‘Nation depressing’

‘Heartbreaking setback’

‘Zero regrets’

PARIS (AP) — U.S. first woman Jill Biden visited some American athletes at an Olympic coaching middle in Paris on Thursday, wishing rugby and observe and discipline rivals good luck and even participating in a stationary relay drill with runners.

Biden arrived in Paris a day earlier than the Summer season Video games’ opening ceremony on the Seine River. She’s going to watch athletes parade on a flotilla of boats Friday after a reception with French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse, Brigitte, on the Élysée Palace.

Biden, escaping a tumultuous political atmosphere in Washington after President Joe Biden ended his marketing campaign for a second time period, spoke to the households of U.S. athletes earlier than visiting the rivals themselves on their observe fields.

“As they leap, and dash, and switch, America’s athletes aren’t solely propelled by the years of sweat and sacrifice they’ve poured into their coaching,” she stated in entrance of an enormous USA cutout coloured with the American flag. “Your love can be there, pushing them additional, serving to them go sooner, lifting them increased as they attain for gold.”

After her speech on the residence of the U.S. ambassador to France, Denise Bauer, Biden headed to a coaching middle within the northern Paris suburbs to go to with athletes on the U.S. ladies’s rugby workforce and the observe and discipline workforce. She hugged a few of them, took footage and helped in a observe drill the place athletes hand off the baton.

The primary woman began the relay drill, standing as she handed the baton to the runners positioned arm’s size aside as they practiced handing it off in fast succession.

After the opening ceremony, Biden will converse at a brunch to commemorate the opening of the Video games and have fun the 2028 Olympics to be held in Los Angeles. LA Mayor Karen Bass was amongst these accompanying Biden on the Paris journey.

Actor Jennifer Aniston, who has been open about her fertility struggles, slammed Sen. JD Vance over a resurfaced 2021 interview during which he stated the USA was being run by “a bunch of childless cat women.”

“I actually can’t imagine that is coming from a possible VP of America,” Aniston wrote Wednesday in an Instagram story, together with a clip of Vance’s feedback.

The interview gained recent traction this week after it was posted on X, days after former President Donald Trump introduced that the Republican senator from Ohio could be his vice presidential operating mate.

Throughout a 2021 look on Tucker Carlson’s former Fox Information present, Vance stated that the nation was being led “by a bunch of childless cat women who’re depressing at their very own lives and the alternatives that they’ve made.”

“So that they need to make the remainder of the nation depressing too,” Vance continued. “And it’s only a primary reality. In the event you take a look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez], your entire way forward for the Democrats is managed by individuals with out youngsters. And the way does it make any sense that we’ve turned our nation over to individuals who don’t actually have a direct stake in it?”

Harris, who has two stepchildren, is now operating for president after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race. Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, has adopted twins.

Observe dwell updates on the 2024 election

Vance went on to say within the clip that he believes individuals “who go residence at night time and see the face of a smiling child, no matter their career, I feel they’re happier, I feel they’re more healthy, and so they’re going to be higher ready to truly lead this nation.”

Aniston additionally known as out Vance over his far-right stance on reproductive rights.

“All I can say is… Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is lucky sufficient to bear youngsters of her personal at some point,” Aniston wrote. “I hope she won’t want to show to IVF as a second choice. As a result of you are attempting to take that away from her, too.”

The actor advised Attract in 2022 that she tried to get pregnant for a few years however “it was a difficult highway” for her.

“I used to be going by way of IVF, ingesting Chinese language teas, you identify it,” she stated. “I used to be throwing all the things at it. I’d’ve given something if somebody had stated to me, ‘Freeze your eggs. Do your self a favor.’ You simply don’t assume it. So right here I’m at present. The ship has sailed.”

Aniston, 55, stated the fixed media scrutiny and false claims that she didn’t need youngsters as a result of she was “egocentric” had been hurtful.

Harris’ stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, on Thursday additionally pushed again at Vance’s feedback from the 2021 interview.

