Turkey come out on top in the last minute of an end-to-end 3-2 win over a second string USA side, in their final Group D match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
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June 24 (UPI) — Global aquaculture production reached a record high, while Chile maintained its position as the leading supplier of salmon to the United States and one of the sector’s top exporting powers, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
According to the report The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, global fisheries and aquaculture production reached 235 million tons in 2024. For the first time, aquaculture production surpassed 100 million tons of aquatic animals, 89% of which is destined for human consumption and provides at least one-fifth of the animal protein consumed by 3.1 billion people.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said Latin America and the Caribbean account for 15% of global aquatic product exports despite representing 9% of worldwide production, with a total of 13 million tons.
The region exported $27 billion worth of aquatic products, driven mainly by Chilean salmon, anchoveta from Peru and Chile, and Ecuadorian shrimp.
In this context, Chile ranks first in aquaculture production in Latin America, is the largest supplier of salmon to the United States and the world’s fifth-largest exporter of aquatic animal products.
Together with Norway, Chile accounts for nearly half of the value of global salmon and trout exports.
“The growth aquaculture has experienced in recent decades has not been accidental. Behind this progress lies significant work in research, innovation and technological development,” Valeska San Martín, an academic at the Coastal Research Center of the University of Atacama and a researcher at the Millennium Institute in Coastal Socio-Ecology, told UPI.
She said these advances have enabled the development of better feed for farmed species, more efficient genetic selection programs, increasingly precise environmental monitoring systems and automated tools that optimize feeding and health management.
“All of this has helped increase productivity and improve the efficient use of resources while at the same time reducing part of the costs associated with production,” she said.
San Martín added that Chile has been one of the most important players in global aquaculture development and is recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as one of the world’s 10 leading aquaculture producers.
“In 2024, it led global exports of frozen salmon and trout fillets, processed mussels, fishmeal and various algae-derived products, reaching more than 100 international markets, particularly the United States, Japan, Brazil, China and Europe,” she said.
Growth prospects remain positive, according to SalmonChile, the industry association representing salmon producers.
“Chilean salmon exports maintained a positive trend in 2026. During the first quarter, they reached $1.991 billion, representing growth of 8% in value and 19% in volume compared with the same period a year earlier,” the organization told UPI.
SalmonChile added that the record achieved by global aquaculture in 2024 confirms the growing prominence of aquaculture products in international trade and consolidates Chile’s position as one of the world’s leading salmon-producing powers.
Two games, two wins and the U.S. is already through to the knockout stage of a World Cup it is hosting.
For forward Folarin Balogun, things couldn’t be going any better.
“You know, if someone said before the tournament, two games and you’d be through to the knockouts, I think we all would have taken it,” he said. “We’re delighted.”
On Monday, the U.S. got more good news when Christian Pulisic, its talisman, returned to training after missing 10 days because of a calf injury. So Balogun said the last thing the team wants to do is take its foot off the gas for Thursday’s group-play finale with Turkey.
U.S. forward Folarin Balogun celebrates after scoring against Paraguay during the teams’ opening World Cup match at SoFi Stadium on June 12.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
“The object and the aim is to go out there and win,” he said before Monday’s practice at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine. “Three wins, three games. We can create history.”
He is unlikely to be part of that effort, however. Balogun, Tyler Adams, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson all picked up yellow cards in the first two U.S. games, and a second booking against Turkey would leave them ineligible to play in the round of 32 match.
There’s no need to risk that in a game that will change neither team’s World Cup fate — the U.S. already won the group while Turkey has been eliminated and will fly home after the match. But protecting their momentum is important for the Americans, who last won their group in 1930 and have won a World Cup knockout-stage game just once.
“Game to game, even minute to minute, half to half, it ebbs and flows,” captain Tim Ream said of momentum. “You can wrestle momentum away from teams and create your own. Every goal, every block, every set play — everything that we’re doing is together. That’s how we create the momentum.”
U.S. defender Chris Richards kicks the ball in front of Paraguay forward Julio Enciso while midfielder Tyler Adams looks on.
(Kelvin Kuo/Los Angeles Times)
“Momentum is everything,” defender Richards added. “Going into the last game with the group stage with two wins, hopefully we can finish with the third.”
With decisive victories over Paraguay and Australia, the U.S. has consecutive wins in a World Cup for the first time in 96 years. It has never won more than twice in a tournament, so beating Turkey would make history — and a bold statement.
“The belief’s always been there,” forward Alejandro Zendejas said. “Not just now, but in the past FIFA windows. We’ve been playing against good national teams, respected national teams, and we’ve been coming out with a positive result. So just keep on believing in this group.”
Zendejas said one reason the team is playing so well is because the players genuinely like being around one another. And unlike other national team camps, which rarely last more than 10 days, these 26 players have been together nearly a month, which has helped bond a roster that was already tight.
“The vibes are high, the team is having fun,” he said. “Training is intense, but in a good way. That’s since the beginning of this whole camp.
“It’s fun being around these guys. There’s a bunch of jokes. But when it comes to work and training and games, we get serious. And we’ve been showing that.”
With coach Mauricio Pochettino likely to rotate his squad against Turkey to protect the players with yellow cards, Zendejas is among those who figure to see the field for the first time in the tournament. Midfielder Cristian Roldan, who is in his second World Cup but has yet to play, was in line to get some minutes as well, but he was held out of training Monday with what was vaguely described as a muscle strain. His status is listed as day to day.
Pulisic’s role in Thursday’s game could be Pochettino’s toughest decision. The team’s best player, Pulisic was electric in the first half of the opener with Paraguay, setting up two goals. But he hasn’t played since, and his absence was noticeable against Australia.
So while getting him back on the field would be a positive, an additional week’s rest and recovery also would be valuable since there will be no room for error in the knockout stages.
Four of Britain’s five scheduled horse racing meetings on Wednesday have been abandoned following a forecast of extreme heat in parts of the UK.
