The Indiana Pacers hope Ivica Zubac will be an important player for their team this season after he missed most of last year with an injury. Zubac is a tall center who can help the team be stronger in rebounding and defense, especially in the playoffs.
Key Facts
The Pacers traded for Ivica Zubac from the Clippers in February last season.
Zubac played only five games before a rib injury ended his season.
He is 7 feet tall and plays center, focusing on defense and rebounding.
Zubac’s role is to make the Pacers physically tougher inside the paint.
The team also added Braden Smith, a guard from Purdue, known for assists.
Smith is 5-foot-10, 167 pounds, and will compete for a spot in training camp.
The Pacers already have good scorers but need a strong defender like Zubac.
The main concern is whether Zubac can stay healthy and play a full season.
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The Minnesota Twins traded two minor league infielders to the New York Mets to get left-handed relief pitcher A.J. Minter. The Twins made this deal to strengthen their bullpen before the baseball trade deadline.
Key Facts
The Twins received A.J. Minter, a left-handed relief pitcher, from the Mets.
The Twins gave up Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick, two minor league infield players.
Agbayani is 19 years old, a middle infielder, and the son of former Mets player Benny Agbayani.
Amick is 23, plays first and third base, and hit 23 home runs this season in Double-A.
Minter has a 2.35 earned run average (ERA) in 23 innings this season with 20 strikeouts.
Minter missed much of the past two seasons due to injuries but has a strong record when healthy.
The Mets have struggled this season and are likely to trade more players before the deadline.
The Twins’ bullpen has one of the worst ERAs in baseball, so getting Minter is expected to help them.
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The Los Angeles Clippers are shifting from relying on veteran players to building a younger team. Their new top draft pick, 19-year-old guard Keaton Wagler, is expected to be an important player as the team moves forward after the Kawhi Leonard era.
Key Facts
The Clippers have not had a top-five draft pick since 2009.
They selected Keaton Wagler, a 19-year-old guard, in the draft as a key young player.
Wagler showed he can run an offense well during his first college year at Illinois.
He is a smart player who can create opportunities for teammates and keep the offense moving.
Wagler’s skills could complement teammate Darius Garland, adding creativity to the team.
The Clippers are focusing on young players to develop the next stage of their team.
Other recent draft picks include Baba Miller, Nick Martinelli, and Narcisse Ngoy, but Wagler is the most notable.
Wagler faces pressure as a top-five pick but could help the team build a new identity.
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The New York Mets are planning to trade pitcher Clay Holmes before the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline. Holmes has not played since May due to a leg injury but is recovering and expected to draw interest from other teams.
Key Facts
The Mets have had a disappointing season and plan to sell players at the trade deadline.
Clay Holmes is a 33-year-old right-handed pitcher and a key trade candidate.
Holmes is recovering from a fractured right fibula suffered in May.
He has made rehab starts and is close to returning to pitching.
The Mets are ready to trade Holmes quickly and he will not pitch again before the deadline.
Holmes’s performance this season included a 4-4 win-loss record and a 2.39 earned run average (ERA) in nine games.
In the previous season, Holmes had a 12-8 record with a 3.53 ERA and 129 strikeouts.
Holmes is a pending free agent, which increases the Mets’ motivation to trade him soon.
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The Houston Astros are interested in trading for Logan Webb, a top pitcher from the San Francisco Giants, to improve their chances of making the playoffs. Webb has been strong this season and is seen as a valuable addition to the Astros' pitching lineup.
Key Facts
The Astros are competing for a playoff spot in the American League West division.
They want to strengthen their pitching rotation before the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline.
Logan Webb is a leading pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
Webb has a 6-7 win-loss record, a 3.93 earned run average (ERA), and 93 strikeouts in 19 games this season.
He was selected for the All-Star Game for the third year in a row.
The Giants are performing poorly this season, making Webb a likely trade candidate.
Webb is under contract with the Giants through the 2028 season.
