Japan leaves injured Kaoru Mitoma off World Cup roster

Japan left injured midfielder Kaoru Mitoma off the 26-man World Cup roster announced by coach Hajime Moriyasu on Friday.

Mitoma suffered a hamstring injury during Brighton's Premier League match against Leeds on Saturday, leaving his World Cup status in serious doubt. That was confirmed with Friday's reveal of Japan's roster.

"The medical team assessed that it would be difficult for him to get back to fitness during the tournament," Moriyasu told reporters Friday.

Monaco forward Takumi Minamino also will miss out on the World Cup after the 31-year-old suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in December.

Moriyasu did take a chance on some other players dealing with injury issues, with Wataru Endo, Ko Itakura and Takehiro Tomiyasu included on the roster. Ajax defender Tomiyasu has dealt with multiple injuries that have led to him not appearing for Japan for nearly two years, while Liverpool midfielder Endo has only played in eight Premier League matches this season due to an ankle injury.

Sporting CP defensive midfielder Hidemasa Morita did not make the roster after totaling seven appearances in World Cup qualifiers.

Meanwhile, defender Yuto Nagatomo will make his fifth World Cup appearance.

"I was able to select only 26 players, but I feel sorry that I couldn't select many other players," Moriyasu told reporters Friday. "However, I selected these 26 based on their past performances and through conversations with the coaching staff, believing that this is our best squad right now. I think I have chosen the best 26 players in order for Japan to win on the world stage at this moment."

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Mitoma, 28, has nine goals in 31 appearances for Japan.

Japan has won five consecutive matches ahead of its final pre-World Cup friendly against Iceland in Tokyo on May 31. The Japanese will then travel to the team's base camp in Nashville, Tenn., where they will train at the Nashville SC Training Center.

They begin their Group F play against the Netherlands in Arlington, Texas on June 14, followed by matches against Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico on June 20 and Sweden back in Arlington on June 25.

JAPAN WORLD CUP ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Tomoki Hayakawa, Keisuke Osako, Zion Suzuki

Defenders: Ko Itakura, Hiroki Ito, Yuto Nagatomo, Ayumu Seko, Yukinari Sugawara, Junnosuke Suzuki, Shogo Taniguchi, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Tsuyoshi Watanabe

Midfielders: Ritsu Doan, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo, Keito Nakamura, Kaishu Sano, Ao Tanaka

Forwards: Keisuke Goto, Daizen Maeda, Koki Ogawa, Kento Shiogai, Yuito Suzuki, Ayase Ueda

--Field Level Media

byAlpha World

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May 15, 2026

Japan leaves injured Kaoru Mitoma off World Cup roster

Japan left injured midfielder Kaoru Mitoma off the 26-man World Cup roster announced by coach Hajime Moriyasu on Friday. Mitoma s...

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Eagles may meet Shane Steichen at a pivotal career crossroads in Week 14

NFL schedules create storylines before a single meaningful snap is played. Revenge games, primetime grudge matches, and familiar reunions are always on the table. Some of those narratives are overblown. Others feel entirely believable. ThePhiladelphia Eagles' Week 14 showdown against theIndianapolis Coltsmay fall into the second category.

Nostalgia is a funny thing. After reaching the Super Bowl in both the 2017 and 2022 seasons, theColtscame knocking and raided Philadelphia's coaching staff for its offensive coordinator. Indianapolis hired Frank Reich as its head coach in 2018. He hired Nick Sirianni as his offensive coordinator. Eventually, theEaglesand Doug Pederson parted ways, and the Birds replaced the first man to win the Super Bowl as head coach with Sirianni, the man who would eventually lead them to their second.

Along the way, there was a failure in football's biggest game (Super Bowl LVII). Still, Indianapolis had seen enough, again.They hired then-Eagles OC Shane Steichen to lead them as head coach, a role he still serves in today.

Things haven't gone the way Steichen had hoped. Last season, he seemed to be heading his team in the right direction. At one point, they even had the best record in the NFL. Then, injuries set in, and things went off the rails quickly. Carlie Irsay-Gordon gave Steichen another chance. He's still the head coach, butthe seat he's sitting in is heating up.

Steichen was handed another opportunity in Indianapolis after a disappointing 2025 campaign, but let's be honest. NFL owners do not hand out endless patience, especially when progress stalls. At some point, results become the only language that matters. That makes 2026 feel like a defining year for Steichen.

