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Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Joey and Jesse Buss eye investment in Tony Parker’s ASVEL Basket

May 27, 2026
Joey and Jesse Buss eye investment in Tony Parker’s ASVEL Basket

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USA TODAY

Former Los Angeles Lakers owners Joey and Jesse Buss are interested in being among the investors in French EuroLeague team ASVEL. ASVEL has long been considered one of the teams that might leave the elite league, but they’ve changed their mind and will continue to play in it. Now, they are ready to take a step further and secure significant funds.

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype:Joey and Jesse Buss eye investment in Tony Parker’s ASVEL Basket

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Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer: Pitchers to sell high and buy low on

May 27, 2026
Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer: Pitchers to sell high and buy low on

After deviating from the usual format during recent weeks, this edition of the Trade Analyzer is back to focusing on some buy-low and sell-high options. And this week’s group is comprised entirely of hurlers, which has been an underrepresented position in recent articles.

Yahoo Sports

The sporadic nature of pitching appearances tends to make the stats of hurlers fluctuate wildly early in the season, but we are reaching the point in the campaign where many pitcher stat lines have begun to normalize, which gives smart fantasy managers the data they need to make smart trades.

Sell High

José Soríano, SP, Angels:After a memorable start to the season that included a 0.24 ERA in his first six starts, Soriano has looked more like previous iterations of himself over his past five outings. The right-hander has logged a 5.34 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over that five-start stretch, while posting a 31:14 K:BB ratio that is acceptable but not special. When looking at his season-long statistics, there is little that stands out as notably different from previous seasons, beyond an improved strikeout rate.

We also need to factor in that Soriano pitches for the team with the American League’s worst record (21-34) and one that is known for doing a poor job at developing pitchers. Managers should be happy to trade the 27-year-old for a sizable return while he still has ace-like ratios (2.44 ERA, 1.07 WHIP).

Nick Martinez, SP/RP, Rays:Managers who believe that the Rays are in the midst of a magical season where everything goes their way can keep Martinez. Everyone else should trade him away.

The 35-year-old has logged a dazzling 1.51 ERA on the strength of an unsustainable 92.9% strand rate. His lowly 14.9% strikeout rate is his worst mark since his 2022 return from a stint in Japan. Managers who can get anything of value for the right-hander should make the move, as his skill set is easily replaceable from the waiver wire.

Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournament

Eduardo Rodríguez, SP, Diamondbacks:Rodríguez has plenty of similarities to Martinez, with fortunate marks in BABIP (.259) and strand rate (84.9) driving his fantasy production. The southpaw with an excellent 2.31 ERA has earned marks in the range of 4.00 from every major ERA estimator. There won’t be a significant trade market for Rodríguez, but small deals can sometimes reap large rewards in the long run.

My plan would be to use him to sweeten the pot in a larger deal and then replace him with a better pitcher who remains on the waiver wire.

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Paul Sewald, RP, Diamondbacks:Sewald has been one of this season’s waiver wire gems, as he ranks fourth in the majors with 13 saves. And although there isn’t heavy statistical evidence for making this move, my gut says that managers should cash him out on the trade market in the coming weeks.

The 36-year-old has had an inconsistent career, and across 2024-25, he logged a 4.40 ERA over just 59.1 innings. He deserves credit for improving his strikeout rate this season, but he has also enjoyed the benefits of a .140 BABIP despite allowing plenty of hard contact. Sewald’s skills or luck could regress as the season progresses, which would make him a shaky saves source.

Buy Low

Jesús Luzardo, SP, Phillies:Death, taxes and Luzardo enduring wild fluctuations with his ratios. Perhaps no pitcher excites and exasperates fantasy managers as much as Luzardo, who regularly rotates from seven shutout innings to giving up 5+ runs over fewer than five frames. He has notched the latter stat line in four of his 11 starts this season, which has heavily contributed to a 4.38 ERA and 1.28 WHIP.

His underlying stats continue to paint the left-hander as an ace, including a 3.13 xERA and a 72:17 K:BB ratio. Fantasy managers who need to take a chance with their pitching staff can acquire Luzardo in hopes that he irons out the rough patches this summer.

Garrett Crochet, SP, Red Sox:Acquiring Crochet at a discount is a sensible Hail Mary for managers who need to take drastic steps to fix a disappointing pitching staff. The left-hander has been ineffective or injured this season, which has resulted in a 6.30 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. His return date from the IL continues to be pushed back, and what was once expected to be a minimal stint is now destined to be five weeks or more. Still, when Crochet is at his best, he can impact the fantasy standings more than virtually any pitcher, which we saw when he went 18-5 with 255 strikeouts and terrific ratios (2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP) last season. As you’ll see on theYahoo Trade Market, some of his recent returns have been underwhelming.