The Astros view Webb as a major asset to help them reach the playoffs.
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Celtic Football Club rejected a transfer offer from West Ham for player Arne Engels and confirmed that Everton has shown interest in Alistair Johnston. Manager Martin O'Neill said the club wants to keep both players but will consider replacements if they leave.
Key Facts
West Ham made a bid for Arne Engels, but Celtic said the offer was too low.
Everton has contacted Celtic about Alistair Johnston but may not have made a formal offer yet.
Nottingham Forest previously offered £25 million for Engels, but Celtic declined.
Engels joined Celtic from Augsburg in August 2024.
Johnston joined Celtic from Montreal in January 2023 and played all five matches for Canada at the World Cup.
Manager Martin O'Neill described the interest in the players as expected but disappointing.
Celtic sold Daizen Maeda to Ipswich Town and signed Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran this summer.
Celtic is actively looking to sign new players to strengthen the team.
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LeBron James decided to join the Philadelphia 76ers for his final NBA seasons instead of the San Antonio Spurs. His agent, Rich Paul, explained that joining the Spurs, a team led by young star Victor Wembanyama, could have disrupted the team's growth and dynamics.
Key Facts
LeBron James chose to play for the Philadelphia 76ers last week.
Five main teams were considered: Cavaliers, Heat, 76ers, Warriors, and Timberwolves.
The San Antonio Spurs were not heavily mentioned as an option for James.
Spurs’ star Victor Wembanyama is in his third NBA season and is seen as a future superstar.
Wembanyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.1 blocks per game last season.
Spurs finished second overall in the Western Conference and won the Western Conference Championship.
LeBron’s agent said joining Spurs could have been difficult because of respecting Wembanyama’s role and growth.
Philadelphia’s lineup now includes LeBron, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.
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The San Francisco 49ers have signed wide receiver Deebo Samuel to a one-year contract worth up to $7 million. Samuel returns to the team after a knee injury sidelined starting receiver Ricky Pearsall.
Key Facts
Deebo Samuel agreed to a one-year deal with the 49ers for up to $7 million.
Samuel was originally drafted by the 49ers in 2019 and played six seasons with them.
He earned All-Pro honors in 2021, with 1,770 yards and 14 touchdowns that year.
Samuel was traded to Washington in 2025 and had 72 catches for 727 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Samuel is known for gaining an average of 8.7 yards after catching the ball, leading all receivers with at least 100 catches since 2019.
Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ starting receiver, has a knee injury that may require surgery.
Pearsall’s knee injury relates to a previous ligament issue and has limited his practice time.
Pearsall has struggled with injuries since being drafted in 2024 but has shown potential when healthy.
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Brothers Aveion Terrell and A.J. Terrell both play as cornerbacks for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. They shared their experiences about playing the same position on the same team.
Key Facts
Aveion Terrell and A.J. Terrell are brothers.
Both play for the NFL team Atlanta Falcons.
They play the same position: cornerback.
The cornerback position is a defensive role in football.
The brothers have described what it is like to share this experience.
This story was reported on July 31, 2026.
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FIFA has announced a plan to privatize aspects of the World Cup to attract up to $20 billion in investments. This plan is receiving attention and concern from global soccer organizations.
Key Facts
FIFA is proposing to privatize parts of the World Cup.
The goal is to raise about $20 billion through this plan.
Global soccer organizations are closely watching this plan.
The investment could change how the World Cup is managed.
The plan has sparked debate within the international soccer community.
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposes selling stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors, which has led to a boycott by European football associations and concerns that women's football tournaments will be negatively affected. The bans could impact upcoming women's World Cup qualifiers and youth tournaments, while FIFA denies selling football and faces opposition from multiple regions.
Key Facts
European football’s 55 member associations voted to boycott all FIFA competitions unless Infantino's plan is dropped.
The boycott will first affect the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup starting in September in Poland.
