the first time earlier this year to put the Oppo Find X9 Ultra's camera through its paces amid the stunning mountainous landscape of Yunnan province. Put simply, the Find X9 Ultra is the most versatile cameraphone I've ever used.
The flagship device is globally available, and costs as much as an iPhone 17 Pro Max, but that seemingly hasn't deterred fans desiring its five-camera array and top-spec screen, battery and chipset. The 1x main camera paired with the Hasselblad Master mode delivers especially stunning natural colors and RAW photos up to 200MP, while the class-leading 3x and 10x telephoto cameras each pack the largest sensors in their respective formats.
I shot over 2,000 photos with the Find X9 Ultra, and shared my gallery and overall impressions, which you can find in the link below. I also compared the smartphone to the Lumix TZ300 travel zoom compact, and felt that its 1x and 3x cameras were arguably even better quality, although the telephoto lenses are still no match for the new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 S II professional lens.
The quality of smartphone telephoto cameras reached new heights in the X9 Ultra, and it has become my most-used camera this year. There's even a 300mm teleconverter lens accessory that further stretches that reach, and which performed admirably when I took it to a pro soccer game.
Read my in-depth Oppo Find X9 Ultra review
I've been reviewing cameras for over 15 years, so it takes something special to cause me to use the word 'perfect' — and that's what the Sony A7R VI is. It's a professional mirrorless camera with a stacked 66.8MP full-frame sensor and lightning-fast burst-shooting and autofocus performance, with an all-new higher-capacity battery bagging you more shots, and 8K video.
During my lengthy review period I shot everything from landscapes to wildlife and portraits, and the A7R VI can handle it all with ease. It's also a seriously well-designed camera, with a high-resolution EVF and multi-angle touchscreen, and is complemented by a rich selection of professional lenses for just about any use case.
In one sense, Sony has shot itself in the foot here — by giving the A7R VI such raw power and quality, it renders the pricier A1 II redundant for most users. The A7R VI can do 95% what the A1 II can do, for a much lower cost. I've never owned a Sony Alpha mirrorless camera, but the A7R VI has me seriously tempted, especially given that Sony has made my favorite lenses over the last 18 months. If I could keep a hold of a single new camera from 2026, the A7R VI would be it.
Read my in-depth Sony A7R VI review
We've tested plenty more cameras throughout 2026, and five other models I want to highlight are the Instax Mini Evo Cinema, Canon EOS R6 Mark III, Leica Q3 Monochrom, and DJI's Lito X1 and Avata 360 drones.
The Instax Mini Evo Cinema is probably the quirkiest of the lot, being a 3-in-1 Instax that shoots photo, video and prints onto Instax Mini film. The 'Eras' dial is its standout feature — it's a dial with 10 settings, one for each decade spanning the last 100 years that mimicks the look of the media of that time.
Canon launched its incredible EOS R6 Mark III full-frame mirrorless camera at the start of the year, and it went head to head with the Sony A7 V as a top all-rounder, with no real weaknesses for photo and video use.
Monochrome-only cameras made a return too. I tested the Leica Q3 Monochrom, which it shoots next-level black-and-white photos, while Ricoh followed up its GR IV with its first stab at this niche, the GR IV Monochrome, which sadly comes with a big mark-up over the color original. If you only shoot in black and white, these cameras should top your list.
Despite its US ban, DJI continues to lead the pack with new drones — we gave both the Lito X1 and Avata 360 five-star ratings in our reviews. The Avata 360 is a more versatile 360-degree drone than the Antigravity A1, while the Lito X1 is incredible value given that it has object avoidance and costs around half the price of the Mini 5 Pro.
I have a feeling that the second half of 2026 will deliver plenty more treats, though I'm curious about what Nikon and Fujifilm could do next. Which new cameras would you like to see in 2026? Let me know in the comments below.
Amazon Web Services has announced plans to spend $1 billion deploying engineers in customer workplaces to help them build and deploy their own AI systems.
The dedicated AWS Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) organization focuses on getting organizations up and running with agentic AI quickly before making customers self-sufficient so that engineers can depart at the end of the project.
Frontier AI VP Francessca Vasquez explained many of the engineers are already behind many of AWS' own AI services, hinting at the expertise that customers can get access to.
"Along with agentic systems running in their own AWS environment, they gain lasting AI skills, workflows, and patterns they can use to innovate independently," Vasquez wrote.
FDEs will collaborate with business leaders, engineering teams, security teams and other relevant workers to build AI systems and integrate AI agents into existing infrastructure, rather than just provide no-action consultancy services.