The Met Office has issued a rare red warning from 09:00 BST on Wednesday to 21:00 Thursday for parts of England and Wales, with temperatures possibly reaching 38 or 39C.
The British Horseracing Authority’s hot weather policy states that where racecourses fall within a red warning zone, the fixture will be abandoned.
In addition, horses must not be transported from or through areas that have red warnings in place.
Worcester’s National Hunt fixture and the Flat meetings at Salisbury and Kempton are all in the affected zone and while Ffos Las, which was also due to host a jumps card, is just outside, it would require participants to travel through the high-risk area to reach the course.
Carlisle’s meeting in Cumbria is still scheduled to take place, featuring the historic Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate.
The BHA say they will continue to liaise with racecourses hosting fixtures in amber warning zones this week to consider any further procedures that may be needed.
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Elon Musk’s space and AI firm secured first-time ratings from Moody’s, Fitch and S&P Global on Thursday, a milestone that places its debt firmly in investment-grade territory and could allow it to borrow more cheaply as it funds a vast expansion.
The endorsements arrive less than a week after the company’s record IPO, which raised around $85.7 billion (€73.8bn) in the largest initial public offering in history.
Moody’s assigned SpaceX a Baa1 long-term issuer rating with a stable outlook. In its report, the agency pointed to the firm’s “exceptional franchise strength” as the world’s leading orbital launch provider and operator of Starlink, the largest low Earth orbit satellite broadband network.
The rating is also slightly higher than Tesla’s Baa3. Reacting to the news in a reply on social media, Elon Musk wrote: “Tesla’s credit rating is ridiculously low to be honest.”
According to Moody’s, Starlink has become SpaceX’s primary cash flow generator, underpinning improving scale, wider margins and a gradual shift away from more cyclical launch revenue.
Moody’s also set out the risks. It said the rating was constrained by the heavy execution and financial demands of SpaceX’s large-scale AI buildout, marked by high capital intensity, sustained negative free cash flow and an uncertain range of returns.
The agency highlighted the company’s dependence on the next-generation Starship V3 vehicle, warning that technical setbacks or delays could pressure long-term growth.
It further pointed to elevated governance risks tied to SpaceX’s controlled structure and concentrated voting power, which it said limit independent board oversight and leave the firm heavily reliant on a single individual, Elon Musk.
However, Moody’s still projects strong revenue and earnings growth through 2028, driven chiefly by Starlink, which counted 12 million subscribers as of early June, alongside an expected turning point in the AI division.
The agency cited recent third-party compute deals with Anthropic and Google worth a combined $75 billion (€65bn) as evidence of that potential.
As for the other credit agencies, Fitch issued a BBB+ long-term issuer default rating, also with a stable outlook, citing the company’s commanding lead in commercial launch, where it has delivered more than 80% of global mass to orbit since 2023.
Meanwhile, S&P Global assigned a BBB rating with a stable outlook, weighing the strength of the launch and connectivity businesses against the risks of the nascent AI segment and the company’s substantial capital needs.
The ratings did little to steady the stock on Thursday.
SpaceX closed at $185, down more than 18% from the high of $225.6 it reached on Tuesday, when its valuation briefly topped $3 trillion (€2.6tn).
The shares fell as low as $172 during the session before paring losses, as investors weighed whether the company’s lofty valuation had run too far.
The retreat has reshuffled SpaceX’s standing among the world’s corporate giants. The company now ranks once again as the sixth most valuable listed firm by market capitalisation, having given back some of the ground it gained earlier in the week.
On Tuesday, it had overtaken Amazon to claim fifth place, and at its intraday peak, it briefly leapfrogged Microsoft into fourth before this week’s slide pushed it back down.
Even after surrendering some of those gains, SpaceX sits among the most valuable companies on the planet just a week into its life as a public firm, and the investment-grade verdict from all three major agencies marks a notable shift in how financial markets judge a business that spent years operating as a privately funded rocket maker.
The value of Iran’s currency has risen by more than 15 percent against the US dollar, and its stock market has shattered records in the wake of the memorandum of understanding agreed between the United States and Iran on Sunday.
However, Iranians suffering for years from extremely high inflation and a plunging rial have found little economic relief as the prices of basic goods, such as food, remain high despite the diplomatic breakthrough.
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The Iranian economy has suffered due to decades of US sanctions. The economic crisis was exacerbated after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. As subsequent US naval blockade on Iranian ports further added to the misery of Iranians.
In Ferdowsi Street, the beating heart of Tehran’s foreign exchange market, the scene on Thursday was a stark departure from the panic of recent months. Exchange office boards flashed rapidly changing numbers as foreign currencies, led by the dollar, took a sharp dive.
“We closed our doors just hours before the official announcement of the US-Iran understanding at a rate of 1.8 million rials to the dollar,” Amir, a 35-year-old exchange office worker who asked to remain anonymous, told Al Jazeera. “Now it has fallen to 1.54 million rials, and we expect further declines.”
Amir noted a significant increase in sales volumes although buyers remained scarce as many anticipated the rial would strengthen further, potentially dropping to 1.4 million to the dollar or lower.
The recent gains mark a sharp turnaround. After the outbreak of the war, the exchange rate jumped to a historic peak of 1.9 million rials (190,000 tomans) to the dollar in March before settling at about 1.685 million just before recent attacks carried out despite a ceasefire.
Despite the rial’s recovery, a walk through Tehran’s grocery stores reveals a starkly different reality. For Iranians grappling with the economic fallout of crippling sanctions and the US naval blockade, the diplomatic thaw has yet to lower the cost of living.
Reza, a 42-year-old Tehran resident, told Al Jazeera that prices for daily staples like milk, cheese, cooking oil and flour remain unchanged. “They say the dollar dropped, but my shopping basket costs the same as last week,” he said. “This means the agreement hasn’t reached our pockets yet.”