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The Eagles could become Shane Steichen's measuring stick, or a blemish on his resume

Reputations built as coordinators only buy so much time for a man. Head coaching is an entirely different conversation. If Indianapolis stumbles through the first three months of the season,the Week 14 meeting with Philadelphiasuddenly becomes far more interesting.

There would be obvious emotional layers. Steichen will be facing the franchise where much of his reputation was built. Jalen Hurts will be facing the coach who helped shape part of his evolution. The Eagles will possibly be walking in as the standard Steichen once helped establish. If Indianapolis is underperforming at that time, the spotlight gets hotter. Fair or not, owners love statement wins. Beating a contender changes narratives. Losing to one sometimes confirms them.

If the Colts arrive in Week 14 fighting for relevance, Steichen's reunion with Philadelphia may feel less like a sentimental subplot and more like a referendum. There are instances when the NFL writes drama no screenwriter would dare pitch.

If Shane Steichen reaches December needing a defining victory, few opponents would make the stakes feel larger than the team he helped build. If he fails, that reunion could become something far less sentimental and far more uncomfortable. The NFL has a cruel sense of timing sometimes.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire:Shane Steichen could be coaching for his job vs. the Eagles in Week 14

byAlpha World

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May 15, 2026

Eagles may meet Shane Steichen at a pivotal career crossroads in Week 14

NFL schedules create storylines before a single meaningful snap is played. Revenge games, primetime grudge matches, and familiar reunio...

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Meghan Markle Announces Surprise Weekend Outing in Switzerland for a Key Cause

Meghan Markle is traveling solo to Switzerland this weekend in her continued advocacy for safer online spaces

NEED TO KNOW

• After debuting the Lost Screen Memorial in New York City, the installation will debut in Geneva

• Meghan will be joined by World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the illumination event on Sunday

Meghan Markleis heading to Switzerland as she continues Archewell Philanthropies' advocacy for safer online spaces.

On Friday, May 15, it was announced that the Duchess of Sussex, 44, will travel to Switzerland this weekend. On Sunday, May 17, she will join World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (who she previouslyjoined on a trip to JordanwithPrince Harryearlier this year), global health leaders, and families affected by online harm at the inauguration of theLost Screen Memorialin Geneva’s Place des Nations, ahead of the opening of the 79th World Health Assembly.

The event, hosted by the World Health Organization and Archewell Philanthropies, will see the illumination of 50 lightboxes, each displaying the lock screen image of a child who lost their life as a result of online violence and digital harm. At the ceremony, Meghan will pay tribute to the children remembered in the installation and underscore the urgent need for stronger global protections for children online.

Amy Neville, an online child safety advocate whose son Alexander is among those in the exhibition, will also address guests.

The memorial, which will be displayed in Geneva through May 22, was created by Meghan and Prince Harry's Archewell Philanthropies, in partnership with The Parents’ Network.

The installation is debuting in Geneva after it wasfirst unveiled in New York City in April 2025as part of the No Child Lost to Social Media campaign.

At the illumination event in Manhattan, which PEOPLE attended, Meghan told reporters, "These are families that we have been working with for several years. No matter how polarized the world is, or what people may or may not agree on, one thing that we can all agree on is that our children should be safe. All of our children should be safe, and I think tonight, all of these stories solidify that."

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Prince Harry, 41, added, "These children were not sick. Their deaths were not inevitable—they were exposed to, and in many cases were pushed harmful content online, the kind any child could encounter. No child should be exploited, groomed, or preyed upon in digital spaces. To the platforms, they may be seen as statistics. To their families, they were cherished and irreplaceable."

The Lost Screen Memorial seeks to highlight the measurable and preventable harms associated with online violence against children, including cyberbullying, grooming, sextortion, exposure to self-harm content and unsafe emerging technologies without adequate safeguards.

Prince Harry and Meghan have made creating safer digital spaces part of their philanthropic work, with both drawing on personal experience.

During a discussion with young people in Australia last month,Meghan commented that she was “bullied and attacked”every day for 10 years on social media and was “the most trolled person in the entire world."

“When I think of all of you and what you’re experiencing, I think so much of that is having to realize that you know that industry, that billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks — that’s not going to change. So you have to be stronger than that," Meghan said.

