Viceroy Hotels and Resorts has appointed Euan Taylor as the new general manager of its upcoming property, The Observatory Sun Valley, slated to open in June. With more than 30 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Taylor’s appointment marks a significant milestone for the resort as it prepares for its grand opening. This announcement underscores Viceroy’s commitment to exceptional leadership and high-quality service in a highly competitive market.

A New Chapter for The Observatory Sun Valley

The Observatory Sun Valley, previously known as The Harriman, is an eagerly awaited luxury resort located in the heart of Idaho’s Rocky Mountains. The resort will feature a 73-room hotel and 12 exclusive penthouse residences, offering guests breathtaking views of the surrounding natural beauty. As the new general manager, Euan Taylor will play a pivotal role in overseeing the operations and creating an extraordinary experience for visitors from around the globe. His leadership and expertise will undoubtedly elevate the resort’s position as a premier mountain destination.

Euan Taylor’s Extensive Hospitality Background

Euan Taylor brings a wealth of experience to The Observatory Sun Valley, having held senior leadership roles at some of the most prestigious names in the hospitality industry. His career spans several continents, including the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Taylor’s resume includes key positions with Canyon Equity, The Little Nell Hotel Group, Robertson Lodges, The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cavallo Point Lodge and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. These esteemed organizations have honed his ability to deliver exceptional guest experiences and develop luxury hospitality operations.

Throughout his career, Taylor has demonstrated a passion for creating environments that blend luxury with a deep connection to the local destination. His extensive experience and commitment to excellence make him the ideal candidate to lead The Observatory Sun Valley to success. Taylor’s leadership style, marked by thoughtful and personalized service, aligns perfectly with Viceroy Hotels and Resorts’ brand values.

A Strong Leadership Appointment for Viceroy Hotels and Resorts

Viceroy Hotels and Resorts is known for its dedication to providing guests with authentic and memorable experiences. The appointment of Euan Taylor reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to exceptional leadership and a personalized approach to hospitality. Arash Azarbarzin, CEO of Viceroy, expressed confidence in Taylor’s ability to lead the new resort, noting his deep connection to mountain destinations and his years of experience in luxury hospitality. Azarbarzin emphasized that Taylor’s leadership would be crucial in bringing The Observatory Sun Valley to life and creating a memorable experience for all guests.

The arrival of Taylor at The Observatory Sun Valley is expected to make a lasting impact on the resort’s success. His leadership will guide the resort’s development, ensuring that every aspect of the property, from guest services to amenities, is executed to the highest standards. Guests can look forward to a luxury experience that combines impeccable hospitality with the natural beauty of Idaho’s Rocky Mountains.

Conclusion

As Viceroy Hotels and Resorts prepares to launch The Observatory Sun Valley, the appointment of Euan Taylor as general manager is a key development for the brand. With over three decades of hospitality expertise, Taylor is poised to lead the resort to new heights. His proven track record in the luxury hospitality industry, combined with his passion for mountain destinations, makes him the ideal leader for this prestigious new property. As the opening of The Observatory Sun Valley approaches, guests can anticipate a truly exceptional experience under Taylor’s expert leadership.

South Africa’s major airports – OR Tambo International (Johannesburg), Cape Town International, and King Shaka International (Durban) – are facing significant delays today, with more than 70 flights delayed and 1 cancellation reported. These disruptions have affected both domestic and international travelers, causing inconvenience for thousands heading to popular destinations across the country and beyond.

A Closer Look at the Affected Airports

As South Africa’s busiest hub, OR Tambo International (JNB) has seen the most delays today, with 49 flights delayed and 1 cancellation. This international gateway serves as a primary entry point for travelers flying in and out of Africa, making these delays particularly impactful. Cape Town International (CPT), one of the continent’s busiest airports and a key destination for both international and domestic tourists, has experienced 20 delays but no cancellations. King Shaka International (DUR), located in Durban, is reporting 8 delays, but thankfully, no cancellations.

For passengers flying to or from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, the delays are not only frustrating but have caused major disruptions to itineraries. Although cancellations have been kept to a minimum, these delays still pose significant challenges for travelers who are trying to reach their destinations on time.

Why Are Flights Delayed in South Africa Today?

The causes of these delays, while not officially confirmed by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), are likely tied to a combination of operational inefficiencies, air traffic congestion, and airport logistical challenges. As one of the busiest travel periods for South Africa, both international flights and domestic flights have been affected.

Air traffic delays at key points like OR Tambo are particularly problematic, as this airport connects passengers to multiple international hubs, including those in Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of Africa. The airport’s sheer volume of daily flights, particularly during peak hours, often results in congestion, contributing to delays.

For Cape Town International, a major gateway to South Africa’s popular tourist spots, such as the Cape Winelands and Table Mountain, delays can have a direct impact on vacation plans. With many international visitors flocking to the city, delays could result in missed tours, flights, and appointments. Meanwhile, King Shaka International serves as an important hub for tourists visiting Durban’s golden beaches and KwaZulu-Natal’s natural wonders.

The Impact on Travelers

The delays have impacted passengers in several ways. With OR Tambo handling a significant proportion of both international flights and domestic connections, travelers trying to make connecting flights face an uphill battle. Whether it’s to Cape Town or Durban, or beyond to international hubs like Dubai, London, or New York, delays can create a domino effect.

Passengers on domestic flights are also experiencing long wait times. With many on their way to popular destinations such as the Cape Winelands, the Garden Route, and KwaZulu-Natal, these delays can significantly disrupt not only travel schedules but also holiday plans, which rely on tight timings.

At Cape Town International, the main international gateway for tourists to the Western Cape, the ripple effects are seen in the form of longer queues, overcrowded terminals, and general passenger frustration. Delays at this airport have caused a ripple effect across domestic flights, especially for those connecting to popular tourist destinations in South Africa.

For King Shaka International, delays are affecting flights from both international and domestic destinations, making it harder for travelers planning to visit the KwaZulu-Natal region, a popular spot for beaches, wildlife, and cultural experiences.

Airlines Respond to the Situation

Airlines serving South Africa’s busiest airports are working hard to mitigate the impact of the delays on passengers. South African Airways, Kulula, Airlink, and British Airways are reportedly providing flexibility for those affected by delays, offering rebooking services, extended waiting times, and the option to make adjustments to travel plans.

Airlines are also enhancing their communication efforts, ensuring travelers are kept up to date on delays and cancellations via mobile apps, text notifications, and social media updates. However, the volume of delays across these major airports has led to congestion in terminals, with passengers being asked to be patient while waiting for updates.

How to Manage Your Travel Plans During Delays

For travelers headed to or from OR Tambo, Cape Town International, or King Shaka International, it’s important to stay updated on your flight status and prepare for potential disruptions. Here are a few travel tips to help manage delays:

1. Check Flight Status Frequently: Use your airline’s mobile app or website for real-time flight updates.
2. Consider Alternative Routes: If possible, check for other available flights to your destination.
3. Allow Extra Time: If you have a connection, allow extra time between flights to accommodate delays.
4. Be Prepared for Extended Wait Times: Arriving at the airport early will help you deal with potential delays and avoid additional stress.

The Bigger Picture: Impact on South Africa’s Economy and Tourism

These delays come at a crucial time for South Africa’s tourism industry. With South Africa being a popular vacation destination for travelers from around the world, these disruptions could affect the country’s tourism revenue. Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg are all major international entry points, and delays can affect everything from leisure travel to business meetings.

The South African tourism industry is already working hard to rebuild after a tough few years, and these delays are a reminder of the challenges the sector faces, especially in terms of airport and air traffic management.

Conclusion: Patience is Key for Affected Travelers

In conclusion, 77 flight delays and 1 cancellation at OR Tambo, Cape Town, and King Shaka International Airports have caused major disruptions for travelers in South Africa. Though the cancellations are low, the delays are having a significant impact on both domestic and international travel. Travelers are urged to stay informed, flexible, and patient during this difficult time.

Airport authorities and airlines are working hard to address the situation, but travelers should prepare for potential delays and plan accordingly. By staying up to date with flight status and being flexible with travel schedules, passengers can reduce the stress of airport disruptions.

Referred Data: Flightaware

PORTO, PORTUGAL is currently the center of a new kind of Atlantic magic as American Airlines prepares to bridge the gap between the historic streets of Philadelphia and the vine-covered hills of the Douro Valley. There is a specific kind of wonder that comes with watching the sun set over the Ribeira district, where the ancient stone of the riverfront glows with a warmth that feels like an invitation home. For many American travelers, Portugal has always been a dream of azulejo-clad churches and world-class wine, but today, that dream is becoming more accessible than ever before. We are witnessing a moment where the long distances of the ocean are being conquered by a new generation of aircraft, turning what was once an arduous journey into a seamless, soulful experience. This isn’t just about a new flight path; it’s about a community of travelers and locals finding a new way to connect, ensuring that the magic of northern Portugal is no longer a distant whisper, but a reality you can reach in a single day’s journey with a heart full of anticipation.

The New Atlantic Link: Philadelphia to Porto Now

A monumental shift in transatlantic connectivity has been officially confirmed as American Airlines prepares to launch its first-ever nonstop service between Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Porto (OPO). Set to debut in the summer of 2027, this daily seasonal route is designed to capture the booming interest in Portugal’s northern tourism engine. By utilizing the revolutionary Airbus A321XLR, American is betting on a new and latest generation of long-range narrowbody aircraft to unlock cities that were previously out of reach for nonstop service. According to the latest reporting, the Philadelphia hub is being leveraged as a primary launchpad for this expansion. Porto joins Lisbon on American’s growing Portugal map, providing a second gateway that relieves pressure on the capital’s crowded infrastructure. Industry analysts mentioned that the route was a strategic win for Philadelphia, which continues to solidify its role as a premier European gateway for travelers from across the United States.

The A321XLR Advantage: Redefining Transatlantic Travel Today

The secret to this new route lies in the technology of the Airbus A321XLR. This single-aisle jet has the range to fly missions of up to 11 hours, making it the perfect vessel for “long, thin” routes where passenger volume may not justify a massive widebody jet. This flexibility allows American to offer a full long-haul product—including the prestigious Flagship Suite business class—on a more economical frame. Governmental business monitors have noted that the A321XLR is a game-changer for regional competition. Officials suggested that by using a smaller, more efficient aircraft, American could fine-tune its schedules to match seasonal demand precisely. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recognized the XLR as a right-sized widebody, offering a flagship cabin experience that includes lie-flat seats and privacy doors, countering any lingering skepticism about crossing an ocean on a narrowbody plane.

Beyond the Gateway: Discovering Northern Portugal’s Soul Now

While Porto is the focal point, the wider northern region stands to benefit immensely from this direct link. Travelers arriving on American’s flights will find themselves within a short drive of the Douro Valley, a UNESCO-listed landscape where vineyard-covered hillsides and boutique hotels offer an immersive wine tourism experience. In a unique turn for international tourism, the latest update on Porto’s appeal includes its proximity to historic cities like Braga and Guimarães. The Turismo de Portugal board has noted that American travelers are increasingly seeking culture-rich breaks that offer both contemporary gastronomy and medieval heritage. Officials suggested that the new Philadelphia connection would serve as a springboard for multi-city Iberian journeys, making it easier than ever to pair Porto with Lisbon or even cities in neighboring Spain.

Viral Travel Trends: The Rise of “Secondary City” Hubs in 2027

The launch of the Porto route reflects a larger 2027 viral trend where travelers are shunning massive, congested hubs in favor of “Secondary City” connections. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the demand for lifestyle-focused destinations is skyrocketing. Travelers are looking for places like Porto, Copenhagen, and Naples—cities that offer authentic food, deep history, and easy access to the countryside. The delegation of travel experts in Philadelphia mentioned that the trendiest way to fly to Europe involves bypassing congested airports for the streamlined experience of PHL. The administration suggested that this trend, combined with the viral potential of the A321XLR’s premium cabin, would make the Philadelphia-to-Porto route one of the most talked-about launches of the 2027 season.

A New Chapter for the Atlantic Voyager

As the trade winds continue to blow across the North Atlantic, the future of travel feels more expansive and intimate than ever before. This new connection between Philadelphia and Porto is more than just a line on a map; it is a promise of new stories, new tastes, and new friendships. It is a moment where the world feels a little more connected, and the beauty of northern Portugal feels a little closer to our own doorsteps. We invite you to experience the magic of this Atlantic bridge for yourself. Whether you are coming for the world-famous Port wine, the contemporary culinary scene, or just to walk the azulejo-clad streets of the north, Porto is ready to welcome you with open arms. The world is changing, the way we fly is evolving, and with American Airlines’ newest route, your 2027 adventure is poised to be a masterpiece of modern travel. The Douro is calling, the sun is shining on the river, and the view from thirty thousand feet has never looked so promising. Your path to Portugal is clear—come and find your next great story.

The Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB) will present an exciting display of literature combined with cultural and historical elements on March 14 and 15, 2026. The National Park Experience Pavilion, which Western National Parks (WNP) created, stands out as the main attraction at this famous event. The festival, which takes place at the University of Arizona’s Main Campus, has become one of the biggest and most popular book festivals in the United States because it draws thousands of people who visit the event each year. This year, the National Park Experience Pavilion will bring the spirit of America’s national parks to life with a range of interactive exhibits, book signings, and educational activities for all ages.

Celebrating Literature and the Great Outdoors

Attracting families, history enthusiasts, and outdoor lovers alike, TFOB provides a platform for the Western National Parks to share the beauty and significance of the national parks with the public. The Pavilion will feature a wealth of engaging activities that offer a unique blend of literary exploration and outdoor education. Visitors can enjoy an array of panel discussions and presentations by renowned authors, such as Craig Childs, Priyanka Kumar, and Kelly Ramsey, who will share their experiences and insights into the natural world and conservation.

The event’s Guest Moderator, Kevin Fedarko, an award-winning author, will host discussions on adventure writing and the art of storytelling. His books, including “The Emerald Mile” and “A Walk in the Park”, delve into the history and beauty of national parks, making him a fitting voice to guide these stimulating conversations.

A Unique Shopping Experience: Discover National Park Merchandise

For those looking to take home a piece of national park history, the Pavilion will also host two special shopping opportunities: the Hubbell Trading Post Tent and The National Parks Store Tent. The Hubbell Trading Post Tent will offer authentic Navajo rugs and jewellery for purchase, including pieces woven by Diné artist Tonita Yazzie. As one of the oldest continuously operating trading posts in the American Southwest, Hubbell Trading Post brings a wealth of cultural significance, allowing visitors to learn more about the Navajo weaving tradition.

Meanwhile, the National Parks Store Tent will offer an exciting range of books, apparel, collectibles, and toys. Not only will visitors enjoy shopping for fun, but all purchases from the tents will directly support over 70 national park sites across 12 states.

Engaging Activities for All Ages: A Day of Learning and Fun

The Pavilion promises an enriching experience for children and families with several hands-on educational activities. One of the main attractions is the Junior Ranger Jamboree, a fun-filled program where kids can explore science, history, and culture through interactive exhibits. As they make their way through the Pavilion, young explorers will have the opportunity to track their progress and enjoy plenty of free giveaways that will encourage them to venture outdoors and discover the wonders of nature. This initiative is part of WNP’s mission to engage the next generation in preserving the beauty and history of national parks.

The Pavilion will also feature booths from WNP’s partner parks and volunteers, who will share valuable information about the scientific, cultural, and historical significance of the national parks. Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of preserving these natural landmarks for future generations.

Experience Tucson: A Cultural Hub for Literature and Cuisine

While at the Tucson Festival of Books, visitors will have the chance to experience Tucson, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, known for its rich cultural heritage and culinary delights. The city boasts a diverse food scene, including award-winning restaurants and local farmers’ markets, where visitors can explore regional flavors and fresh produce. Tucson’s history is just as captivating, with many opportunities to learn about its Indigenous heritage and vibrant arts scene.

A Celebration of Nature, Literature, and Culture

The National Park Experience Pavilion at the Tucson Festival of Books 2026 provides visitors with an excellent chance to experience the natural beauty and historical significance of America’s national parks. The Pavilion provides a memorable experience for outdoor lovers, book readers and families who want to enjoy educational activities. The free public event demonstrates how national park conservation matters while showing the special cultural heritage that defines this area.

Saudi Arabia Railways is accelerating economic diversification by carrying record passenger volumes and expanding its footprint beyond national borders, using rail connectivity to strengthen tourism, industry, and regional integration. The surge in ridership and ambitious cross-border rail projects signal how transport infrastructure is becoming a powerful engine for broader economic growth across the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia Railways closed 2025 with its highest performance on record, signaling a new chapter for rail travel across the kingdom. More than fourteen million passengers used the network over the year, marking a 7.1 percent increase compared to 2024. To meet rising demand, the operator ran over forty-five thousand services, reinforcing rail as a dependable and increasingly preferred mode of transport.

The growth reflects a broader shift in how people move within Saudi Arabia. As cities grow and tourism gathers pace, rail is emerging as a practical solution to connect major urban centers, reduce highway congestion, and ease pressure on airports. Modern trains now link key destinations with greater speed and reliability, offering passengers a comfortable alternative to road and air travel.

A significant share of the annual total came from religious journeys. During the 2025 Hajj season, nearly two million pilgrims traveled between Makkah and Madinah on the Haramain High-Speed Railway. The line has become indispensable during peak pilgrimage periods, allowing authorities to manage massive travel flows smoothly and safely. By cutting journey times dramatically, the service supports both operational efficiency and the overall pilgrimage experience.

The Haramain route continues to serve travelers beyond the Hajj period, including Umrah visitors and residents moving between the western region’s main cities. Its year-round operations help sustain local economies by ensuring consistent visitor movement. Hotels, transport providers, and tourism-related businesses benefit from the steady connectivity the railway provides.

Freight operations also played a powerful role in the year’s results. More than thirty million tonnes of goods and minerals were transported across the network in 2025. Rail remains crucial for moving raw materials from mining areas to industrial facilities and export ports. By shifting heavy loads from trucks to trains, the system improves road safety, reduces fuel consumption, and contributes to environmental targets focused on lowering emissions.

Beyond operational achievements, the railway operator is moving into new territory. A landmark development announced in 2025 is the launch of Dream of the Desert, the kingdom’s first ultra-luxury rail experience. Scheduled to begin service in late 2026, the train will depart from Riyadh on curated one- and two-night journeys designed for high-end travelers.

The luxury train will feature thirty-three private suites, two dining cars, and a Majlis-style lounge. Interiors will reflect Saudi heritage through warm wood tones, gold detailing, and desert-inspired color palettes. Rather than serving simply as transportation, the experience is intended to showcase landscapes, culture, and hospitality in a way that elevates rail into a premium tourism offering.

Regional ambitions are also taking shape. Plans are progressing for a high-speed electric rail link connecting Riyadh and Doha, reducing travel time between the capitals to approximately two hours. The line, expected to open in 2031, will operate at speeds exceeding 300 kilometers per hour and include stops in cities such as Dammam and Al-Hofuf. The project aims to deepen economic ties and facilitate smoother business and leisure travel across borders.

At the same time, rail development across the Gulf is accelerating. The United Arab Emirates is preparing to introduce its Etihad Rail passenger services in 2026, initially linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai before expanding to the remaining emirates. Together, these initiatives point toward a more integrated regional rail system that strengthens trade, tourism, and daily mobility.

Saudi Arabia Railways is accelerating economic diversification by carrying record passenger numbers while advancing bold regional rail expansion plans, turning transport infrastructure into a key driver of tourism growth, trade, and Gulf connectivity.

The achievements of 2025 underscore the transformation underway in Saudi Arabia’s transport sector. Record passenger volumes, strong freight performance, luxury tourism innovation, and forward-looking cross-border projects highlight the growing strategic importance of rail. As infrastructure investment continues, the railway network is poised to play an even greater role in shaping travel, industry, and regional connectivity in the years ahead.

Thousands of travellers stranded in Asia today as 4,216 flight delays and 62 cancellations were recorded across Thailand, Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, And Hong Kong. The most affected airports were Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (521 delays, 5 cancellations), Kuala Lumpur (475 delays, 4 cancellations), Chhatrapati Shivaji Mumbai (452 delays, 1 cancellation), Indira Gandhi Delhi (427 delays, 1 cancellation), and Suvarnabhumi Bangkok (350 delays, 2 cancellations).
According to the latest flight data, cities hardest hit include Jakarta (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Mumbai (India), Delhi (India), Bangkok (Thailand), Phuket (Thailand), Beijing (China), Chengdu (China), Kunming (China), Nanjing (China), Guiyang (China), Kashgar (China), Hong Kong (SAR), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Guwahati (India), and Sapporo (Japan).
Among airlines, the most affected by volume were IndiGo (378 delays, 2 cancellations across Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Phuket, Jeddah), Air India (268 delays), China Eastern (359 delays), AirAsia (247 delays), Batik Air (104 delays, 5 cancellations), Sichuan Airlines (97 delays, 4 cancellations), and Air China (181 delays, 13 cancellations).
Additional airport impacts were recorded across several other key hubs. Beijing Capital reported 213 delays and 7 cancellations, while Beijing Daxing logged 238 delays and 5 cancellations. Chengdu Tianfu saw 273 delays and 7 cancellations, and Kunming Changshui recorded 248 delays and 2 cancellations. Nanjing Lukou registered 274 delays and 3 cancellations, while Hong Kong International reported 258 delays and 1 cancellation. In the Middle East, King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah) recorded 170 delays and 4 cancellations. Further disruptions were noted at Guiyang Longdongbao (108 delays, 6 cancellations) and Phuket International (141 delays). In Northeast India, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Guwahati) logged 32 delays and 3 cancellations, while Kashgar (Kashi) reported 28 delays and 5 cancellations. Japan’s Okadama Airport (Sapporo Airfield) recorded 8 delays and 6 cancellations, representing one of the highest cancellation-to-traffic ratios in the dataset.
Other major global and regional carriers that faced notable disruptions included Cathay Pacific (97 delays), Malaysia Airlines (65 delays, 4 cancellations across Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur), Thai Airways (78 delays), Saudia (64 delays), Garuda Indonesia (68 delays), SpiceJet (70 delays), and United (2 delays, 1 cancellation in Hong Kong).

• Updated today: 4,216 delays and 62 cancellations recorded across 17 Asian and Middle Eastern airports.
• Jakarta recorded the highest delay volume (521).
• Kuala Lumpur followed with 475 delays.
• Mumbai and Delhi combined for 879 delays.
• China’s five major airports together recorded 1,246 delays.
• IndiGo recorded the highest airline delay volume (378).
• Air China recorded the highest total cancellations among major network carriers (13).
• Batik Air recorded 5 cancellations in Jakarta.
• Phuket recorded zero cancellations despite 141 delays.

Most Affected Asian Airports

Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport

Recorded 521 delays and 5 cancellations, the highest delay count in the dataset. Batik Air led disruption volume.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Registered 475 delays and 4 cancellations, heavily concentrated among AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai)

Logged 452 delays and 1 cancellation, with IndiGo and Air India accounting for the majority.

Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi)

Recorded 427 delays and 1 cancellation, with IndiGo and Air India dominating delay volume.

Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport

Reported 350 delays and 2 cancellations, primarily affecting Thai Airways and Thai Vietjet Air.

Nanjing Lukou International Airport

Saw 274 delays and 3 cancellations, largely tied to China Eastern and China Southern Airlines.

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport

Logged 273 delays and 7 cancellations, with Sichuan Airlines most affected.

Hong Kong International Airport

Recorded 258 delays and 1 cancellation, with Cathay Pacific accounting for 97 delays.

Airlines Most Affected by Asia Flight Cancellations and Delays

IndiGo

378 delays and 2 cancellations across India and select Southeast Asian routes.

Air India

268 delays across Delhi and Mumbai.

China Eastern

359 delays across multiple Chinese hubs and Hong Kong.

AirAsia

247 delays centered in Kuala Lumpur and Phuket.

Batik Air

104 delays and 5 cancellations in Jakarta.

Air China

181 delays and 13 cancellations across Beijing, Chengdu, and Nanjing.

Sichuan Airlines

97 delays and 4 cancellations, primarily in Chengdu.

Malaysia Airlines

65 delays and 4 cancellations across Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

Thai Airways

78 delays in Bangkok.

Cathay Pacific

97 delays in Hong Kong.

What Can Impacted Passengers Do?

• Monitor real-time flight status directly via airline websites or airport portals.
• Check for automatic rebooking options in airline apps.
• Contact airline customer support early for alternative routing.
• Review compensation eligibility based on local aviation regulations.
• Retain boarding passes and receipts for reimbursement claims.
• Allow extra buffer time for connecting flights.

Learn More

Overview of Asia Flight Cancellations

Asia recorded 4,216 delays and 62 cancellations today across airports in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong.
The highest disruption volumes were concentrated in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangkok, each exceeding 350 delays. Chinese hubs including Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Chengdu, Kunming, and Nanjing collectively recorded over 1,200 delays.
Among airlines, the most affected were IndiGo, Air India, China Eastern, AirAsia, Air China, Batik Air, Sichuan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, and Cathay Pacific. Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, and Delhi appeared repeatedly among the highest-impact cities.
U.S.-linked disruptions remained limited in scale, with Hong Kong recording the highest cross-Pacific impact (13 delays).
The scale of disruption across major hubs highlights significant operational strain across East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East today.

Image Source: AI
Source: Different airports and FlightAware

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) plans to open the InterContinental Port Moresby in late 2028. This will be the first ever InterContinental hotel in Papua New Guinea. With the opening of this hotel, Port Moresby will be able to be marketed as a destination for luxury and business travelers. It will be located in the diplomatic precinct of the city and will have 179 rooms. It will be a major addition to luxury hotel offerings in Papua New Guinea and will also expand the tourism potential of the country.

Strengthening Hospitality Infrastructure in Papua New Guinea

The opening of InterContinental Port Moresby represents a major leap in the growth of luxury tourism in Papua New Guinea. As Port Moresby continues to develop as a business hub and tourism destination, the introduction of a world-class brand like InterContinental will significantly enhance the city’s tourism infrastructure. The hotel will be strategically positioned near key government buildings, foreign embassies, and the National Parliament House, catering to dignitaries, business travelers, and international guests visiting the country.

This move aligns with Papua New Guinea’s broader effort to diversify its tourism offerings by introducing more luxury accommodations, which have traditionally been limited in the region. As the country grows in international prominence, the introduction of premium hotels like InterContinental Port Moresby will help position it as an emerging luxury destination within the Pacific tourism market. This will attract high-net-worth travelers, international events, and increase demand for business tourism, which is set to drive future growth in the local hospitality sector.

