CLARK, Philippines Vince Dizon makes sure his guests take in the view from his ninth-story office before they leave. A set of windows looks out over a hazy, expansive airfield that was the center of the United States' largest overseas military base, until it was handed back to the Philippines in 1991. The concrete skeleton of a new commercial-airline terminal can now be seen in the distance. Dizon, who leads the Philippine government agency charged with redeveloping old military sites, is fond of telling visitors that the Americans built a runway of such quality that the U.S. Space Shuttle could have landed on it. Three decades on, the area is still dotted with vestiges of Clark Air Base, where Americans first established a presence during the Spanish American War while searching for grazing land for their horses. A manicured veterans cemetery is managed by the U.S. government; a building that was once a base hospital sits abandoned outside the gates of a new water park; an American Legion post is wedged between two "entertainment bars" the infamous red-light district, which flourished thanks to demand from U.S. troops, didn't leave when they did. Now, though, the Chinese, not the Americans, are the ones fueling investments here. Officials from Dizon's agency, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, and China's Gezhouba Group, an engineering and construction company that has moved aggressively into foreign markets in recent years, are finalizing the details of a $2 billion, 500-hectare industrial park, Dizon told me, while Chinese loans will fund a railway linking Clark to the coastal city of Subic, the site of a former U.S. naval base. [ Read: The U.S. can't make allies take sides over China ] The projects are part of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's aptly, if not creatively, named "Build Build Build" economic strategy, under which the government plans to transform the Clark base into a green, disaster-resilient, stand-alone city that developers hope will relieve pressure on Manila, the perpetually gridlocked capital some 60 miles south. Chinese investment in what will be known as New Clark City "is critical," Dizon said in an interview. "It is how it all started." He sees the investments as symbols of a "newfound friendship and relationship" between Manila and Beijing. It is one of several similar projects launched across the Philippines, and across Southeast Asia, as China and Chinese companies plow money into projects, largely as part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's much-touted Belt and Road Initiative. The globe-spanning infrastructure and investment program has been criticized by Washington, but has nevertheless won admirers: Last month, Italy became the first major European economy to join. This redevelopment of a former symbol of American might here in Clark by a Chinese developer may be the best example of the shift under way in Southeast Asia, as a more assertive Beijing courts traditional American allies in a part of the world where Washington's power long went unchallenged. "It is so important," Dizon, who worked on Duterte's presidential campaign in communications and was appointed to his current job by the president, said. "I think it will be one of the major legacies of this shift in foreign policy under President Duterte." Though Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines say they still need an American military presence in their backyard and fear a rising China Duterte himself has told Beijing to " lay off " an island claimed by the Philippines in the South China Sea a debate is raging on what that relationship with Washington should now look like. Analysts that I spoke with noted worries in the region that President Donald Trump's White House appeared uninterested in Southeast Asia compared with its predecessors. At the same time, staunch American allies, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, have looked to China as the rare country that is hungry to sink billions into infrastructure projects and fund development. To be sure, China's efforts in Southeast Asia have not been without difficulties. Beijing has inserted itself as a power broker in Myanmar's (also called Burma) long-running civil wars and Rohingya crisis , and has stirred public resentment as it pushes to restart a highly controversial, and currently suspended, hydropower dam project . Though Malaysia has recently revived two major Chinese-backed projects, it had initially turned away Belt and Road investments whose price tags became too high to bear. And even as the Philippines invites Chinese investment, it has almost no security relationship with Beijing. (By contrast, Manila maintains exceptionally close ties with Washington, its former colonizer, which is still widely trusted and respected here.) [ Read: China is quietly reshaping the world ] Yet the shift in ties between the Philippines, as well as much of the rest of Southeast Asia, and the U.S. is clear. Vacancies for ambassadorships in the region have piled up and include Singapore and Thailand. Trump has yet to name an ambassador to ASEAN, the regional bloc, and Patrick Murphy, the nominee for ambassador to Cambodia, continues to face confirmation delays . David Stilwell, nominated last year to be assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, also has yet to be confirmed. Barack Obama who lived for part of his childhood in Indonesia took a particular interest in Southeast Asia, and while his administration's " pivot to Asia ," meant to be a centerpiece of his foreign-policy legacy, was never fully realized, even those limited efforts have not been replicated. A 2016 summit convened by Obama with Southeast Asian leaders, the first of its kind, has not been held again. After attending part of the 2017 ASEAN Summit, Trump skipped two Southeast Asia focused meetings last year. The Trump administration has defended its handling of Southeast Asia. In particular, the White House has sent a large number of officials to visit the region. Murphy, who currently serves as the principal deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs, met with Southeast Asian officials in March to "reaffirm our embrace of ASEAN centrality." An increased number of military operations in the South China Sea have also been a central, and highly visible, part of the administration's efforts to push back on China's combativeness in the contested waters. And Washington, which will publish an Indo-Pacific strategy report this year, has announced new funds for technological and infrastructure initiatives across Southeast Asia, though the amounts on offer are a fraction of what China is spending. These moves are not gaining much traction. A February survey of 1,008 Southeast Asian experts, business leaders, and policy makers by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, a think tank in Singapore, found that 68 percent believed that U.S. engagement with the region has either decreased or decreased substantially. A similar proportion were unsure of, or had little confidence in, Washington's reliability as a strategic partner and provider of regional security. Separate surveys last year from the Pew Research Center and Gallup found Trump's image remains poor internationally, while countries continue to recognize the rising power of China. [ Read: China's plan to buy influence and undermine democracy ] "How can you reportedly be spending so much time in Asia and yet not [be] reassuring anybody by doing it?" Greg Poling, director of the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, part of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told me. "There is a sentiment in Southeast Asia that U.S. officials come in and want to lecture about the things that matter to us and don't have nearly enough patience for the things that matter to Asian partners." Nina Hachigian, who served as the U.S. ambassador to ASEAN during the Obama administration, said she doesn't see "the strategic vision for Asia as a whole and what the U.S. role and interests are." Hachigian, who now works in the Los Angeles mayor's office, added that China could exploit that to tell regional allies "that we can't be trusted, that we are not really Asian anyway, that we are unreliable, that we will leave, that we are only in it for our own interests." China's infrastructure-building is perhaps something that the U.S. does not want to, or cannot, compete with Manila's finance secretary, Carlos Dominguez III, for example, publicly lamented last year that American investors " have no interest " in the country's redevelopment plans. But the U.S.'s once rock-solid defense ties may also be under pressure. Recent focus in Manila has been on the Mutual Defense Treaty , which was signed in 1951, five years after the Philippines gained independence from Washington. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in March reassured the Philippines that the U.S. would come to the country's defense if it were attacked in the South China Sea a significant statement that aimed to address long-standing consternation here over the lack of a firm American position on the issue. But just a week later, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that it was not the lack of reassurances that worried him, but rather that the Philippines would be drawn into "a war that we do not seek and do not want," noting that increased U.S. naval operations meant the Philippines "is more likely to be involved in a shooting war." While stressing that the two countries remain steadfast allies, Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to Manila, admitted to me in an interview that "it may not be the simplest time to be working on the U.S.-Philippines relationship for various reasons." He pointed to "political rhetoric" from the infamously brash Duterte as one of the factors that complicated the relationship. The U.S., Kim said, was looking at whether "any adjustments could be made to update and improve" the 1951 treaty, issues that might be "identified together" with counterparts from the Philippines. (Changes to the text of the treaty, though, would require ratification from lawmakers in both countries.) Dizon's concerns are more immediate: He is hoping to drum up more Chinese support for New Clark City. Local media reported that two deals were signed between China and the Philippines at a Belt and Road event in Beijing in April. As I said goodbye to Dizon after our interview, a team from Chinese state television was waiting outside his office, getting ready to film a story on the enormous construction project. The Clark development would, he told me as he walked to join them, "spur the long-term relationship between China and the Philippines."


The Boston Bruins came to terms with forward Peter Cehlarik to a one-year, two-way contract, according to CapFriendly . The 23-year-old did not file for arbitration on Friday, which suggested that he might have been close to deal. The deal will pay him $700K if he's on the NHL roster or $125K in the AHL. Cehlarik, a third-round pick back in 2013, came over to the NHL three years ago from Slovakia and has been working his way through the Bruins' system, developing a stronger two-way game. He finished this season with 12 goals and 26 assists in 53 games with the Providence Bruins in the AHL. He's always gotten some time with Boston as well; he got into 20 games this season with the Bruins, posting four goals and six points. The winger will have an uphill battle, however, if he hopes to break camp with Boston. He will likely have to beat out six or seven players to get a regular spot this fall, but he has shown some skill in his limited time with Boston. He also served as a black ace for the Bruins on their extended playoff run.


Parrot, a longtime competitor to Chinese drone giant DJI, is one of six companies selected by the US Department of Defense to build short-range reconnaissance aircraft for the American military. The deal, which includes five other companies but not DJI, represents a strategic front between the US and European commercial entities, like Parrot, in the face of increasing dominance from Chinese companies. DJI is far and away the world's largest and most popular drone maker, with Parrot and other smaller companies like 3D Robotics and fellow Chinese firm Yuneec existing in DJI's shadow for years. (3D Robotics has since exited the drone hardware market , while GoPro's short-lived Karma effort ended in failure .) But with increasing pressure from the US government on Chinese companies amid President Donald Trump's trade war, which has thus far been most aggressively focused on Android phone maker Huawei , it appears more American and European alternatives to big-name Chinese brands could be selected for lucrative government contracts. Parrot's drones may not be better than DJI's, but Trump's trade war is a factor While the commercial drone market is expected to continue growing steadily , the overall size of the commercial drone industry pales in comparison to the magnitude of military contracts. According to analyst firm Envision Intelligence , military drone applications constitute about 70 percent of the market, with consumer applications just 17 percent and non-military uses like filmmaking and climate modeling in the commercial realm just 13 percent. "The United States has always been a major market for the Parrot Group whether it is for our well-known consumer range or our advanced professional offering," Henri Seydoux, Parrot's CEO and founder, said in a statement. "We have always been at the forefront creating advanced, easy to use, compact and reliable drone-based solutions. We also perfectly understand how small unmanned aircraft, such as the Parrot ANAFI platform, has the potential to become a key part of the defense system." For Parrot, the contract is a big win. The company has always played second fiddle to DJI, with its Anafi line falling short in almost every way when compared to DJI's Phantom, Mavic, and Spark models. Although the contract is not all that lucrative for Parrot as a company, it does open doors for the French firm to work more closely with the US military in the future as a trusted DJI alternative. Parrot is receiving an undisclosed amount of an $11 million fund from the DOD to prototype next-generation reconnaissance drones that can "fly for 30 minutes straight at a range of up to three kilometers," "weigh three pounds or less," and "take less than 2 minutes to assemble and fit inside a soldier's standard-issue rucksack."