From behind the cash register, 55-year-old shop owner Ramin echoed his customer’s frustration. He explained that while the government continues to distribute subsidised goods like bread, the fluctuations of the free-market dollar do not immediately impact basic food prices.
The value of the dollar on the free market varies from the official exchange rate.
Pointing to a shelf of imported goods, another shopkeeper named Karim noted that items like shampoo, toothpaste and laundry detergent are still locked at inflated prices.
“Distributors say they bought these goods two months ago at the old dollar rates,” Karim explained. “Prices will remain high until the old stock runs out and new goods enter at the lower exchange rates.” He estimated it would take at least two weeks for the market to adjust, meaning Iranians will continue to face compounding inflation in the interim.
While Main Street struggles, Tehran’s stock market is experiencing an unprecedented boom amid expectations of improved economic conditions. The trading floor has been awash in green since the initial leaks of the Washington-Tehran agreement emerged.
On Monday, the main index jumped by a record-breaking 161,000 points in a single session, marking the highest-ever influx of cash from individual investors.
By Tuesday, the market continued its staggering ascent, climbing another 112,000 points to cross the psychological barrier of 5 million, ultimately settling at a historic high of 5.1 million.
Saeed, a 40-year-old investor, called it a “historic day”. He noted that investors are rushing to buy shares in the energy and petrochemical sectors, betting heavily on the resumption of exports and the reopening of global markets.
However, Saeed remained cautiously optimistic. “The stock market is often driven by rumours,” he warned. “I don’t want to repeat the experience of the 2015 nuclear deal when the market soared and then collapsed after the US withdrawal.”
He was referring to US President Donald Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the agreement, under which Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
The wait-and-see approach in effect has paralysed other sectors of the economy. In central Tehran’s electronics hubs, 38-year-old shop owner Reza reported that while the prices of imported appliances have dropped in tandem with the dollar, sales have stalled because customers are holding out for steeper discounts.
A similar freeze has gripped the housing market. Nasrin, a 36-year-old real estate agent in northern Tehran, observed that a recent price surge that accompanied the initial truce has now given way to stagnation. Many property owners are clinging to inflated prices, seemingly unaware that the market dynamics have shifted, bringing property transactions to a virtual standstill.
For macroeconomic experts, the mixed market signals are entirely expected. Hossein Selahvarzi, the former head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, cautioned that the new agreement is “not a magic wand” capable of instantly fixing years of structural issues in the economy.
While the war severely damaged Iran’s infrastructure, Selahvarzi emphasised that the roots of the country’s economic malaise were firmly planted well before the bombing began.
“War is the enemy of investment, production, trade and public welfare,” Selahvarzi told Al Jazeera. He warned against the analytical mistake of believing that a peace memorandum alone would revive the economy.
“Ending the military confrontation does not necessarily mean the beginning of economic prosperity,” he said, stressing that restoring stability to the business environment remains the country’s most urgent priority.
“What we have before us is a limited and fragile opportunity to correct course and rebuild the economy, and this opportunity could be lost quickly if not managed correctly.”
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The central bank’s increase in the uncollateralised overnight rate, by a quarter of a percentage point from 0.75%, puts it at a three-decade high.
The Bank of Japan has been trying to normalise monetary policy lately after decades of keeping interest rates near or below zero. It adopted ultralow rates to try to encourage more borrowing and spending to counter deflation and pull the economy out of the doldrums.
Inflationary pressures because of the war in Iran, which has sent oil prices soaring in recent months, have hit Japan hard since it imports almost all its oil and gas.
Low interest rates had added to pressures on the Japanese yen, which has fallen lately to about 160 yen to the US dollar.
BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda, who has been hospitalised recently, did not attend Tuesday’s policy board meeting. Deputy Gov. Shinichi Uchida was expected to take his place at the news conference set for later in the day.
Before the BOJ decision, Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index briefly topped 70,000 early Tuesday before giving up some of those early gains.
Additional sources • AP
Central bank bottlenecks and massive import costs delay the impact of a $4B windfall.
War-torn Libya is pumping oil at its fastest pace in more than a decade, averaging about 1.4 million barrels per day in April, according to National Oil Corp. operating data.
Still, refining capacity, distribution networks, and subsidy-financed imports remain strained by years of institutional division since the 2011 conflict, when production fell sharply from about 1.5 million barrels per day to near-collapse levels during the civil war.
The imbalance reflects Libya’s fragmented downstream system, where crude oil exports continue but refining capacity, distribution networks, and subsidy-financed imports remain strained by years of institutional disruption since the 2011 uprising and the overthrow of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, when production fell sharply.
The state-owned NOC reported $2.82 billion in gross oil revenue in April, followed by nearly $4 billion in May, the highest monthly intake in over 10 years, according to local energy reports citing official data. Crude flows through Es Sider, Ras Lanuf, and Zawiya terminals into Mediterranean markets, where it is priced against Brent-linked benchmarks.
Translating stronger production and upstream earnings into direct benefits to the state and its people remains challenging, however.
The May surge coincided with a sharp increase in fuel imports; NOC Chairman Masoud Suleman confirmed the contracting of 17 gasoline tankers, the highest monthly fuel import volume in Libya’s history. Even as import activity rose, several cities in western Libya reported fuel shortages and long queues at filling stations, exposing persistent breakdowns in domestic distribution.
The cash conversion of oil earnings is still structurally uneven. In April, only $1.91 billion of $2.82 billion in gross revenue reached the Central Bank of Libya after fuel-import and settlement deductions routed through the Libyan Foreign Bank mechanism. That left roughly $910 million stuck within upstream settlement layers awaiting final transfer into the sovereign liquidity system.
On June 3, the central bank launched a $3.5 billion foreign currency allocation program to cover letters of credit (LOCs), foreign transfers, and retail foreign-currency demand, according to Libyan financial disclosures, amid persistent import financing pressure on food, fuel, and industrial inputs.