Devin Williams, RP, Mets:At first glance, Williams looks like a bust. After all, he has earned just seven saves while also producing poor ratios (6.35 ERA, 1.65 WHIP). A closer look shows that the right-hander allowed all of his earned runs during a four-appearance stretch from April 15-23 and on May 24, while logging a 12:2 K:BB ratio and 0.41 WHIP in between those outings.

The Mets’ overall win total and Williams’ save chances have been impacted by a sluggish New York offense that should improve at some point. The 31-year-old remains a useful closer, and wise managers will buy him at a significant discount on the premise that he hasn’t bounced back from his 2025 struggles.

David Bednar, RP, Yankees:Next, we move from the former Yankees closer to the current one. Bednar may be as easy to acquire as Williams, even though he has more saves (12), as he hasn’t pitched well in May (6.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP).

The 31-year-old has done a great job of inducing grounders (58.5%), but unfortunately, too many of them have found holes in the infield (.369 BABIP). His 28:10 K:BB ratio is a strong mark, and unlike Williams, he has the support of a winning team. His 4.70 ERA should soon regress closer to his 3.21 FIP.

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Israel says it killed new Hamas military leader in Gaza

May 27, 2026
Israel says it killed new Hamas military leader in Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel said Wednesday it targeted and killed the new leader of Hamas' military wing duringairstrikes in Gaza Cityless than two weeks after killing his predecessor.

Associated Press Palestinians mourn over the body of Mohammad Odeh, whom Israel says was a leader of Hamas Qassam Brigades, a day after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike, during his funeral in Gaza City, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Palestinians mourn over the body of Mohammad Odeh, whom Israel says was a leader of Hamas Qassam Brigades, a day after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike, during his funeral in Gaza City, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Muslims worshipers offer Eid al-Adha prayers in Gaza City Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Muslims worshipers gather for Eid al-Adha prayers in Gaza City Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Palestinians take photos with Islamic Jihad militants as they gather for Eid al-Adha prayers in Gaza City Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Israel Palestinians Gaza

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Israeli military said the strikes carried out Tuesday killed Mohammed Odeh. Hamas did not comment on Odeh.

At least five people were killed and 12 injured in Tuesday’s strike on a market including Odeh, his wife, son and daughter and another woman, local hospitals said. The attack came on the eve ofEid al-Adha, a major Muslim holiday.

Thousands of people gathered Wednesday for the joint funeral of Odeh's family in Gaza City. Mourners covered the four bodies with green Hamas flags and marched from a mosque through the city, chanting and firing shots in the air. Some carried posters with Odeh's poster emblazoned with the words “one of the chiefs of staffs of the Qassam Brigades,” referring to Hamas' military wing.

Katz called him “one of the architects” of theOct. 7, 2023, attacksthat triggered over two years of war in Gaza and said it was the fourth time Israel has killed the head of Hamas’ military wing since that massacre.Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the previous head, was killed on May 16.

“We pledged to eliminate everyone who led the October 7 massacre and this is what we will do: they are all bound to die, everywhere,” Katz wrote on X on Wednesday. “We pledged that Hamas will not hold civilian or military rule.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is preparing for elections in the fall, also threatened that Israel will target everyone involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

A grim Eid in Gaza

The attack came as Muslims prepared forEid al-Adha, normally a joyous time of family gatherings and large meals.

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The holiday once again is subdued this year in Gaza, where the vast majority of people remain displaced and live in tents or temporary shelters after a devastating war. Around 90% of Gaza’s more than 2 million people have lost their homes, according to U.N. estimates, with most of them now sheltering in huge tent camps with rat infestations and pools of sewage. They are dependent on aid to survive.

Eid al-Adha, or “Feast of Sacrifice,” is an Islamic holiday celebrated by millions of Muslims across the globe. The four-day holiday, which begins duringthe Hajj pilgrimage, also is known for being a joyous occasion during which families gather, and children are given new clothes and gifts.

“This is not Eid ... we’re dead,” said Mahmoud Saqer, a displaced man from Khan Younis, who described people as being distressed by the ongoing human suffering and killings in the territory.

In Khan Younis and Gaza City, amid destroyed buildings, including a ruined mosque, people gathered for Eid prayers with few signs of celebration beyond a few clusters of balloons lining one street. Tahrir al-Khatib said the joy that accompanies Eid has been silenced in Gaza.

“There’s no Eid. My children were killed. Eid is only for the people who lost no one,” said Ayda Al-Banna, a displaced women from Gaza City, who prayed Eid prayers with her granddaughter.

Fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza

A ceasefirereached between Israel and Hamasin October remains fragile. Israeli attacks have killed more than 880 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect. Israel says its attacks are in response to violations by Hamas or threats to its soldiers, but Palestinian health officials say scores of civilians have been among the dead. Four Israeli soldiers have also been killed during this period in Gaza.

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas attacks in October 2023, which killed some 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says over 72,803 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire. The ministry, part of Gaza’s Hamas government, does not give a breakdown of civilian and militant deaths. ___

Associated Press writer Fatma Khaled contributed from Cairo.

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Analysis-'Breakneck' Ebola epidemic in Congo outpaces world's response

May 27, 2026
Analysis-'Breakneck' Ebola epidemic in Congo outpaces world's response

By Aaron Ross and Emma Farge

Reuters FILE PHOTO: Red Cross workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) prepare to lower the coffin of Dr Tibenderana Katho Blaise who worked at the Centre Medical Evangelique (CME) in Hoho commune and died of Ebola virus, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain a new Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, at the Nyamurongo cemetery in Bunia town, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 26, 2026. REUTERS/Gradel Muyisa Mumbere/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Red Cross workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) lower the coffin of Dr Tibenderana Katho Blaise who worked at the Centre Medical Evangelique (CME) in Hoho commune and died of Ebola virus, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain a new Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, at the Nyamurongo cemetery in Bunia town, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 26, 2026. REUTERS/Gradel Muyisa Mumbere/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Red Cross outreach workers talk to a woman in a residential area, to raise awareness about Ebola, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo FILE PHOTO: A Red Cross worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) attends the burial of Dr Tibenderana Katho Blaise who worked at the Centre Medical Evangelique (CME) in Hoho commune and died of Ebola virus, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain a new Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, at the Nyamurongo cemetery in Bunia town, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 26, 2026. REUTERS/Gradel Muyisa Mumbere/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: Congolese Dr. Tibenderana Katho Blaise who died of Ebola virus buried in Bunia

LONDON/NAIROBI/GENEVA, May 27 (Reuters) - In an Ebola outbreak, hours matter.

Yet the response to the deadly and fast-spreading epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is weeks if not months behind - and missing thousands of people who may be at risk.

Interviews with global health officials and documents from a meeting led by the World Health Organization and Africa Centres ‌for Disease Control and Prevention show how behind the curve authorities are in fighting the latest outbreak.

Caused by a strain of the virus known as Bundibugyo for which there is no vaccine or treatment, ‌the outbreak has already caused a suspected 220 deaths and 900 cases, according to the WHO. It has spread to Uganda, where there are seven cases.

Health teams are racing to find thousands of people who may have been exposed to the virus while also grappling with myriad challenges ​that make it difficult to contain.

Problems at a local level include lack of basic supplies as well as mistrust from a community scarred by previous outbreaks. Globally, the response is hampered by the withdrawal of the U.S. from the WHO and wider funding cuts, many health sources said.

Documents from Friday's virtual coordination meeting show that, as of last week, only 7% of the 1,261 people identified as contacts of suspected Ebola patients had been found and followed up. The WHO put the number at more than 2,000 on Wednesday.

‘OUTPACING THE RESPONSE’

The outbreak is "outpacing the response", WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on Wednesday.

"Attacks on health facilities make tracking cases and their contacts nearly impossible."

In eastern Congo, the worst-hit area, hospitals have been ‌attacked and isolation tents burned by angry mobs reclaiming bodies of loved ones, ⁠apparently unaware of risks from infectious corpses.

That is hindering the operation to stop the spread of the virus and track those at risk in an area already wracked with conflict and with poor health infrastructure, three experts said.

In a document summary of the meeting on Friday, the partners agreed that reaching more contacts is now the key priority as funding ⁠and emergency response personnel trickle in.

"Bottom line: No vaccine exists. No therapy exists. The virus circulated undetected for six weeks. Cross-border spread is confirmed. Healthcare workers are dying. Every day without a fully resourced response is a day the outbreak gains ground," a presentation by the WHO Africa team from the meeting reads.

Professor Salim Abdool Karim, a leading South African epidemiologist and one of the key figures advising Africa CDC, said the outbreak was moving at “breakneck speed”.

“If you had to choose a bad place for ​this ​to happen, it would be Ituri,” he added of the province at its epicentre.

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While Congolese officials are well-versed in fighting Ebola - this ​is the 17th outbreak since 1976 - shortages remain a problem, including of the right ‌tests to detect Bundibugyo rather than other Ebola viruses.

This was also a factor delaying initial detection.

“There are very few people on the ground – and there are other problems as well, like getting fuel for the vehicles. It goes on and on,” Karim said.