Megan Rapinoe and Lucy Bronze have been the standout players for the United States and England at the Women's World Cup, and the winner of their duel in Lyon may determine who reaches the final. Rapinoe has captured the attention of everyone from President Donald Trump to actor Zac Efron with back-to-back braces that have fired USA to an eighth successive semifinal. Meanwhile, Bronze was called "the best player in the world" by her manager Phil Neville after her thumping first-time finish capped an all-action display in England's 3-0 quarterfinal win over Norway. With left-sided forward Rapinoe set to go up against right-back Bronze in Tuesday's semifinal, we crunched the Opta numbers on both women. Potent Pinoe Rapinoe, nicknamed "Pinoe", is one of the co-leaders for the Golden Boot, having become the first woman since Brazil's Marta in 2007 to score two or more goals in consecutive fixtures. The forward has found the net five times this tournament   the same as teammate Alex Morgan, England's Ellen White and Australia's Sam Kerr   but Rapinoe has the best shot conversion rate (45.45 percent) of everyone but France defender Wendie Renard (57.14 percent). 13 - Since her Women's World Cup debut in 2011, no player has been directly involved in more goals in the competition than USA's Megan Rapinoe (13; 7 goals, 6 assists - level with Carli Lloyd). Pivotal. #FIFAWWC #USA #FRAUSA pic.twitter.com/SIGC4UFICN   OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 28, 2019 With two assists, too, Rapinoe has seven goal involvements, one fewer than the leader in that category Morgan, whose five goals all came in the 13-0 thrashing of Thailand. A creative force A unique player on this USA team, Rapinoe's flair and creativity set her apart. She shot to prominence on the world stage as a substitute in 2011 by delivering the pinpoint cross for Abby Wambach's dramatic extra-time equalizer in the win over Brazil. Rapinoe remains a threat from the left wing having played the most passes into the box in this tournament (42). Morgan is viewed as the fulcrum in the U.S. attacking trident, yet the statistics show Rapinoe is the one who tends to make things happen. She has created 14 chances so far   fewer than only Guro Reiten, Kosovare Asllani and Amel Majri among all players. The Bronze Bomber A right-back in name only, Bronze loves to bomb on and has the freedom to drift inside, as she showed by providing the assist for White's goal against Cameroon from a position typically occupied by a No. 10. 1 - Lucy Bronze is the first England player to both score and assist a goal in the same Women's World Cup game since Jill Scott against New Zealand in 2011; all five of her goal involvements (3 goals, 2 assists) at the #FIFAWWC have been in the knockout stages. Spotlight. #NORENG pic.twitter.com/c9KFwjXJbZ   OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 27, 2019 Bronze is integral to everything England does and no one in the tournament has touched the ball as often as she has (478). The 27-year-old has had 71 successful passes ending in the final third   the most of all defenders. Her 10 touches in the opposition box are only bettered by Majri, Renard and Crystal Dunn among those who play at the back. Bronze has delivered the third-most crosses from open play of any defender (15) and is tied for second in goal involvements with three. Defensive diligence MORE : Women's World Cup 2019: England coach Phil Neville says USA lacks etiquette after hotel scout | Women's World Cup 2019: U.S. teammate salutes 'warrior' Megan Rapinoe | Women's World Cup 2019 preview: What to know, how to watch USWNT vs. England Bronze is much more than just an attacking outlet and her defensive statistics are also among the best. With the center-back pairing of Steph Houghton and Millie Bright looking vulnerable at times, Bronze's ability to sweep in behind and snuff out danger has contributed to Neville's side keeping four straight clean sheets. She has won 44 duels, the fourth-most among all players, and has 11 interceptions   three fewer than the leader in that category, Noko Matlou. The Lyon right-back has also made 13 tackles, good enough for sixth-most among defenders.


WASHINGTON   The Pentagon on Thursday will present plans to the White House to send up to 10,000 more troops to the Middle East, in a move to beef up defenses against potential Iranian threats, U.S. officials said Wednesday. The officials said no final decision has been made yet, and it's not clear if the White House would approve sending all or just some of the requested forces. Officials said the move is not in response to any new threat from Iran, but is aimed at reinforcing security in the region. They said the troops would be defensive forces, and the discussions include additional Patriot missile batteries, more ships and increased efforts to monitor Iran. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been formally announced. Thursday morning's meeting comes as tensions with Iran continue to simmer, and it wasn't clear if a decision would be made during the session. Any move to deploy more forces to the Middle East would signal a shift for President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly emphasized the need to reduce America's troop presence in the region. U.S. officials have provided few details about possible Iranian threats, but indicated they initially involved missiles loaded onto small Iranian boats. This week officials said the missiles have been taken off the boats near Iran's shore, but other maritime threats continue. Sending more troops could also raise questions on Capitol Hill. During back-to-back closed briefings for the House and Senate on Tuesday, defense leaders told congressional officials the U.S. doesn't want to go to war with Iran and wants to de-escalate the situation. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told lawmakers the U.S. is seeking to deter, not provoke, Iran, even while accusing Tehran of threatening U.S. interests in the Mideast. Shanahan told reporters, "Our biggest focus at this point is to prevent Iranian miscalculation." Many in Congress are skeptical of the administration's approach to Iran, questioning whether it is responding to significant new Iranian threats or escalating a situation that could lead to war. CNN first reported that the Pentagon will brief the White House on a plan that could send thousands of additional U.S. troops to the Middle East. Air Force Col. Patrick Ryder, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, declined to comment, saying, "As a matter of long-standing policy, we are not going to discuss or speculate on potential or alleged future operations or plans." In early May, the U.S. accelerated the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group to the Mideast and sent four B-52 bomber aircraft to the region. The Pentagon also decided to move a Patriot air-defense missile battery to an undisclosed country in the area. The Trump administration has evacuated nonessential personnel from Iraq, amid unspecified threats the administration said are linked to Iranian-backed militias in the country. On Sunday, a rocket was fired into Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, landing less than a mile from the sprawling U.S. Embassy. There were no injuries and no group claimed responsibility, but the rocket was believed to have been fired from east Baghdad   which is home to Iran-backed Shiite militias. Some Democrats say Trump is responsible for drawing Iran's ire. Last year he abruptly pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal, negotiated during the Obama administration to prevent Iran from nuclear weapons production, without crafting a coherent strategy for how to combat other Iranian behavior like supporting extremist organizations. He also has reimposed punishing sanctions that have crippled Tehran's economy, and designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization in April. "I have yet to see any exhibited strategy," said Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, a former CIA officer. She said she finds many of the administration's recent statements on Iran to be "deeply troubling."


Jennifer Dulos' children's school released a statement of support for the family; Laura Ingle reports.


Historical data from the various Detroit open-wheel races ahead of the seventh and eighth rounds of the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series   the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. Click here for the weekend schedule Track: 2.35-mile, 14-turn temporary street course on Belle Isle Park. Race distance: 2 x 70 laps / 164.5 miles each Push-to-pass parameters: Per race, 150 seconds of with a maximum single duration of 15 seconds. Firestone tires per entry: Across the weekend, nine sets of primaries, four sets of alternate, five sets of rain tires. 2018 race winners: Race 1, Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda); Race 2, Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport-Honda). Helio Castroneves (Team Penske) holds the record for the most number of wins here (3), while of the active drivers, Will Power, Dixon, Graham Rahal and Sebastien Bourdais are all on 2 wins each here. Rahal is the only driver to have won both races in one weekend (2017). 2018 pole winner: Race 1, Marco Andretti (Andretti Herta Autosport-Honda) 1min14.8514sec; Race 2, Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport-Honda) 1min33.3143sec. Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya have won three poles each here. Of the active drivers, Takuma Sato, Dixon, Simon Pagenaud have scored two wins each. Qualifying lap record: Takuma Sato (Andretti Autosport-Honda), 1min13.6732sec, 114.831mph (2017) Previous winners Grosse Pointe (dirt oval)1905 Webb Jay, White steam-engine Michigan State Fairgrounds (dirt oval) 1928 Ray Keech, Miller 1929 Cliff Woodbury, Miller 1930 Wilbur Shaw, Smith 1931 Louis Meyer, Stevens 1932 Bob Carey, Stevens Mauri Rose, Stevens Bill Cummings, Miller 1949 Tony Bettenhausen, Kurtis Kraft 1950 Henry Banks, Moore 1951 Paul Russo, Russo/Nichels 1952 Bill Vukovich, Kuzma 1953 Rodger Ward, Kurtis Kraft 1957 Jimmy Bryan, Kuzma 1931 Detroit GP winner Louis Meyer. Photo by: IndyCar Series Renaissance Center (Formula 1) 1982 John Watson, McLaren 1983 Michele Alboreto, Tyrrell 1984 Nelson Piquet, Brabham 1985 Keke Rosberg, Williams 1986 Ayrton Senna, Lotus 1987 Ayrton Senna, Lotus 1988 Ayrton Senna, McLaren Keke Rosberg, Williams-Honda, 1985 Detroit GP winner. Photo by: Williams F1 Renaissance Center (Indy car) 1989 Emerson Fittipaldi, Patrick Racing 1990 Michael Andretti, Newman/Haas Racing 1991 Emerson Fittipaldi, Penske Racing Belle Isle 1992 Bobby Rahal, Rahal-Hogan Racing 1993 Danny Sullivan, Galles Racing 1994 Paul Tracy, Penske 1995 Robby Gordon, Walker Racing 1996 Michael Andretti, Newman/Haas Racing 1997 Greg Moore, Forsythe Racing 1998 Alex Zanardi, Chip Ganassi Racing 1999 Dario Franchitti, Team Green 2000 Helio Castroneves, Team Penske 2001 Helio Castroneves, Team Penske 2007 Tony Kanaan, Andretti Green Racing 2008 Justin Wilson, Newman/Haas Racing 2012 Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing 2013 Mike Conway, Dale Coyne Racing Simon Pagenaud, Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports 2014 Will Power, Team Penske Helio Castroneves, Team Penske 2015 Carlos Munoz, Andretti Autosport Sebastien Bourdais, KV Racing 2016 Sebastien Bourdais, KVSH Racing Will Power, Team Penske 2017 Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 2018 Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport Greg Moore winning Detroit GP in 1997 in Forsythe Racing's Reynard-Mercedes Photo by: Robert Kurtycz


