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CNN — Britney Spears’ ex-husband Jason Alexander appeared in court this week to face charges for breaking into the singer’s home on her wedding day. Alexander pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of misdemeanor trespassing, two misdemeanor counts of battery and a misdemeanor vandalism charge. At the time of his arrest last week, authorities also learned that Alexander was wanted on a felony theft warrant in Napa County. CNN reached out to an attorney for Alexander for comment. Spears’ attorney Mathew Rosengart told CNN that the Grammy winner was also granted a restraining order against Alexander, which will remain in effect for three years. Rosengart said he is working closely with law enforcement “to ensure that Alexander is vigorously prosecuted and expressed his thanks to the Ventura County Sheriff and District Attorney. “This should be a lesson to anyone who engages in similar conduct,” Rosengart added. Alexander is currently in jail with his bail set at $100,000. Alexander allegedly hopped a wall at Spears’ hillside mansion in Thousand Oaks, California and began livestreaming as he walked through Spears’ property, just hours before she was set to marry Sam Asghari. “My name’s Jason Alexander. Britney invited me here. Britney Spears invited me here. She’s my first wife, my only wife. I’m her first husband,” he said on the livestream. Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the residence in response to a trespassing report, according to police. Spears was briefly married to Alexander, a childhood friend, for about two days in 2004 before their marriage was annulled.

Celebrity

BROOKLINE — The USGA announced that this US Open will be the most sustainable in championship history. The eco-friendly initiative will create some changes to the fan experience, including shared transportation to and from the course, online ticketing, and the use of aluminum cups at concession stands.“It’s almost like each step along the fan journey there’s a little something to let them know that the way the USGA is approaching this championship is different than what we have done in the past,” said Dave Aznovorian, the USGA’s senior director of transformational initiatives.The championship will distribute reusable aluminum cups for drinks to eliminate 500,000 single-use plastics. Aznovorian did not disclose the cost of this initiative, although he noted the use of aluminum is “probably investing a little bit more beyond what you would with single-use plastics in the spirit of telling a message.”Also new to the fan experience is the USGA popup museum located next to the second tee. The exhibit, named “Hard Earned Glory,” is open to all fans.“It sort of just works to reframe the idea that the only victory at the US Open is winning it, and argues that just showing up is a victory in itself,” said curator Kylie Garabed.Garabed said many of the pieces on display were brought specifically for the audience expected at The Country Club, including a mashie niblick used by Francis Ouimet in the 1913 US Open and clubs used and made by John Shippen, the first African-American to participate in a US Open in 1896.More recent memorabilia, such as Jon Rahm’s shoes and golf ball from the 2021 US Open, are on display, along with the trophies for July’s inaugural men’s and women’s US Adaptive Open.Final tuneupThe Country Club’s 11th hole is a 131-yard par-3 that USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer said could be “a focal point of the championship.”During Wednesday’s practice rounds, Scottie Scheffler came just inches from the cup on his tee shot. The Masters champion was grouped with PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and Sam Burns.Scottie Scheffler signs autographs for fans near the clubhouse after his practice round Wednesday at The Country Club.John Tlumacki/Globe StaffStacked with the year’s two major champions, the group proved to be one to follow.Scheffler followed by sinking a long putt on the 12th hole. Thomas almost followed suit, stroking a putt from the back corner of the green that veered just left of the cup.On No. 15, Burns and Thomas each bombed 290-yard drives into the fairway of the 510-yard par-4. Jordan Spieth was originally listed as the group’s fourth member, but he did not join because he was ill.Overcoming hurdlesThe 34-year gap since the last US Open at The Country Club almost wasn’t broken.“Prior to 2013 and the US Amateur here, we didn’t think we could conduct a US Open here,” said Bodenhamer. “The footprint was small. It was in a residential community. There were just too many hurdles to overcome.”But on the eve of the 122nd US Open, the players and the Country Club are ready.“This golf course, it’s as close to perfect as what we would want for a US Open, as we could imagine,” Bodenhamer said.USGA president Stu Francis, CEO Mike Whan, and Bodenhamer spoke about the preparations on Wednesday.Bodenhamer mentioned holes 11 and 17 as ones that might spark excitement. He said the small greens and thick rough will be challenging, as well.“We’ll just let the golf course be what the golf course was meant to be, and I think whatever that score is, we’re going to have a great champion, and you’re going to see some magic on 17,” said Bodenhamer.“It really is a great, great place. The players seem to be uniformly excited about it, and we’re very, very pleased to be here,” added Francis.The winner will earn $3.15 million.“This is the hardest event in the world to get in, so if you are here, you ought to feel pretty special,” Whan said.Concession pricesAfter the uproar over the price of a beer ($18) at the recent PGA Championship, US Open attendees can expect cheaper prices at The Country Club.Beers will cost between $10-$11, while canned water, coffee, and soda are $3.50. And there are hydration refill stations scattered throughout the course.There's a wide variety of concessions available at The Country Club this week.Jason E. Miczek/USGAFood is priced between $6 for the Southwest MingBings (plant-based flatbread pocket) and $11 for the steakhouse cheeseburger. Breakfast sandwiches ($8) will be served until 10:30 a.m.Fun to watchIrishman Shane Lowry will tee off at 1:47 p.m. on Thursday with LIV Series defectors Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen. Lowry, who won the 2019 British Open, also was paired with Mickelson for the first two rounds that week.“It’s going to be fun to watch,” Lowry said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of Boston Irish people out there following me, and a big crowd following him. I would like to fly under the radar a bit more, but I played with Phil for the first two rounds at [Royal] Portrush, so hopefully that’s a good omen.” ... Brockton’s Matt Parziale is the non-competing marker if the cut has an odd number of players.

Golf

In her first interview after losing a bombshell defamation trial, Amber Heard says she "absolutely" still loves Johnny Depp - despite doubling down on her accusations about the actor.Amber Heard said she “absolutely” still loves her ex-husband Johnny Depp as she stood by "every word" in her testimony.The 36-year-old actress made the revelations during her first sit-down interview after losing the bombshell defamation trial two weeks ago.“Yes. Yes. Absolutely. I love him,” she told NBC's Today show."I loved him with all my heart and I tried the best I could to make a deeply broken relationship work. And I couldn’t." Stream more on politics with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022A Virginia jury on Wednesday June 1 found the actress liable for defaming Depp in a 2018 Washington Post opinion article in which she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse”.The Aquaman actress has been ordered to pay her 59-year-old ex more than $10 million (USD) in damages.“I have no bad feelings or ill will towards him at all," she told Savannah Guthrie in the interview."I know that might be hard to understand or it might be really easy to understand if you’ve ever loved anyone.”Despite her comments, the actress did not back down on her earlier accusations.“To my dying day, I will stand by every word in my testimony," she said.“This was the most humiliating and horrible thing I’ve ever been through."In the two-part interview, which aired in the US on Tuesday and Wednesday, Heard said the Twitter and TikTok frenzy surrounding her six-week trial which favoured Depp was "unfair"."Even if you think that I’m lying, you still couldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation," she said. "You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair.”

Celebrity

Zendaya No, I'm Not Pregnant ... After Viral Prank Says Otherwise 6/15/2022 11:07 AM PT Zendaya's shutting down rumors that she and BF Tom Holland are expecting, after viral videos convinced the internet the two have a baby on the way. The actress took to Instagram Wednesday after some posts took the internet by storm -- ones that claimed she was pregnant with Tom's kid. She puts in plainly -- "See now, this is why I stay off Twitter..." adding, "Just making stuff up for no reason...weekly." Waiting for your permission to load TikTok Post. The now-viral clip shows a faked screenshot from what's supposed to be Zendaya's IG, with an ultrasound on full display. The pic has a caption saying, "I love you. Halfway there," with a tag for the "Spiderman" actor. The vid then cuts to what's being called "Krissing" -- a clip of Kris Jenner dancing to "Lady Marmalade," saying the whole thing was a prank. Call it a Rick Roll of modern times. People still fell for it online, and Twitter blew up about the news ... with many still confused while "Zendaya pregnant" is trending. Rumors first started spreading about the two being an item back in 2016 when they first started filming "Spider-Man: Homecoming" ... those rumors lasted for years until things got more concrete last year -- TH and Z were spotted kissing in a car.

Celebrity

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Ozzy Osbourne was "feeling good" as he was pictured leaving the hospital in a wheelchair with wife Sharon by his side following a "major operation" which she said was going to "determine the rest of his life."The 73-year-old rock star wore black sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt with hospital bracelets on his wrists as a medical professional guided the family out of the facility and to a waiting vehicle after his surgery. The family hasn't publicly discussed the medical procedure Ozzy had to undergo, but Sharon admitted Ozzy was "feeling good" on Wednesday in a throwback snap shared on Twitter of Ozzy standing at the microphone.Ozzy also spoke out the same day, sharing that he is "now home from the hospital recuperating comfortably," the 73-year-old musician tweeted to his millions of followers. "I am definitely feeling the love and support from all my fans and send everyone a big thank you for their thoughts, prayers and well wishes during my recovery."OZZY OSBOURNE HOME FROM HOSPITAL AND 'RECUPERATING COMFORTABLY,' THANKS FANS FOR 'PRAYERS' POST SURGERYIn the snapshots, Sharon, his wife of nearly 40 years, is seen following closely behind wearing a powder blue pantsuit. They both followed COVID-19 protocols and wore protective face masks as they left the health center. Ozzy Osbourne pictured leaving the hospital with wife Sharon Osbourne on Wednesday following a "major operation." She later tweeted that the rock star was "feeling good" post surgery. (BACKGRID)"Our family would like to express so much gratitude for the overwhelming amount of love and support leading up to Ozzy’s surgery," she wrote on Twitter Tuesday afternoon. "Ozzy is doing well and on the road to recovery. Your love means the world to him," she added with a praying hands emoji.Last week, she indicated Ozzy's situation was challenging, and he would need a difficult surgery. She immediately flew back to the West Coast from London to be by his side. "He has a major operation on Monday, and I have to be there," she told her fellow TalkTV panelists last week. "It’s really going to determine the rest of his life." OZZY OSBOURNE DISCUSSES SLOW RECOVERY FOLLOWING SPINAL SURGERY, PARKINSON'S DIAGNOSIS next The 73-year-old rock star wore black sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt with hospital bracelets on his wrists as a medical professional guided the family out of the facility and to a waiting vehicle after his surgery. (BACKGRID) prev next Ozzy Osbourne was "feeling good" as he was pictured leaving the hospital. (BACKGRID) prev next The family hasn't publicly discussed the medical procedure Ozzy had to undergo, but Sharon admitted Ozzy was "feeling good" on Wednesday in a throwback snap shared on Twitter of Ozzy standing at the microphone. (BACKGRID) prev next Sharon, his wife of nearly 40 years, followed closely behind wearing a powder blue pantsuit. (BACKGRID) prev next Ozzy looked at ease while wearing all-black as he waited for a vehicle to pick him up from the hospital after the operation. (BACKGRID) prev next Sharon and Ozzy both wore protective face masks as they left the health center. (BACKGRID) prev next Last week, she indicated Ozzy's situation was challenging, and he would need a difficult surgery. She immediately flew back to the West Coast from London to be by his side. (BACKGRID) prev next "Our family would like to express so much gratitude for the overwhelming amount of love and support leading up to Ozzy’s surgery," she wrote on Twitter Tuesday afternoon. (BACKGRID) prev "Ozzy is doing well and on the road to recovery. Your love means the world to him," she wrote on Twitter Tuesday. (BACKGRID)A report has since surfaced stating that the procedure was to remove and realign pins in his neck and back. "Ozzy is 73 and any kind of surgery when you get older is difficult," a source told Page Six. "This is quite major. He’s having the pins in his neck and back realigned from when he had a fall back in 2019."On Monday, both Sharon and Kelly were seen visiting the Black Sabbath frontman at the hospital hours after Sharon revealed his urgent medical needs. Kelly, 37, is currently pregnant with her first child with musician boyfriend Sid Wilson of SlipKnot. "He’s been in a lot of pain," the source noted of Ozzy's physical condition as of late.The "Prince of Darkness" will also reportedly require a "lengthy amount of convalescence" with round-the-clock care provided by a nurse at home.Ozzy's back problems likely stem from the all-terrain vehicle collision in 2003 where he flipped his quad while riding around his property in London.At the time, he had to undergo emergency surgery for "a broken collarbone, eight fractured ribs that were pinching crucial blood vessels and damaged vertebrae in his neck.""I’m just waiting on some more surgery on my neck," he told Classic Rock magazine in May. "I can’t walk properly these days. I have physical therapy every morning. I am somewhat better, but nowhere near as much as I want to be to go back on the road."When asked if he ever thought about his own mortality, Ozzy said he felt optimistic about his future as he looked back on the past."At f—ing 73, I’ve done pretty well," he said. "I don’t plan on going anywhere, but my time’s going to come."He also addressed another challenging topic for the family — sobriety. After decades of alcohol and drug issues, Ozzy faced his substance abuse issues head on, and chose to get sober eight years ago.OZZY OSBOURNE'S DAUGHTER ESCAPES FATAL RECORDING STUDIO FIRE"I hope so," he said when asked if he's sober for life now. "I take it one day at a time. If I drink, I’ll drink. But I don’t want to drink today. I don’t want to smoke tobacco today. I don’t want to take drugs today. So today’s going to be okay, I suppose. I don’t know about tomorrow." Ozzy and Sharon's son Jack Osbourne, 36, has 18 years of sobriety under his belt, and while Kelly had a minor slip up in her sobriety journey last year, she's due to give birth to her first child this year.Ozzy and Sharon also have a daughter Aimee, 38, who recently survived a fatal fire at a recording studio in Hollywood. Aimee escaped from the building unharmed with her producer. The Osbournes became a household name in the early 2000s when MTV shined a light into their lives as famous stars — and the children of rock royalty — with an unscripted show about the family. The series premiered in 2002 and ran for four seasons, with a final curtain call in 2005. Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne are pictured here in 2017. (Greg Doherty/Getty Images)In 2019, the Osbourne family spoke with Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America" about Ozzy's incident where he fell in the shower and dislodged metal screws in his spine (from the quad collision in 2003), requiring neck and back surgery. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"When I had the fall, it was pitch black," he recalled. "I went to the bathroom and I fell. I just fell and landed like a slam on the floor and I remember lying there thinking, ‘Well, you’ve done it now,’ really calm. Sharon [called] an ambulance. After that, it was all downhill."Following the surgery and painful two-month recovery, he was forced to reschedule all of his 2019 live dates on his "No More Tours 2 Tour."The family also opened up about Ozzy getting diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neuro-degenerative disorder which can cause tremors and balance issues, as well as slowness of movement. There is no known cure for the disease."It's PRKN 2," Sharon told GMA. "There's so many different types of Parkinson's; it's not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body. And it's — it's like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day."Ozzy told the LA Times in 2020: "I’m not dying from Parkinson’s. I’ve been working with it most of my life. I’ve cheated death so many times. If tomorrow you read, ‘Ozzy Osbourne never woke up this morning,’ you wouldn’t go, ‘Oh, my God!’ You’d go, ‘Well, it finally caught up with him’."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Tracy Wright is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital.

Music

The Lazarus Project9pm, Sky MaxHere we go again (and again and again) with another mind-boggling time-loop drama. Paapa Essiedu is George – a seemingly ordinary guy who, after his pregnant wife gets sick in the pandemic, wakes up six months earlier to live all those days again. He learns about the Lazarus Project – a secret organisation that has harnessed the ability to turn back time whenever the world is at threat of extinction. Vitally, though, it can never be done for personal reasons. Hollie RichardsonBradford on Duty9pm, BBC TwoSo far, this series shadowing public service workers in Bradford has been frank about the city’s social and economic problems. But if regeneration has been a buzzword, turning a disused mill into a cannabis farm is not what civic leaders had in mind. It falls to police community support officers Tom and Wojciech to sort it out. Graeme VirtueTaskmaster9pm, Channel 4The final of yet another series that has found rich, warm chemistry between its five comics. Before the champion is revealed, mystery liquids must be identified (“Is it vomit?”) and Bridget Christie’s bow-legged dancing becomes a phenomenon. Jack SealeThe Real Derry: Jamie-Lee O’Donnell10pm, Channel 4O’Donnell claims to be nothing like her Derry Girls character Michelle – the “foul-mouthed teenager who wants to live life to the full”. One thing they do have in common: they are proudly Derry born and bred. Here, the actor explores what it is like to be a young person in Derry and chats with her co-star Saoirse-Monica Jackson. HRThe Midwich Cuckoos10pm, Sky MaxThe parents’ slow realisation that they have spawned little creeps is almost comical. “We could see that our children were special, not normal for their age – but we loved them,” one delusional mum says, embracing the fact that they all have the same stony stare and speak like droids. Then, an eventful day changes everything. HRThe Flight Attendant11pm, Sky MaxAs the dark comedy-drama continues, Cassie wakes up to find the naked CIA operative Benjamin in her bed – and potentially incriminating files in his office, which make her resemble a borderline sociopath. “I hate to say this,” Annie tells her, “but whoever is doing this to you is, um, killing it.” Then, Cassie hits the bottle again. Ali CatterallJohn Cusack as Brian Wilson and Elizabeth Banks as Melinda, the woman he courts in Love & Mercy. Photograph: Roadside Attractions/AllstarFilm choiceLove & Mercy (Bill Pohlad, 2014), 11.15pm, BBC TwoParallel timelines make Bill Pohlad’s fact-based drama about head Beach Boy Brian Wilson a more nuanced proposition than your typical rock biopic. Paul Dano plays the 1960s Brian, financially successful but pushing his artistic and mental boundaries with the (vividly recreated) production of Pet Sounds. John Cusack is the sadly diminished 80s Brian, under the thumb of therapist Eugene Landy (a sneering Paul Giamatti), but managing to court Melinda (Elizabeth Banks) – in his own odd way. Simon Wardell

Movies

South Korea's Cho Min-ho Olympic Hockey Hero Dead At 35 ... After Battling Cancer 6/15/2022 11:26 AM PT Sad news ... South Korean hockey player Cho Min-ho -- who scored the first-ever goal for the country's Olympic team in 2018 -- has passed away after battling cancer. He was only 35. The International Ice Hockey Federation confirmed Min-Ho's passing in a statement on Wednesday -- saying the forward died at a Seoul hospital after an eight-month battle with lung cancer. "The Korean ice hockey family will remember him not only as a great player," IIHF officials said, "but also as a great human and leader on and off the ice." Min-ho started playing for South Korea's national team in 2008 -- and became a hero during the PyeongChang Olympics. Within the first few minutes of the team's preliminary round game against the Czech Republic, Min-ho scored ... making him the first-ever Korean player to hit the back of the net in Olympic men's ice hockey history. In total, Min-ho competed in 11 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments ... and was named the team captain for the South Korean national team at the Final Olympic Qualification for the 2022 Olympics in 2021. RIP.

Hockey

“Spiderhead,” which starts streaming on Netflix Friday, takes its title from its setting. The Spiderhead Penitentiary and Research Center is more research center than penitentiary. With a spectacular waterfront location, it’s reachable only by seaplane or boat (the movie was shot in Queensland, Australia). The facility looks more like a fancy conference center with a touch of tropical resort. “No bars, no guards,” the chief researcher (Chris Hemsworth) says to an inmate, Jeff (Miles Teller). “The food, the Ping-Pong, the arcade games, [you’re] free to move around, within limits.” What’s not to like?That’s where the research comes in. Inmates wear drug dispensers at the small of their back. The experimental drugs have striking names: Phobica, Verbaluce, Luvactin, Laffodil, Darkenfloxx. You definitely don’t want to fool with that one — or have that one fool with you. “This place can really mess with your head,” Jeff tells his lover, Lizzie (Jurnee Smollett), who’s also an inmate. He’s sure got that right. “The time to worry about crossing lines was — a lot of lines ago,” Hemsworth’s character says to his assistant (Mark Paguio).The drugs are for behavior modification — serious behavior modification. “Spiderhead” has aspects of paranoid thriller, touches of prison drama, a sci-fi/futuristic side, even a bit of love story (hello, Jeff, hello, Lizzie). What it is is a movie about control. No, that’s not right: It’s a movie about control.Jurnee Smollett and Miles Teller in "Spiderhead." NETFLIX/Associated PressWatching “Spiderhead” is like being a silent participant in a debate about free will, behaviorism, and manipulation, only this particular debate comes with movie stars and primo production values. There’s voyeurism in the mix, too. Hemsworth’s character, Steve, and his assistant observe the effects of the drugs on inmates through a giant picture window. “We’re all here about choice, Mark,” Steve says to the assistant. That depends on how you define “choice,” of course.“Spiderhead” has a pedigree, which helps account for its interest in ideas. George Saunders’s “Escape From Spiderhead” ran in The New Yorker in 2010. The movie differs from the short story in significant ways. The differences aren’t worth going into, other than to warn Saunders fans not to expect fidelity.With its larger intellectual concerns and general coldness, you’d think the director was Alex Garland (”Ex Machina,” “Annihilation,” “Men”). Nope, it’s Joseph Kosinski, the director of “Top Gun: Maverick.” Kosinski has a real feel for wide open spaces, with or without Tom Cruise in the middle of them. The several establishing shots of the facility are nicely wow — you will recall that seaplane reference — and the way Kosinski makes various already-spacious interiors seem even larger adds to a general sense of dislocation.“What you’re feeling is sometimes disquieting,” Steve says to Jeff and another inmate. He could just as well be addressing the audience. Part of that disquiet comes from storytelling. Indirection and lack of explanation prevail for much of the movie. It keeps viewers off balance. Various curious details add to the dislocation. Jeff is a very dab hand at an Etch A Sketch. The facility’s Brutalist architecture — the production designer, Jeremy Hindle, earned his salary — aligns all too well with the brutalist emotions. We glimpse an inmate reading a Saunders story collection — yes, the one with “Escape From Spiderhead.”Nathan Jones, reading the book that contains the short story that's the basis of "Spiderhead." Courtesy Of Netflix/Associated PressPart of the displacement is musical. Catchy, anodyne ‘70s and ‘80s pop predominates on the soundtrack: Herb Alpert’s “Rise,” “The Logical Song,” “She Blinded Me With Science,” “What a Fool Believes.” Actually, those last three do have a certain relevance, lyrically.Kosinski isn’t the only “Top Gun: Maverick” connection. Teller is third billed there. His slightly squashed face makes him always seem offended — a sensible response, under the circumstances. With his off-kilter handsomeness, he could be Roy Scheider’s grandson, though in profile he looks like Mark Zuckerberg (talk about curious details). Teller gives a solid performance, as does Smollett. Hers is more impressive, given that her part is basically unwritten.It’s Hemsworth’s movie — literally, since he’s one of the producers. He’s very much cast against type, and it works very well. There’s nothing nerdy or tweedy about this scientist. Squarish gold-rimmed glasses are the closest he comes to any lab-coat stereotype.Hemsworth is very engaging — Steve seems as much like a motivational speaker, or game-show host, as scientific researcher — which makes him all the more sinister. Hemsworth is getting more and more Brad Pitt-ish: blond, outrageously good looking, subversively intelligent, refusing to be pigeonholed. His latest outing as Thor comes out next month. Spiderheard is a long way from Asgard.Chris Hemsworth in "Spiderhead." Courtesy Of Netflix/Associated PressIn the movie’s final third some things start to get explained, other things happen, with a flurry of Big Reveals. Ideally, BRs elicit a response of “Oh!” or, better yet, “Of course!” The ones here are more of the “Really?” and “Uh-huh” variety. So, yes, “Spiderhead” really goes off the rails at the end. But at least it has rails to go off of, and they’re pretty good ones.★★½SPIDERHEADDirected by Joseph Kosinski. Written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick; based on the short story by George Saunders “Escape From Spiderhead.” Starring Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, Jurnee Smollett, Mark Paguio. Streaming on Netflix. 107 minutes. R (violent content, language, sexual content, emotional intensity, suicide).Mark Feeney can be reached at [email protected].

Movies

Kitty Chiller, the deputy chief executive of Australia’s National Sports Tribunal and a member of the Australian Olympic Committee executive, has been sanctioned for her role in “judging irregularities” at an Olympic qualification event in 2021 and banned from representing international gymnastic bodies for two years.Earlier this week the disciplinary commission of the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation announced that an investigation has found violations of International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) rules during the 2021 Oceania Continental Championships in rhythmic gymnastics.In addition to sanctioning Chiller, who was at the time the chief executive of Gymnastics Australia, the commission suspended two Australian gymnastics judges, Virginia Elliott and Erin Pankoke and fined Gymnastics Australia and the Oceania Gymnastics Union over $7,000 each plus costs.All sanctioned parties have the right to appeal the decision, within 21 days.It raises questions over whether Chiller’s sanction was consistent with her appointment to the NST.On Wednesday former gymnast Mary-Anne Monckton, a two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist, posted on Twitter: “How does Kitty Chiller get to keep her job as the deputy CEO of the National Sports Tribunal?”The championships took place on the Gold Coast last May, as part of the wider Australian gymnastics championships. Lidiia Iakovleva narrowly beat Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva with a score-differential of just 2.5 points. According to Gymnastics Australia’s website, the event was “rejudged” following a “technical irregularity”. Eighteen-year-old Iakovleva represented Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, while Kiroi-Bogatyreva missed out.Chiller, a former modern pentathlete who competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was the first woman to lead an Australian Olympic team as chef de mission, at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She courted controversy with her public criticism of tennis star Nick Kyrgios, who withdrew from contention for the Olympics over what he described as “unfair and unjust treatment”.Chiller released a statement at the time saying, “In regard to selection every athlete in contention is treated fairly and equally.”More recently Chiller helmed Gymnastics Australia during a turbulent period as it handled allegations of widespread abuse within the sport. An independent review by the Australian Human Rights Commission revealed “systemic risk factors” within the sport which exacerbated the risk of child abuse, sexual harassment and bullying.Gymnastics Australia’s response to abuse complaints during Chiller’s tenure has been criticised. Earlier this year the ABC reported that Chiller’s office co-drafted the policy governing what was labelled an “independent” complaints process, which saw some complaints deemed “out of scope”.Gymnastics Australia told Guardian Australia that it was aware of the decision and would “take some time to consider the decision and next steps for the organisation and the sport”.A spokesperson said: “As the individuals concerned have 21 days to lodge an appeal against the sanctions, Gymnastics Australia will reserve any further comment on the matter at this time.”A spokesperson for the Australian Olympic Committee said it noted the sanction and was “not aware of the nature nor the details of the matter and further notes there is scope for an appeal.” The spokesperson added: “While qualification events are a matter for individual sporting federations, the AOC has had full confidence in the integrity of the nomination and selection process.”The AOC did not respond to a specific question from Guardian Australia over whether it was appropriate for Chiller to remain in her position on the AOC executive, given the adverse finding and its link to the Australian Olympic team.Guardian Australia sought comment from Chiller, via the National Sports Tribunal, but did not receive a response by the time of publication. The body was established by the federal government in 2020 following a review into sports integrity arrangements in Australia. It is led by John Boultbee, a veteran Australian sports administrator.On Wednesday a representative of the Tribunal told the ABC that “Ms Chiller has had, and will have, no involvement in any Gymnastics matters (of any sort) which come to the NST.”

Olympic Sports

Kenny 'The Jet' Smith I'm Team Shaq!!! ... No One Wins Alone 6/16/2022 12:10 AM PT TMZSports.com Kenny "The Jet" Smith says Shaquille O'Neal had every right to clap back at a hater trying to diminish his success ... telling TMZ Sports no superstar has won a championship on their own. As we previously reported, Diesel went OFF on a Twitter user for claiming he wouldn't have won his 3 rings with the Lakers without Kobe Bryant ... saying, "no person can win without another star big dummy." no person can win without another star big dummy how many would magic have without kareem how many would kenny smith have without hakeem wtf u talking about i hate dumb ass people enjoy my stats and stf up— SHAQ.SOL (@SHAQ) June 13, 2022 @SHAQ We spoke with Smith about Shaq's issue with the heckler ... and he says anyone who knows hoop understands winning a ring isn't a one-man gig. Worth mentioning -- Shaq brought Kenny into the debate with his rebuttal to the hater ... saying Smith wouldn't have won a championship without Hakeem Olajuwon. Smith backs up the Big Aristotle ... saying the Hall of Famer is just spitting facts. And if the argument were about Kobe, it would be the same result -- no one wins without a stellar supporting cast. Check out the clip ... Kenny -- as always -- brings logic to the table and gives some facts the Twitter gurus wish they had.

Basketball

Ryan Adams I'm 9 Months Sober And Really, Really Sore!!! 6/16/2022 12:20 AM PT TMZ.com Ryan Adams is ready to get back to performing for his fans -- after some of the most difficult years of his life -- telling us his prep has him 9 months sober and super sore! We got the singer-songwriter out on a run at The Hollywood Reservoir Wednesday, a place that's become familiar to Ryan as of late. He tells us he's been working through his mental health struggles with 5-6 miles of running per day, and it's also helped him stay clean. He's also mounting a comeback after a 2019 New York Times report accusing him of sending sexual messages to an underage fan as well as being "manipulative, obsessive and controlling" with 7 other women -- including his ex-wife Mandy Moore and singer Phoebe Bridgers. Eventually, the FBI cleared Adams in the underage messages case -- but he hadn't really gotten on stage since then. Now, he's just announced an 8-gig string of shows -- including Chicago and Milwaukee -- to start in October ... this after he quietly took the stage for 5 comeback shows in May. Sources close tell us ticket sales have already been strong ... proving fans still wanna see him in action. While Ryan wouldn't exactly tell us his thoughts on cancel culture -- avoiding the topic by reminding us just how sore he was -- you gotta imagine he's excited about the chance of a legit comeback. Oh ya, and watch the clip to find out what junk food the rocker claims was no bueno in helping him stay fit.

Music

The earnest, mid-budget studio comedy gets another gentle jolt back to life this week with HBO Max’s sleek remake of Father of the Bride, a mostly charming throwback to a time of big music, big speeches and big kitchens. It’s a story told twice before, once in 1950 by Vincente Minnelli with help from Spencer Tracy and then decades later with Nancy Meyers ushering Steve Martin, but it’s a dynamic we’ve seen far more times than that, the over-protective father struggling to let his beloved daughter go, especially when she’s heading all the way up the aisle.It’s such a familiar set-up that our minds instantly go to sitcom territory – dad with wagging finger, daughter with hands on hips – and so to its credit, Mexican director Gary Alazraki’s straight-to-streaming redo manages to feel bigger than that, not just because it looks like a splashy theatrical release but because in dragging the oft-told story into the 2020s, he finds a way to make it feel specific and culturally expansive. Together with screenwriter Matt Lopez, he’s shifted the traditionally Wasp-y tale into more diverse, and dramatically interesting, territory with a Cuban-American family at its centre. El Padre de la Novia as it’s also known centres on Billy (Andy Garcia), an exile who worked his way up from nothing to become a successful architect in Miami with his devoted wife Ingrid (an extremely rare acting role for Gloria Estefan) at his side. But decades in, their marriage has soured and when their daughter Sofia (Morbius star Adria Arjona) comes home from law school, they decide to reveal their divorce to the family. Before they can, they’re surprised by some even bigger news, Sofia is getting married and intends to do so in just four weeks.Even if one hadn’t seen either of the two prior versions, where the story then goes – from falling out to making up to monologuing about falling out and then making up – will offer few surprises. But the pleasure of a film such as this, and the films it competently recalls, is less in what’s being told and more in how it’s being told and Alazraki, with his biggest film to date, proves to be a dab hand at crafting the kind of high-gloss studio picture we don’t see that much any more. The much-buzzed about return of romcoms has, for me, offered very little joy and has been mostly done on a tight budget with very little artistry. But Alazraki recognises that the wrapping is just as important as what’s inside and he brings a Nancy Meyers-adjacent level of opulence with an evocative jazzy score, an extravagant use of Miami locations and the requisite amount of food and house porn (a faux one-take sequence of last-minute wedding prep is one of the most delightful things I’ve seen all year).What the recent romcom renaissance has tried to correct is the mostly white and almost entirely straight nature of many of the films that many of us grew up with, allowing a wider spectrum of characters to finally get their running through the airport moment. Retelling Father of the Bride with an almost exclusively Latino cast works so well because Lopez’s script relies on a specificity that gives the film its own, distinctive character, touching on intra-conflicts within the community, and basing the father’s actions on what he’s experienced as a Cuban exile in the US, which gives an added texture to how he handles ideas of money and tradition. His character represents the old world and his future son-in-law the new, with the latter played by Mexican singer-actor Diego Boneta, choosing soft-spoken liberalism over a more traditional form of hyper-masculinity (he’s, gulp, not really into sports). But rather than falling into regressive boomer v millennial, alpha v beta stereotypes (such as in 2019’s loathsome Shaft sequel), Lopez’s surprisingly deft script shows that it’s the elder who needs to grow and learn and that the younger man’s progressivism is something that can help him out of the rut he’s stuck in.It’s then even more disappointing that the other daughter, played by the ever-magnetic Isabela Merced, is cursed with an embarrassingly coy, Hays Code-era gay storyline that’s so vague it might as well not exist. It reeks of how-is-this-still-happening studio cowardice which is strange given that the film is skipping a theatrical release so one would assume the territory is less delicate. There are also some confused missteps in how the film handles wealth, particularly in the inconsistency of what the daughter does and doesn’t want at her wedding, urging for something small and earthy while then hiring an ostentatious wedding planner via Instagram. It’s all purely to pay credit to Martin Short’s character in the 1991 film and allows for a rather jarring turn from the otherwise hilarious Chloe Fineman from SNL. Garcia doesn’t have the comic chops of Steve Martin and so the film wisely dials down on the more pronounced comedy, a wise choice given the casting but a few more laughs wouldn’t have gone amiss. While the script could also have afforded Estefan a bit more to do, she has a a warm, easy chemistry with Garcia, the pair taking the material more seriously than it often deserves.There’s nothing particularly remarkable about Father of the Bride 2022 (was there ever really going to be?) but it’s a far better, and smoother, film than one would expect from the outset, a streaming premiere made with such confidence that it surely deserved a big-screen run. Father of the Bride is on HBO Max in the US from 17 June and Binge and Foxtel Now in Australia

Movies

'The Voice' Kata Hay Arrested For Sexual Contact with a Minor 6/16/2022 12:30 AM PT Country singer Kata Hay, a former contestant on "The Voice," has been arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with her friend's son ... TMZ has learned. Hay was taken into custody Tuesday in Sumner County, TN ... and according to legal docs obtained by TMZ, the alleged incident started with the 35-year-old singer making sexual comments about a 16-year-old boy in front of his parents. Cops say Hay had been staying at the family's home for a short period. Those comments allegedly led to physical contact ... with the teen claiming Kata made out with him and forced him to touch her inappropriately multiple times against his wishes. The 16-year-old's mother told authorities she confronted Kata, and recorded their convo before ordering her to leave the home. According to the docs, the mother's recording includes Hay acknowledging the incident had occurred. It's noted Hay seemed to be under the influence during the confrontation, at least according to the mother. The singer -- who made the 'Voice' top 20 back in 2016 -- was arrested, and also processed for a probation violation related to a separate DUI case. Hay told TMZ, "As you know a charge is not a conviction," and she declined any further comment on the case.