Prince Harry also noted that social media has “led to so much loneliness for so many people," PA Media reported, before he shared the benefits of therapy with the group: "I waited until I was literally in the fetal position, much older, lying on the kitchen floor. Until I was like, 'Okay, maybe this therapy thing — maybe I should try it.' ”

Read the original article onPeople

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May 15, 2026

Meghan Markle Announces Surprise Weekend Outing in Switzerland for a Key Cause

Meghan Markle is traveling solo to Switzerland this weekend in her continued advocacy for safer online spaces NEED TO KNOW ...

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Fantasy Football: Games we're most excited for on the 2026 NFL schedule

The NFL schedule for the 2026 season has been revealed, and there are lots of matchups worth talking about. Here, the Yahoo Fantasy Football crew chooses the games they’re most excited to watch for the upcoming campaign. See which matchups Justin Boone, Matt Harmon, Scott Pianowski and Joel Smyth are looking forward to.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season]

Reigning Super Bowl MVP returns to face former team

Chiefs at Seahawks, Week 7:It’s not often a Super Bowl MVP leaves his team in free agency, but that’s exactly the scenario Kenneth Walker III finds himself in after signing with the Chiefs. Even more exciting, is the fact he gets to face his former club on the road in Seattle. Whether it was the decision to not re-sign him or the committee backfield the coaching staff kept deploying him in, there doesn’t seem to be any love lost between Walker and the Seahawks’ management. When asked about the matchup this season, Walker told Kay Adams on the Up & Adams Show “I would dap up all my teammates, but that’s about it”.

From a fantasy standpoint, it never hurts to have a little added motivation going into a game and I even factor that in slightly to my rankings and projections when a player encounters a team he used to be on. Walker is also coming off the hottest streak of his career, averaging 128.5 scrimmage yards per outing over his final six games (including the postseason). However, the Seahawks’ run defense will be up for the challenge. They allowed the third-fewest rushing yards and the second-fewest rushing touchdowns in 2025. Let’s hope Walker breaks a long run and gets to have a Marshawn Lynch-style celebration as he dives into the end zone.— Boone

No love lost between these two rivals on Sunday night

Cowboys at Giants, Week 1 (SNF opener):No better way to start than the beginning. We’ll all be heavily invested in the Cowboys offense from a fantasy standpoint, so it’s key to get an early look at that unit. We don’t have many questions about it but nevertheless, seeing how George Pickens is used in concert with a fully healthy CeeDee Lamb is a big variable as he proceeds to play on the franchise tag. The bigger questions are on the other side of the ball.

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The Giants' offense is one I can’t quite wrap my mind around just yet. On one hand, there are several interesting young players who might be values in drafts, including Year 2 players in Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo. The entire unit is getting a facelift with a new coaching staff under John Harbaugh and looks poised to move toward more heavy and 12-personnel packages. At the same time, they might be playing the early season without orcertainly minus a fully healthy Malik Nabers. The star receiver is what can take this from a solid unit to a strong one. His status is one I’ll be closely monitoring all throughout the summer.— Harmon

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High-scoring affair between two NFL powerhouses on tap

Bills at Rams, Week 5 (MNF):If this game doesn’t get your blood pumping, consult your doctor immediately. It’s a prime-time matchup between the last two MVP winners (Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford), and we’ve recently seen these teams have a pinball affair. The Bills and Rams met in Week 14 of 2024, withLos Angeles holding on for an exhilarating 44-42 victory. Josh Allen did his Superman thing for Buffalo that day (three touchdowns passing, three touchdowns rushing) while the Rams racked up 457 yards and five touchdowns of their own (the other TD scored on special teams). Puka Nacua put on a 12-162-1 clinic, Kyren Williams had 31 touches and scored twice, and Stafford threw for 320 yards and two scores, en route to a 132.6 rating. I don’t see how the teams are that much different now; little wonder there’s a 53.5 point total set for this Monday night showdown. Get your popcorn ready.— Pianowski

Jackson vs. Burrow matchup (health pending) in primetime

Ravens at Bengals, Week 17 (TNF): For years, the Lamar Jackson versus Joe Burrow prime-time games have fed families and fantasy football managers. Shootout after shootout has come with Ja’Marr Chase averaging 29.5 fantasy points over his last four with both QBs over 20 PPG. Prior to last season, Jackson was averaging 25.3 per game versus Cincinnati, one of the best marks by a player against a team in the NFL, but struggled mightily in the matchups last season, ultimately only throwing the ball 12 times in their Week 15 win. If both quarterbacks can stay healthy, I’d expect them to go back to their shootout ways and light up the scoreboard.