IOWA CITY   It may be nearly nine months until the first balloting of the 2020 primary, but candidates are already practically tripping over one another in Iowa. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Bernie Sanders visited the same Des Moines farmers' market on the same weekend this month. Mr. Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren hosted rallies in adjacent ballrooms in Ames on back-to-back days. And Ms. Warren and Beto O'Rourke stumped at the same brewery in Mason City. The reason is clear: With 20-some Democrats running for president , there are far more candidates   especially ones counting on strong results in Iowa   than there are slots to realistically move forward in the 2020 competition after the caucuses. That means most of the contenders are bound to depart the Des Moines airport next February damaged, dispirited or disappointed, if not politically dead. Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter "If you're not in the top three, it's fairly hard to imagine how the campaign can continue," said Norm Sterzenbach, a veteran Iowa operative and the state director for Mr. O'Rourke, the former Texas congressman. "I don't think that the bar is too high. That's just the bar. For all candidates." The list of Democrats staking their claim to the nomination here is long. Where can Ms. Warren's brand of prairie populism catch fire if not in Iowa, where her staff of 50 people on the ground tops every other campaign's ? Where can Ms. Klobuchar achieve liftoff with her get-along Minnesotan approach if not in her neighboring state? And where can Mr. O'Rourke's relentless focus on retail-level politics and recruiting a volunteer-powered field program work if not in the logistically complex caucuses? [ Check out the election calendar: Iowa votes first next year and the first debate is next month. ] The two leaders in the polls, Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Mr. Sanders, must also finish out front or risk failing to meet heightened expectations. And those polling closer to zero are wagering everything on an Iowa breakthrough. John Delaney, a former Maryland congressman, has opened eight Iowa field offices and has run television ads in the state   and had already visited all 99 counties by last August. Across the field, Iowa offers a series of ideological, racial and generational sub-primaries: between Ms. Warren and Mr. Sanders for the mantle of progressive leader, between Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris to be the leading black candidate before the race pivots to more diverse states, and between Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Mr. O'Rourke and other fresh faces offering a turn-the-page-on-the-past candidacy . "There is no escaping the fact that the stakes of Iowa are extremely high," said Robby Mook, who was Hillary Clinton's national campaign manager in 2016. Just how important has Iowa been? The last Democratic nominee not to win it was Bill Clinton in 1992. And those who stumble here often drop out quickly. In the large 2016 Republican field, three candidates quit within days. Another wave quit after also failing to gain traction in New Hampshire. Iowa has already dashed Mr. Biden's presidential dreams once, in 2008, when he finished in fifth place with less than 1 percent of the delegates and immediately dropped out . Now that he is running as a former vice president, his team knows he can ill afford anything but a strong showing to start the race in 2020. On his first trip to the state after declaring his candidacy last month, Mr. Biden promised Iowans that they would "see a whole heck of a lot" of him. "Ninety-nine counties, here I come!" Mr. Biden shouted to a crowd in Iowa City. Mr. Sanders, of Vermont, came from nowhere to virtually tie Mrs. Clinton here in 2016, but this time he is a favorite, not an insurgent. In private, his rivals like to raise the bar for him by noting that he should win in a landslide if everyone who caucused for him four years ago comes out again. There were approximately 171,000 Democratic caucusgoers in 2016. "I think Vice President Biden and Senator Sanders do have a difficult challenge," said Tom Vilsack, the former Democratic governor of Iowa and federal agriculture secretary. "They need to preserve while others need to grow. Both are not easy." Pete D'Alessandro, a senior Iowa adviser to Mr. Sanders, said the campaign had already built a list of 24,000 Iowans, mostly through the Sanders email list, who said they planned to support him in 2020. Such a sizable ledger of supporters this early in the race is a big advantage in a state where voters are notoriously fickle, often demanding to meet multiple candidates before committing. "We have every intention of winning here," Mr. D'Alessandro said. "We're working to win here." [ Here's a look at how the Democrats have balanced travel to Iowa with other destinations. ] Numerous lower-tier contenders need Iowa to breathe life into their candidacies, even if they finish shy of an outright victory. The gap between expectations and outcomes has often been as important in Iowa as the results themselves. Eric Swalwell, a California congressman and Iowa native, has already visited the state 19 times since 2017, according to a candidate calendar kept by The Des Moines Register . Julián Castro, the former federal housing secretary, installed a former Iowa Democratic Party chairman as his national deputy campaign manager. Gov. Steve Bullock of Montana, who is expected to join the 2020 primary soon, has signaled a heavy focus on Iowa. At an off-the-record gathering of supporters and donors in Bozeman, Mont., this year, one of his guests was the Iowa attorney general, Tom Miller, who told people he planned to endorse Mr. Bullock and be his Iowa political guide. (Mr. Miller declined to comment last week. "I'm not saying anything this week," he said.) As a neighboring senator, Ms. Klobuchar is already known in some parts of northern Iowa that overlap with Minnesota media markets. ("I can see Iowa from my porch," she likes to joke.) Her campaign headquarters in Minneapolis is only a two-hour drive to the Iowa border, making it possible to bus down volunteers as the caucuses near. The rules of the Iowa caucuses have historically been inhospitable to all but the top finishers. Candidates who fail to get at least 15 percent in a caucus precinct cannot receive any delegates there, and their supporters then have a chance to migrate to viable competitors. But a new wrinkle in 2020 is that Iowa will now deliver two sets of results. In the past, the party tallied up only how many delegates each candidate won. That will still happen. But for the first time, the total number of caucusgoers for each candidate will be made public, too, providing a new way for campaigns to spin the outcome. "It certainly adds a new dynamic to the caucuses," said Troy Price, the Iowa Democratic Party chairman. The logistical heave of competing in 1,679 separate and simultaneous caucuses is significant   the best organized campaigns will recruit a precinct captain, if not a team, at every site. In total, the campaigns have more than 150 paid staff members on the ground in Iowa already, led by Ms. Warren. "The strongest campaigns in Iowa for sure right now are Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren organizationally," said Sean Bagniewski, the Polk County Democratic Party chairman, echoing numerous other activists, operatives and party officials. (Some also cited Mr. Delaney.) Notably, both Mr. Booker, of New Jersey, and Ms. Warren have supplemented their growing field teams with a data expert based in Iowa to improve their targeting of potential supporters. And both have engaged in the kind of personal touches   endless selfies and one-on-one phone calls   that have traditionally won over the activist class. Not long after Marcia Nichols, an influential former labor official, told Mr. Booker's team that her elderly mother was a big Booker fan, he stopped by her mother's house to chat. Ms. Nichols said that gesture "played in my decision" to support Mr. Booker. "He's doing the right small-picture things," she said. On another recent trip, Mr. Booker stayed the night at the home of Kurt Meyer, chairman of the Tri-County Democrats in northern Iowa. Weather had delayed Mr. Booker's arrival until after 1 in the morning, but they stayed up talking anyway. "Finally, one of his staff minions said, 'Senator, it's 3:15 a.m.!'" and dragged Mr. Booker to bed, Mr. Meyer recalled. Ms. Harris's efforts have been more low key. The California senator has visited Iowa only once since March, and some Iowans have grumbled that her absence is part of an effort to carefully manage expectations. Mr. O'Rourke's often frenetic approach to campaigning, which brought him national attention in his failed 2018 bid for Senate against Ted Cruz, better fits the classic mold of an Iowa-style campaign. Mr. O'Rourke, 46, has been barnstorming every corner of the state and just finished a five-day, 16-stop trip. Some advisers to Mr. Cruz, who won the Iowa Republican caucuses in 2016, said they felt at times in the 2018 Texas race as if they were running against a mirror image of their own approach, with Mr. O'Rourke's busy schedule and volunteer-heavy field operation. The pace for Mr. O'Rourke builds upon his image as a younger face for the party, a lane now crowded by Mr. Buttigieg , the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Ind., who burst from obscurity this year and has recently begun expanding his footprint in Iowa. Mr. Booker, who just turned 50, has pushed to be part of the next-generation discussion, too. He spent last weekend in New Hampshire and South Carolina, the states that follow Iowa on the primary calendar. But he made time for Iowa from afar, calling a columnist for The Des Moines Register to pitch his latest gun-safety proposal. "Well, sincerely," Mr. Booker told her, "our strategy in this primary is to win Iowa."


It rocked our worlds when Cotton Candy grapes hit the market . It turns out people love fruit that's good for you and tastes like a spun-sugar treat from the circus. No surprise, the latest designer grape sounds just as good. Look out for Grape Soda grapes at Sam's Club! Do the grapes actually taste like soda? Yep! It's not hard to imagine since grape soda is already, well, grape-flavored. But we've heard each grape tastes just like candy. Fortunately, there's no added sugar, so grapes are still a healthy snack with plenty of anti-aging benefits . You'll have to try the Grape Soda grapes for yourself to decide whether or not the fruit tastes like sipping on your favorite soda. How is this even possible? It's possible to cross-breed standard grapes to create all kinds of unusual grapes. (You may have seem some of 'em at the grocery store, like Gum Drops and Moon Drops.) The grapes are perfect for snacking, of course, but we think they'd be particularly good f rozen or in a grape slushie . You might even use the Grape Soda grapes to make this popular potluck salad ! For more to munch on, check out our guide on the most popular types of grapes . Where can I find the Grape Soda grapes? Ready to see if these grapes live up to all the excitement? Then head to your nearest Sam's Club. You can buy Grape Soda Grapes for a limited time at select Sam's Club stores. The grapes come packed in a 3-pound box. You might need to visit multiple locations if you really want to get your hands on these grapes, because a bunch of people are talking about them! Related video: Sam's Club is selling grape soda flavored grapes (Provided by Buzz60) Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. The post Sam's Club Is Selling Grapes That Taste Just Like Grape Soda appeared first on Taste of Home .


