tie

SAN DIEGO — Ryan Hollingshead scored his first goal this season in the 14th minute of stoppage time and Denis Bouanga added a goal for LAFC on Saturday night in a 2-2 tie with San Diego FC.

Mathieu Choiniere’s soft header off a corner kick played to the back post by David Martinez bounced in front of the goal and Hollingshead slammed home the finish to cap the scoring.

Marcus Ingvartsen scored two goals — his first career multi-goal game in MLS — for San Diego.

Anders Dreyer played a corner kick to the near post and Ingvartsen headed home the finish to open the scoring in the seventh minute.

On the counter-attack, Dreyer played a cross from the right side to Ingvartsen, who knocked down the ball with his first touch and then blasted a shot from the center of the area inside the left post and into the side-net to make it 2-0 in the 71st minute.

Ingvartsen has seven goals and two assists this season. The 30-year-old had two goals and one assist in eight appearances, five starts, in 2025, his first season in MLS.

Denis Bouanga scored in the 82nd minute, LAFC’s first shot on goal. Bouanga, who has scored at least 20 goals in each of the last three seasons, has five goals this season.

LAFC (6-2-3) beat Minnesota 1-0 last time out to snap a three-game winless streak.

San Diego (3-5-3) snapped a five-game losing streak.

CJ Dos Santos made his season debut and had three saves for San Diego but left due to injury in stoppage time and was replaced by Duran Ferree. The 24-year-old Dos Santos, who had 10 shutouts last season, suffered a fractured cheekbone and orbital floor fracture in a playoff loss at Portland on Nov. 1.

Mathias Laborda scored in the 82nd minute for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night, sealing a 1-1 tie with the Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.

The Whitecaps (8-1-1), who were only the second MLS team in the post-shootout era (since 2000) to win eight of their first nine games to begin a season, had their club regular-season record four-game win streak snapped.

Sebastian Berhalter played a free kick from the left side to the back post and Laborda headed home the finish from point-blank range to cap the scoring.

The Whitecaps had 58% possession and outshot the Galaxy 19-7, including a 5-2 edge in on target shots.

Joseph Paintsil opened the scoring in the 46th minute. Lucas Sanabria, in the opening seconds of the second half, stole a misplayed ball from Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka and fed Paintsil for a finish from the right side of the area.

JT Marcinkowski had four saves for the Galaxy (3-4-4).

Takaoka finished with one save.

HARRY STYLES’ love life is heading in just One Direction after The Sun told this week how he and Zoe Kravitz have confirmed he popped the question – and she said YES.

While he is engaged for the first time, she hopes it will be third time lucky for her — after wedding plans with two previous fiancés crashed and burned.

But some cheeky pals are joking US actress Zoe could turn out to be the proverbial runaway bride.

A source tells us: “There is a bit of an in-joke in Hollywood about how Zoe has been trading ‘internet boyfriends’ — a term used by Gen Z for celebrities of the moment — and how she’s becoming like Julia Roberts’ character in the hit Nineties film, who leaves all her fiancés.

“While Harry and Zoe have an impressive roster of very attractive and famous exes, neither has the best track record with long-term romances. Of course, people are asking if this will last and questioning if they will even marry.”

One Direction star turned solo ­hitmaker Harry, 32, is not new to wooing American beauties — he dated Taylor Swift between 2012 and 2013, then actress Olivia Wilde from 2021 until 2022.

‘Deeply in love’

Batman actress Zoe, 37, daughter of rocker Lenny Kravitz, was wed to US actor Karl Glusman from 2019 to 2021. She then dated Hollywood A-lister Channing Tatum, who proposed in 2023 only for the pair to split the following year.

But what people at first assumed was no more than a summer romance for Harry and Zoe, after they began dating last August, now seems far more serious.

They shared news of their engagement just days after we revealed shots of Zoe with a huge diamond ring on her wedding finger, while out in London with Harry.

She looked chic in a beige trench coat and baseball cap emblazoned with the word Kiss — merchandise from Harry’s new collection for his latest No1 album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.