“How are you going to be ‘childless’ when you’ve gotten cutie pie children like Cole and I,” Emhoff wrote in a submit on Instagram this morning, referring to her brother and Harris’ different stepchild, Cole Emhoff.

Emhoff additionally praised a press release by her organic mom, second gentleman Doug Emhoff’s ex-wife, Kerstin Emhoff, who defended Harris towards “baseless assaults” and praised her for being a “loving, nurturing, fiercely protecting” stepmother to her youngsters for greater than 10 years.

Whereas Aniston didn’t formally again Harris, the Instagram submit comes as many in Hollywood have begun publicly broadcasting their enthusiasm for the vice chairman’s marketing campaign.

Josh Gad, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Barbra Streisand and Kerry Washington had been among the many flood of actors to voice their assist. A handful of artists, together with Lil Nas X and John Legend, additionally shared posts on social media backing Harris.

And Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who was among the many first Democratic donors to publicly urge Biden to step apart, donated $7 million to an excellent PAC supporting Harris’ run, The Data reported.

MrBeast, YouTube’s most-followed particular person creator, responded to allegations that considered one of his co-hosts, Ava Kris Tyson, engaged in “grooming” of a minor. He mentioned he was “disgusted and against such unacceptable acts” and that he had employed a third-party investigator to look into the claims. Tyson, who parted methods with MrBeast amid the controversy, has denied the grooming allegations.

MrBeast, who has gained a large fanbase for his movies that includes zany stunts and big-money giveaways, mentioned he had “seen sufficient on-line” relating to the accusations in opposition to Tyson to “take away” her “from the corporate, my channel, and any affiliation with MrBeast.”

“Over the previous few days, I’ve change into conscious of the intense allegations of Ava Tyson’s conduct on-line and I’m disgusted and against such unacceptable acts,” MrBeast wrote in a submit on X on Wednesday night.

He continued, “Throughout that point, I’ve been targeted on hiring an impartial third occasion to conduct an intensive investigation to make sure I’ve all of the details. That mentioned, I’ve seen sufficient on-line and brought instant motion to take away Ava from the corporate, my channel, and any affiliation with MrBeast. I don’t condone or help any of the inappropriate actions. I’ll permit the impartial investigators the mandatory time to conduct a complete investigation and can take any additional actions based mostly on their findings.”

As reported by NBC Information, Tyson has just lately been the goal of criticism for “growing a relationship with a minor on-line” starting when the particular person was 13 and Tyson was 20. Per the report, the controversy started after a video “analyzing on-line interactions between Tyson and the minor, who goes by LavaGS on-line, gained traction” on YouTube.

Tyson on Tuesday (July 23) mentioned on X that she was “completely” stepping away from participation in MrBeast initiatives amid the allegations, as a result of “I don’t need these accusations to affect the a whole bunch of people that work at MrBeast.” She denied that she had “groomed” anybody.

“I wish to apologize for any of my previous conduct or feedback if it harm or offended anybody. It was not my intent. Seeing current occasions we’ve mutually determined it’s greatest I completely step away from all issues MrBeast and social media to concentrate on my household and psychological well being,” Tyson wrote. “I wish to add, I by no means groomed anybody,” she mentioned, claiming that the particular person “who will get introduced up” within the allegations has “vocally supported that they’re false.”

Tyson continued, “Having mentioned that, I humbly apologise to anybody I’ve harm with my unacceptable social media posts, previous actions, and to those that might really feel betrayed by how I used to behave on-line… In previous years, I’ve discovered that my previous humor just isn’t acceptable. I can not change who I used to be, however I can proceed to work on myself.”

Tyson, who’s transgender, has been subjected to quite a few transphobic assaults on-line. Final yr, MrBeast responded to a suggestion that Tyson may change into MrBeast’s “largest controversy to this point,” saying that Tyson “isn’t my ‘nightmare’” and that “All this transphobia is beginning to piss me off.” Tyson has mentioned that informed-consent hormone alternative remedy (HRT) had “saved my life and lots of others’ lives.”

