California gubernational candidate Betty Yee said that transgender female athletes should be able to compete in women’s sports and that she is open to having athletes of all gender identities compete in the same category in certain events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Her comments come as California legislation becomes a central focus in the national debate on the participation of transgender athletes in sports and elucidate her stance on one of the few issues currently dividing the state’s Democrats.
During a recent appearance on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Yee said, “I think transgender athletes are women athletes and they should be able to compete.”
Yee, who served as California state controller from 2015 to 2023, told Morgan that transgender female athletes have gone through a physical transition and should be able to participate in women’s sports. However, she added that “there is still some discussion about whether they should compete in the same field” and that more research is needed on the physiology of transgender athletes.
Her view differs from that of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports “deeply unfair” and warned that it was hurting Democrats at the polls during a March episode of his podcast featuring conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Newsom’s comments garnered backlash from some party members, who accused the governor of abandoning a vulnerable minority group for political gain.
When Morgan asked Yee if there should be a gender-neutral 2028 L.A. Olympics where everyone competes in the same category, she said, “I think it’s a conversation worth having.”
“If the physicality of the sexes bear true to that [gender neutrality], including with transgender people, yes, it [the Olympics] should be gender neutral,” she said. “I don’t think we know enough.”
Yee suggested that there are some sporting events where all athletes can compete on a level playing field. When asked to name one, she suggested short-distance track and field events such as the 100-meter sprint — a notion Morgan decried as “insane.”
The Olympic record time among male athletes for the 100-meter dash is 9.63 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2012, while the women’s Olympic record is 10.61 seconds, set by Elaine Thompson-Herah in 2021.
Yee said she was not a sports expert but emphasized her overall stance that all athletes, including transgender athletes, should have an equal opportunity to participate.
“I think there’s a lot of information we need to learn about what’s really happening with the ability of trans athletes to compete, but my statement is about being able to be sure that they can compete,” she said.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton appeared on Morgan’s show after Yee and called her comments jaw dropping.
“I think we may just have seen another California Democrat candidate torpedo their campaign for governor,” he said, referencing the criticism former Rep. Katie Porter has received over recordings of combative and rude comments to a journalist and a staff member.
Hilton said that as governor he would overturn AB 1266. This law took effect in 2014 and requires that California schools allow students to participate in sporting activities consistent with their gender identities, regardless of the gender listed on their record.
“This is obviously discrimination against girls,” said Hilton. “I’m confident that, as governor, I can actually overturn that law and bring some sanity back to this whole situation.”
In July, the Trump administration sued California for allowing transgender athletes to compete on school sports teams that match their gender identity, alleging that this violates a federal law that prohibits gender-based discrimination in schools by allowing biological males to compete against biological females.
This week, Newsom signed Assembly Bill 749, which creates a commission to examine whether a new state board or department is needed to improve access to youth sports regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, income or geographic location.
The bill was decried by some Republican legislators as an attempt to create a body that will advocate for the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Thomas Tuchel may have expressed public displeasure with England’s fans after the emphatic Wembley win against Wales, but the performance of his players will have left him feeling only the warm glow of vindication.
Tuchel delivered a highly-critical and unusually blunt verdict from any coach in the direction of his own “silent” supporters after a 3-0 stroll was effectively wrapped up inside the first 20 minutes.
It was, however, another message delivered by the German manager that will carry wider significance as England gather momentum towards next summer’s World Cup.
Tuchel’s words stretched way beyond the shockwaves that greeted Jude Bellingham’s exclusion when he named his latest England squad.
He made it crystal clear that England’s star system was over, that players in possession could cement their places by sheer weight of performances, the biggest names no longer guaranteed an automatic recall.
England victory in the Wembley friendly must be placed in the context of Welsh opponents with eyes seemingly fixed on their vital World Cup qualifier against Belgium on Monday, but this was still a night with a large measure of satisfaction for Tuchel’s strategy.
Tuchel made it clear he is picking an England team, not individuals. He even stated: “We are not collecting the most talented players. We are trying to build a team. Teams win trophies, no-one else.”
Bellingham’s superstar status meant Tuchel’s selection was laced with risk, even though it was shaped by common sense as he had only started one game for Real Madrid following shoulder surgery.
He may have wanted to be included, but on this occasion Tuchel was happy to do without Bellingham, keeping faith with the players who produced the best result and performance of his reign by winning 5-0 against Serbia in the World Cup qualifier in Belgrade.
And, to add further credibility to Tuchel’s decision-making process, England’s outstanding player against Wales was Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, excelling in Bellingham’s number 10 role, as he did in Belgrade.
Rogers, on the evidence of England’s past two games, is fast becoming the poster boy for the new identity Tuchel wants to create.
And if Tuchel’s measure is applied, the England shirt is now Rogers’ to lose, with a further opportunity to cement his place against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday.
Comedian and TV star Paul O’Grady was set to be the host of Britain’s Got Talent and even have the show named after him until things got very heated behind the scenes
13:47, 07 Oct 2025Updated 13:47, 07 Oct 2025
Paul O’Grady was set to be the host of Britain’s Got Talent before Ant and Dec(Image: TV Times via Getty Images)
Former Britain’s Got Talent judge Piers Morgan has revealed Paul O’Grady was meant to be the host for the hit talent show, until things went very wrong. The controversial broadcaster was part of the original line up on Simon Cowell’s talent show back in 2007.
Music mogul Simon was inspired by former talent shows including Opportunity Knocks and New Faces as he wanted to create a competition for people of any age and location to enter. He wanted a range of personalities on the judging panel with him, and first settled on Piers and Fern Britton.
Piers admitted: “I owe him a lot actually because I would not have had any career in America without him. He has been great for me. He said ‘I am going to bring back an old all-round talent show like New Faces, Opportunity Knocks and The Gong Show in America. It can be any talent’.”
The broadcaster explained: “We did a pilot at ITV. Paul O’Grady was the host. The judging panel was Simon Cowell, me, and Fern Britton. It was about to be greenlit as a prime-time ITV show.”
Piers said he was ready “to get back in the game” but things quickly took a turn and the production was halted. He said: “Then Paul O’Grady had a massive falling out with ITV, told them to shove it and went to Channel 4.”
At the time, the Paul O’Grady Show moved over to Channel 4 and ITV stopped him being able to rent their studios. Paul decided to refuse all work with the network following the row.
He explained years later: “I did the pilot for Britain’s Got Talent – which was originally going to be called Paul O’Grady’s Got Talent. But I told the producers they were having a joke if they thought I would front a show with that title.
“The original panel of judges was going to be Simon Cowell, Fern Britton and Piers Morgan. I was the host. Then when I had the row with ITV I was banned from the studios.
“I remember I rang Simon and told him he had a huge hit on his hands, but there was no way I could do it. I said, if I am banned I have to be banned from everything. I can’t be a hypocrite and come in and do this. I had to bow out.”
Paul added: “I don’t regret what I did. Not in the slightest. Good luck to them.” He did also manage to patch things up with ITV and returned years later with Paul O’Grady Live!.
Paul’s decision to boycott ITV meant Britain’s Got Talent was hit with a huge delay and Simon decided to kick off with America’s Got Talent first. Simon enlisted Piers again as he wanted “someone who is judgmental, opinionated, obnoxious and arrogant” as him.