The project marks the next stages of artificial intelligence, focusing on agentic AI rather than generative AI. Customers who sign up to the program will get to explore automation tools, autonomous AI and industry-specific applications rather than just basic chatbots.
Amazon says it's doing this because access to models and model capability are no longer barriers to adoption – instead, organizations are struggling to actually implement them at scale.
Prior to the creation of this FDE organization, Amazon's engineers had already been deployed to BMW where they reduced service disruptions across 23 million connected vehicles, and to Lyft where they helped resolve driver support issues 87% faster.
The Allen Institute, Cox Automotive, the NBA, the NFL, Ricoh and Southwest Airlines are already early customers for the new FDE team.
Anthropic’s Fable 5 is back after the US government lifted export controls that had forced the company to suspend access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 earlier in June. The company said it believed the shutdown was based on “a misunderstanding,” after officials raised concerns about a possible jailbreak and national security risk.
In a statement on its website, Anthropic said it is not against the US government having the power to block unsafe AI releases, but argued that this should not have been the case with Fable 5.
“As we have stated publicly, we believe the government should have the ability to block unsafe deployments, as part of a statutory process that is transparent, fair, clear, and grounded in technical facts. This action does not adhere to those principles”, said Anthropic.
Anthropic is now working to restore access to Fable 5 for its users.
The more interesting question now is not simply whether Fable 5 is available again, but what this episode says about the future of AI model launches. The most powerful AI models may no longer be treated like ordinary software updates. Going forward they may increasingly be treated like strategic technologies that governments can pause, restrict, and negotiate over.
On June 9, Anthropic released Fable 5, a restricted version of its Mythos 5. Anthropic said Fable 5 had been released with safeguards designed to prevent misuse in cybersecurity attacks, while the full Mythos 5 was kept under tighter controls because of its more advanced capabilities.
On June 12, Anthropic received a US government export control directive. The directive suspended access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for foreign nationals, including Anthropic employees. Anthropic said the practical effect was that it had to disable the models for all customers to ensure compliance.
The issue appears to have centered on whether it was possible to jailbreak Fable 5 and bypass its guardrails. (A jailbreak is essentially a method of persuading an AI model to bypass its safety restrictions).
Anthropic pushed back, saying it had not been shown evidence of a broad or universal jailbreak. Access is now being restored after the US Commerce Department lifted the restrictions. Reuters reports the restrictions were lifted after enhanced safeguards were put in place.
In its response to the US government’s restrictions, Anthropic argued that “perfect jailbreak resistance is not currently possible.” Its case was that if every narrow jailbreak is enough to force a model offline, then no frontier AI model may ever be safe enough to launch. The company warned that applying this standard across the industry could “halt all new model deployments.”
Until recently, a new AI model launch mostly meant faster answers, more coding features, or smarter replies. Fable 5’s shutdown shows that frontier models are now powerful enough that governments may step in before, during, or after their launch. That changes the relationship between AI companies, users, developers, and regulators in a way we're going to have to get used to.
OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 rollout has already been limited for similar reasons. Reuters reported on June 26 that OpenAI had delayed a full public launch of GPT-5.6 at the US government’s request, with access limited first to a small group of vetted partners whose details were shared with the authorities.
Fable 5 may be back, but the recent developments have changed the mood around frontier AI model launches. A model can be announced, celebrated, pulled offline, negotiated over, and restored all in the space of a few weeks. Anthropic may call this one “a misunderstanding,” but it also looks like a preview of how the most powerful AI systems may be governed from now on.
Nanoleaf has unveiled a new device coming to its range of smart home tech, and it’s a small ceiling light that packs quite a punch.
Yesterday (June 30) the Toronto-based company announced its small 12-inch Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Ceiling Light on its blog, which is now available to purchase for $79.99 in the US and Canada. We don’t know when or if its new ceiling light will be available internationally, but we’re keeping our eyes peeled for more news.
There’s not an evening spent in my home where the big light is turned on, so having a neat device like Nanoleaf’s new ceiling light is perfect for when you want to set the ambience for an entire room without turning on individual lamps. It can also be wired into your home, easily replacing your existing ceiling light.
As far as its features go, Nanoleaf’s ceiling light packs 19 LEDs and has three modes. ‘Front’ mode projects 2600 lumens of light filling rooms of up to 150 sq. ft, making it ideal for things such as cooking or reading. ‘Back’ mode shines light onto the ceiling to set the mood for times where you want to relax or indulge in a good movie, while ‘Front and Back’ mode is a combination of the two.
We’ve tested an extensive range of the best smart lights from Nanoleaf and there’s a plethora of reasons why we keep going back for more. One of them is its endless color wheel of lighting options, and the new ceiling light is no exception.