U.S. MISSING

Several sources, including one U.S. official briefed on the Ebola response and another working with WHO, said problems would have been solved more easily and quickly in the past, when the U.S. worked with WHO and often co-led the international response to outbreaks.

The U.S. left the organization in January and has cut international aid funding more broadly, alongside a number of other wealthy countries.

“The organisations that would have been able to do this work are not there anymore,” said one U.S. official briefed on the response.

Amadou Bocoum, CARE’s country director, said his emergency response team had been cut by a third.

With the scale and origins of the outbreak unclear, it was a "hell ‌of a job" to find all potential cases and contacts, said Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist on the WHO's emergency committee.

Ebola spreads ​through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people once they have symptoms, contaminated materials, and bodies of those who have ​died with the illness. The contacts of Ebola patients need to be found and then watched over for ​21 days, the incubation period of the virus. If they get symptoms, they can isolate, stopping further spread.

“We’re going back to the basics of Ebola outbreak responses when we didn't ‌have the means to contain it like we did before vaccines and therapeutics,” said ​Dr. Alan Gonzalez, deputy director of operations for Medecins Sans ​Frontieres, which has asked staff worldwide to apply to reinforce the workforce in Congo.

There is also a major psychological obstacle.

“People are afraid,” said Mamadou Kaba Barry, head of mission in Congo for the Alliance for International Medical Action, which has run 60 health centres in Ituri for several years. He said some cases are disappearing and other suspected cases are not being reported because of the mistrust.

He and many others ​fear a repeat of the worst-ever Ebola outbreak, which spread across West Africa in ‌2014-2016 and caused more than 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths.

“In West Africa, people hid, thinking, 'What's the point of dying and having my family unable to recover my body?'" he said, adding that ​a decade on, some lessons still need to be learned.

“We never get used to Ebola. It's always frightening.”

(Reporting by Jennifer Rigby in London, Aaron Ross in Nairobi, Emma Farge and Olivia Le ​Poidevin in Geneva, Clement Bonnerot in Dakar, and Silvia Aloisi in Nairobi; Editing by Silvia Aloisi and Andrew Cawthorne)

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Tuesday, May 26, 2026

UFC arena soars above White House as Trump prepares for big cage fight

May 26, 2026
UFC arena soars above White House as Trump prepares for big cage fight

WASHINGTON — It looks like a rollercoaster soaring above the White House.

USA TODAY

But this isn't a theme park.

The centerpiece of a make-shift UFC arena on the South Lawn of the White House took form on May 25 as construction crews installed asoaring 90-foot tall, open-air structurethat stands out dramatically from most views of the building.

Below the arc will be a 5,000-seat arena and octagon-shaped cage where UFC fighters will square off on June 14 ‒ a spectaclePresident Donald Trumphas promised will be the "biggest event we've ever had at the White House." The event falls on the president's 80th birthday and Flag Day.

Construction on the massive White House overhaulto prepare for the UFC fight got underway last week. Trump has said an additional 75,000-100,000 spectators can watch the UFC event for free on large screens further away from the White House Ellipse. Trump met with UFC CEO Dana White, a close ally, on May 5 to discuss the planning.

More:'All the best fighters': Trump unveils images of planned White House UFC cage

U.S. Army National Guard soldiers patrol nearby as construction is underway on a temporary arena that will host the UFC Freedom 250 fight card in June on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 26, 2026.

The temporary UFC arena has added to what's suddenly become a crowded White House skyline as two construction cranes for Trump's massive ballroom work on the east side of the White House campus.

The UFC undertaking has forced Trump to cease temporarily cease travel on Marine One to and from the South Lawn and instead rely on motorcade to go back and forth to Joint Base Andrews, where the president boards Air Force One.

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More:Dana White reveals more about UFC Freedom 250 at White House tickets

The UFC fight is part of the administration's year of celebrations to mark the250th anniversaryof the nation's founding.

A mock-up of the UFC structure going up at the White House was recently on display in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

A section of the UFC Freedom 250 stage during assembly on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 25, 2026.

Trump was joined in the White House on May 6 by UFC fightersJustin Gaethjeand Ilia Topuria, who are facing off in the headliner fight, as well asAlex Pereiraand Ciryl Gane, who will compete in one of the other seven fights.

"These are real warriors," Trump said of the UFC fighters. "When we talk about warriors, these are warriors."

Trump,an avid sports fan, often held boxing matches at his casinos during his real estate days in the 1980s and 1990s and sat ringside as the likes of Mike Tyson won their fights. In recent years, he's frequently attended UFC fights, including on April 11 in Miami.