This time, the Bengals will finally host Baltimore in a primetime matchup, after the last four being played in Baltimore. A New Year’s Eve fantasy championship is what dreams are made of, as the two favorites in the division will square off to decide NFL playoff standings and fantasy championships.— Smyth

byAlpha World

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May 15, 2026

Fantasy Football: Games we're most excited for on the 2026 NFL schedule

The NFL schedule for the 2026 season has been revealed, and there are lots of matchups worth talking about. Here, the Yahoo Fantasy Foo...

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Victor Wembanyama takes revenge as Spurs go up 3-2 over Minnesota

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Victor Wembanyama set the tone early and never looked back as he led the San Antonio Spurs to a dominant 126-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolvesin Game 5 on Tuesday. Wembanyama tallied 27 points, 17 boards, and five assists to put the Spurs one win away from their first West finals in nine years.

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype:Victor Wembanyama takes revenge as Spurs go up 3-2 over Minnesota

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May 14, 2026

Victor Wembanyama takes revenge as Spurs go up 3-2 over Minnesota

Advertisement Victor Wembanyama set the tone early and never looked back as he led the San Antonio Spurs to a dominant 126-97 vic...

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Patriots Rookie Quintayvious Hutchins Charged with Domestic Assault and Battery

NFL rookie Quintayvious Hutchins was arrested and charged with assault

NEED TO KNOW

• The New England Patriots edge rusher pleaded not guilty to the alleged incident at his former school, Boston College

• Officers were called to the campus to respond to a complaint of a “male and female fighting in the hallway"

New England Patriots rookie edge rusher Quintayvious Hutchins has been charged with domestic assault, according to multiple reports.

The former Boston College standout, 23, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Newton, Mass. and was released on his own recognizance on Wednesday, May 13,according to CBS Boston.

According to court documents obtained bymultiple outlets including ESPN, the alleged incident took place on the evening of Tuesday, May 12 at a dorm room on the campus of Boston College.

Officers were called to the fourth floor of Voute Hall to respond to a complaint of a “male and female fighting in the hallway,” according to the police report obtained by CBS Boston.

A resident advisor who was a witness observed the two “pushing each other” and alleged to police that she saw Hutchins grab the woman by the neck, according to the outlet.

"He said she was cheating on him and he choked and yelled at her," the RA wrote in her witness statement, per the station. She also wrote that "the 'choke' was a firm grab to the neck not strangulation."

Hutchins told officers that he had an argument with the woman over food and that left, CBS Boston said, citing the police report. He later returned and found that the woman “threw his belongings in the hallway.”

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The woman, who, according to the police report, did not want a photo of her neck taken, became “visibly sad” after she learned Hutchins was arrested, per the outlet.

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"I'm ok nothing happened," the woman wrote in her witness statement, according to the report.

Hutchins was selected by the Patriots as the 247th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

"We are aware of the report involving Quintayvious Hutchins,” the Patriots said in a statement to ESPN. “We take these matters very seriously and are in the process of gathering additional information. We will not have further comment at this time.”

PEOPLE has reached out to the Patriots for comment.

Read the original article onPeople

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May 14, 2026

Patriots Rookie Quintayvious Hutchins Charged with Domestic Assault and Battery

NFL rookie Quintayvious Hutchins was arrested and charged with assault NEED TO KNOW The New England Patriots edge ...

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Sinner matches Djokovic's record with 31st straight Masters victory before home fans at Italian Open

ROME (AP) — The records keep coming forJannik Sinner.

Italian Open Tennis

The top-ranked Sinner beat qualifier Andrea Pellegrino 6-2, 6-3 to reach theItalian Openquarterfinals on Tuesday and match Novak Djokovic’s record with a 31st consecutive Masters Series victory.

Sinner hasn’t been beaten in a Masters Series event — the biggest tournaments outside the Grand Slams — since he retired with cramps in extreme heat against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai in October.

Djokovic won 31 straight Masters matches in 2011.

“If you want to be a great player you've got to play on all the surfaces and all the tournaments at your maximum,” Sinner said. “It's the mind that makes the difference.”