England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have qualifiers for the Women’s World Cup in October.
The Under-17 Women’s World Cup is scheduled for October in Morocco.
FIFA plans to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events and allow outside investors to buy minority stakes.
Several regional football organizations, including Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, oppose the plan and support the boycott.
FIFA says no football is being sold and blames inaccurate media reports for misunderstandings.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior FIFA adviser, resigned in protest, calling the proposal harmful for football’s future.
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Chelsea Football Club has been fined £10 million and given a suspended ban on signing new players for two transfer periods because they broke rules about paying agents between 2009 and 2022. The club also faced a suspended six-point deduction, but this penalty was lifted after an appeal.
Key Facts
Chelsea was fined £10 million for breaking rules on payments to football agents.
The breach covers payments made between 2009 and 2022.
The club received a suspended ban on registering new players for two transfer windows.
Chelsea was originally given a six-point deduction, but it was removed after appeal.
Owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital reported 74 rule breaches when they took over the club in 2022.
Chelsea admitted to making £47 million in secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties from 2011 to 2018.
The £10 million fine will be used to support grassroots football.
Earlier in March, Chelsea was banned for nine months from academy player transfers and fined £750,000.
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Andy Burnham has asked Fifa president Gianni Infantino to quit because of plans to sell a part of the World Cup rights to investors. Infantino’s idea has upset many football groups and caused a senior adviser to resign, who said the deal is bad for football.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham criticized Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell a stake in the World Cup.
This is the first time a major country’s leader has called for Infantino to resign.
Fifa wants to sell part of the World Cup’s commercial rights for $4.2 billion.
The plan has caused a backlash from European football bodies and others.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior Fifa adviser, resigned in protest over the deal.
Cordeiro said the sale is bad for the future of football and Fifa’s members.
Burnham said football belongs to fans and players, not investors.
Fifa plans to continue with the sale despite threats of boycotts by European nations.
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Golf is growing, especially among women, but many top amateur players struggle to find good competitions once youth contests end. The Amateur Golf Alliance works to create more chances for skilled amateurs to compete, focusing on playing for love of the game rather than money.
Key Facts
Golf participation has increased in recent years, with women making up over half of the new players.
Governing bodies want to add 22 million more golfers in the next five years.
Many strong amateur golfers face limited options after junior competitions end.
Only a small number of amateurs become professional golfers earning money from the sport.
The Amateur Golf Alliance (AGA) was started to support elite amateur golf and create competitive events.
The Concession Cup, an international amateur competition, inspired growth in supporting amateur golf.
The AGA offers financial support to college players and practice teams to help them compete fairly.
The AGA focuses on competitions where money is not the main goal, encouraging playing for enjoyment and skill.
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The final stage of the 2026 Tour de France was held in Paris due to wildfires in southwestern France. Photographer Thibault Camus captured the fast speed of the cyclists using a slow shutter camera technique on the famous Champs-Élysées street.
Key Facts
The 2026 Tour de France race was shortened and only held in Paris because of wildfires.
Cyclists raced on the last stage after traveling over 3,000 kilometers in total.
This edition was the fastest Tour de France ever recorded.
The photographer used a slow shutter speed (1/30th of a second) to show motion blur and speed.
The photo was taken at the Place de la Concorde, near the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
The image captures cyclists leaning into a curve while riding over cobblestone streets.
The bottom-ranked cyclist this year was as fast as the 2020 race winner.
The photo shows both the blur of movement and the shaking of the bike and rider together.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing criticism and protest over a new plan to bring private investors into World Cup operations, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which could raise up to $20 billion. A senior adviser to Infantino resigned, and several soccer governing bodies including the Asian Football Confederation, UEFA, and CONCACAF expressed strong concerns about the plan and the way it was proposed.
Key Facts
FIFA plans to create a new commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to bring in private investment up to $20 billion.