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:White House fight arena soars high as Trump readies for UFC cage match

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Where to watch Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Tuesday, May 26

May 26, 2026
Where to watch Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Tuesday, May 26

The Cincinnati Reds, ranked fourth in the NL Central with a 28-25 record, face the New York Mets, who are fifth in the NL East with a 22-32 record. Cincinnati is favored with a -130 moneyline compared to New York's +100. Chase Burns starts for Cincinnati with a 1.83 ERA, while the Mets' starter is TBD.

Yahoo Sports

How to watch Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets

Team records

  • Cincinnati Reds: 28-25 (fourth in NL Central)

  • New York Mets: 22-32 (fifth in NL East)

Odds

  • Spread: New York Mets +1.5

  • Moneyline: New York Mets +105 / Cincinnati Reds -130

  • Over/Under: 7.5

Starting pitchers

Cincinnati Reds:Chase Burns (6-1, ERA: 1.83, K: 64, WHIP: 0.95)

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New York Mets:TBD

Series:Game 2 of 3 (series tied)

Weather:73°F at first pitch

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UFC arena soars above White House as Trump prepares for big cage fight

May 26, 2026
UFC arena soars above White House as Trump prepares for big cage fight

WASHINGTON — It looks like a rollercoaster soaring above the White House.

USA TODAY

But this isn't a theme park.

The centerpiece of a make-shift UFC arena on the South Lawn of the White House took form on May 25 as construction crews installed asoaring 90-foot tall, open-air structurethat stands out dramatically from most views of the building.

Below the arc will be a 5,000-seat arena and octagon-shaped cage where UFC fighters will square off on June 14 ‒ a spectaclePresident Donald Trumphas promised will be the "biggest event we've ever had at the White House." The event falls on the president's 80th birthday and Flag Day.

Construction on the massive White House overhaulto prepare for the UFC fight got underway last week. Trump has said an additional 75,000-100,000 spectators can watch the UFC event for free on large screens further away from the White House Ellipse. Trump met with UFC CEO Dana White, a close ally, on May 5 to discuss the planning.

More:'All the best fighters': Trump unveils images of planned White House UFC cage

U.S. Army National Guard soldiers patrol nearby as construction is underway on a temporary arena that will host the UFC Freedom 250 fight card in June on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 26, 2026.

The temporary UFC arena has added to what's suddenly become a crowded White House skyline as two construction cranes for Trump's massive ballroom work on the east side of the White House campus.

The UFC undertaking has forced Trump to cease temporarily cease travel on Marine One to and from the South Lawn and instead rely on motorcade to go back and forth to Joint Base Andrews, where the president boards Air Force One.

Advertisement

More:Dana White reveals more about UFC Freedom 250 at White House tickets

The UFC fight is part of the administration's year of celebrations to mark the250th anniversaryof the nation's founding.

A mock-up of the UFC structure going up at the White House was recently on display in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

A section of the UFC Freedom 250 stage during assembly on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 25, 2026.

Trump was joined in the White House on May 6 by UFC fightersJustin Gaethjeand Ilia Topuria, who are facing off in the headliner fight, as well asAlex Pereiraand Ciryl Gane, who will compete in one of the other seven fights.

"These are real warriors," Trump said of the UFC fighters. "When we talk about warriors, these are warriors."

Trump,an avid sports fan, often held boxing matches at his casinos during his real estate days in the 1980s and 1990s and sat ringside as the likes of Mike Tyson won their fights. In recent years, he's frequently attended UFC fights, including on April 11 in Miami.

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:White House fight arena soars high as Trump readies for UFC cage match

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Court blocks Alabama congressional map with 1 majority-Black district

May 26, 2026
Court blocks Alabama congressional map with 1 majority-Black district

Alabama primaries heat up following Supreme Court's redistricting decision 02:24

CBS News

Washington — A federal district court on Tuesday temporarily blocked Alabama from using a congressional map adopted by state lawmakers in 2023 for the upcomingmidterm elections, finding that the plan, which includes one majority-Black district, is racially discriminatory.

The panel of three judges instead ordered Alabama to continue using a court-selected map that includes two majority-Black districts. Those congressional district lines were used in the 2024 elections.

In theirdecision,the judges found that the redistricting plan adopted by Alabama's GOP-led legislature in 2023, which state officials sought to reimplement for this year's House contests, intentionally discriminated on the basis of race, in violation of the Constitution's 14th Amendment.

"Ultimately, we cannot see our way clear to requiring Alabamians to cast their votes in the 2026 elections under a districting plan tainted by intentional race-based discrimination," Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus and District Judges Anna Manasco and Terry Moorer found.