Notre Dame Cathedral holds first mass since fire The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will hold a small mass Saturday evening , the first to take place at the church since the April fire that destroyed parts of the iconic landmark. The mass will be streamed live June 15 and include about 20 attendees, who will all be wearing hard hats as a security precaution. More than 400 firefighters were able to put out the blaze on April 15, but not before it destroyed the building's signature spire and parts of the roof. Hong Kong suspends controversial bill amid growing unrest As Hong Kong braced for more protests and street clashes , Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Saturday suspended a proposed bill indefinitely that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who has claimed that the amendments are necessary to close legal loopholes, told the media that she took the move in response to widespread public unhappiness over the measure. Critics have feared the bill would let China target political opponents in the former British colony and could undermine its judicial independence. It also has been suggested the bill could threaten U.S.-Hong Kong relations and could discourage foreign visitors and business. USWNT returns to World Cup action after Thailand blowout Fresh off a record-breaking 13-0 win over Thailand, the United States plays Chile on Sunday (FOX, 12 p.m. ET) in their second game of the FIFA Women's World Cup. The USWNT's margin of victory was the largest ever in a Women's World Cup game, leading some observers to label the Americans as "disgraceful " for celebrating each goal vigorously. Others focused on the large inequality present in women's soccer worldwide. And on Sunday, the USWNT could be in store for another huge win. Chile is ranked 39th in FIFA's world rankings, even lower than 34th-placed Thailand, while the U.S. sits atop the list. . Amanda Knox to participate in panel despite some negative reactions Amanda Knox will participate in a panel discussion Saturday titled "Trial by media" in Modena, Italy, as part of the Festival of Criminal Justice partially organized by the Italy Innocence Project . Knox, a former American exchange student, was released from Italian prison after being wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for the sexual assault and 2007 murder of her roommate British student Meredith Kercher. Knox, now 31, arrived Thursday in Italy for the first time since an appeals court acquitted her in 2011 in the slaying of Kercher and was escorted by plainclothes officers at Milan's Linate airport as she kept her eyes down. But not everyone is happy with Knox's appearance at the conference. Francesco Maresca, a lawyer for the Kercher family, told the Associated Press that Knox taking part was "inappropriate" and "inviting her to a technical panel on justice was a mistake." Father's Day: Bring on the dad jokes! Stores and restaurants are offering special discounts and freebies on Sunday to show their appreciation to dads nationwide. According to the National Retail Federation's annual survey, Americans are expected to spend an estimated $16 billion on gifts for dad this year, more than ever before and up from last year's $15.3 billion. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Notre Dame mass, USWNT in World Cup action, Father's Day: 5 things to know this weekend


The Europa League Final in Azerbaijan has not been getting a lot of positive press due to fans unwillingness to travel for the event and Henrikh Mkhitaryan's fears of stepping foot in the country . That's because Mkhitaryan is the captain of Armenia's national team, and that nation's long dispute with Azerbaijan. [ MORE: Brighton hires new boss ] Arsenal, of course, plays Chelsea in the May 29 final, and Mkhitaryan already missed an earlier UEL match against Azerbaijan powers Qarabag. He's played plenty for the Gunners this season apart from a broken foot, and his absence would not be welcome news for this London Derby of a European Final. Azerbaijan's UK ambassador Tahir Taghizadeh has guaranteed safety for Mkhitaryan, and said he'd be happy to personally offer assurances to the Armenian. On the other hand, this doesn't sound like the most positive messaging, via Sky Sports: "My message to Mkhitaryan would be: you're a footballer, you want to play football? Go to Baku you are safe there, if you want to play the issue then that's a different story. What I can guarantee is that the Azerbaijan government will do everything what needs to be done and provide safety and security for every fan, player and staff member coming to this game." By using the phrase "play the issue," it does launch the discussion firmly into political waters. One thing's for sure: The issue may be debatable, but whether a player feels safe deserves to be his call and his call alone. Follow @NicholasMendola


RB Leipzig have lost four of their five Bundesliga fixtures against Bayern, but did win their last home game against FCB in March 2018 (2-1). Leipzig and Bayern have been the two best Bundesliga teams during the second half of the season. While Bayern have collected 38 of a possible 45 points, RBL have amassed just four fewer (34). Both Bayern München (3-1 in Leverkusen on MD20) and RB Leipzig (1-0 at home to Dortmund on MD18) have suffered just one defeat during the second half of the season   a joint league low. RB Leipzig are now unbeaten in 14 Bundesliga games (W10 D4)   a new club record for RBL in the top flight (previously 13 unbeaten in their first 13 BL matches). Leipzig have lost just one of their 16 Bundesliga home matches this season (W10 D5)   0-1 versus Borussia Dortmund on matchday 18. They've only conceded nine goals in those 16 home games   a league low. 1⃣1⃣ men and a date with destiny 🔴⚪ #RBLFCB #MiaSanMia #packmas pic.twitter.com/dCxHTvpxS4   FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) May 11, 2019 Leipzig head coach Ralf Rangnick has never beaten Bayern in 10 competitive meetings in the dugout (D3 L7) and has lost each of the last five clashes. Should FC Bayern win in Leipzig, or if Dortmund fail to better FCB's result in their match in Düsseldorf, the Bavarians will clinch the title away from home for the 13th time. 74 points or more from 32 games   like Bayern's current tally   has been enough to clinch the title on nine of the 10 previous occasions   only Dortmund failed to win the title in 2015/16 with 77 points after 32 games. Bayern are unbeaten in 12 Bundesliga matches, picking up 32 of a potential 36 points in that period. FCB have lost just one of their last 21 BL games (W17 D3)  1-3 in Leverkusen on matchday 20. Bayern have the best away record in the league this season (35 points). However, they have conceded in each of their last seven games on the road   their longest wait for an away clean sheet since 2010/11.


The Oakland Raiders have proven they aren't afraid to take chances on talented players via trade or free agency. This offseason alone, the team traded for Antonio Brown and signed Vontaze Burfict, who can both be a tad much, at times. With that in mind, could the Raiders be interested in adding Ndamukong Suh to their defensive line? Suh's production has dropped some as of late, but he is still one of the best defensive tackles in all of football. In the playoffs, he was nothing short of a game-wrecker, destroying the Cowboys and the Saints. He finished the season with a grade of 80.2 and 21 run stops, according to Pro Football Focus. Outside of Maurice Hurst, the Raiders don't have another defensive tackle on the roster that excels at rushing the passer. And with Hurst's heart condition, it's never a bad idea for Oakland to add more talent to the position. Oakland could even find ways to get both Hurst and Suh on the field at the same time, which could prove to be troublesome for offenses in the NFL. If the Raiders were able to land Suh, he could dramatically upgrade their defense in 2019. For a team that wants to compete right away, this signing would make some sense. MORE: NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players This video from behind the bench might be the best view of Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater Roundup: Bill Nye's Comments; Seinfeld Finales Ranked; The Office's Streaming Future Report: Chicago Bulls could offer top-6 pick for Lonzo Ball in trade Matt Patricia not 'drinking from the fire hose' in his second offseason


Sometimes, you have to sacrifice some comfort to look cool. We've all dreamt at one point or another of driving a race car on public road. There's an inherent coolness to such an anti-social and rebellious act. While automakers do sell road-going versions of their most potent race cars in hopes of enticing customers into a one-of-a-kind driving experience, these are often much more tamed than you'd expect, blending power and everyday creature comforts. But for the only road-legal Aston Martin Vulcan, even the most basic creature comforts are nonexistent. The video below, which chronicles part of this year's Gumball 3000 Rally, shows just how harsh it is to drive the road-going Vulcan. Aston did what a high school senior does just days before graduation   the bare minimum. Aston added headlights, shortened the front splitter, and remapped a few steering-wheel buttons for things such as turn signals and wipers, and called it a day. The Vulcan features plastic windows that don't roll down, making paying road tolls a challenge that requires slipping out of the safety harness and opening the door. The Vulcan's Journey From Race Car To Road Car: World's Only Road-Legal Aston Martin Vulcan Featured On Video Aston Martin 'Vulcan Bomber' Readies For Gumball 3000 Inside, it's loud, too, with the driver and passenger required to wear aviation-grade headsets to communicate. The car must be turned off when stopped, so it doesn't overheat, and the only source of fresh air is the air conditioner. Near the end of the video, the Vulcan gets trapped in a vicious storm. The in-car audio is deafening with the rain and hail pelting a car that has little if any sound deadening. You can see other cars stopped on the side of the highway, waiting for the storm to pass. Driving a race car is both thrilling and exhausting. The creature comforts we come to enjoy, such as cup holders, storage bins, and windows that roll down, make driving a much more comfortable experience. While it'd be cool to cruise around in a road-legal race car, it'd be laborious to drive such a car daily. Or would it? Source: Mr JWW via YouTube


WASHINGTON   The U.S. Navy is investigating a report that a female Marine found a camera in the women's bathroom of the USS Arlington, according to three military officials. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Sixth Fleet confirmed that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is probing a "recording device in a head" aboard the Arlington, an amphibious transport dock that is currently in port in Greece. "The command has taken, and will continue to take, all necessary actions to ensure the safety and privacy of the victim," said Cdr. Kyle Raines. "The Navy/Marine Corps team takes all reports of sexual harassment seriously, and are committed to thoroughly investigating these allegations and providing resources and care to victims of sexual harassment." "To protect the legal rights and the privacy of all involved, we cannot release details, names, or any other identifying information at this time," said Raines. In March, a female Marine reported the device, according to a U.S. military official, who said the device could record images but did not specify whether it could record stills or video. An NCIS investigation has been underway since March to determine who placed the device and whether any women were recorded. NCIS said it could not comment on ongoing investigations. The Arlington is homeported in Norfolk, Va.