MrBeast’s main YouTube channel presently has a whopping 306 million subscribers. Donaldson, who’s 26 years previous, just lately inked a cope with Amazon’s Prime Video for “Beast Video games,” a reality-competition present promising the winner a $5 million money prize. The present will characteristic 1,000 contestants vying for the payout in a “fast-paced and high-production format,” in accordance with Prime Video. No premiere date has been introduced.

Ashley Benefield has claimed self-defense within the demise of her husband, Doug, however prosecutors say in any other case, and they’re planning to relaxation their case after two days of testimony.

READ: Ashley Benefield homicide trial continues as witnesses dive into her relationship with husband

Home Violence Investigator Chris Gillum took the stand as effectively on Wednesday, saying Ashley advised him, “I am unable to imagine you are prepared to permit Doug to kill me and the infant.”

A household legal professional for Doug additionally took the stand, telling the jury her former shopper sought her assist in making an attempt to contact Ashley to attempt to have an element within the start of their second baby. 

Stephanie Murphy mentioned she drafted and emailed Ashley on Doug’s behalf. In it, he requested to play a task within the start of their baby but additionally understood if she wanted her area. 

A decide finally awarded Doug visitation, and the 2 met on the Manatee County Sheriff’s Workplace for Doug to satisfy his daughter. Murphy attended as Doug’s legal professional and advised the jury she was shocked by what occurred subsequent. 

“I used to be suggested they’d be leaving collectively, unusually,” Murphy mentioned. “That Ashley was going to be going with them for the time sharing. Was this a shock? Completely. We had simply been in knock-out, drag-out litigation for months with horrendous allegations that had been unfounded, and but she mentioned ‘I wish to go together with you’ and he mentioned ‘Okay.’”

A court docket submitting signifies that when the prosecution rests its case, the protection will current proof Ashley suffers from battered partner syndrome. 

Good Thursday morning, TSFers. Arsenal performed a preseason match yesterday! Effectively, a bunch of youngsters performed after which some senior gamers bought 30 minute run-outs or so. I watched the primary half final night time and am watching the second half as I write this. I’ve ideas:

• Ethan Nwaneri is among the many headlines. He seemed actually good. He’s dynamic and doesn’t look misplaced or his factor enjoying with older gamers. He impresses differently from different younger gamers. To my eye, it wasn’t a “you possibly can see the potential” that wants extra seasoning. It was “he’s prepared.” I’d anticipate he’ll see a lot extra minutes within the preseason and will likely be given each probability to earn actual minutes.
• Myles Lewis-Skelly seemed good, too. He’s calm and composed on the ball in a method you don’t see from many 17-year olds. He’s one to maintain a detailed eye on.
• Ayden Heaven had a stable outing at CB. He made a couple of errors, however nothing you wouldn’t anticipate from a 17-year outdated CB enjoying in opposition to a striker that scored 19 Premier League objectives final season in Dominic Solanke. The teen positively confirmed why he’s so extremely regarded by people within the Arsenal academy.
• Fabio Vieira performed properly, particularly contemplating that he shared most of his minutes with the youthful gamers and got here off when nearly all of the first-teamers got here on. Vieira made a troublesome volley look extremely straightforward for Arsenal’s objective and was stable defensively, which isn’t a side of his sport we’ve seen a lot of.
• Jurrien Timber is a extremely good participant. Mikel Arteta was raving about his management the opposite day, too. He’s going to be an vital addition to this Arsenal squad. Like a brand new signing.
• Reiss Nelson performed like a younger man with some extent to show. Whether or not that’s to potential suitors that he’s value shopping for or to his supervisor that he ought to stick round and get extra minutes stays to be seen (the previous is extra possible than the latter). He was fast and vigorous out extensive, getting previous his man and serving it into the field a few instances, together with on the Arsenal objective.
• Eddie Nketiah performed properly. He’s a extremely good preseason participant. At this level, he’s a identified amount. The query is whether or not that amount is sweet sufficient for Arsenal or interesting sufficient to a suitor to command a good payment. He’s been most prominently linked with Marseille this summer season.
• Thomas Partey did little to assuage my issues about his degree heading into the season. He appears a half-step (or extra) sluggish.
• Karl Hein seemed fairly good in objective. He had some moments the place he bought misplaced on balls into the world within the air, however he additionally made a few actually good saves, together with two within the penalty shootout. He’s anticipated to go out on-loan this season.
• Omar Rekik, the 22-year outdated Tunisian worldwide, had a poor displaying. He practically price Arsenal a objective in opposition to with a slip and was partially guilty for the objective, which to be truthful, took an enormous deflection. He’s the kind of participant that, whereas in all probability not ok for Arsenal, will possible be ok to command a good (however not spectacular) payment.
• Martin Ødegaard is so good. He in midseason kind.