Celebrity

On the planeIt looks certain that Jordan Pickford will keep his place as No 1 in Qatar. Southgate has made clear that Kyle Walker is one of the leaders who makes his squad tick and he believes the same of Harry Maguire, even if the boo boys think otherwise. John Stones will also be an influence on and off the pitch. Kieran Trippier is another who has been namechecked as a pillar of the dressing room, and can fulfil both full-back roles. Although Reece James faces a stern battle for the right-back berth, it is inconceivable he will be overlooked for at least a squad spot.Mason Mount looks a guaranteed starter, Southgate having gone out of his way to highlight his importance to England’s pressing game recently. Declan Rice, whose driving runs cannot be replicated, is also sure to travel and Kalvin Phillips can be confident of starting alongside him even if a sub-par showing against Hungary is fresh in the memory. Jordan Henderson’s presence was missed over the past fortnight and he will not be overlooked.Reece James’s attributes should earn him a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad but a starting spot is not guaranteed. Photograph: Robert Szaniszlo/NurPhoto/ShutterstockAlthough neither hit form during this month’s Nations League slump, it virtually goes without saying that Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling are nailed-on picks. As Southgate asked last week: where else are England going to find goals? Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka will be asked to help on that front. Foden offers ingenuity that Southgate cannot find anywhere else and the manager sees Saka as a model professional who can contribute in a range of positions, even if the Arsenal winger had clearly run out of steam when the June internationals came around.In the departure loungeAaron Ramsdale will travel as England’s second keeper unless domestic form deserts him. He impressed against Italy and few can operate comparably with their feet. At the end of last week Nick Pope had expected to play in the home match against Hungary but ended up bereft of Nations League action. He is firmly viewed as No 3 and will hope the spectre of Championship football does not complicate his prospects.It was a surprise not to see Conor Coady play at Molineux but he is well-liked in the setup and has a clear edge on the rest of those pushing Maguire and Stones. Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell will need to prove their fitness but, with England crying out for at least one specialist left-back, Southgate will select both if he can. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s status will be a point of conjecture until the squad is picked: he should squeeze in if, as expected, 26-man parties are permitted but Southgate has clear doubts about selecting a de facto playmaker at right-back within his structure.Luke Shaw has to recover from his injury problems to secure a place in England’s World Cup squad. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The ObserverJude Bellingham struggled in both Hungary games but performed with appetite when deployed early on in Germany. Any clamour for him to start in Qatar may have dampened but he looks too lavish a talent to leave at home. So too Jack Grealish, who clearly does not convince his manager as a starter but can shift England through the gears when he comes off the bench and would need a disastrous early-season spell to fade from the picture. Although England do not have a backup striker to seriously compete with Kane, Tammy Abraham is ahead of the rest for that spot. He did not shine against Italy, though, and cannot afford a dip in the new Serie A season.Hoping for a ticketIf England travel with five specialist centre-backs then one of Ben White, Marc Guéhi and Fikayo Tomori will miss out. It appears a toss-up, although White’s absence from the June camp was unfortunately timed. Tomori may hold a slight edge on Guéhi after impressing Southgate against Italy.James Ward-Prowse felt unfortunate to miss the cut for Euro 2020 but looks similarly borderline for Qatar. He did little to move the dial when given a chance against Italy, although Southgate professed himself happy. Conor Gallagher’s energy was particularly apparent early on against Hungary and he could prove a useful, flexible analogue of Mount, but his time may be likelier to come at Euro 2024.James Ward-Prowse is in contention for the trip to Qatar but missed out on Euro 2020 and could face similar disappointment. Photograph: James Baylis/AMA/Getty ImagesIn a shot-shy team there has been plenty of temptation to press Jarrod Bowen’s claim. He offers something different and attractive in attack, but made some poor decisions on the ball during Tuesday’s debacle and still has everything to prove at this level.Emile Smith Rowe will feel he can step back up from the Under-21s if he starts the season strongly at Arsenal. There is even more intrigue in the status of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. Southgate has suggested the Manchester United pair face a long road back into his affections, but Sancho flickered into life towards the end of last season and Rashford would offer proven goal threat to a struggling attack. There may yet be room for one of them.Those travails at the business end mean Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ollie Watkins will be quietly hopeful of giving Southgate something to ponder during the early weeks of next season. Calvert-Lewin, in particular, has the tools to unseat Abraham.Watching from the sofaDean Henderson, Sam Johnstone and Fraser Forster may sense vulnerability in Pope’s position but Southgate’s goalkeeping options look set. It is hard to see James Justin building on an iffy debut at Hungary in the near future, especially as alternative picks return to fitness. Now that Tyrone Mings, who had become a stalwart until this month, has been displaced by younger options in Tomori and Guéhi he seems unlikely to be tasked with a backup role. Eric Dier would have improved several England sides of the past but apparently not today’s. Kyle Walker-Peters and Tyrick Mitchell will be thwarted by the surfeit of full-back options unless an injury crisis hits.Tyrone Mings has seen his position as backup centre-back come under threat from Marc Guéhi and Fikayo Tomori. Photograph: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty ImagesThere is a sense Jesse Lingard’s chance has passed, even if he revives his club career, and Harvey Barnes looks a long way from the sweet spot that might bring a return. Patrick Bamford is miles from the running and the same may apply to Callum Wilson, although the freshly-fit Newcastle man could be an intriguing dark horse for a call from Southgate if he begins next season as he finished 2021-22.

Soccer

Mars is getting a taste of human life before any person has ever even been there.NASA reported Wednesday that its Perseverance Mars Rover had spotted “something unexpected”: a piece of litter on the surface of the red planet.The debris was a piece of a thermal blanket that NASA scientists believe may have fallen off during the rover’s descent. The robot explorer was wrapped in the material to control its temperature.My team has spotted something unexpected: It’s a piece of a thermal blanket that they think may have come from my descent stage, the rocket-powered jet pack that set me down on landing day back in 2021. pic.twitter.com/O4rIaEABLu— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) June 15, 2022 That shiny bit of foil is part of a thermal blanket – a material used to control temperatures. It’s a surprise finding this here: My descent stage crashed about 2 km away. Did this piece land here after that, or was it blown here by the wind? pic.twitter.com/uVx3VdYfi8— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) June 15, 2022 Here’s part of the team at JPL that wrapped me up in thermal blankets. Think of them as spacecraft dressmakers. They work with sewing machines and other tools to piece together these unique materials. More on that here: https://t.co/CNkUheYFnQ pic.twitter.com/PcMeow3FyO— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) June 15, 2022 Perseverance touched down on Mars in February 2021, marking NASA’s ninth mission to the planet. According to the robot’s Twitter bio, its hobbies are photography, collecting rocks, and off-roading.So far, only unmanned spacecraft have traveled to Mars, but NASA is hoping to land the first humans on Mars by the 2030s.

Space Exploration

Abby Lee Miller Crushed Maddie Z. 'At Peace' without Her ... 'We Became Family' 6/16/2022 12:40 AM PT Abby Lee Miller is devastated Maddie Ziegler says her life and career are going just fine without Abby's involvement. The "Dance Moms" maven tells TMZ ... unfortunately, relationships don’t always last and it breaks her heart. She says, she and Maddie made beautiful art together that was captured on camera for all the world to see. Abby says, "Spending hours, days, weeks and years together in a crazy reality TV show environment, we became like family." ICYMI, the dancer turned actress finally spoke out about her strained relationship with Abby. In an interview, she said she hadn't talked to her former coach since leaving "Dance Moms" back in 2016 -- and added, she's "at peace" without their relationship and the show ... which she called a toxic environment. Clearly, it's a hard pill for Abby to swallow. Abby tells us, she's proud of all her students' accomplishments, but ... "Sadly, it’s always the ones you do the most for that kick you in the can-can." Despite that jab, the former coach wasn't shy about singing Maddie's praises, calling her a "perfectionist." Abby also says, Maddie "paid attention to everyone else’s corrections, she wanted to be good, she got it and I thought she got me too". Guess time doesn't heal all wounds 😕

Celebrity

Ed Sheeran was pictured with his four-week-old newborn daughter for the first time on Wednesday as he enjoyed a sunsoaked stroll with his family. The singer, 31, shocked fans in May when he revealed that he and wife Cherry Seaborn had secretly welcomed another daughter, announcing he was 'over the moon to be a family of four.' Fatherhood certainly seemed to suit Ed as he cradled his little one on a walk around Kensington Palace Gardens in London, while Cherry pushed their older daughter Lyra, 22 months, in a buggy. The new family seemed in good spirits on the outing as they made the most of the warm weather with a stroll across the green, stopping off to show Lyra the geese at the pond. Exclusive: Ed Sheeran was seen with his newborn daughter for the first time on Wednesday as he cradled his baby girl on a family stroll with wife Cherry Seaborn and firstborn Lyra, 22 months, in London Ed kept things low-key for the outing, pairing a white long-sleeved shirt with black shorts and colourful trainers. He shielded himself from the sun with a navy baseball cap with shades and a black face mask. New mother Cherry looked radiant as she stepped out in a floral shirt and khaki trainers that she teamed with chunky hi-top Nike trainers. The duo made for a picture-perfect family as they cuddled up close on their stroll, with Cherry making sure the family were all protected from the sun by regularly doling out doses of sunscreen. Doting dad: Fatherhood certainly seemed to suit Ed as he cradled his little one on a walk around Kensington Palace Gardens in London, while Cherry pushed their older daughter Lyra, 22 months, in a buggySweet: The new family seemed in good spirits on the outing as they made the most of the warm weather with a stroll across the green, stopping off to show Lyra the geese at the pondThe outing comes just four weeks after Ed announced the family's shock news that they'd secretly welcomed another child. The Shape Of You hitmaker took to Instagram to share a snap of white pair of baby booties, that he captioned: 'Want to let you all know we've had another beautiful baby girl. We are both so in love with her, and over the moon to be a family of 4 x'The couple welcomed elder daughter Lyra Antarctica in August 2020.Ed's Instagram post was met with a plethora of congratulatory messages from his fans. Low-key look: Ed kept things low-key for the outing, pairing a white long-sleeved shirt with black shorts and colourful trainersKeeping things casual: Ed shielded himself from the sun with a navy baseball cap with shades and a black face mask Surprise! The outing comes just four weeks after Ed announced the family's shock news that they'd secretly welcomed another child, saying he and Cherry were 'overt the moon' The star had announced the birth of Lyra in a similar way, sharing a snap of her baby socks on a blanket alongside his message.The couple reportedly only confided in their closest family members about the pregnancy.Ed's spokesperson confirmed: 'Ed and Cherry recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl and are on cloud nine.'They're so excited for Lyra to have a little sister and the four of them are currently enjoying some precious family time before Ed heads back on tour.'We are delighted for them, and we hope that you can respect their privacy at this special time.'Safety first: The duo made for a picture-perfect family as they cuddled up close on their stroll, with Cherry making sure the family were all protected from the sun by regularly doling out doses of sunscreen On the move: Ed and Cherry seemed in good spirits as they strolled along the grass Cherry was last seen in public in February when she attended the BRIT Awards with her husband.She also visited the University Of Cambridge to collect her Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business - a program designed to develop insights that make business sense of sustainability and to empower leaders to bring about organisational change.Speaking on the Open house Party podcast in June, Ed revealed he would be 'super grateful' to add more members to his family.The West Yorkshire-born star said: 'I would obviously be super grateful to be able to have any more kids, but I think girls are far superior to boys. As a boy myself, I feel like I can say this.'I feel like we were so lucky to be able to have one that I think I would obviously love more. But I think we're so lucky to just have one. So if nothing else happens, I'm so happy, basically.'Blooming lovely: New mother Cherry looked radiant as she stepped out in a floral shirt and khaki trainers that she teamed with chunky hi-top Nike trainers Loving life: The group seemed in high spirits as they showed their eldest daughter the flock of geese that had gathered In November, Ed revealed having his daughter Lyra Antarctica was a 'blessing' and a 'miracle' after struggling to conceive with his wife Cherry, 30.The singer told how the couple had booked doctors appointments to check everything was okay after 'trying to have a kid for a while'.They then welcomed their first child last August, after conceiving naturally during a holiday in 2019 to Antarctica - which inspired the unusual name.He told US radio's The Breakfast Club: 'We had tried for a while to have a kid, and we'd started going to doctors and figuring out what was up.'I did think it was a miracle, so that's why I was like, we should have this in the name.'A lot of it is mental. It's about relaxing. So many of my friends have been trying different things like IVF or making sure you're having sex at the right time on the right day, and then they go to a wedding and get p*ssed and relax and they get pregnant.'He added: 'It's not a given. It is a real blessing when it happens.But he admitted Lyra might not like hearing why she got the moniker. 'She'll get older and be like, 'Urgh'!' Ed said.Meanwhile in December, Ed revealed he finds being away from his daughter Lyra 'really difficult' and she has given him 'purpose' outside of his career.Speaking on the Ellen Degeneres Show, the chart-topper admitted he was finding it hard being away from Lyra and his wife Cherry, even just for a few days.He said: 'I really love being a dad. I started off with my job being my hobby and then one day I got paid for it and it became my job.'I just found I didn't have any purpose outside of that. When I gave myself fixed time off work I wasn't doing anything I enjoyed because I love music.'I actually find this really difficult, being away. There was a conversation about maybe taking Cherry and Lyra over here and jet lag is just not fun for a baby.' Same again: Ed announced the birth of Lyra in a similar way to his second child sharing a snap of her baby socks on a blanket alongside his message Ed and Cherry were childhood sweethearts, having grown up together in the same town.They rekindled their romance in 2014 and tied the knot in a small ceremony five years later.'Me and Cherry's actual wedding was a tiny affair, with hardly anyone there,' Ed revealed to fellow musician Jessie Ware on her Table Manners podcast.'We did it at night, at a random day in the middle of January, in the middle of nowhere,' the Sing hitmaker added.'No one knew, no one came to it, we lit candles and we got married, went back and had a curry.'Forever his love: Ed and Cherry were childhood sweethearts. They rekindled their romance in 2014 and tied the knot in a small ceremony five years later [pictured in 2018]

Celebrity

Edit StoryNew! Follow this author to improve your content experience. Jun 16, 2022,03:42am EDT|Topline Pop icon Beyoncé’s new album ‘RENAISSANCE’ is set for release on July 29, music streaming services including Spotify and Tidal announced early on Thursday, marking her first full album release in six years that follows multiple teases on social media over the past few days. Beyonce makes History with the Best E&B Performance winning 28 Grammys, more that any female or male ... [+] performer, accepts the award for Best R&B Performance at the 63rd Grammy Award outside Staples Center. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Key Facts The full name of the album appears to be “RENAISSANCE – act i”, a possible indication the new project may be released in multiple parts. The official announcement was shared by the social media handles of all major music streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and YouTube Music—indicating that unlike her last album ‘Lemonade’ this will release on all platforms. The new album will be Beyonce’s seventh solo album. This is a developing story. Follow me on Twitter. Send me a secure tip. Editorial StandardsPrintReprints & Permissions

Music

Joe Exotic The Wedding Is Off, Y'all!!! Splits From Prison Fiancé 6/16/2022 1:00 AM PT Joe Exotic's gotta be singing "Looking for love in all the wrong places" -- his wedding plans are suddenly off now that his "Twilight"-esque relationship with his prison fiancé is dunzo. Netflix Joe Exotic Details Relationship with New Fiancé, 'Twilight'-Esque Joe's divorce attorney Autumn Blackledge tells TMZ ... Joe believed he'd fallen in love with fellow inmate John Graham, but ever since John got released from their federal prison in Texas ... he's moved on and ended things with Joe. We're told Joe will continue to have a close relationship with John's son and some members of his family, and despite their split ... Joe has only nice things to say about his ex. Sounds like Joe's broken heart is healing quickly, though -- we're told a "very special man" came back into his life recently, someone picking up where they left off before he "put his head up his ass." No official word on who it is yet, but a name comes to mind. TMZ broke the story ... Joe filed for divorce from Dillon Passage in March, with his relationship with John being the reason why. Joe and Dillon were estranged for more than a year before Exotic filed divorce docs from jail. We're told JE's divorce from Dillon is still making slow but steady progress, so there's a chance this mystery man might be someone totally new ... to the public, anyway. Prison plot twist!!!

Celebrity

Vintage aesthetics and modern tech make the new Z so much more enjoyable than the outgoing generation. 1 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET The Nissan 370Z was on the verge of collecting Social Security checks from a golf cart in Del Boca Vista when its successor, simply named Z, made its debut. 2 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET And after a week behind the wheel of this retro-futuristic two-seater, it's clear that the 2023 Nissan Z is doing everything it can to make up for lost time. 3 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET Cribbing iconic design elements can backfire on a modern car, but the Nissan Z pulls it off. 4 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET The front end's eye-like headlights and squared-off grille carry just the right amount of Datsun vibe, while the 300ZX-style taillights look excellent tucked under the hatchback lid. 5 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET My tester's $1,295 two-tone black-and-blue paint job is sharp, too. 6 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET A 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 borrowed from Infiniti puts 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque at my disposal. 7 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET Boost will build and the car will pull at nearly every point on the tachometer, making highway passes a breeze without worrying about downshifts. 8 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET While I wish cars fitted with the six-speed manual transmission had the sport muffler that's only legal on automatic-transmission variants, the engine note is only really hushed at lower speeds; as the tach approaches its 6,800-rpm redline, the V6 has no issue bouncing its song off the trees that line my favorite curvy backroads. 9 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET With its big power bump, its newfound appreciation for modernity and an on-road character that's simply tons of fun, we should all be happy that the sports-car arena is welcoming a new challenger in the 2023 Nissan Z. 10 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET Keep scrolling or clicking to check out even more pictures of the 2023 Nissan Z. 11 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 12 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 13 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 14 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 15 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 16 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 17 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 18 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 19 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 20 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 21 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 22 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 23 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 24 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 25 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 26 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET 27 of 27 Andrew Krok/CNET

Automotive and Transportation

Cricket - ICC Men's T20 World Cup - Super 12 - Group 2 - India v Namibia - Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - November 8, 2021 Namibia's Jan Frylinck in action as India's Jasprit Bumrah attempts to catch REUTERS/Hamad I MohammedRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLONDON, June 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Disney (DIS.N) took half the viewing rights to the country’s top sport league which fetched $6.2 bln. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate who won. They also discuss Boris Johnson's plan to rip up his EU exit deal and BlackRock’s (BLK.N) efforts to distribute voting rights.Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on TwitterRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comEditing by Amanda GomezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Other Sports

Tom Hanks says he could not play the role of a gay man today as he did in Philadelphia in 1993 - and "rightly so".The Hollywood star played lawyer Andrew Beckett in the film, a man who was fired from his job after his bosses discovered his sexuality. Speaking to The New York Times Magazine, the veteran actor said: "Let's address, 'Could a straight man do what I did in Philadelphia now?' No, and rightly so."Hanks said: "We're beyond that now, and I don't think people would accept the inauthenticity of a straight guy playing a gay guy."It's not a crime, it's not boohoo that someone would say we are going to demand more of a movie in the modern realm of authenticity. Do I sound like I'm preaching? I don't mean to." When he collected his Oscar for the film, he recognised that too many gay men had died because of HIV and AIDS. Image: Tom Hanks after winning an Oscar for Philadelphia. Pic: Reuters He said: "I know that my work in this case is magnified by the fact that the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels."We know their names. They number a thousand for each one of the red ribbons that we wear here tonight. They finally rest in the warm embrace of the gracious creator of us all."A healing embrace that cools their fevers, clears their skin and allows their eyes to see the simple, self-evident, common-sense truth that is made manifest by the benevolent creator of us all and was written down on paper by wise men, tolerant men, in the city of Philadelphia 200 years ago."The 1993 America legal drama film was one of the first mainstream Hollywood film to address HIV/AIDS and homophobia.

Movies

Beyoncé has announced what appears to be her next solo album, Renaissance, due for release on 29 July.After the musician, 40, shared the words “act i … RENAISSANCE” on her social media accounts, streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal – owned by her husband, rapper Jay-Z – also posted minimalist artwork featuring the same wording and offered fans the chance to pre-save the release. The Apple Music listing suggests the project will consist of 16 tracks.If, as it appears, Renaissance is a traditional Beyoncé solo album – or the first of a several-part release – it will be her seventh overall, and the follow-up to her wildly acclaimed 2016 album Lemonade.Since then, she has also released a joint album with Jay-Z, Everything Is Love, in 2018, and The Lion King: The Gift, the soundtrack she curated for Disney’s photorealistic animated remake of The Lion King, in 2019. She released a single, Be Alive, for the soundtrack of the film King Richard in November 2021.Beyoncé fans were primed for the news after she deleted the profile picture from her social media platforms earlier this month, and her website teased a new project with the words: “What is a B7?”Last year, she told Harper’s Bazaar that she had begun working on new music. “With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again,” she said. “I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible. I’ve been in the studio for a year and a half.”Of her highly collaborative music-making process, she said: “Sometimes it takes a year for me to personally search through thousands of sounds to find just the right kick or snare. One chorus can have up to 200 stacked harmonies.“Still, there’s nothing like the amount of love, passion, and healing that I feel in the recording studio. After 31 years, it feels just as exciting as it did when I was nine years old. Yes, the music is coming!”

Music

Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey has arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, amid a crowd of cameras and reporters, to face four counts of sexual assault against three men. He has also been accused of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consentHollywood actor Kevin Spacey smiled as he arrived at court, to face sexual assault charges on Thursday morning. Spacey, 62, arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning dressed in a blue suit and black-rimmed glasses. The Usual Suspects star has been charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men, and with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges came after a review by the Crown Prosecution Service of the evidence gathered by the Met Police in its investigation. Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey smiled as he arrived at court, to face sexual assault charges on Thursday morning ( Image: George Cracknell Wright/LNP) The Oscar winner has been charged with two counts of sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London; sexual assault on a man who is now in his 30s, in August 2008 in London and a separate count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent on the same man. He has also been charged with sexual assault on a man, now in his 30s, in April 2013 in Gloucestershire. The Hollywood actor was dressed in a blue suit as he arrived at court ( Image: AFP via Getty Images) The Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges against him last month, but Spacey could only be charged once he had travelled to the UK. Following the CPS announcement, Spacey said in a statement released to Good Morning America: “While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.” Spacey was surrounded by photographers ( Image: AFP via Getty Images) Spacey has won two Oscars and is known for his roles in The Usual Suspects, American Beauty and Netflix political drama House of Cards. He was also artistic director of The Old Vic theatre in London. Read More Read More

Celebrity

Nearly two-thirds of Britons want trans women BANNED from female sports, poll reveals after Emily Bridges rowMore In Common think tank's poll showed Britons not in favour of participationRespondents all wanted trans women to be able to take part in their sportsBut majority thought they had a physical advantage over genetic-born women Published: 05:17 EDT, 16 June 2022 | Updated: 05:20 EDT, 16 June 2022 Transgender women should not be allowed to compete in female-only competitions, 57 per cent of respondents to a new poll have said.Britons spoken to for the survey believe transitioned females are 'giving the other competitors a physical disadvantage'.But every group questioned wanted there to be a way that trans women could be able to compete in the sport they loved.Most raised the idea of having a separate or mixed category for trans athletes to take part in.The controversial topic - magnified by cancel culture and social media storms - was examined by think tank More In Common.Its survey of more than 5,000 people and 20 focus group featured partly anonymised comments from those quizzed.Lara, 38 from Pitney said: 'No one's saying they're not female in sports. It's just, they're saying that they're giving the other competitors a physical disadvantage. I don't think it's that they're being categorised as a male. It's just that physically they'd smash the shit out of the other side. It would be so unfair.' Trans cyclist Emily Bridges denies claims she has any advantage over biological women The survey was carried out by think tank More In Common and looked at variety of topsIan, 61, from Glasgow added: 'People can pick and choose their gender nowadays, or what and do what they want and dress as they want. That's absolutely fine.'But when it comes to competitive sport, just looking at her, you get a substantial advantage with her build or strength. So she shouldn't be competing against genetic females. I just don't think it's... I don't think it's right.' Only 19 per cent supported allowing trans athletes in women's sport.It comes the week after as a fresh transgender row broke out after trans cyclist Emily Bridges laughed off claims she has a competitive advantage over biological women.In a series of tweets, British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies said Bridges is 'not a woman', called her inclusion in women's sports 'unfair' and claimed that she would be banned from competing if she had 'as much testosterone in my system as Emily Bridges is allowed'.The former GB swimmer also posted: 'Emily Bridges has never been barred from sport or ever will be. EB was competing last year & earlier this year successfully in the men's category. Inclusion is being able to compete, its not getting an unfair advantage'. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas speaks to her coach after winning the 500 meter freestyleAnd she added: 'If we get to the point where we can't talk facts because it might hurt someone's feeling where the hell is this going to lead us? How can we measure feelings? Why is one persons feelings more important than another persons feelings? See… feelings cannot be a measurement of truth.'In March Labour leader Keir Starmer refused to say if a woman can have a penis during a debate about trans rights.Starmer, appearing LBC radio for his regular phone-in, was asked about trans athletes and the success of Lia Thomas, a trans woman who won the 500-yard freestyle title at the women's NCAA championships.The victory has sparked a debate around trans athletes taking part in competitive sport, with critics claiming they may have an advantage over other participants.But Starmer said it is for 'sporting bodies to decide for themselves' who can and cannot be included in events.Asked if a woman can have a penis, Starmer said: 'I'm not... I don't think we can conduct this debate with... I don't think that discussing this issue in this way helps anyone in the long run.' Rosie Duffield, the Labour MP for Canterbury, has also told the BBC that her party still had a 'confused' position over the transgender debate.She came under fire for her opposition to 'male-bodied biological men' being allowed to self-identify as female in order to access women-only spaces such as prisons and domestic violence refuges. Advertisement

Other Sports

Stephen Curry and the Warriors have been within a game of clinching a championship in three of Golden State’s previous five trips to the NBA finals during his 13-year NBA career.Back again and with a 3-2 series lead on the Celtics, Curry says he’ll lean on that experience when he takes the court at Boston’s TD Garden on Thursday night.“You just understand what the nerves are like,” Curry said. “At the end of the day, once you get out there, you just have to be in the moment. You got to be present as much as possible, not worry about the consequences of a win or a loss. The only opportunity you have is that 48 minutes.”The Warriors’ core of Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green is still around from the 2015 championship run. They’re on the verge of capturing their fourth title in eight seasons with new additions to the floor – like Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole – who have never been in this position.Curry’s advice to them: Lie to yourself a little bit.“The more you can trick your mind into being in the moment and staying there, that’s the best advice I can give anybody in that situation,” he said. “Because it’s going to be the hardest game you probably ever played in your career because of what the stakes are.”The stakes will be equally high for the Celtics, who let the turnover demons that have haunted them at times throughout the postseason prevent them from seizing a commanding 3-1 series lead.Boston limited Curry to his lowest scoring output of the finals in Game 5, but couldn’t overcome 18 turnovers. The Celtics dropped to 1-7 this postseason when committing 16 turnovers or more – and lost consecutive games for the first time since the end of March.But they have a chance to force Game 7 – and the chance is coming at the Garden, where they are 6-5 in the playoffs.The mood at the close of Wednesday’s practice session was loose, with players smiling and joking while getting up some shots. Celtics star Jayson Tatum said the optimism comes from the team’s extremely recent playoff history.Boston’s path to the finals has included Game 7 victories over Milwaukee in the second round and Miami in the conference finals. The Celtics entered the finals as only the 12th team in league history to win back-to-back Game 7s in the preceding rounds.“In those moments, we just responded. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I think just our will to want to win, just trying to figure it out,” Tatum said. “I think my thought process, as it was in that game, Game 7 against the Heat, it was just do whatever it takes to win.”That, and reminding himself and teammates of the fact that there is still basketball left to play.“It’s the first to four. It’s not over with,” Tatum said. “So as long as it’s not over with, you got a chance.”

Basketball

The Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has arrived at a London court this morning to face four charges of sexual assault.Spacey, 62, wearing a blue suit, arrived with a legal team and aides. There was a huge media scrum outside the court with outlets from across the world. He is accused of assault on three men in the UK during an eight-year period from 2005.He has also been charged with a fifth offence of causing one man to “engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent”. The charges allege that Spacey, who stepped down as artistic director of the Old Vic theatre in central London two years before the complainants came forward, sexually assaulted three men in London and Gloucestershire.Media from around the world gathered outside the courtroomHENRY NICHOLLS/REUTERSSpacey was at the Old

Celebrity

Kevin Spacey has appeared at a court in London charged with sexually assaulting three men.The actor, 62, arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday morning to face four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. He was accompanied by members of his legal team and two police officers.The disgraced actor was mobbed by hordes of photographers as he exited a silver Mercedes outside Westminster Magistrates' Court.He made no comment as he was rushed past a queue of other court attendees and through the entrance before passing security. The alleged offences took place in London and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2013. The accusations relate to three men, now in their 30s and 40s. More on Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey says he will 'voluntarily' appear in the UK to defend himself against sex assault charges Kevin Spacey: Oscar-winning actor charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men in the UK Kevin Spacey demands 'absolutely false' sex abuse case is dropped The charges are:• Two counts of sexual assault on a man, now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London• Sexual assault on a man, now in his 30s, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, in August 2008 in London• Sexual assault on a man, now in his 30s, in April 2013 in GloucestershirePatrick Gibbs QC, defending, said: "Mr Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case."The actor entered no pleas to the charges during the hearing.The case was adjourned and Spacey was granted unconditional bail until his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July. Spacey has said he is "confident I will prove my innocence".After prosecutors authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge him last month, he told Good Morning America: "While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence."Spacey is known for starring roles in American Beauty, The Usual Suspects and House Of Cards.

Celebrity

Manchester City are poised to bid for Brighton’s Marc Cucurella, their top target at left-back. Pep Guardiola is determined to sign his fellow Catalan after being impressed by his performances in the Premier League.Cucurella joined Brighton from Getafe last August, after a spell at Barcelona in which he did not progress beyond the B team. City’s interest is well established and their first offer is expected within days.Brighton stand to make a sizeable profit if they sell Cucurella, who joined for £15.4m and wept tears of joy after scoring his first goal for the club in May’s 4-0 win over Manchester United.Although Oleksandr Zinchenko and the right-footed João Cancelo played successfully at left-back last season to help City to the title, Guardiola wants another specialist in the position. Benjamin Mendy is indefinitely suspended.City have bought Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for £51m and the chairman, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, has said two more signings are planned.Another Brighton player, Yves Bissouma, is having a medical at Tottenham after agreement was reached over a move for £25m plus-ons. The midfielder has been at Brighton since 2018.Fulham are progressing in talks to buy the Israel forward Manor Solomon from Shakhtar Donetsk and pushing to sign the defensive midfielder João Palhinha from Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese is also a target for Wolves.

Soccer

Kevin Spacey "strenuously denies" allegations that he sexually assaulted three men, a court has heard.The actor, 62, arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Thursday morning to face four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. He was accompanied by members of his legal team and two police officers.The disgraced actor was mobbed by hordes of photographers as he exited a silver Mercedes outside Westminster Magistrates' Court.He made no comment as he was rushed past a queue of other court attendees and through the entrance before passing security. The alleged offences took place in London and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2013. The accusations relate to three men, now in their 30s and 40s. More on Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey says he will 'voluntarily' appear in the UK to defend himself against sex assault charges Kevin Spacey: Oscar-winning actor charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men in the UK Kevin Spacey demands 'absolutely false' sex abuse case is dropped The charges are:• Two counts of sexual assault on a man, now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London• Sexual assault on a man, now in his 30s, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, in August 2008 in London• Sexual assault on a man, now in his 30s, in April 2013 in GloucestershirePatrick Gibbs QC, defending, told the court: "Mr Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case."The actor entered no pleas to the charges during the hearing.The case was adjourned and Spacey was granted unconditional bail until his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July. Spacey has said he is "confident I will prove my innocence".After prosecutors authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge him last month, he told Good Morning America: "While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence."Spacey is known for starring roles in American Beauty, The Usual Suspects and House Of Cards.

Celebrity

London CNN — US actor Kevin Spacey has made his first appearance in a London court after being charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men. Spacey spoke to confirm his name during Thursday’s brief procedural hearing, and a judge set a date of July 14 for his next hearing. Spacey’s lawyer told the court he “strenuously denies” all allegations of criminality. He was granted unconditional bail after his lawyer told the court he would need to return to the United States between court dates. The “House of Cards” actor, 62, was also charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent last month. The charges relate to two alleged incidents in London in 2005, another two in 2008, and a further incident in Gloucestershire, western England, in 2013. The alleged victim of the 2005 incidents is now in his 40s, while the two men allegedly involved in the 2008 and 2013 incidents are now in their 30s, London’s Metropolitan Police said. Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service authorized the charges against Spacey in late May, but the charges could not be formally applied until Monday, when he was in the United Kingdom. Spacey has won two Academy Awards for his roles in “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty,” and was artistic director of London’s Old Vic theater from 2003 to 2015. He has also starred in the Netflix political series “House of Cards,” and returned to acting in the past year.