A nearly 11-foot alligator had to be removed from the middle of a Florida road early Wednesday. Deputies with the Collier County Sheriff's Office said they were called around 2 a.m. to an area where a 10-foot, 6-inch gator was sitting in the middle of a road. Deputies said they called in a trapper to help move the gator and the road was completely reopened about an hour later. Just a few weeks ago a massive gator did a 'death roll' while wrestling with Collier County deputies near a school bus stop. You can see that video below. READ MORE: Florida deputies remove monster gator from middle of road CHECK OUT WESH: Stay in the know with the latest Orlando news, weather and sports. Get the top stories and all the scores from the team at WESH.


When Donald J. Trump became president, he left his eldest sons in charge of his company, with a mandate to continue expanding the family's business and brand   which they said at the time was "the hottest it has ever been." Now, more than two years into his presidency, there is growing evidence that the Trump brand is cooling off. Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter The latest indication was in Mr. Trump's financial disclosure report , made public on Thursday, which showed that revenues across the president's businesses in 2018 were down about 4 percent from the previous year. Many of his biggest revenue generators, like his Doral resort and Washington hotel, had only tiny increases, while revenues from his famed club, Mar-a-Lago, dropped nearly 10 percent. The New York Times dug through the numbers for clues about how Mr. Trump's businesses are faring just past the midway point of his term in office. Here are five takeaways. The rest of the world once offered big growth opportunities. Not anymore. As Mr. Trump was sailing toward the Republican nomination in 2016, he filed a financial disclosure report that showed how his company was eagerly expanding into foreign markets. The report included new business ventures in Bali, Indonesia, as well as Jidda, Saudi Arabia, and Kolkata, India. His sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. were eagerly talking about even more potential targets, including projects in China and Israel. Work is still moving ahead in some of the nations where the Trump family had signed deals as of the end of 2016, including residential towers in India. But the huge global branding expansion that was underway has largely come to a halt because of a self-imposed prohibition on new foreign deals. And that is hurting the family business's pace of growth, the newest financial report shows. Just a few years ago, the international projects were generally bringing in $1 million to $5 million a year in new revenue, like the Trump complexes in Istanbul and the Philippines. Under these deals, the Trumps signed contracts with foreign developers to put the Trump name on high-end building projects, in return for a cut of their sales, while also in some cases hiring the Trump family to help manage the properties once they opened. New golf course projects in Scotland and Ireland were also pushing up revenue numbers, in an even bigger way. But no new projects have been added in the last two years, contributing to the flatness in overall revenue growth. The Trump brand is hurting its remaining hotels Ask hotel industry experts and they will tell you that the downtown Chicago market continues to grow, with a more than 5 percent increase last year in the revenue per room in the average hotel in the Chicago area. But at the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, the story was different. Management fees collected by Trump Chicago Hotel Manager L.L.C. dropped 5.7 percent last year. And the company confirmed that the average daily rate paid at the hotel declined last year. Bill Hopping, a Colorado-based hotel industry consultant, said this disconnect between overall market trends in Chicago and Trump management fees strongly suggests that there is some kind of an outside factor affecting sales at the Trump hotel. "Those are significant differences," he said, adding that there is a similar disconnect in Hawaii between the Trump family property and the overall market. "They are underperforming." The Trump Organization says the Chicago business had a good year in 2018 and points to new hotels opening in the city creating intense competition, as well as headlines about crime in the city, as factors that might have depressed revenues at its Chicago property. Mr. Trump often criticizes Chicago , a Democratic bastion, for its high crime rates. The one major exception to the trend is the hotel in Washington, which in 2018 outperformed the industry average. The Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue pulled in $40.8 million in revenue, a much larger figure than in Chicago because the Trump Organization owns and operates the hotel in Washington, instead of just managing it. Past financial filings for the Washington hotel showed that sales of food and drinks and events at the hotel were helping drive its particularly strong performance, even more than room bookings. The bar is often populated with Republican Party activists and out-of-town visitors who are fans of Mr. Trump. The hotel's banquet rooms have also been rented out by major trade associations   such as the American Petroleum Institute   and foreign groups, holding events that might draw the attention of the White House. The nonprofit group Public Citizen published a report last year called " Hotel Swamplandia " that listed outside groups that were holding events at Trump family properties. The list included 121 political candidates or political groups, 47 businesses or business groups, 12 religious groups, 10 foreign governments or business interests, and eight charities. The largest number of events took place at the Trump hotel in Washington. Trump is heavily invested in golf, but revenues are sideways Of total assets of at least $1.4 billion listed in the financial disclosure report, more than a third is tied to the Trump Organization's golf clubs and resort business. These businesses generated more than half of the minimum of $434.9 million he reported in total revenues. That means that the Trump business is heavily dependent on the success of the 16 golf clubs it operates, from Scotland to New York to Los Angeles. In total, revenues rose about 1.5 percent at those properties last year, but half of them saw modest declines. The courses with the biggest revenue drop-offs were the ones near Los Angeles and Philadelphia, and another in Jupiter, Fla. The four Trump-owned or operated courses outside the United States had revenue growth last year, including at the golf course and resort in Turnberry, Scotland, which had the largest jump in revenues, to $23.4 million, up 15 percent. A company official said that the performances at Turnberry and Doonbeg in Ireland were the best since Mr. Trump took them over. Mr. Trump's course near Washington, which he often visits on weekends, saw revenues rise 4.6 percent. An expanding area in the U.S.: Knickknacks When Mr. Trump imposed a ban on new foreign deals during his presidency, the company still thought it would grow domestically. The Trumps were already working on two new midrange hotel brands, with plans of opening them in dozens of cities like Cincinnati, Nashville and Valley Forge, Pa. That growth never materialized and the Trumps shelved the new hotels this year, citing the political climate. The partners on the only hotel deal they signed, based in Mississippi, are now continuing without the Trumps. And the Trumps did not have much to show for all of the effort planning the new lines of hotels, which were to be called American Idea and Scion: They collected $10,000 in management fees last year connected to the Mississippi deal. One area where the Trumps have seen revenue growth has been in their sale of Trump-branded ties, golf wear and golf balls and other gifts. In 2017, they opened a Trump-branded online store, and in its first full year of operation, it brought in $520,000. The financial report offers only a limited view Mr. Trump's financial disclosure spanned 88 pages and listed over 100 lines of business, including hotels, real estate and golf courses. But for all the numbers, the report offers only a limited view of the president's finances. It gives no data, for example, about whether properties are profitable. Since his campaign, Mr. Trump has refused to release his taxes, which would offer a more in-depth view of his finances. Mr. Trump has been resisting efforts from congressional Democrats to obtain his taxes, which he says are under audit. The report does include vague details about Mr. Trump's debt, including that he has at least $315 million in loans, including new financing for the $18.5 million mansion he bought from a sister. But it also leaves many open questions.


Former Baltimore Ravens running back Alex Collins will have to wait a little longer to face trial on felony gun and drug charges, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun . Collins' trial was postponed on Monday, with his plea hearing scheduled for July 3 and the trial pushed to July 22. Collins was arrested following a car crash close to the Ravens' Under Armour Performance Center on March 1. Baltimore County Police charged Collins with possession with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana in excess of 10 grams and possession a handgun in the vehicle. The Ravens released Collins the same day as his arrest . "There are disputed facts in this case, and we look forward to working that out," Collins' attorney Andrew I. Alperstein told the Sun in early March . "Alex is a nice young man and has been a wonderful contributor to our community in Baltimore and I hope folks will give him the benefit of the doubt as the facts flesh out." Collins burst onto the scene in 2017 after getting elevated from Baltimore's practice squad, finishing with 973 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns on 212 attempts. However, Collins couldn't follow up that success in 2018, finishing with 411 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 114 attempts. He was supplanted as the starter by Gus Edwards and ending his season on injured reserve . With training camps around the NFL ready to start in middle to late July, Collins remains unsigned. MORE: This perfect Shaq impersonation at the NBA Awards show had fans in tears NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Andre Iguodala: 'We priced our real fans out' 3 adjustments the Raiders should make on offense in 2019 D'Angelo Russell Rumors: Lakers, Timberwolves Interested in Young Point Guard


Anyone suggesting that President Donald Trump is not tough enough on Russia is talking crazy, according to America's top diplomat. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNBC's Hadley Gamble on Saturday that such criticism   including from members of the previous administration   fails to recognize what Trump's team has done, or the missteps of past presidents. "Boy, that's crazy talk. That's absolutely crazy talk. And I've heard it   I've heard it from the previous administration. They say, 'Oh, we're not tough on Russia.' I only wish they would have stopped the election interference," Pompeo said, referring to Kremlin meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections. "I only wish they would have put global Magnitsky on some of the bad actors in Russia in the way this administration" has, he said. "I only wish they hadn't gutted the defense budget to the great benefit of Vladimir Putin." The Magnitsky Act is an Obama-era law that lets the United States punish individual human rights offenders. Military spending hurts Russia, Pompeo says Trump's administration has "put real money into our Defense Department," Pompeo said, characterizing the American military build up as inherently problematic for Russia. "Vladimir Putin can't possibly think that's a good thing for him," he said. Notably, Trump has both sought to increase the U.S. military budget as well as suggested he would like to work with the Russian president to cut down on the "crazy" arms race. Still, Pompeo said his boss has been as tough as any president on Russia. "The actions that this administration takes I would put up against any in terms of our seriousness in pushing back on Russia and raising costs for them," the secretary of state said. Washington still hopes, however, to find common ground with Moscow, Pompeo said, pointing to Syria and Afghanistan as places where the U.S. and Russia can work together. The topic of Venezuela, he suggested, is more complex. In general, the secretary of state said he has a responsibility to try to make progress with Putin's regime. "There are places that we'll have a value set that is radically different, that we'll have different views. In those places we're going to protect America's interests," he said. "But in those places where we can find common ground or an overlapping interest, it's completely appropriate, and, indeed, my duty and a necessity, that we work together."


Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has played down suggestions that Alex Albon could be fast-tracked in to Red Bull as early as next year, on the back of his impressive start to Formula 1. Albon has shown strong performances in the first four races of the year and, with Pierre Gasly having faced some struggles at Red Bull, there has already been speculation he could be promoted if the main team thinks it needs to change drivers. But while Tost has been hugely encouraged by how quickly Albon has adapted to F1, he is clear that the Anglo-Thai driver will need a lot more experience before he could be considered for Red Bull. "Red Bull is a different league," Tost told Motorsport.com. "Red Bull is a team that competes for race victories and world championships. For me, he needs at least the two or three years that I always say a driver needs until he knows how to get on in F1. "I can explain this with examples. He is confronted with new situations in every qualifying session in the first year. Take Baku: the sunshine through the skyscrapers at 2pm was different than in the final practice session in the morning. The grip is different. And he is confronted with these conditions for the first time in qualifying. That's a difference. "Now you can say: 'In 2020 he won't know what the weather will be like either'. That's true. But at least he then has the experience how he can drive over the kerbs, at what angle he has to approach the corners, how he has to react on the brakes, what speed he can take into the corners in order to accelerate out of the corners in the best possible way." Tost thinks that it could be counterproductive for a young driver if they get pushed in to a top team too soon. "The more often a driver is on the track, the better and faster he can adapt to new conditions," he said. "A young driver learns this for the first time. "If he then drives in a top team, the expectations are different. Then the pressure increases, and then he may think he has to force things - and then he runs into the machinery so that the shot backfires." He added: "Now you can say: '[Charles] Leclerc also does a super-good job at Ferrari', but he was also prepared really well and showed sensationally good performances in all junior classes. "This contradicts the thesis that it takes three years to prepare a driver properly. But in my opinion it normally takes two to three years." Alexander Albon, Toro Rosso STR14 Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images


For the second year in a row, the Jets are haggling over money with their first-round draft pick. Quinnen Williams, whom the Jets drafted third overall in April, remains unsigned with training camp about to begin. His contract negotiations have stalled over a finicky issue: bonus deferral. Basically, the Jets want to push payment of a portion of Williams' $21 million signing bonus into the second year of his contract. Williams, of course, would like all of that money paid out this year. There is a precedent for both sides in this case, but the new regime could be looking to make a statement when it comes to future first-round picks. The Jets made their initial offer to Williams (which included the deferment clause) before Joe Douglas took over as general manager, according to the New York Post. B ut that hasn't stopped Douglas from standing his ground on the issue and still wanting deferment. The Jets deferred bonuses to former defensive first-round picks Jamal Adams (2016) and Leonard Williams (2015), but paid quarterback Sam Darnold his entire $20.1 million bonus 15 days after he signed his rookie deal in 2018. The Jets also reportedly asked Williams to take a higher percentage of deferred money than any of the team's first-round picks in nine years and higher than all but one of the 2019 top-10 picks who already signed. It's a lot to ask a 21-year-old, especially given the tax implications of deferring a portion of the bonus. If Williams gets all of his money in Year 1 of his deal, he'd save about $100,000 in state income tax since he would still be a resident of Alabama rather than New Jersey, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero . That in itself makes it a bad look for Jets as they head into a new era with Douglas and coach Adam Gase running the show. However, if Douglas were to cave so quickly into his tenure as GM, he and the Jets would lose leverage with future rookie negotiations. Darnold's image as the future franchise quarterback made him the exception to the precedent set before him, but it's not necessarily right to justify paying Darnold all of his bonus money just because of his position on the field. It is, however, easier to blame that decision on former general manager Mike Maccagnan. If Douglas sets a tone early in his career with the Jets, he could save the team some money that can be allocated elsewhere. The problem is always with perception, and right now Douglas and the Jets look bad for once again taking so long to sign their first-rounder. Being the reason why a young player could lose $100,000 to taxes doesn't help either. The easy solution is to compromise in a way that doesn't open the team up to losing money in the future but gives Williams what he's owed without him feeling ripped off by the team and the IRS. Whatever happens, the Jets need to find a way to sign Williams and get him to camp as soon as possible. He'll likely be an integral part of the Jets defense from the beginning and he'll need as much practice with his teammates as he can get before the 2019 season starts. MORE: Mike Trout's perfect 98.6 MPH throw to home plate had everyone in awe What might Kostas Antetokounmpo bring to the Lakers on offense? How will the Packers replace DL Mike Daniels? Hurns release opens path forward for several young Cowboys WRs The 21 dumbest ideas in NFL history


Check out Brooks Koepka's third round highlights from the 2019 PGA Championship.


"Patience is a virtue" is an old saying that can get pretty annoying when it applies to your favorite baseball team during the winter meetings. While a bunch of other teams are making trades and adding big free agents, your team is sitting on the sidelines, hands folded in its lap, just waiting things out. Annoying. Such has been the life of a San Francisco Giants fan over the past decade or so, although this year's offseason has been just a bit different. The Giants made a splash when they signed Jeff Samardzija to a five-year, $90 million contract to help stabilize their rotation. But they've been quiet since, endlessly linked to most of the major remaining free agents with no hint of a signing coming. Samardzija aside, their plan remains the same. By all indications, the Giants were heavily involved in the bidding for Zack Greinke; in fact, most everyone thought it would come down to them and the Dodgers for his services. Greinke would've solved the Giants most pressing issue (adding another dominant starter to slot behind Madison Bumgarner) while also significantly weakening their biggest rival. Greinke would've come with a huge financial commitment, one that would've likely prevented the Giants from making any more moves this winter. When he stunned everyone and signed with Arizona, the Giants shifted their focus. They acted quickly to sign Samardzija, who's coming off of the worst year of his career but is someone the Giants think can strive under their coaching staff and in their ballpark. He comes at a much lower price than Grienke, which should allow them to spread their money around and fill more holes on the roster. And while there are big pieces on the market that would do just that, the Giants sticking true to their M.O.: they're being patient while letting the market come to them. There's a hole in left field, and just about every major free agent outfielder has been linked to San Francisco: Jason Heyward, Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton, etc. And while they don't necessarily need to add a big bat, it's tempting to think about what the Giants' already powerful lineup may look like with any of those guys in the middle of it. They could also use another starting pitcher, and have been linked to the likes of Mike Leake and Wei-Yin Chen recently. Either of them would help upgrade the current state of the rotation. The Giants, though, aren't ones to just hand out big contracts and hope for the best. They've been relatively quiet in free agency ever since the Barry Zito contract, and that likely made them gun shy about handing out gigantic money deals, too. So it's wise to take things with a grain of salt when they're linked to some of the bigger free agents out there; they've already been dismissed as a Heyward suitor, for instance. If there's such a thing as a "Giants way," handing out long-term deals for big money to free agents who aren't their own certainly wouldn't be a part of it. So what might the Giants do the rest of the winter? While it's unlikely they'll make a play for one of the bigger bats on the market, it can't be ruled out completely. They're flush with cash, the free agent market next winter is much weaker than this one, and the Giants know they'll be contenders again next year with the team they have coming back. They may find it more palatable to pay a little more for a bat rather than overpay for pitchers the caliber of Leake and Chen, and it's possible they trade from their stockpile of impressive (yet often overlooked) arms in the farm system to land another starter. It has to be tempting for them to imagine someone like Upton or Cespedes batting in the middle of their already stacked lineup. The Giants definitely won't make moves for the sake of keeping up with their division rivals, though. They don't tend to worry about what their competition is doing, instead focusing on what makes the most sense for their own club. That's why they won't rush to overpay marginal free agents that offer small upgrades to keep up with the Arizonas of the world. They have a plan, they usually stick to it, and it's hard to argue with their results. Asking for patience can be annoying, but oftentimes it's the smartest move a team can make. The Giants are living proof of that: they'll make the moves they have to make, but they'll be on their own time and on their own schedule. Whether it's a big bat to anchor the middle of the lineup or a series of small moves to give them more depth, the Giants will do what they think is best. You'll just have to wait for it.


DETROIT, MI   One of Detroit's finest penthouses is on the market, according to reports, asking for a cool $4.9 million. The penthouse atop the Book Cadillac in Downtown Detroit has five floors of condos beneath it, plus the Westin Book Cadillac. It's the most expensive residence to ever hit the market in the city, WDIV reported. The three-story, three-bedroom condo is 5,100 square feet. Views include the Ambassador Bridge, the Book Tower, the Fisher Building and even into Comerica Park. The master bedroom has arched windows unique to the building and a large closet space, too. The owner designed everything himself, the report said. It has been on the market for 26 days. There's also a monthly home owner's association fee to go with the $4.9 million price tag: $3,000 per month. Read more here.


Arsenal have received a major injury boost as key duo Lucas Torreira and Alexandre Lacazette have both returned to full training. The pair had been a doubt for the Gunners' final pre-season game against Barcelona, but they are now set to be welcomed back into the fold. Torreira is yet to play in pre-season, with Unai Emery handing the midfielder extra time off after taking part in the Copa America over the summer. Lacazette suffered an ankle injury in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Lyon on the weekend, but according to the Standard , the injury isn't as bad as initially feared and he will be in the squad for the Barcelona game. The French striker was seen in a protective boot after the game, which left Arsenal fans sweating. However, Emery is keen to include him after tests showed it isn't serious. The Gunners will desperately want Lacazette to be fully fit for the start of the season after he was voted their player of the season for the 2018/19 campaign - scoring 19 goals and getting 13 assists in all competitions. Egyptian Mohamed Elneny is also set to return after playing for his country in the Africa Cup of Nations. Arsenal are keen on offloading him though, with Bordeaux looking into a potential deal. Arsenal are also hoping to complete the signing of Kieran Tierney before the transfer window closes, with new acquisitions Dani Ceballos and Nicolas Pepe already training with the team. Arsenal start the 2019/20 season with a tricky away trip to Newcastle on August 11, and will be hoping to get off to a good start in their quest to get back into the top four.