Nanoleaf says its ceiling light has roughly 16 million color choices, so I think it’s safe to say that you won’t run short of options when setting the right mood in your home. Additionally, it has a CRI 95 rating which, if you’re unfamiliar with the lingo, means that every color in your room will shine naturally when the light hits. Essentially, this rating is the gold standard.
Ceiling lights have had their time in the spotlight quite a bit recently. Philips, another behemoth in the world of smart lighting, launched an impressive ceiling device that imitates natural sunlight. However, though it looks stellar, it’s very pricey and falls flat on the smart features front, which is where Nanoleaf’s latest device wins.
While the Philips Skylight automatically adjusts daylight temperature as the day goes on, it’s not a smart light in the conventional sense as you can’t connect it to smart home hubs. In the case of Nanoleaf, the ceiling light is Matter compatible and supports Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, and Alexa smart speakers, allowing you to use voice control to set the mood regardless of which system you’re using.
The other handy trick with the ceiling light is that it can do all the thinking for you when you set schedules, so the mood will automatically change to correspond with your set times. That’s not the only means of control however, the ceiling light can also be used with the Nanoleaf Sense+ switch (sold separately) which uses motion and daylight sensors to take the light’s smarts to the next level.
Despite Philips having the more premium ceiling light, Nanoleaf’s newest addition tackles a lot of pain points from its $500 rival. And yes, it’s not as big or bold, but for the roster of color options, Matter compatibility, and other smart home tools, $80 is quite the steal.
I'm enjoying the cultural references in all episode titles of Rick and Morty season 9, but this week's, Mortgully: The Last Rickforest, sounds like a complete enigma.
All we have to go on is one short line: "Rick and Morty gotta evolve, broh." Take into account eight and a half seasons of absolute chaos, and this could literally mean anything.
Still, we've only got a few days of speculating left. But when does Rick and Morty season 9 episode 7 arrive on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?
In the US, Rick and Morty season 9 episode 7 will debut on Adult Swim on Sunday, July 5 at 8pm PT / 11pm ET.
Viewers elsewhere, as well as in the US, have two streaming options: Hulu and HBO Max. Episodes should appear on these platforms 24 hours after they've aired on Adult Swim, meaning you can expect episode 7 on Monday, July 6.
These are the timings you need to take note of:
Rick and Morty season 9 is set to have 10 episodes. As long as there are no unexpected delays, we can expect it to have the following release schedule:
Creating your own app no longer requires in-depth knowledge of an appropriate programming language. No-code tools like Base44 can be instructed to create web apps and superagents in minutes, using instructions written in much the same way you would explain the process of boiling an egg or running a bath.
Bought by Wix.com in 2025, just months after it was founded, Base44 is one of the most recognizable no-code tools. To ascertain how useful it can be, we’ve explored its features, its support for integration with third-party tools and services, and how easy it is to deploy. We’ve assessed its pricing and considered how Base44 compares with the competition, and we’ve also used it to create a web app.
To see more of the options that are out there, take a look at our list of the best no-code platforms.
From the off, Base44 gives you a free option with 25 message credits and 100 integration credits. It is worth noting, however, that these have varying values depending on the type of project you’re describing. These credits increase through the plans, as do the features. Free users get database functionality, for example, along with authentication tools and analytics.
Scale up to a paid plan, and you can get unlimited app projects, in-app code edits, a choice of AI model, GitHub integration, domain connection, backend functions, and even premium support.
Base44 also has beta functions under ongoing development, which can also be accessed with the top tier plans.
The key feature of Base44, beyond its no-code prompt, is its support for superagents. These are described as being able to “do the work of a personal assistant, support rep, marketing team, analyst” and all you need to do is tell it what to do. Along with various templates – such as specific options for finance-based tasks, e-commerce projects, and more – Base44 has a lot to offer in terms of integrations. Pretty much every productivity tool and data platform you can think of is available for connection to your web project or superagent.
As such, Base44’s potential as a no-code automation tool is a strong advantage.
Base44 is designed to make it easy for you to develop a web app with instructions in plain English. You simply enter a prompt, and wait for the results. A clear user-interface – much like any other AI-based prompt box – is presented for use, although you do need to register first. Free and paid accounts are available, along with a free trial of the premium features.
You aren’t limited to text prompts, either. It’s an easy task to upload an image, to assist with your plans for a web app. Or you might initiate a connection to one of the many integrations supported by Base44.
In addition, Base44 has a mobile app, for both iPhone and Android, which is intended to assist in no-code development wherever you are. Projects can also be deployed or published via the mobile app.