Boosting the Local Economy and Employment

The opening of InterContinental Port Moresby is poised to have a profound impact on the local economy by creating job opportunities and fostering sustainable tourism growth. With the addition of a luxury hotel, local businesses in hospitality, retail, and transportation will benefit from increased spending by tourists and business travelers. As tourism demand grows, so will the need for supporting infrastructure, including restaurants, tour operators, and other service providers.

The new hotel will also create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs in the region, from hotel staff and management to local suppliers and tour guides. The long-term economic impact of this development will support community growth, improve local standards of living, and boost regional development as more tourists arrive in Papua New Guinea to experience both its natural beauty and luxury amenities.

Enhancing Port Moresby’s Reputation as a Luxury Destination

The addition of InterContinental Port Moresby significantly boosts Port Moresby’s profile as a luxury destination in the Pacific region. As more travelers seek high-end, exclusive travel experiences, the InterContinental brand will attract a new clientele to Papua New Guinea, solidifying the country’s place in the global luxury travel market. InterContinental Port Moresby will offer a range of world-class facilities, including multiple dining venues, a fitness center, and over 600 square meters of meeting and event space, making it an ideal venue for international conferences and corporate gatherings.

The hotel’s integration of luxury design with local culture will further contribute to its reputation as an authentic yet sophisticated destination for travelers seeking both comfort and culture. The luxury resort market in Papua New Guinea is set for significant growth in the coming years, and InterContinental Port Moresby will play a crucial role in meeting the rising demand for high-end tourism.

Driving Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Connection

Sustainability remains a core focus for IHG in developing InterContinental Port Moresby. By combining luxury with environmental responsibility, the resort will ensure that Papua New Guinea’s natural resources and cultural heritage are preserved while providing guests with a world-class experience. IHG’s commitment to sustainable development includes sourcing local materials, supporting green initiatives, and fostering community engagement, making the new resort a model of eco-friendly luxury in the region.

This dedication to sustainability also extends to cultural tourism. InterContinental Port Moresby will celebrate Papua New Guinea’s cultural diversity by incorporating local traditions into the resort’s design and services. This will enhance the authenticity of the guest experience and deepen visitors’ connection to the local community. Through its partnerships with local artisans, cultural organizations, and the community, the resort will play a pivotal role in promoting cultural exchange while maintaining a deep respect for the island’s heritage.

The Future of Luxury Hospitality in Papua New Guinea

InterContinental Port Moresby is now open! This is going to be a major game changer for the hospitality industry in Papua New Guinea. The facility will meet the demand for upscale tourism in Port Moresby. World-class amenities and luxury accommodation will be a huge improvement for the economy and the hospitality industry. This is the first hospitality facility of its kind and will cater to luxury travelers, making Port Moresby a competitive travel destination.

InterContinental Port Moresby will also create several jobs for Papua New Guinea. With the development of the Pacific region, the country will now be able to meet the demand for upscale tourism. Papua New Guinea also has very high potential as a tourism destination and the luxury section of the industry will assist in developing the economy, creating jobs, and developing the country in a sustainable manner. The continued development of luxury hotels, Papua New Guinea will become the preferred location for tourism in the Pacific.

Image Source: IHG

Air Astana is deepening air links between Kazakhstan and China with the launch of a new direct service connecting Astana and Guangzhou from 2 June 2026. The twice-weekly route is designed to boost trade, tourism, and corporate travel between the two fast-growing markets.

Operated by Airbus A321LR aircraft, the flight will take approximately 6 hours and 45 minutes, giving passengers a fast and efficient nonstop option to southern China. Economy round-trip fares start from 508 dollars, positioning the service as both convenient and competitively priced within the region.

The addition of Astana–Guangzhou further expands the airline’s presence in China and strengthens the evolving air corridor between Central Asia and major Chinese economic centers. Guangzhou, a powerhouse of manufacturing and international commerce, now becomes more accessible from Kazakhstan’s capital, reinforcing business ties and opening new travel opportunities.

This latest route complements the four-times-weekly service from Almaty to Guangzhou that began nearly a year ago. That earlier launch marked a significant step in boosting trade, tourism, and business exchanges between Kazakhstan’s largest city and southern China. With Astana now joining the network, travelers from the capital will gain direct access to the dynamic Guangdong province without the need for connecting flights.

The Astana–Guangzhou service will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Air Astana will deploy its Airbus A321LR aircraft on the route, a narrow-body jet designed for longer distances while maintaining fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. The aircraft choice reflects the airline’s strategy of using modern, long-range narrow-body planes to connect secondary and emerging markets with major global cities.

The flight time from Astana to Guangzhou is scheduled at approximately 6 hours and 45 minutes. This duration positions the route as a convenient, same-day connection for both business and leisure travelers. For passengers traveling onward within China or beyond, Guangzhou’s Baiyun International Airport offers extensive domestic and international connectivity.

Tickets for the new route are already available for purchase. Round-trip fares in Economy Class start from $508, offering competitive pricing for a direct international service of this length. The pricing strategy is expected to attract a mix of corporate travelers, students, traders, and tourists exploring new travel corridors between Central Asia and East Asia.

The Guangzhou launch is part of a broader China expansion plan. In addition to its existing services from Almaty to Guangzhou, the airline operates scheduled flights to Beijing, China’s political and cultural capital. It also flies to Urumqi in western China, a key gateway city that connects Central Asia with China’s Xinjiang region. These routes have steadily increased in importance as economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and China deepens under regional trade initiatives.

Further strengthening its China network, Air Astana will introduce a new Almaty–Shanghai route at the end of March 2026. Shanghai, China’s financial powerhouse, represents another major milestone in the airline’s eastward growth strategy. By linking Almaty directly with Shanghai, the carrier will tap into one of Asia’s busiest aviation markets and expand opportunities for business partnerships and tourism flows.

The addition of Astana–Guangzhou and Almaty–Shanghai signals a deliberate focus on multi-city connectivity rather than relying on a single gateway. This diversified approach spreads traffic demand across Kazakhstan’s main hubs while offering Chinese travelers more entry points into Central Asia.

For Kazakhstan, the expansion enhances its role as a strategic transit and trade crossroads between Europe and Asia. Improved air links support not only tourism but also cargo flows, investment opportunities, and cultural exchange. Guangzhou, known for its manufacturing base and as a host of major trade fairs, is expected to generate strong business demand. Meanwhile, Astana’s growing profile as a political and economic center positions it well to benefit from direct access to southern China.

Passengers can expect modern onboard amenities aboard the Airbus A321LR, including improved cabin comfort for mid-haul journeys. The aircraft’s extended range allows the airline to maintain operational efficiency while delivering a nonstop experience that reduces travel time compared to one-stop alternatives through other regional hubs.

The steady buildup of routes to Beijing, Urumqi, Guangzhou, and soon Shanghai demonstrates a consistent pattern: connecting Kazakhstan’s two main cities—Astana and Almaty—with China’s most influential economic centers. This network design provides flexibility for travelers and increases schedule options across different regions of China.

Air Astana connects Kazakhstan capital Astana to southern China with twice-weekly direct Guangzhou flights from 2 June 2026, cutting travel time to just 6 hours and 45 minutes. The move strengthens trade, tourism, and business ties while expanding the airline’s growing China network.

As demand for cross-border travel continues to rebound and trade ties intensify, the new Astana–Guangzhou service represents more than just another flight on the timetable. It reflects shifting travel patterns in Eurasia, where direct connectivity plays a crucial role in shaping economic partnerships and tourism growth.

With tickets now on sale and the inaugural flight scheduled for early June 2026, Air Astana’s expanded China network is set to play a central role in strengthening links between Kazakhstan and some of Asia’s most dynamic cities.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are strengthening Gulf connectivity by moving forward with a high speed electric rail project that will link Riyadh and Doha in just two hours while directly connecting to major international airports. The 785 kilometre corridor is designed to boost trade, tourism, and regional integration, marking a significant step toward a more unified and efficient transport network across the Gulf.

A new chapter in Gulf transport is unfolding as Saudi Arabia moves ahead with plans for a high-speed electric railway connecting Riyadh and Doha. The cross-border project will create a direct rail corridor between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, reshaping travel, trade, and tourism between the two nations.

The proposed line will extend roughly 785 kilometres, linking the two capitals through a modern, fully electrified system designed for speed and efficiency. Along the route, major stops are planned in Al-Hofuf and Dammam, strengthening connectivity across Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The railway will also tie into Hamad International Airport in Doha and King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, creating a seamless transition between air and rail travel.

Trains on the route are expected to exceed 300 kilometres per hour, cutting the journey between Riyadh and Doha to about two hours. That shift alone represents a dramatic change. What is currently a lengthy road trip or a short regional flight will become a swift city-to-city rail ride, offering greater convenience and predictability for travelers.

Passenger demand is projected to be strong. Early estimates indicate the line could carry more than 10 million passengers each year once fully operational. This reflects growing movement between the two countries, fueled by expanding tourism sectors, rising business exchanges, and deeper economic ties across the Gulf region.

The economic impact could be substantial. Projections suggest the railway may inject around 115 billion Saudi riyals into the combined economies of Saudi Arabia and Qatar over time. That boost would come not only from construction and operations, but also from the ripple effects of increased tourism, smoother logistics, and enhanced commercial activity along the corridor.

Employment generation forms a major part of the project’s value. More than 30,000 jobs are expected to be created during development and long-term operations. These opportunities will likely cover a wide range of sectors, from engineering and infrastructure development to rail management, maintenance, hospitality, and supply chain services.

Beyond speed and economics, sustainability plays a key role in the railway’s design. As an electric-powered system, high-speed rail offers a cleaner alternative to road and air travel, reducing per-passenger emissions. In a region investing heavily in modern, forward-looking infrastructure, the project reflects a broader commitment to balancing rapid development with environmental considerations.

Tourism stands to gain significantly. Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar are expanding their visitor economies with new attractions, cultural festivals, sporting events, and entertainment hubs. A two-hour rail link will make it easier for travelers to experience both destinations within a single trip. Weekend travel, event-based tourism, and cross-border leisure visits could see a notable rise once the line opens.

For the business community, the benefits are equally clear. Faster, reliable transport between Riyadh and Doha will simplify corporate travel, strengthen investment ties, and encourage joint ventures. Improved mobility between financial centers often translates into greater economic integration, and this railway is positioned to support exactly that outcome.

The initiative also advances the long-discussed vision of a broader Gulf railway network. For years, Gulf Cooperation Council members have explored the idea of linking their countries through an integrated rail system. The Saudi Arabia–Qatar corridor represents tangible progress toward that regional goal, demonstrating how infrastructure can drive cooperation and shared growth.

While construction timelines and detailed phases have yet to be fully outlined, the approval signals firm intent to move forward. Large-scale rail projects typically unfold in stages, including technical planning, environmental reviews, procurement, and phased building works.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are strengthening Gulf connectivity by launching a 785 kilometre high speed rail linking Riyadh and Doha in just two hours while integrating major international airports. The project is set to boost trade, tourism, and regional economic integration across the Gulf.

Once completed, the high-speed railway is expected to redefine mobility between the two nations. By combining speed, sustainability, and economic impact, the Riyadh–Doha rail corridor is poised to become one of the most significant transport developments in the Gulf, strengthening regional ties and setting a new standard for cross-border connectivity.

In 2026, the airline industry is buzzing with one question: how many empty seats are really on each flight? As American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, and even Ryanair crunch the numbers on load factors, we now have a complete breakdown. Airlines everywhere are counting empty seats, and the race is on to figure out which carrier is filling its planes best. But what does this mean for US tourism and your next flight?

In this full guide, we’ll show you exactly how American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Ryanair, and many more are comparing their load factors and evaluating just how many seats remain empty. You won’t believe the results! From US domestic flights to international routes, these airlines are all in the game of maximizing seat occupancy. As the US tourism sector booms, understanding these load factors is key to securing your next seat at the best price. Airlines are evolving, and so is US travel — get the insider info in this detailed guide. Trust us, you’ll want to read every word of this story, as it could change the way you think about US travel for good! Keep reading and discover why empty seats are no longer a mystery.

US Tourism Sector Booming: A Flight Revolution You Can’t Miss!

The US tourism sector is soaring to new heights in 2026, with travelers flocking to America from all corners of the globe! This booming industry shows no signs of slowing down. Airlines in the US are capitalizing on this surge by filling more seats than ever before. US travel is skyrocketing, and it’s all thanks to some serious strategies that have revolutionized the way we see the skies.

Did you know that Ryanair, a major player in the European airline scene, is operating with load factors of around 96%? This means that the US tourism sector and its global connections are stronger than ever. Airlines are seeing less and less empty space on flights to the US! With every US flight, the US tourism sector hits new milestones in passenger volume, signifying the world’s overwhelming desire to visit this incredible nation. (Corporate.ryanair.com)

American Airlines: Leading the Charge in US Travel

American Airlines has become a juggernaut in the US tourism sector with an astonishing increase in seat occupancy. The airline reported a load factor of 85% in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the rising demand for flights to the US. This means that 15% of seats remain empty on average, a solid performance in the competitive airline market.

American Airlines has played a key role in making the US travel sector a powerhouse. It’s not just about filling seats; it’s about catering to a growing demand for US tourism. As the demand for flights to America increases, American Airlines continues to push for more routes to cater to travelers from Europe, Asia, and South America. With their global reach and strong load factors, American Airlines has become an integral part of the booming US tourism industry. (American Airlines)

Delta Airlines: A Global Leader in High Load Factors

Delta Airlines is another major player making waves in the US tourism sector. Known for its premium service and extensive route network, Delta has exceeded 80% load factors in recent years, with international routes filling up the fastest. The airline’s ability to fill seats across its domestic and international networks has earned it praise, especially in 2026 as US travel is at an all-time high.

With Delta’s fleet expansion, more travelers are flocking to the US, contributing to the overall success of the US tourism sector. Whether it’s flights from London, Tokyo, or Mexico City, Delta Airlines continues to soar, maintaining its position as a leader in the US air travel industry. The airline’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has ensured that it plays a vital role in increasing US tourism. (Delta Airlines).

United Airlines: Capturing the Global Market

United Airlines has also capitalized on the surge in US tourism. With a load factor averaging 81.6%, United Airlines has proven its ability to fill planes on routes across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The airline is part of the reason why US travel is thriving in 2026, as it continues to offer more direct flights to key US cities.

United’s strategic route expansion has made it a top choice for tourists visiting the USA. It’s not just about filling planes; it’s about providing quality service that aligns with the expectations of international travelers. As the US tourism sector expands, United Airlines continues to push boundaries, offering more seats on international flights to the US. Their high occupancy rates highlight the increasing demand for travel to America. (United Airlines)

Southwest Airlines: Tapping into the Domestic Market

Southwest Airlines is one of the US tourism sector’s biggest domestic success stories. With a focus on affordable travel, Southwest Airlines has become the go-to airline for those flying within the US. Domestic flights to Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York are packed to the brim with tourists and business travelers alike.

With a load factor of 85% on domestic routes, Southwest Airlines has proven that US travel is not just about international flights; the domestic market is thriving as well. Their commitment to keeping things affordable while ensuring high occupancy rates has made them a favorite among travelers. The airline’s success contributes significantly to the overall growth of the US tourism sector. (Southwest Airlines)

JetBlue Airways: Redefining Budget Travel in the US

JetBlue Airways has taken the budget airline sector by storm. With low-cost fares and high-quality service, JetBlue has managed to maintain a load factor of around 80%, especially on flights to major US destinations. The airline has become an essential part of the US tourism sector, offering competitive pricing and expanding routes to meet growing demand.

JetBlue’s ability to fill seats, while offering budget-friendly travel options, has made it a popular choice for tourists visiting the US. With more routes and increased capacity, JetBlue continues to contribute to the overall boom in US tourism. They’re meeting the needs of budget-conscious travelers while helping to ensure that the US tourism sector remains strong in 2026. (JetBlue)

Alaska Airlines: Expanding Horizons in the US

Alaska Airlines has long been a favorite among travelers looking to explore the stunning landscapes of the US. With load factors reaching 85%, the airline has grown significantly in the past few years, especially on its routes to Hawaii, Alaska, and the West Coast. Alaska Airlines is contributing heavily to the success of the US tourism sector, offering more direct flights to these breathtaking destinations.

As US travel grows, Alaska Airlines continues to play a key role in making America more accessible to travelers from across the world. The airline’s commitment to customer satisfaction and route expansion is helping meet the rising demand for flights to the US. With more international travelers flocking to the US, Alaska Airlines is perfectly positioned to support the US tourism sector’s continued growth. (Alaska Airlines)

Ryanair: Dominating European Routes to the US

Ryanair, known for its low-cost operations in Europe, has also begun serving routes between Europe and the US. Their 85% load factor reflects the increasing demand for budget flights between the two continents. As a significant player in the US tourism sector, Ryanair has made it easier and more affordable for European travelers to reach the USA.

Their ability to fill seats on transatlantic flights is a testament to the growing importance of affordable air travel. US travel has never been more accessible, and Ryanair is making it happen. Their expanding route network to the US is helping fuel the surge in US tourism, ensuring that more travelers from Europe can visit the USA. (Ryanair)

Empty Seats are a Thing of the Past — Here’s Why US Flights Are Bustling!

In 2025, the US saw a massive surge in airline load factors, averaging an 83% seat occupancy across all international flights, as per the latest reports from IATA. This means that airlines in the US are filling almost every seat on their planes! You can hardly find an empty seat on any US-bound flight, and this is a massive win for the US tourism sector.

The US tourism sector is a powerhouse. In fact, countries in Europe are seeing load factors of 85% or higher, meaning there is a growing global demand for flights to the USA. There’s no denying that more tourists are flocking to the US than ever before! (Iata.org)

US Airlines at the Forefront: Why You Should Be Booked Now Before It’s Too Late!

Do you want to get a seat on your next US adventure? You better act fast! With airlines like Ryanair leading the charge with a 92% load factor, other US airlines are following suit and ramping up their seat offerings. In the US tourism sector, it’s all about getting bums on seats. The higher the load factor, the more airlines profit, and the more they’ll want to fly to your favorite US destinations.

The US tourism sector is alive and kicking! Book your flight now, before those empty seats are gone! As more airlines join the race, US tourism is bound to hit new records. Whether you’re traveling to New York, California, or the Americas, the US travel industry is pushing forward at full throttle. (Corporate.ryanair.com)

Why the US Travel Sector Has Never Been More Thrilling — And Here’s What You Can Expect Next!

It’s happening right now! The US tourism sector is experiencing a revival. And the evidence is clear: with North American airlines posting an average load factor of 81%, there are fewer empty seats than ever before. Airlines like American Airlines and Delta are seeing seats filled faster than a New York minute, and their flights are some of the most sought-after on the planet.

This surge is fueling US tourism to a degree that many thought was impossible. And it’s no wonder why! With increased flight routes to major US cities, it’s the perfect time to plan your next holiday. The US is back in a big way, and travelers can expect a smooth journey to their dream destinations. (Fred.stlouisfed.org)

US Airlines Are Filling Up Seats Like Never Before: This is How the US Tourism Sector Wins!

It’s clear — US airlines are outpacing global competitors in the race for full flights! As US travel continues its incredible momentum in 2026, it’s hard to ignore the fact that airlines are increasingly filling those seats. We’re seeing North American flights operating at an 81.6% load factor, which translates to a dramatic decrease in empty seats.

With this booming US tourism market, getting a flight to the US is becoming more competitive than ever before. Ryanair and other major airlines have already mastered the art of packing those planes!

US Travel Is Now More Affordable — But You Must Hurry!

Booking flights to the US has never been easier, and airlines are taking advantage of this by offering more seats than ever before. With flight offerings ramping up and more people booking flights, the US tourism sector is primed for an unprecedented boom. However, with all these flights filling up quickly, you don’t want to wait.

This influx of travelers means that US tourism is at an all-time high, and US airlines are seeing their load factors climb. Take advantage of these early bird specials before flights to USA get even more expensive!

International Airlines Boosting US Tourism from Asia

Asian airlines like Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines have all reported impressive load factors on flights to the US. With a load factor of around 80–85%, these airlines are crucial in driving US tourism from Asia. Whether flying into Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York, Asian airlines are playing a key role in the growth of the US tourism sector.

These airlines continue to meet the increasing demand for flights to the US, offering excellent service and ensuring that more seats are filled on flights to the USA. As more travelers from Asia book flights to the US, these international airlines will continue to thrive, contributing significantly to the rise of US tourism. (Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines)

Unprecedented Flight Occupancy — Why You Can’t Miss Your Chance to Travel to the US in 2026!

Here’s your chance to experience the magic of US tourism! The US travel sector has reached new heights in 2026, and airlines are capitalizing on this by filling planes faster than ever. US tourism is expanding, and now is your time to book that flight. Whether you’re heading to New York City, Los Angeles, or the tropical beaches of Hawaii, the US travel sector is seeing an uptick that’s hard to ignore!

More and more travelers are discovering that US tourism is alive and thriving in 2026. The question is — will you be able to find a seat? (Fred.stlouisfed.org)

The Thriving US Tourism Sector: Book Your Flight to the US Before the Seats Are Gone!

In 2026, the US tourism sector has never been more exciting! With flights to the US filling up at an unprecedented rate, it’s crucial to act fast. The US is one of the most popular destinations, and whether you’re flying from Europe, Asia, or South America, airlines are seeing their load factors increase significantly. This is the US tourism sector at its finest — and it’s not showing signs of slowing down!

The US has seen an average load factor of 85% on international flights to its major cities. The world wants to visit the USA, and US travel is stronger than ever. (Iata.org)

US Tourism Soars — Here’s Why You Can’t Afford to Miss Out on a 2026 US Vacation!

With the US tourism sector on the rise, there’s never been a better time to book your flight! The US travel industry has broken records, and airlines are operating with near-full flights. Whether you’re heading to the US for business or pleasure, your chance to visit this incredible destination is now!

With airlines like American Airlines, United, and Delta all experiencing high occupancy rates, the US tourism sector is poised for an incredible year. Book your flight today and get ready for an unforgettable adventure. (Iata.org)

Samsung has unveiled the new Galaxy A07 5G, bringing smart features and reliable performance to more people. This latest phone in the Galaxy A series makes everyday tasks easier and helps users stay connected with powerful tools and a long-lasting battery.

The Galaxy A07 5G has a 6.7-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and visuals. High Brightness Mode adjusts automatically for clear viewing even in bright sunlight. It offers a large 6,000mAh battery, 120% larger than the previous model, enabling longer video playback and uninterrupted use.

Photography is easy with this new phone as it comes with a 50MP wide and 2MP depth rear camera setup, and an 8MP front camera for clear selfies. It is built to last with IP54 dust and water resistance and a strong back panel made of glass-fiber-reinforced polymer to reduce cracks.

Source – Samsung

The Galaxy A07 5G comes with AI features like Google Gemini and Circle to Search. By pressing the side button, users can activate Gemini to handle tasks quickly and easily across Galaxy apps and some third-party apps. Gemini Live can answer questions and provide useful insights, while Circle to Search lets users explore anything on their screen, including images, music, or text.

Samsung also offers long-term support with up to six OS upgrades and six years of security updates. Samsung Knox Vault adds extra safety with Theft Protection and Auto Blocker features.

The Galaxy A07 5G will be available in select regions starting January 30. It comes in three colors – Black, Light Violet, and Light Green. With its smart features, strong battery, clear display, and durable design, the Galaxy A07 5G is a practical choice for users who want a reliable and easy-to-use smartphone.

The post Samsung unveils Galaxy A07 5G globally with AI features and long-lasting battery appeared first on Sammy Fans.

As the Galaxy S26 series launch draws closer, leaks are picking up pace. A tipster has now shared official-looking press renders of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, showcasing the phone from all angles in four colors. The images come courtesy of tipster Evan Blass (@evleaks) and show the Galaxy S26 Ultra in Black, Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, and White color options. The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s design closely resembles its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but features slightly more rounded corners and a redesigned rear camera module. The S Pen also appears to have received a subtle refresh. Here’s...

Throughout the 2025–26 season, Barcelona have established themselves as one of the most potent attacking teams in the world. Despite this, Robert Lewandowski’s future has been in doubt, and he appears to be moving away from the club. Consequently, Dušan Vlahović’s potential arrival as a free agent has gained momentum. However, Hansi Flick might face challenges in securing his signing, as the Serbian forward reportedly considers two options for his future.

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are the favorites to sign Dušan Vlahović as a free agent, as the Serbian striker has long desired the experience of playing in the Premier League. However, an agreement between the two parties is not fully sealed, with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United also looking to secure his arrival for the 2026–27 season.

Despite interest from several Premier League clubs, Juventus still remain hopeful of securing Vlahović’s renewal. According to Daniele Longo, the Serbian forward is considering extending his contract with the Italian side. Even if the negotiations have been stalled for several months, Vlahovic maintains an excellent relationship with coach Luciano Spalletti and is excited about working alongside him, as reported by Giovanni Albanese.

Dušan Vlahović has yet to cement his status as one of Europe’s top strikers during his time at Juventus. While he consistently averages more than 15 goals per season, he hasn’t quite replicated the exceptional form he displayed at Fiorentina, where he eclipsed the 20-goal mark. Despite this, the Serbian forward remains a crucial asset in attack, sparking interest from numerous teams across Europe, such as Barcelona, who are closely monitoring his potential transfer.

Barcelona do not only keep Vlahovic as attacking option

Ferran Torres has demonstrated top form, yet Barcelona reportedly remain focused on strengthening their attack. With Lewandowski potentially leaving as a free agent, Hansi Flick might receive a marquee reinforcement to boost competition for the Spaniard. In that sense, Dušan Vlahović has emerged as a strong possibility, but given the complications surrounding his situation, they are supposedly considering other alternatives.

According to Diario Sport, Julián Alvarez is Barcelona’s top priority to strengthen their attack. Despite going around 100 days without scoring, the Atlético Madrid striker is seen as the ideal player for Hansi Flick’s team. However, he could be involved in a transfer worth more than €100 million, as he is a key player for Los Colchoneros. If the Argentine or Serbian are not signed, Robert Lewandowski could extend his contract for another year as a backup striker.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s turbulent protest against the Saudi Pro League establishment may finally be giving way to a sense of stability. After refusing to feature in competitive matches despite being fit and available, the Portuguese icon made headlines not for goals but for defiance. His boycott exposed internal tensions, governance disputes, and frustration with how Al-Nassr was being managed. Now, however, a key development behind the scenes suggests that Ronaldo’s influence is being felt—and that the club may be entering a calmer phase with a crucial renewal on the horizon.

In early February 2026, the Portuguese stunned fans and analysts alike by deliberately sitting out Saudi Pro League matches. This was not a fitness issue, nor a tactical decision by the coach. Instead, it was a calculated protest against the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns a majority stake in the club and several other giants in the Kingdom.