Celebrity

Over the course of 10 months, nearly 400 car crashes in the United States involved advanced driver-assistance technologies, the federal government’s top auto safety regulator disclosed Wednesday, in its first ever release of large-scale data about these burgeoning systems.In 392 incidents cataloged by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from July 1 of last year through May 15, six people died and five were seriously injured. Teslas operating with Autopilot, the more ambitious Full Self Driving mode, or any of their associated component features were in 273 crashes.The disclosures are part of a sweeping effort by the federal agency to determine the safety of advanced driving systems as they become increasingly commonplace. Beyond the futuristic allure of self-driving cars, scores of car manufacturers have rolled out automated components in recent years, including features that allow you to take your hands off the steering wheel under certain conditions and that help you parallel park.Get Innovation BeatBoston Globe tech reporters tell the story of the region's technology and innovation industry, highlighting key players, trends, and why they matter.In Wednesday’s release, NHTSA disclosed that Honda vehicles were involved in 90 incidents and Subarus in 10. Ford Motor, General Motors, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai, and Porsche each reported five or fewer.“These technologies hold great promise to improve safety, but we need to understand how these vehicles are performing in real-world situations,” said Steven Cliff, the agency’s administrator. “This will help our investigators quickly identify potential defect trends that emerge.”Speaking with reporters ahead of Wednesday’s release, Cliff also cautioned against drawing conclusions from the data collected so far, noting that it does not take into account factors like the number of cars from each manufacturer that are on the road and equipped with these types of technologies.About 830,000 Tesla cars in the United States are equipped with Autopilot or the company’s other driver-assistance technologies — offering one explanation why Tesla vehicles accounted for nearly 70 percent of the reported crashes.Ford, GM, BMW, and others have similar advanced systems that allow hands-free driving under certain conditions on highways, but far fewer of those models have been sold. These companies, however, have sold millions of cars over the last two decades that are equipped with individual components of driver-assist systems. The components include so-called lane keeping, which helps drivers stay in their lanes, and adaptive cruise control, which maintains a car’s speed and brakes automatically when traffic ahead slows.Cliff said NHTSA would continue to collect data on crashes involving these types of features and technologies, noting that the agency would use it as a guide in making any rules or requirements for how they should be designed and used.The data was collected under an order NHTSA issued a year ago that required automakers to report crashes involving cars equipped with advanced driver-assist systems, also known as ADAS or Level-2 automated driving systems.The order was prompted partly by crashes and fatalities over the last six years that involved Teslas operating in Autopilot. Last week, NHTSA widened an investigation into whether Autopilot has technological and design flaws that pose safety risks. The agency has been looking into 35 crashes that occurred while Autopilot was activated, including nine that resulted in the deaths of 14 people since 2014. It had also opened a preliminary investigation into 16 incidents in which Teslas under Autopilot control crashed into emergency vehicles that had stopped and had their lights flashing.Under the order issued last year, NHTSA also collected data on crashes or incidents involving fully automated vehicles that are still in development for the most part but are being tested on public roads. The manufacturers of these vehicles include GM, Ford, and other traditional automakers as well as tech companies such as Waymo, which is owned by Google’s parent company.These types of vehicles were involved in 130 incidents, NHTSA found. One resulted in a serious injury, 15 in minor or moderate injuries, and 108 didn’t result in injuries. Many of the crashes involving automated vehicles led to fender benders or bumper taps because they are operated mainly at low speeds and in city driving.Waymo, which is running a fleet of driverless taxis in Arizona, was part of 62 incidents. GM’s Cruise division, which has just started offering driverless taxi rides in San Francisco, was involved in 23. One minor crash involving an automated test vehicle made by Pony.ai, a startup, resulted in a recall of three of the company’s test vehicles to correct software.NHTSA’s order was an unusually bold step for the regulator, which has come under fire in recent years for not being more assertive with automakers.“The agency is gathering information in order to determine whether, in the field, these systems constitute an unreasonable risk to safety,” said J. Christian Gerdes, a professor of mechanical engineering and a director of Stanford University’s Center for Automotive Research.

Automotive and Transportation

For more than six decades, a small group of scientists (including me), has been trying to pick up radio transmissions from other planetary systems, motivated by the fact that doing so would demonstrate that someone intelligent is out there. This effort, known as SETI (the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence), is straightforward and technically fairly simple, as it doesn’t require interstellar travel for either the aliens or the earthlings. It’s a strictly passive endeavor that uses big antennas with highly sensitive receivers to sniff out signals over a broad range of the radio dial. Case in point: Reports this week say Chinese researchers may have picked up signs of alien civilizations (or maybe it was just radio interference.)Rather than hope that the extraterrestrials have launched signals our way, maybe we could knock on their door and get their attention.In any case, some researchers believe we should be taking a more active role in probing nearby space. They argue we should prod the aliens with signals of our own, inviting them to respond; an idea known as “active SETI.” Rather than hope that the extraterrestrials have launched signals our way, maybe we could knock on their door and get their attention.In practice this amounts to sequentially aiming a powerful radio transmitter at one star system after another while transmitting a friendly message (perhaps similar to the engraved plaque that was affixed to the Pioneer space probes in the 1970s) that, one hopes, will trigger a similarly friendly response.This sounds straightforward, but it still requires some decisions to be made. To begin with, how do we encode the message in a way that space aliens, whose English-speaking abilities are surely sub-par, will understand? In addition, what information should we transmit? Shakespeare’s plays? The books of the “Harvard five-foot shelf”?Recently, a new idea about cosmic signaling has appeared. It’s the work of a global team of researchers led by Jonathan Jiang of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Like many of its predecessors, the new communication scheme harkens back to the short pictogram transmitted from the Arecibo, Puerto Rico, radio telescope in 1974. Mathematics, physics, astronomy and biology are the touchstones for these pictograms — all subjects that are presumed to be required coursework for extraterrestrials. We won’t share a common language with advanced aliens, but we can safely presume a shared familiarity with science and math.However, the idea of trying to initiate contact is not looked upon kindly by everyone in the research community; critics of this more aggressive approach see the possibility of a calamitous outcome to betraying our existence to unknown beings. It’s been likened to shouting in a dark forest. The potential consequences could be dire, so we mustn’t take chances. We should keep our heads down.This a popular point of view — it was even endorsed by Stephen Hawking. But I don’t agree. Laying low might seem like cheap insurance against catastrophe, but my opinion is that the potential costs could outweigh any potential benefits.Homo sapiens might (might!) be around for a long time, and insisting that we never, ever point a powerful radio transmitter skyward could prove to be a weighty albatross burdening our descendants.Remember, we can only be threatened by species that have the means to either come here or send their weaponry our way. Either option demands a degree of technical sophistication that’s far beyond our own. And if such aliens are already that advanced, then they can be presumed to have large antennas and sensitive radio receiving equipment, and to have had such technologies for a while. That means that irrespective of their personal natures, they can likely detect the television, radio and radar signals we’ve been lofting skyward since World War II.In other words, it’s entirely too late to worry about giving away our position. Additionally, if we were to agree that attempts to signal unknown aliens should somehow be forbidden, what happens when we establish colonies or way stations elsewhere in our solar system? Do we set limits on any transmissions to these outposts because of the inevitable “spill” radiation that would continue into deep space? And what about the use of radar for establishing the orbits of long-period comets as a matter of defense against the type of deadly impact that doomed the dinosaurs? Do we give that up, too?The paper from Jiang et al. describes in detail a scheme for sending an informative postcard to other Milky Way inhabitants. The public reaction to this work has been modest, and much of the press coverage has fixated on the proposal to include images of nude humans. One might conclude from this reporting that the real issue with active SETI is the impropriety of transmitting images of humans in the buff. In other words, guardians of terrestrial decorum seem less concerned about possible destruction of the planet than with keeping aliens from seeing what we look like underneath our clothes. From my point of view, both worries are wacky.Seth ShostakDr. Seth Shostak is senior astronomer at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, and the host of the “Big Picture Science” podcast.

Space Exploration

It’s the first date of this UK leg of Elton John’s valedictorian Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which began in 2018 and concludes next year after being delayed by the pandemic. As well as the lucrative payday and a final feast on the limelight, this extended exit offers the star a shot at sculpting his legacy. Whichever of the multiverse of infinite Eltons takes the spotlight on his final tread of the boards – the ludicrous glam-pop monster, the tailor of exquisite faux Americana, the mournful balladeer – will be a gesture towards defining how we remember him.It’s quickly clear that tonight our host will be Elton John, human jukebox. But while the setlist unsurprisingly delivers barrage upon barrage of smash hits, it also showcases the early album material that has enjoyed a latter-day renaissance. Beginning the evening in something equal parts tuxedo and Pearly King costume, Elton’s in the company of old friends, including Nigel Olsson, his drummer on-and-off since 1969, and legendary percussionist Ray Cooper (an antic, perma-shaded character with a floor on the stage all to himself, Cooper operates like Elton’s Bez). The old gang, back together for one last job.‘Seductive and majestic.’ Photograph: Ben GibsonThe bangers are bold and shameless, a fiery I’m Still Standing annihilating the memory of the I’m Dill Dandin debacle, while The Bitch Is Back and Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting are powered by switchblade-sharp riffs better than any in the Kiss catalogue. I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues, meanwhile, is the apotheosis of Elton’s 80s comeback era – overblown to the edge of ridiculousness, but sold with such conviction that it works, fabulously.Elton revels in the monster hits, the showman defiant in the face of retirement. But there’s a glow of pride as he precedes a stirring solo run through Border Song with recollections of Aretha Franklin covering the neo-spiritual that suggests the less omnipresent, pre-megastardom tracks may be closer to his heart. Certainly, he and bandmates seem most alive tonight scaling the soulful crescendos and southern funk squelch of Levon. And Crocodile Rock might prompt more dancing and giddy singalongs, but it’s Tiny Dancer – which fell short of the Top 40 on release, but belatedly assumed anthem status after Almost Famous – that gets the most lighters in the air. The slow-build ascent to that weightless chorus is seductive and majestic.The show isn’t flawless – Cold Heart, with Dua Lipa duetting via videoscreen pre-record, feels odd and flat; Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word and Candle in the Wind, numbly over-sung, suggest he no longer possesses the subtlety to alchemically elevate the simply lachrymose to something affecting.But tonight leaves us with the image of the unapologetically ridiculous outsider who annexed the mainstream through force of will, the craftsmanlike singer-songwriter who could have coasted on critical acclaim had the commercial breakthrough never come, and the pop Prospero with an unfailing feel for the world’s ear, finally putting away his magic. Tonight he passes between these roles more effortlessly than his costume changes, joyful and triumphant in the contradictions. Remember him this way.

Music

Hollywood star Kevin Spacey 'strenuously denies' that he sexually assaulted three men over an eight-year period during visits to Britain, a court has heard.The Oscar-winning actor, 62, smiled as he exited a silver Mercedes and was ushered into Westminster Magistrates' Court by police and his legal team amid a media scrum.Spacey, who was wearing glasses and dressed smartly in a blue suit, teal suede brogues and a dark patterned tie, made no comment outside the courthouse as he was rushed past a queue of other court attendees and through the entrance before passing security.As he sat in the dock, Spacey looked around, inspecting his surroundings, and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. He was granted unconditional bail ahead of his preliminary hearing and did not enter pleas. He will appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 14.The American actor, who starred in House of Cards, American Beauty and The Usual Suspects, is accused of a string of sex attacks on three men in London and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2013 while he was artistic director of the Old Vic theatre.Patrick Gibbs, QC, defending, said: 'Mr Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case. He has answered each of these allegations in interview more than three years ago in 2019 in the USA and now he has returned voluntarily in the UK and will continue to do so in order to establish his innocence.'The court heard Spacey went through four days of interviewing in New York and promised that if he was charged he would come to the UK to answer them.'Having seen the full Crown's case, pages and pages of statements and exhibits delivered to him...he has chosen, not on bail, to come to this court today and my submission is that you can have every confidence, and the judge at Southwark can have every confidence, that he will continue to attend,' Mr Gibbs continued.'He needs to answer these charges if he is to proceed with his life.' Actor Kevin Spacey smiling as he leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today Actor Kevin Spacey was greeted by a media scrum as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court today Spacey was ushered past a crowd of photographers by police officers at Westminster Magistrates' Court today The Oscar-winning actor, pictured in the middle, was mobbed by hordes of photographers Kevin Spacey arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today Spacey was guided through the crowd by police outside Westminster Magistrates' Court today Actor Kevin Spacey's sex assault charges Spacey faces four counts of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.The allegations relate to three men, now in their 30s and 40s, in London and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2013, including while Spacey was artistic director of The Old Vic theatre in the capital.The charges include:Two counts of sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London;Sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, in August 2008 in London; andSexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, in April 2013 in Gloucestershire.Deputy Chief Magistrate Ikram granted Spacey unconditional bail ahead of his plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July.He said: 'I am going to send your case to the crown court sitting at Southwark. I am going to grant you unconditional bail. Every defendant has a right to unconditional bail unless the court is of the view that there is a real risk.'You have cooperated, I am told, and this has not been at all challenged by the Crown, with the authorities both in New York and you voluntarily attended these proceedings here today. 'Indeed I withdrew the warrant which was issued for your arrest because it was not necessary. I am not persuaded that there is a real risk, bearing in mind all that I have heard about you, that you would fail to surrender.'Spacey nodded and walked slowly out of the dock when he was told that he was free to leave.The actor had been interviewed under caution by Scotland Yard in 2019 after the force launched an investigation into the claims two years earlier. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges against him last month, but American Spacey could only be formally charged after travelling to the UK earlier this week. The charges are: two counts of sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London; sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, in August 2008 in London; sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, in April 2013 in Gloucestershire.Spacey, a two-time Oscar winner, previously said he would travel to the UK to face the charges, which he is expected to deny.In a statement released to Good Morning America after the CPS announcement, he said: 'While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.' The alleged attacks are said to have take place while Spacey was artistic director at the Old Vic between 2004 and 2015. Spacey navigated the big crowd of journalists outside Westminster Magistrates' Court today Spacey pictured arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today Spacey was surrounded by his legal team and police officers as he walked past hordes of photographers gathered outside Westminster Magistrates' Court today Photographers circled Spacey as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court today Spacey pictured on a red carpet in LA. The actor is facing charges of sexual assault in London. He denies the allegations and has vowed to defend himselfThe first two charges of sexual assault allege that on March 20, 2005 'within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court he intentionally touched a man aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting'.The third sexual assault charge alleges that between August 1, 2008 and August 31, 2008 'within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court he intentionally touched a man aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting'.The fourth charge against Spacey, of causing a male 13 or over to engage in penetrative sexual activity alleges that between August 1, 2008 and August 31, 2008 'within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court with intent caused a man aged 16 or over to engage in sexual activity involving the penetration of his mouth with a person's penis when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting'.The fifth charge of sexual assault on a male on April 1, 2013 'within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court intentionally touched a man aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting'.

Celebrity

Tyson Fury has hinted at a retirement u-turn, saying he could return to the ring if the money is right. After flooring Dillian Whyte at Wembley before a sellout crowd in April, the 33-year-old undefeated WBC heavyweight champion insisted he would retire and has played down suggestions that he could be persuaded to face the winner of an expected rematch between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk. However, Fury has said that 'people who want this fight, better have a big cheque book'. Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, hinted at an announcement, saying, 'I'm sure, as Tyson said, that we can be announcing something fairly soon.' Tyson Fury says he will ‘100%’ return to the boxing ring if the money is right

Boxing

The Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey was mobbed by photographers as he arrived at court in London to face charges of sexually assaulting three men.The Hollywood star, 62, was ushered into Westminster magistrates court on Thursday morning amid a media scrum after he got out of a silver Mercedes.Spacey, wearing a pale blue suit, dark spotted tie and white shirt, smiled as he entered the building.Westminster magistrates court heard Spacey was charged with sexual assault of a man and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent in August 2008, two counts of sexual assault of a man in March 2005, and sexual assault of a man in April 2013.He was not asked to enter pleas and was granted unconditional bail. The court set a date for Spacey’s next appearance at Southwark crown court on 14 July.

Celebrity

Sasha Banks has reportedly been released by WWE. Credit: WWE.com Sasha Banks has reportedly been released per Raj Giri of Wrestling Inc. After teasing a big story regarding a release, Giri followed up on Twitter by stating “I'm hearing Sasha Banks has been released. I don't know if it's he requested it or if it was on WWE's end.” WWE did not respond to a request for comment. This article will be updated if and when it does. Banks has had a rocky relationship with WWE that most recently took an ugly turn last month when Banks and former WWE Women’s tag team champion Naomi walked out during the May 16 broadcast of Raw. Both Naomi and Banks—who recently underwent eye surgery—have remained quiet on the matter aside from a cryptic tweet here and there. Banks previously asked for her release in 2019, but admitted to being denied the request by Vince McMahon in an interview with BT Sports (h/t WrestleTalk). “I felt like I was simply not giving my highest good,” said Banks. “If I am not giving my highest good, if I am unable to the best, if I am not used as the best then I really have to go find that. I am always that performer of wanting to be No. 1 and I felt in my heart that I was not feeling just good.” “I felt that I did all that I could and I needed that break. I needed that release and Vince told me, ‘No’. That was a great decision on both ends. He knew what he saw and he is so intelligent, he is so kind and gentle. He actually knew what I needed, which was ‘time’, at the end of the point all of want a little bit of time.” Sasha Banks Release Rumors, Future Banks’ walkout during WWE Raw alongside Naomi may have signaled the bitter end for one of WWE’s top stars and pioneers of its women’s revolution. Banks has won every women’s singles title in WWE and NXT XT with the exception of the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships, which were established long after she left the brand. Though accomplishments of this nature have been watered down over the years, they’re also a testament to how deeply ingrained Banks was in WWE’s tough-to-crack main event picture. “When Sasha Banks and Naomi arrived at the arena this afternoon, they were informed of their participation in the main event of tonight's Monday Night Raw,” read a WWE statement following Banks and Naomi’s abrupt exit. “During the broadcast, they walked into WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis office with their suitcases in hand, placed their tag team championship belts on his desk and walked out.” “They claimed they weren't respected enough as tag team champions. And even though they had eight hours to rehearse and construct their match, they claimed they were uncomfortable in the ring with two of their opponents even though they'd had matches with those individuals in the past with no consequence. Monday Night Raw is a scripted live TV show, whose characters are expected to perform the requirements of their contract.” “We regret we were unable to deliver, as advertised, tonight's main event.” Longtime WWE lead announcer Michael Cole doubled down with similar comments days later on WWE SmackDown. Banks’ release would presumably come with a 90-day non-compete clause, meaning she should be free to compete elsewhere by mid-September. For what it’s worth, AEW All Out will be held on September 4, which would likely occur during Banks’ 90-day non-compete period. Should Banks be out of WWE, it remains unknown what the future holds for her tag team partner Naomi. Banks represents something of a clean break for WWE, though her husband Sarath Ton works with WWE as a costume designer. Naomi’s ties with the promotion are much deeper as her husband Jimmy Uso is one-third of the top act in WWE and also cousins with top WWE star Roman Reigns. For obvious reasons, WWE may tread far more lightly in Naomi’s situation. If Banks has wrestled her last match in WWE, she’ll have left behind a hall of fame career even if she never laces up a pair of boots again. Banks has been a strong proponent of mental health after admitting WWE broke her during her 2019 sabbatical. Perhaps parting ways with WWE had to happen in order to protect her peace. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.

Other Sports

Manchester City are poised to bid for Brighton’s Marc Cucurella, their top target at left-back. Pep Guardiola is determined to sign his fellow Catalan after being impressed by his performances in the Premier League.Cucurella joined Brighton from Getafe last August, after a spell at Barcelona in which he did not progress beyond the B team. City’s interest is well established and their first offer is expected within days.Brighton stand to make a sizeable profit if they sell Cucurella, who joined for £15.4m and wept tears of joy after scoring his first goal for the club in May’s 4-0 win over Manchester United.Although Oleksandr Zinchenko and the right-footed João Cancelo played successfully at left-back last season to help City to the title, Guardiola wants another specialist in the position. Benjamin Mendy is indefinitely suspended.City have bought Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for £51m and the chairman, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, has said two more signings are planned.Another Brighton player, Yves Bissouma, is having a medical at Tottenham after agreement was reached over a move for £25m plus-ons. The midfielder has been at Brighton since 2018.Fulham are progressing in talks to buy the Israel forward Manor Solomon from Shakhtar Donetsk and pushing to sign the defensive midfielder João Palhinha from Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese is also a target for Wolves.Quick GuideHow do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts?ShowDownload the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhones or the Google Play store on Android phones by searching for 'The Guardian'.If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.In the Guardian app, tap the yellow button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.Turn on sport notifications.Nottingham Forest are in discussions to sign the left-footed centre-back Moussa Niakhaté from Mainz. The former France Under-21s captain has spent four seasons with Mainz after spells in his homeland with Valenciennes and Metz. Niakhaté has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs, including West Ham and Newcastle, in recent months and helped Mainz to finish eighth in the Bundesliga last season.Forest are increasingly confident of securing a deal to sign Manchester United’s goalkeeper Dean Henderson on loan with an option to buy next summer. They are battling a number of clubs to sign the winger Morgan Gibbs-White from Wolves. The 22-year-old impressed on loan in the Championship last season at Sheffield United and missed the penalty that ensured Forest made the playoff final.

Soccer

BROOKLINE — You’ll spot more outcrops of Roxbury puddingstone on The Country Club links than actual New England golfers at the US Open this week.And while it’s old news that our fair region churns out fewer top-tier golfers relative to other areas around the country — blame it on cold, long winters — whenever a New Englander pops up at a PGA Tour event, it’s a big deal, no matter that they may not be among the favorites to win.“Listen, it’s hard for us up here to compete,” said Keegan Bradley of Woodstock, Vt. “I grew up getting beat by a lot of these guys in the South and California. Then as I got older, I started to beat them.“All the younger kids ask me, ‘What do you have to do to get on tour?’ And I always give them the same answer: ‘You have to work. If you grow up here, you have to work twice as hard, if not more. When the season is here, you have to be out there and working.’ ”With a No. 47 world ranking, Bradley is currently the top golfer from New England, which has a relatively short list — topped by Brad Faxon, Billy Andrade, and Julius Boros — of great golfers post-Francis Ouimet.Bradley is as intense and authentic a Boston sports fan as you could find at your local sports bar — during his practice round, his left shoe bore green laces and the Celtics shamrock, and his left shoe had gold laces and the Bruins spoked-B, along with the Red Sox’ retired No. 27 in honor of his wife’s uncle, Carlton Fisk — and he will have plenty of fans of his own rooting him on from assorted spots on the course.Of the other three New Englanders playing — Fran Quinn (Worcester), Michael Thorbjornsen (Wellesley), and Caleb Manuel (Topsham, Maine) — Bradley has the best shot at showing up among the leaders.“This is about as good as I’ve felt,” said Bradley. “I made some pretty big leaps in my putting over the last year or so, and I’ve had a few tournaments where I haven’t really played my best but putted well and had some decent finishes, which I haven’t done in years.“If I match up everything like I’ve done for over a month, for a while, I’m up at the top of the leaderboard.“Listen, I love where my game is at. This US Open brings a lot of challenges. Being in Boston and home, it brings even more.”Caleb Manuel played a practice round at TCC Monday.Cliff Hawkins/GettyBradley and Manuel both attended the Red Sox-A’s game Tuesday night at Fenway Park. Difference was, Bradley threw out a ceremonial first pitch while Manuel watched from his seat.Asked why he wasn’t on the mound too, Manuel said, “I don’t know — probably because I’m 20 years old and an amateur?”That honor will have to wait. The rising junior at UConn made it here by sharing medalist honors in the final qualifier at Century and Old Oaks Country Clubs (N.Y.) after making it through local qualifying in Connecticut.Bradley did the honors at Fenway Park Tuesday.Elsa/GettyThe only New England golfer he’s heard of is Bradley.“There’s the shorter season and then, I don’t know, it just takes talent and it takes a lot of time,” said Manuel, who wore a Red Sox hat during his Tuesday practice round.“To get to this level, a lot of people get here then they get here and they kind of say, ‘Oh, I don’t belong here.’ I definitely felt that way, but it’s been a week, and now, you know, I’m honing in and I’ve got to play golf. You’ve got to tell yourself, ‘You belong here.’ ”Fran Quinn swings away during his Tuesday practice round.Robert F. Bukaty/Associated PressAt 57, Quinn is the oldest golfer in the 156-man field, making his fourth US Open appearance. A part-timer on the PGA Tour Champions, Quinn is a veteran of the New England golf scene. The scarcity of New England representation by no means corresponds to the talent level here, he said.“You’ve got a lot of guys who have gone on and had some success, and a lot of us, we spend a lot of time down in Florida now,” said Quinn. “There’s a lot of really good talent up here. And it’s only getting better.”Michael Silverman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeSilvermanBB.

Golf

Is it a musical or is it a play with songs? It’s a moot point and one worth considering because this bright and enjoyable show falls between two stools. In 1984, the late Mustapha Matura exported JM Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World from rural County Mayo to a similarly sleepy Trinidad in Playboy of the West Indies. Now, composers Clement Ishmael and Dominique Le Gendre, co-directing with Nicolas Kent, have given Matura’s version a calypso overhaul, complete with a band in the pit.There is lots to love about it. Leading a tremendous cast, Durone Stokes is all politeness and charm as Ken, the blow-in to small town Mayaro, whose murderous tale – he claims to have bumped off his father – thrills the local people for its audacity. Stokes is relaxed and centred, making it easy to see why men and women alike should fall for him. He is cautious rather than boastful, lending credence to his story.He is matched in assurance by Gleanne Purcell-Brown as Peggy, serving the rum in a wooden shack that looks as if it has drifted in with the tide on Michael Taylor’s set. She is a woman certain in her desires – and she desires the scruffy excitement of Ken considerably more than the besuited stiffness of Derek Elroy’s Stanley.Charm … the cast of Playboy of the West Indies. Photograph: Geraint LewisThey sing with purity and lack of affection, making their duets all the more sweet on songs such as the lilting I Will Always Be Thinking of You and the pretty We Will Fly. Although the score has the expected ensemble numbers with mambo rhythms and steel-drum textures, it frequently takes a less obvious route past reflective solos with spare arrangements, as if resisting the impulse to please the crowd.Adding music infuses the piece with a feel for the cultural life of the island but it raises two concerns. First, this is a story that plays on the allure of the mysterious outsider, but as soon as Ken shares his thoughts in song, he ceases to be enigmatic.Second, the songs tend to extend each emotional state, which is pleasing in the moment, but has the effect of slowing the comic momentum. Instead of the economy of a musical, we get a play padded out with songs.

Music

Lager beer can improve gut health in men, according to a new study.When consumed in moderation it can improve gut microbiota, which plays a role in digestion, according to the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. In the study 19 men were divided into two groups who drank a 330ml bottle of either alcoholic or non-alcoholic lager with dinner for four weeks.At the end of the test period, both groups had greater bacterial diversity in their gut microbiome and showed improvements in their intestinal health.Professor Ana Faria of the University Lisbon, one of the authors of the study, said: "One beer per day, with or without alcohol, can be used as a strategy to improve our microbiota, as part of a well-balanced diet. "But we need to be careful with the results so that we don't pass the message that the more the better." The men in the study were aged between 23 and 58 and they were randomly divided into two groups. They were asked to not change their physical activity or their dietary habits.By the end of the experiment faecal sample showed the men had a greater range of bacteria in their gut.Studies have shown when more types of bacteria are present, people have a lower chance of developing chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.Beer contains polyphenols and microorganisms that can impact the variety of microbes in the human gut.A previous study showed that when men and women consumed non-alcoholic lager beer for 30 days, their gut microbiome diversity increased.

Men's Health

Video game fans had to do without the annual E3 trade show this year, but veteran industry insider Geoff Keighley has been filling that space with events like the Summer Game Fest and a fan event called Play Days. His showcases are full of trailers, announcements, special guests, and gameplay deep dives. This year, for the first time, Summer Game Fest hosted an in-person, physical event in Los Angeles, which was open to media and content creators. I talked to Keighley there about the current state of the video game industry and the future of live gaming events. Here are some highlights from that conversation, lightly edited for length and clarity. You can also watch the full interview in video form. On E3 and its returnGeoff Keighley: I've been to every E3 since the first one in 1995. I was a young kid when I went to E3. And look there hasn't been an E3 in, I guess, three years now. I don't know. They're saying they're coming back next year, I don't really know if that's real or not. I loved going to E3 but I think E3 has sort of had a participation or relevance problem over the past couple of years. And look, we're willing to talk to them and hopefully it'll all be one big happy family of the industry. But right now we just have to keep focused on what we're doing. On the future of Summer Game FestI can tease a little bit of what we're thinking about. I'm very interested in doing something that's decentralized and allows fans around the world to feel a part of the show. I don't think we're ever going to have just one mega destination where we're gonna have 200,000 people show up in a city. Could we do Play Days in multiple cities? What would Play Days look like in London or in Tokyo? How do we use digital and cloud to bring more playable games to people and things like that? I think it's gonna be a digital-first experience with a physical component. Getty On NFTs and gaming I think the idea of digital art and artists being compensated for their work and participating in that compensation over time as art continues to move through its lifecycle, I think is really interesting. As it relates to games, I think the other thing that we're thinking a lot about is NFTs or blockchain. It's a technology but, to me, it's all about the gameplay. What's the game experience going to be, right? I've yet to see a game or a game experience in that web3 world that has really compelled me to say, 'oh, that's something I would put on my show.' Look, we're interested in learning about it but right now I think we're pretty cautious about that space overall. And I think a lot of people, unfortunately, have been sort of scammed as part of that, which is cause for caution. I have friends that have bought that stuff. If you have fun with it, go for it. I'm not saying don't get in there. I think you have to be very aware of what's happening in that world, and some of the challenges with it. Getty On indie developers taking the lead Our shows are all geared towards showcasing developers and empowering developers to have their work shown to a wide audience. What I love about our show is we'll have all these independent games and that's what I mean. There are big companies, but there are also so many amazing independent developers as part of the industry and the ecosystem. I think it's really positive that a lot of developers now can leave a big company, start their own studio and be very successful on their own. You can see our full conversation with Geoff here. Geoff Keighley, the Man Behind Summer Game FestMore Summer Game Fest news9 Games From Summer Game Fest You Need to Check OutSummer Game Fest 2022: All the AnnouncementsEvery Summer Game Fest 2022 Reveal: From The Last of Us Remake to Modern Warfare 2

Video Games

A "dangerous piece of functionality" has been discovered in Microsoft 365 suite that could be potentially abused by a malicious actor to ransom files stored on SharePoint and OneDrive and launch attacks on cloud infrastructure. The cloud ransomware attack makes it possible to launch file-encrypting malware to "encrypt files stored on SharePoint and OneDrive in a way that makes them unrecoverable without dedicated backups or a decryption key from the attacker," Proofpoint said in a report published today. The infection sequence can be carried out using a combination of Microsoft APIs, command-line interface (CLI) scripts, and PowerShell scripts, the enterprise security firm added.The attack, at its core, hinges on a Microsoft 365 feature called AutoSave that creates copies of older file versions as and when users make edits to a file stored on OneDrive or SharePoint Online. It commences with gaining unauthorized access to a target user's SharePoint Online or OneDrive account, followed by abusing the access to exfiltrate and encrypt files. The three most common avenues to obtain the initial foothold involve directly breaching the account via phishing or brute-force attacks, tricking a user into authorizing a rogue third-party OAuth application, or taking over the web session of a logged-in user. But where this attack stands apart from traditional endpoint ransomware activity is that the encryption phase requires locking each file on SharePoint Online or OneDrive more than the permitted versioning limit. Microsoft elaborates the versioning behavior in its documentation as follows - Some organizations allow unlimited versions of files and others apply limitations. You might discover, after checking in the latest version of a file, that an old version is missing. If your most recent version is 101.0 and you notice that there is no longer a version 1.0, it means that the administrator configured the library to allow only 100 major versions of a file. The addition of the 101st version causes the first version to be deleted. Only versions 2.0 through 101.0 remain. Similarly, if a 102nd version is added, only versions 3.0 through 102.0 remain. By leveraging the access to the account, an attacker can either create too many versions of a file or alternatively reduce the version limit of a document library to a lower such as "1" and then proceed to encrypt each file twice. "Now all original (pre-attacker) versions of the files are lost, leaving only the encrypted versions of each file in the cloud account," the researchers explained. "At this point, the attacker can ask for a ransom from the organization." Microsoft, in response to the findings, pointed out that older versions of files can be potentially recovered and restored for an additional 14 days with the assistance of Microsoft Support, a process that Proofpoint found to be unsuccessful. We have reached out to the tech giant for further comment, and we will update the story if we hear back. To mitigate such attacks, it's recommended to enforce a strong password policy, mandate multi-factor authentication (MFA), and prevent large-scale data downloads to unmanaged devices. "Files stored in a hybrid state on both endpoint and cloud such as through cloud sync folders will reduce the impact of this novel risk as the attacker will not have access to the local/endpoint files," the researchers said. "To perform a full ransom flow, the attacker will have to compromise the endpoint and the cloud account to access the endpoint and cloud-stored files." Found this article interesting? Follow THN on Facebook, Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.