Like in his previous match, Sinner took control quickly with a break in the opening game before a packed Campo Centrale — where many fans were decked out in orange, which is Sinner's theme color. He improved to 19-0 against fellow Italians.

If Sinner raises the trophy in Rome, he’ll become the second man after Djokovic to triumph at all nine Masters 1000 events. Djokovic has won each event at least twice.

Sinner has already won a record five straight Masters events and withCarlos Alcaraz sidelineddue to a right wrist injury, it doesn’t seem like anyone can prevent him from winning in Rome and at the upcoming French Open.

“It's time to take the title away from Adriano,” read a sign that one fan held aloft at the Foro Italico, referring to the last Italian man to win the singles title in Rome: Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.

Panatta will present the winner's trophy after Sunday's title match.

Overall, Sinner extended his winning streak to 26 matches. He hasn’t lost since getting beat by Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on Feb. 19.

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Sinner’s quarterfinal opponent will be either 12th-seeded Andrey Rublev or Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili, who were playing later.

Also, 19-year-old Rafael Jodar swept aside Learner Tien 6-1, 6-4 to become only the second teenager after Rafael Nadal (in 2005) to reach the Madrid and Rome quarterfinals in the same season.

Jodar will next face Luciano Darderi, who saved four match points in the second set of a 1-6, 7-6 (10), 6-0 victory over two-time Rome champion Alexander Zverev,

Casper Ruud eased past Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-1 with Musetti getting treatment for a left thigh issue.

Ruud will face Karen Khachanov, who beat Dino Prizmic 6-1, 7-6 (2). Prizmic eliminated Novak Djokovic on Friday.

Cirstea makes semifinal run at 36

In the women’s tournament, 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea reached the semifinals with a 6-1, 7-6 (0) victory over 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

Cirstea upset top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the third round and is now the second oldest semifinalist in a WTA 1000 clay-court event. Only Martina Navratilova did it at an older age, at 37 in Rome in 1994.

“I always said there’s no expiration date for ambition and dreams,” said Cirstea, who plans to retire at the end of the year. “I think everyone can see that I absolutely love this sport. I have so much passion for it.”

Defending champion Jasmine Paolini, who lost in the third round of singles, withdrew from the doubles competition due to a "minor foot issue.” She and partner Sara Errani are the defending champions in doubles, too.

AP tennis:https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

byAlpha World

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May 14, 2026

Sinner matches Djokovic's record with 31st straight Masters victory before home fans at Italian Open

ROME (AP) — The records keep coming forJannik Sinner. Italian Open Tennis The top-ranked Sinner beat qualifier Andrea Pelleg...

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Jimmy Fallon and John Oliver Reveal the Text Message Jimmy Kimmel Sent When Melania Trump Got 'Mad at Him'

Jimmy Kimmel sent a group text message to his fellow late-night hosts when Melania Trump blasted him on social media

NEED TO KNOW

• John Oliver revealed during a joint interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that Kimmel had a text for his peers when "Melania got mad at him"

• The first lady called on ABC to "take a stand" against Kimmel over a joke he made on his show in April

Jimmy Kimmelreached out to his late-night peers during his latest rift with the White House.

During the Monday, May 11 episode ofThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Kimmel was joined by fellow guestsSeth Meyers,John OliverandJimmy Fallonas they helped ring in Colbert's final weeks on air.

At one point in the discussion, Colbert, 61, asked his guests if they ever anticipated to be "doing a job that the president of the United States would have strong feelings about."

"You know what's even weirder? Doing a job that his wife has strong feelings about. That's where it crosses over," Kimmel joked, referring to his recentback-and-forthwith PresidentDonald Trumpand first ladyMelania Trump.

"Most of us have avoided that part," Meyers, 52, said.

As it turns out, Kimmel, 58, texted his fellow late-night hosts via a group chat when the first lady called him out on social media. On Monday, April 27, Melaniaasked for ABC to "take a stand"against Kimmel over what she claimed was "hateful and violent rhetoric" on his show.

"It's an amazing thing to get in a group text, just a text from Jimmy saying, 'Oh boy,' and then a picture of Melania mad at him," Oliver, 49, said. "What a way to start the day."

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"And then I sent a text to you guys. I sent, 'Don't be mad at me but I liked it. I think she's got a point,'" Fallon joked.

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After Colbert asked Kimmel how he feels when he sees the "attention" that comments from the White House cause, theJimmy Kimmel Live!host revealed what the "saddest part of it is."