The Gunners received the penalty shootout 5-4 on 6 shooters. Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Gabriel Martinelli are all anticipated to hitch preseason at present. The membership are subsequent in motion on Saturday in opposition to Manchester United at SoFi Stadium. Riccardo Calafiori possible received’t be with the crew in time for Saturday, however I’d anticipate to see him subsequent Wednesday in Philadelphia in opposition to Liverpool.

PARIS (AP) — Tennis star Coco Gauff will be a part of LeBron James as a flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic workforce at Friday’s opening ceremony.

Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, is about to make her Olympic debut on the Paris Video games and would be the first tennis athlete to hold the U.S. flag. She and James had been chosen by Staff USA athletes.

“I imply, for me, the Olympics is a prime precedence. I’d say equal to the Grand Slams. I wouldn’t put it above or beneath, simply because I’ve by no means performed earlier than. That is my first time,” Gauff stated earlier this 12 months. “Clearly, I at all times need to do properly, attempt to get a medal.”

Gauff and James, the 39-year-old main scorer in NBA historical past, each compete in sports activities which are outdoors the standard Olympic world and get consideration year-round, not simply each 4 years.

The 20-year-old Gauff made the American workforce for the Tokyo Video games three years in the past as a teen however needed to sit out these Olympics as a result of she examined constructive for COVID-19 proper earlier than she was purported to fly to Japan.

Now Gauff, who is predicated in Florida, is a Grand Slam title winner in singles and doubles. She gained her first main championship in New York in September, defeating Aryna Sabalenka within the singles closing of the U.S. Open, then added her first Grand Slam doubles trophy on the French Open this June alongside Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic.

The identical clay courts at Roland Garros used for the French Open can be the place matches are going to be held for the Paris Olympics. The draw to set the brackets is Thursday, and play begins on Saturday.

Gauff is seeded No. 2 in singles, matching her present WTA rating behind No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, and can be among the many medal favorites.

She and her typical doubles companion, Jessica Pegula, are seeded No. 1 in ladies’s doubles. And Gauff and the highest-ranked American man, Taylor Fritz, had been seeded No. 2 in combined doubles when these pairings had been introduced Wednesday.

“I’m not placing an excessive amount of stress on it, as a result of I actually need to absolutely indulge within the expertise,” Gauff stated about her Olympic debut. “Hopefully I can have the expertise a number of instances in my lifetime, (however) I’ll deal with it as a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.”

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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Copyright 2024 The Related Press. All rights reserved.

MARSEILLE, France — On the finish of a chaotic, controversial and farce-filled day of Olympic soccer, the US males’s group lastly made its return to the Summer time Video games solely to see France run away to a much-anticipated celebration.

Given the relative madness of what got here earlier Wednesday — highlighted by the hours-delayed, VAR-infused ending to Morocco’s upset of Argentina following a stunning fan invasion of the sector — the get together ambiance on the Velodrome stadium felt nearly quaint. However each result’s important on this dash of a match, and France’s 3-0 victory over the People gave a minimum of many of the 67,000 followers a motive to applaud coach Thierry Henry’s squad on the finish of the night. Taking part in of their house nation, a medal is absolutely the minimal anticipated for Les Bleus.