It’s worth taking a deeper look at the integrations and connections available with Base44. Most importantly, you do not need a third party database solution, as this is built into all plans. If you need it, however, Base44 supports Supabase with a dedicated connection.
Google Suite tools like Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Calendar can be integrated with Base 44, as can Google Drive, Google Analytics, Search Console, and Meet. Slack and the Slack Bot can be connected, as can ClickUp and AirTable. Meanwhile, cloud storage like Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box are also options.
LinkedIn, Instagram Business, and Discord also have connection options with Base44. Many more are available, and each offers the potential for an integration with a web app or superagent automation.
Creating an app or superagent is only the first step. In order to use them, you need to publish.
Several options are available here. The simplest is to publish to a Base44 subdomain, but you can easily share it via email or to a social network, too. Note that there is no option to sync it to GitHub.
Note that once a project is published, the integration credits come into play. This means that a web app or superagent needs the integration credits to perform the tasks you have specified. If the credits run out, your no-code project will not work again until the period resets or you upgrade to get more credits.
As noted, your project can also be published via the mobile app. This also supports submission to the Apple App Store and Google Play for approval.
To help understand just how useful Base44 is as a no-code solution, I developed a prompt to create a web app. The aim of the tool is to calculate the price of popular cryptocurrencies when purchased in USD, GBP, or Euros. It relies on a free API (two are specified as options), which the app should be able to connect to and draw data from. The prompt also specifies input fields and a calculation table.
The prompt is as follows – and we’ve used the same prompt when testing other no-code tools:
Build a tool that compares the price of a specific asset (like Bitcoin) against multiple fiat currencies simultaneously.
Functional requirements
API Integration: Connect to a free API (like CoinGecko or ExchangeRate-API).
Input Handling: A field where the user enters a "Budget" (e.g., $1,000$).
Dynamic Calculation: A list or table that automatically updates to show how much of the asset that budget buys in USD, EUR, and GBP.
Toggle Switch: A "Dark Mode" or "Refresh" toggle to test UI state management.
--
Two initial attempts were made, each resulting in a drawn out “Building your idea” message – one of which lasted for 3 hours (in contrast, competing tools completed the task within 5 minutes).
Rather than re-entering the prompt for a third time, I posed the question: “why is this not working?” As a result, Base44 took a more verbal approach as it made its third attempt. While it made progress, it still wasn’t working, providing a “fix with AI” button to overcome problems displaying the app’s preview. This was progress, however, and within a few more moments the calculator was displayed.
The resulting web app delivered on the aims of the prompt, but offered an additional 9 currencies that were not specified. Publishing the app was a one-click process, and you can see the results here: https://global-crypto-spend.base44.app
The basic free version of Base44 is limited, but is enough to get you started. If you need more, the Starter plan is $20/month (working out at $16/month with annual billing) and gives you 100 message credits and 2000 integration credits.
The Builder plan takes things to the next level with 250 message credits and 10,000 integration credits each month, for just $50/month (or $40/month with annual billing), while the Pro plan has 500 message credits and 20,000 integration credits. This is $100/month, or $80/month with annual billing.
Finally, there is the $200/month option ($160/month if paying annually) with 1200 message credits and an incredible 50,000 integration credits each month.
Where Base44 also excels is in its superb knowledge base. Available via docs.base44.com, this is a comprehensive collection of authored documents that guide you through everything from writing prompts to queries over connections. There is also support for billing.
If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for, the docs are supported by one of the best AI help chat assistants we’ve come across. It appears to be regularly maintained and trained on Base44’s current feature set, which is an advantage and preferable to receiving solutions that appear to be six months out of date.
Various alternatives to Base44 are available. Among these are Lovable, Bubble, and Hostinger Horizons. All offer free trials and a collection of affordable plans. However, Base44 seems to deliver a more compelling collection of support documents, and its dual focus on web apps and superagents as distinct project types is an advantage.
Most of these tools offer the same integrations and connections, so there isn’t a whole lot of difference in that regard. However, Hostinger Horizons and Lovable were – in our experience – faster at delivering a working web app based on the same prompt.
Base44 impresses alongside the competition, with a collection of plans and features that will certainly make choosing a no-code tool more difficult. Price-wise, the free option gives you everything you need to kick off no-code development, while the paid tiers evolve the available features as you spend more.
In terms of generating a project, while Base44 was responsive to fixing errors, it struggled to deliver what is a comparatively straightforward web app. Competing no-code solutions have performed more efficiently in this regard.
It also went off-script by delivering currencies that were not specified. With this in mind, you might wonder if the time spent working on and refining a prompt with Base44 might be time better spent with a more immediately responsive tool.
Base44 has an affordable set of plans and its mobile support is good, but more reliable alternatives are available.