The roots of the dispute were multifaceted. Ronaldo was reportedly frustrated with perceived inequality in investment, especially after rivals strengthened their squads during the January transfer window while his own side made limited moves. He also had concerns about Al-Nassr‘s autonomy, believing that the PIF’s influence over executives and strategic decisions undermined the club’s sporting vision.

His protest had tangible consequences. The 41-year-old superstar missed league games against Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad, sending a powerful message that went beyond soccer. The Saudi Pro League issued a warning, stating that no individual player could dictate decisions beyond their own club, while the PIF defended its financial discipline and management approach.

Al-Nassr on verge of renewing Ronaldo’s trusted teammate

While Ronaldo’s boycott dominated headlines, a quieter but equally important development was unfolding in the background. The club opened formal discussions to extend the contract of a key midfield figure, regarded as a cornerstone of the team’s structure and an essential part of Ronaldo’s support system on the pitch.

This player is Marcelo Brozovic, the Croatian midfielder whose current contract is set to expire at the end of the season. Negotiations are reportedly initially in their preliminary stages, with the player and his representatives awaiting a formal meeting to discuss terms. Despite interest from European clubs, Brozovic reportedly prioritizes staying in Riyadh, underlining his importance to the club’s long-term project.

Now, according to Saudi newspaper Al-Youm, the midfielder has already given initial approval to remain beyond his current deal, pending final contract details. This development comes at the request of coach Jorge Jesus, who is keen to retain his experience and tactical influence.

Why Brozovic matters to Ronaldo and the club

For Ronaldo, the potential renewal of his trusted midfield partner represents more than just squad depth. It is a sign that the club is listening, restructuring, and building around a core he believes in. After weeks of tension, protest, and public scrutiny, this development suggests a reset—a step toward restoring confidence in the project.

Brozovic’s significance goes far beyond goals and assists. This season, he has played 24 matches, scoring once and providing four assists, but his real value lies in controlling tempo, stabilizing midfield transitions, and linking defense with attack. For Ronaldo, having a reliable midfield orchestrator allows him to focus on scoring, knowing the engine room is secure.

Barcelona are looking for a striker who can replace Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker is 37 years old, which means they need to find a successor soon. The player who best fits the profile is Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez.

The Argentine forward was not heavily pursued when he left Manchester City for Spain. However, he has since become an ideal candidate. The main issue is his price tag of around €100 million, which Barcelona cannot afford. For most clubs, that would make the transfer impossible, but interim president Rafael Yuste left the door open.

Yuste left a hard-to-read message when talking to the press in the Spanish capital: “There has already been some rapport. We have known everyone for years, and so one day, as always, it will be very nice.”

Álvarez’s season with Atlético Madrid

Álvarez’s first season with Atlético Madrid was outstanding. He scored 17 goals in 37 La Liga matches, finishing with 29 goals in 57 appearances across all competitions. His most notable moment, unfortunately, was the penalty that was ruled a miss for a slight double touch in the Champions League Round of 16 against Real Madrid.

This season, his performance has not been as strong. After a promising start with the team, this year has not matched his usual standards. With only seven La Liga goals in 23 matches, the reduced output of the current lineup has affected his numbers.

Despite this clear dip in form, Barcelona’s interest remains intact. If the price is right for both sides, Álvarez could be a strong addition for the Catalan side in the next transfer window.

Financial strategy behind a potential move

Barcelona’s ability to pursue a high-profile signing will largely depend on its financial planning over the coming months. The club continues to operate under strict spending limits imposed by La Liga’s financial regulations, meaning any major investment would likely require player sales to balance the books.

Club executives are evaluating their wage structure and potential departures as they prepare for the next transfer window. Any serious approach for Álvarez would need to fit within those financial restrictions before negotiations could realistically move forward.

Match Overview

Cruz Azul hold a commanding position heading into the return leg after delivering a dominant 3–0 road win in the opener, a result that matched their status as heavy favorites. With the series now shifting back home, the Cementeros look poised to close it out.

Vancouver FC, meanwhile, must push forward from the start in search of a near-miracle comeback that could change the tone of the night—don’t miss this clash as one side aims to finish the job and the other fights to keep its hopes alive.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Pro League continues to deliver headline-grabbing drama, and the latest twist involves Karim Benzema, Darwin Nunez, and a club forced to make ruthless choices. As the arms race for global stars intensifies, the ripple effects of one blockbuster transfer have triggered a domino reaction that few anticipated.

With Benzema’s immediate impact, Nunez’s uncertain future, and Ronaldo watching closely from the rival title race, the league has entered another volatile chapter; one that highlights how power, prestige, and quotas collide in modern soccer. The Saudi Pro League’s winter transfer window has been defined by ambition and spectacle. Karim Benzema’s switch from rivals Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal sent shockwaves across the region, with the French legend making an immediate statement by scoring a hat-trick on debut.

His arrival wasn’t just symbolic. It was transformational. For a club chasing domestic dominance and continental glory, the Frenchman’s presence reshaped the internal hierarchy overnight. But with strict foreign player limits in place, the arrival of one superstar meant another would have to make way. And that is where Darwin Nunez found himself at the center of an unexpected storm.

Midway through the restructuring, the club made a decision that stunned supporters and analysts alike. Darwin Nunez has been omitted from the Saudi Pro League squad following Karim Benzema’s arrival, meaning he can now only feature in the AFC Champions League for the remainder of the season.

According to Coluna Do Fla, foreign registration limits forced management to make difficult choices after Benzema took one of the available slots. The same fate reportedly befell defender Pablo Marí, underlining the ruthlessness of squad planning at the elite level. This move represents a dramatic fall from grace for Nunez, who joined for $63 million last summer amid huge expectations and was supposed to be a cornerstone of the project.

Performance, pressure, and the Benzema effect

Nunez’s time in Saudi Arabia has been mixed. In 23 appearances, he scored seven goals and provided five assists, numbers that were deemed underwhelming for a club targeting silverware. His performances, combined with Benzema’s explosive start, pushed him down the pecking order. As transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported, “the league leader has now removed the Uruguayan from the league squad.” 

That statement sent shockwaves through soccer circles and raised immediate questions about his future. The 38-year-old veteran’s arrival didn’t just add competition; it fundamentally altered the club’s tactical and commercial priorities. A Ballon d’Or winner with a legendary pedigree, Benzema instantly became the focal point, leaving Nunez with limited opportunities and a diminished role.

Repeat of Firmino and Neymar’s cases

The decision wasn’t purely tactical—it was structural. Saudi clubs are restricted in the number of foreign players they can register for domestic competitions, and Benzema’s arrival forced management to reshuffle the list.

This mirrors past situations, such as when Roberto Firmino and Neymar faced a similar fate, highlighting how the league’s regulations can abruptly change careers. For Nunez, the consequence is severe: he will miss domestic league action and can only play a handful of continental matches this season.

Following reports, it has now been confirmed that Tyson Fury will make his ring return in a UK stadium. ‘The Gypsy King’ retired from the sport in January 2025 following two losses to Oleksandr Usyk. At the start of this year, he confirmed what many believed was inevitable when announcing his comeback. With his sights […]

The post Tyson Fury comeback fight vs Makhmudov venue now officially announced appeared first on Boxing News.

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Citroen sales almost double in Luxembourg in January.

New car sales in Luxembourg fall a steep -10.2% year-on-year in January to 3,339 units. Mercedes (+6.9%) snaps the brands top spot for the first time since last September with an excellent 13.8% share. It distances the Full Year 2025 leader Volkswagen (+13.5%) and the year-ago #1 BMW (-25.3%). Citroen (+91.7%) and Ford (+20.8%) are the only additional gainers inside the Top 10. Just below, notice Mini (+31.1%), Toyota (+29.9%) and Nissan (+25.7%).

Previous post: Luxembourg Full Year 2025: VW and BMW on top, Ford up 67.4%

One year ago: Luxembourg January 2025: BMW and Mercedes topple Volkswagen

Full January 2026 Top 46 All brands ranking below.

Luxembourg January 2026 – brands:

Source: Statistiques Luxembourg

Fenerbahçe'de Archie Brown transferinin perde arkasındaki kilit isim Ali Barat, bu kez Chelsea'nin yıldızı Nicolas Jackson için devrede. İngiliz yıldızı Milano uçağından indirip sarı-lacivertli formayı giydirdiği iddia edilen Barat, Senegalli golcü için Londra çıkarmasının merkezinde.

Ocak transfer döneminde Fenerbahçe santrfor transferini es geçti. Ancak sarı-lacivertliler için bir golcü oyuncuyu yanyana getirmenin reytingi hala çok yüksek.

İngilizler de bunu fırsat bilerek sarı-lacivertlilerin yaz transfer dönemi için rotasını Londra’ya çevirdiğini iddia etti. Chelsea forması giyen Senegalli golcü Nicolas Jackson için çalışma başlattığını yazdı.

İngiliz basınından Top Skill Sport'un haberine göre Chelsea, oyuncuyu bonservisiyle elden çıkarmaya sıcak bakıyor. Jackson, kariyerinde yeni bir sayfa açmak istiyor ve bir kez daha kiralık gönderilmeye karşı çıkıyor. Golcü oyuncu, menajeri Ali Barat’a Chelsea ile bonservis görüşmelerini tamamlaması ve kalıcı ayrılık yolunu açması için tam yetki verdi.

Fenerbahçe'nin sol beki Archie Brown'ın transferinde de Ali Barat vardı. Nicolas Jackson da Brown gibi Ali Barat’ın şirketiyle çalışıyor.

Bilindiği üzere İtalyan basınında yer alan iddialara göre Archie Brown sezon başında AC Milan’a imza atmak üzereydi. Ancak menajer Barat’ın son anda devreye girerek oyuncuyu adeta "Milan’ın uçağından indirdiği" ve bu hamlenin arkasındaki kilit isim olduğu konuşuldu.

Seçim döneminde 'Para sorunu yok, harcama sorunu var' diyen Sadettin Saran yönetimi, Ocak ayında sessizliğe büründü. Ali Koç'un şahsi hibeleriyle dönen çarklar durunca, camia sorgulamaya başladı! Fenerbahçe'de kurumsal yapının kurulmasında sorun mu var? Yoksa bahsedilen kaynaklar tükendi mi?

Fenerbahçe’de Sadettin Saran yönetiminin beşinci ayı geride kalırken, camia içinde "finansal katkı" tartışmaları alevlendi. Özellikle Ocak ayı transfer döneminde sergilenen tutum ile yönetimin seçim öncesi vaatleri arasında ciddi bir farklılık olduğu şeklinde eleştirileri de beraberinde getirdi.

Yönetime yönelik eleştirilerin odağında, kulübün Ali Koç dönemindeki "şahsi hibe" yöntemine olan alışkanlığı yatıyor. Temmuz ayında UEFA’dan gelen mektup sonrası oluşan 7,5 milyon Euro’luk açık bizzat eski başkan Ali Koç tarafından kapatıldı. Bu da yeni yönetim üzerindeki baskıyı daha da artırdı. Ancak seçimde Ali Koç'un yeniden seçilmesi gerektiğinin altını çizen kongre üyeleri bir noktanın altını çiziyor:

- Bu yönetim, ceplerinden para koymayacakları bilinerek seçildi. Beşinci ayda 'Neden para koymuyorsunuz?' diye yüklenmek, seçim dönemindeki mutabakata aykırıdır.

Buna rağmen Saran yönetiminin seçim sürecinde kullandığı en güçlü sloganlardan biri olan "Fenerbahçe’de para sorunu yok, harcama sorunu var" ifadesi bugün yönetimin önüne gelmeye başladı. Ocak ayı transfer döneminde yaşanan durgunluk ve finansal çekinceler, bu sloganla açık bir çelişki oluşturuyor.

Fenerbahçe için asıl sınav, kişisel servetlere dayalı yönetim modelinden, kurumsal ve sürdürülebilir bir finansal yapıya geçiş sancılarını atlatmak. Ancak Ocak ayındaki yönetim performansı, bu geçişin beklenenden daha "sancılı" olacağını kanıtlar nitelikte.

UEFA Kadınlar Şampiyonlar Ligi çeyrek final play-off'larında VfL Wolfsburg, Juventus ile karşı karşıya geldi. 2-0 geride olan Wolfsburg, 82. ve 90+5'te bulduğu gollerle çeyrek final umudunu sürdürdü.

UEFA Kadınlar Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde lig sezonunu 9 puanla 9. sırada bitirenVfL Wolfsburg ve 10 puanla 8. sırada yer alan Juventus karşı karşıya geldi.

6. dakikada Ana Capeta ve 61. dakikada Vangsgaard'ın golüyle 2-0 önde olan Juventus, kalesinde 82. ve 90+5'te gördüğü gollerle beraberliğe razı oldu.

Daha önce 2 kez karşı karşıya gelen iki rakip, 2025 yılında 2-2 berabere kalırken 2021 yılında ise Juventus'un galiibyetiyle maç sonuçlanmıştı.

6 kere finale kadar çıkan ve 2 şampiyonluğu bulunan Wolfsburg, bu sezon Kadınlar Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde oynadığı yedi maçın dördünde uzatma dakikalarında gol buldu.

90+5'te gelen beraberlik golü, Sarai Linder'in Eylül 2021'de Hoffenheim'ın Rosengård ile 3-3 berabere kaldığı maçta attığı golden bu yana Kadınlar Şampiyonlar Ligi'ndeki ilk golü oldu.

Juventus'un forvet oyuncusu Barbara Bonansea, UEFA'ya yaptığı açıklamada : "2-0 öndeydik, bu yüzden biraz hayal kırıklığına uğradık, ama hepimizin bildiği gibi bu futbol ve son düdüğe kadar her şey olabilir. Ancak bence iyi savunma yaptık ve ilk yarıda daha fazla gol atabilirdik." dedi.

Wolfsburg orta saha oyuncusu Janina Minge, UEFA'ya yaptığı açıklamada : "Genel olarak iyi bir maç çıkardığımızı düşünüyorum. Baştan itibaren oyundaydık, bire bir mücadelelerde savaştık ve kontrolü elimizde tuttuk. Birkaç gereksiz gol yedik, bu yüzden 2-2'lik beraberlikle maçı bitirdiğimiz için daha da mutluyuz." dedi.

Galatasaray'da Kazımcan Karataş'ın ayrılığına dair 'mobbing' iddiaları asılsız çıktı. Genç oyuncunun, yönetimin zam talebini sezon sonuna ertelemesi üzerine 'Para kazanmam lazım' diyerek Başakşehir'in yolunu tuttuğu iddia edildi. İşte hem menajerinin hem de yönetimin doğruladığı Kazımcan'ın ayrılık süreci.

Galatasaray’ın genç sol beki Kazımcan Karataş’ın Başakşehir’e kiralık gidişiyle ilgili ortaya atılan "yönetim baskıyla gönderdi" iddiaları transferin iç yüzüne dair gelen son bilgilerle çürüdü.

Edinilen bilgilere göre genç oyuncu, ayrılık kararını kendi aldı. Mali beklentileri doğrultusunda gerçekleşti.

Transfer sürecinde yaşananlar, Kazımcan’ın Galatasaray’daki geleceğinden ziyade kısa vadeli kazancına odaklandığına işaret ediyor.

Kazımcan, Galatasaray yönetiminden maaş iyileştirmesi talep etti. Ancak yönetim, bu talebe "sezon sonu görüşelim" yanıtını verince ipler kopma noktasına geldi.

Genç oyuncunun, "Para kazanmaya ihtiyacım var, Başakşehir beni istiyor, oraya gideyim" diyerek ayrılık yolunu bizzat açtığı iddia edildi.

Oyuncunun menajeri Fazıl Özdemir de, herhangi bir zorlamanın olmadığını, Kazımcan’ın genişleyen kadroda forma şansının azalacağını düşündüğü için gitmeyi tercih ettiğini bizzat teyit etti.

Galatasaray Sportif A.Ş. yöneticisi Abdullah Kavukcu da oyuncunun kendi isteğiyle gittiğini vurgularken, kamuoyunda oluşturulmaya çalışılan "genç oyuncular harcanıyor" havasının gerçeği yansıtmadığı belirtildi.

Kazımcan, Galatasaray’da sabredip sezon sonunu beklemek yerine, Başakşehir’in sunduğu şartları ve düzenli oynama fırsatını seçerek kendi yolunu çizmiş oldu.

Fenerbahçe'de devrim niteliğinde forvet hamlesi! Domenico Tedesco, elindeki tek safkan santrfor olan Sidiki Cherif'i Trabzonspor karşısında ilk 11'e monte ediyor. Genç oyuncunun istekli tavrı ve fiziksel üstünlüğü, derbi taktiğinin kilit noktası oldu.

Fenerbahçe'de teknik direktör Domenico Tedesco, Trabzonspor'u sürpriz bir hamleyle devirmeye hazırlanıyor. En-Nesyri ve Jhon Duran’ın ayrılığının ardından forvet hattında oluşan boşlukta genç yetenek Sidiki Cherif "gizli silah" olarak öne çıkıyor.

Tedesco’nun elinde şu an kağıt üzerinde tek safkan santrfor olarak kalan Cherif, Talisca’nın "sahte 9" veya forvet arkası, Kerem Aktürkoğlu’nun ise sol kanat forveti olarak kurgulandığı sistemde oyun planlarının merkezine oturacak gibi duruyor.

İdmanlarda uzun boyuna rağmen beklenmedik bir çevikliğe sahip olması Tedesco'yu umutlandırıyor. Bu fiziğini, Trabzonspor'un sert stoperlerine karşı ayakta kalmasına ve sırtı dönük oynamasına yardım edebileceğine inanıyor.

Sadece kafa golleriyle değil, orta sahadan şişirilen uzun topları göğsüyle veya kafasıyla indirerek arkadaşlarına servis yapması da Tedesco'ya aradığı "pivot istasyon" umudunu aşılıyor.

Cherif’in takıma adaptasyon sürecindeki istekliliği ve profesyonel tavrı teknik heyetten tam not aldı. Samandıra'da herkes "Cherif, Tedesco'nun A planının merkezinde" savunması yapıyor.

A Milli Takım'ın UEFA Uluslar Ligi'nde rakipleri belli oldu. Ay-yıldızlıların teknik direktörü Vincenzo Montella eşleşmeleri değerlendirdi.

Tarihinde ilk defa A Ligi'nde mücadele edecek olan A Milli Takım'ın UEFA Uluslar Ligi 2026/27 sezonundaki rakipleri Fransa, İtalya ve Belçika oldu.

Ay-yıldızlıların teknik direktörü Vincenzo Montella ise eşleşmeleri değerlendirdi.

Grup hakkında konuşan tecrübeli teknik direktör, "İlginç bir grup. Avrupa’nın en iyi takımlarıyla aynı gruptayız. Onlara karşı oynamak önemli, ama bu seviyede olmamız da bizim için ayrı bir değer taşıyor. Bildiğiniz gibi son 2 yılda önemli bir atılım yaptık ve alttan gelerek buraya ulaştık. Burada kalmak istiyoruz. Şu anki odağımız ise Mart ayındaki maçlarımız." ifadelerini kullandı.

Dünya Kupası hakkında ise Montella, "Oyuncularımızın şu anda Dünya Kupası'nda oynayabilmek için çok heyecanlı ve istekli olduklarını görebiliyorum." dedi.

Bu gün futbol üzrə Azərbaycan millisinin UEFA Millətlər Liqasının 2026/2027-ci illər mövsümündəki rəqibləri müəyyənləşəcək.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Belçikanın paytaxtı Brüsseldə keçiriləcək püşkatma mərasiminə Bakı vaxtı ilə saat 21:00-da start veriləcək.

Ayxan Abbasovun baş məşqçisi olduğu Azərbaycan millisinin püşkatmaya D Liqasının 1-ci səbətindən qoşulacağı indidən məlumdur. Burada 3 komandadan ibarət 2 qrup formalaşacaq. Bu qruplarda komandalar bir-birinə qarşı ev və səfər prinsipi olmaqla 4 matça çıxacaqlar.

D Liqasında iştirak edəcək iki yığma martda baş tutacaq pley-off oyunlarından sonra dəqiqləşəcək.

UEFA Millətlər Liqası
2026/2027-ci illər mövsümü

A Liqası

1-ci səbət: Portuqaliya, İspaniya, Fransa, Almaniya
2-ci səbət: İtaliya, Niderland, Danimarka, Xorvatiya
3-cü səbət: Serbiya, Belçika, İngiltərə, Norveç
4-cü səbət: Uels, Çexiya, Yunanıstan, Türkiyə

B Liqası

1-ci səbət: Şotlandiya, Macarıstan, Polşa, İsrail
2-ci səbət: İsveçrə, Bosniya və Herseqovina, Avstriya, Ukrayna
3-cü səbət: Sloveniya, Gürcüstan, İrlandiya, Rumıniya
4-cü səbət: İsveç, Şimali Makedoniya, Şimali İrlandiya, Kosovo

C Liqası

1-ci səbət: İslandiya, Albaniya, Monteneqro, Qazaxıstan
2-ci səbət: Finlandiya, Slovakiya, Bolqarıstan, Ermənistan
3-cü səbət: Belarus, Farer adaları, Kipr, Estoniya
4-cü səbət: Latviya/Cəbəllütariq cütünün qalibi, Lüksemburq/Malta cütünün qalibi, Moldova, San Marino

D Liqası

1-ci səbət: Azərbaycan, Litva, Latviya/Cəbəllütariq cütünün məğlubu, Lüksemburq/Malta cütünün məğlubu
2-ci səbət: Lixtenşteyn, Andorra

Pley-offda məğlub tərəf reytinqdə 49-52-ci yerlərdən birini tutsa, birinci səbətdə qalacaq. 53 və ya 54-cü yerdə qərarlaşsa, ikinci səbətə düşəcək. Bu cütlər püşkdə həmin yerlərin sahibləri kimi təmsil olunacaqlar.

Xatırladaq ki, UEFA Millətlər Liqasında yeni mövsümə sentybarın 24-də start veriləcək. Qrup mərhələsinin son matçları noyabrda baş tutacaqsa, turnirin final mərhələsi 2027-ci ilin iyununda təşkil ediləcək.

Bu gün kişi voleybolçular arasında təşkil edilm Azərbaycan çempionatında (Yüksək Liqa) 13-cü turun oyunları keçirilib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, turun bütün görüşləri eyni günə təsadüf edib.

“Ordu” ilə qarşılaşmış “Murov” rəqibinə 3:0 (25:17, 25:17, 25:12) hesabı ilə qalib gəlib. “Neftçi” “Gənclər”i 3:0 (26:24, 25:23, 25:18), “Xilasedici” isə “Azərreyl”i 3:0 (25:22, 25:21, 25:20) məğlub edib.

Yüksək Liqa
13-cü tur
11 fevral

“Murov” – “Ordu” 3:0 (25:17, 25:17, 25:12)
Fövqəladə Hallar Nazirliyinin idman zalı.

“Gənclər” – “Neftçi” 0:3 (24:26, 23:25, 18:25)
Abşeron Olimpiya İdman Kompleksi.

“Xilasedici” – “Azərreyl” 3:0 (25:22, 25:21, 25:20)
Fövqəladə Hallar Nazirliyinin idman zalı.

Xallar: Xilasedici – 31. Neftçi – 29. Ordu – 25. Murov – 17. Azərreyl – 15. Gənclər – 0.

Bu gün keçirilmiş bir oyunla Azərbaycan Basketbol Liqasında (ABL) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 17-ci turuna start verilib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, ilk oyun günündə bir qarşılaşma baş tutub.

Turun açılış oyununda “Sərhədçi” səfərdə “Lənkəran”la üz-üzə gəlib. Lənkəran Olimpiya İdman Kompleksində keçirilmiş qarşılaşma qonaqların 83:69 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekunlaşıb.

17-ci tura fevralın 14-də yekun vurulacaq.

A qrupu: Sabah – 31. Abşeron Lions – 30. Gəncə – 24. Neftçi – 23. NTD – 19. Şəki – 18.

B qrupu: Ordu – 31. Naxçıvan – 28. Sərhədçi – 23. Sumqayıt – 22. Quba – 22. Lənkəran – 21.

Xatırladaq ki, ABL oyunları dörd dövrədən və 20 turdan ibarət olacaq. Müntəzəm mövsümün oyunları A və B qruplarına bölünməklə keçirilir. Müntəzəm mövsümdə A qrupunu ilk 3 sırada tamamlamış klublarla yanaşı, B qrupunu lider bitirmiş komanda pley-offun 1/4 final mərhələsinə vəsiqə qazanacaq. A və B qruplarında digər yerləri tutmuş komandalar isə pley-offun 1/8 final mərhələsində üz-üzə gələcəklər. Bu mərhələdə ən tez iki qələbə qazanacaq klublar 1/4 finala yüksələcəklər. Həm 1/4 final, həm də yarımfinal seriyaları 2 qələbəyə qədər davam edəcək.

Final seriyasında isə ən tez 3 qələbə qazanacaq klub Azərbaycan Basketbol Liqasının çempionu olacaq.

AFFA Hakimlər Komitəsinin sədri Rəhim Həsənov Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasının 19-cu turundakı mübahisəli epizodlara şərh verib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, komitə sədri ənənəyə uyğun olaraq, 19-cu turun oyunlarında qeydə alınmış mübahisəli epizodlarla bağlı fikirlərini bildirib.

Mütəxəssis bu barədə AFFA-nın mətbuat xidmətinə açıqlama verib. Rəhim Həsənov ümumilikdə 4 matçda qeydə alınmış epizodlarla bağlı fikirlərini bölüşüb.

Mütəxəssis referi Kamal Umudlunun “Şamaxı” – “Qarabağ” görüşündə qonaqların futbolçusu Bəhlul Mustafazadəyə sarı vərəqə göstərməli olduğunu bildirib.

AFFA Hakimlər Komitəsinin sədrinin 19-cu turun oyunlarındakı mübahisəli epizodları təhlil etdiyi həmin videonu təqdim edirik:

Manuel Locatelli will front the media on the eve of Juventus’ showdown with Inter, stepping in for coach Luciano Spalletti at the pre-match press conference.

According to Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, The Bianconeri captain is set to address journalists ahead of the highly anticipated clash, taking on media duties in place of his manager.

The decision is understood to be part of Juventus’ internal communication strategy, allowing Spalletti to focus fully on preparations for one of the most important fixtures of the season.

Locatelli to speak to the press for Juventus to ease pressure on Spalletti

With tensions high and the spotlight firmly on the tactical battle, the club have opted to shield their coach from the traditional pre-match obligations.

Locatelli, as club captain and a key figure in the dressing room, will instead outline Juventus’ mindset and expectations heading into the encounter.

The move underlines the midfielder’s leadership role within the squad, as Juve look to make a statement in a crucial match that could have significant implications in the Serie A title race.

Benjamin Pavard’s future remains uncertain after a difficult spell on loan at Marseille, casting doubt over whether the French club will make his move permanent.