Earlier last month, the pair had been pictured strolling hand-in-hand near to Harry’s home in Hampstead, North West London, as she stepped out in her trusty trench coat and he kept a low profile in navy slacks, coat and cap.

Harry is said to have popped the question with a ring worth up to £500,000 and it is thought Zoe could make her first official appearance with the bling, and her fiancé, at the star-studded Met Gala ball in New York on Monday. 

We previously told how Harry first sparked engagement rumours when he and Zoe flew to the Bahamas just after Christmas to stay in her dad’s home there.

A source said at the time: “If it wasn’t an engagement, then it was something that shows they are very much committed to each other.”

Speculation mounted when Zoe was spotted wearing a ring on her left hand from jewellery designer Jessica McCormack — but it turned out she was an ambassador for the brand. Then Zoe later revealed her bling from Harry.

It might seem like a whirlwind romance but pals report the lovebirds are already seriously thinking about the wedding day — and even starting a family.

Zoe certainly has history with finding The One, or hoping she has.

She was engaged to Channing Tatum the year before she met Harry and fans have not been able to resist pointing out how similar her ring from Harry is to the one given to her by Channing.

Before her romantic misfire with the actor, Zoe had been wed to Karl Glusman after they said “I do” at her dad’s home in Paris in June 2019 — but she filed for divorce just 18 months later.

Now, we are sure that what she has with Harry is very different and that Zoe is determined not only to make it down the aisle, but also make the relationship last.

A source close to Zoe says: “She is incredibly excited about Harry asking her to marry him.

“She had a strong feeling for weeks that something was coming and now that it’s happened she truly believes he is the love of her life — her soulmate.

“Over the past few weeks, she’s been the happiest she’s been in a long time. She feels deeply in love and grateful to be with someone she sees as the perfect partner — the best companion in every sense.

‘Wedding outfits’

“There’s a real sense of relief for her, too. In past relationships, especially engagements that didn’t work out, she ­carried doubts and fears.

“But Harry has reassured her. He’s made it clear he wants to build a life with her and make her his wife as soon as possible.

“After past heartbreaks, and relationships that didn’t meet her expectations, she now feels like everything has fallen into place

“She’s always believed in love, partnership and building a life with someone, but she never fully felt that connection until Harry.

“To her, their relationship feels like destiny — the beginning of the rest of their lives together.”

Indeed, Zoe has never been shy of commitment. After her first marriage ended, she told GQ mag in 2022: “You meet someone who’s amazing and wants to marry you, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I

“If there’s nothing wrong, then why wouldn’t you do it? You love them and that’s what you do.”

Harry, meanwhile, has always been quite open to the idea of ­marriage — and in 2020, when asked in conversation with US broadcaster Howard Stern if he could ever picture being “married and devoted to one person”, he reckoned he would welcome that.

Harry said: “It’s definitely what I would like to do. I’d like to think I would want that at some point.” In 2018, asked about starting a ­family, he said: “I can’t wait for a time when that’s a thing for me. I look forward to that in my life.”

Becoming a mother might not have been on Zoe’s agenda in the past, but an insider tell us: “She has even begun thinking about having children — something she wasn’t particularly excited about in the past.

“Now, Zoe feels ready for the next steps — marriage, building a peaceful home together and starting a family.”

Meanwhile, Harry has not attended the annual haute-couture Met Gala since 2019, but Zoe is part of the host committee this year, so for them to make a grand display of their love seems very possible.

We are told a wedding may take place in the South of France — or Italy, as it is special for Harry and Zoe after they spent time together in Rome last summer.

Our source says: “Zoe is already thinking about the wedding. She wants something unique and has started discussing ideas for outfits, themes and designs.

“She’s torn between a very intimate ceremony — possibly even eloping — and a larger celebration with all their loved ones, though a bigger wedding may ultimately win out. She’s particularly drawn to the idea of a summer wedding in Europe — possibly France.

“She talks about it all the time — beautiful locations like Paris or the French Riviera, lots of flowers, stunning outfits, and a ­celebration that lasts all day and night, surrounded by love.”