Britain’s Got Talent hit screens a year later with Simon, Piers and Amanda Holden as judges and Ant and Dec as hosts. Piers said on The Overlap and Betfair’s Stick to Cricket show: “He had literally come up with the entire concept of Got Talent on a napkin at the Ivy in Kensington.
“Bring back a talent show. Have a tough mean judge, a mother hen figure, a funny person and any talent goes. Now the Got Talent franchise is in more than 60 countries around the world. It changed my life.”
During a recent interview on the New York Times’ ”Popcast” to discuss her latest solo album, the Paramore lead singer was asked whether she would like to “name names” to reveal who she means when she sings about being “the biggest star / At this racist country singer’s bar” in the title track.
“It could be a couple but I’m always talking about Morgan Wallen,” Williams said. “I don’t give a s—. Find me at Whole Foods, b—, I don’t care.”
In 2021, Wallen was caught on video drunkenly using a racist slur. The Grammy-nominated country star’s This Bar and Tennessee Kitchen, named after one of his songs and paying homage to his upbringing, opened in Nashville last year.
(Video of Wallen’s 2024 arrest for reckless endangerment is making headlines again this week too. In police bodycam video obtained by the Associated Press, Wallen denies throwing a chair off a Nashville bar’s roof but apologizes for “caus[ing] problems.” He took a plea deal after being charged in the case and was sentenced to seven days’ incarceration at a DUI Education Center, two years’ probation, a $350 fine and payment of court fees.)
Williams, who was born in Mississippi, met her future Paramore bandmates after moving to Tennessee as a child. She has been open about her political beliefs and having to navigate her own upbringing as a white southern Christian. Some of her latest music addresses religious hypocrisy and the racial tensions and racist legacy of the South.
“I’m never not ready to scream at the top of my lungs about racial issues,” Williams said in her interview. “I don’t know why that became the thing that gets me the most angry. I think it’s because it’s so intersectional that it overlaps with everything from climate change to LGBTQIA+ issues.”
In addition to her years with Paramore and the inspiration behind her latest solo work, Williams spoke about how proud she is of the diversity of Paramore’s fan base and audience at shows.
“I’m very passionate in that we have a long way to go in making people feel like that they belong in the world,” she said. “The repercussions of people not feeling like they’re a part or they belong, we see it all the time in the news. I think music is not only the easiest but the beautiful way to tap into people’s hearts and their subconscious and change their minds.”
Next year’s Grammys will be yet another ceremony where a blockbuster Morgan Wallen album will not take home any awards.
The country music megastar declined to submit his bestselling “I’m the Problem” for Grammy consideration, according to Hits Daily Double and Billboard, who first reported the news. The LP, featuring singles like “Love Somebody” and “What I Want,” debuted in May at No. 1 and has spent 11 weeks and counting atop the Billboard 200 album charts.
Wallen did not give a reason for declining to submit the LP. Despite being the biggest contemporary star in a commercially ascendant genre, Wallen has always had a contentious relationship with Grammy voters.
A month after the 2021 release of his second studio album, the massive hit “Dangerous: The Double Album,” Wallen was filmed using a racial slur and was briefly shunned by the music industry. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in 2024 after throwing a chair off a rooftop bar in Nashville.
“I’ve touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I’m not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility,” he wrote on social media at the time. He more recently turned heads for a testy exit from the stage at a “Saturday Night Live” taping.
While he quickly returned to selling out stadiums and dominating pop and country charts, his records never regained traction with Recording Academy voters, even as country music redoubled its critical and popular acclaim in recent years. Wallen’s only previous nominations came from his duet with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help.”
The practice of building a situation comedy around a stand-up comedian is hallowed television practice, going back to Jack Benny and Danny Thomas and running forward through Bob Newhart, Roseanne Barr, Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, George Lopez and Martin Lawrence, among others. These “based on the comedy” shows are predicated on the not unreasonable and frequently demonstrable idea that the star comes with a built-in audience — the show and the character usually share their name — and that a person who is good at telling stories onstage might be a good fit for the multi-camera TV stage. This hasn’t been true of every comic given a show; even someone as reliably hilarious as John Mulaney was an uneasy fit for the form.
“Leanne,” which premieres Thursday on Netflix, stars Leanne Morgan, a 25-year overnight sensation from Knoxville, Tenn., whose star rose above the cultural horizon when she was already most of her way through her fifties. (She is 59 now.) Co-creator Chuck Lorre (with Morgan and Susan McMartin), the man behind “Cybill,” “Dharma & Greg,” “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory,” earlier built “Grace Under Fire” around another Southern stand-up, Brett Butler. The premise here is essentially: newly single mature woman in a sitcom.
If the people around her are mostly types into which the players pour themselves, Morgan is more a person into which a character has been inserted. TV Leanne is not exactly Real Leanne, who is to all appearances happily married; is on tour through the year (under the title “Just Getting Started”); has starred in a Netflix special, “I’m Every Woman”; published a book, “What in the World?! A Southern Woman’s Guide to Laughing at Life’s Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings”; and, obviously, is starring in this situation comedy. Other than living in Knoxville, having children and grandchildren and representing someone more or less her own age, she is not playing herself; yet there’s an honesty to her performance, possibly not unrelated to her being new at this. (Her only previous screen credit is a supporting role in this year’s Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon meh Prime Video rom-com “You’re Cordially Invited.”) Even the hackiest jokes sound less hacky in her mouth, perhaps because she doesn’t strain to sell them. Her delivery tends toward the soft and musical, and that she is wearing her own accent, which, to a Californian’s ear, plays charming variations on vowels, is all to the good.
As we begin, Leanne, the character, is primarily defined, like negative space, by the figures around her. There is a husband, Bill (Ryan Stiles) who has just left her for a younger woman, an event so fresh that only her sister, Carol (Kristen Johnston), knows; single, twice-divorced, up for fun, Carol regards herself as sophisticated because she once lived in Chicago. Daughter Josie (Hannah Pilkes) is a little wild, but not particularly troublesome; in any case, no one pays her much attention. Son Tyler (Graham Rogers), upon whom Leanne dotes, works for his father, who owns three RV emporiums — accounting for the nice house that’s the series’ main set — and comes equipped with a mostly off-screen pregnant wife, Nora (Annie Gonzalez); he feels oppressed, but perhaps he’s just tired. Leanne’s parents, John (Blake Clark) and Margaret (Celia Weston) are around for grousing and goofiness, respectively. Across the street lives Mary (Jayma Mays), the embodiment of nosy propriety in a town that can’t keep a secret.
Leanne recalls how back in the ‘80s she was “cute” and desirable “because I had hormones, and hair spray, and a VW bug with a pull-out cassette player.” (This is also a motif in Morgan’s stand-up.) Now she’s careful and proper, and can barely bring herself to chastely kiss the nice FBI agent, Andrew (Tim Daly), who wanders into the show as a potential romance. (Morgan said on the “Today” show that Daly was in fact the first man she’d kissed apart from her husband in 33 years. Art and life.) One hopes he won’t turn out to be a murderer, which would 80% be the case if this were a mystery. But I reckon we’re safe.
Younger viewers who find themselves here may be put off by jokes about hot flashes, pelvic exercises, enlarged prostrates and such and perhaps especially by sex jokes in the mouths of old — well, older — people. (I feel you there, youngsters.) The representative demographic may chuckle knowingly, or not.
Here is Leanne, flirting with Andrew in their first encounter.
Andrew (swallowing some pills): “I had to have a thing and now I have to take these things every four hours or I might have to have … another thing.”