The central bank sits at the center of this fiscal roundelay. It is the sole legal recipient of hydrocarbon revenues and converts inflows into domestic liquidity for salaries, imports, and foreign exchange allocations, making it the clearing hub for the national economy.
That role has repeatedly placed it at the center of political escalation. Last August, a dispute over central bank leadership triggered a production shutdown in the eastern half of the country that quickly cut output from nearly 959,000 barrels per day to 591,000, according to NOC data. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya warned that disruption of the central bank’s clearing function would freeze LOCs and salary payments, given that hydrocarbons account for more than 90% of export earnings.
The underlying political structure remains split between the UN-backed Government of National Unity in Tripoli and the Government of National Stability based in Benghazi and Tobruk in the east; UN mediation is ongoing, but national elections remain stalled. A rare shift occurred on April 11, however, when the rival eastern and western legislative bodies signed a landmark agreement to unify public spending, creating Libya’s first consolidated budget framework since 2013.
Production recovery continues. Libya is targeting 1.6 million barrels per day by the end of 2026, supported by the rehabilitation of mature fields across the Sirte and Murzuq basins and incremental drilling gains.
Investment is also returning at scale.
In February, Libya awarded oil and gas exploration licenses for the first time in 17 years, granting acreage to Chevron, Eni, QatarEnergy, and Repsol, alongside other global operators competing for the Sirte, Murzuq, and offshore Mediterranean blocks. The round followed broader upstream agreements involving TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips, BP, Shell, and ExxonMobil, signaling renewed international exposure to Libya’s estimated 48.4 billion to 50 billion barrels of proven reserves, the largest in Africa.
Libya’s constraint is now fiscal rather than geological, the analytics firm Geopolitical Desk notes; production has stabilized, but “funding flows remain irregular, procurement cycles constrained, and fiscal authority contested across parallel administrations.”
The result is a landscape where record output, rising revenues, and partial political coordination coexist with fragmented financial execution, ensuring that Libya’s oil recovery is measured in barrels but constrained in how fully it translates into state power.
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LUKE Evans caused the Tony Awards audience to blush and sent social media spiraling after performing in a scandalously skimpy Frank-N-Furter costume live on CBS.
The Beauty and the Beast actor left little to the imagination, wearing just a tiny black jockstrap, a leather corset and sky-high heels for Sunday night’s Rocky Horror Show performance.
During the 79th Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the ceremony paid tribute to the hit Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show.
Luke, 47, emerged through a cloud of smoke to perform his starring role as the iconic Dr. Frank-N-Furter with glam-rock chaos in full force.
He completed the sexy look with fishnet stockings, elbow-length gloves, dramatic stage makeup and the crystal-covered corset before launching into a raunchy rendition of the track Sweet Transvestite alongside the cast.
At one point during the performance, the Welsh actor spun around to flash the crowd in the barely-there costume while grinding across the stage and dramatically whipping off a velvet cape to reveal the jockstrap underneath.
The raunchy performance instantly sent social media into a meltdown as viewers praised Luke for fully committing to the campy cult-classic character.
“Luke Evans shaking his d**k and a** on stage at the Tony Awards while wearing his slutty Rocky Horror Frank-N-Furter costume…this is what Pride Month is all about!” one fan wrote on X.
Another viewer joked: “I did NOT expect Luke Evans in six-inch heels and a corset at the Tonys but now I never want him to take it off.”
A third person posted: “Broadway Luke Evans might be his most powerful form yet.”
Luke has been starring as Frank-N-Furter in the Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show since previews began earlier this spring, with the production officially having its opening back in April at the Hudson Theatre.
The actor previously admitted he spent months preparing physically for the demanding role, which includes elaborate choreography, live vocals and multiple quick-change costume moments throughout the show.
Frank-N-Furter, the provocative alien scientist at the center of Rocky Horror, was originally made famous by Tim Curry in the 1975 cult-classic film adaptation.
Now, Luke has made it his own, putting a darker and more seductive spin on the iconic role.
While Luke may be stirring up conversation on Broadway these days, the actor has spent years building an impressive resume across film, television and theater.
Many fans recognize the star as the villainous Gaston in Disney’s 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast opposite Emma Watson, where his booming musical vocals and cocky swagger made him a standout.
He also starred as Bard the Bowman in The Hobbit trilogy and played the sinister Owen Shaw in Fast & Furious 6 before later reprising the role in the franchise’s spinoff projects.
On television, Luke has taken on darker dramatic roles in projects including The Alienist, Nine Perfect Strangers and Hulu’s true-crime miniseries Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue.
Broadway audiences, meanwhile, have long known Luke for his powerhouse stage vocals.
Before his Hollywood breakthrough, he starred in major London West End productions including Rent, Miss Saigon, Avenue Q and Piaf.
His turn as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show marks Luke’s splashiest return to the stage in years – and judging by the positive Tony Awards reaction, audiences are fully embracing his comeback.
The actor’s Tony Awards appearance quickly became one of the night’s most viral moments alongside Megan Thee Stallion’s Moulin Rouge-inspired twerking performance and host Pink’s over-the-top opening number.
The 79th Annual Tony Awards aired live Sunday night from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
A look at The Times’ final top 25 high school baseball in the Southland for 2026.