Software Applications

The Celtics gathered prior to practice Wednesday to discuss the importance of Game 6 of the NBA Finals, a must-win game to continue their quest toward their first title in 14 years.The environment Thursday at TD Garden will be raucous, a definite home-court advantage as the Celtics attempt to steal back momentum of the series, which they lost with two consecutive defeats.While coach Ime Udoka is convinced some tactical and perhaps lineup adjustments could force a Game 7, the players have to overcome their first consecutive losses as a fully healthy team since January. The Warriors have the Celtics shaken, and their defense has forced Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown into pedestrian scorers and playmakers.The Boston defense limited Stephen Curry into a jittery shooter in Game 5, and still lost because it couldn’t contain Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson, Gary Payton II, and Jordan Poole.Get Court SenseBounce around the NBA with our Celtics-centric look at the latest happenings on and off the court.The Warriors can cement their dynasty with a fourth championship in eight years. The Lawrence O’Brien Trophy will be present and there is certainly a Boston night spot that’s prepared to host the Warriors’ champagne postgame party.“As confident as we are in the situations we’ve been in, we understand Golden State is a high-IQ, well-coached team that’s not going to beat themselves. You have to go out there and take it,” Udoka said. “For us, confidence is always [there] because we’ve been through it. But we can help ourselves and play better offense overall and not aid them with the turnovers. All the same little things we talked about throughout the series.”What can the Celtics do to prevent a Golden State coronation? Stop turning over the ball. Get off to a positive start. Get fourth-quarter execution from Brown and Tatum. Play with an edge not seen yet this season, meaning not falling for Draymond Green head games or getting consumed with the officiating. The Celtics have to be as mentally strong as they ever have, and that means Brown and Tatum have to serve as leaders and set examples for their teammates.Can Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown rise to the challenge?Jim Davis/Globe StaffTheir leadership may not be as vocal, but it has to be present.“We’re all professionals and adults, we know what’s at stake,” Tatum said. “Everybody in that locker room should and is going to understand what we got to do, what’s on the line. So it shouldn’t take a hero speech or anything like that. Everybody should be juiced up and ready to play. I’m not even going to say if they’re not, it’s a problem. Everybody is going to be ready to play. I’m not worried about that at all.”The Celtics have proven they can beat the Warriors. They won two of the first three games by a combined 28 points. But that Game 3 victory seems like a month ago. Golden State coach Steve Kerr obviously found something after that Game 3 loss. The Warriors have: 1.) forced Tatum and Brown into drivers against multiple defenders instead of 3-point shooters; 2.) have used Wiggins as more of a scorer (mostly against Derrick White); and 3.) they have put pressure on the Celtics’ bench players to score and they simply haven’t.The Celtics need more production from Grant Williams, Payton Pritchard and White. Or Udoka needs to give more minutes to Daniel Theis or Aaron Nesmith for stretches to defend and produce. The Celtics have scored 88, 97 and 94 points and have shot 39.5 percent from the field and committed 17.3 turnovers in the three Finals losses.The offense has been a major disappointment the past two games.“Yeah, I mean, you look at the big picture, we’re defending well enough to win,” Udoka said. “It’s really some stagnant lulls offensively that have really hurt us. We’ll have a quarter or two or three of really good basketball, then have that quarter or two that really have hurt us.“For us, we want to focus on the offensive end, because I think we’ve guarded enough to win. Game 4, if we finish the game off well, not that five-minute stint, we’d be in good shape. That’s our optimism. We’ve fought off three elimination games, won some Game 7s. But you can’t just rely on that, that we’ve been there. You have to do things well to start the game, not put ourselves behind the eight ball like we did last game.”The Celtics can’t lack motivation or blame fatigue. Their reputations are at stake. If they lose Game 6 and drop the final three games of this series after taking a 2-1 lead, the theories will begin flying: the Celtics were inexperienced, they wilted under the pressure of a championship team, Tatum isn’t a top-five player, the bench needs more depth, the team never solved its season-long issues with turnovers.If they don’t want to hear these criticisms, win Game 6. Shift the pressure to Golden State, send the series back to San Francisco. Be a better version of what you’ve shown over the past two games.Brown and the Celtics are attempting to bounce back from their first two-game losing streak of the postseason.Jim Davis/Globe Staff“All the motivation in the world,” Brown said. “Game 6 on our home floor in front of our fans, last game in TD Garden. Nothing more needs to be said. We’re looking forward to the challenge. We got to embrace it. Ain’t no other way around it. Last game on our home floor to kind of embody our whole season. We’re looking to give it everything we got. We are not scared. We do not fear the Golden State Warriors. We want to come out and play the best version of basketball that we can.“We know it’s a good team over there. We know they’ve done it before. But we have all the belief in ourselves. We’re going to come out and leave it all out there. That’s the whole intent.”The Celtics have to recapture the motivation and consistency they have seemingly lost, and it’s on Tatum and Brown to spark this immediate resurgence.Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.

Basketball

Cricket - ICC Men's T20 World Cup - Super 12 - Group 2 - India v Namibia - Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - November 8, 2021 Namibia's Jan Frylinck in action as India's Jasprit Bumrah attempts to catch REUTERS/Hamad I MohammedRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLONDON, June 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Disney (DIS.N) took half the viewing rights to the country’s top sport league which fetched $6.2 bln. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate who won. They also discuss Boris Johnson's plan to rip up his EU exit deal and BlackRock’s (BLK.N) efforts to distribute voting rights.Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on Twitter(The host is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are her own.)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comEditing by Amanda GomezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Other Sports

One of the Nova Twins’ most vocal celebrity supporters, guitarist Tom Morello, has a story he regularly tells about the peculiar phenomenon of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave fans who simply refuse to believe that he’s Black, even after he repeatedly tells them that his father is Kenyan. “I think it disrupts the false narrative that music like mine can only be made by people who look like them,” he said to the Guardian last year.It’s a subject addressed, more forcefully, in the opening two tracks of the Nova Twins’ second album. “Look me in the face – say you’ve never met someone like me,” growls Antagonist. “You can buy your looks, but you can’t change your genes – I’m a straight talker, fucking say what you mean,” snaps Cleopatra, which announces the duo as “blacker than the leather that’s holding our boots together”.From the tone of those songs, you get the impression that not everyone is delighted by Nova Twins’ rise. Their debut album, Who Are the Girls?, was released three weeks before the first UK lockdown, which should have spelled disaster, but, by the end of 2020, they were picking up awards and lobbying the Mobos to include a rock/alternative category. Its follow-up has been heralded by cover features in the kind of specialist rock magazines that very seldom put women of colour on their cover.If, as Antagonist and Cleopatra suggest, there are people out there carping that this all smacks of special pleading and deploying the phrase “woke agenda” in the process, their second album does an exceptionally good job of demolishing their argument. Nova Twins’ success has come accompanied by a lot of talk about smashing glass ceilings and changing perceptions, but, on purely musical terms, Supernova would be a hugely exciting album regardless of who made it. Its songs come in fizzing three-minute bursts. In their letter to the Mobos, Amy Love and Georgia South described themselves as “two mixed race girls who shout through distorted mics and play gnarly bass riffs”, which is snappy, but drastically undersells the sharpness and concision of their songwriting and how kaleidoscopic their sound actually is.At heart, the music on Supernova exists in the centre of the punk/metal/hard rock Venn diagram. You can hear the duo’s love of nu-metal: on A Dark Place for Somewhere Beautiful, vocals shift from menacing purr to an impressive rap flow to raw-throated intensity. There’s a distinct echo of Morello’s effects-laden inventiveness in Amy Love’s guitar playing, and a whisper of Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir about the strings on Enemy. But across its 12 tracks you also catch glimpses of the Prodigy’s rave-punk hybrid, EDM’s fizzing electronic tones, the horrorcore hip-hop of Gravediggaz and Three 6 Mafia, the Bomb Squad’s teeming, edge-of-chaos production style, house music – there’s a distinct dancefloor pulse audible on Toolbox and Choose Your Fighter – and R&B: KMB features what sounds like a deliberate nod towards the staccato melodies of Destiny’s Child circa Jumpin’ Jumpin’.Nova Twins: Supernova album coverBetter yet, this array of influences never feels forced or crowbarred together. It’s blended into a completely coherent and authentically powerful style anchored by South’s bass, always dense with distortion, continually switching between grungy riffing and swooping and arcing around Love’s guitar in a way that recalls the bottom end of a dubstep track.The lyrics, meanwhile, are really good, swaggering in time-honoured hip-hop style, excoriating racism and sexism with genuine wit: “Your girlfriend moshes to our shows,” snaps Enemy, adding, “she’s only cheating because it’s getting stale at home.” In fact, the lyrics are genuinely funny throughout. KMB deals with enacting murderous fantasies on an unfortunate boyfriend with a glee that recalls the horror-comic Ramones of Chainsaw or Teenage Lobotomy: “I think I’ll sit here and watch his blood dry … he’s a little brain dead so he can’t comply.” If you wanted to, you could trace the roots of Puzzles’ verses back at least a hundred years, to Mississippi John Hurt’s Candy Man Blues. But unlike the protagonist of that song, whose “big candy stick” was apparently nine inches long and overwhelmingly magnetic to the ladies, any prospective candy men who hove into the Nova Twins’ view are advised that their allure comes with terms and conditions attached – general: “When I say jump, you say when” and more specific: “He only gets a call-back if he’s good at giving head.”It waits until its closing track to dial the aggression down a touch, although Sleep Paralysis sounds like the work of people torn between showing off their pop skills and making a scourging racket, and deciding to do both at once. The chorus is disrupted by a noise that could have come from the more nerve-jangling end of left-field electronica, a last aural middle-finger on an album that’s inventive, angry, witty, original and pretty irresistible. Supernova is a riot of its own.This week Alexis listened toLynks – Perfect Human SpecimenThis “Masked drag monster” – their phrase – provides sharp beats, smart lyrics, instant sunshine.

Music

“It’s sad,” is how Justin Thomas put it Monday. “This is the US Open, and this is an unbelievable venue, a place with so much history, an unbelievable field, so many story lines, and yet that seems to be what all the questions are about.“That’s unfortunate. That’s not right to the USGA. That’s not right for the US Open. That’s not right for us players. But that’s, unfortunately, where we’re at right now.”There is, in the words of two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka, a “black cloud” hovering over the event. As usual, Koepka, golf’s all-world malcontent, used the right words to take aim at the wrong target, blaming the media rather than the storm itself.This is no media creation. But neither is it some simple debate over moral principle, even if the LIV defectors deserve to lose that debate at every turn, so eager, willing, and content they are to cash millions of dollars from a regime driven to legitimize itself by using the world stage that sports offers.They call it “sportswashing,” and that’s not a media creation either. It’s the reprehensible route Saudi Arabia is taking in the attempt to erase its state-sanctioned murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi or make us forget that 15 of the 19 hijackers responsible for 9/11 were Saudi. No wonder a group of family members of 9/11 victims wrote scathing letters to the LIV golfers decrying their choice of money over memory.But for those golfers, that part of the story is written and finished. The hard part is hearing them repeatedly try to explain it away for reasons other than the ridiculous millions, as they suddenly cheer for the extra time they’ll get to spend with family, for the three-day competition format, for the no-cut policy and shotgun starts that take variables like weather out of the fairness equation.And let’s remember this. Those changes — not to mention the bottomless well of Saudi money — are what have the PGA Tour scared. They represent the battles fueling this fight far more than any moral outrage does. The Tour is trying to protect its own bottom line, its own business interest, its own financial future.But in doing that, it also has golf on its side. It has history and legacy on its side. And that’s why the Rory McIlroys, the Justin Thomases, the Jon Rahms have all taken up the PGA Tour’s mantle. With hammers both hard (McIlroy) and velvet (Rahm), they’ve made it clear where they stand.“My dad said to me a long time ago: Once you’ve made your bed, you lie in it,” McIlroy said Tuesday. “And they’ve made their bed. That’s their decision, and they have to live with that.”Rory McIlroy is now fan of the new tour.The Boston Globe/Boston GlobeMcIlroy enjoyed every second of last week’s win at the Canadian Open, and not just because career victory No. 21 pushed him past LIV co-founder and resident PGA Tour hater Greg Norman. He just doesn’t understand why those who respect the history of the sport would so willingly give it away.“I just think for a lot of the guys that are going to play that are younger or of similar age to me or a little younger than me, it seems like quite short-term thinking, and they’re not really looking at the big picture,” McIlroy said.“Again, I’ve just tried to sort of see this with a wider lens from the start. That’s why I don’t understand for the guys that are a similar age to me going, because I would like to believe that my best days are still ahead of me, and I think theirs are, too. So that’s where it feels like you’re taking the easy way out.”Rahm echoed the sentiment, taking aim at a LIV format whose changes erode the competitive essence of the game.Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm sign autographs after their practice round Wednesday at The Country Club.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff“To be honest, part of the format is not really appealing to me,” Rahm said. “Shotgun three days to me is not a golf tournament, no cut. It’s that simple. I want to play against the best in the world in a format that’s been going on for hundreds of years. That’s what I want to see.“Yeah, money is great, but when [my wife] Kelley and I — this first thing happened, we started talking about it, and we’re like, ‘Will our lifestyle change if I got $400 million? No, it will not change one bit.’“Truth be told, I could retire right now with what I’ve made and live a very happy life and not play golf again. So I’ve never really played the game of golf for monetary reasons. I play for the love of the game, and I want to play against the best in the world. I’ve always been interested in history and legacy, and right now the PGA Tour has that.”Right now. But in the future?“I don’t think anyone can see where this thing will be in five years’ time or 10 years’ time,” McIlroy conceded. “If I had a crystal ball, I could obviously give you a better answer. Honestly, I don’t know.”Read more of the Globe’s US Open coverageLet’s find out how to play The Country Club: Your hole-by-hole guide of the US Open courseYour guide to the US Open: What to watch, how to tune in, and more‘I will never, ever forget that walk up 18′: Remembering Curtis Strange’s 1988 US Open victory at The Country ClubThe Country Club’s devilish 17th hole is bound to play a role in this US OpenLet’s wade into this deep US Open rough, inch by terrifying inchWith a pro caddie to guide us, we played The Country Club. Here’s the hole-by-hole report.Oral history: From 1913, to 1988, to 1999, the three biggest moments at The Country ClubHow The Country Club toughened up: Larger greens and trickier putts await in the US OpenWill the US Open’s big hitters go for the green on The Country Club’s reachable par-4s?Yes, the PGA Tour is getting younger — but that’s because power and distance ruleCracking the code at Brookline’s venerable and fiercely private The Country ClubAt local qualifiers, dreams of the US Open dance in the heads of amateur golfersTara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @Globe_Tara.

Golf

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The U.S. Open is the third major on the golf calendar this year, and it could not have come at a more interesting time for the sport.Several golfers are coming into the tournament with something to prove.Rory McIlroy put together a big win at the RBC Canadian Open, and after a second-place finish at the Masters and an eighth-place finish at the PGA Championship, he is more poised than ever to win the U.S. Open for the first time since 2011. He’s been major-less since 2014 overall.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMJustin Thomas is coming off a victory at the PGA Championship. He has never won a major outside that tournament. His best finish at the U.S. Open came in 2020 when he tied for eighth place. He finished behind McIlroy in third place at the RBC.Scottie Scheffler became the No. 1 golfer in the world thanks to his win at the Masters. However, he did not make the cut at the PGA Championship and lost in a playoff at Colonial late last month. Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits onto the 15th green during the third round of the Canadian Open golf tournament at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Saturday, June 11, 2022. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)With a win, Jon Rahm could move into the No. 1 spot. Rahm is the defending U.S. Open champion. He recently finished tied for 10th at Memorial, tied for 48th at the PGA Championship and won the Mexico Open. Last year’s Open was the only major he’s won as well.Arguably overshadowing the tournament are those golfers competing who played in last weekend’s first LIV Golf event. Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson are competing in this year’s Open, even while committing to LIV Golf.RORY MCILROY UNLEASHES ON LIV GOLF, THOSE WHO SPURNED PGA TOUR: 'ONCE YOU MAKE YOUR BED, YOU LIE IN IT'Mickelson has never won the U.S. Open – the only major tournament missing in his trophy case. DeChambeau won the U.S. Open in 2020, Johnson won it in 2016 and Reed’s best finish in the Open was fourth place.The United States Golf Association (USGA), which organizes the event, said last week it would allow players to play in this tournament."We pride ourselves in being the most open championship in the world, and the players who have earned the right to compete in this year’s championship, both via exemption and qualifying, will have the opportunity to do so. Our field criteria were set prior to entries opening earlier this year, and it’s not appropriate, nor fair to competitors, to change criteria once established," the USGA said. Dustin Johnson reacts to a missed putt on the fourth green during the third round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Saturday, June 26, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)"Regarding players who may choose to play in London this week, we simply asked ourselves this question – should a player who had earned his way into the 2022 U.S. Open, via our published field criteria, be pulled out of the field as a result of his decision to play in another event? And we ultimately decided that they should not."The USGA said their statement wasn’t a message of support for players participating in the PGA Tour’s rival league."Our decision regarding our field for the 2022 U.S. Open should not be construed as the USGA supporting an alternative organizing entity, nor supporting of any individual player actions or comments. Rather, it is simply a response to whether or not the USGA views playing in an alternative event, without the consent of their home tour, an offense that should disqualify them for the U.S. Open."USGA CEO Mike Wahn said Wednesday the requirements for LIV Golfers to play in the tournament in the future might be tougher.But now the golf will start.The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts will host the tournament. The first group will tee off at 6:45 a.m. ET.PHIL MICKELSON RESPONDS TO CRITICISM OVER PLAYING IN SAUDI-BACKED LIV GOLFFirst-round tee times (all times ET)From Hole No. 1 Phil Mickelson signs autographs after a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)6:45 am: Michael Thorbjornsen (a), Erik Barnes, Matt McCarty6:56 am: Matthew NeSmith, Patrick Rodgers, Travis Vick (a)7:07 am: Troy Merritt, William Mouw (a), Andrew Putnam7:18 am: Collin Morikawa, James Piot, Jon Rahm7:29 am: Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Max Homa7:40 am: Billy Horschel, Patrick Cantlay, Daniel Berger7:51 am: Harold Varner III, Sebastián Muñoz, Alex Noren8:02 am: Joaquin Niemann, Cameron Young, Will Zalatoris8:13 am:Adam Schenk, Stewart Hagestad (a), Grayson Murray8:24 am: Guido Migliozzi, Branden Grace, Mackenzie Hughes8:35 am: Beau Hossler, Kalle Samooja, Satoshi Kodaira8:46 am: Richard Mansell, Tomoyasu Sugiyama, Roger Sloan8:57 am: Caleb Manuel (a), Keith Greene, Ben Silverman12:30 pm: Kevin Chappell, Chase Seiffert, Andrew Novak12:41 pm: Thorbjorn Olesen, Brian Stuard, Nick Hardy12:52 pm: Sam Horsfield, Cameron Tringale, Shaun Norris1:03 pm: Sungjae Im, Mito Pereira, Erik van Rooyen1:14 pm: Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau1:25 pm: Joohyung Kim, Seamus Power, Min Woo Lee1:36 pm: Matt Fitzpatrick, Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson1:47 pm: Phil Mickelson, Shane Lowry, Louis Oosthuizen1:58 pm: Danny Lee, Keita Nakajima (a), Nick Taylor2:09 pm: Jim Furyk, Nick Dunlap (a), Adam Hadwin2:20 pm: Richard Bland, Rikuya Hoshino, Ryan Fox2:31 pm: Jonas Blixt, Bo Hoag, Todd Sinnott2:42 pm: Isaiah Salinda, Sean Jacklin, Charles Reiter (a)From Hole No. 106:45 am: Fran Quinn, Callum Tarren, Hayden Buckley6:56 am: Kurt Kitayama, Denny McCarthy, Sam Bennett (a)7:07 am: Wyndham Clark, Brandon Matthews, Wil Besseling7:18 am: David Lingmerth, Sepp Straka, Si Woo Kim7:29 am: Scott Stallings, Davis Riley, Victor Perez7:40 am: Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele7:51 am: Kevin Kisner, Russell Henley, Brian Harman8:02 am: Keegan Bradley, Marc Leishman, Aaron Wise8:13 am: Francesco Molinari, Laird Shepherd (a), Stewart Cink8:24 am: Marcel Schneider, Chan Kim, Joseph Bramlett8:35 am: Lanto Griffin, Joel Dahmen, Jinichiro Kozuma8:46 am: Chris Gotterup, Fred Biondi (a), Harry Hall8:57 am: Chris Naegel, Andrew Beckler, Luke Gannon12:30 pm: Jed Morgan, Taylor Montgomery, Sean Crocker12:41 pm: Maxwell Moldovan (a), Yannik Paul, MJ Daffue12:52 pm: Talor Gooch, Adri Arnaus, Tom Hoge1:03 pm: Kevin Na, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton1:14 pm: Sam Burns, Abraham Ancer, Thomas Pieters1:25 pm: Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Scottie Scheffler1:36 pm: Luke List, Austin Greaser (a), Corey Conners1:47 pm: Gary Woodland, Justin Rose, Bryson DeChambeau1:58 pm: K.H. Lee, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed2:09 pm: Jason Kokrak, Harris English, Lucas Herbert2:20 pm: Sam Stevens, Ben Lorenz (a), Davis Shore2:31 pm: Daijiro Izumida, Adrien Dumont de Chassart (a), Sebastian Soderberg2:42 pm: Ryan Gerard, Brady Calkins, Jesse MuellerCLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPHow to watch Jon Rahm of Spain leaves the trophy ceremony after winning during the final round of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 20, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Golf fans can turn to the USA Network at 9:30 a.m. to watch the U.S. Open until 2 p.m. and then again from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., the first round will be broadcast on NBC.Friday, USA will carry the second round from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and NBC will have coverage from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, NBC will also have the coverage all day going from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.For the final round on Sunday, USA will start with coverage from 10 a.m. to noon and then NBC will go from noon to 7 p.m.Peacock and USOpen.com will have streams on their websites.All times Eastern. Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

Golf

The actor Kevin Spacey has appeared in a London magistrates court charged with sexual assault against three men, which his lawyer said he “strenuously denies”.The Hollywood star gave his name as Kevin Spacey Fowler, his date of birth as 26 July 1959, and an address in Waterloo, London.The charges were then read to him. They involve two counts of sexual assault on a man, now in his 40s, in London in March 2005; sexual assault on a man, now in his 30s, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, in London in August 2008; and sexual assault on a man, now in his 30s, in Gloucestershire in April 2013.Spacey was not asked to enter pleas, but his barrister, Patrick Gibbs, told the court: “Mr Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case.”The case follows a review by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of evidence gathered by the Metropolitan police.Just before the hearing on Thursday morning, the actor was ushered through an international media scrum outside Westminster magistrates court after getting out of a silver Mercedes. He said nothing but smiled as he was surrounded by dozens of reporters and photographers.Spacey, who won Oscars for his roles in the Usual Suspects and American Beauty, appeared alone in the dock dressed in a blue suit, white shirt and dark pink-spotted tie.Thursday’s hearing was largely taken up with submissions from the prosecution and the defence about whether Spacey should be granted bail.At the end of the 28-minute hearing, Spacey was asked to stand as deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram granted him unconditional bail ahead of his next appearance at Southwark crown court at 9.30am on 14 July for a plea and trial preparation hearing.Addressing Spacey, Ikram said: “You cooperated with the authorities in New York and you voluntarily appeared to these proceedings.”He warned Spacey that if did not appear for the trial next month, a warrant would be issued for his arrest. Spacey thanked the judge after he being told he could leave the court.The allegations of sexual assault, between 2005 and 2013, include the time Spacey was artistic director of London’s Old Vic theatre.The CPS authorised charges against him last month, but the US actor could be formally charged only after travelling to the UK.In a statement released to Good Morning America after the CPS announcement, he said: “While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.”

Celebrity

Actor Kevin Spacey arrives at the Westminster Magistrates court in London, Thursday, June 16, 2022. Spacey is appearing in a court in London on Thursday after he was charged with sexual offenses against three men. The 62-year-old Spacey is accused of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) LONDON (AP) — Kevin Spacey “strenuously denies” allegations of sexual assault, his lawyer said Thursday, as the Oscar-winning actor appeared in a London court to face five charges of offenses against three men. Photographers and television camera crews thronged Spacey, 62, as he arrived at London’s Westminster Magistrates Court for the preliminary hearing. Spacey sat in the glass-fronted dock during the half-hour hearing, standing to give his full name — Kevin Spacey Fowler — as well as his birthdate and a London address. He was not asked to enter a formal plea, but his lawyer, Patrick Gibbs, said: “Mr. Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case.” Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram granted Spacey unconditional bail until his next appearance, a plea hearing scheduled for July 14. The former “House of Cards” star is accused of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The alleged incidents took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and one in western England in April 2013. The victims are now in their 30s and 40s. In a statement issued last month, Spacey said he would travel to Britain to face the charges and was confident he would “prove my innocence.” Spacey was questioned by British police in 2019 about claims by several men that he had assaulted them. The two-time Academy Award winner ran London’s Old Vic theater between 2004 and 2015. Spacey won a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1995 film “The Usual Suspects” and a lead actor Oscar for the 1999 movie “American Beauty.” But his celebrated career came to an abrupt halt in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused the star of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s, when Rapp was a teenager. Spacey denies the allegations. Tags

Celebrity

Hollywood star Kevin Spacey will 'establish his innocence' over claims he sexually assaulted three men over an eight-year period on visits to Britain, a court has heard.The Oscar-winning actor, 62, smiled as he exited a silver Mercedes and was ushered into Westminster Magistrates' Court by two police officers and his legal team.As he sat in the dock, Spacey occasionally glanced towards the packed press bench and full public gallery during the hearing, which lasted 28 minutes, and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. He was granted unconditional bail - meaning he is free to fly home to the US - ahead of his preliminary hearing at Southwark Crown Court on July 14. The American actor, who starred in Netflix series House of Cards and films American Beauty and The Usual Suspects, is accused of a string of sex attacks on three men in London and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2013 while he was artistic director of the Old Vic theatre.Patrick Gibbs QC, defending, told the court Spacey 'strenuously denies' the allegations and had returned 'voluntarily' to the UK to 'establish his innocence'.The court heard Spacey went through four days of interviewing in New York and promised that if he was charged he would come to Britain to answer them. Spacey pictured arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today Spacey was greeted by a media scrum as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court today Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of actor Kevin Spacey in the dock at Westminster Magistrates Court in London today Spacey was guided through the crowd by police outside Westminster Magistrates' Court today Actor Kevin Spacey's sex assault charges Spacey faces four counts of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.The allegations relate to three men, now in their 30s and 40s, in London and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2013, including while Spacey was artistic director of The Old Vic theatre in the capital.The charges include:Two counts of sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London;Sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, in August 2008 in London; andSexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, in April 2013 in Gloucestershire.Spacey, who was wearing glasses and dressed smartly in a blue suit, teal suede brogues and a dark patterned tie, made no comment outside the courthouse as he was rushed past a queue of other court attendees and through the entrance before passing security. Prosecutor Natalie Dawson did not give any further details of the allegations beyond the charges, which were read out by the court's legal advisor. Mr Gibbs continued: 'Having seen the full Crown's case, pages and pages of statements and exhibits delivered to him...he has chosen, not on bail, to come to this court today and my submission is that you can have every confidence, and the judge at Southwark can have every confidence, that he will continue to attend.'He needs to answer these charges if he is to proceed with his life.'Deputy Chief Magistrate Ikram granted Spacey unconditional bail ahead of his plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July.He said: 'I am going to send your case to the crown court sitting at Southwark. I am going to grant you unconditional bail. Every defendant has a right to unconditional bail unless the court is of the view that there is a real risk.'You have cooperated, I am told, and this has not been at all challenged by the Crown, with the authorities both in New York and you voluntarily attended these proceedings here today. 'Indeed I withdrew the warrant which was issued for your arrest because it was not necessary. I am not persuaded that there is a real risk, bearing in mind all that I have heard about you, that you would fail to surrender.'Spacey nodded and walked slowly out of the dock when he was told that he was free to leave.The actor had been interviewed under caution by Scotland Yard in 2019 after the force launched an investigation into the claims two years earlier. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges against him last month, but American Spacey could only be formally charged after travelling to the UK earlier this week. Mr Ikram withdrew an arrest warrant issued weeks ago after the court heard that Spacey arrived in London on Monday to receive a postal requisition. The charges are: two counts of sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London; sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, in August 2008 in London; sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, in April 2013 in Gloucestershire.Spacey, a two-time Oscar winner, previously said he would travel to the UK to face the charges, which he is expected to deny.In a statement released to Good Morning America after the CPS announcement, he said: 'While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.' Patrick Gibbs QC, defending, told the court Spacey, seen in a court sketch today, 'strenuously denies' the allegations and had returned 'voluntarily' to the UK to 'establish his innocence' Actor Kevin Spacey smiling as he leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today Spacey pictured on a red carpet in LA. The actor is facing charges of sexual assault in London. He denies the allegations and has vowed to defend himselfRosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said last month when the decision to charge was announced: 'The CPS has authorised criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men.'He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.'The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in in its investigation.'It is not a finding of fact, which can only be made by a court, but rather an assessment of what it might be possible to prove to a court, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.'The alleged attacks are said to have take place while Spacey was artistic director at the Old Vic between 2004 and 2015. The first two charges of sexual assault allege that on March 20, 2005 'within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court he intentionally touched a man aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting'.The third sexual assault charge alleges that between August 1, 2008 and August 31, 2008 'within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court he intentionally touched a man aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting'.The fourth charge against Spacey, of causing a male 13 or over to engage in penetrative sexual activity alleges that between August 1, 2008 and August 31, 2008 'within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court with intent caused a man aged 16 or over to engage in sexual activity involving the penetration of his mouth with a person's penis when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting'.The fifth charge of sexual assault on a male on April 1, 2013 'within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court intentionally touched a man aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting'.

Celebrity

'This is why I stay off Twitter': Zendaya, 25, is forced to deny she's pregnant after fake sonogram clip goes viral on TikTok Published: 07:10 EDT, 16 June 2022 | Updated: 07:24 EDT, 16 June 2022 Actress Zendaya has been forced to deny rumours she's pregnant after fake sonogram clip went viral on TikTok. The image was made to look like it was posted on the Euphoria star's Instagram account with a caption which read: 'I love you. Halfway there,' with a love heart emoji - and her boyfriend, Spider-Man star Tom Holland had been tagged. A fan had shared the clip on the social media platform along with the words: 'There's no way' and they were right because Zendaya herself shut things down. 'This is why I stay off Twitter': Zendaya, 25, has been forced to deny she's pregnant with Tom Holland's baby after a fake sonogram clip went viral on TikTok on Wednesday, (pictured in December) The 25-year-old wrote: 'See now, this is why I stay off Twitter. Just making stuff up for no reason… weekly.'And sadly, this isn't the first time the pair have had to deal with unwarranted pregnancy rumours. At the start of the year, another viral TikTok video claimed that she was married to Tom, 26, and was about to give birth.Lots of videos showed Zendaya sporting a clearly Photoshopped tummy. 'I love you halfway there': The 25-year-old wasn't impressed when this clip went viral with fake words she didn't write Zendaya and Tom have been publicly dating since last July after they were spotted kissing at an airport.Rumors began in 2017 though a romance was never confirmed, and after that time that both had other relationships. And to celebrate the actor turning 26 in June, his co-star and girlfriend posted a black and white snap of the pair embracing together, with a touching caption underneath. She penned: 'Happiest of birthdays to the one who makes me the happiest.'Less than an hour later, Tom - who is currently filming a new Apple+ TV series in New York City - responded to the post leaving three heart emojis below it. Hitting back: Zendaya had the perfect response to the video which put the rumours immediately to bed Zendaya famously dated her Euphoria costar Jacob Elordi in 2020, while Tom was linked to friend Olivia Bolton around the same time.'Zendaya and Tom started off as really great friends and stayed that way for a long while before things turned romantic,' a source told UsWeekly at the time, adding that they 'work really well together because he makes her laugh and she really helps guide him through the world of celebrity.'They are believed to have first met in 2016 when Zendaya was cast opposite Tom in Spider-Man: Homecoming.Last September, Tom also posted a gushing tribute to his girl on her 25th birthday, writing: 'My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays. Gimme a call when your [sic] up xxx.'Zendaya replied to the post, writing: 'Calling now,' with a heart emoji. Cute: Zendaya cuddled up to Tom when she posts a touching happy birthday message as he turned 26 in June, writing: 'To the one who makes me the happiest' Adorable: Less than an hour later, Tom - who is currently filming a new Apple+ TV series in New York City - responded to the post leaving three heart emojis below it Advertisement

Celebrity

Nasa’s Perseverance rover typically beams back evocative images of bleak dusty landscapes, red-hued sandstorms and Martian rock samples. So its operators were surprised to receive an image on Monday of a shiny silver object resembling a discarded crisp packet wedged between two rocks.The object, the Nasa team concluded, is a piece of debris discarded by the robotic craft during its touchdown in February 2021.“My team has spotted something unexpected: It’s a piece of a thermal blanket that they think may have come from my descent stage, the rocket-powered jet pack that set me down on landing day back in 2021,” the Perseverance Twitter account reported.“That shiny bit of foil is part of a thermal blanket – a material used to control temperatures. It’s a surprise finding this here: My descent stage crashed about 2 km away. Did this piece land here after that, or was it blown here by the wind?”The image has reignited concerns that space exploration risks contaminating the pristine Martian and lunar environments. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 created an obligation under international law to avoid the harmful contamination of outer space, the moon and other celestial bodies, but some argue that the law is not detailed enough to ensure protection.However, in the case of the Perseverance litter, Prof Andrew Coates, a space scientist at UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory, said: “The good news is that everything is sterilised before it goes to Mars, and the space radiation environment helps during the nine-month trip to Mars as does the harsh surface environment.”“As it is so difficult to land on Mars because of the thin atmosphere, landers always have associated landing system hardware which also lands on the surface – parachutes, back shells, and landing systems – like the sky crane for Perseverance and Curiosity, airbags and retro rocket systems for earlier missions,” he added. “These ‘fly off into the sunset’ from the landing site and ultimately crash, but the contamination risk is very low.”Avoiding contamination is crucial for missions like Perseverance, which is hunting for signs of ancient life in Mars’ Jezero crater. Scientists believe that more than 3.5bn years ago, the area was flooded with water and was home to an ancient river delta. Conceivably, microbial life could have survived in Jezero during this wetter period and so the car-sized rover is collecting soil samples to return to Earth that scientists can assess for signs of ancient life.