For the U.S., the bar is actually decrease, although Marko Mitrovic’s gamers have ambition and had been clearly upset to be on the unsuitable finish of a lopsided scoreline, notably after exhibiting moderately properly — a minimum of for an hour — within the nation’s first Olympic males’s match since 2008.

“I do not suppose it was a good consequence,” Mitrovic mentioned afterward. “We did not should lose this fashion, however now we have to study our lesson.”

That notion of constructing expertise is pronounced on this under-23 match (with three exceptions per group), the place many of the sport’s high stars — together with Christian Pulisic and practically everybody else from the USMNT Copa America roster — are in preseason with their membership groups as a substitute of competing right here. These video games for the People are as a lot concerning the future as the current.

So how did they do of their opening look? Performances different, however Kevin Paredes displayed aplomb together with his crosses and Nathan Harriel labored properly up and down the sector, whereas each Djordje Mihailovic and John Tolkin had headers crash off the woodwork the place an inch or two the opposite manner may need meant a momentum-shifting objective.

“We performed probably the greatest groups within the match, and I believe we confirmed ourselves for 60 minutes,” Gianluca Busio mentioned. “However we all know that in tournaments like these you possibly can’t lose focus, [and] I believe that is what occurred.”

It actually was, because the U.S. was undone by an unlucky mixture of ill-timed defensive letdowns and particular person brilliance from France. The important sequence was brutal: Mihailovic hit the crossbar with a right-footed blast from past the penalty space within the 59th minute, solely to see France nearly instantly surge the opposite manner.

Whereas Mihailovic went excessive together with his shot, Alexandre Lacazette — one in every of France’s three overage gamers — went low together with his, taking full benefit of Busio’s slowness to shut him down and whipping a strike into the far nook.

Lacazette, a wily ahead who performs for Lyon after spending 5 years with Arsenal, credited the US protection for holding him off so long as they did.

“They had been actually aggressive and compact,” he mentioned. “They performed higher than I believed.”

Defender Walker Zimmerman, who is among the United States’ protection gamers, was visibly upset after Lacazette’s objective, shouting at his teammates to maintain their stage up. The U.S. practically rebounded, too, however Paxten Aaronson had a close-range header saved well by Guillaume Restes, and Tolkin then adopted together with his back-post effort that slammed off the bottom of the upright. On the sideline, Mitrovic put his head in his palms in frustration.

Lacazette then fed Michael Olise for France’s second inside 10 minutes to ship the French crowd into full-throated cheers. And simply as Busio was gradual to shut down Lacazette on the opener, so too was Aaronson delayed in attending to Olise on his drive from distance. Each occasions, France made them pay.

“It is one thing that we spoke about,” Mitrovic mentioned. “The fellows on their group, they’ve a lot high quality to make use of even when they’re 25 yards from the objective.”

Letdowns apart, France boss Henry was effusive in his reward of the People, saying that he was shocked by the way in which they defended and including that they could have really dealt with the feelings of the gang higher than his personal gamers, a minimum of initially. And whereas Henry was happy to see Loïc Badé spherical off the scoring 5 minutes from the tip, his bigger level about France utilized to the U.S. gamers as properly. “This sport means nothing with out the following one,” Henry mentioned.

That a lot is unquestionably true. For the U.S., the following problem is a match Saturday towards New Zealand — a sport the People consider they need to win, identical as they are going to count on to win of their finale with Guinea. Reach each, they usually’ll doubtless be by way of to the quarterfinals.

Certainly, regardless of this defeat, the People nonetheless have their sights squarely on advancing out of the group, they usually’ve spoken overtly to at least one one other about the opportunity of making historical past: No U.S. males’s group has ever received a medal within the trendy Olympic period.

“That is been our objective from the beginning,” Busio mentioned, “and simply because we had a bit setback does not imply it isn’t nonetheless attainable.”

Mihailovic was much more direct. After seeing how the U.S. performed over the primary hour, he mentioned he’d like nothing greater than a rematch with France later within the match.