Leanne (sweetly): “I got things. My purse is a little Walgreens with a cute strap.”
Every fourth or fifth joke has the air of having been hammered out on an anvil, and a few might have been better left in the smithery. Yet I like this show, in no small part but not entirely because I like Morgan — the way she says “spaseba, that’s Russian for thank you” to a bartender handing her a vodka, and sings a bit of the Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” to herself.
The company, which supports the star with veterans of “Third Rock From the Sun,” “The Drew Carey Show” and “Wings,” is generally good company, and I’m happy to see that “Leanne” has a broadcast-style 18 episode season, time being an American sitcom’s best friend. (I would give it a few episodes to make up your mind.)
Apart from the star herself, the show is as conventional as can be. A character embarking on a new chapter is, of course, the starting point of every third sitcom ever made, but given that many of us have either had to start new chapters or wish we could, it’s a suitable way to start.
Amid a rally that’s seen the crypto market cap hit $4 trillion for the first time, JP Morgan is now moving toward crypto-backed loans, signaling that its anti-crypto stance is quietly melting away.
The move reflects a shift in how US banks view crypto, with the approvals of GENIUS Act and Clarity Act at last week’s Crypto Week also fueling positive sentiment. Crypto investors are well aware of this institutional pivot and so are exploring opportunities to maximize their gains in the weeks ahead.
With it looking like a new altcoin season is imminent, which cryptocurrencies could benefit the most from the increasing institutional adoption? We take a closer look at JP Morgan’s move and explore four of the best cryptos to buy amid this development.
JP Morgan Eyes Crypto Loans
JP Morgan may start lending directly against crypto assets, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, according to a report by The Financial Times. The loans are expected to be finalized by 2026, although this is subject to change.
However, an unidentified source told The Financial Times that JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s previous remarks about the crypto industry have alienated some potential clients.
Dimon has been critical about crypto in previous years, with the exec even calling it a “scam” in 2018. However, he appears to finally be succumbing to positive sentiment fueled by ETFs, regulatory clarity, and increased investor demand.
“The same banks that laughed in 2017? They are positioning now,” wrote Wise Advice on X.
🚨 JUST IN: JP Morgan, with $4.3T in assets under management, is now exploring crypto-backed loans for clients.
Indeed, it’s another step toward the full integration of digital assets into the traditional finance (TradFi) sector, something that could bolster the crypto industry’s credibility and adoption. This could drive substantial gains for investors who position correctly.
As such, here are four cryptos that could benefit the most from the news:
Bitcoin Hyper
Bitcoin is known for security and decentralization. It’s why it possesses a market capitalization of over $2 trillion, and it’s why institutional demand has outweighed that of most other assets this year.
However, Bitcoin is limited in terms of speed, fees, and functionality. Transactions take around 60 minutes to finalize, fees can cost over $100, and the network is primarily limited to sending and receiving functions. That’s why the Bitcoin layer 2 blockchain, Bitcoin Hyper, could be the best crypto to buy now.
It’s a Bitcoin-aligned blockchain with sub-second finality, dirt-cheap fees, and smart contract support. The blockchain is built using the Solana Virtual Machine, meaning Solana developers can port their apps to the network in minutes. And Bitcoin Hyper does not sacrifice security or decentralization. Transactions are reported to L1 in batches, ensuring immutability and long-term security.
The project is currently undergoing a presale and has raised $4.1 million to date, demonstrating significant investor interest. With Bitcoin spearheading the current rally by recording a new all-time high last week, sentiment around the BTC ecosystem is bullish.
And as institutional appetite for Bitcoin rises, we could well see the $HYPER price surge once it lists on exchanges in the near future. Visit Bitcoin Hyper.
Arbitrum
While Bitcoin Hyper may offer the strongest option among Bitcoin L2s, Arbitrum is winning in the Ethereum realm. It’s an Ethereum L2 built using Optimistic Rollups technology, which allows for the submission of transaction batches back to Ethereum in a single transaction, making it cheaper and faster than using Ethereum L1 directly.
Arbitrum’s total value locked has surged by almost 50% since April, rising from $2 billion to $2.9 billion. There are also over $3 billion worth of stablecoins on the Arbitrum network. This is dry powder that could be invested in $ARB or ecosystem tokens as the bull market unfolds.
It’s worth noting that the project has also seen substantial TradFi adoption recently, with eToro announcing it will launch its tokenized stocks trading platform on the app.
Similar to Bitcoin Hyper, increasing institutional appeal in Ethereum will drive users to seek out aligned infrastructure with heightened transactional capabilities. We can already see remnants of this playing out with eToro’s app plans. That’s why $ARB has rallied 74% this month.
TOKEN6900
TOKEN6900 is a new meme coin highlighting the absurdity of modern finance. JP Morgan FUDed Bitcoin below $50,000, only to offer it to clients at $120,000. Money printers are on (brrr,) and meme coin prices are skyrocketing. It’s peak brain rot season.
TOKEN6900 is a meme coin that, rather than pulling you away, aims to help you capitalize on this absurdity. It follows in the footsteps of SPX6900 – which hit a new all-time high last week and is up over 1,000% since last year – and vies to deliver huge gains on what it calls “collective meme-fueled delusion.”
However, while SPX6900 is currently worth $1.8 billion, TOKEN6900 is undergoing a presale. The presale is rapidly approaching the $1 million raised milestone, reflecting strong demand but also leaving massive room for growth.
However, the $T6900 presale has a $5 million hard cap. This means investors must act quickly or risk missing out, especially given the current bullish conditions in the market. Visit TOKEN6900.
Solana
Solana made a name for itself with its meme coin infrastructure, featuring tokens like Bonk, Dogwifhat, and OFFICIAL TRUMP, alongside platforms like Pump.fun, which created a vibrant rail for light-hearted speculation.
But Solana is more than a home for joke tokens. It’s an increasingly popular asset for institutional players. BlackRock and Franklin Templeton migrated their tokenized money market funds to the chain this year, and the Solana Foundation secured a partnership with R3, allowing clients such as HSBC and Barclays to utilize the network.
R3’s website emphasized that the move provides Solana with access to broader liquidity and a new investor pool, while offering TradFi players the benefits of Solana’s DeFi ecosystem. These benefits include access to regulated real-world assets (RWAs) and new yield opportunities.
Currently, Solana trades at $199, having rallied by 4% today despite the broader market trading at breakeven. $SOL has also flipped BNB to become the fourth-largest cryptocurrency, underlining its strengthening position in the market.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. ModernDiplomacy.eu is not a licensed crypto-asset service provider under EU regulation (MiCA). Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and involve significant risk. Always conduct your own research and consult a licensed advisor before making any investment decisions.
There was perhaps no better reaction than that of Dobson, who appeared stunned after coming from seemingly nowhere with 100m remaining to beat world-class competition.
Olympic and world silver medallist Hudson-Smith crossed the line second in 44.27, ahead of South Africa’s Zakithi Nene, who has run the fastest time in the world this year with 43.76.
“I don’t know what happened,” Dobson told BBC Sport.
“I got to the last 100m and I felt great. I was catching everyone. I thought to myself, ‘If I just dig really deep then I can get them’ – and I did!”
Having already clinched victory in the women’s high jump with her second-time clearance at 1.96m, Lake thrived under the gaze of the entire crowd and went close to breaking her British record with three solid attempts at 2m.