Space Exploration

“We are deeply disappointed by this sudden and negative ruling,” festival organizers said.Rapper Lil Wayne performs in Atlanta in October.Paras Griffin / Getty Images fileJune 16, 2022, 11:29 AM UTCRapper Lil Wayne will no longer perform at a British music festival this weekend after he was declined entry into the United Kingdom, organizers have said.The five-time Grammy Award winner, who was sentenced to one year in jail in 2010 relating to a gun possession charge, was scheduled to take to the stage at the Strawberries & Creem festival on Saturday.Ludacris will now perform instead.“Due to extreme circumstances beyond our control or influence, we are very sorry to inform you that Lil Wayne is now unable to perform at the festival on Saturday 18th June,” festival organisers said in a statement on Wednesday.“Lil Wayne has been refused entry to the U.K... We are deeply disappointed by this sudden and negative ruling. We have received very minimal notice, and the timing of the decision is of course upsetting for all involved.”Lil Wayne’s performance would have been his first in the U.K. in 14 years, according to the festival.“Any individual who has been sentenced to a custodial sentence of 12 months or more must have their application refused,” a Home Office spokesperson said.Representatives for Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter Jr., could not immediately be reached for comment.In 2010, the rapper served eight months of a one year sentence at New York’s Rikers Island prison stemming from a 2007 gun possession charge.Last year, he was pardoned by former President Donald Trump on his last day in office, after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a loaded, gold-plated handgun when his chartered jet landed in Miami in December 2019.He had faced a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Music

— -- David Bowie's various personas were as popular and attention-grabbing as his music that catapulted him to stardom.Born David "Davey" Jones, the British musician turned into a man of many names.Here is an overview of some of his best-known personas.David Bowie performing live onstage at final Ziggy Stardust concert, July 3, 1973 in London. Debi Doss/Getty ImagesZiggy StardustZiggy Stardust was an alien-looking being that Bowie enacted in the early 1970s.With the character's distinctive thunderbolt drawn in the middle of his pasty white face, a dyed-red mullet and tight jumpsuits, the look was unique."I mean he was half out of sci-fi rock and half out of the Japanese theater," Bowie said of Ziggy during a PBS interview in 2014. "The clothes were, at that time, simply outrageous. Nobody had seen anything like them before."Bowie never stayed in one persona for too long, noting in the PBS interview that his time as Ziggy was limited to roughly two albums."They are one shot, they are cartoons and the Ziggy thing was worth about one or two albums before I couldn't really write anything else about him or the world that I sort of put together for him," he said.David Bowie is seen being interviewed at the Amstel Hotel, Feb. 7, 1974 in Amsterdam. Gijsbert Hanekroot/Getty ImagesHalloween JackThe next character that Bowie created was Halloween Jack, who at first glance looks somewhat similar to Ziggy but with some clear changes.Maintaining Ziggy’s spiked mullet but dying it a shockingly red color, Bowie donned an eye patch, platform heels, scarves and a look that would later inspire innovators of punk rock.Halloween Jack debuted in conjunction with Bowie's album "Diamond Dogs" in 1974 which included the hit "Rebel Rebel."In the album's eponymous song, Bowie described Halloween Jack as "a real cool cat."David Bowie performing live onstage on the Station To Station 1976 World Tour in London, May 1, 1976.Ian Dickson/Getty ImagesThin White DukeIn 1976, a man known as the Thin White Duke appeared with the release of Bowie's 10th album, "Station to Station."In the mid-70s, Bowie ditched his mullet, slicked back his hair and switched to smarter attire: white shirts, scarfs and waistcoats for the Thin White Duke. The neo-cabaret character was influenced by Bowie's first major film role -- alien Thomas Jerome Newton in Nicolas Roeg's cult sci-fi film “The Man Who Fell to Earth,” released in 1976.David Bowie poses in a studio for 'Love You Till Tuesday' film during the 'Space Oddity' sequence in this undated file photo. Getty ImagesMajor TomWhile Ziggy Stardust is clearly Bowie's best-known alter ego, he wasn't his first.Major Tom was referenced in several of Bowie's songs, most notably "Space Oddity" which debuted in 1969.In the video, the cosmonaut lost in space is wearing a tight silver jumpsuit and black helmet of sorts.Bowie returned to the character in his 1980 song "Ashes to Ashes" when he gave an update on Major Tom."We know Major Tom's a junkie, strung out in heaven's high, hitting an all time low," the lyrics state.ABC News' Luchina Fisher contributed to this report.

Music

Jeez! Boston gets a little passionate about the Celtics, and suddenly the snowflakes are all over us. Apparently we’re not “classy.”Sure, fans were a tad impolite to Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Greenin the heat of last week’s Game 3. And true, we chanted “Draymond sucks!” and something else that rhymed with that, but he’s got a potty mouth, too!And yes, a Fenway sports bar used a sandwich board to taunt both the wife and a daughter of the Warriors star Steph Curry, and the girl’s only 9 years old, but what are the chances she saw it?And sorry but maybe it is actually true — as the sandwich board asserted — that Curry’s wife, Ayesha Curry “can’t cook.” Who cares that she’s a known cookbook author and TV cooking personality???And the thing with the duck boat tour guide? Bring it on! Microphone in hand, stuck in Back Bay traffic, what was he supposed to do when he spotted Warriors head coach Steve Kerr? Blow him a kiss?Get Court SenseBounce around the NBA with our Celtics-centric look at the latest happenings on and off the court.Let’s let Mike O’Brien the guide, and a huge sports fan, take it from here. “I immediately . . . started going on about, ‘You know what we do in these duck boats, Steve Kerr,’” he recalled, proudly, for NBC10.And, OK, so maybe a couple of people are parading around in bright green T-shirts that read, “Draymond Sucks,” and there was a time when “sucks” was not considered a nice word, and maybe that time is still now, but welcome to the real world.And we’ll acknowledge the sports director from a Bay Area TV station, Jason Dumas, did mention something on Twitter about hearing from “multiple Warriors staffers” that “their experience here in Boston has been crazy. One told me ‘I had to take off my Dubs shirt Wed morning because I kept getting cursed out.’” Another: “I’ve been flipped off 17 times.”And perhaps a few fans did not greet a bus carrying Warriors family members in genteel fashion, per the assertion in a tweet by Sydel Curry-Lee, Steph Curry’s sister and wife of Warriors guard Damion Lee. But rude gestures are simply how we say “hi” around here.Alas, according to her tweet, that is not how she interpreted the greeting. “I’m curious if the people flipping off the family bus thinks it’s the players their flipping the bird to,” she wrote, “or knows its just family [thinking face emoji] lol.”So, maybe we’re not behaving like we’re in an f’n library. But hey, no less an arbiter of good taste than Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, saw no problem with the fun we were having when the Warriors came to the Garden last Wednesday.“I want fans to enjoy themselves,” he told WCVB-TV after Game 3. “I mean, of course, as the league office, you want to see it done with respect for all the participants. But I get it. I love the energy that the Boston fans bring to the game.”But listen to who doesn’t get it. Warriors guard Klay Thompson. Here he is in a press conference: “We’ve played in front of rude people before. Dropping “f” bombs with children in the crowd. Real classy. Good job, Boston.”And it was the same story from coach Kerr: “Classy, very classy,” he snarled underneath his mask at a postgame press conference.I’m sorry, but how have people not noticed how seriously we take conduct? I have recently learned that the Garden puts an NBA “Conduct Advisory” on every seat in court side proximity. “We encourage you to enjoy the game and to cheer for our players and teams in a respectful way,” it reads in part.What if chanting the “f” word IS how we “enjoy” the game?Never mind that maybe it’s not the people in the $2 million courtside seats that are causing the problems, the Garden also runs prodecorum messages and a fan text hot line multiple times per game on the Jumbotron.But with the Warriors leading the best-of-seven series three games to two, of course we’ll be respectful during Thursday’s Game 6, the outcome of which only determines our entire lives.If we win, there’s a Game 7. If we seem to be losing, we’ll stay classy alright, Boston-style.Beth Teitell can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @bethteitell.

Basketball

Palaquium gutta is an evergreen tree, native to Malaysia and Borneo, that can grow up to 100ft tall. Its sap – known as gutta percha – is something of a botanical phenomenon, a mouldable but durable latex that is resistant to temperature extremes and doesn’t conduct electricity. Plundered heavily by the British empire, gutta percha was used to make furniture and pistol grips, and it coated the undersea cables transmitting the first international telegrams. It also played a role in the birth of association football.When the laws of the game were first devised over a series of meetings in a pub in London’s Covent Garden, there were two key issues at stake. The first was whether this new, codified sport should allow people to pick up the ball and run with it. The second was over the level of permitted violence. “Hacking” was a real concern among the clubs involved, as were players modifying their boots to make them even more likely to gouge someone’s flesh. So, when the laws were finally signed off on 8 December 1863, not only did three of them prohibit players from picking up the ball, rule number 13 banned a player from wearing “projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta percha on the soles or heels of his boots”.Gutta percha still lives a respectable life, commonly used as a material for fillings in people’s teeth. Its relevance to football, however, has substantially waned, with the weaponising of football boots considered less important in the 21st century than whether the shoe can effectively create kinetic friction between foot and grass. The game’s laws are interested in different things nowadays, too, but they are perhaps just as revealing about what preoccupies the minds of the law makers.This week the game’s global law-making body, the International Football Association Board, announced its openness to a series of trials that would experiment with ideas which may yet become laws. In a release to the media, Ifab said “trials such as explaining certain refereeing decisions during a game, a potentially fairer calculation of playing time, and kick-ins” had been discussed at its AGM.The news followed a similar announcement by the KNVB, the Dutch Football Association, which said it had proposed trialling such measures – and others – to Fifa. The extra ideas included being able to dribble from a free-kick, unlimited “flying substitutions” made while the ball is in play and altering each match to 30 minutes per half of clean playing time. These changes, according to the KNVB’s Jan Dirk van der Zee, would make the game “faster, sportier, fairer and more attractive”.The KNVB’s Jan Dirk van der Zee (left, with Daniëlle van de Donk) believes ‘more is needed than sticking to tradition and nostalgia’. Photograph: Gerrit van Keulen/EPAVan der Zee is the director of amateur football at the KNVB and his interest is in getting more children to play. But something else he said chimes precisely with the thoughts of those at the very top of the professional game. Arguing in favour of trialling rule changes, Van der Zee said: “If we want to compete with the temptations of the screen and the free individual sports, more is needed than sticking to tradition and nostalgia.”That elite football is in direct competition with not only the NFL and NBA but Netflix and PlayStation is an idea shared by pretty much every senior executive in the game. The “fan of the future”, as they are known, is understood to be promiscuous and easily bored and will take their eyeballs elsewhere if not entertained. This logic helped inform the thinking behind reform of the Champions League, the aborted launch of the Super League and even some of football’s flirtation with cryptocurrency, where tokens were marketed as a way of buying into (and thus staying loyal to) a club and the game.The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email.You can look at these proposed trials through the same lens. And the argument – espoused by Arsène Wenger among others – that a kick-in would avoid the faff of throw-ins, or that a dribbling free-kick would get things moving more quickly, has its merits. You could also argue, however, that a player could equally take their time over deciding who should receive a kick-in as a throw-in, or that coaches might still prefer to make their rolling subs when the ball is out of play, the better to preserve a tactical shape. Either way the outcomes of embracing the changes, and what type of game it would create, are not yet known.Trials if and when they happen would seek to work that out, but regardless, the underlying message that the game needs to speed up and be less broken up is being made increasingly loudly. Van der Zee argues that those resistant to law changes are “football romantics”, stuck on an idea of how the game once was. Others may respond that it is the spirit in which the game is played, rather than the laws, which define the outcome and that the importance of winning – or rather the fear of defeat – is what slows things down. It’s possible, too, to wonder what the Victorian players might have made of all this regulatory tinkering – though they would probably be too busy picking shards of gutta percha from their shins to notice.

Other Sports

Tom Hanks has said that as a straight man he could not now make Philadelphia, in which he played a gay man who is dying of Aids.Speaking to thethe New York Times magazine to promote the new Elvis Presley biopic, Hanks called both Philadelphia – for which he won an Oscar in 1993 – and Forrest Gump – for which he repeated the trick a year later – as “timely movies, at the time, that you might not be able to make now”.“Let’s address ‘Could a straight man do what I did in Philadelphia now?’” said Hanks. “No, and rightly so. The whole point of Philadelphia was don’t be afraid. One of the reasons people weren’t afraid of that movie is that I was playing a gay man. We’re beyond that now, and I don’t think people would accept the inauthenticity of a straight guy playing a gay guy.”Hanks continued: “It’s not a crime, it’s not boohoo, that someone would say we are going to demand more of a movie in the modern realm of authenticity. Do I sound like I’m preaching? I don’t mean to.”However, Hanks’s statement was met with scepticism online, with many saying that Bradley Cooper is currently shooting a biopic of Leonard Bernstein, which has already attracted Oscar buzz, and Ewan McGregor recently won an Emmy for playing Halston.Meanwhile, Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer enjoyed substantial acclaim for their roles in Call Me By Your Name, as did Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan for period romance Ammonite.However, the actor Eddie Redmayne expressed regret at accepting the role of a trans woman in Tom Hooper’s 2015 film A Danish Girl, describing his participation as “a mistake” and the part as one he “wouldn’t take on now”.In 2021, Russell T Davies asserted that only gay actors should play gay roles – a credo adhered to when casting hit drama It’s a Sin. This September sees the release of Bros, an LGBTQ+ romcom starring Billy Eichner in which all the cast members – including those playing heterosexual roles – identify as queer.

Movies

Jun 3, 2022; Dublin, Ohio, USA; Abraham Ancer plays his shot from the ninth fairway during the second round of the Memorial Tournament. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBROOKLINE, Mass., June 16 (Reuters) - Mexico's Abraham Ancer has withdrawn from the U.S. Open due to an illness, tournament organisers said on Thursday ahead of the opening round.Ancer, who missed the cut at last year's U.S. Open, was scheduled to tee off at 1:14 p.m. ET (1714 GMT) from the 10th hole at The Country Club alongside American Sam Burns and Belgian Thomas Pieters.Ancer will be replaced in the 156-player field by Patton Kizzire, who will be playing in his third U.S. Open after having missed the cut in 2016 and 2019.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Frank Pingue in Brookline, Massachusetts Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Golf

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Brandel Chamblee, a former PGA Tour golfer who serves as an analyst for the Golf Channel, ripped Phil Mickelson and other LIV Golf competitors ahead of the U.S. Open this week.Chamblee tweeted Tuesday that Mickelson and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman should be removed from the World Golf Hall of Fame."As far as I know, it’s never happened that an athlete has been kicked out of their Hall Of Fame but both Norman & Mickelson should be removed from the Hall Of Fame. They’ve dishonored the game & they threaten to destroy the game that they have both so enormously profited from," Chamblee tweeted.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMMickelson addressed the media on Monday ahead of the U.S. Open and responded to the scrutiny he received for playing in the Saudi-funded golf league."I respect and I understand their opinions, and I understand that they have strong feelings and strong emotions regarding this choice. And I certainly respect that," Mickelson said, adding joining LIV Golf was the "right decision" for him. Phil Mickelson watches his tee shot on the fifth hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament, Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Mickelson is reportedly making $200 million, and it is something that has not sat well with Chamblee. He said over the weekend he did not buy into the notion the golfers who jumped for LIV Golf were trying to grow the game. Instead, Chamblee said, they were "destroying the game" and "their reputations."Chamblee continued Monday after Mickelson’s press conference."He’s suffering the consequences of a decision he made that some believe he was taking a flamethrower to the PGA Tour," Chamblee said, via Golf Week. "By my count there were 22 questions and not a single question about being the oldest major champion of all time, not a single question about trying to complete the career Grand Slam. It was all about his decision to join a league that I think many view as an attempt at a hostile takeover.US OPEN 2022: PREVIEW, FIRST-ROUND TEE TIMES AND MORE"He’s been pretty darn successful in the media center at manipulating to whatever extent he can, but there have been moments over the years where he’s been atrocious in the media center. Most notably in 2014 at the Ryder Cup, where we got I think a real glimpse into who Phil Mickelson is. Machiavellian? Sure. Blaming Tom Watson for his failures in the Ryder Cup, and then when asked after literally denigrating one of the greats in the game in front of the whole world by a media member, why would you do such a thing? He almost acted incredulous and said, ‘How could you take what I just did as denigrating Tom Watson?’ Everyone in that room knew what they were seeing. It was disingenuous at best, but duplicitous more accurately describes it." Brandel Chamblee during The Golf Channel Bracket Special prior to the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 19, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Chris Condon/PGA TOUR)Chamblee added: "Nothing I’ve seen from Phil Mickelson from that moment to this moment has changed. It turns out when you’re trying to sell a lie, it’s hard to talk with a great deal of comfort and ease."LIV Golf has been taking a ton of heat since its inception and this week was no exception.Rory McIlroy led the charge among PGA Tour golfers. He continually lashed out at Norman after passing him on the PGA Tour all-time wins list and then blasted those who turned their back on the Tour after making statements committing to the league."I guess I took a lot of players’ statements at face value. I guess that’s what I got wrong," McIlroy said ahead of the first round of the U.S. Open, via The Independent. "You had people committed to the PGA Tour, and that’s what the statements were that were put out. People went back on that.""It’s disappointing, "he added. "The players that are staying on the PGA Tour feel slighted in some way. If those guys thought outside of themselves, they would see this is not the best for everyone. My dad said to me a long time ago, once you make your bed, you lie in it, and they’ve made their bed. That’s their decision, and they have to live with that." Phil Mickelson ponders a question at a press conference, Monday, June 13, 2022, at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)He would later tell Sky Sports he thought LIV Golf’s emergence could only hurt the game."If it [LIV Golf series] keeps going the way it's going, it's going to fracture the game more than it already is. The professional world in golf has already been fractured," he told the outlet.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"There's so many different tours and so many different things to follow. I've always been an advocate of making it more cohesive and trying to get people working together more, but this is ripping that apart."If the Saudis are hellbent on spending money in golf, let's try to get it spent in a way that benefits the wider ecosystem. That's where I would like to see it going, but whether that happens or not remains to be seen." Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

Golf

I didn’t learn about Vicente Lusitano at school. On Saturdays, hanging out with my pals in HMV, I didn’t find his music when I slipped quietly into the classical section. Nor did I encounter him when I studied for a music degree, or during a career dedicated to early music.And yet Lusitano was the first Black composer to have his music published. I first saw his name during the summer of 2020’s Black Lives Matter protests, when flautist and composer Alice H Jones tweeted a picture of the placard she had carried with her to a protest in New York City: a list of Black classical composers and their dates, starting with Lusitano, who, in the middle of the 16th century, predated the “first” acknowledged Black composer – Ignatius Sancho – in any music history I knew by more than 200 years: “I brought my music classroom to a protest today,” tweeted Jones. Three thousand miles away, I sat down and learned.Vicente Lusitano was born in Olivença, then a Portuguese city, around 1520. He was ordained a priest, was in Rome by 1551, and travelled to Germany 10 years later. Crucially, he was described as “pardo” by his first biographer. The term signified a mixed-race person of white European and African parentage. Lusitano was Black.A shawm band playing an arrangement of a Gombert song - Gombert (1495–c1560) was one of Lusitano’s artistic influences. SpotifyIn the 16th century, Lisbon’s population was roughly 10% Black; in Lusitano’s native Olivença, that figure was 4%. Portuguese diversity surprised visitors such as Flemish writer and traveller Nicolas Cleynaerts, whose writings contain early examples of anti-Black slurs. The archive doesn’t record what the subjects of his remarks thought of him, but there are glimpses of the response to such denigration elsewhere: in an anonymous 16th-century memoir, a white Portuguese man mocked Jácomo Feio, a Black shawm player to the Dukes of Bragança in the 1530s, mimicking the vernacular used by Black people at the time. Feio delivered his ice-cold reply in formal Portuguese.Diverse, southern Europe may have been, inclusive it was not. The atrocity of the trade in enslaved Africans was under way, conducted with violence, both physical and social. Most Black people in Iberia were enslaved, those who were free lived under the threat of being kidnapped as “runaways”: in Italy, the kidnapped victim had to prove that they were not actually enslaved. There is no known record of Lusitano’s background but, given the level of education generally required of composers of the time, and the common usage of “pardo” to suggest Black mixed-race, it is easy to speculate that he was born to a white father and a Black mother.‘Composers such as Lusitano help us to hear Black voices, present for as long as there has been such a thing as classical music.’Conductor Joseph McHardy Photograph: Nick RutterThere is also no record of Lusitano ever holding a church post, the usual job for male European composers in that era. Portugal reserved salaried roles in the church for white clergy; regardless of ability, Black clerics were excluded. Citing the dedication in Lusitano’s first publication, music historian Robert Stevenson supposed that he worked as a tutor to the aristocratic Lencastre family. We have a record of Lusitano in Rome in 1551. That same year, the Lencastres moved to Rome as ambassadors at the papal court. Lusitano even wrote a piece about it – Quid montes, Musae. Perhaps Lusitano travelled to Rome with the Lencastres in the hope of persuading the pope to allow him to secure a church post, but it never happened. By 1561 he had converted to Protestantism, married, and was on his way to Germany, probably in the hope of securing a position there.“Our predecessors struggled to leave records,” writes historian Mary Rambaran-Olm. Excluded from the opportunities that would have come with a church position – a place to showcase his music, scribes to copy it into choir books – Lusitano struggled to leave us traces of his life.And yet he managed to become one of the most prolific Black artists of early modern Europe. 1551 saw the printing of Liber primus epigramatum – 23 motets, the first published composition, that we know of, by a Black person. Written for choir, to be performed in church services, it would take an ensemble several hours to perform the whole book in one sitting. Given the exclusion he probably faced, that Lusitano published at all is a massive achievement. A work of music theory followed in 1553, running to three editions, and Lusitano also completed a lengthy manuscript treatise on the art of singing. A further motet, Beati omnes qui timent Dominum, exists in a book copied at the ducal court in Stuttgart, dated 1562 – perhaps the only example of a 16th-century Catholic-born Iberian writing specifically for Protestant liturgy.Lusitano’s compositions are sonorous and intricate. Like his contemporaries, he writes in a style where single ideas generate lines for multiple voices which weave around each other: counterpoint.And counterpoint matters to classical music. Bach, Mozart and Beethoven all studied the counterpoint perfected by Renaissance composers. It is at the root of classical music. For composition students, it’s their times tables. Counterpoint became one of the things that marked classical music as European. And in the 19th century, at the height of “scientific racism”, classical music was enlisted to “prove” Europe’s exceptionalism. For influential 19th-century theorist François-Joseph Fétis, it was reportedly the race blanche “which alone has produced music that may be elevated to the dignity of art.”Such claims of exceptionalism were of course odious and false. Lusitano, the Black master musician, writing and teaching counterpoint during its golden age, shows us how selective music history is in who it remembers. Palestrina, Lassus – men with patronage, access, and influence – these would become the Renaissance giants whose music was later pored over.Chineke Voices, who are performing the work of Lusitano Photograph: PRWhat happened to Lusitano’s memory has happened to countless other Black people in Europe’s history. The discrimination they faced didn’t end at their deaths. Nineteenth-century Europe’s music histories had no room for Black people. Even today, uncovering classical music’s Black history can lead to hostile reactions.After 1561, Lusitano disappears from the historical record. The hoped-for job in Germany didn’t materialise and he became a footnote in histories of the period.“Listen, perform, teach,” read Jones’s placard. Composers such as Lusitano help us to listen more carefully, to hear Black voices, present for as long as there has been such a thing as classical music.In our rehearsal room, Lusitano’s notes wait patiently on the music stand. As the singers of Chineke! Voices, joined by young voices from the Children’s Choir of St John the Divine, Kennington, turn the notes into sound, we’re struck by how varied Lusitano’s music is – where Beati Omnes bounces along cheerfully, the intense devotion of O Beata Maria is almost unbearable at times. Each singer lends their voice to a music and a story that has been too long silenced, breathing life into music by those whom history has left out.Joseph McHardy directs Chineke! Voices in The Music of Vincente Lusitano at St George’s, Bristol (1pm, 16 June), Worcester College Chapel, Oxford (7.30pm, 17 June) and at St Martin-in-the-Fields (7.30pm, 18 June).

Music

Zach Collier teaches in the Dallas area and only sings the national anthem on the side, but it’s apparently a growth industry. Or it used to be, anyway. On average, he belts out “The Star-Spangled Banner” at sporting events once a month. Rangers games, Astros games, even a Dallas Wings game last Sunday. He’s got a couple anthems lined up at Lone Star Park over the next six weeks.That is, unless a track official is a Longhorn, and then it might get iffy.Maybe you heard that officials of the College World Series canceled Collier’s gig because he flashed the Horns Down after singing the anthem at the Women’s College World Series.Three hours after he covered Francis Scott Key’s hit at the Oklahoma State-Texas semifinals in Oklahoma City, Collier received an email from a CWS official indicating his invitation to perform had been rescinded. The reason? NCAA officials contacted the CWS with “documented proof that he made offensive gestures and mockery of a participating team ... and we do not feel comfortable allowing him to perform.”Contacted by ESPN, the NCAA issued a statement contending that Collier’s action violated a “solemn moment.” Furthermore, he “disrupted participating student-athletes and coaches by attempting to interact with them.”Translation: He said hello to the Oklahoma State player standing next to him.Before going further, let’s talk about why anyone should police Horns Down in the first place. I mean, doesn’t the NCAA have better things to do? We’ve got an LSU gymnast bagging $1 million, a coach accusing another coach of buying his roster, and a Texas quarterback tooling around in James Bond’s wheels. None of the above is necessarily wrong. College athletes deserve a cut. Just the same, there ought to be a discussion about parameters in college athletics before it gets so far out of hand that some poor Alabama quarterback challenges Nick Saban to compare pay stubs.Instead of confronting the big issues in college athletics, the NCAA writes parking tickets.For that matter, why does the Big 12 care about Horns Down? The league put in a rule against it last summer, with the caveat that it qualified as a penalty only if directed at another player, not toward fans. Not two weeks after the Big 12 kowtowed to Texas, news broke that the Longhorns and Sooners will defect to the SEC by 2025, if not sooner.Now that Texas is on its way out the door, why should the Big 12 enforce the rule anymore? You can’t ask for a divorce, then expect your former beloved to play nice.Given Bob Bowlsby’s comments about “betrayal,” I don’t know why the commissioner didn’t throw a two-fisted Horns Down at Texas-OU.Besides, what’s worse: Getting a Horns Down from an opponent? Or getting the finger from a little old lady as the team bus pulls into the State Fair?Look, you don’t have to like the inverted Hook ‘Em if you’re a Longhorn, but is it really so awful? Shouldn’t you take pride in the fact that nearly a dozen schools acknowledge you as their primary rival?Considering that you’ve lived with Horns Down all these decades, do you really want to let them think they’re finally getting under your skin?Zach Collier doesn’t understand all the fuss. Of course, it should be noted here that he’s an Aggie.As the 27-year-old high school history teacher notes, Texas isn’t the only school in the state with a hand sign that gets turned upside down in derision.“Any time I’ve seen the thumbs down,” he said, referencing the antidote to Gig ‘Em, “nobody gets in an uproar about it.”Maybe not, but a cadet did, indeed, once pull a saber on an SMU cheerleader, so there’s that.Collier’s intentions weren’t nearly so malevolent at the WCWS. He and his wife, Ashley, are expecting their first child, not spoiling for a fight. For the record, he doesn’t flash the Horns Down every time he sings the anthem. This was a first.He insists he meant no harm but received a lesson in NCAA politics, nonetheless.“The NCAA says it’s considered a mockery and offensive gesture,” he said. “That’s ridiculous. It’s not mockery, and it’s not an offensive gesture. I would never mock another team. Those Texas softball players are way more athletic than I am. Kudos to them for making the World Series.“But as far as Texas is concerned, I’m gonna throw the Horns Down when we’re playing or no matter who they’re playing.”Even if it cuts into his side gigs, apparently. He’d never worked as hard to earn an opportunity to sing the anthem as he did for the CWS. Beat out more than 100 applicants from across 17 states. A bitter pill for a guy who grew up in Saginaw singing in church musicals and in the choir at Boswell High before performing in an all-male acapella group at A&M.Besides the occasional anthem, Collier gets his kicks these days singing karaoke at Big Al’s Down the Hatch in Waxahachie, though a happy ending may still be in the works. Because Collier’s story went viral, a friend is circulating a petition to let him sing the anthem at Kyle Field, no less. His biggest stage yet. Here’s betting Horns Down draws no objections there. He could even make it a double.Related:What reported SEC schedule formats could mean for Texas rivalries with Oklahoma, A&MFind more Texas coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Baseball

The Chicago Cubs’ losing streak reached nine games Wednesday with a 19-5 loss to the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field.The Padres have won three straight in the series, which concludes Thursday afternoon with Matt Swarmer facing Joe Musgrove.“Losing is not fun,” Ian Happ said. “It never is. And when you go through stretches like that, long innings, you try to keep everybody upbeat and positive. I feel that gets harder as the losses mount.”Rookie Caleb Kilian was out of sync in his second start, and the bullpen collapsed after he was removed after allowing five runs in four innings. Keeping everyone in a positive frame of mind has been difficult when a team has been beaten down as badly as the Cubs this week.“We’re working on that,” manager David Ross said. “I don’t have any magical answer. We haven’t been very good. I think we’ve got to pitch a little bit better than we’ve pitched the last couple nights.”Ross once again called on first baseman Frank Schwindel to pitch, the third time this season and second time this week. Schwindel gave up three runs in the ninth.“It’s crazy,” Happ said. “It’s kind of been an explosion (of position players pitching) the last couple years and this year. The more we can play where position don’t pitch, the better.”Some fans enjoy watching it. But the more it happens, the less funny it seems.“Yeah, it’s not (funny),” Happ said. “It’s not that fun to see anymore. But it’s a reality of keeping arms fresh. You can’t just go out there and blow through your bullpen every day and expect to be competitive the next day, especially night to day.”Schwindel has served up four home runs in three innings, compiling an 18.00 ERA.Here are some other ugly numbers to chew on.The Cubs’ ERA over the nine-game losing streak. They’ve served up 21 home runs and allowed 111 hits over that span.The Cubs’ winning percentage since a loss to the New York Mets on June 14, 2021. Going into that game, the Cubs were 38-27 and tied for first place in the National League Central. They’re 56-103 since, including losing streaks of 11, 12 and nine games.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.The Cubs are winless in all 29 games this season in which they’re trailed entering the seventh inning.Runs allowed by Cubs pitchers (and first baseman Frank Schwindel) over the last five games since losing 8-0 to the Yankees on Saturday in New York. They have been outscored 84-26 during the skid.The Cubs’ record on replay challenges. Not only are they losing on the field, they’re also very bad at challenging calls. Opposing teams have won seven and lost four against the Cubs.The Cubs’ record at Wrigley Field. They’re 2-7-1 in home series, including a win in the opening series against the Milwaukee Brewers.Cubs starters’ ERA. They’re also a combined 12-27. The 4.91 ERA is still better than in 2021, when the starters posted a 5.27 ERA, fourth worst in the majors.The Cubs’ average with runners in scoring position (122-for-554). They began Wednesday ranked 28th in the category, ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks (.216) and Pittsburgh Pirates (.201).Fan who caught a Manny Machado home run Wednesday and didn’t bother to throw it back.