The FFE would be 20% owned by private investors, with the main investor being a New York firm linked to Joshua Kushner, Jared Kushner’s brother.
The plan has been criticized by important soccer groups in Europe (UEFA), Asia (AFC), and North America (CONCACAF).
CONCACAF and others are concerned about the short deadline, lack of proper approval, and question the need for investment after the recent very successful World Cup.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino and former U.S. Soccer Federation president, resigned in protest, saying he was not involved and opposes selling part of the World Cup.
FIFA denies it is selling football and says it will continue consulting members for their opinions on the plan.
The successful 2026 World Cup was hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, with Spain winning the tournament.
The controversy includes connections to President Donald Trump’s family through Jared and Joshua Kushner.
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A cricket league in North Yorkshire and South Durham is investigating an amateur player, Brian Devine, who is accused of cheating by clicking his fingers to trick an umpire during a recent game. Devine has been suspended by his club, Saltburn Cricket Club, while the league focuses on a fair investigation and supports the welfare of club members amid media attention.
Key Facts
The incident happened during a second XI Division 2 cricket game between Saltburn and Norton.
Brian Devine allegedly clicked his fingers to make the umpire give a batter out.
The video of the incident went viral on social media, gaining worldwide attention.
Saltburn Cricket Club suspended Devine for the rest of the season and the foreseeable future.
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League launched a formal investigation.
The league emphasized treating the cheating claims seriously and respecting all parties' rights.
The league expressed concern for the welfare of Saltburn club members and offered wellbeing support.
Saltburn is an amateur club run entirely by volunteers and called for respect for personal boundaries.
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A senior advisor to FIFA president Gianni Infantino resigned because he disagrees with FIFA’s plan to bring in private investors for the World Cup. Many football groups, including European and North American associations, oppose the plan, fearing it could harm the future of football.
Key Facts
Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to FIFA’s president, resigned in protest.
FIFA wants private companies to invest in the World Cup to raise money.
Cordeiro said this move could "mortgage football's future," meaning it might cause harm long-term.
Several football organizations, including Europe’s UEFA and CONCACAF, are against the idea.
There is talk of some football groups boycotting future World Cups if private investment happens.
FIFA offered $40 million to countries that support the plan.
The plan could involve selling a $4.2 billion stake in FIFA tournaments.
The idea has caused strong backlash from football leaders and fans around the world.
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Franco Baresi, a legendary Italian football player and former AC Milan captain, died at the age of 66. He was known for his loyalty to AC Milan, spending his entire 20-year career at the club, and was part of Italy’s 1982 World Cup-winning team.
Key Facts
Franco Baresi died at 66 years old; the football club AC Milan announced his death without giving a cause.
He spent his entire professional playing career, lasting 20 years, with AC Milan.
Baresi was a key defender and captain for Milan, playing over 700 games for the club.
He helped Italy win the World Cup in 1982 and was runner-up in the 1994 World Cup.
Baresi won many titles with Milan, including three Champions League trophies and six Serie A championships.
Milan retired his number 6 jersey, the first time this honor was given in Italian football.
He was made honorary president of AC Milan in 2020.
In August 2025, he underwent surgery and later received immunotherapy treatment for a lung condition.
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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) supports UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing FIFA’s plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. While UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA events if the plan continues, AFC expressed concern but did not call for a boycott, urging better communication and reform from FIFA.
Key Facts
AFC stands with UEFA and CONCACAF against FIFA’s plan to create a $20 billion commercial company to run the World Cup.
UEFA voted to boycott all FIFA events unless the plan is canceled.
CONCACAF also opposes the proposal.
AFC says the World Cup’s strength comes from all football regions participating together.
AFC’s president called the way the plan was introduced “totally unacceptable.”
The AFC criticized FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, for weak decision-making and poor consultation.
FIFA asked national associations to review and comment on the proposal.
AFC says true democracy in FIFA means clear governance, timely talks, informed decisions, and real involvement.
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