"I realize in those moments that the only four people who care are sitting right here. It takes 12 hours for the rest of the people in my life to even figure out that anything's going on," he said. "Two hours after that, a guy I used to work with sent me a text. He's like, 'Hey, do you know a real estate lawyer?'"

On Thursday, April 23, Kimmel delivered an "alternative" White House Correspondents' Dinner segment on his show, joking that Melania, 56, had "a glow like an expectant widow." The comment, which came two days before agunman opened fire, prompted backlash from both Melania and her husband, who called on ABC and Disney to fire Kimmel.

"When is ABC Fake News Network firing seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel, who incompetently presides over one of the Lowest Rated shows on Television," Trump wrote onTruth Social. "People are angry. It better be soon!!!"

Kimmel said during his April 27 monologue that his comment was "obviously a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they're together."

"It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he's almost 80 and she's younger than I am," he said. "It was not by any stretch a call to assassination and they know that I've been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence in particular."

Jimmy Kimmel Live!was temporarily pulled from the air in September 2025 after comments he made aboutCharlie Kirk’sdeath in an opening monologue. Hemade his return to the airwavessix days later.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC. Thefinal episodeof Colbert's show is scheduled for Thursday, May 21. Until then,The Late Show with Stephen Colbertairs weekdays on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET.

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byAlpha World

in

May 13, 2026

Jimmy Fallon and John Oliver Reveal the Text Message Jimmy Kimmel Sent When Melania Trump Got 'Mad at Him'

Jimmy Kimmel sent a group text message to his fellow late-night hosts when Melania Trump blasted him on social media NEED TO KNOW...

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🎧 EFC Daily: Everton among clubs targeting Bowen

The latest news and views on the Blues in two minutes, every weekday afternoon.

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Listen below oron BBC Sounds here- and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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May 13, 2026

🎧 EFC Daily: Everton among clubs targeting Bowen

The latest news and views on the Blues in two minutes, every weekday afternoon. Advertisement Listen below oron BBC Sounds here- ...

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Maren Morris Maintains She Was 'Never Talking About' Leaving Country Music but Rather the Genre's 'Business Machine'

In a new TikTok video, Maren Morris clarified she loves country music and her past comments about leaving elements of the genre were about the music industry, not the genre itself

NEED TO KNOW

• The Grammy winner addressed criticism of her genre-blending work

• Morris emphasized her goal is to make the music industry safer and more inclusive while continuing to create in Nashville

Maren Morriswould like to set the record straight.

The Grammy winner, 36, made headlines in 2023 afterspeaking to theLos Angeles Timesabout her choice to step away from elements of country musicand subsequently faced backlash from some of the genre's fans. In aTikTokvideo posted earlier this week, Morris clarified her comments and urged she never wanted to leave the genre overall.

"As an artist, and as a Texan, I feel like I have pretty thick skin," began Morris. "You kind of have to if you’re in this line of work. But for years I’ve seen comments on my videos, or articles posted about me that say, ‘She said she hates country music.’ And it’s exhausting because I can’t reply to all of them and be like, ‘Cite your source.’"

The "Girl" singer-songwriter explained theLos Angeles Timesinterview featured her "talking about the music industry part, not country music as a genre" and noted she's had to "clarify" that ever since.

Morris continued, "I love country music, full stop. It’s my home. I grew up loving it in Texas, being so proud that so many of my country heroes are from that state. It made me want to be a songwriter. My dad bought me an acoustic guitar. I taught myself how to play and write songs in my bedroom as a kid. And then I moved to Nashville and made my dreams come true."

The star recalled facing criticism upon releasing her debut single "My Church" in 2016 from people who thought she was "disrespecting religion" with its lyrics. "It’s literally just a song about me loving driving around in my car listening to music. That’s my version of church," she said. "But even since then, the comments are like, ‘She’s not country.’"

Morris acknowledged that she blends genres in her work, which ranges from the traditional country of The Highwomen to full-blown pop with her hit "The Middle." She noted, "I’ve kind of done everything and in between, which is the fun part of this."

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The artist spoke about understanding people believe "what they've been fed" but explained, "I was always talking about the music business side of things because I think in country music particularly — I’m sure in other genres this is prevalent — but in country music, where it’s like, this is almost religion, and then the music business machine of it is like, you kiss the ring."