Baseball

PreambleYes, yes, the LIV Tour has been hanging around the run-up to the 122nd US Open at Brookline like a bad smell. But let’s not allow it to linger, for none of the players involved with the breakaway tour are considered particularly likely winners of the USGA’s flagship event. In fact, three of the top four favourites this week – Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and defending champion Jon Rahm – have been vocal in their defence of the PGA Tour, while the other – new Masters champion Scottie Scheffler – gave the new format some side-eye ahead of last week’s Canadian Open, pointing out that “maybe outside of DJ”, he hadn’t “really noticed anyone missing this week”. Ouch!Other dudes have to be taken into serious consideration. The Players champion and Masters nearly man Cam Smith. The FedEx champ Patrick Cantlay. Sam Burns, a three-time winner on Tour this season. The in-form Matthew Fitzpatrick. PGA runner-up Will Zalatoris. The two-time major winner Collin Morikawa. Hideki Matsuyama. Shane Lowry. Im Sung-jae. Xander Schauffele. Tony Finau. Viktor Hovland. Jordan Spieth. The Sonics. The Sonics. The Sonics.Brookline is mainly remembered these days for the 1999 Ryder Cup, Justin Leonard, Ollie’s line, all that. But it’s hosted three previous US Opens, won by Curtis Strange in 1988, Julius Boros in 1963, and most famously of all, the amateur Francis Ouimet in 1913. A fame-infused roll call, right there. Speaking of which, some of the big names go out early. It’s going to be a long day, so without further ado, here are the starting tee times for the first round. Pick your favourite and settle down for four days of major-championship golf. Three-round confections with shotgun starts have nothing on the United States Open Championship, baby. It’s on!Starting at hole 1: 11:45 Matt McCarty, (a) Michael Thorbjornsen, Erik Barnes 11:56 Matthew NeSmith, Patrick Rodgers, (a) Travis Vick 12:07 Troy Merritt, (a) William Mouw, Andrew Putnam 12:18 Collin Morikawa, James Piot, Jon Rahm (Spa) 12:29 Max Homa, Adam Scott (Aus), Jordan Spieth 12:40 Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel 12:51 Sebastian Munoz (Col), Alexander Noren (Swe), Harold Varner III 13:02 Joaquin Niemann (Chi), Cameron Young, Will Zalatoris 13:13 (a) Stewart Hagestad, Grayson Murray, Adam Schenk 13:24 Branden Grace (Rsa), Mackenzie Hughes (Can), Guido Migliozzi (Ita) 13:35 Beau Hossler, Satoshi Kodaira (Jpn), Kalle Samooja (Fin) 13:46 Richard Mansell (Eng), Roger Sloan (Can), Tomoyasu Sugiyama (Jpn) 13:57 Keith Greene, Benjamin Silverman (Can), (a) Caleb Manuel 17:30 Kevin Chappell, Andrew Novak, Chase Seiffert 17:41 Thorbjoern Olesen (Den), Brian Stuard, Nick Hardy 17:52 Sam Horsfield (Eng), Shaun Norris (Rsa), Cameron Tringale 18:03 Sung Jae Im (Kor), Guillermo Mito Pereira (Chi), Erik van Rooyen (Rsa) 18:14 Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland (Nor), Justin Thomas 18:25 Joo-Hyung Kim (Kor), Min-Woo Lee (Aus), Seamus Power (Irl) 18:36 Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson 18:47 Shane Lowry (Irl), Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 18:58 Danny Lee (Nzl), (a) Keita Nakajima (Jpn), Nick Taylor (Can) 19:09 (a) Nick Dunlap, Jim Furyk, Adam Hadwin (Can) 19:20 Richard Bland (Eng), Ryan Fox (Nzl), Rikuya Hoshino (Jpn) 19:31 Jonas Blixt (Swe), Bo Hoag, Todd Sinnott (Aus) 19:42 Sean Jacklin (Sco), (a) Charles Reiter, Isaiah Salinda Starting at hole 10: 11:45 Hayden Buckley, Fran Quinn, Callum Tarren (Eng) 11:56 (a) Sam Bennett, Kurt Kitayama, Denny McCarthy 12:07 Wil Besseling (Ned), Wyndham Clark, Brandon Matthews 12:18 Si Woo Kim (Kor), Sepp Straka (Aut), David Lingmerth (Swe) 12:29 Victor Perez (Fra), Davis Riley, Scott Stallings 12:40 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Rory McIlroy (NIrl), Xander Schauffele 12:51 Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Kevin Kisner 13:02 Keegan Bradley, Marc Leishman (Aus), Aaron Wise 13:13 Stewart Cink, Francesco Molinari (Ita), (a) Laird Shepherd (Eng) 13:24 Marcel Schneider (Ger), Joseph Bramlett, Chan Kim 13:35 Joel Dahmen, Lanto Griffin, Jinichiro Kozuma (Jpn) 13:46 (a) Fred Biondi (Bra), Harry Hall (Eng), Chris Gotterup 13:57 Luke Gannon, Chris Naegel, Andrew Beckler 17:30 Sean Crocker, Jediah Morgan (Aus), Taylor Montgomery 17:41 M. J. Daffue (Rsa), (a) Maxwell Moldovan, Yannik Paul (Ger) 17:52 Adria Arnaus (Spa), Talor Gooch, Tom Hoge 18:03 Sergio Garcia (Spa), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Kevin Na 18:14 Abraham Ancer (Mex), Sam Burns, Thomas Pieters (Bel) 18:25 Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Smith (Aus) 18:36 Corey Conners (Can), (a) Austin Greaser, Luke List 18:47 Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose (Eng), Gary Woodland 18:58 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Kyoung-Hoon Lee (Kor), Patrick Reed 19:09 Harris English, Lucas Herbert (Aus), Jason Kokrak 19:20 (a) Ben Lorenz, Davis Shore, Samuel Stevens 19:31 (a) Adrien Dumont (Bel), Daijiro Izumida (Jpn), Sebastian Soederberg (Swe) 19:42 Brady Calkins, Ryan Gerard, Jesse Mueller

Golf

Test drive: 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is Ford's first electric truck and has features not found on any other F-Series model. Fox News Autos Editor Gary Gastelu takes it for a spin.NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Ford is cracking open the vault.The automaker has launched a new website full of historic images and brochures that can be searched and shared by fans of the brand.The Ford Heritage Vault was curated over the past two years and includes over 5,000 selections covering Ford's first century, from 1903 to 2003.Ford archive and heritage brand manager Ted Ryan said the archive was first established 70 years ago and that this gives Ford enthusiasts an easy way to interact with it. (Ford)"This is just the first step for all that will come in the future," Ryan said.General Motors has operated the similar GM Heritage Center website for several years. The 1949 Ford was the first all-new American vehicle designed after World War II. (Ford)"These assets were born analog, and we have worked hard to bring them to the digital world," said processing archivist Ciera Casteel."But digitizing isn’t enough. It was important to us that the Heritage Vault is accessible for everyone to enjoy." The collection includes Lincolns, like this 1927 Model L with coachwork by Dietrich. (Ford)The collection is being offered free for personal and media usage, but Ford retains the rights to the images for commercial applications. The Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 was on display at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. (Ford)Among the items in the library is a rare color photo of the original Mustang Shelby GT350 on display at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. Ford's Free Wheelin' campaign targeted young customers in 1977. (Ford)There's also a brochure from Ford's 1977 "Free Wheelin'" campaign, which was aimed at young, active buyers. The 1959 Country Squire show car featured a rooftop camper that could double as a boat. (Ford)Few stand out as much as a 1959 Country Squire wagon equipped with a rooftop camper concept that could double as a boat and included a built-in tent and shower.You can take a trip down memory lane in the Ford Heritage Vault here. Gary Gastelu is FoxNews.com's Automotive Editor covering the car industry and racing @foxnewsautos

Automotive and Transportation

The French government official investigating the chaos at the Champions League final in Paris in which police used teargas and pepper spray against Liverpool fans admitted there were “many regrets” over what happened but said preparations had been robust.Michel Cadot, the sports ministry’s delegate on major events, said those involved in planning for the match – including the French Football Federation and the police – had acted in a “strong and satisfactory” manner, but admitted the occasion was “an important failure that damages us”.“The controlling of the crowd could have been better,” he told the Sénat, which has quizzed the interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, and sports minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castera. During two hours with Cadot, the Sénat heard that in the run-up to the match there had been no particular concerns about hooliganism or any threat of violence. In short, it was not considered a particularly risky event, he said.François Noel Buffet, president of the law commission, asked about the police use of teargas, which Buffet said was “shocking” and from television images appeared had been used against fans who “posed no particular threat”.Cadot responded by saying the police had no choice given the “chain of events” and the arrival of a crowd of fans pushing against the grills at the entrance to the stadium. “It was the only response really adapted to avoid a more serious situation,” he told the committee.“There are no miracle solutions; each country has its own approach to public order. In certain places where there is an accumulation of a crowd we could perhaps consider using mounted police to supervise [the situation],” he said.Cadot said he had not seen the 25 May report by the National Division for the Fight Against Hooliganism (DNLH), three days before the match, warning that about 50,000 Liverpool supporters could turn up with fake tickets and try to enter the Stade de France. Making reference to previous finals involving Liverpool, the DNLH reported that “several hundred English supporters will try to get into the stadium by forcing the turnstiles and different access doors”. It called for “great vigilance”.“I didn’t see [the report] at my level but it was shared with the prefect of police because it arrived quite late in the day, but the elements it provided confirmed what we knew for several weeks, that there would be a number of visitors without tickets accompanying fans,” Cadot said.He said the number of forged tickets picked up at the three gates used by Liverpool fans was 10-12% of the 20,000 tickets allocated to Liverpool. This was four times the number picked up at the Champions League game between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool in 2018, he added.“Some of these, as you will have seen, were photocopies of certain tickets sold at a very low price so the buyer must have known it was not an authentic ticket,” Cadot said.Buffet said he was also astonished not one image from the 200 CCTV cameras around the Stade de France had been kept. “Nobody at any point thought it useful to keep those images?” he asked.“There’s a legal possibility to keep them for 30 days, but we’re talking about stocking a considerable amount of information and it’s automatically deleted so more can be stocked,” Cadot replied. “Seen from the outside, I can appreciate citizens might have difficulty understanding this but it is an automatic process.”Quick GuideHow do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts?ShowDownload the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhones or the Google Play store on Android phones by searching for 'The Guardian'.If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.In the Guardian app, tap the yellow button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.Turn on sport notifications.Several senators questions why police had not acted to prevent attacks on British fans by local “delinquents” – including pickpockets and muggers – when these had started well before the match at about 2pm.Cadot, a former police prefect, was involved in preparation and said: “I have my part in the responsibility for this failure”.Buffet, the senator overseeing the hearing, said it would be hearing from Liverpool supporters. “Requests have been made,” he said. “We haven’t finished our work.”

Soccer

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! With the U.S. Open teeing off on Thursday, United States Golf Association (USGA) CEO Mike Whan explained why he decided to allow LIV Golf competitors to play in the third major of the year.LIV Golf competitors ruffled the feathers of the PGA Tour when they broke from the organization to play in the Saudi-backed league, and their return for the major was put under the microscope.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA, speaks to the media at a press conference during a practice round prior to the 122nd U.S. Open Championship at The Country Club on June 15, 2022 in Brookline, Massachusetts. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)"Whether we all like it or not, in February, 30 guys played for the same promoter in Saudi Arabia with an acceptable release from the PGA Tour, and for years the DP World Tour has had an event there, same promoter," Whan said Wednesday, via Golf.com. "We also had to ask the question, if you’re going to put that kind of clause in, who gets in, we’ve got to go back to 9,300 people and played last week but who played ever, where, sponsored by. It becomes a pretty slippery slope to try to apply that across 9,300 people."The USGA was put in a tough spot about whether to bar players who have already qualified after jumping last minute for LIV Golf. Ultimately, Whan said he did not think players disqualified themselves from the U.S. Open.As for the future, Whan said it could be more difficult for those golfers to get in. Dustin Johnson hits on the seventh hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)BROOKS KOEPKA OVER LIV GOLF QUESTIONS AHEAD OF US OPEN: 'I’M TIRED OF ALL THIS STUFF'"It would be a lot of hypotheticals for me to get what LIV is going to be by the time we’re talking about this next year, but as we would do any year, we’re going to definitely reevaluate field criteria. We would any year," he said. "We will take a look at what the landscape looks like."When asked whether LIV Golf players could be banned from the U.S. Open in the future, Whan responded simply, "Yes."Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel and Bryson DeChambeau are all competing in the tournament. Phil Mickelson watches his shot on the 15th hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMickelson has never won the U.S. Open – the only major tournament missing in his trophy case. DeChambeau won the U.S. Open in 2020, Johnson won it in 2016 and Reed’s best finish in the Open was fourth place. Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

Golf

Peak “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” happened more than 30 years ago. Back then, the cartoon was the show you had to watch if you were to function in classroom society. You had to be up-to-date on the latest Shredder and Krang plot and maybe own the latest action figure. The nostalgia for those days is so strong because the turtles blanketed every part of childhood, covering television, movies, toys and, of course, video games. That last element wasn’t perfect at the start but after a few tries fans got a good “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” title. Konami found the right genre in the beat’-em up and that tradition continues today with “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.” At first glance, it seems as if the developers at Tribute Games are aping the arcade game and the SNES classic “Turtles in Time.” That would have been a solid but unexciting effort. But if players dig deeper, they’ll find that “Shredder’s Revenge” is so much more. Some of the same developers behind the brilliant “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game” poured an inordinate amount of love into this project and created a video game that stays true to the franchise’s peak era while also advancing the genre forward. Players fight Rocksteady toward the beginning of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge” but the challenges ahead delves deep into the cartoon lore of the 1980s. (Dotemu) CHASING TROUBLE Through 16 episodes, players will chase after Krang and Shredder and uncover their plot for New York. It’s not exactly deep storytelling and games in this category don’t offer much in terms of complex themes. What “Shredder’s Revenge” does do successfully is pull players through a trip down memory lane. It’s a short but satisfying stroll, in which players will meet characters that were introduced through the cartoons. They’ll encounter familiar foes such as Rocksteady and Bebop but the campaign dives into the deep cuts of the animated series and includes allies such as the Punk Frogs and Neutrinos along with other adversaries such as General Traag, Slash and Leatherhead. Tribute Games mines the lore to give older fans moments of long-forgotten recollection. Players can use a few non-turtle characters such as April O’Neil, Splinter and Casey Jones in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.” (Dotemu) ADVANCED GAMEPLAY What’s just as impressive as the devotion to the source material is the developer’s elegant way of advancing the game mechanics. “Shredder’s Revenge” is still accessible to players who just want to button mash their way to victory. Players have simple attack and jump buttons that can get them through the campaign, but if they want to gain a sense of mastery in combat, Tribute adds a dodge and super attack buttons along with a taunt. The dodge lets players avoid damage if they time it right. The taunt button lets players do a quick animation that fills up the Ninja Power bar. That meter is important because it lets players execute a powerful super attack that can help clear the screen of enemies. These mechanics create more of a strategic element as players have to attack while avoiding damage to build up the power bar. Once it’s full, they’ll have to judiciously use the super attack when necessary. In addition, the characters also have a dash attack and other moves that come in handy during certain situations. All the moves seem essential and useful. In multiplayer that supports up to six people, teamwork takes center stage as allies can share health, revive a fallen friend and even perform a co-op attack. The combat is deeper than anything from 1990s, but the system isn’t so complex as to be burdensome. It feels just right for newcomers and veterans alike. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge” is best played with friends in the living room. (Dotemu) REASONS TO REPLAY Although the campaign isn’t long, “Shredder’s Revenge” does offer players plenty of reasons to replay the game after the story mode is over. The game lets players pick up to seven heroes that include the core turtle team, April O’Neil, Splinter and Casey Jones (He’s available once they beat the campaign). What’s smart is that each hero can be leveled up through gameplay and gain more health, Ninja Power meter and other perks. If players want to explore the campaign’s depth, they can power up each of the other characters who all have their own distinct styles of play. Donatello has range with his bo, but he’s slow. Raphael is powerful but players need to be good at short-range fighting. In addition, the game has multiple challenges and secrets hidden throughout each episode, so there’s even more incentive to tackle the campaign multiple times. It’s a game that’s so fun and easy to pick up that players won’t mind that. That’s just a testament to how much love is in every pixel of “Shredder’s Revenge.” Fans can feel the affection for the franchise, and it shines through every button presses and cowabunga. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge” Three and a half stars Platform: Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 Rating: Everyone 10 and up

Video Games

BOSTON — With the Warriors just one win away from an NBA title, coach Steve Kerr celebrated his team’s collective efforts to take Game 5 in a postgame speech captured by ESPN cameras before he left his players with an emphatic proclamation. “We’re going to get this in Boston,” he said. His team agreed. Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Celtics will be the Warriors’ toughest challenge yet as they tried to clinch their fourth NBA Finals title in eight years and avoid sending the series to a winner-take-all Game 7 in San Francisco. “They are definitely tough games,” Andre Iguodala said Wednesday of the intensity of a closeout situation. “That’s the mindset we got to have is, you know, clinching is probably the hardest game you’ll play.” Mindset is everything, according to Iguodala, who’s been in this situation many times over the course of his career. And the Warriors will have to match the Celtics’ desperation and physicality in Game 6 in Boston if they want to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy on their enemy’s parquet court. “It’s going to take the most effort we’ve had to give all year,” Klay Thompson said. “But I can tell you this: We’re all ready for the opportunity, and we’re all very excited.” After a rollercoaster of a season jam-packed with storylines — Thompson’s return; injuries to Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and James Wiseman; Jordan Poole’s breakout; and Andrew Wiggins redefining himself in the playoffs — the Warriors are back on the doorstep of their fourth title in eight years. The Warriors have struggled to get the job done in their first attempts to close out the series during this year’s playoffs. In Game 4 of the first-round series with a chance to sweep the Nuggets, the Warriors were “too anxious” and had their comeback fall short due to fouls and mistakes. In Game 5 of the second-round series, the Grizzlies pummeled the Warriors, handing them one of their worst losses in the franchise’s postseason history. Then, in the Western Conference finals, the Mavericks pulled off an epic comeback after Kerr pulled the starters. Kerr said “there’s no common thread” in the Warriors’ losses that have kept their opponents alive to see another day. “This is the NBA,” he said. “You’ve got talented teams. You’ve got talented players you’re going against. You’re in somebody else’s building. It’s just not easy to close anybody out in the playoffs.” While the Warriors are playing with house money, the Celtics are scrambling to try to rebound after Golden State handed them two consecutive losses for the first time this postseason. Boston has struggled with offensive lulls and untimely turnovers, including Monday night when they gave up 18 to the Warriors’ six. The Celtics’ defense, which has been praised as the league’s best, has kept them in this series. But the Warriors and the defensive menace that is Draymond Green have found ways to counter the Celtics. When Boston swarmed Curry in Game 5, other players like Wiggins stepped up. Jayson Tatum said the Celtics, who once again find their backs against the wall, are refusing to wave their white flag. “It’s the first to four. It’s not over with. So as long as it’s not over with, you got a chance,” he said. “Having done it before should give you even more confidence that you can. Not that it’s going to be easy or it’s going to be given to us, but you should be extremely confident as long as you got a chance. “We got a chance tomorrow.” The Celtics lost Game 5 against the Bucks but bounced back by winning two straight games to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. They also lost Game 6 to the Heat before being crowned conference champions in Game 7. “In those moments, we just responded,” Tatum said. “I don’t know exactly what it is, but I think just our will to want to win, just trying to figure it out.” Will long-term or short-term experience prevail in this series? Curry believes the Warriors have the upper hand. “You can rely on that experience, for sure,” said Curry, who said he has a good idea of what to expect in Game 6 after having been in the NBA Finals five times before. “We understand the specifics of how we need to approach the game from a physicality perspective, our game plan adjustments from Game 5 to Game 6, understanding what the building is going to feel like, that energy, being prepared for it. “You got to be present as much as possible, not worry about the consequences of a win or a loss. The only opportunity you have is that 48 minutes. The more you can trick your mind into being in the moment and staying there, that’s the best advice I can give anybody in that situation because it’s going to be the hardest game you probably ever played in your career because of what the stakes are.”

Basketball

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Software Applications

The 2015 champion Jordan Spieth is currently demonstrating the benefits of finding the fairway. Never the most accurate from the tee, he’s yet to hit one, and as a result he’s dropped shots at 1, 3 and 4. He’ll need all his scrambling genius this week, and he demonstrates that, too, getting up and down from sand at the short par-four 5th to haul himself back to +2. Spieth’s combined score for last four opening rounds at the US Open is +18. He’ll need to go some to put a dent into that surprisingly awful record today.Henley is quickly joined at the top by Collin Morikawa. The reigning Open champion could be very dangerous here this week, with approach play at a premium to Brookline’s often small and tightly guarded greens. The best iron player in the world birdies 2 and 5, and while it’s early doors, the leaderboard is already taking shape.-2: Morikawa (5), Henley (3*)-1: Buckley (7*), NeSmith (7), Vick -a- (6), Scott (4), Muñoz (3)Russell Henley is making his eighth start at the US Open this week. The 33-year-old from Georgia has yet to finish in the top ten, but he did tie for low amateur in 2010 at Pebble Beach, and enjoyed his best result last year at Torrey Pines with a tie for 13th. He’s started fast today, following up birdie at 10 by almost holing out from 180 yards at 12. He taps in for a second birdie and becomes the first man to reach -2.Shall we start with news of the defending champion? It only seems right. Jon Rahm won last year’s event at Torrey Pines by steering in two big left-to-right breakers on 17 and 18. Golf being golf, his flat stick is letting him down as he sets about his defence. Short putts missed at 3 and 4, one for par, another for birdie, and he’s +1 so far. The second miss was a particular shame, as he’d sent a delightful short iron into 4, using the right-to-left slope of the green to gather his ball to four feet. Having said that, it was a downhill putt, and you don’t want to be leaving yourself too many of those this week.PreambleYes, yes, the LIV Tour has been hanging around the run-up to the 122nd US Open at Brookline like a bad smell. But let’s not allow it to linger, for none of the players involved with the breakaway tour are considered particularly likely winners of the USGA’s flagship event. In fact, three of the top four favourites this week – Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and defending champion Jon Rahm – have been vocal in their defence of the PGA Tour, while the other – new Masters champion Scottie Scheffler – gave the new format some side-eye ahead of last week’s Canadian Open, pointing out that “maybe outside of DJ”, he hadn’t “really noticed anyone missing this week”. Ouch!Other dudes have to be taken into serious consideration. The Players champion and Masters nearly man Cam Smith. The FedEx champ Patrick Cantlay. Sam Burns, a three-time winner on Tour this season. The in-form Matthew Fitzpatrick. PGA runner-up Will Zalatoris. The two-time major winner Collin Morikawa. Hideki Matsuyama. Shane Lowry. Im Sung-jae. Xander Schauffele. Tony Finau. Viktor Hovland. Jordan Spieth. The Sonics. The Sonics. The Sonics.Brookline is mainly remembered these days for the 1999 Ryder Cup, Justin Leonard, Ollie’s line, all that. But it’s hosted three previous US Opens, won by Curtis Strange in 1988, Julius Boros in 1963, and most famously of all, the amateur Francis Ouimet in 1913. A fame-infused roll call, right there. Speaking of which, some of the big names go out early. It’s going to be a long day, so without further ado, here are the starting tee times for the first round. Pick your favourite and settle down for four days of major-championship golf. Three-round confections with shotgun starts have nothing on the United States Open Championship, baby. It’s on!Starting at hole 1: 11:45 Matt McCarty, (a) Michael Thorbjornsen, Erik Barnes 11:56 Matthew NeSmith, Patrick Rodgers, (a) Travis Vick 12:07 Troy Merritt, (a) William Mouw, Andrew Putnam 12:18 Collin Morikawa, James Piot, Jon Rahm (Spa) 12:29 Max Homa, Adam Scott (Aus), Jordan Spieth 12:40 Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel 12:51 Sebastian Munoz (Col), Alexander Noren (Swe), Harold Varner III 13:02 Joaquin Niemann (Chi), Cameron Young, Will Zalatoris 13:13 (a) Stewart Hagestad, Grayson Murray, Adam Schenk 13:24 Branden Grace (Rsa), Mackenzie Hughes (Can), Guido Migliozzi (Ita) 13:35 Beau Hossler, Satoshi Kodaira (Jpn), Kalle Samooja (Fin) 13:46 Richard Mansell (Eng), Roger Sloan (Can), Tomoyasu Sugiyama (Jpn) 13:57 Keith Greene, Benjamin Silverman (Can), (a) Caleb Manuel 17:30 Kevin Chappell, Andrew Novak, Chase Seiffert 17:41 Thorbjoern Olesen (Den), Brian Stuard, Nick Hardy 17:52 Sam Horsfield (Eng), Shaun Norris (Rsa), Cameron Tringale 18:03 Sung Jae Im (Kor), Guillermo Mito Pereira (Chi), Erik van Rooyen (Rsa) 18:14 Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland (Nor), Justin Thomas 18:25 Joo-Hyung Kim (Kor), Min-Woo Lee (Aus), Seamus Power (Irl) 18:36 Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson 18:47 Shane Lowry (Irl), Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 18:58 Danny Lee (Nzl), (a) Keita Nakajima (Jpn), Nick Taylor (Can) 19:09 (a) Nick Dunlap, Jim Furyk, Adam Hadwin (Can) 19:20 Richard Bland (Eng), Ryan Fox (Nzl), Rikuya Hoshino (Jpn) 19:31 Jonas Blixt (Swe), Bo Hoag, Todd Sinnott (Aus) 19:42 Sean Jacklin (Sco), (a) Charles Reiter, Isaiah Salinda Starting at hole 10: 11:45 Hayden Buckley, Fran Quinn, Callum Tarren (Eng) 11:56 (a) Sam Bennett, Kurt Kitayama, Denny McCarthy 12:07 Wil Besseling (Ned), Wyndham Clark, Brandon Matthews 12:18 Si Woo Kim (Kor), Sepp Straka (Aut), David Lingmerth (Swe) 12:29 Victor Perez (Fra), Davis Riley, Scott Stallings 12:40 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Rory McIlroy (NIrl), Xander Schauffele 12:51 Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Kevin Kisner 13:02 Keegan Bradley, Marc Leishman (Aus), Aaron Wise 13:13 Stewart Cink, Francesco Molinari (Ita), (a) Laird Shepherd (Eng) 13:24 Marcel Schneider (Ger), Joseph Bramlett, Chan Kim 13:35 Joel Dahmen, Lanto Griffin, Jinichiro Kozuma (Jpn) 13:46 (a) Fred Biondi (Bra), Harry Hall (Eng), Chris Gotterup 13:57 Luke Gannon, Chris Naegel, Andrew Beckler 17:30 Sean Crocker, Jediah Morgan (Aus), Taylor Montgomery 17:41 M. J. Daffue (Rsa), (a) Maxwell Moldovan, Yannik Paul (Ger) 17:52 Adria Arnaus (Spa), Talor Gooch, Tom Hoge 18:03 Sergio Garcia (Spa), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Kevin Na 18:14 Abraham Ancer (Mex), Sam Burns, Thomas Pieters (Bel) 18:25 Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Smith (Aus) 18:36 Corey Conners (Can), (a) Austin Greaser, Luke List 18:47 Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose (Eng), Gary Woodland 18:58 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Kyoung-Hoon Lee (Kor), Patrick Reed 19:09 Harris English, Lucas Herbert (Aus), Jason Kokrak 19:20 (a) Ben Lorenz, Davis Shore, Samuel Stevens 19:31 (a) Adrien Dumont (Bel), Daijiro Izumida (Jpn), Sebastian Soederberg (Swe) 19:42 Brady Calkins, Ryan Gerard, Jesse Mueller

Golf

Kevin Spacey appeared in court for the first time regarding four charges of sexual assault in the United Kingdom and received bail in the process. Spacey appeared in court on Thursday for his preliminary hearing, according to the BBC. The 62-year-old actor was led by his legal team into the court for a short appearance in which his charges were listed. The actor has maintained that he is not guilty of the alleged sexual assault allegations. WILLIAM SHATNER BREAKS DOWN AFTER BLUE ORIGIN FLIGHT OVER EARTH'S 'DESTRUCTION' "Mr. Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case," said Patrick Gibbs, Spacey's legal representative. Police escorted Spacey into the court amid a group of photographers into the courthouse. He then appeared before the court and answered some basic questions, including his name and date of birth. The charges were read out to Spacey, but the actor was not asked if he pleaded guilty or not guilty. Spacey's solicitor stated that the actor denies all and any criminality. The magistrate then granted Spacey bail before he was escorted out of the building. The House of Cards actor faces two counts of sexual assault on a man in March 2005, one count of sexual assault on a man and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent in August 2008, and one count of sexual assault on a man in April 2013. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Spacey is no stranger to accusations of sexual assault after he was accused of sexual assault in 2017 by Anthony Rapp, who claimed Spacey made sexual advances on him in his teenage years during a party. Spacey filed a motion in federal court to have Rapp's lawsuit dismissed in April and issued a statement apologizing for the advances after Rapp made his accusations in October 2017, even though he said he did not remember the encounter. The actor was also charged in 2018 with indecent assault stemming from an alleged incident with a teenager on Nantucket in Massachusetts during the summer of 2016. He pleaded not guilty, the charge was later dropped, and the alleged victim in that case also withdrew a civil lawsuit against the actor.

Celebrity

Ozzy Osbourne has confirmed that he is 'recuperating comfortably' at home after undergoing 'major' spinal surgery this week.The music star, 73, had a gruelling operation on Monday to adjust pins inserted into his neck and spine following a near-fatal ATV crash in 2003 and subsequent fall in 2013.After the procedure, the Black Sabbath rocker took to Twitter on Thursday to tell fans that he was back at home and thank them for their well-wishes.Recovering: Ozzy Osbourne (pictured on Tuesday) has confirmed that he is 'recuperating comfortably' at home after undergoing 'major' spinal surgery this weekOzzy, who also suffers from Parkinson's disease, tweeted: 'I am now home from the hospital recuperating comfortably.'I am definitely feeling the love and support from all my fans and send everyone a big thank you for their thoughts, prayers, and well wishes during my recovery.'Pictures taken on Tuesday showed Ozzy being pushed into a Los Angeles hospital parking lot as wife Sharon, 69, looked on after being discharged just one day after the surgery.It comes after Sharon said Ozzy is 'on the road to recovery' and is 'doing well' after he underwent a major procedure on Monday that could 'determine the rest of his life'. Surgery: The music star, 73, had a gruelling operation on Monday to adjust pins inserted into his neck and spine following a near-fatal ATV crash and subsequent fall Health woes: Ozzy has Parkinson's disease and previously suffered a nasty fall and dislodged metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003 (pictured in 2020) In an update to her Instagram Story on Tuesday, she wrote: 'Our family would like to express so much gratitude for the overwhelming amount of love and support leading up to Ozzy 's surgery!'Ozzy is doing well and on the road to recovery! Your love means the world to him.A family source recently told Page Six that the metal influencer was going to go through a 'lengthy amount of convalescence' that would likely require a home nurse for some time.They said: 'Ozzy is 73 and any kind of surgery when you get older is difficult,' they added. 'This is quite major. He's having the pins in his neck and back realigned from when he had a fall back in 2019.'Sharon had previously explained that the musician was heading in for 'a very major operation'. 'Your love means the world to him': It comes after his wife Sharon has revealed her husband Ozzy is 'on the road to recovery' On the mend: The former X Factor judge, 69, claimed the singer, 73, is 'doing well' after he underwent a major procedure that could 'determine the rest of his life' on Monday Sharon had said on 'The Talk': '[Ozzy] has a very major operation on Monday, and I have to be there. It's really going to determine the rest of his life.' Ozzy has Parkinson's disease and previously suffered a nasty fall and dislodged metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003.In April, Piers Morgan asked the TV personality on TalkTV's Piers Morgan Uncensored: 'How is Ozzy, my great man?'He is just one of my favourite people in the world. Been through the health wars a bit, how's he doing?' Thankful: In her Tuesday Instagram Story, she wrote: 'Our family would like to express so much gratitude for the overwhelming amount of love and support leading up to Ozzy 's surgery!'Sharon said the Black Sabbath rocker is keen to move back to England after his latest surgery.She replied: 'He's doing okay, he sends you his love. He's got one more operation left to do and then he's dying to come back home.'The talent manager recently admitted she now has to care for Ozzy 'a lot' because of his health issues.She said: 'It's very difficult, because the combination of the Parkinson's and his accident, you go, well, which one is this? Why's this happening? Why's that happening?'Ozzy previously opened up about his Parkinson's diagnosis in a candid interview on US TV, in which he admitted the condition is 'just another thing on my plate'.He said: 'Well the one question from me was, 'Is it a terminal illness?', and the guy says, 'No, but life is'. 'It's just another thing on my plate I have got to deal with. I'm not in the slightest worried about it.' PARKINSON'S: THE INCURABLE NERVE DISEASE THAT AFFECTS MILLIONS Parkinson's disease affects one million Americans a year. It causes muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, tremors, sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue, an impaired quality of life and can lead to severe disability.It is a progressive neurological condition that destroys cells in the part of the brain that controls movement.Sufferers are known to have diminished supplies of dopamine because nerve cells that make it have died.There is currently no cure and no way of stopping the progression of the disease, but hundreds of scientific trials are underway to try and change that. In the US, physicians consider it largely one type of condition with various stages; young onset Parkinson's or atypical Parkinson's. In Europe, some doctors and researchers specify different types of the condition. Treatment is mostly made up of medication. In some cases, doctors perform Deep Brain Stimulation surgery to try to hit the nerves more directly. Ozzy revealed in January 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkin 2 - a form of Parkinson's which he said is the cause of nerve pain and leaves his legs cold. In May, he told Classic Rock Magazine: 'I'm just waiting on some more surgery on my neck. I can't walk properly these days. 'I have physical therapy every morning. I am somewhat better, but nowhere near as much as I want to be to go back on the road.'Sharon's Ozzy health update comes after it was reported that they've applied for permission to build a rehab wing at their home in the UK.The Crazy Train hitmaker lodged an application requesting the green light for renovations at his Buckinghamshire mansion.The extension will feature a self-contained nurse's flat as well as 'discreet grab rails and aids' and 'an abundance of stopping and sitting spaces'.The plans also include a 'health and exercise studio' as well as a 'pool house orangery' and 'garden room'.Architect Lynne Walker wrote in the plans: 'It is the ambition that the design creates a transition of flowing inside outside garden spaces, largely lit by natural light with folding doors opening up views.'A spokesperson for the Paranoid hitmaker has yet to comment on the renovation reports, but confirmed Ozzy - who was badly injured following his fall at home three years ago - is gearing up for another surgery on his 'back or neck'.Sharon recently admitted she now has to care for Ozzy 'a lot' because of his health issues.She said: 'It's very difficult, because the combination of the Parkinson's and his accident, you go, well, which one is this? Why's this happening? Why's that happening?'Ozzy was previously diagnosed with Parkin Syndrome in 2005. It has similar symptoms to Parkinson's. Oh no: Ozzy was previously diagnosed with Parkin Syndrome in 2005. It has similar symptoms to Parkinson's (pictured in 2010)

Music

Even podcast skeptics will fall for The River Cafe’s Table 4, which sees restaurant founder Ruth Rogers chat with some of her most famous regulars about their relationship with food through the years. Among the stars to have popped into the Hammersmith institution for a catch up so far? Everyone from Tracey Emin to Pete Davidson, Nigella Lawson to British Vogue’s own Edward Enninful.It’s Rogers’s most recent guest, though, who’s made headlines with his gastronomical revelations. In the Table 4 episode released on February 1, David Beckham opened up about dinner in the Beckham household—including the fact that Victoria has eaten the same meal every day since he met her more than 25 years ago. “She only eats grilled fish, steamed vegetables; she will very rarely deviate from that,” he explains with a laugh. “The only time she’s probably ever shared something that’s been on my plate was actually when she was pregnant with Harper, and it was the most amazing thing… It was one of my favorite evenings. I can’t remember what it was but I know she’s not eaten it since!”If that sounds like an overstatement, VB revealed during her own Table 4 chat that she is a wildly fussy eater—no oil, butter or even sauce makes its way into her daily meals. (Let’s hope she makes an exception when she’s at the River Cafe, and that her choice of grilled fish and vegetables is as good as their wild sea bass with slow-cooked Florentine fennel.) The former Spice Girl’s go-to comfort food? A piece of plain-old wholegrain toast, with salt on top.David, on the other hand, is apparently a natural in the kitchen, whipping up a plate of tagliatelle with girolles, butter, and parmesan for Rogers before recording the podcast. Another interesting point from their discussion: the footballer’s devotion to Jewish cuisine, which he ate frequently as a child. “Every Saturday, when we’d turn up, my gran would have the most amazing chicken noodle soup, with the matzo meal dumplings… That was what I was brought up on. And jellied eels. One of the delights of being from the East End of London is pie, mash and jellied eels and liquor.” And if you’re wondering which table the Beckhams sit at while dining at the River Cafe? Number one, of course.Vogue’s FavoritesThe Best Celebrity Wedding Moments in VogueVogue Editors Share the Best Bedding for a Better Night’s SleepGabriella de Givenchy Wore Her Family’s Haute Couture to Wed on the Cliffs of CapriDreamy Airbnb Cabins to Fantasize About, From Finland to the CatskillsSign up for Vogue’s shopping newsletter The Get to receive the insider’s guide to what to shop and how to wear it

