suffers

Emma Raducanu suffered a narrow first-round defeat in Strasbourg as she returned to action after more than two months away from the WTA Tour.

The British number one has been recovering from a post-viral illness and had not played since a third-round defeat by Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells in March.

Granted a wildcard for the WTA 500 event in Strasbourg, her return did not go to plan as she fell to a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) defeat by French home hope Diane Parry.

It means Raducanu will have played just one match on clay before the French Open – the second Grand Slam event of the year – starts on Sunday.

After a 10-week absence from the Tour, Raducanu has slipped from 23rd to 37th in the world rankings and she will not be seeded at Roland Garros.

Playing her first match since reuniting with coach Andrew Richardson – who helped guide her to the US Open title as a teenage qualifier – Raducanu got off to a strong start in France, spraying fierce backhand winners down the line and moving nimbly around the court as she broke for a 4-2 lead.

But double faults started to creep into the her game and Parry reeled Raducanu back in before taking charge to wrap up the opener.

After saving five break points to stop Parry from pulling away early in the second set, Raducanu briefly rediscovered her rhythm to strike first – only to watch the world number 94 break back immediately again.

The Frenchwoman broke again to go 5-4 up, but Raducanu held firm to stop Parry from serving out the victory on two occasions and force a tie-break.

After whacking the ball into the stands in frustration, Parry regained her composure to eventually see out the straight-set victory after two hours and 26 minutes.

While the loss limits Raducanu’s preparation for the French Open, there are positives to take for the Briton as she heads to Paris.

She looked relaxed as Richardson dished out instructions and encouragement from the player’s box, while she showed resilience in fending off 16 break points and making it difficult for Parry until the end.

Parry will face either China’s Shuai Zhang in the second round after she defeated Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 2-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-5.

ST. LOUIS — Tomas Totland scored four minutes into the match and fellow defender Rafael Santos added a second-half goal to help St. Louis City beat LAFC for the first time, earning a 2-1 victory on Wednesday night.

Totland used assists from Eduard Löwen and Marcel Hartel to find the net for the first time this season and the third time in 55 career appearances. It was the first assist of the campaign for Löwen and the second for Hartel.

Santos added an unassisted goal in the 64th minute. It was his first score this season and his fourth in 92 career matches. Santos entered the match in the 10th minute for an injured Jaziel Orozco.

David Martínez entered the match in the 70th minute and scored in the 73rd to cut it to 2-1. Nkosi Tafari and defender Aaron Long set up Martínez’s fourth goal this season and his 11th in 58 appearances.

Roman Bürki finished with three saves for St. Louis City (3-6-3), which entered the match 0-5-2 all time against LAFC.

Hugo Lloris did not have a save for LAFC (6-4-3). He leads the league with eight clean sheets in 11 starts.

Mathieu Choinière scored his only two goals of the season — both from long range — to lead LAFC to a 2-0 victory over St. Louis City on March 14.

St. Louis City had scored just 10 goals in its first 11 matches under coach Yoann Damet, second fewest in the league.

Up next

St. Louis: Visits D.C. United on Saturday.

LAFC: Visits Nashville SC on Sunday.

SHAKIRA suffered major tech issues during her huge Copacabana Beach concert over the weekend.

The global superstar faced backlash as eagle-eyed viewers spotted the mishaps during the performance.

An estimated 2 million people attended the show in Rio De Janeiro, where the popstar delivered a nearly 30-song set that included guest appearances by Anitta, Maria Bethania, and Caetano Veloso.

Although she performed in style, the sound and visuals didn’t match up at times.

Clips from the gig quickly went viral on X, but while some viewers were left disappointed, others weren’t surprised, saying it’s common at large-scale shows.

Taking to X, one person said: “If ur gonna lip at least make it believable”.

SHAK SHOCK

Shakira slammed for VERY cold reaction as cameraman falls over in front of her

STAGE HORROR

Worker crushed to death while building stage for Shakira’s Rio de Janeiro show

Another added: “This is genuinely a f******* mess”.

The Colombian singer’s performance follows similar shows by Lady Gaga last year and Madonna in 2024, which were also attended by huge crowds.

“I arrived here when I was 18 years old, dreaming about singing for you,” Shakira told the crowd. “And now look at this. Life is magical.”

She sang several fan favourites during her set, including Hips Don’t Lie, La Tortura, Waka Waka, Whenever Wherever, She Wolf and La Bicicleta.

The show also featured a massive drone show, which amazed the crowd.

Despite being a free concert, Shakira’s show was expected to generate an estimated $150 million in tourism revenue to the city, according to local government.

This isn’t the first mishap the pop star has had live on stage.

In February, Shakira suffered a nasty fall during a live stage performance, with the singer twisting her ankle in the middle of her concert.

She was performing in San Salvador when she left fans worried during a mid-song tumble.

Singing her hit song Si Te Vas during the night, Shakira was walking across the stage when her right ankle suddenly twisted.

She then completely toppled to her side, falling onto her elbow as she brought her microphone stand down with her.

During the moment, Shakira stopped singing as gasps could be heard amongst the audience.

But ever the professional, she quickly got herself back up and managed to continue the song – with the star’s band continuing as her guitarist cheered her on.

The latest escalation between Hezbollah and Israel began in early March following strikes linked to a wider regional conflict involving Iran and the United States. Hezbollah entered the conflict shortly after, positioning itself as part of a broader regional confrontation.