Zoe grew up in the limelight thanks to her rocker dad, now 61, and US actress mum Lisa Bonet, 58, who starred in US sitcom The Cosby Show. She was born in LA and, after her parents split when she was 11, moved to Miami to live with Lenny.

Harry’s start in life was very different — he was a ­regular kid growing up in the Cheshire village of Holmes ­Chapel before he tried out for The X Factor at 16 and his life changed overnight.

Our source close to Zoe adds: “Harry feels like a dream come true for her, and marrying him would be the perfect culmination of everything she’s wanted.

“She envisions walking down the aisle and sharing the most meaningful day of her life with him. She often says her heart belongs entirely to Harry.”

Two weeks ago, LIV Golf did its best to conceal the fact that the Saudi Public Investment Fund would cease to bankroll the league after the current season, only to have LIV CEO Scott O’Neill let the truth slip during a television interview.

This week, the intentions of PIF and consequences to LIV are known by all.

LIV Golf announced Thursday that it has established a new independent board that will attempt to keep the league afloat utilizing a “diversified, multi-partner investment model.” In other words, a model that doesn’t include PIF.

PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan no longer will serve as LIV Golf chairman, another unmistakable signal that the Saudi sovereign wealth fund worth an estimated $1 trillion is cutting ties with financially troubled LIV.

LIV Golf was supposed to be a key component in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “Vision 2030” plan to diversify the kingdom’s economy away from oil. PIV lured megastar golfers Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and others away from the PGA Tour by shoveling hundreds of millions of dollars into their bank accounts.

Al-Rumayyan, Prince bin Salman’s trusted technocrat, was charged with implementing the plan, but LIV Golf has failed to attract significant viewership or commercial sponsors despite innovations such as a 54-hole format and a team model.

When LIV and the PGA Tour came to a short-lived, tentative agreement to end pending litigation and potentially join forces in 2023, Al-Rumayyan was a key figure in the negotiations.

A last-ditch effort to broker a merger between the rival leagues took place in the White House in February 2025 when President Trump hosted Al-Rumayyan, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Tiger Woods. No agreement was reached.

Now, apparently, PIF will attempt to turn its attention to initiatives that don’t bleed billions. The fund has invested more than $5 billion into LIV Golf since it was launched in 2022 and is reportedly spending $100 million per month this year.

The wealthy but suddenly unmoored LIV golfers have been left to scramble like a weekend hacker trying to salvage a bogey after chipping into a sand trap.

LIV Golf Louisiana announced that the tournament scheduled for June 25-28 in New Orleans has been postponed. A new date hasn’t been set. However, an official told ESPN on Thursday that next week’s tournament at Trump National Golf Club outside Washington, D.C., will take place as planned.

Six other tournaments remain on the schedule that concludes with LIV team championships on Aug. 27-30 at The Cardinal at Saint John’s in Michigan. Tournaments outside the United States are scheduled for South Korea, Spain and Great Britain.

Hired Thursday to come up with a financial model to keep LIV afloat sans PIF are Gene Davis and Jon Zinman, described in a LIV statement as “seasoned experts with proven track records of navigating complex situations and unlocking value for global organizations.”
 
LIV Golf’s contorted spin on acknowledging that PIF will no longer subsidize the league was a statement saying it will focus on ”securing long-term financial partners to support its transition from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model.”

Davis, the newly appointed chairman of the LIV Independent Directors Committee, sees opportunity in the face of a PIF-less future.

“LIV Golf has built something truly differentiated — a global league with passionate fans, world-class talent, and demonstrated commercial momentum,” he said in a statement. “The executive leadership team, along with Jon and I, see a clear opportunity to help the league formalize its structure, attract and secure long-term capital, and position the business for growth while continuing to promote the game across the world.

“ We look forward to positioning LIV Golf for future success.” 

After a break of 83 from Higgins in the ninth frame, O’Sullivan won two in a row, thanks to runs of 116 and 80, to hold a dominant five-frame advantage at 8-3.

Higgins won the 12th, but O’Sullivan’s break of 91 left the Englishman 9-4 in front.