Celebrity

The 2022 US OpenThere is plenty of competitive golf history at The Country Club in Brookline, from an upset for the ages by Brookline’s own Francis Ouimet in 1913 that ignited a surge in golf’s popularity in the United States to a dramatic comeback by the US team in the 1999 Ryder Cup.At the heart of it all is the course itself, and its unique features and characteristics — particularly the Roxbury puddingstone rock formations on many holes — will be on display when the world’s best golfers descend on New England for the 122nd US Open from June 16 to 19.“For me, the most unique aspect of The Country Club is the way in which the holes were fit into the land. Holes like 3, 4, 10, 11 and 12 are great examples,” said Jeff Hall, the USGA’s managing director for rules and open championships. “I suspect there was not a great deal of earth moved. Rather, the holes were laid into the terrain. Doing so really brings to life the earth forms on these holes and I think it makes them very memorable.”To prepare for June’s US Open, which will be the 10th to be held in Massachusetts, the Globe explored the historic course. And we want to take you along for the journey.Whether you’re a big Tiger Woods fan (even though he won’t be there) or your golf knowledge ends at Happy Gilmore, there’s plenty to learn about TCC.How would a golfer playing to win approach this course? What does the casual fan tuning in for the first time need to know about each hole?Let’s find out how to play The Country Club.Front ninePar 35, 3,556 ydsBack ninePar 35, 3,708 ydsFor the golferThe narrow green is relatively unprotected. This is one hole where you can mis-hit your approach and still run the ball up onto the green.For the fanThis hole was originally a horse track in the club’s early days. You won't be able to tell, but it ran along the fairway.For the golferPlayers would much rather be short than long on this hole. There is a nice bib in front of the green, allowing for a relatively straightforward, uphill chip.For the fanIt may be the fourth-shortest hole on the course, but this is not a par-3 you look forward to. "Don’t miss long," a TCC caddie said.For the golferA drive that lands on the left side of the fairway canyon could have a blind approach shot into a green protected on all sides by bunkers.For the fanThis is the kind of hole where you can stand on the elevated tee and grip it and rip it.For the golferIf you're going to miss the green, miss left into the rough or a bunker. This is the toughest green on the course – significantly downhill, right to left. Downhill putts can fly off the green if you aren't careful.For the fanSimply put: This hole requires more accuracy than distance. It's the trickiest green on the course. Length isn't an issue, but putting may be.For the golferA driveable par-4, and probably with only a 3-wood, it’s uphill most of the way, with a lower plateau in front of the green protected by several bunkers.For the fanWatch for this: Most pros probably will go for it. Let's see how they deal with the consequences.For the golferA signature hole and a very difficult par-3. There are bunkers in the front right and left, downhill behind the green, and dramatic undulation on the green.For the fanNot to oversimplify it, but you have to hit it in just the right spot. (That said, a TCC caddie said it was the hardest hole on the course.)For the golferA forgiving par-4 after a difficult hole. The elevated tee plays into an uphill fairway, and players need to avoid the fairway bunkers on the right.For the fanThe green is right in the middle of the action here, just off the practice range and in between the eighth and 10th tee boxes — a great place to settle in for the day to watch.For the golferAn uphill chip shot into the green could see your ball roll all the way back and end up farther away than where you started if you don’t get enough of it.For the fanHole 14 (that's the other par-5, we'll get to that in a bit) might not do many favors to these pros, but this one should. Expect more than a few birdies.For the golferDefinitely not a driver hole for the pros, and a tee shot to the right of the fairway could end up trickling into the pond.For the fanThe pond is a bigger concern for your second shot than off the tee.For the golferA long par-4 with a blind uphill approach shot and six bunkers by the green, including five on the left side. An errant tee shot could end up rocketing wildly off one of the several exposed rock faces on either side of the fairway.For the fanGreg Norman found hidden danger on this hole during the 1988 US Open, when it was the layout’s 9th hole. The “Shark” didn’t see a partially-buried rock under his ball as he prepared his approach shot. As Norman struck the ball with his 7-iron, the rock bit back, and his wrist jammed.For the golferThe USGA will move the tees to the front and back of the boxes to give golfers a 115-yard shot one day and a 140-yard shot the next day. The tabletop green is protected by three bunkers on the left and one in front.For the fanThis is the shortest hole on the course. A TCC caddie said this should be a birdie hole — so long as there's no wind. But they shouldn't plan on that, right?For the golferAn uphill drive that is wide open except for bunkers on the right. You want to leave your approach shot short, because the green slopes significantly downhill from back to front.For the fanExpect the pros to play this one short because of those greens. Even Ben Volin birdied it.For the golferThe usual green from this hole will be replaced by the fourth green from the Primrose course to give the hole an extra 75 yards and an approach shot over water.For the fanWhat do we mean by Primrose? Well, TCC is actually comprised of two courses — Clyde and Squirrel (essentially its main 18) and Primrose, a nine-hole course built in the 1920s after Francis Ouimet put golf on the map with his win here.For the golferA monster of a par-5 that has a two-tiered fairway and a blind, uphill, dogleg left approach shot. It’s probably not reachable in two, removing a potential scoring hole. But carding a 5 should be straightforward.For the fanThis hole offers a nice view of the home formerly owned by Tom Brady and Gisele Bunchen (a Country Club member). The tee boxes practically sit in the backyard of the home, which was sold in 2020 when Brady “retired” to Florida.For the golferProbably the last driver hole on the course. The rough on the right side is ample and you could spend hours looking for your ball.For the fanNow this is pretty funny: You have to go through a member’s backyard to get from the 14th green to the 15th tee.For the golferPros won’t see the hole with most pin placements. It's a tricky par-3 with four deep bunkers protecting the green.For the fanThis hole could make or break golfers on Sunday, especially if they try to play it for birdie and screw up.For the golferThe four fairway bunkers on the left will make you think twice about trying to cut the corner. There is a new greenside bunker on the back right side that can lead into an impossible downhill chip back onto the green.For the golferFairway bunkers on the left come into play off the tee. The elevated green is protected by a wide, deep bunker in front, but you’d rather be down there than flying past the green.For the fanThis approach shot will be the most initmidating of all because of the championship atmosphere — grandstands on the left, corporate tents on the right. Even better for what should be an incredible finish.Up nextYour guide to the US Open at The Country Club in Brookline: What to watch, how to tune in, and moreThe Country Club’s devilish 17th hole is bound to play a role in this US OpenWith a pro caddie to guide us, we played The Country Club. Here’s the hole-by-hole report.CreditsReporters: Ben Volin, Brian McGrory, and Matt PepinContributor: Jim McBrideEditor: Katie McInerneyDesign: Ryan HuddleHole illustrations: Peter and Maria HoeyPlayer photos: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images (Tiger Woods); Universal Pictures (Happy Gilmore)Development: John HancockCopy editor: John CarneyProject management: Christina PrignanoQuality assurance: Nalini Dokula© 2022 Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC

Golf

Tribeca: Novak said the film was inspired by a period of "hanging out with John Mayer and having some shallow side to my life when I thought I had it all figured out." Writer, director, and lead star B.J. Novak has no issue with playing a funhouse mirror version of himself — and if that calls to mind the twisted reflection of the Tethered in Jordan Peele’s “Us,” well, that’s the whole point. Novak was determined to partner with Blumhouse Productions founder Jason Blum on his directorial debut “Vengeance” after watching Peele’s own first film “Get Out.” And while the two may not seem to have a whole lot in common on the surface, the dark obsession with “dead white girls” and anonymous hook-up culture is used as a vehicle to further mirror the divided nation we currently live in. The film premieres July 29 in theaters from Focus Features. Novak stars as Ben Manalowitz, a New Yorker magazine journalist looking to launch a podcast with a multi-hyphenate producer, played by Issa Rae. Ben begins investigating the death of past hook-up Abilene (Lio Tipton) after receiving a strange phone call from Abilene’s brother (Boyd Holbrook). Ben travels to West Texas where Abilene’s relatives are convinced Ben was her full-on boyfriend in New York City and Ben begins to wonder if Abilene really overdosed or if she was murdered. “Succession” star J. Smith-Cameron, Dove Cameron, Isabella Amara, and Eli Bickel make up Abilene’s immediate family, who welcome Ben into their home and agree to be interviewed for his podcast. A scene-stealing Ashton Kutcher stars as a charismatic record producer who worked with budding singer Abilene, while John Mayer plays himself in the opening sequence. “This is a story I didn’t realize at first was about me,” Novak said during the Tribeca Film Festival Q&A following the film’s premiere. “It was about my own sort of period of hanging out with John Mayer and having some shallow side to my life when I thought I had it all figured out, and needing to sort of learn something and go through something in a period of disconnection. And I think taking that comedy to an extreme that led to a drama was the crux of the film.” That blend of comedy, drama, and sociopolitical issues is what drew Novak to producer Blum. “It’s about a lot of ideas and the reason that I wanted to partner with Jason Blum on it because when I saw ‘Get Out,’ I saw how the influence of a real genre powerhouse brilliant perspective can balance that and make it something that is fun,” Novak continued. “Even though it’s not horror, I wanted to make it fun and funny and sort of suspenseful. So the ideas to me are very present. I started with those, but it is about different types of belief and intuition. When a lot of people intuit onto the same thing, are they onto something? The balance between the intuition and logic and gut and all of us sensing something is wrong, how much of that is being right? It’s a very important question that I don’t have an answer to and neither does my character.” The refrain of the film, as voiced by Kutcher onscreen, laments that in modern society, “everything means everything so nothing means anything,” or rather, as a culture, we are numbed by social media obsession and blind belief in conspiracy theories. “When you’re pursuing all of these stories just so we can all talk and debate forever and forever, that is an action and a decision, and that is not necessarily a good thing either,” Novak added. “The Office” alum likened helming his first feature to the collaborative process of crafting a television series. “To me, directing is just a natural extension [of writing] and then all the people I brought on, whether it’s an actor or a director of photography, they all kind of wrote the next chapter with me, sort of like a writers’ room,” Novak shared. Focus Features Star Kutcher added that each character was “so pronounced in the script” due to Novak’s clear and singular vision. “B.J. was directing the film before he started directing the film because the script is a direction,” Kutcher said during the panel. “When I read the screenplay, it felt like a jumping off point for the conversation for the people to have that could possibly bring people with divergent ideologies closer together.” Kutcher continued, “I think that there’s a fracturing in America of divergent ideologies. It tends to be urban centers and the coast and then the middle, and oftentimes these divergents in ideologies causes just nonstop judgment of the other side, of everything the other side things and believes. I think Ben’s character, as he goes through the film, learns that his initial judgment didn’t have care. And if we don’t have mercy before we have judgment, we have separation and division. But if we can add some compassion and care before we place judgment, we can bring people together.” Actress Cameron likened “Vengeance” to sugarcoating medicine, saying, “B.J. has this amazing flair for hiding all of these really massive human concepts and stories like hiding medicine in a dog’s food. In all this comedy, you’re forgetting you’re getting this massive ass-kicking life lesson. But I definitely think that, especially going back to the beginning of the arc of the film, how singularly we are living, we are getting all these substitutes for serotonin and oxytocin with like dopamine hits, with a sugary replacement for what we’re actually looking for which is the true human connection.” Dove Cameron, Ashton Kutcher, and Issa Rae at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of “Vengeance”Marion Curtis / StarPix for Focus Features Co-star Rae, whom Novak called “the most talented person working today,” honed in on the “dead white girl element” of the trend of true crime content. “It helped uncover just why that obsession is and how unhealthy it is and the exploitation of these stories and that amazing final speech at the end that gets me every time, just about how because of all of this, nothing matters,” the “Insecure” Emmy winner said. “I think that we’re aware of our division, we’re aware of how divided we are. We’re aware of the fact that we are not compassionate. After this seeing this and we’re aware of the system, what are we going to do about it? What is the action, what is pulling the trigger? What gets us to the next step? I think films like this prompts those discussions. I think with that awareness and that inaction, we’re stuck. And so, what’s next?” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.

Movies

LONDON (AP) — Kevin Spacey “strenuously denies” allegations of sexual assault, his lawyer said Thursday, as the Oscar-winning actor appeared in a London court to face five charges of offenses against three men.Photographers and television camera crews thronged Spacey, 62, as he arrived at London’s Westminster Magistrates Court for the preliminary hearing.Spacey sat in the glass-fronted dock during the half-hour hearing, standing to give his full name — Kevin Spacey Fowler — as well as his birthdate and a London address.He was not asked to enter a formal plea, but his lawyer, Patrick Gibbs, said: “Mr. Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case.”Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram granted Spacey unconditional bail until his next appearance, a plea hearing scheduled for July 14.The former “House of Cards” star is accused of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.The alleged incidents took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and one in western England in April 2013. The victims are now in their 30s and 40s.In a statement issued last month, Spacey said he would travel to Britain to face the charges and was confident he would “prove my innocence.”Spacey was questioned by British police in 2019 about claims by several men that he had assaulted them. The two-time Academy Award winner ran London’s Old Vic theater between 2004 and 2015.Spacey won a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1995 film “The Usual Suspects” and a lead actor Oscar for the 1999 movie “American Beauty.”But his celebrated career came to an abrupt halt in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused the star of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s, when Rapp was a teenager. Spacey denies the allegations.

Celebrity

The Dallas Mavericks, as they’re wont to do, completed a rather out-of-nowhere trade on Wednesday night, acquiring big man Christian Wood from the Rockets in exchange for Dallas’ 2022 first round pick (No. 26 overall) along with Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke, Sterling Brown and Marquese Chriss.Even before the NBA offseason “officially” gets underway, the Mavs have made a big move.Here are five things to know about the newest Maverick, Christian Wood:Related:With Christian Wood trade, Mavs ditch draft, fill major need before offseason even starts1. The basicsPosition: C/PFHeight/weight: 6-10, 214 poundsAge: 26 (9/27/1995)Hometown: Long Beach, Cali.College: UNLV2. High school starWood graduated from Findlay College Prep at the Henderson International School in Henderson, Nev., where at one point he and the Pilots had rattled off 54 straight wins. In Wood’s senior season they went 35-1.Wood was ranked as the 36th-best player out of the 2013 recruiting class when he signed with the Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV.3. Path to the MavericksWith six NBA seasons under his belt, Wood has played for six different teams, most recently spending two years with the Houston Rockets.He originally went undrafted in 2015 and joined up with the Rockets’ summer league team, eventually being signed by the Philadelphia 76ers. He bounced back and forth between the 76ers and G-League team Delaware 87ers in his rookie season, and signed with Charlotte the next year. He played 13 games with the Hornets.Similarly short stops in Milwaukee and New Orleans followed before he had a breakout season in Detroit. He played in 62 games, mostly coming off the bench, averaging 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 21.4 minutes.A sign-and-trade to the Rockets followed after Wood agreed to a 3-year, $41-million deal (which he’ll be in the final year of with the Mavericks). That version of the Rockets still had James Harden and high hopes for a championship, which vanished shortly into the season when Harden demanded a trade and was shipped to Brooklyn.For all intents and purposes, Houston has been in sell-mode since.4. Hot streak shut down by COVID suspensionThe final month-plus of the COVID-impacted 2019-20 season was certainly a factor in Wood locking in a multi-year deal with what was then a championship contender (in theory).Wood posted double-figure point totals in each of the last 16 games of the Pistons’ season. During that stretch he shot 55.9% from the field and 40.6% from beyond the arc. He put up 30, 22 and 32 points in the final three games before the shutdown.That 30-point game came on March 7 against the Utah Jazz and Rudy Gobert, who shortly after was the first player in the NBA to test positive for COVID. Wood himself tested positive on March 14.Post-bubble, the Pistons sent Wood to the Rockets for Trevor Ariza, Isaiah Stewart, a second-round pick, and cash. Detroit added a conditional first-round pick.5. Time with the RocketsIn two seasons with the Rockets, Wood has averaged 19.1 points and just under 10 rebounds in 31.4 minutes per game. Last season he averaged 17.9 PPG and 10.1 rebounds. He added 1.0 blocks per game as well. The Rockets shut him down in late March with a hamstring injury. In his two years with Houston he shot (and made) more 3-pointers than he had at any other point in his career. He’s a career 38% shooter from beyond the arc, and that stat is trending upward.Wood is an obvious upgrade at the 4 and 5 for the Mavericks, who were extremely thin down low last season, especially after the Porzingis trade — and he wasn’t on the court enough anyway. Adding a big like Wood was one of the Mavs’ main goals entering the offseason, and they did so, promptly, and without dealing from the core of the team.+++Related:With Christian Wood trade, Mavs ditch draft, fill major need before offseason even startsFind more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Basketball

The Mavericks have made their 2022 draft-night decision — more than a week before the June 23 event.Dallas will trade its first-round pick (No. 26 overall) and reserves Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke, Sterling Brown and Marquese Chriss to the Houston Rockets for center Christian Wood, a source confirmed to The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday night.The deal meets one of the Mavericks’ major goals this offseason — to upgrade their frontcourt production and depth — and offloads the expiring contract of several little-used players.Dallas and Houston cannot officially complete the trade until draft night because the Mavericks owe the New York Knicks a top-10 protected pick in 2023, and the NBA prohibits teams from trading first rounders in consecutive years.But fans didn’t wait to praise general manager Nico Harrison and the Mavericks’ move.The 26-year-old Wood started 67 of 68 games for the Rockets last season and averaged 17.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and one block per game while shooting 50% from the field and 39% from three.The 6-10, 214-pound big man is set to make $14.3 million for the 2022-23 season — the final year of the three-year, $41 million deal he signed before the 2020-21 season.Then, the Mavericks previous front-office regime had interest in acquiring a player whose talent hadn’t always translated to consistency while playing for five teams — Philadelphia, Charlotte, Milwaukee, New Orleans and Detroit — in his first four NBA years.But in the last two with Houston, Wood has averaged 19.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game while improving his 3-point shooting percentage to a career-high 39% in 2021-22 in a career-best 68-game season.That’s the kind of production the Mavericks wished for during their run to the Western Conference finals.Starting guard tandem Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson and 3-and-D wings Dorian Finney-Smith and Reggie Bullock exceeded expectations during the franchise’s first multi-round playoff appearance since the 2011 championship, but contributions from the center spot lacked.Dwight Powell remained a starter throughout — and played in all 100 of the Mavericks games during the season.But his playing time decreased significantly in matchups against the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors when the Mavericks turned to small-ball lineups and looked for more 3-point shooting production.That left coach Jason Kidd to run power forward Maxi Kleber at center — when he wasn’t in foul trouble — or turn ultra-small with Finney-Smith as the five.Harrison and Kidd also pointed to the team’s rebounding struggles as reasons Dallas lost the conference finals in five games.“If you look back at the series, we lost some games on the boards,” Harrison said in his exit interview May 27. “That’s important. We need to get somebody that can help us on the rebounds, be a rim protector. I think we need to figure that out, for sure.”Wood immediately slots in as a potential starter — with little disruption to the rotation.Marjanovic ($3.5 million), Burke ($3.3 million), Brown ($3 million) and Chriss ($2.2 million) are all entering the final year of their deals. They ranked as the Mavericks’ four least-used players in the postseason. None logged more than 3.8 minutes per game — and often at the end of blowout results.Coupled with the No. 26 overall pick’s rookie scale contract (projected to be about $1.9 million in 2022-23), the contract math matches Wood’s salary, and the Mavericks fortified their biggest roster hole before the league’s offseason begins in earnest.In: Wood, who will be eligible for a four-year, $77 million extension six months after the trade is conveyed, according to ESPN.Out: Expiring assets to a rebuilding franchise that wants to give its young frontcourt prospects more playing time anyway.The only concern?Marjanovic and Doncic had formed an especially close friendship during their three overlapping seasons in Dallas.They bonded over their Balkan roots, Serbian language and goofy personalities.Won’t the franchise superstar be upset to see his good buddy leave?Harrison made clear he would consult and update Doncic on all roster moves.“We’re going to have a million things up on the board, and we’re going to throw ideas back and forth,” Harrison said during his exit interview. “You look at Luka, as great as he is, he has a different point of view than maybe I would and maybe [assistant general manager Michael Finley] would and maybe even JKidd would, so we want to embrace that.“And then we might have a different point of view than he does, and we want him to understand that, as well. I think it’s a two-way street. I think you’re crazy to try to build a roster and not include your best player. That doesn’t make any sense.”Barring another trade, Dallas will not add a player via draft for a second consecutive year because Harrison and Co. traded their 2022 second rounder to Washington in the Kristaps Porzingis-Spencer Dinwiddie-Davis Bertans deal last February.But the Mavericks won’t stand pat during free agency.Harrison has highlighted re-signing Brunson — the Mavericks’ lone free agent on the 15-man roster this offseason — as the team’s No. 1 priority.They’ll also have a $10.9 million trade exception (set to expire June 29 from last year’s Josh Richardson deal) and a luxury-taxpayer mid-level exception available.Luxury, indeed, because Wood’s arrival will render their biggest position of need no longer.Twitter: @CallieCaplanRelated:What to expect as Mavs’ Luka Doncic reports to Slovenia’s World Cup qualifier practicesFind more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Basketball

Uplift June 16, 2022 / 9:06 AM / CBS News Harry Styles paused a concert in Manchester, UK on Thursday night, asking fans to be momentarily quiet. "I'm going to ask a favor from you because I'd like to try and find someone in the audience," he said.It was his "first ever school teacher," named Mrs. Vernon. Styles said he believed she was in the crowd and asked the audience to help him out. He was performing at Emirates Old Trafford stadium – which holds 26,000 people – but within seconds, he spotted her. "There she is. Mrs. Vernon!" Styles said, falling to his knees as fans cheered. "How are you? I heard you're retiring. I'd just like to thank you for everything in those formative years. And yeah, thank you so much, it means a lot to me that you're here tonight." "Can you imagine dealing with me when I was 4?" Styles said. He said he was dedicating his next song to his former teacher, then played his song "Canyon Moon," Manchester Evening News reports. "There she is. Mrs. Vernon!" Styles said, falling to his knees as fans cheered. TikTok/@goodiesbyjenny Styles grew up in nearby Cheshire, U.K. A fan in the crowd filmed the sweet moment and posted part of the exchange on TikTok, where it went viral. "I taught him when he was four and five and he was adorable. He was a little bit of a monkey, cheeky, and he had lots of friends so a lot of his personality that you see now was quite evident from an early age," she told the "The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show" on BBC Radio 2 after the concert.She said Styles was in a lot of performances growing up and he was very talented. "But yeah, in everything he was amazing, all the teachers here are just so proud of him and so excited about this and everything that he's achieved," she said. "Thank you Harry for that lovely message, I was very touched by it."This was just the second stop on Styles' 2022 tour. The singer has partnered with Everytown for Gun Safety for the North American portion of his tour. Following one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history in Uvalde, Texas, Styles pledged to donate to the nonprofit organization and share "their suggested action items." Caitlin O'Kane Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue

Music

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Dr Max Tegmark says “the interesting challenge” with artificial intelligence is how to “steer it in a good direction”.Dr Tegmark said he once wrote an op-ed with renowned theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking, which argued artificial intelligence is “going to be either the best thing ever to happen to humanity or the worst thing”. “I think we really need to be more humble and acknowledge that we don’t know what it is that really makes something able to experience and feel things,” he told Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan.“What we do know though is that we’ve seen an enormous revolution in the power of artificial intelligence and it comes from this one basic idea … you don’t need things to be alive in the traditional sense – it’s about information processing.”

AI Policy and Regulations

Russell Wilson, Ciara Crazy For The Avs!!! ... Couple Cheers Their Faces Off After Big OT Win 6/16/2022 6:18 AM PT Russell Wilson and Ciara have only been in Denver for a couple months, but they've already clearly adopted the city's hockey team ... going crazy for the Avs after their overtime win Wednesday night! The couple hit up Ball Arena with their kids for a family date night ... and they immersed themselves in the Stanley Cup Finals action quickly. Russ, Ciara, Future Zahir, Sienna and baby Win were all spotted cheering their faces off as the Avalanche took on the Lightning in Game 1 of the series. After every goal, the Wilsons -- all decked out in Avalanche jerseys -- waved towels and screamed ... and during breaks, Mom and Dad enjoyed the adorableness of their kids taking in the sights and sounds (and popcorn!) at the arena. Russ and Ciara then lost their minds for a bit after Andre Burakovsky buried a goal in the first few minutes of OT to give the Avs a 1-0 series lead ... cheering with the packed house wildly. It's all a good sign for Broncos fans ... because it's clear the Wilsons have made the move from Seattle seamlessly. Game 2 of the Avs vs. Lightning is slated for Saturday night ... see ya there again, QB1?!?

Hockey

Liverpool have agreed a £6.5m deal to buy the Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay. The Scotland Under-21 international will sign a five-year contract and become their third summer acquisition, after Darwin Núñez and Fabio Carvalho.There has been an accent on youth in Liverpool’s dealings, with Ramsay 19 next month, Núñez 23 this month and Fabio Carvalho 20 in August. Aberdeen will get a guaranteed club record £4m for Ramsay plus add-ons and accepted Liverpool’s offer after changes to the add-ons structure. Ramsay played 24 league games for Aberdeen last season, after breaking into the first team towards the end of the previous campaign, and is regarded by Liverpool as having the talent to compete for a place in the immediate term as well as being one for the future. He won the Scottish Football Writers’ Association’s Young Player of the Year award at the end of April.Quick GuideHow do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts?ShowDownload the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhones or the Google Play store on Android phones by searching for 'The Guardian'.If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.In the Guardian app, tap the yellow button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.Turn on sport notifications.Sadio Mané is close to leaving Liverpool for Bayern Munich after the arrival of Núñez for a fee that could reach £85m. The Senegal forward has a verbal agreement with Bayern on terms for a three-year contract and the German club are preparing a new offer which they hope will seal a transfer.

Soccer

This tournament couldn’t come at a more interesting time.The controversial LIV Series, the Saudi-backed alternative tour that has recruited a number of big names with its massive payouts, has been on everyone’s minds. It’s driven a line between golfers — some, like Phil Mickelson (who tees off at 1:47 p.m.), have said they understand why fans are upset. Others, like Rory McIlroy (who teed off at 7:40 a.m.), have fiercely defended the PGA Tour.[ Find out how the pros play The Country Club with our interactive map. ]Important links: Tee times | Leaderboard | Headed to the course? Here are some some viewing tips and transportation infoHow to watch on Thursday6:45-9:30 a.m.: Peacock9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.: USA Network2-5 p.m.: NBC and Peacock5-7 p.m.: USA Network7-8 p.m.: PeacockClick here to refresh | Click here to read more golf storiesHole to watch: No. 14 — 9:15 a.m.One hole to watch is No. 14. The approach is blind. And in this photo from Ben Volin, you can really see that US Open rough we’ve been talking about. — McInerneyThe approach on 14 is one of many blind shots here at TCC. McIlroy just jogged 50 yards up the hill to get a look at the green, which is protected by that giant tree pic.twitter.com/mzgubHOUYq— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) June 16, 2022 Morikawa off to quick start — 9:05 a.m.Collin Morikawa, who is in a threesome with Jon Rahm and James Piot, is 2-under through six after birdies on 2 and 5.He’s tied for the lead at 9:05 a.m. with Matthew NeSmith, who’s playing in just his second major. NeSmith is through eight. Russell Henley is also 2-under, through 4. — McInerneyA tough start for Jordan Spieth — 8:40 a.m.Jordan Spieth has reportedly been battling a tough stomach bug, but decided to stay in the field for this week’s US Open.He’s off to a difficult start: He’s 3-over through 4 after bogeying three of the first four holes. — McInerneyToday’s pin locations — 8:30 a.m.Here’s a look at the pin locations for Thursday:Thursday's pin locationsUSGAFor some caddies, the US Open is a week they’ll never forget — 8:20 a.m.If you see a golfer with the name “Mueller” at The Country Club this week, feel free to shout, “Good luck, Jesse!” The golfer and caddie will both appreciate it.Jesse Mueller, the head club pro at Grand Canyon University, will make his second career start in the US Open Thursday. On the bag will be his wife, Jessie Mueller.Jesse and Jessie are the only husband/wife team at this week’s championship. They had to enlist neighbors and family members to take care of their children and dog back home in Phoenix.“It’s not an experience most people get to have,” Jessie Mueller said. “I like that I can talk to him and be on the course instead of being behind the ropes.” Read the rest of the story from Ben Volin.The uncertain future of pro golf — 8:10 a.m.As the US Open gets underway Thursday at The Country Club in Brookline, the foundation of professional golf has never been on shakier ground. Rocked by internal division and exposed by a public power struggle, there is a decidedly uncertain future ahead.With the new Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Series on one side, all drenched in moral turpitude and blood money, and the old PGA Tour on the other, all puffed up on its moral high ground and corporate money, there is little room for the average golf fan to find footing.And that’s not good for anyone.“It’s sad,” is how Justin Thomas put it Monday. “This is the US Open, and this is an unbelievable venue, a place with so much history, an unbelievable field, so many story lines, and yet that seems to be what all the questions are about.“That’s unfortunate. That’s not right to the USGA. That’s not right for the US Open. That’s not right for us players. But that’s, unfortunately, where we’re at right now.”Read the rest of Tara Sullivan’s column.Hole to watch: No. 11 — 8:00 a.m.The Country Club’s 11th hole is a 131-yard par-3 that USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer said could be “a focal point of the championship.”Peter and Maria HoeyDuring Wednesday’s practice rounds, Scottie Scheffler came just inches from the cup on his tee shot. The Masters champion was grouped with PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and Sam Burns.Stacked with the year’s two major champions, the group proved to be one to follow.Scheffler followed by sinking a long putt on the 12th hole. Thomas almost followed suit, stroking a putt from the back corner of the green that veered just left of the cup.On No. 15, Burns and Thomas each bombed 290-yard drives into the fairway of the 510-yard par-4. — Jayna BardahlNo. 20 ranked Abraham Ancer withdraws — 7:50 a.m.Abraham Ancer of Mexico has withdrawn from the US Open. The USGA said it was because of an illness.Ancer is ranked No. 20 in the world golf rankings.Patton Kizzire of Tuscaloosa, Ala., replaced him as the first alternate. Kizzrie qualified for the US Open at the Roswell, Ga., final qualifying tournament. It is Kizzrie’s third US Open. — Matt PepinJordan Spieth tees off — 7:45 a.m.Jordan Spieth, playing with Max Homa and Adam Scott in the 7:29 a.m. group, hit off the first tee to begin his first round.Spieth was rumored to have a stomach bug yesterday, but is out on the course. — Katie McInerneyThe US Open is the most difficult mental test in golf, and that’s the way the USGA likes it — 7:40 a.m.Sepp Straka hits from the 10th tee.Patrick Smith/GettyTo get a better feel for what might unfold the next four days when The Country Club hosts the US Open for just the third time since 1913 when Francis Ouimet practically put the game on the map, it is prudent to go to those who sort of know the landscape. Jon Rahm is the defending champion, Brooks Koepka in 2018 became just the seventh to successfully defend his title, so they boast what we call “creds.”“I knew it coming in, but [they’re] not the biggest greens out there, right?” was a definitive rhetorical question by Rahm. “And the rough around the greens is about as healthy as I’ve seen in a while.”Said Koepka with a wry smile, “I love it, man. It’s a tough test. I don’t like these 25-under [tournaments] where you have to shoot 60 every round just to compete. I like it when it’s a battle. That’s kind of my style.”So, the boxes are checked: Small greens. Thick, lush rough. Mental fortitude.But that only partly explains how it is that the US Open has brought forth a product that is remarkably consistent.Read the rest from Jim McCabe.The first golfers are underway — 7:30 a.m.Hello! Massachusetts’ first US Open since 1988 is underway. The first golfers teed off at 6:45 a.m.That group included Wellesley’s Michael Thorbjornsen, the Massachusetts Amateur champion. The junior at Stanford hopes he can capture some Ouimet magic.Nice little breeze blowing at The Country Club this morning. Part of the course preparations included thinning out some trees and brush to allow for more wind pic.twitter.com/jUoUbVPFgq— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) June 16, 2022 The USGA designed the tee times so a Massachusetts player hit the first shots off each tee. Thorbjornsen started on No. 1 and Fran Quinn of Holden was in the first group on No. 10.Quinn found himself atop the leaderboard in the early stages when he birdied No. 11 by draining and 11-foot putt, but he gave the shot back when he bogeyed No. 13.It’s a sun-splashed, bluebird day for the start of the competition, and fans are rolling in steadily. The USGA couldn’t have asked for better conditions for the opening round. — Matt PepinFollow Andrew Mahoney on Twitter @GlobeMahoney. Amin Touri can be reached at [email protected]. Jayna Bardahl can be reached at [email protected]. Katie McInerney can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @k8tmac.

Golf

Got your weekend plans? We have some great ideas, from the new Buzz Lightyear movie to amazing recitals and concerts to great tunes in beachy Half Moon Bay. And if you’re going out to a show or a meal, be sure to check the venue or restaurant website for the latest COVID safety updates before you go. (Psst, if you want to get this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.) 1 WATCH: Buzz Lightyear gets his own movie Remember those awesome Pixar “Toy Story” movies? Well, the Emeryville studio just released a new flick about the space ranger who inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy. Read all about it here. 2 PLAY: A jazz joint with an ocean breeze You don’t really a need a reason to head to beautiful Half Moon Bay, but we have one anyway. It’s one of the best jazz clubs in the Bay Area. Here’s the backstory, plus tips for grabbing a bite nearby. Oh, and here’s a look at the legendary sax man playing there this weekend. Pianist and singer Eliane Elias plays the Stanford Jazz Festival June 18. (Kristy Sparow/Getty Images archives). 3 SEE & HEAR: Speaking of jazz … One of the best jazz festivals in the country, founded by people who are absolutely nuts about the music, kicks off this weekend in Palo Alto. 4 READ & COOK: A chat with Rick Martinez The popular food writer recently talked about the life-changing trip he made to Mexico, before writing the hit new cookbook, “Mi Cocina.” See the interview (and find some recipes) right here. 5 WATCH: A delightful sex romp We make a point of using the phrase “sex romp” as frequently as we can, so we are stoked for the new movie “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande,” starring the ever-wonderful Emma Thompson. It tops our roundup of new films you should know about. 6: SIP: All about absinthe The exotic licorice-tasting liquor, which was illegal in the U.S. until 2007, gets a bad rap in some circles. Here is one East Bay absinthe maker to set the record straight. The Margaret Jenkins Dance Company performs June 16-19 at the Presidio Theatre in San Francisco. (Margaret Jenkins Dance Company) 7 SEE & HEAR: There are great shows and events out there It’s an extremely busy weekend out there, campers, with everything from the Frameline LGBTQ film fest to Junetheenth events and amazing dance recitals and music concerts to pick from.