Rk. School (Rec.); Comment; last ranking
1. ST. JOHN BOSCO (27-6); SS Division 1 champion; 3
2. NORCO (28-5); SS Division 1 runner-up; 1
3. HARVARD-WESTLAKE (26-6); SS Division 1 semifinals; 2
4. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (23-9); SS Division 1 semifinals; 8
5. CORONA (23-9); SS Division 1 quarterfinals; 6
6. HUNTINGTON BEACH (25-8-1); SS Division 1 Round 3; Division I regional champs; 5
7. LA MIRADA (25-9); SS Division 1 quarterfinals; 11
8. ORANGE LUTHERAN (25-6); SS Division 1 quarterfinals; 4
9. CYPRESS (23-9); SS Division 1 quarterfinals; 10
10. SIERRA CANYON (24-7); SS Division 1 Round 3; 7
11. AYALA (24-5); SS Division 1 Round 3; 9
12. CORONA SANTIAGO (19-12); SS Division 1 Round 3; 15
13. ETIWANDA (20-9); SS Division 1 Round 2; 18
14. OAKS CHRISTIAN (22-8); SS Division 1 Round 2; 12
15. TEMECULA VALLEY (24-6); SS Division 1 Round 2; 16
16. GANESHA (26-3-1); SS Division 2 champions; 25
17; NEWPORT HARBOR (25-10); SS Division 2 semifinals; Division 2 regional champs;14
18. MARANATHA (23-7); SS Division 1 Round 2; 23
19. LOYOLA (19-4-1); SS Division 2 runner-up; NR
20. ELSINORE (22-4); SS Division 2 quarterfinals; NR
21. AQUINAS (21-10); SS Division 2 quarterfinals; 20
22. FOOTHILL (20-12); SS Division 2 semifinals; NR
23. VILLA PARK (19-9-1); SS Division 2 first round; 17
24. SANTA MARGARITA (16-14); SS Division 2 second round; 21
25. GAHR (18-11-1); SS Division 2 second round; 13
Jared Grindlinger was right where he wanted to be Saturday afternoon at the end of his last high school baseball game — on the mound with a chance to clinch a championship for the orange and black.
Huntington Beach had a 5-0 lead with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning when the Oilers’ highly touted left-hander came in to relieve Jared Marchbank. The cushion was narrowed to two with runs scored on an error, an uncaught third strike and a wild pitch, but Grindlinger struck out the fourth batter to tie the bow on his team’s 5-3 victory over San Diego Cathedral in the Southern California Regional Division I final.
“I knew I’d be facing the top of their lineup and those guys are all great players but I was ready for it,” Grindlinger said. “To do this with my best friends who I’ve grown up with my entire life means everything to me.”
Grindlinger graduates Wednesday with plenty to be proud of and much to look forward to. The 6-1, 170-pound pitcher/outfielder reclassified in February to make himself eligible for next month’s Major League draft and is a potential first-round pick. Having just turned 17, the University of Tennessee commit has a bright future, but he wants to savor his final days on campus following in the footsteps of older siblings Bradley and Trent, who were back at their alma mater Saturday to cheer on Jared.
“I’ve known him since he was in second grade and he has two brothers who played for me too,” Oilers coach Benji Medure said upon wrapping up his 26th season. “Jared loves to compete and he fell in love with the culture and the family aspect of our program.”
In the first round of regionals on Tuesday, Grindlinger went four for four at the plate with a double, a home run, two singles and a run batted in plus he pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts in a 10-3 victory over Patrick Henry in San Diego. Two days later, he singled, tripled and scored two runs in an 11-3 semifinal victory at Corona.
Grindlinger blasted the fourth pitch he saw over the right-field fence to put the Oilers up 2-0 in the first inning Saturday — a lead they held until tacking on three more in the bottom of the sixth. He also patrolled left field and snared a line drive to end the top of the fourth.
“He came with two really good fastballs but then he hung a changeup and I knew I got it,” Grindlinger said of his 41st hit and second homer this season. “I’ve been working on discipline to look for my pitch.”
Medure noted Jared’s similarities to Bradley, the oldest, and Trent, whom he may soon be playing with in Knoxville.
“Bradley was a terrific pitcher and Trent was a super hitter and they’re all very close,” Medure said. “I think Jared picked Tennessee because he wants to be with his brother.”
He could be a Volunteer with his brother Trent next season.
“Jared’s got the best traits from both me and Bradley,” said Trent, who just completed his first season in Knoxville, where he made the SEC All-Freshman team as a catcher. “He has an aura about him and I’m super proud of him.”
“Jared’s a lot better than I was at his age,” admitted Bradley, a 2023 Huntington Beach alum who played at Long Beach State but is entering the transfer portal. “He’s barely 17 and getting to the upper 90s. He’s more polished, plus he’s a lefty.”
The hardest part about skipping his senior year to graduate early was not the extra classes he had to take but knowing he would be missing out on a chance to see his coach reach another milestone.
“He was a freshman and the second game that season I got my 400th win and Jared said, ‘I’m gonna be part of 400 and 500,’” added Medure, who is 28 wins away. “That year, we won 23 and 25 the next year. We had it all planned that 500 would be for the CIF title. When he decided to reclass to make millions of dollars he told him, ‘I feel bad I can’t win that 500th game for you.’ That’s the kind of kid he is.”
Grindlinger credits his mom for helping him meet all of his academic requirements and his brothers for teaching him everything he knows about the sport they all play.
“Whatever happens — whether it’s the draft or college — I’m good,” he said.
Medure is thrilled how the season ended considering he did not believe his team would even be in the regional bracket after losing early in the section playoffs. He is grateful for the three seasons he got to coach his superstar.
“Jared came in to let us know that scenario was on the table and every coach in that room said, ‘Awesome!’” Medure recalled. “He was scared to tell us because he thought we’d be upset. Usually it’s done to buy another year, not to lose one. Of course I’d like to coach one of the best players in America for four years, but ultimately I want him to do what’s best for him.”
Trump seeks to shore up support among rural voters hard hit by tariffs, economic fallout of war with Iran.
Published On 5 Jun 20265 Jun 2026
United States President Donald Trump has sought to reassure farmers hard-hit by tariffs and the economic fallout of the US-Israeli war with Iran during a visit to Wisconsin.
The stop in Chippewa Falls on Friday for a farming roundtable comes months before the midterm elections in November. Trump was seeking to bolster support for Republican US Representative Derrick Van Orden, who has been targeted by Democrats hoping to take control of the chamber.
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Van Orden has closely aligned with Trump and has long espoused the president as the best leader for rural Americans. Democrat challenger Rebecca Cook has proven a strong fundraiser and has led Van Orden in recent polls.