But the final three frames were very dramatic. Higgins looked in control of the 14th, with O’Sullivan needing a snooker to have any chance, which he then got, although he could not capitalise.

Higgins took the 15th on a black-ball finish, with O’Sullivan then punching the table in frustration after missing a red early on in the last frame of the night.

His mood was not improved when he potted a long red but then saw the cue ball follow it into the same pocket, with that foul proving crucial as Higgins took the frame to give himself some hope.

O’Sullivan is fighting to make the Crucible quarter-finals for a 24th time and looking for an eighth world title, which would be a record in the modern era.

He was watched by former Manchester United footballer Paul Scholes during his 10-2 win over Chinese debutant He Guoqiang and, this time, UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett and Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez were in attendance.

They, along with the rest of the crowd at the Crucible, would have left thoroughly entertained.

Zack Steffen finished with two saves and had his second shutout of the season for the Colorado Rapids in a 0-0 tie with LAFC on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium.

The Rapids (4-4-1) had 71% possession.

LAFC (5-2-2), who had lost back-to-back game for the first time in more than a calendar year, are winless in three straight.

Hugo Lloris had two saves and leads MLS with seven shutouts.

LAFC’s Mathieu Choinière hit the post with a shot from outside the area in the 56th minute.

FRISCO, Texas — Lucas Sanabria and Joseph Paintsil scored late in the first half after Petar Musa scored twice to give Dallas the lead, helping the Galaxy rally for a 2-2 draw on Saturday night.

Musa scored unassisted in the seventh minute to give Dallas a quick lead and then used assists from Christian Cappis and Logan Farrington to give Dallas a two-goal advantage in the 38th minute with his league-leading ninth of the season.

It was the first assist for Cappis after collecting two in 11 appearances last season as a rookie. Farrington’s third assist gives him 15 in 69 career matches.

Sanabria used assists from Paintsil and Justin Haak to cut it to 2-1 in the 43rd minute and Paintsil used assists from Gabriel Pec and defender Mauricio Cuevas to tie it three minutes into stoppage time.

Sanabria netted his second goal after scoring twice in 21 matches as a rookie last season. A hamstring injury sidelined Paintsil, who has a goal and two assists in four matches. Pec has four assists but has yet to score.

Michael Collodi turned away three shots in goal for Dallas (3-1-4).

JT Marcinkowski had three saves for the Galaxy (2-3-3).

The Galaxy lead the all-time series 37-35-13 and are 9-26-8 in Frisco.

WASHINGTON — First lady Melania Trump is denying ties to Jeffrey Epstein and knowledge of his crimes, saying Thursday that the “stories are completely false” and calling online accusations that she was somehow involved “smears about me.”

“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today. The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation,” she said.

Reading an extraordinary statement at the White House, she denied any association with Epstein and said, “My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success.”

The first lady also called on Congress to hold a public hearing centered on survivors of Epstein’s crimes, with a chance to testify before lawmakers and have their stories entered into the congressional record.

“Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” she said. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”

Her out-of-the-blue message came just as her husband, President Donald Trump, and his administration had finally appeared successful in moving beyond the Epstein controversy, which had sent shockwaves through the nation’s politics for months.

The case had begun to be overshadowed by the war in Iran and other major issues — but the first lady’s comments might push it back into the political spotlight.

The first lady said she was not friends with Epstein or Maxwell but was in overlapping social circles in New York and Florida. She described an email reply she sent to Maxwell as “casual correspondence” without elaborating.

“My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trifle,” she said.

Binkley writes for the Associated Press.

A spokesman for Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading Democratic candidate for California governor, on Tuesday denounced online claims that the congressman had inappropriate relationships with young congressional staff members.

“This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race,” spokesman Micah Beasley said in a statement that was first reported by Politico.

Allegations that Swalwell (D-Dublin) acted sexually inappropriately with young women have been swirling online for weeks, with the tempo growing in recent days as Democratic strategists, Washington, D.C., insiders and social media influencers posted about the allegations, including that he made these women sign nondisclosure agreements.