While Kerr could not deliver the record-breaking finale he hoped to, he will take lessons from his loss to Koech and has time on his side with two months until his world title defence in Tokyo.
“I should be winning those so I am frustrated,” said Kerr.
“I really wanted to show up and win for this crowd but all I can promise to them now is in a few months’ time I will be battling for a gold medal for this country. I’ll bring it home and then everyone can see what we were working towards today.”
Former 200m world champion Asher-Smith overhauled Hunt as she crossed the line in 22.25 seconds, with the ever-improving Hunt, 23, clocking 22.31.
But Olympic 100m champion Alfred proved a class above, recording the joint-ninth fastest 200m of all time as she stormed to victory in 21.71.
Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke was fourth in 22.52, with Daryll Neita sixth in 22.69.
England defender Esme Morgan discusses making her Euro 2025 debut in the victory over Sweden – and reveals what went through her head when the Lionesses were 2-0 down.
Former Wales and Lions three-quarter Dafydd James says the lack of a Welshman in the line-up “says exactly where Welsh rugby is and it’s worrying”.
James, a Lions Test cap against Australia in 2001, said: “I didn’t think he’d [Morgan] get in, unfortunately, because unless he was going to start, I didn’t think they were going to put him on a bench, which is a travesty.
“But just purely on the basis of there’s so many back-row options there, it didn’t look from the first couple of games that Jac was figuring as his [Farrell’s] main seven, which is bitterly disappointing.
“It’s sobering and a sad indictment of the way the game has gone in Wales. Only two players being selected is hard, and you’d have to say on the back of 18 losses we were always going to be up against it trying to get many more players.
“I thought there might have been four going on the tour, and we’d be in with a chance [of players in the Test XV].
“And I thought with Williams, who started his campaign on the Lions tour, he was looking sharp.
“He was probably my tip for starting nine, but unfortunately he pulled a hamstring and then Jac stood up. He didn’t really figure that much in the Argentina game, but that could be just a little bit rusty, not knowing the team members around you.
“And then he had an exceptional game where he had a man of the match performance and put himself back in contention.
“I would have picked him personally, but I’m just reading between the lines he [Farrell] seems to favour Curry, [Josh] Van der Flier and obviously [Henry] Pollock.”
The last 48 hours or so have seemed very un-Tottenham like.
Preparing to commit £115m on Mohammed Kudus and Morgan Gibbs-White isn’t behaviour you’d necessarily associate with Spurs in the Daniel Levy era.
The general feeling around Tottenham and their transfer market spending in recent years has been one of frugality – although those at Spurs would be quick to point out they did spend £55m on Dominic Solanke last season, in a deal that could eventually become a club-record £65m.
Yet you can’t escape the sense that the previous couple of days represents a change in narrative.
If Gibbs-White’s £60m signing from Nottingham Forest goes through – after some late legal issues – it will be the biggest initial fee paid by the club.
Tottenham remain hopeful the deal will be completed despite Forest looking at whether a confidentiality agreement in the player’s contract had been breached. It is also understood the club are claiming Spurs haven’t asked permission to speak to the player.
Heading into the summer transfer window, well-placed sources indicated the club would be limited in the amount they would be able to spend.
But the capture of Kudus for £55m and the potential arrival of Gibbs-White for £60m flies in the face of any such restrictions.
So what has changed?
It is no secret Tottenham chairman Levy has been canvassing for external investment into the club in recent months.
However, BBC Sport understands the current spending on transfers is more likely to be the result of an injection of cash from owners Enic, who are understood to have kept a closer eye on club operations in recent months, rather than any external investment.
There has been talk of overseas investment – particularly from the Middle East.
For fans, of course, the source of the finances is neither here nor there.
All they really care about is the assembling of a team that can eventually challenge for the title and qualify consistently for the Champions League.
In Kudus and Gibbs-White, they would have two players capable of helping fulfil supporters’ wishes.
Both are flair players that live up to Tottenham’s attacking traditions and crucially are players who have Premier League experience.
Indeed, that was the remit for the club’s recruitment team this summer.
The squad is already packed full of exciting young potential, but experience is what new boss Thomas Frank believes it needs.
While Kudus and Gibbs-White are relatively young – 24 and 25, respectively – they are well-versed in the rigours of England’s top-flight.
Kudus has two full seasons for West Ham under his belt, making 80 appearances across all competitions, while Gibbs-White has played in the last three Premier League campaigns for Forest and had prior experience while a teenager at Wolves.
Spurs’ interest in Brentford duo Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo is further illustration of Tottenham’s recruitment remit.
Chelsea striker Liam Delap and Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly are among six nominees for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Bournemouth full-back Milos Kerkez, former Cherries defender Dean Huijsen, Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri and Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers make up the shortlist.
Delap, who joined Chelsea from Ipswich in a £30m deal earlier this month, scored 12 goals in the Premier League last season as the Tractor Boys were relegated to the Championship.
Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for Arsenal and scored on his England debut earlier this year against Albania.
Team-mate Nwaneri, 17, scored nine times in 37 appearances for the Gunners last term.
Spain international defender Huijsen earned a move to Real Madrid for his stellar performances for Bournemouth last season, while Hungarian full-back Kerkez is attracting attention from Premier League champions Liverpool after his fine performances for the Cherries.
Rogers contributed 14 goals and 15 assists as Aston Villa narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification.
The winner of the award will be announced on 19 August at a ceremony in Manchester.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST star Morgan Gibbs-White’s girlfriend Britney De Villiers took social media by storm.
Gibbs-White, 25, is enjoying a short relaxing holiday after an impressive season with Forest that saw them qualifying for Europe for the first time in 30 years.
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Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White’s girlfriend Britney De Villiers took social media by storm
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Britney donned a glamorous dark dress
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Britney posed with Gibbs-White during their holiday
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Britney and Gibbs-White took photos together during their downtime
The playmaker was joined by his partner Britney who seems to be having the time of her life with her other half.
And the couple got ready for a cosy date with the blogger donning a stylish black dress.
The agent shared the snap on Instagram for her 271,000 followers.
Britney added the following caption: “Date night.”
She also posted a few other pics of her in the same glamorous dress with Gibbs-White by her side sharing a tender embrace.
Their fans were left touched as they stormed the comments’ section.
One follower posted: “BEAUTIFUL!! You’re the best.”
Another commented: “You always make my day.”
This fan said: Ahhh beautiful.”
And that one gushed: “Faves.”
Inside Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White’s bromance as England new boys reveal ‘special’ bond that led to U21s glory
The ex-Wolves star is expected to be in action on June 7 at Andorra in the Three Lions’ next World Cup qualifier and June 10 for the friendly against Senegal at Forest‘s City Ground.
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Gibbs-White and Britney often go on holiday together
Governor candidate Betty Yee backs trans athletes in women’s sports, ’28 Olympics
California gubernational candidate Betty Yee said that transgender female athletes should be able to compete in women’s sports and that she is open to having athletes of all gender identities compete in the same category in certain events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Her comments come as California legislation becomes a central focus in the national debate on the participation of transgender athletes in sports and elucidate her stance on one of the few issues currently dividing the state’s Democrats.
During a recent appearance on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Yee said, “I think transgender athletes are women athletes and they should be able to compete.”
Yee, who served as California state controller from 2015 to 2023, told Morgan that transgender female athletes have gone through a physical transition and should be able to participate in women’s sports. However, she added that “there is still some discussion about whether they should compete in the same field” and that more research is needed on the physiology of transgender athletes.