“I believe we have got to get out of the group,” he mentioned, “after which hopefully we’ll see them within the remaining.”

The pinnacle of Argentina’s soccer federation mentioned the chaotic ending to its Olympic soccer match towards Morocco on Wednesday “is mindless,” and Argentina’s coach referred to as the scene “a scandal.”

The opening match of the lads’s soccer match was suspended for practically two hours throughout added time after Morocco followers invaded the sphere and threw bottles in protest of a late purpose by Argentina. The purpose was later overturned by the video assistant referee, and Argentina misplaced 2-1.

“What occurred on the sphere was a scandal. This isn’t a neighborhood match, these are the Olympic Video games,” Argentina coach Javier Mascherano mentioned.

Paris organizers mentioned they had been attempting to “perceive the causes and establish acceptable actions” after the match in Saint-Etienne. Argentina’s soccer federation mentioned it issued a proper protest Wednesday to world governing physique FIFA and would do “what is critical” to ensure the security of gamers.

“Having to attend virtually two hours within the dressing room, after Morocco followers getting into the pitch, the violence that the Argentina delegation suffered, our gamers having to heat up once more and proceed to play a match that ought to have been suspended by the principle referee, is basically one thing that is mindless and that goes towards the competitors guidelines,” Argentina Soccer Affiliation president Claudio Tapia mentioned.

The Argentina group additionally mentioned its coaching base was robbed earlier than the sport, with midfielder Thiago Almada’s watch among the many objects taken.

In the meantime, Argentine President Javier Milei arrived Thursday in Paris, his workplace mentioned, and is anticipated to fulfill French President Emmanuel Macron after tensions escalated between their international locations over the Argentine soccer group’s derogatory postmatch chants about French gamers at Copa America.

Morocco followers rushed the sphere to protest Cristian Medina’s purpose within the sixteenth minute of added time at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, which appeared to tie the sport 2-2. Bottles had been additionally thrown from the gang and, in frenzied scenes, safety tackled pitch invaders.

“Among the followers thought it was the top of the match and determined to invade the pitch,” Thomas Collomb, the deputy director of safety for Paris organizers, mentioned Thursday. “The environment was festive. At no time was there any safety danger for gamers or spectators. Inside minutes of the ultimate whistle, a safety bubble fashioned across the athletes.”

There have been pictures of Argentina gamers flinching when what gave the impression to be a flare was thrown onto the sphere.

“I can perceive why this may need been worrying for Argentine athletes,” mentioned Bruno Le Ray, the organizing committee’s safety director. “Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is understood for having no obstacles between the stands and the pitch. To our information, no firecrackers had been fired at any time. It’s positively an incident, however not within the safety sense.”

Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi wrote on X: “I deplore the angle of sure supporters throughout the match, which tarnished the picture of our loyal followers. Such conduct has no place in soccer.”

Within the confusion, it was believed the ultimate whistle had been blown when gamers headed to the locker room and followers had been informed to depart the stadium. FIFA’s official web site declared the ultimate rating 2-2.

But it surely later emerged the sport had been suspended with simply minutes of play remaining and that Medina’s purpose was being reviewed.

The gamers re-emerged to heat up in an empty stadium after about two hours and referee Glenn Nyberg confirmed he was reviewing video of the purpose on the touchline monitor. He then confirmed it will be overturned for offside.

Morocco held on for the win because the groups performed out the ultimate three minutes.

“The sport was suspended due to safety. At no second did they discuss to us about any revision (of the play),” Mascherano mentioned.

“Clearly it’s complicated, however we now have to maneuver ahead. It’s already occurred, it’s over. We now have to concentrate on the 2 video games (remaining). Save up the anger and let all of it out within the coming video games.”

Two-time gold medalist Argentina was one of many pretournament favorites and was aiming for extra {hardware} after successful the World Cup in 2022 and back-to-back Copa Americas.

On Saturday, Morocco is scheduled to face Ukraine at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

“We’ll ensure we reinforce safety by including obstacles or personal safety,” Le Ray mentioned.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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AP Summer time Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games