“In 13 years, no one in Eric Swalwell’s Congressional office has ever been asked to sign an NDA. Ever,” Beasley said. “In 13 years, not a single ethics complaint by any staff in his office or any other office has ever been lodged. Ever.”

The Times has not independently corroborated reports of inappropriate behavior.

Swalwell, 45, did not respond to requests for comment.

He entered the campaign to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom in November, and recent opinion polls show he is among the Democratic front-runners. Swalwell had the support of 13.7% of voters in an average of recent polling compiled by Real Clear Politics, behind only Republican Steve Hilton, a conservative commentator who had an average of 14.7%

This is the second controversy Swalwell has faced in recent days.

Late last month, he accused President Trump of trying to sway the governor’s race based on reports that the FBI could release documents related to a decade-old investigation about his association with an alleged Chinese spy.

The investigation centered on Swalwell’s ties to a suspected intelligence operative, Christine Fang, or Fang Fang, who worked as a volunteer raising money for his congressional campaign. Swalwell cut off ties to Fang in 2015 after intelligence officials briefed him and other members of Congress about Chinese efforts to infiltrate the legislative body.

Swalwell was never accused of wrongdoing. In an interview with The Times in November, he said he was cleared by the FBI and a GOP-led House Ethics Committee of any impropriety in his ties to Fang.

FBI Director Kash Patel directed agents in the bureau’s San Francisco office to redact the case files for public release, according to a report by the Washington Post, a highly unusual move to release case files tied to a investigation that did not result in criminal charges.

Swalwell’s attorneys filed a cease and desist letter with Patel and the FBI. No documents have been released as of Tuesday afternoon.

Times staff writer Melody Gutierrez contributed to this report.

When Arsenal face Sporting in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, there will be much more riding on the game than just a knockout match in Lisbon.

For many, this is where the Gunners need to show back-to-back defeats, against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and the damaging loss to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final, will not leak into their European and Premier League campaigns.

Arsenal have been tagged as the ‘nearly men’ under Mikel Arteta with three successive second-placed finishes in the Premier League in the last three seasons.

But the Gunners have played a ruthless style of football this season, which has seen them establish a nine-point lead in the Premier League, reach the final of one cup competition and, depending what happens in two legs against Sporting, at least the quarter-final stage of the two other cup campaigns they began.

Their style of play has been questioned at times but now it is the team’s mentality that is coming under the spotlight.

The Gunners have been so impressive this season that their defeats by City and Saints are the first time they have lost successive matches this campaign, while the loss on the south coast was just the fifth of the season.

But, with the Champions League and Premier League the top prizes for the Gunners, this is where Arteta needs to show the pain of coming so close in precious campaigns is not going to overwhelm his side as they look to win their first major trophy since 2020.

“Have some perspective about how difficult it is what we have done until now,” said Arteta, when asked how he and the team prevent a longer run of defeats.

“Feel the pain, feel the emotion and use it to be better and improve.”

Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Gabriel have trained before Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final with Sporting.

Midfielder Rice, 27, left the England squad following a medical assessment during March’s international break and missed Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final loss to Southampton.

Brazil defender Gabriel, meanwhile, was forced off with a knee issue after taking a knock during the defeat on the south coast.

Both players were involved in first-team training at the club’s London Colney base on Monday before Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Lisbon for the first leg.

Belgian winger Leandro Trossard also returned to training but Bukayo Saka was not involved after he also left the England camp early.

SACRAMENTO — Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points, and the Clippers snapped a two-game skid by beating the Sacramento Kings 138-109 on Sunday night to improve their play-in positioning.

Leonard scored 13 points in the first quarter as the Clippers raced out to a double-digit lead and coasted against a Kings team playing out the string of a lost season. Leonard has scored 20 or more in 54 consecutive games.

John Collins added 25 points, and Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each had 17 for the Clippers.

The Clippers (40-38) moved into a tie with Portland for eighth place in the Western Conference with four games to play. The eighth-place team will have two shots to get into the playoffs through the play-in tournament.

Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford had 18 to lead Sacramento. Maxime Raynaud had 16 rebounds and 11 points for his 18th double-double, the most among rookies.