Her view differs from that of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports “deeply unfair” and warned that it was hurting Democrats at the polls during a March episode of his podcast featuring conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Newsom’s comments garnered backlash from some party members, who accused the governor of abandoning a vulnerable minority group for political gain.
When Morgan asked Yee if there should be a gender-neutral 2028 L.A. Olympics where everyone competes in the same category, she said, “I think it’s a conversation worth having.”
“If the physicality of the sexes bear true to that [gender neutrality], including with transgender people, yes, it [the Olympics] should be gender neutral,” she said. “I don’t think we know enough.”
Yee suggested that there are some sporting events where all athletes can compete on a level playing field. When asked to name one, she suggested short-distance track and field events such as the 100-meter sprint — a notion Morgan decried as “insane.”
The Olympic record time among male athletes for the 100-meter dash is 9.63 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2012, while the women’s Olympic record is 10.61 seconds, set by Elaine Thompson-Herah in 2021.
Yee said she was not a sports expert but emphasized her overall stance that all athletes, including transgender athletes, should have an equal opportunity to participate.
“I think there’s a lot of information we need to learn about what’s really happening with the ability of trans athletes to compete, but my statement is about being able to be sure that they can compete,” she said.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton appeared on Morgan’s show after Yee and called her comments jaw dropping.
“I think we may just have seen another California Democrat candidate torpedo their campaign for governor,” he said, referencing the criticism former Rep. Katie Porter has received over recordings of combative and rude comments to a journalist and a staff member.
Hilton said that as governor he would overturn AB 1266. This law took effect in 2014 and requires that California schools allow students to participate in sporting activities consistent with their gender identities, regardless of the gender listed on their record.
“This is obviously discrimination against girls,” said Hilton. “I’m confident that, as governor, I can actually overturn that law and bring some sanity back to this whole situation.”
In July, the Trump administration sued California for allowing transgender athletes to compete on school sports teams that match their gender identity, alleging that this violates a federal law that prohibits gender-based discrimination in schools by allowing biological males to compete against biological females.
This week, Newsom signed Assembly Bill 749, which creates a commission to examine whether a new state board or department is needed to improve access to youth sports regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, income or geographic location.
The bill was decried by some Republican legislators as an attempt to create a body that will advocate for the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
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Morgan Rogers: England midfielder is the poster boy as Tuchel’s strategy vindicated
Thomas Tuchel may have expressed public displeasure with England’s fans after the emphatic Wembley win against Wales, but the performance of his players will have left him feeling only the warm glow of vindication.
Tuchel delivered a highly-critical and unusually blunt verdict from any coach in the direction of his own “silent” supporters after a 3-0 stroll was effectively wrapped up inside the first 20 minutes.
It was, however, another message delivered by the German manager that will carry wider significance as England gather momentum towards next summer’s World Cup.
Tuchel’s words stretched way beyond the shockwaves that greeted Jude Bellingham’s exclusion when he named his latest England squad.
He made it crystal clear that England’s star system was over, that players in possession could cement their places by sheer weight of performances, the biggest names no longer guaranteed an automatic recall.
England victory in the Wembley friendly must be placed in the context of Welsh opponents with eyes seemingly fixed on their vital World Cup qualifier against Belgium on Monday, but this was still a night with a large measure of satisfaction for Tuchel’s strategy.
Tuchel made it clear he is picking an England team, not individuals. He even stated: “We are not collecting the most talented players. We are trying to build a team. Teams win trophies, no-one else.”
Bellingham’s superstar status meant Tuchel’s selection was laced with risk, even though it was shaped by common sense as he had only started one game for Real Madrid following shoulder surgery.
He may have wanted to be included, but on this occasion Tuchel was happy to do without Bellingham, keeping faith with the players who produced the best result and performance of his reign by winning 5-0 against Serbia in the World Cup qualifier in Belgrade.
And, to add further credibility to Tuchel’s decision-making process, England’s outstanding player against Wales was Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, excelling in Bellingham’s number 10 role, as he did in Belgrade.
Rogers, on the evidence of England’s past two games, is fast becoming the poster boy for the new identity Tuchel wants to create.
And if Tuchel’s measure is applied, the England shirt is now Rogers’ to lose, with a further opportunity to cement his place against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday.
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Piers Morgan reveals Paul O’Grady was BGT’s original host but lost role for sour reason
Comedian and TV star Paul O’Grady was set to be the host of Britain’s Got Talent and even have the show named after him until things got very heated behind the scenes
13:47, 07 Oct 2025Updated 13:47, 07 Oct 2025
Former Britain’s Got Talent judge Piers Morgan has revealed Paul O’Grady was meant to be the host for the hit talent show, until things went very wrong. The controversial broadcaster was part of the original line up on Simon Cowell’s talent show back in 2007.
Music mogul Simon was inspired by former talent shows including Opportunity Knocks and New Faces as he wanted to create a competition for people of any age and location to enter. He wanted a range of personalities on the judging panel with him, and first settled on Piers and Fern Britton.
Simon set his sights on comedian Paul as host and even planned to name the show, Paul O’Grady’s Got Talent. He met with Piers for lunch in Kensington, London to get him on board.
READ MORE: Britain’s Got Talent’s scramble to film auditions after Simon Cowell’s illnessREAD MORE: Simon Cowell’s real reason for pulling out of Britain’s Got Talent after head injury
Piers admitted: “I owe him a lot actually because I would not have had any career in America without him. He has been great for me. He said ‘I am going to bring back an old all-round talent show like New Faces, Opportunity Knocks and The Gong Show in America. It can be any talent’.”
The broadcaster explained: “We did a pilot at ITV. Paul O’Grady was the host. The judging panel was Simon Cowell, me, and Fern Britton. It was about to be greenlit as a prime-time ITV show.”
Piers said he was ready “to get back in the game” but things quickly took a turn and the production was halted. He said: “Then Paul O’Grady had a massive falling out with ITV, told them to shove it and went to Channel 4.”
At the time, the Paul O’Grady Show moved over to Channel 4 and ITV stopped him being able to rent their studios. Paul decided to refuse all work with the network following the row.
He explained years later: “I did the pilot for Britain’s Got Talent – which was originally going to be called Paul O’Grady’s Got Talent. But I told the producers they were having a joke if they thought I would front a show with that title.
“The original panel of judges was going to be Simon Cowell, Fern Britton and Piers Morgan. I was the host. Then when I had the row with ITV I was banned from the studios.
“I remember I rang Simon and told him he had a huge hit on his hands, but there was no way I could do it. I said, if I am banned I have to be banned from everything. I can’t be a hypocrite and come in and do this. I had to bow out.”
Paul added: “I don’t regret what I did. Not in the slightest. Good luck to them.” He did also manage to patch things up with ITV and returned years later with Paul O’Grady Live!.
Paul’s decision to boycott ITV meant Britain’s Got Talent was hit with a huge delay and Simon decided to kick off with America’s Got Talent first. Simon enlisted Piers again as he wanted “someone who is judgmental, opinionated, obnoxious and arrogant” as him.
Britain’s Got Talent hit screens a year later with Simon, Piers and Amanda Holden as judges and Ant and Dec as hosts. Piers said on The Overlap and Betfair’s Stick to Cricket show: “He had literally come up with the entire concept of Got Talent on a napkin at the Ivy in Kensington.