The state can appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, has already set a special primary for Aug. 11 for four Housedistricts that would be reconfiguredunder the new map. Primaries for the state's remaining House seats unaffected by the redistricting scramble were held last week.

The court rejected the state's argument that mapmakers were driven by party politics when they redrew the House district lines in 2023 and instead found that state lawmakers enacted that map to "distribute Black voters across districts to dilute their votes, at least in part because they were Black."

Still, the district court gave state lawmakers the chance to enact another congressional districting plan for the upcoming House elections, writing that its order requiring Alabama's congressional elections be administered under the court-drawn map expires if the state adopts new voting lines.

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"We acknowledge that our holding is a rare one in the modern era, and we are painfully aware of the gravity of our ruling, but in this unusual posture and on this extensive record, we do not find the issue particularly complex or close," the judge said.

The decision is the latest twist in the long-running legal fight over Alabama's congressional map. The case landed back before the district court after the Supreme Court's landmark decision last month thatweakeneda key provision of the Voting Rights Act.

That ruling, which came in a case involving Louisiana's congressional map, set off a rush in some Southern states to reconfigure their congressional districts to give Republicans an edge and help the GOP hold onto its House majority.

On the heels of its decision in the Louisiana voting rights case, the high courtset aside lower court rulingsthat had blocked Alabama from using the 2023 map and ordered additional proceedings. State officials then acted swiftly to implement the House lines drawn by state lawmakers three years ago.

Alabama's congressional delegation is currently composed of five Republicans and two Democrats. But state GOP officials had hoped that under the new map, they could flip the seat currently held by Rep. Shomari Figures, a Democrat.

Figures said he is "pleased" with the district court's decision blocking the state from using the 2023 House plan, but acknowledged that the state will likely appeal to the Supreme Court.

"This is a significant step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go before this fight is settled," he said.

Alabama's GOP-controlled legislature crafted new district lines in 2023 after their original map, crafted after the 2020 Census, was found to likely violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

The 2023 map included a single majority-Black district, but the district court blocked the state from using those congressional districts in the 2024 elections. Instead, those contests were held under a remedial map adopted by the court.

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Monday, May 25, 2026

Japan's Ryuichi Oiwa fires 61 to qualify for U.S. Open

May 25, 2026
Japan's Ryuichi Oiwa fires 61 to qualify for U.S. Open

Japan's Ryuichi Oiwa carded a 61 in the second round on Monday and joined two countrymen in claiming spots in next month's U.S. Open.

Field Level Media

Oiwa finished the 36-hole qualifying event in Hino, Japan, at 12-under 128, one stroke ahead of Kaito Onishi and two ahead of Taihei Sato.

Fourth- and fifth-place finishers Riki Kawamoto and Taichi Nabetani, also of Japan, are the first and second alternates for the June 18-21 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

Oiwa, 28, is ranked No. 378 in the world and competes on the Japan Tour. This is the first time he has qualified for a Grand Slam tournament.

Oiwa opened with a 3-under 67 at the Hino Golf Club's King Course that included five birdies and a double-bogey at the par-4 14th hole. He delivered nine birdies in a bogey-free second round, including three in a row at Nos. 15-1.

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Onishi, 27, is ranked No. 811 in the world and has competed in 32 events on the PGA Tour. He currently competes on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he won the UNC Health Championship tournament in 2024.

Onishi got to 11-under with rounds of 64 and 65 on Monday, overcoming a double-bogey at the par-4 13th hole in his second round with birdies at Nos. 14, 16 and 17.

Sato, 32, is No. 424 in the world rankings. He captured his first title on the Japan Tour at the Fortinet Players Cup in 2025.

Sato finished at 10-under after shooting 66 and 64. His wild opening round included two bogeys, three birdies and an eagle on the front nine.

--Field Level Media

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Aleksandar Rakic makes heavyweight debut vs. Marcin Tybura at UFC Belgrade

May 25, 2026
Aleksandar Rakic makes heavyweight debut vs. Marcin Tybura at UFC Belgrade

Aleksandar Rakic will seek new life at heavyweight.

USA TODAY

Rakic (14-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) takes on perennial contender Marcin Tybura (27-11 MMA, 14-10 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 283 on Aug. 1 from Belgrade Arena in Serbia, promotion officialsannouncedMonday.

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Rakic has lost four straight – the first skid of his career. The 34-year-old Serbian fighter is coming off a TKOloss to Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 321this past October. His prior three losses came to former UFC champions Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka andMagomed Ankalaev. He hasn't won a fight in more than five years.

Tybura has split his past four appearances. After picking up wins over Jhonata Diniz and Mick Parkin, the 40-year-old dropped two straight against Ante Delija, and most recently Tyrell Fortune at UFC Fight Night 271 in March.