Democrats are considered favourites to take control of the US House of Representatives, currently controlled by Republicans, in the midterms.
“I love the place,” Trump said, referring to Wisconsin, “and hopefully you’re going to be voting Republican, because frankly, Republican is – I call it the sane way to go.”
Success for Democrats would allow the party to seriously restrict Trump’s agenda in the final two years of his term.
The Wisconsin visit was also more broadly aimed at shoring up support among farmers, who had largely backed the president in his 2024 election bid.
Farmers have been particularly hard-hit by Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, with many countries limiting imports of US products, notably soybeans, in response. The tariffs have also made importing items needed for daily operations more expensive.
The administration has sought to offset the fallout with temporary aid packages for farmers.
At the same time, fertiliser costs have surged since the US and Israel launched the war with Iran on February 28, with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz increasing prices of several key components, including urea.
An April survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation found that 70 percent of farmers in the US reported they cannot afford all of their fertiliser needs.
The average gas price of $4.04 per gallon of petrol this week was also $1.08 higher than a year ago, according to the American Automobile Association.
Trump assured those gathered that the administration had “largely finished” the war “one way or the other”.
He vowed fertiliser and gas prices would come “way down”.
The visit comes as several polls have shown Trump’s overall approval rating hovering at all-time lows, about or under 40 percent.
His approval was lower on specific issues, with a Marquette Law School poll conducted from May 20-26 finding just 19 percent of respondents approved of Trump’s handling of gas prices. Only 22 percent approved of his handling of inflation and cost of living.
Several top Republicans have also warned that several of Trump’s recent actions could risk alienating voters concerned about the economy.
That included a $1.8bn “anti-weaponisation fund” launched by the Department of Justice to repay individuals, including Trump supporters, who allege they were victims of political prosecutions.
The Department of Justice has since abandoned the plan.
Trump has also requested $1bn in funding for security for his controversial White House ballroom, despite earlier saying that taxpayers would not have to foot the bill.
CIF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BASEBALL REGIONALS
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Semifinals
DIVISION I
#8 San Diego Cathedral at #5 La Mirada, Friday at 4 p.m.
#7 Huntington Beach 11, #3 Corona 3
DIVISION II
#4 Bakersfield Christian 5, #8 Arroyo Grande 0
#2 Newport Harbor 11, #3 Point Loma 6
DIVISION III
#8 Kaiser 7, #4 Helix 4
#6 Westview at #2 Glendora, Friday at 4 p.m.
DIVISION IV
#8 South El Monte at #5 Francis Parker, Friday at 4 p.m.
#7 North Torrance 7, #3 Central Valley Christian 0
DIVISION V
#5 LA Roosevelt at #1 Verdugo Hills (double forfeit)
#2 Coastal Academy 5, #3 Schurr 2
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)
Finals
DIVISION I
#7 Huntington Beach vs. #8 San Diego Cathedral or #5 La Mirada
DIVISION II
#4 Bakersfield Christian at #2 Newport Harbor, 2 p.m.
DIVISION III
#8 Kaiser at #6 Westview or #2 Glendora
DIVISION IV
#7 North Torrance vs. #5 Francis Parker or #8 South El Monte
DIVISION V
#2 Coastal Academy wins by forfeit
CIF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SOFTBALL REGIONALS
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Semifinals
DIVISION I
#1 Chula Vista Mater Dei 7, #5 Point Loma 4
#2 La Habra 8, #6 St. Paul 7
DIVISION II
#1 Riverside Prep 4, #5 Redwood 3
#6 Garces Memorial at #2 Great Oak, Friday at 4 p.m.
DIVISION III
#4 Hanford West 5, #8 Mission College Prep 4
#3 Grace at #2 Helix, Friday at 12 p.m.
DIVISION IV
#5 Grossmont at #1 San Diego Madison, Friday at 4 p.m.
#2 Woodlake 13, #3 Irvine 0
DIVISION V
#1 Arroyo Valley 12, #5 La Jolla 8
#6 San Bernardino 18, #2 South East 2
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)
Finals
DIVISION I
#2 La Habra at #1 Chula Vista Mater Dei
DIVISION II
#6 Garces Memorial or #2 Great Oak at #1 Riverside Prep
DIVISION III
#4 Hanford at #3 Grace or #2 Helix
DIVISION IV
#2 Woodlake vs. #1 Madison or #5 Grossmont
DIVISION V
#6 San Bernardino at #1 Arroyo Valley
After spending less than a year living in Southern California, quarterback Ford Green of Westlake High retains his distinct South Carolina accent, still answers questions with “yes sir” and “no sir,” and greets adults with a handshake that can be described as nothing less than crushing.
The first impression he makes is off the charts, which piques the curiosity of strangers wanting to learn more. It only gets better., with As on his report card, an arm that throws frozen ropes and a sports history that includes baseball and boxing, which means defensive linemen better think long and hard if they want to do something stupid.
As a freshman last season, Green guided Westlake to an 11-1 record with 2,195 yards passing and 31 touchdowns. It was his first time playing quarterback with the idea of “going all in.” During the spring, Ohio State was among the schools offering a scholarship despite his lack of football experience. The Buckeyes might be on to something.
The 2026 season could be the year the 6-foot-2 Green rises to a whole different level because of his expected improvement from workouts, practices and devoting total attention to where he wants to go.
Before last season, he said he played football for fun in South Carolina. He was a baseball player, with his focus on pitching. Then, in 2025, everything changed. He said he went “all in” on playing quarterback.
“I fell in love,” he said. “When I wake up, I think about football. When I’m eating, I think about football. When I’m at school, I think about football. I’m infatuated by the game. Not a second goes by where I don’t think something about football. It’s my life.”