No-code tools are AI-based systems that enable people with little to no coding skills to quickly have a working program or application in just a few minutes. At the same time, no-code can be used by actual developers who need a quick start – perhaps to build a template and save time importing libraries into a project.
One of the key names in cloud AI is Vercel, which was founded in 2015 and launched v0 in 2023. Designed to create “web applications with natural language prompts,” this is an award-winning tool that collected a 2025 Webby Award. To learn more about Vercel v0, we’ve assessed its features, pricing and plans, ease of use, and tested it with a prompt for a web app. We’ve also compared v0 with competing tools to see how effective it is against the alternatives.
If you want to weigh up the other options, take a look at our list of the best no-code platforms.
The main reason to use v0 is to create a web application or some other web-hosted tool accessibly via a browser. Capable of understanding plain English instructions (or your native language) and converting them into a web app, v0 can create and deploy a project in minutes. It employs continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) to make this possible, a feature available in all plans, from the free Hobby tier upward.
Vercel v0 has a web application firewall, global CDN, DdoS mitigation, and traffic and performance insights, along with Vercel’s serverless infrastructure model Fluid Compute. All of those features are available each tier.
Pro users also get team collaboration and viewer seats, faster builds with no queues, and enterprise add-ons, while Enterprise plans add guest and team access controls, advanced support, managed rulesets, and a 99.99% uptime.
All of the no-code tools we’ve assessed offer a focused user interface, with a prompt box in the middle of the screen. It’s the same approach used for search tools, and is immediately inviting.
Once the prompt has been made, things evolve with Vercel v0. Assuming you have already registered (Google, GitHub, and other accounts are supported, as well as your own self-hosted or corporate email address), v0 will begin to process the prompt, analyzing the instructions and delivering its processes via a verbose sidebar. It is incredibly straightforward, leaving you with little else to do but sip a warm beverage and be entertained by the AI’s updates for a few minutes.
Pulling back from the prompt box of each individual project you develop with v0, information about your account is available, along with all active projects. These can be viewed via a series of dashboards, which also display server usage, analytics (up to 50,000 events are supported in the free Hobby mode) and even information about what integrations are in use.
Integrations make no-code platforms far more flexible than basic web apps. Features such as databases and login authentication add data resilience, user-specific settings, and privacy. With v0, a considerable selection of integrations are available. These include Stripe for payments, CMS solutions such as Formspree, Makeswift and Agility CMS, and a range of AI tools such as ElevenLabs for voice AI and Perplexity.
If a database is required, AWS is available as an option, but v0 itself recommends Supabase. This can be set up and integrated by v0 either as part of your prompt, or later when the kinks and bugs have been ironed out. The process is wholly automated, and as with everything else within this no-code environment, can be completed in minutes.
Using Vercel v0 to deploy a web project gives you several options. You can publish directly to a subdomain, or to a GitHub repository where it can be made accessible to collaboration. A completed project can then be branched and revised, and the changes pushed to the current live environment.
Of particular interest is the v0 tool’s ability to maintain an existing project. If changes are required, the chat interface, positioned on the left-hand side of the completed web app, enables changes to be made. For more direct revision, the code view can open each of the generated files used in the development of the web app, and live changes made.
For debugging, a live console is also provided. All in all, these are solid, accessible revision and maintenance tools.
With various no-code tools available to choose from, it is important to know how effectively they can take the prompt you give them and deliver a usable app. To this end, I developed a prompt for a cryptocurrency calculator that would show how much of a specific cryptocurrency could be bought in USD, GBP, and EUR for a specific amount of money.
To ascertain how v0 handles a no-code prompt, I outlined what I wanted from the tool. The idea is that the prompt should result in a user-friendly web app.
Here’s the prompt we attempted to use with Vercel – the same one has been used with other no-code tools that we’ve looked at:
Build a tool that compares the price of a specific asset (like Bitcoin) against multiple fiat currencies simultaneously.
Functional requirements
API Integration: Connect to a free API (like CoinGecko or ExchangeRate-API).
Input Handling: A field where the user enters a "Budget" (e.g., $1,000$).
Dynamic Calculation: A list or table that automatically updates to show how much of the asset that budget buys in USD, EUR, and GBP.
Toggle Switch: A "Dark Mode" or "Refresh" toggle to test UI state management.
--
Vercel v0 timed the creation at 1 minute and 44 seconds, and produced a tool that not only worked as described, but met the clear specification of the prompt. Deployment options allow immediate publishing, either to a Vercel subdomain or a dedicated URL you already own and are ready to connect.