The surviving brother of triple murder suspect Grant Amato took the stand Friday. Grant Amato, 29, is charged with killing his parents, Chad Amato, 59, Margaret Amato, 61, both of Chuluota, and brother Cody Amato, 31. His brother Jason Amato took the stand on Friday. The state says the Amato family had a dispute after he funneled about $200,000 of the family's money to a woman in Bulgaria he met online. The bodies were found just hours after that dispute, and Amato was arrested two days later. Amato's attorneys tried to have the jury sequestered, claiming that there was so much media attention in the case it could still be fresh on the minds of the public. The judge denied the motion. Amato's defense says there's no physical evidence tying him to the crime. READ MORE: Surviving brother of Grant Amato testifies in triple murder trial CHECK OUT WESH: Stay in the know with the latest Orlando news, weather and sports. Get the top stories and all the scores from the team at WESH.


S ure, there are boatloads of family-friendly cruise options these days, but with kids spanning so many ages and stages from needy wee babes to hard-to-please teens pinning down the perfect family cruise vacation can be an elusive task. To ensure the very best bets for cruisers just cutting their teeth, we've waded through the ample industry offerings checking off kid-friendly amenities and activities, from kids' clubs to family-ready cabins to dining venues aimed at pleasing pint-sized palates to help you make the maritime match that best fits your family's needs. Whether it's doting nannies, costumed characters, elaborate water parks, teen dance parties or something else entirely that floats your youngsters' boat, these five picks for age-appropriate cruise lines will help ensure that your kids are entirely onboard with your next family vacation at sea. Best Cruise Lines for Babies & Toddlers: Cunard Line While Cunard's elegant trio of ships ( Queen Elizabeth , Queen Victoria , and Queen Mary 2 ), known for their fine trimmings and white-glove service, don't suggest kids at the surface, the line actually excels at diversions and accommodations for the smallest sailors. Indeed, the company positively trumps the competition for the baby and toddler set, thanks in large part to its complimentary night nursery, a place where young babes ages six to 24 months can snooze each evening (from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.) in cots or cribs, all under the watchful eye of trained British nannies (parents receive a pager in case the child awakes). It's a rare and most welcomed industry offering, affording parents the chance to indulge in some evening-time wining, dining, and entertainment. Daytime diversions abound, too, thanks to the line's free drop-off kids' programming for tots ages two to seven: The Play Zone comes chockablock with activities like sports competitions, arts and crafts, and storytime (with other designated kids' zones for ages eight to 17, as well). Onboard restaurants boast baby food, kids' menus, and loaner high chairs, while bottle warmers and sterilizers are available upon request. Bunk comfortably with babes thanks to complimentary cribs and cots and even loaner baby baths infants under two sail free (while ages two and up are half-fare when sailing as a third or fourth passenger in a cabin with two paying adults). Go ahead and get baby on board on the line's summer Alaska runs out of Vancouver on the 2,081-passenger Queen Elizabeth , with plenty of toddler-friendly outings in port like whale- and wildlife-watching tours or visits to dog kennels. The 10-night voyages, which include four days at sea, are an especially good fit. Two of the sailing days take in the scenic landscapes of the Inside Passage and Hubbard Glacier a perfect opportunity for comfortably sightseeing with babies or tots from the comfort of the ship, whether you push a stroller around on deck or watch the passing landscapes from your balcony while they squeeze in a midday nap. (Note that infants must be six to 12 months old to set sail with Cunard, depending upon the destination.) Best Cruise Line for Small Children: Disney Cruise Line What Disney does so well on land doesn't skip a beat at sea, with its special brand of maritime-flavored magic scoring especially high points with younger kids (that broad swath of youth falling between toddler and tween). On any of the line's quartet of ships, tiny sailors can hobnob with a range of Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars characters via meet-and-greets, princess tea parties, and even beachside bashes in the Bahamas . Plus, their age-appropriate, counselor-helmed kids' clubs are unsurpassed: Those ages three to 12 can fill their days with toys, tales, crafts, dress-up, sing-alongs, sports challenges, science activities, and more, at the complimentary and connecting Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab (the lab tends to attract older kids, while the club is more geared toward younger ones). For family time, the ships' upper decks come with dedicated (and lifeguard-helmed) kids' pools with features like spiral slides and a giant LED screen for showing first-run Disney films, while extras like stage shows (like Frozen, the Musical ) and fireworks-capped, pirate-themed deck parties round out the bells and whistles. Come mealtime, look for nutritious menu options for children that get a special "Mickey Check" designation, while the kids' zones dish out perennial favorites like pizza, mac and cheese, and chicken fingers. Restaurant dinners also factor in "Dine and Play," which grants youngsters a speedy dinner service before being whisked away for supervised post-dinner activities, letting grown-ups linger over their own meal and enjoy the ships' adult-exclusive nightclub and lounges. (Worriers, breathe easy: Included onboard mobile phone service allows kids and youth counselors to connect with parents in a snap.) Family-designed staterooms, meanwhile, come with well-thought-out touches like bath-and-a-halfs (one area has a toilet and sink, the other, a shower and sink), cozy bunk beds, and room-dividing curtains. Test the waters on your kids' capacity for cruising with one of Disney's quickie Bahamas sailings out of Port Canaveral (near Disney-hub Orlando ) three- and four-night voyages incorporate a stop at the line's private Bahamian island, Castaway Cay , where water play areas, beach parties, and port adventures like stingray encounters and glass-bottom boat tours ensure family fun in the sun. Or if you're looking for full-on immersion, the line returns to Greece in 2020 with a trio of nine- to 12-night Greek Island voyages, with stops in classic isles like Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete. Best Cruise Line for Tweens: Lindblad Expeditions Plugged-in tweens might seem difficult to break through to, but active adventures in nature destinations like Alaska and the Galápagos are enough to entice them to put away the smartphones and gaming consoles and dive in on the destination at hand. Small-ship adventure line Lindblad Expeditions in partnership with National Geographic excels at inspiring a love of the wild with a portfolio of wilderness-focused cruise vacations designed to entice young minds. Days come jam-packed with naturalist-guided outings on land and on sea, whether you're hiking past glaciers in Alaska or snorkeling with sea turtles and penguins in the Galápagos. The National Geographic Global Explorers program on offer in Alaska and the Galápagos, and helmed by Nat Geo certified naturalists and educators cultivates young explorers with programmed adventures like getting a Zodiac (an inflatable boat used for excursions) "driver's license" or keeping track of wildlife sightings in a special field notebook. Small ships (eight in all, with capacity for 28 to 148 guests) mean few onboard frills, but there's enough to do when back on the ship: Activities include visiting the captain on the bridge and the occasional pizza movie nights. Tweens might also enjoy hands-on lessons in knot-tying, on-deck stargazing, using the onboard video microscope to view undersea specimens, or getting a smartphone photo lesson from a Nat Geo certified photographer. New for 2019, the line has launched a collection of 11 shorter voyages , mostly a week or less in duration, that are especially well-suited to families with less time to spare, too. Best Cruise Line for Teens: Norwegian Cruise Line Finding common vacation ground with teens can be tough, but Norwegian Cruise Line is well-equipped for the challenge aboard its 16-ship fleet of teen-friendly mega-ships. On board, kids ages 13 to 17 can linger in Entourage, a dedicated teen lounge it's complimentary, supervised, and brimming with hangout-ready diversions like gaming consoles, flat-screen TVs, and games like foosball and air hockey; it also turns into a teens-only nightclub come evening. Organized group activities, meanwhile, might include a hashtag scavenger hunt (try to turn up the #CoolestGrandma, for instance) or the exercise challenge Burn 3000, in which competing groups set out to be the first to collectively burn off a combined 3,000 calories (which might be necessary, given dining options that cater to ravenous teen appetites, like a 24-hour eatery doling out burgers, fries, sandwiches, and more). Apart from rock-climbing, bowling alleys, mini-golf, and sports courts, the line one-ups the competition with a bevy of over-the-top ship attractions that teens can't get enough of. On Norwegian's Breakaway Plus-class ships, look out for teen-pleasers like go-karting along 1,100-foot-long race tracks that cantilever the ship's side, reaching speeds of up to 30 mph. Other attractions include top-deck outdoor laser tag (which will get augmented reality features when the line's newest Norwegian Encore vessel debuts in November 2019); the largest ropes course at sea (an outdoor activity circuit that includes "The Plank," which extends eight feet over the ship's edge); the waterslides-packed Aqua Park; and the 10,000-square-foot Galaxy Pavilion arcade (which will be further enhanced with an escape room and interactive theater on Encore ). Ships come filled with family-friendly accommodation options, including connecting staterooms, family suites (sleeping up to six), or budget-friendly balcony cabins where regular promos let third and fourth passengers sail free. Set out on the new Norwegian Encore when it debuts in November; on its weeklong cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, round-trip out of Miami , teens can zip-line through the rain forests of St. Thomas or go off-roading on one of Tortola 's secluded beaches. Best Cruise Line for Kids of All Ages: Royal Caribbean International The whiz-bang, wow-factor ships of Royal Caribbean (all 26 of them) boast almost as much energy as your kids do. The line's found its success as the something-for-everyone, bigger-is-better brand that caters to kids of all ages and actively courts multi-generational travel. For families with children of different ages in tow, it's a solid all-around bet. Complimentary kids' clubs abound: Babes and toddlers (ages six months to three years old) can be attended to in the Royal Babies & Tots nursery, featuring parent-accompanied classes, activities, and play areas, as well as drop-off babysitting services (the latter, for a fee). Young kids, ages three to 11, can participate in the Adventure Ocean youth program, which offers dedicated play spaces and activities crafts, science projects, scavenger hunts, talent shows, themed parties, and more broken down into three age groups (ages three five, six eight, and nine 11). It also features My Family Time dining, which lets children join their families for a speedy 40-minute dinner, before heading off to the evening Adventure Ocean activities, leaving parents behind to dine at leisure. Those ages 12 to 17 get a teen lounge and teen-only nightclub, with goings-on like dance parties and movie nights; plus, they're naturally drawn to the ships' signature high-adrenaline attractions. Varying from ship to ship, pick from skydiving or surfing simulators, rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, multistory slides (like the 10-story Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea, found on Symphony of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas ), glow-in-the-dark laser tag, zip lines, bumper cars, trapeze lessons, and more. And everyone in the family will appreciate the swimming pools/water parks and all-ages entertainment, featuring family-friendly stage, aqua, aerial, and even ice shows. Note kids must be fully potty-trained to use ship pools and most splash zones (no swim diapers are permitted, with the exception of the "Baby Splash Zones," which are installed on eight ships), and height minimums (ranging from 42 to 52 inches) are in effect for features like the Flowrider surf simulator and waterslides. (Also keep in mind that children aren't permitted at the adults-only Solarium pool and whirlpool area, installed on most Royal Caribbean ships.) Chow down in more than two dozen dining venues, including casual kid-pleasers like New York style pizza joint Sorrento's and the 1950s-inspired Johnny Rockets, known for its burger and shakes. Family-friendly accommodations are plentiful, with special family staterooms, loft suites, and the two-story Ultimate Family Suite, which accommodates as many as 11 guests and touts features like an in-suite slide and a floor-to-ceiling LEGO wall (on board Symphony of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas ). Go for a spin on one of several Royal Caribbean itineraries that incorporate a stop at the line's freshly revamped private Bahamian island, Perfect Day at CocoCay , which reopened in May following a $250 million transformation with a slate of superlatives, including the tallest waterslide in North America and the Caribbean's largest freshwater pool. RELATED VIDEO: 5 Things You Should Never Do On a Cruise (via Buzz60)