“Bring back a talent show. Have a tough mean judge, a mother hen figure, a funny person and any talent goes. Now the Got Talent franchise is in more than 60 countries around the world. It changed my life.”
READ MORE: Shoppers ditch cheap tights for pair that ‘feel soft, warm and comfortable’
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Hayley Williams: Morgan Wallen is song’s ‘racist country singer’
Hayley Williams is happy to confirm that Morgan Wallen is the “racist country singer” she is referring to in her song “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.”
During a recent interview on the New York Times’ ”Popcast” to discuss her latest solo album, the Paramore lead singer was asked whether she would like to “name names” to reveal who she means when she sings about being “the biggest star / At this racist country singer’s bar” in the title track.
“It could be a couple but I’m always talking about Morgan Wallen,” Williams said. “I don’t give a s—. Find me at Whole Foods, b—, I don’t care.”
In 2021, Wallen was caught on video drunkenly using a racist slur. The Grammy-nominated country star’s This Bar and Tennessee Kitchen, named after one of his songs and paying homage to his upbringing, opened in Nashville last year.
(Video of Wallen’s 2024 arrest for reckless endangerment is making headlines again this week too. In police bodycam video obtained by the Associated Press, Wallen denies throwing a chair off a Nashville bar’s roof but apologizes for “caus[ing] problems.” He took a plea deal after being charged in the case and was sentenced to seven days’ incarceration at a DUI Education Center, two years’ probation, a $350 fine and payment of court fees.)
Williams, who was born in Mississippi, met her future Paramore bandmates after moving to Tennessee as a child. She has been open about her political beliefs and having to navigate her own upbringing as a white southern Christian. Some of her latest music addresses religious hypocrisy and the racial tensions and racist legacy of the South.
“I’m never not ready to scream at the top of my lungs about racial issues,” Williams said in her interview. “I don’t know why that became the thing that gets me the most angry. I think it’s because it’s so intersectional that it overlaps with everything from climate change to LGBTQIA+ issues.”
In addition to her years with Paramore and the inspiration behind her latest solo work, Williams spoke about how proud she is of the diversity of Paramore’s fan base and audience at shows.
“I’m very passionate in that we have a long way to go in making people feel like that they belong in the world,” she said. “The repercussions of people not feeling like they’re a part or they belong, we see it all the time in the news. I think music is not only the easiest but the beautiful way to tap into people’s hearts and their subconscious and change their minds.”
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Morgan Wallen won’t submit album for Grammy consideration
Next year’s Grammys will be yet another ceremony where a blockbuster Morgan Wallen album will not take home any awards.
The country music megastar declined to submit his bestselling “I’m the Problem” for Grammy consideration, according to Hits Daily Double and Billboard, who first reported the news. The LP, featuring singles like “Love Somebody” and “What I Want,” debuted in May at No. 1 and has spent 11 weeks and counting atop the Billboard 200 album charts.
Wallen did not give a reason for declining to submit the LP. Despite being the biggest contemporary star in a commercially ascendant genre, Wallen has always had a contentious relationship with Grammy voters.
A month after the 2021 release of his second studio album, the massive hit “Dangerous: The Double Album,” Wallen was filmed using a racial slur and was briefly shunned by the music industry. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in 2024 after throwing a chair off a rooftop bar in Nashville.
“I’ve touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I’m not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility,” he wrote on social media at the time. He more recently turned heads for a testy exit from the stage at a “Saturday Night Live” taping.
While he quickly returned to selling out stadiums and dominating pop and country charts, his records never regained traction with Recording Academy voters, even as country music redoubled its critical and popular acclaim in recent years. Wallen’s only previous nominations came from his duet with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help.”
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‘Leanne’ review: A conventional sitcom, but it’s good company
The practice of building a situation comedy around a stand-up comedian is hallowed television practice, going back to Jack Benny and Danny Thomas and running forward through Bob Newhart, Roseanne Barr, Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, George Lopez and Martin Lawrence, among others. These “based on the comedy” shows are predicated on the not unreasonable and frequently demonstrable idea that the star comes with a built-in audience — the show and the character usually share their name — and that a person who is good at telling stories onstage might be a good fit for the multi-camera TV stage. This hasn’t been true of every comic given a show; even someone as reliably hilarious as John Mulaney was an uneasy fit for the form.
“Leanne,” which premieres Thursday on Netflix, stars Leanne Morgan, a 25-year overnight sensation from Knoxville, Tenn., whose star rose above the cultural horizon when she was already most of her way through her fifties. (She is 59 now.) Co-creator Chuck Lorre (with Morgan and Susan McMartin), the man behind “Cybill,” “Dharma & Greg,” “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory,” earlier built “Grace Under Fire” around another Southern stand-up, Brett Butler. The premise here is essentially: newly single mature woman in a sitcom.
If the people around her are mostly types into which the players pour themselves, Morgan is more a person into which a character has been inserted. TV Leanne is not exactly Real Leanne, who is to all appearances happily married; is on tour through the year (under the title “Just Getting Started”); has starred in a Netflix special, “I’m Every Woman”; published a book, “What in the World?! A Southern Woman’s Guide to Laughing at Life’s Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings”; and, obviously, is starring in this situation comedy. Other than living in Knoxville, having children and grandchildren and representing someone more or less her own age, she is not playing herself; yet there’s an honesty to her performance, possibly not unrelated to her being new at this. (Her only previous screen credit is a supporting role in this year’s Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon meh Prime Video rom-com “You’re Cordially Invited.”) Even the hackiest jokes sound less hacky in her mouth, perhaps because she doesn’t strain to sell them. Her delivery tends toward the soft and musical, and that she is wearing her own accent, which, to a Californian’s ear, plays charming variations on vowels, is all to the good.
As we begin, Leanne, the character, is primarily defined, like negative space, by the figures around her. There is a husband, Bill (Ryan Stiles) who has just left her for a younger woman, an event so fresh that only her sister, Carol (Kristen Johnston), knows; single, twice-divorced, up for fun, Carol regards herself as sophisticated because she once lived in Chicago. Daughter Josie (Hannah Pilkes) is a little wild, but not particularly troublesome; in any case, no one pays her much attention. Son Tyler (Graham Rogers), upon whom Leanne dotes, works for his father, who owns three RV emporiums — accounting for the nice house that’s the series’ main set — and comes equipped with a mostly off-screen pregnant wife, Nora (Annie Gonzalez); he feels oppressed, but perhaps he’s just tired. Leanne’s parents, John (Blake Clark) and Margaret (Celia Weston) are around for grousing and goofiness, respectively. Across the street lives Mary (Jayma Mays), the embodiment of nosy propriety in a town that can’t keep a secret.
Leanne recalls how back in the ‘80s she was “cute” and desirable “because I had hormones, and hair spray, and a VW bug with a pull-out cassette player.” (This is also a motif in Morgan’s stand-up.) Now she’s careful and proper, and can barely bring herself to chastely kiss the nice FBI agent, Andrew (Tim Daly), who wanders into the show as a potential romance. (Morgan said on the “Today” show that Daly was in fact the first man she’d kissed apart from her husband in 33 years. Art and life.) One hopes he won’t turn out to be a murderer, which would 80% be the case if this were a mystery. But I reckon we’re safe.
Younger viewers who find themselves here may be put off by jokes about hot flashes, pelvic exercises, enlarged prostrates and such and perhaps especially by sex jokes in the mouths of old — well, older — people. (I feel you there, youngsters.) The representative demographic may chuckle knowingly, or not.