The current lineup for UFC Fight Night 283 includes:

  • Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez

  • Aleksandar Rakic vs. Marcin Tybura

  • Dusko Todorovic vs. Robert Valentin

  • Max Gimenis vs. Jovan Leka

  • Vlasto Cepo vs. Gilbert Urbina

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie:UFC Belgrade: Aleksandar Rakic draws Tybura in heavyweight debut

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Dangers from damaged California chemical tank persist. Here's what to know

May 25, 2026
Dangers from damaged California chemical tank persist. Here's what to know

Authorities have been scrambling to find a safe resolution asa damaged tankat a Southern California aerospace facility containing a hazardous chemical used to make plastic parts prompted an evacuation order affecting tens of thousands of residents.

Associated Press Water is sprayed on a damaged tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after the tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Water is sprayed on a damaged tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after the tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Oscar Bello, who evacuated Anaheim with his pets, shows them off at the John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) The streets remain empty in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after a storage tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday at an aerospace plastics facility. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Evacuees gather their pets and belongings at the John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Southern California Chemical Tank

The storage tank at GKN Aerospace with about 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,713 to 26,498 liters) of methyl methacrylateoverheated last weekand began venting vapors into the air around Garden Grove, a city in Orange County. Officials said over the weekend the tank could leak all the chemical or even explode if it overheats.

Firefighters have been spraying the tank with water in an effort to cool the chemicals heating up inside, and authorities were hopeful that a crack in the tank that occurred over the weekend would relieve pressure and reduce the risk of an explosion. Officials say there's no active leak and no chemicals have escaped from the tank.

No injuries have been reported, but more than 50,000 residents were under an evacuation order over the Memorial Day weekend.

Why is this chemical dangerous?

Methyl methacrylate is a flammable, colorless liquid used in the production of resins, plastics and plastic dentures and is a hazardous substance regulated by the federal government. It can irritate the lungs, eyes and skin and in high doses can cause reduced lung function, along with dizziness and memory problems,accordingto the Environmental Protection Agency.

In prolonged cases, exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems or render a person unconscious.

Tests have found that air pollution in the evacuation zone is within normal limits.

What is the problem with the tank?

The tank's drainage valves are not functioning, officials said, adding that without action, there could be either a large chemical spill or an explosion.

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Firefighters focused on keeping the temperature of the tank under 85 degrees F (29.4 degrees C) to relieve pressure. On Sunday, EPA chief Lee Zeldin said the most likely scenario is a “low-volume release” of the tank’s contents, so officials can “monitor, neutralize, and contain the threat.”

What happens if it explodes?

If the temperature inside the tank rises, it will cause pressure to build as the methyl methacrylate converts from a liquid to a gas, increasing the risk of explosion, which could ignite other tanks at the site.

A blast that releases the chemical would send it into a wider area and could create vapors that are hazardous to inhale, according to Orange County's top health officer, Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong.

Aerial photos taken by The Associated Press showed streets in the area were empty Sunday, while several evacuation shelters were open.

The evacuation zone is west of Anaheim, home to Disneyland’s two theme parks, which were not under evacuation orders. Chinsio-Kwong said people outside the evacuation zone don't need to worry about health impacts.

What happens next?

Officials said Sunday that the crack in the tank could potentially lower the risk of an explosion. Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Wayhowe Huang said the tank did not appear to be releasing any of the toxic chemical into the atmosphere.

Fire officials planned to send in a team for “an all-night mission” to determine if the pressure has been relieved, which would reduce the worst-case scenario of an explosion, Orange County Fire Authority interim chief TJ McGovern said in a video posted late Sunday to the agency’s X account.

Zeldin said a low-volume and controlled release of the chemical would allow officials to relieve pressure on the tank. The company, GKN Aerospace, said Sunday that it continues to work with local authorities.

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Sunday, May 24, 2026

5 bold predictions for Seahawks in the 2026 NFL season

May 24, 2026
5 bold predictions for Seahawks in the 2026 NFL season

TheSeattle Seahawksapproach the 2026 NFL season with expectations of defending their Super Bowl win from last season, but a competitive field of opponents across the league create questions as to how their season will pan out.

USA TODAY

TheLos Angeles RamsandSan Francisco 49ersare two major threats theSeahawksin the NFC West. Elsewhere around the league, theDetroit LionsandKansas City Chiefsare poised for bounce back years, while theBuffalo Billsand theBaltimore Ravenshave another chance to get over the hump. And then there’s thePhiladelphia Eagles, perhaps the biggest wild card team in the league.