"You always say ‘thank you.’ You pave over the cracks. If you see something, don’t say something. And me and my friends, we’re just trying to write songs and have fun and make this feel safer," added Morris. "And I think I even say in that article, when you love something it’s okay to criticize it because you’re not doing it because you hate it, you’re doing that because you love it and want to make it better."

While some people in Morris' life who work behind the scenes of country music "understand" her point of view, she said, "I also know that’s kind of a part of my life that’s not a part of it anymore," citing radio and "country categories at the Grammys."

"But I do love country music because it’s about storytelling, and my heroes were truth tellers even when it was unpopular. Because country music should be for everybody," she continued. "But the two sides of the coin with country music particularly is like, this is not just music, it is a way of life. Which is a beautiful thing about it, but it is also like, if you criticize any part of it, people will take offense because they’re like, ‘You’re not just criticizing music I like, you’re criticizing me.’"

Morris noted, "I just want to clarify here, I was never talking about country music, I was talking really about the machine of the music industry, which as any artist will tell you, is more business than music at times."

The "Bones" artist explained she still lives and creates music with friends in Nashville and doesn't plan to stop doing so. Ultimately, she urged fans against "jumping to a conclusion because you have a bias already."

"I do think when you love something, and I love country music, I do think you should have a say in how to make it better and it’s not in a way that’s shitting all over it," said Morris. "I really, from the jump, and I think evenThe Chicksfrom the jump were really trying to make this safer for everyone, and sometimes that can be absolutely misconstrued. But yeah, it is what it is."

Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

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May 13, 2026

Maren Morris Maintains She Was 'Never Talking About' Leaving Country Music but Rather the Genre's 'Business Machine'

In a new TikTok video, Maren Morris clarified she loves country music and her past comments about leaving elements of the genre were ab...

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All eyes on Wemby for Game 5 of Spurs-Timberwolves series, after his elbow merited Game 4 ejection

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio'sVictor Wembanyama is playingin Game 5 of the Spurs' Western Conference semifinal series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, after getting ejected early in Game 4 for throwing an elbow.

Spurs Timberwolves Basketball

The Spurs are obviously relieved about that. And if Wembanyama is angry about missing most of Game 4, then even better, Spurs guard Devin Vassell said Tuesday at shootaround.

“I know he was upset not being able to play that game," Vassell said at a shootaround attended by Spurs President Gregg Popovich, Spurs legend Manu Ginobili and former Spurs assistant Brett Brown, among others. "So, I know that he’s going to be ready to go. That’s what we need. We need that upset Vic who’s ready to attack the game for sure.”

It could be easily argued that Tuesday's game — Game 5, playoff series, tied 2-2, with the winner moving one win from a trip to the Western Conference finals — is the biggest of Wembanyama's NBA career.

Vassell wants to see a fiery Wembanyama — within reason, of course.

“We’ve seen it before. We’ve seen when Vic gets upset," Vassell said. "I mean, we just need him to calm his emotions, make sure that he doesn’t let his emotions take over because at the end of the day like I said, he can’t get any flagrants, he can’t get anything like that. So, Vic knows what he's got to do and he’ll be ready.”

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Wembanyama was ejected from theSpurs-Timberwolves game on Sunday nightbecause of the elbow, which he threw early in the second quarter after getting tangled with Minnesota's Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels while grabbing a rebound. Wembanyama swung his arms and his elbow struck Reid in the face.

Officials looked at the play and upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2, which comes with an automatic ejection. The NBA, as it always does in those situations, further reviewed the play after the game and decided Monday that the ejection was sufficient. It could have fined or even suspended Wembanyama for Game 5 and beyond if it felt that was warranted.

“I don’t think we even thought about it much at all," Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. told reporters at Minnesota's shootaround session Tuesday. "I think once the ruling came down, it was just like, we expected that and just moved forward. It's one of those things. We don’t want guys to miss games. We want to play against the best. We don't want to have guys missing games like that."

Wembanyama's elbow isn't the Spurs' biggest issue right now. The ankles and knees of two of his teammates are potentially problematic, however.

The Spurs added Dylan Harper to their injury list a few hours before Game 5 on Thursday with left knee soreness. He's listed as questionable, as is point guard De'Aaron Fox — who is dealing with what the Spurs described as right ankle soreness.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

byAlpha World

in

May 12, 2026

All eyes on Wemby for Game 5 of Spurs-Timberwolves series, after his elbow merited Game 4 ejection

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio'sVictor Wembanyama is playingin Game 5 of the Spurs' Western Conference semifinal series against...