The defender joined Marseille last summer on a loan deal that includes a €15m option to buy, a clause Inter had expected would likely be triggered.

However, Pavard has struggled to convince in Ligue 1 and has reportedly come under increasing criticism from supporters, as per reports from the Corriere dello Sport.

De Zerbi departure offers Inter one last chance to cash in on Pavard

The recent managerial change could yet offer the Frenchman a fresh opportunity to revive his season, but if his performances do not improve, Marseille may decide against activating the purchase option.

Roberto De Zerbi was removed from his post as head coach and a breath of fresh air could be just what the former Bayern defender needs.

However, if Marseille choose not to activate their option, Pavard would return to Inter in the summer – although not necessarily for long.

The Nerazzurri are not believed to have plans to reintegrate him into the squad, meaning a new solution would have to be found.

Inter could also be forced to reassess their valuation of the player if they seek a permanent transfer elsewhere. Sporting director Piero Ausilio would then be tasked with finding a buyer and resolving the situation ahead of the new campaign.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Charlie Cresswell during the summer transfer window.

The 23-year-old defender has done quite well for Toulouse, and a report from SportsBoom claims that Liverpool could offer €30 million for him in the summer. It is no secret that Liverpool need a quality central defender. The England youth International could be a very useful acquisition for them.

He has shown his quality in Ligue 1, and he has the physicality and technical attributes for English football as well. He has been consistently linked to Premier League clubs in recent months. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool can win the race for his signature.

Ibrahima Konate will be a free agent at the end of the season, and Liverpool need to fill the void left by him.

Similarly, Chelsea need more defensive depth as well. They are looking to get rid of players like Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile. Cresswell could prove an excellent addition and an upgrade over some of their current options. The opportunity to join the London club could be quite exciting for the young defender. It would be a major step in his career, and he would get to play for one of the world’s biggest clubs.

Meanwhile, Cristian Romero has been linked with a move away from Tottenham. They will need to replace him properly, and it is no surprise that they are looking at the 23-year-old. It will be interesting to see if they can beat Liverpool and Chelsea to his signature.

The young defender should look to join a club where he will be a key player. He will not want to sit on the bench at a big club. Any club hoping to sign him might need to provide him with assurances of game time.

The post Report: Liverpool ready to bid €30m for Chelsea & Tottenham Ligue 1 target appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal and Real Madrid are interested in signing the Borussia Dortmund left-back Daniel Svensson. 

According to a report from Fichajes, the two clubs hope to sign the 23-year-old at the end of the season and would have to pay €30 million to complete the deal.

Svensson has shown his quality in Germany, and he has the technical attributes to do well in England and Spain as well. The player is likely to be attracted if clubs like Real Madrid or Arsenal come calling in the summer. It will be interesting to see if they are willing to pay the asking price for him.

There is no doubt that both of the financial muscle to afford him. He could be a long-term acquisition for them. Real Madrid need more depth in the left-back department, and the Swedish defender is likely to get ample opportunities if he can adapt to Spanish football quickly.

However, Arsenal are well stocked in the defensive unit. The 23-year-old might not be a guaranteed starter at the north London club. He should look to join a club where there is a prominent role for him in the starting lineup. Sitting on the bench at a pea club would be detrimental to his development.

It remains to be seen how the situation develops. The asking price is reasonable for a player of his quality, and Svensson could justify the investment in future. He will look to prove himself at the highest level, and he will certainly hope that either of the two clubs can agree on a deal with the German outfit in the summer.

Both clubs have done well to groom young players in the past, and they could help him fulfil his potential.

The post Arsenal and Real Madrid enter transfer tug-of-war for €30m Bundesliga ace appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing the Nottingham Forest attacker Omari Hutchinson.

The 22-year-old has been outstanding for Nottingham Forest since joining the club, and the two Premier League clubs are monitoring his situation. It will be interesting to see if they follow up on their interest with an offer to sign him at the end of the season.

As per Sportsboom, he could cost around £55-60 million. Beyond his strong performances, his homegrown status makes him an attractive option for both clubs. Hutchinson came through the Academy at both Arsenal and Chelsea, and it will be interesting to see whether he is willing to return to his former clubs.

Arsenal need more depth on the flanks. Their summer signings (Eberechi Ezi and Noni Madueke) have not lived up to expectations, and they need to invest in a winger in the summer. It will be interesting to see if they can sign Hutchinson.

Similarly, Chelsea could use more quality in the attacking unit. Both clubs have the financial muscle to pay the asking price, and it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds. Nottingham Forest are currently fighting for survival and are unlikely to retain key players if they are relegated to the Championship. Arsenal and Chelsea will certainly look to explore the situation if it comes to that.

The opportunity to play for Arsenal or Chelsea will be exciting for the young attacker. It would be a major step up in his career, and he would get to test myself at the highest level.

The asking price is quite high, and the two clubs will probably hope to negotiate a more reasonable deal if they decide to make a move for him in the summer.

The post Report: Arsenal looking to bring 22-year-old back to the club amid Chelsea interest appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea are hoping to sign the Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

According to a report from Fichajes, Chelsea are working to finalise an offer for the Brazilian midfielder. They believe that he could be the ideal acquisition for them in the summer.

They need someone who can dictate the tempo of the game and help out with the defence. The South American would be the ideal acquisition. He has been a reliable performer for Newcastle since joining the club, and this could be the right time for him to take on a new challenge.

The report claims that the player’s representatives are open to exploring a change of scenery. He has a contract with Newcastle until 2028, and they could be under pressure to sell him at the end of the season. The player is likely to cost around €75 million, and Chelsea are prepared to pay.

They need quality players like him if they want to fight for major trophies. The Brazilian is not just a quality midfielder, he is also a leader at Newcastle. His leadership qualities could prove to be invaluable for Chelsea.

His departure would be a major blow for Newcastle, but they are unlikely to be able to force the player to stay against his wishes. If Chelsea can convince him to join the club, Newcastle will have to reluctantly accept his departure.

The Brazilian has been an invaluable asset for Newcastle, but he needs to be fighting for major trophies at this stage of his career. Moving to Chelsea could allow him to push for the league title or the UEFA Champions League in future. It could be the ideal step up in his career right now.

The post Chelsea working to sign 28-year-old South American star who will cost €75m appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in signing Aleksandar Stankovic from Club Brugge. 

The 20-year-old midfielder has impressed at the Belgian club and has attracted the attention of Premier League clubs. According to a report from TEAMtalk, the Premier League clubs have been tracking the 20-year-old closely, and they could look to make a move for him in the summer.

“Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and United have been regular visitors to see Stankovic,” a source revealed to TEAMtalk. “He is a real class act. Not dissimilar to a young Declan Rice – that’s the comparison for me.

“You can see he’s inherited his class from his father. This kid is a major talent.”

It will be interesting to see which of the English clubs decide to act on their interest with an official proposal in the summer. Arsenal are well stocked in the middle of the park, but the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs could certainly use more depth in the middle of the park. The 20-year-old will add control, composure, and defensive steel in the middle.

Stankovic is quite young, and he will only improve with coaching and experience. He could develop into a top-class player with the right guidance. It remains to be seen where he ends up. He will look to compete at the highest level, and the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham could provide him with the platform.

He should look to join a club that offers regular opportunities and a prominent role on the team.

It is fair to assume that the English clubs have the financial resources to convince Club Brugge, and the player is unlikely to need much convincing either. It remains to be seen how the situation unfolds.

The post Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea join intense pursuit for “major talent” appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba has been linked with a move away from the club in recent months.

According to Fichajes, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle are keen on the 22-year-old central midfielder.

The African player is highly rated in the Premier League and has a bright future. He could develop into a top-class player with the right guidance. It remains to be seen whether the Premier League clubs can get the deal done.

He is likely to cost a lot of money, and the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham will have to break the Bank for him. Chelsea need more depth in the middle of the park if they want to compete for major trophies. The Brighton star could be the ideal acquisition. He has proven his quality in the Premier League, and he will only improve with coaching and experience. He has all the tools to develop into a future star.

Meanwhile, Tottenham need more control, composure, and defensive cover in the middle of the park. The Cameroon International could be ideal for them.

Newcastle are also monitoring his situation. They are looking to build a formidable team for the future and hope to fight for major trophies. The young African midfielder could be an exceptional acquisition for them. He could form a solid partnership with Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.

It will be interesting to see where the midfielder ends up.

Brighton will not want to lose him easily, and they are likely to demand a premium. The report claims that the Premier League club will not sanction his departure for below £100 million. It remains to be seen whether any club is willing to pay up.

The post £100m star emerges as midfield target for Chelsea and Tottenham appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in the Barcelona attacker Raphinha. 

The 29-year-old has been one of the best players in the world since joining, with 18 goal contributions this season. According to Fichajes, Arsenal have long admired the player and are prepared to reignite their interest in the attacker. Mikel Arteta has tried to sign the player in the past.

However, Barcelona does not plan to lose him anytime soon. They will only sanction his departure if his €1 billion release clause is paid. The report further claims that he is likely to be the club’s captain next season. It remains to be seen how the situation develops. Arsenal need more quality and depth on the flanks. They need someone who can create opportunities in the final third and add unpredictability to the attack.

They signed players like Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, but they have not lived up to expectations. Raphinha would be a definite upgrade on the two players. However, the deal is highly unlikely. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal decide to move on to other options now.

The player is reportedly happy and content at Barcelona and has no desire to leave the club. It seems extremely unlikely that our son will be able to convince the Spanish club and the player anytime soon.

There is no doubt that the 29-year-old would have been an exceptional acquisition for the Gunners. He previously played in the Premier League with Leeds United and could’ve made an immediate impact.

Arsenal are pushing for the league title this season, and it remains to be seen whether they can go all the way. Regardless, they need more depth in the attacking unit in the summer.

The post Reort: Arsenal very keen on signing 18-G/A Brazilian star Arteta wanted in the past appeared first on CaughtOffside.

While the January transfer window might have only slammed shut less than a fortnight ago, plenty of the Premier League’s new recruit have certainly hit the ground running. With many of England’s elite once again breaking the bank, plenty of the biggest name arrivals have made quite the immediate impact at their respective new homes. […]

The post January’s attacking superstars who have made an immediate impact at their new clubs appeared first on Soccer News.

The post January’s attacking superstars who have made an immediate impact at their new clubs appeared first on Soccer News.

Any consumer electronic that features DRAM will get expensive to the point that its affordability will be out of your range. Soon, 8GB RAM configurations will become common, but here’s something you don’t see every day. The Acer Aspire 14 AI, a 14-inch Windows 11 notebook that’s equipped with 16GB RAM and up to a 1TB SSD, is available for as low as $459.99. How? Well, Amazon is giving you an incredible opportunity to own a decent portable computer, but you’ll have to hurry because these deals don’t stay active for long. The Acer Aspire 14 AI is also marketed […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/acer-aspire-14-ai-decent-specifications-available-for-459-99-on-amazon/

The post Bitcoin Shorts Surge as Funding Turns Deeply Negative—Is a Short Squeeze Coming? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The Bitcoin price is yet again facing significant upward pressure as the token has plunged below $66,000 from an intraday high of over $68,400. Observing the current trade dynamics, it appears that the star crypto is entering a high-tension phase as traders are now expecting the price to plunge. The short bets are increasing notably and have reached a level that usually results in sharp volatility. This suggests the BTC price may get exposed to more sell pressure or a sudden short squeeze may catch bears off-guard. 

With Bitcoin hovering near key technical levels, the imbalance between rising short interest and cooling spot momentum is creating a fragile setup. The question now is whether this wave of bearish bets will push BTC lower or fuel the next breakout.

Bitcoin Short Positioning Hits Extreme Levels

Recent derivatives data from Santiment show a clear spike in short exposure, with funding rates slipping deeply into negative territory. Negative funding means short traders are paying longs to keep their positions open, a sign that bearish sentiment has become crowded.

When funding stays mildly negative, it often reflects healthy hedging. But when it turns sharply negative, it suggests positioning is becoming one-sided. Markets tend to punish extreme consensus. If too many traders lean in the same direction, even a small upward move can trigger forced liquidations, accelerating the price higher in a short squeeze.

At the same time, open interest remains elevated, indicating that leverage is still active in the system. High open interest combined with negative funding creates a volatility setup, price does not stay compressed for long under these conditions.

The key now is whether spot demand can absorb selling pressure. If buyers defend support levels, the imbalance in shorts could fuel a rapid breakout. If support breaks, however, the crowded short trade may continue to build, reinforcing downside momentum.

Key Levels That Could Trigger the Next Move

Bitcoin is compressing between clear technical boundaries, and with funding deeply negative, these levels now carry even more weight.

Immediate Resistance: $70,000–$72,000

This zone has capped recent recovery attempts. A strong daily close above $72,000 with expanding spot volume could trigger a short squeeze. If that happens, liquidation clusters sit near $75,500, followed by $78,000. A squeeze extension could target the $82,000–$85,000 liquidity pocket, where prior distribution occurred.

Immediate Support: $59,000 – $60,000

This is the current pivot zone. A decisive breakdown below $59,000 on rising volume would invalidate squeeze expectations in the short term. In that case, downside targets sit at $54,000, followed by the major demand block around $50,000–$52,000.

Open interest remains elevated, meaning leverage is still active. If price breaks either boundary with conviction, volatility could expand quickly. For traders, the setup is clear: above $72K favors squeeze dynamics; below $59K shifts the structure toward a deeper correction.

What’s Next for Bitcoin Price as Shorts Crowd the Market?

Bitcoin price is sitting at a leverage-heavy turning point. Deeply negative funding shows that traders are leaning aggressively short, but extreme positioning alone does not guarantee a squeeze. It simply increases the probability of volatility.

If the BTC price reclaims $72,000 with strong spot demand, the imbalance in shorts could fuel a move toward $75,500 and potentially $78,000. However, without real buying pressure, rallies may continue to fade. On the downside, losing $59,000 would confirm that sellers remain in control, opening the door to $54,000 and possibly the $50,000–$52,000 demand zone.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Bayer Leverkusen have reached an agreement to sign Aleksa Damjanovic from Red Star Belgrade. A verbal deal is in place, and it will see the 17-year-old striker leave the 1991 European Cup winners to join the Bundesliga side at the end of the season. Damjanovic is a product of the Red […]

The post Bayer Leverkusen reach agreement for teenage striker Aleksa Damjanovic appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Bayer Leverkusen reach agreement for teenage striker Aleksa Damjanovic appeared first on Soccer News.

It's Brody King's wrestling world at the moment, as the AEW star continues to draw attention for the anti-ICE chants seemingly done in his honor on "AEW Dynamite" last week, chants that led to speculation regarding his absence from "Dynamite" this week. But in between all the controversy, King has a massive opportunity this weekend at "Grand Slam: Australia," where he'll challenge MJF for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. 

With the spotlight on him, and the momentum in King's favor after his resounding defeat of MJF to secure the title shot, many are wondering if AEW could pull the trigger and make King the champion. That would be a change of plans, however, as during a Fightful Select Answers Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp revealed that AEW's original direction did not call for King to unseat MJF this weekend. 

At the same time, Sapp noted that AEW hadn't factored the amount of buzz King would receive in the last week, and believes that a King victory was now possible. Ultimately though, he expects that its more likely that MJF retains the championship, based on long-term plans AEW reportedly has for the title.

While King's momentum is at a fever pitch, he has been far from the only AEW star chasing the AEW World Title over the last month, with "Hangman" Adam Page, Andrade El Idolo, Kenny Omega, and Swerve Strickland all also vying for the top prize. Page and Andrade will also be in Australia for "Grand Slam," with the winner receiving a title shot against either King or MJF at AEW Revolution, while Omega and Strickland will face each other in singles action on "Dynamite" next Wednesday in Sacramento.

Read more: AEW Stars: Meet Their Spouses & Partners

Don't miss any of the major wrestling headlines. Sign up to our free newsletter for the biggest stories, sent straight to your inbox. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google.

Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Chris Unger via Getty Images

After the UFC cut heavyweight Jailton Almeida following a second uninspired loss, should we see this as a sign that patience for underperforming fighters is quickly running out in the world’s top MMA promotion? Also, did BKFC just deliver the best combat sports offering of the past weekend, and if so, what does that tell us?

All this and more in this weekend’s mailbag. To ask a question of your own, hit up @BenFowlkesMMA on X or @Ben_Fowlkes on Threads.

@GeorgeWilb77062: Was there any funky line movement reported leading up to Jailton Almeida’s final UFC fight? Oh, and has anyone ever pointed to the canvas floor, declaring before the world to stand their ground, then not throw a single offensive strike?

That was honestly one of the most frustrating heavyweight fights of the modern era. It was all the more frustrating because, when he actually wants to, it seems like Jailton Almeida can actually fight. It’s just that he doesn’t seem to want to anymore. Instead he wants to stand around and make faces like he’s so bored of all this, which in turn makes us pretty bored watching him.

The UFC apparently agrees, because he’s already been cut from the roster. I hope people realize how drastic a move that is. For the longest time, the UFC policy seemed to be to hold onto heavyweights for as long as possible. An underperforming bantamweight might get cut right away, but heavyweights got to stick around and stink up the joint for years. Now, after two consecutive losses, the UFC goes and cuts a heavyweight who was still ranked in the top 10. (Almeida is actually still listed at No. 8 on the UFC website.) That’s wild!

You have to do really, really badly to get cut as a ranked heavyweight in today’s UFC. The division is so thin as it is. Tai Tuivasa has lost six in a row only just now fell out of the top 15. Cutting Almeida seems like a signal that the UFC is less patient than ever with guys who put on boring fights and lose anyway. Whether or not you believe that’s how talent should be evaluated, that’s now the reality. Fighters must adjust accordingly.

@ewillcock: Looks like BKFC had a good night of business. I really enjoyed watching the fights on YouTube for FREE.

Maybe it was the nostalgic main event, but i wondered if you have any thoughts on the card, and what's next for the promotion?

I spent Saturday night flipping back and forth across three different sports broadcasts: UFC Fight Night on Paramont+, BKFC’s Knucklemania event on YouTube, and Olympics coverage on Peacock.

Of those, BKFC definitely delivered the most entertainment and excitement with the least filler. (I get that Olympics broadcasts are aimed at a general audience, but come on, do I really have to watch a segment about some dude’s relationship with his grandmother before I can see him jump his snowboard off a big, icy ramp?) I think there’s absolutely a market for what BKFC is doing. I also think the big challenge is going to be figuring out how to consistently make money while playing to an audience that is essentially a niche within a niche.

Going live on YouTube at this point is smart, though. Too many fight promotions, while still scratching and clawing for market share, make the mistake of putting stuff behind a paywall in exchange for a relatively small and short-term cash infusion. BKFC needs to grow its audience. It needs to give people a chance to see what it’s doing and get excited about it. And there was a lot to get excited about at Saturday’s show.

@justlikelasagna: What does it say about the community of MMA fans (not all of them, just the vocal ones) that Tom Aspinall felt it necessary enough to show images of him getting eye surgery to prove that he really did f*** up his eye?

Some segment of MMA fans will never miss a chance to accuse an MMA fighter of being a coward. They must really enjoy it. They see this as a sport populated by people who are scared to fight and looking for any way to avoid it. They never seem to ask themselves why such people would seek out professional fighting as a vocation. They just adopt this as their viewpoint and then view everything through that lens.

I think it’s because that’s the thing that would make the most sense to them. Most people would be scared to get in a cage and fight a highly trained opponent. Most people should be. It’s a scary thing. But simply because they might be inclined to fake an injury in order to avoid it, it doesn’t mean everyone else would. Some people really are built different. And anyone who becomes UFC heavyweight champion is probably one of those people.

But honestly, is it really so hard to believe Tom Aspinall’s eyes were messed up? We all saw Ciryl Gane go knuckle-deep into both eyes. He went full Three Stooges on this man. Do people have a hard time imagining that this might do serious and lasting damage to one of the most delicate organs in the human body? Because I do not. If anything, I’m surprised we don’t see more ongoing eye issues from the many, many eye pokes in this sport.

@MMAJunkieGeorge: You think the UFC can benefit from an annual 8 man/woman grand prix to spice up divisions? Say Kayla Harrison beat Nunes and retired, let's crown a new champ via GP.

Maybe that'll shake things up in regards to who is next, interims, BMFs, doghouse (Arman). Two mil to the winner.

George, you know I love a tournament. Those old PRIDE Grand Prix events? That was some of the best MMA of the 2000s. But I also know how much the UFC hates tournaments, and not without reason. Remember when the flyweight division was brand new and the UFC did a modest four-man tournament to crown its inaugural champion? Even that managed to be a pain in the butt before it was over.

But some of these divisions where there’s really not much going on as it is? There’s really no reason not to do a tournament. Sure, some alternate will probably swoop in and win it while fighting all of one time in the final, but so what? A tournament is the best and easiest way to take a crop of fighters we don’t really know or care about and turn them (or at least one of them) into something memorable.

@logsupacoowacky: What's the over/under on how many of the eleven title holders will fight between now and the White House card?

There’s only one numbered UFC event between now and mid-June that’s still without a headliner. That’s UFC 327 in Miami on April 11, and so far the announced lineup for that one looks like a pretty good UFC Fight Night event — but nothing special. I think we’ll probably see one title fight added to that card somewhat soon.

But even then it would mean that the first half of 2026 would see a grand total of three UFC title fights (unless you include the BMF title, which I don’t). Of those three, one was an interim title fight and another was a rematch no one asked for that ended up being basically a rerun of the first fight. So in other words, UFC 327 is the one chance to have a true, fresh title fight prior to the White House event.

That leaves an awful lot of UFC titles that could be defended on that White House card. Maybe the UFC really is planning to deliver the seven or eight title fights Donald Trump seems to be expecting. If so, that could be a tricky broadcast (if you have seven or eight fights that could either last 30 seconds or 30 minutes, it’s tough to plan for). It would probably also mean that the few months following that event would be as light on title fights as the months leading up to it.

@Screenplaya: Does the UFC provide supplements to fighters, as Derrick Lewis said? Do they contain banned substances, as Derrick Lewis might've intimated? And, since we have weight classes to ensure fighters fight people their size, why is weight-cutting allowed?

When UFC exec Jeff Novitzky pushed back on Derrick Lewis’ claim that the UFC gave him peptides, it was the peptides part he disputed — not the claim that the UFC might be providing fighters with supplements. That seems a little weird to me. How would you feel if you found out that the UFC was giving your opponent some good stuff to help his training but hadn’t offered any to you? Because I could see not loving that.

As for weight-cutting, how do you stop it? Stuff like hydration tests don’t really work, at least not unless you’re willing to scratch a bunch of your own fights when people inevitably fail. You could try to do what California has experimented with and just tell fighters which division they need to compete in, but that could get heavy-handed in a hurry. I agree that it’s actually insane to have fighters deplete themselves so drastically the day before the competition, all just to fight someone who’s basically the same size, but I also don’t know how to make them stop. So far, neither does anyone else.

@LCombatsports: In an environment where combat sports media jobs are extremely hard to come by, what would you recommend anyone wanting to increase interest and engagement in one's work? Perhaps to be able to make some money in this field.

Don’t pin your hopes on someone offering you a job in MMA media. Don’t sit around waiting for an opening somewhere. There aren’t many, and with the combination of AI, declining ad revenue, and general uncertainty about how to take internet content and turn it into money, the environment will probably only get tougher.

I think the best approach is creating your own thing, whether it’s a podcast or a Substack or a social media presence or (and I realize this sounds dreadfully old school) a website. Something you control, where you can put up the content that you like, and then build an audience from there. Maybe someone sees it and offers you a job. Maybe you gradually monetize it. But either way, you own it and no one can take it away from you with a round of sudden layoffs.

Indiana football remains in the mix for one of the top wide receivers in the country in the class of 2027, according to On3/Rivals.

Monshun Sales, who attends Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, announced a final four of Indiana, Ohio State, Alabama and Miami on Wednesday afternoon. It’s the Hoosiers and the three teams they beat in the postseason to win the national championship.

Sales is a 5-star prospect who ranks in as the second highest-rated wide receiver and eighth highest-rated prospect overall in the class of 2027 in the Rivals Industry Ranking. He holds offers from other top programs including Michigan, Oregon, Notre Dame and LSU, among others.

Wide receivers have enjoyed success in Indiana’s offense, where position coach Mike Shanahan doubles as coordinator and play caller, for each of Curt Cignetti’s first two seasons leading the program. Both Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. project as NFL Draft picks this spring while Charlie Becker emerged as a rising star during the Hoosiers’ run through the regular season. Additionally, Cooper Jr. starred at Lawrence North like Sales before committing to Indiana.

Sales would be the first 5-star to commit to Indiana in program history. As a star at a premier position and an in-state recruit, he’d be a huge get for the Hoosiers in 2027.

Atlético Madrid is STEAMROLLING Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.

And there’s still the entire second half ahead at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

There was even a bizarre own goal. 

The Colchonero opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

Cubarsí’s back pass to Joan García turned into a goal after the Barça goalkeeper was “fooled” by the bounce of the ball.

Check out the play below and give your opinion!

Joan García had made a great save from Giuliano Simeone’s attempt just two minutes earlier.

Ruthless, Atleti got their second in the 14th minute with Griezmann. A series of passes and a perfect finish from the Frenchman. 

The third only didn’t come in the 23rd minute thanks to Koundé.

But it came on a perfect counterattack.

Unable to count on the injured Raphinha, Hansi Flick took off the booked Casadó to bring on Lewandowski in the 37th minute.

An attempt that didn’t have the immediate effect he’d hoped for.

Barça then saw Julián Álvarez end his drought—he hadn’t scored yet in 2026—after finishing off another lethal attack in the 47th minute. 

The return leg will only be on March 3rd, with Barça as the home team.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Terrible news, everyone. Fiorentina’s back in action this weekend. Even worse, Serie A’s most disappointing side takes on Como, a team that’s already won twice in Florence this year, most recently in the Coppa Italia. The Lariani, of course, have gone from strength to strength, knocking Napoli out of the Coppa on penalties on Tuesday. Perhaps the Viola can ambush their high flying hosts, who might be tired out from their midweek exertions, but let’s be real: Como’s miles ahead and is the obvious favorite.

The match will be played on Saturday, 14 February 2026, at 14:00 GMT/9:00 AM EST at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinagaglia in Como. The forecast calls for a grey day on the banks of the lake with the chance of some rain, which perfectly suits my feelings going into this one. As a reminder, Fiorentina’s fans aren’t allowed to travel for Serie A games for the rest of the year after their idiotic clash with AS Roma fans on a highway outside Turin.