There is also the option to publish to GitHub, although note that this comes with some complications for publishing later – the option to publish from the Vercel v0 interface is removed once this happens, limiting you to logging in to the no-code tool with your GitHub credentials to push it live. This seems over-complicated, but I was able to instruct the Vercel v0 AI chat assistant to publish the project.
A compact collection of options are available for using v0. Vercel offers three plans: the “free forever” Hobby option, the $20/month Pro selection, and the Enterprise option, which appears to be priced on scale of use and has the option to request a demo. As noted above, the Enterprise option is aimed at development teams. There is no annual payment option.
Given the range of features available through the Hobby and Pro plans, however, these should suit most uses. Note, however, that additional usage costs are applicable with the Pro plan, with $2 per 1 million additional Edge Requests and $0.15 per additional GB of data transfer. Various other changes can be applied for server use, project build costs, and accommodating additional developers. So while the Pro plan may look affordable, it has hidden costs if you go beyond its confines. These have regional variations, which can be found in the Vercel.com documentation pages.
Vercel v0 has a useful collection of documentation, a knowledge base format that is both readable and searchable. In addition, the AI assistant can find solutions to bugs or issues with its generated projects. The knowledge base feels as though it has been curated or compiled by humans, and is easy to read.
The pricing for v0 is far simpler than with most competing tools, which all offer more pricing tiers.
Vercel appears particularly adept at keeping to the confines of the prompt. Some of the tools we’ve used have gone “off-script” and produced additional features – such as a longer list of currencies – whereas the web app produced by Vercel is exactly as specified. On the other hand, deployment proved a little trickier with Vercel once GitHub was factored into the process.
In terms of creating a fast web app without mission creep, Hostinger Horizons and Vercel v0 are pretty much equivalent, although the former has a swifter set of deployment options. But the depth of the Hobby plan and the Pro price are certainly in v0’s favor.
Vercel v0 also falls short against Lovable in terms of the ease with which the generated web app’s user interface can be edited. This is a shame, as the alternative to a friendly point-and-click revision is getting embroiled in CSS, which a no-code prompter may not feel comfortable with.
Competition among no-code solutions is tight. Most offer the same features, with a similar user interface, at prices that barely differ. The main points of difference come with the success of the initial prompt, what revisions are possible, and the deployment options.
Vercel v0 stands out in our testing for having a strong free plan, and for delivering a working web app that met the exact requirements (and constraints) of the prompt. Deployment and publishing was tricky, but the AI chat assistant helped to overcome any issues publishing the web app as a live tool.
While it lacks a mobile app, v0 is a strong choice for no-code projects, and should be on your list of options.
OpenAI and Anthropic are publicly disagreeing about whether their new AI cyber tools should be shared with European regulators.
OpenAI has offered Brussels access to its model. Anthropic is holding back, with Commission talks described as being at a different stage. Both have framed their position as the responsible one, and both arguments have merit.
But whether openness or restriction is the right call is ultimately a policy question and one that will take time to resolve. For organizations managing cyber risk today, the more immediate question is whether the teams are equipped to handle what these tools can already do.
AI systems can now autonomously carry out multi-step cyberattack tasks in controlled environments. Anthropic's Mythos completed a 32-step simulated corporate attack in testing.
Before it existed, no AI had ever done that in this type of full-chain simulation. Regulatory access to that kind of model matters for policy development. But the organizations that will be on the receiving end of attacks it enables are not waiting for that process to conclude.
The question of who decides when a powerful cyber tool is safe to deploy is important. But responsible deployment cannot just mean responsible release. It also means ensuring the organizations expected to defend against these capabilities actually have the people and skills to do so.
Recent UK survey data found that only 27% of UK organizations are fully prepared for AI-powered attacks. Seven in ten are operating with partial or no AI-specific readiness, even though the vast majority of senior leaders already recognize that AI is increasing their risk. The awareness is there. The preparation is not keeping pace with it.
Part of the issue is that cyber security has long been treated as a technical problem with a technical solution. Buy the right tools, run the right software and you are covered. AI fundamentally changes that assumption.
When attack tools can learn, adapt and probe defenses continuously, finding weaknesses, failing and trying again without getting tired, the humans on the other side need to be able to keep up. That requires expertise, not just familiarity with a dashboard.
AI identifying a vulnerability is only the first part of the problem. Someone still needs to understand what they are looking at, assess how serious it is, prioritize it against everything else on their plate and act quickly. That judgement does not come from a tool.
It comes from trained, experienced people who have built that capability over time. This is especially important as AI-generated attacks become harder to distinguish from legitimate activity. Threat recognition at speed requires pattern-matching built through experience and training, not simply access to the right software.