The Kings, who won their previous two games, remained in a tie with Utah for the fourth-worst record in the NBA at 21-58 with three games left. Sacramento is tied for the third-most losses in franchise history, having lost 59 games in 1989-90 and 65 in 2008-09.

Up next for the Clippers: vs. Dallas at Intuit Dome on Tuesday night.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading Democratic candidate for governor of California, has accused President Trump of trying to sway the election following reports that FBI Director Kash Patel may release documents from a decade-old investigation into the congressman’s ties to a suspected Chinese spy.

According to a report by the Washington Post, Patel has directed agents in the bureau’s San Francisco office to redact the case files for public release. According to the outlet, it’s highly unusual for the FBI to release case files tied to a probe that did not result in criminal charges.

The investigation centered on Swalwell’s ties to a suspected intelligence operative, Christine Fang, or Fang Fang, who worked as a volunteer raising money for his congressional campaign. Swalwell cut off ties to Fang in 2015, after intelligence officials briefed him and other members of Congress about Chinese efforts to infiltrate the legislative body.

Swalwell was not accused of impropriety.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Through great reporting, we now know the outrageous ends the White House will go to target political opponents,” Swalwell said in a prepared statement Saturday, calling the decade-old story “nonsense.”

“Donald Trump is targeting me. He’s trying to influence the election,” Swalwell said in a post on X. “There is only one reason why: he’s scared.”

Swalwell accused Trump of “desperately trying” to stop him, because he’s now the favored candidate for California governor.

“What Trump wants the most is to have a Western White House. An enabler on the opposite coast,” he said. “A lot of people have bent the knee to this administration. But I will not. And neither will the people of California.”

It’s not the first time Swalwell has accused the administration of targeting Trump’s political opponents.

Last year, Swalwell sued Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, accusing him of criminally misusing government databases to target Trump’s political opponents. Pulte had accused Swalwell of mortgage fraud and referred him to the Justice Department for a potential federal criminal probe. Swalwell dropped that suit this month.

Swalwell, a former prosecutor who ran for president in 2020, announced his bid for California governor in November. Swalwell said his decision was driven by the serious problems facing California and the threats posed to the state and nation with Trump in the White House.

U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who has endorsed Swalwell for governor, shared the Post story on X Saturday, saying, “This abuse of the FBI is as dangerous as it is unlawful.” Schiff served with Swalwell on the House Intelligence Committee, where they riled Republicans by investigating President Trump during his first term.

Schiff served as the lead manager of Trump’s first impeachment and Swalwell as a manager of Trump’s second impeachment.

“Time and again, the President and his appointees have weaponized the Department of Justice against those who dare stand up to Trump,” Schiff wrote. He added that there was no doubt that Trump and Patel “will stop at nothing to try to tell Californians who their next governor should be.”

The Post story unleashed a flood of critiques from California politicians, including Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), who sits on the House Intelligence Committee. On X, Gomez accused Patel of “wasting resources” on a “closed, decade-old case where Swalwell cooperated with the FBI and was found innocent of any wrongdoing.”

“Reopening it now, right as he leads in the polls and ballots are about to drop, is a political hit-job!” Gomez said. “Trump and Kash Patel are weaponizing the FBI against people they deem political enemies.”

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, released a statement accusing Patel of working at “the behest of the White House” and “wasting the resources of the FBI and perhaps violating the Hatch Act by ordering agents to spend hours preparing a political smear file for a personnel vendetta.”

According to the Associated Press, Fang came into contact with Swalwell’s campaign as he was first running for Congress in 2012. She also participated in fundraising for his 2014 campaign and helped place an intern in his office, the report said. Federal investigators alerted Swalwell to their concerns — and briefed Congress — about Fang in 2015, at which point the California Democrat says he cut off contact with her, the AP reported in 2021.

In 2023, the House Ethics Committee closed a two-year investigation into the allegations of his ties to Fang.

In closing the probe, the ethics committee wrote in a letter to Swalwell that it had “previously reviewed allegations of improper influence by foreign agents and in doing so, cautioned that Members should be conscious of the possibility that foreign governments may attempt to secure improper influence through gifts and other interactions.”