Put it down on your calendar. July 11. Edison’s Battle at the Beach seven on seven passing tournament. Great lineup of teams as always. pic.twitter.com/wV1tZATIQV
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 28, 2026
Green is someone to pay close attention to this summer during passing tournaments and showcases. Call it the bandwagon effect that happens when one person after another comes to the same conclusion and recognition that someone is going to be very successful.
Twice a week, he goes on Zoom to receive training from a Canadian Football League quarterback. Other times, he works with a private quarterback coach. He already understands the intricacies of the position.
“There’s so many more factors in playing quarterback than just arm,” he said. “It all starts between the ears.”
Westlake has gone from 0-10 to 5-0. Freshman QB Ford Green 17 of 24 passing for 301 yards, five TDs in win over Venice. Charles Davis seven catches, 130 yards, 1 TD.
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) September 19, 2025
As scrutiny heightens, attention grows and expectations increase, Green said he’ll follow a big lesson already learned.
“Take it day by day,” he said. “It’s never as good as it seems, it’s never as bad as it seems. Stay neutral and get better every day. I feel if I get better every day, I’ll be able to reach my goals and dreams.”
He said he was too busy with football this year to go out for Westlake’s baseball team, but in the spring of 2027, prepare for his high school pitching debut.
I can say confidently group of incoming freshmen quarterbacks in SoCal looks promising: Grady Wayne, Corona Centennial; Ford Green, Westlake; Thaddeus Breaux, Hamilton; Ezrah Brown, Orange Lutheran; Marcus Washington, Cajon; Evan McCalister, Valencia.
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) August 2, 2025
Green was part of an outstanding group of class of 2029 quarterbacks last fall, all of whom should be continuing their rise to prominence.
Seven-on-seven tournaments will be happening almost every weekend in June. Then, next month, prepare for one of the best on July 11 at Huntington Beach Edison, which brings out St. John Bosco, Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo, among others. The “offseason” has been shortened, with zero week scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 21-22. Programs are required to take a mandatory two-week summer break. Some take it in June, others in July. And then there’s the inevitable movement of players through transfers to change teams.
For Green, the 2026-27 school year is shaping up as his most pivotal season to show where he’s headed and what kind of talents he has in the classroom, on the football field and on the pitching mound.
Monitor the journey closely. Something tells me he won’t disappoint.
At the state track and field championships, Jayden Rendon of Carson was in the lead of the 300 intermediate hurdles on Saturday when he struck the final hurdle and fell to the ground. So ended his opportunity to repeat as state champion.
Did he pout? Did he lose his composure? Did he blame something or someone?
Absolutely not.
“You live and learn,” he said. “It does no justice dwelling when I can do so much more.”
He’s headed to USC, and what a student athlete he will become. He was honored on Tuesday, receiving a $1,500 scholarship from the City Section for his academic and athletic commitment. He wrote an essay on how schools in the Southern Section were trying to convince him to leave Carson.
He said absolutely not.
“Growing up in the track world since I was 8 years old, I watched many of my friends and teammates make a decision to attend schools outside of their community,” he wrote. “Their reasoning was based around sports because they believed that the CIF Southern Section schools were more competitive and would give them more opportunities for success. When I was in middle school, my family moved to Long Beach from Carson, which made my home school Long Beach Poly. The majority of my youth team friends decided to attend LB Poly, and I was often questioned on why I chose to stay in Carson instead of following the crowd. My parents and I were told that I would never reach my full potential in the City Section.
“My decision to stay in Carson and compete for the City Section was not just about competition, but about connection. While preparing to compete in the multi-events at the Junior Olympics, when I was 10, I had to run the hurdles. Coach Jojo coached hurdles at Carson so my mom asked him if he would be willing to train me in the summer. I grew a bond with Coach Jojo and developed a love for the hurdles. Both my mother and grandmother went to Carson but it was Coach Jojo who showed me what it truly meant to be part of the Colt family. Besides my family, he was my biggest supporter, he believed in me and made me feel like I belonged to something bigger: a legacy. I didn’t care what anyone said, I knew that if I had Coach Jojo by my side and if I set my mind to it, I could be successful.
“I never would have believed that from the start of my freshman year, the sport that I love, would hit me with life: In January 2023, just a few months before my first high school track season began, I lost Coach Jojo to cancer. After being a pallbearer for my beloved Coach Jojo, I made a promise to him to finish what we started. The way I saw it, I had two choices, I could feel sorry for myself or I could push through the pain and stay focused on my goals of becoming a USC Trojan.”
Rendon fulfilled his promise to his coach and community.
“I wanted to stay in the City Section,” he said. “It was my roots. I wanted to be the hometown hero. I didn’t think I needed to move to be great.”
He was right again.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
CIF SOCAL SOFTBALL REGIONALS
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
First Round
DIVISION I
#1 Chula Vista Mater Dei, bye
#5 Point Loma 10, #4 Whittier Christian 1
#6 St. Paul def. #3 Murrieta Mesa, forfeit
#2 La Habra def. #7 Bonita, forfeit
DIVISION II
#2 Riverside Prep 1, #8 Del Norte 0
#5 Redwood at #4 Birmingham, Wednesday at 3 p.m.
#6 Garces Memorial 3, #3 Oxnard 0
#2 Great Oak 9, #7 El Capitan 4
DIVISION III
#8 Mission College Prep 4, #1 Venice 2
#4 Hanford West 19, #5 Eagle Rock 1
#3 Grace 9, #6 Brawley 3
#2 Helix 14, #7 Covina 7
DIVISION IV
#1 San Diego Madison 10, #9 Arleta 4
#5 Grossmont 7, #4 Arroyo 4
#3 Irvine 8, #6 Avenal 7
#2 Woodlake 8, #7 Edgewood 4
DIVISION V
#1 Arroyo Valley, bye
#5 La Jolla 16, #4 Franklin 3
#6 San Bernardino 9, #3 Monte Vista 6
#2 South East, bye
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)
Semifinals
DIVISION I
#5 Point Loma at #1 Chula Vista Mater Dei
#6 St. Paul at #2 La Habra
DIVISION II
#5 Redwood / #4 Birmingham at #1 Riverside Prep
#6 Garces Memorial at #2 Great Oak
DIVISION III
#8 Mission College Prep at #4 Hanford West
#3 Grace at #2 Helix
DIVISION IV
#5 Grossmont at #1 San Diego Madison
#3 Irvine at #2 Woodlake
DIVISION V
#5 La Jolla vs. #1 Arroyo Valley, Wednesday at San Gorgonio
#6 San Bernardino at #2 South East
Note: Finals in all divisions Saturday, June 6 at 4 p.m. at higher seeds.
CIF SOCAL BASEBALL REGIONALS
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
First Round
DIVISION I
#8 San Diego Cathedral 4, #1 St. John Bosco 2
#5 La Mirada 7, #4 Bakersfield Liberty 6
#6 Chula Vista Eastlake at #3 Corona, Wednesday
#7 Huntington Beach 10, #2 Patrick Henry 3
DIVISION II
#8 Arroyo Grande 4, #1 Loyola 3
#4 Bakersfield Christian 3, #5 St. Francis 1
#3 Point Loma 5, #6 Millikan 2
#2 Newport Harbor 2, #7 San Diego Madison 0
DIVISION III
#8 Kaiser 2, #1 Mt. Carmel 0
#4 Helix 13, #5 Laguna Beach 4
#6 Westview 7, #3 Carson 1
#7 Culver City 11, #2 Glendora 10 (suspended in bottom of 13th inning due to darkness)
DIVISION IV
#8 South El Monte 3, #1 Brentwood 2
#5 Francis Parker 6, #4 Covina 1
#3 Central Valley Christian 6, #6 Garfield 5
#7 North Torrance 2, #2 Bell 0
DIVISION V
#1 Verdugo Hills 11, #8 Rolling Hills Prep 2
#5 LA Roosevelt 7, #4 Rancho Alamitos 4
#3 Schurr 11, #6 Webb 1
#2 Coastal Academy 5, #7 Fremont 4
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)
Semifinals
DIVISION I
#8 San Diego Cathedral at #5 La Mirada, Friday
#7 Huntington Beach at #6 Eastlake / #3 Corona
DIVISION II
#8 Arroyo Grande at #4 Bakersfield Christian, Wednesday at 3 p.m.
#3 Point Loma at #2 Newport Harbor, Wednesday
DIVISION III
#8 Kaiser at #4 Helix
#6 Westview vs. #2 Glendora / #7 Culver City
DIVISION IV
#8 South El Monte at #5 Francis Parker, Friday
#7 North Torrance at #3 Central Valley Christian
DIVISION V
#5 LA Roosevelt at #1 Verdugo Hills
#3 Schurr vs. #2 Coastal Academy at Palomar College, Wednesday
Note: Finals in all divisions Saturday, June 6 at 4 p.m. at higher seeds.
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CIF SOCAL BASEBALL REGIONALS
(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
First Round
DIVISION I
#8 San Diego Cathedral at #1 St. John Bosco
#5 La Mirada at #4 Bakersfield Liberty
#6 Chula Vista Eastlake at #3 Corona
#7 Huntington Beach at #2 Patrick Henry
DIVISION II
#8 Arroyo Grande at #1 Loyola
#5 St. Francis at #4 Bakersfield Christian
#6 Millikan vs. #3 Point Loma at Dana Middle School
#7 San Diego Madison at #2 Newport Harbor
DIVISION III
#8 Kaiser at #1 Mt. Carmel
#5 Laguna Beach at #4 Helix
#6 Westview at #3 Carson
#7 Culver City at #2 Glendora
DIVISION IV
#8 South El Monte at #1 Brentwood
#5 Francis Parker at #4 Covina
#6 Garfield at #3 Central Valley Christian
#7 North Torrance at #2 Bell
DIVISION V
#8 Rolling Hills Prep at #1 Verdugo Hills
#5 Los Angeles Roosevelt at #4 Rancho Alamitos
#6 Webb vs. #3 Schurr at Montebello
#7 Fremont vs. #2 Coastal Academy at Palomar College
Note: Semifinals in all divisions Thursday, June 4 at 4 p.m. at higher seeds; Finals in all divisions Saturday, June 6 at 4 p.m. at higher seeds.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Fresno City College
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
DIVISION I
Mira Costa d. Northgate, 25-15, 25-17, 26-24
DIVISION II
Sanger d. Francis Parker, 29-27, 26-28, 25-23, 25-20
DIVISION III
Santa Cruz d. Central East, 26-28, 25-14, 25-20, 25-18
DIVISION IV
El Dorado d. Point Loma, 25-15, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20
CITY SECTION SOFTBALL FiNALS
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
At Legacy
OPEN DIVISION
#2 Carson 12, #1 Granada Hills 1
DIVISION III
#5 South East 13, #15 Reseda 2
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Birmingham
DIVISION I
#1 Venice vs. #6 Eagle Rock, 2 p.m.
DIVISION II
#1 LA Marshall vs. #6 Arleta, 11 a.m.
DIVISION IV
#4 Huntington Park vs. #14 Franklin, 11:30 a.m.
SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL FINALS
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
At Cal State Fullerton
DIVISION 1
St. John Bosco 2, Norco 0
DIVISION 9
Webb 12, Rolling Hills Prep 6
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Cal State Fullerton
DIVISION 4
Glendora vs. Laguna Beach, 7:30 p.m.
DIVISION 6
Brentwood vs. Covina, 4 p.m.
DIVISION 3
Mira Costa vs. Agoura, 1 p.m.
DIVISION 7
North Torrance vs. South El Monte
At Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter
DIVISION 2
Ganesha vs. Loyola, 5:30 p.m.
DIVISION 8
Rancho Alamitos vs. Schurr, 2 p.m.
DIVISION 5
Kaiser vs. Culver City, 11 a.m.