The data supports this. Among organizations that have invested in ongoing certification training, 86% report a measurable reduction in cyber risk, with an average reduction of nearly 48%. Certified teams also recover faster when something goes wrong.
Nearly half of UK organizations surveyed experienced at least one attack in the past 12 months, with the financial cost most commonly landing between £100,000 and £199,999 once recovery, downtime, regulatory fines and reputational damage are factored in.
This is also where the governance question gets more practical. Giving regulators access to frontier AI models is useful for understanding what they are dealing with. But that access is only meaningful if the organizations it is meant to protect have the capability to act on what those models can do. A policy framework built around tools most security teams are not yet equipped to respond to does not close the gap.
AI security standards are still being written. Most security teams have limited awareness of what frameworks even exist, let alone what is coming. The EU AI Act, NIS2 (Network and Information Security Directive 2) and emerging sector-specific guidance are all moving targets. Organizations that build continuous training into how they operate will be better placed to keep up as those requirements take shape.
For most organizations, the question of whether they have the skills in their people to respond when it matters is the gap between awareness of risk and readiness to manage it.
The investment in trained and certified security professionals has a measurable impact on an organization's ability to deal with attacks. It also builds the kind of internal capability that makes it easier to maintain regulatory compliance as requirements evolve. This isn’t a glamorous answer but the evidence for it is consistent.
Organizations that view training as a core part of managing cyber risk, rather than something to be revisited after a breach, are generally in a much better place. The tools and the threats will evolve all the time. It is the difference between resilience and vulnerability.
Connect securely online with the best VPN service.
This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.
The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit
Blockbuster movies often come with interesting collaborations, and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is no exception: in addition to a rather nifty Trojan horse popcorn rather nifty Trojan horse popcorn bucket, you can also get your hands on a strictly limited edition Bluetooth speaker from audio experts Klipsch that promises audio that will "defy the gods".
And if there's one thing we know from Greek mythology, it's that defying the gods always ends well.
The new speaker is limited to 2,500 devices worldwide and is based on Klipsch's Music City Series Detroit platform. The Detroit is the largest of the Music City speakers, with dual one-inch tweeters and dual three-inch woofers. This special edition is inspired by the movie design of Odysseus' sword and features "battle-worn finishes, hand-distressed detailing, and brass accents that evoke an ancient artifact carried through an epic journey."
It looks like a lot of fun, and I'm very much enjoying the irony of the team-up here: The Odyssey director Christopher Nolan is infamous for making movies where the dialog is really hard to hear.
The Odyssey speaker features Bluetooth 5.3 with 40ft range, 20 hours of battery life and 18W USB-C charging. You can connect up to 10 Klipsch speakers in broadcast mode for a more immersive audio experience (though I'm not sure it's strictly how Nolan would like you to enjoy the movie…), and the speaker is IP67-rated and can survive water immersion for over 30 minutes.
You can customize the bass, mids and treble with the Klipsch Connect Plus app, which also delivers over-the-air firmware updates and tech support.
The recommended price of the Klipsch x The Odyssey Limited Edition Speaker is $499 (about £379 / AU$723) and it'll be sold online at Klipsch.com as well as through retailers including Amazon and RC Wiley.
That means it's significantly more expensive than the standard Detroit: that's currently on offer for $194 at Best Buy in the US and £299 at Currys in the UK. But of course that model doesn't have the movie magic and unique detailing of the limited edition.
WPVibe WordPress plugin makes it easy to connect virtually any AI to your WordPress site and safely edit virtually anything.
The post New WordPress Plugin Safely And Easily Connects AI To Your Website appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
believes a world champion ‘quit’ during a recent title defence which saw him lose his gold. Jones had 25 world title fights during his illustrious career, so knows what it takes to dig down deep and keep pushing during those tough moments. That was evident on Saturday when Xander Zayas defended his WBO and WBA […]
The post Roy Jones Jr says world champion quit in his last fight: “The corner didn’t save him” appeared first on Boxing News.
has had a change of heart when it comes to taking on one of the big names in the heavyweight division. Kabayel recently became WBC heavyweight champion after he was elevated from interim status due to Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate his world titles. The German has earned his position after a string of impressive […]
The post Agit Kabayel makes u-turn on facing the man he said he’d never fight: “He’s number 1” appeared first on Boxing News.
A former rival of is staging an ambitious bid to return to the top of the heavyweight division at the age of 53. There is must change amongst the heavyweight stars currently, after Oleksandr Usyk chose to vacate his WBC, WBA and IBF titles. The WBC have elevated Agit Kabayel to full champion, while the […]
The post Heavyweight champion who KO’d Lennox Lewis says ‘nobody’ can stop him as he announces comeback date appeared first on Boxing News.
Wednesday’s reports claim that Antonio Conte is willing to take a significant pay-cut in order to return to his previous role in charge of the Italy national team, but even after that reduction, he is still expected to cost twice as much as his main rival for the job, Roberto Mancini.
Mancini and Conte, two former CTs, are the leading candidates to come in and take over from Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down shortly after Italy’s World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of March.
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina also resigned after Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row and has since been replaced by Giovanni Malago, who was formally elected earlier this month.
Malago will hold his first federal council meeting of the FIGC on Wednesday afternoon, for the first time since his appointment to the role of President of the Italian FA.
Several topics are expected to be discussed at the federal council meeting, including the election of the federation’s vice-Presidents. In the background, however, discussions over a new head coach and technical director for the Italy national team continue in the background.
Conte remains among the frontrunners and according to reports over the last week, is willing to give his priority to Italy, despite reports of a staggering €20m-per-season contract offer to take over from Sergio Conceicao as head coach of Saudi Pro League Al-Ittihad.
That is a significant increase from the reported €8m-per-season net salary that Conte earned during his time with Napoli, which made him the best-paid coach in Serie A.
According to the latest updates from Calciomercato.com, Conte is willing to take a 50% cut on his previous wage packet in order to take over as head coach of Italy, on a salary of around €4m per year.
That is still twice as much as what it would likely cost to employ Mancini, who would ‘settle’ for a salary of €2m per year according to Wednesday’s report.
Further details and a series of text messages have come out in the Italian press following the confirmation that Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni has been placed under investigation as part of a probe into alleged underage prostitution.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Bastoni has been handed a formal notification that he is under investigation by the prosecutor’s office in Milan following claims that he had a paid encounter with a 17-year-old girl back in 2020.
The young woman in question has already been heard by the investigators according to reports from La Repubblica, and has denied that there was a sexual relationship with the Inter defender.
Bastoni, meanwhile, is likely to be heard by the Milan prosecutor’s office on Friday according to the latest updates.
The inquiry centres around an escort agency based in the neighbourhood of Cinisello Balsamo in the outskirts of Milan, who allegedly provide ‘all-inclusive’ evenings for high-profile individuals and entrepreneurs, including Serie A and Serie B footballers.
According to La Repubblica and La Gazzetta dello Sport, investigators have uncovered a series of text messages between Bastoni and one of the individuals that runs the agency in question (named as Antonio Salamone), and between Salamone and the 17-year-old that Bastoni is alleged to have had relations with.
One text from Salamone to Bastoni reportedly read: “I think she wants to … In my opinion she wants to have fun.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Bastoni sent a text message saying: “Is there somewhere to hide out there?,” to which Salamone replied: “We will come up with something, at most you have to bring her home.”
The Gazzetta report alleges that Bastoni paid for the ‘all-inclusive evening’ himself, including the cost of a sushi dinner, transport and potentially for other acts that might have occurred on the night.
Another text from Salamone to Bastoni reportedly reads: “I’m your guy now, Oh, and I don’t even have (one of your) shirts yet! Anyway, you understand, when you find a girl, send me the profile and I will make contact.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the 17-year-old in question sent a text message to the ‘agency’ at around 4 a.m. that read: “I’m sleeping at his house and they’ll bring me back tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, reports from La Repubblica claim that Bastoni is maintaining his stance that he had no sexual relations with a minor and that he did not pay for any sexual relations at all, which is also the line that the then-17-year-old took while questioned by investigators.
Inter have officially confirmed that 37-year-old midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has put pen to paper on a new contract extension that will keep him with the club until the end of the 2026-27 season.
The Armenian had been out of contract on June 30, but was offered the opportunity to extend his stay with the club, an option which he has since taken up.
The Nerazzurri, meanwhile, announced the departures of four other senior players with expiring contracts on Tuesday (June 30), namely Yann Sommer, Stefan De Vrij, Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian.
Recent reports indicate that Mkhitaryan will earn a base salary of around €2m for the coming season in San Siro. This is a significant reduction from the €3.8m base salary that the former Arsenal and Manchester United midfielder was believed to be earning on his previous contract.
The veteran midfielder took part in 39 matches across all competitions in 2025-26, chipping in with four goals and three assists from the middle of the park.
He will continue in a midfield department that also includes Nicolo Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Petar Sucic, Piotr Zielinski and Andy Diouf. Davide Frattesi and Aleksandar Stankovic are still on the club’s books as well, but could potentially be on their way out during the summer transfer window.
© Peter Pesta
© <p>James D. Morgan/Getty Images</p>
Login