Here is Leanne, flirting with Andrew in their first encounter.
Andrew (swallowing some pills): “I had to have a thing and now I have to take these things every four hours or I might have to have … another thing.”
Leanne (sweetly): “I got things. My purse is a little Walgreens with a cute strap.”
Every fourth or fifth joke has the air of having been hammered out on an anvil, and a few might have been better left in the smithery. Yet I like this show, in no small part but not entirely because I like Morgan — the way she says “spaseba, that’s Russian for thank you” to a bartender handing her a vodka, and sings a bit of the Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” to herself.
The company, which supports the star with veterans of “Third Rock From the Sun,” “The Drew Carey Show” and “Wings,” is generally good company, and I’m happy to see that “Leanne” has a broadcast-style 18 episode season, time being an American sitcom’s best friend. (I would give it a few episodes to make up your mind.)
Apart from the star herself, the show is as conventional as can be. A character embarking on a new chapter is, of course, the starting point of every third sitcom ever made, but given that many of us have either had to start new chapters or wish we could, it’s a suitable way to start.
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Best Crypto to Buy as JP Morgan Floats Crypto-Backed Loans
Amid a rally that’s seen the crypto market cap hit $4 trillion for the first time, JP Morgan is now moving toward crypto-backed loans, signaling that its anti-crypto stance is quietly melting away.
The move reflects a shift in how US banks view crypto, with the approvals of GENIUS Act and Clarity Act at last week’s Crypto Week also fueling positive sentiment. Crypto investors are well aware of this institutional pivot and so are exploring opportunities to maximize their gains in the weeks ahead.
With it looking like a new altcoin season is imminent, which cryptocurrencies could benefit the most from the increasing institutional adoption? We take a closer look at JP Morgan’s move and explore four of the best cryptos to buy amid this development.
JP Morgan Eyes Crypto Loans
JP Morgan may start lending directly against crypto assets, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, according to a report by The Financial Times. The loans are expected to be finalized by 2026, although this is subject to change.
However, an unidentified source told The Financial Times that JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s previous remarks about the crypto industry have alienated some potential clients.
Dimon has been critical about crypto in previous years, with the exec even calling it a “scam” in 2018. However, he appears to finally be succumbing to positive sentiment fueled by ETFs, regulatory clarity, and increased investor demand.
“The same banks that laughed in 2017? They are positioning now,” wrote Wise Advice on X.
Indeed, it’s another step toward the full integration of digital assets into the traditional finance (TradFi) sector, something that could bolster the crypto industry’s credibility and adoption. This could drive substantial gains for investors who position correctly.
As such, here are four cryptos that could benefit the most from the news:
Bitcoin Hyper
Bitcoin is known for security and decentralization. It’s why it possesses a market capitalization of over $2 trillion, and it’s why institutional demand has outweighed that of most other assets this year.
However, Bitcoin is limited in terms of speed, fees, and functionality. Transactions take around 60 minutes to finalize, fees can cost over $100, and the network is primarily limited to sending and receiving functions. That’s why the Bitcoin layer 2 blockchain, Bitcoin Hyper, could be the best crypto to buy now.
It’s a Bitcoin-aligned blockchain with sub-second finality, dirt-cheap fees, and smart contract support. The blockchain is built using the Solana Virtual Machine, meaning Solana developers can port their apps to the network in minutes. And Bitcoin Hyper does not sacrifice security or decentralization. Transactions are reported to L1 in batches, ensuring immutability and long-term security.
The project is currently undergoing a presale and has raised $4.1 million to date, demonstrating significant investor interest. With Bitcoin spearheading the current rally by recording a new all-time high last week, sentiment around the BTC ecosystem is bullish.
And as institutional appetite for Bitcoin rises, we could well see the $HYPER price surge once it lists on exchanges in the near future. Visit Bitcoin Hyper.
Arbitrum
While Bitcoin Hyper may offer the strongest option among Bitcoin L2s, Arbitrum is winning in the Ethereum realm. It’s an Ethereum L2 built using Optimistic Rollups technology, which allows for the submission of transaction batches back to Ethereum in a single transaction, making it cheaper and faster than using Ethereum L1 directly.
Arbitrum’s total value locked has surged by almost 50% since April, rising from $2 billion to $2.9 billion. There are also over $3 billion worth of stablecoins on the Arbitrum network. This is dry powder that could be invested in $ARB or ecosystem tokens as the bull market unfolds.
It’s worth noting that the project has also seen substantial TradFi adoption recently, with eToro announcing it will launch its tokenized stocks trading platform on the app.
Similar to Bitcoin Hyper, increasing institutional appeal in Ethereum will drive users to seek out aligned infrastructure with heightened transactional capabilities. We can already see remnants of this playing out with eToro’s app plans. That’s why $ARB has rallied 74% this month.
TOKEN6900
TOKEN6900 is a new meme coin highlighting the absurdity of modern finance. JP Morgan FUDed Bitcoin below $50,000, only to offer it to clients at $120,000. Money printers are on (brrr,) and meme coin prices are skyrocketing. It’s peak brain rot season.
TOKEN6900 is a meme coin that, rather than pulling you away, aims to help you capitalize on this absurdity. It follows in the footsteps of SPX6900 – which hit a new all-time high last week and is up over 1,000% since last year – and vies to deliver huge gains on what it calls “collective meme-fueled delusion.”
However, while SPX6900 is currently worth $1.8 billion, TOKEN6900 is undergoing a presale. The presale is rapidly approaching the $1 million raised milestone, reflecting strong demand but also leaving massive room for growth.
However, the $T6900 presale has a $5 million hard cap. This means investors must act quickly or risk missing out, especially given the current bullish conditions in the market. Visit TOKEN6900.
Solana
Solana made a name for itself with its meme coin infrastructure, featuring tokens like Bonk, Dogwifhat, and OFFICIAL TRUMP, alongside platforms like Pump.fun, which created a vibrant rail for light-hearted speculation.
But Solana is more than a home for joke tokens. It’s an increasingly popular asset for institutional players. BlackRock and Franklin Templeton migrated their tokenized money market funds to the chain this year, and the Solana Foundation secured a partnership with R3, allowing clients such as HSBC and Barclays to utilize the network.
R3’s website emphasized that the move provides Solana with access to broader liquidity and a new investor pool, while offering TradFi players the benefits of Solana’s DeFi ecosystem. These benefits include access to regulated real-world assets (RWAs) and new yield opportunities.
Currently, Solana trades at $199, having rallied by 4% today despite the broader market trading at breakeven. $SOL has also flipped BNB to become the fourth-largest cryptocurrency, underlining its strengthening position in the market.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. ModernDiplomacy.eu is not a licensed crypto-asset service provider under EU regulation (MiCA). Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and involve significant risk. Always conduct your own research and consult a licensed advisor before making any investment decisions.
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London Diamond League: Wins for Georgia Hunter Bell, Charlie Dobson and Morgan Lake
There was perhaps no better reaction than that of Dobson, who appeared stunned after coming from seemingly nowhere with 100m remaining to beat world-class competition.
Olympic and world silver medallist Hudson-Smith crossed the line second in 44.27, ahead of South Africa’s Zakithi Nene, who has run the fastest time in the world this year with 43.76.
“I don’t know what happened,” Dobson told BBC Sport.