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Richard Gere's Youngest Sons, 6 and 7, Look Just Like Their Dad in Rare Photos Shared By Mom Alejandra

Richard Gere's wife Alejandra Silva shared rare photos of their family life in Spain on Mother's Day.

The Gist

• The Pretty Woman actor could be seen sharing a sweet moment with his two youngest lookalike sons Alexander, 7, and James, 6.

• Silva also has a son Albert, 13, from a previous marriage, and Gere shares son Homer, 26, with ex-wife Carey Lowell.

Richard Gere’s wifeAlejandra Silvais giving fans a rare glimpse at theirprivate family life in Spain. In a Mother’s Day post shared on May 10, theSpanish publicist—who shares son Alexander, 7, and James, 6, with the 76 year old actor—posted candid photos of Gere hanging out with his mini-mes at home.

Silva celebrated life with her children and husband of eight years as she toasted to motherhood in thebehind-the-scenes photo dump. Silva, who also shares a sonAlbert, 13, with ex-husband Govind Friedland, shared a sweet group photo of thePretty Womanstar standing next to his stepson and his two youngest sons, who were both clad in matching holiday-inspired red, green, and white patterned pajamas. Each member of the group of four made a heart out of their hands as they posed for the photo.

Alexander and James’s faces were partially obscured, but they showed they’re already growing up to look like their dad with similar long hair and features. Meanwhile, in another photo, Silva shared a hilarious rough-housing moment between her boys. As a bemused Gere—who’s also dad toson Homer James Jigme, 26, with ex-wife Carey Lowell—looked on from the sidelines, Albert could be seen wearing a Yale T-shirt and jeans as he held one of his screaming younger brothers upside down.

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In contrast, Silva also shared a moment of calm with her youngest kids, snapping a photo of them twinning in matching yellow rain jackets, dark pants, and green rain boots as they each gave their mom a freshly-picked periwinkle flower.

“Motherhood is the hardest work I have ever done, and also the most sacred. It asks us to be strong when we are tired, soft when the world is hard, patient when we are overwhelmed, and loving even in the moments when we are still learning ourselves,” Silva reflected in her post. “I believe women carry generations inside them. We raise our children, but we also help raise the men and women of the future. We teach love, respect, compassion, courage, and tenderness—not only with words, but with the way we live.”

Read the original article onInStyle

byAlpha World

in

May 12, 2026

Richard Gere's Youngest Sons, 6 and 7, Look Just Like Their Dad in Rare Photos Shared By Mom Alejandra

Richard Gere's wife Alejandra Silva shared rare photos of their family life in Spain on Mother's Day. The Gist ...

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Olivia Rodrigo’s Teeny Tiny Micro Minidress Is Lacy Goodness

Olivia Rodrigo’s new photos in a tiny micro minidress perfectly exuded soft, romantic vibes. The “drivers license” hitmaker wore a white dress with delicate lace patterns that added a subtle, feminine charm to the look. She styled the outfit with minimal accessories to let the dress shine.

Olivia Rodrigo’s tiny micro minidress is literally all lace

Take a look atOlivia Rodrigo’s photosin a tiny minidress with lacy details:

Rodrigo fully embraced her soft vibe in the new look in a lace-heavy ensemble. She wore a white micro minidress with layered ruffles that added an ethereal charm to the silhouette. The intricate lace detailing gave the outfit a soft, couture-like finish.

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She paired the dress with knee-high boots, adding a striking contrast to the ensemble. Rodrigo completed the look with stylish black sunglasses. Meanwhile, her relaxed pose further added effortless charm to the look. In the photos, she was surrounded by greenery, which made the scene feel natural and radiant.

Originally reported by Chhavi Puri onRealityTea.

The postOlivia Rodrigo’s Teeny Tiny Micro Minidress Is Lacy Goodnessappeared first ontheFashionSpot.

byAlpha World

in

May 12, 2026

Olivia Rodrigo’s Teeny Tiny Micro Minidress Is Lacy Goodness

Olivia Rodrigo’s new photos in a tiny micro minidress perfectly exuded soft, romantic vibes. The “drivers license” hitmaker wore a whit...

Read More