Times staff writer Kevin Rector contributed to this report.

A ribbon may seem like the easy choice to help you find your bag among a sea of luggage, but one airport worker says there’s a reason why this hack isn’t recommended. Here’s what you can do instead.

If you were to rank the most stressful parts of flying, then finding your luggage at the carousel would no doubt come near the top.

You wait and wait for the luggage belt to start up, and once it does, there’s a huge rush of people grabbing their cases, many of which look strikingly similar. That’s why there are so many hacks out there to help you ensure your suitcase stands out from the dozens of others on the conveyor.

A common hack is to take a colourful piece of ribbon and tie it around a handle, which means when it’s coming down the belt, you can spot it among the other similarly coloured cases.

However, according to one airport worker, using this hack with ribbon, string, or any other dangly item could be a bad idea, and could even delay your luggage pickup even further.

John, who works at Dublin Airport, previously spoke to RSVPLive about why travellers should avoid the hack, saying: “Ribbons that people tie onto their suitcases to help identify them can cause issues with the bag being scanned in the baggage hall.

“If the bag can’t be scanned automatically it can end up in manual processing, which could mean your bag doesn’t make it to the flight”.

As well as interfering with scanning systems, ribbons and other items can also get stuck in the conveyor belt’s machinery, which means the entire carousel could automatically come to a stop, delaying everybody’s bags.

Old airline stickers and tags from previous flights can also cause issues according to John. Machines may not know which barcode to scan, causing delays, or it could even mean your luggage is sent to the wrong destination.

If you want to personalise your case to make it stand out from the crowd, use a colourful luggage strap, add some coloured tape around a handle, or add a distinctive sticker so you can spot it on the carousel.

Luggage covers are another option for checked bags. These covers slip over your suitcase and are available in bright colours and prints, or even personalised options. As a bonus, these covers can help to protect the exterior of your case from damage when being handled. You can also opt for waterproof covers, so if your luggage is left on a trolley in the rain or is close to a leak, the contents won’t be damaged.

READ MORE: Latest Portugal travel advice for Brits after Foreign Office updateREAD MORE: Coastal city with azure waters less than 3 hours from UK has £13 flights and 21C in April

Airport workers have also warned that the colour of the case that you choose is important. Black suitcases are the most common choice for travellers, but they’re the most likely to be lost or stolen .

Finding a black suitcase can also be incredibly difficult. Many lost property offices will be full of suitcases of the exact same type and colour, making it less likely you’ll be reunited with your bag.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

RABAT, Morocco — A Moroccan court sentenced a rapper known for his criticism of the country’s ties with Israel and accusations of government corruption to eight months in prison, the latest in a string of penalties against young musical artists.

Souhaib Qabli’s songs sharply criticize Morocco’s 2020 decision to normalize ties with Israel in an accord brokered by the first Trump administration. His lyrics also call out problems with public services and restrictions on freedom of speech, grievances also voiced by Morocco’s Gen Z protesters last year.

The judge ruled Thursday that Souhaib Qabli, a 23-year-old rapper, was guilty of insulting a constitutional body, his attorney Mohamed Taifi told the Associated Press. Qabli, who is a member of Al Adl Wal Ihsane, a banned but tolerated Islamist association, was also fined $106.

“The court did not clarify what it meant by a constitutional body. No specific party was identified in the case file, and there are many constitutional institutions,” Taifi said.

The attorney said that his client is appealing the verdict. He also said Qabli was cleared of other charges, including insulting public officials and disseminating false allegations.

Before the public hearing, dozens of supporters gathered outside the court in Taza, a city in north-central Morocco about 160 miles from the capital, Rabat, holding banners calling for Qabli’s release. Rights groups in the North African kingdom have described the case as a political measure aimed at curbing freedoms.

Qabli, known by the stage name L7assal, was arrested earlier this month and remained in custody until the court delivered its verdict. He was studying refrigeration and air conditioning at a vocational training institute in addition to his music career.

His attorney said that Qabli was questioned in court about his songs and social media posts. Qabli said he had no intent to insult any constitutional body and was expressing his views through his music.

