Hamed and Rida Aliwa have taken up the responsibility of raising dozens of their grandchildren after they lost five of their sons because of Israel’s war on Gaza.
United States President Donald Trump sanctions Russia’s two biggest oil companies – after scrapping a summit with President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war.
The European Union has also announced new measures targeting Russian oil and assets.
Will they bring an end to the war any closer?
Presenter: Bernard Smith
Guests:
Anatol Lieven – Director of the Eurasia programme at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Steven Erlanger – Chief Diplomatic Correspondent for Europe at The New York Times
Chris Weafer – CEO of Macro-Advisory, a strategic consultancy focused on Russia and Eurasia
Kylie Jenner revealed a family loss on Wednesday over social mediaCredit: HuluKylie shared an emotional tribute for her late dog NormanCredit: Instagram/kyliejennerNorman died at age 12Credit: kyliejenner/Instagram
She captioned a series of sweet photos, “In Loving Memory of My Sweet Norman.
“I still remember the day I brought you home. I had never loved anything so much. I always wanted an Italian Greyhound growing up, but my mommy never let me have one. Then, right after I turned 17, I got you for Christmas, and it was the best gift I could have ever received.”
Kylie added that her pooch has “filled” her live with “pure joy.”
She continued to pen, “Almost 13 years old, and yet I know I’ll remember you far longer than the time we got to share. I wish I wasn’t writing this post. I knew you were getting older, and I tried to prepare myself, but it’s hard losing you norm. It makes me happy knowing my kids got to meet you and love you.”
The Chelsea star has officially won the rights to his nickname and trade mark celebrationCredit: Getty
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Palmer is renowned for his iconic shivering goal celebrationCredit: Getty
It comes after Chateau Palmer, which sells bottles of wine for as much as £750, opposed his bid to flog plonk — and won their case in August.
But, on Friday, the 23-year-old won the right to brand an array of other products, including snacks, mobile phone covers, toys, Christmas crackers and even teddy bears.
This essentially means nobody can use Palmer’s “Cold” nickname for commercial use without his permission.
He has also successfully trademarked his autograph.
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An article in The Athletic detailed how the Intellectual Property Office approved the application made by the footballer’s private company, Palmer Management Limited.
In August, winemaker Chateau Palmer, based near Bordeaux, opposed the initial application.
It still covers a range of other alcoholic beverages, such as spirits, liqueurs and alcoholic energy drinks.
The winery was founded in 1814 when Army officer Charles Palmer bought the estate.
Royal wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd says: “At their best, the wines of Ch. Palmer are among the greatest anywhere in Bordeaux.”
Chelsea ace Cole Palmer LOSES battle against £750-a-bottle winery to trademark nickname & goal celebration
A bottle of its Cru Classé Margaux from 1970 is priced at £750.
Speaking to The Athletic, Karen Lee, an intellectual property lawyer at Edwin Coe, said: “Once you have a registered trademark in place, it is much easier to enforce your rights against third parties.
“Anyone using something that’s the same or similar can amount to an infringement. And that’s when it can lead to High Court litigation, which can be very expensive.”
Palmer has made no secret about the celebration not being his own original work.
He previously admitted how, following his time in the Manchester City academy, he was inspired to perform the celebration by then team-mate Morgan Rogers.
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The vineyard is in France’s Margaux region
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One bottle of the firm’s Cru Classé Margaux from 1970 was listed at £750
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The 23-year-old has now also won the rights to brand an array of other productsCredit: Getty
Aston Villa star Rogers, was accused of copying the celebration when he scored against Chelsea in April 2024, before he clarified: “It’s the opposite, I did it first, he copied me.”
Speaking of his celebration in a previous interview with The Telegraph, Cole said: “It symbolises joy, passion and hard determination for the game, plus it’s funny as it works well with my name.
“Everyone knows it’s my celebration. Lots of people might have done it (before me), but everybody knows it is my celebration.”
However, this could mean that Chelsea has to register for a licence if the London club wants to use his nickname in promotional material.
EA, the company behind the EA Sports FC series of video games, might also have to ask permission to use his celebration in future games.
Other footballers who have trademarked their names and celebrations include David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, who trademarked his name, CR7 initials and “Siuuu” celebration.
Lionel Messi also trademarked his surname after a legal challenge from the cycling brand Massi.
Some other stars have managed to have their brand made exclusive in specific countries, including Marcus Rashford with his name in the United States, Erling Haaland with his signature and goal celebration in his native Norway.
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The footballer has claimed that everyone knows its his celebrationCredit: Getty
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Other players like Beckham and Ronaldo have also trademarked their namesCredit: Getty
Charlotte Hawkins issued a heartfelt statement to Lewis Moody and his family on Monday morning following his diagnosis, years after she lost her own father to the condition
WE all like to think that we’d beat the scammers if they came knocking – but are you really that savvy?
After all, the latest Global Anti-Scam Alliance report warns that people in the UK lost £11.4billion to scams in the last year – up £4billion on the year before.
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We all think we’d beat the scammers – but even very simple modern cons can catch us outCredit: Getty
And the average loss per victim was £1,400, with just 18% recovering their money.
We spoke to several security experts who revealed five of the most simple-but-effective scams going – they’re all shockingly common AND easy to spot… but repeatedly catch out Brits.
This is a cheap and easy tactic that Brits do fall for.
“Blackmail scams claim to know damaging information about a victim, demanding payment to keep quiet,” said Chris Hauk, of Pixel Privacy, speaking to The Sun.
“Victims are told they have been recorded doing disgusting things while at their computer or using their mobile device, and that the video will be sent to friends, family, and employers if they do not pay up.”
These claims can be scary, and there’s a sinister trick that crooks pull to make them even more convincing.
Deepfakes more ‘sophisticated’ and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes
They’ll use fake email addresses that look like your own account to hoodwink you.
“Email extortion scams claiming to have compromising pictures of end-users in intimate moments are quite common, and remain some of the most prevalent scams on the internet these days,” said Michael Tigges of Huntress.
“An adversary will often spoof the email addresses in the mail and generate an email that appears as if it was sent from the user’s own email account and claim to have access to all accounts.
“They will ask for money, cryptocurrency, etc., to avoid ‘leaking’ these pictures or videos.”
Staying Safe
It’s important to not give in to the scammer’s demands.
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Email is still a classic way for crooks to reach Brits, and they’re not doing it for a laugh – it really still does catch people out in 2025Credit: Getty
In the first place, even if the material that the crook has is legitimate, paying them won’t help. They might just take your money and share it anyway.
But in most cases, the crooks have simply invented the dodgy material – and won’t show any real proof that they have it.
It’s best to just ignore these scam messages. Interacting with the crook shows that your email is active and that you’re willing to engage.
And that could lead to them targeting you with other scams down the line, or trying a different tactic on you.
SCAM 2 – TECH SUPPORT
Next up is the iconic tech support scam, which still successfully hoodwinks unsuspecting Brits.
“Tech support scams are another classic,” Proton’s Patricia Egger told The Sun.
She described it as “a pop-up or call pretending to be from Microsoft or Apple, pushing you to hand over control of your computer or bank details”.
It might sound obvious, but they often come out of the blue and catch you off-guard.
And with years of experience under their belts (and now the power of AI), scammers can generate highly convincing fake alerts.
“Fake tech support scams are also highly common,” Michael Tigges, a security analyst at Huntress, told The Sun.
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Tech support scams often start with a shocking pop-up, often in bright red and with a serious warning attachedCredit: Getty
“A website will generate a ‘notification’ prompt in modern browsers which mimics an anti-virus/Microsoft notification and asks the end-user to call a number controlled by the adversary.
“That person will then remotely access the computer and either install malware, or remotely fake a number of ‘tech issues’ that must be fixed for a fee.”
Staying Safe
Be extremely sceptical of any mysterious pop-ups.
Look out for typos, bizarre requests (for passwords or money), aggressive wording, and unusual styling (does it fit how your device normally looks?).
And if you’re unsure, check with your device maker to see if it’s legit.
This is extremely simple – and that’s what makes it so effective.
“The scams that catch people out most often are usually the simplest,” Proton’s Patricia Egger told us.
“Fake texts or emails saying you’ve missed a delivery, owe tax, or need to fix a bank problem are still everywhere.
“And they work because they create a sense of urgency that does away with calm and clear thinking.”
REPORTING SCAMS
Here’s the official advice on reporting scams from Action Fraud…
Have you spotted a suspicious email?
If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS):[email protected]
Have you received a suspicious text message?
Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to 7726. This free-of-charge short code enables your provider to investigate the origin of the text and take action, if found to be malicious.
Have you received a suspicious phone call?
If you’ve lost money or have been hacked as a result of responding to a call, you should report it:
In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, report it to us online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
In Scotland, report to Police Scotland by calling 101.
If you have not lost any money or responded to the call, you should report report scam call numbers free of charge to 7726. Your provider can find our where the call came from and block or ban the number.
To report a scam call, simply text 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the scam.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE SCAMMED
Here’s the advice from Citizens Advice:
Contact your bank immediately if:
there’s a payment from your bank account you don’t recognise – this is known as an ‘unauthorised transaction’
you’ve used your debit card and more money was taken than you expected
“Explain what’s happened and ask if you can get a refund,” Citizens Advice said.
“If you’re not happy with how the bank deals with your claim, you can complain to them. Find out how to do this by checking their website.
“If it’s been 8 weeks since you complained, and you haven’t got your money back, contact the Financial Ombudsman.”
You will need to give your bank as much detail about the scam as you can. That includes exactly what info you may have handed over to the scammers – or if you’ve downloaded any dodgy files.
That way, they can prevent more money from being taken from you in the future.
You should then contact the police about the scam.
Crooks can deliver this kind of scam in bulk – hitting hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of targets.
And they just need a fraction of those targets to bite, allowing them scoop up prized info or cash.
It can take many forms, but the style is always the same: you must act quickly, or you’ll be handed a bill.
“A victim is told they have several outstanding fines or payments that must be paid immediately or they’ll face prosecution,” Chris Hauk told us.
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Scammers will send you official-looking missives that claim you’ve got an unpaid bill, there’s a transaction you need to deal with urgently, or that you’re on the hook for a massive fineCredit: Shane O’Neill, Coalesce
“However, if they just go and buy several gift cards amounting to the outstanding sum and provide the information to the scammer, all will be forgiven.
“Emails and text messages claim that sums of money are owed either for a debt, or a fine, or even a toll road fee.
“They may also provide a link to pay that is actually to a malicious site designed to harvest financial information from the victim.”
Staying Safe
Scammers don’t want you to have time to think things over or to check out their story.
Chris HaukPixel Privacy
If you ever receive an urgent alert, pause – don’t act fast.
Instead, reach out directly to the company that the alert claims to be from.
Use the official phone number or email on the website, and not the one you’ve been sent with the alert.
And if the fine or charge comes from a suspicious company you’ve never heard of, do your research. Is it a real company? Does it have an online presence or reviews? Is it registered on Companies House? Who runs it?
SOCIAL ENGINEERING SCAM – HOW IT HAPPENS
Here’s a tale of how quickly £4,500 can be lost to crooks, as revealed by Action Fraud…
“Sophie, a 25-year-old marketing executive from Manchester, received a convincing email that appeared to be from her bank, alerting her to suspicious activity on her account,” Action Fraud said.
“The email included the bank’s official logo and a link to a website that looked identical to her bank’s online portal. Concerned about her finances,
“Sophie clicked the link and entered her login details, believing she was securing her account.
“Within minutes, she received a phone call from someone claiming to be a bank representative, who referenced the ‘suspicious activity’ and asked her to confirm her identity by providing additional personal information and a one-time passcode sent to her phone.
“Trusting the caller, Sophie complied, only to discover the next day that £4,500 had been withdrawn from her account in several unauthorised transactions.
“The scammers had used her credentials and the passcode to bypass the bank’s security measures. Despite reporting the incident immediately, the funds could not be recovered.”
Ask these questions before handing over any cash.
Chris added: “Scammers don’t want you to have time to think things over or to check out their story.”
SCAM 4 – THE FAKE JOB
The fake job scam is one of the most nefarious cons out there.
It’s almost unimaginable to think that you’d fall for such a wheeze. Surely you’d spot a fake job a mile off?
But it’s easy to forget that when you’re hunting for a new role, you might be feeling particularly desperate.
And as the cost of living goes up, Brits can be tempted by easy money or a more relaxed working environment.
Crooks know this, and capitalise on it.
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Fake job scams often come via WhatsApp – don’t fall for themCredit: PA
“Fake job offers are also becoming increasingly common, these often sound appealing at first, promising easy money, work-from-home roles, or a big windfall,” Proton’s Patricia Egger told us.
“They hook people with the promise of good news, then demand ‘processing fees’ or bank details.”
She continued: “These tricks work because scammers know how people act in response to emotions, both good and bad.
“And with increasing quantities of data about us online, ‘I’d never fall for that’ is just one data leak away from being untrue.”
Staying Safe
Patricia’s best advice is to watch out for red flags like:
Unexpected links or attachments in a chat about a job
Pressure to act immediately
Being asked to move money for a job or pay fees upfront
Any perk of the job that seems too good to be true
She added that you should always make sure to “slow down and stay sceptical”.
SCAMS IN 2025 – THE EXPERT VIEW
Here’s what Sean Keach, The Sun’s resident tech expert, thinks…
It’s never been easier to carry out scams.
Cybercriminals have the world’s arsenal of tech at their disposal.
And with AI, they can supercharge their efforts by crafting convincing scam materials in seconds – and then dispensing it to victims just as quickly.
It sounds terrifying, and in many ways, it is.
But there is some good news.
Although scammers can carry out scams more convincingly and at greater speed, they’re still the same classic cons at their core.
And that means the age-old rules you need to follow stay the same too.
Avoiding scams really is as simple as being as cautious as you can be.
If something seems too urgent or too good to be true, don’t be afraid to take a step back and give it a good think.
Ask your friends and family for advice. Do research online.
Money can disappear in the blink of an eye, and you’ll struggle to get it back. And the same is true for info, which can be used to defraud you or hoodwink those close to you.
So be extremely careful before you ever hand anything over online.
If something seems off, it probably is.
Picture Credit: Sean Keach
SCAM 5 – FRIEND IN NEED
There are lots of variations of this con, but it’s commonly known as the “friend in need” – or lately, the “hi mum, it’s me” scam.
This is when a crook pretends to be someone you know to hoodwink you.
It works because so often we expect scams to come from people we don’t know – or criminals posing as businesses.
“It’s not just strangers,” said Patricia Egger, of Proton.
“Criminals often pretend to be friends, colleagues or family by hacking accounts or stealing personal details.
“If you get an urgent request from someone you know that feels unusual, check with them through another channel before doing anything.”
These crooks might message you from a strange WhatsApp account, and say, “Hi mum, it’s me your daughter, I’m texting from a friend’s phone.”
And they’ll say that they’re in trouble and need money fast.
They might give the excuse that they’re in legal trouble, need cash for a taxi home, or have some other urgent money worry.
Many parents or pals will dismiss these texts out of hand.
But it only takes a little absent-mindedness and some luck on the part of the crook and you can easily fall for the con.
It’s increasingly common in the UK because so many Brits fall for it.
Worse still, some crooks will actually text you from your own family member’s phone number.
“Accounts can be taken over, and regularly are, by bad actors,” said Erich Kron, of KnowBe4.
“It can email, social media, or any number of other mediums, and attackers know that communications from known associates carry a lot of inherent trust.
“They can even hijack previous conversations, making it look even more legitimate.”
HOW THE ‘IN NEED’ SCAM REALLY HAPPENS
Here’s a case study from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute of a woman who tried to send £2,600 to criminals posing as her son…
“A member of the public named Alison received a message on the popular messaging platform WhatsApp: ‘Hi mum, I’ve dropped my phone down the loo (sad emoji) this is my new number’,” the CTSI said.
“Alison replied to the message and asked if it was her son, Will, to which the scammer replied in the affirmative.
“The very next day, Alison’s ‘son’ messaged her asking for £2,600 and explained that he had got mixed up with loan sharks and needed to pay up. Alison didn’t doubt the message for a moment.
“Alison tried to call her ‘son’ back, but the person on the other end kept saying they couldn’t take the call and continually put pressure on her to make the payment quickly.
“This worried Alison, who agreed to make the payment. The person gave the bank details of the alleged loan shark to pay.
“Fortunately for Alison, she forgot to click the final payment confirmation and, after some time, the scammer messaged asking for a picture to prove the payment had been made.
“This caused a wave of scepticism in Alison’s mind, and then it was confirmed that the message was indeed a scam.”
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Crooks will send messages pretending to be a loved one – be very wary if you ever receive a text like thisCredit: Alamy
Staying Safe
With this scam, your best defence is communication.
Be cautious whenever anyone asks you for money urgently – even a family member.
If they do, reach out to them by some other method, like calling them on the phone, to verify that it’s actually them asking for money.
Another good trick is to create a safe word or phrase that your family uses to verify that they’re really asking for cash.
“It’s important to establish an understanding between peers and family,” said Huntress’s Michael Tigges.
“Consider establishing ‘safe words’ or phrases that can be utilised when calling family members or peers from an untrusted number to confirm identity.
“And encourage family members, especially the elderly, to be highly sceptical of phone calls from untrusted numbers.”
Your safe word could be anything – even a silly phrase like “purple banana”.
It just needs to be something that you and your loved ones can remember, but that a criminal could never guess.
Don’t save it anywhere on your phone. Keep it as secret as possible.
It could mean the difference between avoiding a scam or losing thousands to a criminal – and then never getting it back.
A major American hotspot is thought to be ‘dying’ as tourist numbers have significantly decreased since last year. Experts have had their say on the reason for this downfall.
A popular destination in the US is losing tourists as costs rise (stock image)(Image: Andrey Denisyuk via Getty Images)
A beloved hotspot in the US is experiencing a dramatic drop in visitor numbers. Las Vegas stands as an internationally renowned major resort city, celebrated for its casinos, shows, exquisite cuisine and buzzing nightlife.
The most populated city in Nevada has served as the backdrop for a number of Hollywood blockbusters, including Ocean’s Eleven, The Hangover and What Happens in Vegas. Yet, tourism to this iconic American location is plummeting, with specialists revealing the reasons behind the decline. This concern was spotlighted by Race Across The World champion, Alfie Watts, who travelled to Las Vegas to investigate what’s causing the drop in holidaymakers.
He documented his latest journey to the metropolis and posted it on TikTok. The BBC TV personality said: “Vegas tourism is falling off a cliff and I went to find out why.
“This city is a neon soaked fever dream of excess. You can have dinner in Paris, cocktails in Venice and you’ll lose all of your money in New York all before midnight.”
Las Vegas boasts hotels modelled on Paris, Venice and New York that have been crafted to resemble these destinations.
Watts continued: “It’s outrageous and it’s unique but it is still incredible but back in the day the whole point of Vegas was that you didn’t have to be rich to live like it for a weekend.”
During the first half of this year, Las Vegas saw a 7.3 per cent drop in visitor numbers compared to the same period last year, with June alone witnessing an 11 per cent decrease, as reported by Investopedia.
Watts attributes this decline to the rising costs of hotels and food and drink. He elaborated: “It used to be the ultimate weekend blow-out, the wild stag do’s, the girls’ trips, the spontaneous getaway where you came back sunburnt, broke but buzzing.
“Now, it’s priced itself into special occasion only territory and when the magic costs that much, people start asking if they can get it cheaper somewhere else.”
The TV star and renowned travel content creator argued that hotel rooms which “once cost next to nothing” are now comparable to the price of a city break in Paris.
He added: “Thirty years ago Vegas was the spot for outrageous fun but now you can get a similar weekend in Dubai, Ibiza and Cancun, and very often for half the price.”
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However, he admitted that Las Vegas still holds its unique charm with its dazzling lights, vibrant energy, mind-blowing events, world-class cuisine, and the opportunity to dance at 4am in a hotel lobby “shaped like ancient Rome.”
Watts concluded: “Vegas is still a glitter cannon in the desert. It’s just that these days the glitter’s a little bit more unappealing because it’s a lot more expensive.”
Investopedia highlighted additional factors driving tourists away from Las Vegas, including fewer flights arriving in the US from Canada and other nations, partly due to escalating tensions from trade rows between the Trump administration and foreign governments.
Technology could also be playing a role, as sports betting apps and online gaming mean punters no longer need to travel to Las Vegas to gamble.
In his TikTok post’s caption, Watts argued that Las Vegas is “dying” and international arrivals are “tanking.”
The video has attracted a number of comments with viewers expressing their opinions.
One commented: “The millennials don’t gamble and if they do, it’s online and they also are smart with their money, they’re not going to go somewhere where they have to pay this, that and [the] other.”
Another remarked: “Ridiculous ‘resort fees’ and the outrageous tipping culture isn’t very attractive when everything else is getting more expensive.”
A third declared: “No one under 40 cares about Vegas.” A different viewer proposed: “Downtown Vegas is the place to be. Cheaper rooms, food and drink.”
Katie Price has rushed to the doctors saying she ‘doesn’t know’ why she’s ‘losing so much weight’Credit: BackGrid
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The star told fans she was having to have blood tests doneCredit: @katie-pricey/Snapchat/Backgrid
Katie has drastically lost weight over the past 12 months amid ongoing fears for her frail frame.
And now the former glamour model revealed that she’s been in hospital due to the worrying weight loss.
Katie opened up to fans on Snapchat this weekend, saying: “I’ve been up early at the doctors so she could do some bloods and because my veins are so s*** they had three attempts.
“They could only fill two tubes up, so I’ve got to go back in two weeks.
“And I’ve got to have my stitches out then because they looked at my little stab wound that I did.
“The reason I’m going to the doctors is because I keep losing weight and I don’t know why. So that’s that.”
As well as the weight loss, Katie attended A&E recently for another health problem as she accidentally stabbed herself in the hand.
The former Mucky Mansion star attempted to make curry before she ended up in A&E.
The former Eurovision Song Contest hopeful needed stitches and said the deep cut had left half of her left hand numb.
Kerry Katona branded ‘wrong’ as she sings song about being ‘turned on’ to Katie Price’s son Harvey
She revealed the injury ripped through her ligaments and nerves, causing potential damage.
She revealed: “Last night I accidentally stabbed myself with a knife, you can see on the injury how deep it was, and I had to have stitches”.
The star said her recent symptoms have raised fears the disease could return.
Katie has also been having blood work done and discovered she has a low blood platelet count that could have the ability to cause her weight to drop.
The mum-of-five said: “I’ve had my bloods done, and I’ve got really really low platelets and I thought that was (low) iron, and it’s not.
“And that could be a reason why maybe I’ve got thinner.
“I’m tired, no energy. They [the doctors] said it can affect that and I think you might have to have a blood transfusion to get them [the platelets] back up again.
“So I’ve got to go back and have my bloods done again.”
Katie went on to speak about her previous battle with a very rare form of cancer.
Back in 2002 while she was pregnant with son Harvey, 23, she developed a rare form of soft tissue cancer on her finger, specifically a leiomyosarcoma.
Speaking to her sister Sophie on the latest episode of their podcast, Katie said: “Another thing that’s really weird, you know when I had cancer years ago.
“For some who didn’t know, when I was pregnant with Harvey I got cancer, called leiomyosarcoma.
“If you look at my finger, there is like a hole there and a scar there, I had it cut out twice. Can you see that dent? It never hurt.
“But a lump started coming up and I thought I had been riding and done something to my finger.
“But anyway cut the long story short it was leiomyosarcoma so I had to have MRI scans and all of that for six years until I was clear.”
Katie said over the past few weeks the same finger has been hurting again.
KATIE’S CANCER BATTLE
Kate had a rare soft-tissue cancer when she was 24 years old.
Speaking to Katherine Ryan on her What’s My Name Again? podcast, Katie said: “While I was pregnant with Harvey I got cancer. I didn’t know that until, because they couldn’t do all the scans, after.”
A manicurist initially spotted the lump on Katie’s hand.
Two doctors dismissed it as harmless, but after a biopsy was carried out, Katie was told that the lump was leiomyosarcoma.
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Katie also recently revealed she is undergoing medical tests after recurring pain in the finger she had cancerCredit: BackGrid
The Rams blew a 19-point third quarter lead, were set up to possibly win with a last-second field goal and then had that kick blocked and returned for a touchdown in a 33-26 defeat at Lincoln Financial Field.
“We had the game within our control kind of the whole time,” kicker Joshua Karty said, “and we come out of here with a loss, so [it] kind of sucks.”
When it comes to the Eagles, the Rams are accustomed to disappointment.
The Eagles (3-0) beat the Rams last season at SoFi Stadium. They beat them here in the snow in the NFC divisional round. And now they produced an epic comeback to send the Rams back to Los Angeles with another bitter loss.
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Gary Klein breaks down what went wrong for the Rams in their 33-26 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
It was a stunning defeat for a Rams team that an hour earlier appeared easily on its way to improving to 3-0 for the first time since their championship season.
The Rams had defeated the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans, but the matchup against the Eagles, quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley represented the first real test for a team McVay has described as the deepest in his eight-plus seasons.
The Rams again came close. And again they failed.
“These are the chances to be able to lean in and see what you’re really about,” McVay, who is now 1-6 against the Eagles, said of his team’s way forward.
Unlike last January, the temperature on Sunday was not frigid. It was sunny and warm, much like how the Rams must have felt early in the third quarter after they went ahead 26-7 on Matthew Stafford’s short touchdown pass to running back Kyren Williams.
It was a seemingly comfortable lead, even for a Rams team that had settled for multiple field goals instead of touchdowns because of poor execution inside the 20-yard line.
The Rams even had their nemesis Barkley — he of four long touchdown runs against them last season — under control.
“We were riding high — everything was feeling good,” receiver Davante Adams said, “and then to come out on the wrong side of this, obviously it’s not the way we drew it up.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford throws against the Eagles in the second half Sunday.
(Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
No one could have predicted the Rams would have two kicks blocked in the final minutes.
“It’s the NFL,” safety Kam Curl said, “It’s crazy.”
McVay appeared to keep calm, but like Rams fans watching their team barrel toward another loss to the Eagles, he had to be going a little nuts as his offense stalled while Hurts was passing for three touchdowns and running for another.
The Rams built a 19-7 halftime lead on Stafford’s long touchdown pass to Adams and four field goals by Karty.
They seized momentum on the first series of the second half when edge rusher Jared Verse sacked Hurts and forced a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Nate Landman.
The turnover set up Stafford’s scoring pass to Williams.
“Feeling like we had our foot on the gas,” receiver Puka Nacua said.
The Rams were in complete control.
Until they weren’t.
Hurts tossed two touchdown passes that trimmed the Rams’ lead to five points.
The Rams got the ball early in the fourth quarter, and with just less than nine minutes left, Karty came on for a 36-yard field-goal attempt. But Eagles lineman Jalen Carter blocked the kick.
Hurts’ short touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith put the Eagles ahead, 27-26.
And then Stafford, the master of last-minute drives, drove the Rams to the Eagles’ 26.
It was eerily familiar to last January, when Stafford had the Rams driving toward a potential game-winning touchdown.
This time, all they needed was a field goal.
“I was thankful for another opportunity to kind of help my team make things right and come off the field with a victory,” Karty said.
But Jordan Davis leaped high to block the kick, and then scooped the ball and ran to the end zone as delirious Eagles fans roared.
“Had our chances really in all phases probably to win that one and didn’t get it done,” said Stafford, who passed for two touchdowns, with an interception. “It’s frustrating.”
McVay and his players repeatedly cautioned that it was only Week 3.
And they are correct.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown catches a pass in front of Rams cornerback Cobie Durant during the second half Sunday.
(Chris Szagola / Associated Press)
No need to panic or overthink the defeat. Not with the surprisingly unbeaten Indianapolis Colts coming to SoFi Stadium next Sunday.
But at some point — likely the NFC playoffs — the Rams must figure out how to beat the Eagles.
“I hate the Eagles,” Williams said, “but they taught us something … or are putting us through something that we needed to get put through.
“I’m glad that it’s happening this early in the season because it’s only going to make us [better] for later.”
Trout reached the milestone in the eighth inning when he hit a 485-foot solo homer to left-center field off Rockies reliever Jaden Hill to extend the Angels’ lead to 3-0.
The three-time American League MVP had just one home run in his previous 36 games.
Taylor Ward and Nolan Schanuel also homered for the Angels, who snapped an eight-game losing streak. Ward’s home run was his 34th of the season, tying him for the 10th-most in the majors.
In his 300th career start, and his first since giving up a career-high nine earned runs in a Sept. 14 loss to the Seattle Mariners, Hendricks (8-10) allowed just three hits and struck out five batters with no walks. He has given up three or fewer earned runs in 13 of his past 18 starts.
Luis García earned his second save of the season after getting Jordan Beck to ground into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded.
Colorado starter Germán Márquez (3-15) pitched a strong game in which he gave up four hits and two earned runs while striking out five in a season-high seven innings.
Hunter Goodman had two of the Rockies’ five hits.
Angels star Mike Trout hits his 400th career home run in a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Key moment: Ward’s solo homer in the second inning broke a scoreless tie and gave the Angels a lead they wouldn’t surrender.
Key stat: With his benchmark home run, Trout has a batting average of .400 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 15 career games at Coors Field.
Up next: Colorado LHP Kyle Freeland (4-16, 5.14 ERA) will take on a yet-to-be-announced Angels starter on Sunday in the finale of the three-game series.
New7Wonders director Jean-Paul de la Fuente said unplanned tourist overcrowding, high costs, irregular ticket sales and social conflicts at Machu Picchu have worsened the visitor experience and damaged Peru’s image. File Photo by Paula Bayarte/EPA
Sept. 17 (UPI) — The New7Wonders Foundation warned that Machu Picchu, South America’s most iconic tourist site, could be removed from the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World because of alleged poor management and a lack of sustainable planning.
At the same time, local protests blocked rail access to the 15th-century Inca sanctuary in the Andes Mountains, forcing the Peruvian government to evacuate more than 1,400 tourists.
In a statement, New7Wonders director Jean-Paul de la Fuente said unplanned tourist overcrowding, high costs, irregular ticket sales and social conflicts have worsened the visitor experience and damaged Peru’s image.
“The justifiable and credible permanence of Machu Picchu as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World depends on urgent action by the Peruvian state,” he said.
Although it carries significant media and tourism weight, the New7Wonders list has no official status or institutional recognition from international organizations, unlike UNESCO’s World Heritage designation.
Peru’s Ministry of Culture responded, insisting that conservation of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu “is not being threatened” and stressed that UNESCO has not placed it on its “World Heritage in Danger” list.
In July, during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, officials recognized progress in visitor management and the use of monitoring and conservation tools.
The sanctuary, a World Heritage Site since 1983, receives about 4,500 visitors a day and is Peru’s most visited archaeological site.
Still, the Peruvian Institute of Economics reported that between 2020 and 2024, Machu Picchu received about 5 million fewer visitors than expected based on pre-pandemic trends, equal to 25% fewer tourists than expected.
In 2024, Cusco, which is about 50 miles from Machu Picchu recorded 3.4 million visitors, still below pre-pandemic levels. Machu Picchu saw 76,000 fewer tourists last year than in 2019.
The Institute of Economics said the decline is partly due to a lack of sustained investment in infrastructure, connectivity and tourism promotion, which has hurt job creation in the Cusco region. Between 2019 and 2024, the region lost one-third of the jobs generated directly and indirectly by tourism, equal to about 33,000 positions.
Meanwhile, the social crisis in Cusco highlighted those tensions. On Monday, protesters blocked the railway line to Machu Picchu, shutting down the main access to the archaeological site. Rail operators suspended service for safety, leaving thousands of travelers, most of them foreigners, stranded at Peru’s sacred mountain.
Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Desilú León said police cleared the tracks around midnight, allowing about 1,400 tourists to be evacuated, though another 900 remained stranded after new attacks on the line.
“We coordinated the transfer of passengers who were on the site,” she said.
The protest was organized by a local group demanding the replacement of the company that has managed the bus service to the site for three decades.
Cusco’s Office of Foreign Trade and Tourism said the unrest has caused cancellation of about 15% of tour packages, which could mean losses of nearly $80 million by the end of the year.
MILWAUKEE — All-Star Freddy Peralta gave up two hits, struck out 10 and won his NL-leading 17th game, Christian Yelich hit his 29th homer and drove in three runs and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Angels 9-2 on Tuesday night.
The Angels’ defeat ensured their 10th consecutive losing season, a franchise record. Their playoff drought is at 11 years.
Peralta (17-6) extended his career-high in wins and tied the New York Yankees Max Fried for tops in the majors in victories. Peralta also tied the franchise record set by Zach Davies in 2017.
Peralta gave up one run and two hits over six innings and walked two. The only hiccups were Carter Kieboom’s bloop single and Denzer Guzman’s first career home run.
Peralta had plenty of support in his 31st start of the season.
Yelich did the heavy lifting, but Sal Frelick hit a sacrifice fly, Caleb Durbin, Andrew Vaughn and Jackson Chourio each drove in a run and William Contreras singled home two more.
Christian Moore added a solo shot off Grant Anderson in the seventh.
Angels starter Caden Dana (0-2) allowed five runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Kieboom made his Angels debut at first base, returning to the majors for the first time since Oct. 1, 2023, while with Washington.
The Angels selected Kieboom’s contract before the game and placed shortstop Zach Neto (left hand strain) on the 10-day injured list.
Key moment
Yelich hit his 29th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth. He had an RBI double in the first.
Key stat
Peralta struck out the side in the first, second and sixth and tallied at least 10 strikeouts for the 15th time in his career and first this season.
Up next
José Soriano (10-10, 4.13 ERA) starts for the Angels against Brandon Woodruff (6-2, 3.32) and the Brewers.
In Netflix series Love Con Revenge , Norwegian-born Cecilie sets out on a quest to ‘unmask other scammers’. In an exclusive interview she gives her top ways to spot a love scammer
Netflix’s most chilling scam documentaries to stream after Love Con Revenge(Image: Netflix)
Cecilie Fjellhoy was 29 when she was swooned by Simon Liviev (real name Shimon Hayut) but her world came crumbling down when she realised she was a victim of a cruel scam.
The relationship left her in thousands of pounds worth of debt. Disclosing the first stages of her relationship with the infamous Tinder Swindler, she said: “He was very handsome and very charismatic. I felt so well taken care of and truly loved. I felt really lucky to be around him.”
In their short relationship of 54 days, Cecilie lost more than $200,000 (£150,000)to ‘Simon’ who was posing as the heir to a diamond empire and often needed Cecilie’s finances to evade his ‘enemies’.
In Neflix’s new show Love Con Revenge, Norwegian-born Cecilie sets out on a quest to ‘unmask other scammers’.
The fraudsters here are not claiming to be billionaire diamond dealers escaping thugs as in Cecilie’s case – but have similarly extraordinary covers in a bid to defraud victims.
These include an ‘army veteran’ who says he needs money to give to the family of his war comrade who died taking a bullet for him, ultimately defrauding his girlfriend of $50,000 (£36,883). Meanwhile, another woman pretends she had MS so her boyfriend will fund her lifestyle.
In an interview with The Mirror, Cecilie said of the fraudsters she exposes on the new show: “There is nugget of truth in every single one – so you believe them. In my case, Shimon Hayut was playing a character called Simon. He was not a diamond dealer, but I went on a private jet with him. That’s why it seemed real.”
She adds that all the people she investigated in the new series: “They are straight out of the romance con artist playbook.”
Jessica Hampson, CEO of fraud specialists CEL Solicitors added: “Cecilie has done fantastic work in raising awareness of romance fraud. More than any other type of scam, romance fraudsters manipulate the emotions of their victims, playing with their feelings and their trust.
“It can be difficult for people to come forward after this type of scam but the more the crime is reported, the better it can be prevented. It is possible to recover the money lost but you must first report the crime to the police and your bank.”
In 2019, Cecilie’s ex was convicted of four charges of fraud – unrelated to her allegations – and sentenced to 15 months in prison, but he was released after serving five months.
The conviction followed the two-year sentence he received in Finland in 2015 over the defrauding of three women in that country.
Here are Cecelie’s seven ways to spot a lover scammer:
Super successful careers or trustworthy jobs
Simon Leviev pretended he was a diamond billionaire
Love Con Revenge features a doctor and an army veteran. The doctor turned out not to be a medical one and the army vet only served briefly before being thrown out for drug taking.
“What impresses people is occupations that we can trust. We see time and time again that fraudsters will try to pretend that they’re doctors or successful businessmen,” says Cecilie.
It’s difficult not to take someone at face value, but it’s important to be alert to anything that sounds too good to be true.
Borrowing small amounts of money and paying it straight back
Online dating should be about getting to know each other, not talking about finances. But some love con artist can attempt to use this to build trust initially.
“This builds trust with your fraudster – because they have paid you back before you don’t worry or are concerned you won’t get the money back,” says Cecile.
They pay it back quickly and sometimes even add interest. This is shown by one love conman on the Netflix series who lures his victim into a false sense of security that her money will always be returned.
Push and pull relationship
Fraudsters will abruptly end the relationship, Cecile says, withdrawing their affection before starting things back up again. This leaves the victim deeply insecure and feeling like they’re walking on eggshells – desperate not to do anything that might upset the relationship again.
“They reel you in with love and attention. Once you’re hooked, they will unexpectedly pull away,” warns Cecilie. “Suddenly, you’re the one chasing their love and affection, and that’s the power shift that they want. You’re not thinking straight. That’s when they can get even more money from you!”
Love bombing
Fraudsters will often move in at lightening speed, making the target feel like are being swept off their feet. They want move to into a relationship very quickly – for example moving in with you, within a few months of dating.
Cecilie was treated to 100 red roses on her birthday, taken on fancy dates and the scammer proclaimed his love to her very early in the relationship.
“This is called ‘love bombing’. They love you, they shower you with compliments, they want to move in, you’re their dream woman. Everything is happening very quickly – watch out for that,” Cecilie explained.
Sending several romantic messages in a short space of time is also a way of “lovebombing” a way into a relationship. Scammers will often shower you with affection to draw you in and make you feel special.
Cecile says she wishes people shouldn’t have to be on their guard for this of behaviour. “I’ve always loved very fast. You hear those stories – ‘we went on a date and we’ve been married for 30 years’ – It’s sad (to feel that can’t happen).”
Sunk cost fallacy
Cecilie said: “Sunk Cost Fallacy is what you put into a relationship, and the further in you get, the more difficult it is to admit that something’s wrong because you already spent so much time, and so much money, that you go deeper and deeper into it instead of retracting.”
By the end victims have invested so much that they don’t want to listen to their inner doubts and abandon a course of action they have invested so heavily in. “You don’t want to confront your nightmare,” the campaigner says.
Never wanting to meet in person
In Cecilie’s case, she did meet her scammer in person often, but he was faking his identity. In most cases of romance fraud, scammers have a reluctance to take the relationship beyond the realm of online.
Cecilie said: “If they always have an excuse, like that they’re travelling, if they can never meet up or they’re always busy – be very wary. Meet up with them in person to make sure that the person you’re talking to online is the real one.”
Future faking
Future faking is manipulation based on an elaborate lie. It is when false promises are made about a shared future, such as a romantic relationship, business partnership, or investment.
This tactic involves feigning a deep connection and using elaborate, long-term plans to keep the victim invested.
“From the female and one male victim in the series, we can see that everyone wants that future with someone – it’s what we all want. Throughout this series, I saw text messages that the fraudsters were sending,” says Cecilie.
Let’s be honest, certificates of deposit (CDs) don’t exactly scream excitement. But they’re way better than earning 0.01% on your savings while inflation eats away at your money.
Right now, top CDs are paying over 4.00% APY — and with the Fed likely to cut interest rates a couple times before year end, that kind of guaranteed return is worth paying attention to.
Inflation costs more than you think
Let’s say you’ve got $10,000 sitting in a checking account earning basically nothing. If inflation is running at 2.7%, then you’re losing about $270 in purchasing power this year.
You don’t see it leave your account. But slowly, silently, your money buys less and less.
That’s why keeping cash in low-interest accounts is riskier than it seems. You’re not just missing out on returns — you’re falling behind.
The upside of CDs: Fixed returns
CDs are like the tortoise in the old fable — slow, steady, and totally underestimated.
But their superpower is certainty. You lock in a fixed interest rate, and you know exactly how much you’ll earn and when. And that predictability matters, especially in today’s economy.
Right now, top-paying CDs offer over 4.00% APY, and some lock-in periods are as short as three months. You won’t get rich overnight. But the right CD can help you keep pace with inflation — and even come out ahead.
For example, a $10,000 deposit into a 12-month CD earning 4.00% APY will grow to $10,400 in a year. Even if inflation stays around 2.7%, you’re still netting a positive return — something most checking and savings accounts can’t offer right now.
When a CD beats a high-yield savings account
High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) are great for flexibility. You can add or withdraw money whenever you want, and the best online banks still offer APYs in the 4.00% range.
But the trade-off is that HYSA rates can drop at any time.
CDs, on the other hand, lock in your rate for a set term. So even if interest rates fall, you’ll keep earning that guaranteed return until your CD matures.
So how do you choose between the two?
An HYSA is best if you need access to your cash anytime, like for emergency funds or upcoming expenses
CDs are best for money you know you won’t need for a few months or longer. You can lock in today’s great APYs and continue earning no matter what happens to interest rates.
Sometimes a hybrid strategy works best. Splitting your savings between both an HYSA and CDs can give you the best of both worlds. You’ll stay flexible and earn more.
Don’t wait for rates to drop
According to the CME FedWatch Tool, interest rate traders are pricing in a 100% probability that the Federal Reserve will cut rates at its next meeting.
If that happens, banks will almost certainly start lowering APYs on savings accounts and CDs shortly after (some have already started pulling back in anticipation of a rate cut).
That means the clock is ticking.
If you’re thinking about opening a CD, doing it now could help you lock in a high rate before the market shifts. Even a short-term CD opened today could earn hundreds more than the same account opened just a few weeks from now.
A PENSIONER is having to sell her home to cover a £113,000 legal bill after losing a five-year dispute over a 1ft strip of land.
Jenny Field, 76, was told to pay £14,000 after her initial court defeat to Pauline Clark, 64, but her repeated challenges saw the total rocket.
A judge has now told her she must pay the resultant £113,126 in three months or flog her £600,000 bungalow in Hamworthy, Dorset, so the cash can be recouped.
The divorcee told a court: “I am selling it because I have to and I’m fed up with living here but I will offer to pay her £1 per week.”
Their feud began in 2020 after Mrs Clark replaced a fence between the properties.
Ms Field claimed it had encroached on her garden and had it demolished, but Mrs Clark sued for damages and won the first case in 2022.
Several appeals followed and Ms Field was accused of wasting time by bombarding the court with papers.
A bid by her to sue for £500,000 in damages was also dismissed as “totally without merit”.
District Judge Ross Fentem said Mrs Clark had been kept from money owed to her for a long time and told Bournemouth county court the order for sale was “a last resort and draconian remedy”.
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Jenny Field is having to sell her home to cover a £113,000 legal bill after losing a five-year dispute over a 1ft strip of landCredit: BNPS
BALTIMORE — The day started with a couple of Shohei Ohtani home runs. It continued with a strong 5 ⅔ inning start from Clayton Kershaw. And it ended with the Dodgers in a celebratory postgame line, trading victorious high-fives near the mound.
After five straight losses, several weeks of mounting frustration, and the most painful collapse imaginable the night before, the Dodgers took a crucial first step toward righting their sinking ship on Sunday.
They beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2, finally finding a way to hold a late-game lead.
They ended an otherwise disastrous road trip on a sorely needed high note.
It was the kind of day the Dodgers were desperately searching for amid their recent struggles, which reached a new low when their no-hitter turned walk-off nightmare on Saturday trimmed their division lead down to just one game.
That game was the kind of loss that threatened to throw the Dodgers into an all-out nose-dive; an unthinkable defeat that, on top of their previously mounting frustrations, turned Sunday into yet another gut check for the long-slumping club (which entered Sunday 10 games under .500 since July 4).
“We’ve got to keep going,” manager Dave Roberts said pregame. “It’s hard. It’s not fun going through it. These guys feel it. But I just refuse to relent and not be optimistic and positive. Just keep going. That’s all we can do.”
Ohtani helped the Dodgers (79-64) turn the page quickly Sunday. Facing a fellow Japanese native in Tomoyuki Sugano, Ohtani launched the second pitch he saw to center for a leadoff home run. It was his 12th leadoff blast of the year, tying Mookie Betts’ franchise record for a single season.
On Ohtani’s next trip to the plate, the two-way star went deep again, blasting his 48th home run of the year on a 2-and-0 fastball. And in the next at-bat, Mookie Betts made it back-to-back deep flies with a drive to left.
Just like that, the Dodgers had a 3-0 lead — which was later extended to 4-0 after Miguel Rojas scored from third on an errant pickoff throw from Baltimore catcher Alex Jackson in the fourth.
And unlike Saturday, they managed to hold onto it, finally matching a productive day at the plate with a stout (if not entirely stress-free) performance from the pitching staff.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw delivers in the third inning against the Orioles on Sunday.
(Terrance Williams / Associated Press)
As he has repeatedly this year, Kershaw served as a stopper to another Dodgers slider, setting a new season high with eight strikeouts while giving up just two hits through his first five innings.
Kershaw got knocked out of the game in the sixth, following a Gunnar Henderson single and RBI double from Emmanuel Rivera. Edgardo Henriquez flirted with disaster after that, giving up another RBI double to Jackson and a loud fly ball to Dylan Carlson that died at the warning track.
But from there, the Dodgers settled back down. Justin Wrobleski provided two key innings of scoreless relief, stranding the final five batters he faced after putting two aboard in the seventh. The Dodgers tacked on an insurance run in the ninth, when Betts hit an RBI single off the wall (he was held to just the one base after not hustling out of the box) following a leadoff single from Ben Rortvedt and a walk from Ohtani (his third of the day, reaching base in all five trips to the plate).
And after being walked off by the Orioles (66-77) each of the first two nights at Camden Yards this weekend, the Dodgers avoided more fireworks in the ninth, when rookie left-hander Jack Dreyer came on for his third save of the season.
Granted, one win will put only the slightest dent in the damage the past week has done.
Instead of extending their National League West lead and making a run for a top-two seed in the NL, the Dodgers let the San Diego Padres (who have also been slumping) hang around in the division and the Philadelphia Phillies (who currently hold the No. 2 seed, which comes with a first-round bye in the playoffs) pull away in the standings.
Instead of capitalizing on a weak spot in the schedule, they will return home with a 1-5 record against two last-place teams.
However, given the way Saturday ended, the season was starting to feel dangerously close to the brink. Sunday’s win, for at least one day, helped calm the waters. At a point they could have completely imploded, they managed to rebound with a long-awaited win.
Sept. 5 (UPI) — The chief executive of PBS said Thursday that the company was cutting 15% of its workforce due to an elimination of federal funding of public broadcasting.
There were 34 people laid off Thursday, and with the elimination of vacant positions and the loss of a federal grant, it means more than 100 jobs were lost.
PBS Chief Executive Paula Kerger said the organization has lost 21% of revenues.
“In this unprecedented moment we remain focused on what matters most: ensuring our member stations can deliver quality content and services to communities across America,” a PBS spokesperson said.
Kerger said in an email to general managers that the PBS foundation had received a “significant grant” from a major donor to support PBS News Hour and PBS Kids, but they still needed to make “significant changes in our staffing and operations.” The job reductions include those tied to Ready to Learn, which had Department of Education funding that also was eliminated, Deadline reported.
In July, Congress voted to rescind $1.1 billion in funds to public broadcasting.
Public media had used an advanced appropriations cycle, which means Congress had already allocated funds through 2027. President Donald Trump threatened to withhold support for anyone in Congress who didn’t vote for the rescissions bill.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes grants to public media outlets, is shutting down at the end of the year. It was created by Congress in 1967.
PBS only took a small portion of direct funding from the CPB, but stations also paid dues to PBS, which distributes shows like PBS News Hour and Masterpiece. Stations in rural areas and smaller cities relied more on federal funds, according to public media advocates.
Some stations, including KQED in San Francisco and GBH in Boston, have had layoffs.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher has said she will cut the network’s budget by $8 million to give savings to public stations most affected by the cuts.
On the CBS Late Show, Maher told Stephen Colbert that an estimated 70 to 80 of NPR’s 246 member stations may have to shut down.
Public radio stations typically take about 10% of their revenues from the CPB and pay NPR for the right to broadcast its shows, NPR reported.
For some stations, particularly those serving rural and Native American audiences, reliance on federal money was far greater.
Eleven days after signing a contract extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman in history, Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater went down in training camp with a knee injury that ended his 2025 season.
It was the latest crushing blow to a franchise with a withering track record of losing key players at the most inopportune times.
“It’s like a gut punch to the solar plexus,” coach Jim Harbaugh said in the aftermath of the July 27 injury. “Takes the wind out of you.”
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Sam Farmer talks about the impact Rashawn Slater’s season-ending injury will have on the Chargers.
This is where coaching and creativity kick in. It’s musical chairs along the offensive line as the Chargers scramble to protect the blind side of franchise quarterback Justin Herbert without handcuffing their offense by committing too many resources to doing so.
The challenge is profound but not unique. Teams have navigated these choppy waters before.
“The basis of your pass [protection] basically is, you pay a ton of money to somebody that’s just going to lock down that end, the blind side,” retired NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “The blind side. They made a whole movie about it. That’s where you spend your money.”
When quarterback Rich Gannon was preparing for an opponent, the first offensive meeting of the week was about protections. How are we going to block these guys?
“We’d start by drawing five guys on the board, our offensive line,” Gannon said. “You’re just like, ‘OK, we’re going to build an offensive line.’ And we’d start with the left tackle, right? We’d just draw a big dollar sign. That’s the guy you have to pay. That’s the guy you have to have.”
In the case of the Chargers, erase that dollar sign from the board.
“When you lose a guy like that, there’s a trickle-down effect,” Gannon said. “You have to find someone to replace him. Now, what does that mean for our protection plan?
“Very few teams have a guy that can step in without a drop-off. And you’re talking about a Pro Bowl-caliber player at left tackle, there’s usually a significant difference when the backup goes in.”
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, left, and offensive tackle Rashawn Slater walk off the field after a win over the New Orleans Saints in October.
(Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
Even in this abysmal situation, there are flickers of positivity for the Chargers. First, they are moving Joe Alt from right tackle to left, where he spent his illustrious college career at Notre Dame. The Chargers used the fifth overall pick in 2024 on the 6-foot-8, 322-pound Alt, who Harbaugh says has Hall of Fame potential. Having Alt in the mix is a huge bonus for the club.
Still, switching from right to left tackle is no small feat.
“People think it’s just easy to play on the offensive line, and if you’re a right tackle you should be able to play on the left, but it’s not the same,” Hall of Fame defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “Everything is different. You have muscle memory and different repetitions that you’ve done constantly. Doing something the same way all the time. One way.
“It’s not easy to pick up, switch your feet and go to the other side. The guard positions and center are more interchangeable, but when you start messing with your tackles, especially your left tackle, that’s a problem.”
More good news for the Chargers is that swing tackle Trey Pipkins is a blocker who can play on both ends of the offensive line. He too is returning to a familiar spot, as he was a right tackle at the University of Sioux Falls.
The Chargers will be tested right away. Their first three games are against division opponents, and their third is against Denver, which led the NFL last season with an average of 3.6 sacks per game.
“You’re going to have to start the season making sure you’ve got a back over there on the left side, or a tight end in passing situations just to make sure the quarterback doesn’t get whacked,” said Mike Tice, the onetime Minnesota Vikings head coach whose specialty is coaching offensive lines. “You’ve got to have a plan going into the season. If you don’t have a plan going in, you’re truly [doomed].”
Gannon said the Chargers are especially fortunate to have Greg Roman as their offensive coordinator, because Roman showed exceptional creativity in Baltimore beefing up their front with extra linemen and fullback Patrick Ricard, nicknamed “Pancake Pat” for his ability to flatten people in his path.
“They dressed it up with the Ravens,” said Gannon, an analyst for Sirius/XM NFL Radio. “Seven offensive linemen on the field. You’d get the defense to go big, then throw it.”
Gannon sees the versatile Scott Matlock playing the Ricard role for the Chargers. Matlock, listed on the roster as a fullback, is 6-4 and 296.
“His role is going to expand,” the retired quarterback predicted. “That’s how you do it. That’s how you build in protection when you’re down a left tackle.”
And though Harbaugh described the setback as a gut punch, Hasselbeck noted there’s a thread of a silver lining.
“From the front-office part of it, this is actually not the worst timing,” he said. “Not that there are great left tackles on the street, but at least you can do something now in training camp.
“It’s not as dire as losing your star guy on Friday before Week 1, or losing him during Week 1. Also, when guys get hurt early in the year and you lose them for the season, they’re more ready to go earlier in the offseason the next year.”
Crystal Palace have said “sporting merit is rendered meaningless” after losing their appeal against demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League.
After winning the FA Cup last season, Palace qualified for Europe’s secondary competition but were punished by Uefa for breaching multi-club ownership rules.
In a strongly worded statement, Palace said it was ” almost impossible to receive a fair hearing.”
“The decision by Uefa and followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport shows that sporting merit is rendered meaningless,” Palace said.
“It appears that certain clubs, organisations and individuals have a unique privilege and power.
“This growing and unhealthy influence has shattered the hopes and dreams of Crystal Palace supporters, and does not bode well for aspirational teams all over Europe competing to progress when rules and sanctions are unevenly applied in the most flagrant way.”
Palace added they will “continue to take legal advice on the next steps” as they prepare to compete in the Conference League.