Three things to watch for

1. Intensity, urgency, all that jazz

Every cliche applies to Fiorentina right now. There aren’t leaders, there’s no character, the mentality is awful. I quantified it with a look at late-game performance earlier this week but you don’t need numbers to see that something fundamental is broken at this club. Whether that’s the deaths of Joe Barone and Rocco Commisso in quick succession or the organizational turmoil in upper management positions, things aren’t right and that hasn’t trickled down to the players so much as inundated them.

Fiorentina has shown glimpses of competence, of course. The first half against Como was excellent, for example, despite a wackily-rotated squad. The second half against Torino last time out was very good until the turtling began. Everything could and must improve, of course, but that’s not possible at this juncture. Cutting out the boneheaded mistakes would go a long way to staying in Serie A, though. If the Viola can just not dribble urine down their own legs, they’ve got a reasonable chance of getting something from this.

2. Set piece defense, as per usual

Fiorentina has gone ahead in both meetings with Como this year and in both, Como equalized through a set piece goal. I’m as sick of writing about this topic as you are of reading it but the fact remains that Fiorentina is almost uniquely catastrophic at defending set pieces; before fbref lost its data, the Viola had conceded more chances from them than any team in Serie A, and I haven’t seen anything that would change that. The only silver lining is that for Como to equalize from another corner or free kick would mean that at least Fiorentina will have scored again, only to unravel as per.

3. What fresh idiocy Fiorentina will unveil

One thing that’s been fun* about this year’s Fiorentina is the variety of errors that every player commits. We’ve seen defenders make inexcusable passes out the back, fluff their clearances, or stare at forwards running past them without moving. We’ve seen midfielders dribble into culs-de-sac of their own construction, bork 5-yard passes, and stand astonished in the center circle rather than track back. The forwards have missed goals in increasingly creative ways, dribbled into touch, and wandered off the pitch to enjoy a nice bowl of carabaccia.

Variety is the spice of life and this is a very spicy team indeed. If you, like me, have pretty much given up hope for this incredible collection of bozos to actually do their jobs for 90 minutes, the only entertainment they can offer you is a series of mistakes that deserve the Boots Randolph treatment. If we’re stuck on this sinking ship, all we can do is fire up the kazoos and provide a morbidly raucous chorus before the waves close over our heads.

*this has not actually been fun at all

Possible lineups

Ted’s Memorial Blind Guess Department

Everyone from the experts to the bookies to the bettors predicts Como to win and that’s the correct opinion. After all, Serie A’s nouveau-est riche side is in the hunt for a Champions League place and, even if that’s probably beyond it, Europe beckons any team in 6th at this stage of the season. The visitors are, of course, complete and utter ass. Their only advantage is a few extra days of rest and that’s not nearly enough to tip the scales.

Due to the curse that is TMBGD, though, I guess I’ll call it a 1-2 win for the visitors. The Moose has shown signs of life lately and I like his odds to get in behind the Como defense a couple of times; he’ll need to finish one of those chances, of course, but we’re in a safe space here so let’s assume he does. Como will pull one back via Paz after a scramble at a free kick, setting the stage for a late winner on the break from Marco Brescianini as the hosts pour bodies forward. Como’s going to dominate this game by every statistical and emotional metric but hey, why not pretend like Fiorentina has a chance? We lose nothing by hoping.

Forza Viola!

Don't look now, but Nikola Jokic is back in the picture.

An afterthought in January when he missed 16 games with a left ankle sprain, the Serbian big man has risen to second on the NBA MVP Odds board thanks to an impressive seven-game stretch in which he has averaged 24.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 9.4 assists per game. His strong play has Denver back in the thick of the playoff hunt and has Jokic within striking distance of his fourth most valuable player trophy.

Jokic's reemergence has coincided with an injury to reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has seen his odds move from -380 to -210 while he deals with an abdominal strain that is likely to sideline him for at least five games. 

Let's take a look at the latest NBA MVP odds below.

🏀2026 NBA MVP odds

Team		Movement
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	<<-210>>	▼
Nikola Jokic	<<+320>>	▲
Cade Cunningham	<<+1400>>	▼
Luka Doncic	<<+800>>	▼
Jaylen Brown	<<+3300>>	▼
Victor Wembanyama	<<+5000>>	▲
Anthony Edwards	<<+15000>>	▼
Jalen Brunson	<<+25000>>	▼
Tyrese Maxey	<<+25000>>	▼
Donovan Mitchell	<<+30000>>	▼

Our friends at bet365 have boosted Nickola Jokic's NBA MVP odds from +320 to +375. Act now while the value lasts.

NBA MVP prediction

With voters increasingly sensitive to both team success and two-way impact, SGA has the cleanest path to an MVP narrative this season. He's the best player on a top-two team in the West, elite efficiency from all three levels, and offers real defensive bite at the point of attack. His game scales without drama—he can dominate in isolation or flow within movement-heavy actions, and he gets to the line a ton without forcing bad shots. If Oklahoma City’s depth keeps their net ratings gaudy when he sits, while his on/off still pops, he’ll own the “drives winning” storyline that tends to decide close MVP races.

Doncic will put up video-game numbers again, yet the bar for heliocentric guards keeps rising, and defensive skepticism plus any midseason usage management could ding his case. 

By contrast, SGA’s steadiness, durability, and two-way credibility give him multiple avenues to “win” the discourse even if raw counting stats are a tick lower—especially if the Thunder post the league’s best record.

Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Stake: 2 units

📈 NBA odds over time

This year's MVP chase has been a heavyweight melee. Follow along all season as we update this graphic with contenders rising and falling. 

💰2026 NBA MVP opening odds

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +150
• Nikola Jokic +350
• Luka Doncic +380
• Giannis Antetokounmpo +1200
• Victor Wembanyama +1200
• Anthony Edwards +2500
• Kevin Durant +5000
• Cade Cunningham +6000
• Jalen Brunson +8000
• Donovan Mitchell +10000
• Paolo Banchero +10000
• Trae Young +15000

NBA MVP betting data

The following data is courtesy of BetMGM.

• Highest ticket percentage: Victor Wembanyama 17.6%
• Highest handle percentage: Luka Doncic 21.8%
• Biggest liability:  Victor Wembanyama

Popular NBA futures odds

• NBA championship odds
• NBA Rookie of the Year odds
• NBA Most Improved Player odds
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds
• NBA Coach of the Year odds
• NBA Clutch Player of the Year odds

How is the NBA MVP decided?

The MVP award is one of the most prestigious honors in professional basketball—and one of the most debated. But how is the MVP actually chosen?

🗳️ MVP Voting Process

The MVP is determined by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters from the U.S. and Canada, as well as a fan vote that counts as one ballot. Each voter selects five players, ranked from first to fifth place. The point system is as follows:

• 1st place vote: 10 points
• 2nd place: 7 points
• 3rd place: 5 points
• 4th place: 3 points
• 5th place: 1 point

The player with the highest total point tally at the end of voting is crowned NBA MVP.

📊 What Do Voters Consider?

While there's no official checklist, MVP voters typically weigh several key factors:

• Individual statistics: Points, assists, rebounds, efficiency, advanced metrics like PER or Win Shares
• Team success: MVPs are rarely chosen from losing teams and Top 3 seeds are the norm
• Narrative and storyline: Voters often reward players overcoming adversity or carrying a franchise
• Consistency and availability: Games played, durability, and clutch performance matter

👀 Voter Biases and Trends

Some unofficial trends also influence MVP outcomes:

• “Voter fatigue”: Players who've already won may need to outperform their own past seasons to win again
• New blood bias: Voters sometimes prefer rising stars over repeat winners
• Position favoritism: Guards and forwards tend to dominate MVP voting, although that trend has been changing in recent years

📜NBA MVP betting history

A quick look at recent NBA MVPs and their opening odds.

Season	Player	Opening Odds	Team
2024-25	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	+400	Oklahoma City Thunder
2023-24	Nikola Jokic	+450	Denver Nuggets
2022-23	Joel Embiid	+600	Philadelphia 76ers
2021-22	Nikola Jokic	+1600	Denver Nuggets
2020-21	Nikola Jokic	+2500	Denver Nuggets
2019-20	Giannis Antetokounmpo	+210	Milwaukee Bucks
2018-19	Giannis Antetokounmpo	+475	Milwaukee Bucks
2017-18	James Harden	+1100	Houston Rockets
2016-17	Russell Westbrook	+200	Oklahoma City Thunder
2015-16	Stephen Curry	+650	Golden State Warriors
2014-15	Stephen Curry	+1600	Golden State Warriors

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Caleb Wilson, North Carolina men’s basketball’s superstar freshman forward, broke his left hand in a loss at Miami on Tuesday and will be out for a yet-to-be-determined period of time, the university announced on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Wilson suffered the injury in the first half of the 75-66 loss. X-rays taken during the game came back negative, which prompted him to return to the contest, but additional imaging that was done after the No. 13 Tar Heels returned to Chapel Hill, North Carolina revealed a fracture.

“The evaluation process is ongoing to determine the timetable for Wilson’s return,” North Carolina said in a statement.

Caleb Wilson out with fracture in left hand. pic.twitter.com/sI1zr4JG0A

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) February 12, 2026

REQUIRED READING: Bracketology projection for NCAA Tournament field has new No. 1 seed

Wilson has been one of the brightest stars in what has been widely hailed as one of the best freshmen classes in the sport’s recent history. The 6-foot-10 Atlanta native is averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game for North Carolina, which is 19-5 after a disappointing 2024-25 season in which it barely snuck into the NCAA Tournament field.

Wilson has been integral in that improvement. He has set North Carolina program records for scoring in double figures in each of his first 24 career games and for his 17 games with at least 20 points. He’s fourth in the ACC in scoring, third in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage (at 57.8%).

In a thrilling 71-68 win last Saturday over archrival Duke, he had a team-high 23 points and helped keep the Tar Heels’ offense afloat in a game in which it fell behind by as many as 13 points.

The former five-star recruit is widely projected as one of the top five picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Three of North Carolina’s seven remaining regular-season games come against teams ranked in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: No. 23 Louisville (on Feb. 23), No. 18 Clemson (March 3) and the rematch with No. 6 Duke (March 7), as well as a Feb. 17 game at an NC State team that’s receiving votes in the poll.

The Tar Heels are a No. 4 seed in the latest mock NCAA Tournament bracket from USA TODAY Sports.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caleb Wilson breaks hand, out indefinitely for UNC basketball

The countdown to Longhorns spring camp has begun which means it’s the perfect time to break down the roster. Today, it’s about the Longhorns I see making a major leap in 2026 and become household names. 

I’ve circled five players that I feel are set up for major success this season if they are able to put together strong spring camps:

WR Kaliq Lockett 

Sark loves playing his top line guys and that doesn't include Lockett(at least as of right now). That being said, I expect more rotation at the skill positions in 2026, both to stay healthy and because of the depth at RB and WR. Lockett factors in as likely the WR4 or 5 on the team, sitting behind either Cam Coleman or Ryan Wingo. I believe he’s capable of playing at either and the addition of Sterling Berkhalter makes me think he’ll likely fill in behind Wingo. Wherever he lines up, I believe he will make an impact when he’s on the field. 

Saving some of his best for last. Tough and gritty after taking a few big shots.

Kaliq Lockett the freshman on the other end ooo wee pic.twitter.com/5nEMaOgOS1https://t.co/vTPJbxbDC4

— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) December 31, 2025

TE Nick Townsend 

This is a player I’m very bullish on in 2026. I believe Townsend is not only capable of being the TE1 for Texas, but one of the best TEs in the SEC in 2026. He’s able to step into more of a receiving role in 2026 with the addition of Michael Masunas and Spencer Shannon, both elite blockers. I don’t think Townsend will match what Gunnar Helm did in 2024, but I don’t think it’s because he can’t. The room is just insanely talented and deep, but I believe Townsend is the most talented of the bunch and will explode in 2026. 

This block from Nick Townsend was one of a few really good showing from the true freshman, saw @CoachJeffBanks pumped from his play today

You better come correct because Townsend is coming with the smoke

This play had me screaming at the top of my lungs in DKR pic.twitter.com/dIhzKfbvd8

— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) September 7, 2025

DB Kade Phillips 

I believe there are very few players for Texas that will benefit more from Will Muschamp’s addition than Phillips. His man coverage ability is about as good as you will find and continues to build heading into his sophomore season. Phillips is a top tier playmaker in the secondary and I think he will be a difference maker for Texas this season. He's one of the most important players in the Muschamp defense. Muschamp always had elite CBs at Georgia(Lassiter, Everette, etc.). Having one side of the field shut down is a must and Phillips is more than capable of filling that role. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Phillips on an All-SEC team in 2026. 

we see you, Kade Phillips pic.twitter.com/u4QvVGBtPg

— Landon Holifield ✭ (@TheLandoShow) November 22, 2025

DB Xavier Filsaime 

Filsaime is someone that craves contact. That’s a must in the Will Muschamp defense and something I believe will allow Filsaime to thrive. Filsaime needs to slow down at tim but he’s a great talent that is capable of making a major leap in year three. I think the S room has three guys that need to step up and he’s one of them(McDonald, Williams Jr.). With Jonah Williams splitting time between baseball and football during the spring, Filsaime will need to be ready to play major snaps early in 2026. 

DL Maraad Watson 

I believe the DL rotation for Texas will be as strong as any in the country this season. Maraad Watson, heading into his second year as a Longhorn, figures to factor into that conversation consistently. Watson has remarkable ability for his size and I expect him to consistently be on the field in 2026. He seemingly needed a year for the “SEC strength” to come, but now I think he can be a force in this defense. He likely won’t be the top line player, but he can be a difference maker in the run and pass game this season. 

True underclassmen defensive players with double-digit snaps against Texas A&M last night:

Colin Simmons
Graceson Littleton
Kobe Black
Alex January
Maraad Watson
Ty'Anthony Smith
Lance Jackson
Kade Phillips
Xavier Filsaime

The future of the Texas defense pic.twitter.com/oRdxAkHaxY

— Evan Vieth (@EvanVieth) November 29, 2025

Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Townsend, Phillips highlight breakout candidates for Texas next season

Jared Verse wasted no time establishing himself as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year and led the league in total pressures (including playoffs) in 2024 before continuing to play at a high level last season.

He still has room for improvement, though. Verse wants to get even better, elevating his game to the elite level where Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett and the other top pass rushers live.

One way to get there? Train with them. Verse said on “The Pivot” podcast recently that Parsons invited him to train together in Dallas. Of course, Parsons is rehabbing a torn ACL, but he still wants to work with Verse and help him get better.

“I'm a student of the game now. I think I’ve got to get a lot smarter,” Verse said. “I was just talking to Micah two days ago. We were talking, he was like, ‘Bro, you are so fast, use your speed.’ Even Micah, he’s still recovering from his injury. He’s got a long way ahead of him. He said, ‘Come to Dallas.’ He trains in Dallas. He said, ‘Come to Dallas. Let’s work together.’ I’ve got to start working with these dudes who are at the level I want to get to. I haven’t spent enough time with Micah. I haven’t spent enough time with Will (Anderson). These dudes that dominate the league that I’m trying to get to that level. But they all work together. They’ll get and do workouts together. I’ve got to start getting into that.”

Verse has some untapped potential, something he’s well aware of. He wants to get better at finishing plays and turning pressures into sacks, something he improved upon this past season when he increased his sack total from 4.5 to 7.5.

Parsons and Garrett are still a tier above Verse, though, which is why he wants to pick their brains and learn how to clean up certain areas of his game.

Training with them can’t be any harder than working out with Aaron Donald, which Verse checked off his bucket list – or “never-doing-again” list – last summer before the season started.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Packers star Micah Parsons invited Jared Verse to train in Dallas

Feb. 12 (UPI) -- South Korean teen Gaon Choi scored a 90.25 to win gold Thursday in the Olympic halfpipe, denying Chloe Kim of a record third consecutive victory.

Choi, 17, received treatment after a nasty fall on her first of three runs in the competition in Livigno, Italy. She initially raised doubts whether she could continue, but rallied to overtake Kim with a stellar final run.

Her victory gave made her the first athlete from the Republic of Korea to win a gold medal in snow sports.

Kim posted an 88 on her first run and remained in the lead until the final round, when Choi posted a 90.25. She fell on each of her final two runs while trying to complete back-to-back double cork 1080s -- a trick with two somersaults and three rotations -- en route to a silver medal.

Japan's Mitsuki Ono, who scored an 85 on her first run, placed third. Americans Bea Kim (77) and Maddie Mastro (5.50) finished eighth and 12th, respectively.

Kim was denied in her quest to become the first female or male snowboarder to win gold at three consecutive Olympics. She also was attempting to tie Shaun White, who watched on Thursday at Livigno Snow Park, for the most gold medals (three) ever won by a snowboarder.

The 25-year-old American shrugged off the dislocated shoulder she sustained last month in training and started her initial run with a backside 720. She proceeded to land a switch backside air and double cork 1080, among other tricks, en route to her highest score.

Chloe Kim FLIES to FIRST place through the first run in the halfpipe final! pic.twitter.com/WarlCqfuQu— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2026

Japan's Ono (85) and Rise Kudo (77.5) were in second- and third-place, respectively, after the first run. Ono and Kudo remained in podium range after their second runs, with Kudo improving her score to 81.75. But Choi, who fell on her second run, saved her best performance for when it mattered most en route to shuffling the podium.

Spain's Queralt Castellet, who won silver in the halfpipe in 2022, placed 10th. Japan's Sena Tomita, who won bronze in 2022, placed ninth.

The men's snowboard halfpipe will be held at 1:30 p.m. EST Friday in Livigno. Jake Pates, Chase Josey and Alessandro Barbieri are the Americans set to compete in that event. Japan's Ruka Hirano and Australia's Scotty James, who earned gold and silver in the event in 2022, also are in the 12-man field.

Switzerland's Jan Scherrer, who won bronze in 2022 and sustained a concussion during training, did not participate in qualification for the event.

Cubs' Nico Hoerner trade rumor news shifts to contract idea originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Cubs signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract, and it changed the entire picture of their lineup.

Prior to that, it looked like Matt Shaw would start at third base with Nico Hoerner at second base.

Bregman is a third baseman, though, so something has to give.

Bregman will play third. Where does Shaw go? Does Hoerner get moved?

The free agent deal has put Hoerner in a number of trade rumors, even as he comes off the best season of his NHL career.

Now, though, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand thinks a contract extension could be in play rather than a trade.

"The Cubs extended Hoerner on a three-year, $35 million deal in March 2023, buying out his final two years of arbitration and his first year of free agency in the process," Feinsand wrote in a new article on Thursday. "The signing of Alex Bregman this winter shifted Matt Shaw into a utility role, potentially setting him up to take over for Hoerner a year from now, but Hoerner is a proven commodity coming off of his best season (6.2 bWAR in 156 games). The Cubs could look to extend Hoerner again, especially if they like the idea of Shaw moving around the diamond."

Hoerner could likely fetch something solid in a trade, potentially another pitcher. Shaw could also have his own trade value, given his youth and recent status as a high-ranking prospect.

Chicago could also stand pat, though, and find ways to use both Shaw and Hoerner. It's an option worth considering, especially given the way Hoerner seems to be appreciated in the clubhouse.

The Cubs likely don't have to rush here, and so it'll be fascinating to see what they decide in the end.

MLB analyst makes the case for the Tigers to extend Riley Greene originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Tigers fanbase has been treated to quite the rollercoaster of an offseason over the winter. The biggest question was whether the club was going to trade Tarik Skubal or not. 

So far, they have not, and an extension is still on the table, but now the focus is on the newest starting pitcher who joined the rotation, and that would be Framber Valdez. 

The two sides agreed on a three-year, $115 million contract, but he isn't the only new arm coming. The club also agreed to bring veteran Justin Verlander back on a one-year, $13 million deal.

MORE: Tigers' Reese Olson out for season amid Justin Verlander news

MLB analyst makes the case for the Tigers to extend Riley Greene

The starting rotation is now locked up for the 2026 season. If the group can avoid any injuries, this could be a dangerous starting rotation. 

With that set, the front office can focus on other things, like extending some of its younger talent. Riley Greene could be a prime extension candidate, and MLB.com's Mark Feinsand breaks down why. 

"Greene makes the list for a second straight season, and although his bWAR dipped from 5.4 to 2.2 in 2025, he set career highs with 36 home runs, 111 RBIs, and a .493 slugging percentage in 157 games last season. Greene will earn $5 million this year and is arbitration-eligible for two more seasons, making the 25-year-old a prime candidate for the Tigers to extend -- especially if they don't believe they will be re-signing Tarik Skubal next offseason."

Greene is coming off a monster season where he was a big part of the club's offense. And if he goes off again this upcoming season, it will only cost Detroit more money. 

It makes a ton of sense for Detroit to reach an extension with its rising slugger sooner rather than later.

More MLB news:

• Anthony Kay warns the rest of MLB that Munetaka Murakami is the real deal
• MLB analyst pushes the Rangers to extend MacKenzie Gore for future stability
• The Astros could face a big problem in extending Hunter Brown
• All eyes will be on Angels' RHP Grayson Rodriguez this spring
• Orioles' Shane Baz considered a prime breakout candidate for the 2026 season

NEED TO KNOW

• Rich Ruohonen said he had the best day of his life on Feb. 12
• The personal injury attorney from Minnesota became the oldest Winter Olympian in Team USA history
• Ruohonen, an alternate on the men's curling team, threw two stones during the match against Switzerland

Rich Ruohonen has made Winter Olympics history!

The 54-year-old Minnesota man entered the record books when he played during Team USA’s men’s curling game against Switzerland on Thursday, Feb. 12.

When Ruohonen — an alternate on the team — threw his first and second stones, he became the oldest U.S. Winter Olympian of all time.

"To go in and make both was great. It was awesome," he told reporters after making his throws. "The crowd was cheering me on and the [Swiss] Schwaller team were so great about it."

He added, "Normally in our game we shake hands if it's out of reach and I just told them, 'Hey guys, we're just going to get this out of way, do you mind if I play a couple rocks and we play one more end?' and they said, 'Great, you deserve it. Get in there.' “

Ruohonen’s teammates thought as much, too. After the U.S. allowed two points, lead Aidan Oldenburg was seen on the broadcast walking to the sideline and pointing to Ruohonen as if to say, "You're in."

Ruohonen broke a nearly 100-year-old record held by Joseph Savage, who was 52 when he competed in pairs' figure skating at the 1932 Lake Placid Games when figure skating was a summer sport, according to Olympics records.

Despite Team USA going on to concede after trailing 8-3 through eight ends, Ruohonen told reporters that it was the best day of his life.

"I think it was," Ruohonen said. "I mean, it's kind of bad under those circumstances that we're in a loss, and I'm a team player 110 percent, but I told them, 'Let's just get it out of the way now so we don't have to worry about it the rest of the way.' "

When he’s not curling back at home as a two-time national champion, Ruohonen works as a personal injury attorney in Brooklyn Park, Minn., according to The Athletic.

Amid making history on the ice, Ruohonen also spoke out about competing at this particular point in history and shared his perspective on ICE operations in his home state.

“I’m proud to be here, to represent Team USA and to represent our country,” Ruohoen said on Wednesday, Feb. 11. “But we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention what’s going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it’s been for everybody.”

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He added, “This stuff is happening right around where we live. And I am a lawyer, as you know. We have a constitution. It allows us freedom of the press, freedom of speech, protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures, and makes it so we have to have probable cause to be pulled over. And what’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of gray.”

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.

Read the original article on People

NEED TO KNOW

• Chloe Kim narrowly missed out on completing a historic gold medal three-peat after she took silver in the women's halfpipe on Feb. 12
• Choi Gaon of South Korea won gold, narrowly defeating Kim in the race, and Mitsuki Ono of Japan won bronze in Livigno, Italy
• Kim was the reigning champ heading into the day, as she also took home gold in Beijing in 2022 and in PyeongChang in 2018

Chloe Kim took silver in the women's halfpipe at the Winter Olympics, narrowly missing out on a historic three-peat.

The Team USA snowboarder came in second place in the event at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday, Feb. 12 in Livigno, Italy. Choi Gaon of South Korea won gold , while Mitsuki Ono of Japan came in third with 85.00.

Kim — who was competing on a torn labrum — scored 88.00 during her first trip down the course, and only faced a challenge in the third run, when Gaon scored 90.25 and took the lead. Kim then took a tumble on her last attempt, and wound up with silver.

If the California native, 25, had won gold in the event, she would have become the first person to ever complete a women's snowboard halfpipe “three-peat," following her gold medals in Beijing and in PyeongChang.

Kim's win in Beijing made her the first woman to ever win two gold medals in halfpipe, making today’s run all the more historic.

She was just 17 years old when she won in 2018, the youngest woman to ever win gold in the snowboard halfpipe.

She had solid support in the stands, with her NFL star boyfriend Myles Garrett cheering her on. Garrett brought a camera with him to snap photos of Kim’s run during the qualifying round, and repeatedly called her “so amazing” as he watched in awe. She was the only competitor to score about 90 in the qualifying round.

Kim’s silver medal was hard-won, as she was fresh off an injury that she feared might put her Olympic dreams in jeopardy. In early January, she injured her shoulder in training, just over a month before the Games began.

"Ugh... I hate that I have to make this video. But I felt that it was necessary, so here we go," Kim said in an Instagram video. "I've been here for a couple of days. I'm currently in Switzerland and on my second day of training, I took the silliest fall, and that ultimately resulted in me dislocating my shoulder.”

The athlete said at the time that she was “trying to stay really optimistic” about her chances of competing, and noted that she wasn’t in much pain.

Months before the Games, Kim told PEOPLE that she didn’t feel a ton of pressure to defend her gold medal, but hoped she’d be able to do her best while enjoying the ride.

"I think the pressure I feel is wanting to do the best that I can and see what happens from there — but I just really want to enjoy this journey more than anything I think," she said. "At each Olympics I always go into it with a new set of goals. And I think this time I just really want to enjoy the experience and have a good time."

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.

Read the original article on People

An infernal semi-final. FC Barcelona has just delivered, without a doubt, the worst first half of the Hansi Flick era.

Crushed by Atlético Madrid (3-0 at halftime), the Blaugranas may have said goodbye to their hopes of qualifying for the Copa del Rey final.

Granted, this is only the first leg, but things already look very bleak.

As usual, internet users did not hold back. A review of tweets.

https://x.com/Noaminhoo10/status/2022047266333503933?s=20

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

Not since 1999 has McLaren entered a Formula 1 season striving to defend both titles, after Lando Norris added a maiden Drivers’ crown to McLaren’s second straight Constructors’ championship in 2025. McLaren has now climbed the mountain—so can they stay there?

McLaren has been indisputably the success story of the last regulatory cycle.

Back in 2022 it was entrenched in the midfield, aspiring to extricate itself from a long-running slumber, and a sequence of poor performances and results prompted a strategic rethink that eventually bore fruit mid-2023. From then onwards McLaren has been at the sharp end of the field, resulting in back-to-back Constructors’ Championships, and a Drivers’ Championship for Lando Norris.

Now the ambition is to defend both of those titles.

“We are champions, but we don't carry being champions into 2026,” McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella said. “Everyone will start from the starting blocks. Everyone will start from zero. You know, like our internal narrative is anything we will achieve, we will have to deserve it.”

McLaren began looking into its 2026 car, the MCL40, as early as Easter 2024, when the regulations were in an embryonic stage. Research and development ramped up through mid-2025, with focus switching from the MCL39 to the MCL40, perhaps facilitating a late-season resurgence from Red Bull. But McLaren is happy with the path that it has forged.

“We started this car so much earlier than we normally would,” said Chief Designer Rob Marshall. “A lot of the initial prep and groundwork was done. We lifted off on last year’s car to focus on this, but I wouldn’t say it suffered, I think. You could argue that others maybe kept pressing on with their 25 car longer than we did, but I think we probably did the right thing in the end.”

The current-spec MCL40 is “probably pretty much what we will bring to the first race,” with McLaren keen to learn as much as possible before giving the green light to upgrade packages.

“We really are going to have to be very focused on getting our heads around this car,” Marshall said. “It’s very complicated. It’s all new. There’s a lot of stuff that we need to dial in and tune in. So I think bringing a lot of new stuff to it, early doors, would complicate stuff. I think we’re better off understanding our platform before we get too keen on redesigning it before it’s turned a wheel.”

Added Stella: “We thought that in the economy of a season, it was important to start and launch the car in the most competitive package and configuration. That’s why we pushed all the timing to the limit, but within a very manageable limit.”

In the previous era one of McLaren’s strength was in its efficiency and correlation, with updated parts delivering their expected performance. The team is confident that can be retained in a new ruleset.

“The cars are all new, any built-in advantages have gone, but we've still got the same people and tools doing it,” Marshall said. “The tools will be stretched in a different direction, but you hope our approach is consistent and we go about it the same way. Hopefully we get similar or the same results.”

A large part of McLaren’s 2025 campaign concerned the micromanagement of its two strong drivers, with the team regularly going the extra mile to ensure fairness between Norris and Oscar Piastri. Norris eventually prevailed, in spite of Max Verstappen’s late surge, but his champion status will not earn him any preferential treatment.

“We will enter 2026 with continuity,” Stella said. “We will keep racing the McLaren way. If we have been able to achieve success in 2024 and then in 2025, what has added extra value to what we have achieved is the way in which we have achieved in such a collaborative, supportive way, cohesive way, together with our drivers. I was particularly pleased to see how energetic, proactive, full of ideas, but also full of support [the drivers are] to the way we have gone racing the McLaren way in the past. So that's the perspective of going into 2026 racing from a team point of view.”

Both drivers are still onboard with that approach, albeit a streamlined one, with Piastri conceding that “we probably caused some headaches for ourselves that we didn’t need to last year.”

Piastri spent swathes of the short winter break in his native Australia, reconnecting with family and friends, after a year in which he led the title race for the majority of the season—in only his third year—before slipping to third, only 13 points behind champion Norris.

Piastri won seven grands prix but did not triumph in any of the last nine rounds, in which he went six straight events without a podium.

“Obviously last year wasn’t the final result I wanted, but I think it was nice to go into the off-season, through the off-season, and reflect on it as a whole,” Piastri said. “It’s easy to get drawn into the ending but when you take a step back and look at how good last year was compared to my first couple of years, how strong the car was as a team, some of my individual performances I was really proud of, when you take a step back and look at those, some races at the end of the year were a little bit painful but to look back on the proud moments was nice to do over the break.”

Piastri described looking back on 2025 as “some nice lessons to learn, some tougher lessons to learn,” and insists he can draw confidence from the near-miss.

“I think in terms of performance, the peaks I had was a nice confidence boost and statement for myself that when I get things right and maximise my potential I can be a very strong competitor,” Piastri said. “I think some of the lessons in the back half of the year were very different in nature, a couple of things in Austin and Mexico from a technical and driving point of view that let’s say I hadn’t been challenged on earlier in the season, and then just obviously there’s a pretty long string of races where it was pretty eventful for lots of different reasons, how I can manage those things better, how we as a team can manage those things better, that’s probably one of the most important lessons.”

If Piastri is to achieve his ambition then he will have to dethrone his team-mate as World Champion.

A relaxed Norris is still embracing that mantle of World Champion but stressed that his achievements in 2025 have not altered his hunger entering 2026.

“I still have many more wins in F1 and try and get as many more championships as possible, but if I never do, I’m still happy, I achieved one,” Norris said.

“I don’t feel any different coming into this season, I just want to go out and win, there’s just my baseline feeling is that, I think it’s more at the end of the day if I don’t achieve something again I always have something I’m very proud about, but it hasn’t taken away any motivation or desire to do it again.”

USA women's hockey goalie has been a brick wall through preliminary round originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

USA women's ice hockey breezed through the preliminary round with a 4-0 record, led by goalkeeper Aerin Frankel who played in three of the games.

In Frankel's starts against Czechia, Finland and Canada, she only allowed one goal, while her offense supported her with 15 total goals. 

Frankel, who plays in the PWHL with the Boston Fleet, has been the statistically best goalie through the opening round. 

The United States' defense has only let up 45 shots on goal, and Frankel has been a brick wall with those that have gotten through. Her 97.78 save percentage is the best among all goalies in the Olympics. The 0.33 goals against average is also at the peak of the list.

MORE: Olympic women's hockey scores: Updated results, schedule for 2026 tournament games today

The native New Yorker's two shutouts are also leading all Olympic goaltenders. Only three other goalies in the 2026 games have recorded a single shutout. 

Frankel has set herself apart from the crowd. The Americans face off against Team Italy Friday afternoon in the play-off quarterfinals.

The leading Italian goalkeeper, Gabriella Durante, has allowed five goals in her 132 minutes on the ice. The USA has the edge in the goalkeeping department with the play-offs ahead.

Its goalie is not just known on the ice, though. She has also gained attention for her instagram page dedicated to rating and sharing the best Caesar salads. 

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Frankel has also started to share some of her meals in Milan, outside of her typical Caesar salad posts. The Italian food must be helping feed her elite week that she has had so far in the Olympics.

Her and Team USA are looking to gain its third gold medal this year in Italy.

More Olympic news:

Tkachuk, Hughes brothers make Team USA history dating to 1964 Olympics

USA Olympic bobsled results: Updated scores for monobob, two-man and four-man events

Winter Olympics' 10 highest-paid athletes in 2026, from Eileen Gu to Ilia Malinin

What goofy stance means in snowboarding vs. regular feet

Chloe Kim's bid for a third straight gold medal in the Olympic women's halfpipe fell just short as her final run ended with a fall. That meant South Korea's Choi Ga-on won gold after coming back from a bad fall of her own.

But Kim didn't hesitate after her third and final run. She went right over to Ga-on and gave her a huge hug and congratulated her. That's the Olympic spirit right there. And as you'll see below, a lot of fans loved seeing Kim be classy there.

Two golds and a silver for Kim in her career. That's pretty incredible, I'd say:

A GOLD MEDAL MOMENT 🫂

Chloe Kim found Choi Ga-on the moment she finished her final run for the silver medal to give the South Korean a congratulatory hug when she clinched gold. pic.twitter.com/9BmkrDfA5S

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 12, 2026

this was an insane final what a comeback for choi gaon congrats to her so happy for her & south korea & chloe with the amazing class you are still the greatest ever!!!! 🇰🇷🇺🇸 https://t.co/EymqCZ4RZa

— cam 🤍☄️ (@wildcatseoul) February 12, 2026

Chloe Kim isn’t just an incredibly talented athlete, but such a class act — everything an Olympic athlete should be and the kind that actually makes me feel patriotic. #WinterOlympics#Olympics2026#MilanoCortinaOlympic2026#ChockAndBatesWereStillRobbed

— James Knobloch (@JamesSaysHey) February 12, 2026

Third Olympic Medal at only 25 years old for Chloe Kim 🐐

She was the first to congratulate Choi Gaon. Class act 👏

Source: @BleacherReportpic.twitter.com/Lvxsxpf7Gi

— YoungBuck®️ (@Buck7990) February 12, 2026

Nothing but class. The absolute best of us is Chloe Kim. So proud #Olympics2026

— Lina Tragni (@linatragni) February 12, 2026

Agreed.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Chloe Kim classily congratulated Choi Ga-on after Olympic halfpipe

Would the New York Mets and New York Yankees benefit from a hard salary cap being instituted in MLB’s next collective bargaining agreement? An interesting new report details a few reasons why it would help the pair of NY baseball teams.

There has been a lot of speculation over the last few months that MLB is headed toward some dark days this time next year. The Los Angeles Dodgers dominating the league and winning back-to-back World Series with the most expensive roster in league history has frustrated many around the game. Especially owners of small and mid-market clubs.

Having over a billion dollars in deferred contracts and other teams like the NY Mets and Blue Jays handing out massive deals in recent years has created a narrative that MLB needs a hard cap to stop the out-of-control spending.

In theory, the idea would hurt wealthy clubs because it would diminish their greatest power, spending huge sums of money. However, a new report from The Athletic’s Evan Drellich suggests a hard cap in the next CBA would be a good thing for teams like the NY Mets and NY Yankees.

New MLB hard cap could have a max of $240 million

“Teams like the LA Dodgers, who have a league-high $402 million payroll, the NY Mets, and the NY Yankees would actually benefit from a limit on their spending.

“‘The biggest beneficiaries are going to be the biggest markets, and the biggest losers will be the small markets,'” a management source told Drellich. ‘… The big markets will do well because there will be no pressure from fans to go to $300-400 million payrolls and so forth.’”

Drellich suggests a potential hard cap could top out at $240 million and have a floor of $160 million.

Young stars could hit MLB free agency sooner

Another interesting facet of the addition of a hard cap is the changes players would want made to other contract guidelines to benefit them in different ways.

“The free agency and arbitration processes would also change,” Drellich suggests. “In the current system, it would be almost unthinkable for owners to let players become free agents sooner than the current wait time of six years, or to hit arbitration earlier than the current standard of three years. But a cap could reduce those wait times.”

New York has always been a top destination for free agents, especially because of the prestige of the Yankees brand. Shortened rookie contracts and arbitration mean young stars would be available for the pair of NY clubs far sooner.

NY Mets and NY Yankees could get out of bad contracts sooner

Another change to contracts that might come with a new hard cap is that, according to Drellich, deals may no longer be guaranteed. In a hard cap system, payroll limits are tied to overall revenue from the league. That makes guaranteed deals harder to have.

While it is not a lock, it is a possibility, which means the NY Mets and NY Yankees would be able to get out bad deals sooner than they can now.

Related Headlines

• Report Explains Why Cardinals, Reds & Pirates Could Be Badly Hurt By Hard Cap
• NY Mets News: More Bad News on Lindor Injury, Big Robert Jr. Prediction, Latest on Benge
• Super Agent Offers Realistic Plan for Rivals to Compete with Mets, Dodgers, Other Big Spenders, But It’s Not a Hard Cap

Seventeen-year-old Choi Ga-on denied American great Chloe Kim snowboarding history as she brushed off an early fall to win Winter Olympic halfpipe gold.

Kim had been hoping to become the first snowboarder - male or female - to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals.

But as heavy snow fell in Livigno, South Korean Choi usurped Kim at the top of the standings with 90.25 points from her final run, a score the 25-year-old could not better on her last attempt.

It showed remarkable resilience from Choi, after she had earlier taken a brutal fall in which she hit the icy lip of the pipe and flipped into its centre, lying motionless for some time.

But she eventually brushed herself down and stunned the onlooking crowd with her spellbinding third run, her coach bursting into tears at the realisation of what she had achieved.

For Kim, the build-up to the Games had been far from ideal.

With just one competition under her belt this season, she dislocated her shoulder and sustained a torn labrum in what she described as the "silliest fall" in training in Switzerland last month.

But despite having her shoulder in a brace, she showed little sign of it affecting her as she scored 90.25 in qualification on Wednesday.

Watched on by Team USA 'honorary coach' Snoop Dogg and snowboarding legend Shaun White in Thursday's final, eight-time X Games champion Kim had looked set for gold after her opening run scored 88.00, with few coming close.

But Choi's score - met by both cheers and gasps of shock from the onlooking crowd - piled the pressure on Kim, only for a fall to ensure she would leave an Olympics with silver for the very first time.

Japan's Mitsuki Ono took bronze with a score of 85.00.

More to follow.

• Day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics
• Full schedule including times of medal events
• Winter Olympics 2026 medal table

Nick Castellanos shares 4-page handwritten note after Phillies release appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Nick Castellanos have finally come to the end of their relationship. The club gave Castellanos his release Thursday with one year and $20 million remaining on his contract. Castellanos and Phillies manager Rob Thomson had been at odds with each other since an incident in June of last season that had made its way out of the dugout and into the headlines.

Despite the end of his time with the team, Castellanos wrote a four-page letter to the Phillies organization and the team’s fans and posted the first page of it on his Instagram account. While he thanked ownership, staff, teammates and president of operations Dave Dombrowski, there was no reference on the first page to Thomson.

The divide between Castellanos and Thomson was largely the result of the outfielder’s shaky defensive play. He fared poorly in all the defensive ratings and Thomson had stuck by him for years. However, when the manager removed him from a game in June for a defensive substitute, Castellanos reacted negatively to the situation and Thomson did not like how the outfielder behaved or what he said.

The Phillies had worked hard to get Castellanos a new team during the offseason, but the team was unable to swing an acceptable deal. There was no chance of a reconciliation between the team and the player as Castellanos was instructed not to show up for the start of spring training.

Castellanos can sign with any other team. His new employer will only be responsible for the amount he signs for while the Phillies will owe him the difference.

Related: Phillies release Nick Castellanos after failing to trade him

Related: Zack Wheeler says quiet part out loud about Phillies’ playoff struggles

The Miami Dolphins are expected to move on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this offseason, with multiple reports that the team is trying to find a trading partner for the 2023 passing-yardage leader. If Miami does not land a trade for the former Pro Bowl selection, they likely will look to release him as a post-June 1 cut, eating the remaining guarantees and signing-bonus accounting against the salary cap over two seasons. With Tagovailoa likely on his way out of Miami, the Dolphins may only have second-year quarterback Quinn Ewers on their roster at the start of the new league year in March.

Could they be in the market for a veteran to bridge the team to their next drafted “franchise” quarterback? And could that veteran be a four-time Pro Bowl selection who may be looking to come out of retirement?

Last May, quarterback Derek Carr suddenly retired. Needing surgery and likely to miss the 2025 season anyway, Carr and the Saints worked out a deal that would free up $30 million in guaranteed money still owed to him by the Saints, but would allow Carr to keep his original signing bonus without New Orleans looking to recoup that money.

Fast forward to the 2026 offseason, and it seems like Carr may be ready to return to the NFL. According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, Carr could be headed toward a return. Around the NFL writer Nick Shook adds, “momentum appears to be building toward a possible return to the NFL for the four-time Pro Bowler,” and has Miami as a possible landing spot:

The Dolphins are expected to move on from Tua Tagovailoa this offseason and might only have Quinn Ewers, heading into his second pro season, as their best remaining option. With a roster that is talented enough to contend and includes stars like De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins only need a proven starter to complete the majority of their offensive picture. They’d find that in Carr, who would need to be convinced of new head coach Jeff Hafley’s vision but could find a welcome home in warm and sunny Miami.

With a projected deficit of $16 million entering 2026, Miami would likely need to create some cap space in order to make this possible. If they want Carr badly enough, though, they’ll find a way to make it work.

Selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Carr started his career with the then Oakland Raiders, moving with the team to Las Vegas in 2020. He joined the Saints in 2023, playing two seasons before retiring. In his 11-year career, Carr threw for 41,245 yards on a 65.1 percent completion rate with 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions. He has a 92.8 career passer rating. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2022.

If Miami is looking for a short-term starting quarterback who provides stability and can ultimately serve as a mentor to a younger player – either Ewers or a drafted passer in 2026 or 2027 – Carr could be the perfect fit.

What do you think of the idea of Miami pursuing Carr this offseason?

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham will likely miss England’s March international fixtures ahead of the 2026 World Cup, according to the BBC.

The Three Lions face Uruguay and Japan at Wembley at the end of March.

Bellingham suffered a hamstring injury earlier this month and was supposed to be out for around four weeks.

However, it appears he will be out for between six and eight weeks, a massive blow for Thomas Tuchel’s squad.

Bellingham has been struggling with injuries for some time, allowing Morgan Rogers to usurp his place in the first team.

The former Borussia Dortmund ace is in no danger of losing his place in the team, but will be desperate to get back to his best and find consistency.

The 22-year-old has managed six goals and four assists in 28 appearances this term, but Rogers’ form will keep him on his toes.

Rogers has been in sensational form for Aston Villa, playing a talismanic role in their title charge, while Ollie Watkins has struggled for form.

The Villa star has recorded 10 goals and seven assists in 36 appearances this season, including some absolute piledrivers to decide games.

Based on current form, Rogers has built a compelling case to be placed ahead of Bellingham in England’s midfield hierarchy, at least in the short term.

The 23-year-old playmaker has thrived when given responsibility, showcasing creativity, direct running, and a growing knack for decisive moments.

While Bellingham remains one of England’s most gifted players, his recurring injury setbacks have created an opening Rogers has seized with aplomb.

Tuchel values momentum and match sharpness, both of which Rogers currently possesses in abundance.

If he maintains his trajectory and continues influencing big games at club level, he should edge himself into England’s starting XI, carrying that advantage into the 2026 World Cup.

Benjamin Sesko is now beginning to show real promise as Manchester United’s leading striker.

In his last six games, the summer 2026 signing has scored five times, suggesting he has finally settled at M16.

Sesko needs a capable alternative

Yet while Sesko is proving to be the striker United truly needed, there remains a sense that the club’s attacking department is not quite where it should be.

For all his potential, United would benefit from another top‑class forward. Adding a sharp‑shooting alternative, or even direct competition, would elevate their frontline to one of the finest in the league.

Joshua Zirkzee might have been that option, but with the Dutchman heavily linked with a summer move away, United must look elsewhere. With the right addition, their attack could reach a whole new level.

Strikers on the Radar

Several names are already being linked with United. Jean‑Philippe Mateta and Karl Etta Eyong are reportedly on INEOS’ shortlist. But as the 20‑time English champions weigh up their options, they may be tempted to add Brentford’s in‑form striker Igor Thiago to their wishlist.

Thiago battling Haaland for the Golden Boot

Thiago has been prolific in front of goal, scoring 17 times this season, second only to Erling Haaland.

Stepping up after the departures of Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo from the Gtech Community Stadium last summer, the Brazilian has looked every inch the real deal.

And, like Ivan Toney, Wissa and Mbeumo before him, expectations are that he is destined for a big move away.

United could certainly use a player of his calibre, and convincing the Samba star to follow Mbeumo to the Theatre of Dreams may not prove too difficult.

Thiago’s Confession

The United speculation is rightfully growing following Thiago’s recent admissions about his childhood football memories via TNT:

“I wasn’t that interested in football… but then my brother made me watch the Premier League every weekend, especially Manchester United. From there it grew on me… feelings of love and affection.”

Some may interpret this as a subtle “come get me” plea, and United fans will hope INEOS take note.

At 24, Thiago could be the perfect foil for Sesko. The competition between the two would push each other to greater heights, potentially putting United into prime mode.

For the 20-time English champions’ opponents, that prospect would be nothing short of frightening.

Featured image George Wood via Getty Images

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The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games did not quite end up being the coronation for Chloe Kim many thought.

The 25-year-old still won a medal in the women's halfpipe event, but she fell just short of winning gold in women's halfpipe at a third consecutive Olympics, taking the silver.

Kim, who went last after finishing first among the 24-member field in the qualifier with a score of 90.25, put up an 88 on her first run but crashed out on the next two. Korea's Gaon Choi won gold after scoring a 92.5 on her final run. Japan's Mitsuki Ono earned bronze with an 85.

Full women's halfpipe results

Here are the full results from the women's halfpipe final on Thursday:

• 1st: Gaon Choi, Korea
• 2nd: Chloe Kim, United States
• 3rd: Mitsuki Ono, Japan

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Chloe Kim win? Full snowboarding results from Winter Olympics

Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby has been the subject of trade rumors early in the 2026 NFL offseason.

The five-time Pro Bowler is doing his best to avoid feeding into them, as he explained on a Feb. 10 edition of Jim Gray's "Let's Go!" podcast.

"My focus has been on getting healthy because that's all I can control right now," Crosby said when asked what he wanted amid the rumors. "That's all that matters to me is being with my daughters and being with my wife and taking care of myself."

"People are gonna have rumors," Crosby added. "I just looked at my phone – I've been working all morning. Everyone's hitting me up, 'Did you say this?' I can't control that. You earn that as a player. If I wasn't doing the right things and if I wasn't the person and player I was, people wouldn't be talking about all the nonsense. But that's what comes with it. If you have drama, if you have a losing season, they just try to throw gasoline on the fire and make things a certain way."

Crosby has been the subject of trade rumors since the end of the 2025 NFL season. He left the Raiders facility after being shut down for the final two games of the regular season, expressing discontent with the decision as Las Vegas jostled for the 2026 NFL Draft's No. 1 pick.

"I don't give a (expletive) about the pick, I don't play for that," Crosby said after the decision in December. "That's not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world, and that's what I focus on every day."

More recently, Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Feb. 4 that Crosby was done with the Raiders while ESPN's Adam Schefter further outlined in a Feb. 9 appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that "there's a feeling around the league that Maxx Crosby would like to be traded."

Crosby has made it clear he is paying no mind to the rumors as he begins preparations for his eighth NFL season.

"For me, I know what I'm about. I know what I represent," he told Gray. "I really don't care what everybody has to say. I used to a lot as a young guy. I really don't give a damn. People can have their own opinions. I know what's going on. I know my truth. And I don't need to sit here and keep rehashing it to people that don't know what's going on. So, I don't even waste time with it."

That said, Crosby also acknowledged one of his main goals is to win. He has endured five losing seasons across his first seven years with the Raiders, including a 3-14 campaign in 2025.

"I have a lot of goals, but I do wanna win," Crosby said. "That's all that matters ultimately, but I wanna be in a place mentally where I'm 100% myself. I just wanna focus on football. That's truly what I want."

"People that know me know I'm about the work and football," he added. "I just wanna play football and be left the (expletive) alone. Period. And people that don't understand that, don't (expletive) know me."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maxx Crosby addresses Raiders trade rumors, future with team

You wouldn't know New Orleans Saints fans are feeling more optimistic than ever if you just looked at the standings. Winning six games and finishing last in the NFL's weakest division hasn't lowered expectations for 2026. For one thing, they seem to have a quarterback after drafting Tyler Shough. Could their five-year playoff drought come to an end?

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler ranked all 18 teams that missed the playoffs, including the Saints, based off their future outlook. And the Saints have found themselves in a "sneaky good trajectory" after kickstarting an overhaul last season. Here's why Fowler argues there's hope for a quick turnaround in New Orleans:

Quarterback Tyler Shough showed promise as a starter, providing hope for the future. Wide receiver Chris Olave and left tackle Kelvin Banks are among the young pillars on offense. And the defense overachieved, ranking in the top 10 in several defensive categories. Young players in the secondary are trending well. And, look at that, the team's cap deficit isn't pushing $80 million. Progress!

Those are some solid reasons for optimism. At the same time, the Saints haven't seen it through just yet. They're still old and too expensive at some major position groups. A surging salary cap and the clearance of some dead money on their books helps, but there's still work to be done. And as far as the rest of the NFC South is concerned, the Carolina Panthers are defending their title, while the Atlanta Falcons are right there with the Saints in Fowler's "sneaky good trajectory" tier, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a few slots ahead of them as a team that's "a few moves away" from returning to the playoffs.

It's too soon for anyone in New Orleans to take a victory lap. Fowler highlighted some reasons the rebuild could take longer than hoped, too:

The Saints' roster has been among the league's oldest for years. It's time to get younger. That's a lengthy process. Moving on from free agent veterans such as Cam Jordan and Demario Davis seems timely, even though they have held up well. The front seven needs at least one more quality player. On offense, the backfield needs fresh legs, as Alvin Kamara turns 31 this summer.

Even so, the Saints are definitely trending in the right direction. Having a quarterback the team believes they can win with every Sunday changes everything. If they can make some smart moves in free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft, New Orleans just might end that playoff drought and really give fans something to cheer about.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: ESPN: Saints are on 'sneaky good trajectory' with Tyler Shough at QB

The official online fan shop of the Olympic Games has been selling T-shirts with designs from the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936, which were used by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis for propaganda.

There are calls in Germany for the sale of the shirts to be stopped, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended it as being part of its Heritage Collection, celebrating styles from all editions of the Games.

The T-shirts, which are emblazoned with the original poster design for the Berlin Olympics by Franz Würbel, are currently out of stock.

The 1936 Games were used by Hitler as a chance to promote his ideals of racial supremacy and to glorify Nazi Germany on an international stage.

The Berlin T-Shirt shows a male figure wearing a laurel wreath. Over his head are the Olympic rings. Underneath him is the Brandenburg Gate and the words "Germany Berlin 1936 Olympic Games".

"The 1936 Olympic Games were a central propaganda tool of the Nazi regime," Klara Schedlich, spokesperson for sports policy for the Green Party faction in the Berlin House of Representatives, told the German press agency, DPA.

She accused the IOC of "clearly not reflecting sufficiently on its own history" and said "the choice of image is problematic and unsuitable for a T-shirt", without context.

The IOC told the BBC that while it "of course acknowledge[s] the historical issues of Nazi propaganda" it wanted to also remember that the Berlin 1936 Games saw "4,483 athletes from 49 countries compete in 149 medal events".

"We made an Olympic Heritage Collection available to the public that celebrates 130 years of Olympic art and design. For this series, emblems, pictograms, posters and mascots from all editions of the Olympic Games are featured," a spokesperson said.

"Many of them stunned the world with their athletic achievements, including Jesse Owens."

Jesse Owens, an African-American track and field athlete, won four gold medals at the 1936 Games, crushing the Nazi myth of Aryan racial supremacy.

The spokesperson said that the historical context of the Berlin Games was explained at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, and that only a limited number of 1936 T-Shirts had been produced and sold.

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Two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones will make her boxing debut in March.

The 32-year-old former Team GB star will take on American celebrity Egypt Criss in Derby on Saturday, 7 March on the undercard of a bout between middleweights Ty Mitchell and Gabe Rosado.

Welsh fighter Jones will be in the boxing ring for the first time exactly 12 months since announcing her change of sports.

She became a star of the 2012 London Olympics by winning taekwondo gold at the age of 19 and went on to defend her title four years later in Rio de Janeiro.

Jones also competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and in Paris three years later, became world champion in 2019 and is a three-time European champion.

Criss, 27, is the daughter of hip-hop stars Anthony 'Treach' Criss from Naughty by Nature and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton from Salt-N-Pepa.

• Boxing schedule and results 2026
• Watch every Born to Brawl episode

More boxing from the BBC

• Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

North Carolina has lost freshman star Caleb Wilson to a fracture in his left hand, though it's unclear exactly how long he'll be out.

The school announced the nature of Wilson's injury Thursday, coming two days after the 11th-ranked Tar Heels' loss at Miami. It's potentially a huge blow for UNC coming roughly a month from Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament, with the 6-foot-10 forward regarded as a high-end NBA prospect while leading the team in scoring (19.8) and rebounding (9.4).

Wilson exited the Miami game to head for the tunnel and later returned to the game with his left wrist and palm area heavily taped while finishing with a season-low 12 points.

In its release, the program said X-rays taken during the game were negative for a fracture. But additional imaging done after the team's return to Chapel Hill revealed a fracture, and the evaluation process is ongoing to determine a timetable for his return.

Wilson, who is from Atlanta, ranks sixth among freshmen nationally in scoring.

___

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New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy wasted no time assembling his staff for the 2026 season. On Thursday, the team announced that the coaching staff for the 2026 season has been finalized.

The staff has 25 coaches in total, three more than the 22 coaches on the staff last season for the Steelers, as confirmed by PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh.

Tight ends coach Robert Kugler and game management/QB coach Tim Berbenich were officially announced with the finalization of the staff.

Kugler comes to the Steelers fresh off coaching in the Super Bowl as an assistant offensive line coach for the Patriots. He also has Pittsburgh ties, attending North Allegheny High School. Berbenich is the first game management coach that the Steelers have ever hired. He gained experience as a coaching analyst under Sean McVay with the Rams and, most recently, in a game management/pass game specialist role with Raheem Morris with the Atlanta Falcons.

The team also announced that it has retained strength and conditioning assistant Justus Galac.

Next up for McCarthy will be assembling the roster for his first season coaching his childhood team.

With the report that both sides are open to a return, it seems likely that quarterback Aaron Rodgers could be back with the Steelers for the 2026 season, but nothing is for certain as of now. With the legal tampering period for pending free agents set to open up on March 9, McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan’s actions will provide some more insight into the team’s plans for the 2026 season with their signings.

Finalized Steelers coaching staff announced Feb. 12

Head coach: Mike McCarthy (last coached the Cowboys from 2020-24)

Offense

• Offensive coordinator: Brian Angelichio (former Vikings pass game coordinator and tight ends coach)
• Quarterbacks: Tom Arth (retained)
• Offensive line: James Campen (last coached the Carolina Panthers offensive line from 2022-23)
• Running backs: Ramon Chinyoung Sr. (former Cowboys assistant offensive line coach)
• Wide receivers: Adam Henry (former Bills wide receivers coach)
• Tight ends: Robert Kugler (former Patriots assistant offensive line coach)
• Senior offensive assistant: Frank Cignetti Jr. (former Packers quarterbacks coach)
• Game management/quarterbacks: Tim Berbenich (former Falcons pass game specialist/game management coach)
• Assistant offensive line: Jahri Evans (former Saints assistant offensive line coach)
• Offensive quality control: Eric Simonelli (former TCU assistant linebackers coach)

Defense

• Defensive coordinator: Patrick Graham (former Raiders defensive coordinator)
• Assistant head coach/secondary: Joe Whitt Jr. (former Commanders defensive coordinator)
• Defensive pass-game coordinator/defensive backs: Jason Simmons (former Commanders defensive pass-game coordinator)
• Defensive line: Domata Peko (former Colorado defensive line coach)
• Outside linebackers: C.J. Ah You (former Texas Tech outside linebackers coach)
• Inside linebackers: Scott McCurley (retained)
• Defensive assistant: Shawn Howe (former Montana defensive coordinator)
• Defensive assistant: Pat Reilly (former Texans offensive assistant)

Special teams

• Special teams coordinator: Danny Crossman (former Dolphins special teams coordinator Danny Crossman).
• Senior special teams assistant: Derius Swinton II (former Raiders interim special teams coordinator)

Strength and conditioning 

• Head strength and conditioning: Mark Lovat (former Titans assistant strength and conditioning coach)
• Director of performance integration/sports science: Grant Thorne (former Titans assistant strength and conditioning coach)
• Strength and conditioning assistant: Justus Galac (retained)
• Strength and conditioning assistant: Abe Munayer (former head of athletic performance for Olympic sports at San Jose State)

Chief of staff: Steve Scarnecchia (formerly former Falcons chief of staff)

What do you think of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 coaching staff?Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments below!

Chloe Kim came up short in her attempt to become the first person to win three consecutive Olympic snowboarding gold medals on Thursday, finishing second in the halfpipe to South Korea’s Gaon Choi at Livigno Snow Park.

Choi stormed back from a nasty crash on her first run in which she clipped the lip of the halfpipe and came tumbling almost head first onto the icy surface. She looked shaky on her second run then the 17-year-old who leads the World Cup standings threw down a near flawless 90.25-point run while fresh snow fell to jump ahead of Kim, who had 88 points on her first run.

Dropping in last as the top qualifier, Kim had a chance to grab the gold medal back. She flashed two thumbs up to her coaching team before dropping in. But she fell on a cab double cork 1080, which she had stomped in her first two runs.

Read more:2026 Winter Olympics Day 6 live updates: Jessie Diggins wills her way to bronze

At the bottom of the halfpipe, Choi threw her arms in the air. Her coach ran to hug her. Kim, after sliding to the bottom of the pipe, ran through the crowd to congratulate Choi. The new Olympic champion was celebrating with Kim’s family.

The snowboard stars have history. Kim helped Choi train at Mammoth Mountain Snowboarding Club. Choi counts Kim among one of her snowboarding idols after Kim launched herself to superstardom at the 2018 Olympics.

Kim, then 17, became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal in PyeongChang. She followed it up with a historic gold in Beijing, where she became the first woman to win two Olympic gold medals in halfpipe.

The 25-year-old Kim suffered a torn labrum in her right shoulder in early January while training in Switzerland. It was the second time she had injured her shoulder in less than four weeks after she was forced to withdraw from a World Cup competition in December.

The injury meant the Olympics were Kim’s first competition of the season.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

It’s time for NBA All-Star Weekend! The midseason exhibition tournament will be held this Sunday, Feb. 15, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. But before the big All-Star Championship Game, there’s a star-studded celebrity game, the slam dunk contest and more fun NBA events for fans to enjoy. This year’s All-Star game also features a new format, with three teams competing (USA Stars, USA Stripes, and World) in a round-robin style. Yahoo Sports broke down the new NBA All-Star competition format for you.

Most of the action will air across NBC and Peacock. Here’s the full NBA All-Star Weekend schedule and everything you need to know to watch the game.

How to watch the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend:

Dates: Feb. 13-15

Location: Intuit Dome

TV channel: NBC, ESPN*

Streaming: Peacock

When is the 2026 NBA All-Star game?

The 2026 NBA All-Star Championship Game will be held this Sunday, Feb. 15. Leading up to the All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Weekend has a packed slate of events, including the 3-point contest, and slam dunk contest. NBA All-Star Weekend events run from Friday, Feb. 13 - Sunday, Feb. 15.

NBA All-Star Weekend schedule:

Friday, Feb. 13

• Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game: 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

• Rising Stars Game 1 – Team Melo vs. Team Austin: 9 p.m. ET (Peacock)

• Rising Stars Game 2 – Team Vince vs. Team T-Mac: 9:55 p.m. ET (Peacock)

• Castrol Rising Stars Championship: 10:35 p.m. ET (Peacock)

• NBA HBCU Classic (Hampton vs. North Carolina A&T): 11 p.m. ET (Peacock)

Saturday, Feb. 14

• NBA All-Star Media Day presented by AT&T: 1:30 p.m. ET (NBA App, NBA TV)

• Commissioner Adam Silver News Conference: 4 p.m. ET (NBA App, NBA TV)

• NBA All-Star Saturday Night: 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• State Farm 3-Point Contest: 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• Kia Shooting Stars: 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• AT&T Slam Dunk Contest: 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

Sunday, Feb. 15

• NBA G League Next Up Game: 2:30 p.m. ET (NBA App)

• All-Star Game 1 – Stars vs. World: 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• All-Star Game 2 – Stripes vs. Game 1 Winner: 5:55 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• All-Star Game 3 – Stripes vs. Game 1 Loser: 6:25 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• All-Star Championship: 7:10 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

What channel is the NBA All-Star game on?

The Majority of NBA All-Star Weekend events will air on NBC and stream live on Peacock. The exceptions to that rule are the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, which will air on ESPN, and the media events, which will air on NBA TV and stream in the NBA App.

How to watch the NBA All-Star game without cable:

More ways to watch NBA All-Star Weekend for free:

Who is playing in the NBA All-Star Game?

USA Stars

• Head coach: J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons)

• Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

• Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

• Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

• Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons

• Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

• Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

USA Stripes

• Head coach: Mitch Johnson (San Antonio Spurs)

• Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

• Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

• Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors*

• Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors

• Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets

• LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

• Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

• Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Norman Powell, Miami Heat

World

• Head coach: Darko Rajaković

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

• Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers

• Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder*

• Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

• Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

• Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers

• Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets

• Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

• Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

"*" denotes unable to play because of injury

Who is participating in the NBA All-Star slam dunk contest?

• Keshad Johnson, Miami Heat

• Jase Richardson, Orlando Magic

• Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs

• Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers

Who is playing in the NBA All-Star 3-point contest?

• Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

• Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

• Kon Kneuppel, Charlotte Hornets

• Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

• Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

• Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks

• Norman Powell, Miami Heat

Benjamin Pavard’s future remains uncertain after a difficult spell on loan at Marseille, casting doubt over whether the French club will make his move permanent.

The defender joined Marseille last summer on a loan deal that includes a €15m option to buy, a clause Inter had expected would likely be triggered.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 20: Benjamin Pavard of FC Internazionale Milano faces the media during the Training/Press Conference ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Urawa Red Diamonds at Virginia Mason Athletic Center on June 20, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

However, Pavard has struggled to convince in Ligue 1 and has reportedly come under increasing criticism from supporters, as per reports from the Corriere dello Sport.

De Zerbi departure offers Inter one last chance to cash in on Pavard

The recent managerial change could yet offer the Frenchman a fresh opportunity to revive his season, but if his performances do not improve, Marseille may decide against activating the purchase option.

Roberto De Zerbi was removed from his post as head coach and a breath of fresh air could be just what the former Bayern defender needs.

MARSEILLE, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 25: Roberto De Zerbi, head coach of Olympique de Marseille reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Olympique de Marseille and Newcastle United FC at Stade de Marseille on November 25, 2025 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

However, if Marseille choose not to activate their option, Pavard would return to Inter in the summer – although not necessarily for long.

The Nerazzurri are not believed to have plans to reintegrate him into the squad, meaning a new solution would have to be found.

Inter could also be forced to reassess their valuation of the player if they seek a permanent transfer elsewhere. Sporting director Piero Ausilio would then be tasked with finding a buyer and resolving the situation ahead of the new campaign.

Even clubs outside of Europe's top five leagues are going to demand higher fees. Anfield Watch understands that the club's midfield shortlist includes, Caleb Yirenkyi, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Eduardo Camavinga, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Warren Zaire-Emery and Kees Smit.

It's the latter, who plays for AZ Alkmaar that could end-up being a more affordable option. Smit is still an elite talent but he doesn't play for one of the big clubs who would demand a hefty fee, even in the Netherlands, Alkmaar aren't the biggest of clubs.

Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven and Ajax are ahead of them.

But it looks like Alkmaar are going to be demanding a huge transfer fee as revealed by Fabrizio Romano.

“The name I keep bringing to the table: Kees Smit, the AZ Alkmaar midfielder,” the transfer insider reported on his YouTube channel.

“[His agent] Jorge Mendes is in control of the situation. There is Real Madrid interest, there are Premier League top clubs interested, several top clubs. So, it’s going to be a big battle between Spanish and Premier League clubs.

“For Kees Smit and AZ Alkmaar, it’s going to be a huge summer. It’s not going to be easy to sign him. Something like €40m-45m is not enough, it’s not enough money.

“Get ready for Kees Smit, because he’s going to be a big part of conversations.”

Smit is a fantastic player, but the fact that Liverpool are going to essentially have to pay over £40m for a player with little experience in European football is a staggering amount.

That's the nature of the market right now.

And to be fair, for a player of Smit's talent, it might be worth it. He really is one of the best young midfielders in European football right now.

He's been a stand-out in the Eredivisie. His vision and his pressing ability combined with his technical qualities make him an ideal profile.

However, there are so many risks with buying a young player from the Netherlands. Liverpool don't want to be spending in excess of £40m on a gamble.

So, it will be interesting to see how this saga plays out.

The Copa del Rey heats up with a semifinal that feels like an early final: at the Metropolitano Stadium, Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid hosts Hansi Flick’s Barcelona for the first leg of the semifinal.

The Colchoneros arrive at this stage after eliminating Deportivo La Coruna and Real Betis, the latter swept aside with a clear 5-0 victory. In the league, they are third, but far from the top spot, which is held by the blaugrana, and they see the cup as the most concrete opportunity to give meaning to their season.

Barcelona’s journey has been different: they are flying high in La Liga and have reached the Top 8 in the Champions League, avoiding the playoffs. In the Copa del Rey, the Catalans have overcome Racing, Albacete (who knocked out Real Madrid), and come into the semifinal boasting an extraordinary run: 17 wins in their last 18 official matches.

Last year, also in the semifinals, it ended 5-4 on aggregate for Barça after a thrilling 4-4 in Madrid and a second-leg win sealed by Ferran Torres. The return leg is scheduled for March 3.

With Real Madrid already eliminated from the other side of the bracket, the Metropolitano clash represents a huge opportunity for both teams. The first act took place yesterday with the Basque derby between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, won by the biancazzurri thanks to a goal from Turrientes.

🔄 SUB Flick: Casadò out, Lewandowski in

Hansi Flick tries to shake up Barcelona and opts for a substitution already in the first half. 

In the 39th minute, Marc Casadò, previously booked, makes way for Lewandowski.

The German coach hugs the midfielder and has a brief, intense conversation with him, probably explaining the reason for the decision.

🧨 Lookman SHOW, Atletico scores three

Atletico Madrid keeps pressing and finds their third goal in the 33rd minute of the first half.

The move is started by Giuliano Simeone, who sets up Alvarez. 

The pass to Lookman is brilliant: the Nigerian opens up his foot and scores diagonally to make it 3-0.

Fermin hits the crossbar ⛔ Koundé CLEARS off the LINE 😲

Non-stop excitement in Madrid! In the 20th minute, Olmo delivers a corner directly to Fermin, who heads it onto the crossbar.

Simeone’s Atleti responds immediately: Molina outsmarts Barcelona’s defense and sets up Alvarez, who shoots first time.

Koundé’s intervention on the line is crucial, saving at the last second.

Own goal 😱 Eric Garcia +Grizou: SHOCK start for Barça ❌

The Civitas Metropolitano clash heats up in just a few minutes: by the 14th, Atletico are already 2-0 up.

The opener comes from a sensational own goal by Joan Garcia: the Barcelona goalkeeper lets an Eric Garcia back pass slip under his foot. 

Lookman scores the tap-in, but the ball had already crossed the line.

Just before the quarter-hour mark, the Colchoneros double their lead: Musso launches for Lookman, Koke spreads it right to Simeone, who finds Griezmann’s run into the box. The Frenchman opens up his foot and sends the ball to the far post.

✅ The official lineups

ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2): Musso; Molina, Pubil, Hancko, Ruggeri, G. Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman, Griezmann, Alvarez. Coach: Simeone

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Garcia, Kounde, Cubarsì, E. Garcia, Balde, Casado, De Jong, Fermìn, Yamal, Ferran Torres, Olmo. Coach: Flick

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

Our final position preview ahead of the 2026 college baseball season focuses on the pitchers, all 21 of them on Florida's official roster.

The Gators return perhaps the most talented 1-2 punch in the SEC in Liam Peterson and Aidan King. Both are expected to be among the top draft pitchers selected in the next two MLB drafts, but who will take over the all-important Sunday spot in the rotation? The trio of Luke McNeillie, Russell Sandefer (UCF) and Cooper Walls (Hawaii) presents three viable options and a ton of depth should injuries strike.

With Jake Clemente drafted over the summer, Florida needs a new closer and setup man. Two returners, Christian Rodriguez and Joshua Whritenour, appear primed to man those roles. The Gators have many long-relief options behind all those named above and more lefty specialists than last year. Finally, a quartet of freshmen will look to carve out roles in the bullpen early on in their careers.

Let's take a look at the 2026 Florida pitching staff.

Friday starter: No. 12 Liam Peterson (Jr.)

Leading the pitching staff is junior Liam Peterson, who has been a part of the starting rotation since his freshman year in 2024. He's played with Team USA, earned multiple preseason All-America nods and figures to be one of the first college arms drafted this summer.

As a freshman, Peterson started 15 games and appeared 17 times for Florida. He worked a 6.18 ERA over 62 2/3 innings while striking out 76 batters. He lowered that ERA to 4.28 last year and elevated his K% from 25.7% to 31.5%. Peterson has elite stuff, but he gets harder than most top-end pitchers do.

When he's on, he might be the best pitcher in the SEC. It's consistency that eludes, but he's improved with each season. If that trend continues, he'll be a first-round pick come June. D1Baseball ranks him No. 20 among starting pitchers heading into the season.

Arsenal: Peterson has a four-pitch mix that features both a slider (mid-80s) and a curveball (high-70s). His fastball runs up to 99 mph, often sitting around 96-97. Both breaking balls are above average, earning a 55 grade from MLB scouts, but he uses the slider more. His changeup (mid-80s) is also usable, albeit not a plus pitch at this point.

Saturday starter: No. 47 Aidan King (So.)

Aidan King started the 2025 season coming out of the bullpen, as most freshmen do. An injury to Pierce Coppola thrust him into a long-relief role early on and he quickly claimed the No. 2 spot in the starting rotation. Since then, he's been considered one of the top arms in the 2027 class.

His 2.58 ERA was the lowest of any Florida pitcher over a full season since Brady Singer in the 2018 season (2.55), and he finished the year just under 10 strikeouts per nine innings with a 7.6% walk rate. King induced groundballs 44.3% of the time last year and had a line-drive rate below 20%. He rarely gives up home runs, too. Avoiding a sophomore slump is always difficult, especially now that there's more tape for teams to study, but King has everything else going in the right direction.

Arsenal: King's fastball averaged 93 mph a year ago, but a year of college workouts should bring that number up. He flashed 97 at one point, so the mid-90s is a reasonable expectation now that he's a year older. That velocity increase should help his high-80s changeup become more effective as well, which means even more groundballs. His slider clocks in around 82-83 mph with some sharp, late break. That's the swing-and-miss pitch against righties and has the makings of a plus pitch.

Sunday starter: No. 38 Cooper Walls (So.)

Hawaii transfer Cooper Walls will get the starting role on Sunday to open the season. He won Big West freshman pitcher of the year honors last year after working a 3.73 ERA and 45 strikeouts over 60 1/3 innings. While the strikeout rate doesn't appear too impressive, he had a 3.02 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 5.6% walk rate. Walls' groundball rate of 48.7% was even higher than King's last season, too. D1Baseball ranks him No. 46 among transfer portal pitchers.

Arsenal: Walls worked in the low 90s with his fastball, averaging 89.5 mph last year, but he's capable of reaching 98 mph. Expect him to fall somewhere around 93-95 this year. His mid-80s slider is a true swing-and-miss pitch, which generated a 47% whiff rate over the fall. He'll mix in a mid-to-high 70s curveball, but Walls is still developing a true third pitch.

Midweek starters: No. 17 Russell Sandefer (Jr.)

Russell Sandefer transferred to Florida after a year with the UCF Knights. He spent his freshman year at Division II St. Leo. He appeared primarily in relief with UCF last season but made six starts in 18 appearances. His 3.38 ERA and 49-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 50 2/3 innings are solid, but he didn't impress enough over the fall to lock down a spot in the weekend rotation. A 48.1% groundball rate is promising, but that was against Big 12 bats, not SEC.

Still, if Walls struggles early, Sandefer appears to be next up in the rotation. He should get plenty of midweek starts to prove himself, too. D1Baseball ranks him No. 118 among college draft prospects, No. 128 among starting pitchers and No. 24 among impact transfers.

Arsenal: Sandefer has a mid-90s fastball that has touched 98-99, albeit with a more typical top-end around 96. He rounds out his arsenal with a low-to-mid-80s slider that generated a 47% whiff rate, a high-80s cutter, and a low-to-mid-80s changeup with a 49% whiff rate.

X-factor: No. 9 Luke McNeillie (Jr.)

The third starting option is third-year Gator Luke McNeillie, who has made four starts over 54 appearances over the last two seasons with Florida. He enters the year as Florida's most reliable option out of the bullpen. Expect McNeillie to work as a high-leverage, multi-inning reliever, but he could wind up starting more games this year if Walls and/or Sandefer struggle. He could also serve as a closer, if needed.

McNeillie threw 35 2/3 innings over 26 appearances as a freshman in 2024, posting a 7.07 ERA with 43 strikeouts and 21 walks. All of those numbers improved in 2025, as McNeillie lowered his ERA to 4.82 over 52 1/3 innings (28 appearances) with 72 strikeouts and 24 walks. The K% and BB% are promising and 2.77 SIERA bodes well for him heading into his junior year. He held opponents to a .230 batting average last year,

Arsenal: He's mostly fastball and slider with a fairly even split between the two. The heater sits in the mid-90s with good carry/ride, and his release helps it look even faster. The slider is in the mid-80s with two inches of vertical break and generates a 46% whiff rate. He trusts it, and it's a potential plus pitch. A lack of a true third pitch is what keeps him from starting games, but he does flash a changeup every now and then. Command is also an issue at times.

Late-inning arms: No. 15 Joshua Whritenour (R-Fr.) and No. 8 Christian Rodriguez (R-So.)

If McNeillie isn't closing out the game, Florida has two reliable late-inning arms to lean on in Christian Rodriguez and Joshua Whritenour.

Both missed their freshman year with Tommy John, but Rodriguez saw some action last year before breaking out in the Cape Cod League over the summer. His 5.32 ERA over 23 2/3 innings last season was slightly inconsistent, but he should be better a year removed from injury. In high school, Rodriguez ramped it up to 97 mph, making his "Bugs Bunny," high-70s changeup an elite weapon. He also has a high-70s slider. Rodriguez was one of the best relievers in the CCL, posting a 0.93 ERA over 19 1/3 innings. If he can replicate those numbers, he'll be a key member of the bullpen for Florida.

Whritenour is coming off an injury, but he has the look of a modern-day closer. He can run the heater up to 100 mph, often sitting in the high-90s, and his high-80s slider generates a 48% whiff rate. The lack of experience could lead to growing pains, however. He didn't get a taste of Division I ball last year like the rest of his class.

If Florida is going to run the closer by committee, these are the top two options.

Long-relief options: No. 23 Billy Barlow (R-Sr.), No. 22 Jackson Barberi (So.) and No. 37 Matthew Jenkins (Jr.)

Florida needs more than one long relief option in McNeillie and that's where Billy Barlow, Matthew Jenkins and Jackson Barberi come in.

Barlow and Jenkins transferred in last year with hopes of starting games. Both pitched primarily out of the bullpen, but Barlow got seven starts and Jenkins got four. Neither are expected to start much this year, barring injuries, but their ability to throw multiple innings should help out whenever a starter gets an early hook and McNeillie isn't available.

Barlow's 6.26 ERA over 46 innings in his first year with Florida is higher than his career 5.16 ERA over 155 1/3 innings. He was much better as a starter for Clemson and will hopefully return to form. He was much better in the second half of last season. The experience is an obvious plus, and he has a four-pitch mix that features a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider, a high-80s cutter and a low-to-mid-80s changeup. He can be very effective at times, but it's important for Kevin O'Sullivan to recognize when he doesn't have it early on in an outing.

Jenkins transferred from JUCO Sante Fe in Gainesville and never really found his footing. He gave up 15 earned runs in 14 innings, leading to an elevated 9.64 ERA. His strikeout rate was impressive at 34.8%, but the walk rate was up near 16%, too. If he can find some more control, Jenkins will be an effective long reliever for Florida this year. He throws a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider with a 40% whiff rate over the fall, a mid-70s curveball with a 57% whiff rate and a high-80s changeup.

Barberi made five spot starts for Florida last year as a true freshman and posted a 4.45 ERA over 32 1/3 innings. He has a fastball that can touch 100 mph and averages around 96, and both his mid-80s slider and mid-to-high-80s changeup generate swing-and-miss. Because of the starts, Florida could use him in a long relief role, but the stuff also poises him to pitch multiple days in a week in high-leverage situations.

Right-handers: No. 31 Ricky Reeth (R-Sr.), No. 20 Schulyer Sandford (R-Fr.), No. 21 Caden McDonald (R-So.) and No. 27 Blaine Rowland (So.)

Ricky Reeth spent the last three years at Notre Dame, posting a 5.00 ERA over 111 2/3 total innings. He has a strikeout-to-walk ratio above 3.0 for his career and was approaching 4.0 last season. His 21.6% strikeout rate and 6.0% walk rate were also impressive in 2025. The question is how well is stuff will play against SEC bats. His fastball sits in the low-90s, his slider is in the low-80s and his changeup is a consistent 82 mph. There's potential for Reeth to eat a lot of innings if he can remain consistent.

Schuyler Sandford was one of the more highly anticipated arms in the 2025 freshman class, but an injury kept him out for the entire year. At 6-feet-6-inches, Sandford has the size and length to reach the upper-90s with his heater, but it was around 92-93 against Georgia Southern and peaked at 96 this fall. He also has a mid-80s slider. His outing against Georgia Southern wasn't too impressive, but there's bound to be growing pains after Tommy John surgery.

Caden McDonald will be a two-way threat for Florida this year. While plenty of people are excited about his bat, he's a fine option on the mound. McDonald posted a 5.14 ERA over 28 innings (20 appearances) out of the bullpen last year. Opponents hit .280 off him, and that number needs to come down. But remember that he was coming off Tommy John, similar to Rodriguez. A year removed from the injury, he's bound to take a step forward, assuming the two-way role doesn't affect him.