Since then, the group has faced significant battlefield losses, territorial setbacks in southern Lebanon, and growing domestic criticism. Israeli forces have established a buffer zone inside Lebanese territory, while large numbers of civilians have been displaced, particularly from Shiite communities that form Hezbollah’s core support base.

The conflict follows an earlier war that severely weakened Hezbollah, including the killing of its long time leader Hassan Nasrallah. Despite rearming and adapting its tactics, the group now faces mounting pressure on both military and political fronts.

Hezbollah’s Strategic Gamble
Hezbollah officials suggest the decision to re enter conflict was calculated. By aligning more closely with Tehran during a wider regional war, the group aims to ensure Lebanon becomes part of any future negotiations between Iran and the United States.

The expectation is that Iranian leverage could secure a stronger and more lasting ceasefire than previous agreements. However, this strategy carries high risks, especially as Washington has indicated that any deal with Iran may not include Lebanon.

Rising Human and Material Costs
The war has inflicted heavy casualties. Lebanese authorities report thousands killed since March, though the exact number of Hezbollah fighters remains disputed. Reports from within the group suggest losses could be substantial, with some fighters’ bodies still unrecovered in frontline towns.

Entire communities in southern Lebanon have been devastated, with villages destroyed and new graves appearing rapidly after ceasefire periods. Displacement has also intensified sectarian tensions, as affected populations seek refuge in other regions where resentment toward Hezbollah is growing.

Domestic Political Fallout
Inside Lebanon, opposition to Hezbollah’s armed status has hardened. Critics argue that its actions continue to expose the country to repeated wars. In a significant shift, the Lebanese government has engaged in direct talks with Israel, a move Hezbollah strongly opposes.

The government has also taken steps to limit Hezbollah’s military role, including banning its armed activities earlier this year. However, enforcing such measures remains difficult given the group’s entrenched influence and the risk of internal conflict.

Continuing Clashes Despite Ceasefire
Although a ceasefire announced in mid April reduced large scale fighting, hostilities have not fully stopped. Both sides continue to exchange strikes in southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah has dismissed the truce as ineffective due to ongoing Israeli attacks.

Israel maintains that its operations are necessary to eliminate threats to its northern regions and has indicated that dismantling Hezbollah’s military capacity will be central to any long term agreement.

Analysis
Hezbollah’s current position reflects a complex mix of resilience and vulnerability. While it has demonstrated the ability to regroup and continue fighting, this alone does not translate into strategic success. The group is increasingly constrained by battlefield losses, internal Lebanese opposition, and uncertainty over external support.

Its reliance on Iran introduces another layer of risk. If a broader agreement between Tehran and Washington excludes Lebanon, Hezbollah may find itself bearing the costs of a war without securing meaningful political gains.

At the same time, Israel appears determined to reshape the security landscape in southern Lebanon, potentially prolonging the conflict. Without a comprehensive regional settlement, the most likely outcome is a prolonged stalemate marked by intermittent violence and continued suffering on both sides.

With information from Reuters.

HELEN Flanagan has admitted she “constantly suffers” with mum guilt – even when her three kids are spending time with their father.

The former Coronation Street star spoke candidly in an exclusive interview with The Sun, and told us she has to force herself to “look at the bigger picture”.

Helen, 35, who has locked horns with ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair in a series of public clashes, spoke about the raw emotional pull she feels while working away.

Helen and Scott split after 13 years together in 2022. They share three kids Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, four.

Speaking to the Sun on behalf of Paddy Power, she said: “I feel mum guilt all the time.

“It’s something I deal with constantly. But I try to remind myself that I’m working for my children, so it’s ultimately for them.

JUNGLE SNUB

Helen Flanagan picks I’m A Celeb winner – and it’s not ex David Haye

parent pain

Helen Flanagan hasn’t seen kids in a week as they spend Easter with dad Scott

“When they’re with their dad, I also see that as encouraging their relationship, which is important.

“I do still feel guilty, but I try to reframe it and look at the bigger picture.”

Helen previously said she now takes jobs she usually wouldn’t do to pay the bills.

The former soap star played the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Liverpool‘s M&S Bank Arena over the festive period.

It came as her ex looked after their brood at Christmas last year and again during the recent Easter holiday period.

Dressed up in character this month, the panto star shared: “I am princess Jill today. I’m really, really loving this theatre tour so much.

“I miss my kids today. I’ve been away from them now for about a week as they are at their daddy’s for Easter. 

“I definitely don’t think it gets easier sharing your children, it really doesn’t, but there’s so many of us that are in these situations and it can be really tricky.”

Helen’s comments about her former partner — and the positive nature of him spending time with their kids — seem to hint the pair have built bridges.

Their most recent explosive spat saw her clash with Scott after he missed their son Charlie’s nativity play because he was in Abu Dhabi for the F1.

She branded him a “piece of s**t” as he lived it up in the UAE instead.

It also seems Helen is setting her sights to her future after selling her family home and split with former boyfriend Robbie Talbot.

On the prospect of her signing up for more dating shows, she told us: “My children just find it funny.

“My daughter and I are very close. She just sees it as me working and doing different things – we have such a close bond, so it’s all very normal to her.

“I’m very open-minded about it.

“I don’t think there’s an age where you suddenly have to stop doing things like modelling or dating shows.

“You can still feel beautiful and confident at any age, so I don’t think you can put a limit on it.”