Barcelona have completed the signing of Valencia goalkeeper Neto, following Jasper Cillessen's move in the opposite direction. The deal for Cillessen was always expected to pave the way for Neto to head to Camp Nou, with Barcelona in need of a new goalkeeper to compete with Marc-Andre ter Stegen.  Welcome @Neto_Murara ! Bem-vindo   #ReadyToColor pic.twitter.com/gWhMuibLFK   FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 27, 2019 The club took to their official website to confirm the deal, writing: "FC Barcelona and Valencia CF have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Norberto Murara Neto. "The cost of the transaction will be €26m plus 9m in add-ons. The player will be signing a contract with the club for the next four seasons, until the end of the 2022/23 season, and his buyout clause has been set at 200 million euros. "Details of the Brazilian goalkeeper's presentation as a new Barça player will be released shortly." The 29-year-old made 80 appearances for Valencia during his two years with the club, impressing with his agility and quick reflexes. However, after clashing with manager Marcelino, Neto found himself nearing the exit door at the Estadio Mestalla. With Cillessen pushing for a move away from Barcelona in search of first-team football, the Blaugrana quickly struck a deal with Valencia which would see the two goalkeepers move in opposite directions, although the two deals are thought to be completely separate. At Camp Nou, Neto will compete with Ter Stegen for minutes, although the German is still expected to retain his place in the starting lineup. In his five years with the club, he has racked up 190 appearances, establishing himself as one of the world's top goalkeepers.


At least forty people have been reported killed, and dozens more wounded, after an air strike hits a detention centre holding mostly African migrants in the Libyan capital of Tripoli. Jayson Albano reports.


Falcons coach Dan Quinn is hosting a clinic for over 200 high school coaches today, according to a report by D. Orlando Ledbetter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . "Quinn will host more than 200 high school coaches to a one-day clinic on May 30. The focus will be on coaching techniques and developing athletes at the high school level." Quinn got started as a defensive line coach at William and Mary in 1994. He also put in time at VMI and Hofstra. His first coaching job in the NFL was defensive quality control for the 49ers in 2001. Quinn spent four seasons in San Francisco then moved on to coach the defensive lines of the Dolphins and Jets. In 2009, Quinn joined the Seahawks as an assistant head coach for Pete Carroll as well as defensive line coach. After two seasons he returned to college to be the defensive coordinator and line coach for Florida. Afterwards, he returned to Seattle to serve as their defensive coordinator. The Seahawks defense peaked at that time, making two consecutive trips to the Super Bowl in 2013-2014. Quinn's performance in Seattle helped land him his first pro head coaching gig in Atlanta, beginning with the 2015 season. Since he was hired, Quinn's Falcons have gone 36-28 in the regular season and 3-2 in the playoffs. While Quinn has done relatively well at the helm, he's probably on the hot seat heading into 2019. Anything less than 10 wins and a postseason berth could cost him his job. MORE: Five potential Chris Paul trade destinations Kyle Busch was so frustrated during Coke 600 that he told Joe Gibbs he quit Roundup: NFL Owners Want 18-Game Season Again, Alex Trebek Cancer Near Remission, Israel Redoing Election ESPN graders not big fans of the Browns offseason moves Report: The Celtics are no longer the favorites to sign Kyrie Irving


Tonight's City team to take on @s04_en in Lotte, Germany ⬇ #ncfc #CityOnTour  pic.twitter.com/XoDhOw19qp   Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) July 19, 2019  Mit folgender Start-1⃣1⃣ werden wir beginnen: 23 Schubert 5 Nastasic 6 Mascarell 9 Raman 17 Stambouli 19 Burgstaller 20 Kenny 22 Skrzybski 25 Harit 24 Oczipka 37 Mercan #S04 | #S04NCFC | #WirLebenDich   FC Schalke 04 (@s04) July 19, 2019


If you love to take advantage of the live music offerings near you, this week offers several great reasons to leave the house. From a performance by an Ecuadorian music producer to a Beatles tribute concert, read on for a local music to-do list to fill your calendar this week. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Cocoa Tea and The Step By Step Band with Irie Lights From the event description: Cocoa Tea is one of Reggae's most talented and versatile artistes. His smooth, easy-going vocal presentation has become his trademark, earning him wide international acclaim, with songs like "Lost My Sonia," "Tune In" and "Rocking Dolly" becoming world anthems in Reggae land. When: Tuesday, May 14, 8 p.m.- Wednesday, May 15, 2 a.m. Where: Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St. Price: $25 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Džambo Aguševi Orchestra   Romani Brass Band from Macedonia with The m9 From the event description: Džambo Aguševi Orchestra represents the apex of the younger generation of Balkan Romani brass performers. Džambo's band includes his father, brother and other relatives. They have toured around the world as well as performed at many Romani community events. When: Thursday, May 16, 7 p.m.- Friday, May 17, 1 a.m. Where: Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St. Price: $20 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Paul Byrom at Ballard Homestead From the event description: Paul Byrom is often hailed as one of Ireland's premier tenors. The Dublin-born tenor has been in the music industry for over 20 years. His talent as a singer has taken him far and wide, and some of the many highlights include performing for dignitaries such as Emperor Akihito of Japan, Former Irish Presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson and most recently for United States President, Barack Obama and Speaker of The House, John Boehner. When: Friday, May 17, 7:30-10 p.m. Where: Ballard Homestead, 6541 Jones Ave. NW Price: $35; additional ticket options are available. Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Classic Albums Live: 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' From the event description: When the Beatles stopped touring, they set out to make albums so richly textured that they couldn't be reproduced live. Classic Albums Live is going to do just that as the tribute group recreates note-for-note and cut-for-cut the landmark album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in its entirety. When: Friday, May 17, 8 p.m. Where: Benaroya Hall   S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, 200 University St. Price: $25 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


There's nothing subtle about this German creation. We're used to seeing some pretty amazing   and sometimes outlandish   custom creations from various German tuning companies. The focus of those efforts usually falls to something from a German automaker, notably Porsche , Audi or BMW . GeigerCars is a bit different, because this company loves to upgrade American iron, and the latest project is an absolutely mental Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat called Cerberus. Americans Abroad: Euro-Tuned Chevy Corvette Z06 Is More Powerful Than The ZR1 German-Tuned Ford Mustang Gets 705 Supercharged Horsepower We say mental because the 2019 Hellcat already produces no less than 717 horsepower (535 kilowatts). GeigerCars believes there's room to improve, however, and not just to the 840-hp (626 kW) mark produced by the limited-production Demon . These German mad scientists have infused the brutal muscle car with no less than 890 hp (654 kW) and 751 pound-feet (1,018 Newton-meters) of torque. The increase comes through changes to the supercharger that bumps up the boost, which is managed by updated engine software to keep all the components happy. Underneath, GeigerCars also adds a beefier prop shaft to better handle the extreme power. Research the Dodge Challenger on MSN Autos | Find a Dodge Challenger near you On the outside, GeigerCars adds a set of Devil's Rim wheels that were originally created for the Demon but are available to order for the Hellcat. The upgraded car also gets the widebody treatment as seen on the Challenger Redeye, and it wears a bespoke hood based on the Demon design with a wide, narrow scoop. And as we're absolutely sure you can see from the photos, GeigerCars also dresses up the exterior with big over-the-top stripes and a rather frightening rendition of a demon dog on both sides, ready to eat the word Cerberus that appears to have the same font as the late 1990s cult classic TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer . GeigerCars lists the price for this German-tuned American brawler at €129,000, which translates to roughly $144,570 in U.S. currency, though this monster is obviously something for our German friends to appreciate. To that end, we can only impart this advice to folks who elect to pick up a Cerberus Challenger for their own. Buy tires. Lots and lots of tires. Research the Dodge Challenger on MSN Autos | Find a Dodge Challenger near you Source: GeigerCars.de


MILWAUKEE   Milwaukee police are asking for the public's help to find a 12-year-old boy who has been deemed critically missing. Officials say 12-year-old Daniel Jones frequents the area of 60th and Hampton Avenue. Jones is described as 5'7? tall, 120 pounds and was last seen wearing a blue sleeveless shirt, black jeans blue high top shoes and he had a blue book bag. Anyone with information on Jones' whereabouts is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7273.     ©2019 WITI-TV, Milwaukee Visit WITI-TV, Milwaukee at www.fox6now.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


This is what happens when you kiss a snake. P.S. DON'T KISS SNAKES