McDonald posted a 3.51 ERA over 25 2/3 innings over the summer in the Cape Cod League. He has a four-pitch mix that features a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider, a high-70s curveball and a mid-80s changeup.

Blaine Rowland posted a 3.21 ERA over 14 innings in eight appearances last year, but he hasn't been talked about much since the 2025 campaign ended. He didn't throw during the fall or the preseason, so there could be an injury that's unknown at this point. He's a 90-91 mph fatball guy with a slider that moves a ton. This might be a redshirt year for him, though.

Southpaws: No. 33 McCall Biemiller (So.), No. 44 Ernesto Lugo-Canchola (Gr.) and No. 32 Rivers Kurland (Fr.)

Left-handers are always important in baseball, and Florida has five on its roster. However, three of them are freshmen, so don't expect them all to get innings.

McCall Biemiller is the only returning southpaw on the staff. He had a 5.93 ERA over 13 2/3 innings (11 appearances, one start) last season. Command was an issue for him, as he walked (17) nearly as many batters as he struck out (18). Still, opponents only hit .224 off him, his strikeout rate was above 27% and his groundball rate was 48.4%. Biemiller needs to show more consistency this season, but he should be the first lefty out of the bullpen for Florida. He has a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider with a 40% whiff rate over the fall, a mid-70s curveball with a 57% whiff rate and a high-80s changeup.

Ernesto Lugo-Canchola was brought in from Division II Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) to give Florida more depth in this role. He's like a left-handed version of Reeth, in that he'll eat innings when needed. Lugo-Canchola struck out 103 batters over 94 2/3 innings last year. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, his low-90s fastball looks a bit faster thanks to the downhill action, and he pairs it with a low-80s slider. He had a 2.00 ERA last year and opponents hit just .164 off him, but it's a big jump from DII to the SEC.

Rivers Kurland is the younger brother of second baseman Cade Kurland, but this isn't a case of nepotism. The younger Kurland improved dramatically during his high school years and looked like a legitimate ace as a senior when Gators Wire saw him at the FHSAA State Championships. He's a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, but has that action that throws hitters off. His fastball will likely clock in under 90 mph, and his breaking ball is in the mid-70s, yet both are effective. Maybe Kurland belongs in the nextsection, but it's hard to pick which freshmen will get chances on an SEC ball club.

Freshmen: No. 34 Eli Blair (Fr.) and No. 35 Jackson Hoyt (Fr.) and No. 45 Minjae Seo (Fr.)

Florida's other three freshmen arms are Eli Blair, Jackson Hoyt and Minjae Seo.

Blair and Hoyt are both lefties with mid-90s fastballs. Blair is 6-foot-8, which is as projectable as it gets, but he might need some more development before being trusted in Division I action. The same goes for Hoyt, who is 6-foot-3. However, with only a handful of left-handers on the roster, they could get playing time.

Seo is the only righty, but he won't pitch this year with an injury.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Previewing Florida baseball's 2026 pitching staff

Vikings and Cardinals predicted to pull off blockbuster quarterback trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals both have a question mark at the quarterback position.

The Vikings need to add a veteran quarterback behind J.J. McCarthy after the former first-round pick failed to cement himself as the long-term answer in 2025 and was the biggest reason Minnesota missed the playoffs.

In Arizona, the expectation is the Cardinals will trade Murray if there are any takers, which would leave Jacoby Brissett as the only notable quarterback under contract.

Bleacher Report's Moe Moton makes an intriguing prediction for both teams that sees a trade that sends McCarthy to Arizona and Murray to the Vikings. Moton then suggests the Cardinals sign Kirk Cousins to provide some insurance.

"The Cardinals should call the Minnesota Vikings about a signal-caller swap to dump Murray's contract and take on J.J. McCarthy's rookie deal," Moton said. "The third-year quarterback's contract would cost only about $6 million against the cap."

"In addition, Arizona can add Kirk Cousins to replace Jacoby Brissett, who may not fit into the new coaching staff's plans," Moton added.

This trade would make sense for both teams.

The Vikings would get a proven veteran quarterback who would be an upgrade over McCarthy and gives Minnesota a better chance to make the playoffs. And, at the age of 28, Murray can be a multi-year solution.

Meanwhile the Cardinals would get a young signal-caller who gives them at least some semblance of hope for the future at the position.

Arizona can deploy McCarthy in 2026 and see if he can cement himself as the long-term answer. If not, the Cardinals can turn to the 2027 NFL draft, when the quarterback class will be much better.

More NFL News

• Eagles trade rumor is exciting news for 49ers, Chiefs, Raiders, Broncos
• A.J. Brown trade rumor could lead to deal with Steelers, Bills or Patriots
• George Pickens rumor points to Cowboys making huge mistake
• Seahawks rumor pinpoints 4 possible Klint Kubiak replacements
• Raiders rumor names 2 favorites for OC under Klint Kubiak
• ESPN's Cowboys-Raiders trade prediction would shake up offseason

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona live score, stats, highlights, talking points from Copa del Rey semifinal 1st leg originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:

• Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona score
• Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona highlights, key incidents
• Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona team news
• Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona upcoming fixtures

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona lock horns in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal tie on Thursday.

The Catalans have enjoyed a dominant recent record against Atleti, winning eight of the past 10 meetings in all competitions. That includes both legs of the semifinals last season, when a remarkable 4-4 draw at Camp Nou was followed by a 1-0 win for Barca in the capital.

Hansi Flick's team are still targeting a quadruple after winning the Supercopa de Espana in January, while Atleti will be determined to keep alive their hopes of a first trophy since they were crowned La Liga champions in 2021.

MORE:Barcelona's up-to-date injury list

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona

Location: Estadio Metropolitano (Madrid, Spain)
Referee: Juan Martinez Munuera

Starting lineups:

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2 right to left): Musso (GK) — Molina, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri — Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman — Griezmann, Alvarez

Atletico subs: Oblak, Esquivel, Gimenez, Lenglet, Le Normand, Mendoza, Baena, Vargas, Nico, Sorloth, Almada

Barcelona (4-3-3 right to left): J. Garcia (GK) — Kounde, Cubarsi, E. Garcia, Balde — De Jong, Casado (Lewandowski, 36'), Lopez — Lamine Yamal, Torres, Olmo

Barcelona subs: Szczesny, Kochen, Cancelo, Araujo, Martin, Jofre, Bernal, Tommy, Bardghji, Hernandez, Lewandowski

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona highlights, key incidents

33 mins: IT'S 3-0! INCREDIBLE FROM ATLETICO! Another sublime counter involving the four forwards ends with Julian Alvarez playing a delicate pass to Lookman, who makes no mistake with a side-foot finish. Brilliant from Diego Simeone's team.

14 mins:GRIEZMANN MAKES IT 2-0! It's a terrific counter-attacking move that ends with Griezmann placing a low finish beyond Joan Garcia from inside the box. Atleti have taken early control here.

Watch (USA):

Griezmann makes it 2-0 for Atletico Madrid! They are shocking Barcelona right now 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DV7ID0Q5se

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 12, 2026

7 mins: GOAL! ATLETICO LEAD! It's an awful mistake from Joan Garcia, who seems to take his eye off the ball and allows Eric Garcia's pass to roll towards goal and over the line. The referee doesn't signal a goal, and Ademola Lookman puts the ball in the net anyway, but that will go down as an own goal from Eric Garcia.

Watch (USA):

HUGE MISTAKE FROM JOAN GARCIA IN THE BACK WHICH GIFTS ATLETICO MADRID A GOAL! pic.twitter.com/9j5LOxI41u

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 12, 2026

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona reaction

This section will be updated when match reaction is available.

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona team news

Atletico Madrid team news

• Pablo Barrios is out with a muscle injury, while Johnny Cardoso is not in the squad after sitting out the loss to Real Betis last time out due to a minor issue.
• Nico Gonzalez is available and on the bench. Copa goalkeeper Juan Musso starts, while Diego Simeone is fielding a very attack-minded lineup featuring Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez, Ademola Lookman and Giuliano Simeone.

Barcelona team news

• Raphinha and Marcus Rashford are both sidelined due to injury, so Hansi Flick has had some thinking to do regarding the left side of his attack. Dani Olmo looks set to fill that role, with Fermin Lopez deeper as part of the midfield trio along with Marc Casado and Frenkie de Jong.

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona upcoming schedules

Atletico Madrid upcoming fixtures

Barcelona upcoming fixtures

After two campaigns in Foxborough, Robert Kugler will be moving on to the AFC North.

The former New England Patriots assistant has been named the next tight ends coach of Pittsburgh Steelers under head coach Mike McCarthy, the organization announced Thursday.

Kugler marks the first known departure from the reigning AFC champions’ coaching staff. The 33-year-old had been hired by the Patriots as an assistant offensive line coach in 2024. And after Jerod Mayo’s lone campaign at the helm, he was retained last February by eventual AP NFL Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel to oversee the front five alongside veteran position coach Doug Marrone and fellow assistant Jason Houghtaling.

New England’s offense finished the 2025 regular season ranked third around the league in total offense, including fourth in passing and sixth in rushing. Quarterback Drake Maye was sacked 48 times over that span before being taken down for an additional 21 from the wild card through Super Bowl LX.

Prior to heading to Gillette Stadium, Kugler worked with the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line for two years after initially entering the NFL ranks in the same capacity with the Houston Texans in 2021. He made collegiate coaching stops at UTEP, Washington and Appalachian State.

Playing football at North Allegheny High School while his father, Sean, oversaw the Steelers’ offensive line, Kugler went on to serve as a two-time captain at Purdue. The convert from tight end to center started 43 consecutive games for the Boilermakers.

He spent training camp with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie in 2016.

As Liverpool struggled through a dire autumn that saw the collapse of their Premier League title defence hopes, one of the players whose personal form was often highlighted for having fallen off most from the season before was that of centre half Ibrahima Konaté.

Complicating matters was that the 26-year-old French international was on an expiring contract and there were many who believed it a foregone conclusion he would join Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2026—just as fellow Red Trent Alexander-Arnold had in 2025.

Whether or not his poor form in the autumn played a role, those links have largely disappeared in recent months, and now along with Konaté’s form ticking up in the new year, there even some renewed chatter that a Liverpool extension might not be a genuine possibility.

While The Athletic’s James Pearce outlines this week that the club haven’t given up hope Konaté will re-up, clu captain and teammate Virgil van Dijk has come out in the wake of Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Sunderland to publicly encourage Konaté to do just that.

“We speak about everything and it’s a process,” Van Dijk said following the match. “It’s never that easy that we can just say get it done, it’s a process and we’ll see what comes out of it. But obviously I want him to stay, he’s an important figure on the pitch and off as well.

“He’s one of the leaders, he’s outstanding and in my eyes aworld-class centre-back, but I can do only so much. It’s in the club’s hands together with his agent and himself so let’s see what comes out of it.”

After winning Super Bowl 60 with the Seattle Seahawks, new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is getting a late start to filling out the rest of his coaching staff. However, Kubiak is wasting no time after officially getting hired earlier this week, making one hire and interviewing a couple of candidates for the two coordinator spots.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders are hiring Mike McCoy as assistant head coach. McCoy and Kubiak worked together in 2017, when the former was the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator and the latter was one of the team’s offensive assistants.

McCoy also brings head coaching experience to the first-year head coach’s staff, serving in that role from 2013 to 2016 for the then San Diego Chargers and as the Tennessee Titans’ interim head coach this past season after Brian Callahan was fired in Week 7.

Meanwhile, the Raiders will have a new defensive coordinator for the first time in four years after Patrick Graham left for the same position with the Pittsburgh Steelers. One of Graham’s understudies could end up being his replacement.

Per The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov, current defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator Rob Leonard will interview for the defensive coordinator job in Las Vegas. Meirov also notes that Maxx Crosby, who has been the subject of recent trade rumors, thinks very highly of Leonard. The coach has been in Las Vegas since 2023 and added the run game coordinator to his title ahead of this past season.

At offensive coordinator, Kubiak is already leaning on his network. Pelissero also reported that the Raiders are interviewing current Seahawks wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson for the job. The two coaches have only spent this past season working together, though. Jackson has nine seasons of experience as an NFL coach, all as a wide receivers coach, and was in the college ranks from 2008 to 2016. He also had a five-year career as a wideout for the Cleveland Browns.

NEED TO KNOW

• Livvy Dunne is throwing it back to her college days
• The college gymnast and Sports Illustrated model recently visited her alma mater
• Dunne announced her retirement from gymnastics on April 17, 2025

Livvy Dunne is feeling nostalgic.

The former collegiate gymnast-turned-Sports Illustrated model posted a series of videos to her TikTok account, taking followers along with her as she returned to Louisiana State University.

In the Feb. 6 video, the influencer could be seen back in the LSU gym with other gymnasts, as she performed a backhand spring on the spring floor to cheers from her former teammates.

In another Jan. 30 video, Dunne threw it back to one of her first times on the LSU campus with some snaps from her recruiting visit to the school.

"Remember what you looked like on your recruiting trip," Dunne wrote over a series of photos and videos of herself approximately six years ago.

Dunne joined the LSU Tigers gymnastics team in 2020, competing on the uneven bars.

In April 2025, Dunne's college career ultimately came to an end when the Tigers finished third in the NCAA semifinals.

At the time, Dunne had been injured and unable to compete. She shared a message on X bidding the sport goodbye.

"Couldn’t have asked for a better 5 years! Thank you, LSU," the gymnastics star wrote shortly after the meet. In a second post, she said, “✌️ out gymnastics it’s been real… and of course forever LSU!"

Later that year, in July, Dunne appeared on the What’s Your Story? With Stephanie McMahon podcast, touching on why she had never attempted to compete in the Olympics.

Dunne, who previously competed with Team USA in 2017, referenced an injury she had sustained as a teenager, which led to a medical condition that limited her athletic ability.

"I was actually competing on a hurt ankle (at) the 2018 USA Championships," she said on the podcast episode, adding, "And part of my ankle bone died... so my Olympic dreams died with it."

Dunne, who was named a 2025 Sports Illustrated Swim cover star, also hinted at more "on-screen" work when speaking with PEOPLE exclusively on the red carpet at the issue's launch party in May.

"My life has revolved around gymnastics," the former college athlete told PEOPLE at the event. "So, honestly, to be able to say yes to more things and potentially maybe do some more performing art stuff on screen — and I'm very excited."

Just prior to the end of her gymnastics career, Dunne told PEOPLE that she was looking forward to being able to support her Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, boyfriend Paul Skenes, at his games.

"I'm super excited to be able to spend time with Paul," she said. "I've always had to train during my summers and stuff... So to be able to not have to do gymnastics training and be able to spend more time in Pittsburgh with Paul enjoying the baseball season, I'm looking forward to that."

Dunne and Paul both attended LSU and were introduced by mutual friends. They later confirmed their relationship in August 2023.

Read the original article on People

ESPN released its latest NBA Draft Big Board rankings on Thursday, with two Kentucky Wildcats included in the top 100.

Jayden Quaintance comes in at #18 in the latest rankings, dropping from #9 in the previous rankings.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo had this to say about Quaintance:

It’s unclear if he will try to play the rest of the way, and NBA scouts presently have more questions than answers about him as a prospect. The circumstances make him a tricky case ahead of the draft, given the limited amount of minutes he’ll have on his résumé following ACL surgery in March 2025.

Woo pointed to Quaintance’s defensive upside and ability as a lob threat as factors that could lead to him being drafted in the lottery, but JQ will likely have a lot to prove to NBA scouts with so little film available following the ACL surgery if he doesn’t play again this season.

ESPN has Otega Oweh in the top 100, coming in at #93.

After a slow start, Oweh has turned it on as of late, looking more and more like the Oweh we saw toward the end of last season. Oweh has scored at least 20 points in all but two SEC games (18 points against Texas and 12 against Tennessee in Knoxville).

Noticeably absent from ESPN’s rankings is Malachi Moreno.

SB Nation recently had Moreno ranked as the 23rd overall prospect in the class, and other outlets had him ranked in the top 30.

Moreno’s numbers aren’t eye-popping (8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 blocks), but he’s put up those numbers in just 22 minutes per game and played a major role for Kentucky when many didn’t expect him to at the beginning of the season.

For now, it doesn’t appear Kentucky is in real danger of losing Moreno to the NBA this year, but he’s still got plenty of time to progress in his development and bolster his stock while hopefully guiding Kentucky toward a deep NCAA Tournament run.

You can check out the full ESPN rankings here.

Bruins' players in the Olympics represent 5 different countries originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Bruins are well represented in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

They've got one of the largest groups of NHL players in these Olympics.

It's the first time NHL players can compete in the Games since 2014, so it's a cool chance for fans of a given team to watch their players represent their countries. 

All told, the Bruins have players competing for five different countries at the Olympics.

MORE: Tkachuk, Hughes brothers make Olympic history not done since 1964

What Bruins players are at the Olympics?

There are eight Bruins at the Olympics, split between a handful of countries.

Superstar forward David Pastrnak plays for Czechia. He was the flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies.

“Honeslty, speechless. Very honored,” Pastrnak told NHL.com. “Going over there to represent my country, I am going to give it my all. Really happy and honored to be able to hold our flag and represent us in the ceremony."

MORE: USA curling's Danny Casper doesn't let GBS health issue slow him down

The United States has two Bruins. There's first-line defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who is paired with Minnesota's Quinn Hughes. Backup goaltender Jeremy Swayman also comes from the Bruins.

Sweden has two Bruins on its roster: Hampus Lindholm and Elias Lindholm. They are not brothers.

Finland has two Bruins, too: Henri Jokiharju, the veteran defenseman, and Joonas Korpisalo, a reserve goalie.

Latvia rounds out the Bruins representation. Boston prospect Dans Locmelis represents Latvia after spending this season with AHL Providence.

More Olympics news:

• This U.S. luge star was parodied on SNL
• Amber Glenn gets into music dispute during Olympic figure skating program
• Breezy Johnson's wild Olympics end in engagement
• U.S. Olympians get paid shockingly less than other countries for gold medals
• This USA curling star looks like Pommel Horse Guy
• 5 U.S. women's hockey stars attended the same high school

He may be a physical specimen, but Torrez Finney isn't indestructible.

As it turns out, Finney (11-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) found that out recently if he wasn't already aware. During his UFC 325 loss to Jacob Malkoun, Finney suffered a leg injury and was noticeably hobbled for the official decision.

Wednesday, Finney revealed the extent of the damage. He suffered a torn ACL and meniscus and underwent surgery the day after his Jan. 31 defeat. Finney added that the injury occurred in the first 15 seconds of the fight.

Thank God he’s built me to overcome every obstacle I’ve faced and that will be the story once again. I tore my ACL and both of my meniscus within my knee. Got me into surgery the next day. He said it’s insane I was able to fight tearing that 15 seconds into the fight
✊🏿😈🔥 pic.twitter.com/uPZ6lgqvwv

— Torrez Finney (@punishertorrez) February 12, 2026

The defeat was Finney's first of his professional career. The 27-year-old middleweight entered the bout having won his promotional debut vs. Robert Valentin in April.

Finney did not reveal a timeline for his return. However, it's common for professional athletes to take somewhere in the nine-to-12-month range to return from a torn ACL. Some are able to return as soon as seven months after injury.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Physical specimen in UFC reveals devastating injury 15 seconds into bout

Fans can look forward to a new offensive-minded regime with head coach Mike McCarthy at the helm of the Pittsburgh Steelers, no doubt looking to acquire additional playmakers in free agency this offseason.

If Pittsburgh ultimately looks to add another wide receiver opposite DK Metcalf, Marquise Brown of the Kansas City Chiefs would be an ideal acquisition.

Stats

• 2019: 46 receptions, 584 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns
• 2020: 58 receptions, 769 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns
• 2021: 91 receptions, 1,008 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns
• 2022: 67 receptions, 709 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns
• 2023: 51 receptions, 574 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns
• 2024: 9 receptions, 91 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns
• 2025: 49 receptions, 587 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns

Fit with Steelers offense

If Calvin Austin III walks in free agency, the addition of Brown could be viewed by some as an upgrade at wide receiver. With game-changing speed and acceleration, exceptional route running, and versatility to make an impact outside and in the slot, Brown could be exactly what the Steelers sorely lacked last season. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that his cousin Antonio Brown was arguably the greatest wide receiver in franchise history.

Contract prediction

Brown could predictably sign a two-year deal worth around $18 million, above Spotrac's projected $5.5 million average annual salary, given his upside and potential impact in Pittsburgh.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers 2026 free agency scouting report: Chiefs WR Marquise Brown

Xbox plans to prepare developers for the future at GDC 2026 Microsoft has confirmed that it will be at GDC 2026 in full force, with plans to discuss the “future of Xbox”, implying that we will hear about the company’s “next-generation” plans at the event. While Microsoft’s statements are somewhat vague, a talk from their […]

The post Xbox to prep devs for “what’s next” at GDC 2026 appeared first on OC3D.

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As the Greek island of Samos emerges as a popular international destination, UK residents’ travel patterns are changing dramatically. This surge in interest is being driven by the introduction of new direct flight routes, which have effectively bridged the gap between British airports and this North Aegean sanctuary. As the 2026 flight season approaches, the Municipality of Western Samos has been tasked with actively promoting the island on a global scale. This strategic initiative aims to highlight a wide range of experiences that go well beyond the traditional “sun and sea” narrative. Samos is presenting a more nuanced identity to the world by emphasising the island’s unique gastronomy, rugged outdoor adventures, and deep historical significance.

A Strategic Pivot Toward Alternative Tourism

The conventional appeal of Mediterranean beaches is no longer viewed as the sole driver for tourism in the region. Instead, a multifaceted approach is being adopted by local authorities to cater to the evolving tastes of modern travellers. It is recognized that British tourists are increasingly seeking authenticity and depth in their holiday choices. Consequently, the local administration is prioritizing the development of “alternative tourism” sectors. This involves a concerted effort to showcase the island’s mountainous terrain, its sprawling vineyards, and the quiet sophistication of its culinary traditions. To ensure these offerings reach the right audience, partnerships are being explored with high-profile organizations, including the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) in the UK. Through these collaborations, the island’s image is being reshaped from a seasonal summer getaway into a year-round cultural hub.

Culinary Heritage and Gastronomic Exploration

The flavours of Samos are being positioned at the forefront of this new promotional campaign. The island’s gastronomic identity is deeply intertwined with its legendary winemaking history, particularly the production of the world-renowned Muscat wine. Visitors are being invited to explore local vineyards where ancient techniques are still honoured, alongside modern tasting rooms that reflect the island’s growing sophistication. The culinary experience is further enriched by the use of locally sourced ingredients—honey from the slopes of Mount Kerkis, olive oil from century-old groves, and seafood caught fresh from the Aegean. By emphasizing these authentic epicurean journeys, Samos is successfully attracting a demographic of travellers who value quality and local provenance over mass-produced tourist fare.

Adventure and the Great Outdoors

For the spirited traveller, the natural landscape of Western Samos is being developed as a premier destination for outdoor activities. The rugged beauty of the island provides a dramatic backdrop for a variety of pursuits, ranging from challenging treks on Mount Kerkis to leisurely walks through the Potami waterfalls. Detailed guided tours are being organized to lead visitors through lush forests and hidden valleys, ensuring that the island’s biodiversity is both appreciated and preserved. Furthermore, the coastal waters are being utilized for sustainable marine activities, such as kayaking and sailing, which allow for a closer connection with the environment. This focus on adventure is intended to appeal to a younger, more active generation of British travellers who prioritize physical engagement and environmental stewardship during their travels.

Unveiling the Layers of Antiquity

The historical wealth of Samos remains one of its most compelling assets, and it is being highlighted as a cornerstone of the island’s international appeal. As the birthplace of Pythagoras and the site of the magnificent Heraion, the island offers a historical narrative that spans millennia. Significant archaeological landmarks, including the Tunnel of Eupalinos—an engineering marvel of the ancient world—are being integrated into comprehensive sightseeing itineraries. These sites are not merely being presented as static ruins but as living monuments to human ingenuity and cultural evolution. By providing well-structured tours and educational resources, the Municipality is ensuring that the historical legacy of Samos is accessible and engaging for the intellectually curious visitor.

Sustainable Growth and Future Prospects

As the tourism landscape evolves, Western Samoa’s commitment to sustainable development becomes more apparent. The influx of British tourists is being managed with a focus on quality over quantity, with the goal of avoiding the pitfalls of overtourism that have plagued other Mediterranean hotspots. The infrastructure is being gradually upgraded to accommodate new flight arrivals while preserving the island’s authentic charm. This balanced approach is expected to provide long-term benefits to the local economy and community. Samos is setting a standard for other Aegean destinations by promoting a tourism model that values both the natural environment and local culture. In the coming years, the island is expected to solidify its reputation as a sophisticated, multifaceted destination that provides something truly unique to international travellers.

In an exciting move that’s transforming US travel, Hawaiian Airlines has joined the ranks of Alaska, Southwest, United, JetBlue, and more US airlines, upgrading their flight travel experiences with Starlink inflight Wi-Fi. As US airlines embrace Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency internet, passengers flying across the USA can now expect lightning-fast Wi-Fi, making it easier than ever to stay connected. Starlink Wi-Fi is no longer just an upgrade; it’s becoming a game-changer for the US tourism sector.

However, not all airlines are on the same page. While American Airlines and Delta continue to rely on traditional, self-sourced Wi-Fi systems, the majority of US airlines are jumping on the Starlink bandwagon. With Hawaiian Airlines leading the way, the USA is witnessing a revolution in flight connectivity. This shift signals a new era for US tourism, one where staying connected in the skies is no longer a luxury but an expectation. Starlink is setting the new standard, and the impact on US travel could be monumental. Stay with us as we dive into how these upgrades are reshaping the future of air travel and US tourism.

In a world where US tourism is rapidly evolving, Starlink has emerged as the game-changer that passengers have been desperately waiting for. As US airlines continue to transform the in-flight experience, Starlink Wi-Fi is leading the charge, providing lightning-fast internet to thousands of travellers soaring across the USA and beyond. But what does this mean for the US travel industry? How are US airlines embracing this transformative technology, and how does this impact US tourism as a whole? Keep reading, as we dive deep into the US tourism sector’s monumental leap into the future of air travel connectivity.

The rapid expansion of Starlink Wi-Fi on US airlines marks a new era for USA tourism and US travel overall. With US airlines aggressively deploying Starlink satellite technology, airline connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s an expectation. This is especially crucial for passengers flying long distances, where Starlink‘s unparalleled speed and low latency are vital. The implications for US tourism and US travel are nothing short of monumental, setting a bold standard for global air travel. In the USA, air travel isn’t just about getting from A to B—it’s about experiencing a digital revolution in the skies.