His songs include “No to the Normalization,” referring to Morocco’s decision to normalize ties with Israel in the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, in exchange for Washington’s recognition of Morocco’s claim to the disputed Western Sahara territory.

The move was criticized by Morocco’s pro-Palestinian supporters and sparked large protests in several cities. While authorities allowed the rallies, they have arrested activists who criticized the decision.

Morocco’s constitution generally guarantees freedom of expression, and the country is seen as relatively moderate compared with others in the Middle East. Yet certain types of speech can trigger criminal charges, and Morocco has seen tightening restrictions on dissent, including against journalists and activists.

OSCARS viewers were left stunned when two winners were announced for one category – a rare occurrence in the awards show’s history.

Fans at home shared their confusion when two nominees nabbed the win for Live Action Short Film at the 98th annual ceremony.

Comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani presented the award on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where he announced the unexpected outcome.

Before revealing the winner in the prestigious category, the actor warned that two names would be called, and that it indeed wasn’t a mistake.

He explained that both recipients would come onstage separately to accept their awards and give their speeches.

The Singers was the first announced, followed by Two People Exchanging Saliva, which experienced an awkward blunder when the spotlight went dark, cutting off the winners’ mid-speech.

STREAMING CRISIS

Is Hulu down? Oscars TV confusion as users report problems watching show

After a few moments of silence and a perplexed reaction from host Conan O’Brien, the spotlight turned back on, and they resumed their speech.

Social media erupted with confusion among fans over whether it was normal to have two winners in one category.

“Today I learned that a tie at the Oscars is actually possible. I didn’t know that was a thing. Who knew?!” one viewer wrote on X.

“So far this #Oscars, we’ve got endless roasts about opera and ballet, an unusual amount of AI comments, and even an award that resulted in a tie… which I didn’t know was a thing (it’s only happened seven times in 98 years),” another said.

“A tie in 2026 is crazy,” a third reacted.

“We just had a tie in the #Oscars for best short film. I never knew that was a thing!” a fourth added.

There have only been six other times when a tie has occurred at the Academy Awards.

The first tie occurred at the 5th annual ceremony in 1932 when Fredric March (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) and Wallace Beery (The Champ) both won the Best Actor award.

Technically, Fredric won by one vote over Wallace, but at the time, the rules stated that anyone within three votes of the winner would receive the award.

Today, ties only happen when two nominees receive the exact same number of votes.

A tie happened again in 1950 in the Best Documentary Short category, in which So Much for So Little and A Chance to Live both were awarded the trophy.

Who won on Hollywood’s biggest night?

One Battle After Another ran away with the night with six Oscars, while Sinners, which was nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards, came away with four. See the full winners list below:

Best Picture: One Battle After Another

Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet

Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, Sinners

Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, Weapons

Supporting Actor: Sean Penn, One Battle After Another

Directing: One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson

Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson

Original Screenplay: Sinners, Ryan Coogler

Documentary Feature: Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Documentary Short: All the Empty Rooms

Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters

Animated Short: The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Cinematography: Sinners, Autumn Durald Arkapaw

Costume Design: Frankenstein, Kate Hawley

Film Editing: One Battle After Another, Andy Jurgensen

International Feature: Sentimental Value – Norway

Life Action Short: 

The Singers (TIED)

Two People Exchanging Saliva (TIED)

Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein, Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey

Original Score: Sinners, Ludwig Goransson

Original Song: Golden, KPop Demon Hunters

Production Design: Frankenstein, Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau

Sound: F1, Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta

Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett

Casting: One Battle After Another, Cassandra Kulukundis

This was the case in 1969 when Katharine Hepburn (The Lion in Winter) and Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl) both received the Best Actress honor.

The fourth tie occurred in 1987 when the award for Best Documentary (Feature) went to Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got and Down and Out in America.

It wasn’t until 1995 that another tie was called in the Best Live-Action Short Film category, with the statue going to Trevor and Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life.

The last instance was in 2013 when the Sound Editing category had two Oscar winners: Zero Dark Thirty (Paul N. J. Ottosson) and Skyfall (Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers).