nears

Slow-moving Cat. 5 Hurricane Melissa nears Jamaica landfall

1 of 2 | Hurricane Melissa, a strong Category 5 storm, was expected to make landfall in southern Jamaica early Tuesday. Photo courtesy of NOAA

Oct. 27 (UPI) — Melissa, a strong Category 5 hurricane, neared landfall on the Caribbean island nation of Jamaica early Tuesday, where three people were already dead and amid fears of a humanitarian crisis.

The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas were to be later threatened with powerful winds, rainfall and storm surge.

The storm was expected to move near or over Jamaica’s southern coast Tuesday — the first hurricane to make landfall in the Caribbean this season.

The island, which has 2.8 million residents, was already experiencing damaging winds and heavy rainfall, threatening catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has reported three deaths and nearly 15 people injured while preparing for the storm.

The hurricane was situated about 115 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 290 miles southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said in its 2 a.m. EDT update. It was moving north-northeast at 5 mph.

Melissa’s maximum sustained winds of 175 mph have not changed since the 2 p.m. update on Monday. Hurricanes are designated as the highest class when they reach 157 mph.

When Melissa makes landfall as a powerful major hurricane, it will be the strongest direct hit for the island since records have been kept in the Atlantic Basin.

“Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are expected through Tuesday,” NHC forecaster Richard Pasch said in a late Monday discussion about Jamaica. “The eyewall’s destructive winds may cause total structural failure, particularly in higher elevations, leading to widespread infrastructural damage, prolonged power and communication outages and isolated communities.”

The storm became a hurricane Saturday morning and was upgraded to a Category 3 major hurricane by Saturday night, then a Category 4 on Sunday morning and a Category 5 on Monday morning.

On Tuesday night or Wednesday, Melissa is anticipated to make a second landfall along Cuba’s southeastern coast, while still wielding major hurricane strength. It’s also expected to remain a hurricane when it reaches the Bahamas. Bermuda also could be threatened.

“After reaching Jamaica, a combination of land interaction and increasing southwesterly shear should cause some weakening, although Melissa is still forecast to be a major hurricane when it reaches Cuba,” NHC forecaster Jack Beven said in an earlier discussion.

“Once over the Atlantic, stronger shear should cause more substantial weakening, and Melissa is expected to become extratropical by the end of the forecast period as it interacts with a large baroclinic low over the north Atlantic.”

Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in parts of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica were expected through early next week.

A hurricane warning was in effect for all of Jamaica; the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and Holguin; and the southeastern and central Bahamas.

Hurricane watches were in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

There was a tropical storm warning for Haiti and the Cuban province of Las Tunas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Hurricane-force winds extended up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical-force winds tended outward to 195 miles.

Rainfall of 15 to 30 inches through Wednesday was forecast for portions of Jamaica and an additional 6 to 12 inches for southern Hispaniola, which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, with a local maximum of 40 inches, the NHC said.

“Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely,” NHC said.

Cuba is expected to receive rainfall of 10 to 20 inches, with local amounts up to 25 inches, into Wednesday, “resulting in life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides,” NHC said.

Over the southeastern Bahamas, rainfall is forecast to total 5 to 10 inches into Wednesday with flash flooding in some areas.

Life-threatening storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa makes landfall and are expected to be accompanied by large and destructive waves, NHC said.

Along the Cuban coast late Tuesday and Wednesday, there is a potential for significant storm surge of 7 to 11 feet.

And in the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, there is the possibility of storm surge of 4 to 6 feet.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the season and fifth hurricane. The other Category 5 storms in the Atlantic have been Erin and Humberto.

In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian had maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and destroyed the Bahamas islands, including Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, as a Category 5 storm.

The all-time highest sustained measure was Hurricane Allen at 190 mph in August 1980 over the Yucatan Peninsula but weakened to a Category 3 when it struck south Texas.

The most destructive Category 5 storm in the United States was Hurricane Andrew in August 1992, with $27.3 billion in damage. Hurricane Michael, also a Category 5 storm, struck the less populated Florida Panhandle in October 2018.

The U.S. is not threatened this time.

Hurricane Gilbert struck Jamaica in 1988 as a Category 3 storm. The island could be battered for several hours as the eyewall moves slowly.

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‘Seek shelter now,’ forecasters warn as Cat. 4 Melissa nears Jamaica

1 of 3 | Hurricane Melissa, a Category 4 storm, was expected to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday morning. Photo courtesy of NOAA

Oct. 27 (UPI) — Forecasters are warning residents of Jamaica to “seek shelter now,” as Melissa, a Category 4 hurricane, was making its way toward the Caribbean island nation early Monday.

The storm was expected to make landfall along Jamaica’s southern coast on Tuesday morning, but the National Hurricane Center reported that the island is already experiencing damaging winds and heavy rainfall that will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.

The hurricane, a Category 4 storm, was located about 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 315 miles south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. EDT update.

It had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph and was crawling west at 5 mph.

Forecasters said it was to take a slow westward turn overnight, followed by a north and northeastern turn on Monday and Tuesday.

“On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica tonight and Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba [on] Tuesday night and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday,” the NHC said.

The storm — which became a hurricane Saturday morning and was upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane by Saturday night — continues to gather strength.

Additional intensification of the storm is forecast over the next day or two, after which strengthening is expected to fluctuate.

However, the NHC expects it to be “a powerful major hurricane” when it makes landfall along Jamaica’s southern coast. This would be the strongest direct landfall for the island since records have been kept in the Atlantic Basin.

Either Tuesday night or Wednesday, Melissa is anticipated to make landfall along Cuba’s southeastern coast.

Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in parts of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica are expected through early next week.

A hurricane warning is in effect for all of Jamaica and for the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin.

Hurricane watches are in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince.

“Seek shelter now,” is the key message the NHC has for Jamaica.

“Damaging winds and heavy rainfall tonight and Monday will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides before potentially devastating winds arrive Monday night and Tuesday morning,” NHC forecaster Philippe Papin said in a discussion on the storm.

“Extensive infrastructural damage, long-duration power and communication outages and isolation of communities are expected.”

Accuweather meteorologist Alex Duffus warned that entire communities could be cut off from aid and support for several days.

“Melissa’s slow movement over the mountainous islands greatly increases the risk of catastrophic flash flooding and deadly mudslides,” Duffus said. “This can quickly escalate into a humanitarian crisis, where a large number of people are in need of basic supplies such as food, safe drinking water, housing and medical care.”

Rainfall of 15 to 30 inches through Wednesday is forecast for portions of southern Hispaniola, which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, with a local maximum of 40 inches, the NHC said.

Eastern Cuba is expected to receive rainfall of 6 to 12 inches, with local amounts up to 18 inches into Wednesday.

“Life-threatening storm surge is becoming more likely along the south coast of Jamaica later in the weekend or early next week,” the NHC said.

Peak storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa makes landfall and are expected to be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

There also is a potential of significant storm surge along the Cuban coast next week.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the season, and it’s the first in the Caribbean.

This season has seen few storms, resulting in unusually warm Caribbean waters, and the warm water is potential fuel for stronger and more dangerous storms.

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Bermuda issues hurricane warning as Imelda nears

Hurricane Imelda, which can be seen at the left, next to Hurricane Humberto, was expected to move toward Bermuda in the coming days. Photo courtesy of NOAA

Sept. 29 (UPI) — Imelda strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday morning as it made its way northeast toward Bermuda, where officials issued a hurricane warning, the National Hurricane Center said.

The eye of the Category 1 storm was located about 735 miles west-southwest of Bermuda. It was moving northeast at 7 mph.

Imelda, the ninth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, a slight increase over the course of the morning, the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday update.

Imelda initially moved toward the west-north west, but the storm made a turn toward the northeast overnight.

“On the forecast track, the center of the hurricane should continue to move away from the Bahamas today and be approaching Bermuda Wednesday afternoon,” the NHC said.

The NHC said Imelda could bring damaging hurricane-force winds to Bermuda

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Prep Rally: Corona Centennial coach Matt Logan nears an important milestone

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. I’m Eric Sondheimer. If all goes as expected, Matt Logan of Corona Centennial will earn career victory No. 300 on Thursday night, becoming the 15th coach in state history to achieve that mark, according to CalHiSports.com records.

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The Logan way

Corona Centennial coach Matt Logan is in his 29th season.

Corona Centennial coach Matt Logan is in his 29th season.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

It’s going to be party time in Corona on Thursday night when Centennial hosts Eastvale Roosevelt. Centennial will be a heavy favorite to deliver win No. 300 for coach Matt Logan, who has made his program one of Southern California’s most consistent and perhaps the top public school football program in his 29th season.

Centennial is the last team to win the Southern Section title in 2015 other than St. John Bosco and Mater Dei. His teams have won 10 Southern Section titles and a state title in 2018. His influence has been immense.

Twenty-two former Centennial players have reached the NFL, including five on current rosters. More than 250 players have reached the college ranks. He became a trendsetter with his quick tempo, no-huddle offense that required officials to be in good shape because of the speed in which the Huskies would snap the ball after the whistle had been blown. He became the coach not afraid to play anyone, scheduling home and away games with Mater Dei, playing Florida’s IMG Academy and playing three Trinity League opponents this season.

Through the years, any time there was an opening at a top private school, Logan’s name got mentioned as a candidate. But the Norco High graduate was never going to leave the community he grew up in.

“I don’t think our school district and our area would be recognized without him,” said Anthony Catalano, a former quarterback and current assistant coach. “It changed the outlook of our community and kept a lot of people home. It set the standard for what our expectations are.”

I’ve seen some of Logan’s greatest wins and some of his toughest losses through the years. There was the 62-52 triumph over St. John Bosco in the 2015 Pac-5 championship game. There was the 68-64 playoff victory over Gardena Serra in 2014 that was called “offensive madness.” There was the Division 1 semifinal playoff loss to St. John Bosco 49-47 in 2016.

One moment that is always most memorable comes at the end of the final game or final practice. The whole team lines up to salute every senior. Logan gives a hug to each senior offering words of appreciation and encouragement. That embrace to a teenager preparing to become an adult makes them Matt Logan fans for life.

Quarterback Taylor Lee of Oxnard Pacifica had four touchdown passes in 42-14 win over Hamilton.

Quarterback Taylor Lee of Oxnard Pacifica had four touchdown passes in 42-14 win over Hamilton.

(Craig Weston)

The Trinity League begins football action this week. Get ready for a five-week grind that ends on Halloween, with St. John Bosco hosting Mater Dei. On Friday, St. John Bosco is at JSerra, Mater Dei is playing Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College and Santa Margarita is playing Servite at Santa Ana Stadium.

All six teams remain in contention for the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. The key will be how many teams are chosen for Division 1. Corona Centennial, Mission Viejo and Sierra Canyon are certain selections. If the Southern Section only goes with eight teams, then one Trinity League team won’t make it. Last season there were 10 teams selected. Los Alamitos is 7-0 and a contender going into its three league games against Edison, San Clemente and Mission Viejo. The rankings are done by hsratings.com.

Monrovia has lost sophomore quarterback Jesse Saucedo for the rest of the season after a knee injury.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame unveiled 6-foot-8 basketball star Tyran Stokes at receiver. Here’s the report.

Los Alamitos earned a long-deserved break after improving to 7-0 with a win over Calabasas. The surprising Griffins don’t play again until their league opener on Oct. 16. They can become a Division 1 playoff team by beating Edison, San Clemente and Mission Viejo over their final three games. Quarterback Colin Creason was 17 of 19 passing for 296 yards and three touchdowns against Calabasas. Talented tight end Beckham Hogland had seven catches for 140 yards.

Taylor Lee of Oxnard Pacifica has 19 touchdowns in his last three games after a 42-14 win over Hamilton. Here’s the report.

Here’s the top performances from last week.

Here’s the top 25 rankings by The Times.

Here’s this week complete schedule of games.

The City Section is closing in on booking L.A. Southwest College to host its Open Division championship game on Nov. 29. Birmingham would host championship games on Nov. 28.

Last week, L.A. Jordan (0-6) forfeited its game to Fremont because of lack of healthy players and first-year coach James Boyd is out. Boyd was a former Jordan standout. Leonard McConico was named interim coach. Also Dymally has officially canceled its season.

Carson had a breakthrough nonleague win over St. Pius X-St. Matthias. Sophomore defensive end Kingston Sula had four sacks.

Palisades receiver Go Moriya makes a sliding catch in the second half of Friday night’s 35-28 intersectional win.

Palisades receiver Go Moriya makes a sliding catch in the second half of Friday night’s 35-28 intersectional win.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Palisades improved to 5-0 by rallying to beat Mary Star 35-28. Here’s the report.

Birmingham begins West Valley League play this week against El Camino Real and has a 49-game winning streak against City Section opponents.

Crenshaw hosts Dorsey on Friday night in a big Coliseum League game that will decide the main challenger to King/Drew.

Marshall is 6-0 after a 42-18 win over Jefferson. Junior quarterback Nathaniel Cadet has been a key player for the Barristers. Marshall will find out where it stands in a Northern League opener against Eagle Rock on Friday night.

Here’s the City Section top 10 rankings.

Marquez big man on campus

Elyjah Staples is a star junior defensive end for Marquez and also straight-A student.

Elyjah Staples is a star junior defensive end for Marquez and also straight-A student.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

It’s a tradition for the Marquez High football team to raise a black Gladiators flag up the stadium pole after each victory.

Imagine how often that flag could be raised each time Elyjah Staples, the school’s star outside linebacker, earned an A on his report card? That’s the only grade he’s gotten in three years of classes, no matter taking Chemistry, Algebra 2 or advance placement U.S. History.

He seems to be in a personal competition to keep getting A’s along with sacks at the Huntington Park school. Here’s a profile of a junior with a Stanford offer.

Midseason report

Senior running back Darnell Miller of Santee leads the City Section in rushing with 1,159 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Senior running back Darnell Miller of Santee leads the City Section in rushing with 1,159 yards and 13 touchdowns.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Halfway through the high school football season, Darnell Miller of Santee is leading the City Section in rushing with 1,159 yards.

He has quite a story to tell. A profile and also a look at MVP candidates in Southern California.

It’s the game of the year in high school flag football.

On Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. at Orange Lutheran, the unbeaten Lancers (18-0) take on unbeaten JSerra (19-0) in a game that should attract a large crowd and produce a memorable matchup.

Orange Lutheran and quarterback Makena Cook are the defending Division 1 flag football champions. JSerra, bolstered by a group of talented freshmen, have been surging and preparing for this showdown. Freshman quarterback Katie Meier and freshman receiver Ava Irwin get to test themselves on a big stage.

Girls volleyball

Venice continues to be a City Section title contender in girls volleyball, handing Palisades its first defeat in Western League play, 25-23, 22-25, 12-25, 25-21, 15-9.

Mira Costa came through with a win over rival Redondo Union to go to 4-0 in the Bay League and 14-7 overall.

Marymount hosts Sierra Canyon on Monday night in the first of two Mission League matches.

Here’s the latest Southern Section power rankings.

Another day, another life saved

San Clemente athletic trainer Amber Anaya helped save a soccer assistant coach who went into cardiac arrest.

San Clemente athletic trainer Amber Anaya helped save a soccer assistant coach who went into cardiac arrest.

(San Clemente HS)

For those high schools in California that still don’t have an athletic trainer, what happened at San Clemente High was another reason why they are so valuable for the safety reasons. And also proven was the requirement that coaches be certified in CPR every two years.

Here’s the report.

Guitar national anthem

Calabasas senior Elie Samouhi took out his electric guitar and played the national anthem before the Calabasas-Los Alamitos football game last week. What a performance. You can hear it here.

Basketball

Fall basketball is picking up steam more than a month away from the official start of the season.

Former St. John Bosco guard Brandon McCoy made his fall debut for Sierra Canyon, which has a number of transfer students that still need to be cleared by the school and Southern Section.

In fact, most of the Mission League is loaded with transfers, and if they’re eligible, it will be quite a league season ahead.

Freshman Nico Mecilli should be a contributor for Sherman Oaks Notre Dame basketball.

Freshman Nico Mecilli should be a contributor for Sherman Oaks Notre Dame basketball.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame might start a little slow with several players on the football team, including standout Tyran Stokes, but that will only give the newcomers the opportunity to play, such as 6-foot-5 Bishop Gorman transfer Ilan Nikolov and 6-5 freshman Nico Mecilli.

Three of the big risers have been 6-7 junior Kevin Keshishyan of Los Altos, 6-9 junior Nick Welch Jr. of Rolling Hills Prep and senior guard Josiah Johnson of Mayfair.

In girls basketball, Etiwanda and Ontario Christian are gearing up to be the top teams again, but watch for big improvement from Troy, where future Hall of Fame coach Kevin Kiernan has returned after being at Mater Dei and not coaching last season. Oak Park could be on the rise with several transfer students.

Transfer warning

Southern Section commissioner Mike West (left) addressed the Southern Section Council on Thursday.

Southern Section commissioner Mike West (left) addressed the Southern Section Council on Thursday.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

I’ve been trying to find a way to educate parents, fans, coaches and players about the ongoing crackdown of Southern Section transfer rules, and commissioner Mike West made a brief presentation at the Southern Section Council meeting to provide an update.

Here’s the report.

In the latest development, five Long Beach Poly football players and one volleyball player have been declared ineligible for two years for violating CIF bylaw 202, which involves providing false information. Also Victor Valley lost four football players to two-year punishments. Pacific in San Bernardino lost two football players for one year.

Notes . . .

Chris Huber is the new girls lacrosse coach at Newbury Park. . . .

Tressa Beatty of Bonita has committed to Azusa Pacific for women’s basketball. . . .

Softball standout Mireya Gonzalez of La Mirada has committed to Connecticut. . . .

Emilia Krstevski, a 6-4 center at Sierra Canyon, has committed to play women’s basketball at Oregon. . . .

Rio Hondo Prep and Brentwood have moved their football game to SoFi Stadium on Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m. . . .

Outfielder James Tronstein of Harvard-Westlake has committed to Vanderbilt. . . .

Junior outfielder/pitcher Carson Richter of Newbury Park has committed to Michigan. . . .

Junior Ivy Burnham of St. Anthony has committed to Stanford softball. . . .

South Hills softball standout Charli Moreno has committed to Washington. . . .

Junior pitcher Andrew Carlson from Trinity Classical Academy has committed to Texas Christian. . . .

Junior pitcher Tate Belfanti of Cypress has committed to Texas Christian. . . .

Pitcher Owen Shannon of Mater Dei has committed to Pittsburgh. . . .

Adam Goldstein, who has been an assistant baseball coach at Agoura, has emerged as the leading candidate for the vacant head coach position. . . .

Former standout offensive line Mark Schroller from Mission Viejo has medically retired from football at UCLA. . . .

Quarterback Wyatt Brown of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame takes off on a touchdown run against Culver City.

Quarterback Wyatt Brown of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame takes off on a touchdown run against Culver City.

(Craig Weston)

Quarterback Wyatt Brown of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame has committed to West Virginia. . . .

Linebacker Glenn Baranoski of Newport Harbor has committed to San Diego.

From the archives: Peyton Woodyard

Peyton Woodyard will be in action at the Edison tournament on S

Peyton Woodyard during his St. John Bosco days in 2022.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Freshman safety Peyton Woodyard, a St. John Bosco grad, is making an impact at Oregon.

It’s no surprise, since Woodyard was a key contributor for St. John Bosco over three seasons.

Here’s a story from 2023 explaining how Woodyard treats people with class and respect.

Recommendations

From the Washington Post, a story on a running back and podcaster in high school.

From the Riverside-Press Enterprise, a story on a running back who used to be a YouTube sensation.

From the San Diego Union Tribune, a story on Torrey Pines having the best girls golf team in the nation.

Tweets you might have missed

Until next time….

Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at [email protected], and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.

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Stock Market Today: Wall Street Extends Slide as Inflation Gauge Nears

Wall Street drifted lower Thursday, with traders balancing economic resilience against softer hiring ahead of a closely watched inflation report.

^SPX Chart

Data by YCharts.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.50%) fell 0.5% to 6,604.72, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC -0.50%) declined 0.5% to 22,384.70. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI -0.38%) slipped 0.4% to 45,947.32. It was the third straight session of losses, with yields hovering near recent highs and traders reluctant to add risk ahead of key inflation data.

Attention is turning to Friday’s release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, considered the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation. The reading will help determine whether policymakers maintain a cautious stance on rate cuts after Chair Jerome Powell recently emphasized patience.

Economic signals added to the mixed picture. Jobless claims fell this past week, but hiring remains muted, pointing to a labor market losing steam. At the same time, second-quarter GDP was revised higher, underscoring resilience in growth despite tighter financial conditions.

On the corporate front, Intel (INTC 8.82%) rose 8.9% on reports of investment talks with Apple, while IBM (IBM 5.31%) gained 5.2% on results from a quantum computing trial with HSBC. CarMax (KMX -19.96%) tumbled 20% after missing earnings expectations and warning on weak sales trends.

Market data sourced from Google Finance on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.

HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Daily Stock News has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. This article was generated with GPT-5, OpenAI’s large-scale language generation model and has been reviewed by The Motley Fool’s AI quality control systems. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, CarMax, Intel, International Business Machines, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends HSBC Holdings and recommends the following options: short November 2025 $21 puts on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Hurricane Gabrielle continues to strengthen as it nears Bermuda

Hurricane Gabrielle is forecast to continue strengthening through Monday. Photo courtesy of the NOAA

Sept. 22 (UPI) — Hurricane Gabrielle is forecast to continue strengthening early Monday as it nears Bermuda, and residents are being urged to monitor forecast updates.

The storm’s center was located about 210 miles southeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, making it a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, the National Hurricane Center said during its 5 a.m. AST Monday advisory.

It was moving north-northwest at 10 mph, it added.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect, but interests in Bermuda were urged to monitor Gabrielle’s progress.

Though modeling shows the storm is expected to remain well east of the island, the swells it generates will continue to affect the island over the next few days. “Gusty winds and showers” are also possible for Bermuda on Monday as the storm passes to its east, the NHC added in a discussion.

Forecasters said the storm is expected to rapidly strengthen over the next 24 hours, with Gabrielle to become a major hurricane by Monday night.

The swells from the storm have begun to reach the U.S. eastern coast from North Carolina northward, as well as Atlantic Canada, the NHC said, adding they should continue through early this week.

“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” it said.

Gabrielle is the seventh named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

Last month, Erin became a Category 5 hurricane with 160-mph winds spreading over 500 miles.

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U.S. men’s national soccer team at a crossroads as World Cup nears

Maybe the national team turned a corner in last week’s 2-0 win over Japan.

Maybe the change to a 3-4-2-1 formation unlocked the lively and innovative play that had been missing in the team’s first year under coach Mauricio Pochettino. Maybe Pochettino and his players have finally found the chemistry and coordination that was so obviously missing.

And maybe, just maybe, the U.S. really can make a deep run in next summer’s World Cup, the first to be played in the U.S. in 32 years.

Maybe.

Or maybe not.

One game can’t totally erase the dysfunctional and dispassionate performances that have marked much of the brief Pochettino era, one which included four consecutive losses at home and two losses in as many games with Mexico.

Nor can it make up for a player pool that has seemingly grown thin and ever-changing or speed the learning curve for a successful club coach who has struggled with the transition to the international game.

But it can buy the team and its coach some time.

“Touch the right buttons and we start to perform,” Pochettino said last September, shortly after he took the U.S. job. Just now, however, is he finding those buttons.

The win over Japan clearly lifts a huge weight off Pochettino and his players, but the reprieve may be temporary. If the U.S. regresses in friendlies with Ecuador and Australia next month, the angst and despair that have hovered over the team most of the year will return.

What it all means is Pochettino and the USMNT have reached a fork in the road. And the path they take will likely shape U.S. Soccer’s future for years, if not decades.

A World Cup the federation has been pointing to for years is just nine months away and much is riding on the U.S. team’s performance. A deep run in the tournament will engage and ignite the country, open the wallets of deep-pocketed sponsors and do more for the sport in the U.S. than any event since the last World Cup held here. That one led to the formation of MLS, which has grown into the largest first-tier professional league in the world, and the establishment of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, which has invested more than $100 million at the grassroots level, impacting nearly 100 million kids.

The coherent performance against Japan — albeit a young, inexperience Japanese “B” team — brought hope that a successful path, the longest one at the fork in the road, is still open.

But three days before beating Japan, the U.S. was thoroughly outplayed by South Korea in a 2-0 loss — the team’s sixth loss in 14 games this year — that raised alarm. According to The Athletic, the performance dropped the U.S. to 48th in the world in the Elo Ratings, a results-based formula for measuring all men’s national teams. It was the lowest ranking in 28 years for the Americans.

If the USMNT follows the South Korea path in the World Cup, its tournament run could be short, ending in the first two rounds and likely stunting both interest and investment in soccer in the U.S.

With just three international breaks remaining before the World Cup, there is reason for both hope and concern.

Pochettino’s lineup choices remain as unsettled as his tactical approach — although the Japan game may help settle that. As Stuart Holden, World Cup midfielder turned Fox Sports analyst, noted, the change to a three-man backline solved many problems.

Against Japan, Holden said, the center backs played with noticeable confidence and aggression. The formation also freed wingbacks Max Arfsten and Alex Freeman to be more creative and allowed attackers Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun, the team’s game-changers, to be more impactful.

There was much to like in the new approach and for the first time in his tenure, it seemed as if Pochettino had finally found a game plan that suited his players, with Balogun among those who benefited most: his goal, off an assist from Pulisic, was his first for the U.S. in nearly 14 months while his start was his first under Pochettino.

The other goal went to Alex Zendejas, who was called up for the first time this year despite having one of the best two-year runs of any USMNT attacker, scoring 16 goals and contributing 15 assists to help Mexico’s Club América to three straight Liga MX titles.

Another player who stepped up when given the opportunity was Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, who played an inspired 90 minutes, leading all players with 83 touches.

Pochettino welcomed the result but continued to argue it wasn’t the most important thing.

“It’s the process,” he told reporters.

“When you are strong in your ideas and your belief, it’s about never giv[ing] up.”

So which team is the real national team? The one that beat Japan or the one that was humiliated by South Korea? And what will the USMNT’s destiny be in the World Cup? A long, profitable run that changes the trajectory of soccer in the U.S. or a short, disappointing one that sets the sport’s progress back years?

The October games with Ecuador and Australia could go a long way toward determining that. There’s a lot riding on the answer.

World Cup ticket update

More than 1.5 million people registered for the chance to buy World Cup tickets in the first 24 hours of the tournament’s initial presale lottery, according to FIFA. Online applications came from 210 countries, FIFA said, with the three host countries — the U.S., Mexico and Canada — leading the way.

The presale draw, which began last Wednesday and will end Friday at 8 a.m. Pacific time, is the first phase of ticket sales for the tournament. After a random selection process, successful applicants will be notified via email starting from Sept. 29 and will be given a date and time slot to purchase tickets, starting at $60, beginning Oct. 1. When fans enter the window won’t affect their chances of winning.

Subsequent ticket sales phases will begin in October. Further details on the timeline and products are available at FIFA.com/tickets.

You have read the latest installment of On Soccer with Kevin Baxter. The weekly column takes you behind the scenes and shines a spotlight on unique stories. Listen to Baxter on this week’s episode of the “Corner of the Galaxy” podcast.

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India, EU Push to Bridge Trade Gaps as Deadline Nears

Background
India and the European Union restarted trade negotiations in 2022, but talks gained urgency after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases. Both India and the EU are now pushing for deals to counter rising trade pressures from Washington.

What Happened
According to Reuters, negotiators are meeting in New Delhi this week to resolve long-standing differences on agriculture, dairy, and non-tariff barriers before an ambitious year-end deadline. So far, 11 of 23 negotiating chapters have been settled, covering customs, digital trade, intellectual property, subsidies, and dispute resolution.

Why It Matters
A deal would mark India’s deepest trade partnership with the West, strengthening ties amid concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s outreach to China and continued Russian oil imports. For Brussels, the pact would expand access to India’s vast market while countering U.S. tariff pressure.

Stakeholder Reactions
Indian officials stress they will not compromise on agriculture and dairy, while EU negotiators demand market access for cars and alcoholic drinks. Brussels has also raised concerns about New Delhi’s Russian oil imports, which it says weaken sanctions on Moscow. Indian officials, however, dismiss the EU’s planned carbon border tax as a “disguised trade barrier.”

What’s Next
EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen and trade chief Maros Sefcovic will join talks in Delhi later this week, alongside a high-level EU political and security delegation. Whether compromises emerge on agriculture, carbon taxation, and non-tariff rules will determine if a final agreement can be reached before year-end.

with information from Reuters

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Venezuela deploys warships, drones to coast as US naval squadron nears | Nicolas Maduro News

Venezuela’s defence minister says military vessels and drones will be sent to patrol the country’s coastline amid simmering tension with the United States after Washington deployed warships to waters off Venezuela to fight drug trafficking.

In a video on social media on Tuesday, Minister of Defence Vladimir Padrino announced a “significant” drone deployment as well as naval patrols along the country’s Caribbean coast, including “larger vessels further north in our territorial waters”.

The move comes after Washington last week deployed an amphibious squadron of three warships towards Venezuela’s coast in what it said was an operation against Latin American drug cartels.

News agencies reported on Monday that two more US ships – a guided missile cruiser and a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine – had also been dispatched to the Caribbean, and that some 4,500 US service members, including 2,200 Marines, were part of the deployment.

The US naval build-up comes after the administration of US President Donald Trump last week accused Venezuela’s left-wing president, Nicolas Maduro, of being involved in cocaine trafficking and working with drug cartels.

Washington also announced that it had doubled a reward for the capture or prosecution of Maduro on drug charges from $25m to $50m. The US is also offering a reward of $25m for the arrest or prosecution of Venezuelan Minister of the Popular Power for Interior Diosdado Cabello.

US officials have accused Maduro and members of his government of heading the Venezuelan cocaine trafficking cartel Cartel de los Soles, which Washington has designated a terrorist organisation .

Maduro has dismissed the accusations and accused the US of attempting to instigate regime change in his country.

A Colombian police officer walks in front of a banner offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Venezuela's Minister of Interior Relations, Justice, and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, in Villa del Rosario, Norte de Santander Department, Colombia, on August 23, 2025. The United States doubled its bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro -- who faces federal drug trafficking charges -- to $50 million on August 7, 2025, a move Caracas described as "pathetic" and "ridiculous". (Photo by Schneyder MENDOZA / AFP)
A Colombian police officer walks in front of a banner offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, in Villa del Rosario, Norte de Santander Department, Colombia, on August 23, 2025 [Schneyder Mendoza/AFP]

Military build-up

On Monday, Maduro insisted during a weekly television show that his country, unlike neighbouring Colombia, is “free of coca leaf crops and free of cocaine production”.

Maduro, who has also criticised the US government for not addressing the drug consumption within its borders, has mobilised hundreds of thousands of local militia members to strengthen national security amid the threats from Washington.

Some 15,000 Venezuelan troops have also been dispatched to the country’s border with Colombia to crack down on criminal groups, including those involved in drug trafficking.

In a separate announcement on Tuesday, Defence Minister Padrino said an ongoing operation in Venezuela’s northeastern corner had resulted in the dismantling of shipyards where criminals intended “to manufacture semisubmersibles and boats to transport drugs by sea” to markets in Europe and North America.

People sign up during a national enlistment drive to join the civil militias, called by the government of President Nicolas Maduro, at a square in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
People sign up during a national enlistment drive to join the civil militias, called by the government of President Nicolas Maduro, at a square in Caracas, Venezuela, on August 23, 2025 [Ariana Cubillos/AP]

The move to deploy US warships and personnel off Venezuela comes as Trump pushes for using the military to thwart cartels he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into US communities, and for perpetuating violence in some US cities.

Venezuela’s mission to the United Nations denounced the US’s “escalation of hostile actions and threats” in a letter, local media outlet Noticias Venevision reported on Tuesday.

Referring to the imminent arrival of US ships off the coast, Venezuela told the UN that Washington’s actions were “a serious threat to regional peace and security”, while the presence of a nuclear-powered attack submarine was “a clear act of intimidation”.

The letter also demanded “guarantees” that the US would “not deploy or threaten to use nuclear weapons in the region”, Noticias Venevision reported.

Despite the military build-up, analysts have downplayed the possibility of a US invasion or US strikes on Venezuela, while many Venezuelan people have shrugged off the US threat as posturing, the AFP news agency reported.

Maduro, who claimed a third term in office following an election in July 2024, which was described as deeply flawed, has been in Trump’s sights ever since the US president’s first term, from 2017 to 2021.

But the US policy of maximum pressure on Venezuela, including an ongoing oil embargo, failed to dislodge Maduro from power.

“I think what we’re seeing represents an attempt to create anxiety in government circles and force Maduro to negotiate something,” International Crisis Group analyst Phil Gunson told the AFP regarding the building tension.

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Hairstylist’s lawsuit against Fox, Skip Bayless nears settlement

The Fox Sports hairstylist who alleged that longtime sports talk show host Skip Bayless made unwanted sexual advances toward her has attempted to have her lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court dismissed, only to be rebuffed by the court.

The request is an indication the parties have reached a settlement, said Edson McClellan, a lawyer with Rutan & Tucker who specializes in high-stakes civil and employment litigation. In addition to Bayless, defendants include Fox Corp. and two additional high-profile former employees at Fox Sports — commentator Joy Taylor and executive Charlie Dixon.

McClellan said the filing for dismissal by plaintiff Noushin Faraji “is a strong indication that a settlement has been reached.”

The court rejected the request for dismissal because, in addition to Faraji alleging sexual battery, retaliation and wrongful termination, the lawsuit added a class action complaint alleging that Fox engaged in “unfair, unlawful, or fraudulent business practices” by failing to pay minimum wages, reimburse business expenses and pay severance to other employees as well.

For the settlement with Faraji to take place, her lawyers must either refile the lawsuit without the class action complaint or file a declaration explaining why the individual complaint should be dismissed while the class action complaint continues to move forward, according to Alexander R. Wheeler, a partner with the Parris Law Firm.

“The judge sits in an advisory, almost fiduciary relationship with those who stand to benefit from the class action,” Wheeler said. “If the case was settled to the single plaintiff, the judge might say, ‘Hold on, what’s the deal with the class action?’ Judges do not want plaintiffs using the threat of class action to extract a better settlement.”

Faraji’s allegations in the 42-page lawsuit in January had serious consequences for Bayless, Taylor and Dixon. All three were fired, although Taylor and a lawyer for Dixon said their employment with Fox ended for reasons other than the lawsuit.

“For over a decade at Fox, Faraji was forced to endure a misogynistic, racist, and ableist workplace where executives and talent were allowed to physically and verbally abuse workers with impunity,” the lawsuit alleged.

Faraji accused Bayless, 73, of offering her $1.5 million to have sex with him. Bayless worked at Fox Sports from 2016 until 2024, when his show “Undisputed” was canceled after a dip in ratings coincided with the departure of his co-host, former NFL star Shannon Sharpe.

In a separate case, Sharpe in July reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with a woman who accused the Hall of Fame tight end of sexual assault and battery. Sharpe was fired as a commentator on ESPN’s “First Take” after the settlement was completed.

Faraji’s lawsuit alleges that Dixon made an unwanted pass at her during a birthday party for Taylor at a Hollywood restaurant in 2017. Faraji told Taylor about the episode, but Taylor responded by saying, “Get over it,” pointing out that “she herself only had her job because of Mr. Dixon and that Ms. Faraji only had her job because Ms. Taylor requested her,” and “she warned that Mr. Dixon could take both away,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also details an alleged ongoing affair between Taylor and Dixon as well as a romantic relationship between Taylor and another Fox co-host, Emmanuel Acho.

On the “Hot Mics With Billy Bush” podcast a few days ago, Taylor said the allegations weren’t the reason she was let go by Fox.

“I will say that that situation and that suit had nothing to do with the changes that happened at FS1,” she said. “I mean, I think from a logical standpoint, everyone can just look at it and see what the changes were and that there were three shows that were cut.”

In a court filing denying Faraji’s allegations, Taylor’s attorney wrote that her client “welcomes the opportunity to publicly prove that her inclusion in this action is improper.”

Faraji accused Dixon, the FS1 executive producer of content, of sexual harassment. Former network anchor and reporter Julie Stewart-Binks also accused him in a separate lawsuit.

An attorney for Dixon said in a statement emailed to The Times in April that his client had been told by Fox Sports “that he was being let go for violating company policy” in a matter that had nothing to do with the lawsuits.

“According to the network, Mr. Dixon did not disclose to human resources or the legal department that a third-party production company had hired his wife as a temporary freelancer,” attorney John Ly wrote.

Bayless denied “each and every allegation” made by Faraji in a court filing in February, asserting that he “acted with a good faith belief that he had good cause to act as he did” and none of his actions “were in bad faith, spiteful, malicious, or otherwise motivated by any ill-will or illegal intent.”

Faraji alleged that Bayless made repeated unwanted advances toward her during and after she gave him weekly haircuts, and he offered to pay her for sex.

“Mr. Bayless began finding excuses to touch Ms. Faraji,” the lawsuit states. “He would give her lingering hugs after each haircut, putting his body against her own, pressing against her breasts. He then began to kiss her on her cheeks. Ms. Faraji was uncomfortable by the physical contact and would make excuses to leave right after the haircuts.”

In July 2021, the lawsuit states, Faraji explained to Bayless that she was undergoing biopsies to determine whether she had cancer. “Mr. Bayless then grabbed her hands, began kissing them, and offered her $1.5 million to have sex,” according to the lawsuit. “Approximately one week later, Mr. Bayless made another advance at Ms. Faraji. Ms. Faraji responded: ‘Skip, stop, you have a wife.’”

Lawyers for Fox and the defendants went through mediation in March but could not resolve the case, according to a court filing in April. Faraji’s lawyers wrote that “while the parties did not resolve at mediation, they are continuing to engage in settlement discussions with the mediator.”

Laurie L. Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School and former federal prosecutor, said a settlement likely would be imminent once the class action portion of the lawsuit is addressed to the judge’s satisfaction and the individual complaint is dismissed. Non-disclosure agreements could keep the details from being made public.

“We don’t know who is paying what,” she said. “Were admissions involved? So many cases like this involve non-disclosures. But having gone through mediation, it sounds like they went a long way toward reaching a settlement, and they are at that stage now.”



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Illia Zabarnyi: Bournemouth defender nears £57m move to PSG

Bournemouth expected at least one defender to be sold this summer but to lose three has been a shock, according to sources inside the club.

Each move has been difficult to turn down, though, with such high fees on offer from three of the world’s biggest clubs.

But the lengthy negotiations with PSG have shown Bournemouth have been doing deals on their terms, albeit with an acceptance each player has wanted to take the next step in their career.

The Cherries, who more than tripled the £12.8m paid to sign Huijsen from Juventus six months earlier, did not expect his £50m release clause to be seen as value for money by suitors within a year.

Real Madrid won the race but Huijsen attracted a lot of other interest – including from Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea – after a brilliant season at Vitality Stadium.

Diakite fills one of the gaps at centre-back and £14.4m Frenchman Adrien Truffert has been signed to fill the Kerkez hole – and a further central defender is being sought.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga – who opted to join Arsenal from Chelsea instead of Bournemouth – and they also signed teenage forward Eli Junior Kroupi in February.

Manager Andoni Iraola also wants a striker to add competition for Evanilson, given Enes Unal remains out having suffered a serious knee injury last season.

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Hurricane Erick ‘extremely dangerous’ as it nears Mexico

Hurricane Erick has strengthened into an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm, as it heads towards Mexico’s Pacific coast, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says.

Maximum sustained winds in the storm had risen to 230km/h (145mph) late on Wednesday local time, with some additional strengthening possible.

Forecasters expect it to make landfall later on Thursday with the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero state most likely to be impacted by what the NHC says could be “devastating wind damage”.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told people in the storm’s path to “stay tuned to official communications, to stay indoors, and not go out”.

A hurricane warning is in effect for a 500km-strech (300 miles) of Pacific coast, from the resort town of Acapulco to Puerto Ángel.

Residents in Guerrero and Oaxaca have been warned of life-threatening floods and swells.

“If you are in low-lying areas, near rivers, near waterways, it is best for you to go to shelters, to the shelters that have already been set up for this situation,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said.

People living in mountainous areas have been told to beware of possible mudslides.

Around 2,000 shelters have been set up across the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca and more than 18,000 first responders have been mobilised to prepare for the hurricane.

It is expected to be the first to make landfall in Mexico this season, which runs from the start of June to the end of November.

In October 2023, at least 50 people were killed during Hurricane Otis, a category 5 hurricane that battered Acapulco.

Otis intensified rapidly, meaning many people were unprepared when the hurricane made landfall.

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Dodgers injury update: Mookie Betts nears return, Tyler Glasnow stalls

The Dodgers’ lineup should be back at full strength soon.

When they’ll be able to say the same about their pitching staff is anyone’s guess.

First, the good news for the team: After fracturing the fourth toe on his left foot (the one closest to the pinky toe) last week and missing all three games against the New York Yankees, shortstop Mookie Betts went through a full slate of pregame hitting, baserunning and defensive drills on Monday and seemed probable to be available off the bench for the Dodgers in their series-opener against the New York Mets.

Assuming he continues to feel good, Betts should also return to the starting lineup on Tuesday, manager Dave Roberts said.

“That’s all contingent on if he recovers well tonight,” Roberts said.

Based on Betts’ activity level Monday, he certainly appeared to be ready to return. As one of the first Dodgers players on the field before the game, he spent several minutes running the bases, then went through a full session of infield grounders at shortstop. Betts also took batting practice, a day after Roberts said his swing in the batting cage “wasn’t compromised at all” by the freak injury.

“For me, I just want to make sure I move to make plays for those guys,” Betts said Sunday. “Hitting, hopefully that comes along. I just want to make sure I can play defense.”

As for the less encouraging update: A week after throwing his first bullpen session since going on the injured list in April with shoulder inflammation, Tyler Glasnow has been feeling general body discomfort, Roberts said.

Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers against the Phillies on April 6, 2025 in Philadelphia.

Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers against the Phillies on April 6, 2025 in Philadelphia.

(Derik Hamilton / Associated Press)

Glasnow has continued to play catch, including on Monday afternoon in the outfield of Dodger Stadium. But Roberts said he is “not sure when he’s gonna get back on a mound.”

“There was one ‘pen, and then [his] body didn’t respond,” Roberts said. “So we’re trying to figure out when we can ramp him back up.”

Given Glasnow’s extensive injury history, such a setback qualifies as only mildly surprising. The 31-year-old has never made more than 22 starts or pitched over 134 innings in a major league season. And while he set both of those high-marks in his first season with the Dodgers last year — arriving in Los Angeles via a trade from Tampa Bay two winters ago and an ensuing five-year, $136.5-million extension — he never returned from an elbow tendonitis injury he suffered in August, despite repeated attempts to comeback in time for the playoffs.

“I know he’s just as frustrated as we all are [that] the process since we’ve had him, it just hasn’t been linear, as far as getting him back,” Roberts said. “He’s champing at the bit, so that’s a good thing. He’s very anxious to get back out here and help his team.”

Of the Dodgers’ injured quartet of star pitchers — which also includes Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani — Glasnow was initially expected to return first.

Now, however, he and Snell might be on more similar timelines. Snell made notable progress in his throwing progression this week and could begin throwing bullpens early next week.

“He’s in a really good spot physically and mentally,” Roberts said of Snell.

Sasaki has also been throwing lately, though Roberts noted it has been low-intensity. Ohtani, meanwhile, threw his second live batting practice over the weekend, and remains on track to return sometime after the All-Star break.

In the bullpen, the Dodgers should get a couple of reinforcements in the coming days.

Hard-throwing right-hander Michael Kopech (out since the start of the season with a shoulder injury) will be in Los Angeles this week after completing a minor-league rehab assignment, though exactly when he will be activated remains to be seen. Kopech yielded 11 runs and 11 walks in 6 ⅓ innings with triple-A Oklahoma City, and Roberts said the club wants to “evaluate, see how he is” up close before having him make his MLB season debut.

Another veteran right-hander, Kirby Yates, threw his second bullpen session on Monday since suffering a hamstring strain last month. He will next throw a live batting practice on Wednesday, and could be activated as soon as next weekend.

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Bitcoin to Hit $120K in June as BTCBULL Presale Nears $7M: Next Crypto to Explode?

A strategic reallocation away from U.S. assets is playing a major role in Bitcoin’s optimistic outlook, according to Geoffrey Kendrick, head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered.

The analyst forecasts that the Bitcoin price may exceed $120,000 by the end of June. This also sets an optimistic tone for new Bitcoin-themed meme coin BTC Bull Token, which will be the first-ever cryptocurrency to pay real Bitcoin rewards.

Bitcoin Could Surpass $120,000 in June

Multiple bullish signals suggest that Bitcoin is on its way to new highs next month.

Notably, Kendrick highlighted that US Treasuries trade at a 12-year premium, making them less-attractive and driving investors to seek alternative safe-haven assets, like Bitcoin. Regulatory shifts and rising acceptance on the global stage positions Bitcoin in its strongest-ever position to attract capital from sophisticated investors seeking alternatives to US debt securities.

Kendrick also highlights that whale activity has been surging lately. Holders who control over 1,000 $BTC have been aggressively increasing their Bitcoin exposure, suggesting that they anticipate strong gains in the weeks ahead.

A prime example of this is BlackRock, with its IBIT ETF buying $400 million of Bitcoin on 27 May alone. This reflects a broader trend, with the asset manager accumulating $48.39 billion worth of $BTC in total, per Farside Investors data.

Bitcoin has also shown signs of decoupling from tech stocks in recent months, which is another indication of its strengthening proposition as a safe-haven asset, according to Kendrick.

However, Kendrick recently wrote an email to clients in which he said that the $120,000 target looks “very achievable,” and may even be “too low.” While he didn’t say how far it could go in Q2, Kendrick pointed to an end-of-2025 target of $200,000.

The Bitcoin Lottery? Options Traders Bet on $300K $BTC in June

In a far-flung move, traders on options platform Deribit are increasingly eyeing a Bitcoin price of $300,000 by the end of June.

And here’s where it gets interesting: the options $300K strike price was the platform’s most popular product yesterday.

According to CoinGlass data, bulls have wagered over $500,000 on Bitcoin calls with a strike price of $300,000 so far.

While it may seem like a distant dream for Bitcoin’s price to almost triple in the next month, the fact that traders have risked hundreds of thousands of dollars on that outcome reflects the asset’s highly bullish sentiment right now.

However, as Bitcoin optimism increases, some savvy traders are betting on a new Bitcoin beta play to yield far bigger gains.

BTC Bull Token Predicted 100X as Presale Nears $7M

BTC Bull Token is a Bitcoin-themed meme coin on the Ethereum blockchain. But it’s not just here to make people laugh; it’ll pay them real Bitcoin.

The project will release Bitcoin airdrops at key price milestones, with the first occurring when it reaches $150K and the second at $200K. The airdrops will be available to presale investors, creating a unique opportunity for meme coin fans and Bitcoin enthusiasts to deepen their $BTC positions without having to buy it directly.

The project also has staking and burning mechanisms, which will strengthen its supply and demand dynamics.

Currently, $BTCBULL is undergoing a presale where it’s quickly approaching the $7 million raised mark. Its presale success reflects deep investor support, which isn’t surprising given its meme coin allure and Bitcoin rewards.

Top analysts are also paying attention to the project. For example, Umar Khan from 99Bitcoins says the project could give 100x gains.

With the Bitcoin price expected to surpass $120,000 next month, and some traders betting on it going as high as $300,000, there’s a real opportunity for liquidity inflows into related tokens.

As the only crypto that pays holders Bitcoin rewards, $BTCBULL appears well-positioned to ride this bullish wave.

Visit BTC Bull Token Presale

This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.



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