Music

Chile's Minister Secretary General of the Presidency Giorgio Jackson poses for a portrait during an interview with Reuters at La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago, Chile June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Rodrigo GarridoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSANTIAGO, June 16 (Reuters) - Chile's government is set to push forward its tax reform plans, including a bill on mining royalties, by the end of this month, a top cabinet member to President Gabriel Boric told Reuters, legislation that could impact the world's top copper producer.Giorgio Jackson, a former student leader alongside Boric and now his Minister Secretary-General of the Presidency, said tax adjustments were a key focus, essential to raising funds to pay for overhauling social programs from education to health."On June 30 we are going to make the announcement of the entire tax reform and we are going to start with a couple of bills immediately. One of them is the mining royalty," he said late last week at his office in La Moneda, the presidential palace.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comHe added tax reform was a "necessary condition" to make the changes 36-year-old Boric's leftist government had promised when he came into office in March, though a separate mining royalty plan that builds upon a bill currently making its way through congress is also key."For us that's a priority, probably number one," he said.Boric, approaching 100 days in office, won strong support in an election last year but has seen his popularity tumble amid high inflation and ongoing social unrest including in the country's south and questions over migration in the north.Jackson said the tax reforms would "boost" Chile on par with other mineral-rich nations, bringing funds to support research and development of new growth areas for the world's top copper producer and the second largest producer of lithium."There is an opportunity Chile has with copper, with lithium, to use them and imagine a different productive system," he said.He admitted that tax reforms were never an easy sell, especially with inflation in the Andean country at its highest since the 1990s and economic growth expected to only grow weakly this year despite soaring global metals prices."When you're in a bonanza and good times or in bad times, they always say why are you going to do it now?" he said. "There's never a good time to do tax reform."Chile is also in the process of overhauling its market-orientated Constitution which dates back to the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. That process, which stemmed from social protests in 2019, has been hit as support for the new document has dwindled, with the risk it could fail to pass.Jackson said that "unnecessary controversies" through the process had left some people disillusioned, but hoped support would pick up again once the draft was finalized in July. The final referendum vote is in September.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Alexander Villegas Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Latin America Economy

Ed Sheeran was pictured with his four-week-old newborn daughter for the first time on Wednesday as he enjoyed a sunsoaked stroll with his family. The singer, 31, shocked fans in May when he revealed that he and wife Cherry Seaborn had secretly welcomed another daughter, announcing he was 'over the moon to be a family of four.' Fatherhood certainly seemed to suit Ed as he cradled his little one on a walk around Kensington Palace Gardens in London, while Cherry pushed their older daughter Lyra, 22 months, in a buggy. The new family seemed in good spirits on the outing as they made the most of the warm weather with a stroll across the green, stopping off to show Lyra the geese at the pond. Exclusive: Ed Sheeran was seen with his newborn daughter for the first time on Wednesday as he cradled his baby girl on a family stroll with wife Cherry Seaborn and firstborn Lyra, 22 months, in London Ed kept things low-key for the outing, pairing a white long-sleeved shirt with black shorts and colourful trainers. He shielded himself from the sun with a navy baseball cap with shades and a black face mask. New mother Cherry looked radiant as she stepped out in a floral shirt and khaki trainers that she teamed with chunky hi-top Nike trainers. The duo made for a picture-perfect family as they cuddled up close on their stroll, with Cherry making sure the family were all protected from the sun by regularly doling out doses of sunscreen. The SPF may have been picked up just moments before as the family had popped into budget store TK Maxx on the high street just moments before - despite Ed being worth a cool £165 million. Doting dad: Fatherhood certainly seemed to suit Ed as he cradled his little one on a walk around Kensington Palace Gardens in London, while Cherry pushed their older daughter Lyra, 22 months, in a buggySweet: The new family seemed in good spirits on the outing as they made the most of the warm weather with a stroll across the green, stopping off to show Lyra the geese at the pond Sweet: Ed shared a tender moment with his firstborn as he tickled her cheek while she was cuddled by mum CherryThe outing comes just four weeks after Ed announced the family's shock news that they'd secretly welcomed another child. The Shape Of You hitmaker took to Instagram to share a snap of white pair of baby booties, that he captioned: 'Want to let you all know we've had another beautiful baby girl. We are both so in love with her, and over the moon to be a family of 4 x'The couple welcomed elder daughter Lyra Antarctica in August 2020.Ed's Instagram post was met with a plethora of congratulatory messages from his fans. Low-key look: Ed kept things low-key for the outing, pairing a white long-sleeved shirt with black shorts and colourful trainersKeeping things casual: Ed shielded himself from the sun with a navy baseball cap with shades and a black face mask Surprise! The outing comes just four weeks after Ed announced the family's shock news that they'd secretly welcomed another child, saying he and Cherry were 'overt the moon' The star had announced the birth of Lyra in a similar way, sharing a snap of her baby socks on a blanket alongside his message.The couple reportedly only confided in their closest family members about the pregnancy.Ed's spokesperson confirmed: 'Ed and Cherry recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl and are on cloud nine.'They're so excited for Lyra to have a little sister and the four of them are currently enjoying some precious family time before Ed heads back on tour.'We are delighted for them, and we hope that you can respect their privacy at this special time.'Safety first: The duo made for a picture-perfect family as they cuddled up close on their stroll, with Cherry making sure the family were all protected from the sun by regularly doling out doses of sunscreen On the move: Ed and Cherry seemed in good spirits as they strolled along the grass Cherry was last seen in public in February when she attended the BRIT Awards with her husband.She also visited the University Of Cambridge to collect her Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business - a program designed to develop insights that make business sense of sustainability and to empower leaders to bring about organisational change.Speaking on the Open house Party podcast in June, Ed revealed he would be 'super grateful' to add more members to his family.The West Yorkshire-born star said: 'I would obviously be super grateful to be able to have any more kids, but I think girls are far superior to boys. As a boy myself, I feel like I can say this.'I feel like we were so lucky to be able to have one that I think I would obviously love more. But I think we're so lucky to just have one. So if nothing else happens, I'm so happy, basically.'Blooming lovely: New mother Cherry looked radiant as she stepped out in a floral shirt and khaki trainers that she teamed with chunky hi-top Nike trainers Loving life: The group seemed in high spirits as they showed their eldest daughter the flock of geese that had gathered In November, Ed revealed having his daughter Lyra Antarctica was a 'blessing' and a 'miracle' after struggling to conceive with his wife Cherry, 30.The singer told how the couple had booked doctors appointments to check everything was okay after 'trying to have a kid for a while'.They then welcomed their first child last August, after conceiving naturally during a holiday in 2019 to Antarctica - which inspired the unusual name.New family: Last month Ed surprised fans with his shock baby news and a spokesperson then confirmed to MailOnline, 'Ed and Cherry recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl and are on cloud nine' A spokesperson continued: 'They're so excited for Lyra to have a little sister and the four of them are currently enjoying some precious family time before Ed heads back on tour'He told US radio's The Breakfast Club: 'We had tried for a while to have a kid, and we'd started going to doctors and figuring out what was up.'I did think it was a miracle, so that's why I was like, we should have this in the name.'A lot of it is mental. It's about relaxing. So many of my friends have been trying different things like IVF or making sure you're having sex at the right time on the right day, and then they go to a wedding and get p*ssed and relax and they get pregnant.'He added: 'It's not a given. It is a real blessing when it happens.But he admitted Lyra might not like hearing why she got the moniker. 'She'll get older and be like, 'Urgh'!' Ed said. Hands on: Ed was seen grappling with the buggy while Cherry also waded in to help the matter Keeping close: Ed stayed by Cherry's side as they enjoyed their sunny stroll around the lush park Cute: Ed made sure Lyra had her sunhat on as they headed out on their family stroll Fun in the sun: The warm weather meant the family wanted to head out and bask in the sun and get some fresh air Watching over: Ed took over pushing Lyra in her buggy while Cherry looked over lovingly at her broodMeanwhile in December, Ed revealed he finds being away from his daughter Lyra 'really difficult' and she has given him 'purpose' outside of his career.Speaking on the Ellen Degeneres Show, the chart-topper admitted he was finding it hard being away from Lyra and his wife Cherry, even just for a few days.He said: 'I really love being a dad. I started off with my job being my hobby and then one day I got paid for it and it became my job.'I just found I didn't have any purpose outside of that. When I gave myself fixed time off work I wasn't doing anything I enjoyed because I love music.'I actually find this really difficult, being away. There was a conversation about maybe taking Cherry and Lyra over here and jet lag is just not fun for a baby.' Keeping hydrated: Ed carried a bottle of water as he ensured he kept cool in the London heatwave Catching up: The new parents seemed in good spirits as they chatted away to one another on their sunny stroll Sweet: Cherry scooped Lyra up into her arms for a cuddle as they strolled along the grass Family fun: The family were making the most of the warm weather as they enjoyed their park stroll Taking in the sights: The pair seemed in good spirits as they looked out over the park life Mum and dad's day out: The duo were enjoying some quality time together on their sunsoaked stroll Ed and Cherry were childhood sweethearts, having grown up together in the same town.They rekindled their romance in 2014 and tied the knot in a small ceremony five years later.'Me and Cherry's actual wedding was a tiny affair, with hardly anyone there,' Ed revealed to fellow musician Jessie Ware on her Table Manners podcast.'We did it at night, at a random day in the middle of January, in the middle of nowhere,' the Sing hitmaker added.'No one knew, no one came to it, we lit candles and we got married, went back and had a curry.' Same again: Ed announced the birth of firstborn Lyra in a similar way to his second child sharing a snap of her baby socks on a blanket alongside his message Forever his love: Ed and Cherry were childhood sweethearts. They rekindled their romance in 2014 and tied the knot in a small ceremony five years later [pictured in 2018]

Celebrity

Andrew Dominik writes and directs the NC-17 adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates' novel based on the late Monroe's life. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but who can Marilyn Monroe turn to? The haunting teaser trailer for Andrew Dominik’s highly-anticipated “Blonde,” starring Ana de Armas as an anguished Monroe, announced a September 23 release date on Netflix. The NC-17 rated film is a fictionalized biopic of Monroe as adapted from Joyce Carol Oates’ novel of the same name. Per an official logline, “Blonde” paints a fictional portrait of the life of the famed model, actress, and singer, chronicling her journey from Norma Jeane Baker, abused daughter of a single mother, to the most sought-after celebrity in the world. “Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” visionary Dominik writes and directs the film featuring an unrecognizable de Armas, Bobby Cannavale, Adrien Brody, Julianne Nicholson, Xavier Samuel, and Evan Williams. Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tracey Landon, and Scott Robertson all serve as producers. Dominik promised that “Blonde” will most likely “offend” everyone, while making cinematic history along the lines of “Citizen Kane” and “Raging Bull” with a #MeToo twist. De Armas as Monroe is seen being overwhelmed by paparazzi and shriveling in tears before going onstage. That is, until she bursts into maniacal laughter as though flipping a switch. “The whole idea of ‘Blonde’ was to detail a childhood drama and then show the way in which that drama splits the adults into a public and private self,” writer-director Dominik previously told Collider. “And how the adult sees the world through the lens of that childhood drama, and it’s sort of a story of a person whose rational picture of the world as being overwhelmed by her unconscious, and it uses the iconography of Marilyn Monroe.” Dominik added, “It’s a tragedy. It’s sort of like an unwanted child who becomes the most wanted woman in the world and has to deal with all of the desire that is directed at her, and how confusing that is. It’s kind of a nightmare. It’s about being in a car with no brakes. It’s just going faster and faster and faster.” For all the details on “Blonde,” click here. Check out the teaser below. “Blonde” premieres September 23 on Netflix. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.

Movies

Tom Hanks Fuming After Fan Trips Wife 'Back the F*** Off!!!' 6/16/2022 6:40 AM PT SplashNews.com Tom Hanks was seeing red when his wife Rita Wilson was almost knocked to the ground by a pack of his fans ... and the guy who's normally Mr. Cool let 'em know he was pissed off! Tom and Rita were heading to their car Wednesday night in NYC when the swarm of fans scrambled around for autographs and selfies -- the crowd got so big, one fan bumped into Rita and made her trip. TH was having none of it -- he rushed to her rescue, then put his hand on one guy and yelled to the rest, "This is my wife, back the f*** off!!" He gave them quite the death stare for a few seconds before storming off to their car. In the wake of Tom losing it, the finger pointing started among the fans ... with one guy claiming someone else pushed him into Rita. Hey, they didn't get pics or an autograph, but the "Elvis" star definitely gave them a night they won't soon forget.

Celebrity

We live in fractious times. The internet has reduced us all to thousands of ultra-specific tribes, all of whom sit in angry, steadfast opposition to one another. At our worst, it feels like humanity might not ever be able to agree upon anything ever again. But this week, a miracle happened. Two photographs were published to the internet; two photographs that instantly united the whole world into one universally agreed-upon opinion. And that opinion is this: The Barbie movie looks quite good.Although that was already the consensus, given that it’ll be directed by Greta Gerwig from a script she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, the photos of the two leads put it beyond all doubt. Margot Robbie, who plays Barbie, is instantly as Barbie-esque as you could imagine, all blond hair and smiles and bright pink car. Her Barbie looks like a version of Robbie’s Sharon Tate, or Robbie’s character from The Wolf of Wall Street. The casting is perfect.And then there’s Ryan Gosling. Gosling will play Ken in Barbie and, again, it’s a role he was born to play. His hair is bleached peroxide blond, like it was in The Place Beyond the Pines. His abs and arms are on display, like they were in Crazy, Stupid, Love. He has a blankly impenetrable facial expression, like he did in most of that Blade Runner film. Throw in his outfit – which, underwear aside, is entirely made up of stonewash denim – and there is a very strong chance that this will be his defining role.As Barbie-esque as you could imagine … Margot Robbie. Photograph: Jaap BuitendijkThe casting is so perfect, in fact, that this might necessitate a rethink when it comes to movie adaptations of toy franchises. Until now, the instinct has largely been to either drown everyone in an incoherent CGI sludge (Transformers) or to just cast the nearest A-lister regardless of their suitability for the role (The Rock in GI Joe: Retaliation).So let’s start now. Given the internet-breaking power of the Gosling and Robbie Barbie photos, the smartest thing we could do is to attach the following stars to these as-yet-unmade toy movies as quickly as possible.Bratz For a period of time, Barbie lost pace to Bratz dolls; a range of tacky and uncomfortably sexualised fashion dolls. There was an attempt in 2007 to make a Bratz movie, but the film failed for all manner of reasons, not least because the stars weren’t (and still aren’t) famous enough. If Bratz is going to succeed at the box office, it needs leads who – like the dolls – have become careworn and neglected since their early-2000s heyday. This is why it needs to star Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Tara Reid.Stretch ArmstrongA perennial favourite, thanks to his gel-filled limbs, Stretch Armstrong has yet to translate to movies. God knows that Hollywood has tried, though, variously casting Tim Allen, Taylor Lautner and Danny DeVito in multiple failed adaptations. The issue, you suspect, is that they haven’t found the right Stretch yet. Stretch Armstrong is blond and rugged, kind but athletic. It takes a very special person to play him, which is why I suggest literally any Hollywood actor named Chris.Strawberry ShortcakeStrawberry Shortcake was a wildly popular greetings card mascot who became a toy sensation in the 1980s. Although she still exists as an ongoing IP – most recently in Netflix’s animated Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City movie – she has yet to receive the full Barbie treatment. This would be best achieved by putting Emma Stone in a big hat and letting her do whatever she wants.Too young … the next He-Man, Kyle Allen. Photograph: Valérie Macon/AFP/Getty ImagesSindy Readers of a certain age will remember Sindy as Barbie’s British rival. Less famous and slightly inferior to her American counterpart, Sindy nevertheless attracted the ire of Barbie’s creators, Mattel, who promptly filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against its manufacturers for allegedly ripping off their better known creation. As such it only seems fair that a Sindy movie should star Robbie after a botched round of cosmetic surgery and several catastrophic dental procedures.He-ManThere is actually a Masters of the Universe movie being made, and it begins shooting next year. The lead has already been cast, and He-Man will be played by Kyle Allen from West Side Story. But this feels like a mistake. Judging by all the photos of Allen online, he looks too young and meek to play the defender of Eternia. Instead, we need someone a little older, with bleach-blond hair and rippling abs and a skin tone that only falls slightly short of being radioactive. That’s right, He-Man should be played by Ken from the Barbie movie – Ryan Gosling.

Movies

Edit StoryNew! Follow this author to improve your content experience. Jun 16, 2022,06:02am EDT|Updated Jun 16, 2022, 07:40am EDTTopline Actor Kevin Spacey was granted unconditional bail Thursday after making his first appearance at a London court, where he faces multiple sexual assault charges. US actor Kevin Spacey arrives at the Westminster Magistrates' Court, in London to attend the opening ... [+] of his trial, on June 16, 2022. AFP via Getty Images Key Facts During his court appearance, Spacey did not enter pleas to any of the five charges against him. Spacey’s defense lawyer Patrick Gibbs told the court that the actor “strenuously denies any and all criminality” in these cases. The actor’s next court appearance will take place on July 14 at London’s Southwark Crown Court. Spacey was formally charged in the U.K. earlier this week on four counts of sexual assault against three men and another count of forcing a person to engage in “penetrative sexual activity” without their consent. Key Background Charges against Spacey were authorized by the British Crown Prosecution Service last month. In the U.K., Spacey faces accusations stretching back to March 2005. Spacey last month issued a statement to ABC’s Good Morning America where he said he would “voluntarily appear” before courts in the U.K. and was “confident” that he would be able to prove his innocence. The 62-year-old was first accused of sexual assault by actor Anthony Rapp in 2017, after which multiple other accusers have come forward. London’s Old Vic theater—where Spacey served as the artistic director from 2004 to 2015—announced in 2017 that it has received 20 complaints of inappropriate behavior by the actor. Further Reading Kevin Spacey Formally Charged In U.K. With 4 Counts Of Sexual Assault (Forbes) Kevin Spacey Will Appear In U.K., Claims Innocence Of Sexual Assault Claims (Forbes) Follow me on Twitter. Send me a secure tip. Editorial StandardsPrintReprints & Permissions

Celebrity

Andrew Dominik writes and directs the NC-17 adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates' novel based on the late Monroe's life. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but who can Marilyn Monroe turn to? The haunting teaser trailer for Andrew Dominik’s highly-anticipated “Blonde,” starring Ana de Armas as an anguished Monroe, announced a September 23 release date on Netflix. Watch it below. The NC-17 rated film is a fictionalized biopic of Monroe as adapted from Joyce Carol Oates’ novel of the same name. Per an official logline, “Blonde” paints a fictional portrait of the life of the famed model, actress, and singer, chronicling her journey from Norma Jeane Baker, abused daughter of a single mother, to the most sought-after celebrity in the world. “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” visionary Dominik writes and directs the film featuring an unrecognizable de Armas, Bobby Cannavale, Adrien Brody, Julianne Nicholson, Xavier Samuel, and Evan Williams. Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tracey Landon, and Scott Robertson all serve as producers. Dominik promised that “Blonde” will most likely “offend” everyone, while making cinematic history along the lines of “Citizen Kane” and “Raging Bull” with a #MeToo twist. In the teaser, De Armas as Monroe is seen being overwhelmed by paparazzi and shriveling in tears before going onstage. That is, until she bursts into maniacal laughter as though flipping a switch. “The whole idea of ‘Blonde’ was to detail a childhood drama and then show the way in which that drama splits the adults into a public and private self,” writer-director Dominik previously told Collider. “And how the adult sees the world through the lens of that childhood drama, and it’s sort of a story of a person whose rational picture of the world as being overwhelmed by her unconscious, and it uses the iconography of Marilyn Monroe.” Dominik added, “It’s a tragedy. It’s sort of like an unwanted child who becomes the most wanted woman in the world and has to deal with all of the desire that is directed at her, and how confusing that is. It’s kind of a nightmare. It’s about being in a car with no brakes. It’s just going faster and faster and faster.” For all the details on “Blonde,” click here. Check out the teaser below. “Blonde” premieres September 23 on Netflix. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.

Movies

Edit StoryJun 16, 2022,03:42am EDT|Updated Jun 16, 2022, 04:27am EDTTopline Beyoncé’s new album RENAISSANCE is set for release on July 29, music streaming services including Spotify and Tidal announced early on Thursday, marking her first studio album release in six years that follows multiple teases on social media over the past few days. Beyonce makes History with the Best E&B Performance winning 28 Grammys, more that any female or male ... [+] performer, accepts the award for Best R&B Performance at the 63rd Grammy Award outside Staples Center. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Key Facts The full name of the album appears to be RENAISSANCE – act i, a possible indication the new project may be released in multiple parts. The official announcement was shared by the social media handles of all major music streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and YouTube Music—indicating that unlike her last album ‘Lemonade’ this will release on all platforms. The new album will be Beyoncé's seventh solo album. Thursday’s announcement comes after several days of teases on social media which included the removal of Beyoncé’s display pictures from her Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube pages. Big Number $450 million. That’s Beyoncé’s total net worth as of June 14 according to Forbes, which puts her 61st on the list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women. Key Background Beyoncé’s last studio album Lemonade, released in 2016, was both a massive critical and commercial success. The album received nine Grammy nominations and ended up winning two awards for Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Music Video for the song “Formation.” Last year, Beyoncé became the most decorated female artist in Grammy history after receiving a record 28th award and tied with Quincy Jones. Further Reading Beyoncé Turns 40—Time To Revisit Her Obsession With The Number 4 (Forbes) Follow me on Twitter. Send me a secure tip. Editorial StandardsPrintReprints & Permissions

Music

Its powerful shockwave looped around the world three times and now, six months after the Tongan volcano’s furious eruption, the fallout is creating spectacular fiery sunsets over New Zealand and eastern Australia.After being inundated with inquiries about the unusual sunsets which began three weeks ago, New Zealand scientists, in collaboration with French colleagues, have traced the phenomenon to the January 15 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano.The eruption was the largest explosion recorded in the atmosphere by modern instrumentation, far larger than any 20th-century volcanic event or nuclear test.A satellite image shows a plume rising over Tonga after the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcanoNOAA/SSEC/CIMSS VIA REUTERSScientists believe the vibrant sunsets, and often sunrises, are likely caused by aerosols that originated from the undersea volcano’s explosion of water, gas and ash which created the largest volcanic plume ever recorded in

Space Exploration

Lil Durk Note for Drake & J. Cole ... I'm 'Best Ever' in B-Ball, LBJ Knows!!! 6/16/2022 6:59 AM PT TMZ.com Drake is a basketball champion and J. Cole is a pro hooper -- but none of that matters to Lil Durk because he "knows" he's the best hip hop baller out there. We checked in with Durkio as he was checking outta LAX to get his thoughts on Drake's recent trophy win ... in his own basketball league, mind you. Seems like an obvious conflict of interest, but Durk says he'd do the same thing if he had his own court and b-ball league. He also perked up with J. Cole's recent stint in the Canadian Elite Basketball League ... especially while claiming he'd put Cole on a poster with a dunk!!! He's got backup for that smack talk, though -- remember, LeBron James recently went on record putting Durk's b-ball skills over every rapper out there and Durk is clearly, and proudly, wearing that title on his sleeve. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. It's been a great year for Durk off the court as well. DJ Akademiks called him the best rapper out and his OTF homie just told us the "7220" album deluxe will be dropping in July.

Music

Khloe Kardashian 'You Really F***** Up Your Life' After Tristian Cheats Again 6/16/2022 6:59 AM PT Hulu Khloe Kardashian has clearly had enough of Tristan Thompson and his cheating ways, giving a behind the scenes look at her reaction after she'd learned he got another woman pregnant. Khloe didn't hold back on Thursday season finale of "The Kardashians" during a chat with sister, Kim Kardashian, Khloe said of TT, "Wow, you really f****d up your life." During the heart to heart, Kim tells Khloe, "If that were me and I was really trying to redeem myself and I was trying to be a better person, I would definitely just keep my d**** in my pants." Khloe chimes in saying, "You would think. You either wear a condom, get a vasectomy, or you don't f*** random people that you meet in other states. It's not rocket science". Of course, we know the random person turned out to be personal trainer Maralee Nichols, and Tristian ended up being the father of her son. As you know, Tristan filed legal docs admitting to having sex with her almost immediately after the 30th birthday party Khloe threw for him. HULU As we've reported, TT caught the full wrath from the Kardashian sisters, including Kylie who called him "the worst person on the planet", but clearly Khloe had a few words to say. too. Khloe and Tristan continue to co-parent their daughter, True, but are no longer together romantically.

Celebrity

Andrew Dominik writes and directs the NC-17 adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates' novel based on the late Monroe's life. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but who can Marilyn Monroe turn to? The haunting teaser trailer for Andrew Dominik’s highly-anticipated “Blonde,” starring Ana de Armas as an anguished Monroe, announced a September 23 release date on Netflix. Watch it below. The NC-17 rated film is a fictionalized portrait of Monroe as adapted from Joyce Carol Oates’ novel of the same name. Per an official logline, “Blonde” paints a fictional portrait of the life of the famed model, actress, and singer, chronicling her journey from Norma Jeane Baker, abused daughter of a single mother, to the most sought-after celebrity in the world. “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” visionary Dominik writes and directs the film featuring an unrecognizable de Armas, Bobby Cannavale, Adrien Brody, Julianne Nicholson, Xavier Samuel, and Evan Williams. Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tracey Landon, and Scott Robertson all serve as producers. Dominik promised that “Blonde” will most likely “offend” everyone, while making cinematic history along the lines of “Citizen Kane” and “Raging Bull” with a #MeToo twist. In the teaser, De Armas as Monroe is seen being overwhelmed by paparazzi and shriveling in tears before going onstage. That is, until she bursts into maniacal laughter as though flipping a switch. “The whole idea of ‘Blonde’ was to detail a childhood drama and then show the way in which that drama splits the adults into a public and private self,” writer-director Dominik previously told Collider. “And how the adult sees the world through the lens of that childhood drama, and it’s sort of a story of a person whose rational picture of the world as being overwhelmed by her unconscious, and it uses the iconography of Marilyn Monroe.” Dominik added, “It’s a tragedy. It’s sort of like an unwanted child who becomes the most wanted woman in the world and has to deal with all of the desire that is directed at her, and how confusing that is. It’s kind of a nightmare. It’s about being in a car with no brakes. It’s just going faster and faster and faster.” For all the details on “Blonde,” click here. Check out the teaser below. “Blonde” premieres September 23 on Netflix. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.

Movies

Pokemon Go's TCG crossover event is underway, and as part of the festivities, a handful of special Pokemon are appearing for a limited time -- including shiny Meltan. You'll have a chance of encountering this shiny mythical Pokemon until June 30, making this your first opportunity to get one in nearly a year.Unlike other mythical Pokemon in the game, Meltan is primarily found by opening the Mystery Box -- a special item you can only receive by transferring Pokemon to either Pokemon Home or one of the Let's Go games on Nintendo Switch. Here's everything you need to know about how to catch Meltan.What is Meltan?Meltan is a steel-type mythical Pokemon that can only be caught in Pokemon Go. There are two ways to encounter Meltan: by completing the "Let's Go, Meltan" Special Research task line, or by opening a special item called the Mystery Box.How to get the Mystery BoxUnlike most other items in Pokemon Go, you can't acquire the Mystery Box from the in-game shop. Rather, you must transfer one of your Pokemon from Go to Pokemon Home or Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu / Let's Go, Eevee to obtain it.Once you've made your first transfer, the Mystery Box will automatically be added to your inventory. However, it has a few noteworthy restrictions. After you open the Mystery Box, it will remain active for 60 minutes, during which time Meltan will spawn on the map. Once the time has elapsed, the box will close, and you'll need to wait three days and make another transfer before you can open it again (although the wait period is often reduced during special events).How to evolve Meltan into MelmetalAnother aspect that sets Meltan apart from other mythical Pokemon is the fact it can evolve. Once you've obtained 400 Meltan candies, you can evolve it into a powerful steel-type Pokemon called Melmetal. This evolution can only be triggered in Pokemon Go, so if you're hoping to use Meltmetal in other Pokemon games like Sword and Shield, you'll need to evolve Meltan before transferring it over.Since Meltan has such a steep candy requirement, you'll need to catch as many of them as you can while the Mystery Box is open if you're hoping to evolve it. You can maximize you amount of candy you receive by feeding a Pinap Berry to a wild Meltan before catching it. You can also expedite the process by converting any Rare Candy you have into Meltan candy.How to get shiny MeltanWhereas most shiny Pokemon remain available in Pokemon Go after they've been introduced to the game, shiny Meltan only appears during special events like the Pokemon TCG crossover, so you don't want to miss your chance to catch one while you can.Unfortunately, there's no real way to ensure you encounter a shiny Meltan, so whether or not you get one ultimately comes down to luck. Your best bet to find one is to open the Mystery Box as many times as you can during the event and catch every Meltan that appears. This will maximize your chances of encountering a shiny Meltan.Best moves for MelmetalLike many other mythical Pokemon in the game, Melmetal's move pool is fairly shallow. Your only option when it comes to Fast Attacks is Thunder Shock, making it the best choice by default.The overall best Charged Attack for Melmetal is Hyper Beam, as it deals the most damage per second. Another good option, however, is the steel-type move Flash Cannon. Melmetal will receive a same-type attack bonus from the attack, but it takes longer to charge up than Hyper Beam.Pokemon Go's TCG crossover is running until June 30, but there are more events happening in the game this month. You can see everything going on in Pokemon Go over the next few weeks in our June events roundup.

Video Games

Any attempt at drawing conclusions from this month’s international games comes with the obvious caveat that the players are quite simply exhausted. A grotesque saturation of games, fuelled by the footballing authorities’ never-ending appetite for competition and their complete disregard for footballers’ health, has resulted in an abysmal dip in the quality of play across the board. With next season’s non-stop 11-month football extravaganza looming large, the players can be forgiven for taking a breather.In France’s case, though, there are other factors responsible for what was the worst international break of Didier Deschamps’ decade in charge. Their defence was shaky, their build-up play was soporific and their finishing touch was non-existent. Deschamps picked some new faces and experimental selections but, just five months before the World Cup, France are no closer to knowing how they will line up.Four matches in the Nations League without a win, including defeats to Denmark and Croatia, have revived issues that were bubbling under the surface, often masked by moments of individual brilliance. From tactical uncertainty to a laborious reshuffle in personnel, the games this month have brought more questions than answers for the world champions, who are now fighting to avoid relegation to the second tier of the Nations League.Successive injuries hardly made the task easier. Kylian Mbappé’s knee issue, Raphaël Varane’s thigh situation and N’Golo Kanté’s recurring fitness problems are the battle scars of an arduous campaign. Several players have passed their breaking points.Events off the pitch have also taken their toll. Deschamps lost his father at the start of the month and missed the first match. On his return, he was characteristically stoic but after the Croatia game he revealed, understandably, that he did not have the “usual strength and energy” to give to his players.For Deschamps, squad cohesion has always taken precedence over the talents of individuals. Although often derided for picking his ostensible favourites, his approach has brought results, barring the fiasco at the Euros last summer, when France were knocked out by Switzerland at the last-16 stage. However, his constant switching between different tactical setups in the last two weeks suggests he is uncertain about how to bring the best out of his ultra-talented squad.Finding a way for Karim Benzema and Mbappé to combine effectively is the major challenge for Deschamps. They have been the best two forwards in the world this season – Mbappé scored or set up 47 goals for PSG, more than any player in Europe, and Benzema was the top scorer in the Champions League and La Liga – so it would be unthinkable to leave either of them on the bench.However, given how close they came to playing alongside each other on a regular basis in Spain, with Benzema openly exhorting Mbappé to join him in Madrid, this month’s tepid link-up is somewhat puzzling. They had gruelling seasons, so a drop in intensity was inevitable, but their isolation on the pitch – from each other and from the France midfield – contributed heavily to the team’s lack of incisiveness.As tempting as it is to think of the upcoming World Cup as the final act of a generation synonymous with Deschamps’ reign – Hugo Lloris, Antoine Griezmann and Raphaël Varane have passed or are approaching a century of caps – the new generation is sorely needed to breathe life into a flailing team.This state of affairs is particularly alarming for Griezmann, who has gone 20 games without a goal for club and country. International breaks have often served as moments of respite during difficult spells in his club form but now, his dry spell with Atlético Madrid has crept into his hitherto talismanic status in the national team. With Christopher Nkunku and Moussa Diaby emerging as credible starters, a changing of the guard may not be too far away. The core players from the last decade are on their way out – with Olivier Giroud one of the first to go despite a title-winning season with Milan.A few players have emerged from the last fortnight with some credit – Mike Maignan, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Ibrahima Konaté all brought something to the table. Boubacar Kamara, fresh from an outstanding season at Marseille and a somewhat perplexing move to Aston Villa, rose to the occasion against Austria, before completely falling away in the next match.Given the various mitigating factors at play this month, it would be harsh to pass judgement on France’s performances. That said, pre-existing issues have been exacerbated and brought to the fore. Deschamps will be hoping their two final Nations League games in September will offer a clean slate after a much-needed break, albeit with relegation to League B to stave off.France have continued their unfortunate tradition of crashing out at the first hurdle when trying to defend an international title. If they are to change that trend at the World Cup, they will need to find a system that frees up Benzema and Mbappé while also providing a more assured defensive line. Although tactical malleability is not necessarily a bad thing, the reactionary nature of Deschamps’ changes, along with the team’s results, point to a deeper issue than simply looking for a plan B.The 3-4-3 formation, first rolled out in their defeat to Switzerland at the Euros but used to great effect since, was expected to continue. The defeat to Denmark at the Stade de France led to Deschamps rethinking his positions, instead opting for a 4-4-2 in the following two games. France’s defeat to Croatia was a microcosm of this tactical restlessness: having begun with a malfunctioning 4-3-3, the coach then switched back to a 4-4-2, which shored up the defence but blunted any attacking initiative.There is also uncertainty about Deschamps’ future. After a decade in charge, his contract expires at the end of the year, with Zinedine Zidane waiting in the wings. A post-World Cup handover would not necessarily signal a major change in approach – the focus remaining on a man-manager respected as an ex-pro, rather than as a tactician – but it would serve as a clean break to usher in a new era, as the mainstays are phased out in favour of a new generation of younger players. That is, unless Zidane accepts the PSG job first. In that case, Deschamps’ potential extension would presumably depend heavily on how far France go at the World Cup, while the long-elusive prospect of Arsène Wenger finally taking charge could also enter the realm of possibility.

Soccer