“I got to the last 100m and I felt great. I was catching everyone. I thought to myself, ‘If I just dig really deep then I can get them’ – and I did!”
Having already clinched victory in the women’s high jump with her second-time clearance at 1.96m, Lake thrived under the gaze of the entire crowd and went close to breaking her British record with three solid attempts at 2m.
While Kerr could not deliver the record-breaking finale he hoped to, he will take lessons from his loss to Koech and has time on his side with two months until his world title defence in Tokyo.
“I should be winning those so I am frustrated,” said Kerr.
“I really wanted to show up and win for this crowd but all I can promise to them now is in a few months’ time I will be battling for a gold medal for this country. I’ll bring it home and then everyone can see what we were working towards today.”
Former 200m world champion Asher-Smith overhauled Hunt as she crossed the line in 22.25 seconds, with the ever-improving Hunt, 23, clocking 22.31.
But Olympic 100m champion Alfred proved a class above, recording the joint-ninth fastest 200m of all time as she stormed to victory in 21.71.
Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke was fourth in 22.52, with Daryll Neita sixth in 22.69.
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Euro 2025: England defender Esme Morgan discusses victory over Sweden
England defender Esme Morgan discusses making her Euro 2025 debut in the victory over Sweden – and reveals what went through her head when the Lionesses were 2-0 down.
READ MORE: Resilience, luck and subs – England’s winning formula
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British and Irish Lions: Welsh rugby reels from Jac Morgan omission blow
Former Wales and Lions three-quarter Dafydd James says the lack of a Welshman in the line-up “says exactly where Welsh rugby is and it’s worrying”.
James, a Lions Test cap against Australia in 2001, said: “I didn’t think he’d [Morgan] get in, unfortunately, because unless he was going to start, I didn’t think they were going to put him on a bench, which is a travesty.
“But just purely on the basis of there’s so many back-row options there, it didn’t look from the first couple of games that Jac was figuring as his [Farrell’s] main seven, which is bitterly disappointing.
“It’s sobering and a sad indictment of the way the game has gone in Wales. Only two players being selected is hard, and you’d have to say on the back of 18 losses we were always going to be up against it trying to get many more players.
“I thought there might have been four going on the tour, and we’d be in with a chance [of players in the Test XV].
“And I thought with Williams, who started his campaign on the Lions tour, he was looking sharp.
“He was probably my tip for starting nine, but unfortunately he pulled a hamstring and then Jac stood up. He didn’t really figure that much in the Argentina game, but that could be just a little bit rusty, not knowing the team members around you.
“And then he had an exceptional game where he had a man of the match performance and put himself back in contention.
“I would have picked him personally, but I’m just reading between the lines he [Farrell] seems to favour Curry, [Josh] Van der Flier and obviously [Henry] Pollock.”
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Tottenham Hotspur: How are Spurs funding spending spree – and where would Mohammed Kudus and Morgan Gibbs-White fit in?e…
The last 48 hours or so have seemed very un-Tottenham like.
Preparing to commit £115m on Mohammed Kudus and Morgan Gibbs-White isn’t behaviour you’d necessarily associate with Spurs in the Daniel Levy era.
The general feeling around Tottenham and their transfer market spending in recent years has been one of frugality – although those at Spurs would be quick to point out they did spend £55m on Dominic Solanke last season, in a deal that could eventually become a club-record £65m.
Yet you can’t escape the sense that the previous couple of days represents a change in narrative.
If Gibbs-White’s £60m signing from Nottingham Forest goes through – after some late legal issues – it will be the biggest initial fee paid by the club.
Tottenham remain hopeful the deal will be completed despite Forest looking at whether a confidentiality agreement in the player’s contract had been breached. It is also understood the club are claiming Spurs haven’t asked permission to speak to the player.
Heading into the summer transfer window, well-placed sources indicated the club would be limited in the amount they would be able to spend.
But the capture of Kudus for £55m and the potential arrival of Gibbs-White for £60m flies in the face of any such restrictions.
So what has changed?
It is no secret Tottenham chairman Levy has been canvassing for external investment into the club in recent months.
However, BBC Sport understands the current spending on transfers is more likely to be the result of an injection of cash from owners Enic, who are understood to have kept a closer eye on club operations in recent months, rather than any external investment.
There has been talk of overseas investment – particularly from the Middle East.
For fans, of course, the source of the finances is neither here nor there.
All they really care about is the assembling of a team that can eventually challenge for the title and qualify consistently for the Champions League.
In Kudus and Gibbs-White, they would have two players capable of helping fulfil supporters’ wishes.
Both are flair players that live up to Tottenham’s attacking traditions and crucially are players who have Premier League experience.
Indeed, that was the remit for the club’s recruitment team this summer.
The squad is already packed full of exciting young potential, but experience is what new boss Thomas Frank believes it needs.
While Kudus and Gibbs-White are relatively young – 24 and 25, respectively – they are well-versed in the rigours of England’s top-flight.
Kudus has two full seasons for West Ham under his belt, making 80 appearances across all competitions, while Gibbs-White has played in the last three Premier League campaigns for Forest and had prior experience while a teenager at Wolves.
Spurs’ interest in Brentford duo Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo is further illustration of Tottenham’s recruitment remit.
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PFA Young Player of the Year nominees: Liam Delap, Morgan Rogers and Ethan Nwaneri among nominees
Chelsea striker Liam Delap and Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly are among six nominees for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Bournemouth full-back Milos Kerkez, former Cherries defender Dean Huijsen, Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri and Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers make up the shortlist.
Delap, who joined Chelsea from Ipswich in a £30m deal earlier this month, scored 12 goals in the Premier League last season as the Tractor Boys were relegated to the Championship.
Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for Arsenal and scored on his England debut earlier this year against Albania.
Team-mate Nwaneri, 17, scored nine times in 37 appearances for the Gunners last term.
Spain international defender Huijsen earned a move to Real Madrid for his stellar performances for Bournemouth last season, while Hungarian full-back Kerkez is attracting attention from Premier League champions Liverpool after his fine performances for the Cherries.
Rogers contributed 14 goals and 15 assists as Aston Villa narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification.
The winner of the award will be announced on 19 August at a ceremony in Manchester.
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England star Morgan Gibbs-White’s girlfriend puts on busty display in revealing outfit for ‘date night’ on holiday
NOTTINGHAM FOREST star Morgan Gibbs-White’s girlfriend Britney De Villiers took social media by storm.
Gibbs-White, 25, is enjoying a short relaxing holiday after an impressive season with Forest that saw them qualifying for Europe for the first time in 30 years.
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The playmaker was joined by his partner Britney who seems to be having the time of her life with her other half.
And the couple got ready for a cosy date with the blogger donning a stylish black dress.
The agent shared the snap on Instagram for her 271,000 followers.
Britney added the following caption: “Date night.”
She also posted a few other pics of her in the same glamorous dress with Gibbs-White by her side sharing a tender embrace.
Their fans were left touched as they stormed the comments’ section.
One follower posted: “BEAUTIFUL!! You’re the best.”
Another commented: “You always make my day.”
This fan said: Ahhh beautiful.”
And that one gushed: “Faves.”
Gibbs-White is set to return to action in June with England after being called up by boss Thomas Tuchel.
The ex-Wolves star is expected to be in action on June 7 at Andorra in the Three Lions’ next World Cup qualifier and June 10 for the friendly against Senegal at Forest‘s City Ground.
Scroll down for more from Britney
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