The Seahawks’ roster from last season is largely intact, with fitting replacements at positions where they saw key starters depart from in free agency. With a strength of schedule that ranks No. in the league, and a

Here are five bold predictions for how the Seahawks’ season will pan out, forecasting everything from key wins on the schedule to end-of-season awards and their chances of winning the Super Bowl again at season’s end.

Slight dip in targets for JSN opens door for career year for Rashid Shaheed

Jaxon Smith-Njigba was targeted 163 times for the Seahawks last season. Cooper Kupp received the second-most targets in 2025 with 70. Rashid Shaheed received 26 in nine games played for Seattle.

Things figure to be different in 2026, with Shaheed set to be a more integral part of the offense. While Smith-Njigba is likely to be a candidate for AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors again next season, Shaheed will call for more targets in the offense. With even 10 less targets for JSN next season, coupled with more plays called for Shaheed,

Jadarian Price wins OROY

Price is in a favorable situation that will allow him to start from day one.Raidersrookie Fernando Mendoza may take a backseat to Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas. Jordyn Tyson will also have to deal with Chris Olave being theNew Orleans Saints’ No. 1 receiver.

Save those two top 10 picks, Price’s main competition for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors will be Jeremiyah Love (Arizona Cardinals), Carnell Tate (Tennessee Titans), and Omar Cooper Jr. (New York Jets). Love will be the Cardinals’ primary back from the onset of the year, but has James Conner as his backup, who rushed for 1,000 yards in two of the last three seasons. Tate will also compete with two 1,000-yard receivers in Wan’Dale Robinson and Calvin Ridley for targets.

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Ultimately, Price will get the edge over his three rookie peers for the OROY award at the end of the season, with a projected 900 rushing yards to show for.

Seahawks will go 4-2 in primetime games

The Seahawks figure to have a raucous home crowd behind them to silence the Patriots in their Super Bowl rematch and first primetime game of the year in Week 1.

Seattle will be greatly tested on the road against the Denver Broncos after playing two tough games against the Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers. The altitude, coupled with a defense that [] will contribute toward Seattle losing its first primetime game in Week 6. Facing the Kansas City Chiefs right after that will be no easy task either, which figures to result in Seattle’s second and final loss in primetime in Week 7.

The Seahawks ought to be favored against the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys in their next two primetime games at home, before a win against the Rams in the first meeting between both teams in Week 16, bringing them to 4-2 in such games on the year.

Seattle finishes with No. 1 defense in the league

The Seahawks had a sweltering pass rush last season. Seattle’s secondary was a support for its front seven with All-Pro performers warding off down the field.

Seattle allowed the fewest points scored in the league last season. The Seahawks were dominant against the run, allowing only 3.7 yards per carry to opposing rushing attacks, which ranked No. 2 in the league, and a total of nine rushing touchdowns, which ranked No. 1. Seattle’s defense against the pass was also

With much of their defensive fabric still intact, the Seahawks will finish with the No. 1 defense in the league again in 2026.

Seahawks fail to win back-to-back Super Bowls

The Seahawks project to win the NFC West next season. However, getting back to the Super Bowl will be a difficult task.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire:5 bold predictions for Seahawks in the 2026 NFL season

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Steelers' second-year RB turning heads at OTAs

May 24, 2026
Steelers' second-year RB turning heads at OTAs

Pittsburgh Steelersrunning backKaleb Johnsonmay have been responsible for one of thebiggest rookie blundersin NFL history, but he's apparently ready to turn the page on his 2025 season following a strong performance at OTAs.

USA TODAY

On a new episode of Steel City Insider, Jim Wexell reported that he was wowed by Johnson's performance at OTAs and believes the young running back made massive improvements heading into Year 2.

“Kaleb Johnson has gotten first-team reps, and he looks like he’s all business,”Wexell said. “He looks like a guy that wants to make amends. … As a rookie, he couldn't pick up blitzes. And his pass-catching looks a lot better this year, let me tell you that. Now, what does he know about picking up blitzes now? Probably has been working on it. He's probably been working on his faults. There's a guy who's totally determined — would not surprise me if he shines in preseason."

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Johnson, who was selected by theSteelerswith the 83rd overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, failed to make an impact in his rookie season, recording 69 rushing yards on 28 attempts with limited playing time behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell.

Despite his strong showing at OTAs and the departure of Gainwell, Johnson still faces an uphill battle for snaps, as Warren and new Steelers running back Rico Dowdle are expected to control the workload this upcoming season.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X@TheSteelersWireand give ourFacebook pagea like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire:Steelers' Kaleb Johnson looking impressive at 2026 NFL OTAs

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